NFL Week 8: Fantasy's Highest-Scoring And All-Bust Lineups

In an ongoing series, PointAfter will break down both the highest-scoring and all-bust fantasy football lineups in the NFL from week to week. If you started the perfect lineup from Week 8, or were unlucky enough to play all of the week's biggest busts, this is what it looked like.

Note: Each lineup will be updated if a Monday Night Football performer puts up more points or busts more egregiously than the players from Thursday and Sunday. The fantasy scoring system used is from Yahoo Sports leagues.

Versions of this article also appear on Yahoo Sports.

Highest-Scoring QB: Drew Brees

Fantasy Points (Yahoo Sports Leagues): 47.54

Brees was not messing around in the offensive shootout against the New York Giants. The veteran quarterback connected on 40 of 50 passes for 511 yards and tied an NFL single-game record with seven passing touchdowns. His 47.54 fantasy points was the highest output of any player so far this season. His opponent, Eli Manning, had himself a day also — throwing for 350 yards and six TDs — but ultimately it was Brees and the Saints that slipped away with the 52-49 victory.

All-Bust QB: Aaron Rodgers

Projected points (position rank): 19.0 (5th)
Actual points (position rank): 6.2 (25th)

There were some warning signs that Green Bay was due for a dud. The Packers were struggling to find consistency in the running game, and had averaged just 22.7 points in their previous three wins against teams with a combined 7-13 record entering Sunday.

Still, with the Packers fresh off a bye week, it seemed reasonable to think they had enough time to fix whatever was plaguing their offense. Instead, the Broncos’ defense revealed even more issues in Green Bay’s offense than we thought there were.

Rodgers logged just 77 passing yards on 3.5 yards per attempt, both career lows for a full game. Denver’s cornerback tandem locked down James Jones and Randall Cobb, who has seriously struggled to live up to the four-year, $40 million deal he signed in the offseason.

No Packer is on track to record 1,000 receiving yards, which is kind of incredible considering who’s under center. Green Bay just hasn’t been able to manufacture big plays as much as they normally do. After completing With Tuesday’s trade deadline looming, is it crazy to think this team needs an upgrade on offense more than defense?

Highest-Scoring RB1: Todd Gurley

Fantasy Points (Yahoo Sports Leagues): 20.60

Twitter was abuzz on Sunday with talk of Gurley staking a claim as the NFL’s best running back. Through the rookie’s first four starts, he’s now averaged 141.5 yards per game on a ridiculous 6.6 yards per carry. In a commanding 27-6 win over San Francisco, Gurley carried the ball 20 times for 133 yards, including a 71-yard run for a touchdown, which looked as if the youngster was shot out of a cannon past the offensive line.

All-Bust RB1: Justin Forsett

Projected points (position rank): 17.5 (2nd)
Actual points (position rank): 7.4 (22nd)

Forsett didn’t necessarily have a bad game on Sunday, rushing for 69 yards on 17 carries. But he was projected to have a banner day against a dismal Chargers defense that had given up the second-most fantasy points to running backs this year.

Instead, San Diego limited Forsett to a long run of 11 yards, and didn’t let him reach the end zone. Forsett has simply been less explosive this season. Halfway through the season, Forsett has just two touchdowns and five runs of 20-plus yards after recording 17 such runs last year.

The bad news here is that with Steve Smith out for the season, Baltimore’s opponents will probably key on Forsett even more over the team’s neutered passing game.

Highest-Scoring RB2: Charcandrick West

Fantasy Points (Yahoo Sports Leagues): 18.20

Fantasy owners who hawked the waiver wire in order to pick up the Chiefs running back after Jamaal Charles went down for the year with injury have been handsomely rewarded. West was one of four Kansas City players to rush for a touchdown in the 45-10 blowout over the hapless Detroit Lions. He led the team with 97 yards on the ground and added four receptions for 25 additional yards.

All-Bust RB2: Chris Ivory

Projected points (position rank): 13.2 (7th)
Actual points (position rank): 4.1 (40th)

This is the second straight disappointing performance for Ivory following his 17-carry, 41-yard output against the Patriots last week. This one has to be more concerning, though.

