Week 8 Running Backs | Rank | Player Name | Opponent | Notes |
| 1 | Clinton Portis | at DET | |
| 2 | Marion Barber | vs. TB | - |
| 3 | Frank Gore | vs. SEA | - |
| 4 | Brian Westbrook | vs. ATL | |
| 5 | Chris Johnson | vs. IND | - |
| 6 | Marshawn Lynch | at MIA | - |
| 7 | Steve Slaton | vs. CIN | - |
| 8 | Thomas Jones | vs. KC | - |
| 9 | Steven Jackson | at NE | Game-time Decision(quadriceps) |
| 10 | LaDainian Tomlinson | at NO | Probable(toe) |
| 11 | Brandon Jacobs | at PIT | - |
| 12 | Michael Turner | at PHI | - |
| 13 | Ronnie Brown | vs. BUF | - |
| 14 | Maurice Jones-Drew | vs. CLE | - |
| 15 | Willis McGahee | vs. OAK | Probable(knee) |
| 16 | Jamal Lewis | at JAC | - |
| 17 | LenDale White | vs. IND | Cheap scores |
| 18 | Jonathan Stewart | vs. ARZ | #1 Dynasty rookie? |
| 19 | Deuce McAllister | vs. SD | No suspension for now |
| 20 | Mewelde Moore | vs. NYG | No Fast Willie |
| 21 | Julius Jones | at SF | - |
| 22 | Earnest Graham | at DAL | Keep eye on Dunn |
| 23 | DeAngelo Williams | vs. ARZ | - |
| 24 | Ahman Green | vs. CIN | Sneaky play |
| 25 | Cedric Benson | at HOU | Bad player, good matchup |
| 26 | Benjarvus Green-Ellis | vs. STL | Should split with Faulk |
| 27 | Justin Fargas | at BAL | - |
| 28 | Dominic Rhodes | at TEN | - |
| 29 | Edgerrin James | at CAR | - |
| 30 | Warrick Dunn | at DAL | Questionable(back) |
| 31 | Tim Hightower | at CAR | - |
| 32 | Fred Taylor | vs. CLE | - |
| 33 | Darren McFadden | at BAL | Probable(toe) |
| 34 | Fred Jackson | at MIA | - |
| 35 | Kevin Faulk | vs. STL | Our guess is he'll get fewer carries |
| 36 | Jamaal Charles | at NYJ | - |
| 37 | Ricky Williams | vs. BUF | - |
| 38 | Kolby Smith | at NYJ | - |
| 39 | Derrick Ward | at PIT | - |
| 40 | Kevin Smith | vs. WAS | Probable(shoulder) |
| 41 | Jerious Norwood | at PHI | - |
| 42 | LeRon McClain | vs. OAK | - |
| 43 | Correll Buckhalter | vs. ATL | - |
| 44 | Maurice Morris | at SF | - |
| 45 | Rudi Johnson | vs. WAS | - |
| 46 | Pierre Thomas | vs. SD | - |
| 47 | Leon Washington | vs. KC | - |
| 48 | Darren Sproles | at NO | Probable(ankle) |
| 49 | Shaun Alexander | at DET | - |
| 50 | Ray Rice | vs. OAK | - |
| 51 | Kenny Watson | at HOU | - |
| 52 | Aaron Stecker | vs. SD | - |
RB Notes: Mike Tomlin said it earlier in the week: The Giants offensive line is as good as any offensive line in recent history. Couldn't agree more.
Eli Manning doesn't get touched in the passing game, but their run blocking takes it to another level. Consider this:
Brandon Jacobs is on pace for over 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns. His backup,
Derrick Ward, is on pace for 1,200 total yards! Including
Ahmad Bradshaw, the Giants backfield is on pace for over 3,000 yards from scrimmage this year. The schedule gets much tougher down the stretch, starting this week against the Steelers. I can't imagine benching Jacobs in any format, but Ward isn't a great flex play because of the tough matchup. …
Ryan Grant ran harder last week against Indy, but the results were still not great. After getting 64 carries in two weeks, Grant is at risk of breaking down. It's a great time to sell while you can.
The Colts struggled to push the Packers up front, which doesn't bode well for their matchup with the Titans. Most of
Dominic Rhodes' yards came when the Colts went four wide and delayed a handoff. Translation: The Colts just can't gain rushing yards by blocking people hat on hat.
