Week 8 Scheme Advantages & Disadvantages For Fantasy Football: Target DK Metcalf

Time to exploit this week's matchups! Cleveland's coverage sets up well for DK Metcalf, and Minnesota's blitz could help Sam LaPorta recover from a quiet game. Keep an eye on our fantasy football projections as the week develops.

Fantasy Football Matchups I Like in Week 8

DK Metcalf vs Browns Coverage

I like Metcalf as a WR2 this week against Cleveland, where he gained 115 yards on 9 targets in the first meeting. Pittsburgh has looked to him on 34.3% of its first-read targets over the past three games.

The Browns play Cover 1 on 41.6% of their dropbacks (most in the NFL). Metcalf has earned a target on 25.8% of his 97 routes against that coverage, averaging 2.12 yards per route run. His production against zone has been much worse at 1.08 YPRR.

It doesn’t hurt that the Steelers are amongst the top teams in the league in DBOE (they throw a lot more than expected).

Sam LaPorta vs Vikings Blitz

LaPorta earned just 1 target against Green Bay, but he still ran a route on 91% of Detroit's dropbacks. I'm going back to him as a top-6 TE against a defense that sends extra rushers more than anyone.

Minnesota sends at least five rushers on 68.6% of dropbacks (most in the NFL), including 81.5% last week. LaPorta has averaged 3.02 YPRR against 5+ rushers this season and 1.11 when defenses send fewer.

Over Detroit's past three games, LaPorta has accounted for 25.9% of the team's first-read targets against the blitz.

Jacoby Brissett vs Cowboys Pass Defense

I'd stream Brissett against Dallas, which has allowed 0.30 EPA per dropback this season (2nd most). The Cowboys play single-high coverage on 60% of their coverage snaps, and Brissett has averaged 6.12 yards per dropback against those looks this season. He's averaged 5.51 against two-high.

Dallas has generated pressure on 34.2% of dropbacks over its past three games (12th lowest). Brissett has averaged 6.19 yards per dropback from a clean pocket this season and 3.62 under pressure.

Michael Wilson vs Cowboys Single-High Coverage

Dallas plays single-high coverage on 60% of its coverage snaps. Wilson has averaged 2.11 YPRR against those looks this season, earning a target on 36% of his 114 routes. Against two-high, his target rate falls to 15.7%, with just 0.99 YPRR.

Dallas' outside corners have a D in my coverage grades. Wilson runs 81% of his routes outside, and I like him as a WR2 against Dallas' single-high coverage.

Breece Hall and Braelon Allen vs Raiders Run Defense

Las Vegas has allowed 5.11 yards per RB carry (2nd most) and 2.13 yards before contact (most in the NFL). The Jets have a B+ in my run-blocking grades against the Raiders' D in run defense.

Both Hall (quad) and Allen (ankle) opened the week limited in practice. I'd start Hall as an RB2 if he returns to his normal role. If Hall misses another game and Allen is healthy enough for his usual workload, Allen is an RB2 for me.

Allen has handled 58 carries over the past three games, averaging 3.80 yards after contact per carry this season (3rd among 42 qualified backs). A normal return for Hall would move Allen back to the RB3/flex range.

Josh Jacobs vs Panthers Run Defense

Jacobs returned last week with 11 carries and 5 catches after missing the first six games on the exempt list. I'd start him as an RB2 against Carolina, which has allowed 5.29 yards per RB carry (most in the NFL).

The Panthers have allowed 1.88 yards before contact per carry (2nd most), with that figure rising to 1.93 over their past three games. Green Bay's run blocking has a D in my grades—it’s improving! But Carolina's run defense has an F.

Hunter Henry vs Dolphins TE Coverage

Miami has allowed 2.62 YPRR to TEs aligned inline (most in the NFL). Henry has run 39% of his routes from that alignment, where he's averaging 1.49 YPRR this season.

Miami's linebackers have a D in my coverage grades. I'd stream Henry this week after he earned 7 targets last week.

Makai Lemon vs Commanders Slot Coverage

Lemon earned 8 targets and accounted for 31.8% of Philadelphia's first-read targets last week. With DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks out, he played 56 of the Eagles' 62 offensive snaps and caught his first NFL touchdown.

Washington has allowed 1.78 YPRR to players aligned in the slot over its past three games (8th most). Lemon runs 65% of his routes from the slot, and I'd use him as a WR3/flex if Smith and Wicks both miss another game.

Commanders defense is also a pass funnel, which helps Lemon with more prospective pass attempts.

Geno Smith vs Raiders Pass Defense

Smith is streamable against a Raiders defense that has allowed 0.47 EPA per dropback over its past three games (most in the NFL), with a pressure rate of just 30.5% during that stretch (7th lowest). The Raiders' outside corners have an F in my coverage grades.

Smith has averaged 0.33 EPA per dropback from a clean pocket this season, falling to -0.31 under pressure.

It’s also a revenge game if you believe in that.

Fantasy Football Matchups That Are Tougher in Week 8

Jonah Coleman vs Chiefs Run Defense

I'd sit Coleman against Kansas City. He has just 19 carries this season after spending time on IR with an ankle injury.

The Chiefs have allowed 3.30 yards per RB carry and 0.58 yards before contact (both 2nd fewest). Over their past three games, those figures have fallen to 3.11 and 0.35.

Coleman has averaged 4.89 yards per carry on his 19 attempts. Kansas City's run defense has a B+ in my grades.

Quinshon Judkins vs Steelers Run Defense

Pittsburgh has allowed just 2.43 yards per RB carry over its past three games (fewest in the NFL). Backs have averaged -0.09 yards before contact on those 56 carries, getting hit before they reach the line of scrimmage on average.

Judkins is averaging just 0.92 yards before contact per carry this season, and Cleveland's offensive line has a C+ in my run-blocking grades against Pittsburgh's A+ run defense. His most-used concept is outside zone, where he's averaging 2.68 yards per carry on 28 attempts.

With Dylan Sampson back, we also saw the route share dwindle for Judkins.

Judkins has handled 71% of Cleveland's RB carries this season. I'd use him as a low-end RB2 this week.

Ladd McConkey vs Rams Two-High Coverage

The Rams play two-high coverage on 52% of their dropbacks, rising to 62.2% over their past three games. McConkey has averaged 1.56 YPRR on 41 routes against two-high this season and 3.05 against single-high.

Los Angeles has allowed just 0.76 YPRR to receivers aligned outside over its past three games (fewest in the NFL). McConkey has run 54% of his routes outside, where this defense has been much harder to attack.