Fantasy Football Week 8: Advanced Stats, Trends to Maximize Your Lineup

Week 8 of the fantasy football season is already underway, and it’s time to once again look at some of the advanced stats, metrics and trends you can use to maximize your lineup potential.

Player projections for the week’s top five options at each position will also be provided in this article.

Philip Rivers is the top dog at quarterback this season. He has been lighting up the fantasy scoreboards in 2015 and is primed to do it once again in Week 8 against a porous Baltimore Ravens defense.

Todd Gurley continues to climb the ladder, but now he can’t go any higher. That’s right—Gurley is the top-rated running back heading into Week 8. It didn’t take him long to become a superstar, did it?

With Ben Roethlisberger expected back under center for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Antonio Brown reassumes his usual spot in the top five among wide receivers. Find out what type of production you can expect from Brown inside.

Let’s get to some of the stats, metrics and player projections that will help you dominate in Week 8.

Quarterbacks: Philip Rivers the Top QB in Week 8

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Philip Rivers

Tom Brady played on Thursday Night Football and was excluded from the list, but he was the consensus No. 1 and lived up to the hype, tossing four touchdowns and going for more than 350 yards.

Aaron Rodgers remains in the top five despite a tough matchup against the Denver Broncos D/ST unit—in Denver. It’s difficult to slide Rodgers too far down the rankings, no matter the matchup.

The Projections

1. Philip Rivers (at BAL): 27-of-35, 342 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception—23.7 fantasy points
2. Carson Palmer (at CLE): 23-of-34, 294 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions—23.8 fantasy points
3. Andy Dalton (at PIT): 28-of-40, 307 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception—23.5 fantasy points
4. Aaron Rodgers (at DEN): 24-of-33, 274 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions—23.0 fantasy points
5. Cam Newton (vs. IND): 18-of-28, 237 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception; 54 rushing yards—20.9 fantasy points

Stats to Know

According to ESPN.com, the New Orleans Saints have given up the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season. That bodes well for Eli Manning and the New York Giants, who get the added benefit of playing in a dome in New Orleans in Week 8.

As noted above, Rodgers is in the top five despite his tough matchup against the Broncos. In fact, the Broncos are the best team at stopping quarterbacks (from a fantasy perspective) this season. Quarterbacks have thrown only five touchdowns against the Broncos all season long. Rodgers threw five touchdowns in a single game earlier this year. Who is going to give?

Russell Wilson has been having a quiet year, and that might continue to be the case through Week 8. He will be playing against the Dallas Cowboys, who have been one of the 10 toughest teams for quarterbacks to score fantasy points against so far this season.

What the Metrics Say

According to Pro Football Focus, when drops are removed from the equation, Ben Roethlisberger has completed 82.6 percent of his aimed throws this season—tops in the league. He will begin scoring fantasy points again right away.

Cam Newton is scoring 0.63 fantasy points per dropback so far this season, third-most in the league. He has taken only 203 dropbacks (tied for 24th in the league), but his efficiency makes up for the lack of volume.

And that’s with the fact Newton has lost at least 189 yards worth of passing due to drops this season, second-most in the league.

Running Backs: Marshawn Lynch Back in Top 5

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Marshawn Lynch

Marshawn Lynch had a slow start to the season, but he turned things around in Week 7 with a big performance. He carried the ball 27 times for 122 yards and a score against the San Francisco 49ers last week. That big game moved Lynch up the boards, and he’s now back in the top five.

Todd Gurley assumes the top spot for the first time this season, but Devonta Freeman is hot on his heels.

The Projections

1. Todd Gurley (vs. SF): 24 carries, 131 yards, 2 touchdowns; 3 receptions, 37 yards—28.8 fantasy points
2. Devonta Freeman (vs. TB): 19 carries, 111 yards, 1 touchdown; 5 receptions, 56 yards, 1 touchdown—28.7 fantasy points
3. Le’Veon Bell (vs. CIN): 23 carries, 115 yards, 1 touchdown; 7 receptions, 77 yards—25.2 fantasy points
4. Adrian Peterson (at CHI): 22 carries, 101 yards, 1 touchdown; 4 receptions, 32 yards—19.3 fantasy points
5. Marshawn Lynch (at DAL): 22 carries, 98 yards, 1 touchdown; 3 receptions, 27 yards—18.5 fantasy points

Stats to Know

According to ESPN.com, the New York Jets have given up the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season. That doesn’t bode well for Latavius Murray, who has been looking for a breakout game ever since his dominant Week 3 performance. We may need to wait another week for that.

