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Fantasy Football Week 8: 5 Biggest Takeaways

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 30, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) scores a two point conversion past Atlanta Falcons free safety Ricardo Allen (37) during the fourth quarter at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons defeated the Packers 33-32. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The five biggest fantasy football takeaways from Week 8 of the 2016 NFL season.

We had it all yesterday in the NFL: overtime drama, huge fantasy performances, fantasy duds and injuries. If there was a week where you needed an example of anything and everything that could happen in the league, yesterday was that day. Yet, what were the biggest fantasy football takeaways from yesterday’s games?

There were plenty of things fantasy owners can walk away from the week knowing. However, there are some that stand out more than others and some that may shock you more than others.

Here are the five biggest fantasy football takeaways from Week 8.

Sep 25, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Greg Olson on the bench during the second half of a football game against the Baltimore Ravens at EverBank FieldThe Baltimore Ravens won 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

5. Hold Onto Your Jaguars

Alright, so right off the bat I’m cheating. But it’s my column, so I can do what I want. I developed this type of entitlement from being the youngest in my family, so if you don’t like it you can blame my parents.

Not on Sunday, but on Saturday the Jaguars fired their offensive coordinator Greg Olson and who can blame them? The offense has clearly been off since the start of the season and they don’t resemble the same team we saw a season ago.

In a corresponding move the Jaguars promoted quarterback’s coach Nathaniel Hackett to offensive coordinator. Before coming over to Jacksonville in 2015, Hackett served as the Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator in 2013 and 2014.

In 2013, the Bills were second in the NFL in rushing yards per game. C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson combined for 1,823 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. However, no player on the team had more than 53 receptions and 655 receiving yards. In 2014, the Bills were 25th in the NFL in rushing yards per game while three different players had 65+ receptions. Two of those three receivers had 699+ receiving yards.

With these kind of mixed results, I’m not too sure how the offense is going to look in Jacksonville. I want to assume Hackett is going to try to do two things: develop a running game and take more shots down the field. These are two aspects the Jaguars offense has yet to do in 2016. Either way, I would hold onto players like Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Chris Ivory. With a new OC in place, the offense could drastically change and a sort of rebirth for some of these players is possible.

Oct 30, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass under pressure by Buffalo Bills inside linebacker Preston Brown (52) during the first half at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

4. Tom Brady is Scary Good

Words cannot explain how well Tom Brady is playing right now but I’m going to try anyways.

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Since returning from his suspension, Brady has managed to throw 12 touchdowns in four games while not turning the ball over once. He has more touchdown passes than Andy Dalton (eight games) and Eli Manning (seven games). He has more touchdown passes than Super Bowl Champions Russell Wilson and Joe Flacco combined. His 329.8 passing yards per game ranks second in the NFL only behind Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Yesterday he went on the road to Buffalo and torched their defense for 315 passing yards, four touchdown passes and finished with a quarterback rating of 137.

Brady’s favorite target, Rob Gronkowski, has a touchdown reception in three-straight games and has 109+ receiving yards in three out of four games. To give you an idea how astonishing that is, Gronkowski would be on pace for 1,892 receiving yards and 12 touchdown receptions in a 16-game season.

There’s a strong possibility that one of the two teams that make it to the fantasy football championship round will either have Tom Brady and/or Rob Gronkowski.

Oct 30, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Geronimo Allison (81) celebrates his touchdown catch from quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) in the second quarter of their game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

3. Green Bay’s Offense is Coming Around

Yesterday the Green Bay Packers lost to the Atlanta Falcons 33-32, but we in the fantasy football community couldn’t care less. The Packers offense is finally resembling their offense from 2014 and it’s exciting.

Despite the offense missing wide receiver Randall Cobb and Ty Montgomery, the offense did not skip a beat. Aaron Rodgers connected with four different wide receivers for a touchdown including Trevor Davis and Geronimo Allison (who??).

Think about this: for the first time since 2014, Rodgers has three-or-more touchdown passes in back-to-back games. Also, for the first time since Weeks 2 and 3 of 2015, Rodgers has posted back-to-back games with a passer rating of over 100.

In the first five games of the season, Aaron Rodgers averaged 234 passing yards and two touchdown passes per game. Over the last two games, he has averaged 286 passing yards and 3.5 touchdown passes per game.

The main difference in the Packers offense between the first five games compared to their last two? There’s no Eddie Lacy. Is it possible the 2013 second-round pick was weighing down the offense? I’m not sure, but it’s possible Lacy’s ankle injury was the best thing that could have happened to this Packers offense.

Oct 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws a pass in the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

2. Derek Carr Has a Day

In yesterday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr arguably turned in the best quarterback performance of the 2016 season.

Carr finished Week 8 with the most passing attempts (59), passing completions (40), passing yards (513) and tied for the most passing touchdowns (4). (Yes, I’m going out on a limb and saying Sam Bradford and Jay Cutler don’t exceed these numbers on Monday Night Football.) It was the first time all season Carr reached the 400- and 500-yard passing plateau.

The former Fresno State Bulldog was dropping dimes all game long and finished off his terrific performance with a game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass to Seth Roberts in overtime. That was only after he threw a touchdown pass with 1:39 left in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime.

Carr is not only the No .1 fantasy quarterback for Week 8, but he is also currently the No. 1 overall fantasy player for Week 8. At his current pace he has a legitimate shot as finishing as a top three-to-five fantasy football quarterback. Not too bad for a guy who was bering drafted around the 11th-round in fantasy drafts back in August.

Oct 30, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) stiff arms New Orleans Saints outside linebacker Craig Robertson (52) in the second half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints won, 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

1. Russell Wilson is Droppbable

This is not a knee jerk reaction. Instead it’s a response due to frustration that has been building up all season long. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is droppable in fantasy football.

Wilson had maybe his best matchup of the season on Sunday against a very bad New Orleans Saints defense and he fell flat on his face. He finished the game with 253 passing yards, zero touchdowns, one interception and just 11 rushing yards. Sadly, his 11 rushing yards was the most he’s had in a game since Week 2.

It’s not like Wilson forgot to play football or is getting “exposed.” The guy is injured and probably won’t be anywhere near 100% for the rest of the season. These injuries are not allowing Wilson to get rushing yards which was his biggest upside in fantasy football. He is currently on pace for 101 rushing yards. His lowest rushing total in a season coming into this year was 489 back in 2012.

Wilson has not thrown a touchdown pass in three-straight games. He has thrown for one touchdown pass or fewer in six out of seven games this year. If his name wasn’t “Russell Wilson,” owners would have no problem dropping Wilson like a bag of dirt. However, his name and star power is keeping him roster in fantasy circles. The fact is, owners need to move on and look for better options.

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