When it comes to making start/sit decisions in fantasy football, the advice is simple: Play the matchups, and you’ll win more often than you lose. Now that we’re in the thick of the bye weeks, knowing the matchups to avoid and exploit becomes even more important. Bellow you’ll find the key matchup stats to know from each of the 12 remaining games for Week 8 of the 2017 NFL season.
Minnesota @ Cleveland
Not the best matchup for Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray.
Believe it or not, the Browns currently surrender the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Cleveland has allowed just 3.0 yards per carry to the position. That isn’t good news for anyone who ran out and picked up Murray this week. He’s a flex play at best, which is saying something with six teams on bye. McKinnon adds value with his ability as a pass catcher, so he can be used as an RB2.
Oakland @ Buffalo
Pump the brakes on Derek Carr.
There’s a lot of excitement surrounding the Oakland offense following their Week 7 offensive outburst, but Carr owners may want to look elsewhere this week. The Raiders have to travel across the country to play against a tough Buffalo defense. The Bills allow the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks with just 0.8 passing touchdowns per game yielded.
Indianapolis @ Cincinnati
Finally, it’s Joe Mixon’s week.
It took until late October, but the rookie back is finally going to breakout this week. He draws an extremely favorable matchup against a Colts defense that surrenders the third-most PPR points per game to running backs. Indy gives up 1.1 rushing scores per game to running backs, which is tops in the league. Mixon is a back-end RB1 and is very much in play across cash and tournament contests in DFS.
LA Chargers @ New England
Philip Rivers, Melvin Gordon, and Hunter Henry are all strong plays.
We highlighted Keenan Allen’s plus matchup in Thursday’s wide receiver/cornerback article, but there are favorable conditions for fantasy production across the board for the Chargers this week. Rivers is a strong candidate for 300-plus yards and makes for a back-end QB1 play. Gordon struggled against the Broncos last week, but he figures to get things back on track against a Patriots defense that gives up the fourth-most fantasy points per game to running backs. New England has also been friendly to tight ends, allowing a score to the position in 5-of-7 games this season. Henry offers big-time upside this week.
Chicago @ New Orleans
More volume for Jordan Howard.
The Bears have made it clear that they want to cover up rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky with a healthy dose of the run game. Howard is a good bet for 20-plus carries again this week and gets a reasonably good matchup against the Saints. New Orleans gives up 4.7 yards per carry to running backs with the ninth-most PPR points per game yielded to the position. Howard is in the RB1 conversation and has some DFS tournament appeal.
Atlanta @ NY Jets
Good matchup for Devonta Freeman, but …
If you own Freeman, you have to keep starting him. But the concern here is the overall state of the Falcons offense. Freeman has been playing well, but Atlanta hasn’t been able to sustain drives and consequently haven’t run the ball over the last two weeks. He’s averaging 10.5 carries over that span. That’s roughly half the 19.3 carries per game he averaged in the previous three games.
San Francisco @ Philadelphia
Carson Wentz’s fantasy dominance continues.
The top fantasy quarterback keeps rolling this week in an extremely favorable matchup against a 49ers defense that surrenders beaucoup fantasy points. Through the first seven weeks of the season, only the Patriots give up more fantasy per game to quarterbacks. A case could be made for Wentz as this week’s No. 1 fantasy play. LeGarrette Blount also gets a big upgrade this week.
Carolina @ Tampa Bay
Cam Newton goes off.
It’s been a frustrating season for Newton owners, as the Carolina signal-caller has been maddeningly inconsistent. But Newton’s fantasy arrow is pointing up this week in a favorable matchup against a Bucs defense that surrenders the third-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Tampa Bay is allowing 302 net passing yards per game with quarterbacks completing 72 percent of passes against the Bucs. Newton is a QB1 in season long and has a lot of tournament appeal in DFS.
Houston @ Seattle
Fade Deshaun Watson.
Yes, he’s been spectacular as a fantasy option this season, but starting a rookie quarterback on the road against a stout defense typically isn’t the recipe for success. The Seahawks have allowed 202.3 net passing yards and 0.8 passing touchdowns per game this season. This isn’t the week to rely on Watson as a fantasy option.
Dallas @ Washington
Jason Witten is in play this week.
The veteran tight end hasn’t been the most consistent fantasy option this year, but he’s in play as a streamer option in this one. Washington has been very kind to opposing tight ends, allowing a score to the position in three of their last four games. Witten found pay dirt last week and is a good bet to do so again.
Pittsburgh @ Detroit
Over/under for Le’Veon Bell’s carries is …
The Steelers have leaned heavily on Bell over the last month, feeding the running back 30-plus carries in three of the last four games. Expect another healthy dose of Bell this week in a plus matchup. Detroit yields the fifth-most PPR points per game to running backs with an average of 0.8 rushing scores per game surrendered. Bell is the top running back play this week. He’s expensive in DFS, but is worth the price.
Denver @ Kansas City
Kareem Hunt could struggle.
There’s bad news for anyone who owns the Chiefs rookie running back. Denver is currently the worst fantasy matchup for running backs with just 90.7 scrimmage yards per game yielded to the position. Hunt owners shouldn’t fade him in season-long, but he should be avoided in DFS cash game with only a small amount of exposure in GPP tournaments.
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