Matchups: Return of the Mac

Washington @ Pittsburgh

He's playing the Steelers. And you still start him. Matchup-proof rookie Robert Griffin III is the No. 1 fantasy quarterback, and he's coming off another insanely productive week that could've been even bigger. Griffin had a first-quarter 35-yard rocket-ball touchdown called back on an "illegal shift” against the Giants, and Leonard Hankerson should have secured Griffin's well-placed 55-yard bomb in the third quarter. His lone miscue came on a late third-quarter pick where TE Logan Paulsen inexplicably stopped on a route. "He hangs in the pocket and delivers the football," FOX color commentator Troy Aikman said of Griffin. "I've been very impressed by him." RG3's running plays keep making highlight reels, but pinpoint accuracy remains the most underappreciated aspect of his game. On the same field as the G-Men, Griffin was a noticeably more accurate thrower than two-time Super Bowl winner Eli Manning. ... Pittsburgh is playing top-ten run defense again this year. But as we've explained repeatedly in this space before, the zone-run game is matchup-proof when it's clicking. It is clicking in D.C. Alfred Morris has twice faced top-ten run defenses in 2012, and he's tagged them for a combined 202 yards and a score on 37 carries, good for an explosive average of 5.46 YPC. It's also no secret that 3-4 defenses like the Steelers' tend to struggle against zone blocks.

Continuing to fill in for Pierre Garcon (foot), Hankerson was the Redskins' receiver most often open in last week's loss to the Giants. He led Washington in targets (8), catches (6), and yards (70), and will remain the team's best bet for receiving stats until Garcon returns. Hankerson does have a difficult Week 8 matchup with Steelers RCB Ike Taylor, who shut down A.J. Green in Week 7. ... Santana Moss took to the house a well-blocked 26-yard screen and basket-caught Griffin's bucket throw for a go-ahead touchdown in last week's loss. He also lost the game-ending fumble. Ultimately, Moss was targeted four times and continues to be a bit player in Shanahan & Son's offense, seeing action on just 17-of-71 snaps (24 percent) versus the G-Men. Moss would not be a strong WR3 at Pittsburgh. ... Griffin's target distribution when Garcon misses games this season: Hankerson 21, Fred Davis 17, Moss and Morgan 14, Paulsen and Aldrick Robinson 7. ... With Davis done for the year, the Skins figure to turn to a three-tight end rotation of Paulsen, Niles Paul, and newly re-signed Chris Cooley. You'll be hard pressed to find fantasy value in that group. ... Morgan has been an efficient possession guy for the Shanahans, securing 18 of the 22 passes thrown his way. Unfortunately, Morgan doesn't score touchdowns and averages 31 yards a game.

Here were Greg Cosell's comments this week on Jonathan Dwyer: "I thought he ran well last week. I don't know what they want his weight to be; he just looks like he's a few pounds heavy. ... He strikes me as a guy who, if he lost a few pounds, could be even quicker. Because I think he's got naturally quick feet." While Cosell's observations weren't overflowing with rose-colored praise, the attribute of quick feet is a necessity for 235-plus-pound running backs. Dwyer is coming off a 17-carry, 122-yard game against the Bengals' No. 21 run defense. The Skins have a top-seven run-defending group, but the workload should be there for Dwyer with Rashard Mendenhall (Achilles) out one more week. Dwyer is an attractive Week 8 flex play. ... Rookie scatback Chris Rainey took a rare handoff out of a traditional run formation last week and scooted through a gaping hole for his 11-yard score. While Rainey has great speed and some playmaking ability, he doesn't get the football enough for fantasy use. ... Dwyer doesn't play in the passing game much, and was replaced by a combo of Rainey and Baron Batch on third downs against Cincinnati. Batch dropped a would-be touchdown and got two touches on offense. With third-down specialist Isaac Redman (ankle) on his way back, Batch is even further off the fantasy radar than Rainey.

Ultimately, the Steelers should enjoy the bulk of their offensive success in the pass game Sunday. Washington ranks 32nd in pass defense and is tied for the NFL lead in TD throws allowed. Fire up Ben Roethlisberger as a mid-range QB1. ... Desperate for answers in the secondary, Redskins DC Jim Haslett has mixed and matched coverage assignments the past few weeks. In this game, I think we'll see DeAngelo Hall follow Antonio Brown around the offensive formation while Josh Wilson mirrors Mike Wallace. Both Brown and Wallace have highly enticing Week 8 matchups. Because Hall is a weaker cover man than Wilson, my bet would be on Brown pacing Pittsburgh in Week 8 catches and receiving yards. Wallace remains the superior bet for touchdowns. ... The Redskins lack explosive pass rushers aside from OLB Ryan Kerrigan, so Heath Miller should be freed up for more route running than in-line blocking this week. Miller is not typically a favorite in the Matchups column because his weekly statistical ceiling is relatively low, but he's a strong fantasy play in Week 8. No NFC defense has allowed more fantasy points to tight ends than Haslett's. ... Emmanuel Sanders remains in a fantasy holding pattern, needing Brown or Wallace to get injured in order to be start-able. The Steelers' slot receiver is averaging 38 yards a game.

Score Prediction: Steelers 30, Redskins 24

Seattle @ Detroit

The Seahawks' normally impenetrable run defense sprung leaks in last Thursday's loss to San Francisco. Short-week fatigue was likely to blame. On just three days rest, Seattle allowed a reasonable 58 first-half rushing yards before getting rag-dolled for 117 in the final two quarters. Now ten days removed from their last game, look for the Seahawks' front seven to take out its anguish on Detroit's anemic rushing attack. Still requiring heavy volume to accrue worthwhile fantasy stats, pedestrian starter Mikel Leshoure is a low-end flex option this week. After last Monday night's goal-line fumble, Joique Bell is no longer in the fantasy conversation. ... Nate Burleson fractured his right leg against the Bears and is done for the season. Burleson ranked third on the Lions in targets, averaging nearly nine per game. Because Burleson was primarily a slot receiver in Detroit's three- and four-wide offense, rookie Ryan Broyles will be the biggest immediate beneficiary in terms of sheer snaps. Broyles is a slot receiver; Titus Young is a deep threat who plays on the perimeter. As far as Week 8 pluck-and-play WR3s go, you could do worse than Broyles. The former Oklahoma star came off the bench for a 3/51/1 line at Soldier Field and will match up Sunday with slot CB Marcus Trufant, who is Seattle's weakest corner.

Young is getting more buzz than Broyles because he's long been a hot fantasy name and entered the season atop "breakout" lists. The second-year speedster will have a tough go of it against Seattle's physical press-man corners, RCB Brandon Browner and LCB Richard Sherman. Young will play more downs than Broyles, but Broyles has a better matchup. ... Calvin Johnson reminds me of Adrian Peterson last week, in terms of situation. Megatron is working on a three-game touchdown drought, but when the scores start coming, they will come in bunches. He's an ideal fantasy trade target. Despite the rough Week 8 matchup, start Johnson confidently versus the Seahawks. ... Matthew Stafford isn't playing well enough to be considered more than a QB2 against Seattle's top-eight pass defense. The Seahawks' immovable front seven should force Stafford to rack up enough passing attempts to keep Johnson and perhaps Young or Broyles' box scores afloat, but mechanical flaws and in-pocket fadeaways are torpedoing Stafford's standalone stats. 21st in quarterback scoring, Stafford has been a significantly bigger fantasy bust than Cam Newton (15th) thus far. ... You're at a weekly disadvantage if you're leaning on Lions post-up TE Brandon Pettigrew as a fantasy starter. He gets targets, but is lacking for touchdowns and yards.

Marshawn Lynch totaled 116 hard-earned yards in the Niners loss, reproving himself matchup-proof despite a three-game touchdown lull. His legs are fresh following the extended layoff, which is a scary reality for a Lions defense playing on a relatively short week. Detroit entered Week 7 with a top-12 run defense, only to be exposed by Chicago's ground game for 171 yards on 32 carries (5.34 YPC) last Monday night. Look for Lynch to rediscover pay dirt in Week 8. ... Rookie backup Robert Turbin offers better straight-line speed than Lynch and is averaging a rock-solid 4.42 YPC on 26 change-of-pace carries so far. Turbin has also flashed surprising passing-game chops for a guy who caught only 17 balls in 13 games at Utah State last year. Entering the second half of fantasy season, it's time to start stacking our benches with lottery-ticket running backs. Turbin is worth rostering in all leagues as a potential top-15 back should Lynch go down.

