Fantasy Overview - Week 8

Jeff Haseley Published 10/23/2019

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.

10 mind-boggling stats about the Patriots defense/st

The Patriots have allowed only five scoring drives out of 78 and only three offensive touchdowns! They allow 4.40 plays per drive and 0.35 points per drive. The NFL average is 1.95. Miami allows 3.13.
New England has 18 interceptions in 7 games. The next closest team (Carolina) has just 9.
Using Fanduel scoring as a guideline, the Patriots defense has scored 152 fantasy points. That's more than Patrick Mahomes II, more than Michael Thomas, and equal to Dalvin Cook's totals using FanDuel scoring.
Daniel Jones is the only quarterback to throw a touchdown pass against New England - caught by Golden Tate.
The Patriots lead the NFL with a +14 turnover ratio. Next closest is Pittsburgh with +7
The Patriots have held opposing quarterbacks to less than 100 yards passing in three games this year.
Opponents are converting only 14% of their third down plays.
The QB rating against is a mere 35.6. Next closest is San Francisco with 64.6
New England has scored 175 more points than their opponent, which is more than 23 teams have scored total.
The Patriots 7 interceptions in the last two games is more than 27 teams have total.

But they haven't played anyone - this is true. Their opponents are PIT, MIA, NYJ (x2), BUF, WAS, and NYG. A combined 12-32 record, and that's with Buffalo's five wins. The one game that gave them a test (Buffalo) they allowed a 100-yard rusher (Frank Gore) and allowed one of their three offensive touchdowns (Josh Allen).

1st quarter touchdown leaders

Arguably the best way to put a smile on your face on Fantasy Sunday is when you 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 Patrick Mahomes II, KC
5 Jacoby Brissett, IND (4 pass, 1 rush)
4 Tom Brady, NE
4 Aaron Rodgers, GB
4 Matthew Stafford, DET
4 Kirk Cousins, MIN

Running Backs

4 Mark Ingram, BAL
4 Aaron Jones, GB
3 Christian McCaffrey, CAR
3 Sony Michel, NE
2 Chase Edmonds, ARI
2 Jordan Howard, PHI
2 Matt Breida, SF
2 Kerryon Johnson, DET
2 Austin Ekeler, LAC

Wide Receivers & Tight Ends

4 Adam Thielen, MIN
3 D.J. Chark, JAC
2 A.J. Brown, TEN
2 Tyler Lockett, SEA
2 Marvin Jones, DET
2 Sammy Watkins, KC
2 Mike Evans, TB
2 Phillip Dorsett, NE
2 Tyrell Williams, OAK
2 Zach Pascal, IND
2 Marquise Brown, BAL

Wait, what?

Lamar Jackson is 6th in the league in rushing yards with 576 on 84 carries. He is 16th in passing yards with 1,650. He's on pace for 1,316 rushing yards and 3,771 yards passing.

Tom Brady has just as many yards rushing as he does rushing touchdowns - 3

Baker Mayfield has 5 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions.

Sam Darnold has 8 rushing attempts for 0 yards. I don't think any/many are kneel-downs.

Cincinnati is averaging 53.1 yards rushing per game. They are allowing 189.0 yards rushing per game. At 0-7 you'd think they played New England. Oh, that's their Week 15 opponent. Perhaps Brady's last game before the playoffs?

Chicago is the only team without a pass play over 40 yards.

The Titans and Jets kickers are both 50% on field goal attempts this season. 50%!

Arizona has allowed 17 passing touchdowns, but only 3 rushing touchdowns

Start your players vs these teams

Points allowed per drive

3.13 MIA
3.10 ATL
2.60 ARI
2.52 CIN
2.51 OAK
2.39 WAS
2.36 KC
2.35 IND
2.28 TB
1.95 NFL Avg

Yards allowed per drive

41.3 MIA
40.6 KC
40.6 ATL
39.3 ARI
38.9 CIN
36.9 DET
36.5 IND
36.5 OAK
35.8 NYG
35.1 WAS
35.1 BAL

quarterBACKS WITH A TOP 10 FANTASY SCORING WEEK

Five times

Matt Ryan, ATL

Four times

Three times

Two times

Running backs with a Top 10 fantasy scoring week

Five times

Christian McCaffrey, CAR

Four times

Dalvin Cook, MIN

Three times

Two times

wide receivers WITH A TOP 10 FANTASY SCORING WEEK

Five times

None

Four times

Chris Godwin, TB

Three times

Cooper Kupp, LAR

Two times

Nelson Agholor, PHI
D.J. Chark, JAC
Amari Cooper, DAL
Mike Evans, TB
Kenny Golladay, DET
Julio Jones, ATL
Terry McLaurin, WAS
John Ross, CIN
Adam Thielen, MIN

tight ends WITH A TOP 10 FANTASY SCORING WEEK

Five times

None

Four times

Three times

Darren Fells, HOU
Austin Hooper, ATL

Two times

Cameron Brate, TB
Jared Cook, NO
Eric Ebron, IND
Evan Engram, NYG
Zach Ertz, PHI
Gerald Everett, LAR
Jimmy Graham, GB
George Kittle, SF
Greg Olsen, CAR
James O'Shaughnessy, JAC
Ricky Seals-Jones, CLE
Darren Waller, OAK

players with 10+ targets in a game

Five times

Tyler Boyd, CIN
Michael Thomas, NO

Four times

Three times

Odell Beckham, CLE
DeAndre Hopkins, HOU
D.J. Moore, CAR

Two times

fantasy equals

I talked about how the Patriots defense is equal to Dalvin Cook from a FanDuel scoring standpoint. Here's some other fantasy equals using FanDuel scoring.

Tom Brady 135.98
Austin Ekeler 136.10

David Johnson 106.50
D.J. Chark 106.60

Julio Jones 100.10
Austin Hooper 101.60

Terry McLaurin 83.90
Darren Waller 83.20

JuJu Smith-Schuster 56.50
A.J. Brown 55.50

New England Def/ST 152.00
Christian McCaffrey 163.80

Sony Michel 81.30
Todd Gurley 80.70

Travis Kelce 79.10
Mark Andrews 78.90

Ezekiel Elliott 123.70
Chris Godwin 123.70

Mitchell Trubisky 55.60
Devante Parker 55.40

Phillip Dorsett 59.40
James White 59.50

Questions, suggestions, and comments are always welcome to haseley@footballguys.com