Rachel Wold
The NFL has been full of surprising play the past few weeks. With 13 games on the horizon in NFL Week 8, more spoilers and shocking plays await.
This week, two teams return from their byes. But even with extra time off to rest, we are predicting a bumpy road lies ahead for a of couple Pro Bowl players.
The league heads to London for the fourth NFL game abroad this year when one of the league’s remaining 0-7 teams will try for a victory against a tough Minnesota Vikings defense. Who might be the star in this matchup?
Week 8 also pairs up one of the best defenses at sacking quarterbacks against one of the most-sacked quarterbacks in the league. We will see who who wins this battle in an intriguing matchup overall.
These are your studs and duds for NFL Week 8.
Stud: Andy Dalton, quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals
Dalton has delivered a mixed bag of tricks and treats so far this year. In Week 8 however, he has a chance to redeem himself. The Bengals play host to the atrocious Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis has been poor at defending the pass, giving up 301 passing yards per game on the season. Plus, quarterbacks are completing 63.1 percent of their passes when facing them. Most recently, the Colts just allowed Jacksonville Jaguars Blake Bortles to have a 124.7 passer rating. Need we say more?
Dud: DeAndre Hopkins, wide receiver, Houston Texans
Hopkins and the Texans return from their bye just in time for a road trip to Seattle and a date with the Legion of Boom. With that said, this might be another quiet game for Hopkins, likely being pitted against cornerback Richard Sherman. The Seahawks have allowed only three wide receiving touchdowns all year and just 20 catches on average per game. Furthermore, we hate to rain on rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson’s parade, but is worth noting the Seahawks are allowing a mere 55.6 pass-percentage completion rate. Hopkins could easily struggle in Week 8.
Stud: Harrison Smith, safety, Minnesota Vikings
It’s almost not fair that Smith and the Vikings have such an inviting matchup on the schedule for Week 8. The Vikings will travel to London to play the Cleveland Browns, who are in absolute chaos on offense. As a unit, the Browns lead the league with 19 total giveaways. Just last game, the Browns quarterbacks combined for three interceptions. This is perfect, because Smith leads the Vikings with three interceptions. Smith is primed to cause commotion and possibly create a takeaway, no matter which quarterback the Browns roll the dice with.
Dud: LeSean McCoy, running back, Buffalo Bills
We called it when we predicted McCoy would deliver a stud performance against Tampa Bay last week. Now, the brakes should be pumped after McCoy managed his first two touchdowns of 2017 in that game. Shady and his Bills will host an Oakland Raiders run defense that is ceding only 3.9 yards per carry. Furthermore, Oakland has given up only two rushing scores to opposing running backs. McCoy is a better than an average rusher, but expectations should be tempered in this case.
Stud: Jordan Howard, running back, Chicago Bears
Howard is a back we envision having a grand performance against the New Orleans Saints. First of all, the Saints are generously giving up 4.9 yards per carry on average and 114.2 yards a game. Secondly, Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones just torched them, piling up 131 rushing yards and one score on 17 carries. We should also take into account the fact that rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky does not have a lot of receiving options. Handing the ball off to Jordan is safe way to keep the Bears offense on the field with a very competitive New Orleans squad.
Dud: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, tight end, New York Jets
Seferian-Jenkins is becoming quite the household name after drawing 24 targets and three touchdowns in his last three contests. But, stop the noise, at least for a week. The Jets will host the Atlanta Falcons, who have yet to surrender one single touchdown to a tight end. Plus, the Falcons are giving up only 4.5 catches on average per game to opposing tight ends. New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowksi only managed three receptions for 51 yards his last game against the Falcons. We do not see Seferian-Jenkins getting much accomplished under these grim conditions.
Stud: Carson Wentz, quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles
This is not new news, but quarterbacks facing the San Francisco 49ers are reaping the benefits in a colossal way these days. It is now time for Wentz to share these rewards. San Francisco is allowing quarterbacks to complete an average of 64.7 percent of their passes. Even better, the 49ers just gifted Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott a 134 quarterback rating after he torched them for four combined scores last game. If this matchup turns into another blowout, Wentz might not even have to play the entire game. Fantasy football enthusiasts, please take note.
Dud: Matthew Stafford, quarterback, Detroit Lions
We would like to shelve Stafford’s last performance when he threw two pick sixes and get on to his next matchup. Unfortunately, he faces a rough road again when the Lions host the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have been very stingy and are giving up a league-low average of 147 passing yards per contest. Furthermore, Pittsburgh’s defense is allowing only a 59.9 percent pass-completion rate. This defense is also dealing out an average of 3.4 sacks per game. If Stafford can score through the air, then we will owe him props. The Steelers have surrendered only six passing touchdowns in seven contests.
Stud: Cameron Wake, defensive end, Miami Dolphins
Wake and his Dolphins hit the road for a tilt with the Baltimore Ravens. Currently, Wake has tallied six sacks and stands to build on that stat going up against quarterback Joe Flacco. Flacco has hardly been the pillar of stability and just endured five sacks in his last game. The Dolphins will look to continue their winning streak, and the best way to do that is for Wake to put the pressure on Flacco. Plus Wake is on a hot streak, fresh off a 2.5-sack performance.
