Welcome to our Week 8 Game Hub with breakdowns of every contest from across the league. Our Tom Brolley gets you ready for this week’s action with the most important stats and trends for each fantasy-relevant player in the NFL. We also provide betting, weather, and injury reports with each game’s write-up to make sure you’re well-informed before you set lineups and/or place wagers. Let’s get to this week’s games!
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Week 8 Schedule
Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Chargers, 8:15 p.m., Thurs.
Vikings Trends
Record: 3-3 (3-3)
Carson Wentz will get one more start against the Chargers on Thursday Night Football after throwing for 2 TDs in two of his four games as the starter. He completed 26/42 passes for 313 scoreless yards (7.5 YPA) and 2 INTs, adding 4/28 rushing for 13.3 FP. He’s averaging 40.7 attempts per game since Jordan Addison returned to the lineup. The Chargers deploy Cover 3 (35.2%) and Cover 4 (24.1%) at a 59.3% rate, and he averages 7.74 YPA with a 99.9 passer rating and 10/92/1 rushing on 99 dropbacks against those coverages. Los Angeles allows the seventh-fewest passing YPG (204.9) and the third-most rushing YPG (30.6) to QBs. Daniel Jones posted 288/2 passing and 5/7 rushing in this matchup last week.
Justin Jefferson has reached 5+ receptions, 75+ yards, and 12.5+ FP in four straight games with Wentz after posting 5/79 receiving on 10 targets against the Eagles. He’s averaging 6.8/100.8 receiving and 9.8 targets per game in four games with Wentz, compared to 3.5/62.5 receiving and 6.5 targets per game with a TD in two games with McCarthy. The Chargers deploy Cover 3 (35.2%) and Cover 4 (24.1%) at a 59.3% rate, and he averages 3.04 YPRR and .24 TPRR on 72 routes against those coverages. The Chargers give up the eighth-fewest receiving YPG (87.3) and the fifth-fewest YPRR (1.67) to receivers aligned out wide. Jaylen Waddle posted 6/95 receiving in this matchup two weeks ago.
Jordan Addison has reached 15+ FP in his first three games with Wentz at quarterback, including 9/128 receiving on 12 targets (29%) and a 94% route share against the Eagles. He’s hit 114+ receiving yards in two of his first three games. The Chargers deploy Cover 3 (35.2%) and Cover 4 (24.1%) at a 59.3% rate, and he averages 1.08 YPRR and .26 TPRR on 38 routes against those coverages. The Chargers give up the third-fewest YPT (7.10) and the 10th-fewest YPR (12.22) to receivers aligned out wide. Alec Pierce posted 5/98 receiving in this matchup last week.
T.J. Hockenson has reached double-digit FP twice through six games after posting 6/43 receiving on 9 targets (21%) and an 80% route share against the Eagles. Hock averaged 5.3/42.3 receiving and 6.5 targets per game with a TD in four games with Wentz, compared to 2.0/13.5 receiving and 3.5 targets per game in two games with McCarthy. The Chargers deploy Cover 3 (35.2%) and Cover 4 (24.1%) at a 59.3% rate, and he averages 2.00 YPRR and .29 TPRR on 56 routes against those coverages. Los Angeles gives up the sixth-fewest receiving YPG (38.7) and the fifth-fewest receptions per game (3.9) to TEs. Tyler Warren posted 4/69/1 receiving in this matchup last week.
Aaron Jones is eligible to return from the injured reserve, but it could be a difficult turnaround to play on Thursday Night Football. Jordan Mason has scored between 10.2 and 13.6 FP in three consecutive games after recording 15/57/1 rushing without a target against the Eagles. He’s scored 4 TDs in four games without Jones in the lineup. Mason paced Zavier Scott in snap share (76%>13%), carry share (65%>17%), and route share (48%>11%). The Chargers allow the third-most adjusted YBC/ATT (2.43), 5.13 YPC, and the 16th-most rushing YPG (91.9) to RBs. They’ve been ripped on the ground by Jonathan Taylor (16/94/3 rushing), De’Von Achane (16/128/2), and Jacory Croskey-Merrit (14/111/2) in three straight games.
