It’s time to get resourceful. At this stage of the season, you’re starting to gain a pretty good sense of where your team stands relative to the rest of your fantasy football league. Likewise, we are also learning much more about NFL players and how they fit into the scheme of things; both on the field, and in the standings.
There’s a lot to unpack from week-to-week, and a lot more players we need to consider starting due to byes and injuries. It’s a never-ending grind; and maybe more than most, I understand what the average fantasy player needs more than anything is support.
So I’m here to help. Below, you can find my deep sleepers for fantasy football in Week 8; all of whom lie far below the expert consensus ranks. These are the deep dive guys who you may be able to find on waivers or acquire for next to nothing in a quick deal to help you pick up a desperately-needed W.
Because, in the end, all we really want to do get some well-deserved shut eye after clasping the championship trophy.
But before I get into all that, shield your eyes because Week 7 wasn’t so great for my deep sleeper calls.
Week 7 Review
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB – In Week 6 I choose Daniel Jones when I should’ve chosen Jimmy G. Week 7 I took Garoppolo when I should’ve went Danny Dimes. It’s been that kind of season thus far in the early going; and, well, it is what it is. Though he didn’t become the fantasy football QB3 last week like Jones did, Garoppolo was still the QB9 with a decent day. It could’ve been better had the game not become so lopsided that Brock Purdy was tasked with mop-up duty in the 4th quarter. Thankfully, Jimmy did enough on his 37 attempts to give you a more than serviceable week if you were struggling with a bye or injury, which is really all we can ask. 300 yards through the air and 2 TDs doesn’t sting so bad. I’ll take a U on this call – so half a W.
- projected: 280/3/1 passing; 4/10/0 rushing
- actual: 303/2/1 passing; 2/2/0 rushing
Melvin Gordon, RB – Though Latavius Murray has been far more involved than Gordon managers would like, Nathanial Hackett stayed true to his word and gave MG3 1A reps last week. Unfortunately, it was Murray who found the end zone for Denver’s only touchdown. The Broncos were outlasted by the Jets, 16-9. The real issue for Gordon was the stout Jets front; who only allowed both he and Latavius 3.0 yards per carry on the ground. Mike Boone actually fared much better, but he left with an injury so the weekend was an all-out wash for the rushing attack. This was a tough L, and my third such loss relying on Melvin to get it done this season. Despite my desire to go back to the well this week, I just can’t do it.
- projected: 15/65/1 rushing; 3/30/0 receiving
- actual: 11/33/0 rushing; 2/17/0 receiving
Nico Collins, WR – Collins was looking pretty solid before an injury took him off the field and out of the game; just as Davis Mills and company entered into pass-crazy comeback mode. The Raiders pulled away early in the 4th quarter and built a sizable lead, so Collins missed out on plenty of Mills’s 41 pass attempts. Instead, Phillip Dorsett and Chris Moore saw 7 targets while Dare Ogunbowale saw 7 on his own. Collins managed to snag all 3 of his early-game targets for just 33 yards; but he could’ve easily doubled those figures and found the end zone had he been healthy enough to get back out there. A disappointing development for sure, but just a case of bad luck for us and the player in this one. L.
- projected: 5/55/1
- actual: 3/33/0
Daniel Bellinger, TE – Speaking of bad luck – Daniel Bellinger. What looked at first glance like you’re typical, run-of-the-mill accidental eye poke turned out to be a very serious situation. Bellinger actually fractured his eye socket and septum; as a would-be tackler’s hand freakishly found its way straight through his facemask. Needless to say, Bellinger missed the rest of the game. He was taken directly to the hospital to address the issue. Thankfully, he’ll heal; but for fantasy football purposes, this was a worst-case scenario if you started him this week. Bellinger saw just one target before leaving the game in the 2nd quarter; so we’ll never know if the rookie could have capitalized on what looked to be a tasty matchup against the Jaguars. Another injury L this week.
- projected: 5/45/1
- actual: 1/13/0
Outside of injury, it was a fair week. I was happy enough with Jimmy G and, once again, horrified by the output of MG3. Time to get better this week, but first..
Here’s a look at how I define fantasy football sleepers and my wins and losses in their selection:
- Players ranked outside of the QB12, RB30, WR40 and TE12 for a given week based on the weekly PPR Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) on Fantasy Pros are eligible to be chosen. That’s roughly guys at or beyond the consensus top-100.
- For a player to ‘hit’, I’m requiring a finish just about within the top-60 overall players. That means he was a serviceable starting piece that contributed meaningfully to your lineup; and he also exceeded expectations in a significant way. Historically, he put up at least 15 PPR points.
- For QBs and TEs, I’ll require a top-8 finish, though very close calls will be explored further to see if they helped you win your week.
So, now that that’s out of the way, it’s time to hold up my end of the bargain.
Shulman’s Sleepers: Week 8
QB: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Fantasy Pros ECR: QB13
Goff is the low-hanging fruit this week. He should get a few of his offensive weapons back and he’s playing the Miami Dolphins, who are giving up the 6th most points to QBs on the season. Goff has been dreadful over his last two starts; but those were also against the Pats and Cowboys, two of the league’s best all-around defenses. Now, he gets the Dolphins’ struggling secondary.
