NFL Week 8 Team of the Week

BY AUSTIN GAYLE
OCT 28, 2019

Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson and Tyler Lockett both made PFF’s NFL Week 8 Team of the Week along with several members of the Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers.

PFF’s NFL Team of the Week series features game grades and advanced statistics for the NFL’s top players at every position in a given week. All of PFF’s ELITE subscribers have access to game grades, advanced statistics, positional snap counts and more in Premium Stats. All of PFF’s grades and advanced stats from this week and every other week this upcoming NFL season are made available to ELITE subscribers within 24 hours of the final whistle.

Offense

 QB RUSSELL WILSON, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Among quarterbacks with at least 25 dropbacks in Week 8 (including plays nullified by penalty), Wilson ranked first in PFF passing grade (89.8) with three big-time throws and zero turnover-worthy plays.

RB AARON JONES, GREEN BAY PACKERS

Jones caught 7-of-8 targets for 159 yards, three first downs and two touchdowns against Kansas City on Sunday night, earning a 96.6 receiving grade in the process. He also earned an impressive 81.0 rushing grade and forced four missed tackles on his 13 carries.

WR COOPER KUPP, LOS ANGELES RAMS

Kupp was unstoppable in the Rams’ win over Cincinnati. He caught seven of his 10 targets for 220 yards, six first downs and one touchdown in the contest, earning an elite 91.3 receiving grade in the process. He also forced one missed tackle and caught one of his two contested targets.

WR TYLER LOCKETT, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

In Seattle’s win over Atlanta, Lockett caught both of his contested targets and all six of his total targets on the day, picking up 100 yards and five first downs along the way. He earned an 89.4 receiving grade for his efforts, good for the second-highest mark at his position on the week.

TE GEORGE KITTLE, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Kittle finished Week 8 leading all at his position in overall grade (94.2), receiving grade (93.0) and run-blocking grade (78.3). He really could do no wrong the 49ers’ blowout win over Carolina on Sunday.

FLEX: WR MIKE EVANS, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Though Tampa Bay couldn’t come away with the win, Evans was still fantastic against Tennessee in Week 8. The big wideout caught 11-of-12 targets for 198 yards, six first downs and two touchdowns on his way to an 89.2 overall grade and 87.3 receiving grade.

LT RILEY REIFF, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Reiff earned an 89.1 overall grade, 78.7 pass-blocking grade and 88.9 run-blocking grade against Washington on Thursday. He allowed just one pressure across 30 pass-blocking snaps, as well.

LG ELGTON JENKINS, GREEN BAY PACKERS

Green Bay’s second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Jenkins led all left guards in overall grade (89.2) with his efforts against Kansas City in Week 8. In addition to his 87.8 run-blocking grade, Jenkins allowed just one pressure in 41 pass-blocking snaps.

C COREY LINSLEY, GREEN BAY PACKERS

Working alongside Jenkins at center, Linsley earned position-highs in overall grade (77.8) and run-blocking grade (81.1) on Sunday night.

RG BRANDON SCHERFF, WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Scherff held onto his lead at right guard after earning a 92.3 overall grade on Thursday night against the Vikings. He also led all qualifying guards in Week 8 in run-blocking grade at 91.6.

RT DANIEL BRUNSKILL, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Originally signed by Atlanta as an undrafted free agent out of San Diego State in 2017, Brunskill turned in the best performance of his young career on Sunday. He earned a 79.7 overall grade, 78.4 pass-blocking grade and 73.4 run-blocking grade against Carolina in Week 8.

Defense

DI FOLORUNSO FATUKASI, NEW YORK JETS

Fatukasi was a constant disruptor at the line of scrimmage for New York on Sunday. He finished Week 8 ranked second at his position in overall grade (90.0) with an 83.7 run-defense grade and 79.7 pass-rush grade.

DI B.J. HILL, NEW YORK GIANTS

Hill was solid across the board in the Giants’ loss to Detroit on Sunday. He earned an 82.3 run-defense grade and a 79.8 pass-rush grade on his way to a 90.4 overall grade in Week 8.

EDGE BRANDON GRAHAM, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Among all NFL defensive linemen with at least 25 defensive snaps played in Week 8, Graham ranked first in overall grade (92.6) and run-defense grade (95.5). He had two defensive stops and a forced fumble defending the run on Sunday.

EDGE DANIELLE HUNTER, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Hunter finished Week 8 with a 91.1 overall grade and a 90.8 pass-rush grade, totaling four pass-rush wins and three defensive stops in the process.

LB LAVONTE DAVID, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

David was a standout performer in the Bucs’ loss to Tennessee. He totaled four defensive stops and zero missed tackles across 56 defensive snaps, earning a 90.1 run-defense grade and an 84.6 coverage grade in the process.

LB ALEXANDER JOHNSON, DENVER BRONCOS

Johnson has balled out for Denver in recent weeks and continued his dominant display in Week 8. He’s earned a 92.0 overall grade across 222 defensive snaps so far this season and earned a 91.1 overall grade against the Colts in Week 8.

CB CASEY HAYWARD JR., LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Earning a 90.7 coverage grade against the Bears on Sunday, Hayward led all at his position in single-game grade in Week 8. He allowed zero receptions from three targets and logged two forced incompletions.

CB RICHARD SHERMAN, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Sherman earned an impressive 90.0 overall grade and 90.9 coverage grade against Carolina on Sunday. He allowed just two receptions from four targets for nine yards and logged an interception in the contest.

S CHAUNCEY GARDNER-JOHNSON, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

The rookie Gardner-Johnson led all at his position in overall grade (85.0) with his performance on Sunday largely because of his efforts in coverage. He allowed just three receptions from six targets for 11 yards and one first down against Arizona, earning a 90.1 coverage grade in the process.

S ERIK HARRIS, OAKLAND RAIDERS

The drop-off from Gardner-Johnson to Harris is significant, but the Raiders safety still turned in a quality performance in the team’s loss to Houston. He recorded one forced incompletion and a 73.9 coverage grade on Sunday.

FLEX: CB TROY HILL, LOS ANGELES RAMS

No cornerback was targeted more than Los Angeles’ Troy Hill in Week 8, and he still finished second in overall grade at his position in Week 8. He allowed just three receptions from 11 targets for 45 yards, zero touchdowns and two first downs. He also recorded three forced incompletions and zero missed tackles in coverage.

Special Teams

K JASON MYERS, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Myers hit both of his field goals from 40-plus yards out and was perfect across three extra-point attempts.

P MICHAEL DICKSON, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Wadman pinned six of his seven punts inside the 20-yard line and averaged 4.5 seconds of hangtime per punt.

ST SIRAN NEAL, BUFFALO BILLS

Neal forced a fumble running with the punt team against Philadelphia to start the fourth quarter, but Josh Allen & Co. couldn’t turn the turnover into points.

KR/PR T.J. LOGAN, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Logan averaged 23.5 yards per kick return and 15.0 yards per punt return against Tennessee on Sunday,