Early-season surprises are falling flat. Rookies are warming up. Old faces are showing up and making immediate impacts on old offenses. New schemes are starting to take shape. As we head into Week 8, let's examine some players trending up and down in fantasy football.
Three Up
QB Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Much ado was made about Todd Monken's addition in Baltimore. While it may have taken a few weeks, this revamped offense is currently firing on all cylinders. While that bodes well for Mark Andrews and Zay Flowers, the biggest beneficiary is Lamar Jackson. For years, Greg Roman's offense hamstrung Jackson, not allowing for many deep shots and flowing through the run game. And through the first four weeks, things didn't look too different this year. Jackson averaged just 6.7 intended air yards per pass attempt. Over the last three weeks, he's seen that jump to 9.0. But Monken's offense is known for stretching defenses vertically, and we're starting to see that. Jackson is pushing the ball deeper downfield and excelling in that tole. PFF has Jackson ranked as the league's fifth-best deep ball passer this year. He's passing more frequently than in years past and for more yards. Unfortunately, his touchdown rate is the lowest since his rookie year. Expect that to regress positively, as Jackson looks fantastic in this new offense. Not that you weren't starting him every week, but he belongs in the weekly top-three discussion in fantasy.
RB Darrell Henderson Jr., Los Angeles Rams
After not playing since Week 11 of last year, Henderson showed up days before Week 7's kickoff and solidified his role as the Rams' interim starting running back. He pulled 18 carries to Royce Freeman's 12 but had a stranglehold on the passing-down and goal-line work – the high-value touches. Henderson looked a bit rusty, struggling to do much after contact or rip off big plays. But he has the faith of Sean McVay and knows his assignments, and sometimes that's all you need to be fantasy-relevant as a running back. As his conditioning increases, expect to see him pull away from Freeman as the clear lead back. Before an injury derailed Henderson's 2021 season, he averaged 18 opportunities and 15.7 PPR points per game, providing value as a high-end RB2 in fantasy football. While that won't happen again for the entirety of this season, he should maintain a similar role until Kyen Williams returns, no sooner than Week 11.
WR Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
Puka Nacua and Zay Flowers are the only rookies with more receiving yards than Josh Downs' 401 through Week 8. Downs is just behind Michael Pittman, who has 489 yards. Much of Downs' production came in Week 7, where he amassed 125 yards. But in the two games Gardner Minshew has started, he has been looking Downs' way often. Over the last two weeks, Downs has pulled 14 targets for ten receptions, 146 yards, and two touchdowns. There were some concerns that Downs would struggle in the NFL with his small stature, but he is transitioning well to the next level and much quicker than most expected. He's a gifted route-runner with natural after-the-catch abilities. Playing on a Colts' team that could find themselves from behind often, Downs has top-30 potential for the rest of the season.
Honorable mentions: Rahee Rice, Jaxon-Smith Njigba, Emari Demercado
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