Joseph Addai has an outside chance to play this week, but avoid waiting for the Colts backs if possible. … It feels strange to defend
Jamal Lewis, who has been a punch line in this space in previous years. But he's actually playing better than his numbers would indicate the last two weeks. The passing game is limiting his scoring chances, but he still has great vision and is finding holes. Stick with him against the Jaguars. … It looks like
Steven Jackson will play this week. Monday Night's game notwithstanding, the Patriots rush defense is average. Start him. …
Brian Westbrook is fully practicing again, making
Correll Buckhalter a useful fantasy reserve. …
Julius Jones' dustup with Mike Holmgren may not help his chances of fending off a
Maurice Morris committee.
Justin Fargas is clearly Tom Cable's guy. Oakland has a tough matchup against Baltimore, so Fargas and
Darren McFadden should both be on fantasy benches. McFadden has topped 50 rushing yards once all season and is now getting only 8-10 carries a game.
Frank Gore's offensive line is absolutely terrible, especially when facing a physical defense. Luckily, they get the lightweight Seahawks this week. The Saints' run blocking has improved throughout the year. They have opened up some big holes for
Deuce McAllister the last two weeks and he's responded with decisive cuts and a yards-per-carry average over five. The Chargers are no longer a tough matchup, making McAllister a decent bet to score. He's a solid RB2 for the week.
Aaron Stecker and
Pierre Thomas should get involved behind him, but it's uncertain who will be the backup.
I continue to rank
Jonathan Stewart ahead of
DeAngelo Williams because he's more likely to score. Stewart owners hoping that he'll eventually take over are going to be disappointed though. The Panthers backs complement each other well and share snaps on nearly every drive. It's working for John Fox and he's unlikely to change his strategy. …
LenDale White is actually running worse than last season, but playing on the rejuvenated Titans has it's perks. Jeff Fisher loves using him near the goal line, much to the consternation of
Chris Johnson owners. It's hard to sit the NFL leader in rushing touchdowns, especially against the Colts, who are softer than White's midsection. …
Michael Turner and
Ronnie Brown have been inconsistent and face tough matchups, but there just aren't overly reliable options to rank in front of them this week.
Sammy Morris is ranked as if he'll start. That's far from certain to happen. If Morris is out, a healthy
LaMont Jordan would climb into the top-25. BenJarvus Green-Ellis figures to be third on the depth chart at best. …
Ahman Green and
Cedric Benson are both sneaky plays this week because of the matchup. We said to start Green as a flex against the Lions last week and it's fair to expect a similar performance against Cincy, one of the worst rush defenses in the league. Benson may not look great, but he should get 15-20 touches in a plus matchup. …
Earnest Graham owners should keep an eye on
Warrick Dunn's status. …
Jamaal Charles will come off the bench, but he's got a better chance than
Kolby Smith to break a big play against a shockingly stout Jets rush defense.
Week 8 Wide Receivers| Rank | Player Name | Opponent | Notes |
| 1 | Steve Smith | vs. ARZ | - |
| 2 | Andre Johnson | vs. CIN | - |
| 3 | Lee Evans | at MIA | - |
| 4 | Larry Fitzgerald | at CAR | - |
| 5 | Santana Moss | at DET | - |
| 6 | Plaxico Burress | at PIT | Probable(shoulder) |
| 7 | Reggie Wayne | at TEN | - |
| 8 | Randy Moss | vs. STL | - |
| 9 | Roddy White | at PHI | - |
| 10 | Braylon Edwards | at JAC | - |
| 11 | Calvin Johnson | vs. WAS | Big test |
| 12 | Laveranues Coles | vs. KC | Probable, but watch inactives |
| 13 | Jerricho Cotchery | vs. KC | Questionable(shoulder) |
| 14 | Marques Colston | vs. SD | Keep the faith |
| 15 | Hines Ward | vs. NYG | - |
| 16 | Wes Welker | vs. STL | - |
| 17 | Vincent Jackson | at NO | Chambers out again |
| 18 | T.J. Houshmandzadeh | at HOU | Probable(ankle) |
| 19 | DeSean Jackson | vs. ATL | - |
| 20 | Chad Ocho Cinco | at HOU | - |
| 21 | Anquan Boldin | at CAR | 35 snaps is enough for us |
| 22 | Dwayne Bowe | at NYJ | - |
| 23 | Antonio Bryant | at DAL | - |
| 24 | Terrell Owens | vs. TB | - |
| 25 | Josh Morgan | vs. SEA | Probable(groin) |
