Week 8 Notes & Observations

Here are my notes and observations from Week 8:

Power 5 Notes

• UCLA RB Joshua Kelley has scored a touchdown in four consecutive games.  WR Kyle Phillips has caught at least 6 passes in three straight games and has scored in back-to-back games.  
• Pitt RB AJ Davis played for the first time since the Panthers’ win over UCF and carried the ball 16 times for 103 yards and a TD in the win over Syracuse.  WR Taysir Mack’s four-game streak of 80-plus yard receiving games came to an end Friday night.
• Clayton Welch replaced Tommy DeVito at quarterback for the Orange against Pitt and only completed 8-of-20 passes for 176 yards and 2 TDs.  One of his completions was a 94-yard TD pass to Taj Harris. 
• Ohio State RB JK Dobbins has rushed for at least 120 yards in five of the last six games.  QB Justin Fields has accounted for at least 4 TDs in six of seven games.  WR Chris Olave has caught a TD pass in four of the six games in which he has caught at least one pass.
• The bye week must have helped heal up Northwestern RB Isaiah Bowser, as he led the Wildcats in rushing attempts against Ohio State.  
• After completing 15-of-33 passes for 259 yards and 3 TDs in a 45-24 loss at Boston College, Devin Leary seems likely to start next week at Wake Forest.
• Boston College RB AJ Dillon has ripped off five straight 100-yard rushing games, but in four of the five he has topped the 150-yard mark. 
• Georgia Tech RB Jordan Mason has posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing games.  
• Miami RB DeeJay Dallas injured his knee in Saturday’s game against Georgia Tech.  Cam’Ron Harris carried the ball 18 times for 136 yards in the loss to the Yellow Jackets.  WR Jeff Thomas served a one game suspension and should return next week.
• West Virginia WR TJ Simmons has caught at least 5 passes and a TD in each of the past three games.
• QB Jalen Hurts has thrown at least 3 TD passes in all but one game and has rushed for at least one TD in all but one game.  He has totaled 30 TDs in 7 games.  
• Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor has scored in every game this season.  
• Purdue WR David Bell has topped the 100-yard receiving mark in three of the past four games.  In the past two games, he has 22 receptions for 335 yards and 3 TDs.
• Florida QB Kyle Trask has thrown at least 2 TD passes in five straight games and has thrown at least 3 TD passes in each of his last two games.  
• South Carolina WR Bryan Edwards has at least 75 yards receiving in five of his last six games.  
• Auburn QB Bo Nix had his best fantasy game of the year, accounting for 4 TDs in Auburn’s 51-10 win at Arkansas. With starting RB JaTarvious Whitlow sidelined with an injury, most of the carries in the backfield went to Kam Martin and DJ Williams.  WR Seth Williams has caught a TD pass in all but one game this year.  
• Iowa State freshman RB Breece Hall’s stats over the past two games:  45 carries for 315 yards and 5 TDs; 4 rec. for 78 yards.  I know we have seen some rotation in the Cyclones backfield, but I think this was the guy everyone thought would eventually take over.
• Texas Tech RB SaRodorick Thompson has scored 2 TDs in back-to-back weeks.  
• After accounting for 5 TDs in Texas Tech’s win over Oklahoma State, QB Jett Duffey has only accounted for 2 total TDs in the past two games.  WR TJ Vasher has scored in three consecutive games.  
• Clemson RB Travis Etienne ran for 192 yards and a TD against Louisville, but he limped off the field and there are some concerns he may have some kind of muscle strain. WR Justyn Ross caught a TD pass in his second consecutive game and WR Tee Higgins was quiet, 1 catch for 3 yards, so I doubt he’s playing at 100%.
• Louisville RB Gavin Hawkins scored in his third consecutive game and topped the 100-yard rushing mark for the fourth time this season.
• TCU RB Darius Anderson’s four game TD streak came to an end on Saturday in the Horned Frogs’ 24-17 loss at Kansas State.
