NFL Power Rankings
In this edition of NFL Power Rankings, we focus on how each team has performed, while also highlighting one notable fantasy football player from each of the 32 teams in the league. It can be a player trending up or down, but we provide insight into each team’s collective performance, along with analyzing one fantasy football prospect and their rest of season viability in fantasy lineups. After six teams went on Bye in Week 7, we’ll have all 32 teams competing in Week 8, providing 16 matchups for us to anticipate and complete player availability when it comes to setting fantasy football lineups.
NFL fantasy analyst Matt MacKay gives us his latest NFL Power Rankings ahead of Week 8, ranking each team first to worst, 1-32, providing an assessment of the overall team, along with fantasy football analysis for one player from that respective team. This article uses half-PPR as the default scoring metric to allow fantasy managers to maximize the number of points in their lineups entering a jam-packed Week 8 slate.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs looked like a contender against the Chargers in Week 7, as Patrick Mahomes totaled over 400 passing yards and four touchdowns in a game that was much more one-sided than the box score indicated. Kansas City remains one of two 6-1 teams in the league and has one of the best defenses in the league to bail out the offense when it sputters on occasion, so expect the Chiefs dynasty to continue well into the postseason.
WR Rashee Rice – Rookie wideout Rashee Rice is the hottest name in Kansas City outside of Travis Kelce and Mahomes. Rice has two touchdowns across the last three games, recording at least four receptions during this stretch, plus 60 or more receiving yards in back-to-back games. Rice also leads all Chiefs wideouts with a 13.1 percent target share, which should only continue trending up, so he’s a low-end WR2 with the potential to evolve into a low-end WR1 by the fantasy football playoffs.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
The other 6-1 team in the league through seven weeks is the Philadelphia Eagles, who continue to soar with Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown leading the way. It hasn’t been pretty every week, but a statement win over Miami in prime time proved that the pass defense can contain the league’s best passing attack. Philadelphia has the edge in the trenches on either side of the line of scrimmage, making them a contender once again in 2023.
WR A.J. Brown – Not much analysis is needed for Brown’s historic pace, recording five consecutive games with at least 127 receiving yards, while gobbling up eight to 15 targets from Jalen Hurts. His target share sits in the elite tier at 32.9 percent this season, so fantasy managers who spent second or third-round draft capital to acquire Brown are seeing a huge return on investment during these past five weeks and for the foreseeable future.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore’s biggest win of the season came in Week 7 against a red-hot Detroit Lions team, routing the Lions 38-6. Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews are a formidable duo, plus rookie wideout Zay Flowers’ explosiveness, paired with the offense run by new OC Todd Monken, makes the 5-2 Ravens a legitimate contender, barring injuries.
QB Lamar Jackson – Baltimore’s franchise quarterback has been money this season, excluding a couple of pedestrian outings against Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. Lamar Jackson threw for 357 yards and accounted for four total touchdowns while recording a 77.8 percent completion rate against a good Detroit defense. Jackson is giving us 2019 MVP vibes, which means he could definitely be a league winner in 2023.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
After dropping two consecutive games against Kansas City and Houston earlier in the season, Jacksonville has bounced back with four consecutive wins. These include two wins overseas in London against teams above .500 while mounting an impressive comeback against the Saints in a hostile environment in Week 7 behind Travis Etienne, Christian Kirk, and Trevor Lawrence.
WR Christian Kirk – All the hype around Calvin Ridley’s training camp and Week 1 production has quickly dried up in favor of slot wideout, Christian Kirk. Jacksonville’s explosive passing attack relies on Kirk heavily, and we’ve seen his usage tick up in recent weeks. Kirk has surpassed Ridley in target share (23% to 20%) and also plays in two wide receiver sets, making Kirk a high-end WR2 with a WR1 ceiling moving forward.
