Last week, our Fantrax fantasy football contributors hit on bold predictions specific to wide receiver Rashee Rice and running back A.J. Dillon! So, let’s keep the momentum heading into Week 8! These bold predictions won’t always have a 100% success rate, but should at least help sway decision-making for your dynasty, redraft, or even Daily Fantasy Sports lineups.
2023 NFL Week 8 Bold Predictions for Fantasy Football
Calvin Ridley, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Bold Prediction: 7 receptions, 100 yards, 1 touchdown
23.0 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Colin McTamany, @Colin_McT
Calvin Ridley is on pace for approximately 65 receptions, 893 yards, and five receiving touchdowns. That sort of stat line equates to just under 11.0 points per game in Points Per Reception leagues. Given his third round Average Draft Position, Ridley is on my fantasy football hot seat heading into Week 8 with a chance to give managers hope he can be trusted beyond the Jaguars’ Week 9 bye.
The good news for Ridley is that his Week 8 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers is a “get right” spot for any receiver. They’re allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season. That includes allowing the sixth-most receiving yards. In fact, in five of six games this season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have allowed a 90-yard receiver. In four of those five games, wide receivers logged 129 or more yards. That list consists of Brandon Aiyuk, Davante Adams, Nico Collins, and most recently, rookie Puka Nacua.
My bold prediction is that Calvin Ridley joins their company of scoring 90 or more yards. He has two 100+ yard games this season already and Week 8 is a great time to log a third. While his teammate Christian Kirk looks like the better value for fantasy football, Ridley has just seven total targets less than Kirk. They are 26.16 fantasy points apart, but far and away the two top options in Jacksonville’s passing game. With every team playing in Week 8, it may be tough stomaching Ridley in your lineup, but I’m advising fantasy managers to keep the faith. A big day is coming.
Gus Edwards, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Bold Prediction: 18 carries, 80 yards, 2 touchdowns
20.0 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Colin McTamany, @Colin_McT
Colin’s Breakdown: Did you know that Gus Edwards’ 21.4 PPR points in Week 7 are the first time in his career he’s scored over 20.0 fantasy points in a single game? A lot of it has to do with the 80-yard catch-and-run he had. He has just 287 total career receiving yards in 59 games played, including that play from last week. My bold prediction for Edwards in Week 8 is that he logs yet another 20.0-point performance. However, it’s going to take getting into the end zone twice, something he has done just twice before.
For this bold prediction, I’m banking on Gus Edwards’ role on a successful Baltimore Ravens team in a running back friendly matchup. Edwards gets the Arizona Cardinals run defense allowing the fourth-most yards and third-most fantasy points on the third-most attempts against them. Edwards has more than double the number of carries the team mate Justice Hill. He has double-digit carries in all but one game this season.
I foresee the Ravens jumping out in front of the Cardinals early in Week 8. They’re allowing 26.0 points per game which ranks 26th in the league. Assuming the game script works in Gus Edwards’ favor, he should see closer to 20 carries against a team allowing nearly 4.5 yards per carry to running backs. The only thing stopping Edwards from a big week is if quarterback Lamar Jackson rushes in a score or two himself. I’m willing to take the chance and play Edwards, especially given the injuries to running backs this fantasy football season.
Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets
Bold Prediction: 20 carries, 180 yards, 1 touchdown; 5 receptions, 20 yards
31.0 fantasy Points
Fantrax Writer: Michael Reedy, @MikeReedyFF
Michael’s Breakdown: Breece Hall is healthy and coming off of his bye week. Hall has a touchdown in each of his last two games. He had 25 touches in Week 6 and another 17 touches in Week 7. Hall’s Week 8 opponent, the New York Giants, give up the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. Running backs have averaged 24 carries for 122 yards and a touchdown rushing. They’ve also scored eight touchdowns against the Giants’ defense this season. Breece Hall should make it nine in Week 8, but my bold prediction is that he goes wild for 200 all-purpose yards.
Michael Mayer, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Bold Prediction: 5 receptions, 50 yards, 1 touchdown
16.0 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Colin McTamany, @Colin_McT
Colin’s Breakdown: Rookie tight end, Michael Mayer, is still waiting to find the end zone for his first career touchdown. Part of my Week 8 bold prediction for him is that he does indeed do so. What better way to do so than on Monday Night Football, too?
The Detroit Lions have allowed the second-most touchdowns (4) to tight ends this season. They’ve also allowed the third-most yards on the third-most receptions to the position. Jimmy Garoppolo is expected back under center for the Raiders which should yield a more efficient Las Vegas passing game.
This is the second straight week of making a bold prediction for Mayer, but given the matchup, I’m more confident this one hits. Even if you don’t start Mayer in Week 8, stash him in case he breaks out in prime time. If you do need a tight end streamer, Mayer has a great matchup to exploit.
Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings | Positional Ranks w/ K & DST | Dynasty | Superflex Dynasty