![Fantasy Overview - Week 8](https://footballguys.imgix.net/nfl-action-photos/HuntKa00_H.jpg?auto=format,compress&w=730)
This week I look at some interesting stats and tidbits that will ultimately make you smile at your own brilliance or help you with your team/lineup decisions heading into the end of the first half of the fantasy season.
5 eyebrow-raising stats about the Patriots from 2019 and 2020. Not all of it is bad
- Tom Brady has 18 touchdown passes for the Buccaneers while the Patriots have only 3.
- Last year New England had a +11 point margin. In their last three games, that point margin is an astounding -16.3.
- New England is dead last in points scored per game in the first quarter with 1.2. Last year, they were 7.1, 2nd highest in the league.
- Surprisingly, this is still good. The Patriots are holding opponents to 3.8 third-down conversions per game - 2nd best in the league. Last year, it was 3.1, the highest in the league.
- New England penalties committed per game - 2020: 2.5. 2019: 5.7. The Patriots 2.5 penalties per game are by far the lowest of all teams. The next closest is 4.0 by the Rams.
Did You Know?
- Dallas allows 34.7 points per game. 22.7 allowed in the first half and 12.0 in the second half. Score on 'em early.
- Carolina allows 98.5 more yards per game to their opponent on the road. The highest difference in the league. Conversely, San Francisco allows 104.8 more yards to opponents at home. And in case you're wondering, Denver allows on average, only 1 more yard to opponents on the road than they do at home.
- For those of you in kicker leagues - The Colts and Panthers average the most field goal attempts per game at 3.0 and 2.9. The fewest is Seattle with 0.7. No team averaged more than 2.5 field goals attempted per game in 2019.
- Only one running back has scored more than 1 rushing touchdown in the first quarter this year - Dalvin Cook. He has 4 first-quarter touchdowns. No other running back has more than one rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
- Play your Defense/ST against Denver, New England, and Dallas with honorable mention to Minnesota. They average 2.3 giveaways per game, Minnesota 2.0.
- Garbage time leaders - Minnesota, Houston, and Kansas City score the most points in the 4th quarter on average. Minnesota leads this category with 11.3.
- You want to be playing these teams late in the game - Most 4th quarter points allowed Las Vegas 12.8, Atlanta 11.1, Seattle 10.5.
- Rams punter Johnny Hekker was lauded for his punting duties on MNF recently. 61.5% of his punts go inside the 20-yard line. Interestingly enough, Jake Bailey of New England leads the league with 73.3% of punts inside the 20 yard-line. Guess who has the worst percentage? Braden Mann of the NY Jets. I guess that's what happens when you routinely punt from deep in your own territory. How bad is bad? His percentage inside the 20-yard line is 17.9%.
- Four teams have equal or more rushing touchdowns than passing touchdowns - New England, San Francisco, Carolina, and Washington.
- I am not sure which is worse. Wait, yes I do...The Jets have slightly more first downs per game 16.6 than the Eagles have incompletions per game 16.3.
- Carson Wentz has 4 two-point conversions this year to lead the league and we aren't even halfway through the year yet. Last year's top converter on two-point conversions was Gardner Minshew with 3.
- Drew Brees (72.6%) has a slight edge over Teddy Bridgewater (72.2%) for completion percentage, but Bridgewater's yards per attempt is 8.2 (6th highest in the league). Brees is 7.6 (17th).
- Joe Burrow has fumbled 8 times this season - most in the league. He has lost only 3 of them.
- The Titans have made 10 field goals on 16 attempts. Strangely enough, Stephen Gostkowski has made all five of his attempts from 50+ yards.
- Cardinals safety Budda Baker's 59 tackles is the most of any non-linebacker. And he missed a game.
- Panthers DE Brian Burns has three sacks this season. All were strip-sacks resulting in a fumble.
- #1 and #2 for tackles for a loss are both Steelers. Vince Williams and T.J. Watt each have 12.
- Mitchell Trubisky has the longest rushing play for the Bears this year - 45 yards.
