Happy Halloween week everyone, and hope these are just treats, not gimmicks, for your fantasy team. As always, you’ve come to the right place for the Week 8 fantasy football rankings and projections, but we’re making the fun rankings obvious this week. This is the ranking of the best Halloween candies! Hate me for not liking your favorite candy, or realize I just opened your world to the glory of a candy you’ve never tried, or or… just join me in unison in hating the living garbage that is sweet corn.
#CheckTheLink-age
Waivers | True SOS (APA match ranks)
Fantasy Football 101 (start, sit, rally, more)
All in Football (video module)
2022 Week 8 Fantasy Football Sleepers
🚨 CAUTION 🚨 They are sleepers. They won’t mimic my ranking 100%. It’s upside down hunting and often involves more risk.
STRATEGIST
POSSIBLE START: Daniel Jones, NYG – This is what Daniel Jones’ managers hoped to have drafted over the past two years, as Jones runs frequently. Not only is the Seahawks’ defense weak overall, but they’re among the worst at stopping the run, as evidenced by running back’s success against them, ET…Kyler Murray rushed 10 for 100 last week.
Hail Mary START: Jared Goff, DET – Yes, I know I had Goff here last week since he was inside, even with a tough game, but this week Goff is 1) inside, 2) home and 3) face to a Dolphins defense that allowed 2+ touchdowns in four games, with Mac Jones, Kenny Pickett and Zach Wilson the only ones to throw for none or just one touchdown. Buckle up for a potentially painful ride.
COME BACK
POSSIBLE START: Michael Carter, NYJ “It may seem obvious, but I see a lot of people worrying about James Robinson’s business. Yes, Robinson’s arrival probably leads to a timeshare, somewhat similar to Breece Hall and Carter earlier this year, but that’s more concerning after this week. As we saw with Latavius Murray in Denver and Christian McCaffrey last week, it takes a game (or sometimes two) for a running back to see his true role with a new team. The Patriots are good, but not terrible, against the run, and a day like Khalil Herbert just did would put Carter in the Top 20.
Hail Mary START: Jamaal Williams, DET – It’s if D’Andre Swift comes back, because if Swift is out, it’s too obvious to start Williams. Even though Swift is back, Williams has the Top 20 upside down in a timeshare considering this game. Since Week 3, the Dolphins haven’t done much to stop their opponents, including the running backs. Devin Singletary (19.6), Joe Mixon (15.4), Breece Hall (26.7), Michael Carter (16.3) and Dalvin Cook (14.8) all had performances in the Top 15 (two Jets in the same game). Even Najee Harris had a respectable day with 9.5 points last week.
WIDE RECEIVER
POSSIBLE START: Brandin Cooks, HOU -Things haven’t gone as planned for Cooks this year, as he’s no longer safe at quarterback. Mills’ drop in play ruined the passing game, but there’s some hope in Week 8…assuming Cooks isn’t traded. The Titans are one of the most forgiving matchups, as evidenced by Parris Campbell’s game last week. The trio of commanders did pretty well the week before, and we can hope that Cooks sees a lot of targets and hopefully breaks one for a big play and doesn’t miss.
POSSIBLE START: DJ Moore, CAR – PJ Walker isn’t a massive upgrade for Moore, but it helps when Moore sees an awfully high volume of targets when Christian McCaffrey is out, and there’s no Robbie Anderson to boot. As seen last week, Moore was able to see 10 targets and turn them into 7-69-1. The Falcons’ pass defense is abysmal, and the lowest score of any receiver with 10+ targets is 12.1 points, or, in other words, the Top 25 in any given week.
Hail Mary START: Parris Campbell, IND — Speaking of Campbell, he goes from an intriguing pickup and start a risky game given that we know little about how Sam Ehlinger will play. Ehlinger has some similarities to Jacoby Brissett, as that was my NFL Draft scouting report:
“Decent arm and inconsistent accuracy. Part of his problem is getting too aggressive trying to make a play and locking in his ‘hope and pray’ option, leaving the defense to read his mind. He’s solid in the running game and doesn’t shy away from pressure… but doesn’t always feel it. Ehlinger can go from looking like a star on one show to an error-riddled backup the next.
But as we know, the Commanders defense is highly exploitable and hopefully Ehlinger locks in on Campbell as much as Matt Ryan. It’s a scary situation; I say.
TIGHT END
Hail Mary START: Irv Smith, MIN – Start your games tight against the Seahawks and Cardinals. The Vikings leave the bye to get the Cardinals, whose worst opposing tight end scored 4.9, and that was Tommy Tremble. Juwan Johnson scored twice last week, while even Noah Fant scored 7.5 in Week 6.
Have fun with the leaderboards!
This week is all about Halloween, and it’s time to update the Halloween candy rankings with a separate little list of the best candies that aren’t fun-sized, and of course, the worst candy options! Charity please!