| 26 | Muhsin Muhammad | vs. ARZ | Probable(knee) |
| 27 | Matt Jones | vs. CLE | No suspension this week |
| 28 | Donnie Avery | at NE | - |
| 29 | Derrick Mason | vs. OAK | Questionable(illness) |
| 30 | Greg Camarillo | vs. BUF | - |
| 31 | Lance Moore | vs. SD | Keep eye on Weather |
| 32 | Marvin Harrison | at TEN | - |
| 33 | Kevin Curtis | vs. ATL | Should start in '08 debut |
| 34 | Antwaan Randle El | at DET | - |
| 35 | Malcom Floyd | at NO | Starting for Chambers again |
| 36 | Kevin Walter | vs. CIN | - |
| 37 | Nate Washington | vs. NYG | - |
| 38 | Devery Henderson | vs. SD | - |
| 39 | Torry Holt | at NE | - |
| 40 | Joey Galloway | at DAL | Questionable(foot) |
| 41 | Isaac Bruce | vs. SEA | - |
| 42 | Anthony Gonzalez | at TEN | - |
| 43 | Reggie Brown | vs. ATL | Questionable(groin) |
| 44 | Justin Gage | vs. IND | Questionable(knee) |
| 45 | Donte' Stallworth | at JAC | - |
| 46 | Roy Williams | vs. TB | - |
| 47 | Steve Smith | at PIT | - |
| 48 | Chansi Stuckey | vs. KC | Keep eye on Cotchery/Coles |
| 49 | Mike Furrey | vs. WAS | - |
| 50 | Amani Toomer | at PIT | - |
| 51 | Bobby Engram | at SF | - |
| 52 | Brad Smith | vs. KC | Keep eye on Cotchery/Coles |
| 53 | Steve Breaston | at CAR | Decent snaps, tough matchup |
| 54 | Patrick Crayton | vs. TB | - |
| 55 | Arnaz Battle | vs. SEA | - |
| 56 | Josh Reed | at MIA | - |
WR Notes: News breaking Thursday afternoon indicates that Jerricho Cotchery and especially Laveranues Coles are very iffy to play Sunday. Coles reportedly had a concussion last week. I'll update their status and rankings on the Friday evening update. Brad Smith and Chansi Stuckey could both start in a choice matchup. Smith would probably be the first guy off the bench so Stuckey could stay in his usual slot role. … Josh Morgan fever is sweeping through Rotoworld's home offices. Or at least my apartment. I'm partial to physical receivers like Morgan that don't need to be that open to make catches. He can line up from any spot on the field. Mike Martz likes to move him around. If Morgan didn't drop two passes against the Giants, he would have been over 125 yards last week. I can live with a guy who has some drops if he consistently gets open on a pass-first offense. Seattle gives up big plays to everyone and Morgan is the most likely 49er receiver to make one this week.
Don't give up on Lance Moore and Devery Henderson yet as WR3 options, especially this week. They each got six targets last week and are facing an iffy Bolts secondary. Sean Payton could use Reggie Bush's injury as an excuse to pass even more than usual. … Chris Chambers is not listed on the rankings yet. If it looks like he'll play, he'll be ranked a little above where Malcolm Floyd is now. Vincent Jackson remains the Chargers wideout to start if you have to choose. He's been extremely steady. Floyd's acrobatic catches have also earned him a permanent role in the offense.
Muhsin Muhammad is on pace for 1,000 yards and is also a decent play in London. Jake Delhomme simply doesn't throw to secondary receivers. D.J. Hackett's potential return could change the pattern, but Moose and Steve Smith dominate their quarterback's attention like no other duo. Muhammad has helped Smith greatly by freeing him up to do what he does best: go deep. Smith is targeted on a handful of deep passes every game, regardless of whether he's open. His 17.7 yards-per-catch average would be the highest of his career. … Keep an eye on Plaxico Burress, who missed practice the first two days of the week. Domenic Hixon could get an emergency start.
Javon Walker needs to put up some numbers in back-to-back games before he gets ranked here. Goal Line Stand status is a privilege, not a right. … Braylon Edwards went right back to an embarrassing performance last week. He dropped at least three passes and didn't realize he was the hot receiver on one key play. I'd stick with him as a WR2 this week because the Jaguars have given up a lot of big plays and the Browns keep sending bushels of targets to Edwards, no matter how little he does with them. … Anquan Boldin should return this week. If not, Steve Breaston moves way up despite the tough matchup. … The Texans secondary is among the worst in the league until proven otherwise. That makes Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh much better plays than normal.
