October 27, 2023
NFL

Rankings: Some guys rise, some fall

Updated QB, RB, WR, TE player rankings for Week 8
Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Our NFL player rankings guru Cody Carpentier has taken a run through all player positions for Week 8 and elevated some and demoted others based on the latest information coming from each team. See below:

Quarterback
RankChangeNameTeamWeek 8
1 Patrick MahomesKC@DEN
2 Jalen HurtsPHI@WSH
3 Josh AllenBUFTB
4 Lamar JacksonBAL@ARI
5 Joe BurrowCIN@SF
6 Jared GoffDETLV
7 Derek CarrNO@IND
8 Trevor LawrenceJAX@PIT
9 Tua TagovailoaMIANE
10 Kirk CousinsMIN@GB
11 Dak PrescottDALLAR
12 C.J. StroudHOU@CAR
13 Justin HerbertLACCHI
14 Matthew StaffordLAR@DAL
15 Bryce YoungCARHOU
16 Desmond RidderATL@TEN
17 Brock PurdySFCIN
18 Tyson BagentCHI@LAC
19 Gardner MinshewINDNO
20 Geno SmithSEACLE
21 Kenny PickettPITJAX
22 Will LevisTENATL
23 Joshua DobbsARIBAL
24 Russell WilsonDENKC
25 Baker MayfieldTB@BUF
26 Tyrod TaylorNYGNYJ
27 Sam HowellWSHPHI
28 Mac JonesNE@MIA
29 Zach WilsonNYJ@NYG
30 Deshaun WatsonCLE@SEA
31 Brian HoyerLV@DET
32 Jordan LoveGBMIN
33 P.J. WalkerCLE@ARI
34 Clayton TuneARIBAL
35 Aidan O'ConnellLV@DET
36 Malik WillisTENATL
Running Back
RankCHANGENameTeamWeek 8
1 Travis Etienne Jr.JAX@PIT
2 Breece HallNYJ@NYG
3 Alvin KamaraNO@IND
4 Christian McCaffreySFCIN
5(-3)Jahmyr GibbsDETLV
6 Isiah PachecoKC@DEN
7(+9)Jonathan TaylorINDNO
8 Austin EkelerLACCHI
9 Kenneth Walker IIISEACLE
10 Raheem MostertMIANE
11(+8)Tony PollardDALLAR
12(+4)Bijan RobinsonATL@TEN
13 D'Onta ForemanCHI@LAC
14(-5)Saquon BarkleyNYGNYJ
15 D'Andre SwiftPHI@WSH
16 Derrick HenryTENATL
17 Kareem HuntCLE@SEA
18 Aaron JonesGBMIN
19 Joe MixonCIN@SF
20(-3)Tyjae SpearsTENATL
21 Darrell Henderson Jr.LAR@DAL
22 Rachaad WhiteTB@BUF
23 Josh JacobsLV@DET
24 Rhamondre StevensonNE@MIA
25 Brian Robinson Jr.WSHPHI
26 Javonte WilliamsDENKC
27 Jaylen WarrenPITJAX
28 James CookBUFTB
29(+8)Joshua KelleyLACCHI
30 Zack MossINDNO
31 Najee HarrisPITJAX
32 Ezekiel ElliottNE@MIA
33 Alexander MattisonMIN@GB
34 Chuba HubbardCARHOU
35(-9)AJ DillonGBMIN
36 Gus EdwardsBAL@ARI
37(+6)Tyler AllgeierATL@TEN
38 Miles SandersCARHOU
39 Jaleel McLaughlinDENKC
40 Devin SingletaryHOU@CAR
41 Pierre Strong Jr.CLE@SEA
42(+13)Cam AkersMIN@GB
43 Emari DemercadoARIBAL
44(+6)Roschon JohnsonCHI@LAC
45 Justice HillBAL@ARI
46 Antonio GibsonWSHPHI
47 Jordan MasonSFCIN
48 Keaontay IngramARIBAL
49 Royce FreemanLAR@DAL
50 Craig ReynoldsDETLV
51 Dameon PierceHOU@CAR
52 Salvon AhmedMIANE
53 Darrynton EvansCHI@LAC
54 Samaje PerineDENKC
55(+13)Jamaal WilliamsNO@IND
56 Kenneth GainwellPHI@WSH
57 Zamir WhiteLV@DET
58 Jerick McKinnonKC@DEN
59 Zach CharbonnetSEACLE
60 Emanuel WilsonGB 
61 Latavius MurrayBUFTB
62(-9)Kendre MillerNO@IND
63 Chris Rodriguez Jr.WSHPHI
64 Damien WilliamsARIBAL
65 Ty ChandlerMIN@GB
66 Keaton MitchellBAL@ARI
67 Boston ScottPHI@WSH
68 Jeff Wilson Jr.MIANE
69 Kenny McIntoshSEACLE
70 Tyrion Davis-PriceSFCIN
71 Dalvin CookNYJ@NYG
72 Cordarrelle PattersonATL@TEN
73 Michael CarterNYJ@NYG
74 Matt BreidaNYGNYJ
75 Devine OzigboDET 
76 Deuce VaughnDALLAR
77 Clyde Edwards-HelaireKC@DEN
78 Ty MontgomeryNE 
79 Trayveon WilliamsCIN@SF
80 Chase BrownCIN@SF
81 Tank BigsbyJAX@PIT
82 Ke'Shawn VaughnTB@BUF
83 Rico DowdleDALLAR
84 Mike BooneHOU@CAR
85 Damien HarrisBUFTB
86 Zach EvansLAR@DAL
87 Isaiah SpillerLACCHI
Wide Receiver
RankCHANGENameTeamWeek 8
1 A.J. BrownPHI@WSH
2 Amon-Ra St. BrownDETLV
3 Stefon DiggsBUFTB
4(+1)Tyreek HillMIANE
5(+5)Cooper KuppLAR@DAL
6 DJ MooreCHI@LAC
7 Ja'Marr ChaseCIN@SF
8 Christian KirkJAX@PIT
9(-5)Adam ThielenCARHOU
10 Chris GodwinTB@BUF
11 CeeDee LambDALLAR
12(-2)Puka NacuaLAR@DAL
13 Curtis SamuelWSHPHI
14 Keenan AllenLACCHI
15 Drake LondonATL@TEN
16 Jakobi MeyersLV@DET
17 Jordan AddisonMIN@GB
18 Jaylen WaddleMIANE
19 Diontae JohnsonPITJAX
20(+19)Davante AdamsLV@DET
21 Brandon AiyukSFCIN
22 Joshua PalmerLACCHI
23(-4)Nico CollinsHOU@CAR
24 Devonta SmithPHI@WSH
25 Garrett WilsonNYJ@NYG
26 Terry McLaurinWSHPHI
27 Josh DownsINDNO
28 Zay FlowersBAL@ARI
29 George PickensPITJAX
30 Chris OlaveNO@IND
31 DK MetcalfSEACLE
32 Rashee RiceKC@DEN
33 Tank DellHOU@CAR
34 Michael Pittman Jr.INDNO
35(+17)Jaxon Smith-NjigbaSEACLE
36 Michael ThomasNO@IND
