Bo McBrayer | Thu, Oct 24th 2024, 8:01am EDT

Fantasy Football Hot Takes: Joe Burrow, Stefon Diggs, D’Andre Swift (Week 8)

Last week’s predictions demonstrated how entirely over my skis I can be. Except for Joe Mixon‘s two-touchdown performance, there wasn’t much correlation between the crystal ball and the chips that fell. You’d think I’d tone down the spice level after a rather embarrassing week across my columns and fantasy leagues. Au contrere, mon frere.

I’m in Chicago this week for a hearing care professionals conference. My employer is covering airfare and lodging, while I scour through nearby food destinations. I will earn continuing education credits toward my licensure and get to catch up with colleagues scattered about the country. I was as unprepared as I’ve ever been for a work trip.

I’ve never thought to “raw dog” a flight like the attention seekers on social media, but the onboard Wi-Fi was out of order and my AirPods lay dead in my wife’s purse back in NorCal. For most of the folks sitting around me, this first-world problem was an untenable disaster. I lucked out. The nice lady next to me happened to be a culinary school graduate who works in the food industry.

We spent a good portion of the four hours having a real conversation like it was 1999. Total strangers. No internet. We shared stories and laughed together like old friends, though our paths may never cross again.

I’m typing this column on my iPhone, which is plugged into a charging cord I bought at Walgreens here (I left mine at home). No laptop, no tablet. With a Bible and mini fridge by my side, I’m determined to bring the readers their content, even if I have to lean on a retractable ironing board while eating a room service parfait. Chicagoans will tell you tavern style is better than deep dish and you gotta dip the sandwich in the jus. Spicier than Johnny’s giardiniera, we’re diving in sheets untucked.

Fantasy Football Hot Takes: Week 8

Bengals Light up the Sky and Drop 40 Burger in Double-Digit Win Over Eagles; Joe Burrow is the QB1 with 350 Yards and Four Touchdown Passes

One glaring weakness I’ve noticed in Philadelphia’s defense is their secondary when the pressure doesn’t get home. This is a wonderful matchup for both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, especially since Cincinnati’s running game has been lackluster anyway. Chase Brown also figures to have a lot of upside in the short passing game as the hot or check-down option.

Philly is finally warming up on offense themselves, but they must do better in the passing game. Saquon Barkley is the lead dog who draws more bodies into the box. It’s up to Jalen Hurts to make the Bengals pay for selling out to stop the run.

Colts Defense Continues to Get Bucked; Stefon Diggs Catches 10 Passes and Scores Twice in Texans’ Three-Score Rout

Houston is a Super Bowl contender. CJ Stroud is in line for one hellacious bounce-back game versus division rival Indianapolis. Yes, he misses Nico Collins. So do I. He couldn’t even connect with Tank Dell once last week. That will change, while Stefon Diggs cements himself as the main attraction in the route tree. Mixon is going to have another monster game, but it’s not even remotely spicy.

There’s nothing wrong with Anthony Richardson. Those big fantasy performances will come. Having a healthy Jonathan Taylor would certainly help lighten the burden. Houston isn’t the place I’d expect that to happen, however.

Da Bears Take Command in Highest Total Game of the Slate; D’Andre Swift Racks up 200 Scrimmage Yards with Relish and Celery Salt in Road Win Over Washington

Who would I be if I didn’t make a Chicago-related prediction while I’m here? This showdown of the top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft was flexed to the late window game of the week. Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels are both awesome. The key to this game, however, is whether Washington can slow down the Bears’ D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson and their running attack. I believe Chicago will win field position and time of possession.

Daniels is an unsurprising revelation for fantasy football, but Chicago’s secondary poses a stern test for last year’s Heisman Trophy winner. We should see just how high his floor is in this one. Look for Brian Robinson Jr. to get rumbling, with Zach Ertz making plays with fresh tennis balls on the legs of his walker.

Jake Ferguson Shreds the Bay Boys for 100 Yards on 10-Plus Targets to Finish as a Top-Three Tight End; Disappointing Cowboys Get Upset Win Over Disappointing 49ers in Front of Yours Truly

I have never watched my favorite team live before. That will change this weekend when I bear silver and blue at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday Night Football. I predicted both of these teams would struggle this season, against all the delusional takes to the contrary. I have been correct so far. This is a premium NFC rivalry game with no love lost between insufferable fan bases.

Jake Ferguson is a tough football player who is a nasty fiend after the catch. San Francisco has been an uncharacteristically poor tackling defense in 2024, so my prediction stems from that trend’s continuance.

I’m not worried about Brock Purdy without his Monstars. His healthiest skill guy, Ricky Pearsall, still has a fresh bullet wound, while Deebo Samuel might have a nebulizer on the sidelines. I hope it’s a good game; I’ll report back.

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