We’re officially halfway through the fantasy football regular season. Some of you may be one week closer toward a fantasy championship title. Others may be nearing a point of no return. Whatever the case may be, you’re here to check in on our bold predictions. So far, the Fantrax staff has had a good amount of spot-on calls with bold predictions in the first seven weeks. Let’s keep things rolling in Week 8 and help secure a win this week.
Each week, our Fantrax staff writers make their fantasy football bold predictions for you to get excited about, help sway those lineup decisions, and take your team to the moon!
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2021 NFL Week 8 Bold Predictions for Fantasy Football
Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos Wide Receiver
Bold Prediction: 6 receptions, 70 yards, 1 touchdown
19.0 PPR fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Colin McTamany, @Colin_McT on Twitter
Colin’s Breakdown: Jerry Jeudy is back in action and we can’t ask for a better matchup as fantasy football managers. The Denver Broncos play host to the Washington Football Team in Week 8. Washington’s defense is allowing the most points per game (30.0), passing yards per game (300.6) and the fourth-most total yards per game (406.0).
Jeudy has spent the last six weeks returning from a Week 1 high ankle sprain. In the first game of the season, he posted a 6-72-0 receiving line on just 31 snaps. While this may be Jeudy’s first game back, he’s been practicing for the better part of two weeks. His absence in Week 7 reportedly had more to do with a lack of practice.
My bold prediction is all about the bounce back. I love Jeudy’s chances to post a similar receiving line to the last time we saw him on the field, but adding a visit to the end zone. I’m plugging him into my fantasy football lineups wherever I have him.
Michael Carter, New York Jets Running Back
Bold Prediction: 14 rushes, 77 yards; 7 receptions, 74 yards, 1 touchdown
28.1 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Mike Omelan, @mikeomelan on Twitter
Mike’s Breakdown: Selecting a Jet for the bold prediction column reaches a new level of bold, especially since the team is expected to start Mike White at quarterback this Sunday in Zach Wilson’s absence due to injury. The player that benefits the most from this is Michael Carter.
You’ll notice I have Carter tallying 21 touches with a third of them being receptions. That’s because Carter is finally taking the next step in this offense as the passing-down back. In Week 7, Carter logged a season-high 19 touches and scored another season-high 16.4 fantasy points. With White under center in Week 8, I expect Carter’s usage to continue to grow and rack up the most fantasy points yet of his rookie season.
Damien Harris, New England Patriots Running Back
Bold Prediction: 16 rushes, 96 yards; 2 receptions, 15 yards; 2 total touchdowns
25.1 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Ahaan Rungta, @AhaanRungta on Twitter
Ahaan’s Breakdown: One of the most explosive runners of 2020, Damien Harris is now the clear-cut lead back for the Patriots with James White done for the season and against below-median defenses by rush DVOA in 2021, he averages over 15 PPR fantasy points per game. This week, he faces a punching bag for rushing teams. The Chargers rank 32nd in the NFL in rush DVOA and allow a 13% explosive run rate (fifth-highest) as a defense.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots Tight End
Bold Prediction: 6 receptions, 72 receiving yards, 1 touchdown
19.2 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Lauren Auerbach, @lkauerbach on Twitter
Lauren’s Breakdown:
Full disclosure: I’m a sucker for revenge game narratives. So for this week’s bold prediction, I’m targeting Hunter Henry in his matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. On the season, Henry has been splitting time with fellow tight end, Jonnu Smith. However, Smith suffered a shoulder injury in Week 7 that could keep him sidelined this week.
Henry has emerged as the more reliable tight end in recent weeks. In the past three games, he has a 15.7% target share (second-best on the team), compared to Smith’s 10.1%. Also, Henry is getting looks in the red zone and has scored a touchdown in each of the past four games.
The matchup against the Chargers is a favorable one, as they are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends. I have Henry as a top-eight option this week, and wouldn’t be surprised if he out-performs that, especially if Smith doesn’t suit up.
Week 8 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Kicker | D/ST | PPR | Flex
Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints Quarterback
Bold Prediction: 313 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception
19.52 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Mick Ciallela, @themick23 on Twitter
Mick’s Breakdown: I wish I could say that this was a narrative-based call on my part, what with Jameis Winston seeking to exact revenge on the team who let him walk away. But it’s not. The truth is I do not expect Jameis or the Saints to “eat a W” on Sunday. However, I do think he will put up solid fantasy numbers in this game.
I expect the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to sell out to stop the Saints’ primary offensive weapon, running back, Alvin Kamara. They have employed a similar game plan with success against New Orleans dating back to last season. Kamara has averaged 117.4 scrimmage yards per game against everyone else besides Tampa Bay since the beginning of the 2020 season. In three matchups with Tampa Bay, the Saints star has averaged just 73.7 yards per game.
The Bucs will not allow Kamara to beat them in this game. They will be plenty content to let Jameis Winston attempt to do so. They know his strengths and weakness, and they are aware the Saints lack depth at receiver. Tampa has proven once again to be a pass-funnel defense this year. Opposing quarterbacks have averaged 40 pass attempts per game against the Bucs this season.
As a result, Tampa Bay is in the top-10 in both pass yards and pass touchdowns allowed. I do not expect Winston to be terribly efficient, but he should easily surpass his season average of 25 pass attempts per game. That should allow him to flirt with top-12 fantasy value this week. My bold prediction this week is Winston outplaying his current QB21 rank on the season.
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