Our panel of NFL Insiders predicts Week 8's biggest upsets, fantasy flops and potential sleepers.
Plus: Hypothetical trades to improve teams, what the Jacksonville Jaguars should do at quarterback for the rest of the season and ranking Adam Thielen among the league's top wide receivers.
What's your top upset pick for Week 8?
Matt Bowen, NFL writer: Panthers +1.5 over Ravens. Carolina enters Week 8 as home dogs versus Baltimore, but I like the Panthers here if they can feature Christian McCaffrey in critical game situations. Think scripted matchups in the passing game with Norv Turner's read schemes mixed in, forcing opposing defenses to account for Cam Newton as a runner. But the Panthers will have to win third downs and cash in on red zone opportunities to beat the Ravens' top-tier defense.
Mike Clay, NFL writer: Saints +1 over Vikings. Despite the road trip, I like the Saints here after winning five in a row. The offense is one of the best in the league with Drew Brees under center, and a very talented defense is back on track after a pair of early-season shootouts with Tampa Bay and Atlanta.
Mike Sando, NFL senior writer: Seahawks +3 over Lions. Seattle is relatively healthy, currently playing well, coming off a bye and good enough against the run to make the Lions a little more one-dimensional.
Kevin Seifert, NFL national writer: Jaguars +3 over Eagles. I'm going with London Blake Bortles. In his past three games across the pond, the Jaguars quarterback has thrown eight touchdown passes against one interception and led his team to an average of 36 points per game. The Jaguars have won all three games. Bortles hit a career low point last week when coach Doug Marrone benched him, but his institutional knowledge of international play will provide a reset.
Field Yates, NFL analyst: Saints +1 over Vikings. In what should be a terrific rematch of last season's thrilling postseason game, the Saints can exact a bit of revenge in Minnesota. While the Vikings have found major offensive mojo this year, the Saints have arguably the most balanced offensive attack in the league and a defense capable of disrupting against a shaky offensive line.
Devise a realistic trade to help a team before next week's deadline.
Bowen: Titans trade RB Derrick Henry to the Eagles for a late-round pick. Henry hasn't looked like a fit all season in Tennessee's new offensive system under coordinator Matt LaFleur. In Philadelphia, Henry could fill the role that LeGarrette Blount played during the Eagles' Super Bowl run. He's the downhill hammer, a back who can push the ball between the tackles to boost the short-yardage run game, while also complementing the skill sets of Corey Clement and Wendell Smallwood in Doug Pederson's offense.
Clay: Raiders trade S Karl Joseph and CB Gareon Conley to the Eagles for 2019 third- and sixth-round picks. Neither defensive back appears to be in the rebuilding Raiders' plans. Conley, a 2017 first-round pick, has been benched in favor of Daryl Worley, Leon Hall and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Joseph, a 2016 first-rounder, is battling a hamstring injury, but had played only 11 snaps during Weeks 1-3. The Eagles have a major need at DB (short and long term) with Rodney McLeod out for the season, Sidney Jones and Corey Graham injured and Jalen Mills struggling.
Sando: Cardinals trade CB Patrick Peterson to the Vikings for CB Trae Waynes and 2019 first- and third-round picks. Additionally, Arizona would agree to keep Sam Bradford on its roster so that Minnesota will be eligible for a 2019 third-round comp pick that would otherwise vanish. Wait, you said realistic? Arizona's owner and head coach have emphatically said Peterson will not be traded. But I think something along these lines would be interesting with Peterson asking for a trade, Waynes unsigned beyond 2019, Arizona possibly rebuilding and Minnesota trying to win a Super Bowl after losing cornerback Mike Hughes to a torn ACL. The Vikings might want more back from Arizona, and maybe a late-round pick would help them complete the deal.
Seifert: Saints trade QB Teddy Bridgewater to the Jaguars for a 2019 second-round pick. As they push toward a deep playoff run, the Saints might not want to give up the insurance Bridgewater provides. But they obviously have a level of confidence in Taysom Hill, given how much he plays, and they should be tempted by the possibility of recapturing and upgrading the third-round pick they originally gave up for Bridgewater. The Jaguars, meanwhile, should know by now that they should move on from Blake Bortles, and Bridgewater is the perfect short-term fix with long-term potential.