Russell Wilson ranks second to last in pass attempts among quarterbacks who've started all their team's games. Wilson's season stats (7.0 YPA, 8:7 TD-to-INT ratio, 59.4 completion rate) are impressive for a rookie, but he's not being allowed to sling it around enough for legitimate fantasy contribution. Even in favorable matchups like this, Wilson is a mid-range to low-end QB2. ... Doug Baldwin wasn't a big-time fantasy producer, but his indefinite absence due to a high ankle sprain deprives Wilson of one of his most dynamic weapons. ... Sidney Rice is the best bet for catches and yardage in Seattle's receiver corps, but the run-heavy mindset puts a cap on his weekly upside. Rice has been held to 41 yards or fewer in 5-of-7 games. The Week 8 matchup against Detroit's injury-ravaged secondary does make Rice a somewhat attractive WR4 and desperation WR3. ... Golden Tate is in a similar boat, but sees fewer targets than Rice. Tate was held catch-less in last week's loss to San Francisco. ... Ben Obomanu and Zach Miller are waiver-wire trash.

Score Prediction: Lions 20, Seahawks 17

Carolina @ Chicago

Cam Newton has been an early-season fantasy disappointment, and it wouldn't be crazy to bench him at the home field of the NFL's best defense. I still think he'll be a great buy-low target after this week. Carolina doesn't face a single top-ten defense in the final two months of fantasy season, and Newton's stats through the first six games aren't all that far off his rookie-year pace. Newton has completed 58.4 percent of his throws with a 5:6 TD-to-INT ratio and 8.0 YPA. Through Cam's first six games as a rookie, he completed 58.5 percent with seven touchdowns, nine picks, and an 8.07 YPA. In terms of rushing production, Newton is averaging just under one fantasy point per game less than he did in last year's initial six games. The TD and yardage disparities obviously add up, but Carolina's offense is fixable, and so is Newton's going-forward fantasy outlook. If you can get him for pennies on the dollar -- and here's guessing you can -- be aggressive. Cam can still be a stretch-run difference maker. ... Newton may struggle for big Week 8 passing stats, but top receiver Steve Smith's historical numbers against Lovie Smith defenses are downright nasty. In Smiff's last four meetings with a Lovie "D" -- including the current Bears head coach's time as St. Louis' defensive coordinator -- Smiff has racked up insane lines of 6-163-1, 14-169-0, 12-218-2, and 8-181-0. Smiff had the 181-yard game last year, so these statistics aren't all out of date.

The Panthers emerged from their Week 6 bye promoting Jonathan Stewart to feature back, while DeAngelo Williams (5 snaps) saw less field time than both J-Stew (58 snaps) and Mike Tolbert (15). Williams has been Carolina's least effective runner for quite some time, so the depth-chart switch was overdue. Stewart owners probably saw the box-score results of 13 touches for 46 scoreless yards, and assumed it was just another slow game in what's so far been a slow year for Stewart. This is a prime opportunity for forward-looking owners to pounce. Put in a trade offer to the Stewart owner in your league this week or next. The Bears have the NFL's No. 1 run defense, but the schedule softens from here on out. ... Despite the tough matchup, Stewart is a quality Week 8 flex as an all-purpose back with big-play ability. The Panthers are featuring him because he is their best runner, and adjusting their scheme from zone-read to base runs in order to jumpstart the ground game. They are putting eggs in Stewart's basket. ... Williams can be dropped in 10- and 12-team leagues. He unleashed a series of tweets this week whining about the offense. Were Williams still a core player, perhaps the Panthers would appease him with more work. Since he is clearly inferior to Stewart and arguably Tolbert, the complaining could send Williams even deeper into the doghouse. ... The Bears are schematically more willing to yield catches underneath than get beat deep. Despite an early bye, they've allowed the fourth most receptions in the NFL to tight ends. Old friend Greg Olsen is a viable TE1. ... Brandon LaFell is sure to struggle for separation against lockdown Cover-2 CBs Tim Jennings and Charles Tillman.

Since embarrassingly blowing the Week 4 game at Atlanta -- a contest the Panthers dominated and could have turned their season around with a win -- Carolina's defense has held its own the past two games. Dallas and Seattle have both struggled to move the ball on the Panthers. In what would've seemed a cupcake early-season matchup, Jay Cutler remains more of a borderline QB1 than locked-in fantasy starter. Panthers LE Charles Johnson will give Bears RT Gabe Carimi fits on the edge, and LT J'Marcus Webb is always prone to beatdowns in pass protection, regardless of opponents. ... Chicago should be more content to attack Carolina with the running game, where Matt Forte electrified with his vision, burst, and lateral movements in last Monday night's win over Detroit. Forte is back to 100 percent after his early-year ankle injury and a top-ten running back play again. ... With just 13 touches combined in his last two games playing behind a healthy Forte, Michael Bush is no longer a viable week-to-week flex option. Bush hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 3. ... As suggested might happen in last Monday night's Bears-Lions Matchups preview, OC Mike Tice's pledge to increase TE Kellen Davis' involvement proved to be all talk. Davis caught one pass for three yards on two targets against Detroit. He's off the fantasy radar.

Brandon Marshall had three 100-catch seasons in Denver. I still don't think he's ever played as well as he is right now. Dominating defensive backs with physicality and sudden bursts of speed, Marshall is No. 5 overall in per-game receiver scoring. A movable chess piece in Tice's offense, Marshall will be difficult for the Panthers to defend with top cornerback Chris Gamble (shoulder) lost for the year. Marshall plays all over the formation and will get plenty of individual matchups against RCB Josh Norman, slot CB Captain Munnerlyn, and LCB Josh Thomas in the passing-down offense. ... The Bears started Devin Hester in place of injured Alshon Jeffery against the Lions, and he caught three balls for 38 yards. Finally healthy, Earl Bennett was the third receiver, playing 39-of-75 snaps (52 percent) and finishing with 27 yards on three receptions. Beyond Marshall, there is no fantasy appeal in the Bears' receiver corps. Jeffery was showing signs of becoming a legit No. 2 option for Cutler early in the year, but he's out at least one more week.

Score Prediction: Bears 23, Panthers 20

1:00PM ET Games

San Diego @ Cleveland

After back-to-back meltdown losses to New Orleans and Denver, the Chargers used their Week 7 bye to scale back the aggressiveness of their offense. "We are going to limit some things we're doing," coach Norv Turner explained to the Union-Tribune San Diego. "... They may not have as big a reward. We may not be quite the same big-play team, but we're not going to turn the ball over." On a Grossmanian pace, Philip Rivers has been a primary culprit in San Diego's ball-security woes with 37 turnovers in his past 22 games. Turner's revision figures to involve fewer 50:50 downfield balls where Rivers trusts his receiver to make a contested catch amid tight coverage. High-risk/high-reward "shot plays" have long been a staple of Turner's vertical attack, and reining them in would bode poorly for the fantasy outlooks of vertical receivers Malcom Floyd and Robert Meachem. ... Not to be forgotten when discussing San Diego's offensive production is the difference-making presence of LT Jared Gaither. In Gaither's two games played this season, Rivers has completed 45-of-65 passes (69.2 percent) for 563 yards (8.66 YPA) and a 4:2 TD-to-INT ratio. In four games without Gaither, Rivers has gone 94-of-144 (65.2 percent) for 929 yards (6.45 YPA), six touchdowns, and seven picks. That is not by accident. Gaither (groin) returned to practice this week and is expected to play against the Browns, putting Rivers back in the high-end QB2 hunt.

Whereas Floyd and Meachem may suffer as Turner installs a more risk-averse offense, Antonio Gates and Ryan Mathews stand to benefit. Gates confirmed that he isn't "done" with a 6-81-2 line before the bye, after performing well on the field in the two previous games despite bad breaks that cost him box-score production. Gates is San Diego's most efficient pass catcher and should not struggle to lead the team in targets the rest of the way. He's locked back in as a TE1. ... Although Mathews hasn't historically been a picture of ball security, leaning on the run game makes sense for a club attempting to turn to a ball-control style. Cleveland's defense is more vulnerable on the ground than anywhere else. The Browns rank 24th against the run, permit 4.52 yards per carry, and have allowed the second most 20-plus-yard runs in the NFL. They can be burned for big plays. Mathews is set up for a blowup game. ... Eddie Royal showed yet again that he's one of the NFL's worst receivers in last Monday night's loss to the Broncos. He had a brutal drop and refused to fight for the football. Two of the five passes Rivers intended for Royal were picked off. Royal is a complete fantasy non-factor and should lose his job to Vincent Brown when Brown's fractured left ankle heals. Look for Brown to rejoin the lineup by Week 10 or 11.

