As six teams sat out Week 8, seven of the 12 matchups entering Monday night were decided by 14 or more points. Fringe players, including a couple of the season’s most disappointing draft picks, provided some of the slate’s biggest returns while sitting on benches and waiver wires.

At least the Seahawks and Texans produced high-quality theater and video-game numbers. Here’s a rundown of October’s final weekend.

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Baltimore Ravens 40, Miami Dolphins 0

• The “Miami’s offense would be better without Jay Cutler” theory took a major hit when Matt Moore mustered 176 yards, no touchdowns, and two picks (both returned for touchdowns) on 44 pass attempts. Jarvis Landry turned 12 targets into 33 yards. While Jay Ajayi reeled in a season-high four catches-topping Week 7’s season-high of three-he also amassed just 23 rushing yards on 13 carries. He’s now averaging 3.4 yards per carry and has yet to score a touchdown after collecting eight of them last year. The Dolphins fell to last in total offense and scoring on Thursday night. Although he won’t redeem Ajayi into a trustworthy starter or guide Landry to more than an empty-calorie PPR acclaim, Smokin’ Jay can’t take all the blame anymore.
• Given a season-high 20 touches-including his first red-zone carry of the season-Alex Collins compiled a career-high 143 yards. Averaging a stellar 6.0 yards per run, the 23-year-old would ascend to must-start status if Baltimore afforded him a consistent workload. Yet even in a blowout win where he torched Miami, Collins played just one more snap than Javorius Allen, who had 57 yards on 18 touches. As long as they continue to split opportunities, Collins is a high-risk, high-reward play while Allen maintains PPR flex appeal with four catches per game.
• Jeremy Maclin‘s 53 yards and a touchdown represents a seismic boom for a Baltimore receiver. Yet the veteran remains an incredibly touchdown-dependent option with 19 catches and 212 yards through six games. Leonte Carroo, who tallied his first reception in Week 7, caught six of eight targets for 48 yards. His role will evaporate once DeVante Parker returns.

Minnesota Vikings 33, Cleveland Browns 16

• Jerick McKinnon washed away memories of a quiet Week 7 with 122 total yards (50 rushing, 72 receiving) and a touchdown. While Latavius Murray matched his 20 touches, he finished with 47 yards. McKinnon investors would undoubtedly prefer a fuller plate, but they can at least take comfort in the 5’9″ back punching in a one-yard score and the ensuing two-point conversion instead of the 230-pound veteran. His 63.5 snap percentage, per Pro Football Focus’ Nathan Jahnke, exceeds his previous two rates of 57.1 and 53.0. Averaging 106 yards over the last four games, he’s a strong No. 2 RB despite operating in a timeshare.
• Even with Stefon Diggs back in the lineup, Adam Thielen outshined his fellow wideout with 98 yards and his first touchdown of 2017. He has three straight game with double-digit targets after tying McKinnon for a team high with 10. On pace for 96 catches and 1,254 receiving yards, he’s a high-caliber PPR option with or without Diggs and the benefit of a high touchdown total. A Week 9 bye gives Diggs more time to heal, and he’s too good to bench when playing.
• Isaiah Crowell set season highs in rushing (64) and receiving yards (54) while scoring his first touchdown since last Christmas Eve. Since he was averaging 3.2 yards per rush with no more than 73 total yards in a single game, his breakout likely came far too late for frustrated managers who benched or dropped him weeks ago. Feel free to pick him up if someone banished him to the waiver wire, but he’s still not a dependable starting option when Cleveland returns from a Week 9 bye to play Detroit in two weeks.

Carolina Panthers 17, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3

• Entering the day No. 30 in passing defense, the Buccaneers contained Cam Newton to 154 passing yards with a touchdown and a pick. A popular DFS choice, Kelvin Benjamin at least salvaged a mundane 3-39 line with a 25-yard touchdown catch. Devin Funchess was not as lucky, catching two of six targets for 11 yards. He is now averaging a bleak 3.8 yards per target over Carolina’s last three games, during which Newton is averaging 5.1 yards per pass attempt. At least Newton is running more over that stretch, but Funchess has only delivered value during the offense’s red-hot outings against the Patriots and Lions. Benjamin is the lone Panthers receiver to confidently start in Week 9 against the Falcons.
• Jameis Winston followed a huge game against the Bills by going 21-of-38 for 210 yards, no touchdowns, and two picks. Including Week 6’s game he left early, it’s just the third time in his career he failed to account for a passing or rushing score. It’s also, however, his 10th game with two or more interceptions. He also had eclipsed 300 passing yards in his last four full games, so don’t panic after one poor game against a difficult opponent. Mike Evans (5-60) and Cameron Brate (4-64) solidified their sturdy floors in a contest where the offense could not locate the end zone.
• Even in a double-digit loss, Doug Martin fielded 18 handoffs for a middling 71 yards. He has collected 65 carries in four games since returning from a suspension, reasserting himself as a low-ceiling, high-floor play in standard-scoring formats. That’s still more than can be said about Jonathan Stewart despite scoring his first touchdown since Week 1.