Dud: DeAndre Washington, running back, Oakland Raiders
With an ineffective Marshawn Lynch suspended one game, it would be nice if another Raiders running back, such as Washington, picked up the slack. Week 8 on the road against the Buffalo Bills is likely not the winning venue. The Bills have only given up three running back rushing touchdowns, and they are allowing a stingy 3.4 yards per tote. Oakland desperately needs to improve its run game. But, we do not envision any new Raiders running back stars to be born in this particularly tough environment.
Stud: Christian McCaffrey, running back, Carolina Panthers
McCaffrey’s technical position is running back. But since the rookie receives more passing targets than hand-offs, he is on course for a huge performance this week at Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers are giving up a whopping 25.7 receptions and 302 receiving yards per tilt. To date, McCaffrey is the 15th most-targeted player in the league. Plus, he has caught 75 percent of the 59 passes tossed his way. As for rushing, the Bucs have allowed 4.0 yards per carry and one rushing touchdown on average per game. McCaffrey should emerge as one of this week’s biggest studs if all goes according to plan.
Dud: Akiem Hicks, defensive end, Chicago Bears
Hicks will face his former team when the Bears travel to square off against the New Orleans Saints. But if Hicks is looking to build on his impressive six sack count, he might not be so fortunate facing quarterback Drew Brees. To date, Brees has been the least-sacked starting quarterback in the league. His offensive line has done a tremendous job, and so far Brees has taken only five sacks. Hicks and the Bears are going to have to find other creative ways to thwart the efforts of a Saints offense that is quite the steamroller these days.
Stud: Jay Ajayi, running back, Miami Dolphins
Ajayi is primed for a field day performance when he and Dolphins head to Baltimore this week. The Ravens have been horrible at defending the run and have allowed a league-high 33.1 rushing plays and 145.3 rushing yards on average per game. With plenty of opportunities awaiting, Ajayi might just find the end zone for the first time this year. That would of course be the icing on top of the cake.
Dud: Isaiah Crowell, running back, Cleveland Browns
Crowell and his Browns are fighting an uphill battle this season. Unfortunately, Crowell’s woes look be exaggerated more this week as the team heads abroad for a London tilt against the Vikings. Crowell is averaging a meager 3.2 yards per carry, which is exactly the same yards per tote the Vikings are allowing. Minnesota has also given up only one rushing touchdown and just 76.6 yards on average per matchup. If Crowell’s Browns somehow pull off their first win and he actually scores, it would make for a huge shock.
Stud: Demaryius Thomas, wide receiver, Denver Broncos
The Broncos are not likely going to lay another egg in Week 8. Thomas should find success in the receiving department going up against the Kansas City Chiefs, even on the road. The Chiefs aren’t stopping much through the air and have allowed a league-high 14.5 yards per reception. Their defense has also given up 13 total receiving touchdowns and 283.9 receiving yards on average per contest. If Thomas and quarterback Trevor Siemian fail to get with the program under these friendly conditions, it will be time for Broncos’ fans to hit the panic button.
Dud: Jacoby Brissett, quarterback, Indianapolis Colts
Brissett is doing his best to carry the Colts offense on his back while quarterback Andrew Luck sits out. Unfortunately, the 23-year-old quarterback has completed only 59.7 percent of his passes and thrown for three touchdowns since he took over as the starter. Brissett will next face the Bengals in Cincinnati. Things likely won’t come any easier for Brissett going up against a defense allowing only a 57.8 completion percentage. Plus, the Bengals have given up only 178 passing yards per game and a mere seven passing touchdowns on the season. If there is a silver lining awaiting Brissett somewhere here, we are not seeing it.
Stud: Melvin Ingram, linebacker, Los Angeles Chargers
Ingram is enjoying a nice 8.5 sack season through seven games. In Week 8, Ingram should be hungry to add to this tally facing New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. It doesn’t matter that this matchup takes place at Gillette Stadium because Brady is taking sacks wherever he is playing this year. To date, Brady has endured 18 sacks compared to the 15 total he saw in 2016. The Chargers defense as a whole dominates in this category. Ingram should be up for a supreme performance.
Dud: Carlos Hyde, running back, San Francisco 49ers
Hyde might look like he is playing “Hide and Seek” when we try to spot him in Week 8. He will be on the road facing a Philadelphia Eagles rushing defense that is not exactly easy to skirt through. The Eagles are allowing just 3.8 yards per carry and only 67 total rushing yards per game. Even worse, only three rushing scores have been accomplished by running backs playing the Eagles. Things might be quiet in Hyde’s camp this weekend.
Stud: Kirk Cousins, quarterback, Washington Redskins
Cousins has been on a hot streak as of late and that should bubble over in Week 8. Washington hosts the Dallas Cowboys in what should be an old-fashioned barn burner. The Cowboys are allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete 64.3 percent of their passes. This is excellent for Cousins, who is completing an impressive 68.2 percent of his passes this year. Dallas has also managed only two interceptions, which should help keep Cousins from making any errors this week.
Dud: Amari Cooper, wide receiver, Oakland Raiders
We predict Cooper floats back to planet Earth this week. After last week’s jaw-dropping 210-yard, two-touchdown performance, he could stumble up this game. The Raiders travel to Buffalo when Cooper will most likely draw coverage from cornerback Tre-Davious White. White is currently graded No. 4 in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. Even worse for Cooper is that White is allowing the lowest yards per target (1.9) in man coverage. We expect Cooper’s teammate Michael Crabtree to be the better performer this game.