Brandon Weeden was a popular preseason piñata because he was genuinely playing like busts do. He seemed to have no idea how to deal with pressure, and he locked onto his first read. The guy is old, for a rookie. He's on the Browns. He was an easy target. Weeden has come an awfully long way in six weeks. Settling in as a legitimately solid NFL starter, Weeden has completed 69 of his last 115 passes (60 percent) for 881 yards (7.66 YPA), six touchdowns, and three picks. The first-year gunslinger's yards-per-attempt average and TD-to-INT ratio would be even better had Josh Gordon not lost last week's would-be game-winning 55-yard touchdown bomb in the sun. San Diego can be exploited in the air, ranking 25th in pass defense and having generated the sixth fewest sacks in the league. The Chargers' defensive TD-to-INT ratio against is 14:7; only four teams have permitted more touchdown passes. Weeden is a strong two-quarterback league play in Week 8, and he's beginning to flirt with high-end QB2 value. ... Gordon scored his fourth TD in the past three weeks at Indianapolis, securing Weeden's perfectly-placed back-shoulder throw in Colts top CB Jerraud Powers' coverage. Gordon has good hands, so don't hold the late-game drop against him. Downfield shot plays to Gordon have become a staple of Cleveland's passing attack, and the supplemental rookie will continue to be a high-upside WR3. This week's matchup is favorable because San Diego lacks speed in the secondary. Gordon has it in spades.

Greg Little has been so inefficient through 23 NFL games that last week's 6-52-1 line on seven targets was arguably the best performance of his career. Little still double-caught his 14-yard touchdown, of course, and has bad hands. He's a low-end WR3 against San Diego. ... Undrafted rookie Josh Cooper has taken over as Cleveland's slot receiver, rotating in between Little and Gordon. Fourth-rounder Travis Benjamin is the No. 4, and Mohamed Massaquoi may finally return from his hamstring injury this week for a situational deep threat role. Browns receivers behind Gordon and perhaps Little aren't worth rostering in fantasy leagues. ... Trent Richardson's fantasy owners simply have to make a gut-based decision Sunday morning on whether to insert him into lineups. San Diego is tops in the AFC in run defense, and T-Rich was so ineffective trying to play through his rib-cartilage injury against the Colts that coach Pat Shurmur had no choice but to bench him at halftime. "He's not running with either the decisiveness or the power that he showed in college," NFL Films' Greg Cosell observed on Adam Caplan's podcast this week, after viewing the Colts-Browns game tape. "It's a little concerning. ... Richardson does not look like the same player." My best guess is that Richardson will try to play in a rotation with Montario Hardesty against San Diego. Because it's such a difficult matchup, this looks like a fantasy situation to avoid.

Score Prediction: Chargers 23, Browns 17

Indianapolis @ Tennessee

Is Chris Johnson back? He's certainly strung together back-to-back RB1-type performances. As explained in Week 7 Matchups, Johnson ran harder than he has all season against the Steelers two weeks ago. He didn't need to run especially hard last week against the Bills because Tennessee's run blocking was so dominant. But Johnson reintroduced what I'd estimate are still 4.3 wheels on a first-quarter 83-yard touchdown sprint, continued to put in effort as a pass blocker -- which I've found to be a reliable indicator of his all-around on-field play -- and generated gains in the 3- to 9-yard range on 9-of-19 touches. So it wasn't all boom or bust. We may not find out whether CJ?K has genuinely turned his season around until he faces the run-tough defenses of Chicago and Miami in Weeks 9-10, but he's every bit earned a top-five running back start in Week 8. Johnson can still accelerate and cut on a dime, and he's lost little or no long speed. Indianapolis ranks 26th against the run. Only four NFL defenses allow a higher yards-per-carry average, and just three have permitted more rushing scores. ... Field time is an issue again for Jared Cook, who played less than 50 percent of last week's snaps against the Bills. Cook has been held under 40 receiving yards in three of the past four games, and the Colts allow the fewest fantasy points in the league to tight ends. Cook is a TE2 and fair bye-week desperation option, but nothing more.

Coming off a disappointing 4-30 line against the Bills, Kenny Britt remains capable of an explosion game at any moment. But there are factors working against him right now. Matt Hasselbeck lacks vertical passing ability at age 37, and Tennessee's offense didn't even attempt to go deep at Buffalo with Johnson running so well. It's conceivable that Britt won't reach his potential until strong-armed Jake Locker (shoulder) returns to the lineup. I'd still struggle to hold Britt out of a WR3 slot against a Colts defense serving up a 12:2 TD-to-INT ratio through six games, as well as the NFL's fourth highest passer rating. The Titans are likely to have aerial success on Sunday. ... Due to diminished physical skills and an offensive philosophy the coaching staff would prefer to be run-first, Hasselbeck is just a low-upside two-quarterback league option versus the Colts. ... With Tennessee's receiver corps back to full strength, Britt and Nate Washington are the starters, Kendall Wright is the No. 3, and Damian Williams is No. 4. Wright has been a 46-percent player over the past two games. The rookie should continue to get the ball on bubble screens, but isn't making plays downfield in the dumbed-down Hasselbeck offense. ... Washington gets more playing time than Wright, but is a hit-or-miss fantasy play. He's cleared 60 receiving yards in 1-of-7 games and needs touchdowns to prove a worthwhile fantasy start. ... Please don't chase Jamie Harper's three goal-line scores over the past two weeks. That is unsustainable production.

Andrew Luck's pair of rushing touchdowns saved his fantasy day in Week 7, but he has been a largely ineffective passer since the Green Bay game. With Reggie Wayne showing he's human -- and turning 34 in a month -- Luck has completed just 35 of his last 70 passes (50 percent) for 434 yards (6.2 YPA), and a 0:2 TD-to-INT ratio. Tennessee's 27th-ranked pass defense presents a favorable Week 8 matchup for Luck, but it seems clear that he won't reach stable QB1 value until either another one of Indianapolis' pass catchers steps up as a go-to option, or the Colts acquire a big-time receiver in the offseason. Luck does offer standard-league streamer appeal this week because the Titans have allowed the most touchdown passes in the NFL and don't get after the passer well (nine sacks in seven games). ... Wayne continues to dominate targets, leading the league in that category on a per-game basis. Only Wes Welker, Victor Cruz, and Percy Harvin have more receptions. Wayne has at least 100 yards and/or a touchdown in four of his last six meetings with the Titans and remains a borderline WR1 despite diminished recent production.

The cluster of Colts pass catchers beyond Wayne continues to cause fantasy headaches. Donnie Avery should theoretically be atop the heap, but is a limited player physically and doing little in the vertical passing game with just one 20-plus-yard catch since Week 2. This is another favorable matchup for Avery, but he has consistently failed to deliver in previous favorable matchups. ... Though all promising in their own way long term, rookies T.Y. Hilton, Coby Fleener, and Dwayne Allen offer no value in re-draft leagues. ... Donald Brown (knee scope) is expected to be active for Week 8, but may need another week to regain feature-back duties. Vick Ballard figures to lead the backfield in carries for one more game. It's been stated in this space each of the past two weeks: Ballard isn't going to hit long runs, make big plays, or score many touchdowns. He's a worker-bee back and a low-upside, if viable flex against the Titans' No. 25 run defense. ... Delone Carter got 11 carries last week, but is tough to watch. He runs like he's stuck in mud around the line of scrimmage and lacks quick-twitch athleticism. After the Colts' coaches watched the Week 7 game film, they're probably not going to want to give Carter the ball that often anymore. ... Mewelde Moore was Indy's third-down and red-zone back in last Sunday's win over the Browns, although Ballard got snaps in scoring position, too. Neither executed. Moore is not a fantasy option.

