By: Steve DeAngelo
As always I try to leave the obvious choices out. If you need to be reminded I will remind ya! 8 Weeks in the books, Every game is crucial now for Divisions, Getting into playoffs, or leading your league in points. Stay tuned for our Player Rankings and Game Previews, they will be posted over the weekend.
QB’s to Start
Brett Favre vs Arizona
Randy Moss is gone and Brett Favre has bad ankles, a bum shoulder and tendonitis in his elbow. Also Farve hasn’t had a 300 yard game yet with only one multiple TD game all year. So how is he worthy of starting? Favre has hurt me this year, I banked on him and it didn’t work out. It looks like Farve could go down at anytime with almost a new injury every week but he keeps coming back. With all that said, Arizona should help Brett this week. Percy Harvin will find a way to play and Farve will target him relentlessly when he’s not handing off to Adrian Peterson. When he’s not handing off to Peterson he will be dumping passes off to Peterson. Expect Peterson to catch about 5-6 passes this week and I expect him to break one-off for a TD. Also I think Visanthe Shiancoe gets back in the mix this week and scores a TD. I expect Farve to throw for about 250 yards with a couple TD’s.
Josh Freeman @ Atlanta
Freeman is starting to get hot averaging 247 passing yards in his last 4 games. He draws a good matchup this week against Atlanta and their 27th Ranked Pass D. Also Freeman gives the bonus of being able to run the ball as well. With Mike Williams playing well and now the Bucs finding a run game with LeGarrette Blount, Freeman will continue to put up serviceable numbers.
QB’s to Sit
Ryan Fitzpatrick vs Chicago
Fitzpatrick has been a hot start lately with 8 TD’s and around 900 yards passing in his last 3 games. This week he draws a good Chicago Defense that has only allowed 4 passing TD’s all year. Also Chicago hasn’t allowed a pass play for more than 30 yards all year. Fitzpatrick may throw for 200 yards but he could be kept out of the endzone.
Michael Vick vs Indy
Vick returns after being out since week 3 when he went down in Jacksonville. Before he went down, Vick was looking more accurate than ever while continuing to use his feet like he always has done. However, coming back from the injury in his first week I expect Vick to be tentative not wanting to risk injury. Also Desean Jackson who should return will also be tentative. Give Vick a week to get accustomed again before starting him. This also isn’t a great matchup against the Colts 7th ranked Pass D.
RB’s to Start
Ladainian Tomlinson @ Detroit
L.T. had a rough one vs Green Bay last week and Coach Rex Ryan also announced that Shonn Greene’s role would increase going forward. However, L.T. is still the #1 back in the run game and pass game. You may also be scared off by the Lions emerging Rush Defense led by Ndamukong Suh. This Lions Defense is still ranked 27th against the run and the Jets still have one of the best offensive lines in football, get L.T. in your lineups this week, he will have a fairly nice game.
Matt Forte @ Buffalo
Forte has now been disappointing in back to back years. He only has 1 game over 100 yards this year. Forte is however a better running back than what the stats indicate. The problem is Mike Martz refuses to give him the necessary carries to produce and in turn puts more pressure on his QB Jay Cutler and we’ve all seen what the result of that has been. I believe Mike Martz is arrogant and stubborn and will remain unbalanced with always passing way more than he needs to. But, I have to believe as an NFL coach coming off a bye week, looking at how bad Buffalo’s Run D is, ranked last in the league letting up a WHOPPING 188 yards a game that Mike Martz will run the ball this week. Matt Forte has only had 15+ carries twice all year and one of those games was when he was forced to run with Todd Collins at QB. If Martz doesn’t give Forte 20 carries at least this week then he flat-out is a complete moron and should be fired at once. I am banking that he won’t be that much of a moron and that coupled with the fact that Buffalo’s D is so bad against the run, Forte is a good option this week.
Thomas Jones @ Oakland
Jones has almost become an every week starter even with the presence of Jamal Charles. Charles is the much more talented back averaging 6.5 YPC but Jones is producing himself with 4.6 ypc and is still running with power. It also helps that this is a run 1st offense so there is plenty of opportunity for both backs to succeed. Expect that to continue this week against Oakland. The Chiefs gameplan will be to run the ball and keep the ball out of Matt Cassel’s hands. Oakland’s weakness is their Run D. Yes they did shutdown Marshawn Lynch last week (7 carries 0 yards) but Lynch hasn’t been running well at all as a Seahawk (2.8 YPC). Stick Jones in your lineup expect 15 carries at least and about 70-80 yards with a TD or two.
Brandon Jackson vs Dallas
Jackson became the starter when Ryan Grant went down and really failed to impress. He didn’t hit holes and went down easily. However the last couple weeks he has been running much better. Also he has been a factor in the passing game as well. Wade Phillips has lost his team and they will be playing uninspired football Sunday Night, while the Packers are battling for the division and will be amped up. Expect Jackson to finish with around 80-100 total yards and a TD. He makes for a fairly solid flex play this week.
