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Fantasy Football Rankings: Hayden Winks’ WR Blueprint for Week 8

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The Blueprint is my weekly column and basically everything that I use to build out the most accurate rankings I can. There will be an RB column, this WR column and a combination column on the onesie positions. You will find film notes and endless charts. Maybe enough charts to stress test the Yahoo website. I kid.

It’s impossible to get every ranking thoroughly by Thursday Night Football, so be sure to keep checking in on these columns through Sunday morning. As always, my full rankings at every position are available.

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1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (vs. CHI) – 99.5 proj. receiving yards

JSN is the WR1 on WR3 usage this season, and things could smooth out moving forward with LG Quenton Nelson joining the squad. He had a wild 46% target share last week in a brutal matchup with the Chiefs, overcoming legit bracket coverage en route to 150 yards and a WR1 overall finish. There’s no stopping him right now.

He faces a Bears defense allowing the 19th-most half PPR points to WRs and just added elite DT Jeffery Simmons, but they’ve allowed the fourth-most points on deep targets where JSN has 15 looks this year. Seattle enters as 3-point home favorites with an implied total of 24.75 points (10th).

(Photo by Hayden Winks/Yahoo Sports)

(Photo by Hayden Winks/Yahoo Sports)

2. Puka Nacua (vs. LAC) – 89.5 proj. receiving yards

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Nacua doesn’t look anywhere near 100% healthy, and it really has not mattered for his box scores for now. He’s the WR1 on WR1 usage over his last four games since his “pre hernia” absence. Only Jaxon Smith-Njigba is in his zip code right now. The loss of Davante Adams will be a net win for Nacua, especially in the red zone. The Rams used three+ TEs on a season-high 35 snaps last week. And nine of 10 targets to Nacua were within 10 air yards. This will be a “we’re tougher than you” offense for as long as their bodies can hold up.

(Photo by Hayden Winks/Yahoo Sports)

(Photo by Hayden Winks/Yahoo Sports)

The Chargers sell out to stop deep passes, funneling everything to RB runs or underneath passes. That’s how Nacua has operated recently, and the Chargers won’t have SCB Derwin James (IR) to clean things up. Another healthy 26.0-point team total (fifth) awaits.

3. CeeDee Lamb (vs. ARI) – 79.5 proj. receiving yards

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4. Ja’Marr Chase (vs. TEN) – 79.5 proj. receiving yards

If we remove Week 1 after a late training camp injury and Week 4’s concussion game, Chase has been the WR5, WR5, WR13 and WR15 this season. Keep in mind that Tee Higgins is pacing for 1,618 receiving yards himself. The ceiling remains elite even if we haven’t seen it as often so far. The Bengals led the NFL with a 65% neutral pass rate and have had the highest success rate on deep targets. The signature 30+ game is coming from Chase.

(Photo by Hayden Winks/Yahoo Sports)

(Photo by Hayden Winks/Yahoo Sports)

Tennessee ranks 10th in half PPR points allowed to opposing WRs, including the most points allowed per game on targets under 10 air yards, where Chase has earned 30 targets already. Cincinnati carries an implied team total of 29.0 points (second) as 10-point home favorites. This is an excellent spot.

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5. Zay Flowers (at BUF) – 79.5 proj. receiving yards

The Flowers magic continued, even without Lamar Jackson again. He’s so quick on tape, and new OC Declan Doyle is using him like he’s the most important person in his life. A long screen TD started off the game in Week 7, but Flowers also had an easy shallow drag completion, was put in motion at the snap for a target and hit on a great dig route over the middle. None of this is new. Despite half games and starts with backups, Flowers is the WR5 on WR14 usage. His 3.7 yards per route run are the best in the league, and only four of 54 targets have been contested. Wild stuff.

(Photo by Hayden Winks/Yahoo Sports)

(Photo by Hayden Winks/Yahoo Sports)

Now he draws a Bills secondary that has allowed the most half PPR points per game to wideouts, including top-five marks across deep (15+ air yards), intermediate (5-20) and shallow (under 10) zones. They will shadow with CB1 Christian Benford, but he’s not fast enough while playing through injuries to slow Flowers down much.

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6. Tee Higgins (vs. TEN) – 69.5 proj. receiving yards

As mentioned, Higgins is on pace for 1,618 receiving yards. This month, he’s the WR5 on WR16 usage. His tape is the best it’s ever been, operating as a real deal No. 1 target on intermediate breaking routes on top of his signature catch point moments near the sideline. He was outstanding against the Ravens’ loaded secondary last week, finishing as the WR2 overall with 148 yards.

He had a 3rd-and-3 slant win that twisted up a press corner. He stacked Nate Wiggins on a go ball up the sideline. He stole a dig route by coming back to the ball against a zone LB. And he scored from the No. 3 spot in a trips set on a skinny post against Kyle Hamilton. Yahoo’s Football 301 noted that Higgins had been positioned there just 14 times in his NFL career and the first time he was there this entire season:

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