Blue Rated Wideouts Week 8 2022

The volatile scoring nature of the wide receiver position may cause more start-sit headaches for fantasy managers than any other position, but when things go well wide receivers can post point totals capable of winning fantasy games.

How does one know which wide receivers are capable of posting those game-winning point totals? My player grading system (a full version of which can be found at TheFootballScientist.com) aims to identify these players via an overall/upside/downside approach. A player's overall grade measures his likely performance, the downside the grade indicates how a player is apt to fare if things go poorly for him that week, and the upside grade measures the scoring ceiling of a player if things go well in a given contest.

This grading system also uses five color-coded categories: blue (indicating someone who can post elite point totals), green (a strong starter), yellow (a solid backup or a potential starter in bye weeks or deep leagues), orange (a desperation play), and red (someone who should not be started).

This means fantasy managers who are looking for big scoring potential at wide receiver should aim for someone who has a blue-rated upside grade (which is 90-100 in my system). This weekly article series will identify all the blue-rated upside wideouts in a given week and then provide details on a few of the unexpected candidates on this board. It will also detail the strength of the matchup each of these receivers is facing via a matchup points total of 1-100, with 100 being most favorable.

Week 8 wide receivers with blue-rated upside




This is the thinnest group of blue-rated wide receivers in the 2022 season due in part to injuries to Ja'Marr Chase and Deebo Samuel, but also because scoring volume is down and rushing production is up around much of the league. This list could also be culled down by another wideout if Davante Adams, who has missed practice due to a severe case of the flu, is ruled out this week.

Having noted this, here are some borderline blue-rated upside wide receivers that should be placed into lineups in Week 8.
 

DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona

There was a bit of a concern that Hopkins would need some time to get back to his workhorse wideout ways, but those concerns were short-lived since he racked up 10 receptions on 14 targets last week. This game against Minnesota could turn into a shootout, so Hopkins has 20+ point upside in full PPR leagues.

DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia

The Steelers secondary has returned to full health now, so the upside avenues that might have been there a few weeks ago are gone, but Pittsburgh will likely prefer to have Jalen Hurts throwing rather than running, so that should open up coverage scheme opportunities for Smith to post his fifth game with 15+ PPR points.

Tee Higgins, Cincinnati

Higgins had something of an increase in his production last week during the passing yardage explosion that the Bengals offense saw, but it still had to be disappointing to see him post only 14.3 PPR points. That has a very good chance of improving this week, as Higgins will be a primary beneficiary of the targets that will be redistributed due to Chase's injury.

Jaylen Waddle, Miami

Waddle is batting a shoulder injury and the Dolphins may just decide to run the ball against a weak Detroit rush defense that also gives the Miami ground game 100 matchup points, but this type of upside cannot be overlooked. This means if Waddle is good to go to play on Sunday, he belongs in all lineups.