Chargers Trends
- Record: 4-3 (2-4-1)
- Justin Herbert is coming off a monster performance in a largely negative gamescript against the Colts. He completed 37/55 passes for 420 yards (7.6 YPA), 3 TDs, and 2 INTs, adding 6/31 rushing for a season-high 27.9 FP. He’s run for 24+ yards in five of his first seven games, and he’s reached 264+ passing yards and 2+ TDs in his first two games without Omarion Hampton. The Vikings deploy two-high safeties at the highest rate (70.3%), and he averages 6.80 YPA with a 91.6 passer rating and 6/105 rushing on 145 dropbacks against the shell. The Vikings give up the sixth-fewest passing YPG (200.2) and the fifth-fewest rushing YPG (10.5) to QBs. Jalen Hurts ripped them for 326/3 passing last week.
- Quentin Johnston reached 71+ receiving yards, 7+ targets, and 14.9+ FP in each of his first four games, but he failed to top 40 receiving yards and 11 FP in his last two games, which surround a game he missed for a hamstring injury. He turned in 2/30/1 receiving on 5 targets (9%) and an 89% route share against the Colts. The Vikings deploy two-high safeties at the highest rate (70.3%), and he averages 1.06 YPRR and .16 TPRR on 108 routes against the shell. Minnesota allows the most YPRR (3.19) and the most YPR (18.20) to receivers aligned out wide. A.J. Brown erupted for 4/121/2 receiving in this matchup last week.
- Ladd McConkey has recorded 14.9+ FP in three straight games after posting 9/67 receiving on a season-high 15 targets (26%) and a 93% route share in a loss to the Colts. The Vikings deploy two-high safeties at the highest rate (70.3%), and he averages 1.31 YPRR and .22 TPRR on 134 routes against the shell. Minnesota allows the eighth-fewest YPRR (1.50) and the ninth-fewest receiving YPG (51.5) to receivers aligned in the slot. DeVonta Smith erupted for 9/183/1 receiving in this matchup last week.
- Keenan Allen turned in season-highs in targets (14, 26%), receptions (11), receiving yards (119), TDs (1), and FP (28.9) on a 72% route share in Week 7. He’s turned in 5+ receptions in 6-of-7 games and 58+ yards five times. The Vikings deploy two-high safeties at the highest rate (70.3%), and he averages 1.94 YPRR and .26 TPRR on 113 routes against the shell. Minnesota blitzes at the highest rate (43.2%), and Allen owns a team-best .35 TPRR against the blitz for 1.94 YPRR.
- Oronde Gadsden posted career-highs in receptions (7), receiving yards (68), targets (8), FP (12.8), and snap share (75%) in Los Angeles’ victory over the Dolphins in Week 6. He once again bested his career-best marks in a Week 7 loss to the Colts, posting 7/164/1 receiving on 9 targets (16%) and a 79% route share for 29.4 FP. The Chargers deploy two-high safeties at the highest rate (70.3%), and he averages 2.12 YPRR and .19 TPRR on 75 routes against the shell. The Vikings give up the 12th-most receptions per game (5.7) and the 10th-fewest receiving YPG (43.7) to TEs. Harold Fannin (4/13/1 receiving) and David Njoku (6/67/1) had success in this matchup in Week 5.
- Kimani Vidal remained the lead back ahead of Hassan Haskins in a negative gamescript in Week 7, mustering just 9/20 rushing and 4/15 receiving on 5 targets for 7.5 FP. Vidal paced Haskins in snap share (65%>32%), carry share (56%>6%), and route share (44%>30%). The Vikings give up the 13th-fewest adjusted YBC/ATT (1.81), the ninth-most rushing YPG (102.2), and the eighth-fewest receiving YPG (25.3) to RBs. They limited Saquon Barkley to 18/44 rushing and a -2-yard reception out of their bye after getting crushed on the ground by Quinshon Judkins (23/110 rushing) and Kenneth Gainwell (19/99/2) in Weeks 4-5.