Philadelphia Eagles 33, San Francisco 49ers 10

• This final score unfolded as planned, but fantasy players left wanting more from the Eagles. Carson Wentz threw two touchdowns, a feat he has matched or exceeded in six of eight 2017 games, but finished with his fewest passing yards (211) since Week 3. While the fun ended for Nelson Agoholor, who snapped a three-game touchdown streak with three catches for 26 yards, Alshon Jeffery scored 53 of his 62 yards on a touchdown. Perhaps Jeffery-averaging 3.5 receptions per game-is just as big-play dependent as Agholor. Neither is as trustworthy of a fantasy stud as Wentz and Zach Ertz, who has six touchdowns this season and 271 combined yards in the three bouts when he didn’t score.
• So much for this being a Wendell Smallwood breakout spot. The sophomore received just one carry and catch apiece in a blowout win. Corey Clement instead led the Eagles with 54 rushing yards on 10 handoffs, but LeGarrette Blount accrued 16 rushes and a 12-yard touchdown. Stay far away from all of them with a brutal matchup against the Broncos ahead.
• Quarterback C.J. Beathard led the 49ers with 40 rushing yards. Running back Matt Breida posted a team-high 39 receiving yards. Carlos Hyde, meanwhile, tallied just 25 rushing and 22 receiving yards on 16 touches. Breida’s four catches-including a 21-yard score-are a troubling sign for Hyde’s investors, as the 0-8 49ers are frequently playing catch-up. Yet it’s far from time to panic.

New Orleans Saints 20, Chicago Bears 12

• The good news for Mark Ingram: He found the end zone for the third straight game, finishing with 99 yards on 18 carries and six catches. The bad news: He lost two fumbles, and the second one gave Chicago another life late in the fourth quarter. Alvin Kamara also started the game with an eight-yard score. Ingram has lost three fumbles in the past three games, but has also tallied 359 yards and four touchdowns. Running backs are often indiscriminately punished for turnovers, so keep a close eye on Week 9’s workload against Tampa Bay.
• Mitchell Trubisky set a career high by completing 14 passes, making him 38-of-80 for 512 passing yards through four games. Yikes. Tarik Cohen has caught one pass in each of the rookie’s four starts, and he finished with two rushing yards despite vultering a one-yard touchdown. Accruing 103 touches during those four games, Jordan Howard is the only Bears player with any mainstream fantasy value.
• That’s unfortunately the case after Zach Miller suffered a gruesome leg injury while appearing to score a touchdown, only for the call to be reversed because he was somehow ruled to have not completed possession. Tre McBride III broke through for 92 yards after previously sporting 26 in 11 career games, but don’t bother speculating on a benefactor in all but the deepest of leagues.
• Drew Brees did not produce a passing touchdown for the first time since Week 14 last year. He instead went an efficient 23-of-28 for 299 yards while Ingram and Kamara took the glory. Having allowed just 80 points over their ongoing five-game winning streak, the Saints are no longer a pass-dominant offense. Facing Tampa Bay-the last team against whom he failed to score a touchdown-nevertheless presents a strong matchup for the veteran passer.

New England Patriots 21, Los Angeles Chargers 13

• Nursing a foot injury during the week, Melvin Gordon quickly assuaged any fears of a lackluster start by taking an 87-yard run to the house. He had 45 yards on his other 13 carries, but everyone will gladly take the one huge run from someone who had not broken one beyond 21 yards before Sunday. His 2017 yards per carry average ballooned from 3.4 to 4.0, and he gets a bye week to fully recover before an enticing matchup against the Jaguars.
• Travis Benjamin cost the Chargers a safety by running backward on a punt return. He also led the team with five catches and 64 yards while scoring Philip Rivers‘s only passing touchdown. He has established the lowest floor imaginable with a zero-catch game two weeks ago, but he now was more total yards (345) than fellow wideout Tyrelll Williams (322). That’s less of a Benjamin endorsement and more of proclaiming the last straw on Williams, who has six catches and 84 yards combined in four games since burning the Eagles for a 75-yard score.
• Would it be possible to simply morph New England’s backfield quadrant into two runners? James Gillislee and Dion Burkhead would both make solid starters. All four of them, however, create too much of a crowd. Dion Lewis‘s carry total climbed for the fifth consecutive week, increasing to a season-high 15. Yet he finished with 54 total yards, less than James White (85) and Rex Burkhead (68) wielded as receivers. Mike Gillislee took over late when the Patriots were trying to run the clock, but the Week 1 star continued his decay into fantasy irrelevance with 34 yards. Burkhead is the big wild card, as Tom Brady could again turn to his backs often when they face the Broncos in two weeks.
• A multitude of options make most of New England’s skill-position players volatile on a week-to-week basis. Except for Rob Gronkowski, who has five touchdowns in seven games with over 50 yards in each contest since Week 1. He has scored at least 10 touchdowns in every season where he has played more than eight games. That trend isn’t ending this season.

