Friday afternoons are my opportunity to connect with FantasyPros readers and the FantasyPros Discord community. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to join our Discord to get answers to your questions. I host weekly AMAs on Fridays, and other analysts also routinely answer questions. Below were three standout topics from Friday’s busy Week 8 AMA.
- Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Discord AMA: Week 8
Is Tez Johnson a Viable Flex This Week?
Six teams are on a bye this week. If you feel uncomfortable about your starting options this week, you’re not alone. Sadly, Mike Evans is on injured reserve (IR) after breaking his collarbone on Monday Night Football in Week 7.
Fortunately, his absence will open up targets for players behind Emeka Egbuka, including dynamic rookie Tez Johnson. According to the Fantasy Points data suite, Johnson put up the following stats in the previous three weeks:
- 65.8% route participation rate
- 13.6-yard average depth of chart (aDOT)
- 20.8% air yards share
- 13.2% target share
- 0.18 targets per route run
- 16.9% first-read rate
- 9 receptions (3.0 per game)
- 162 receiving yards (54.0 per game)
- 2.10 yards per route run (Y/RR)
- 2 touchdowns
- 1 end-zone target
- 10.9 half-PPR points per game
- 9.1 expected half-PPR points per game
Johnson has slightly outproduced his expected half-PPR scoring. Nonetheless, he could see his route participation tick above 70%, and his vertical usage makes him a big-play threat. Moreover, despite his diminutive stature, the rookie wideout scored a touchdown on his only end-zone target. Johnson’s vertical usage and slightly underwhelming target share make him a volatile option, but he’s a viable WR3 or Flex option during this bye-heavy week.
What’s Troy Franklin‘s Outlook This Week?
Troy Franklin is another stellar option in fantasy leagues this week. However, given the number of fantasy start sit questions I received about him, gamers are leery about using him. In my bold predictions article this week, I declared as an atomic take that Franklin would finish as a top-24 receiver in half-PPR formats this week.
Yes, it was a bold prediction. Franklin is the WR26 in half-PPR expected points per game (13.7) this year and is tied for 15th in half-PPR expected points per game (14.7) in the previous three weeks. The Cowboys have coughed up the most half-PPR points per game (34.1) to wide receivers this year. The Broncos are 3.5-point favorites at home, and the game’s total is 51 points, leaving Denver with an implied total of 27.25 points. Even if Franklin falls short of my bold prediction, he’s an outstanding WR3 start this week.
Can Gamers Start Kyle Monangai in Week 8?
D’Andre Swift is banged up and listed as questionable this week. Kyle Monangai would be a locked-in RB2 if Swift were ruled out, especially since Roschon Johnson was already ruled out. However, Swift followed the same practice participation schedule last week before playing. So, Swift will likely play.
Monangai was involved and productive out of Chicago’s Week 6 bye. In Week 7, he handled 13 of the backfield’s 33 rush attempts, rumbling for 81 yards and a touchdown. Swift had a 40.7% route participation in Week 7, but Monangai wasn’t too far behind at 29.6%. The rookie running back was targeted on two of his eight routes, securing both for 13 yards.
Monangai isn’t an ideal fantasy starter this week. I would start Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Woody Marks and Tyler Allgeier over Monangai, but I would start Monangai over fellow rookies RJ Harvey and TreVeyon Henderson, as well as second-year running back Isaiah Davis.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
