Week 8 Fantasy Football Must-Starts: 7 Players You NEED in Your Lineup! (Ep. 2306)

0:01 All right, and welcome into the Fantasy Pros Fantasy Football Podcast. Whether your team is suffering from, oh, I don't know, ghost goblins or something.

0:10 In between, this week with four more teams.

0:13 On by, we've got you covered with our primer episode of the program featuring our favorite Week 8 must-start players. I'm your host, Seth Wilcox, joined by a man who I think should be known as the fantasy fortune teller around these parts after projecting.

0:26 some big gains.

0:27 From the likes of casey concepcion mckay lemon and rj harvey also finding the end zone last go around he's derrick brown and deborah before we get into the thick of it while we're on the topic of sleepers what is your favorite sleeper halloween movie.

0:41 Oh i was not prepared oh that's see the problem with halloween movies is i'm not that big into horror movies Same, same. It's just not the genre that I like. Like, it feels so repetitive, like horror movies. It's like monster, deity, ghost, whatever, tries to kill you. You try to kill ghost, you try to kill it. Or everybody dies in the movie except for one person, but they get out. And that's how we have a sequel. And it's like, are we just doing a lot of the same here? I would say, as far as a Halloween movie, I'm going to go down like the corny... uh random route and this is an oldie i doubt you've probably even seen this seth but i will be surprised if you ever have actually seen this earnest goes halloween or the halloween movie from

1:30 earnest is so freaking funny and i'm sure you have no clue no this is so earnest was kind of like a peewee herman s kind of character back in the day like okay i want to say like mid 90s early 90s something like that and they came out with like almost like a kitty like a like a a I mean, when.

1:46 This movie came out... Ernest's Secret Stupid is the name of it.

1:50 Yes. Okay. Okay. Yes. Ernest's Secret Stupid. And it's so random and ridiculous. Like, at one part, there's, like, a dog driving a truck. He's fighting a troll. Okay. A troll is resurrected from a tree. Yeah. Like, and at various points, like one party's like fighting a troll on a truck. The truck, the troll gets knocked off the truck.

2:15 It's one of those movies that like, so what I'll say this Halloween movies, the way that I used to approach them. And this is something me and my friends actually did in college and stuff. We would rent. And this is again, going back to like, I'm old. We would go and rent or purchase or whatever. We would watch Halloween and horror movies that were so bad that they were funny. And that's the route that I take this.

2:40 When horror movies or Halloween-esque movies are so god-awful, it's a comedy, that's where I get invested. And not only the earnest of all of this, but also, like, Jason X, when Jason is in space.

2:56 is one of the.

2:56 Most hilarious freaking movies ever to watch. And for everybody, like I'm going to spoil the ending, but it's again, talking to the hilarity of it all is the, the movie ends with a person riding Jason into the atmosphere from outer space.

3:15 And like, that's how he dies.

3:17 And I'm just, this is so ridiculously stupid and, It's hilarious. And that's the route that I take with horror movies and Halloween movies. Yeah.

3:27 Deep cuts from Derek Brown, not just in your fantasy lines, but also in your movie rotations. I'm going to have to check out both of those. They sound like absolute fun times. And as noted, we got a loaded program for you today. We've got our must-starts for each of the quarterback, wide receiver, and tight end positions. And before we get there, though, just a quick reminder. Please, if you enjoy this type of content, go ahead and give this video a thumbs up. We really, really appreciate y'all tuning in right here on the FanX Pro's YouTube channel or the audio feed during what's a really busy time of year for everyone.

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4:02 And Derek, let's go ahead and dive right into things. And let's start at the quarterback position where you've got a couple of spooky names at the top of your list.

4:10 And also, you're going double tight end this week too. What's the strategy behind that?

