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Week 8 MOP Rankings

Welcome to the Week 8 MOP rankings. These rankings are built by removing each player’s highest-scoring play to filter out fluky, largely unsustainable plays. Considering I do all of this by hand, I want to give a special shoutout to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons for making my job a little bit easier this week. A total of nine skill players touched the ball in their game last week. Three of those players only had one touch, earning them zero MOP points. Of course, just as a play can be an anomaly, so can a game. Keep that in mind when viewing any small samples. That said, here are last week’s rankings, along with a few positional notes to consider.


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Week 8 MOP Rankings

Running Back Takeaways

Last week I discussed the Denver Broncos backfield and said that J.K. Dobbins was the Broncos back I was most worried about in light of Jonah Coleman’s return to the lineup. After last week’s article was published, the team placed RJ Harvey on Injured Reserve, which seemed to open the door for Dobbins to reclaim fantasy relevance. Well, Coleman may have in fact slammed that door shut. Coleman out-snapped Dobbins 41-13, out-touched him 15-7, and out-gained him 104-13 in Denver’s last-second victory against the Kansas City Chiefs. Coleman has some favorable matchups coming up, although the Broncos are on a bye in Week 10. I have the rookie ranked as an RB2 in 10-and 12-team leagues this week.

Coleman wasn’t the only rookie running back to pop in last week’s thriller. And while it is safe to say Emmett Johnson’s 73-yard catch-and-run is unsustainable, it is hard to deny that the rookie running back for the Kansas City Chiefs turned some heads with last week’s performance. In addition to the 73-yarder, Johnson had a 38-yard reception. He also went for 15 yards on his only carry. I don’t expect the Chiefs to suddenly give Johnson a ton of carries out of the backfield. But Kenneth Walker III is on pace for nearly 400 regular-season touches, and Kansas City has its sights set on the playoffs. Johnson is still available in 33 percent of Fantrax leagues and could be worth adding as a bye week fill-in for fantasy managers in PPR formats.

RKPLAYERTEAMF PTSBIG PLAYMOP PTSMOP RANK
1Tyler AllgeierARI33.612.321.31
4D'Andre SwiftCHI26.96.520.42
2Bhayshul TutenJAC28.99.9193
3Tony PollardTEN27.21017.24
8Chuba HubbardCAR21.46.115.35
5Jahmyr GibbsDET23.8914.86
10Jaylen WarrenPIT20.86.114.77
9Bucky IrvingTB216.414.68
7Braelon AllenNYJ22.38.114.29
11Josh JacobsGB20.26.913.310
12Jonah ColemanDEN18.46.511.911
14Kenny GainwellTB142.811.212
13James Cook IIIBUF17.16.510.613
20Chase BrownCIN12.11.610.514
23Rhamondre StevensonNE10.50.99.615
24Kenneth Walker IIIKC10.41.39.116
6Emmett JohnsonKC22.813.8917
25Dylan SampsonCLE9.91.9818
17Rachaad WhiteWAS136.16.919
27Mike Washington Jr. LV8.31.56.820
16Derrick HenryBAL136.26.821
18Kyren WilliamsLAR12.46.16.322
29Sione VakiDET7.51.26.323
21Saquon BarkleyPHI11.96.35.624
31Javonte WilliamsDAL6.20.65.625
30Ollie Gordon IIMIA6.91.65.326
15Blake CorumLAR13.38.3527
28Bijan RobinsonATL7.62.6528
34Elijah MitchellPHI5.70.94.829
22Rico DowdlePIT11.66.94.730
33Quinshon JudkinsCLE5.91.74.231
36Justice HillBAL5.51.44.132
26Ashton JeantyLV8.853.833
35Austin EkelerWAS5.61.83.834
39Jadarian PriceSEA4.71.13.635
19Chris Rodriguez Jr. JAC12.38.83.536
40Zach CharbonnetSEA4.41.13.337
42DJ GiddensIND4.31.23.138
37Aaron Jones Sr.MIN52339
47Omarion HamptonLAC3.70.92.840
38Jonathan TaylorIND4.722.741
41Tyler GoodsonDAL4.31.62.742
43Kimani VidalLAC41.42.643
50Ray DavisBUF30.72.344
45Keaton MitchellLAC3.81.72.145
49Jeremy McNicholsWAS3.31.22.146
46Corey KinerNE3.821.847
48Roschon JohnsonCHI3.31.61.748
53Jeremiyah LoveARI2.30.61.749
44Ty JohnsonBUF3.82.31.550
51Seth McGowanIND2.91.61.351
55Khalil HerbertATL20.91.152
52Samaje PerineCIN2.41.4153
58Isaiah DavisNYJ1.50.5154
56Jordan MasonMIN21.10.955
54MarShawn LloydGB2.11.40.756
60J.K. DobbinsDEN1.30.60.757
61Ameer AbdullahJAC1.30.90.458
65Jaylen WrightMIA0.50.30.259
63Lan LarisonNE0.60.40.260
32Dylan LaubeLV66061
57Adam PrenticeDEN1.51.5062
59Jaydon BluePHI1.41.4063
62George HolaniSEA0.90.9064
66DeeJay DallasMIN0.40.4065
68Pierre Strong Jr.GB0.20.2066
69Trevor EtienneCAR0.10.1067
67Bam KnightARI0.30.4-0.168
64Rasheen AliBAL0.50.7-0.269

