Best Buys (Week 8)

Sam Laporta (TE) Detroit Lions

This guy has been one of the worst possible fantasy busts considering he was the first tight end off the board and has virtually done nothing. There are a couple things to consider though as the season progresses. Montgomery just sustained an injury and although he returned to the game and fumbled the ball for a Vikings touchdown, who knows if Detroit’s two headed monster can remain fully healthy. The factor of wear and tear on the Lions running backs as well as opposing teams looking to take away the run game from the Lions are two things that might lead to Laporta’s emergence. The Lions have leaned heavily on their backfield, which has been the catalyst for Goff’s flawless ball, which tells me teams aren’t going to let the Lions have this balance as the season progresses. Also the Jameson Williams two game suspension elevates Laporta to the second receiving option to fill his shoes. Last year Laporta showed just how reliable he can be feasting on his opportunities, creating yards after the catch even when contacted, and being as reliable as any player in the league at finding the endzone when the Lions entered the red zone. Talent is always going to remain by Laporta’s side, it's just the opportunity hasn’t presented itself for the Lions tight end in the way many analysts had projected. If you have two tight ends in a league and someone has Laporta I’d look to poach him by any means. His upside is league winning and his owner surely has grown too impatient with his lack of usage and non-existent role within this Lions offense, especially in the red zone. 

Amari Cooper (WR) Buffalo Bills

I know the guy just had a nice debut, but his value still isn’t as high as it should be with Josh Allen as his quarterback. This guy is one of the biggest acquisitions the Bills possibly could have made considering how much experience and success Cooper has had in the league. He will serve as Keon Coleman’s mentor and is by far the most reliable guy Josh Allen has to throw the football to. He’s a crisp route runner, has phenomenal hands, and he’s been able to establish connections with any capable passing quarterback throughout the entirety of his career. I mean look what he just did with Joe Flacco a season ago. With a team that was void of any hope after losing their superstar running back for the season, Amari Cooper willed the Browns into the playoffs and helped Joe Flacco have a magical resurgence after returning from his couch. Amari Cooper changes everything for a Bills offense that hasn’t been a threat passing the football. They gave up mincemeat to acquire this man and in one game we saw his affect as he hauled in a touchdown and Keon Coleman finally came alive on the outside. Cooper has always been one of the classiest professionals in this league and honestly the stock on him and Coleman will rise as Cooper gets comfortable in this new offense. 

Devonta Smith (WR) Philadelphia Eagles

Coming off a dud for the ages is a receiver that is going to be an insanely reliable flex. Devonta Smith when healthy is what Garrett Wilson wishes he was. An elite route runner who can make highlight reel catches week in and week out. He’s one of the best contested catch artists in the league when factoring in his small frame. The only scare with him is that teams put a bounty on his head every week and look to decapitate him with every chance they get. AJ Brown also is a scary guy to compete with in an offense along with Saquon, which is why the fantasy manager that owns Smith might be looking to dump him in an offense that hasn’t seen much of AJ Brown yet as he’s dealt with an injury. Hurts has looked off so far and moving forward you just have to think that the Eagles offense explodes. They have one of the best balanced offenses in the NFL with an elite running back, elite wide receiver core, and an elite offensive line. I’m not too worried about Dallas Goedert and going through AJ Brown’s career it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to say he gets another nagging injury or doesn’t play to his standards down the stretch. It’s so interesting because this team should be one of the most dominant units in the NFL, but their coaching ultimately holds the offense back at times. The biggest enemy in Philly is play calling at times along with Hurts having random lapses in judgment. The former Biletnikoff winner will never be at a lower price than this week.

