In Week 8, Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, NY Giants, Philadelphia, and Baltimore are on a bye. So out of those four teams, the only people who have to worry about quarterback are owners of Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler, Eli Manning, Kevin Kolb/Michael Vick, and Joe Flacco.
Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions): Chances are somebody drafted Matthew Stafford as their backup at the beginning of the year so you won’t be able to get him, but if he is available, he’s worth the pick up. He has a great matchup against the Washington Redskins, who have a bad pass defense (although DeAngelo Hall had 4 interceptions all himself off of Jay Cutler, but that’s Jay Cutler, and he goes through periods where he prefers throwing to the other team instead of his own receivers). But the Lions are and will remain a passing team. Expect Stafford’s shoulder to get a test against the Redskins this week.
Ryan Fiztpatrick (Buffalo Bills) and Matt Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs): Lumping both of these quarterbacks together this week as they are facing off against each other. Matt Cassel seems to be throwing at least 2 touchdown passes every week, even though Kansas City is a running team. We all know Buffalo’s pass defense isn’t spectacular, so I would expect Cassel’s production to continue. As for Fitzpatrick, he’s quickly climbing up the ranks of can’t miss quarterbacks on a week in and week out basis, particularly with the stellar performance against a tough Baltimore Ravens defense, where he threw 4 touchdown passes. He’s my can’t piss pickup of the week.
Josh Freeman (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Now Freeman isn’t putting up fantastic fantasy stats, but he’s a solid quarterback that could have a good week against a poor Arizona defense. If you are out of options, or don’t like Cassel or Fitzpatrick for any reason, you could do worse than Freeman, oh say, Matt Moore or Max Hall.
RBs
Michael Turner, Matt Forte, Peyton Hillis, Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, LeSean McCoy, and Ray Rice owners are in a bind this week (I have both Ray Rice and Peyton Hillis on the same team in one of my leagues, so I’m screwed. Story of my season so far.)
Ryan Torain (Washington Redskins): If he’s still out there, which is highly unlikely, but if he is, he should be your first option for a pickup at running back. Playing Detroit, who is an improved defense, but they are still Detroit. Torain has been very good since Portis went down with a groin injury, and I don’t see any reason that trend won’t continue this week.
Fred Jackson (Buffalo Bills): He may be out there, and if he is, certainly worth a pickup. He’s the starter for Buffalo (23 carries this past week for 73 yards), who for some reason just won’t give Spiller the ball (only 7 carries for 33 yards and no targets), but that may be why the Bills haven’t won a game yet this year, bad coaching decisions. Nonetheless if Jackson is available, he’s worth a pickup this week if you need it.
Chris Ivory (New Orleans Saints): Ivory disappointed this week after his big breakout 100 yard performance in Week 6. He only received 15 carries, with Drew Brees throwing the ball over 50 times. Look for New Orleans to balance out their attack more this week, but unfortunately it is against the Pittsburgh Steelers. So don’t look for Ivory’s numbers to improve much. He might get more carries, but the yards most likely won’t add up to more than 60 or 70, but he could squeak a touchdown in there.
LeGarette Blount (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): This past week against the St. Louis Rams, Blount had 11 carries for 72 yards, which is a 6.5 yards/carry average. Cadillac Williams only received 4 carries this week, although he did score the game winning touchdown. But it looks like the Buccaneers are trying to make a change at running back in giving more carries to Blount than Williams. In my opinion, that’s a good decision on their part, as long as Blount keeps his head on straight, as Williams is fairly ineffective week in and week out.
Danny Woodhead (New England Patriots): As I said last week, New England is a passing team. They rarely run the ball, and when they do, they have been running with Danny Woodhead. Woodhead is a small guy, but this does allow him to squeeze through creases in the defense. After watching him against the Chargers this past Sunday, he does have potential to have at least 3.4 to 4.5 yards a carry if they gave the ball to him consistently, but don’t look for New England to do that. If you’re looking for a flex play this week, Woodhead could be a solid option.
WRs
So you’ll be missing receivers such as Roddy White, Johnny Knox, Hakeem Nicks, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Anquan Boldin, and Derrick Mason this week, but no worries, there are plenty of options out there.
Jordan Shipley (Cincinnati Bengals): Shipley is healthy and ready to be the slot receiver on a team that needed a slot receiver. Shipley had 6 targets against Atlanta in Week 7, catching all 6 for 131 yards and 1 touchdown (64 yards came on the touchdown). He’s almost a Wes Welker clone, except for he’s much better down the field catching the ball. If you need a solid flex option this coming week, or a 3rd receiver, I think Shipley could be your guy.
