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We got a lot of firsts and big milestones in the NFL this week. Brady fell 2 games below .500 for the first time in his career, we had several players put up multiple touchdowns, and Bill Belichick passed George Halas for the second most wins by a head coach in NFL history with 325. We also had an incredible trade deadline period, arguably the best we've ever seen. Let's recap a crazy Week 8 of the 2022 NFL season!
Photo: Ashley Landis/AP Photo
Week 9 Power Rankings
Teams to Note
Tennessee Titans (Rose 3 spots)
The Titans have quietly won 5 straight games, and the fact the Texans couldn't beat them when Malik Willis was the starter was laughable. Derrick Henry looks to be in full force, the defense is finding it's footing, and Mike Vrabel is putting on a coaching masterclass for a second straight season.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Dropped 6 spots)
Despite having a +14 point differential and having one of the most efficient offenses in the league, the Jags sit at 2-6 and have minimal hope of a playoff push. The AFC is top heavy, making it difficult for them to have a chance at a wild card berth.
Cleveland Browns (Rose 6 spots)
The Browns schmacked the Bengals on Monday night, and Brissett looked like a man possessed throwing the ball. The offense leaned on Nick Chubb and Amari Cooper, while the defense ate Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon alive. If the offensive line plays together like they did this past week, this offense is gonna get better and better, just in time for Deshaun Watson's return.
Week 8 Awards
AFC Offensive MVP: Tua Tagovailoa - Miami Dolphins
AFC Defensive MVP: Myles Garrett - Cleveland Browns
AFC Trench Tyrant: Ethan Pocic - Cleveland Browns
AFC Special Teams MVP: Nick Folk - New England Patriots
NFC Offensive MVP: Christian McCaffrey - San Francisco 49ers
NFC Defensive MVP: Jaire Alexander - Green Bay Packers
NFC Trench Tyrant: Christian Darrisaw - Minnesota Vikings
NFC Special Teams Co-MVPs: Will Dissly & Travis Homer - Seattle Seahawks
Award Winners to Note
Tua Tagovailoa - The safe call was Derrick Henry, but Tua had an outstanding game. It may look like he underthrew Tyreek on a few passes, but even Mahomes underthrew Tyreek most of the time. Outside of that, he posted a 96.1 PFF passing grade, which complimented his 93.9% adjusted completion rate (excludes drops, throw aways, and batted passes, all of which are unfaulted incompletions).
Christian Darrisaw - Christian had an outstanding game pass blocking and run blocking. He allowed just one pressure on 44 pass block snaps, and he posted a 91.2 run blocking grade as Dalvin Cook scampered for a season high 111 yards and a TD on Sunday.
Dissly & Homer - Both of these special teams studs posted a forced fumble and fumble recovery on punt against the Giants. These two plays were pivotal, as the Seahawks scored a field goal and a touchdown off of both turnovers, resulting in a 10 point swing in Seattle's favor.
Photo: Abbie Par/AP Photo
Key Fantasy Players Recap (Week 8)
QB: Tua Tagovailoa vs Detroit Lions
Projected - 18.8
Actual - 29.18
Results - Boomed
RB: Tony Pollard vs Chicago Bears
Projected - 17.3
Actual - 34.7
Results - Boomed
WR: DeAndre Hopkins vs Minnesota Vikings
Projected - 14.1
Actual - 33.9
Results - Boomed
TE: Dawson Knox vs Green Bay Packers
Projected - 7.2
Actual - 9.0
Results - Boomed
D/ST: Las Vegas Raiders vs New Orleans Saints
Projected - 4.2
Actual - 0.0
Results - Busted
K: Cade York vs Cincinnati Bengals
Projected - 6.9
Actual - 7.0
Results - Pushed
Week 8 Total: 4 Boomed, 1 Pushed, 1 Busted
Yearly Total: 8 Boomed, 1 Pushed, 2 Busted
Key Fantasy Players for Week 9
QB: PJ Walker vs Cincinnati Bengals
PJ is coming off two straight weeks of strong performances, and his next opponent is a team who made Jacoby Brissett look like an All-Pro. If he's available, pick up the former XFL MVP.
