What We Saw: Week 8

The What We Saw team recaps everything you missed from a wild Week 8 in the NFL

Ben Brown
What We Saw A Year Ago
Series Navigation
Introduction
Ravens @ Buccaneers
Broncos @ Jaguars
Panthers @ Falcons
Bears @ Cowboys
Dolphins @ Lions
Cardinals @ Vikings
Raiders @ Saints
Patriots @ Jets
Steelers @ Eagles
Titans @ Texans
Commanders @ Colts
49ers @ Rams
Giants @ Seahawks
Packers @ Bills

49ers @ Rams

Final Score: 49ers 31, Rams 14

Senior Writer: Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)

 

This game felt like a no-win situation for either team to be honest. If the San Francisco 49ers came away with the win then all we would really know is what he already know – they have the number of the Los Angeles Rams and still do. However, they would still be a measly 4-4 in a hotchpotch division with clear limitations on the offensive side of the ball. If the Rams took out the win then they would have eked out a winning record despite a miserable start to the year and many questions still remaining.

If the 49ers lost then surely there would be calls to remove the predictably effective but creativity stunted Kyle Shanahan; and if the Rams lost then there would be a clear, “do we start the sell off the assets” kind of conversation between Sean McVay and GM Les Snead.

So, what actually happened? Well, it was a dull game lit up by one man. After three quarters the 49ers led the Rams 17-14 after a dour contest with both offenses stuttering and both defenses finding the failings of those offenses easy to expose. However, after the Rams went three-and-out on back-to-back drives to open the second half, the 49ers took advantage of some advantageous field position and poor Rams defense to pull away thanks to Christian McCaffrey. The star running back announced himself as the prince that was promised for the 49ers fanbase. He led his team to a dominant win after the 49ers ran all over a demoralized Rams defense late to run up the score.

 

 

San Francisco 49ers

 

Quarterback

 

Jimmy Garoppolo: 21/25, 235 Yards, 2 TD | 1 Carry, 3 Yards

 

Mr. Vanilla was just that, and it was all that was needed. Jimmy Garoppolo put up his usual productive numbers but crucially played turnover-free football to allow the other playmakers on this offense to make the headlines. Still, the much-maligned (and rightly so!) quarterback has now thrown two touchdowns in four straight games, and his 17.70 fantasy points was his fourth straight fantasy-relevant showing. He was one of our recommended streamers this week and he rewarded fantasy managers with an effective performance.

Still, it is Jimmy G. And this is the best we can hope for. Picks are coming…

 

Running Back

 

Christian McCaffrey: 18 Carries, 94 Yards, TD | 9 Targets, 8 Receptions, 55 Yards, TD | 1/1, 34 Yards, TD

Jeff Wilson Jr.: 4 Carries, 14 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 21 Yards

 

Welcome to history, Christian McCaffrey! The recently acquired all-purpose running back did a bit of everything in this game as he put on a show for his coming out party as a 49er. McCaffrey became just the 11th player in NFL history with a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown, and a receiving touchdown in one game. It was quite the afternoon for the California native. His touchdown pass to Brandon Aiyuk kickstarted the game for the 49ers after a dismal first quarter.

 

 

And McCaffrey scored the go-ahead San Francisco touchdown towards the end of the third quarter to swing the momentum the 49ers way. We are not sure whether this pass from Jimmy G was actually meant for George Kittle, but we’ll take it. McCaffrey does brilliantly to reorganize himself on a broken play and make a sensational leaping grab in the end zone.

 

 

The cherry on top of the cake was a boring old rushing score to stretch the 49ers lead out after the Rams punted twice after three-and-outs after the half. McCaffrey could be the highest-scoring fantasy running back the rest of the way. McCaffrey out-touched Jeff Wilson Jr. 26-6 and has already ascended the throne as the king of this offensive gameplan.

 

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Brandon Aiyuk: 6 Targets, 6 Receptions, 81 Yards, TD

Ross Dwelley: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 56 Yards

George Kittle: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 39 Yards, TD

Ray-Ray McCloud III: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 11 Yards, 1 Fumble (Recovered)

Tyler Kroft: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 6 Yards

 

Meh! With Jimmy G under centre, the ceiling for this receiving corps in low and when your leading receiver only has six targets for the entire contest, it doesn’t bode well for fantasy. Luckily, Brandon Aiyuk didn’t need Jimmy G to throw him the touchdown pass. That came from CMC! Aiyuk has double-digit fantasy points in three straight games and with Deebo Samuel out of the lineup, he is living his best fantasy life right now. He has 28 targets through three games – we like that! Most of those have mainly been underneath, on short to intermediate routes that aim at getting the speedy receiver running at the defense aiming to make big plays.

https://gfycat.com/thisslowhogget

 

Yes, we have a George Kittle touchdown to celebrate for the second straight week. The big unit at tight end put to bed a barren run dating back to last season before finding the end zone in garbage time last week. This week he also left it late, sowing up the 49ers win with a nice route to create himself space in the back of the end zone. Fantasy managers have invested a lot in Kittle over the last few seasons. Could this be the return we have waited for? It’s promising.

