Week 8 bold predictions: Dalvin Cook comes charging back

Just a refresher: I will provide five bold predictions each week. I will grade those five bold picks on the old elementary scale of grades A-D.

Here are my bold predictions for NFL Week 8!

1. Russell Wilson throws for fewer than three touchdowns and finishes outside the top 10

Justification: Wilson will have a decent week and there is a chance he rushes for a score, but the 49ers defense is tough. They have allowed just two quarterbacks to throw for more than one touchdown (Jared Goff and Ryan Fitzpatrick). They have a solid defensive line and a bruising defense. Injuries hurt them a bit but I think we see them give there all against a Seahawks team who is eager to rebound from its prime time loss.

2. Tyler Boyd finishes a top 12 wide receiver against the Titans

Justification: Cincinnati plays the Titans this week who have a sharp defense but they are allowing wide receivers to get touchdowns. Seven different receivers have a touchdown against Tennessee across the first seven weeks this season. Furthermore, three receivers have over 100 receiving yards against this defense. Boyd is emerging as the top option for Burrows and I think he either has 100 yards or one touchdown. Over the last three games- Boyds targets and yards are up each game.

3. Raiders vs Browns has an over/under of 50.5 points. Give me the over at 55.5 points

Justification: Here is the total scores in the Vegas games this season: 64, 58, 56, 53, 72 and 65. Here is the total scores in the Browns games this season: 44, 65, 64, 87, 55, 45 and 71. That means across 13 games this season, they hit this over nine out of 13 times. These two defenses are both bottom seven in points allowed in the league.

4. Dalvin Cook finishes as a top three running back against the Packers

Justification: This one is only bold because Minnesota is so bad. They face Green Bay who is allowing the most points to opposing RBs. In Week 1, Cook had two touchdowns and since then, three other running backs have had two total touchdowns facing the Packers (Todd Gurley, Alvin Kamara and Ronald Jones). Editor Note: Dalvin Cook’s status for Week 8 is still up in the air but it’s trending that he will play.

5. Ryan Izzo finishes as a top 15 tight end vs the Bills

Justification: Ryan Izzo doesn’t have a whole lot backing this prediction. He has no receptions in two games and has yet to have more than 40 receiving yards in a game. He does face Buffalo who is one of the worst defenses to opposing tight ends and you better believe Belichick knows this fact. Julian Edelman is out and amidst all of the uncertainty with who is at QB and who will get the ball, Izzo has a chance to have a solid performance this Sunday.

Week 7 Outcomes

1. Teddy Bridgewater is currently slotted as the 23rd best QB, he finishes as a top 12 QB. Outcome: Teddy Bridgewater fell outside the top 12…barely. He finished 13^th with 254 yards and 2 TDs. Grade B.

2. Christian Kirk is listed as the 47th best WR, he finishes within the top 20. Outcome: Even though Kirk had just 37 receiving yards, he had two touchdowns which is exactly what I expected to happen. He was the 12th best WR. Grade A.

3. Atlanta Falcons vs. Detroit Lions has an o/u in 54.5pts, this game goes over 59.5pts. Outcome: They met the over – 55 total points, but did not get to 60 total points. Grade B.

4. Ezekiel Elliott is slotted as the 2nd best RB this week, he finishes outside the top 10. Outcome: He was the 40th best RB with 12 carries and 45 yards. Grade A.

5. Mark Sample has his first TD of the season this week. Outcome: He was targeted by Burrows and it was close but he wasn’t able to reign it in. He did finish with 5 receptions and 52 yards though. Grade C.

2020 Grades

Grade A: 13 times

Grade B: 7 times
Grade C: 4 times
Grade D: 11 times