It’s story time.
I’m in quite a few fantasy football leagues. Around 20, give or take. Most of them are IDP leagues. And while there are a few where I’m doing really well and a few where I’m really not, the teams in the majority of those leagues entered last week hovering at or near the .500 mark.
It’s the curse of playing in a lot of so-called “expert” leagues. No such thing as an easy out or a “gimme” week.
Anyway, in one of those leagues I went into Monday Night Football a 3-3 team trailing by just a few points. My opponent was finished for the week, and I had Philadelphia Eagles middle linebacker Jordan Hicks to go.
Get any sort of stat line from Hicks and all would be right with the world – at least for a few days.
Instead, what I got was Hicks being carted to the locker room after two plays, a close loss and a 3-4 record.
Now, I could rant and rave about the inherent unfairness of the universe. Or I could second-guess every lineup decision I made and bemoan the handful of points I may have left on the bench that could have made the difference.
However, neither of those activities are going to get me any closer to getting my season back on track. They are a waste of both time and energy.
So instead of looking back at the loss that was, it’s time to look ahead to the week that will be, whether it’s potential waiver wire adds, injury updates or the best (and worst) matchups of Week 8.
You’re welcome to come along, if you’d like.
NOTE: Bummer of bummers – we’ve hit the first of two consecutive six-team bye weeks. The Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants and Tennessee Titans are all off this week. No Myles Jack, Aaron Donald or Landon Collins in Week 8.
WEEK 8 IDP WAIVER WIRE TARGETS
Derek Barnett – DE, Philadelphia Eagles: Barnett isn’t a full-time player – he was on the field for just 36 of 64 snaps against the Redskins. But as he showed with the first two full sacks of his NFL career, Barnett doesn’t have to play every down to make an IDP impact.
Antonio Morrison – ILB, Indianapolis Colts: Jon Bostic is playing more snaps, but it’s been Morrison who’s made the bigger statistical dent of late – including a season-high 13 total tackles (eight solo) in last week’s blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jamal Adams – S, New York Jets: Adams is an elite talent who is going to be a star in the NFL. He has Landon Collins-type IDP upside. It’s been starting to show a bit the last couple of weeks, so if an impatient owner cut bait on the rookie scoop Adams up post-haste.
You may want to grab something cold to drink and a snack before this next part. Sadly, it’s going to take a while.
WEEK 8 IDP INJURY REPORT
Cliff Avril – DE, Seattle Seahawks (IR – Neck): After consulting with a number of specialists, the Seahawks placed Avril on season-ending injured reserve as the result of a neck injury suffered on September 24.
Dylan Cole – ILB, Houston Texans (Doubtful – Hamstring): With Cole unlikely to see the field in Week 8 courtesy of a Grade 2 hamstring strain, rookie Zach Cunningham should see a bump in snaps against the Seattle Seahawks.
Kurt Coleman – S, Carolina Panthers (Questionable – Knee): Coleman’s been out since Week 4 with a sprained MCL, but after a limited return to practice last week there’s optimism he’ll be able to play in Week 8.
Johnathan Cyprien – S, Tennessee Titans (Questionable – Hamstring): Cyprien hasn’t played for the Titans since all the way back in Week 1, but the hope is that he’ll be able to make a return to action after the team’s Week 8 bye.
Reuben Foster – ILB, San Francisco 49ers (Questionable – Ribs): Foster returned to action last week for the first time since Week 1, but allowed after injuring his ribs during the loss to the Dallas Cowboys that he’s unsure if he will be medically cleared for Week 8.
B.J. Goodson – ILB, New York Giants (Questionable – Ankle): The bye week came at an excellent time for Goodson, who left last week’s loss to Seattle with an injured ankle and was spotted in a walking boot and on crutches after the game.
Jordan Hicks – ILB, Philadelphia Eagles (IR – Achilles): Hicks hobbled off the field after two plays Monday night and was cared to the locker room. Tests revealed a torn Achilles tendon. His 2017 season is over.
Dont’a Hightower – ILB, New England Patriots (Questionable – Shoulder): Hightower injured his shoulder in the second half of last week’s win over the Atlanta Falcons. It’s the Patriots, so we aren’t getting more info than that until later this week – maybe.
Malik Hooker – S, Indianapolis Colts (IR – Knee): After a promising first half of his rookie season in which he tallied picks in three straight games, Hooker tore bot his ACL and MCL in last week’s loss to the Jags.
