Money Makers and Heart Breakers (Fantasy Football 2020 – Week 8)

Boom shaka laka yo here comes the Chief Rocka
Rock it down, so jump up off the tip you’re not my knocka
For sharper type to battle make the people say ooh ah
Think I won’t curse, I’ll break down and say puta

If you don’t know that song it is “Chief Rocka” from Lords of the Underground

Do you know who the Chief Rocka is, you probably expect me to say me. I hate to tell you this as I see people talking about this guy saying to play other people over him.  Justin Herbert, is literally the Chief Rocka right now at QB.  He is the overall QB15 after playing in only 5 games. Look at his numbers:

  • 311 passing yards, 2 total TD
  • 330 passing yards, 1 TD
  • 290 passing yards, 3 TD
  • 264 passing yards, 4 TD
  • 347 passing yards, 68 rushing yards, 4 total TD

There are only a few guys I am looking to start over this amazing player right now in fantasy.  He is literally up there with the best of the best.

So now what do they say, when Herbert’s walkin’ up the block?
Boom shaka laka there goes the Chief Rocka

If you are new around here this is how it works:

Money Maker – I think this person will perform well this week and be better than expectations

Heart Breaker – These players will not meet projections

Quarterbacks

💰 Money Makers

Jimmy Garopollo

Do you know who gets to play the Seahawks this week?  It’s Jimmy G and Niners. That’s right the same Seahawks team that is giving up an average of 378 passing yards and 2 touchdowns a game through the air. The Niners running game is dinged up but Jimmy G, Aiyuk, and Kittle will get it done on offense through the air.  ($6,600 on Fanduel and $5,400 on DraftKings)

Baker Mayfield

I know you read this and said “are you friggin kidding me? He just lost Odell Beckham and has been really bad all season”.  Well, he wasn’t bad last week, he was actually really good.  This week Mayfield is playing the Raiders who are the fourth friendliest defense to quarterbacks in the league.  Against the Bengals last week Mayfield dropped 297 yards and 5 touchdowns on the Bengals, I would look for him to break 300 again this week. ($7,200 on Fanduel and $6,100 on DraftKings)

NOTE: See more about Baker Mayfield in Stream Options by Kyle Larson

Derek Carr

Carr has multiple touchdowns in 5 straight games. He has also passed for over 250 yards in 5 straight games.  The Browns and Raiders are both bottom of the barrel defenses against the pass and this game looks like it could easily turn into a shootout. I like Carr’s rest of season schedule by the way as I have already mentioned in Untangling the Wire.  ($7,300 on Fanduel and $5,500 on DraftKings)

Other quarterbacks I like in week 5:

There is the obvious: Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson.

The not so obvious: Brett Rypien, Justin Herbert and Ryan Tannehill.

💔 Heart Breakers

Drew Brees

Currently the QB20 in fantasy football he is going up against the toughest defense against quarterbacks in Week 8.  The Bears give up an average of 236 yards per game and less than one touchdown.  If he is your guy in season-long you are probably playing him, I would avoid in DFS this week.

Matthew Stafford

The Colts have been tough against the quarterback position all season.  Stafford has been the king of mediocrity thus far this season.  Stafford is currently the QB23.  Pretty much YUCK.

Others quarterbacks to avoid: Daniel Jones, Josh Allen, and Tua Tagovailoa

Running Backs

💰 Money Makers

Dalvin Cook

Cook is coming back from a groin injury in week 8.  The Packers are the worst defense against the running back position.  They practically hug and kiss running backs they are so friendly.  IN Week 1 Cook tagged them for 2 touchdowns.  I know he is a stud and you shouldn’t need me to tell you to play him but if he is active it doesn’t get better than this week. ($ 9,200 on Fanduel and $7,500 on DraftKings)

Jonathan Taylor

Taylor has been super consistent this season for the Colts. Detroit has also been super consistent with allowing running backs to do well against them.  Taylor will do it by land and by air against the Lions and produce for you in Week 8. ($7,300 on Fanduel and $6,600 on DraftKings)

Other running backs to play:

The obvious: Derrick Henry, Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt, and Aaron Jones

The not so obvious: Miles Sanders (or Boston Scott), Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Darrel Henderson

💔 Heart Breakers

Carlos Hyde

Essentially whoever the running back is that is playing for the Seahawks in Week 8.  The Niners are the toughest run defense in the league at least for fantasy purposes and that is all we care about in this article. So unless you are VERY needy or Chris Carson plays I would avoid the running backs from the Seahawks this week.

J.K. Dobbins

The Steelers are SO tough against the run.  They have not allowed a 100-yard rusher yet this season.  The Steelers give up an average of 58 yards per game on the ground.  This is going to be tough going for the Ravens run game and I Would not be playing any of the Ravens running backs.

Ezekiel Elliott

If you have him on your roster you are playing him, but in Week 8 he is going up against a top ten run defense.  In the last two games without Dak Prescott he has totaled 131 yards an no touchdowns on 33 touches.  The volume is somewhat there but the production is way off.  Avoid Zeke in DFS.

Other running backs that will cost you in Week 8: David Montgomery, Myles Gaskin and Devonta Freeman.