Calvin Johnson's matchup will be telling. Washington's secondary is one of the best in the league and they can take away premier receivers, with or without Shawn Springs in the lineup. Dan Orlovsky has not been impressive despite decent numbers last week. … The Steelers have let Braylon Edwards and Josh Morgan get behind them in successive weeks. That's why I like Santonio Holmes a little more than Hines Ward, who has scored five times this year. … Kevin Curtis should start in his first game back. Sports hernias are tough to recover from, so I'd rather play it safe and bench him if possible this week. He will eventually cut into DeSean Jackson's production. Reggie Brown should be the third receiver, if he plays. … Matt Jones' suspension won't start until next week. … Donnie Avery could have had three touchdowns last week if Marc Bulger didn't miss him. The Patriots have given up a lot of big plays, so Avery is not a bad WR3. … Joey Galloway's status is uncertain. … Derrick Mason and Greg Camarillo are similar rock solid WR3 options in PPR leagues. They won't get you beat.
Rankings were updated Friday Evening. See everyone on the Fix Sunday.As all of New England understandably freaks out about Tom Brady's never-ending knee surgeries, there is one source of optimism: the remarkable recoveries of a trio of players who underwent ACL surgeries last season. Philip Rivers, Ronnie Brown, and Deuce McAllister are playing like their procedures never happened.
Rivers was practicing in August and is playing the best football of his career. He leads the NFL in touchdown passes, and his accuracy has not been compromised. His deep ball somehow looks better. Ronnie Brown is cutting up a storm on his surgically repaired knee and ranks in the top-ten fantasy backs. He was never a great speed threat, but he still makes the first tackler miss as well as any back in the league. McAllister's story is the most remarkable. He's returned to prominence at 29 years old after a second ACL surgery and microfracture surgery on his other knee. The flash is gone from his game, but he presses a hole quickly and is tough to take down. He'll be a useful RB2 option while Reggie Bush is out.
Brady's case, of course, is complicated by his subsequent problems with infection. I'm not smart enough to comment knowledgeably on the situation, but another potential reconstruction sure sounds devastating. What we know from Brown, Rivers, and McAllister is that one reconstructive knee surgery doesn't appear to be the automatic fantasy downer it once was. At least that's what Brady's keeper league owners can quietly mumble to themselves as memories of his 50 touchdowns recede further in the rearview mirror.
On to happier topics: Week 8 Rankings! … For Week 8 projections for every player ranked here, head to Season Pass
Week 8 Quarterbacks
| Rank | Player Name | Opponent | Notes |
| 1 | Donovan McNabb | vs. ATL | - |
| 2 | Matt Schaub | vs. CIN | - |
| 3 | Drew Brees | vs. SD | Watch out for weather, but don't assume a monsoon |
| 4 | Jason Campbell | at DET | - |
| 5 | Brett Favre | vs. KC | - |
| 6 | Trent Edwards | at MIA | Probable(concussion) |
| 7 | Philip Rivers | at NO | - |
| 8 | J.T. O'Sullivan | vs. SEA | Sneaky 100K pick? |
| 9 | Kurt Warner | at CAR | Great Panthers defense |
| 10 | Ben Roethlisberger | vs. NYG | - |
| 11 | Peyton Manning | at TEN | Brutal matchup |
| 12 | Matt Cassel | vs. STL | - |
| 13 | Jake Delhomme | vs. ARZ | - |
| 14 | Eli Manning | at PIT | - |
| 15 | David Garrard | vs. CLE | - |
| 16 | Jeff Garcia | at DAL | - |
| 17 | Derek Anderson | at JAC | - |
| 18 | Marc Bulger | at NE | Probable(finger) |
| 19 | Chad Pennington | vs. BUF | - |
| 20 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | at HOU | - |
| 21 | Seneca Wallace | at SF | - |
| 22 | Kerry Collins | vs. IND | - |
| 23 | Brad Johnson | vs. TB | - |
| 24 | Matt Ryan | at PHI | - |
| 25 | Dan Orlovsky | vs. WAS | - |
| 26 | Joe Flacco | vs. OAK | - |
| 27 | Tyler Thigpen | at NYJ | - |
| 28 | JaMarcus Russell | at BAL | - |
QB Notes: Weird week. A lot of top quarterbacks are facing the best pass defenses. Peyton Manning has the Titans, who have given up one touchdown pass all season. One! A few weeks ago, I was filled with an unhealthy amount of self-loathing after ranking Manning as a QB2 because of a tough matchup again Baltimore. He's not quite that low this time around, but he can be benched for players like Jason Campbell and Trent Edwards with better matchups. Fear for the Colts offensive line against Albert Haynesworth. We'll see if I'm hating myself again Monday Morning.