4:16 So we are not mentioning running backs on this show. One, the running back position is a god awful freaking mess. A lot of guys are starting out of desperation. Once we get outside of like the top 15 running backs, you know, help you. Just put up the sign, blink twice for help. But really the way that I wanted to frame this too, Seth, and looking at all these must starts is give people, whether it's deeper plays or quarterbacks and tight ends that could pop off because of the bye weeks this week and the options that people don't have available to them. Like if you're, if you've been writing in fantasy weekly, Tyler shuck, you picked up JJ McCarthy. You've been starting him in super flex leagues.

4:55 You got Brock Purdy or CJ Stroud. None of those guys are playing this week as well as to the tight end position. Jawan Johnson's out. Isaiah likely is out. George Kittle is out in deeper formats. Have you been forced to play Dalton Schultz? He's out as well. So you're looking like, okay, who can I pick up off of waivers or who is available? Maybe I've like, I don't know my bench. That's a QB too. Maybe we're looking at these guys as tight end ones this week, QB ones this week, Seth.

5:24 Yeah.

5:24 And I think the interesting thing about some of these players you're going to talk about is the, They have these matchups where, on the surface, you might not think like, oh, that is a smash matchup.

5:35 It's not like the Lions, right?

5:37 One's a repeat customer from last week, by the way.

5:39 Yes, yes.

5:40 And they are really interesting just by the fact of like, hey, I think these games have lower point totals than maybe what they should.

5:47 And you think the same thing, starting with one, Geno Smith.

5:51 Dude, I think Geno goes off this week. He's QB 18. We've seen ceiling performances already this season, Seth. He has two games where he scored over 24 fantasy points this season, and I think we get a third added to the ledger this week. Geno is quietly, I know the fantasy production is QB 24 and fantasy points per game hasn't been there on a per game basis, but he's playing extremely well, Seth, and he's got a wonderful complement of skill players, another one we're going to get to later in this episode. Like you look amongst 34 qualifying quarterback, Seth, Gino Smith, ninth in yards per attempt, 12 and passing success rate eighth and hero throw rate. Those are fantastic numbers that you really wouldn't associate with the QB 24

6:34 and fantasy points per game. You match that up with the, with the matchup this week, the Raiders secondary has been God awful in the last five games being tested by better teams. They're giving up the eighth most yards per attempt, the highest passing touchdown rate in the NFL. Well, So yeah, Geno Smith, I think he has a pop-off game. The skill players I love, like I think we get a squeaky wheel game for Garrett Wilson. Obar Cooper Jr. has been balling out in other parts or pieces that, again, we will discuss later in the episode too.

7:03 I think the interesting thing about Geno Smith is he has capitalized on good matchups, right? You look back to that Detroit game, 31 of 37, 321 yards, three touchdowns. the Raiders right now allowing the third most fancy points per game.

7:16 The Dolphins weren't even.

7:17 Like a terribly good matchup for opposing quarterbacks last week. And he still was, it was really diced him out 76.7% completion percentage against Miami. So yeah, Yeah, Geno Smith's starting to turn things around, and I think as long as he can keep these skill players happy and healthy on the field, Omar Cooper Jr. and Garrett Wilson, big numbers are within reach, especially in a game where, hey, is Brees Hall going to be playing this week? Is he even going to be at 100% if he's out there?

7:43 Braylon Allen's also in the injury report, too.

7:46 Yeah, not great.

7:48 Also, just for context, I want to throw out a few names here of, like, I'm willing to start Geno Smith over... Sam Darnold, Kirk Cousins, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Michael Penix, Kyler Murray. Like, I'm willing to start him over all of those guys.

8:03 You're still golf over him because I've seen a lot of discrepancy on golf. I'm not sitting golf for him.

8:07 I have golf over him because, again.

8:09 He's just been so good. I don't really care.

8:10 But another player that I think people are also going to have because they're going against Dallas. I'll start Geno Smith over Jacoby Brissett.

8:16 Hmm. That one would definitely be close, I think, for a lot of people just because of how bad that secondary has been. Derek, keep us at the quarterback position. Someone else you might like, but me for different reasons.