Wide Receivers

💰 Money Makers

Brandon Aiyuk

In Week 7, Aiyuk had 28% of the target share being targeted 7 times and he had 6 receptions for 115 yards.  Deebo Samuel is going to miss Week 8.  The Niners are playing the Seahawks who allow the most points to wide receivers in fantasy football.  It is somewhat easy to see where this is going.  Aiyuk is going to have a lot of yards and a touchdown. ($5,900 on Fanduel and $5,800 on DraftKings)

Nelson Agholor

Agholor and potentially Henry Ruggs will produce in Week 8 against the Browns.  Why you ask will this happen.  In Week 7 Agholor had 25% of the target share for the Raiders. Agholor has a touchdown in 3 straight games and the Browns have given up touchdowns to wide receivers in 6 of 7 games this season.  ($5,000 on Fanduel and $4,700 on DraftKings)

Tee Higgins

Against the Browns Higgins has 5 receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown.  He has been heavily involved in the passing game and the Browns aren’t very good against wide receivers (2nd worst). Expect Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and even AJ Green to produce in Week 8. ($5,400 on Fanduel and $4,900 on DraftKings)

Marquise Brown

The Steelers are unbelievable against the run, against the pass they are a bottom 10 defense.  They have given up a touchdown to a wide receiver in all but one game this season. This is a nice place for Brown to get volume and have success.  He’s seen 6 or more targets in every game this season.  That should lead him to success in Week 8.  ($5,900 on Fanduel and $6,100 on DraftKings)

Other wide receivers to play:

The obvious: Davante Adams, Tyler Lockett, and Tyreek Hill

The not so obvious:  – Rashard Higgins, Jarvis Landry, Travis Fulgham, and Darnell Mooney

💔 Heart Breakers

Devante Parker

Parker has a rookie quarterback throwing him the ball in his first game and he gets to be covered by Jalen Ramsey. Not sure I need to say anything else in regards to this.  Only Cole Beasley has a 100 yard game against the Rams this season and the Rams have no given up a touchdown to a wide receiver in 2020. Avoid.

Other wide receivers will cost you: Sterling Shepard, Tim Patrick, and Dionte Johnson

Tight Ends Week 5

💰 Money Makers

Jimmy Graham

Graham has been getting targeted regularly in the Bears passing offense, having 5 or more targets in all but one game this season.  The Saints are the 2nd worst defense against the tight end this season. With Allen Robinson in concussion protocol and unlikely to play someone has to pick up the slack.  Graham is that someone. ($5,400 on Fanduel and $4,600 on DraftKings)

Richard Rodgers

In Week 7 Rodgers had 6 receptions for 85 yards. In Week 8 The Cowboys come to town with the 9th worst defense against the tight end.  The Cowboys give up 5 receptions and 50 yards to the position on average.  If you are TE needy this week here is your guy.

Other tight ends to play:

The obvious Jonnu Smith, Darren Waller, George Kittle, Mark Andrews and Travis Kelce

The not so obvious: Rob Gronkowski, Dalton Shultz, and Noah Fant

💔 Heart Breakers

T.J. Hockenson

The Colts are the best defense against tight ends, giving up an average of 22 yards per game.  The Colts have not given up a touchdown to the position yet this season. The Lions play the Colts in Week 8. You are definitely picking up what I am putting down.  The passing attack of the Lions will not move the ball through Hockenson in Week 8

Trey Burton

Burton has been pretty good as of late. In Week 6 he rushed for a touchdown and caught a touchdown, to go along with 58 yards receiving.  The Lions one give up 27 yards and 3 receptions a game to the position.  With an anemic QB, I am looking elsewhere in Week 8.

Other tight ends that will cost you: Tyler Higbee.

If you are looking for Defenses to stream take a look at The Stream Option by Kyle Larson.

Thanks for checking out our Money Makers and Heart Breakers column. For more great content from The Undroppables, follow us on Twitter, follow @MikeReedyFF for more great content, and visit back for Mike’s weekly UNtangling the Wire (waiver wire) article.

Please support us on Patreon!
Become a patron at Patreon!

Related articles

Mastering Adaptive Draft Strategy: A Winning Approach for Fantasy Football

In fantasy football, having a solid draft strategy is crucial for success. While different strategies like Zero RB, Zero WR, and Late Round QB have their merits, one key factor often gets overlooked—adaptability. Enter...

Money Makers and Heart Breakers (Fantasy Football 2022 – Week 18)

I want everyone to take a brief moment of silence for Damar Hamlin. It is horrible what happened to someone so young on the playing field. I am hoping he pulls through and follows...

Money Makers and Heart Breakers (Fantasy Football 2022 – Week 17)

As we close out the year, it is typically the time when people reflect on how the past year went. With that in mind, I wanted to look at where some of the things...

Money Makers and Heart Breakers (Fantasy Football 2022 – Week 16)

One thing that always puzzles me this time of year is when people are upset at being wished "Happy Holidays," "Merry Christmas, or even "Happy Hanukkah," or whatever holiday you specifically celebrate. Someone is...

Money Makers and Heart Breakers (Fantasy Football 2022 – Week 15)

Please remember I will be running a playoff challenge jointly with Ride Hard Breathe Easy again to support this charity. We would love to have you play. If you didn't make the playoffs in your...