Score Prediction: Titans 23, Colts 20

Miami @ NY Jets

Mixing and matching with makeshift personnel, the Jets have stayed admirably competitive in the wake of Santonio Holmes and Darrelle Revis' year-ending injuries. They lost to the Texans and Patriots by a reasonable nine points combined, in between plastering the Colts 35-9. The Jets' offense is moving the ball, and their most consistent skill player is slot man/split end Jeremy Kerley. Kerley ranks 14th in the league in targets over the past three weeks and 20th in fantasy receiver points. He also has the most favorable Week 8 matchup of any Jet. While rookie outside receiver Stephen Hill is the most likely candidate for Dolphins top corner Sean Smith's shadow coverage, Kerley should spend most of this game dealing with burnable RCB Nolan Carroll and slot CB Jimmy Wilson. Kerley is a strong WR3 in PPR and worth a bye-week look in standard settings. ... Mark Sanchez has experienced a recent next-game hangover of sorts the week after playing New England. In Sanchez's last three games following Patriots games, he's completed a combined 55-of-109 passes (50.5 percent) for 669 yards (6.14 YPA), one touchdown, and two picks. The Jets are 1-2. Playing far better pass defense than its No. 28 ranking indicates, Miami has a 7:7 TD-to-INT ratio against, ranks top ten in the league in sacks, and is allowing opponents to complete just 57.5 percent of their pass attempts. Sanchez remains a low-end QB2 in Week 8.

Perhaps realizing it's do-or-die time in a contract year, Shonn Greene has played like a genuinely serviceable NFL starter the past two weeks. Greene set a career high in rushing yards in Week 6, and came up one catch short of another career best with six Week 7 receptions. He's headed for a brick wall on Sunday. The Dolphins' run defense ranks No. 4 overall and permits 3.30 yards per carry, the second stingiest average in the league. In seven career matchups with Miami, Greene has amassed 247 yards on 82 carries (3.01 YPC). He's never scored a touchdown against the Dolphins. ... Tim Tebow is a non-factor. ... Hill retook his starting job in Week 7, relegating Chaz Schilens to third receiver duties. The raw rookie Hill will have trouble getting open against Smith, so eyeball Kerley if you're desperate to start a Jets receiver. ... Dustin Keller proved he's back to 100 percent in one of the best performances of his career last week in Foxboro. Keller secured 7-of-7 targets for 93 yards and a touchdown. No tight end has scored on the Fins this season, but they have allowed the eighth most yards to the position. Keller is worth a look as a back-end TE1.

The Jets and Fins met in Week 3 and played to a draw in regulation, before Nick Folk banged home the game-winning overtime kick. On the back of Reggie Bush, the Dolphins kicked the Jets' tail early in that game. Bush piled up 61 yards on ten first-half carries before suffering a left knee injury that has hobbled him since. Bush used the Week 7 bye to nurse back to full health, and he'll resume giving New York's cement-footed front seven fits on perimeter runs. The buzz on Bush has cooled considerably of late -- for good reason -- but I like him as a top-15 running back play in Week 8. ... There are brighter days ahead for Brian Hartline, but this isn't the week to bet he rediscovers early-year form. The Jets have been even tougher on opposing No. 1 receivers since losing Darrelle Revis for the season, holding Andre Johnson (1-15-0), Reggie Wayne (5-87-0), Brandon Lloyd (1-6-0), Michael Crabtree (2-15-0), and Hartline himself (1-41-0) all out of the end zone over the past five weeks. With Antonio Cromartie playing the best pass coverage of his career, Hartline is a WR4 in Week 8. He can regain WR3 start-ability at Indianapolis in Week 9.

In the aforementioned Dolphins-Jets game, Davone Bess led Miami in receiving with 86 yards on five catches. Bess doesn't score touchdowns and remains much more of a PPR than standard-scoring consideration, but he should get open against Jets Nos. 2 and 3 CBs Kyle Wilson and Isaiah Trufant in the best Week 8 matchup among Fins receivers. ... Rex Ryan's defense hasn't fallen apart despite the loss of its best player. Not even close. The Jets still rank ninth in the NFL against the pass and present a difficult matchup for Ryan Tannehill, who has played very well for a rookie but isn't putting up fantasy-relevant numbers. ... Dolphins third receiver Marlon Moore and tight end Anthony Fasano both scored Week 7 touchdowns. Neither player has cleared 50 yards in any game this season. Tannehill's involvement of all his pass options shows rookie savvy, but Moore and Fasano remain off the fantasy radar. ... Daniel Thomas will return from his concussion this week, pushing rookie Lamar Miller back to third string on the tailback depth chart. Seemingly in the doghouse due to his inability to improve at the "little things" like pass blocking, Miller didn't receive a single carry in Miami's last two games, playing just 12 combined snaps.

Score Prediction: Dolphins 21, Jets 17

New England @ St. Louis

Note: Pats-Rams is this year's London game, played at Wembley Stadium. Past scores on the "pitch": Giants 13, Dolphins 10 (2007); Saints 37, Chargers 32 (2008); Patriots 35, Bucs 7 (2009); 49ers 24, Broncos 16 (2010); and Bears 24, Bucs 18 (2011). There is no bankable trend for the Wembley games. So treat Rams and Patriots skill-position players as you would normally.

The Pats have played their past three games against top-ten pass defenses. So hindsight tells us it's not shocking Tom Brady & Co. are in a small rut. The Rams are no pushover, either, limiting foes to under seven yards per pass attempt and a 7:8 TD-to-INT ratio against. St. Louis is fifth in the NFL in sacks. Similar to Aaron Rodgers' Packers, though, Brady's Pats are capable of finding their groove at any given moment. Rodgers hit his stride in a similarly unlikely matchup with Houston's top-five pass defense. Keep trotting out Brady and hoping this is "the week." Brady is No. 4 in quarterback scoring, so it isn't as if he's been a bust. ... Brandon Lloyd's three-game lull is explainable in that he faced Champ Bailey in Week 5, Seattle in Week 6, and Antonio Cromartie in Week 7. They were really hard matchups. The good news is coordinator Josh McDaniels hasn't stopped calling plays for Lloyd. He remains the go-to option when Brady challenges deep, and uncharacteristically dropped 3-of-8 targets against the Jets. Lloyd has some of the best hands in the game. Downgrading Lloyd from WR2 to top-end WR3 might make sense, but he's not bench-able yet. If the Patriots can isolate Lloyd on struggling Rams rookie CB Janoris Jenkins, he will pay fantasy dividends. ... Wes Welker may have a difficult coverage draw in St. Louis slot CB Cortland Finnegan, but the contract-year slot guy is playing too well to sit. Welker leads the NFL in receptions and receiving yards. Even with both Aaron Hernandez and Julian Edelman back in the Week 7 lineup, Welker played 64-of-80 snaps (80 percent) and is locked into a featured role.

Even if the stats say St. Louis defends tight ends stingily, Rob Gronkowski and Hernandez are every-week stud plays. Gronkowski leads all tight ends in fantasy scoring again, bypassing Tony Gonzalez. Hernandez isn't quite over his ankle injury, but he's still a top-five guy. ... Edelman was a non-factor against the Jets, playing 7-of-80 snaps and seeing two targets. He carries no re-draft value. ... Shane Vereen has stepped up as Stevan Ridley's caddy during Brandon Bolden's (knee) absence. Vereen totaled 59 yards on nine Week 7 touches and is worth stashing in 12-team leagues. He'd still need a Stevan Ridley injury in order to be start-able. ... The Rams have played legitimately tough run defense over the past three weeks, although matchups with putrid ground attacks of Arizona, Green Bay, and Miami may have had plenty to do with St. Louis' sudden stoutness. Only the Dolphins rank better than 24th in rushing offense from that group, and feature back Reggie Bush was hobbled by knee and hip injuries when he played the Rams. Ridley has experienced back-to-back slow fantasy games, but workloads haven't been problematic (34 touches) and he's not suddenly an inferior runner because the Seahawks and Jets held him in check. The Rams are a better, harder-playing team this year than they've been in awhile, but the Patriots should still control this game. The rushing attempts will be there for Ridley. He's an RB1.

Friday Update: Hernandez was left off the team flight to London as the Patriots give him two full weeks for the ankle to heal. (New England has a Week 9 bye.) Hernandez's absence doesn't really alter any Pats skill-position players' Week 8 fantasy outlooks. Gronkowski has actually put up better numbers when Hernandez has played this year. Lloyd and perhaps Welker should get a few more targets.

After re-watching Week 7 Packers-Rams, I may have to change my opinion of St. Louis rookie tailback Daryl Richardson. To this point used primarily as a change-of-pace complement behind Steven Jackson out on the edges, Richardson showed between-the-tackles running chops on a series of first-half and fourth-quarter carries against Green Bay, delivering some blows. Jackson remains the lead runner in the rotation, but there is growing reason to believe Richardson is a realistic heir apparent. Richardson also stayed in to pass block a handful of times and didn't embarrass himself. As the trade deadline looms next Tuesday, Richardson owners should cling tightly to the rookie. Coach Jeff Fisher isn't shy about featuring undersized speed backs. ... S-Jax is still running well enough to be an every-week RB2/flex. He handles the bulk of St. Louis' passing-down snaps and should receive 14-17 touches against New England's No. 8 run defense. ... Richardson figures to be in the 9-13 touch range Sunday, based on recent usage, and is on the bye-week flex radar. Richardson isn't going to get any goal-line carries, but possesses big-play ability and causes matchup problems on the perimeter against linebackers and strong safeties. He definitely offers better short-area quicks and acceleration than Jackson.

