Survivor pools are getting thin, and Week 8 brings a slate that gives players a few real chances to survive. After two more shakeups in Week 7 - the Giants stunning the Texans on the road as double-digit underdogs and the Jets falling to a Dolphins team that had not won a game - the margin for error is shrinking fast.
That’s what makes Cincinnati such an attractive option this week. The Bengals return home after a huge comeback over the Ravens, one that flipped after halftime when they erased a 13-point deficit and scored 35 straight. Joe Burrow threw four touchdown passes, hitting four different receivers, and the offense suddenly looked like the unit everyone expected.
The numbers back up the appeal. Depending on the book, Cincinnati is laying between 10.5 and 12.5 points, and FanDuel has the Bengals at 12.5-point favorites. Tennessee has been stuck all season on offense, and if Cincinnati carries even part of last week’s second-half surge into Week 8, this shapes up as one of the safer survivor plays.
Jacksonville is another strong path, though the logic there starts with Indianapolis. The Colts have spent the week looking like a team turning the page, not pushing for the present.
After losing to the Titans and giving them their only win of the season, they fired general manager Chris Ballard. Then came the trades of All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner for draft picks, a clear sign the organization is resetting.
For the Jaguars, that creates a prime setup. Jacksonville is 4-2 and holds a 2.5-game edge in the division, and it has had two weeks to recover after its shootout loss to the Texans in London. With the Colts in apparent free fall, this is the kind of matchup Jacksonville should be expected to handle while protecting its AFC South cushion.
Miami’s role in survivor pools changed last week when it eliminated anyone who backed the Jets, and this week the Dolphins are the side to fade again. They face a Patriots team that took a loss to the Bears but appears to have found a better rhythm with Drake Maye and the offense.
New England’s first three games produced just 36 points combined, but the last four have looked different. The Patriots are 3-1 in that stretch and have averaged 31 points per game. Maye has been rolling, averaging 300 yards and 3 touchdowns per game over the last month, and Miami doesn’t look equipped to slow that down.
Patriots win 38-17.
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The speculation has only grown because Henderson is still on a rookie deal, which makes him more than just a short-term depth piece in the eyes of the front office. Even with his reduced role and injury status in the mix, the Patriots have not exactly signaled they are eager to move on, so any real conversation would likely hinge on whether another team is willing to make a strong enough offer to get their attention. [Read more 🡒]