8:27 Malik Willis, baby. He's been doing the thing, Seth. He's been running. He's scored Russian touchdowns. He looks like the guy that I hoped he could be all summer. Over the last two games, he's had 20.9 and 26 fantasy points. He's rushing. Like over the last two games, he's averaged eight carries, 55.5 rushing yards. Also, the passing stats are coming up because he's got capable wide receivers catching the ball.

8:51 Like last week was the first time that he's had the full compliment of Malik Washington, Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell, not in a full-time role, but again, healthy on the field. And Malik Willis, he keeps running. Like again, I think this is another chance where he's QB 22 in ECR. Like, are we serious right now with the rushing threat? And the Patriots have not been a good pass defense. Like over their last five games, New England's quietly given up the fifth most yards per attempt, the 11th highest passing touchdown rate, and the eighth highest passing success rate. So a lot of people might just like turn their nose up at Malik Willis and be like, nah, I think he could be a QB one again this week, Seth. Wow.

9:35 And it's interesting, too, because I think the case for him is you're looking for big plays again out of someone like Caleb Douglas or Chris Bell, right? Because you look back at the last time we saw this defense on the field, that was not really a particularly strong matchup against the Bears there, right?

9:52 Like, what happened in that one?

9:53 Luther Burden went crazy in the first half, like absolutely just dominated, never really saw another target in the second. half i don't know what was going on there on the play sheet but then even like late in that game roma dunzey making some big time catches so the opportunity is there is there a particular miami dolphins wide receiver you like this week if you had to pick between any of them to start would it be douglas just because of the big play opportunity.

10:17 So the problem with that is I don't know who Christian Gonzalez would shadow, if anybody. So it makes it a very dicey thing, and then you look at the coverage structure. Are they going to be too high? They flip-flop back and forth between single and too high. I think Malik Willis probably spreads the ball around, so he can have a really good day, but I don't know if anybody comes along for the ride as far as popping off with a big day outside of him, only because...

10:46 I don't know if Gonzalez follows Bell because Bell's route share also dropped last week. So is he going to bounce back and be a full-time player? There's a lot of uncertainty there. So really it's Malik Willis and just kind of get out of it. It's Malik Willis and Ollie Gordon that I think have really, really good games and everybody else probably like, it's just the sum of the parts.

11:05 The only reason I ask is because not in addition to Luther burden, the week prior Omar Cooper juniors breakout game six for one Oh three, right? We're getting some big plays out there. Even Keon Coleman six or one 16.

11:15 So, You're making a case for Malik Washington, then, is what you're doing. Am I, though?

11:20 Because I don't think he's a big play threat.

11:23 Slot receiver.

11:24 Yeah, but Keon Coleman's an outside guy, right?

11:26 Oh, yeah, but Keon Coleman's production is so goofy and fluky, I wouldn't put.

11:31 So much to Keon.

11:31 Sure, sure, yeah.

11:32 Don't even want to use it in the sample side. I can understand that.

11:36 One way you can get a new sample size is be taking out the guesswork of your start-sit decisions with the Fantasy Pros Start-Sit Assistant. You can instantly see your optimal lineup based on your roster scoring settings and advice from more than 100 fantasy football experts, including Derek Brown, You can even set your lineup with one click and get started at fancy pros.com slash start sit. And man, do I wish I had the start sit assistant last week and, you know, listen to it because it told me, Hey idiot, don't bench your tight end for Michael Mayer.

12:06 Don't go away from Harold, Harold fan and junior, just cause he's burned you two weeks in a row. And that was the difference in one of my matchups. So definitely should have listened to the start sit assistant.

12:14 Listen to the tools.

12:16 I know I should be a tool.

12:17 Listen to the tools.

12:18 Derek, one of the best.