5. Dallas Cowboys
It’s been a weird season for Dallas, alternating wins and losses since a shocking road loss to the 1-6 Cardinals in Week 3. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb silenced critics in Week 6 against the Chargers, but their next two games against the Rams and Eagles will let us know if this team is built to make another deep playoff run in 2023.
RB Tony Pollard – It’s been a brutal campaign for Tony Pollard fantasy managers in 2023. The Cowboys’ RB1 was projected to build off of his huge production last season, but that simply hasn’t been the case. Pollard is averaging 13.2 fantasy points per game, which is still second on the team, but only scoring two touchdowns in six games, while averaging 3.9 YPC, is certainly cause for some concern. For now, Pollard is a mid-range RB2 who still possesses RB1 upside if he gets hot in the right matchups.
6. San Francisco 49ers
For now, we’re keeping San Francisco in the top six, but two consecutive road losses to Cleveland and Minnesota create a lot of questions about Brock Purdy and the 49ers’ defense. Nick Bosa has yet to return value on his immense offseason contract extension, while the absence of Deebo Samuel clearly affected the way defenses contain San Francisco’s West Coast offense. The 49ers return home to face the Cincinnati Bengals, off a Bye, in Week 8, before entering their own Bye in Week 9, so we’ll see whether they can bounce back from regular season adversity.
WR Brandon Aiyuk – One of the most fascinating case studies in fantasy football has been Brandon Aiyuk. He went 5-57 in the first half in a good matchup against Minnesota before being shut out, failing to catch a poorly thrown pass from Purdy late in the game. His ceiling was demonstrated in Week 1 against Pittsburgh, where Aiyuk ripped off over 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns, but he has yet to find the end zone since that explosive outing in a plus-matchup. Now, Aiyuk’s regression has him at WR17 in fantasy points per game (13), so we’ll label him a mid-range WR2 with top-five upside until further notice.
7. Miami Dolphins
Miami may be sitting at the top of the AFC East, but its recent wins have come against sub-par opponents. Losses to Buffalo and Philadelphia on the road may indicate that the Dolphins aren’t capable of being a contender when their offensive line is decimated, limiting explosive run plays, forcing Tua Tagovailoa to drop back in obvious passing situations. The Vic Fangio defense has the right pieces, but until they figure it out, Miami could be vying for a Wild Card by the time the end of the regular season arrives.
WR Tyreek Hill – Several drops could’ve resulted in an even bigger prime-time outing from star wideout Tyreek Hill in Week 7 against the Eagles. Hill is still the most valuable fantasy wideout this year, averaging 22.9 points per game, four points higher than WR2 Stefon Diggs. Hill is virtually matchup-proof and has caught 71 percent of his targets (74), ranked fourth-most in the league, so his combination of explosiveness and volume makes him the most valuable player in fantasy football this season.
8. Detroit Lions
After a strong 5-1 start, Detroit looked bad against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7, failing to do much on either side of the line of scrimmage. The Lions should be able to bounce back in prime time at home against a bad Las Vegas Raiders team in Week 8, but the defense better figure out ways to improve quickly, otherwise Jared Goff will be forced to be a gunslinger playing from behind, which is not how the Lions’ offense is built.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs – Rookie Jahmyr Gibbs finally earned good volume in Week 7, despite the blowout loss, scoring his first career touchdown and earning ten targets, converting them into nine receptions for 58 receiving yards to boost his production in fantasy lineups. David Montgomery’s rib injury could make the Lions re-evaluate their usage of Gibbs, who should be considered a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside while playing in a volatile system.
9. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals’ Week 7 Bye could not have come at a better time. The offense had some key injuries, plus Cincinnati just recorded a 17-13 win over Seattle in Week 6, giving them confidence and momentum heading out of the Bye in a tough road matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8. The connection between Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase remains integral to the success of the Bengals’ offense, and their season, from here on out.
