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Week 8 Results

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Week 8 of the NFL is done and dusted, so how did you do? There were some pretty easy games t predict, then there were some real head-shakers (talking to you Green Bay).
The Jets continued to suck, the Giants blew another one and the Titans might need a bit of a re-think after a big ‘L’ in W.

Wade McElwain finished Week 8 with a 10-4 record, while Ryan Cull wrapped up a mid-range 7-7 tally. Wade also hit all of his upsets, including the Dolphins, Bengals, & Vikings to cover. He was also lucky that the Chiefs were able to have some ‘fun ball’ against the lowly Jets.
Let’s take a look at some of the games they got right.

Titans 20 vs Bengals 31

Stop Derrick Henry, and you have a chance in this game. And that’s exactly what the Bengals did, stuffing Henry and silencing Tannehill in the first half. Joe Burrow was a beast, throwing for 249 yards against a tough D, and spreading the ball around to 7 different receivers. The Bengals now have 2 wins, but the way that they are playing, they should have a few more.

Vikings 28 Packers 22

It’s not easy to stroll into Lambeau and rub fresh dog dirt into the face of Aaron Rodgers, but that’s exactly what the Vikings did. Mattison has been a solid running back option for the Vikes, but it wasn’t until Dalvin Cook returned that the tea showed how much they missed him. He gashed the Pack all day, as they struggled to contain him. Green Bay might have been looking towards their TNF game against the 49ers, which didn’t help them. Minnesota looked like the team that people predicted at the start of the season.

LA Rams 17 Miami 28

Tua gets hist first big win, or does he? Tua looked more like a streetcar driver than a QB, simply just following along the route, rather than affecting it. He had less than 100 yards all day, relying on his special teams and D to get the W. Would Fitzmagic have score more points? Deffo! Tua better learn to command the pocket, or he’ll find himself in the back pocket of the starting QB soon. Miami has a scary D that teams need to worry about.

Chargers 30 Broncos 31

The Chargers are the new Falcons, blowing lead after lead despite the heroic efforts of Justin Herbert. You can even smell it happening, as they D is simply overwhelmed at the constant barrage to their youth and inexperience. It’s easy to root for the likeable Herbert, but it’s tough to watch him build up a big lead, only for the defence to squander it away. Wade said that the Broncos D would keep it close, and they sure made the difference here.

Who will be the big upsets this week? Make sure you listen to our podcast every week so that you can pick up on Wade and Ryan’s big tips of the week.
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Wade’s Week 8

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And just like that, we’re halfway through the 2020 NFL season, which has to be the oddest ones that I can remember. A deadly virus, crippling injuries, and some terribly crap-tastic coaching have all featured in an NFL season brought to you by Covid-19 .
Our thoughts go out to everyone in the sports and hospitality industries who are facing ruin thanks to this ‘new normal’. Hopefully we can all be out in a bar or pub soon, cheering on our favourite NFL teams.

To help all you NFL fans out I have another round of my top picks and upsets, in ‘Wade’s Week 8’, I outline the top value you can get from looking at the lines and over/unders for this week.
Over the past 5 weeks, my upset record is 17-2, so hopefully you have been making some cash off of my NFL insight.
Or maybe you’re just ignoring me and hoping I make you food, like my kid does.
Here are some of the top picks for Week 8.

Vikings (1-5) vs Packers (5-1)
Packers -7  +54.5

Aaron Rodgers and co. have been playing fantastic football all season. However like every team, the Packers are not immune to injury. This was evident when the Packers face the Bucs and lost Bahktiari early in the game. As soon as they did, the Bucs D swarmed all over them. Bahktari is questionable for Sunday, which should give the Vikings more opportunities.
The Vikings have only won 1 game, but have put up buckets of points in most games.
Justin Jefferson has been a speedy God send, and he should factor in on Sunday against a Packers team who is weak against speedy receivers.
This game means more to the Vikings than the Packers if they hope to stem the downfall of the team this season.
Vikings to cover.
Packers 31 Vikings 25