37 Mike EvansTB@BUF
38 Courtland SuttonDENKC
39(-3)Amari CooperCLE@SEA
40 Tyler BoydCIN@SF
41 Kendrick BourneNE@MIA
42 Tyler LockettSEACLE
43 Josh ReynoldsDETLV
44 Christian WatsonGBMIN
45 DeAndre HopkinsTENATL
46 Deebo SamuelSFCIN
47 Jahan DotsonWSHPHI
48 Jerry JeudyDENKC
49 Michael WilsonARIBAL
50 Calvin RidleyJAX@PIT
51 Brandon PowellMIN@GB
52 Rashid ShaheedNO@IND
53 Jayden ReedGBMIN
54(-8)Jameson WilliamsDETLV
55 Wan'Dale RobinsonNYGNYJ
56 Romeo DoubsGBMIN
57 Odell Beckham Jr.BAL@ARI
58 Darnell MooneyCHI@LAC
59 Marquise BrownARIBAL
60 Gabe DavisBUFTB
61 KaVontae TurpinDALLAR
62(+17)Elijah MooreCLE@SEA
63 Tutu AtwellLAR@DAL
64 DJ Chark Jr.CARHOU
65 Brandin CooksDALLAR
66 DeMario DouglasNE@MIA
67 K.J. OsbornMIN@GB
68(+38)Tee HigginsCIN@SF
69 Jonathan MingoCARHOU
70(+29)Tre TuckerLV@DET
71 Allen LazardNYJ@NYG
72 Mack HollinsATL@TEN
73 Jalen TolbertDALLAR
74 Robert WoodsHOU@CAR
75 Marvin Mims Jr.DENKC
76 Nick Westbrook-IkhineTENATL
77 Michael GallupDALLAR
78 Jake BoboSEACLE
79 Noah BrownHOU@CAR
80 Derius DavisLACCHI
81 Trenton IrwinCIN@SF
82 Jauan JenningsSFCIN
83 Deven ThompkinsTB@BUF
84 Braxton BerriosMIANE
85 Darius SlaytonNYGNYJ
86 Marquez Valdes-ScantlingKC@DEN
87 Kadarius ToneyKC@DEN
88 Kalif RaymondDETLV
89 Trey PalmerTB@BUF
90 Nelson AgholorBAL@ARI
91 Cedrick Wilson Jr.MIANE
92 Jalin HyattNYGNYJ
93 Alec PierceINDNO
94 Deonte HartyBUFTB
95 Rondale MooreARIBAL
96 Tim JonesJAX@PIT
97 Andrei IosivasCIN@SF
98 Isaiah HodginsNYGNYJ
99 Khalil ShakirBUFTB
100 Scotty MillerATL@TEN
Tight End
RankChangeNameTeamWeek 8
1 Travis KelceKC@DEN
2 Mark AndrewsBAL@ARI
3 T.J. HockensonMIN@GB
4 Darren WallerNYGNYJ
5 Sam LaPortaDETLV
6 George KittleSFCIN
7 Evan EngramJAX@PIT
8 Luke MusgraveGBMIN
9 Dalton SchultzHOU@CAR
10 Dalton KincaidBUFTB
11 Trey McBrideARIBAL
12 Dallas GoedertPHI@WSH
13 Jonnu SmithATL@TEN
14 Cole KmetCHI@LAC
15 Michael MayerLV@DET
16 Jake FergusonDALLAR
17 David NjokuCLE@SEA
18 Kyle PittsATL@TEN
19 Tyler ConklinNYJ@NYG
20 Foster MoreauNO@IND
21 Cade OttonTB@BUF
22 Drew OgletreeINDNO
23 Tommy TrembleCARHOU
24 Logan ThomasWSHPHI
25 Chigoziem OkonkwoTENATL
26 Gerald EverettLACCHI
27 Colby ParkinsonSEACLE
28 Pharaoh BrownNE@DAL
29 Connor HeywardPIT 
30 Hunter HenryNE@MIA
31 Mike GesickiNE@MIA
32 Tyler HigbeeLAR@DAL
33 Noah GrayKC@DEN
34 Noah FantSEACLE
35 Pat FreiermuthPITJAX
36 Adam TrautmanDENKC
37 Hayden HurstCARHOU
38 Irv Smith Jr.CIN@SF
39 C.J. UzomahNYJ@NYG
40 Josh WhyleTENATL
41 Brenton StrangeJAX@PIT
42 Stone SmarttLACCHI
43 Tanner HudsonCIN@SF
44 Ian ThomasCARHOU
45 Donald Parham Jr.LACCHI
46 Brevin JordanHOU@CAR
47 Austin HooperLV@DET
48 Brock WrightDETLV
49 Geoff SwaimARIBAL
50 Mo Alie-CoxINDNO
51 Elijah HigginsARIBAL
52 Robert TonyanCHI@LAC
53 MyCole PruittATL@TEN
54 Teagan QuitorianoHOU@CAR
55 Josh OliverMIN@GB
56 Durham SmytheMIANE
57 Marcedes LewisCHI@LAC
58 Tucker KraftGBMIN
59 Jeremy RuckertNYJ@NYG
60 Nate AdkinsDENKC
61 Jesper HorstedLV@DET
62 Brycen HopkinsLAR@DAL
63 Trevon WescoTENATL
64 Ben SimsGBMIN
65 Drew SampleCIN@SF
66 Mitchell WilcoxCIN@SF
Kicker
RankNameTEAMWeek 8
1Justin TuckerBAL@ARI
2Brandon AubreyDALLAR
3Harrison ButkerKC@DEN
4Brett MaherLAR@DAL
5Jason MyersSEACLE
6Younghoe KooATL@TEN
7Jake MoodySFCIN
8Daniel CarlsonLV@DET
9Wil LutzDENKC
10Matt GayINDNO
11Jake ElliottPHI@WSH
12Brandon McManusJAX@PIT
13Tyler BassBUFTB
14Blake GrupeNO@IND
15Riley PattersonDETLV
Defense
RankTeamWeek 8
1SEACLE
2CLE@SEA
3PHI@WSH
4KC@DEN
5DETLV
6BAL@ARI
7NYJ@NYG
8MIN@GB
9TENATL
10DALLAR
11HOU@CAR
12NYGNYJ
13BUFTB
14SFCIN
15LAR@DAL
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Fall is hands-down the best season. I thought it was summer when I was a kid, but I was dumb then. I’m dumber now, but at least I know Fall is better than the sweat-filled sauna months of the middle of the year. Football, weather, hoodies, stews. This is a football column, but it should be noted that the NBA is about to tip off, meaning we’ll have a day of NFL, NBA, NHL, and a World Series game right around the corner. So, cherish this beautiful season while we have it because winter is coming. Or, if you’re like my survivor pool, it has already come and frozen me out of any possible winnings. Oh well, on to the column!