• Call RB Christopher Brown is only averaging 40.6 rushing yards per game in his last 5 games.
• Indiana QB Michael Penix left Saturday’s game at Maryland with an injury.  We should get an update within the next 24 hours, but I would think Peyton Ramsey will get some waiver wire consideration.  
• I mentioned on the podcast a couple of weeks ago that I really liked the way Virginia’s schedule sets up for the second half, which is good news for Bryce Perkins’ fantasy owners.  Against Duke, he carried the ball 22 times for 62 yards and three touchdowns.  I expect to see similar numbers from him down the stretch.  
• Minnesota RB Rodney Smith has been a machine over the past four weeks, topping the 100-yard and scoring a touchdown in each of the last four games.  WR Tyler Johnson has caught a TD pass in four of the past five games.  As we head down the stretch, keep in mind that the Gophers have a bye and play Penn State, Iowa, and Wisconsin over the final five weeks of the season.
• UNC WR Dazz Newsome has caught at least six passes in four of his last five games.
• Virginia Tech RB Deshawn McClease has scored in three consecutive games and has rushed for 100 yards in two of the last four games.  WR Damon Hazelton has caught two TD passes in each of the past two games.
• Oregon WR Jaylon Redd has now scored in six consecutive games, but he has had fewer than 40 yards receiving in four of those games.  
• Washington RB Salvon Ahmed posted his third 100-yard rushing game of the year and has now scored in five of seven games.  
• LSU WR Justin Jefferson has caught a TD pass in six of seven games and teammate Ja’Marr Chase has caught a TD pass in five of the six games in which he has played. 
• Mississippi State QB Garrett Shrader has rushed for at least 60 yards in each of the past five games in which he has played, but RB Kylin Hill hasn’t reached the 50-yard rushing mark in any of the three previous games after starting the 2019 season with four consecutive 100-yard games.  
• Baylor QB Charlie Brewer has thrown for 300 yards in four of the last five games.  Over the last three games, WR Denzel Mims only has 9 receptions for 164 yards and has not scored.  
• After catching 6 TD passes in the first three games of the season, Oklahoma State WR Tylan Wallace has only scored once in the past four games.  RB Chuba Hubbard has rushed for at least 150 yards in five of seven games this year.
• Missouri RB Larry Rountree only had 29 yards rushing at Vanderbilt on Saturday, but he has scored at least 1 TD in all but one game.  TE Albert Okwuegbunam has caught a TD pass in five of seven games this year.  
• Vanderbilt RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn has scored at least one touchdown in five of the last six games.  
• If I were a D’Andre Swift owner I would be wishing for two things: 1. Rain every week. 2. A struggling Jake Fromm.  Swift carried the ball 21 times in the rain for a season-high 179 yards and two touchdowns.  Random thought: How do you think Georgia feels about letting Fields leave?
• It wasn’t a surprise that Kentucky QB/WR Lynn Bowden struggled at Georgia.  The rain and the opponent just weren’t a good combination in Week 8.
• Arizona State RB Eno Benjamin topped the 100-yard rushing mark for the third consecutive game, but was kept out of the end zone for the first time this year.  After going for 7-196-3 last week, WR Brandon Aiyuk was held to one catch at Utah.
• I wouldn’t be worried about Zack Moss’ health after his 28 touches against Arizona State on Saturday.  If you can make a move to acquire Moss for the fantasy playoffs, now is the time to act.  Utah’s last 3 games are against UCLA, Arizona, and Colorado. 
• Washington State QB Anthony Gordon has thrown more than 50 passes in three of the last four games.
• Kansas RB Pooka Williams has 20-plus touches in four of six games and ran for a season-high 190 yards in Saturday’s loss at Texas.
• RB Roschon Johnson has now scored in four of Texas’ last five games.  QB Sam Ehlinger has thrown 4 TD passes in four of even games.   
• Florida State RB Cam Akers has scored in all but one game, the Seminoles’ Week 7 loss at Clemson.  WR Tamorrion Terry ought a TD pass in his fourth straight game, but FSU still hasn’t had a 100-yard receiver this year.  