1st quarter touchdown leaders
Arguably the best way to put a smile on your face on Fantasy Sunday is when your player scores in the first quarter. He has at least solidified a decent week and there may be more to come. Here are your leaders in 1st quarter touchdowns
Quarterbacks
- 5 Josh Allen, BUF
- 5 Ryan Tannehill, TEN
- 5 Russell Wilson, SEA
- 4 Matt Ryan, ATL
- 4 Tom Brady, TB
- 4 Kyler Murray, ARI
- 4 Ryan Fitzpatrick
Running Backs
- 4 Dalvin Cook, MIN
- 3 Chris Carson, SEA
- 2 DAndre Swift, DET
- 2 Raheem Mostert, SF
- 2 Alvin Kamara, NO
- 2 Aaron Jones, GB
- 2 Chase Edmonds, ARI
Wide Receivers & Tight Ends
- 3 Tyler Lockett, SEA
- 2 DeAndre Hopkins, ARI
- 2 Mike Evans, TB
- 2 Hayden Hurst, ATL
- 2 A.J. Brown, TEN
- 2 Mark Andrews, BAL
- 2 Adam Shaheen, MIA
Start your players vs these teams
Points allowed per drive
- 3.13 LSV
- 2.97 JAC
- 2.88 MIN
- 2.87 NO
- 2.86 HOU
- 2.85 DAL
- 2.73 CLE
- 2.67 ATL
Yards allowed per drive
- 41.7 SEA
- 40.0 HOU
- 39.7 LSV
- 39.6 JAC
- 38.2 ATL
- 38.0 TEN
- 37.6 DET
- 37.3 MIN
Quarterbacks with a Top 10 weekly ranking
Seven times
- Kyler Murray, ARI
Four times
- Josh Allen, BUF
- Tom Brady, TB
- Patrick Mahomes II, KC
- Aaron Rodgers, GB
Three times
- Drew Brees, NO
- Justin Herbert, LAC
- Lamar Jackson, BAL
- Dak Prescott, DAL
- Matt Ryan, ATL
- Ryan Tannehill, TEN
- Deshaun Watson, HOU
Two times
- Joe Burrow, CIN
- Derek Carr, LSV
- Ryan Fitzpatrick, MIA
- Jared Goff, LAR
- Cam Newton, NE
- Carson Wentz, PHI
- Teddy Bridgewater, CAR
- Kirk Cousins, MIN
- Sam Darnold, NYJ
- Jimmy Garoppolo, SF
- Gardner Minshew, JAC
- Philip Rivers, IND
- Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
- Mitchell Trubisky, CHI
Running backs with a Top 10 weekly ranking
Five times
- Alvin Kamara, NO
Four times
- Kareem Hunt, CLE
- James Conner, PIT
Three times
- Ezekiel Elliott, DAL
- Derrick Henry, TEN
- Todd Gurley, ATL
Two times
- Chris Carson, SEA
- Nick Chubb, CLE
- Dalvin Cook, MIN
- Mike Davis, CAR
- Chase Edmonds, ARI
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC
- Myles Gaskin, MIA
- Antonio Gibson, WAS
- Darrell Henderson, LAR
- Josh Jacobs, LSV
- David Johnson, HOU
- Christian McCaffrey, CAR
- Joe Mixon, CIN
- James Robinson, JAC
- Miles Sanders, PHI
- Jeff Wilson, SF
- Malcolm Brown, LAR
- Rex Burkhead, NE
- Kenyan Drake, ARI
- Austin Ekeler, LAC
- Leonard Fournette, TB
- Melvin Gordon, DEN
- Nyheim Hines, IND
- Aaron Jones, GB
- Ronald Jones II, TB
- David Montgomery, CHI
- Raheem Mostert, SF
- Latavius Murray, NO
- Adrian Peterson, DET
- DAndre Swift, DET
- Jamaal Williams, GB
- Giovani Bernard, CIN
- Boston Scott, PHI
Wide receivers with a Top 10 weekly fantasy ranking
Five times
- None
Four times
- DK Metcalf, SEA
Three times
- Chase Claypool, PIT
- A.J. Brown, TEN
Two times
- Davante Adams, GB
- Amari Cooper, DAL
- Jamison Crowder, NYJ