10 Studs
  1. Travis Kelce - 179 yds. 1 TD
  2. Patrick Mahomes - 424 yds. 4 TDs
  3. D’Onta Foreman - 120 total yds. 3 TDs
  4. Lamar Jackson - 357 yds. 4 total TDs
  5. Mark Andrews - 63 yds. 2 TDs
  6. Gardner Minshew - 305 yds. 4 total TDs
  7. Josh Downs - 125 yds. 1 TD
  8. Jonathan Taylor - 120 total yds. 1 TD
  9. Jahmyr Gibbs - 126 total yds. 1 TD
  10. Darren Waller - 98 yds. 1 TD

Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce. Lamar Jackson to Mark Andrews. Those are the QB-to-TE combinations we’ve become accustomed to over the years, and we bank on them in our season-long and DFS stacks. On National Tight End Day, the combinations delivered and then some.

I admit it, I do this every year. I think the Chiefs look “underwhelming” and “disappointing.” I wonder “who they have besides Kelce?” It never matters. Mahomes dazzled with a 400+ yard game and, like clockwork, the Chiefs reminded everyone why they are, in fact, so impressive.

In Baltimore, Jackson is on pace for a career year after contract drama this off-season. His Ravens just dismantled a good Lions team. An AFC Championship collision course between KC and Baltimore? Stay tuned!

From healthy scratch to Week 7 fantasy RB1, the D’Onta Foreman story. Foreman is the lead back in Chicago out of necessity with injuries depleting the backfield, but his performances should get him more work and less healthy scratches. The Bears will likely ride him as long as Justin Fields is sidelined.

Nobody told the Indianapolis Colts they weren’t supposed to be this good. First-round QB pick Anthony Richardson had accuracy questions coming into the season and then went down to injury. Their supremely talented running back Jonathan Taylor wanted a new contract, then a trade, then had beef with the organization.

Everything was set up to be a question mark, and yet here we are. Backup QB Gardner Minshew made the most of his throws and showed off his own dual-threat ability with two passing and two rushing touchdowns.

Taylor split carries with Zack Moss but looks to be regaining playing form and is on the verge of being the alpha in the backfield again. Rookie receiver Josh Downs has shown he can complement or even outpace Michael Pittman. And Indy scored 38 in a losing effort against one of the NFL’s best defenses. There are brighter days ahead for this exciting team.

Jahmyr Gibbs, welcome to the party! So what if you did most of your damage in garbage time? I, personally, don’t believe in garbage time if there are fantasy points to be earned and/or money to be made. Gibbs operated as Detroit’s feature back while the Lions were getting manhandled by Baltimore and gave a boost to fantasy owners. He also saw 10 targets, which is perhaps a sign of things to come even when David Montgomery returns.

Let’s round the 10 studs out with another tight end to put the bow on National Tight Ends day. Darren Waller had his best game of the season by far and maybe is wondering if Daniel Jones should take some more time off. The Giants offense has looked better with Tyrod Taylor under center while Jones recovers from a neck injury. That’s a low bar, but some Giants fantasy assets like Waller finally look like startable pieces.

The Duds

While Bijan Robinson will be the written name here, the real dud is Falcons coach Arthur Smith. At some point between Saturday night and Sunday, Robinson apparently got a headache? And then Smith said he wasn’t feeling great when asked why he wasn’t on the field much? But then Robinson got one carry for 3 yards in the 4th quarter? None of it makes sense and I know fantasy mangers and bettors were enraged. Hey Artie, how about a heads-up next time?

Bills QB Josh Allen had a fine fantasy day, but the team’s reality is a lot less clear. A struggle against a bad Giants team last week followed by a loss to a bad Patriots team this week. Maybe Allen’s injury affected him? There were pedestrian numbers all around, but Gabe Davis’s one catch for six yards didn’t help anyone. The Bills have things to figure out.

Finally, I’ll include the Packers’ offense as a whole. Aaron Jones clearly isn’t right no matter how many times he’s declared “active.”  It takes Green Bay and Jordan Love a whole first half of football to get going most games. They lost to the Broncos, who had been the league’s slump-buster. And they were coming off a bye. Not sure who you can trust in that offense right now.

An action-packed Sunday culminates with arguably the best matchup of the season so far. The high-flying Miami Dolphins play at Philadelphia to battle the reigning NFC champion Eagles on Sunday Night Football.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Miami Dolphins, 8:20 pm ET
Betting Odds (DraftKings)
  • Line: Eagles -3, Dolphins +3
  • Moneyline: Eagles (-155), Dolphins (+130)
  • Over/Under: 51.5
Team Ranks (2023)

Eagles

  • Points for: 25.8 (5th)
  • Points Allowed: 20.7 (15th)

Dolphins

  • Points For: 37.2 (1st)
  • Points Allowed: 26 (26th)
Key Injuries to Watch

Eagles

  • FS Reed Blankensip (Ribs) – Out
  • CB Bradley Roby (Shoulder) - Out

Dolphins

  • CB Jalen Ramsey (Knee) – Out

The injury report for each side during the week was long but it seems both teams are at or near full strength. The Dolphins’ star offseason acquisition on defense, Jalen Ramsey, returned to practice this week in a limited capacity. He underwent knee surgery in July, and he’s likely going to return sooner than many people expected. The Dolphin secondary has been below average, and they will get quite the boost when he makes his Dolphins debut – just not this week.