Wide Receiver Takeaways

I enjoy it when the universe makes me look smart. It doesn’t happen nearly as much as I feel like it should. Three weeks ago in this very column, I attempted to highlight players who could be this season’s Chris Olave. In other words, I was looking for players whose plays in the weekly MOP rankings suggested their fantasy production would likely rise based on their volume profile. My top two wide receiver candidates were Luther Burden III and Michael Wilson. Over the last three weeks, both players have produced WR1 numbers in 12-team fantasy leagues. I think both players will settle in as WR2s rather than WR1s in most weeks going forward. But fantasy football managers who bought low won’t complain.

DJ Moore has played in 40 percent or more of Buffalo’s snaps just three times this year. He has earned a target share just north of 28 percent in those games. That has allowed Moore to finish inside the top 20 in MOP rankings in all three outings. Moore appeared to suffer a knee injury at the end of last week’s game, but it appears to be minor. The Bills have a tough task in Week 9 when they take on the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night. Assuming Moore is healthy, I would continue to start him in all formats. He is getting a huge share of targets from a perennial MVP candidate, which gives him both a high weekly floor and ceiling.

Keenan Allen enters Week 9 as the overall WR39 in Half-PPR scoring this season. That’s impressive considering Allen has scored exactly one touchdown this year. He leads the Indianapolis Colts and ties for the team lead in targets despite playing one fewer game than Josh Downs. Downs has one foot out the door, and I can’t imagine the 34-year-old Allen garnering much interest on the trade market considering nobody wanted him three months ago. Allen has been a top-10 fantasy wide receiver based on MOP rankings in two of the last three weeks. Some regression is due there, even in a world where Downs is out of the picture. But Allen is a serviceable WR3 or Flex in PPR leagues.

