Happy Thursday!

Before you continue reading, I have a question for you, the reader - what else would you like me to cover? Fantasy trade targets? Streaming options for the week? I’m looking to add a few more sections and hoping to cater this to your interests.

Let me know! Simply reply to this email with some suggestions and I’ll see what I can do.

Let’s talk some fantasy football!

In this week’s newsletter:

• 🤷 What the heck happened this week?

• 💭 Week 7 takeaways

• 📊 Week 8 ranking highlights

• 💥 Week 8 Booms and Busts

📰 What the heck happened this week?

• Tyreek Hill and Raheem Mostert both don’t practice on Wednesday

  • As of writing this, I have no further injury updates aside from the fact that both missed practice with injury designations on Wednesday. Could be a rough week for fantasy managers and the Dolphins if both are out.

• Brock Purdy enters concussion protocol

  • I’d plan for Sam Darnold to be under center for the 49ers this week. Surprisingly, I’m not overly adjusting ranks too much based on this news and you should still be starting Aiyuk/Deebo/Kittle/McCaffrey as long as they are also playing.

• Zach Ertz hits the IR

  • If you’re a TE-needy team, I believe you can pick up and start Trey McBride with this news. The Cardinals throw to the TE position the fourth-most this season, so the volume and talent are both there.

👀 Week Seven Takeaways

😡 Falcons head coach Arthur Smith is a hated man
If you started Bijan Robinson this week, good. You should have. I’d have thought you were crazy if you didn’t. Unfortunately, Robinson only played a handful of snaps for an illness that wasn’t disclosed to anybody until halftime. This guy stinks.

⚜️ Alvin Kamara is just a WR in this offense
With just four games played, Kamara is second on the team in receptions and trails Chris Olave by four catches. Kamara has a 22.8% target share as a running back. Wild.

🦁 Jahmyr Gibbs has arrived
Finishing the week as the RB3 and given the full workload in Detroit, things are looking good for the rookie. I expect this workload to continue this week against one of the worst rush defenses, the Raiders. Looking forward to how this usage will look with the return of David Montgomery soon.

Other things to check out:

• Trade Value Charts are updated and live on our site!

• Sign up for Rival Fantasy using this link, you'll get a first deposit match up to $200 and a FREE $25 Voucher

• Underdog Fantasy currently has a $100 deposit bonus offer if you use code FIRSTSEED at signup!

📊 Week Eight Rankings Highlights

Every week here I’ll highlight a few players I may be ranking higher than other experts, or some players I’m just excited to see play this upcoming week.

Feel free to check out my full weekly rankings at the link below!

🦁 D'Onta Foreman - RB23
After finishing last week as the RB1, Foreman is expected to be joined by rookie Roschon Johnson this week. Touches will most likely decline but I would still plan on Foreman having a majority role in this backfield. Overall, I still feel comfortable slotting Foreman into my starting lineup.

🌻 Nico Collins - WR17
I’m so happy Collins is back from the bye week. Collins faces the Carolina Panthers this week, who have been a pretty tough opponent for fantasy WRs. I expect this to be a tough matchup but not one I see Collins floundering on.

❓ Advice Requests ❓

Need some start/sit help? Looking to fill a bench spot with with someone from waivers? Need a DST streamer?

Feel free to reply to this email with any questions and I’ll answer whatever you have for me. Let’s get some wins.

💥 Week Eight Booms and Busts 👎

Start your studs.

That being said, let’s highlight some players I’m expecting some big weeks from and a few I’m pretty low on. This isn’t necessarily a start/sit column, but more so some players I expect a bigger week from and some players I’m not excited about.

💥 RB Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (vs. Dolphins)
Stevenson has now had back-to-back weeks with six targets after not having more than four since week 1. This bump in the passing game has pushed Stevenson in the top-15 RBs in both weeks and I expect the Patriots to need him in the same game plan against a high-scoring Miami team.

👎 RB Miles Sanders, Panthers (vs. Texans)
I believe this is a backfield that Sanders is going to lose the job in. With Sanders underperforming and backup Chuba Hubbard stepping in just fine tells me there might be a full switch in usage. The return from a shoulder injury also worries me, so I feel comfortable sitting Sanders.

💥 WR George Pickens, Steelers (vs. Jaguars)
Even with the return of Diontae Johnson, Pickens still saw 8 targets and over 100 receiving yards against the Rams last week. With this expected usage to continue, Pickens could be a smash play against a weaker Jaguars pass defense this week.

👎 WR Tyler Lockett, Seahawks (vs. Browns)
The Browns are currently the third-best defense against fantasy WRs this season in adjusted points allowed. Combine that with Lockett failing to show up against the Cardinals last week when DK Metcalf was out for the game. It worries me looking ahead at the rest of the season, but this week especially I’m not excited about.