Chris Givens is St. Louis' best receiver right now, and the coaches know it. They also know he is a raw, limited player. So they're creatively crafting ways to get the ball in his hands. Givens' 56-yard gain in Week 7 came on a quick screen. He got 14 more yards on a carry. Givens has blazing wheels, and beyond the backfield is the Rams' best big-play threat. With 50-plus yards in four straight games, Givens can no longer be ignored as a viable WR3. He runs by coverage, and the Patriots' No. 29 pass defense struggles to cover. ... Brandon Gibson played an efficient, physical game in Week 6 at Miami (7-91), but was back to his old tricks in last week's loss to Green Bay (5-60). Gibson doesn't separate from defensive backs and is holding back the Rams' offense. Go with Givens if you want to start a St. Louis receiver in Week 8. ... The Rams would love for No. 33 overall pick Brian Quick to unseat Gibson, but they're still bringing the rookie along slowly. Quick played 11 snaps against the Packers, securing 2-of-4 targets for 31 yards. ... Full disclosure: I'm really desperate for a bye-week quarterback filler in one of my leagues and will be starting Sam Bradford in Week 8. I don't feel great about it, but the matchup is right and Bradford has been slinging it around the yard the past couple of weeks. He's also a threat for some garbage-time numbers. In an ideal world, Bradford's value would be restricted to two-quarterback leagues.

Friday Update: The Rams' No. 1 receiver when healthy is Danny Amendola. Amendola made an ahead-of-schedule return to practice this week, coming off his clavicle injury. He's listed as questionable on the injury report. While it's good news that Amendola is healing so fast, he is not expected to play in the London game.

Score Prediction: Patriots 27, Rams 13

Jacksonville @ Green Bay

Coach Mike McCarthy's evaluation of Alex Green's Week 7 game was not promising. "I wasn't really happy with the production in the run game," McCarthy said of Green, who managed 35 yards on 20 carries at St. Louis. "We left too many yards on the field. There were too many 1-, 2-yard runs that should have been hardball 3-, 4-, 5-yard runs." Green has a paltry 78 yards on his last 38 carries (2.05 YPC), and it's time to start worrying about him losing time to James Starks. Jacksonville's No. 29 run defense keeps Green in the flex-play mix, but his shine is fading fast. ... Aaron Rodgers continues to say all the right things about Jermichael Finley, but on-field realities tell a different tale. The Packers aren't efforting to get Finley the football anymore. Due (allegedly) to a shoulder injury, Finley has seen five targets or fewer in six straight weeks, and has just six over the past two. He played 79.1 percent of the snaps in Green Bay's first four games. He's been a 46.9-percent player the last three weeks. Jacksonville has been stingy against players at Finley's position, having yet to allow a single touchdown to a tight end. Only Arizona and Indianapolis have permitted fewer tight end fantasy points than the Jaguars. Finley is a TE2 for Week 8 and beyond.

While Greg Jennings remains out indefinitely after abdominal surgery, and Finley's playing time is in free fall, Randall Cobb has emerged as a slot-receiver staple in Green Bay's lethal pass attack. The single-most efficient receiver in the game today, Cobb has secured 26 of his last 30 targets for 339 yards and three touchdowns. That 87-percent "catch rate" is off the charts. The Packers average an 11-yard gain every time they so much as throw the ball in Cobb's direction. Still think he's going away when Jennings returns? Get outta here. ... You know the drill with Rodgers. The Jaguars rank 24th in pass defense and last in the NFL in sacks, and Rodgers pulverizes defenses that don't bring pressure. This is one of the bigger mismatch games of the 2012 season to date. ... Regardless of Jordy Nelson's hamstring injury, I think James Jones actually has the friendlier Week 8 coverage matchup. Based on where Nelson and Jones line up on most of their offensive snaps, Nelson figures to vie with Jags top corner Derek Cox for the majority of Sunday's game, if he's active. Jones will draw 32-year-old LCB Rashean Mathis. I really like Jones' chances of a big day. ... Nelson will be a game-time decision after straining the hammy in Wednesday's practice. He's too good to bench if he's active. If Nelson is inactive -- and we won't know until Sunday A.M. -- the Packers would turn to Donald Driver in three-wide sets with Cobb and Jones.

It's fair to wonder about the chances of Blaine Gabbert lasting four quarters in Sunday's tilt with Green Bay. Will he make it to halftime? Gabbert has been diagnosed with a torn labrum in his left shoulder, and already had a tendency to react overdramatically to pressure. Now trying to play injured, he'll have Clay Matthews bearing down on him in Week 8. The Packers won't hesitate to dial up heavy blitzes with Maurice Jones-Drew (foot) out indefinitely, and Dom Capers' unit already leads the NFL in sacks. ... The Jags' announced plan to "force feed" Justin Blackmon the football coming out of their Week 6 bye didn't work out so well in last week's loss to the Raiders. Still unable to defeat coverage both off the line of scrimmage and downfield, Blackmon secured 1-of-4 targets for seven yards. Being routinely outplayed by Cecil Shorts, Blackmon has managed 14 receptions on 37 targets this season and is averaging 21 yards per game. ... The Packers' loss of FS Charles Woodson to a six-week collarbone fracture won't be felt in Week 8 pass coverage. Woodson often matches up one-on-one with tight ends, but Marcedes Lewis is much more blocker than pass catcher. Lewis has gone a month and a half without topping 32 receiving yards.

Simply being a member of Jacksonville's last-ranked passing game makes Shorts a weekly dice roll brimming with downside, but he's the go-to guy if you're dying to start a Jaguars receiver for some reason. Shorts has big-play ability (23.7 YPR) and leads the Jags in receiving touchdowns (3). Shorts will start again in place of concussed free-agent bust Laurent Robinson. ... Replacing MJD will be Rashad Jennings, who possesses a 4.78 career YPC average and will be a legitimate every-down back. While Jennings lacks Jones-Drew's dynamic running ability, he can get what's blocked and consistently finishes runs. Because Jennings also plays in the passing game, he won't be coming off the field if the Packers grab a big lead early, which minimizes fantasy risk. So Jennings should be fairly consistent. Jacksonville will square off with Green Bay's No. 17 run defense in Week 8, and the Packers have been depleted by recent injuries to key run stoppers Woodson, ILB D.J. Smith (knee), and NT B.J. Raji (ankle). Only Raji has a shot to play this week.

Score Prediction: Packers 34, Jaguars 6

Atlanta @ Philadelphia

I'm probably in the minority on Michael Vick. I believe he's been playing a lot better than he's been credited for, and think the turnovers are fixable. He's certainly moving the Eagles' offense. Philly ranks seventh in the NFL in yards per game, a respectable 13th in passing, and tenth in rushing offense. Aside from Vick's fumbles and interceptions, Philadelphia's biggest problem has been an inability to get into the end zone. And I think the touchdowns will come. The Falcons' defense is heavily dependent on the takeaway because opponents can gash them with the run and have passing success by attacking RCB Dunta Robinson. Chris Wesseling ranked Vick as the No. 7 quarterback play in Week 8, and I don't think that's too bold. Andy Reid will get this thing fixed. If he didn't believe Vick was the right guy to fix it, Vick would have been benched for Nick Foles during the Week 7 bye. ... Jeremy Maclin is key to the turnaround. He's been available for only 13-of-24 quarters so far. Now healthy, Maclin runs most of his routes on Robinson's side of the field and dismantled Robinson for last September's ridiculous 13-171-2 game at the Georgia Dome. A recommended buy-low target, slow-starting Maclin will be high-upside WR2 the rest of the way.