Other top quarterbacks with tough matchups: Kurt Warner faces a stingy Panther pass defense that shut down Drew Brees. Carolina is second in the league in yards-per-game allowed and yards-per-attempt allowed. With an improved pass rush to help out, Carolina's cornerback trio of Chris Gamble, Ken Lucas, and Richard Marshall matches up well with any group in the league. This will be a good test to see if the Cardinals can still be the Cardinals in the Eastern time zone. … Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger face of in Pittsburgh. Don't expect a repeat of the 33-30 game the two teams had in 2004. Ben is the better fantasy play because the Giants are more vulnerable through the air. The trick will be protecting him. For all the talk of Eli's development, his fantasy stats are remarkably similar to how they look every season, minus some interceptions. The Steelers lead the league in passing yards-per-game allowed, so he's a shaky play.
Another reason to believe Matt Schaub will remain a top-eight fantasy quarterback the rest of the season; Gary Kubiak loves throwing in the red zone. Schaub is first in the league in red zone pass attempts despite starting only five games. He's fourth in goal line attempts. Other quarterbacks who rank high on both lists: Kurt Warner, Jay Cutler, and Donovan McNabb. … J.T. O'Sullivan is the ultimate quarterback that can be better in fantasy than reality. He still ranks in the top ten in YPA and passing yards despite playing the Eagles and Giants the last two weeks. He lit up Seattle last time and their defense is in worse shape now. I'd play him with confidence.
I can't remember having this tough a week ranking people, probably because all the poor quarterbacks have good matchups. There is very little separation between spots #9-20. When push comes to shove, I still go with the better player over the better matchup if it's a toss up. The players from Delhomme to Bulger was especially hard to separate. Garrard is starting to play better, and I believe in him more than the others. The Cowboys are now a plus or neutral matchup, but I think their defense will be fired up to improve. I'm not fully buying the Jeff Garcia revival yet, although he's a decent QB2. It's hard to say if the Cardinals are a good or bad matchup, although their defense has not been the same on the road. Jake Delhomme is relatively steady, but unspectacular, against average defenses. The Panthers run a lot in the red zone. Delhomme is 26th in the NFL since Week 2 in red zone pass attempts. … Anderson could get benched if he struggles, so his "upside" probably isn't worth it. Bulger doesn't produce even when the Rams when. … The Colts are somehow first in the league at preventing fantasy points to quarterbacks, so stay away from Kerry Collins. … Matt Ryan grows more impressive by the week, but I don't like his chances on the road against a Jim Johnson defense. Expect a good "lesson" game by Ryan.
Week 8 Running Backs
| Rank | Player Name | Opponent | Notes |
| 1 | Clinton Portis | at DET | |
| 2 | Marion Barber | vs. TB | - |
| 3 | Frank Gore | vs. SEA | - |
| 4 | Brian Westbrook | vs. ATL | |
| 5 | Chris Johnson | vs. IND | - |
| 6 | Marshawn Lynch | at MIA | - |
| 7 | Steve Slaton | vs. CIN | - |
| 8 | Thomas Jones | vs. KC | - |
| 9 | Steven Jackson | at NE | Game-time Decision(quadriceps) |
| 10 | LaDainian Tomlinson | at NO | Probable(toe) |
| 11 | Brandon Jacobs | at PIT | - |
| 12 | Michael Turner | at PHI | - |
| 13 | Ronnie Brown | vs. BUF | - |
| 14 | Maurice Jones-Drew | vs. CLE | - |
| 15 | Willis McGahee | vs. OAK | Probable(knee) |
| 16 | Jamal Lewis | at JAC | - |
| 17 | LenDale White | vs. IND | Cheap scores |
| 18 | Jonathan Stewart | vs. ARZ | #1 Dynasty rookie? |
| 19 | Deuce McAllister | vs. SD | No suspension for now |
| 20 | Mewelde Moore | vs. NYG | No Fast Willie |
| 21 | Julius Jones | at SF | - |
| 22 | Earnest Graham | at DAL | Keep eye on Dunn |
| 23 | DeAngelo Williams | vs. ARZ | - |
| 24 | Ahman Green | vs. CIN | Sneaky play |
| 25 | Cedric Benson | at HOU | Bad player, good matchup |
| 26 | Benjarvus Green-Ellis | vs. STL | Should split with Faulk |
| 27 | Justin Fargas | at BAL | - |
| 28 | Dominic Rhodes | at TEN | - |
| 29 | Edgerrin James | at CAR | - |
| 30 | Warrick Dunn | at DAL | Questionable(back) |
| 31 | Tim Hightower | at CAR | - |
| 32 | Fred Taylor | vs. CLE | - |
| 33 | Darren McFadden | at BAL | Probable(toe) |