RB Joe Mixon – Despite having no competition for touches in the backfield, Bengals’ RB1 Joe Mixon has only one touchdown this season, while averaging 3.8 YPC. Mixon is RB30 in fantasy points per game (10.2) this season and will have his work cut out for him against the 49ers’ run defense in Week 8. Target share is the only saving grace for Mixon, who has demonstrated good hands out of the backfield throughout his career with Cincinnati, making him a low-end RB2 with fringe RB1 upside.
10. Minnesota Vikings
A momentous 22-17 win over San Francisco in Week 7 gave everyone another assessment of Kirk Cousins in prime time, as the Vikings’ franchise quarterback ripped San Francisco’s defense for 378 yards and two touchdowns with a 77.8 percent completion rate. The Vikings’ defense, quietly, under DC Brian Flores, has become much improved in a short amount of time. Minnesota is definitely a team that has reinvigorated energy moving into a Week 8 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
WR Jordan Addison – The absence of Justin Jefferson finally paid off for Jordan Addison’s fantasy managers, as the rookie wideout finished the week as the overall WR1, hauling in seven receptions on ten targets for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Addison could’ve had a third touchdown as well, so his role in the Vikings’ offense is clearly trending upward, as he continues to collect touchdowns with ease. Low-end WR1 and a high-end WR2 when Jefferson returns.
11. Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta is another interesting team, grinding out low-scoring wins with good defense and efficient offense. The Falcons are loaded with talented personnel, so head coach Arthur Smith is left with trying to figure out ways to prevent turnovers to continue leading the NFC South.
QB Desmond Ridder – Speaking of turnovers, second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder has been committing quite a few lately. Ridder fumbled three times against Tampa Bay, while throwing three interceptions against the Commanders in Week 6, but his usage as a ball carrier and downfield passer keeps him in quarterback-streaming territory. Ridder has thrown for at least 250 yards in three straight games while scoring three rushing touchdowns this season, so he’s quickly becoming a high-end QB2 bordering on fringe QB1 value.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers
Somehow, some way, the Steelers continue to find ways to win, relying on a mixture of good defense and clutch offensive performances. Pittsburgh is 4-2, fresh off of a road win against the Rams, despite ranking 26th in points for (17.2) and 17th in points allowed (21.2) this season. Kenny Pickett, George Pickens, Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, and Diontae Johnson have begun to pick up their production, which is encouraging for the Steelers’ rest-of-season outlook, plus their value in fantasy football.
RB Najee Harris – Najee Harris finally had a relevant fantasy showing, scoring 14.3 points with a late rushing touchdown to log his best game of the season. The Rams’ porous run defense gave Harris good opportunities, as he caught all three of his targets for 15 yards, while going 14-53-1 as a ball carrier. Jacksonville is a tough running back matchup, so Harris’ floor regresses to mid-range RB2 territory in Week 8, especially with Jaylen Warren also earning valuable touches in the red zone.
13. Buffalo Bills
Buffalo is once again looking like a one-dimensional offense, while its defense has been decimated by injuries. Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs continue to show big play ability, while the rest of the Bills’ offense is largely unreliable from week to week. The Bills have lost two of their last three games, falling out of the AFC East lead, while barely beating a short-handed Giants team in Week 6. Upcoming matchups against the Buccaneers and Bengals will tell us a lot about this team’s outlook for the final half of the season.
WR Gabe Davis – Touchdowns have begun to dry up for Gabe Davis, dropping him to a low floor in games where he doesn’t find the end zone. Davis is averaging 9.6 fantasy points per game, compared to 18.6 for Diggs, reflected in Davis’ 14.8 percent target share versus 33.1 percent for Diggs. Davis is a high-end WR2 on pop weeks while dropping into WR3 territory without scoring a touchdown.
14. Cleveland Browns
Cleveland has had quite a rollercoaster season, losing key players to injury, the Deshaun Watson saga, and winning and losing games in all variety of fashion. Their 39-38 Week 7 win against the Colts came right after beating the 49ers 19-17, while Myles Garrett has been the MVP for the Browns through six games.