Captain Prices (DraftKings)
  • Tyreek Hill, WR, $18,000
  • Jalen Hurts, QB, $17,100
  • Tua Tagovailoa, QB, $15,900
  • AJ Brown, WR, $15,000
  • Raheem Mostert, RB, $14,700
  • Jaylen Waddle, WR, $12,900
  • D’Andre Swift, RB, $12,000
  • DeVonta Smith, WR, $11,100
Flex Prices (DraftKings)
  • Tyreek Hill, WR, $12,000
  • Jalen Hurts, QB, $11,400
  • Tua Tagovailoa, QB, $10,600
  • AJ Brown, WR, $10,000
  • Raheem Mostert, RB, 9,800
  • Jaylen Waddle, WR, $8,600
  • D’Andre Swift, RB, $8,000
  • DeVonta Smith, WR, $7,400

According to the Contrarian Edge Optimizer, Hurts is projected to be the most-owned Captain on the slate at DraftKings by a margin in over 27% of lineups. It's a bit surprising given his performance against the Jets.

Swift is projected to be the next most-owned Captain in Showdown lineups, appearing in 9.5%. Surprisingly, Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa are projected to Captain just over 7% of lineups apiece.

The flex positions are projected to be much more balanced. Tua is the only player projected to appear in over 50% of lineups, meanwhile, Hurts, Hill, Brown, and Swift are projected to be in over 40% of lineups.

The current Vegas total is set at 51.5 points. Each offense plays at a quick pace. The Eagles run first, and the Dolphins pass first. Miami is 8th in neutral pace, and Philadelphia is 13th,, so there should be no shortage of plays.

By now, you have heard the storyline that Hurts and Tagovailoa are former college teammates at Alabama and will square off in the NFL for the first time. Tua was drafted in the first round, Hurts in the second round, in 2020. Each quarterback is in the MVP conversation, and both franchises believe they are Super Bowl contenders coming into Week 7 with 5-1 records. This matchup has the potential to be a Super Bowl preview and should not disappoint.

Captain Option

With this game projected to be a shootout, it would be wise to have one of these star quarterbacks in your captain slot, but which one? The answer is Hurts.

Jalen Hurts, QB, $11,400

The Eagles appear to be a pass funnel defense because it’s so strong against the run. Tua will be under pressure all night against the Eagles’ pass rush. The Eagles’ defense projects similarly to the Bills, and that’s where we saw the Dolphins give their worst offensive performance so far. It will be difficult for Miami to push the ball downfield to Hill and Waddle.

The Eagles’ offensive line is the best in the NFL. Hurts is set up to boom, as Miami has allowed the 7th highest passer rating. The Dolphins are bottom 10 in passing yards allowed. Hurts also provides the rushing upside that Tua doesn’t.

It’s a no-brainer for me to ride with Hurts in a bounce-back spot at home in a matchup where he will play with a chip on his shoulder.

Sneaky Option

DeVonta Smith, WR, $7,400

One thing about the NFL I’ve learned is when everyone zigs, you should zag. Smith has been in the headlines for his struggles, as he’s only eclipsed 20 fantasy points once so far.

But he’s in position to get back on track against a poor Dolphins secondary. He ranks 9th in the NFL in deep targets but doesn’t have much to show for it. Miami runs a ton of zone defense, and Smith’s yard per route run increases against zone coverage.

He should see plenty of Eli Apple and he can burn him on multiple occasions. I love that Smith and his fellow former teammate at Alabama, Jaylen Waddle, will be on the same field again as well. Smith will want to show up for his quarterback.

Cheap Option

Jeff Wilson, RB, $200

Wilson hasn’t played yet this season, so expectations should be tempered. He practiced fully this week for the first time, and it hasn’t been announced if he will be activated off of IR, but all signs are pointing toward it. With rookie running back De’Von Achane out, the veteran Wilson will slide into backup duties behind Raheem Mostert. Dolphins running backs have exploded this season for 280 fantasy points combined, which is 79 more than any other team!

The SNF matchup isn’t one to get excited about though. The Eagles boast a top-three run defense and have given up just the 2nd fewest fantasy points per game to RBs. The price on Wilson, who can potentially see double-digit touches, is hard to ignore though, and gives you more options on the slate.

Prediction

This is going to be a great matchup. I believe the Eagles defense up front will eventually be too much for the Dolphins. Hurts should pick apart Miami’s zone defensive scheme, and Swift will find room to run on the Eagles zone runs. The Dolphins offense has been historic, and I expect them to keep this interesting, but ultimately, Miami won’t be able to slow down the methodical Eagles offense. Hurts gets the best of Tua in their first NFL matchup.

Final Score: Eagles 34, Dolphins 20

Week 5 Value Finder

We are back with another Value Finder column for this pivotal Week 7. Six teams have a bye, so that shortens the selection pool. Less room for error so every player is valuable. Let’s look at some values:

QB: Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (DK: $5,800, FD: $7,800)

Love has not consistently had all the weapons available to him, but coming off a bye he is expected to have a healthy offense. The Broncos defense have allowed the second most passing yards in the league and the second most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

This is a tough play when you think about how Love went into the bye. He looked very rough during a two-game losing streak, so it was the perfect spot for a bye week. Coach Matt LaFleur can center the offense and it gave the whole team another week to get healthy. While on the road, the Fantasy Sports Contrarian Optimizer agrees this is a great spot for Love versus one of the worst defenses in the league.

RB: Zach Evans, Los Angeles Rams (DK: $4,000, FD: $4,800)

You must get different if you want to win a million dollars. Evans is getting a huge opportunity with the injuries to the Rams running back room. Kyren Williams just went on IR after they traded Cam Akers to Minnesota, and Ronnie Rivers is out as well.

