Introducing 4th and Inches, the Ram Sports Editors’ weekly guide for all things NFL. Like an offensive coordinator facing fourth-and-short, picking between winners and losers, or starts and sits, can feel like an impossible choice. Don’t know who to pick? Let us decide for you.
Week 8 Picks:
Games with an asterisk beside them represent our locks of the week.
Vikings @ Rams
Jonah (42-33): Vikings
Griffin (41-35): Vikings
Joe (46-30): Vikings
Ravens @ Browns
Jonah: Ravens
Griffin: Ravens
Joe: Ravens
Colts @ Texans
Jonah: Texans
Griffin: Texans
Joe: Texans
Packers @ Jaguars
Jonah: Packers
Griffin: Packers
Joe: Packers
Titans @ Lions
Jonah: Lions
Griffin: Lions
Joe: Lions
Falcons @ Buccaneers
Jonah: Falcons
Griffin: Falcons
Joe: Buccaneers
Jets @ Patriots
Jonah: Jets
Griffin: Jets
Joe: Jets
Cardinals @ Dolphins
Jonah: Cardinals
Griffin: Cardinals
Joe: Cardinals
Eagles @ Bengals
Jonah: Bengals
Griffin: Bengals
Joe: Bengals
Saints @ Chargers
Jonah: Chargers
Griffin: Chargers
Joe: Chargers
Bills @ Seahawks
Jonah: Bills
Griffin: Seahawks
Joe: Bills
Bears @ Commanders
Jonah: Bears
Griffin: Commanders
Joe: Commanders
Chiefs @ Raiders
Jonah: Chiefs
Griffin: Chiefs
Joe: Chiefs
Panthers @ Broncos
Jonah:Broncos
Griffin: Broncos
Joe: Broncos
Cowboys @ 49ers
Jonah: 49ers
Griffin: Cowboys
Joe: 49ers
Giants @ Steelers
Jonah: Steelers
Griffin: Steelers
Joe: Steelers
Fantasy Football:
Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em:
QB
Jonah: Baker Mayfield (Sit) – As well as Baker has been playing as of late, I find it hard to believe that he will keep up his current level of production following significant injuries to his top two receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Fade him in the near future (at least until Evans returns in Week 11).
Griffin: Andy Dalton (Sit) – Despite Dalton’s experience in the league, Pat Surtain II is on track to be the defensive player of the year. When you mix that with the Panthers’ lack of receiving threats, it is a clear-cut sit.
Joe: Drake Maye (Sit) – The Patriots’ rookie quarterback passes the eye test. His downfield accuracy and physicality make him fantasy-relevant, even with a poor supporting cast. That said, with the Patriots’ locker room in turmoil, wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk struggling, and a matchup against a sturdy Jets pass defense, Maye is better suited for the bench in week eight.
RB
Jonah: Chase Brown (Start) – Although Brown has had a rather small carry share throughout the season thus far, he has been increasingly more and more involved in the Bengals’ offense with each passing week. Expect him to have an especially large role this coming week as the Bengals will likely have to find weapons besides Chase and Higgins to step up against the Eagles.
Griffin: Aaron Jones (Start) – Coming off of a big week in the Vikings’ loss to the Lions, Jones will look to continue his momentum against a Rams defense that has yet to find a solution to Aaron Donald’s retirement.
Joe: Jahmyr Gibbs (Start) – Gibbs is a must-start even when splitting reps with David Montgomery, but the reigning RB1 has a chance to repeat with Montgomery banged up. Expect Montgomery to play, but for Gibbs to get the bulk of the work until the former is fully healthy.
WR
Jonah: Tee Higgins (Start): After returning from injury, Higgins has looked like a borderline WR 1, going for 70+ yards in each of his past three games. Against a rather weak Eagles secondary that will already have their hands full with Chase, Higgins should continue his recent run of dominance.
Griffin: DK Metcalf (Start): Metcalf is second in the league in receiving yards so far this season. He has established himself as Geno’s favorite target, and readers can expect him to get a lot of looks against an average Bills Defense, assuming that he is able to suit up following a low-grade MCL sprain last week.
Joe: Xavier Worthy (Start) – Despite his explosiveness, Worthy has largely underwhelmed in fantasy. That is chiefly due to his lack of touches. When he has had the ball, he has looked electric. Worthy should get a healthy dose of touches, though, in the absence of virtually the entire Chief’s WR room. There is simply no other place for Patrick Mahomes to turn.
TE
Jonah: Mike Gesicki (Sit) – Gesicki has gotten next to no looks over the past few weeks, so going against an Eagles defense that has been the second best when it comes to limiting tight end production probably won’t help him. If you have Gesicki, then do yourself a favor and sit him.
Joe: Mark Andrews (Sit) – Three weeks ago, Andrews was the single-greatest disappointment of the fantasy season. He’s looked like his old self, however, since then, going for two touchdowns in week seven. Here’s the caveat: he’s been entirely touchdown dependent. Andrews continues to get five targets at most, a number that is simply too low to trust.
Griffin: Mark Andrews (Start) – I disagree wholeheartedly with Joe. Andrews struggled early because Lamar would not look his way on offense. Now that he has picked up momentum, I would expect his production to continue at a steady pace.
DEF
Joe: Ravens (Start) – The Ravens are set to feast against no other than Bailey Zappe in week eight after Deshaun Watson tore his achilles last Sunday. That is, assuming Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jameis Winston continue to sit with injuries of their own. Don’t listen to delusional Patriots fans — Zappe, who was just this week signed off the Chiefs’ practice squad, is not the answer to the Browns’ woes.
Jonah: Ravens (Start) – I agree with Joe… Following an “unfortunate” injury to Deshaun Watson, the Browns’ quarterback room seems to be clouded in confusion — nobody has an idea who will start amongst Dorian Thompson Robinson, Jameis Winston, and Bailey Zappe. It’s never great when you don’t know who your guy is, so going with an always-stout Ravens defense seems like the logical move.
Griffin: Ravens (Start) – They kind of said it all, but yeah, the Browns offense is absolutely sautéed. Gimme the Ravens D to put up 25 points.