- Mike Evans, TB
- Travis Fulgham, PHI
- Will Fuller, HOU
- DeAndre Hopkins, ARI
- Justin Jefferson, MIN
- Diontae Johnson, PIT
- Julio Jones, ATL
- Tyler Lockett, SEA
- Nelson Agholor, LSV
- Keenan Allen, LAC
- Robby Anderson, CAR
- Odell Beckham, CLE
- Tyler Boyd, CIN
- D.J. Chark, JAC
- Keelan Cole, JAC
- Brandin Cooks, HOU
- Stefon Diggs, BUF
- Julian Edelman, NE
- Michael Gallup, DAL
- Chris Godwin, TB
- Tyreek Hill, KC
- Christian Kirk, ARI
- Cooper Kupp, LAR
- CeeDee Lamb, DAL
- Allen Lazard, GB
- Terry McLaurin, WAS
- Scott Miller, TB
- D.J. Moore, CAR
- Tim Patrick, DEN
- Henry Ruggs, LSV
- Darius Slayton, NYG
- TreQuan Smith, NO
- JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB
- Preston Williams, MIA
- Mike Williams, LAC
- Cedrick Wilson, DAL
- Robert Woods, LAR
Tight ends with a Top 10 weekly fantasy ranking
Five times
- Travis Kelce, KC
Four times
- Darren Waller, LSV
Three times
- Mo Alie-Cox, IND
- Mark Andrews, BAL
- Mike Gesicki, MIA
- Hayden Hurst, ATL
- Jonnu Smith, TEN
- Logan Thomas, WAS
Two times
- Jared Cook, NO
- Gerald Everett, LAR
- Noah Fant, DEN
- Darren Fells, HOU
- Jimmy Graham, CHI
- Rob Gronkowski, TB
- T.J. Hockenson, DET
- O.J. Howard, TB
- George Kittle, SF
- Dalton Schultz, DAL
- Robert Tonyan Jr, GB
- Jordan Akins, HOU
- Nick Boyle, BAL
- Harrison Bryant, CLE
- Trey Burton, IND
- Eric Ebron, PIT
- Evan Engram, NYG
- Anthony Firkser, TEN
- Dallas Goedert, PHI
- Tyler Higbee, LAR
- Austin Hooper, CLE
- Jesse James, DET
- Tyler Kroft, BUF
- Marcedes Lewis, GB
- Foster Moreau, LSV
- David Njoku, CLE
- Albert Okwuegbunam, DEN
- Donald Parham, LAC
- Jordan Reed, SF
- Richard Rodgers, PHI
- Adam Shaheen, MIA
- Jason Witten, LSV
Players with 10+ targets in a game
Five times
- None
Four times
- Keenan Allen, LAC
- Amari Cooper, DAL
- Jamison Crowder, NYJ
- Terry McLaurin, WAS
- Calvin Ridley, ATL
Three times
- Davante Adams, GB
- Robby Anderson, CAR
- Stefon Diggs, BUF
- Travis Fulgham, PHI
- A.J. Green, CIN
- DeAndre Hopkins, ARI
- Diontae Johnson, PIT
- Allen Robinson, CHI
Two times
- Tyler Boyd, CIN
- Ezekiel Elliott, DAL
- Zach Ertz, PHI
- Will Fuller, HOU
- Tyreek Hill, KC
- Julio Jones, ATL
- Alvin Kamara, NO
- Travis Kelce, KC
- George Kittle, SF
- CeeDee Lamb, DAL
- Tyler Lockett, SEA
- D.J. Moore, CAR
- Adam Thielen, MIN
- Darren Waller, LSV
Fantasy equals
Here are some fantasy equals using PPR scoring. Some of these are shocking.
Zach Ertz 47.8
Zach Pascal 47.8
Mecole Hardman, 53.7
Jerry Jeudy, 53.6
TreQuan Smith, 56.8
Julian Edelman, 56.6
Terry McLaurin, 113
Mike Davis, 112
Chris Carson, 105
DK Metcalf, 105
Justin Jefferson, 99
Josh Jacobs, 99
James Conner, 95
David Johnson, 95
Antonio Gibson, 94
Jonathan Taylor, 86
Myles Gaskin, 85
A.J. Brown, 80
Randall Cobb, 79
Questions, suggestions, and comments are always welcome to haseley@footballguys.com