Though the Raiders possess an underrated defensive front, being held to 17 yards on 15 rushing attempts is never a good look. The silver lining here is that Ivory was involved in the passing game during New York’s attempted comeback, catching 3-of-5 targets for 24 yards.

Combine that newfound dimension to Ivory’s game with his status as the unquestioned bellcow in a heavy run-first offense (19.2 carries/game, third-most in the NFL), and you still have a must-start player on your hands.

Highest-Scoring WR1: Odell Beckham Jr.

Fantasy Points (Yahoo Sports Leagues): 31.00

OBJ has disappointed at times this season, collecting fewer than five fantasy points in three separate weeks. In the Week 8 touchdown parade against New Orleans, however, Beckham Jr. showed precisely why his high draft position is justified. The highlight machine caught eight of his nine targets for 130 yards and three TDs. That was more than enough to put Eli’s favorite target atop other wideouts on this week’s highest-scoring lineup.

All-Bust WR1: Emmanuel Sanders

Projected points (position rank): 12.4 (4th)
Actual points (position rank): 2.2 (57th)

This was undoubtedly an underwhelming week for Sanders, who was held under 65 yards for the first time this season in catching 2-of-5 targets for 22 yards. Despite the poor raw numbers, though, Sanders was second only to Demaryius Thomas’ 11 targets.

This was just one of those nights for Sanders, who could still be dealing with a shoulder injury he sustained before Denver’s bye in Week 6. The good news? Peyton Manning (21-for-29, 340 yards) looked like his vintage self for the first time in a long time.

Thomas should draw the attention of Indianapolis’ top corner, Vontae Davis, in Week 9. So, Sanders could be poised for a solid bounce-back game in Week 9 if Manning maintains the level of play he achieved in the Mile High City on Sunday down against his former team in Indy.

Highest-Scoring WR2: Tavon Austin

Fantasy Points (Yahoo Sports Leagues): 21.90

Austin has been a feast or famine player for fantasy owners this season. He caught six passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns in Week 4 against Arizona, but otherwise he hasn’t proved to be a big fantasy asset. In the win over the 49ers, though, Austin caught four passes for 98 yards and a touchdown to go along with three rushing attempts for 21 yards and another TD.

All-Bust WR2: John Brown, Cardinals

Projected points (position rank): 9.1 (22nd)
Actual points (position rank): 0.0 (N/A)

I think I speak for all of John Brown’s owners when I say that the Cardinals committed what amounts to a cardinal sin in fantasy football world on Sunday. They listed John Brown as probable on the team’s injury report leading up to the game, declared him active, then didn’t play him a single snap.

It’s easy to understand why coach Bruce Arians would want to rest Brown, who’s been dealing with injuries to both of his hamstrings. But why waste on an active roster spot on him if that’s your plan? We’ll probably never know, since NFL coaches spend approximately zero seconds thinking about how their roster decisions will affect our fantasy games.

Highest-Scoring TE: Benjamin Watson

Fantasy Points (Yahoo Sports Leagues): 20.70

Watson spent his first four games as a complete non-factor from a fantasy perspective — acting more as a blocker than a threat in the passing game. But after catching a TD in Week 5, the 34-year-old exploded for 127 yards on 10 receptions that included another touchdown. He only caught four balls against Indianapolis last week, but the veteran was once again a big factor in Brees’ record performance. He caught nine throws for a career-high 147 yards and a score.

All-Bust TE: Jason Witten

Projected points (position rank): 6.3 (12th)
Actual points (position rank): 1.6 (T-28th)

Up until Sunday, Jason Witten had been the lone consistency in a Dallas passing offense that sorely needs Tony Romo back. The 33-year-old had totaled between 55-75 yards in five of the Cowboys’ first six games.

This time, not even Witten could prop up Matt Cassel (13-for-25, 97 yards), who was in way over his head against Seattle. Witten is the team’s leading receiver at the halfway mark, but that’s not saying much for a receiving corps that would also greatly benefit from having Dez Bryant back at full strength.