12:19 Things, though, that happened to me this week in one of my leagues is, you know, I missed out on Caleb Douglas. He went out way too hot on the waiver wire. I think he went for about 50 fab in my big money league. So I was like, I do not have the capital to pay that. I'm OK with missing it. And then the manager picked him up, actually dropped this next player that I scooped in this morning and grabbed for just one dollar fab. And you're thinking maybe there's a big game for him out there in Buffalo.

12:45 Khalil Shakir, baby. We don't know the status right now. DJ Moore, maybe he comes back and he kind of dings, you know, our outlook for Khalil Shakir, but I think this is a wonderful matchup. Even if DJ Moore is active, we could see him pop off with a big game. Like Shakir has been quietly having really solid games. Like he's had at least 11 PPR points in each of his last three games in those three games, strong usage, like an 18.8% target share, 24.1% first reach here, 2.68 yards per route run. Those are really good numbers, Seth.

13:16 And then you look at the matchup, too high coverage. Baltimore's running at the fifth highest rate in the NFL. Shakir against too high, 21% target per route run rate, 2.07 yards per route run. Baltimore versus the slot over the last five games, giving up the 10th most yards per target, seventh most receiving fantasy points per game to slot receivers. So all of this stuff, regardless of however I look at it, coverage structure, usage, the matchup, all of it leads me back to Khalil Shakir, where I feel like He's a wide receiver three this week. This wide receiver 47 ranking in ECR is honestly blasphemous.

13:49 And the interesting thing about Khalil Shakur too is he's actually seen a lot of red zone work this season as compared to previously a 28% red zone target share this season. Right now, he's 14th in the NFL in red zone targets. I know the Bills don't throw a ton when they get down there because it's just like, hey, let's run Josh Allen on a QB power and get him up the gut. But at the same time, Khalil Shakur has become a weapon down there that they can use in different areas of the field.

14:15 So I'm excited for him this week.

14:17 And the Ravens, I think, are a very overrated secondary that will be exposed and what should be a fun one out there in the AFC. Let's keep it moving here at the wide receiver position. Derek, where else are you heading?

14:27 I really want to talk about it. We're going back to the well here, dude. Kendrick Bourne, wide receiver 49 on ECR. I know this is very much, it is just carrying over Makai Lemon of last week. I talked about him on the Burning Questions show. I was high on him. That was my DiGiorno hot take of the week.

14:44 I was like, He's going to have his best game of the freaking season. He's going to go for 60 plus and a touchdown.

14:49 I wanted to bet him so bad, Derek, but I bet his overs.

14:54 I ladder bet him too.

14:55 So I was afraid because the line then with, without Smith and Wicks, the line ended up getting pushed up to like three and a half reception.

15:01 I was like, I can't go.

15:02 That far over plus money. Yeah.

15:04 And I regret it. And I have so much regret because of it. So thank you. Don't make the same.

15:08 Mistake twice, baby. We get Kendrick Bourne week against the Dallas secondary, which again, they cannot stop slot receivers.

15:16 No.

15:16 Over their last five games, Dallas has given up the most yards per target to slot receivers, the most receiving yards, and the ninth most fantasy points per opportunity to slot receivers. And just for everybody, context, I'm not telling you that Kendrick Bourne is going to be the wide receiver 13 and weekly scoring like what Kyle Lemon was last week.

15:36 Yeah, yeah.

15:37 But can he be a strong flex? Can he be a wide receiver three? Can he give you in that area of like 12 to 13 PPR points. Maybe he's a low end wide receiver too this week. Yeah, I think he can do that.

15:51 Last week, I gave you the stat that Dallas had allowed 21 targets to the opposing slot wide receiver and 20 of them were caught last week. Makai Lemon caught seven of eight targets. So, I mean, it just keeps happening.

16:02 It keeps going.

