Fantasy Football Player Notes

We finally had a vintage Barkley performance in Week 8. Unfortunately, that performance also led to an injury scare, as he left the game with a groin injury. All reports have been relatively positive, and Barkley should be ready to go for their Monday Night matchup against the Packers. Unfortunately, the Packers have been an elite run defense all season. Averaging fewer than 80 rushing yards per game from running backs, it will be a good test for the Eagles out of their bye week. After having a very disappointing start to his season, fantasy managers will be eager to learn if the Week 8 rushing resurgence was a sign of things to come, or a blip on the radar. If they can do it against this stout Packers defense, there is a world Barkley returns to his elite fantasy form down the stretch.

A.J. Brown is the WR33 in fantasy points per game with three top-20 wide receiver weekly finishes, including two in his last two games (WR19, WR4). Brown has a 25.6% target share, 56.4 receiving yards per game, 1.83 yards per route run, and a 33.1% first-read share. He has five red zone targets and ten deep targets this season. Brown gets the Packers at a time when their secondary has taken a step back against perimeter wide receivers. Since Week 5, they have allowed the tenth-most PPR points per target and the sixth-most receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers. Brown should continue the hot streak in Week 10.

DeVonta Smith has had a wonderful season thus far as the WR14 in fantasy points per game. He has finished as a top-20 wide receiver in weekly scoring in four of his last six games. He ranks second on the team in red zone targets (six) and leads the team in deep targets (12). Smith has a 26% target share with 73.5 receiving yards per game, 2.37 yards per route run, and a 31.9% first-read share. He has a tougher matchup this week, but Smith still has the talent to succeed. Since Week 5, Green Bay has ranked 20th in PPR points per target against slot receivers and 15th in passer rating when the position has been targeted. I do expect A.J. Brown to lead the passing attack this week.

Dallas Goedert is the TE5 in fantasy points per game while leading all tight ends with seven touchdowns. Goedert has a 19.7% target share with 41.3 receiving yards per game with 1.54 yards per route run, and a 20.5% first-read share. He leads the team with seven red zone targets while also seeing six deep targets. The Packers are a middle-of-the-road matchup that Goedert should still succeed against. Green Bay ranks 17th in receiving yards per game and schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game allowed to tight ends.