- Former NFL safety Matt Bowen is a veteran of four teams over seven seasons, and now provides analysis for ESPN Insider.
Every Thursday during the 2022 NFL season, Matt Bowen will break down players’ fantasy football value through the lens of a former NFL safety. And he’ll mix it up, too. The matchups to play (or avoid), scheme trends, tape study and more.
With a defined pass-game matchup versus the Detroit Lions defense in Week 8, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is a top-five play in my ranks. Schemed concepts, catch-and-run throws, and he’ll get the ball out quick on RPOs. He’s an upgrade for me, along with a couple backs I have on the radar this week. As far as downgrades for Week 8, there are some bigger names listed below. And, as we do every week, I’ll run through a couple players to monitor, plus my notes from the tape.
Let’s get into it.
Week 8 upgrades
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins
I bumped Tua up to my QB4 this week because of the Dolphins’ matchup with the Detroit. The Lions will play some two-deep and bring pressure, but they are also a heavy man-coverage team (41.3% of coverage snaps). So, let’s focus on Tua, who leads the NFL with 9.6 yards per attempt versus man coverage. Look for RPO reads, schemed in-breakers and crossers — with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle “running away” from defenders. Remember, Tua is a short-to-intermediate dart thrower, who delivers the ball with timing and location. That fits here versus Detroit.
Source: Read Full Article