| 34 | Fred Jackson | at MIA | - |
| 35 | Kevin Faulk | vs. STL | Our guess is he'll get fewer carries |
| 36 | Jamaal Charles | at NYJ | - |
| 37 | Ricky Williams | vs. BUF | - |
| 38 | Kolby Smith | at NYJ | - |
| 39 | Derrick Ward | at PIT | - |
| 40 | Kevin Smith | vs. WAS | Probable(shoulder) |
| 41 | Jerious Norwood | at PHI | - |
| 42 | LeRon McClain | vs. OAK | - |
| 43 | Correll Buckhalter | vs. ATL | - |
| 44 | Maurice Morris | at SF | - |
| 45 | Rudi Johnson | vs. WAS | - |
| 46 | Pierre Thomas | vs. SD | - |
| 47 | Leon Washington | vs. KC | - |
| 48 | Darren Sproles | at NO | Probable(ankle) |
| 49 | Shaun Alexander | at DET | - |
| 50 | Ray Rice | vs. OAK | - |
| 51 | Kenny Watson | at HOU | - |
| 52 | Aaron Stecker | vs. SD | - |
RB Notes: Mike Tomlin said it earlier in the week: The Giants offensive line is as good as any offensive line in recent history. Couldn't agree more.
Eli Manning doesn't get touched in the passing game, but their run blocking takes it to another level. Consider this:
Brandon Jacobs is on pace for over 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns. His backup,
Derrick Ward, is on pace for 1,200 total yards! Including
Ahmad Bradshaw, the Giants backfield is on pace for over 3,000 yards from scrimmage this year. The schedule gets much tougher down the stretch, starting this week against the Steelers. I can't imagine benching Jacobs in any format, but Ward isn't a great flex play because of the tough matchup. …
Ryan Grant ran harder last week against Indy, but the results were still not great. After getting 64 carries in two weeks, Grant is at risk of breaking down. It's a great time to sell while you can.
The Colts struggled to push the Packers up front, which doesn't bode well for their matchup with the Titans. Most of
Dominic Rhodes' yards came when the Colts went four wide and delayed a handoff. Translation: The Colts just can't gain rushing yards by blocking people hat on hat.
Joseph Addai has an outside chance to play this week, but avoid waiting for the Colts backs if possible. … It feels strange to defend
Jamal Lewis, who has been a punch line in this space in previous years. But he's actually playing better than his numbers would indicate the last two weeks. The passing game is limiting his scoring chances, but he still has great vision and is finding holes. Stick with him against the Jaguars. … It looks like
Steven Jackson will play this week. Monday Night's game notwithstanding, the Patriots rush defense is average. Start him. …
Brian Westbrook is fully practicing again, making
Correll Buckhalter a useful fantasy reserve. …
Julius Jones' dustup with Mike Holmgren may not help his chances of fending off a
Maurice Morris committee.
Justin Fargas is clearly Tom Cable's guy. Oakland has a tough matchup against Baltimore, so Fargas and
Darren McFadden should both be on fantasy benches. McFadden has topped 50 rushing yards once all season and is now getting only 8-10 carries a game.
Frank Gore's offensive line is absolutely terrible, especially when facing a physical defense. Luckily, they get the lightweight Seahawks this week. The Saints' run blocking has improved throughout the year. They have opened up some big holes for
Deuce McAllister the last two weeks and he's responded with decisive cuts and a yards-per-carry average over five. The Chargers are no longer a tough matchup, making McAllister a decent bet to score. He's a solid RB2 for the week.
Aaron Stecker and
Pierre Thomas should get involved behind him, but it's uncertain who will be the backup.
I continue to rank
Jonathan Stewart ahead of
DeAngelo Williams because he's more likely to score. Stewart owners hoping that he'll eventually take over are going to be disappointed though. The Panthers backs complement each other well and share snaps on nearly every drive. It's working for John Fox and he's unlikely to change his strategy. …
LenDale White is actually running worse than last season, but playing on the rejuvenated Titans has it's perks. Jeff Fisher loves using him near the goal line, much to the consternation of
Chris Johnson owners. It's hard to sit the NFL leader in rushing touchdowns, especially against the Colts, who are softer than White's midsection. …
Michael Turner and
Ronnie Brown have been inconsistent and face tough matchups, but there just aren't overly reliable options to rank in front of them this week.
