Keepers & Sleepers: Week 8 recap, week 9 preview

By: Chase Rosenquist, Columnist

Week 8 Recap:

Week 8 in the NFL was full of triumphs and tragedies. It is definitely one that will be remembered, as this week seems like a turning point for most teams and gave us a clearer picture for what is to come the rest of the season. Tragedies struck as numerous injuries occurred and have resulted in some big names in the game potentially out the remainder of the year.

Just a little shout out to a great career for Steve Smith Sr. of the Baltimore Ravens, as this may have been the last football Sunday he will play in. With a torn achilles, Smith will miss the rest of the season, and also announced at the beginning of the season that he was to retire from football at year end.

Quarterbacks (QBs) Drew Brees and Eli Manning combined for the highest outbreak of offensive stats in the same game this season. Brees threw for seven touchdowns (TDs), tying the NFL record for most TDs in a single game, as Manning threw for six of his own TDs. Also, QBs like Carson Palmer, Tom Brady and Derek Carr led their teams to victory while passing for four TDs each.

Running backs (RBs) like Todd Gurley, C.J. Anderson and Charcandrick West paved the way for their respected offense with each of them going over a hundred yards in total offense and each recording a TD. Keep an eye on these up and coming players as they have proven to be late bloomers throughout this season and will start creating more havoc for opposing defenses.

Wide receivers also had some big games in week 8 like Odell Beckham Jr (3 TDs, 130 yards), Julio Jones (1 TD, 162 yards) and Demaryius Thomas (168 yards). As for tight ends, (TEs) Bejamin Watson stole the show with 147 yards and a TD, while Rob Gronkowski (as productive as always) recorded 113 yards with a TD as well.

With a lot of twists and turn of events this week, still four teams remain undefeated in the standings, the Patriots, Panthers, Bengals and Broncos. For the first time in NFL history, the most teams still remain unbeaten at the week 8 point in the season. Week 8 will definitely go down in the books for a memorable and important week in the NFL.

Sleepers/Must Adds

QB- Peyton Manning (DEN) – Despite his unusual slow start (fantasy-wise), against a poor Colts defense against the pass, expect him to have a productive fantasy day.

QB- Tyrod Taylor (BUF) – Coming off his injury he looks to be ready to go against the 24th worst defense in the league.

RB- DeAngelo Williams (PIT) – With Le’Veon Bell out for the remainder of the year, Williams looks to replace him and do as well as he did when he replaced Bell the first two games of the season.

RB- Darren McFadden (DAL) – With the release of Joseph Randle, McFadden will take majority of the carries for the rest of the season, while being behind one of the best offensive lines in the league.

WR- Kamar Aiken (BAL) – Again with Steve Smith Sr. out with an injury, Aiken will receive more targets and will look to be the go-to-guy in the red zone.

WR- Mike Evans (TB) – Slow start to the season for Evans, but two productive weeks and against a poor defense Evans will shine, also due to the fact that Vincent Jackson is ruled out for week 9.

WR- DeSean Jackson (WAS) – Coming off his injury in week 9, Jackson is feeling healthy and ready to be the threat that he can be for opposing defenses.

TE- Vernon Davis (DEN) – Newly acquired Davis will be yet another go-to-guy for Peyton Manning, also Manning is well known for favoring TEs at times.

TE- Martellus Bennett (CHI)- With the loss of Matt Forte, Jay Cutler will be looking towards other for check down routes resulting in more targets for Bennett down the road.

“Studs” and “Duds” for Week 9:

                       Studs                                                                           Duds

Quarterbacks:Tom Brady (NE)Andy Dalton (CIN)

Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)

Matt Ryan (ATL)

 

Quarterbacks:Andrew Luck (IND)Blaine Gabbert (SF)Geno Smith (NYJ)

Blake Bortles (JAC)

Running Backs:Devonta Freeman (ATL)Chris Ivory (NYJ)

Jonathan Stewart (CAR)

Doug Martin (TB)

LeSean McCoy (BUF)

 

Running Backs:J. Yeldon (JAC)Mark Ingram (NO)Eddie Lacy (GB)

Frank Gore (PIT)

Lamar Miller (MIA)

Wide Receivers:Antonio Brown (PIT)Demaryius Thomas (DEN)

Jarvis Landry (MIA)

Alshon Jeffery (CHI)

Julian Edelman (NE)

Wide Receivers:Jordan Matthews (PHI)

  1. Y. Hilton (IND)

Terrance Williams (DAL)

Allen Robinson (JAC)

Randall Cobb (GB)

 

Tight Ends:Antonio Gates (SD)Rob Gronkowski (NE)

Jordan Reed (WAS)

Gary Barnidge (CLE)

Tight Ends:Dwayne Allen (IND)Jordan Cameron (MIA)

Zach Ertz (PHI)

Kyle Rudolph (MIN)

 

Defense:FalconsBengals

Broncos

Defense:49ersRaiders

Colts

 

 

Preview of Week 9:

With the upcoming of week 9, I am officially putting teams on upset alert as I am predicting that two of the four unbeaten teams suffer their first loss of the season. Watch out for the Packers as I do believe they are capable to beat a hot Panthers team. My big upset of the week is that the Patriots will lose to the Redskins, call me crazy, but I have a gut feeling.

As far as fantasy goes, there are a lot of good match-ups this week that will definitely become noticed during this week in football. Granted numbers don’t always imply lopsided match-ups, but most high power offenses are poised to do well against some beaten up defenses around the league.

We thought last week was crazy, to me it looks like this week in football will be historic. Make sure you check your line-ups and be ready to make some bold moves this week. Follow along with what I’ve told you all above and comment below to join the discussion!

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