We know Goff doesn’t run the ball much, so we’re counting on a ton of production through the air this week. Thankfully, Detroits D remains awful while their O is now healthier. Barring unforeseen setbacks, Amon-Ra St. Brown and D’Andre Swift are both set to return this week from injury; while TJ Hockenson should be also shake off a mild knee injury. Outside of DJ Chark’s IR status, this offense is operating at near full health for the first time in a while. In fact, Miami’s “strength” on defense has been stopping the run; where they are average at giving up yards and scores to backs. But the running game for both teams is unlikely to be the focus in what projects to be a shootout. This game has Vegas’s highest over/under of the week at 51.5 points. That’s a testament to these good offenses and terrible defenses.
Goff should carry the offense with Swfit coming back after a long absence, Jamaal Williams struggling on the ground, and the Dolphins being a bit more stout upfront than stingy on the backside. All of this should culminate in a nice day for the Lions field general.
Prediction: 280 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT; 2 rushes, 8 yards = 22.0 points
RB: D’Onta Foreman, Carolina Panthers
Fantasy Pros ECR: RB31
Full disclosure: I’m not in love with this selection. But the fact of the matter is the matchup is good; the player is rock solid, and his name is not Melvin Gordon. I can’t bring myself to dive back into the Denver waters with either Broncos back this week, so it’s gonna be Foreman carrying the load for my fantasy football squads in Week 8.
Carolina’s defense stepped up last week to take down a floundering Buccaneers squad; earning a surprisingly dominant win. Allowing just 3 points became a recipe for 27 rushes to just 22 pass attempts; something the Panthers should look to replicate if they want to find another W this week and protect a hopefully-average-again PJ Walker.
The Falcons D is very solid against the run and has been a revelation of mediocrity thus far, but it has kept the Falcons competitive. I don’t expect Carolina to run away with this one. But I do like Foreman’s chances to get volume given Chuba Hubbard is doing his best to recover from injury or in the event he misses this one entirely.
Foreman can and should be a check-down and goal line option who can put up enough points to be a key contributor to you winning your week in the flex. Fire him up where you need him.
Prediction: 15 carries, 60 yards; 2 receptions, 20 yards; 1 TD = 16.0 points
WR: Tre’Quan Smith, New Orleans Saints
Fantasy Pros ECR: WR61
For me, this really comes down to who’s not on the field, as compared to who is. With Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry again likely to miss Week 8, give me the Saints’ WR2 in Smith.
Last week, Smith torched the very torchable Arizona secondary – en route to a 5 for 59 line. This week, the matchup is just as juicy. New Orleans invites Las Vegas to town; a squad that has been very generous to opposing pass-catchers and the most generous to opposing QBs. I don’t think Andy Dalton’s 361 yard, 4 touchdown performance is repeatable. But I do think it’s likely he throws the ball 30+ times in this one given that Vegas has been better defending the run this season. Chris Olave has commanded a ton of targets in the early going, Smith has appeal as a secondary passing game option. Between Olave and TE Juwan Johnson – who reeled in 2 TDs just last week – I expect Smith to be an afterthought for the Vegas D; which is exactly why he can thrive in this one.
Tre’Quan should be a solid chain-moving option who will receive some red zone looks as well. If Alvin Kamara continues to be held out of the end zone by opposing defenses, Smith will be a nice bet to score a touchdown. That’s what I’m betting on in this one.
Prediction: 5 receptions, 70 yards, 1 TD = 18.0 points
TE: Irv Smith Jr, Minnesota Vikings
Fantasy Pros ECR: TE13
Look. I’m a massive fan of Irv Smith’s game. While the sample has been small in his injury-riddled career, I’m of the belief we’re seeing it come together here in the early going.
That said, he hasn’t been phenomenal for fantasy football this season. In fact, he’s only really gotten things going over the past two weeks; seeing 9 targets and catching 8 of them for 49 yards and a touchdown. That’s not trustworthy production just yet, but there is still hope.
First, Irv has recovered from preseason thumb surgery that robbed him of valuable reps in the new offense. Second, the Vikings are coming off their bye week; a typical time for teams to assess what works well and look to make effective changes to standard schemes. Third, the Vikings host the Arizona Cardinals and their terrible defense – especially regarding their coverage of tight ends.
Last week, the Cardinals gave up 2 touchdowns to Juwan Johnson as Andy Dalton went nuclear. The week before, it was Noah Fant who caught 6 balls. Before that, Dallas Goedert went 8 for 95. Every week, TEs are going off on Arizona. It makes sense that consensus loves Irv this week, though I believe they should love him more.
I’m expecting big things in a big spot for my preseason favorite in Smith. Should he get things going and dominate, it could be the beginning of some ideal usage for the young TE.
Prediction: 5 receptions, 55 yards, 1 TD = 16.5 points
Week 8 is on its way. Try and get some extra winks this week knowing that these deep sleepers while shine in your fantasy football lineup. And, as always, good luck!
Jeremy Shulman
Jeremy is an avid football fan from New York who lives in Amsterdam and roots for the Patriots. This walking contradiction has played fantasy football for over than 20 years. He is now a Senior Dynasty Writer at The League Winners. In his spare time, he writes and edits professionally.