Week 8 is here and we’ve made it through bye-mageddon. Each week this column will analyze a player at each position rostered in 50 percent of Yahoo leagues or less. This group of players is basically a dream stream team. For reference, the threshold used for wins and losses in this article will be if the quarterbacks can score at least 17 points, if the tight ends can score at least eight PPR points, and if the rest can score at least 10 PPR points. Here is the NFL Week 8 stream team.
NFL Week 8 Stream Team: Daniel Jones, Kenneth Gainwell, and More
Week 7 Recap
Quarterback
- Tua Tagovailoa (MIA) vs ATL – 28.54 points – W
- Jameis Winston (NO) @ SEA – 16.88 points – L
- Justin Fields (CHI) @ TB – 4.16 points – L
- Totals – Week: 1-2 / Year: 11-10
Running Back
- Brandon Bolden (NE) vs NYG – 19.90 points – W
- J.D. McKissic (WFT) @ GB – 9.60 points – L
- D’Ernest Johnson (CLE) vs DEN – 27.80 points – W
- Totals – Week: 2-1 / Year: 10-11
Wide Receiver
- Nelson Agholor (NE) vs NYG – 13.10 points – W
- Tim Patrick (DEN) vs LV – 3.60 points – L
- Hunter Renfrow (LV) vs PHI – 12.80 points – W
- Totals – Week: 1-1 / Year: 11-9
Tight End
- Ricky Seals-Jones (WFT) @ GB – 11.10 points – W
- C.J. Uzomah (CIN) @ BAL – 24.10 points – W
- Evan Engram (NYG) vs CAR – 10.40 points – W
- Totals – Week: 3-0 / Year: 12-9
- Grand Totals – Week: 8-4 / Year: 45-39
Week 8 Stream Team
Quarterback – Daniel Jones (NYG – 28%) @ KC
Daniel Jones has had a rough go of things lately. After a hot start in which he scored more than 21 fantasy points in three of four games, he has averaged less than 10 fantasy points per game over his last three games. Some of that was due to injury. Jones had a decent game this past week though against a tough Carolina Panthers defense. The most encouraging part was that he had eight carries. The rushing aspect of his game is a key element to what makes him a good quarterback for fantasy football purposes.
This week he gets a juicy matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs defense is not strong at all, especially against opposing quarterbacks. They have allowed the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks so far this year. This game also has a nice combined total (currently 52 points). The New York Giants are also 10-point underdogs right now which should keep the game script in Jones’ favor to have to continue to throw early and often. Jones should also get some weapons back this week as well. Everything is set up to allow Jones to be one of the best Week 8 stream team options.
[pickup_prop id=”14169″]
DANIEL JONES GOT SOME HANDS 😤
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/bPuWdPISjg— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 24, 2021
Honorable Mentions – Tua Tagovailoa (MIA – 48%) @ BUF, Trevor Lawrence (JAX – 41%) @ SEA
Running Back – Kenneth Gainwell (PHI – 22%) @ DET
Kenneth Gainwell created some buzz as a popular pickup earlier in the season when it looked like he might eat into Miles Sanders’ workload. That hype has died down a bit over the last couple of weeks as Gainwell has had only two carries and two receptions. He has been involved mostly in the passing game over the course of the season. Gainwell has 31 targets, 19 receptions, 164 yards, and a score through seven games. That is more receiving production than Sanders has despite far fewer snaps. This past week Sanders went down with an ankle injury. That allowed Gainwell to see five carries and eight targets which he turned into 61 total yards and a score.
It sounds like Sanders avoided a serious injury but he still might miss this week. If that is the case, Gainwell should see a boost in snaps and touches. He will likely cede work on the ground to Boston Scott but he should receive a nice amount of work in the passing game, along with a solid amount of carries. The matchup doesn’t get much sweeter than this. The Detroit Lions are allowing the second-most fantasy points to running backs this season. The combined total of this game currently sits at 47.5 points with the Philadelphia Eagles as 3.5-point favorites. This is a perfect spot to use Gainwell if Sanders sits.
Honorable Mentions – Brandon Bolden (NE – 6%) @ LAC, Rashaad Penny (SEA – 34%) vs JAX
Wide Receiver – Michael Gallup (DAL – 40%) @ MIN
It’s not a guarantee that Michael Gallup will be back this week but if he is, he will return for a nice matchup. The Minnesota Vikings defense has not been good this season. They aren’t necessarily a secondary that teams want to target but they aren’t one to fear either. This matchup could be conducive for the passing game on both sides as it will be played in a dome. The combined total currently sits at a hefty 54.5 points. The Vikings are 2.5-point underdogs as well. If this game goes accordingly, there should be plenty of fantasy points to go around. Even if Gallup does not return for this matchup he still makes for a good pickup moving forward. Do not forget this is a guy who is one year removed from a 1,100-yard receiving season and plays in one of the best offenses in the NFL.
Cowboys PPR fantasy ranks in Weeks 1-5:
Dak Prescott: QB4
Ezekiel Elliott: RB3
Amari Cooper: WR8
CeeDee Lamb: WR11
Michael Gallup: WR33
Dalton Shultz: TE12— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) February 4, 2021
Honorable Mentions – Kalif Raymond (DET – 3%) v PHI, Kadarius Toney (NYG – 47%) @ KC
Tight End – C.J. Uzomah (CIN – 19%) @ NYJ
C.J. Uzomah has not been a target monster by any means this year. He has only seen more than three targets just once this year in seven games. The part that is intriguing is how many routes he has been running on a weekly basis. His 77.7% route run rate is seventh in the NFL among all tight ends. When looking for tight ends, the more routes run the better, even if the target volume has not come along thus far. This is because a tight end cannot score points unless they run a route. Uzomah has been producing despite the limited target share. He has three double-digit fantasy point games in his last four outings. This week might be a chance for another. The Cincinnati Bengals take on the New York Jets. The Jets just got destroyed by the New England Patriots. In that game, Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith combined for more than 17 fantasy points. This game does not have a great combined total but the Bengals should be able to move the ball and score points against the Jets. As long as Uzomah keeps running routes at the rate he has been, he will be in a great spot to come through again.
Honorable Mentions – Tyler Conklin (MIN – 9%) v DAL, Evan Engram (NYG – 31%) @ KC
[pickup_prop id=”14089″]
Main Photo
