We were cruising over the last month, but last week’s article was terrible! We need to admit when we get things wrong, and I was downright awful last week with this piece. That’ll sometimes happen, but I strive to do better than what I showed. It was a challenging week from a bye week perspective, but that shouldn’t be a problem this week.
We actually have no teams on bye, and it’s hard to understand what the NFL scheduling team is doing. In any case, I am excited to break this slate down, so let’s get into it!
The premise behind this article is simple. Identifying fantasy football smash plays that are on the fringe of your starting lineup. We will rarely recommend a top-20 player at any position, but we want to help you fill those critical flex spots. Here are all of my smash starts for Week 8. Below we dive into a few notable players.
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Smash Starts for Week 8
Wide Receivers
Terry McLaurin (WAS) vs. PHI
Scary Terry is the best receiver in Washington, and it looks like they’re finally feeding him like they should. McLaurin has at least 14 fantasy points in four of his last six outings, averaging 8.8 targets across his previous four fixtures. That’s the stud that’s made him a top-20 option over the last three years, and we definitely don’t want to fade him against Philly. The Eagles are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts, and it’s a matchup Washington will have to throw to keep up with this elite Eagles offense. In their two matchups last season, Terry tallied 14 receptions for 230 yards, and he had eight catches for 86 yards in their Week 4 meeting a month ago.
Amari Cooper (CLE) at SEA
Nobody will want to use Coop after his dud last week, but we’re willing to go back to him. This stud still had nine targets in that ugly outing, recording at least six targets every game this year. He was starting to go off before that Week 6 stinker, scoring at least 16 fantasy points in three of his previous four games. One of those upside outings looks likely against Seattle’s secondary, surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing receivers this year.
KJ Osborn (MIN) at GB
Most people will be talking about Jordan Addison in this passing game, but Osborn has quietly stepped his game up as well. These two have had to do that with Justin Jefferson out, and Osborn is the one being overlooked. He’s playing in over 90% of the team’s snaps this season and had at least four catches and 47 yards in three straight outings. That’s a great floor from a waiver wire target, and those numbers could double since Addison will receive so much attention after his Monday Night explosion. The matchup is the icing on the cake, with the Packers ranked 22nd in points allowed.
Tight Ends
Dalton Kincaid (BUF) vs. TB
Finding a fringe tight end option every week is tough, but Kincaid might be in this section numerous times over the next few weeks. This rookie was the top tight end in the draft, and Buffalo will finally unleash him now. An injury to Dawson Knox is what stirred the drink, with Kincaid collecting eight catches for 75 yards last week. Not many tight ends record eight receptions, and it’s possible his snap share gets above 80% with Knox sidelined. Tampa Bay is no easy matchup, but Kincaid is the second option for one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now.
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.