16:04 And the crazy part is, is like, if they're struggling this much in the slot, why don't you just throw Caleb Downs in the nickel then? Because we know from his time at Ohio State, he can lock that down if that's what he has to do. And that's his assignment. It's blasphemy, mispractice with how they're using him.

16:21 So I think this is really kind of a fallout of how dysfunctional this secondary is and whether it's blown assignments, blown coverages over the middle of the field and players not being where they're supposed to be. I think there's a lot of that to this.

16:36 Mm-hmm.

16:36 Okay.

16:37 And you also have another very much slot-based wide receiver who lives and dies on volume, man.

16:44 So where are you heading in this one?

16:45 Same idea. Same function. Same wide receiver three type of upside. Wando Robinson, wide receiver 46 in ECR. He's a wide receiver three for me. And I understand, again, I get it. He's wide receiver 54 in fantasy points per game. I understand that Cam Ward is his quarterback. I understand this offense is not sexy. I think Cardinal Tate gets shadowed by DJ Turner in this game. So Cardinal Tate is basically out of the game plan. Turner has the ability to take him out. And the other part is Cardinal Tate's not fully healthy, dealing with a shoulder injury and stuff.

17:16 So again, part and parcel targets getting pushed to Wando Robinson, who not only is the clear number two in this passing attack, we think Tennessee's going to be trailing. It's going to force them to be more pass-heavy than they want to be. You look at Wando Robinson, 25.9% first read shareer. Cincinnati last five games. Can't stop slot receivers, dude, at all. Fifth, most yards per target. Most the most fantasy points per opportunity to slot receivers. And they are tied for the most receiving touchdowns to that position. So Wanda Robinson. Okay. We're just, we're going to keep going down the Mackay lemon train of slot receivers that pop off for big games. Wanda Robinson, giddy up, Kendrick Bourne,

17:56 giddy up. Let's go.

17:58 It's so interesting because Wanda was actually someone I was considered dropping. from one of my teams this week, and I was like, you know what? I think this matchup is actually better than suspected. He's on bye next week, but at the same time, there are not Wanda Robinson's just walking out there in fantasy where I know the ceiling isn't always high, but at the same time, he is really the second leading receiver in this offense, and it's hard to... And Derek, does this offense maybe have to get more high powered and throw more now that Jeffrey Simmons is gone to the Chicago Bears?

18:29 That totally changes things, and now all of a sudden.

18:32 Like there could be some really negative game scripts for Cam Ward and company if they can't stop the run.

18:36 Well, the other part about this is too, is you don't have to have a sexy stat line to be awesome in PPR formats. Like let's just play it out. If Wando Robinson has like a Malik Washington type of stat line where he catches, he catches five passes for 40 yards, but he gets a touchdown. It's 15 points, bro.

18:56 Like that's wide receiver to type of production. So it's, So yes, we're going slot heavy this week because the matchups are there. All three of these guys have great matchups and can be wide receiver threes and strong flexes.

19:10 Let's go to the tight end position where it has not been a great season for my Penn State Nittany Lions, but one of their former players absolutely having a career year down in Duval County.

19:20 Brenton Strange. How many people realize that he's the tight end 12 in fantasy points per game right now, Seth? I don't think a lot.

19:28 Probably not many.

19:28 I don't think a lot. and he's having an incredibly strong season. 17.9% target share, 2.02 yards per route run, 19.5% first reach here. He's going against an Indy secondary that has the 12th highest single high rate. Brenton Strange, stretching the scene, baby. He's been getting it done versus single high.

19:49 A 30% target per route run rate 2.82 yards per route run you also juxtapose that with like over the last five games the uh indianapolis colts they face the second fewest targets to opposing tight ends that's where it's like okay the stats might not jump out the first time you run through the spreadsheet but when you look deeper Even though they have faced the second fewest tight end targets over the last five games, they've given up the sixth most receiving touchdowns tied for that mark and the eighth most fantasy points per opportunity to opposing tight ends.