Game-to-game consistency will always be an issue for DeSean Jackson, and he'll get a tougher Week 8 coverage draw versus LCB Asante Samuel. Jackson's weekly upside should keep him in fantasy lineups, though, and he's capitalized on Maclin's nagging injuries to this point, averaging a solid 78 receiving yards per game. ... Atlanta isn't particularly stingy in tight end defense, allowing the 13th most fantasy points to the position through seven weeks. Brent Celek remains more of a high-end TE2 than legitimate weekly starter. ... Joining Maclin in the best-buy-low category is LeSean McCoy, who will face off Sunday with a Falcons club whose team weakness is rush defense. Atlanta ranks 28th against the run and surrenders an NFC-high 5.23 yards per carry. McCoy faced a similar-looking Falcons front seven in Week 2 last season, and went off for 116 total yards and two TDs. This is a springboard-type matchup for the Philly feature back's season.

We'll see a different Philly defense following the removal of overmatched playcaller Juan Castillo. New DC Todd Bowles will pursue a more aggressive approach in an attempt to capitalize on the Eagles' personnel. Philadelphia has speed ends that explode off the edge from Wide-9 stances, and cover corners that theoretically complement that playing style perfectly. It's worth noting that Matt Ryan lit up the Eagles for four touchdown passes when they were employing this same up-tempo strategy early last year. Two of Ryan's scoring tosses were good to Tony Gonzalez in that Week 2 game. ... The best way to combat the Eagles' revised defense is to respond with quick hitters. Particularly with slot man Harry Douglas (knee, ankle) out this week, Gonzalez and Roddy White should be Ryan's go-to targets underneath. Bubble screens to Julio Jones have already been a staple of first-year Falcons OC Dirk Koetter's playbook, and they are similarly effective counter plays. Philadelphia's defense will generate more sacks under Bowles, and should do a better job of taking advantage of the team's best players. But the Falcons match up well with the Eagles. They have the quarterback and supporting cast to continue to put points on the board.

In terms of coverage matchups, I expect to see White matched up with LCB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in two-receiver sets. In the three wides, White may replace Douglas at slot receiver and draw rookie CB Brandon Boykin. Julio Jones most often deals with RCBs, and Nnamdi Asomugha is Philadelphia's primary right corner. White, Jones, and Gonzo should all be confidently started in fantasy. ... In last season's aforementioned Week 2 Eagles-Falcons game, Michael Turner ran all over Philly with 114 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries (5.43 YPC), also chipping in a 32-yard gain on a swing pass. The Eagles are defending the run better this year than last, but Turner is worth trotting out as an RB2 with upside in a possible shootout. Fantasy owners are still advised to sell Turner high if he has a big day. His tendency is to wear down considerably as seasons progress. ... Jacquizz Rodgers figures to play the majority of passing-down snaps, but his role in terms of handling the football has diminished greatly. It's understandable because "Quizz" lacks burst and inside running ability to be an effective NFL ball carrier. He's too small to break tackles and is incapable of pressing the hole with acceleration.

Score Prediction: Eagles 34, Falcons 28

Washington @ Pittsburgh

He's playing the Steelers. And you still start him. Matchup-proof rookie Robert Griffin III is the No. 1 fantasy quarterback, and he's coming off another insanely productive week that could've been even bigger. Griffin had a first-quarter 35-yard rocket-ball touchdown called back on an "illegal shift” against the Giants, and Leonard Hankerson should have secured Griffin's well-placed 55-yard bomb in the third quarter. His lone miscue came on a late third-quarter pick where TE Logan Paulsen inexplicably stopped on a route. "He hangs in the pocket and delivers the football," FOX color commentator Troy Aikman said of Griffin. "I've been very impressed by him." RG3's running plays keep making highlight reels, but pinpoint accuracy remains the most underappreciated aspect of his game. On the same field as the G-Men, Griffin was a noticeably more accurate thrower than two-time Super Bowl winner Eli Manning. ... Pittsburgh is playing top-ten run defense again this year. But as we've explained repeatedly in this space before, the zone-run game is matchup-proof when it's clicking. It is clicking in D.C. Alfred Morris has twice faced top-ten run defenses in 2012, and he's tagged them for a combined 202 yards and a score on 37 carries, good for an explosive average of 5.46 YPC. It's also no secret that 3-4 defenses like the Steelers' tend to struggle against zone blocks.

Continuing to fill in for Pierre Garcon (foot), Hankerson was the Redskins' receiver most often open in last week's loss to the Giants. He led Washington in targets (8), catches (6), and yards (70), and will remain the team's best bet for receiving stats until Garcon returns. Hankerson does have a difficult Week 8 matchup with Steelers RCB Ike Taylor, who shut down A.J. Green in Week 7. ... Santana Moss took to the house a well-blocked 26-yard screen and basket-caught Griffin's bucket throw for a go-ahead touchdown in last week's loss. He also lost the game-ending fumble. Ultimately, Moss was targeted four times and continues to be a bit player in Shanahan & Son's offense, seeing action on just 17-of-71 snaps (24 percent) versus the G-Men. Moss would not be a strong WR3 at Pittsburgh. ... Griffin's target distribution when Garcon misses games this season: Hankerson 21, Fred Davis 17, Moss and Morgan 14, Paulsen and Aldrick Robinson 7. ... With Davis done for the year, the Skins figure to turn to a three-tight end rotation of Paulsen, Niles Paul, and newly re-signed Chris Cooley. You'll be hard pressed to find fantasy value in that group. ... Morgan has been an efficient possession guy for the Shanahans, securing 18 of the 22 passes thrown his way. Unfortunately, Morgan doesn't score touchdowns and averages 31 yards a game.

Here were Greg Cosell's comments this week on Jonathan Dwyer: "I thought he ran well last week. I don't know what they want his weight to be; he just looks like he's a few pounds heavy. ... He strikes me as a guy who, if he lost a few pounds, could be even quicker. Because I think he's got naturally quick feet." While Cosell's observations weren't overflowing with rose-colored praise, the attribute of quick feet is a necessity for 235-plus-pound running backs. Dwyer is coming off a 17-carry, 122-yard game against the Bengals' No. 21 run defense. The Skins have a top-seven run-defending group, but the workload should be there for Dwyer with Rashard Mendenhall (Achilles) out one more week. Dwyer is an attractive Week 8 flex play. ... Rookie scatback Chris Rainey took a rare handoff out of a traditional run formation last week and scooted through a gaping hole for his 11-yard score. While Rainey has great speed and some playmaking ability, he doesn't get the football enough for fantasy use. ... Dwyer doesn't play in the passing game much, and was replaced by a combo of Rainey and Baron Batch on third downs against Cincinnati. Batch dropped a would-be touchdown and got two touches on offense. With third-down specialist Isaac Redman (ankle) on his way back, Batch is even further off the fantasy radar than Rainey.

Ultimately, the Steelers should enjoy the bulk of their offensive success in the pass game Sunday. Washington ranks 32nd in pass defense and is tied for the NFL lead in TD throws allowed. Fire up Ben Roethlisberger as a mid-range QB1. ... Desperate for answers in the secondary, Redskins DC Jim Haslett has mixed and matched coverage assignments the past few weeks. In this game, I think we'll see DeAngelo Hall follow Antonio Brown around the offensive formation while Josh Wilson mirrors Mike Wallace. Both Brown and Wallace have highly enticing Week 8 matchups. Because Hall is a weaker cover man than Wilson, my bet would be on Brown pacing Pittsburgh in Week 8 catches and receiving yards. Wallace remains the superior bet for touchdowns. ... The Redskins lack explosive pass rushers aside from OLB Ryan Kerrigan, so Heath Miller should be freed up for more route running than in-line blocking this week. Miller is not typically a favorite in the Matchups column because his weekly statistical ceiling is relatively low, but he's a strong fantasy play in Week 8. No NFC defense has allowed more fantasy points to tight ends than Haslett's. ... Emmanuel Sanders remains in a fantasy holding pattern, needing Brown or Wallace to get injured in order to be start-able. The Steelers' slot receiver is averaging 38 yards a game.

Score Prediction: Steelers 30, Redskins 24

Seattle @ Detroit

The Seahawks' normally impenetrable run defense sprung leaks in last Thursday's loss to San Francisco. Short-week fatigue was likely to blame. On just three days rest, Seattle allowed a reasonable 58 first-half rushing yards before getting rag-dolled for 117 in the final two quarters. Now ten days removed from their last game, look for the Seahawks' front seven to take out its anguish on Detroit's anemic rushing attack. Still requiring heavy volume to accrue worthwhile fantasy stats, pedestrian starter Mikel Leshoure is a low-end flex option this week. After last Monday night's goal-line fumble, Joique Bell is no longer in the fantasy conversation. ... Nate Burleson fractured his right leg against the Bears and is done for the season. Burleson ranked third on the Lions in targets, averaging nearly nine per game. Because Burleson was primarily a slot receiver in Detroit's three- and four-wide offense, rookie Ryan Broyles will be the biggest immediate beneficiary in terms of sheer snaps. Broyles is a slot receiver; Titus Young is a deep threat who plays on the perimeter. As far as Week 8 pluck-and-play WR3s go, you could do worse than Broyles. The former Oklahoma star came off the bench for a 3/51/1 line at Soldier Field and will match up Sunday with slot CB Marcus Trufant, who is Seattle's weakest corner.