Davone Bess (Miami Dolphins): 6 for 66 yards and a touchdown. Solid production again from Davone Bess, and this was against the vaunted Pittsburgh Steelers defense. Now, contrary to popular belief, the Steelers secondary beyond Troy Polamalu isn’t very good, but still, a nice performance from Bess. The Dolphins are turning into a well balanced team as far as the run/pass, and Bess is fast becoming an integral part. He had another 7 targets this week, catching 6, for a great percentage. Look for continued success week in and week out from Bess no matter the matchup.
Steve Johnson (Buffalo Bills): 10 targets, 8 catches, 158 yards, 1 touchdown. Fantastic stats for Johnson, who is quickly becoming Ryan Fitzpatrick’s go to man. The Bills have become a passing offense, and for good reason, with the stats and points they point up. Clearly the offensive line for the Bills is a pass line as opposed to a run line, which should continue to bode well for Johnson the rest of the season. The Bills have the Chiefs in Week 8, and while the Chiefs are a solid defense, the Bills just threw all over the Ravens, who were a good defense as well. Look for Johnson’s production to continue against the Chiefs as well as the rest of the year.
James Jones (Green Bay Packers): 8 targets, 4 catches, 107 yards, very good production out of a 3rd wide receiver, who actually played more like the 2 because of Donald Driver’s injury that limited him during the game. Regardless of the reason, Jones put up some good numbers. If you need a flex play this week, he might be your guy, but bear in mind that Green Bay are playing the Jets this week, and that’s a Jets team coming off a bye healthy and rested.
Patrick Crayton (San Diego Chargers): If Malcolm Floyd remains injured this week (check the injury report if you need to know), Crayton is the guy that Rivers go to. After watching the game against New England this past week, both Crayton and Buster Davis were targeted a bunch, but Crayton had the better day overall with 7 catches for 82 yards. If there is no Floyd in Week 8, look for Crayton to have another solid week.
Mike Williams (Seattle Seahawks): Mike Williams had another big week with 16 targets. With 15 targets last week, that makes a total of 31 targets in the last two games combined. Add to that the fact that he’s actually producing with those targets (21 catches, 210 yards, 1 touchdown), and you have what is looking like a good combination in Hasselbeck to Williams. As I said last week, without many other options, prospects looked good for Williams, and should continue to do so. He’s a solid #2 receiver and a definite flex.
TEs
Owners of Tony Gonzalez, Brent Celek, and Todd Heap may be looking for a little bye week help this week if they don’t already have a solid back up. Also, owners of Dallas Clark should be looking as well, since he’s out for the rest of the season.
Tony Scheffler (Detroit Lions): The Lions pass and pass some more, especially with an ineffective running game for most of the year. Scheffler may be the 2nd tight end on the team, but he still gets his looks. If you are flailing around for a TE, Scheffler may be your guy.
Jermaine Gresham (Cincinnati Bengals): Playing the Miami Dolphins, who do give up points to TEs, but with Jordan Shipley healthy (as his over 100 yard performance indicates), there will be less targets going Gresham’s way. Add to that the fact that Gresham isn’t getting his targets down the field, and you then have to rely on a redzone score from within the 5 yard line, which isn’t happening. He could get lucky this week, and I do like him more than John Carlson, but Gresham is a little bit of a reach this week.
Andrew Quarless (Green Bay Packers): The Packers have perennially loved the TE in the end zone, and that is no different this year. Even with JerMichael Finly out, Rodgers found Quarless in the back of the endzone this week (doesn’t matter he actually never had possession as he went to the ground, there was no challenge by the Vikings). If he can get the targets, the skills are there, but it all depends on wheter Rodgers trust him enough outside the redzone that will determine is real value.
John Carlson (Seattle Seahawks): Carlson has the talent, but it appears that the Seahawks don’t seem to care. They aren’t scheming to incorporate Carlson, which is a mistake in my opinion. They are still winning as a team without Carlson, but when it comes down to it, they’re going to need more than Mike Williams catching the ball for them. If you really need a TE, and everyone else is taken, I guess you could go with Carlson, but I have zero confidence that he will produce.
Heath Miller (Pittsburgh Steelers): Not many better options out there this week, and with an ok performance (3 targets, 3 catches, 33 yards), you could do worse. Bottom line is that you need some catches, and Heath Miller is as sure handed as they come. Playing a New Orleans defense that isn’t very good in containing TEs, Miller could be a good pickup this week. I could definitely seeing him scoring a touchdown in the redzone this week.
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