Ranking of the best Halloween candies
- Nerds Gummy Clusters (once you’ve tried them…you’re welcome)
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins (King of Chocolate Candy)
- Peanut Butter M&Ms (plain M&Ms outside the Top 10)
- Sour Patch Watermelon Slices
- Twizzlers
- Snickers
- Starburst FaveREDs – if you’re lucky, a two-pack of strawberries!
- Laffy Taffy (strawberry, watermelon) – would rank higher if wrapper comes off easily
- Haribo Gold Bears (only gummy bears allowed…other than Disney ones)
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Take 5
- Swedish mini fish
- Airheads (Strawberry, Watermelon, Mystery)
- Junior Mints (they are very refreshing)
- Sour Patch Kids
- Twix
- 100 Grand – great, but I feel like Take 5…takes…a bit higher
- Butterfinger (must be fresh/soft — lost a few spots for the new recipe)
- York Peppermint (any type, any good)
- Skittles
- Nestle Crunch
- Hot tamales
- Kit Kat – rightfully forgot about them at first because they’re overrated…can eat 20 and it’s like nothing…really good, but really unsatisfying
- Milky Way
- Blow
Overrated: Whoppers – Who wants to fret over these malt balls of meh-ness? And Tootsie Rolls – EVERYONE hands them out, and the kids end up with half a bag. Sufficient!
Best candy requiring Halloween pruning
- Starburst FaveREDs Minis (so dangerous – can mindlessly kill a bag)
- Sour Patch Strawberry Slices
- Rainbow Twizzlers
- Sour Belts (Strawberry, Watermelon, Blue Raspberry)
- Hi-Chew Strawberry (different spin on Starbursts)
The Worst Halloween Candy
(ranked from worst to least worst)
- Necco Wafers – I don’t even know where people find them. Are we sure it’s not street chalk?
- Candy Corn – obviously, too easy
- Circus Peanuts – I mean… orange colored Styrofoam anyone?
- Good & Plenty – What’s the flavor, even? ! These are hell in a box
- Bit-O-Honey
- Mary-Jane
- Generic Wrapped Candy — You know…the black/orange wrappers
- Smarties – At least Tootsie Rolls are good for a bit. They are barely better than the Neccos and everyone has them! (Note to our Canadian readers: Jake is referring to American Smarties, which are totally different from Canadian Smarties)
- Dubble Bubble — Even baseball card chewing gum isn’t that hard…and the taste is gone in 60 seconds
- Jolly Rancher – Speaking of cracked teeth…just the big ones (small ones are fine). I’m a biter, so that might just be me, but speaking of hard candy, these are going to kick your ass!
BUY AND SELL
Bought
- Buccaneers – Along with the Ravens game, this is the week Tom Brady, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin get back on track, especially Brady and Godwin.
- Alvin Kamara, RB, NO – As mentioned in the waivers… Top 25 in total yards, Top 20 in touches, Top 10 in receptions and Top 5 in receiving yards for running backs… despite missing two games.
- Cordarrelle Patterson, RB, ATL – Approaching his return, and the Falcons are determined to run no matter what play script.
- Keenan Allen, WR, BAC – Allen isn’t 100% yet but is close and still has the Top 15 upside down… especially with Mike Williams out.
- Diontae Johnson, WR, PIT – Another concern report reader; Johnson is still the top target in Pittsburgh, and if he starts catching 65-70% of his targets, Johnson can return to WR2 status.
- Dalton Schultz, TE, DAL – Maybe not 100% or back to it, but Dak Prescott likes him a lot, and Schultz was a tight Top 5 last year with him.
Sell
- Travis Etienne, RB, JAX – Yes, Etienne has RB1 in mind for the rest of the season, but when you see people claiming he will outplay Austin Ekeler the rest of the way, you can maximize his potential comeback… now!
- Gus Edwards, RB, BAL – Just like Etienne, float Edwards’ name to see if you can get the Top 15 value. If so, you can’t skip this comeback.
- Aaron Jones, RB, GB – Just a week ago managers were freaking out, and now that Jones has played his second huge game of the season (up from four with 9.1 or less), perceived value is on the rise again.
- James Robinson and Michael Carter, NYJ – If you can get a Top 15 for either (many different opinions), you need to sell.
- Deebo Samuel, WR, SF – Some may not have noticed the concern, but Samuel was already barely rushing, and now CMC is ruining his potential WR1 value.
Week 8 fantasy football projections
🚨 HEADS UP 🚨 These may differ from my rankings, and my ranks are the order i would start players in apart from additional context, such as “Need a higher edge, even if it’s risky”. Also, based on 4-point TD for QB, 6-point rest and half PPR
Download link added Thursday
***These are NOT updated Sunday morning, for info***
Fantasy Football Week 8 Ranking
🚨 HEADS UP 🚨
- Only Half PPR since FantasyPros automatic calculation of No and Full-PPR rankings can be disabled. But, there is so little difference between No and Half and Full and Half that you don’t have to worry.
- ECR = Expert Consensus Ranking. Don’t focus too much on it, as not all experts update consistently/constantly.
- Updated regularly, so check back until queues lock.
(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