RB Kareem Hunt – Veteran running back Kareem Hunt has been handling valuable red zone touches in recent games, while Jerome Ford’s injury opened up more opportunities in Week 7. Hunt has scored three touchdowns in the past two weeks, but Hunt has yet to log over 15 fantasy points. Perhaps with Ford sidelined, Hunt takes on a bigger role, which elevates him into mid-range RB2 value entering against the Seahawks in Week 8.
15. Seattle Seahawks
Seattle handled business against the Cardinals in Week 7, with their biggest win coming against the Lions in a 38-31 overtime win back in Week 2. Beating the Panthers, Giants, and Cardinals is not overly impressive, so we’ll see how Geno Smith operates against the Browns and Ravens during the Seahawks’ next two games.
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba – We finally saw the Jaxon Smith-Njigba break out, kind of, in Week 7, leading the team with seven targets and converting those into four receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown. It’ll be interesting to see the rookie wideout’s usage when D.K. Metcalf is back on the field. The ceiling is a bit limited due to the run-centric tendencies of Seattle’s offense but Smith-Njigba could wind up finishing the season as a high-end WR2 if everything goes right.
16. Houston Texans
Demeco Ryans and C.J. Stroud have completely turned the Houston Texans’ franchise around in their first year with the franchise. Stroud is looking like OROY so far, making few mistakes and showcasing a strong arm that isn’t afraid to take shots downfield, keeping the Texans’ offense aggressive and ahead of schedule. The Texans are 2-0 in the AFC South division, beating the Jags once already, so they could wind up making a run at an AFC Wild Card berth if their play continues.
QB C.J. Stroud – Stroud is QB12 in fantasy points per game (17.1) and he’s barely been used as a ball carrier in recent games. His strong arm, along with great vision and decision-making, should make most fantasy managers comfortable plugging him in as a fringe QB1, starting with a plus-matchup against the Panthers in Week 8.
17. New York Jets
Another rollercoaster season we’ve witnessed has been with the New York Jets. Through it all, the Jets are .500 coming out of their Week 7 Bye, with renewed confidence in Zach Wilson, who has had to operate in the QB1 role during Aaron Rodgers’ rehab from an Achilles tear suffered on opening night. The defense is stout, while the health of second-year running back Breece Hall has been massive for the Jets’ ability to win games in their preferred run-centric, physical fashion.
RB Breece Hall – Hall is easily the Jets’ RB1 based on snap count and rush share, tripling Dalvin Cook and Michael Carter with his talent and youth. The Jets’ second-year running back has scored touchdowns in back-to-back games, handling 17-25 touches, while factoring in as a key piece in the passing attack. Hall is a solid RB1 rest of season and gets a fantastic matchup against a porous Giants run defense in Week 8.
18. Indianapolis Colts
Gardner Minshew has been more than serviceable for the Colts in the wake of Anthony Richardson’s season-ending shoulder surgery. He beat the Ravens on the road, while the Colts nearly came away with a win in Week 7 over the Browns, as Minshew threw for over 300 yards and recorded two rushing touchdowns in the red zone. The Colts are definitely still alive for an AFC Wild Card berth, but losing three of their last four games, two in heartbreaking fashion may be too much to overcome. Time will tell, but Jonathan Taylor’s resurgence in Week 7 looked promising.
WR Michael Pittman Jr. – Somehow, Michael Pittman Jr. only wound up with two receptions in a 39-38 game against the Browns, scoring a 75-yard touchdown late in the game. Pittman expressed frustration with his role, as Minshew has turned toward rookie wideout Joshua Downs more often, but Pittman is still WR21 in fantasy points per game (12) so he’s worth inserting into lineups as a WR2.
19. Los Angeles Rams
Another team trending in the wrong direction is the L.A. Rams, who failed to beat the Steelers at home in Week 7. The passing attack, led by veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, has recorded less than 220 passing yards in three straight games, while the running backs are a carousel of veterans in Kyren Williams’ absence due to injury. Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are legitimate weapons, while the pass defense has been the other bright spot. Suddenly, the NFC West looks wide open, so expect the Rams to bounce back, although they get a tough road game against the Cowboys in Week 8.
