NFL Week 8 Dynasty Detour

Plenty to digest after a week of explosive offenses and even more rookies showing us their stuff. We don’t know Chauncey Billups or Terry Rozier, but here are our best bets on who to turn towards and who to hesitate on. Let’s hit the Detour…

📝 Traffic Report

At this stage in the game, a lot of dynasty teams are either throttling up or packing it in, and knowing where to buy and who to avoid is crucial to all. Here are some performances week that I found particularly telling.

Michael Pittman Jr., IND WR - 8/9 rec, 95 yds, 1 TD

• The surging Colts offense has benefitted all involved, but Pittman has been potentially the chief beneficiary comparing this year to last. We knew he was playing with a serious back injury, and that he could produce in an offense with some spark, but Pittman is currently the WR6 in fantasy football.

• Dynasty Takeaway: I like Pittman for more reasons than just our shared likes (if you know the video, you know the video). I don’t foresee the Colts exercising their team option this offseason, but I could see a demand for an extension, and a hold out if not. Irregardless, Pittman is a bonafide contender asset and I think a safe enough bet for another 2-3 years to be a buy.

 Jaylin Noel, HOU WR - 5/6 catches for 63 yds

• Not an insane stat line, and it was with Nico Collins out, but since the bye Noel now has two straight games in double figures. Rookie WRs always tend to come on after the bye, if they’re going to at all. The Texans are clearly going to throw the ball, and Noel seems to be firmly involved.

• Dynasty Takeaway: With Collins returning and guys like Xavier Hutchinson and Christian Kirk in the mix, Noel may have his bad outings. With Tank Dell back after this year, things will stay busy. I don’t mind Noel as a throw in in trades for teams in any situation, but he’s a hold for me if you’ve got him, and not quite a buy even with the potential he’s showing.

 R.J. Harvey, DEN RB - 7 rushes, 46 yds, 2 TD, 1/1 rec for 5 yds & 1 TD

• Harvey’s explosion this week puts him second in the entire NFL for fantasy points per touch, behind only Jonathan Taylor. His 24.1 PPR points may distract from his low usage in this one, which should be noted.

• Dynasty Takeaway: Harvey will be 25 at next season’s start, and with Dobbins continuing to play well (17 touches, 111 yds) it wouldn’t be shocking for Denver to send another contract his way. Harvey’s efficiency, praise from coaches, and his potential to be the lead guy next year make him enticing, but I’m not all the way convinced.

   

Quentin Johnston, LAC WR - 0/0 rec

• A red-hot first four weeks had us thinking Johnston may have finally made it over the hump, but a humble effort Week 5 before his late-game injury and two questionable efforts since have his outlook back on the ropes.

• Dynasty Takeaway: As Tre Harris has been worked into a busy WR room already sustaining a burgeoning year 2 Ladd McConkey and productive veteran Keenan Allen, Quentin Johnston seems to not always be able to get himself involved. He’s still an enticing flex for contenders, and has potential when Allen hangs up the cleats, but he’s not a buy for me right now.

Tua Tagovailoa, MIA QB - 20/26 passing, 205 yds, 4 TD

• Don’t fall for it. Tua’s evidently high ceiling and the Dolphins ability to situationally pop off makes him a superflex consideration week to week and provides enough upside to start guys like Jaylen Waddle and DeVon Achane, but Tua will be back in the single digits any week now.

• Dynasty Takeaway: Tua is not long for this team. Miami will likely need to see his contract through until the early 2027 team option, but it’d take a miracle turnaround to justify his $53 and $65M cap hits in the years after. With McDaniels’ future looking shaky, I don’t want a piece of Tua this year or beyond.

   

 🚑️ Injury Report

• Cam Skattebo went down with a gruesome ankle injury. In his stead, I can’t say I trust Tyrone Tracy to do all that much.

   

-- Dynasty Detour Ryan

🚘 Fast Lane Fun Facts

Here are 6 nuts stats from Week 8 that almost helped me heal from that Giants loss (almost).

1. In half of his games, Jonathan Taylor has scored 30+ PPR points. In the other four, he’s averaged 20.15 PPG.

2. Tucker Kraft is now the PPR TE2 on the season and ranks TE1 in points per game.

3. In Week 8, five RBs averaged 10+ yards-per-carry (min. 5 attempts): Jonathan Taylor (12 for 153; 12.8 YPC), James Cook (19 for 216; 11.4 YPC), Tank Bigsby (9 for 104; 11.6 YPC), Saquon Barkley (14 for 150; 10.7 YPC), and Samaje Perine (9 for 94; 10.4 YPC).

4. Ja’Marr Chase has 54 targets in the last three weeks (since Joe Flacco took over)… a 17-game pace of 306 targets. For context, the highest 17-game total since the league expanded in 2021 is Cooper Kupp’s 191.

5. Justin Fields has more rushing yards (257) this season than Rhamondre Stevenson (245) despite Stevenson having 27 more carries.

6. Over the last three weeks, Kayshon Boutte has the 2nd-most half-PPR fantasy points among all wide receivers.

Six fun facts done… where will this crazy road take us next? Keep your eyes on the road and keep cruising, Detourists. See y’all next week.

-- Dynasty Detour Jesse

We’re officially in the swing of things, so be sure you follow us for all the must see events and reactions of every week. Follow us @dynastydetour on Instagram and X/Twitter to get our reactions and opinions in between write-ups, as well as email us with any questions at [email protected]. See you out on the road 🚘️.