Week 8 Offensive Sleepers

Photo: Greg M. Cooper, USA Today Sports

Quarterback

Justin Fields, Chicago (at Dallas)

Fields was a revelation on Monday against a Patriots defense that has humbled many a young quarterback during the Bill Belichick era. This week we learned from Fields that the Bears have incorporated some of the designated quarterback runs from the Lamar Jackson Ravens playbook, which is exciting for his fantasy value going forward. The Cowboys get after the quarterback, but that can create the lanes for an athletic quarterback like Fields to rip off big gains as a runner.

Daniel Jones, New York Giants (at Seattle)

Jones was unleashed as a runner last week as the Giants used the pressure that Saquon Barkley creates to load the box and stop to run to open up large tracts of land for Jones to traverse. The Seahawks gave up a 100-yard rushing game to Kyler Murray two weeks ago, and they also allowed a rushing score to Marcus Mariota earlier this year. Jones actually has three passing scores in the last two weeks to add a modest passing floor to his rushing upside.

Sam Ehlinger, Indianapolis (vs Washington)

Ehlinger’s first game as the Colts' starting quarterback should include some scrambling and perhaps even plays called for him to run the ball while the defense focuses on Jonathan Taylor. He’ll also have the advantage of facing a defense with no NFL film to diagnose his strengths and weaknesses and how the Colts will use him. Washington has given up a passing score in every game this year, and they average two passing scores allowed a game.

Andy Dalton, New Orleans (vs Las Vegas)

Dalton is still the Saints quarterback, even though he threw two touchdowns to the opposition last week. He also threw four to the Saints, which expanded our view of his weekly ceiling. The Raiders just gave up 302 yards passing and two scores to Davis Mills last week. The only quarterbacks that didn’t throw for multiple scores against them (Ryan Tannehill and Kyler Murray) added a rushing score. Even Russell Wilson had a good game against the Raiders this season.

Running Back

DOnta Foreman, Carolina (at Atlanta)

Foreman and Chuba Hubbard revived the Panthers' running game last week against the stout (until Week 7) Bucs run defense. Hubbard didn’t practice on Wednesday and Thursday, so Foreman should lead the way with Raheem Blackshear behind him. The Panthers are facing a Falcons team that probably won’t open up a lead and force Carolina to abandon the run, so Foreman should get enough work to merit an emergency RB2 start with some big play upside after he ripped off a 60-yard run last week.

Khalil Herbert, Chicago (at Dallas)

Herbert got more work last week after the Bears actually follow through on the “hot hand” approach. Herbert scored on a 25-yard screen pass, exactly the kind of play that can take advantage of an aggressive Cowboys pass rush that gets up the field quickly. There’s also an outside chance the Bears could look to trade David Montgomery at next week’s trade deadline and prefer not to overwork him to limit the chance of injury, which would give more work to Herbert.