Young is getting more buzz than Broyles because he's long been a hot fantasy name and entered the season atop "breakout" lists. The second-year speedster will have a tough go of it against Seattle's physical press-man corners, RCB Brandon Browner and LCB Richard Sherman. Young will play more downs than Broyles, but Broyles has a better matchup. ... Calvin Johnson reminds me of Adrian Peterson last week, in terms of situation. Megatron is working on a three-game touchdown drought, but when the scores start coming, they will come in bunches. He's an ideal fantasy trade target. Despite the rough Week 8 matchup, start Johnson confidently versus the Seahawks. ... Matthew Stafford isn't playing well enough to be considered more than a QB2 against Seattle's top-eight pass defense. The Seahawks' immovable front seven should force Stafford to rack up enough passing attempts to keep Johnson and perhaps Young or Broyles' box scores afloat, but mechanical flaws and in-pocket fadeaways are torpedoing Stafford's standalone stats. 21st in quarterback scoring, Stafford has been a significantly bigger fantasy bust than Cam Newton (15th) thus far. ... You're at a weekly disadvantage if you're leaning on Lions post-up TE Brandon Pettigrew as a fantasy starter. He gets targets, but is lacking for touchdowns and yards.

Marshawn Lynch totaled 116 hard-earned yards in the Niners loss, reproving himself matchup-proof despite a three-game touchdown lull. His legs are fresh following the extended layoff, which is a scary reality for a Lions defense playing on a relatively short week. Detroit entered Week 7 with a top-12 run defense, only to be exposed by Chicago's ground game for 171 yards on 32 carries (5.34 YPC) last Monday night. Look for Lynch to rediscover pay dirt in Week 8. ... Rookie backup Robert Turbin offers better straight-line speed than Lynch and is averaging a rock-solid 4.42 YPC on 26 change-of-pace carries so far. Turbin has also flashed surprising passing-game chops for a guy who caught only 17 balls in 13 games at Utah State last year. Entering the second half of fantasy season, it's time to start stacking our benches with lottery-ticket running backs. Turbin is worth rostering in all leagues as a potential top-15 back should Lynch go down.

Russell Wilson ranks second to last in pass attempts among quarterbacks who've started all their team's games. Wilson's season stats (7.0 YPA, 8:7 TD-to-INT ratio, 59.4 completion rate) are impressive for a rookie, but he's not being allowed to sling it around enough for legitimate fantasy contribution. Even in favorable matchups like this, Wilson is a mid-range to low-end QB2. ... Doug Baldwin wasn't a big-time fantasy producer, but his indefinite absence due to a high ankle sprain deprives Wilson of one of his most dynamic weapons. ... Sidney Rice is the best bet for catches and yardage in Seattle's receiver corps, but the run-heavy mindset puts a cap on his weekly upside. Rice has been held to 41 yards or fewer in 5-of-7 games. The Week 8 matchup against Detroit's injury-ravaged secondary does make Rice a somewhat attractive WR4 and desperation WR3. ... Golden Tate is in a similar boat, but sees fewer targets than Rice. Tate was held catch-less in last week's loss to San Francisco. ... Ben Obomanu and Zach Miller are waiver-wire trash.

Score Prediction: Lions 20, Seahawks 17

Carolina @ Chicago

Cam Newton has been an early-season fantasy disappointment, and it wouldn't be crazy to bench him at the home field of the NFL's best defense. I still think he'll be a great buy-low target after this week. Carolina doesn't face a single top-ten defense in the final two months of fantasy season, and Newton's stats through the first six games aren't all that far off his rookie-year pace. Newton has completed 58.4 percent of his throws with a 5:6 TD-to-INT ratio and 8.0 YPA. Through Cam's first six games as a rookie, he completed 58.5 percent with seven touchdowns, nine picks, and an 8.07 YPA. In terms of rushing production, Newton is averaging just under one fantasy point per game less than he did in last year's initial six games. The TD and yardage disparities obviously add up, but Carolina's offense is fixable, and so is Newton's going-forward fantasy outlook. If you can get him for pennies on the dollar -- and here's guessing you can -- be aggressive. Cam can still be a stretch-run difference maker. ... Newton may struggle for big Week 8 passing stats, but top receiver Steve Smith's historical numbers against Lovie Smith defenses are downright nasty. In Smiff's last four meetings with a Lovie "D" -- including the current Bears head coach's time as St. Louis' defensive coordinator -- Smiff has racked up insane lines of 6-163-1, 14-169-0, 12-218-2, and 8-181-0. Smiff had the 181-yard game last year, so these statistics aren't all out of date.

The Panthers emerged from their Week 6 bye promoting Jonathan Stewart to feature back, while DeAngelo Williams (5 snaps) saw less field time than both J-Stew (58 snaps) and Mike Tolbert (15). Williams has been Carolina's least effective runner for quite some time, so the depth-chart switch was overdue. Stewart owners probably saw the box-score results of 13 touches for 46 scoreless yards, and assumed it was just another slow game in what's so far been a slow year for Stewart. This is a prime opportunity for forward-looking owners to pounce. Put in a trade offer to the Stewart owner in your league this week or next. The Bears have the NFL's No. 1 run defense, but the schedule softens from here on out. ... Despite the tough matchup, Stewart is a quality Week 8 flex as an all-purpose back with big-play ability. The Panthers are featuring him because he is their best runner, and adjusting their scheme from zone-read to base runs in order to jumpstart the ground game. They are putting eggs in Stewart's basket. ... Williams can be dropped in 10- and 12-team leagues. He unleashed a series of tweets this week whining about the offense. Were Williams still a core player, perhaps the Panthers would appease him with more work. Since he is clearly inferior to Stewart and arguably Tolbert, the complaining could send Williams even deeper into the doghouse. ... The Bears are schematically more willing to yield catches underneath than get beat deep. Despite an early bye, they've allowed the fourth most receptions in the NFL to tight ends. Old friend Greg Olsen is a viable TE1. ... Brandon LaFell is sure to struggle for separation against lockdown Cover-2 CBs Tim Jennings and Charles Tillman.

Since embarrassingly blowing the Week 4 game at Atlanta -- a contest the Panthers dominated and could have turned their season around with a win -- Carolina's defense has held its own the past two games. Dallas and Seattle have both struggled to move the ball on the Panthers. In what would've seemed a cupcake early-season matchup, Jay Cutler remains more of a borderline QB1 than locked-in fantasy starter. Panthers LE Charles Johnson will give Bears RT Gabe Carimi fits on the edge, and LT J'Marcus Webb is always prone to beatdowns in pass protection, regardless of opponents. ... Chicago should be more content to attack Carolina with the running game, where Matt Forte electrified with his vision, burst, and lateral movements in last Monday night's win over Detroit. Forte is back to 100 percent after his early-year ankle injury and a top-ten running back play again. ... With just 13 touches combined in his last two games playing behind a healthy Forte, Michael Bush is no longer a viable week-to-week flex option. Bush hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 3. ... As suggested might happen in last Monday night's Bears-Lions Matchups preview, OC Mike Tice's pledge to increase TE Kellen Davis' involvement proved to be all talk. Davis caught one pass for three yards on two targets against Detroit. He's off the fantasy radar.

Brandon Marshall had three 100-catch seasons in Denver. I still don't think he's ever played as well as he is right now. Dominating defensive backs with physicality and sudden bursts of speed, Marshall is No. 5 overall in per-game receiver scoring. A movable chess piece in Tice's offense, Marshall will be difficult for the Panthers to defend with top cornerback Chris Gamble (shoulder) lost for the year. Marshall plays all over the formation and will get plenty of individual matchups against RCB Josh Norman, slot CB Captain Munnerlyn, and LCB Josh Thomas in the passing-down offense. ... The Bears started Devin Hester in place of injured Alshon Jeffery against the Lions, and he caught three balls for 38 yards. Finally healthy, Earl Bennett was the third receiver, playing 39-of-75 snaps (52 percent) and finishing with 27 yards on three receptions. Beyond Marshall, there is no fantasy appeal in the Bears' receiver corps. Jeffery was showing signs of becoming a legit No. 2 option for Cutler early in the year, but he's out at least one more week.