Cory James – ILB, Oakland Raiders (Questionable – Knee): With both James and Marquel Lee sidelined last week against the Kansas City Chiefs, the newly-acquired Navorro Bowman was thrust into an every-down role. James’ Week 8 status isn’t presently known.
Mychal Kendricks – OLB, Philadelphia Eagles (Questionable – Hamstring): With Jordan Hicks out for the year, Kendricks should be in for a much larger role in the Philly defense. If, that is, the oft-injured 27-year-old can stay on the field for more than 15 minutes.
Luke Kuechly – ILB, Carolina Panthers (Questionable – Concussion): Kuechly was a full participant in practice Wednesday, leading to cautious optimism that the star linebacker will be able to return to action in Week 8.
Sean Lee – OLB, Dallas Cowboys (Questionable – Quad): Lee returned from a hamstring injury just in time to injure his quad, but the Cowboys linebacker is expected to be OK for this week’s trip to D.C. to face the Redskins.
Jason McCourty – CB, Cleveland Browns (Questionable – Knee): After hurting his knee on the practice field late last week, McCourty sat out Cleveland’s loss to the Tennessee Titans. It’s unknown whether he will return for the Browns trip to London in Week 8.
Rashaan Melvin – CB, Indianapolis Colts (Questionable – Concussion): Melvin, who has been a steady IDP producer in CB-required formats, was forced from last week’s loss to Jacksonville after suffering a concussion.
Jordan Poyer – S, Buffalo Bills (Questionable – Knee): Poyer, who has been a pleasant surprise for both the Bills and IDP owners in 2017, injured his knee chasing around Tampa players on last week’s last-play lateral fest. His Week 8 status is uncertain.
Glover Quin – S, Detroit Lions (Questionable – Concussion): Quin suffered a concussion back in Week 6 against the New Orleans Saints, but he’s back at practice and looks to be on track to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday night.
Duke Riley – OLB, Atlanta Falcons (OUT – Knee): Riley’s injury itself isn’t really the story here. But with the rookie out indefinitely with a torn meniscus, De’Vondre Campbell will slot into an every-down role at WILL linebacker for the Falcons.
Andrew Sendejo – S, Minnesota Vikings (SUSPENSION): Sendejo is set to miss Sunday’s tilt with the Cleveland Browns in London after receiving a one-game suspension for a helmet-to-helmet hit that left Ravens wideout Mike Wallace with a concussion.
Stephon Tuitt – DE, Pittsburgh Steelers (Questionable – Back): Tuitt, who missed last week’s win over Cincinnati, has been in and out of the Steelers lineup all season long with an assortment of injuries. His Week 8 status is unknown.
Olivier Vernon – DE, New York Giants (Questionable – Ankle): After missing last week’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Vernon hasn’t played since the first of October. The hope is that the star defensive end will return after the bye week.
For all the latest injury news and updates, be sure to check out Rotoworld’s Player Updates page as we move closer to game day(s).
THE WHAT THE HECK DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE WAIVER PLAY OF THE WEEK
Eric Reid – S, San Francisco 49ers (at PHI)
Per Jennifer Lee Chan of SB Nation, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan refuted reports that Reid is unhappy with his new role after his return from injury. “I’m not concerned about that,” he said. “If Eric wasn’t happy with his role, I hope he’d come and talk to me about it. And we’d have a real good talk about that. But, we’re asking, we’re trying to get our best 11 guys on the field. And it’s not just, it’s not an absolute answer every week. It depends who we’re playing, depends what personnel we want to go with, depends on some of the schemes we’re going against. Eric’s done a lot of good things in this league, has played at a high level, has done a real good job at safety.”
The Eagles aren’t a great matchup for defensive backs – they rank 25th in fantasy points allowed to the position. But Reid wasn’t playing as a defensive back – he platooned with Ray-Ray Armstrong at inside linebacker. The Eagles are much kinder to that position (6th), and with Reuben Foster banged up again it’s a real possibility that could continue – affording Reid some interesting value as a potential “loophole” player.
GUYS I LIKE IN WEEK 8
Frank Clark – DE, Seattle Seahawks (vs. HOU): With Cliff Avril on injured reserve Clark will asked to play more snaps moving forward, including this week against a Houston Texans team that has given up 21 sacks and the most fantasy points to defensive linemen in 2017.
Carlos Dunlap – DE, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. IND): Dunlap has just a single sack this season, but if ever there was a week to break out of his funk this is it – the Colts have allowed a staggering 29 sacks through seven games this season.
Cameron Heyward – DE, Pittsburgh Steelers (at DET): Heyward’s coming off a four-solo, one-sack game against the Bengals last week and draws a Detroit team in Week 8 that has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to defensive linemen in 2017.
