Week 8 Fantasy Picks

Start ‘Em

Thomas Jones – RB – KC (vs. BUF) – The Chiefs get another juicy matchup this week against the Bills 32^nd ranked rush defense.  Both Jones and Jamaal Charles should put up above average numbers, but we’ll give the slight edge to Jones this week. 

Beanie Wells – RB – ARI (vs. TB) – With Tim Hightower benched during Week 7 against Seattle for continued fumbling issues, Wells should have complete command of the Cardinals’ backfield heading into a good matchup against the Bucs’ defense.

Pierre Garcon – WR – IND (vs. HOU) – Garcon and Reggie Wayne both figure to see upwards of 15 targets apiece in this one, as the Colts will be without both Austin Collie (hand) and Dallas Clark (wrist, I.R.).  Couple that with the fact the Texans are giving up the most yards per game passing in the league, and Garcon owners should be salivating this week.

LaDanian Tomlinson – RB – NYJ (vs. GB) – The Packers were picked apart on the ground against the Vikings last week, despite holding a lead a majority of the game.  With the Jets likely to be ahead most of this game, expect a heavy dose of LT and Shonn Greene.  The Packers’ defensive line is extremely banged-up, with DE’s Mike Neal and Justin Harrell out for the season, and DE Cullen Jenkins and NT Ryan Pickett also hurting. 

Marshawn Lynch – RB – SEA (@OAK) – Lynch looked good last week against Arizona, dominating touches over Justin Forsett while racking up 89 yards on the ground.  Lynch should come close to breaking the century-mark in this one as the Raiders are giving up nearly 140 yards per game on the ground this season. 

Matt Stafford – QB – DET (vs. WSH) – Stafford probably could have played in Week 7 if the Lions weren’t on bye, so with the extra week to rest up his ailing shoulder, he should be close to 100% at home against a Redskins team giving up the second-most yards per game in the NFL this season.  The Lions offense should be completely healthy for the first time since Week 1. 

Owen Daniels – TE – HOU (@IND) – Daniels appeared to finally turn the corner in Week 6 after a lengthy recovery from ACL surgery.  With the additional week of rest, we’re expecting to see the 2009, pre-injury version of Daniels the rest of the way, beginning this week against the Colts.

Sit ‘Em

Brandon Jackson – RB – GB (@NYJ) – Jackson has looked a lot better in recent weeks, but he figures to struggle to find space against the Jets’ rush defense, which has allowed only two TD’s all season.  Look elsewhere for RB options this week.

Sam Bradford – QB – STL (vs. CAR) – Bradford has just not put up the same numbers since Mark Clayton went down, and with a deceptively challenging matchup against Carolina’s 4^th ranked pass defense in Week 8, we’ll pass on Bradford.

Chris Ivory – RB – NO (vs. PIT) – Ivory has taken over early-down work in the Saints’ backfield the past few weeks, but with Reggie Bush due back this week and the Steelers’ defense looking dominant, we’d sit Ivory.

Benjarvus Green-Ellis – NE (vs. MIN) – Green-Ellis has seemingly lost his grip as the Patriots’ #1 option in the running game to Danny Woodhead.  With Woodhead also dominating on passing downs, Green-Ellis’ chances to produce have been extremely limited, although he does remain the goal-line back.  While the Williams Wall isn’t what it once was, we still believe Green-Ellis is trending in the wrong direction.

Larry Fitzgerald – WR – ARI (vs. TB) – As has been the case all season, nobody can get Fitz the ball.  Until that changes, we’d have a difficult time starting him if other options are available.  Max Hall, who is expected to start despite suffering a concussion in Week 7, was throwing at a 25% clip before getting injured last week.  Yikes.

Michael Crabtree – WR – SF (vs. DEN) – Crabtree already has a tough task in front of him this week with Champ Bailey expected to shadow him all day.  Now add the fact that Troy Smith will be trying to get him the ball Sunday, and what you have is a recipe for disaster.  Stay away from Crabtree this week.

Waiver Wire Pickups

Mike Williams – WR – SEA – “Fool me once shame on…shame on you…if you fool me, you can’t get fooled again”.  Hilarious ex-Presidential quotes aside, we’re not going to get fooled again, we’re buying Big Mike Williams.

Jon Kitna – QB – DAL – Kitna could be worth a look this week against the woeful Jaguars’ secondary, especially in two QB leagues.  Dallas has a fairly difficult schedule the rest of the way though, so don’t expect to get too many starts out of him.

Steve Johnson – WR – BUF – Much like Williams, we have been skeptical of Johnson, but it’s hard to argue with touchdown’s in four straight games.  He has shown good rapport with Ryan Fitzpatrick and if he’s still available in your league, grab him.

David Gettis – WR – CAR – Week 7 will likely be Gettis’ biggest week of the season, but he could be worth a look in deeper leagues coming off his 125 yard, 2 TD performance.

Jacob Tamme – TE – IND – Tamme is worth a grab in deeper leagues, as he figures to see a good amount of snaps with Dallas Clark done for the season.  He should at  the very least be a respectable TE2 the rest of the season.

Featured Game Picks

Houston Texans (+5) @ IND

Pittsburgh Steelers (even) @ NO

New England Patriots (-6) vs. MIN

Week 7 Results

Start ‘Em

Terrell Owens – CIN – 9 rec., 88 yards, TD

Jamaal Charles – KC – 15 rushes, 71 yards, TD

Jeremy Maclin – PHI – 5 rec., 42 yards, 1 rush, 14 yards

Deion Branch – NE – 4 rec., 39 yards

Patrick Crayton – SD – 7 rec., 82 yards

Mike Wallace – PIT – 2 rec., 53 yards, TD

Kyle Orton – DEN – 12-29 for 198 yards, 2 TD’s, 1 INT, 1 fumble lost, 21 rush yards

Results:  Owens and Chad Ochocinco lit up a banged-up Falcons’ secondary, as expected…Charles had a solid day, but was overshadowed by Thomas Jones…Maclin was targeted 12 times, but Kevin Kolb was off all day…Branch and Orton were below average…Crayton had a fine PPR day despite several drops…Wallace hit big on a 53-yard bomb from Big Ben.

Sit ‘Em

Philip Rivers – SD – 34-50 for 336 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 fumble lost

Ronnie Brown – MIA – 34 total yards

Ahmad Bradshaw – NYG – 138 total yards, 1 fumble lost

Ryan Torain – WSH – 21 rushes, 125 yards, 1 fumble lost

Visanthe Shiancoe – MIN – 3 rec., 30 yards

Derrick Mason – BAL – 2 rec., 48 yards

Results:  Rivers salvaged average numbers late after an abysmal three quarters against New England…Fumbles turned solid performances into so-so fantasy weeks for Torain and Bradshaw…Brown, Shiancoe, and Mason were duds…Only one combined TD from this entire group (Rivers).

Featured Game Picks

Featured Game Picks

Pittsburgh (-3) @ MIA (L)

Baltimore (-13.5) vs. BUF (L)

New England (+3) @ SD (W)

Results:  Pittsburgh won but couldn’t cover the spread…New England dominated a banged-up Chargers team…Baltimore failed to game-plan seriously against a scrappy Bills team…1-2 moves us to 8-13 in featured games this season.