Ricky Pearsall (WR) and Jauan Jennings (WR) San Francisco 49ers

With the 49ers roster having more glassware than a vineyard’s dumpster the opportunity is ripe for the taking for fantasy managers. Kittle is due to have his yearly ailment and Deebo has always been a guy that has struggled to play a full season albeit he currently has Pneumonia which is not a real injury. That being said both Pearsall and Jennings are guaranteed target volume considering CMAC is overseas getting Stem cell treatment in Germany and Aiyuk is done for the season. The Niners are currently reeling at an unprecedented level with Brock Purdy looking less than stellar at this moment. Jennings can make miraculous plays and that’s what the Niners need right now as Purdy is fighting to show he truly is worth the large contract he expects after next season. This team is still perfectly in the hunt for the playoffs, but the road to get there has to be through either Pearsall or Jennings and maybe will need both of them if another guy goes down for San Francisco. It’s no secret that teams are going to load the box against the Niners now considering they lost their intermediate zone beater with Aiyuk going down, which will likely tank Jordan Mason’s stock. Look what the Chiefs just did to Purdy this week. They played up on the line and loaded the box daring Purdy to beat them with his arm. The result was he looked dreadful in a meltdown performance. Moving forward I project the Niners go towards a quick passing game that occasionally takes down the field shots, which is what Purdy thrives in. He needs to revive his rhythm through completing passes and at least one of these guys needs to be on the receiving end considering they’ve lost everything at this point. Pearsall and Jennings can be weekly PPR merchants and you need them at this moment because after this week the verdict will be out and all will know what the Niners have with them.

Jakobi Meyers Las Vegas Raiders

Now no one is going to sit here and pretend like Jakobi Meyers is some type of alpha number one wideout, but when Aidan O’Connell returns to the gridiron maybe he can give you what he was with the New England Patriots as their number one guy. A stellar WR2 option with certain matchups and a consideration for your flex every week. He has the talent and the hands to haul in passes, which is something the Las Vegas Raiders do not have whatsoever outside of Brock Bowers. Garbage PPR for a bottom feeder team that is incredibly painful to watch. Count me in. He has that Adam Thielen of yesteryear feel to him and with the Davante Adams departure and Minshew hopefully sitting on the bench very soon you just never know if AOC could go on a gimmicky legacy run to end the season and cement himself as their starting quarterback. Jakobi has never had a problem putting up respectable production, but his name isn’t flashy and his value ceases to exist at this current moment. Most people wanna jump ship on all Raiders players for fantasy (BESIDES BOWERS), but Meyers is that guy who’s quietly sitting there for those desperate for a potential flex moving forward. This is another guy where you have to make the move now or it could be too late after this upcoming weekend. The Raiders are perfect for Meyers. A historically bad run game and an embarrassing bunch of receivers outside of Meyers makes for a high floor concoction that could end up being what you need in fantasy.

Jake Ferguson (TE) Dallas Cowboys

Of the elite tight ends in fantasy football, Ferguson’s value is the lowest at this given moment. Every metric proves that this guy is going to be a league winner by the time the season concludes. He has elite target share for a tight end in a one dimensional offense that can’t run the football. His value only lowered because the Lions nuked the Cowboys before their bye week and no one got going for Dallas on both sides of the ball. A dud into a bye convinces the fantasy apps to lower his value because of how it all panned out, but if you’re a true football fan you know how these apps can botch projections. Ferguson has yet to find the end zone this year and that won’t keep happening moving forward. He still remains the number two guy behind Lamb in the offense, which means if the Cowboys don’t spiral he will be a monster when the game’s start to get more weight as the Cowboys try to sneak into the playoffs. Dak loves Ferguson and the Cowboys need to get innovative on the offensive side of the ball and improve to have any shot of making the playoffs. So far his production has been steady in a lackluster Cowboys offense, so imagine a world where the Cowboys improve on the offensive side of the ball. You’re staring down the barrel at a tight end who may be top three in all of fantasy when it’s all set and done and at worst you get a top six option with one of the highest floors at the position. Sounds like it’s time to propose a trade at tight end. I’d give up Kyle Pitts, Kincaid, Tucker Kraft, etc. if that is what you are working with.