• Wake Forest WR Sage Surratt ought seven passes for 170 yards in Saturday’s win over Florid State, but he failed to score a TD for the first time this season.  Teammate Kendall Hinton has caught 20 passes over the past two games.  
• Michigan RB Zach Charbonnet has scored a TD in three straight games and seems to be a consistent fantasy option now after getting at least 13 carries in each of those games.  
• Penn State WR KJ Hamler has caught. TD pass in four straight games. 
• Texas A&M WR Jalen Wydermyer has caught at least 3 passes in three straight games and has caught a TD pass in three of the last five games.  
• Tua Tagovailoa’s injury definitely boosts the fantasy stock of RB Najee Harris next week against Arkansas.
• Grant Gunnell replaced Khalil Tate in Saturday’s loss at USC.  Tate completed six passes and was sacked six times.  
• USC RB Kenan Christon saw his first game action of 2019 against Arizona, as he led the Trojans in rushing, carrying the ball eight times for 103 yards and 2 TDs.  RB Markese Stepp has rushed for at least 60 yards in three straight games and has scored in three of the last four games.  However, Stepp and Stephen Carr both got dinged up.  WR Tyler Vaughns has caught a TD pass in three of the last four games and WR Michel Pittman has caught a TD pass in four of the last five games.  
• BYU RB Emmanuel Esukpa did not play in Saturday night’s game against Boise State with an injury.

Group 5 Notes

• Troy RB DK Billingsley carried the ball 20 times for 100 yards against South Alabama, but left the game with what seemed to be a shoulder stinger.
• Louisiana RB Trey Ragas only had eight carries in Thursday’s game at Arkansas State due to a first-half ankle injury.  Teammate Elijah Mitchell has scored two or more TDs in four of the last five games.
• Arkansas State WR Omar Bayless has at least 130 yards receiving in six of seven games this season.  WR Kirk Merritt has caught a TD pass in four straight games.  RB Marcel Murray had his biggest game of the year in Thursday’s 37-20 loss to Louisiana, carrying the ball 35 times for 164 yards.
• Marshall RB Brenden Knox has totaled at least 99 yards of offense in five straight games and has scored in five of seven games.  
• FAU RB Malcolm Davison has now scored in three consecutive games.  TE Harrison Bryant has topped the 50 yard receiving mark in six of seven games, but has still not caught a TD pass.  
• After opening the 2019 season with three straight 140-yard rushing games, UNLV RB Charles Williams has not topped the 100-yard mark in four straight games.  
• Kent State RB Will Matthews has rushed for at least 80 yards and a TD in two straight games.  
• Typical second-half Nathan Rourke, as the Ohio QB has accounted for at least 3 TDs in back-to-back games for the first time this year.
• I am not sure what is going on at Toledo, but after back-to-back losses at Bowling Green and Ball State, I would be nervous to start RB Bryant Koback next week.
• Ball State RB Caleb Huntley topped the 100-yard rushing mark for a third consecutive week.  
• Central Michigan RB Jonathan Ward has rushed for 100 yards in every game he has played, but one (Wisconsin).
• Bowling Green RB Bryson Denley has totaled over 100 yards of offense in back-t0-back games.
• Miami (OH) RB Jaylon Bester has scored at least 1 TD in three straight games.
• Northern Illinois RB Tre Harbison has carried the ball at least 22 times in three straight games.
• New Mexico RB Ahmari Davis returned this week after missing last week’s game with back spasms.  He carried the ball 14 times for 86 yards in the Lobos 23-10 loss at Wyoming, while last week’s leading rusher, Bryson Carroll, carried the ball 12 times for 55 yards.
• The path has been cleared for Wyoming RB Xazavian Valladay and now he just needs to stay healthy.  In Saturday’s win over New Mexico, Valladay carried the bll 33 times for 127 yards and a TD.