LA Rams (5-2) vs Dolphins (3-3)
Rams -3.5  +46

It’s Tua time, as Flores ditches the popular Fitzpatick to give the young rookie a chance. The Rams have started to find their momentum, as their D is making it very hard for opposing quarterbacks.
It’s always hard to prepare for a QB you have never seen, as there is no game tape or footage to help you figure out his weaknesses.
Miami has had a hot hand under Fitzy, with the team playing with joy, as they take over second place in the AFC East.
Make no mistake, these Dolphins are no joke, as proven by their beating of the 49ers a few weeks ago.
Dolphins are at home, and they will be playing for a win, and they’ll get it.
Dolphins win.
Miami 24 Rams 23

LA Chargers (2-4) vs Broncos (2-4)
Chargers -3  +44

Always bet on injuries. It’s a formula that I have used in my NFL betting career. And boy do the Chargers have a lot of injuries. Their whole O-line is pretty much pooched, leaving rookie Justin Herbert a target on every play.
Despite sucking this year, the Broncos have a fast & furious defence that choked Mahomes down for 3 sacks last week. And that was against a healthy Chiefs, imagine what they will do this week.
Originally, I was in favour of Herbert having a lovely game, but seeing how many lineman he is missing, I am opting for the Broncos in this divisional match. Heck they might even win outright.
Broncos cover
Chargers 26 Broncos 24

These are just the big upsets that I see for this week, as there are certain games that I really don’t want to touch. Call it Halloween superstition, but there are too many X Factors in some of these games.
Including:

Titans (-6) vs Bengals
The Bengals are hurting, but they can also strike back like a cobra. We have seen in past weeks hot to stop and hit the Titans, but the Bengals lack the equipment to pull this off. I can see the Bengals covering in this one.
Titans 30 Bengals 26

Steelers vs Ravens (-3.5)
The Ravens benefit from a bye week, which means that they should be fully prepped, especially after their recent slate of additions. The Steelers are the only team with a perfect record, which can be an addiction to chase. But they will be chasing the Ravens all day.
Ravens 31 Steelers 26

Overs

Overs have been huge this season, as the lack of fans seems to have had an impact on gameplay. There are a few games that I think could be perfect for overs this week, including:

  • Colts vs Lions +50
  • Vikings vs Packers +54.5
  • Raiders vs Browns +54

DraftKings

If you like Fantasy NFL, join our DraftKings League to have some fun, and win cash every week.
Our League is called NFL in London, and you can join it right here.

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DraftKings Week 8

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Given the way 2020 has been playing out, Fantasy seems to be working a lot better than reality. This year has felt like you’re a Jets fan who has been stuck in a lift with a Cowboys fan & a Patriots fan, while you wait for a Bucs fan to call for help. That sucky.

Thankfully, we have been playing a lot of DraftKings this season, and you can play along with us in our NFL in London League. It’s free to join, and we have FREE and PAID contests to jump into.
Here are some of my top picks for Week 8 on Halloween Weekend.

QBs

Aaron Rodgers $7600

A-Aron is playing like a man possessed, which is fitting heading into a Halloween weekend. Rodgers was on a tear last week, tapping Devante Adams like a slot machine last week. Heading into week 8 against a sad Vikings defence, it’s hard not to imagine him ripping poor Minnesota apart. Sure, he’s pricy, but you deserve it…it’s the end of the month.

Justin Herbert $6900

Anyone who plays me in Fantasy this year knows that I took Herbert in EVERY pool right off the back. He was my backup to Russell Wilson, and this tandem has kept me in first place in all of my leagues.
Any team watching Herbert play now must be thinking ‘damn!’. He is lighting it up with a weakened O-line and not too many faulty receivers to toss to. Imagine if he was on a great team? He will continue to impress this week.

