First of all, Halloween is the best holiday of them all. This cannot be debated.
The schedule makers knew what they were doing when they pitted a pair of orange-clad teams against each other tonight.
This candy isn’t cheap, so let’s win a few props!
Whew, right off the bat we’ve got a heavyweight matchup. This is like Freddy vs Jason. Nick Chubb (0.5 bonus) vs Joe Mixon.
Entering Week 8 these are two top 12 running backs.
Chubb is averaging nearly 5 more PPR points per week than Mixon. The funny thing is, Chubb isn’t involved in the passing game.
The defenses in this one aren’t exactly world-beaters against opposing running backs either.
Cleveland enters Week 8 dead last in the league in rushing touchdowns allowed (13) and is 28th in rushing yards after contact.
Cincinnati isn’t much better. They are actually 28th in rushing yards allowed before contact, meaning holes get opened against them.
Both teams are bottom twelve in rush yards allowed.
Chubb is averaging 93.7 yards rushing per contest over his last three. The issue here is he’s nowhere to be found as a receiver. Over that same three-game stretch he has three total catches.
Now we could see Chubb take a bigger role if the Browns shelve Kareem Hunt because of the looming NFL trade deadline on Tuesday.
Mixon could see a bigger role himself now that Ja’Marr Chase is out for a few weeks. Mixon needs to become an outlet receiver for Joe Burrow and those few dump-offs weekly would skyrocket his fantasy value.
Mixon has caught at least three balls in every game this season. If we saw him average 5-6 balls, oh baby, fire up the Voltron boner gif.
I’m going to be four IPAs deep by halftime thanks to my trick-or-treating dad duties. When I stumble to the TV I’m going to hopefully see Joe Mixon get into the endzone as the foundation of a resurgent Bengals offense that is primarily out of the shotgun these days.
Give me Mixon as a treat on Halloween night.
TopProp Play: Mixon > Chubb (+.5)
My second play is a little off the board.
I’m taking Browns Tight End Harrison Bryant (+1.5 bonus) over Hayden Hurst.
Bryant was a stud talent in college and brings a receiving acumen to the Browns that isn’t that far off David Njoku’s.
I like Bryant to step into Njoku’s role and flourish tonight.
Cleveland has targeted their starting tight end 34 times thus far which is tied for the team lead. If Bryant can get 85% of that he’s going to cash for us.
The tricky part here is does Hurst get a bump with Chase out? He very well could. I just don’t see him as someone who can create after the catch. On the year he’s under 100 yards of YAC, so he’s a catch-it-and-fall-down type of guy.
Let’s load up our candy bins with Bryant and hope he doesn’t turn into a piece of candy corn by the game's end.
TopProp Play: Bryant (+1.5) > Hurst
 Go download the TopProp Fantasy app and use my promo code “Drake” to get an instant deposit bonus of up to $50. |
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @DrakeFantasy and @TopPropFantasy so you won’t miss any of my plays this season.
Good luck everyone!