RKPLAYERTEAMF PTSBIG PLAYMOP PTSMOP RANK
1Tee HigginsCIN32.58.324.21
2Ja'Marr ChaseCIN25.69.516.12
3Adonai MitchellNYJ23.77.7163
4Michael WilsonARI22.87.8154
6Puka NacuaLAR19.58.311.25
5Jaxon Smith-NjigbaSEA20.810.8106
9Luther Burden IIICHI15.16.68.57
7Matthew GoldenGB17.48.98.58
8Chimere DikeTEN15.67.689
29Keenan AllenIND10.22.37.910
11Jameson WilliamsDET157.27.811
25Rome OdunzeCHI10.72.97.812
22Garrett WilsonNYJ11.33.67.713
15Christian WatsonGB13.35.87.514
33Amon-Ra St. BrownDET9.11.87.315
12Rashee RiceKC14.87.67.216
13DJ MooreBUF14.67.6717
35Tetairoa McMillanCAR8.81.96.918
14Jaylen WaddleDEN13.46.66.819
36Makai LemonPHI8.72.56.220
32CeeDee LambDAL9.33.26.121
17Malik WashingtonMIA12.56.65.922
34Khalil ShakirBUF8.93.15.823
20Justin JeffersonMIN11.86.65.224
19Jalen NailorLV11.86.75.125
43Denzel BostonCLE6.71.7526
16Wan'Dale RobinsonTEN12.784.727
26Ladd McConkeyLAC10.65.94.728
30Jordan AddisonMIN10.15.64.529
41Courtland SuttonDEN7.32.84.530
39Antonio WilliamsWAS7.93.54.431
21Ryan FlournoyDAL11.67.44.232
47Tory HortonSEA6.124.133
23Stefon DiggsWAS11.37.3434
45Caleb DouglasMIA6.32.3435
31Treylon BurksWAS9.65.83.836
10DeMario DouglasNE15.111.33.837
53Chris BellMIA4.91.43.538
50Germie BernardPIT5.523.539
28Josh DownsIND10.37.13.240
49Quentin JohnstonLAC5.72.63.141
52Dohnte MeyersCIN4.92.32.642
55Tre' HarrisLAC4.622.643
56Efton Chism IIINE4.21.72.544
57Marvin Mims Jr.DEN3.91.42.545
27Jahan DotsonATL10.58.12.446
44Kalif RaymondCHI6.33.92.447
51KC Concepcion Jr.CLE5.22.92.348
54Elic AyomanorTEN4.92.82.149
18Kevin Coleman Jr.MIA12.1102.150
62John Metchie IIICAR2.91.11.851
46Tutu AtwellLAR6.24.51.752
65Xavier WorthyKC2.81.21.653
48George PickensDAL5.84.21.654
59Jakobi MeyersJAC3.41.91.555
67Hollywood BrownPHI2.71.41.356
61Cyrus AllenKC31.71.357
63Darius CooperPHI2.91.61.358
68Devin DuvernayARI2.41.21.259
60Parker WashingtonJAC3.12.1160
72Jauan JenningsMIN2.11.1161
64Savion WilliamsGB2.81.8162
24Kyle WilliamsNE10.810.8063
38Isaiah WilliamsNYJ8.38.3064
40Brian Thomas Jr.JAC7.77.7065
42Cooper KuppSEA7.27.2066
58Kendrick BourneARI3.43.4067
66Rashod BatemanBAL2.72.7068
69Laquon TreadwellIND2.32.3069
70Simi FehokoARI2.22.2070
71J. Michael SturdivantGB2.12.1071
73Ja'Kobi LaneBAL1.81.8072
74Brycen TremayneCAR1.61.6073
75Lil'Jordan HumphreyDEN1.51.5074
76Calvin RidleyTEN1.51.5075
77Brandon JohnsonPIT1.41.4076
78Drake LondonATL1.31.3077
79Jalen TolbertMIA1.31.3078
80Olamide ZaccheausATL0.90.9079
81Keon ColemanBUF0.90.9080
82Zavion ThomasCHI0.90.9081
83Jalen RoyalsKC0.90.9082
84DK MetcalfPIT0.90.9083
85Tylan WallaceCLE0.80.8084
86Troy FranklinDEN0.80.8085
87Deion BurksIND0.70.7086
88Travis HunterJAC0.50.5087
89Ashton DulinIND0.30.3088
37Jalen CokerCAR8.69.1-0.589
90Coleman OwenGB-20-290

Check out all of our Week 9 Rankings: Flex Rankings | QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | TE Rankings | MOP Rankings


Tight End Takeaways

There is almost a sense of normalcy when looking at the Week 8 MOP rankings. Brock Bowers leads the way, with Trey McBride close behind. Harold Fannin Jr., Tucker Kraft, and Colston Loveland are in the top-10, the way nature intended. Dalton Kincaid and Travis Kelce also finished inside the top 12. Of course, not everything always goes according to Hoyle. See Helm, Gunnar, and a few others. But it was nice to see most of the tight ends we consider upper-echelon fantasy players look the part last week. For what it’s worth, I think rumors of Sam LaPorta’s fantasy demise or Detroit freezing him out as a negotiation tactic are greatly exaggerated. I would not hesitate to start LaPorta this week against a shaky Miami Dolphins pass defense.