RBs

Le’Veon Bell $4600

Ding a ling bitches, Le’veon is back! And he might suck. Bell is facing his former Jets team, so he might be motivated to jam it down their throats. Of course, he has to get fed the ball first. He might get barely any touches, and he might be stuffed like a crust every time he tries to cross the line, but at $4600 he will more likely be used in short yardage than CEH.

JaMycal Hasty $5000

Who wants to be a 49ers running back? It seems there is a new guy every week, and Hasty is November’s flavour of the month. Wilson Jr (?) looked great last week until he was injured, so that means another guy enters the rotation. The 49ers have as many RBs as the Bears had TE’s, and they all seem to be pretty good. Hasty is a fun name to say, and brings value against a Seahawks team that struggles against the run.

Derrick Henry $8000

The beast of the east is loose, and the Bengals should be very afraid. Henry was limited against the Steelers last week, but the Bengals have none of the tools to stop him. Henry is the priciest player of the week, which brings with it financial draw backs. Henry is primed for at least 2 TDs and potentially 200+ yards rushing, so you should be in safe hands.

WRs

Devante Adams $8800

Adams cooked up over 40 fantasy points last week, and has hot hands heading into week 8. Adams and Rodgers were in synch last week, in some sort of beautiful ballet of football. He catches more sticky balls than Paris Hilton in the 2000s, and the Vikings will have no answer for him in week 8.

Keenan Allen $6200 

Now that he is fully back, Allen is the #1 go to guy for Herbert. He has the hands and wheels to cause problems in the Broncos backfield. Herbert will struggle against that fast front of Denver, but that should allow him to feed Keenan for short route, big run gains.

Nelson Agholor $4700

Old man Agholor? Yes, the Philly flop has been trying to find his groove in Vegas, and had some pretty good deep ball receptions last week. Carr & the Raiders are struggling on offence, and the Browns are known to give up big yard plays. Nelson should factor in some big plays, which should get you some value points.

TE

Jonnu Smith $4100

The big man should be able to gash the Bengals for redzone TDs. Smith has solid hands, and is a key factor in opening up the field of play. He’s usually good for 1TD, but given the woeful state of the Bengals D, he could see more.

Hunter Henry $4200

Henry has been a solid performer for Herbert, and has been solid in short yardage and Redzone opportunities. With a limited amount of tools to choose from, Henry is a reliable TE for this game.

NFL in London League

If you don’t play DraftKings already, then you might want to join ours. It’s free and fun. We have loads of contests to choose from. Just join here!
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Have a great week 8!

 

Week 8 Podcast

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Halfway through the season, and what a journey is has been.
In our Week 8 Podcast, Wade & Ryan reflect on the season thus far, and some of the top stories that have dominated the league. (hint:Covid plays a big part).
The boys also look back at the Week 7 games in the league, with such storylines as ‘Patriots Piss Themselves’ ‘St. Justin Hubert’, and ‘Dalton Losses his Head’, leading the front pages.

Ryan and Wade then dive into their week 8 predictions, treading carefully not to touch on their own teams lest Lady Luck flick them in the nads.
Among some of the top predictions the guys make for Week 8 include:

LA Rams (5-2) vs Dolphins (3-3)
Rams -3.5  +46

The Rams are fresh after a beating of the Bears on Monday night, but are they really that good? Their D is fast and furious, but Goff and the O have been more of whimper.
Flores has taken Fitzmagic out of the magic hat, giving Tua his first shot at an NFL start.
Miami is at home, so it reckons that they have a plan for this one, as 4 wins would move them up nicely to second in the AFC East.
Ryan thinks that the Rams will dominate this one, but Wade smells a Miami upset.
Ryan- Rams 27 Dolphins 14
Wade- Dolphins 24 Rams 23

