NFL Week 8 Bold Predictions: 4 Bold Calls for This Week's Games

NFL Bold Predictions for Week 8 at a Glance

• Chase Brown Scores Two Touchdowns
• Trevor Lawrence Finishes as the Overall QB1
• George Pickens Tops 150 Receiving Yards and Scores Twice
• Jaxon Smith-Njigba Goes for 200 Receiving Yards

One of the best parts about each NFL week is trying to predict the unexpected.

Fantasy football naturally plays a big role in these predictions, but we're not limiting ourselves strictly to start/sit decisions or fantasy scoring. Instead, we'll take some bigger swings on individual performances that could shape both fantasy matchups and the NFL Week 8 betting slate.

Which players could produce monster performances this week? Here are four bold predictions for NFL Week 8.

All NFL odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

This Week’s Best NFL Bold Predictions: Week 8

Chase Brown Scores Two Touchdowns

The production hasn't always matched the workload for Chase Brown, but this feels like the week when that changes in a big way.

Brown has recorded at least 15 touches in every game for the Cincinnati Bengals, including three games with at least 20. He hasn't scored since Week 1, so fantasy managers have understandably been frustrated, but the sustained workload means the touchdown opportunities should eventually come in Cincy’s high-powered attack.

A matchup with the Tennessee Titans is about as good as Brown could ask for. Since Week 5, Tennessee has surrendered 4.9 yards per carry and a 14.7% explosive-run rate to opposing running backs, and Cincinnati enters the matchup as a sizable home favorite.

That combination could produce plenty of positive game script and multiple trips into scoring territory for Brown. I'll take it one step further and call for him to find the end zone twice, turning what has been a frustrating fantasy season into his best performance of the year.

Trevor Lawrence Finishes as the Overall QB1

It's difficult to find many quarterbacks playing better than Trevor Lawrence right now.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ quarterback has thrown for 1,480 yards, 14 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions through six games. Lawrence has been particularly hot over his last two appearances, combining for 637 passing yards and 6 touchdowns while topping 300 yards in each contest.

Now he gets a home matchup with the Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis has surrendered 1,592 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions while allowing 7.5 yards per pass attempt. The Colts have also generated only 13 sacks, so Lawrence should have opportunities to attack downfield without facing overwhelming pressure.

There are quarterbacks with higher weekly fantasy expectations, which is what makes this a bold prediction, but Lawrence has already delivered four-touchdown performances twice this season. Another eruption could be enough to make him fantasy football's overall QB1 in Week 8.

George Pickens Tops 150 Receiving Yards and Scores Twice

This one is admittedly ambitious, but the matchup for George Pickens is too appealing to ignore.

Pickens has totaled 37 receptions for 485 yards and 2 touchdowns through seven games for the Dallas Cowboys. He's shown his ceiling with a 9-catch, 130-yard, 1-touchdown outing already this season, and he has accounted for 260 yards and 2 scores over his last three games.

Enter the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona has allowed an NFL-high 17 passing touchdowns through seven games while surrendering 8.5 yards per pass attempt and a 112.5 opposing passer rating. Wide receivers alone have compiled 1,068 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns against the Cards.

Pickens has the contested-catch ability and downfield role to capitalize on that weakness. I'm calling for his first true nuclear performance of the season: at least 150 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Goes for 200 Receiving Yards

At this point, predicting a big game from Jaxon Smith-Njigba isn't especially bold. Predicting 200 yards, however, certainly qualifies.

Smith-Njigba has been spectacular for the Seattle Seahawks, producing 58 catches, 867 yards and 8 touchdowns through seven games. That's 123.9 receiving yards per game, and he has surpassed 100 yards in six of his seven appearances, including 150 yards last week.

Monday's matchup with the Chicago Bears gives him a realistic opportunity to push that ceiling even higher. Chicago has allowed 8.7 yards per pass attempt and 1,689 passing yards while wide receivers have been especially productive against this defense.

Smith-Njigba's workload gives him sky-high upside. He's averaging more than 11 targets per game and has already posted outings of 155 and 150 yards this year. With another double-digit-target night likely on tap, I'm calling for him to take the next step and record the first 200-yard receiving game of his season.

Fantasy Football Bold Predictions FAQ

What is a bold prediction in fantasy football?

A bold prediction is an outcome that goes beyond the week's consensus expectations but still has a realistic path to happening. That could include a player significantly outperforming his ranking, an unexpected breakout game, or a highly ranked player struggling.

What factors go into weekly fantasy football bold predictions?

Matchups, injuries, projected workload, target volume, snap rate, recent performance, and changes to a player's role can all factor into weekly bold predictions.

Should bold predictions influence start/sit decisions?

They can provide another perspective, but they shouldn't be the only factor in a lineup decision. Fantasy managers should also consider player rankings, projected usage, matchup quality, and their available alternatives.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.