Weekly Connections with Brian Lafontaine July 27, 2025
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Fantasy Football with Frank Ober – Week 8 delivers crucial insights for fantasy managers! Frank shares top trade targets, waiver wire gems, and key matchups to exploit. Don’t miss his expert tips on lineup decisions and strategies to gain an edge in your league.
Week 7 was a tough fantasy football week as scoring was down. Help is potentially on the way in week 8. QB Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins is expected to return, which is great news for owners of WRs Tyreek Hill and Jayden Waddle who have been completely invisible since Tua went down with a concussion. In addition, WR Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams and RB Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts are both expected back in action week 8. Another scoring boost is the trade of WR DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs. This not only significantly increases his value, but the value of QB Patrick Mahomes who was missing a true number one WR after Rashee Rice was injured.
QB Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns tore his Achilles tendon and is out for the year. With the Browns having traded WR Amari Cooper last week, there is little fantasy football value left on this team. RB Nick Chubb returned in week 7 after a lengthy recovery period. He did score a TD although his rushing numbers were not great. Historically, Chubb is an outstanding RB who performed better when Deshaun Watson was not the starting QB. Replacing Deshaun Watson will be Jameis Winston who has had occasional success in the NFL but tends to turn the ball over. He has a gunslinger mentality.
The Las Vegas Raiders benched QB Gardner Minshew in favor of Aidan O’Connell in week 7. O’Connell got injured against the Los Angeles Rams, so Gardner Minshew was reinserted. He promptly turned the ball over four times. Like the Cleveland Browns, the Las Vegas Raiders are a mess. However, TE Brock Bowers is a must start as he is the sole remaining receiving weapon. RB Alexander Mattison is low-end starter provided he continues as the lead RB.
QB Marcus Mariota of the Washington Commanders will replace Jayden Daniels if he cannot play due to his rib injury. Mariota had a particularly good game replacing Daniels in week 7 but that was against the Carolina Panthers. Mariota does have upside as a temporary replacement due to his rushing ability. Play him only out of desperation.
QB: Sam Darnold (Minnesota Vikings) 298 total yards, 1 TD, 1 Int
Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams) 152 total yards, 0 TD, 1 Int
RB: J.K. Dobbins (Los Angeles Chargers) 3 receptions, 66 total yards, 0 TDs
Raheem Mostert (Miami Dolphins) 0 receptions, 50 total yards, 0 TDs
WR: Dionte Johnson (Carolina Panthers) 1 reception, 17 total yards, 0 TDs
Tee Higgins (Cincinnati Bengals) 4 receptions, 82 total yards, 1 TD
TE: Dalton Schultz (Houston Texans) 1 reception, 28 total yards, 0 TDs
Sleeper: Grant Calcaterra (Philadelphia Eagles) 1 reception, 5 total yards, 0 TDs
PK: Cameron Dicker (Los Angeles Chargers) 15 points, 0 PATs, 5 FGs
Austin Seibert (Washington Commanders) 16 points, 4 PATs, 4 FGs
DF: New York Jets: 37 points against, 409 total yards allowed, 1 sack, 0 takeaways
Cincinnati Bengals: 14 points against, 336 total yards allowed, 4 sacks, 2 takeaways, 1 TD
QB: Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders)
Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
RB: Kareem Hunt (Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders)
Javonte Williams (Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers)
WR: Stefon Diggs (Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts)
Keenan Allen (Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders)
TE: Cade Otton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons)
Hunter Henry (New England Patriots vs. New York Jets)
PK: Will Reichard (Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams)
Wil Lutz (Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers)
DF: Detroit Lions (vs. Tennessee Titans)
Los Angeles Chargers (vs. New Orleans Saints)
New Orleans Saints (+2.5) vs. Denver Broncos Final Score: Den. 33 NO 10
New York Jets (-1.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers Final Score: Pitt. 37 NYJ 15
Baltimore Ravens (-3.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Final Score: Bal. 41 TB 31
Week 7 Record: 1 – 2 Season Record: 11 – 10
This is a potential trap game for the Vikings, but I think the Rams will have trouble containing WR Justin Jefferson and find it tough going against the Vikings’ defense.
The Cowboys’ defense has not played up to expectations and is susceptible to the run. The 49ers have injuries on offense, so I think they will run the ball to set up play action passing. With both teams having issues, take the points.
Starting QB Russell Wilson opened the passing game for the Steelers to compliment their running game. The Giants will have difficulty running the ball, which means they will have to rely upon QB Daniel Jones. Not a good scenario.