Evans will start against a Steelers defense that is giving up the seventh most fantasy points per game. Even with Matthew Stafford’s gunslinger mentality, Sean McVay wants to keep running. The Contrarian Edge Optimizer spit out Evans as a cheap, value play a few times. Look for Evans to exploit a Steelers defense that will be playing the pass more than the run in this game.

WR: Dionte Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers (DK: $5,000, FD: $6,000)

Johnson returns from a hamstring injury that sent him to IR. He was a full participant in practice all week and does not carry an injury designation.

The Steelers offense has been abysmal without him, but I think he can reclaim his role as a focal point. Despite the changes at quarterback, he has consistently been a target hog. He runs the short to intermediate routes and is escape option for Kenny Pickett. The CEO likes Johnson as a cheap, good option.

TE: Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers (DK: $3,300, FD: $5,000)

Game Stack Alert. The Broncos' defense is giving up the most fantasy points to tight ends. They have allowed the most receiving yards and have given up three touchdowns — fourth most in the NFL.

Musgrave was knocked out in Week 4 against the Lions, but still played 69% of snaps the next week. He is lapping the tight end room in snap count and Love has fed him targets in every game he has finished. Expect to see Musgrave take advantage of a soft Broncos secondary.

A pivotal Game 5 in the ALCS and Game 4 in the NLCS is on tab for Friday, and with it comes some fun over/under challenges to potentially take advantage of.

Jordan Montgomery: 4.0 strikeouts vs. Astros - Over (Underdog)

Montgomery was fantastic in Game 1 and has been since the middle of September. He hasn't piled up strikeouts, but he's reached this total in seven of his last eight starts. You could argue he's due for some regression, but even if he's mediocre it’s likely he’ll pick up five-plus punchouts.

Trea Turner: 8.0 fantasy points at Diamondbacks - Over (PrizePicks)

Turner has picked up at least one hit in every postseason game so far for the Phillies, and he’s slashing a robust .471/.556/.882 with three homers and four stolen bases over those nine contests. Now, the right-handed hitting infielder will take on Joe Mantiply and the Arizona bullpen with a chance to give Philadelphia a commanding 3-1 lead. After scoring just one run against Brandon Pfaadt and Arizona in Thursday’s loss, it’s a good bet that Turner and the D-Backs offense will turn things around Friday.

Ketel Marte: 1.5 total bases vs. Phillies - Higher (Underdog)

The Marte part-ay has been alive and well in the postseason, with the switch-hitting infielder registering a 1.046 OPS in the playoffs. He’s coming off a three-hit day with a pair of doubles in Game 3, and he’ll face Cristopher Sanchez and the Philadelphia bullpen. Ride the hot hand, especially against a pitcher that hasn’t appeared in a game since September 30.

Adolis Garcia: 1.5 total bases vs. Astros: Under (PrizePicks)

Garcia has been solid in helping Texas get to this point and did go 2-for-4 with a homer against the Astros on Thursday. The outfielder has struggled against Justin Verlander, however, going 2-for-11 with no extra-base hits and three strikeouts. It will just take a two-bagger or better to reach this total, but after going deep in the loss Thursday, I’ll bet on some regression in this case, (relatively) confidently.

Cristopher Sanchez: 3.0 strikeouts at Diamondbacks - Under (DraftKings, PrizePicks)

Sanchez has not played since September 30. The left-hander was solid in the regular season with a 3.44 ERA in just-over 99 innings, but this will be his first ever appearance in the postseason, and it’s hard to simulate that experience. It seems likely Sanchez will only go through the Arizona lineup one time and asking him to strike out a quality Arizona lineup more than three times in a short time is asking a lot.

Yordan Alvarez: 9.0 fantasy points at Rangers - Over (DraftKings)

Imagine betting the under on any total for Yordan Alvarez in a postseason game. Couldn’t be me. I don’t care if it’s a lefty on the mound. I don’t care that it’s a high total that basically requires him to drive in a run or pick up two-plus hits. It doesn’t matter. It’s Yordan Alvarez. That’s all the analysis you need.

After a Thursday Night Football game last week that is best to just pretend didn’t exist -- not the first time we’ve said that, and certainly not the last --  this one could be pretty good, and based on the betting odds, Vegas seems to agree.

Game

New Orleans Saints vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Betting odds (DraftKings)
  • Line: Saints -1
  • Moneyline:Saints  --108, Jaguars -112
  • Over/Under: 40
Team ranks

Saints

  • Points per game: 18.2 (24th)
  • Points allowed per game: 16 (6th)

Jaguars

  • Points per game: 23.7 (10th)
  • Points allowed per game: 20.3 (15th)
Key Fantasy Injuries

Jaguars

  • QB Trevor Lawrence (Knee): QUESTIONABLE
  • WR Zay Jones (Knee: OUT

Lawrence is dealing with a knee sprain and was a limited participant in both Tuesday and Wednesday’s practices. The third-year signal-caller is expected to play, but monitor this situation. CJ Beathard would likely start if the Jaguars decide to take precaution and sit Lawrence, and that would be an awfully risky fantasy play.

Saints

  • TE Juwan Johnson (Calf): OUT
  • RB Jamaal Williams (Hamstring): QUESTIONABLE

Johnson will miss a fourth straight game since he picked up a calf injury before Week 4 against the Buccaneers. That should open things up again for Taysom Hill -- more on him later -- with Jimmy Graham and Foster Moreau also inline for targets.

Williams was designated for return by the Saints this week off injured reserve after missing the previous few weeks with his hamstring injury, and he was a limited participant for practices prior to Thursday’s contest. If he is active, it seems likely he’ll see touches in the red zone, but Williams will have tough sledding against a Jacksonville defense that ranks third in total yards on the ground, and seventh in yards per attempt.

Big Names/Big Prices (DraftKings, Captain Prices)
  • Alvin Kamara, RB: $15,600
  • Travis Etienne, RB: 15,300
  • Trevor Lawrence, QB: $14,400
  • Chris Olave, WR: $13,500
  • David Carr, QB: $13,200
  • CJ Beathard, QB: $12,900
  • Calvin Ridley, WR: $12,000
  • Christian Kirk, WR: $12,000
  • Michael Thomas, WR: $10,500

It’s weird to see two running backs at the top of the list before you see a quarterback, but the Lawrence injury is baked into that equation, as is the fact that Kamara has received at least 25 touches in each of his three games and the Jaguars are ranked 15th in opponents points per game against RBs. Etienne will be facing a much stingier test with the Saints ranking second-best in points allowed to RBs, but his (all but) assured large workload makes him worth consideration.

