Bowen's Week 8 Film Room: 3 players to upgrade, 3 question marks, and 3 to monitor

Throughout the NFL regular season, we'll meet here on Thursdays to break down the film from a fantasy football perspective. I'm looking for trends and tendencies on both side of the ball to give fantasy managers a jump when they set their weekly lineups. Schemes matter. So does offensive deployment in weekly matchups. And remember, the game tape always tells us a story.

As we head into Week 8, let's start with a wide receiver who is producing explosive plays as an isolation target on the boundary. I'm also looking at a veteran quarterback primed to attack zone coverage and a rookie pass-catcher who is emerging in one the NFL's best offensive systems. Plus, we'll highlight our usual players with question marks heading into the weekend, as well as potential fantasy targets to monitor.

All references to fantasy scoring are for PPR leagues unless otherwise noted.

Week 8 upgrades

George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Over his past two games, Pickens has had seven explosive-play receptions (20 yards or more). He's used in boundary X alignments to win the one-on-ones, schemed concepts, plus some inside alignments to attack zone coverage. And we know Pickens can get loose underneath in the quick game on three-step throws, like slant routes. Pickens dropped 26.6 points on the Ravens in Week 5, then recorded 15.7 points this past Sunday in the win over the Rams. The volume is there, too, as Pickens saw eight targets versus Los Angeles, and that was with Diontae Johnson back on the field for Pittsburgh. I like Pickens this week as a WR2/flex against a Jags defense allowing 36.9 PPG to wide receivers.

Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions

Goff posted a season-low 9.4 points in the Week 7 loss to the Ravens, failing to throw a touchdown for the first time all season. It was a bad matchup in a game where Detroit couldn't control the offensive tempo. However, with a home game versus the Raiders this Sunday, I'm moving Goff up in the rankings. Against the zone-heavy Vegas scheme, look for the Lions to have answers for Goff on play-action throws. In-breaking concepts here, plus shot plays. Use scheme to open up the voids in the coverage. This season, Goff has completed 77.8% of his play-action throws versus zone coverage and he'll have opportunities on Sunday to pepper the middle of the field. You can start Goff as a lower-tier QB1 this week.

Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Rice's deployment and his recent production pushes him up in my ranks this week versus the Broncos. He has posted double-digit points in each of his past three games, with a touchdown grab in two of them. The Chiefs are scheming touches for Rice on WR screens, with Mahomes also targeting the rookie on high-low concepts. Back in Week 4, against this same Broncos defense, Rice caught all four of his targets for 72 yards and a touchdown. He's quickly emerged as a secondary target for Patrick Mahomes, and he has the catch-and-run traits to put up numbers for your lineup. Rice is a good fit as a WR3 in deeper leagues this week.

Players I have questions about in Week 8

Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers

Jones (hamstring) returned to the field in Week 7, posting 8.7 points on 11 touches in the loss to the Broncos. The volume needs to jump here, as does the snap count. And we need to trust Matt LaFleur's ability to create some rhythm for a Green Bay offense that looks disjointed on tape. Jones will still be in my lineup this week as a mid-to-low-tier RB2, but I can't help but question the upside, despite his dual-threat ability out of the backfield. With a Week 8 matchup versus the pressure-heavy Vikings defense, I would manage your expectations a bit here.

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Tennessee Titans

Hopkins has totaled double-digit points in only three of six games this season, with 10 or more targets in just two. Ryan Tannehill (ankle) is out this week, and the Titans are giving the ball to rookie Will Levis, who will make his first pro start against the Falcons. That's a tough spot for Levis, given the Falcons' defensive structure. A lot of late movement here, simulated pressures and more. They will change the picture post-snap and make Levis read it out. You can still start Hopkins, but let's drop him down as a lower-tier flex, as Atlanta also ranks in the top 10 versus opposing wide receivers.

Marquise Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals

Brown's production has been on the decline over the past two weeks, and the matchup against the Ravens this Sunday does create some concern. That's a brutal defense to prep for given their ability to heat up the quarterback. Remember, from Weeks 2 through 5, Brown had at least 16 fantasy points in each game, with a touchdown catch in three of four. Over his past two games, however, Brown has caught just seven of 18 targets. The target volume and his explosive-play ability will keep Brown in the flex range this week, but I would find a better option for the WR2 slot in your lineup.

Players to monitor in Week 8

Jalin Hyatt, WR, New York Giants

Hyatt caught two passes for 75 yards in the Week 7 win over Washington, and he's seen a total of nine targets in his past two games. He's a burner with straight-line juice. Let's see if Hyatt continues to log volume in a tough matchup against the Jets' defense on Sunday. There could be some potential here for the rookie in deeper, non-PPR leagues during the second half of the season.

Cam Akers, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Akers paced the Vikings' backfield in the Monday night win over the 49ers, gaining 61 total yards on 12 touches, compared to Alexander Mattison's 10 touches. We saw the short-area burst, plus the ability to finish. Let's monitor the touches for the Vikings' backs this week, as this could turn into a committee approach quickly in Minnesota.