WR Puka Nacua – The rise of Puka Nacua has been well-documented, but he continued to dominate in Week 7, hauling in eight of 12 targets for 154 yards. Nacua is WR7 in fantasy points per game this season and that includes 4.6 points logged against the Cardinals in Week 6. He’s continuing to produce with Cooper Kupp back in the lineup, which was the big question fantasy managers asked about Nacua’s role changing. Turns out, he’s just fine, as Nacua has five games with at least 16.6 fantasy points this season, returning massive value as a late-round draft pick or waiver wire acquisition.
20. New York Giants
Tyrod Taylor has made the Giants’ offense look somewhat respectable since Daniel Jones left with a neck injury following their loss to Miami. Saquon Barkley’s return also gives the offense a boost, while the defense has been solid against the pass, allowing eight receiving touchdowns, fourth-lowest in the league. An ugly 14-7 win over the Commanders in Week 7 ended the Giants’ four-game losing slump, begging the question of whether Taylor is a more adequate fit than Jones as the quarterback in 2023 and beyond.
TE Darren Waller – The past three weeks have finally begun to return investments made on Darren Waller’s fifth-round ADP. Waller finally scored a touchdown in Week 7 against a vulnerable Washington pass defense, but more importantly, the Giants’ TE1 has recorded at least five receptions in three consecutive games, exceeding 85 yards in two of these outings. Taylor’s rapport with Waller looks good, plus Waller has been the most reliable and explosive weapon in New York’s passing attack, so expect mid-range TE1 production in most games from here on out.
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got off to a hot 3-1 start, but expectations and production have both regressed substantially in recent games. Tampa Bay has lost consecutive games to the Lions and Falcons, mustering only one touchdown during this stretch, while scoring a total of 20 points. The anemic rushing attack keeps the Bucs’ offense one-dimensional, while its defense is tasked with too much to handle.
WR Mike Evans – The wideout returning value for Tampa Bay this season has been Mike Evans, not Chris Godwin. Evans has 14.3 fantasy points per game, scoring four touchdowns in six games while earning 18 targets across the last two weeks. As long as the Bucs are chasing points, Evans should be in a position to capitalize, making him a high-end WR2 with WR1 upside as we saw him put up 26 points against Chicago in Week 2.
22. New Orleans Saints
The decision to award Derek Carr with a four-year $150 million contract this offseason may have been the wrong choice for the Saints. New Orleans still has nice weapons on its offense and a stout defense, but the lack of consistent explosive plays and a dink-and-dunk offense continues to leave the Saints stuck in mediocrity.
RB Alvin Kamara – The Saints’ star running back has only played four games due to his suspension but Kamara still leads New Orleans in fantasy points per game at 17.3. Kamara has been a check-down safety valve for Carr in most games, including Week 4, when he caught 13 receptions on 14 targets for only 33 yards. His usage and role keep Kamara at high-end RB2 value in PPR formats.
23. Los Angeles Chargers
The noise is getting louder around Justin Herbert and Brandon Staley. Something has to give with the Chargers, who could easily be 1-5 if they didn’t get bailed out by the Vikings at the end of the game in Week 3. 2-4 is not the way to start the season, although injuries have derailed aspirations for a deep playoff run in 2023.
RB Austin Ekeler – Injuries have been the predominant factor in Ekeler’s usage and availability, as the Chargers’ RB1 has only played three games this season, averaging 12.6 fantasy points per game. He didn’t look 100 percent against the Cowboys or the Chiefs, averaging 3.2 YPC or worse without any touchdowns and a sharp downtick in targets.