RB’s to Sit
Cedric Benson vs Pittsburgh
Benson has only one 100 yard game all year and hasn’t scored since week 3. That coupled with the fact that Pittsburgh has the best Run D in the league means don’t think about Benson this week. Try to go out and trade Benson, he’s getting the carries 40 the last two weeks, he’s simply just not producing.
Felix Jones @ Green Bay
Jones role has increased but he has failed to impress. Now he goes up against a stout GB run D that swallowed up the Jets run game last week. Also Tashard Choice is expected to get a bigger role this week to try to jumpstart this Dallas run game. Sit Jones this week, but he’s a decent flex in PPR leagues.
Beanie Wells @ Minnesota
Wells is now officially the starter but isn’t producing. He had a great matchup last week against Tampa Bay and their 30th ranked Run D and didn’t produce like he should have. He’s missing holes and not running with the power were used to seeing. The knee injury could be the reason. He also aggravated it last week and is questionable this week. Minnesota needs this game and their Run D is still one of the best in the league. Leave Beanie on your bench, he is also another trade candidate.
Marshawn Lynch vs New York Giants
Lynch has come to Seattle and done little. He’s averaging 2.8 ypc as a Seahawk. Things get worse this week for Lynch as Matt Hasselback is out and the Giants 3rd Ranked Run D comes to town. Keep Lynch on your bench.
WR’s to Start
Patrick Crayton @ Houston
This one is easy. Houston worst Pass D in the league, Craig Davis, Malcolm Floyd, and Legedu Naanee are all out at Wideout for the Chargers. Even Antonio Gates may miss this game. That leaves Crayton who might get 15+ targets in this game. Crayton can get open and can catch, make sure you start him. He’s a great play in PPR leagues.
Davone Bess @ Baltimore
Bess has become an every week option in PPR leagues and still a good option in standard leagues as well. In his last 5 games Bess is averaging 6 catches and 70 yards a game. He also has scored in three out of his last 5. Baltimore’s pass D is not as good as their 7th overall ranking indicates. Get Bess in your lineup, he’s one of the better route running wideouts in the league.
James Jones and Jordy Nelson vs Dallas
Both are decent flex plays this week against Dallas. Donald Driver is out and Rodgers will find these guys open. Both are fairly solid flex plays in PPR leagues. Slight nod goes to Jordy Nelson because he will go off against the risky Dallas Nickel back Orlando Scandrick.
WR’s to Sit
Roy Williams @ GB
Now that Jon Kitna has taken over Roy Williams has reverted back to the Fantasy Basement. In Williams last two games he has 1 catch for 21 yards after scoring 5 TD’s in his previous 3 games. Avoid him at all costs. Kitna loves Jason Witten and that’s about it.
Dwayne Bowe @ Oakland
Nnamdi Ashmougha may not play this week, but I would sit Bowe anyway. Matt Cassell will be phased out of the gameplan this week as the Chiefs will look to run. Bowe does have 5 TD’s in his last 3 games but keep in mind he also faced Jacksonville and Houston two of the worst Pass D’s in the league. Look for other options this week.
TE’s to Start
Ben Watson vs New England
Watson will be motivated to have a good game vs his old team and he should be successful against the Patriots who are letting up the 29th most points to Tight Ends. Colt Mcoy will be looking for a safety valve and that will be Watson.
Visanthe Shiancoe vs Arizona
With Moss gone now and Percy Harvin even possibly due to miss this game, Shiancoe will have to be relied upon in the passing game. He has been struggling with a hamstring injury, but he still looks good to me out there. Expect Favre to target Shiancoe a ton this week and for Visanthe to find the endzone.
Jacob Tamme @ Philly
This guy is for real, make no mistake. He runs good routes and is pretty quick. Manning loves his tight ends dating back to Marcus Pollard. Keep Tamme in your lineup and expect him to produce as a Top 7 tight end the rest of the way.
TE’ to Sit
Brent Celek vs Indy
Vick historically likes his Tight Ends, but never really has found a connection with Celek as of yet. Celek has been a big bust this year after being ranked as high as the 4th overall at TE coming into 2010. The Colts are #1 in the league in points allowed to Tight Ends, so keep Celek on your bench.
Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler
Both of these guys cancel each other out and were better when Shaun Hill was targeting them with his weak arm. Also this week they face the Jets who are ranked #2 in points allowed to Tight Ends. Keep both on your bench.
Stay Tuned for Player Rankings and Game Previews which will be released Tonight and Tomorrow. Also check out our Radio show which aired lat night @ Blogtalkradio.com/FantasySavvy. Show is an hour long, we discussed 6 games upcoming for week 9 and gave our NFL picks for the week. Also follow us on Twitter.com/FantasySavvy
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