The second-stingiest team against fantasy running backs is the Seattle Seahawks. Darren McFadden may have earned the starting job for the Cowboys, but he has his work cut out for him in Week 8.

Doug Martin is set to have another big week. In fact, he could go for over 100 yards for the fourth straight game. He’ll be playing against the Atlanta Falcons, who have given up the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Running backs have gained almost 1,000 total yards (rushing and receiving) against the Falcons this season in just seven games.

What the Metrics Say

Gurley is about more than speed and big running lanes; he is averaging 3.51 yards after contact per attempt so far this season, third-highest in the league, per Pro Football Focus.

Devonta Freeman has more 15-plus-yard runs (10) than any other running back so far this season.

C.J. Spiller and Danny Woodhead remain efficient threats out of the backfield. The two are tied for the lead in terms of yards gained per pass route run with 2.62.

Wide Receivers: Antonio Brown Back in Top 3

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Antonio Brown

At the start of the season, Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Antonio Brown was a fixture in the top two of the rankings (along with Julio Jones). Jones has remained at or near the top all season, but Brown slid down the rankings when Ben Roethlisberger went down with an injury.

But Roethlisberger is expected back in Week 8, which means Brown’s production is expected to come back as well. Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins has forced himself into the conversation of top fantasy wideout—so Brown has some new company at the top along with Jones—but it’ll be good to have Brown back.

The Projections

1. Julio Jones (vs. TB): 9 receptions, 127 yards, 1 touchdown—18.7 fantasy points
2. DeAndre Hopkins (vs. TEN): 9 receptions, 118 yards, 1 touchdown—17.8 fantasy points
3. Antonio Brown (vs. CIN): 10 receptions, 111 yards, 1 touchdown—17.1 fantasy points
4. Calvin Johnson (at KC): 6 receptions, 98 yards, 1 touchdown—15.8 fantasy points
5. Odell Beckham Jr. (at NO): 6 receptions, 95 yards, 1 touchdown—15.5 fantasy points

Stats to Know

Julio Jones is set for a big game in Week 8. His Falcons will be playing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, one of the worst teams at stopping wideouts so far this season, per ESPN.com.

Wide receivers have scored only two touchdowns against the Oakland Raiders so far this season. It’s a tougher-than-it-looks matchup for Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall.

Look for Stefon Diggs to keep on rolling this week. He’ll square off against the Chicago Bears, who have given up the third-most fantasy points per game so far this season.

What the Metrics Say

Look for Donte Moncrief to continue to be a big part of the Indianapolis Colts offense. His quarterbacks have an NFL QB rating of 107.1 when throwing his way, per Pro Football Focus—one of the best rates in the league.

Brandon Marshall had a costly drop in the end zone in Week 7, but it wasn’t his only drop of the season. Marshall has an 8.89 percent drop rate this season, tied for fourth-highest in the league among qualifying wideouts.

Antonio Brown and John Brown are the only wide receivers who have seen 11-plus deep-ball targets (20-plus yards down the field) without scoring a touchdown on one of those targets. That will change sooner rather than later.

Tight Ends: Gary Barnidge Has Tough Test in Week 8

Aaron Josefczyk/Associated Press

Gary Barnidge

Rob Gronkowski was the No. 1-ranked tight end this week, but he played on Thursday Night Football. Like Brady, Gronkowski also lived up to expectations, as he caught six passes for 113 yards and scored. He has now scored in three straight games and has gone for over 100 yards in four of seven games this season.

Gary Barnidge remains in the top five this week despite a tough matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. Find out below why Barnidge has his work cut out for him this week.

The Projections

1. Greg Olsen (vs. IND): 6 receptions, 97 yards, 1 touchdown—15.7 fantasy points
2. Tyler Eifert (at PIT): 5 receptions, 74 yards, 1 touchdown—13.4 fantasy points
3. Travis Kelce (vs. DET): 6 receptions, 72 yards, 1 touchdown—13.2 fantasy points
4. Martellus Bennett (vs. MIN): 6 receptions, 82 yards, 0 touchdowns—8.2 fantasy points
5. Gary Barnidge (vs. ARI): 5 receptions, 79 yards, 0 touchdowns—7.9 fantasy points

Stats to Know

In Week 8, Gary Barnidge will be playing against the Arizona Cardinals, a team that has given up the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends so far this season, per ESPN.com. Tight ends have scored only 3.1 fantasy points per game against the Cardinals in 2015.