• Coastal Carolina RB CJ Marable’s 60 total yards of offense at Georgia Southern was his lowest output of the season.
• Georgia Southern RB Wesley Kennedy was heavily involved in the offense in his second game back with the team.  He carried the ball 25 times for 129 yards and 2 TDs in a 30-27 win over Coastal Carolina.
• Louisiana Tech RB Justin Henderson has scored 10 TDs in the last four games.
• Middle Tennessee WR Ty Lee has been a fantasy disappointment in 2019, catching only one TD pass and has not totaled more than 45 yards in a game since Week 2.
• SMU RB Xavier Jones carried the ball a season-high 29 times against Temple and extended his scoring streak by catching a 5-yard TD pass in the middle of the fourth quarter.
• Tulsa WR Keylon Stokes has topped the 90-yard receiving mark in four of the past five games.  
• Cincinnati RB Michael Warren left Saturday’s game against Tulsa with a lower body injury.  RB Gerrid Doaks totaled 119 yards of offense and scored all three of the Bearcats’ touchdowns.  Until we know Warren’s prognosis, I would consider Doaks as a replacement.  
• Navy QB Malcolm Perry has scored 2 or more rushing TDs in five straight games and has topped the 100-yard rushing mark in four of the last five.
• I’ve had my fair share of busts, but North Texas WR Jaelon Darden was one of my biggest preseason sleepers.  He’s averaging almost seven receptions per game and has scored in five of the last six games.
• UAB RB Lucious Stanley has scored 5 TDs in the past three games, but it was freshman RB Jermaine Brown that led the Blazers in rushing against Old Dominion, as he carried the ball 20 times for 116 yards and a TD.  Still no word when Spencer Brown will return.
• Liberty QB Stephen Calvert threw 5 TD passes against Maine, but none went to WR Antonio Gandy-Golden, who caught 9 passes for 149 yards. 
• Rice RB Aston Walter topped the 100-yard mark and scored a touchdown in his third straight game in Saturday’s loss at UTSA.  
• UTSA RB Sincere McCormick scored in his third straight game and has now scored in six of the past seven games.
• San Diego State RB Juwan Washington has scored a TD in three straight games, but still does not have a 100-yard rushing game this year.  
• Western Michigan RB LeVante Bellamy has five 100-yard rushing games this season and has four multiple-TD games.
• QB Mike Glass did not dress for Eastern Michigan’s win over Western Michigan due to an undisclosed injury.  Preston Hutchinson completed 31-of-36 passes for 357 yards and 3 TD passes.
• Memphis RB Kenneth Gainwell became the first NCAA player since Louisiana Tech’s Troy Edwards in 1997 to have more than 200 yards receiving and more than 100 rushing yards in a game. 
• UCF WR Gabriel Davis now has four consecutive 100-yard receiving games and has four multiple-TD games this season.
• FIU RBs Anthony Jones and Napoleon Maxwell continue to find the end zone with consistency.  Jones has now scored in four consecutive games and Maxwell has scored in five of the last six games.
• Georgia State RB Tra Barnett has topped the 100-yard rushing mark in four of the past five games, and after the Panthers’ win over Army on Saturday, I feel that Barnett is definitely a rest-of-the-season fantasy option.  WR Sam Pinckney has caught a TD pass in four of the last five games.  
• Nevada RB Toa Taua has rushed for at least 70 yards in four of the past five games and has scored a TD in three of the past four games.
• Utah State RB Jaylen Warren made his return Saturday night against Nevada, but it was teammate Gerold Bright who led the Aggies in rushing with 126 yards and 2 TDs on 15 carries.  
• Boise State RB Robert Mahone sustained an injury Saturday night and it was George Holani who led the team in rushing with 97 yards on 20 carries.  The Broncos have a bye next week.  
• Backup quarterback Mike Schmidt led Air Force to a road win at Hawaii, accounting for 4 TDs and rushing for 120 yards.  
• Hawaii QB Cole McDonald hs thrown at lest 3 TD passes in all but one game and has six 300-yard passing games.