Thursday Night Football gave us a surprisingly competitive first half between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Houston Texans. Dameon Pierce introduced himself on the national stage, and the Eagles moved to 8-0 for the first time in franchise history. On the IDP side of things, Jerry Hughes moved to seven sacks on the season after taking down Jalen Hurts twice (and narrowly missing a third), while Javon Hargrave was a one man army in the Texans backfield, throwing Davis Mills to the dirt on three separate occasions. Other notable developments included Jonathan Owens more than doubling his Week 8 snaps and C.J. Gardner-Johnson notching his fifth interception in the last four games, moving into sole possession of first place in the NFL. Looking ahead to this weekend, we will take a look at five players fantasy managers should do their best to plug into their lineups and five others who are better left on benches despite promising upside. Let’s dig in.
Start em
Payton Turner (DE – NO)
Payton returned from a three week layoff due to a chest injury to 56 percent of the snaps, the first time all season he has played more snaps than Marcus Davenport. He made the most of the extra snaps, racking up two solos, two assists, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. New Orleans surrendered significant draft capital to acquire Davenport on draft night, so he has been getting an extended look, but Payton, also a first round pick, may have passed him for good. Start him as a DL3 with DL2 upside for a plus Week 9 matchup against a Baltimore Ravens team allowing the 14th most fantasy points per game to the position. Turner can enter the DL2 conversation if he can prove his spike week was not just a result of facing the turnstile the Los Angeles Rams call an offensive line.
Jack Sanborn (LB – CHI)
The undrafted free agent and preseason darling will get the first chance at starting duties next to Nicholas Morrow, with Roquan Smith now a member of the Baltimore Ravens. A high-motor, second-effort player who has a nose for the ball, Sanborn could make an immediate IDP impact and is worth a look as an LB3 with LB2 upside for Week 9. Sanborn will draw a plus matchup this weekend against a Miami Dolphins team relinquishing the 10th most fantasy points to the position. Sanborn should be rostered and started in deeper competitive leagues.
Isaiah McDuffie (LB – GB)
De’Vondre Campbell looks to be on track to miss Week 9, which means Quay Walker will step into the every snap role, with Isaiah McDuffie expected to take on the roughly 80 percent snap role Quay had been occupying. McDuffie led the linebacker group in snaps in Week 8 due to Campbell getting hurt and Quay getting tossed. He had been playing special teams for all but six snaps prior to Week 8 but still managed a decent showing with three solos and two assists on 68 percent of the snaps. At the 80 percent mark with a whole week to prepare as a starter, he should be able to post LB3 numbers, with LB2 production being a possibility. Fire him up as an LB3 option for a neutral Week 9 matchup against a Detroit Lions team surrendering the 22nd most fantasy points (or the 13th fewest) to the position.
Jamin Davis (LB – WAS)
Cole Holcomb is dealing with a foot sprain that caused him to miss Week 8, and if his two missed practices to start the week are any indication, he is going to miss Week 9 as well. Enter Jamin Davis. Davis had been losing snaps to three safety looks, but with David Mayo and a decline phase Jon Bostic being the top reserves, Jamin played every snap in Week 8. He did well with the extra work, recording five solos, one assist, and one tackle for loss. Dripping with tools but lacking consistency, hopefully, Jamin can turn the extra run into his ascension to the LB1 ranks. Until then, treat him as an LB3 who is knocking on the LB2 door. With a heavy bye here, Jamin is an LB2 option for Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings.
Jaquan Johnson (S – BUF)
Jordan Poyer is dealing with a significant elbow injury that is expected to cause him to miss at least a game or two. He has been banged up all season but has gutted it out and put together a heck of a season. The last time Poyer went down, it was Jaquan Johnson who got the tap, and he is expected to start again in place of the Pro Bowl safety. Jaquan did not exactly light the world on fire in his two starts, but he promises deep league DB3/DB4 level production and could be just what the doctor ordered if you are dealing with multiple bye weeks at the position. Start him where needed as a DB3 option for a plus matchup against a New York Jets team allowing the ninth most fantasy points to the position.
Sit em
Akeem Davis-Gaither (LB – CIN)
ADG saw a season-low in snap share in Week 8, playing just 10 percent of the snaps with Logan Wilson back in the lineup. He has proven to be a valuable spot starter when Germaine Pratt or Wilson are sidelined but simply does not see enough work to even consider when both are healthy. This does not change during the bye, as there are still about 50 LB-eligible players who boast more value for Week 9. Those in shallower formats should look to move on from ADG altogether, while those in deeper leagues should try to keep him as a depth stash where roster sizes allow.
Patrick Queen (LB – BAL)
Patrick Queen has had some exciting moments for IDP managers this season but was still not someone the Ravens could trust as their top man in the middle. While the addition of Roquan Smith should allow Queen to stick to what he does best, there is going to be a reduction in snaps. For reference, Malik Harrison, the Ravens number two linebacker, played just 56 percent of the snaps in Week 8. Queen should stick around the 70-80 percent mark for Week 8, but if Roquan, who is coming from an odd front, can pick up the defense quickly, we could see Queen under the 60 percent barrier as soon as this weekend. Queen is no longer an LB2 option and, realistically, should not be trusted as anything more than a low-floor LB3. Keep him benched in leagues where you only need to start two LB’s.
Nick Scott (S – LAR)
Nick Scott has been playing a near every snap role week to week but has not been able to consistently produce as a DB3 option. The snaps alone usually keep you tethered to the conversation, but Scott, even with the heavy bye, should be viewed as more of a desperation DB4 than anything resembling a DB3. Scott has recorded four or more solos just twice all season and, with only one pick to his name, needs to contribute in the peripherals more to make up for his low tackle count. Look elsewhere for a Week 9 DB3 option.
Chandler Jones (DE – LV)
Chandler Jones has been an utter disappointment for Raiders fans and IDP managers alike. One of the most talented pass rushers in the league, Chandler has done absolutely nothing this season despite playing beside the number one IDP defensive end in Maxx Crosby. He has just 0.5 sacks and one tackle for loss on the season. He has just nine pressures on the season, sporting the worst pressure rate of his career. Maybe he is more comfortable in odd fronts. Perhaps the Josh McDaniels experience is not what someone who also played for Bill Belichick thought he was signing up for. Whatever the case, Chandler needs to be glued to benches until he starts playing at a fantasy-relevant level. Those in shallow redraft leagues should be looking elsewhere altogether.
Keanu Neal (S – TB)
Antoine Winfield appears set to return for Week 9, putting Keanu Neal back into DB3 territory. Keanu did not do much with the every snap role, so trusting him as a DB2 now that he will see his snaps reduced makes little to no sense. Keep the talented but inconsistent safety glued to benches if Winfield is indeed active, as expected.
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.