Atlanta Falcons 25, New York Jets 20

• Tevin Coleman played 29 of 66 plays, per Jahnke, to record his highest snap percentage (43.9) of the season. He coaxed 14 carries to Devonta Freeman‘s 12 and doubled the starter’s tally with 82 rushing yards. Freeman appeared to get banged up late in the game before Coleman’s takeover, but the Falcons did not disclose any injury. Averaging 5.4 yards per carry and 11.9 yards per catch, an expanded role would transform Coleman into a locked-in starter.
• Josh McCown secured his third straight top-seven quarterback finish with 257 yards and two touchdowns in a dull week under center. He has scored in every game aside from a rough tilt against Jacksonville’s elite secondary while registering a 70.4 completion percentage. New York’s schedule, however, gets a lot tougher. A Week 9 tilt against Tampa Bay standing out as his only streamable matchup over the next six weeks. Trendy preseason sleeper Robby Anderson is validating the summer buzz after gashing the Falcons for 104 yards and a touchdown. Despite securing just 27 of 52 targets, he’s worth owning for depth with bye weeks draining the player pool.
• Mohamed Sanu once again submitted six catches, but this time he added a touchdown on a diving grab. He has received 17 targets over Atlanta’s last two games, just two fewer than Julio Jones. Take out the game against Buffalo he left early, and the team’s No. 2 receiver is averaging 5.4 catches and 59.8 yards per bout when healthy. He’s a solid flex play or No. 3 fantasy wideout.

Buffalo Bills 34, Oakland Raiders 14

• A rare Week 8 chalk play who met the hype, LeSean McCoy ran wild for 151 yards and a touchdown, adding six catches for PPR gamers. He has now posted 492 yards over the last four games, during which he’s averaging 27 touches. No other Bills wideout received more than one target-Deonte Thompson followed a big team debut with five yards-so McCoy will continue to shoulder the workload against the Jets on Thursday night.
• With Marshawn Lynch serving a one-game suspension, Jalen Richard played 26 snaps to DeAndre Washington‘s 25, per NFL Fantasy Live’s Matt Francisovich. Yet Washington made the most of the brighter spotlight with eight catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. The game script blocked both from making a major impact running the ball. Despite Lynch’s contained role, neither were viable options with Beast Mode on the field. That probably won’t change unless one can supplant Lynch on the depth chart.
• Derek Carr tossed two interceptions in Oakland’s 20-point loss. But at least Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper each caught five passes on 10 targets for 82 and 48 yards, respectively. Cooper owners who benched him before Week 7’s breakout wanted a far bigger reward, but it beats another single-digit yard output. Facing the Dolphins in Week 9 and Patriots after a Week 10 bye gives Oakland’s passing trio two chances to stabilize back into reliable starters.

Cincinnati Bengals 24, Indianapolis Colts 23

• Although Frank Gore delivered a season-high 101 yards on 20 touches, Marlon Mack led the backfield in snaps (40 of 75), per Jahnke, for the first time this season. The rookie ran for just 27 yards on 11 handoffs, but a scored a 24-yard touchdown reception. Mack could be in store for a breakout game against Houston’s reeling defense.
• Who had Jack Doyle leading everyone in targets this week? In a slate where no other tight end topped 64 yards, he caught 12 of 14 targets for 121 yards and a touchdown. He has 30 catches over the last four games. Ertz has 17. Jacoby Brissett has found his go-to weapon, and fantasy players should adjust accordingly. (Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star reported that Andrew Luck “is not close to returning to the practice field.” It’s time to cut him in re-draft leagues.)
• Andy Dalton (17-of-29, 243 yards, 2 TDs) and A.J. Green (3-27 and a touchdown) did not delight or disappoint as a Week 8 DFS stack. The star receiver was averaging 90.8 yards per game against a depleted defense, so it stung seeing Brandon LaFell record more catches (four) and yards (44). Nobody in a one-quarterback league should consider starting Dalton against the Jaguars, but Green of course must stay in seasonal lineups despite the difficult matchup. The Bengals will need to establish a run game after Joe Mixon picked up just 18 of his 109 yards on the ground.