Yates: Dolphins trade WR DeVante Parker to the Redskins for a 2020 sixth-round pick. The Dolphins shouldn't to be picky if they elect to deal Parker, who has landed in coach Adam Gase's doghouse. The Redskins are fine at wide receiver when healthy, but they've been ravaged by injuries on offense this season and can pay a minimal price to roll the dice on Parker. The Redskins ship a 2020 sixth-rounder because they have no 2019 sixth-round pick in their stable.
Who's your pick to be the biggest fantasy flop this weekend?
Bowen: Demaryius Thomas, WR, Broncos. The Denver wide receiver has topped the 100-yard mark only once this season and was held to just 24 yards on four receptions in the Broncos' previous matchup with the Chiefs back in Week 4. With the expectation that Denver leans on the run game vs. K.C. to control tempo, while also keeping the ball out of Patrick Mahomes' hands, Thomas could see limited target volume on Sunday at Arrowhead.
Jeff Saturday explains why Adam Thielen is performing so well and believes he is the top receiver in the NFL.
Clay: Tyler Lockett, WR, Seahawks. Lockett entered Seattle's Week 7 bye as the No. 19 wide receiver in fantasy scoring, but he has benefited from an unsustainable scoring rate that includes three catches on three end zone targets and only one additional target while inside the opponent's 10-yard line. Lockett is also the Seahawks' No. 1 perimeter receiver (with Doug Baldwin in the slot), which means he's a strong candidate for Darius Slay shadow coverage this week.
Sando: Kerryon Johnson, RB, Lions. After rushing for 158 yards against the Dolphins, he'll face a Seattle defense that has been strong against the run and could be welcoming back Pro Bowler K.J. Wright. The Lions might need to win this one more through the air.
Seifert: Isaiah Crowell, RB, Jets. Crowell's foot injury slowed him last week against the Vikings, and this week he'll face the Bears' even-tougher rush defense. The Bears have yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season and are limiting opposing runners to 3.9 yards per carry, which ranks sixth in the NFL.
Yates: Josh Gordon, WR, Patriots. I'm not saying that Gordon shouldn't be started, but keep expectations in check in this matchup against the Bills. Buffalo has allowed just one player to surpass 100 receiving yards all season, surrendering 105 yards to Adam Thielen on 14 catches (7.5-yard average). Cornerback Tre'Davious White is one of the best in the business and could shadow Gordon.
What is the Jacksonville Jaguars' best quarterback option to win this season?
Bowen: Stick with Bortles. Giving Jon Gruden a call and floating an offer for Derek Carr could be an option given the recent moves out in Oakland, but I think the Jags ultimately stay with Bortles and try to go back to the script from the 2017 season. Pairing Carlos Hyde with Leonard Fournette once the Jaguars' No. 1 back returns from injury will allow Jacksonville to create high-percentage passing opportunities off a strengthened run game. It isn't flashy, but it also allows the Jags the ability to win with a controlled offensive tempo and cover up the negatives in Bortles' game. It would also require the Jacksonville defense to elevate its game once again.
Clay: Trade. The Browns should be interested in moving Tyrod Taylor, and they figure to be open for business after already trading lead back Hyde (to the Jaguars) and having fallen to 2-4-1. Taylor struggled early this season, but he'd be a natural fit for a Jags offense that seemingly wants to get back to running the ball. Taylor adds value with his legs and is elite in terms of avoiding turnovers, which would keep the game in the hands of the Jaguars' loaded defense. Trading a late pick for Robert Griffin or perhaps Nick Foles could also make sense.
Sando: Trade. I've gone back and forth on this one before concluding it's probably time to make a change. It feels like this locker room is on the brink, and a few more interceptions from Bortles could send the team over the edge. Trading for a veteran like Taylor or Bridgewater would give the Jaguars a chance to change up the dynamics in a positive way. It looks like their offense can no longer prop up Bortles or mask his deficiencies.
Seifert: Trade. It obviously depends on who the Jaguars can get, as quarterback is a tough position to jump into during a season. But if they can acquire a player like Bridgewater, who already has had to learn one new playbook this season after his late-summer trade from the Jets to the Saints, they have a chance at least to stabilize the position. Staying with Bortles is only asking for more of the same.
Yates: Stick with Bortles. This isn't a particularly inspired choice, but it's hard to envision a trade target who would significantly upgrade the position (and our own Adam Schefter has reported the Jaguars don't plan to trade for a quarterback to compete with Bortles). Ultimately, the way this team gets back on track is reverting to its 2017 form of dominating on the ground and playing the best defense in the NFL.
Pick a fringe fantasy player who should be started in Week 8.
Bowen: Vance McDonald, TE, Steelers. McDonald caught seven of eight targets for 68 yards in the Week 6 win over the Bengals, and he's averaging 10.7 yards after the catch this season. With a Week 8 matchup against a Browns defense that will lean on some two-deep zone coverage, McDonald should have opportunities to work the middle of the field. I'd give him a look as a low-tier TE1 in deeper leagues.
Clay: Keelan Cole, WR, Jaguars. Opposing offenses have game planned to barrage Eagles perimeter corners Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby with targets as often as possible this season, and it has worked. Each opposing No. 1 perimeter receiver the Eagles have faced has cleared 10 fantasy points, and five reached 18 points. Cole has aligned on the perimeter for 76 percent of his pass routes this season and will thus see plenty of the duo this week. Donte Moncrief (96 percent perimeter) also stands to benefit.
Sando: Mike Davis, RB, Seahawks. Davis has been productive while splitting time with Chris Carson and will presumably continue to get opportunities against a Lions defense that has had some issues against the run. Seattle is very much committed to a physical ground game, and Davis has been an important part of that.
Seifert: Chris Carson, RB, Seahawks. Carson, like Davis, should have plenty of chances to be explosive against the Lions' defense, which is allowing 5.3 yards per rush, tied for worst in the league.
Yates: Duke Johnson Jr., RB, Browns. I expect the Browns to have to throw the football a ton in a matchup against the high-powered Steelers. Johnson saw four targets in Week 7 in a game against the Buccaneers, but I expect him to be even busier on Sunday.
Adam Thielen has been unreal this season. Where does he rank among the NFL's best wide receivers right now?
Bowen: Third. Antonio Brown is still the No. 1 for me, and that's not going to change. But Thielen has to be mentioned as a top-five guy given his numbers this season. That's why I would put the Vikings' wide receiver at No. 3 behind DeAndre Hopkins.
Clay: Sixth. Though it may seem odd to place him ahead of, or alongside, the league's superstars, the fact is Thielen has been playing elite ball for two and a half years now. He's seeing a similar target share to players like Julio Jones, Brown, Hopkins and Odell Beckham Jr., and yet his production and efficiency have been much better and more consistent this season. I'll dock him slightly for the edge he gets from working from the slot so often and rank him sixth, but there's a case to be made that he's currently the best receiver in the league.
Sando: Seventh. Well, seventh and gaining. Thielen is the most productive receiver in the league right now, so if you want to say he's No. 1 right now, I'm not going to protest too loudly. But as Mike Clay alluded to, Thielen is 10th in receiving yards when aligned on the perimeter, where Jones, Mike Evans, Hopkins and Beckham fill the top four spots. I think it's a stretch to say opponents would rather face Jones, A.J. Green, Brown, Hopkins, Evans or Beckham, but we have to put Thielen on the cusp of that group.
Seifert: First. Simply put, he is the best at the moment. This is a production business, and no one has more than his 67 receptions or his 822 yards. He clearly knows how to get open, even against defenses that are fully aware of him, as his league-high 89 targets indicate. He is making those targets count, having converted more first downs (43) than any other receiver. And his streak of seven consecutive 100-yard games speaks to his consistency. Other observers might have a different personal preference, but the objective facts here point to Thielen.
Yates: Second. And that's at worst right now. I'd take Brown and his masterful skill set over him, but Thielen's production is simply unmatched right now. In terms of overall body of work, I would select others, including Jones, ahead of Thielen. But right now, Thielen is No. 2 in my book. He's without a hole in his game.