Sammy Morris is ranked as if he'll start. That's far from certain to happen. If Morris is out, a healthy
LaMont Jordan would climb into the top-25. BenJarvus Green-Ellis figures to be third on the depth chart at best. …
Ahman Green and
Cedric Benson are both sneaky plays this week because of the matchup. We said to start Green as a flex against the Lions last week and it's fair to expect a similar performance against Cincy, one of the worst rush defenses in the league. Benson may not look great, but he should get 15-20 touches in a plus matchup. …
Earnest Graham owners should keep an eye on
Warrick Dunn's status. …
Jamaal Charles will come off the bench, but he's got a better chance than
Kolby Smith to break a big play against a shockingly stout Jets rush defense.
Week 8 Wide Receivers| Rank | Player Name | Opponent | Notes |
| 1 | Steve Smith | vs. ARZ | - |
| 2 | Andre Johnson | vs. CIN | - |
| 3 | Lee Evans | at MIA | - |
| 4 | Larry Fitzgerald | at CAR | - |
| 5 | Santana Moss | at DET | - |
| 6 | Plaxico Burress | at PIT | Probable(shoulder) |
| 7 | Reggie Wayne | at TEN | - |
| 8 | Randy Moss | vs. STL | - |
| 9 | Roddy White | at PHI | - |
| 10 | Braylon Edwards | at JAC | - |
| 11 | Calvin Johnson | vs. WAS | Big test |
| 12 | Laveranues Coles | vs. KC | Probable, but watch inactives |
| 13 | Jerricho Cotchery | vs. KC | Questionable(shoulder) |
| 14 | Marques Colston | vs. SD | Keep the faith |
| 15 | Hines Ward | vs. NYG | - |
| 16 | Wes Welker | vs. STL | - |
| 17 | Vincent Jackson | at NO | Chambers out again |
| 18 | T.J. Houshmandzadeh | at HOU | Probable(ankle) |
| 19 | DeSean Jackson | vs. ATL | - |
| 20 | Chad Ocho Cinco | at HOU | - |
| 21 | Anquan Boldin | at CAR | 35 snaps is enough for us |
| 22 | Dwayne Bowe | at NYJ | - |
| 23 | Antonio Bryant | at DAL | - |
| 24 | Terrell Owens | vs. TB | - |
| 25 | Josh Morgan | vs. SEA | Probable(groin) |
| 26 | Muhsin Muhammad | vs. ARZ | Probable(knee) |
| 27 | Matt Jones | vs. CLE | No suspension this week |
| 28 | Donnie Avery | at NE | - |
| 29 | Derrick Mason | vs. OAK | Questionable(illness) |
| 30 | Greg Camarillo | vs. BUF | - |
| 31 | Lance Moore | vs. SD | Keep eye on Weather |
| 32 | Marvin Harrison | at TEN | - |
| 33 | Kevin Curtis | vs. ATL | Should start in '08 debut |
| 34 | Antwaan Randle El | at DET | - |
| 35 | Malcom Floyd | at NO | Starting for Chambers again |
| 36 | Kevin Walter | vs. CIN | - |
| 37 | Nate Washington | vs. NYG | - |
| 38 | Devery Henderson | vs. SD | - |
| 39 | Torry Holt | at NE | - |
| 40 | Joey Galloway | at DAL | Questionable(foot) |
| 41 | Isaac Bruce | vs. SEA | - |
| 42 | Anthony Gonzalez | at TEN | - |
| 43 | Reggie Brown | vs. ATL | Questionable(groin) |
| 44 | Justin Gage | vs. IND | Questionable(knee) |
| 45 | Donte' Stallworth | at JAC | - |
| 46 | Roy Williams | vs. TB | - |
| 47 | Steve Smith | at PIT | - |
| 48 | Chansi Stuckey | vs. KC | Keep eye on Cotchery/Coles |
| 49 | Mike Furrey | vs. WAS | - |
| 50 | Amani Toomer | at PIT | - |
| 51 | Bobby Engram | at SF | - |
| 52 | Brad Smith | vs. KC | Keep eye on Cotchery/Coles |
| 53 | Steve Breaston | at CAR | Decent snaps, tough matchup |
| 54 | Patrick Crayton | vs. TB | - |
| 55 | Arnaz Battle | vs. SEA | - |
| 56 | Josh Reed | at MIA | - |
WR Notes: News breaking Thursday afternoon indicates that Jerricho Cotchery and especially Laveranues Coles are very iffy to play Sunday. Coles reportedly had a concussion last week. I'll update their status and rankings on the Friday evening update. Brad Smith and Chansi Stuckey could both start in a choice matchup. Smith would probably be the first guy off the bench so Stuckey could stay in his usual slot role. … Josh Morgan fever is sweeping through Rotoworld's home offices. Or at least my apartment. I'm partial to physical receivers like Morgan that don't need to be that open to make catches. He can line up from any spot on the field. Mike Martz likes to move him around. If Morgan didn't drop two passes against the Giants, he would have been over 125 yards last week. I can live with a guy who has some drops if he consistently gets open on a pass-first offense. Seattle gives up big plays to everyone and Morgan is the most likely 49er receiver to make one this week.
