28 October 2023 • by Neal Maligno
‘Not so obvious locks’ are players who are not ranked in the top 10 this week, but who in my opinion, have the upside to finish there. If you want longer or interactive content, then subscribe to us on YouTube and catch our weekly episodes, including our start/sit advice live stream every Sunday at 11:30AM EST!
I like to hold my self accountable and stay transparent at all times, so here are last weeks NSOL’s and how they performed.
— Browns QB Deshaun Watson finished as QB33 with -1.8 points scored (injured in game)
— Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. finished as RB27 with 8.3 points scored
— Packers WR Christian Watson finished as WR57 with 5.7 points scored
— Raiders TE Michael Mayer finished as TE28 with 3.3 points scored
Now let’s get into Week 8!
Gardner Minshew fumbled the ball 3 times and threw 1 interception in week 7 vs the Browns and he STILL finished as the QB3. Because he also threw for over 300 yards, 2 passing TDs and rushed for 2 more TDs, my boy Minshew cannot be stopped! On a serious note, Minshew really needs to bring down the interceptions and fumbles, as they are holding him and the Colts back from flourishing at a higher level.
However, it’s great to see him having productive fantasy weeks even with the mistakes, so imagine the upside if he can clean them up. Minus the miscues, he’s a bunch of fun to watch and he’s exciting to have on your fantasy team. Minshew is my not so obvious lock at quarterback for week 8.
Josh Jacobs is ranked outside the top 10 EVERYWHERE, mostly landing somewhere between RB13 and RB15. There are some who ranked him top 10 worthy, but we are few and far between. Through 7 weeks of football Josh Jacobs is RB11 in PPR scoring, averaging 13.5 points per game. Even with the Raiders offense struggling, Jacobs is #3 in rushing attempts this season and leads the league in passing targets to running backs.
Let’s think about this for one second, IF Josh McDaniels and the Raiders get this offense back on track, which I know has been embarrassingly up to now, Jacobs is a homerun. The Detroit Lions defense is pretty good, but totally capable of allowing big games to running backs, heck just ask Gus Edwards in week 7 or Kenneth Walker earlier this season. The Raiders might not win on Monday Night Football, but Josh Jacobs is my not so obvious lock at RB in week 8.
Drake London has had highs and lows this season, zero points in week 1, five points week 3, but don’t let that throw you off the fact that he has scored 11 points or more in 5 out of 7 weeks in PPR.
Drake is no doubt seeing a strong workload with six targets or more in 6 out of 7 weeks and in October alone he’s had 24 receptions, 285 receiving yards and 1 TD. Facing a weak Titans pass defense in week 8 presents Drake with the opportunity for a big game, making him my not so obvious lock of week 8 at WR.
Logan Thomas is playing the Philadelphia Eagles at home in Washington in week 8. Logan has already played them this season in Philly, grabbing 7 fantasy points off 3 catches for 41 yards.
The Eagles defense has allowed some great games this season to tight ends like Hockenson and Henry, while also denying some tight ends, but were they actually good TEs they stopped? Logan Thomas is part of a heavy passing offense, is currently ranked TE13 in fantasy after missing 1 game and is my not so obvious lock of week 8 at tight end.
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