Carr has not been able to get the ball downfield in his first season with the Saints, and he needed 50 attempts to get up to 353 yards after throwing for just 403 yards combined in his previous three contests. He does have competent weapons in Olave, Thomas and Kamara -- among others -- and he’ll be facing a defense that ranks 31st in yards allowed and 22nd in passing touchdowns. If Carr can’t throw downfield in this one, it’s time to get concerned -- if you aren’t already.

Ridley hasn’t shown much consistency – he’s topped 100 yards twice but hasn’t surpassed 40 in the other four games. While the yardage hasn’t always been there, the former Atlanta wideout has been a target hog with seven or more in five games. All due respect to players like Olave, Kirk and Thomas; but Ridley is the player I’d be looking to roster first.

Sneaky options

Taysom Hill, TE, NO: $6,200

Hill typically isn’t involved in the passing game despite being listed as a tight end, but that changed in the loss to the Texans with eight targets and seven receptions for the “former” quarterback. Some of that may have to do with game script -- again, Carr threw 50 times in that loss -- but with Juwan Johnson not available and a solid showing when give the opportunity, it shouldn’t be a big surprise if Hill sees a good number of targets again against Jacksonville.

Brandon McManus, K, JAX: $4,800

I promised two weeks ago I would try and limit kicker talk, but on a Thursday format that relies entirely on flex plays, McManus makes sense. The Jaguars have gotten into field goal range plenty, and while they’ve finished those drives with touchdowns 14 times, McManus has also been called upon to kick 14 field goal attempts – three against the Colts. At that price point, it makes a lot of sense to have McManus in your lineup.

Brenton Strange, TE, JAX: $1,000

Strange scored a touchdown while picking up 27 yards in the victory over the Colts and played 55 percent of the snaps, a season-high for the rookie. The 6-foot-4 tight end was a second-round selection for the Jaguars, and while he isn’t likely to be among the leaders for targets, he can still provide fantasy production at this price point. Adding a player like Strange also allows you to add more stars to your lineup, which is always nice.

Prediction

This is probably the most evenly matched Thursday Night Football game -- on paper – this season. If Lawrence can’t play that changes things quite a bit, but the Jags just seem like the more talented team at this point in the season and the more likely winner, even with the game in New Orleans.

Jaguars 23, Saints 14

Some weeks demand you to differentiate yourself more than others in the world of DFS and week 7 of the 2023 NFL season is one of those weeks. With the Panthers, Bengals, Cowboys, Texans, Jets, and Titans all on bye, ownership is going to be even more consolidated than usual.

With the help of the Contrarian Edge Optimizer, we’ve identified three stacks to help differentiate your lineups. Whether you’re looking for that budget option at QB or looking to spend big, there’s an identified stack to fill out your lineup.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Los Angeles Rams
  • Matthew Stafford ($6500 DraftKings, $6700 FanDuel)
  • Tutu Atwell ($4300 DraftKings, $5200 FanDuel)

Stafford has his favorite weapon in Cooper Kupp back, but don’t forget about Rams big play threat Tutu Atwell. Game script in the blowout second half of the Cardinals game in Week 6 played into Tutu’s one target as did Kupp’s return.

This week, the Rams face one of the most porous secondaries in the NFL. The Steelers have given up the fourth-most PPR fantasy points to wide receivers and have been vulnerable to the big play. Enter Stafford and his favorite deep threat option Atwell.

You’ll save cash compared to some of the high-profile options this week and differentiate yourself from the competition with Tutu as opposed to more popular Rams receiving options.

Washington Commanders @ New York Giants
  • Sam Howell ($5500 DraftKings, $7400 FanDuel)
  • Curtis Samuel ($4000 DraftKings, $6400 FanDuel)

Howell is coming off three consecutive good-to-great fantasy performances. He’s been QB 8, 5, and 13 in the previous three weeks. If you look further back, you might get scared off of starting a QB that scored 0.6 fantasy points against the Buffalo Bills in Week 3.

The good news is the Giants are not Buffalo. And despite their good defensive performance in Week 6, this Giants defense is still bottom half in the league against quarterbacks and bottom third against wide receivers.

Curtis Samuel is on a hot streak and appears to be Howell’s favorite target over the middle of the field. He’s scored at least 14 PPR fantasy points in each of his last three contests and been a wide receiver 2 or better in all three as well.

Howell has a three-touchdown upside any given week and Samuel may be the most likely to catch a touchdown given Howell’s propensity to target him and Samuel’s ability to score on the ground or through the air.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
  • Patrick Mahomes ($8300 DraftKings, $9200 FanDuel)
  • Travis Kelce ($8000 DraftKings, $8500 FanDuel)
  • Rashee Rice ($4700 DraftKings, $5600 FanDuel)

Now we’re gonna spend some money. The last two stacks were a bit more budget friendly, but we’re breaking the bank on this week’s highest projected point total with some of the NFL’s superstars throwing down.

The Chargers have given up the most passing yards per game at 289.0 and that’s against quarterbacks named Ryan Tannehill and Aidan O’Connell. Patrick Mahomes is not either of those two and seems poised for a big game against a weak pass defense.

Kelce is Mahomes No. 1 target, and while the Chargers have been good against tight ends,, Kelce is borderline matchup proof. In a high scoring game involving the Chiefs, Kelce will be involved.

Don’t sleep on rookie Rashee Rice though. His price hasn’t quite caught up with what appears to be a growing role in the offense. Take the discount on Mahomes’ second option in Rice and bathe in the points of what should be a high scoring affair.

The NBA season starts Oct. 24, but we've got you covered for your Fantasy drafts! NBA experts Corey Parson, Dr. A, and Jonas Nader rank every point guard and shooting guard! We'll discuss average draft position, tips for your draft, and more! Check in daily on the Fantasy Fire and Ice Podcast for injury updates, breaking NBA news, and player profiles.

