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.
Texans @ Jets
Jonah (54-38): Texans
Griffin (51-41): Texans
Joe (57-35): Texans
Commanders @ Giants
Jonah: Commanders
Griffin: Commanders
Joe: Commanders
Broncos @ Ravens
Jonah: Ravens
Griffin: Ravens
Joe: Ravens
Raiders @ Bengals
Jonah: Bengals
Griffin: Bengals
Joe: Bengals
Pats @ Titans
Jonah: Patriots
Griffin: Patriots
Joe: Patriots
Saints @ Panthers
Jonah: Saints
Griffin: Saints
Joe: Panthers
Cowboys @ Falcons
Jonah: Cowboys
Griffin: Falcons
Joe: Falcons
Dolphins @ Bills
Jonah: Bills
Griffin: Bills
Joe: Bills
Chargers @ Browns
Jonah: Browns
Griffin: Browns
Joe: Chargers
Jaguars @ Eagles
Jonah: Eagles
Griffin: Eagles
Joe: Eagles
Bears @ Cardinals
Jonah: Cardinals
Griffin: Bears
Joe: Bears
Rams @ Seahawks
Jonah: Rams
Griffin: Seahawks
Joe: Seahawks
Lions @ Packers
Jonah: Lions
Griffin: Lions
Joe: Lions
Colts @ Vikings
Jonah: Vikings
Griffin: Vikings
Joe: Vikings
** Buccaneers @ Chiefs **
Jonah: Chiefs
Griffin: Chiefs
Joe: Chiefs
Fantasy Football:
Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em:
QB
Jonah: Jayden Daniels (Start) – Jayden Daniels seems to be unstoppable — I mean who completes a hail mary in the modern era? I would look for him to continue rolling against a Giants defense that has given up 26+ points in each of the past two weeks.
Griffin: Jared Goff (Start) – The Lions are the best team in the league, plain and simple. Goff has seemingly unlimited weapons at his disposal, and he is more accurate than Deadshot.
Joe: Jameis Winston (Sit) – Winston was prolific last week in his first start since 2022. His “unwavering faith” will need to carry over in a match against a top ten Chargers pass defense. He could go off again, but I think a regression to the mean is more likely.
RB
Jonah: De’von Achane (Start) – Seeing as Tua has now returned, I would look for Achane’s production to continue trending in an upwards direction. It will be a massive help for him to have a competent quarterback at the helm, as that will hopefully force defenses to stop selling out against the run and stacking eight or more defenders in the box every snap.
Griffin: Saquon Barkley (Start) – I struggle to believe that the Jacksonville Jaguars will muster enough strength defensively to stop the freight train that is Saquon Barkley. Jaguars fans are in for another week of pain.
Joe: Aaron Jones (Start) – After a two-game skid, the Vikings should get back on track against the Colts. Jones will be running behind newly-acquired LT Cam Robinson for a Minnesota squad that is surely motivated by the uncalled facemask that lost them last week’s game.
WR
Jonah: A.J. Brown (Start) – Since returning from injury, Brown has simply looked fantastic, recording three straight games with 80+ receiving yards to go along with two touchdown catches in that same span. I would look for him to continue his high level of production against a Jaguars’ secondary that has been absolutely reeling as of late.
Griffin: Tyler Lockett (Sit) – Lockett struggled to fill the shoes of DK Metcalf on Sunday. With Mike Mcdonald optimistic about DK’s return, it can be expected that Lockett will see a reduced role against the Rams.
Joe: Xavier Legette (Start) – If you’re thin at WR, give Legette a shot. He had a breakout game last week despite a poor overall offensive performance from Carolina. With Diontae Johnson out of the picture, Legette figures to be Carolina’s WR1 going forward.
TE
Jonah: Kyle Pitts (Sit) – I genuinely have no rationale for this pick other than the fact that he had a career game last week. If my many years of defending Kyle Pitts has taught me anything, it’s that there’s absolutely no way he has back-to-back massive weeks.
Griffin: All TE’s (Sit) – I have given up. The tight-end position has been a disaster all year. Don’t be fooled by the success of National Tight Ends Day, they still can’t be trusted.
Joe: Tucker Kraft (Start) – Kraft has impressed in 2024, and is poised to continue his strong play in a NFC North grudge match that should be a shootout (the Lions are ranked #27 in pass defense). He’s a little touchdown dependent, but a good option nonetheless as his rapport with Jordan Love continues to build.
DEF
Jonah: Jets (Sit) – Last week’s loss to the Patriots seems like it will be one of those tough, demoralizing defeats that has the potential to fester and linger with a team for a while. I wouldn’t be too surprised if the Jets enter total freefall over the next couple of weeks, especially considering they are slated to square off against an extremely high-powered and aggressive Texans offense this coming Thursday.
Joe: Broncos (Sit) – The Broncos’ resurgence has been an underlooked storyline this season, but I’m not fully convinced. Their Week 9 date with the Ravens is easily their biggest test yet, and one I don’t see them passing. The Ravens have the best rushing attack in the league by a mile, averaging 200 yards per game on the ground.
Griffin: Broncos (Start) – I disagree with Joe. Look for Pat Surtain to blanket either Zay Flowers or Diontae Johnson. The Broncos defense will lead Bo Nix and the offense into the promised land.