Navorro Bowman – ILB, Oakland Raiders (at BUF): Bowman fared well last week in his Raiders debut, notching 11 total tackles. The veteran should build on that success Sunday in Buffalo against a Bills team surrendering the third-most fantasy points to linebackers this year.
Eric Kendricks – ILB, Minnesota Vikings (at CLE): I mentioned Kendricks as a “Guy I Like” last week in a favorable matchup and he responded with 10 solos and 13 total tackles. He gets another very nice fantasy matchup with the Clowns Sunday in London.
Lawrence Timmons – OLB, Miami Dolphins (at BAL): The Ravens have been a great IDP matchup for linebackers all season long – and that was before their wideout corps was decimated by injuries. Timmons and Kiko Alonso will clean up Thursday night.
Kurt Coleman – S, Carolina Panthers (at TBB): Usually I like to give returning players a week to get back up to speed. But with six teams on siesta and a top-five matchup on tap with Tampa, Coleman is startable right out of the gate – assuming he plays, of course.
Sean Davis – S, Pittsburgh Steelers (at DET): Davis had a decent game in Week 7 against Cincy, racking up five tackles with a forced fumble. He’ll do better in a considerably more favorable fantasy matchup Sunday night in Motown.
Trae Waynes – CB, Minnesota Vikings (at CLE): Waynes is something on an NFL punching bag, but he’s 4th in fantasy points among cornerbacks. Given the Browns’ penchant for interceptions, Waynes may well have his cake and eat it too in London.
GUYS I DON’T LIKE IN WEEK 9
Akiem Hicks – DE, Chicago Bears (at NOS): Hicks is well on his way to having by far the best season of his NFL career, but the deck is stacked heavily against him getting a sack in Week 8. The Saints have surrendered only five all year long.
Jerry Hughes – DE, Buffalo Bills (vs. OAK): Hughes hasn’t tallied a sack since Week 4, and a matchup with the Raiders doesn’t bode well for snapping that cold spell. Oakland has allowed just 13 this season, and many of those came with Derek Carr on the shelf.
Danielle Hunter – DE, Minnesota Vikings (at CLE): Hunter got his third sack of the season last week, but his numbers are way down relative to 2016 and Sunday’s matchup with the hapless Cleveland Browns is surprisingly poor. Like dead last in fantasy points allowed to DL poor.
Demario Davis – ILB, New York Jets (vs. ATL): Through seven games this season, Davis ranks sixth among linebackers in fantasy points. But this week’s matchup with the third-worst team in fantasy points given up to linebackers could portend a backstep.
Danny Trevathan – ILB, Chicago Bears (at NOS): Trevathan has exceeded expectations this year after tearing his patellar tendon in November of 2016. But the Saints have spent most of this season last in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to linebackers.
Vince Williams – ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers (at DET): Williams has had his moments for IDP owners this season, but those moments will be few and far between Sunday night against a Lions team that has struggled to run the ball consistently.
Karl Joseph – S, Oakland Raiders (at BUF): Joseph gets a double-whammy of bad news in Week 8 – the Bills are last in the league in fantasy points given up to defensive backs, and Navorro Bowman’s presence could cost him some tackle opportunities.
Justin Simmons – S, Denver Broncos (at KCC): The Kansas City Chiefs are 29th in fantasy points allowed to defensive backs this season – IDP owners hoping for a little fill-in magic from Simmons in Week 8 are apt to be disappointed.
Jaquiski Tartt – S, San Francisco 49ers (at PHI): Part of the reason why Eric Reid was moved to ILB has been the strong play of Tartt in his stead. But as I mentioned earlier, for as well as the Philly offense has played it hasn’t translated to fantasy points given up to defensive backs.
THE SCRAP-HEAP STREAMING CORNERBACK PLAY OF THE WEEK
In recent years the number of dependable weekly fantasy starters at the cornerback position has dwindled to just about zero. So as a service to those hearty souls who play in IDP leagues that require them, each week I’ll point out a player at that position available in many leagues who should serve as a fine streaming option.
Morris Claiborne, New York Jets (vs. ATL): It’s gone largely unnoticed, but Claiborne is quietly having a good season as the Jets’ No. 1 cornerback. Both he and batterymate Buster Skrine rank inside the top 25 fantasy options at their position this year, and both are solid starts in CB-required formats in Week 8. But it’s Claiborne who will spend most of Sunday’s matchup with the Atlanta Falcons trying to contain Julio Jones.
