Fansided

FanDuel NFL 2017: Week 8 lineup

By Brad Berreman

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 23: Quarterback Carson Wentz
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 23: Quarterback Carson Wentz /
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Mandatory Credit: Thearon W. Henderson-Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Thearon W. Henderson-Getty Images /

Wide Receivers:

Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers-$7,800
Amari Cooper-Oakland Raiders, $7,200
Mohamed Sanu, Atlanta Falcons-$5,600

Allen has been a target monster so far this year, with at least 10 in four of seven games and at least nine targets in each of the first six contests before last week.

Now a favorable matchup is coming against the New England Patriots, who have now allowed 13 wide receivers to post either 65 yards or a touchdown in a game this season (essentially two per game). The Patriots have allowed the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers (ESPN PPR scoring), including the second-most yards (1,400; 200 per game) and tied for the second-most receptions (96) to the position.

Philip Rivers should be slinging the ball plenty on Sunday, and Allen’s market share of targets to this point in the season (26.6 percent) puts him on a big game.

Cooper emerged from a major slumber in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs, with more catches (11) than he had in the previous four games and more yards (210) than he had all season to that point. A repeat is probably not coming against the Buffalo Bills in Week 8, but it’s not as tough a matchup as it looks at first glance.

The Bills are just barely in the bottom half of the league against wide receivers (ESPN PPR scoring) so far this season. But they’ve shown some cracks in recent weeks, with a touchdown allowed to the position in three straight games and 30 receptions (13.9 yards per catch) allowed to wide receivers over their last two.

The Raiders moved Cooper around to get him more involved last week, with 35 percent of his snaps coming out of the slot. That could continue this week, to some degree, and Derek Carr being another week removed from his back injury also works in Cooper’s favor.

After missing a game with a hamstring injury, Sanu posted six catches (on 10 targets) for 65 yards last Sunday night against the Patriots. Now he’ll get the New York Jets in Week 8, who are likely to be without cornerbacks Xavier Coleman (shoulder-on IR) and Buster Skrine (concussion) this week. Outside of Morris Claiborne, the Jets’ don’t have NFL-caliber cornerbacks anyway. Now their depth will be tested, and Sanu could take advantage in much the same way Dolphins No. 2 wide receiver Kenny Stills did in Week 7 (six receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns).