Fantasy Football Numbers to Know: Week 8

Data plays a massive role in fantasy football. Especially for massive dorks like me who analyze this silly game every single day. And with all of the incredible data we have available at FTN Fantasy, it makes sense to utilize that information to help with fantasy football decisions.

So every Friday, I’ll run through some of my favorite stats for the week, helping you identify some of the best matchups in fantasy football. Be sure to check out the incredible FTN Fantasy StatsHub for a deep dive of all of our in-depth analytics.

Numbers to Know for Fantasy Football Week 8

6 of Jameis Winston’s 11 Pass Attempts Last Week Were into Tight Windows

CANTON, OH - AUGUST 03: Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman (89) looks to run after making a catch during the first quarter of the National Football League Hall of Fame preseason game between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns on August 3, 2023, at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire) — CANTON, OH – AUGUST 03: Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman (89) looks to run after making a catch during the first quarter of the National Football League Hall of Fame preseason game between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns on August 3, 2023, at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

I highlighted this in my WR/CB matchup column, but I really think it bears repeating, especially if Winston continues to start at quarterback for the Browns. Winston has always been an aggressive quarterback who gives his pass-catchers chances to make plays, which we love for fantasy. On just 12 dropbacks and 11 attempts in relief Sunday, Winston threw six passes into tight coverage. And back in 2021, the last time he really played meaningful snaps in a season, over 32% of his passes were into tight windows. This all bodes well for David Njoku, Cedric Tillman and Jerry Jeudy going forward. Jeudy saw four targets from Winston, while Njoku saw three (two end zone targets) and Tillman two, both deep down the field. And in the team’s first game without Amari Cooper, Tillman logged 82% of the snaps and ran a route on over 82% of dropbacks. Cleveland’s passing attack finally has some momentum heading into a favorable Week 8 matchup with the Ravens.

Jordan Love Has a 6.8% Passing Touchdown Rate Against Cover-1 This Season

That’s good for the fifth-highest rate among qualified signal callers, but it isn’t too surprising given how many touchdowns Love is throwing this season. He has multiple touchdown passes in every game this season and ranks third among quarterbacks in fantasy points per game (22.2). Love is averaging nearly four end zone passes per game and now gets a Jacksonville defense that is allowing the most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. They have also coughed up multiple touchdown passes in five straight games, and the Jaguars have faced the third-most pass attempts while in Cover-1 this season. It can be tough to project the Green Bay wide receivers, but the constant is Love, who should have a huge game Sunday.

The Eagles Are Allowing the 5th-Highest Explosive Rush Rate out of the Shotgun (16.4%)

CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 10: Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) carries the ball during the preseason game against the against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Cincinnati Bengals on August 10, 2024, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire) — CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 10: Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) carries the ball during the preseason game against the against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Cincinnati Bengals on August 10, 2024, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire)

This Philadelphia run defense is far from the unit it once was, which makes Chase Brown pretty interesting this week. He continues to take over the Cincinnati backfield, handling over 70% of the Bengals rush attempts last week, a season-high. We know Cincinnati’s offense primarily operates from the shotgun, and 56% of Brown’s rush attempts this season have come out of that formation, one of the higher rates in the league. The Eagles, meanwhile, are coughing up the sixth-most yards per carry against shotgun runs (5.4), as well as the fifth-highest explosive rush rate (16.4%). That could bode well for Brown, who ranks second among qualified running backs in explosive rush rate on the year (18.2%).

Joe Mixon Is Averaging 26.8 PPR PPG in 3 Full Games This Year

Mixon has been unbelievable when healthy this season, absolutely dominating the work for Houston. In his three full games, Mixon is averaging a whopping 25 touches and 26.8 fantasy points per game, while handling 67.3% of the overall rushing attempts. He also has six goal line carries in those three contests, as the Texans and Bobby Slowik continue to run the football quite a bit, especially on early downs. Mixon’s fantasy finishes during those aforementioned three games? RB2, RB2, RB4. Mixon has top-five overall upside for the time being.

The Saints Are Allowing 3.4 Yards Before Contact Per Attempt Since Week 3

New Orleans has suddenly become the worst run defense in football. They can’t tackle, their defensive line is getting pushed back and now they have to face a smashmouth, run-heavy Chargers offense. Since Week 3, the Saints are surrendering the most yards before contact per attempt (3.4), most overall yards per carry (6.0), fourth-most yards after contact per attempt (2.7) and the highest rushing success rate (54.4%). We saw what the Tampa Bay backfield did to this defense back in Week 6 and then Javonte Williams put together a career day against the Saints last Thursday. J.K. Dobbins could flirt with his performances from Weeks 1 and 2 this weekend.