The NFL heads into Week 8, which presents a fantasy football manager’s worst bye week. Brace yourselves for “bye-mageddon”! Key skill position players such as Trey McBride and Sam LaPorta will not be present for Sunday’s contest. Combined, this climate is forcing managers to look for other solutions. A blend of vets and newcomers makes for an interesting watch. Longtime fantasy players will appreciate the new opportunities to save their fantasy teams through tough decisions.
Of this group, Trey McBride is no doubt the top prospect at the tight end position. With him out in Week 8, plenty of managers will be trying to figure out who’s a good fill-in for their lineup. The same can be said for Sam LaPorta’s bye week, which adds to the pressure for fantasy players to find someone else that works. With Brock Bowers likely to be out this week, it makes an even greater impact on lineups.
Emerging Options at Tight End
With McBride and LaPorta out of the picture, many budding tight ends deserve some fantasy intrigue. At the same time, managers should have one eye on quality replacements, who they would want to step in during this pivotal week.
One such potential choice is Josh Downs who is flashing some interest at 46.9% ownership. When combined with the flashes of playmaking potential he’s displayed, he is the type of player that could help a team searching for a move tight end. On the wider receiver side, Alec Pierce introduces a little bit of a deeper sleeper into the equation, with just 2% ownership. With his low roster percentage, he might have major value to win desperate fantasy owners.
Rookies Harold Fannin Jr. and Woody Marks warrant discussion. Fannin Jr. is new to the league and may provide the big-play factor. Marks draws an equally bad Week 8 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. His performance in this game will be important for managers judging his potential.
Veteran Quarterbacks on the Radar
Things being what they are in the quarterback landscape, even at 40 years old, Joe Flacco’s experience will be appealing. His experience and presence makes him an asset for any team that suddenly finds themselves with a need for a reliable signal-caller on bye weeks. For teams like Washington or Atlanta with aging starters, managers might want to consider the upside found in younger Flacco-like options.
Rushing Options to Consider
With the bye week having taken a toll on several positions, running backs continue to be critical to fantasy success. Insiders like Kenneth Gainwell, Tyler Allgeier, Tyjae Spears, Kendre Miller and Kimani Vidal provide various levels of ownership. Each player has different potential contributions to the team that they can execute.
Gainwell is currently leading the charge with a 59.5% ownership percentage. This could make him an appealing selection for any team in need of depth behind their top running back. Allgeier right behind at 34.2% making him another strong candidate to be on fantasy rosters. Tyjae Spears has an ownership rate of 27%. Kendre Miller right behind him at 23.3%, giving both players tremendous value for anyone looking to strike gold.
At 58.5%, Kimani Vidal rounds out this list with the highest ownership percentage. His combination of talent and opportunity could make him an ideal candidate for teams navigating the complexities of bye weeks.
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