Its already headed into week 8 of the NFL season of fantasy football and the week 8 rankings are here based on the potentially highest scoring games in the NFL, including Sleepers, and No Shut Down Zones for each of these games.
Raiders @ Buccaneers:
This game should have its fair share of offense. When you consider the games that have been going on thursday night for example, this will be a much higher scoring affair then some of those stalemate type games where the defenses rule. This game, more so the Raiders is going to have scoring opportunities as usual for the fantasy players who are consistently doing well this week.
No Shut Down Zone
Michael Crabtree has been the leading target monster on the team including the red zone. He’s become a must start every week.
Mike Evans value is always good, being one of the lead leaders in targets, so there is no way you can get away from playing him, and their corners are suspicious during this season. Oakland gives up the 5th most fantasy points to the WR position
Sleeper Zone
James Winston coupled with Evans could be a really nice value proposition this week for a good combo price. (Winston $11,200 in FantasyDraft, and Evans, $15,300, even though he’s the 2nd most expensive WR in DFS this week).
Latavius Murray, While some may not consider him a sleeper, since he a good amount of carries in the redzone, the Raiders could have a tough game traveling across the country for the 2nd straight week. to florida. This is where you can’t allow details like that to hold you back from the potential of the numbers and consistent performance. He has breakaway ability against this 8th most fantasy points allowed to RB’s defense. And.. he’s only $8,000, just outside the top 20 in terms of valuation according to fantasydraft
Lions @ Texans
This game interesting should allow a lot of points especially for the Texans WR’s as you will soon see.
No Shutdown Zone
DeAndre Hopkins A lot of people are worried about Hopkins this year of course because of the QB situation as well as Will Fuller coming back who is also not a bad pick this week. The Lions have given up the 9th most fantasy points to WR’s this season and have allowed many of those #1 WR’s they have played against to get 20+ points easily. This is a must start. For some comparisons in numbers between these WR’s or any other on your radar, compare the consistency in fantasy article Here
Theo Riddick I struggled going with Riddick as opposed to Lamar Miller form the same team as the above must starts, but Riddick has a better matchup not only as opposed to Miller, but opposed to the WR’s for Lions who will have to go up against the 3rd fewest points allowed to that position. Look for Stafford to go to other options in targets such as Riddick, now that he’s back.
Sleeper Zone
Anquan Bolden has had 2 straight games with a TD, and Stafford is learning to use him more, and will have to in this game, unless he is going to start throwing to Eric Ebron, which has never happened yet consistently.
Justin Forsett or Dwayne Washington Ok this ones a reach wither way but these guys could get significant carries, and with the upside of Washington, who was supposed to get the Lions share of carries before he got hurt, is an unknown, therefore making him a deep sleeper.
Jets @ Browns
Ok, its easy to pick on the browns here but other than last week the defense has held its own against prior opponents in the run game. Also, if Joe Haden plays at CB, they have the ability to slow down Brandon Marshall.
No shut Down Zone:
Matt Forte Despite what was mentioned above, the Browns have allowed the 7th most points to fantasy RB’s this season, keeping in mind those numbers count towards production in the passing game as well, which Forte excels at still.
Terrelle Pryor Sr. The Jest actually give up the 4th most fantasy points to the WR position, not including the running and other duties he has right now. Also Josh McCown is playing in this game, although we’ll have to see how long this lasts, Pryor is the most consistent player on the woeful offense. This leads to to the sleeper option here.
Sleeper Zone
Gary Barnidge While Barnidge has been shut down this season due in part to poor QB play, McCown really helps. Look for this legitimate threat to intermediate and deep routes, and in the red zone, if this offense ever gets there.
Ricardo Louis Also considered a deep sleeper here, he has shown up in some highlights of their games, and with QB settled at the moment, and with the defense allowing bombs at times, playing from behind as they should, I choose him as a deep sleeper.