RB: Darrell Henderson vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Contrary to popular belief, the Bucs run defense has been bad as of late. In the last 3 games, they've allowed 160.3 rush yards per game, 6th most in the league. Henderson should eat up while the defense is preoccupied with Cooper Kupp and Tyler Higbee.
WR: Devin Duvernay vs New Orleans Saints
With Bateman slated to miss multiple weeks, and Andrews nursing an injury, Duvernay should get fed consistently enough to make a major fantasy impact this week.
TE: Noah Fant vs Arizona Cardinals
Fant has taken over the snap and target majority from Will Dissly over the past several weeks. Pair that with the Cardinals allowing 12.3 points to tight ends per game, this could be Fant's big game to solidify himself as the starter.
D/ST: Detroit Lions vs Green Bay Packers
Hear me out, this is a trap game for the Packers. Rodgers has struggled heavily without a true WR1 and this defense is going to give him everything he can handle.
K: Cairo Santos vs Miami Dolphins
The Bears offense has improved greatly over the past few weeks, and this will give Cairo plenty of chances to knock in some field goals and extra points.
Photo: Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports
Trade Deadline Review
We finally got an amazing trade deadline from the NFL. Last year, I wrote a blog about how boring the trade deadline usually is, despite all of the hype. The script flipped this year and we had some surprising and incredible moves.
Top 3 Moves
#3: Jaguars trade for Calvin Ridley
Although the Jags won't reap the benefits of Calvin Ridley this season, it was a great trade for future value. Having an offense with Christian Kirk, Travis Etienne, and Trevor Lawrence is gonna be exciting to watch next season.
#2: Vikings trade for TJ Hockenson
Could the Vikings have settled and rocked with Irv Smith? Yes, but they didn't, and that's what I love about this move. They get a big name tight end, and although he hasn't lived up to the #8 overall pick hype, he has big play potential and is a reliable target.
#1: 49ers trade for Christian McCaffrey
Although it happened a couple of weeks back at this point, it was still a great move for a team that needed a spark on the offense. Kyle Shanahan has yet to have a superstar RB in his time as head coach, and he gets a gamebreaker in CMC.
Bottom 3 Moves
#3: Ravens trade for Roquan Smith
Two things can be true at the same time; Roquan is a great football player, and the off-ball linebacker position isn't as impactful as it used to be. Roquan was by far the best player on the Bears, yet their defense ranked near dead last in the league. Roquan's a great upgrade for this D, but I don't think it's as big of a deal as it's made out to be.
#2: Bears trade for Chase Claypool
In short, the Bears gave up a second rounder for the guy the Steelers replaced with their own second round pick this season (George Pickens). Chase is a freak athlete, but he hasn't done anything major to warrant 2nd round pick value. His production isn't guaranteed either, so we'll have to keep a close eye on his performance going forward.
#1: Dolphins trade for Bradley Chubb
On a stat sheet, Chubb looks really solid. He's recorded 26 sacks in 49 games, and he just turned 26 years old this past summer. So what's the problem? He's played only one full season which came during his rookie year in 2018, and over the course of his career, he's generated a pressure rate of only 11.75%. Let's take a look at the other highest paid edge rushers and their key pass rush metrics over the course of their careers:
Player | Pass Rushes | Sacks | Pressure % | Sack % | Sack/Pressure |
Bradley Chubb | 1,362 | 26 | 11.75% | 2.06% | .175 |
TJ Watt | 2,200 | 73 | 14.09% | 3.32% | .235 |
Joey Bosa | 2,484 | 59.5 | 15.06% | 2.40% | .159 |
Myles Garrett | 2,479 | 66 | 13.23% | 2.66% | .201 |
Maxx Crosby | 1,881 | 31 | 11.91% | 1.65% | .138 |
Von Miller | 4,671 | 121.5 | 15.67% | 2.60% | .166 |
Leaving out Maxx Crosby, who is coming off a dominant 2021 campaign, Chubb is no where near the other top edge rushers in the league. To trade a first rounder for him, and then to pay him the 4th largest edge rushing contract in the league is absurd to me. I think this was a bad trade for the Dolphins, and the worst one of the year.
Photo: Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Final Notes:
Be on the lookout for my Mid-Season Awards for the NFL this season, as I recap the best players, coaches, and teams throughout the first half of the 2022 season. Besides that, let's keep having our hearts broken and minds melted each week of this crazy NFL seaosn.