The RotoWire Blog has been retired.

These archives exist as a way for people to continue to view the content that had been posted on the blog over the years.

Articles will no longer be posted here, but you can view new fantasy articles from our writers on the main site.

Week 8 Observations

Finally a decent week of football for me. Pending Monday night, I'm 10-4 against the spread, Daniel Jones looked like a future star for the Giants and I won both my NFFC league matchups. The only negative was I made the Jets my best bet, but file that under getting what I deserved. What kind of human being makes the Jets his best bet?

Aaron Jones looked like peak Marshall Faulk Sunday night -- he could have had another TD had he not stepped out of bounds at the 10 on a long pass too. It's amazing Mike McCarthy refused to commit to him for so long. Jamaal Williams scored two TDs of his own -- he's the perfect backup -- tough, physical and reliable. That the backs scored all four TDs shows how little the Packers have at wide receiver or tight end with Davante Adams still out.

Aaron Rodgers is still at the top of his game. His throw to Williams at the back of the end zone while under pressure was beyond belief. If the Packers get Adams healthy and land one more receiver at the deadline, they might win the Super Bowl.

Too bad we couldn't see Rodgers (with receivers) vs. Patrick Mahomes. It would have been Rodgers 1.0 vs. Rodgers 2.0.

The Browns had a shot against the Patriots, but you can't lose two fumbles and have one returned for a touchdown. And the non-pass-interference calls were as egregious as any since the NFC title game.

The Patriots are on pace to be the best fantasy defense of all time. Nick Chubb, besides the fumbles, had his way running against them though.

Deshaun Watson suddenly doesn't seem to have many play-makers. Will Fuller is out, DeAndre Hopkins catches mostly short stuff and Kenny Stills had a drop and wasn't a factor. So he spun out of a sack, shook off a kick to the eye and found Darren Fells for the go-ahead TD.

The 49ers are the best team in the NFL right now. Nick Bosa showed off absurd athleticism on his interception return -- looked like George Kittle running after the catch -- and Tevin Coleman was too fast for the Panthers defense. And the Panthers are actually decent.

Christian McCaffrey always gets his, even in a 51-13 blowout.

I didn't watch the Jets-Jaguars, but every highlight seemed to be Sam Darnold throwing an interception.

Matt Schaub did his best Matt Ryan impression, throwing for 460 yards in a loss. Austin Hooper doesn't seem to care who the quarterback is, and neither does Julio Jones. Incidentally, Schaub is no stranger to big yardage totals -- he's tied with Warren Moon for the second most passing yards in a game all time (527.)

Miles Sanders is fast, but he left in the third quarter with a shoulder injury, and Jordan Howard got 23 carries.

The Chargers must have felt strange seeing an opponent lose a game on a short missed field goal. The Bears probably weren't going anywhere this year anyway, but at 3-4, with the Vikings and the Packers in their division, that seals it.

David Montgomery finally had the breakout game many paid for this preseason.

The Bears dominated time of possession 38 minutes to 22 and 77 plays to 42.

Danny Dollars lost a fumble early that was returned for a TD, but otherwise played a great game, leading long drives with accurate throws and overcoming penalties and drops. The Giants also got Saquon Barkley more involved in the passing game. Jones still makes mistakes, but more importantly for a young QB, he makes plays. If he has a flaw, it's that he's too calm in the pocket, sometimes ignoring the rush for too long. Jones needs to get rid of the ball earlier sometimes, but that failing is much better than having happy feet or "seeing ghosts."

It was hilarious when Tra Carson got the start and the bulk of the work after everyone bid on Ty Johnson.

Apparently it was Mike Evans week for the Bucs. It's always Jameis Winston turnover week (two more picks and two lost fumbles.)

So much for Ryan Tannehill resuscitating Corey Davis' and A.J. Brown's value.

The Colts know how to grind out ugly wins, but I should have taken Denver plus 6.5.

I had the Bengals plus 13, and that was one of the more frustrating non-covers. On their penultimate drive, Andy Dalton threw short of the sticks on 4th-and-goal, and on their final drive, the Bengals had a TD on the field to Auden Tate with five seconds left that was overturned. The game was over anyway, so just leave it alone! Then on fourth down, on the last play of the game, Dalton throws the ball out of the end zone. Just kick a field goal next time!

Darrell Henderson (11 carries, two catches) is creeping toward a larger role.

Cooper Kupp has somehow evolved from an oversized, slow slot guy to a dominant number one wideout. Brandin Cooks suffering another concussion only cements that further.

Imagine if you benched Chase Edmunds last week and started him against the Saints this week.

Drew Brees picked up where he left off with 8.7 YPA, 373 passing yards and three TDs.

Latavius Murray has been a monster the last two games with Alvin Kamara out.

Michael Thomas caught all 11 of his targets from Brees. He now has an 82 percent catch rate, on pace for the second-highest in NFL history after his own absurd 85 percent mark last year.