Goal-Line Guide Week 8
We are back once again to try and win a week at fantasy football. One of the most important aspects of player production is touchdowns. That is why I created the Goal-Line Guide, in order to better predict what teams will find the end zone, and how. The touchdown rates inside the 5-yard line are drastically improved even when compared to just the Red-Zone in general.
The weekly Goal-Line Grades for each team, separated by Rushing and Passing, can be used as a way to predict one aspect of fantasy success. For a full explanation of the methodology, you can read a previous article, outlining my process.
Here is the full list of Goal-Line Grade for Week 8.
Team | Rushing Goal-Line Grade | Passing Goal-Line Grade |
Arizona Cardinals | 72 | 70 |
Atlanta Falcons | 65.75 | 77.75 |
Buffalo Bills | 79.5 | 104.5 |
Carolina Panthers | 69.25 | 74.25 |
Chicago Bears | 75.5 | 62.5 |
Cincinnati Bengals | 81.5 | 106.5 |
Cleveland Browns | 64 | 68 |
Dallas Cowboys | 65.75 | 68.75 |
Denver Broncos | 67.75 | 88.75 |
Detroit Lions | 79.75 | 91.75 |
Green Bay Packers | 58.5 | 57 |
Houston Texans | 55 | 50 |
Indianapolis Colts | 55.25 | 57.25 |
Jacksonville Jaguars | 67 | 60 |
Kansas City Chiefs | 89 | 111.5 |
Los Angeles Chargers | 64.75 | 118.75 |
Los Angeles Rams | 78 | 84 |
Miami Dolphins | 61.5 | 85 |
Minnesota Vikings | 63.75 | 93.25 |
New England Patriots | 75.75 | 121.5 |
New Orleans Saints | 41 | 81 |
New York Giants | 64 | 73 |
New York Jets | 61.5 | 96.5 |
Philadelphia Eagles | 79.25 | 93.75 |
Pittsburgh Steelers | 69.5 | 82 |
San Francisco 49ers | 61.5 | 40.5 |
Seattle Seahawks | 76.25 | 98.25 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 62 | 59.5 |
Tennessee Titans | 62.75 | 85.75 |
Washington Football Team | 76.5 | 78.5 |
Here are some specific situations that I want to highlight.
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Patriots @ Chargers Passing
New England Patriots Passing Goal-Line Grade: 121.75
Los Angeles Chargers Passing Goal-Line Grade: 118.75
The two highest Goal-Line Grades this week are in the same game. No teams have better grades than the Patriots and the Chargers with their respective passing games. Starting with New England, Jonnu Smith leads the team in Red Zone targets. However, he is questionable with a shoulder injury. In terms of which pass-catcher could more likely find the end-zone, I look towards the players who already have produced touchdowns this season. Aside from Smith, there are two Patriots with receiving scores inside the Red Zone; Nelson Agholor and Hunter Henry. Henry especially is on a hot streak right now. I have him ranked inside my top 5 tight ends for Week 8.
Looking at Henry’s former team, the Chargers have their own dynamic duo for fantasy. Among the 38 red-zone targets thrown by the Chargers so far this season, 18 have gone towards either Keenan Allen or Mike Williams. As they get closer to the goal-line, the market share of those two continues to rise. Inside the 10-yard line, Allen and Williams have more than half of the team’s targets (8 of 15). Jared Cook is next in both categories, so the tight end could also have a big day.
Kansas City Chiefs
Rushing Goal-Line Grade: 89
Passing Goal-Line Grade: 111.5
The Chiefs put up a very disappointing 3 points during Week 7. I doubt they repeat that performance (or lack thereof) in Week 8. Not only does Kansas City have the best Rushing Goal-Line Grade of the Week, but they also own the 3rd best passing game grade. All season, Darrel Williams has been the preferred goal-line back. Williams has received over 80% of the team’s carries inside the 5-yard line.
Of course, there are must-starts like Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, the team leaders in Red-Zone targets, and targets inside the 10-yard line respectively. However, perhaps surprisingly, Mecole Hardman is 2nd on the Chiefs in Red-Zone targets. While he has not put it all together for a monster game yet, Hardman is still likely the best bet for any of Kansas City’s secondary weapons to step up.
Cincinnati Bengals
Rushing Goal-Line Grade: 81.5
Passing Goal-Line Grade: 106.5
Similar to the Chiefs, the Bengals are among the best-rated teams both running and passing the ball inside the 5-yard line. Cincinnati’s Rushing Goal-lIne Grade is the 2nd best of the week, while in the passing grade they are 4th. As double-digit favorites, it’s the type of game script we like to see for an RB like Joe Mixon. Much like Hunter Henry at TE, I have Mixon ranked inside my top 5 for his position this week.
As mentioned in previous editions of the Goal-Line Guide, the Bengals leader in Red-Zone targets is Tee Higgins. While a certain rookie is getting tons of deserved love for fantasy, I think the big-bodies second-year WR is also very playable this week.
Thank you for reading Goal-Line Guide Week 8. Also a thank you to 4for4 for their Red-Zone and Goal-line data. Be sure to check out all of the great content available on Full Press Coverage.