Booms and busts: Browns, Bucs and Dolphins evolve from potential fantasy football afterthoughts to hopefuls

If you like scoring, if you like drama, if you like leading men, then the early window starting in Week 8 is for you.

Seven of the eight games exceeded their reported totals. A number of meetings ended with the last drive or even the last play. Fantasy points everywhere. The NFL as it should be.

This is the type of slate where this pillar could be a bottomless chalice. Unfortunately, there is a specific space that we need to adjust. Let's start the analysis by looking at three offenses – Cleveland, Miami and Tampa Bay – giving us a new reveal this week, a first look at a new or renovated setup.

Jameis Winston delivered a surprising 29-24 win over Baltimore on Sunday, but he did something even more important for Cleveland: He gave the city hope. The Browns were obviously wrecked by Deshaun Watson's poor play for seven weeks, but Winston got the offense going in his first start and delivered the stunning result. Winston threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns and targeted almost all of his passes to four fantasy-relevant players: waiver dynamo Cedric Tillman (7-99-2), tight end overlord David Njoku (5-61-1) and receiver Elijah Moore (8-85-0, 12 goals) and Jerry Jeudy (5-79-0).

To be fair, there were negative plays too. Winston lost a fumble and threw at least two interceptions, which the Baltimore defense was kind enough to drop. He will always have some trick-or-treating in his game. This performance also came against a Ravens pass defense that has been terrible all year. But after seeing Watson's struggles in the first seven games, we needed something like this to cleanse our palates. The Browns passing game is alive again. In a year where fantasy wide receivers have been dropping like flies, Cleveland's offense has relevant pieces that we can consider as additions and possible starters.

Miami's first game with Tua Tagovailoa was a mixed bag. The Dolphins lost to the Cardinals 28-27 and Tagovailoa was limited to 6.2 yards per attempt. The best news for Tua is that he only took one sack and didn't withstand a big penalty. And fantasy managers were happy about the boost in the Miami offense because the Dolphins' skill players basically did nothing when Tagovailoa wasn't available.

De'Von Achane had the best for Miami, 147 yards and a touchdown on 16 touchdowns. Raheem Mostert wasn't efficient (nine carries, 19 yards), but he did hit a couple of short touchdown runs. Tyreek Hill (6-72-0) and Jaylen Waddle (4-45-0) will go down as slight disappointments in Week 8, although there is at least an upward trend. Miami could find itself in shootouts over the next two weeks, on the road against the Bills and Rams. Tua's return wasn't a slam dunk, but this offense will soon be fun again.

The Buccaneers fell to the Falcons 31-26 as Kirk Cousins ​​once again set Tampa Bay on fire with four touchdown passes. But Baker Mayfield went down as a brave gunslinger. He threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns – against two picks – and did his best despite missing superstars Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in a receiver room.

Mayfield's plan without his star receivers was to focus on the non-wideouts. Cade Otton was a star on National Tight End Day, rocking a 9-81-2 line on 10 targets. He's the main target here while Evans rehabilitates himself. Mayfield also directed 13 goals to the backfield duo of Bucky Irving (7-40-0) and Rachaad White (5-38-1). Meanwhile, every plausible Tampa Bay waiver wire add failed – none of the trio of Jalen McMillan, Trey Palmer and Sterling Shepard made it past 35 yards.

At least the Tampa Bay program kept its foot on the gas pedal. The Buccaneers had 50 pass attempts versus 22 runs — partly by design, partly by game script — and Tampa Bay could chase the game in November while the Chiefs and 49ers wait on the schedule. The trio of White, Irving and Otton are all on a roll, and Mayfield still has the imagination, even if his wide receiver room is still a work in progress.

Another week 8 is booming

All those tight ends pinballing

I don't know who came up with this nonsense National Tight End Day holidaybut the players seemed to enjoy the spotlight. Kyle Pitts scored two goals, a clever duel with Otton at the other end. Trey McBride posted a 9-124-0 record in Miami. Tucker Kraft did his thing, another long catch and another short touchdown. Sam LaPorta finally clicked (6-48-1), even though the Lions didn't have to throw much in a beatdown against Tennessee. Mark Andrews scores every week now. Even Evan Engram saved himself with a late touchdown. Fantasy's most difficult position from last month became the easy button in Week 8.

Experienced RBs answer the call

Josh Jacobs jumped to the top of the RB board, rushing for 127 yards and two scores (25.0 fantasy points) in Jacksonville. Kudos to Matt LaFleur who found a way to get the win despite losing Jordan Love to a groin injury. The Packers still maintained a credible offense when Malik Willis was forced into action this year, and that has LaFleur's fingerprints all over it.

Jacobs, of course, had company. Joe Mixon (21.4 points) had 134 total yards and a great touchdown run against the Colts. Jonathan Taylor (18.2 points) had a similar line in the same game, totaling 117 yards and a score. Derrick Henry (14.2 points) was limited to 73 rushing yards, but of course scored as always. James Conner (13.9 points) couldn't be denied with a short touchdown run in Miami. It's wonderful when your smartest players are also your toughest players.

Buy-low receivers slam the window shut

Marvin Harrison Jr. put on a clinic for Miami (6-111-1), making several high-difficulty catches. DeVonta Smith got behind the Cincinnati defense for a touchdown, capping a brisk 6-85-1 day. He was the WR6 (17.5 fantasy points) when the early roster ended. In both cases, consumer confidence has certainly recovered.

Broke in week 8

Saquon Barkley is a spectator at the goal line

There was nothing wrong with Barkley in Cincinnati, as he averaged 4.9 yards per carry on his 22 carries. He was physical and athletic. But Jalen Hurts scored three rushing touchdowns, two from the one-yard line, and Barkley didn't score. As long as the tush push continues to be successful, expect the Eagles to continue to push. Barkley's managers see the 11.6 fantasy points and know the score could easily be in the 25-30 range.

Ja'Marr Chase defended reasonably well

For most receivers, nine catches and a touchdown (15.9 points) is a damn good day. But Chase only managed 54 yards on his nine receptions, less than five yards per target.

For weeks, I've wondered why the Bengals haven't been able to fully commit to their best offensive weapon, with Chase leading the position in fantasy points despite a target count that barely ranked in the top 20. But it's possible that Chase's top form won't return. Until Tee Higgins is back, you obviously need someone else to cover the defense. In the loss to Philadelphia, only two non-Chase wideouts had a catch for Cincinnati; Unlike Chase, Joe Burrow focused on his tight ends and running backs. The result was just 280 yards of offense, which just isn't good enough – after a sharp first touchdown drive, the Bengals struggled to move the ball.

note: I'll add more analysis for Week 8 later in the day.