 

Los Angeles Rams

 

Quarterback

 

Matthew Stafford: 22/33, 187 Yards, TD | 2 Carries, -1 Yards, TD

 

Matthew Stafford came out of the Rams bye week looking much like the quarterback that has struggled mightily to galvanize this offense in 2022. Stafford was plagued by poor throws, misunderstandings with his receivers and ineffective play calling. The Rams had a remarkable seven chances to hit the end zone from inside the 49ers 10-yard line on their first touchdown drive before Stafford finally put his body on the line to force the ball over.

 

It was a worrying sequence of plays masked by the fact the Rams actually found a way to score. However, it was an omen for the second half when everything fell apart. Stafford failed to move the sticks through the air resulting in the Rams punting on four straight drives in the second half, three of those going three-and-out. Stafford was guilty of holding onto the ball for too long on deep drop backs, hesitant to let the ball fly and costing his team dearly for it.

 

Despite putting up his second-best fantasy score of the season, Stafford is below par in real life and in fantasy. He isn’t really a viable option at the position for fantasy purposes. Stafford had 150 yards at half time. He threw for just 37 yards after the half. Grim.

 

Running Back

 

Ronnie Rivers: 8 Carries, 21 Yards | 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 15 Yards

Darrell Henderson Jr.: 4 Carries, 16 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 14 Yards

Malcolm Brown: 5 Carries, 10 Yards

 

The disaster that is the Rams backfield took another disappointing twist in this game with undrafted rookie running back Ronnie Rivers getting the start in favor of a perennially under-utilized Darrell Henderson Jr. on the ground. Well, that wasn’t a great decision. Rivers looked pedestrian at best and failed the eye test during his first ever NFL start. Rivers put up a ugly 2.6 yards per carry and looked a good step slower than Henderson did when he came in.

His only noteworthy contribution was a smart cut inside to gain the yards needed on a third and one that then setup Stafford to throw a touchdown to Kupp.

https://gfycat.com/fearfulcoarsecuttlefish

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Cooper Kupp: 2 Carries, 10 Yards | 12 Targets, 8 Receptions, 79 Yards, TD

Allen Robinson II: 7 Targets, 5 Receptions, 54 Yards

Tyler Higbee: 6 Targets, 2 Receptions, 15 Yards

Ben Skowronek: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 10 Yards

 

Do you want the bad news or the very bad news? Fantasy superstar receiver Cooper Kupp failed to live up to expectations in his game despite hauling in an early touchdown pass from his quarterback to put the Rams up 14-7 with half time approaching – bad.

 

Kupp then injured his ankle late in the game as the Rams pointlessly tried to score with the game already lost. After the contest, Sean McVay said he was “kicking himself” for making that decision. It could be very costly for fantasy managers everywhere. Losing Kupp would be devastating for a receiving corps that is all but “dead on arrival” without the receiver.

If Allen Robinson II fans wanted to believe, then there was a glimmer of hope in this game as Stafford showed an increasing willingness to throw in the former Bears receiver’s direction. Robinson put up a season high in targets and catches and finally looks to be building a rapport with his quarterback. This was a nice grab.

 

Tyler Higbee was the fantasy villain in this one. Catching just two of his six targets, he was guilty of a terrible drop in the third quarter while the game was still in reach. Higbee ran a perfect route and the pick play was on, with Kupp ready to block for him against the last defender. Higbee could have made it a three point game with plenty of time left on the clock.

https://gfycat.com/detailedperiodicchamois

Series Navigation
Introduction
Ravens @ Buccaneers
Broncos @ Jaguars
Panthers @ Falcons
Bears @ Cowboys
Dolphins @ Lions
Cardinals @ Vikings
Raiders @ Saints
Patriots @ Jets
Steelers @ Eagles
Titans @ Texans
Commanders @ Colts
49ers @ Rams
Giants @ Seahawks
Packers @ Bills

One response to “What We Saw: Week 8”

  1. Jameis Winston says:
    October 31, 2022 at 8:59 pm

    Debbie Downer masterclass.

    Reply

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