THE BOOK ON NUMBERS
‘Budding fantasy star’ Trubisky should soar against Jets
Week 8 doesn’t offer too many “can’t miss” fantasy starts, but astute owners who have worked the waiver wires or patiently waited for a slow starter to finally gain steam will be rewarded, as the slate provides a handful of underthe-radar performers who will deliver quality numbers.
On the flip side, those players who struggled during the first seven weeks won’t see much of a respite. As the midway point of the season — and the NFL trade deadline next week — approaches, most of this season’s disappointing fantasy players are likely to continue showing their true, frustrating colors.
START: Mitch Trubisky, QB, Bears
He’s proven the six-touchdown outburst he had against the Buccaneers wasn’t a fluke, as Trubisky has thrown for 649 yards and five touchdowns in his last two games. The Jets are 25th in receiving yards allowed and have given up 13 touchdown passes, and with coach Matt Nagy taking the gloves off Trubisky, this makes for a great opportunity to run with the budding fantasy standout.
SIT: Baker Mayfield, QB, Browns
The Steelers are 29th in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, and while that makes starting Mayfield intriguing, he’s best off on the fantasy bench. He’s averaged just 226.5 passing yards in the last two weeks and could remain near that total if the Browns make a commitment to getting running back Nick Chubb an extensive workload.
START: Jameis Winston, QB, Buccaneers
Yes, the turnovers (seven in three games) is cause for concern, but Winston has also thrown for 760 yards and four touchdowns in his first two starts and gets a Bengals defense that is 28th in fantasy points per game allowed to opposing quarterbacks. What puts Winston high atop the must-start mountain is a renewed effort to run, as he has rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown in the last two games. It’s hard to envision Winston, who has attempted 93 passes in his two starts, not finding the end zone multiple times in what should be a high-scoring affair.
SIT: T.J. Yeldon, RB, Jaguars
His pass-catching skills have made him a darling in PPR leagues, but Yeldon has yet to eclipse 60 rushing yards in a single game, a feat that becomes even less likely with the addition of Carlos Hyde to the Jacksonville backfield. The trip to London becomes less fruitful for Yeldon as he contends with an Eagles defense that is second in fewest fantasy points per game allowed to opposing running backs and seventh overall against the rush. There will be some flex appeal to Yeldon in PPR formats, but the prospect of Hyde cutting into his touches diminishes his value in other types of leagues.
START: Marlon Mack, RB, Colts
Mack has averaged nearly seven yards per carry in his last two games and will face an Oakland defense that is 27th in yards per carry allowed (4.7) and 22nd overall. He has shown potential as a pass catcher out of the backfield, and while rookie Nyheim Hines will get the bulk of snaps in passing situations, expect Mack to be targeted a few times. Mack is an RB2 with a chance to produce RB1 numbers.
SIT: Nelson Agholor, WR, Eagles
Part of the reason why the champs have struggled offensively, Agholor has just one touchdown this season and has been held under 30 receiving yards four times, including last week’s feeble 20-yard effort in the loss to the Panthers. Don’t expect Agholor to find his 2017 form in London against a Jaguars defense that leads the league with 195.4 passing yards per game. Although he’s averaging nearly eight targets per game, Agholor has done little to justify Carson Wentz throwing in his direction.