Who to target — and who to avoid — in this Week 8 fantasy football matchup

Rarely do we spot an NFL squad arsenic thoroughly atrocious connected some sides of nan shot arsenic nan Panthers. It is usually awesome for fantasy football — you cognize to beryllium nan players from nan bad teams and commencement those going against them.

Carolina threw a spot of a wrench into that easy scheme precocious erstwhile it benched Bryce Young and inserted Andy Dalton. All of a sudden, Diontae Johnson was useful. Chuba Hubbard could summation yards. Dalton moreover gave you 1 bully backmost week.

But you couldn’t put excessively overmuch religion successful them, because arsenic they showed past week, a existent violative dud was still a portion of their repertoire. Everybody beautiful overmuch stunk connected nan violative broadside — expect for a astonishment time from tight extremity Ja’Tavion Sanders.

But don’t fear. For arsenic soon arsenic you thought forecasting nan Panthers impotence had go tricky, let their misery to beryllium your salvation.

Dalton injured his thumb successful a car crash, which forces Young backmost into nan starting spot. And that drags down each Panther antecedently considered for a starting role.

But wait, it gets worse. Johnson, easy nan team’s apical receiver, is retired pinch a ribs problem. Young has yet to show he tin muster a morganatic passing discourtesy astatine nan NFL level pinch immoderate nan champion he has is, and now he doesn’t person that.

Young started nan first 2 games of nan season. In those 2 games, precisely 1 Panther scored successful double digits successful PPR — Hubbard pinch 11.6 successful Week 2 against nan Chargers.

This week, they look nan Broncos, a squad that has fixed up 100 yards rushing to an force conscionable erstwhile since Week 2. They are nan second-toughest against quarterbacks and wide receivers.

So nan Broncos don’t person to take sides against nan Panthers champion WR. The Carolina QB poses nary threat, truthful they tin attraction each of their attraction connected stopping nan immortal Chuba Hubbard. Who is going to hit them otherwise?

Oh yeah, nan tight end. Right. After all, Denver ranks successful nan bottommost half against imagination tight ends. Only, Sanders sewage a full of 3 targets from Young nan first 2 weeks. Oh, and different thing, Tommy Tremble could return, truthful less snaps and routes for Sanders.

Just steer clear of everything Carolina. That is nan safest bet.

But connected nan different manus … flock to nan Broncos. Fire up immoderate Bo Nix — who has conscionable 1 existent dud since Week 3, and nan Panthers defense is successful nan bottommost 4 against imagination QBs. The only 2 games successful which they person held opposing QBs beneath nan convention mean is successful Weeks 2 and 6, erstwhile nan Chargers and Falcons ran them disconnected nan field.

That’s right, play each nan Javonte Williams you tin get your hands on, because nan Panthers are nan worst against opposing moving backs. Dead last. More than 2.5 points per week worst than nan adjacent worst (Bills). Opposing backfield people 10.1 much successful PPR per week against nan Panthers than nan convention average.

The 1 point they are benignant of, halfway OK pinch is defending against wide receivers. But don’t fto that scare you disconnected utilizing Courtland Sutton aliases Troy Franklin successful heavy leagues aliases arsenic inexpensive DFS options. The Panthers aren’t really very bully defending nan pass, teams conscionable often propulsion up and don’t request to pass. To wit, nan 7.6 yards per effort allowed by nan Carolina defense is nan highest successful nan league.

Speaking of defense, nan Denver defense/special teams is almost definite to get a turnover and aggregate sacks while giving up fewer points. And Young is agelong overdue for a pick-six.

So if you person immoderate Panthers, beryllium acrophobic to usage them, beryllium very afraid. But if you person a Bronco, location is thing to fear.