Seattle Seahawks 41, Houston Texans 38

• Beating up on the Browns is one thing, but Deshaun Watson obliterated the Seahawks for 402 passing yards and three touchdowns. At Seattle. While he threw three picks on the losing end of an epic shootout, he regained those lost fantasy points with 67 rushing yards. The rookie has recorded 19 touchdowns (18 passing) in his last five games while averaging 294.4 passing and 37.2 rushing yards. He’s a “set and forget” fantasy stud who commands a starting spot every week after acing the toughest test of his NFL career.
• Not to be outdone, Russell Wilson outdueled the neophyte with 452 passing yards, four touchdowns, and a pick. He also compiled 30 rushing yards. The rest of the team combined for three yards on 17 carries. That’s less than a foot per run. The 28-year-old doesn’t trail Watson by much with 15 touchdowns (14 passing) in his last five bouts. A non-existent run game means huge things for Wilson and Seattle’s passing offense.
• Now to cover the pass-catchers, something neither defense accomplished. Two days after skipping practice to protest his Texans owner Bob McNair’s remarks, DeAndre Hopkins turned a screen pass into a 72-yard score, upping his tally to 224. He has seven touchdown in as many games, already three more than last year. Will Fuller continued his absurd season with his third two-touchdown game in four tries, also giving him seven touchdowns. He has 13 catches. The sell-high recommendation stands despite his 125-yard performance, but the asking price should skyrocket.
• Setting season highs in catches (six) and receiving yards (105), Paul Richardson boosted his touchdown total to five with another pair of end-zone visits. It’s not too late to add him in many leagues, so make him a high priority as the No. 2 receiver on a rolling offense that shouldn’t even bother running. Tyler Lockett chimed in with 121 yards, but there’s no consistency and too low a floor to trust the speedy playmaker. Jimmy Graham turned three quiet quarters into a two-touchdown party, and Doug Baldwin had Kareem Jackson beat for a touchdown before drawing a pass interference. Start them all (except Lockett) in what should be another shootout against Washington.

Dallas Cowboys 33, Washington Redskins 19

• Welcome to 2017, Jamison Crowder. Everyone who invested a high pick on the wideout probably gave up before enjoying Week 8’s long-overdue breakout, in which he caught nine of 13 targets for 123 yards (all season highs). He also fumbled for the fifth time and has yet to score a touchdown, but it’s something for PPR players forced to start him-this author begrudgingly raises his hand-because of a glut of injuries and/or byes.
• Although Josh Doctson played a career-high 50 snaps, according to Jahnke, he registered one yard. Limited to 20 snaps, Terrelle Pryor was not targeted once. Drop Pryor, and keep Doctson stashed on the bench for another week unless the spot is immediately needed elsewhere. Jordan Reed left with a hamstring injury, which set up a busy day for Crowder and Chris Thompson (8-76). Crowder and Vernon Davis are intriguing Week 9 plays if Reed can’t suit up, and Thompson should get comfortable in all PPR lineups.
• Ezekiel Elliott ate (33 carries, 150 yards and two touchdowns) at the expense of Dallas’s passing offense. Dak Prescott produced just 143 passing yards in his first game of the season without a touchdown. Dez Bryant settled for 39 yards on six targets, both his lowest marks since Week 3. While their Week 8 opponent, Kansas City, has struggled against the run, it’s also a tougher matchup that shouldn’t allow Dallas to play most of the game with a lead. Don’t abandon Dak and Dez after one off day.

Pittsburgh Steelers 20, Detroit Lions 15

• Oh, is that what Martavis Bryant wanted? With the disgruntled wide receiver watching in street clothes, JuJu Smith-Schuster celebrated the return of his bike with a 97-yard touchdown, padding his tally to 193. Bryant has 234 yards in seven games. The NFL’s youngest player can’t consistently depend on enormous plays, but he still would have submitted a strong six catches for 96 yards without the big strike. Whether or not the Steelers trade Bryant before Tuesday’s deadline, Smith-Schuster should be locked in as their No. 2 receiver. He entered Sunday night available in over half of ESPN and Yahoo Sports leagues.
• Averaging 223.2 passing yards per game through Week 5, Matthew Stafford followed up his 312-yard, three-touchdown Week 6 with 423 yards on 45 passes. According to NFL Research, he has the only two 400-yard, no-touchdown games in the last 20 years. Adding to the oddness, Pittsburgh had relinquished an NFL-low 147 passing yards per contest prior to Sunday night. Some of the credit belongs to Detroit’s run game regressing with 66 yards against the Saints and 71 versus the Steelers, once again turning the Lions into a one-dimensional offense. His schedule lightens with upcoming matches against the Packers and Browns, so he’s once again a solid option.
• Even with Golden Tate in the lineup, Marvin Jones led the Lions with 11 targets and 128 receiving yards. Over the last three weeks, he has accumulated 18 catches, 278 yards, and a touchdown on 33 targets, three more than Antonio Brown has over the same sample size. Having earned a double-digit yards uptick in each of the last four weeks, he’s certain to broach 150 against the Packers. OK, not really, but he demands more recognition.

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Andrew Gould is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Andrew, check out his archive and follow him @andrewgould4.