This is Week Winning Stats Week 8!
Turning the Tides
Just a few weeks back, the San Francisco 49ers were riding high, leading the way in most NFL power rankings. The Minnesota Vikings seemed lost without Justin Jefferson. Fast forward, and the Vikings are reinvigorated with hope. The 49ers are desperately trying to avoid a third consecutive loss.
This rapid shift in fortune over just two weeks highlights how quickly standings and perceptions can change in the NFL. In a similar vein, it takes only two weeks to transform a fantasy football pretender into a contender. Keep making savvy Start/Sit decisions and leverage these Week Winning Stats to enhance your fantasy league performance.
Josh Downs Has the No. 11 Most Receiving Yards Over the Last Three Weeks, Only One Fewer Yard Than Michael Pittman
Downs was a promising prospect who declared for the NFL draft early. He found himself slipping to the third round in the 2023 draft. However, he recently delivered a standout performance. Downs racked up a career-high 23.5 fantasy points against the formidable Cleveland defense. Cleveland is known for being one of the toughest in the league. In that game, he hauled in five of six targets, accumulating 125 yards and scoring a touchdown.
This emerging player, Downs, operates as a full-time slot receiver and is clearly outperforming Alec Pierce. Impressively, he has garnered at least five targets in all but one of his seven career games. What’s intriguing is that despite his relatively slight build, Downs currently ranks No. 12 among wide receivers in Red Zone targets. Considering the recent quarterback change to Gardner Minshew for the Colts, and the uptick in offensive production, thanks to Jonathan Taylor‘s increased involvement, Downs is poised to continue aiding your struggling fantasy teams. You can confidently deploy Downs in your lineup as a reliable FLEX option.
Javonte Williams Has Forced the Third Most Missed Tackles Among RBs Over the Last Two Weeks.
At the beginning of the season, it seemed like Williams wasn’t living up to the potential that earned him a second-round selection by the Broncos. He was in the process of recovering from his ACL injury. This understandably affected his performance. However, after a brief stint dealing with a hip injury, Williams has shown remarkable improvement. He rushed for 134 yards on 25 carries in his last two games.
Notably, he leads the Broncos in rushing attempts, total rush yards, yards gained after contact per attempt, and the number of missed tackles he’s forced. Williams has clearly taken the lead over Jaleel McLaughlin in the running back hierarchy. Perine is trailing far behind in the third position. It’s worth mentioning that, although Williams has yet to find the end zone this season, he stands out as one of the few running backs with more than five Red Zone carries without a touchdown. Considering these recent developments, Williams represents a valuable buy-low opportunity for your fantasy team as a potential RB2 candidate. Given his performance and the statistical likelihood of touchdown regression in his favor, he’s poised for a positive turn in the coming weeks.
George Pickens is Top-12 Among WRs in Yards Per Route Run, Among WRs with More Than 38 targets.
Pickens has silenced his critics with an impressive performance thus far this season. In every game he’s played, he’s received no less than seven targets and has achieved over 100 receiving yards in half of his matchups. Currently, he stands as the No. 18 best wide receiver in terms of fantasy points per game. What sets Pickens apart is his exceptional “dawg rating,” indicating his ability to excel even without significant separation from defenders. He simply elevates his game and comes out on top.
He’s the No. 7 highest receiver when it comes to air yards share and ranks No. 13 in total receiving yards. In his most recent game against the LA Rams, he posted solid numbers. Pickens caught five receptions for 107 yards. This was all while Diontae Johnson, another talented receiver, still managed to earn six targets. With Pat Freiermuth now on the injured reserve list, Pickens has a clear path to continue dominating in the upcoming games. Without a doubt, he’s a must-start as a WR2 moving forward, and you won’t want to miss out on his consistent and high-impact performance.
Emerging Trends
Leveraging current data provides us with a sharp insight into the evolving landscape of fantasy football. While analyzing season-long statistics can be valuable for assessing a player’s overall consistency, identifying and capitalizing on emerging trends can be the key factor that propels you towards a playoff berth or even league victory. To boost your chances in Week 8, make sure to incorporate the Week Winning Stats provided above to secure that all-important win.