Highest-Scoring Flex: Malcom Floyd

Fantasy Points (Yahoo Sports Leagues): 21.20

At 6’5”, Floyd makes for a prime redzone target, but he and quarterback Philip Rivers haven’t been very in sync throughout 2015 in that area. He had caught just one touchdown pass entering the week, but connected with Rivers on a nine-yard strike, then again on a 70-yard bomb downfield. Floyd was only owned in 18 percent of Yahoo leagues entering this week’s action, so it’s unlikely he got slotted into many starting lineups.

All-Bust Flex: Dez Bryant

Projected points (position rank): 9.2 (20th)
Actual points (position rank): 1.2 (T-70th)

Unfortunately for Dallas, the only part of Bryant’s game that seemed to be at full strength was his mouth.

In his return following a five-game layoff caused by a broken foot, Bryant made headlines when a Vine surfaced showing him allegedly insinuating that Ricardo Lockette deserved an ugly injury he sustained during punt coverage.

Bryant threw a tantrum in Dallas’ locker room after reporters did their due diligence and asked him about the incident. Maybe he would’ve been in a mood to give a concrete explanation for what the profane clip was actually referring to had he not just been beat by Richard Sherman and the Legion of Boom. His 2-12-0 line was his worst fantasy output since his rookie campaign in 2010.

Highest-Scoring D/ST: Houston Texans

Fantasy Points (Yahoo Sports Leagues): 20.00

Even with J.J. Watt anchoring it, Houston’s defense has been mediocre at best this season. The Texans surrendered more than 40 points in two games already, but the D bounced back with a much-needed solid performance against Tennessee. Houston racked up seven sacks, forced two fumbles and added an interception against Zach Mettenberger and Co.

All-Bust D/ST: New York Jets

Projected points (position rank): 7.2 (10th)
Actual points (position rank): -1.0 (T-26th)

The Jets failed to record a single turnover against the Oakland Raiders, who are now sitting in wild-card playoff position in the AFC alongside New York after dismantling what was the NFL’s top run defense going into Sunday.

Though Latavius Murray did his part by rushing for 113 yards on 20 carries, it was Oakland’s passing game that staked the Raiders to a 21-6 halftime lead and set the tone for the surprisingly one-sided contest. Though Carr was hit five times by New York’s vaunted defensive front, he was never sacked and exhibited veteran-like poise while tossing four touchdowns in the 34-20 Raiders victory.

It was a confusing outing for the Jets, who should be able to get back on track in Week 9 at home against the Jaguars. After Sunday’s performance, though, nothing can be taken for granted.

Highest-Scoring K: Justin Tucker

Fantasy Points (Yahoo Sports Leagues): 20.00

Tucker was instrumental in Baltimore’s 29-26 win over San Diego, cashing in on all five of his field goal attempts (including three from beyond 40 yards) and both of his extra point attempts.

All-Bust K: Travis Coons

Projected points (position rank): 6.7 (28th)
Actual points (position rank): 2.0 (25th)

Final Tally: Highest-Scoring Lineup

Here's the final recap of the perfect fantasy lineup from Week 8 of the 2015 NFL season:

Drew Brees: 47.54
Todd Gurley: 20.60
Charcandrick West: 18.20
Odell Beckham Jr.: 31.00
Tavon Austin: 21.90
Benjamin Watson: 20.70
Malcom Floyd: 21.20
Texans D/ST: 20.00
Justin Tucker: 20.00

Final Score: 221.14 points

Final Tally: All-Bust Lineup

Here's the final recap of the most disappointing lineup from Week 8 of the 2015 NFL season:

Aaron Rodgers: 6.2
Justin Forsett: 7.4
Chris Ivory: 4.1
Emmanuel Sanders: 2.2
John Brown: 0.0
Jason Witten: 1.6
Dez Bryant: 1.2
Jets D/ST: -1.0
Travis Coons: 2.0

Final Score: 23.7 points

Discover More NFL Player Stats and Projections on PointAfter