Fantasy Football Week 8 Studs, Duds, and Sleepers: Kirk Cousins might pick apart the depleted Buccaneeers (again)

When it comes to competition, 1 of nan champion ways to get an separator connected nan guidance is done anterior preparation. In imagination football, that measurement of reasoning surely applies. Here astatine Bet For The Win, we’re doing nan mentation for you.

At nan halfway people of this imagination shot season, it’s clip to commencement solidifying yourself for nan playoff push. This clip of twelvemonth is erstwhile playoff berths are solidified aliases mislaid retired of grasp altogether. Be wary, dearest readers, and support hunting for nan champion imaginable lineup configurations.

In this week’s studs and duds column, I’m looking astatine different monster crippled from Kirk Cousins. I besides muse astir a weird, murky business for Washington’s champion accomplishment players. And if you didn’t already “Bo-lieve” successful Bo Nix, you mightiness want to commencement this week.

Let’s jump successful and get you different W successful nan standings.

Studs

QB Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Cousins threw for a Falcons franchise-record 509 yards on pinch 4 touchdowns successful Atlanta’s Thursday nighttime triumph complete Tampa Bay a fewer weeks ago. With nan Buccaneers perchance missing some Chris Godwin and Mike Evans this time, they won’t moreover person nan firepower to support up pinch Cousins’ prolific attack.

TE Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

I’m truthful bullish astir nan Falcons this week that I’ll urge a SECOND stud connected their roster. Pitts has 17 catches (on 22 targets) for 223 yards successful his past 3 games. He doesn’t rather look for illustration a superstar, but he yet looks for illustration 1 of nan NFL’s amended tight ends. His caller bully luck should proceed this Sunday.

WR A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles (at Cincinnati Bengals)

Since returning from a hamstring injury, Brown has accrued complete 200 full receiving yards and 2 touchdowns successful his past 2 games. Ho hum. The Eagles cognize that they spell arsenic he goes, ensuring different apt large week for nan superstar receiver.

WR Amari Cooper, Buffalo Bills (at Seattle Seahawks)

Cooper spent his first crippled pinch nan Bills trying to compensate for his deficiency of knowledge astir their playbook. He still caught 4 passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. With much comfortableness this week, I for illustration his individual matchup against a Seattle secondary that has weirdly struggled to support down top-flight playmakers this year.

Duds

WR Malik Nabers, New York Giants (at Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday Night Football)

Nabers struggled successful his return from a concussion past week. His matchup doesn’t get immoderate easier against a stingy Steelers defense that conscionable held Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson to little than 100 mixed receiving yards.

QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (at San Francisco 49ers, Sunday Night Football)

Prescott is presently enjoying 1 of nan slightest businesslike seasons of his career. His reward is an angry 49ers defense connected nan roadworthy that smells humor and will apt beryllium hellbent connected keeping San Francisco’s fledgling play afloat.

WR Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders (vs. Chicago Bears)

To beryllium clear, McLaurin would’ve had a reliable matchup against Chicago sloppy of Jayden Daniels’ status. The Bears’ Jaylon Johnson is simply a top-three cornerback successful shot and will apt protector him each game. But if Daniels doesn’t play? Hoo boy, McLaurin will astir apt beryllium successful for a really agelong afternoon.

WR Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Green Bay Packers)

Everyone will want to thrust nan Thomas activity aft his breakout capacity successful London. But that came against nan hapless New England Patriots. The Packers conscionable vanished dismantling C.J. Stroud and a overmuch much talented Houston Texans offense. And Jaire Alexander is precisely nan benignant of subordinate who tin erase Thomas from a crippled plan.

Sleepers

QB Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (vs. Carolina Panthers)

The Panthers person nan NFL’s worst scoring defense by a patient margin, surrendering an average of complete 34 points per game. They besides person nan league’s 25th-ranked passing defense. You do nan mathematics connected Nix’s apt ace comfortable day successful Colorado.

TE Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)

I consciousness for illustration Bowers has gone nether nan radar, fixed each nan turmoil surrounding nan Raiders. We should extremity that immediately. The talented rookie tight extremity has caught 27 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown successful his past 3 games. He is coming live to his existent imaginable already and will beryllium Las Vegas’ focal constituent against a challenging Chiefs defense.

QB Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Dallas Cowboys, Sunday Night Football)

Everyone will understandably want to springiness up connected Purdy for now, particularly fixed his struggles without his apical 49ers weapons. I’m present to show you that would beryllium a correction against nan atrocious Cowboys defense, which ranks 29th successful protect DVOA. Be prepared for a large Purdy rebound pinch nan 49ers fighting for their season.

WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams (vs. Minnesota Vikings, Thursday Night Football)

I’m unsure what to make of Nacua arsenic he perchance makes his return connected Thursday night. My caput says he’ll struggle re-acclimating earlier he yet plays for illustration a prima again successful a fewer weeks. My gut says he’s astir to beryllium a thorn successful Brian Flores’ side. Let’s thin pinch my gut. It seldom lets maine down.