Don't give up on Lance Moore and Devery Henderson yet as WR3 options, especially this week. They each got six targets last week and are facing an iffy Bolts secondary. Sean Payton could use Reggie Bush's injury as an excuse to pass even more than usual. … Chris Chambers is not listed on the rankings yet. If it looks like he'll play, he'll be ranked a little above where Malcolm Floyd is now. Vincent Jackson remains the Chargers wideout to start if you have to choose. He's been extremely steady. Floyd's acrobatic catches have also earned him a permanent role in the offense.
Muhsin Muhammad is on pace for 1,000 yards and is also a decent play in London. Jake Delhomme simply doesn't throw to secondary receivers. D.J. Hackett's potential return could change the pattern, but Moose and Steve Smith dominate their quarterback's attention like no other duo. Muhammad has helped Smith greatly by freeing him up to do what he does best: go deep. Smith is targeted on a handful of deep passes every game, regardless of whether he's open. His 17.7 yards-per-catch average would be the highest of his career. … Keep an eye on Plaxico Burress, who missed practice the first two days of the week. Domenic Hixon could get an emergency start.
Javon Walker needs to put up some numbers in back-to-back games before he gets ranked here. Goal Line Stand status is a privilege, not a right. … Braylon Edwards went right back to an embarrassing performance last week. He dropped at least three passes and didn't realize he was the hot receiver on one key play. I'd stick with him as a WR2 this week because the Jaguars have given up a lot of big plays and the Browns keep sending bushels of targets to Edwards, no matter how little he does with them. … Anquan Boldin should return this week. If not, Steve Breaston moves way up despite the tough matchup. … The Texans secondary is among the worst in the league until proven otherwise. That makes Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh much better plays than normal.
Calvin Johnson's matchup will be telling. Washington's secondary is one of the best in the league and they can take away premier receivers, with or without Shawn Springs in the lineup. Dan Orlovsky has not been impressive despite decent numbers last week. … The Steelers have let Braylon Edwards and Josh Morgan get behind them in successive weeks. That's why I like Santonio Holmes a little more than Hines Ward, who has scored five times this year. … Kevin Curtis should start in his first game back. Sports hernias are tough to recover from, so I'd rather play it safe and bench him if possible this week. He will eventually cut into DeSean Jackson's production. Reggie Brown should be the third receiver, if he plays. … Matt Jones' suspension won't start until next week. … Donnie Avery could have had three touchdowns last week if Marc Bulger didn't miss him. The Patriots have given up a lot of big plays, so Avery is not a bad WR3. … Joey Galloway's status is uncertain. … Derrick Mason and Greg Camarillo are similar rock solid WR3 options in PPR leagues. They won't get you beat.
Week 8 Tight Ends
Tight End Notes: Kellen Winslow isn't ranked. It looks like he won't play even if he won his appeal with the league. …
Antonio Gates is amazing. He's half the player he usually is, yet is still ranked second on the season in tight end points. The position is not nearly as strong as it is most years, though.
Visanthe Shiancoe and
Bo Scaife are ranked in the top ten. … The
Todd Heap ranking looks ridiculous, but the Oakland safeties can't cover. Heap has looked a little better in recent weeks and is well overdue for a solid afternoon. … Shockey's status is uncertain. He's ranked that high because the Saints design a lot of plays for him, but he didn't look very explosive last week.
Billy Miller will move up five spots if Shockey is out, which would be a surprise. … Keep an eye on
Marcedes Lewis and
Ben Watson, two talented tight ends who show some signs of breaking out. …
Zach Miller has steadily seen more targets as the season has worn on. He had a touchdown called back last week by a boneheaded
Javon Walker penalty.
Week 8 Team DefenseWeek 8 Kickers