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Fantasy Overview - Week 8

Jeff Haseley's Fantasy Overview - Week 8
By Jeff Haseley, October 27, 2021

Fantasy Overview - Week 8
Photo: USA Today Sports

This week I look at some interesting stats and tidbits that might surprise you and/or help you with your lineup decisions heading into the end of the first half of the fantasy season.

Takeaways Are a Big Factor in Wins and Losses

2-plus takeaways per game

  • 2.7 BUF
  • 2.3 DAL, IND
  • 2.0 TB, ARI
Combined record of these teams: 25-8 (.757)
1.5-1.9 takeaways per game
  • 1.7 LAR, NO
  • 1.6 GB, NE
  • 1.5 LAC
Combined record: 23-10 (.696)
1.0-1.4 takeways per game
  • 1.3 HOU, MIA, NYG, LSV
  • 1.2 MIN
  • 1.1 WAS, TEN, CHI
  • 1.0 PHI, BAL, DET, KC, SEA
Combined record: 34-56 (.377)
0.0-0.9 takeaways per game
  • 0.9 DEN, CAR, CIN
  • 0.8 PIT, ATL
  • 0.7 CLE, SF, NYJ
  • 0.3 JAC
Combined record: 25-33 (.431) Surprisingly, this has a higher win pct than 1.0-1.4 takeaways per game.

Did You Know?

  • Carolina allows just 6.0 points per game in the first half (lowest in the league) and 14.0 points per game in the second half. Kansas City is the opposite. They allow 18.6 points per game (highest in the league) in the first half and 10.4 in the second half.

  • Derrick Henry is averaging 124.1 rushing yards per game. He needs to average just 113.1 to reach 2,000 yards and become the only running back to rush for 2,000 yards twice in a career, let alone consecutive seasons.

  • Derrick Henry has 9 fewer rushing first downs (45) than the Giants leader in rushes (Barkley, 54).

  • JaMarr Chase is averaging an astounding 21.5 yards per reception on 35 receptions with 14.8 yards per target.

  • DAndre Swift has one more catch (42) and one more yard (391) than Jakobi Meyers. He also has 262 more rushing yards and five more touchdowns.

  • Tampa Bay is allowing a 70% completion percentage to opposing quarterbacks, yet they are 6-1. Three other teams allow 70-plus% and their combined record is 6-13.

  • For those of you in kicker leagues - Minnesota averages the most field goal attempts per game at 2.8 with Buffalo and Dallas at 2.5. The fewest is New Orleans with 1.0. Dallas also led the league in this category in 2020 with 2.6 per game.

  • Ezekiel Elliott has three rushing touchdowns in the first quarter this season - most in the league. The only other players with more than one rushing touchdown in the first quarter are James Robinson (2), Sam Darnold (2), and Damien Harris (2).

  • Play your Defense/ST against Kansas City, New York Jets, and Jacksonville. They average 2.0-plus giveaways per game, Kansas City 2.4.

  • Garbage time leaders - Philadelphia, Los Angeles, New England, and Dallas score the most points in the 4th quarter on average. Philadelphia leads this category with 10.0. Houston (1.9), Chicago (3.7) score the fewest.

  • You want to be playing these teams late in the game - Most 4th quarter points allowed Atlanta (12.5), Las Vegas (10.4), San Francisco (10.2), Miami (10.0)

  • IDP helper - If in doubt, play defensive players on these teams, their offense is the worst in time of possession per game - Seattle (25:29), Philadelphia (26:06), Jacksonville (26:17), New York Jets (26:44).

  • Miami has gone from a point margin per game of +4.1 in 2020 to -11.4 in 2021. Other notable changes from 2020 include. Buffalo +6.8 to +17.5, Dallas -4.9 to +9.8, Arizona +2.7 to +15.9, Cincinnati -7.1 to +8.7

  • Seven teams have equal or more rushing touchdowns than passing touchdowns - Cleveland (13/7), Tennessee (13/8), Baltimore (10/10), Carolina (8/7), New York Giants (7/6), Jacksonville (7/7), Chicago (7/3).

  • The Cowboys, in equal games (6) have as many passing first downs (96) as the Jets have total first downs.

  • 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.

  • The Chiefs nearly average one turnover every four drives. 24% of their drives end in a turnover.

  • Nine teams are perfect on two-point conversion attempts this season. Philadelphia is 5-for-5. Cleveland, Detroit, and the New York Giants have each converted three or more of their attempts.

