There's a lot that goes into crafting a successful daily fantasy sports (DFS) lineup. Budgeting cap dollars often requires playing a sleeper or two in order to make room for star players...
We're on the doorstep of 2021's eighth NFL Sunday, and the action promises to be good. While there are a few on-paper mismatches this week, there should also be several tightly contested games and more than a few tough fantasy decisions...
In Week 7 of the NFL season, there were six teams on bye. So that made it a bit more challenging for many fantasy football managers to fill out their lineups. Week 8 won't be as much of an issue...
Week 8 of the 2021 NFL season is underway, and fortunately managers aren't suffering the bye-week blues quite like they were last time around. Six teams were on bye in Week 7. The time around, it's only the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders...
Some weeks, the best free-agent pickups are at the bottom of the free-agent pool—similar to the best-tasting treats deep in a bag of Halloween candy...
Six NFL teams come into Week 8 fresh off a bye, but only one of them has the most ideal matchup in front of them on Sunday...
James Conner's Fantasy Outlook After 2 TDs in Cardinals' Loss to Packers on TNF
Oct 29, 2021
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) scores a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner is a touchdown machine.
The five-year veteran scored two more in his team's 24-21 home loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday to give himself eight for the season.
Conner had just five carries for 22 yards, but he made the most of his opportunities, as he's done all year.
He's scored once every 11.8 carries this year, amassing 94 attempts for 358 yards.
From a fantasy football perspective, Conner is an interesting player.
He's not a threat in the passing game (five receptions on five targets for 34 yards).
He also splits time in the backfield with Chase Edmonds, so he won't carry the ball 20-plus times per game like he did at times for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
However, Conner is clearly the go-to back in the red zone for a team that entered Thursday fourth in the NFL with 32.1 points per game. The Kyler Murray-led Air Raid offense probably won't slump any time soon.
That's good news for Conner: Per 4for4, he had 20 rushes inside the 20-yard line, 12 inside the 10-yard line and eight inside the five-yard line entering Thursday. All three figures ranked in the top seven in the NFL.
But Conner is a touchdown-or-bust play. If he doesn't score, chances are he won't do well fantasy-wise. If he does, then he's certainly worth starting.
The conclusion is that Conner is best used as a potential flex play or a low-end second running back.
If the Cardinals are projected to have a big offensive day (e.g., Dec. 19 against the 0-7 Detroit Lions), Conner could be a better option.
If the Cardinals have a tougher matchup on paper, it might be worth looking elsewhere.
Conner is also a better option in standard leagues than point-per-reception contests given his lack of usage in the passing game.
Randall Cobb, Packers WRs Fantasy Outlook After Davante Adams' Injury
Oct 28, 2021
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) tries to avoid Washington Football Team safety Landon Collins (26) during an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. (Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams will miss Thursday's game against the Arizona Cardinals after being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
After being added to the list Monday, Adams needed consecutive negative tests 24 hours apart to be cleared for Thursday.
The Packers will also be without Allen Lazard, who is on the reserve/COVID-19 list as well, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who is dealing with a hamstring injury.
Adams missed time last season with a hamstring injury, and Aaron Rodgers managed to spread the ball around without any of the other receivers becoming an elite fantasy option.
Randall Cobb is a strong one-week option in PPR formats. Cobb hasn't done much since returning to Green Bay this season, but he has a long, trusting relationship with Rodgers and might be his underneath option.
Robert Tonyan is a potential one-week option at tight end as well. Tonyan is coming off his best game of the 2021 season, hauling in four receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown last week against the Washington Football Team.
The Packers' touchdown passes have to go somewhere with Adams out. Guessing who will be on the receiving end is a crapshoot. Amari Rodgers and Equanimeous St. Brown could be involved, but there's no way to trust them from a fantasy perspective. Cobb is the preferred option in PPR leagues.
These rankings are only for Week 8, as it's expected Adams and Lazard will be back next week.
Most fantasy football leagues this year have a 14-week regular season. That means we're now at the halfway point to when the playoff field will be decided, so managers should have a pretty good idea of where they stand at this point...