On the other end of the spectrum, Jason Witten is in for a solid game despite the seemingly tough matchup against the Seahawks. Seattle has given up the second-most fantasy points per game to tight ends in 2015.

The Cincinnati Bengals are the only team in the league that has yet to give up a touchdown to a tight end. Will that change in Week 8 when the Bengals take on the Steelers?

What the Metrics Say

According to Pro Football Focus, Jordan Reed is averaging a league-high 2.41 yards per pass route run this season.

Travis Kelce is not too far behind at 2.05 yards per pass route run. Kelce has been adding up the yardage at a consistent pace, but his lack of end-zone production has been worrisome.

Greg Olsen is arguably the best deep-threat tight end in the league. He has seen eight targets 20-plus yards down the field this season—tops in the league. As Carolina's best receiving threat, Olsen is asked to stretch the field more than a tight end typically does.

Kickers: Matt Bryant a Top Option in Week 8

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Matt Bryant

New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski was the top-rated player at the position heading into Week 8, but he played on Thursday Night Football and was excluded from the list.

There are no surprises in the top five this week (kicker rankings rarely change), but Josh Brown’s presence at No. 5 is aided by the fact that he’ll be playing in a dome in New Orleans.

Matt Bryant should also be lighting up the scoreboard with a favorable matchup against the Buccaneers on tap. The only thing that would be better would be if Bryant were playing at home in the Atlanta dome.

The Projections

1. Steven Hauschka (at DAL): 3-of-3 FGs, 3-of-3 XPs—12 fantasy points
2. Justin Tucker (vs. SD): 3-of-3 FGs, 2-of-2 XPs—11 fantasy points
3. Chandler Catanzaro (at CLE): 2-of-2 FGs, 3-of-3 XPs—9 fantasy points
4. Matt Bryant (vs. TB): 2-of-2 FGs, 3-of-3 XPs—9 fantasy points
5. Josh Brown (at NO): 2-of-2 FGs, 2-of-2 XPs—8 fantasy points 

Stats to Know

According to ESPN.com, the Packers have had five 50-plus-yard attempts made against them this season. That’s tied for most in the league. With Denver’s Brandon McManus playing against the Packers next (in Denver), that number could rise.

Steven Hauschka—the top-rated kicker this week—has recorded double-digit fantasy points in all but two games this season. But be warned: Both of those single-digit fantasy performances came on the road.

Chandler Catanzaro is in the No. 3 spot, but he hasn’t been perfect of late. After starting the season off a perfect 7-of-7 on field-goal attempts, Catanzaro has missed two field goals over the past two weeks combined.

Defense and Special Teams: Stream Options Tougher to Find This Week

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It’s tough to find a great D/ST streaming option in Week 8. As you can see below, all of the top five D/ST units are among the most-touted in the league. Odds are slim that any of these D/STs are available in your league. You’ll have to dig a little deeper if you’re looking for a new defense this week.

The Projections 

1. St. Louis Rams (vs. SF): 14 points allowed, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries, 4 sacks
2. Seattle Seahawks (at DAL): 17 points allowed, 3 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery, 3 sacks
3. Arizona Cardinals (at CLE): 20 points allowed, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery, 3 sacks
4. Carolina Panthers (vs. IND): 24 points allowed, 1 interception, 2 fumble recovery, 4 sacks
5. New York Jets (at OAK): 21 points allowed, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery, 4 sacks

Stats to Know 

D/ST units playing against the Tennessee Titans have scored an average of 12.2 fantasy points per game this season—tops in the league, per ESPN.com. That makes the Houston Texans one of this week’s top stream options.

The St. Louis Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers game could lead to a lot of D/ST points. The Rams and the 49ers rank No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, in terms of fantasy points scored against by D/ST units.

The Denver D/ST has been this season’s unstoppable force. But the Packers are no slouches; D/STs playing against Green Bay have scored the third-fewest fantasy points per game so far this season.

The rankings for each position come via the expert consensus rankings compiled by FantasyPros.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats in the “Stats to Know” sections throughout the slideshow came via ESPN.com or via NFL.com.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats in the “Metrics to Know” sections throughout the slideshow came via Pro Football Focus.