20:21 So people might take the first pass through the spreadsheet and say, or the matchup and say, this isn't that good of a matchup. The coverage structure says you're wrong. And the matchup quietly is amazing.

20:35 You know, it's funny with strange dude, because I think a lot of people, he's been like a fringe, you know, top 15, top 16 tight end for a few seasons now. And now I think he's firmly put himself into the tight end one discussion. And it's not even like it's being talked about because he is second on this team and targets Derek.

20:52 He's the number two in the passing attack. He's the number two. Yeah.

20:55 This is one of the more high powered offenses that we want to be attached to. So yeah, Brenton strange floating out there in way too many leagues. I think he's someone that could be acquired on the cheap if he is rostered right now as well. So yeah, I do not hate the play there with Brenton strange going up a, Against a Colts team that, look, I mean, they just also lost one of their best defensive players.

21:16 It doesn't really impact the tight end position, but in general, it should mean good things for the Jacksonville Jaguars to come, right? And them having better offensive success, more drives. And, you know, let's keep in mind, too, I don't know when the last time the Colts have won in Clowntown. It hasn't been any time recent, so... Um, yeah, there, you have it there on the tight end, but Derek, you actually have one more honorable mention and it's going.

21:37 Back to the well, uh, playing, playing the good hits.

21:39 Yeah, baby. We're going to play the hits to touchdown performance for Mason Taylor, who we talked about on last week's show. We're going right back to the well, tight end 22 and ECR. Are we serious? Come on, man. He was the tight end to last week in weekly scoring behind only Trey McBride. And I know people will say, well, it's the two touchdowns that are fueling him. Okay. I'm going to push back on that. Over the last two games, Seth, Mason Taylor, a 20% target share. Mason Taylor, 2.57 yards per route run. Mason Taylor, four red zone targets in those two games and a 24.4% first read share. All of that usage is strong, tight in one type of usage, Seth.

22:25 I understand, okay, his snap rate's at 60%. His route share in those games is at 56%. Okay, fine. If you want to talk about he's the Dalton Kincaid of the Jets, I don't care because he's getting usage when he's on the field. And then you look at the matchup again this week, Seth. The Raiders have been bleeding out production to opposing tight ends. Over the last five games, they've given up the second most fantasy points per game to the position and the fifth most fantasy points per opportunity.

22:53 Mason Taylor can be a tight end one this week again. Hell, if you're in a deeper league and you're struggling... I picked him up in a number of formats where I'm just going to run him out as a flex play this week.

23:04 Yeah, just to put some context with those recent game logs you were talking about, Davis Allen last week, four for 22 touchdowns. For the Rams in that same game, Colby Parkinson caught five of six targets. He wasn't a hundred percent healthy in that game and also had 48 yards. So week before Dalton Kincaid, welcome back from the dungeon, right?

23:22 Seven for 38 on eight targets. And the same week before that Hunter Henry three for 44 and a touchdown. Like we've seen pretty much like outside of like the chiefs game where they didn't really need to use their tight ends a whole lot in that one. Like most tight ends have been making hay for, against this uh this Raiders team so I'm absolutely on board with you like you go back all the way to week three Jawan Johnson eight for 53 two touchdowns same game Noah Fant for four for 33 and two touchdowns so while the Raiders have two of the best tight ends in the league have one of you know the best weapons overall in the league and Brock Bowers that practice has not helped their defense stop opposing tight ends really so Um, yeah,

23:58 I like the shout out there with Mason Taylor folks that is going to do it for us. So right here on this primer episode of the fancy pros fans football podcast, comment down below your favorite week eight must start players. And while you're here, make sure you smash that like button, subscribe to the channel. If you're new and while you're at it, let's know your favorite sleeper Halloween movie.

24:16 We want to hear from you for Derek Brown. I'm Seth Wilcock. Happy Halloween and take care of y'all. Thanks for listening to the Fantasy Pros Fantasy Football Podcast.

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