If I am going to highlight my wins with Luther Burden III and Michael Wilson, I suppose I must mention that Mike Gesicki continues to produce despite my pleas for fantasy managers to cut bait. Gesicki has now scored in all six games in which Joe Burrow has targeted him. Gesicki earned six looks last week, which seems solid enough except when you consider that Burrow threw the ball 48 times. Yet, Gesicki’s modest 12.5 percent target rate was his second-highest this season and the highest since Week 1. This might be a hill I’m willing to die on for fantasy purposes. If Gesicki keeps scoring touchdowns in limited opportunities, so be it.

RKPLAYERTEAMF PTSBIG PLAYMOP PTSMOP RANK
1Brock BowersLV24.77.7171
2Harold Fannin Jr.CLE18.44.214.22
8Gunnar HelmTEN12.139.13
3Trey McBrideARI16.77.98.84
4Dalton KincaidBUF16.68.87.85
6Tucker KraftGB14.37.76.66
5Mike GesickiCIN15.696.67
7T.J. HockensonMIN13.87.36.58
14Colston LovelandCHI8269
16Oronde Gadsden IILAC7.725.710
12Travis KelceKC9.23.75.511
15Michael MayerLV7.82.45.412
9Darnell WashingtonPIT10.96.34.613
10Pat FreiermuthPIT10.66.14.514
21Greg DulcichMIA6.32.43.915
23Dallas GoedertPHI5.22.13.116
18Eli StowersPHI6.83.92.917
24Brevyn Spann-FordDAL5.12.22.918
25Daniel BellingerTEN5.12.22.919
26Sam LaPortaDET52.42.620
29Tyler WarrenIND3.81.52.321
27Hunter HenryNE4.52.5222
30Mason TaylorNYJ3.41.4223
33Mark AndrewsBAL2.91.31.624
13Noah GrayKC8.56.91.625
20Brenton StrangeJAC6.55.11.426
28Adam TrautmanDEN42.71.327
31AJ BarnerSEA3.32.21.128
32Mitchell EvansCAR3.22.2129
39Elijah HigginsARI21.10.930
17Nate AdkinsDEN7.46.70.731
42Davis AllenLAR1.81.10.732
43Kyle Pitts Sr.ATL1.610.633
11Nate BoerkircherJAC9.69.6034
19Jack EndriesCIN6.66.6035
22James MitchellDAL66036
34Ben YurosekMIN2.92.9037
35Kenyon SadiqNYJ2.72.7038
36Charlie KolarLAC2.52.5039
37Tommy TrembleCAR2.42.4040
40Josh CuevasBAL22041
41Tyler HigbeeLAR1.91.9042
44Darren WallerCAR1.61.6043
45Austin HooperATL1.41.4044
46Blake WhiteheartCLE1.41.4045
47Tanner KoziolJAC1.31.3046
48Jackson HawesBUF1.21.2047
49Tyler ConklinDET1.21.2048
50Dawson KnoxBUF1.11.1049
51Jake BriningstoolKC1.11.1050
52Eli RaridonNE11051
38Chig OkonkwoWAS2.22.6-0.452

Make sure to check out all of our Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!


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Mick Ciallela
Mick Ciallela
Mick Ciallela has been writing for FantraxHQ since July 2017. He is a lifelong sports fan and has been an avid fantasy sports player for many years. Mick has won two overall titles in nationwide fantasy football contests. Mick was born and raised in Mount Vernon, New York, and currently resides in Massachusetts with his incredibly understanding wife, Erica.

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