Week 8 is coming. It doesn’t bring sympathy for your Bye-Mageddon-ravaged roster. It doesn’t ask when you're ready. Come Sunday, the sun will rise, whistles will blow, and the games will begin. 

It’s a new week with a new chance to smash. 

Our goal is to dominate. Every single week until we parade our championship in the group chat. 

 “Smashes” are players that I expect to outperform their season projections in Week 8. We want these guys in our lineups, even as flexes. It’s not about giving out lay-ups; we are making the hard decisions on players that have you crashing out. 

You know the rules. We don’t blink, we don’t flinch, and we certainly don’t panic. With our chin up and chest out, we push these players into every possible lineup.    

Week 8 Fantasy Football Smash Starts

D’Andre Swift, RB, Chicago Bears

Have you ever been at the roulette table when there is a crazy run on red? There is always that one attention-thirsty contrarian who throws his money on black. 

Yeah, that could never be me. I don’t need to be the smartest guy in the room. The jolt of euphoria from winning is one hundred times greater when you aren’t doing it alone. Plus, if I find myself a hot hand, I’m maximizing its value until the run is over. 

Make no mistake—D’Andre Swift is on a run. Back-to-back monster games (130+ yards; 20+ FP) make Swift an auto-smash against the Baltimore defense. When I fire up the trusted defense vs. position tool at Fantasy Life, the data reveals the Ravens allow the second-most points to RBs in half-point PPR formats. For context, the Saints and Commanders (who Swift just shook for 24.5 & 20.3 FP) rank eight and twelve spots better than Baltimore. 

Expect Ben Johnson’s “Windy City Jahmyr Gibbs” to continue to reset his ceiling in a very favorable matchup. Swift’s shift up our rankings to RB13 for Week 8 is a strong sign he’s entering SMASH territory.

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Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos

Jacory Croskey-Merritt fooled us once again, but the rule remains the same. 

When you see the star—you SMASH. 

This week, I’m targeting Bo Nix to blast the Dallas defense. Nix is currently slotted as QB15 in our rest of season rankings, but rockets up to the consensus QB8 for this prime matchup. 

It really doesn’t get better than this. The Broncos and Cowboys are set to collide—in altitude—one week after shattering scoreboards and carrying fantasy teams on their backs.

Dallas dominated Washington 44-22 in a game that featured 66 total points, four receivers averaging 20+ yards per reception, and both teams finishing a combined 7 for 8 in the red zone. 

The Broncos-Giants game: Pure chaos. How about 65 total points, 794 total yards, capped off by a 33-point fourth-quarter comeback. All led by this week’s smash target—Bo Nix. Forget about using the restroom, I was looking up prices for an eye speculum. There was a cost to blinking; I am not missing a play when these two teams take the field on Sunday. 

I can rattle off the stats: 29th redzone EPA, 30th in passing TDs allowed per game, league-high 25.5 FPPG and 7.6 point fantasy boost allowed to QBs. No matter how you slice it, the Dallas defense is smash-city, and a red-hot Nix has hosting duties.   

Nix can easily go nuclear again, and we can’t afford to watch from the sidelines. If you’re not icing up your hand on Monday from pounding the smash button, you’re doing it wrong.

Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

Somebody needs to throw up the bat-signal because nothing has gone right in Gotham this year. The Jets are winless, Garrett Wilson is banged up, Justin Fields was banished to the pine and Aaron Glenn doesn’t seem to know what to do. 

There is only one logical solution: Get the ball in the hands of Breece Hall.

Despite Hall coming off consecutive stinkers (5.9; 6.2 FP), there is a storm of factors that are pointing to a big bounce-back in Week 8. 

Much like Quinshon Judkins’ situation last week, the Jets grounded passing attack (30th in pass EPA) plays right into Hall’s favor. There is an undeniable contrast between Hall’s performances this season based on the strength of defenses faced. 

From a fantasy perspective, Hall’s three biggest games have come against defenses ranking outside of the top 20 in rush EPA allowed and 25th or worse in EPA/play. As you can see below, the Bills are the outlier as the only struggling defense Hall failed to gash. Keep in mind, the Jets game plan immediately went off the rails in that game as Buffalo jumped out to a 20-0 first-half lead. 

I’m hoping we don’t have to worry about that against the Bengals. 

Week 1: PIT | 145 total yards 

• 22nd (Rush EPA allowed)
• 25th (EPA/play allowed) 

Week 2: BUF | 38 total yards 

• 29th (Rush EPA allowed)
• 22nd (EPA/play allowed) 

Week 3: MIA | 111 total yards 

• 26th (Rush EPA allowed)
• 31st (EPA/play allowed)

Week 5: DAL | 155 total yards

• 28th (Rush EPA allowed)
• 30th (EPA/play allowed)

As much as New York looks like a team on wobbly legs, this is not the time to throw in the towel on Breece Hall. He has consistently had his way with defenses like Cincinnati (30th & 29th in categories mentioned above).

The incentive of showcasing Hall for a potential trade partner strengthens the probability of a higher workload. As the focal point of the Jets offense, Hall is set up to soar to a season high this week.  

Tetaiora McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers

Here is the beauty of fantasy football. There are times when our worlds separate, and unfortunate events on the football field produce very positive outcomes in the fantasy sphere. 

I don’t think Bryce Young’s injury is good for the Carolina Panthers, Dave Canales or the loyal fans that still support them. The team has shown a ton of promise during its three-game win streak. 

Do you know who it is good for? Fantasy managers who roster Tetairoa McMillan. 

We know exactly what Andy Dalton is: a stationary target in the pocket that takes bad sacks and throws some interceptions. 

You know what else Andy Dalton is? A gunslinger, a 15-year grizzled veteran who isn’t afraid to throw it up. In case you’re not familiar with his game, Tetairoa McMillan can go up and get it. 

I’m not saying this is a Joe Flacco-Ja’Marr Chase situation, but Dalton’s experience and willingness to let his receivers make plays align perfectly with the Panthers WR1. 

Young is still pushing to play on Sunday after missing practice yet again. It’s a situation to monitor as a hobbled Young behind center certainly hurts McMillan’s chances of a big week.

Buffalo has been a bunch of turnstiles against the run this year, ranking 31st (EPA/rush) in non-garbage time situations. When Rico starts ripping them for chunks, Dalton will be able to pop explosive plays over the top. Keep in mind, the Bills secondary got dragged by Drake London (158 yards) and Stefon Diggs (140 yards) in consecutive weeks. Let’s target McMillan to outperform his projections.

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