24. Denver Broncos
It hasn’t been quite as bad as last season, but Denver’s head coach Sean Payton hasn’t improved much either for the Broncos in 2023. Russell Wilson is actually QB14 in fantasy points per game (16.7) but he’s burdened with a bad defense and underperforming personnel on offense. The offensive line isn’t good either, but the Broncos did manage to hold on against the Packers in Week 7, improving to 2-5.
WR Courtland Sutton – The one steady presence on the field in terms of fantasy production has been wideout Courtland Sutton. He’s outperformed Jerry Jeudy, earning plenty of red zone and end zone targets, plus the rotation at running back with Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, and Jaleel McLaughlin has been largely ineffective. Sutton is WR25 in fantasy points per game (10.9) relying on touchdowns to stay WR3-relevant, but he’s proven to be the best asset in the passing attack, offering a high floor in PPR formats.
25. New England Patriots
Just when we were done with the Bill Belichick era in New England, the Patriots bounced back with a big 29-25 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 7. Mac Jones did enough to lead the Patriots to victory, after having a rough outing against the Raiders in Week 6. The defense is solid, allowing fewer than 85 rushing yards in two straight games, so if Jones and the rest of the Patriots’ offense can figure it out, the AFC East is still up for grabs entering Week 8.
WR Kendrick Bourne – We saw Bourne flash at times in 2022, but he’s elevated his consistency in 2023. Bourne is the only Patriots wideout with double-digit points per game (10.1), and while that doesn’t look like much, he’s been earning at least seven targets in four of seven games. The past two weeks have resulted in at least 13.3 fantasy points, so Bourne is a fringe WR2 with a WR4 floor on bad weeks.
26. Chicago Bears
The Bears inserted rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent and veteran running back D’Onta Foreman into their backfield in Week 7 and routed the Raiders. It was impressive stuff. The Bears’ defense has also improved, allowing 20 or fewer points in three straight games, and surrendering under 50 rushing yards in all three matchups.
RB D’Onta Foreman – The Bears’ backfield was avoided in fantasy drafts due to Justin Fields’ usage as a ball carrier. Now that Foreman is in there, showcasing his upside with three touchdowns in his first start, he may have earned a prominent role even when Khalil Herbert and Fields return. For now, treat Foreman as a mid-range RB2, as he won’t be scoring three touchdowns per week, but he could get at least one against the Chargers in Week 8.
27. Las Vegas Raiders
A bit of drama is unfolding with the Raiders and how disgruntled some of their star players have been, like wideout Davante Adams. Jimmy Garoppolo’s injury resulted in Brian Hoyer playing in Week 7, which was far from effective. Now, head coach Josh McDaniels is taking heat for his decision to play Hoyer over rookie Aidan O’Connell, while Josh Jacobs continues to be an underwhelming force out of the backfield.
WR Jakobi Meyers – Meyers has been the one constant for the Raiders’ offense, leading to a WR12 ranking in fantasy points per game (14.5) through six games played. Meyers has looked great since joining the Raiders this offseason, scoring five touchdowns and earning a 23 percent target share, only seven percent lower than Adams. Meyers is a must-start WR2 moving forward.
28. Washington Commanders
The Commanders might have three wins, but beating the Cardinals, Broncos, and the Falcons isn’t exactly a gauntlet of opponents. Atlanta threw three interceptions to allow the Commanders to pull off the upset on the road, but quarterback Sam Howell is on pace to get sacked the most in NFL history. The offensive line is horrible and the rushing attack has gone cold, falling below 80 total rushing yards in three straight games. The defense is another glaring weakness to address, surrendering over 250 passing yards in four straight games.
RB Brian Robinson Jr. – The share between Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson is growing smaller again after Robinson began with a sizable lead in touches. Week 7 saw Robinson play 49 percent of snaps, while Gibson played 37 percent of snaps, with Chris Rodriguez also poaching 37 percent of the rushing share. This left only a 2.8 percent target share for Robinson, who would’ve busted in lineups big time in Weeks 6 and 7 if not for touchdowns in the red zone. Robinson is quickly losing his consistency and overall value and could be considered a bench stash if this trend continues into Week 8 against the stout Eagles run defense.