Big weeks

Caleb Williams QB, Bears, astatine Commanders (FanDuel $7,400/DraftKings $6,000)

He was balling successful his erstwhile 2 games, and he has had a bye week to get further acclimated. We not sold connected nan Washington walk defense — whose effectiveness is warped by beardown efforts against bad Panthers and Browns QBs

Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR, Seahawks, vs. Bills (FD $6,400/DK $6,100)

With DK Metcalf (knee) expected to beryllium out, and facing an discourtesy that tin heap up points, JSN could beryllium successful statement for immoderate further targets.

Sam LaPorta TE, Lions, vs. Titans (FD $6,000/DK $4,800)

With Jameson Williams suspended nan adjacent 2 games, that puts LaPorta backmost connected our radar. We are comfortable utilizing him successful seasonal, expecting other looks. Tim Patrick catches our oculus for DFS.

Mark Andrews TE, Ravens, astatine Browns (FD $5,600/DK $4,000)

Similarly, pinch Zay Flowers (ankle) apt out, it opens nan doorway for Andrews to proceed to baby-step his measurement backmost into imagination graces. He has 2 consecutive bully imagination games to boot.

Small weaks

Baker Mayfield QB, Buccaneers, vs. Falcons (FD $8,100/DK $6,700)

When a squad loses its apical 2 WRs, you tin expect immoderate QB regression. No combo of Jalen McMillian, Sterling Shepard aliases Trey Palmer is going to thief Baker cook.

Nick Chubb RB, Browns, vs. Ravens (FD $6,900/DK $6,100)

We’re rooting for his afloat betterment to pre-injury form, but we’re not expecting it overnight. Just 2.0 yards per transportation past week. Expect ratio to improve, but slowly. Baltimore has allowed nan fewest rushing yards.

Chris Olave WR, Saints, astatine Chargers (FD $6,700/DK $6,400)

Assuming his makes it backmost Sunday from a Week 6 concussion, not willing successful immoderate WR who has Spencer Rattler astatine QB — moreover without Rashid Shaheed.

Jaylen Waddle WR, Dolphins, vs. Cardinals (FD $5,900/DK $5,400)

Assuming everyone plays, we’re consenting to consequence imaginable rust successful Tua Tagovailoa’s first week backmost by utilizing Tyreek Hill (foot), but we for illustration to hold a week to usage Waddle (quad), if possible. If nary Tyreek, past we for illustration Waddle.

Betting connected nan NFL?

• Read our master guideline connected how to stake connected nan NFL
• Check retired nan best NFL betting sites
• Get nan BetMGM Bonus Code

Insanity’s Daily Duel

Drew Loftis and Jarad Wilk taxable dueling rosters into a DFS contest:

Site: DraftKings

Slate: Sun. main (11 games)

Type: $12 tourney

Top prize: $15K

Pot: $175K

Drew’s Crew

QB: Jordan Love, GB (at Jac) $7,100

RB: J.K. Dobbins, LAC (vs. NO) $6,900

RB: Javonte Williams, Den (v. Car) $6,000

WR: Rashod Bateman, Bal (at Cle) $4,300

WR: A.J. Brown, Phi (at Cin) $8,200

WR: Romeo Doubs, GB (at Jac) $5,700

TE: Cade Otton, TB (vs. Atl) $3,500

Wilk’s Warriors

QB: Caleb Williams, Chi (at Was) $6,000

RB: Breece Hall, NYJ (at NE) $7,300

RB: D’Andre Swift, Chi (at Was) $6,200

WR: Rashod Bateman, Bal (at Cle) $4,300

WR: Tee Higgins, Cin (vs. Phi) $6,500

WR: DJ Moore, Chi (at Was) $6,600

TE: Kyle Pitts, Atl (at TB) $4,400

Flex: Romeo Doubs, GB (at Jac) $5,700

DST: Bears, Chi (at Was) $2,700

Late roster changes, cheque @NYPost_Loftis connected X and @nypfantasymadman connected Threads

Season risked: $106

Season’s winnings: Drew $180, Jarad $113.50