When identifying potential sleepers, snap count and target share is the name of the game. The difference between a player being a sleeper or just some bench piece is a very fine line. It is all about how productive a player can be with the limited looks that they receive. It is also important to consider their matchup and their team’s offensive scheme. The conclusion of Week 7 has left us with some more useful data points. Based on that, here are four Week 8 Sleepers who could pay off big for your fantasy football squads.
Week 8 Sleepers
D’Onta Foreman – RB, Carolina Panthers
No Christian McCaffrey, no problem. Playing their very first game without their star running back, the Carolina Panthers ran for 173 yards against one of the NFL’s premier rushing defense. D’Onta Foreman led the team with 118 yards on 15 carries. The next closest was starting running back Chuba Hubbard. He went for 63 yards and a score on only nine carries. Foreman would have to lead his team to victory alone as Hubbard went down with an ankle injury in the fourth quarter. It was a surprise to see the Panthers get their ground game going without Christian McCaffrey. It was even more surprising to see them get the win. If running the football becomes the new identity for the Carolina Panthers, Foreman could have some real value as one of my Week 8 sleepers.
D’Onta Foreman gets the Panthers into the red zone with a 60 yard run…
Chuba punches it into the endzone.
Is this the greatest RB committee of all time? pic.twitter.com/SeT64iJ2X2
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) October 23, 2022
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers pose one of the biggest challenges to fantasy running backs and D’Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard were able to go for 173 yards collectively. So for me, any matchup going forward is a plus one. It just so happens that the Panthers get a middle-of-the-pack run defense in the Falcons this week. Cincinnati running back Joe Mixon was able to find the end zone against them last week. In fact, the Falcons have surrendered four rushing touchdowns in their last four games. If Chuba Hubbard is absent or limited, Foreman will be the obvious choice to dominate the backfield carries.
Josh Reynolds – WR, Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions got off to a hot start, there is no denying that. But the fall from grace has been real and they’re starting to look like the Lions of old. They have valid excuses of course. Running back D’Andre Swift hasn’t been on the field, and budding sensation Amon-Ra St. Brown has been in and out of the lineup as well. St. Brown is currently in the concussion protocol after one of the NFL’s spotters pulled him out of Sunday’s action following a big shot to the head. The NFL has turned the ole concussion protocol up a notch ever since Tua’s incident on primetime television. If recent history is any indicator, Amon-Ra’s status is in serious danger this week.
Josh Reynolds enters Week 8 sleepers territory this week against the Miami Dolphins for one main reason, targets. Reynolds took a step back last week against Dallas, but prior to that he had racked up 28 targets in 3 games. Those targets represent plenty of chances to do some serious damage. This sleeper pick follows the current trend I have going on; choosing players that stand to benefit from other injuries.
Cade Otton – TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The trend doesn’t end here. Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate missed last week’s game against the Panthers due to a nagging neck injury. This was the same injury that forced him out of Week 6’s loss to the Steelers. The injury looked pretty gruesome, even if Brate does play this week, there is a good chance that he’ll be extremely limited. The Tampa Bay Bucs are in shambles right now and could be looking to go in a new direction anyways. The fact of the matter is that Otton has played well and thus there is no need to rush Brate back.
In the past three games, Otton had been targeted 15 times. That number might not jump off of the page, but it is impressive considering that there are top-level pass catchers that demand their targets in Tampa Bay. Last week was one of Otton’s more efficient outings. He caught four of five balls for 64 yards. The young pass catcher has yet to score his first NFL touchdown, but I believe that his luck could change next week when the Bucs face off against a sketchy Baltimore secondary. The points should be plentiful in this matchup putting Otton in line to be one of my Week 8 sleepers.
Marquise Goodwin – WR Seattle Seahawks
And the theme continues, another of my Week 8 sleepers who is benefiting from some sort of injury. Pete Carroll refused to rule DK Metcalf out of last week’s game. But the fact that he was carted off pretty much made it clear that the receiver wouldn’t return. I’d reckon to say that it puts his status this week in doubt as well. On the other side of the formation WR, Tyler Lockett was nursing his own injury, a hamstring. His status came down to game time last week and could very well be the same this week. With DK presumably sitting out this week, Lockett will draw coverage from the Giants’ top cornerback.
Marquise Goodwin long jump touchdown celebration! 🔥 #SEAvsLACpic.twitter.com/0ziWUM28Uo
— Travis Miller (@travismillerx13) October 23, 2022
Goodwin’s role expanded when Metcalf went down in the first half. He was able to step up for his team in a very big way. He capitalized on his newfound opportunities and put up a 4-67-2 line in route to last week’s win over the Chargers. Geno Smith has been impressive this season and looks capable of feeding multiple receivers. Goodwin’s speed profiles him as a downfield burner, which could prove beneficial for fantasy purposes in the coming weeks. The Giants are on tap for the Seahawks this week. They’re a tough matchup, but Goodwin could see some additional looks with the defense focused in on containing Lockett.
Also be on the lookout for our Week 8 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex Rankings