29. Tennessee Titans
The Titans feel like the most under-discussed team in 2023. DeAndre Hopkins signing there this offseason looked great for one game, but it’s been largely an underwhelming offense behind one of the league’s worst offensive lines. Ryan Tannehill has not looked great, while Derrick Henry has sporadically provided value in random bursts. 2-4 in the AFC South still means Tennessee can compete, but their willingness to trade safety Kevin Byard to Philadelphia indicates that this may be a tank job in 2023.
RB Derrick Henry – Henry was off in Week 7 due to Bye but he’s looked good in spots, averaging 8.8 YPC against Baltimore, while scoring his third rushing touchdown of the season. Rookie Tyjae Spears has been a nice X-factor as the Titans’ RB2, concerning some fantasy managers during his spike week, but Henry will continue feasting on 12-25 carries per week, depending on the game script. He’s a fringe RB1 with a relatively low floor when he doesn’t score or rip off chunk runs.
30. Green Bay Packers
It’s been ugly in Green Bay without Aaron Rodgers. Jordan Love’s hot start against one of the league’s worst defenses has quickly been forgotten, as the fourth-year signal-caller has struggled with turnovers and accuracy. Hamstring injuries to Aaron Jones and Christian Watson, who are the Packers’ top two offensive weapons, do not help, but head coach Matt LaFleur needs to figure it out quickly with a tough divisional matchup against the Vikings in Week 8.
RB A.J. Dillon – It hasn’t been pretty, but A.J. Dillon is handling 15-20 carries in each of the past two games for the Packers, leading to 13.6 and 10.5 fantasy points respectively. Dillon is averaging under 4.2 YPC during this stretch but at least he’s getting volume, which reigns supreme in fantasy, making him a low-end RB2 with high-end RB2 upside.
31. Arizona Cardinals
1-6 is a bad record, but somehow, the Cardinals make it look operational. Joshua Dobbs has filled in nicely during Kyler Murray’s rehab, as the franchise quarterback nears his return to action. Until then, expect more physicality from Arizona’s offense and defense, with some rising young talent like Michael Wilson, Rondale Moore, and Trey McBride in the fold.
WR Marquise Brown – The Cardinals’ WR1, Marquise Brown is averaging just 10.7 points per game, coming away with only four receptions in three consecutive games, despite earning seven to ten targets during this stretch. Brown had four straight weeks of 13-14 points per game, but he’s fallen to 5.4 and 6.4 in his last two due to no touchdowns. Relying on touchdowns is a dangerous game in fantasy, but the volume is intact, Brown just needs to find ways to catch more passes and turn them into big gains. He’s a WR3 (WR27) in fantasy points per game and that’s reflective of his value moving forward, with WR2 upside when he scores.
32. Carolina Panthers
It’s been about as bad as advertised when it comes to Carolina playing football this year. For now, it looks like the decision to take Bryce Young No. 1 overall over C.J. Stroud was a mistake, while key injuries have also further complicated the outlook of the Panthers’ 2023 season. To their credit, Carolina has played a couple of games hard and lost by either one possession or taken an early lead, it’s just the lack of run defense that keeps them behind schedule. The offense has yet to score 30 points this season.
WR Adam Thielen – To finish on a positive note, Adam Thielen once again continues to churn out production as the target hog in the Panthers’ offense. Thielen has 17 points per game this season, making him the WR6 in fantasy points per game, above Puka Nacua, Ja’Marr Chase, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Thielen was a late-round draft pick who was likely dropped to waivers after a quiet outing in Week 1, but he’s rattled off five straight games with 16 – 26 fantasy points. Week 8 will see the Panthers host the Texans, who rank as the fifth-toughest wide receiver matchup in fantasy, but Thielen needs to stay locked into lineups as a low-end WR1.