Patriots (2-4) vs Bills (5-2)
Bills -3.5  +44

These records would have been reversed a few years ago, as fans across the League are revelling in the Pats sucking off a start to the 2020 NFL season. The Bills have lost focus the last few games, with Josh Allen not looking like the beast he was to start.
The Patriots look like that they are in free fall, with rumours circling that they are having a ‘fire sale’ to get rid of some of their top talent to trades, in what looks to be a signal of a rebuild.
Ryan hates betting on his own Bills, especially on games where dildo’s are involved.
Wade likes betting on both teams, as he has no favour in either of them.
Ryan- Patriots 23 Bills 20
Wade- Bills 27 Patriots 21

Steelers (6-0) vs Ravens (5-1)
Ravens -3.5  +49

Teams coming off a bye usually have energy and focus to lay a beating on the first team that they face back, although the Steelers struggled with the Eagles a few weeks ago.
The Ravens spent their week off shoring up their D and adding Dez Bryant to their practice squad.
Pittsburgh has benefitted with a plethora of scoring options each week, with new receivers seemingly popping out of the woodwork to add TDs to the tally. Big Bloated Ben has been inconsistent, yet effective-which still gets wins.
The Ravens will be angry in this contest, which will make it tough for the Steelers to build up momentum on drives. They will need their D to stand on their heads in this one.
Wade & Ryan both see a big game here, with the Ravens ultimately coming out on top.
Ryan- Ravens 30 Steelers 20
Wade- Ravens 31 Steelers 26

Saints (4-2) vs Bears (5-2)
Saints  -4 +44.5

The Saints are marching in to Soldier Field, albeit with more injuries than they would have wanted.
The Bears are searching for their offence, which could use some Viagra as they could use a stiffening up.
Chicago is coming off a loss to the Rams, in which they were bloody awful at scoring. New Orleans is fighting some sort of drama, with Michael Thomas acting like a petulant wide receiver. One wonders if Thomas will ever really come back, as he seems more addicted to spreading misery.
Ryan is bullish on the Bears, and thinks that the Saints are not as good as they seem.
Wade isn’t as confident on his Bears, and sees things getting worse before they get better.
Ryan- Bears 26 Saints 24
Wade- Saints 30 Bears 22

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Have a great week 8, and make sure that you listen to the whole podcast.

Head Gase

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Adam Gase still has a job, which might be one of the more messed up things to happen in 2020. The Jets are the worst team in the NFL, which makes Gase the de facto worst coach in the NFL, so why is this happening?
Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why:

Woody Johnson

Ambassador Johnson is a busy man. The Jets owner is not only an Ambassador to the UK, but also the scion to the Johnson & Johnson empire. Johnson has been busy working as a British interpreter to Donal Trump, as well as helping the US navigate the upcoming Brexit.
Johnson was supposed to devolve all Jets activities, but you have to wonder if his touch is missing on the team.
It’s like having your neighbours train your puppy. It might be convenient now, but what kind of dog are you going to get?
In the case of the Jets, a bad dog. A very bad dog.

Sam Darnold

Gase chose a solid rookie QB in Sam Darnold, now we can all watch as Gase slowly crumbles the young mans career. Darnold is getting absolutely smoked with no O-line to protect him, and he is aging far too fast in NFL years. Giving Darnold to Gase was like giving a Fabrege Egg to a toddler. He’s just going to smash it up, then ask for a new one.

Player Vacation

The Jets are jettisoning players like someone threw a grenade in their fuselage. They have lost talent on every side of the ball, and it will take years to recover the amount of guys who had fled the sinking Jet. In doesn’t instils much confidence in fans when no one wants to play for your team, as well as thinking that you have the worst playable field in the league. Until Gase leaves, this haemorrhaging will continue to bleed New York of talent.

Play Calling

Someone needs to take Gase off the play calling role. He has too many fingers in too many pockets, which ultimately leads to step in and take the reigns away from him. The Jets plain old suck across everything, so it might make sense for him to take a step back and let someone else tank the team.

Adam Gase will probably make it until the end of the NFL season. The Jets are unlikely to fire the idiot, which means that they will be looking to destroy a new QB next year. Stay in school Trevor Lawrence.