  • The Steelers and Seahawks are a combined 0-for-8 on fourth down attempts this season. Arizona is 5-for-5 and Denver is an impressive 10-for-13.

  • New York Jets, Washington, and Miami are allowing a score of some kind on 50-plus% of the drives they face.

  • Every player except one who has been a part of at least 24 blitzes has at least 0.5 sacks. Buccaneers linebacker, Devin White has been in 50 blitzes (most in the league) and he has yet to record a sack.

  • Cowboys cornerback, Trevon Diggs, not only leads the league with 7 interceptions, he also leads the league with 11 passes defended. Also worth mentioning, he has just as many pick-sixes (2) as assisted tackles.

  • Daniel Jones (46), Taylor Heinicke (38), Lamar Jackson (31), Sam Darnold (30), Jalen Hurts (27), and Jared Goff (26) have the longest rushing plays for their prospective teams.

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

Running Backs

Wide Receivers & Tight Ends

Start Your Players Vs. These Teams

Points allowed per drive

  • 2.87 KC
  • 2.85 WAS
  • 2.71 MIA
  • 2.62 HOU
  • 2.60 NYJ
  • 2.59 ATL, DET
  • 2.45 JAC
  • 2.40 LAC

Yards allowed per drive

  • 40.8 KC
  • 38.3 MIA
  • 38.0 JAC
  • 37.9 WAS
  • 36.9 LAR
  • 36.3 SEA
  • 36.2 DET
  • 35.5 ATL
  • 35.3 LAC
  • 35.2 NYJ

Players with 10+ Targets in a Game

Seven times

Six times

  • None

Five times

  • D.J. Moore, CAR

Four times

Three times

Two times

Fantasy Equals

Here are some fantasy equals using PPR scoring. Some of these are shocking.

190 Cooper Kupp, LAR (WR1)
184 Derrick Henry, TEN (RB1)

137 DAndre Swift, DET (RB2)
135 Deebo Samuel, SF (WR5)

128 Mike Evans, TB (WR7)
128 Austin Ekeler, LAC (RB4)

114 Leonard Fournette, TB (RB10)
113 Justin Jefferson, MIN (WR14)

106 Mark Andrews, BAL (TE2)
106 Adam Thielen, MIN (WR16)

100 Darrell Henderson, LAR (RB14)
100 Jaylen Waddle, MIA (WR19)

85 Myles Gaskin, MIA (RB17)
85 Dalton Schultz, DAL (TE5)

78 James Conner, ARI (RB21)
78 Devonta Smith, PHI (WR37)

74 Hunter Henry, NE (TE10)
74 J.D. McKissic, WAS (RB24)

69 Van Jefferson, LAR (WR44)
69 Tony Pollard, DAL (RB26)

60 Zach Pascal, IND (WR52)
60 Miles Sanders, PHI (RB35)

Questions, comments, and suggestions are always welcome. Hit me up on Twitter.

Photos provided by USA TODAY Sports
Tags Analysis strategy Davante Adams Josh Allen Keenan Allen Robbie Chosen Mark Andrews Cole Beasley Tom Brady Antonio Brown Marquise Brown Joe Burrow Ja'Marr Chase James Conner Brandin Cooks Kirk Cousins Sam Darnold Stefon Diggs Trevon Diggs Austin Ekeler Ezekiel Elliott Mike Evans Noah Fant Leonard Fournette Myles Gaskin Chris Godwin Jared Goff Damien Harris Taylor Heinicke Darrell Henderson Jr. Derrick Henry Hunter Henry Tee Higgins Tyreek Hill T.J. Hockenson DeAndre Hopkins Jalen Hurts Lamar Jackson Justin Jefferson Van Jefferson Diontae Johnson Daniel Jones Marvin Jones Jr Travis Kelce Cooper Kupp CeeDee Lamb Tyler Lockett J.D. McKissic Terry McLaurin DK Metcalf Jakobi Meyers Gardner Minshew DJ Moore Kyler Murray Donald Parham Jr Zach Pascal Michael Pittman Jr Tony Pollard Dak Prescott Calvin Ridley James Robinson Aaron Rodgers Deebo Samuel Miles Sanders Dalton Schultz Sterling Shepard Matthew Stafford Courtland Sutton D'Andre Swift Adam Thielen Jaylen Waddle Carson Wentz Devin White Mike Williams

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