Steezy A’s Week 7 Bargain Bin (DFS) 


Let’s just say last week didn’t go as planned… but blame it on Geno Smith, James Cook, K.J. Osborn, and Logan Thomas - or blame it on me if you want.


You know what? There’s enough blame pie for everybody, blame it on all of us!


I’m not entirely sure what my hit rate is this season as far as my ‘bargain bin’ plays for you guys, but I’m thinking I’ve missed more shots than I’ve made at this point. But hey - shooters gon shoot and that’s the world of fantasy for ya. 


Nevertheless, I’m back and feeling better than ever, bring it on Week 7! (all salaries are courtesy of DraftKings) 


QB: Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers ($5,500, QB17 at cost) 


I found this purdy interesting (pun intended), but on DraftKings, there’s only three QB’s with an ownership percentage north of 10 percent.


You have your usual suspects in Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, and then you have Brock Purdy!


Perhaps DraftKings is doubtful about the status of San Fran’s injured stars in Christian McCaffrey (oblique/hip), Trent Williams (ankle), and Deebo Samuel (shoulder) and whether or not they all actually play on ‘Monday Night Football’ on the road against the Minnesota Vikings, but are we going to act like Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, and Kyle Shanahan don’t exist???? Oh, and Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell make for great depth and would make a lot of teams envious given the plethora of running back injuries across the league. 


Yes, the Niners are coming off a tough loss in Cleveland to the Browns, but the Vikings defense is in another stratosphere in comparison to the Browns defense, and I mean that in a bad way. 


Purdy was in the top 5 in a lot of people’s MVP ballots and after one bad week against arguably a top 3 defense in the NFL in inclement weather, all of the naysayers are quick to slander his name? 


At QB17 as far as cost, I don’t think you can find any more value at the QB position in Week 7 than Purdy, who should easily finish as a top 10 QB this week (especially when you take into account the fact that six teams are on bye).


And did I forget to mention that the Vikings allow the 9th most fantasy points to opposing QB’s? 


Fire up the Purdy train!


RB: Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers ($5,300, RB23 at cost) 


As a guy who was raised in the Seattle area all my life, it’s essentially taboo to heap praise or even speak of the San Francisco 49ers in a positive light, and yet here I am recommending two straight 49ers players. 


Forgive me 12s, I’m just trying to do my job! 

Whether or not Christian McCaffrey ultimately plays, Mason is still an intriguing start in DFS. 


While he’s listed behind Elijah Mitchell on the depth chart, he’s vastly outperformed his counterpart, has scored in two straight games, is averaging almost double the yards per carry Mitchell is on the season, and is averaging just south of 6 yards per carry. 


Given all of the injuries at RB across the league, the pickings are going to be slim this week, especially when you also consider the fact that they’re six teams on bye. 


Given SF’s propensity to turn RB’s into stars within their system, Mason is a good bet to keep that train going. 


WR: Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks ($6,000, WR21 at cost) 


17.7, 3.7, 26.8, 15.5, 21.7, and 53. 


Those are the amount of fantasy points that Tyler Lockett has scored in his last six meetings with the Arizona Cardinals. 


WOW.


If anything, the Cardinals defense has only regressed since the last time Lockett played against this team, and it doesn’t help that they’re giving up the 7th-most fantasy points (on average) to opposing wide receivers this season. 


Coming off a tough loss to the Bengals in which the offense was only able to muster a measly 13 points, the Seahawks offense is due and the Arizona Cardinals are in line to pay that bill. 


Not to mention, the Cardinals have been a punching bag this season for teams looking to bounce back, just ask the Bengals. 


WR: Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs ($4,700, WR38 at cost) 


I’m going to do something I’ve never done before, and that's to include the same player in the same article two weeks in a row. 


If you were paying attention to last week’s column, I did however have Rashee Rice penciled in as my ‘flex’ player of the week, meaning he’s eligible for this week’s article as one of my designated WR’s. 


Logistics over his placement aside, there were reports earlier today from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that “Rice's profile could continue to grow in the Chiefs' offense coming out of Thursday's night's win over Denver.” 


Rice went from being outside of the top 50 at WR last week to now being penciled in as a top-40 play at his position, but I still view him as underrated and an absolute bargain in DFS given the matchup, his rapidly developing trust from Patrick Mahomes, and the potential for a shootout. 


How about this for a stat: 


Entering Week 7, the Chargers are allowing opposing wide receivers to score an average of 45.3 fantasy points… 


Do with that what you will. 



TE: Jonnu Smith, Atlanta Falcons ($3,600, TE16 at cost) 


Talk about a revelation at the tight end position! 


Jonnu Smith hasn’t been fantasy-relevant since 2020 when he was with the Titans, and fast forward three years later - who would have known that he’d currently be a top 10 tight end in ALL OF FANTASY. 


The familiarity with HC Arthur Smith and his system helps tremendously, but it also helps that Smith has uber-talented pass catchers alongside of him in Kyle Pitts and Drake London to take attention away from Smith, who hasn’t scored under 8 fantasy points since Week 1. 


Not only does Smith have a steady floor, he’s also seen six or more targets in 4 of 6 games so far this season. 


Statistically, the matchup isn’t there for Smith, as the Buccaneers allow an average of just under 10 fantasy points to opposing tight ends, good for 11th in the league as far as least amount allowed. 


However, no one outside of the Falcons saw this sort of season coming, so who's to say he can’t continue to defy expectations? 


FLEX: Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders ($4,000, WR47 at cost) 


Going into the season, the consensus was that second-year WR Jahan Dotson was going to be the clear-cut No. 2 receiving option behind Terry McLaurin in Washington given the potential he flashed in his rookie season.


Entering Week 7, that couldn’t be further from the truth. 


Enter Curtis Samuel, who is not only the clear-cut No. 2 in D.C, but he also happens to be sitting at WR25 (standard PPR scoring) and is a top 75 player in fantasy right now (No. 66 overall). 


Having scored 14+ fantasy points in each of the last three weeks, Samuel also only has 1 game this season with under 40 receiving yards. Talk about consistency! 


In addition, the Giants give up the 13th most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers and they still have to stop Terry McLaurin. 


I absolutely LOVE Samuel this week, particularly in DFS as the value is too crazy to pass up. Barely inside the top 50 when he’s a top 70 player in ALL OF FANTASY at this point of the season? 


