Deciding which players to fade each week goes hand-in-hand with selecting the players you do want. We’re faced with tough decisions every week regarding who to plug into our daily fantasy football lineups. Throughout the NFL season I’ll be here every week to help you with those tough decisions, reviewing players at each position that I’m fading for the weekend.
DraftKings and FanDuel NFL Week 8 DFS Fades at QB, RB, WR, TE, and D/ST
Quarterback
Matt Ryan (ATL, FD: $8,200, DK: $6,800) at New York Jets
I’m secretly hoping Ryan goes off this week (like too many of my fades have) because I want to see him return to the fantasy prominence we knew and loved last season. This season has been a different story, however. Matty Ice has been ice cold, failing to surpass 300 yards in every game since Week 1, with his only multi-touchdown game coming alongside a three INT performance in Week 3. For some reason he’s still priced as a top-five QB on both sites, and I can’t pay up for him with his lack of production. Hopefully this is the week Steve Sarkisian pushes all the right buttons, but I doubt it.
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT, FD: $7,400, DK: $6,000) at Detroit Lions
Big Ben has looked much better since his five-INT performance in Week 5, but he isn’t the engine that makes this offense go anymore. That job has been handed to Le’Veon Bell, which directly takes away from Roethlisberger’s upside in the passing game. His only game above 265 yards passing came in his five-interception game, and he’s failed to throw more than two TDs in any game this season. Detroit is allowing just 13.4 points per game to opposing QBs, so I’ll look elsewhere when targeting a signal caller this weekend.
Running Back
Jordan Howard (CHI, FD: $6,800, DK: $6,800) at New Orleans Saints
The second-year back out of Indiana has showed his splendid rookie season wasn’t a fluke, but this is a tough matchup against the Saints. Chicago will head to the Superdome as nine point underdogs, leading to a game script that will require Mitchell Trubisky to throw more than seven passes. Howard’s production has come almost entirely on the ground, as he’s seen just one target over his last three games and has 59 receiving yards in seven games this season. I think this game could get out of hand early, making Howard an easy fade for me in DFS.
Doug Martin (TB, FD: $6,500, DK: $5,400) vs. Carolina Panthers
The Muscle Hamster (best nickname ever) finds himself with a home date against a stingy Carolina run defense. The Panthers are allowing the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game (81.1) and the third-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing RBs. They’ll be welcoming back their defensive leader in Luke Keuchly, which bolsters their rushing defense even further. On top of that, Tampa Bay runs the ball on just 34.3% of their plays, which is 31st in the NFL. If the Bucs have any success in this game it should come through the air, so I won’t have any stock in Martin come Sunday.
Wide Receiver
Dez Bryant (DAL, FD: $8,300, DK: $7,700) at Washington Redskins
While Dez has been more than serviceable this season thanks to four touchdowns, his ceiling isn’t nearly as high compared to other wide outs priced in the top-ten on both sites, let alone the top-five where Bryant currently sits. He’s had just one game over 65 receiving yards (98), and Washington has been funneling targets towards tight ends and running backs. They’ve surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing WRs, and might get even more help with the return of Josh Norman still up in the air. Bryant would likely have to score two touchdowns to reach value in a GPP, which isn’t something I’m willing to bet on against a defense that’s allowed just four touchdowns to receivers all season.
T.Y. Hilton (IND, FD: $7,200, DK: $5,600) at Cincinnati Bengals
It’s been an up-and-down season for Hilton, as he’s exploded for two 150+ yard receiving games, but failed to reach 60 in his other five games. I expect a game more reflective of the latter sample, as he’ll head on the road to face a stingy Bengals defense. Cincy has allowed the fewest catches to opposing WRs this season. They’ll also get their number one corner back in Adam Jones this weekend, making it an even tougher task for Hilton. All we can wait for now is for Andrew Luck to come back and save Hilton’s fantasy reputation, but the light and the end is growing dimmer and dimmer as the weeks go on.
Brandin Cooks (NE, FD: $7,900, DK: $6,800) vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Although I like this matchup for New England’s offense as a whole, I think Cooks will struggle to produce against the Bolts. It appears that he’ll draw shadow coverage from Casey Hayward, who is ranked as the ninth-best coverage corner according to Pro Football Focus. Cooks’ role has primarily been in the deep passing game, and Tom Brady has already stated this week he wants to get the ball out quickly thanks to the dynamic rushing duo of Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa on LA’s defensive line. New England should still put points on the board, I just don’t think Cooks will be the one racking up targets and yards that lead up to those scores.
Tight End
Zach Ertz (PHI, FD: $7,300, DK: $7,000) vs. San Francisco 49ers
It’s not an easy choice to fade #1 fantasy tight end on the season, but I think this is a matchup that warrants the decision. Ertz has climbed up to the TE2 on both sites, and is just $100 cheaper than fantasy god Rob Gronkowski on DraftKings. With Philadelphia being 13-point home favorites, I don’t think the game will require Carson Wentz to air it nearly as much as usual, which could reduce Ertz’s involvement. Also, the only aspect of the Niners defense that’s been respectable is their covering of tight ends, which has been elite. They’ve allowed the sixth-fewest catches (23) and fewest receiving yards (205) to the position, and their only touchdown allowed came on a one-handed grab by Jason Witten last weekend. Matchups and game script will favor other options on offense, making Ertz a rare fade for me in Week 8.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins (NYJ, FD: $6,300, DK: $4,900) vs. Atlanta Falcons
ASJ’s three straight games with a TD have launched him into a top-five priced tight end on both sites. While touchdowns are often what we’re looking for in tight ends, they can cover up weaknesses we wouldn’t normally care about. Seferian-Jenkins has failed to surpass 50 yards receiving in any game this season, so a touchdown-less game would leave him with a low floor for a TE priced so high. The Falcons have yet to allow a touchdown to an opposing tight end, leading to the fifth-fewest points allowed to the position. His price has become too high for me, as we’re strictly relying on his touchdown potential to salvage value.
Defense/Special Teams
Buffalo Bills (FD: $4,600, DK: $2,900) vs. Oakland Raiders
Buffalo looked like a top-tier defense on the season until Tampa dropped 27 points on them in Week 7. They’ll throw a depleted cast out there against Oakland, as starting safety Jordan Poyer and corner E.J. Gaines are both on track to miss Sunday’s game. They’ve sacked the opposing QB just three times in their last three games and have relied on turnovers for their scoring. Derek Carr has been stingy with turnovers since last season, throwing just 10 interceptions in his last 21 games. I think Oakland has a solid outing here against a banged-up Bills defense, leading to an underwhelming week from Buffalo’s D/ST.