The disrespect. 








Quarterback Rankings

QB Thoughts: There's a mess to clean up with Anthony Richardson, Deshaun Watson, and Justin Fields out with injuries and Joe Burrow, C.J. Stroud and Dak Prescott on their bye weeks. Dig deep and utilize some aging veterans in offenses we respect.

Baker Mayfield is coming off his second QB26 finish of the season, coming against the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles. This week he's QB8, where he finished in Week 4 after a three-touchdown performance against the Saints. I expect a bounce back with fireworks from the Buccaneers at home in Week 7.

Cody's ShortsMust-Start Sleeper QBs | Under-the-Radar RBs

Geno Smith has cooled off since his hot start in 2022 and is QB23 in points per game this season. To begin 2022, he was QB7 through the first 12 games, and a strong part of his resume was running. His rush attempts per game are down from 4.0 to 2.4, and yards from 21.5 to 8.4. In Week 7, he and the Seahawks play a Cardinals defense that has given up the 5th-most fantasy points to QBs and is tied for the most rushing touchdowns allowed with three.

Running Back Rankings

RB Thoughts: We go back to the well with D’Onta Foreman, who finished with 15 rush attempts and 12 routes on 39 snaps in Week 6. Roschon Johnson is still in concussion protocol, and the Bears are activating Travis Homer to join Foreman and Darrynton Evans in the backfield.

Too often fantasy gamers drop players too quickly after spending F.A.A.B. on said player. In Week 6, Jeffrey Wilson was a hot commodity, but he was a “healthy” inactive Sunday with the Dolphins needing depth on the offensive line. Chris Brooks and Salvon Ahmed took the reins behind Raheem Mostert, and Brooks went down with an injury. In Week 7, expect Wilson to have a larger role than Ahmed.

The deepest of plays is on the Rams practice squad. Darrell Henderson was signed Tuesday and Royce Freeman was signed onto the active roster. One of these two players will see a substantial growth in their role, because it was zero in prior weeks. My bet is on coach Sean McVay to ride Henderson.

Wide Receiver Rankings

WR Thoughts: After back-to-back flops from Davante Adams, he's ranked WR8. As the week goes on, we should hear some positive regression coming in favor of Adams. His health has been in question, but the utilization of players around him and lack of winning are factors. Adams has a real chance to rise to a projected top-4 option.

My favorite deep plays in Week 7 are Brandon Powell, who has 10 targets over the last two weeks without Justin Jefferson in the lineup; Josh Downs, who is averaging 6.8 targets per game; and Gardner Minshew, who is averaging six more pass attempts per game than Anthony Richardson.

Both Powell and Downs are top-30 options.

Tight End Rankings

TE Thoughts: Week 7 bounce-backs belong to George Kittle and Pat Freiermuth, who has given us a whopping 53 yards this season. Michael Mayer is top 10 after a breakout game against New England, but his rookie counterpart Dalton Kincaid is coming off of a missed game in concussion protocol. He is lined up to bring the Bills some needed energy and output at New England.

Deeper cuts this week belong too Noah Fant, Cade Otton and Andrew Ogletree, with Kylen Granson re-injured.

Kicker Rankings

Defense Rankings
Vegas Lines Analysis Week 7

Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is we had another winning day as we finished 2-1 on last week’s article. The bad news is that the one loss was probably the worst beating of the season. The Patriots were down two and driving to try and win the game versus the Raiders. The absolute worst thing happened as the Patriots took a safety and failed to cover as three-point underdogs.

Nonetheless, we continue to do well in this article, so here are the lines I am looking into:

Washington Commanders @ New York Giants +2

As a Giants fan, this is a tough side to take. The Giants have been abysmal and devastated by injuries. Meanwhile the Commanders have been Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and haven't put together a run of good performances.

The Giants opened to begin the season as -2.5-point favorites and are currently 2-point home underdogs. However, this line does not take into account the Commanders' struggles. Last week, I mentioned how Sam Howell has not thrown interceptions in back-to-back games. Well, he also has not had back-to-back games without an interception.

This Giants defense has found ways in the past few games to really energize their defense. They have allowed less than 300 yards in two of the past three games and created five turnovers. I expect to see the defense get pressure and rattle Howell, who is the most sacked quarterback this season.

Cleveland Browns @ Indianapolis Colts +2.5

The Browns are coming down from a major win as they gave the San Francisco 49ers their first loss of the season. Meanwhile, the Colts looked bad as they got swept by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Clearly, Cleveland looks like the better team, despite the questions at quarterback, but the line is telling a different story.

This line opened at Browns -3 and now it is Browns -2.5. This is alarming because over 80% of the bets and money are on Cleveland. We call this “reverse line movement” Now, ask yourself this — if everybody and their mom is running to bet the Browns then why would the sportsbooks lower the line. Why make it easier to bet the Browns when they are your biggest liability?

It’s because they know what I know that this is a good spot for the Colts. This Browns defense is a force, but this a huge letdown spot for the Browns after beating one of the top teams in the NFC without their starting quarterback.

But now, I think that offense will struggle with a Colts defense that is getting healthier and stronger. Shaq Leonard and Kwity Paye returned last week to give the defense a huge boost and they should be stronger this week. I expect to see a better version of Gardner Minshew at home than on the road — take the Colts to keep things close and potentially upset Cleveland.

San Francisco 49ers @ Minnesota Vikings +7

This might have to be one of my favorite coach trends in the NFL. It may or may not be because it hit last week as well. After losing outright as 10-point favorites to the Browns, Kyle Shanahan moves to 1-6 ATS as a road favorite of seven or more points. In the previous six instances, Shanahan did win every game, but only covered one.

Consistently, Shanahan’s teams have been given too much credit on the road when playing an inferior opponent. And a Minnesota team without Justin Jefferson should pose no threat to a 49ers team looking to bounce back after their first lost.

However, every game this season for the Vikings has been a one-possession game. The most they won by is eight and the most they lost by is seven — exactly where this line is at.

The 49ers are potentially one of the best teams in the league, but Shanahan has struggled in these spots to cover the spread. And this Minnesota defense is attempting to come into their own. If Kirk Cousins can limit the turnovers versus this nasty 49er defense, then I think he can attack the middle of the field with TJ Hockenson and keep this game close.