Score Prediction: Bears 23, Panthers 20

4:05PM ET Game

Oakland @ Kansas City

I've struggled with Darren McFadden this year. You know that if you read Matchups, or if you so much as read last week's column. I still think there are reasons for optimism. McFadden has job security. He possesses big-time talent and workloads. His schedule is a cakewalk. And the Raiders aren't ignorant to the fact that McFadden is not a one-cut zone runner. That's a big step: Identification of the problem. This isn't a Chris Johnson 2011 situation where the back simply refuses to work for yards. It's a schematic issue than can be fixed. DMC owners are bailing on him wherever they can, and I think the best response for the forward-looking fantasy leaguer is to capitalize on their understandable impatience. McFadden maintains top-five running back upside during the season's second half, beginning with Sunday's tilt against Kansas City's 22nd-ranked run defense. ... Since we're tackling the topic of running back stashes this week, Mike Goodson is about as good as they come. McFadden's injury history is well documented, and it's arguable that Goodson is a better fit for what Oakland is trying to do with its run game. The explosive, versatile Goodson is averaging over 11 yards every time he touches the football this season. If McFadden got injured, Goodson would also benefit from the Raiders' fantasy-friendly run-defense schedule.

Kansas City's defense has surrendered the fifth most points in the league despite an early-season bye. The Chiefs have permitted a 13:4 TD-to-INT ratio to opposing passers, and no AFC team is allowing a higher yards-per-pass-attempt average (8.9). With Denarius Moore emerging as a true No. 1 receiver and Darrius Heyward-Bey getting his legs back, Carson Palmer is fairly appealing in Week 8 as a high-end QB2. ... Denarius Moore racked up eight Week 7 targets and has at least 70 yards and/or a touchdown in four games straight. He's someone to ride as a WR2/3. Moore ripped Kansas City for 94 yards and a score on four grabs in their last meeting. ... DHB gives Oakland's offense an additional vertical presence, although last week's 85-yard effort was his first game over 43 yards on the season. He's an unreliable WR3 who serves better as a WR4 in 12-team leagues. ... End-zone allergic TE Brandon Myers has played in 48 career games and never found pay dirt. While Myers has done well to carve out a consistent role in Oakland's 2012 passing offense, here's hoping you can find a bye-week tight end who offers a bit more upside.

Sitting on a 1-5 record and the league's most underachieving team entering the eighth week of action, the Chiefs field two fantasy-relevant players, and one of the two may soon become increasingly difficult to trust. Locked in is Jamaal Charles, who ranks third in fantasy points per game among running backs, behind only Arian Foster and Ray Rice. On shaky footing is Dwayne Bowe due to the surprise insertion of Brady Quinn at quarterback during Kansas City's Week 7 bye. Quinn was simply atrocious in his first start, showing a better rapport with lineman-turned-tight end Steve Maneri, who led the Chiefs in Week 6 receiving. Dexter McCluster, a second-team receiver, also caught more passes for more yards than Bowe. Perhaps simply practicing with the first-team offense during the open date will improve the rapport of the Quinn-to-Bowe would-be connection. And you can't sit Bowe against a Raiders defense that ranks 22nd against the pass. The talent and matchup on Bowe are both right. The quarterback threatens to be a big problem.

Peyton Hillis will return from his high ankle sprain against the Raiders, replacing Shaun Draughn as the "breather back" behind Charles. Even before the injury, Hillis didn't look like his old self, and there's a case to be made that he's never been the same since the Browns overworked him in 2010. Hillis is just an RB5 stash. Draughn can be dropped. ... McCluster, Jon Baldwin, Tony Moeaki, and perhaps Maneri will be fighting for scraps in Kansas City's pass-catching corps behind Bowe going forward. Maybe one of the four will emerge as a flier-type fantasy play in the doubtful event Quinn finds a rhythm, but for now none of them are rosterable in 12-team leagues.

Score Prediction: Raiders 20, Chiefs 14

4:25PM ET Game

NY Giants @ Dallas

Inside linebacker Sean Lee was Dallas' best defender, and his year-ending toe surgery will be felt against both the run and pass. In terms of Week 8 fantasy beneficiaries, Martellus Bennett figures to lead the way. Back to 100 percent, Bennett racked up a solid 5-79 line on seven Week 7 targets and narrowly missed a second-quarter touchdown on an Eli Manning overthrow. With Lee gone, there will be increased leaks down the middle of the Cowboys' defense. The Giants can take advantage with their Black Unicorn. ... Hakeem Nicks looked spry in his own right in last week's win over the Redskins, even if his stats (5-53) haven't caught up yet. He was pulled down just short of the goal line on a second-quarter red-zone grab, and had a 15-yard sideline catch negated by an offensive line holding call. The Cowboys held Nicks in check in the opener (4-38), but he was still bouncing back from foot surgery at the time. Healthy now, Nicks should be locked into lineups. ... Manning missed a ton of open throws last week. The would-be score to Bennett. A 60-plus-yard bomb opportunity to Victor Cruz after RCB Josh Wilson slipped in coverage. Another intermediate red-zone shot intended for Bennett late in the third quarter. Manning made the big throw to Cruz down the seam when it mattered most, but he's going to have to play better this week to generate QB1-caliber production. Passing windows will be smaller against the Cowboys' top-three pass defense.

Cruz, by the way, is on an absolute tear. He leads the NFL in receiving touchdowns and fantasy receiver scoring over the past three weeks. He's also caught six balls in all three career meetings with Dallas. Cruz gets the most favorable Week 8 matchup of New York's wide receivers, drawing overrated slot CB Orlando Scandrick in primary coverage. ... Domenik Hixon has settled back in as the Giants' third receiver and caught 3-of-4 targets for 32 scoreless yards against Washington. Hixon has been reduced to a WR5. ... Ahmad Bradshaw was missing burst against the Redskins after sitting out two practices due to foot soreness. He did remain the clear lead back over Andre Brown, the latter of whom played only 16 snaps and received six touches. Brown is an RB3/4. After three consecutive productive fantasy weeks, owners should still be trying to sell Bradshaw high. Although the Lee injury helps his cause, Bradshaw is a mid-range to low-end RB2 against Dallas' top-15 run defense. ... Rookie David Wilson did not see the field on offense versus the Skins, only returning kicks. He's a third-stringer at the moment and just a talented roster stash.

On top of the losses of Lee and feature back DeMarco Murray, C Phil Costa's dislocated ankle is as major a concern for the Cowboys' outlook as any injury they've encountered. Costa has been a dominant run blocker when healthy and stabilized interior pass protection. Felix Jones was fool's gold in his Week 7 start, and I think he'll be fool's gold again as the Giants' front four controls the line of scrimmage. Also still nursing knee and neck ailments, Jones has never played well through pain. ... Phillip Tanner showed little juice on 13 carries at Carolina and is averaging 3.11 YPC on 44 career attempts. Dallas needs to start thinking about getting undersized speed back Lance Dunbar involved. ... Tony Romo's target distribution over his last three games: Dez Bryant 31, Jason Witten 29, Miles Austin 20, Kevin Ogletree 15, Jones 7, Tanner 4. ... Witten lacks the big-play, seam-stretching athletic gifts he once possessed, but the ball is going his way and he's caught at least six passes in three consecutive games. He's a back-end TE1 lacking the weekly upside of a Martellus Bennett, but offering fantasy owners a bit more stability.

Bryant missed 21 of the Cowboys' Week 7 offensive snaps due to an in-game concussion test, which came back negative. Off the injury report this week after last Friday's groin scare, Bryant needs to stay in fantasy lineups as an every-week WR2 despite his inconsistency. The Giants' cornerback play is a weakness, and Romo won't stop trying to get Dez the football. ... Ogletree had a big season opener (8-114-2) against this same New York defense, but it will be aware of him this time around. Keep in mind that fluke performance came with Witten and Austin both at significantly less than full strength. Ogletree has cleared 30 yards in just 1-of-5 games since and isn't a fantasy option. ... Despite his relatively low target counts, Austin has continually produced with efficiency as a pass catcher and run-after-reception skills. He's a top-13 wideout in fantasy points per game. ... The Costa injury is something of a concern for Romo, but he has always had success facing the Giants. In his last nine regular season meetings with the G-Men, Romo has completed 186-of-270 passes (68.9%) for 2,311 yards (8.56 YPA), 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions with two more rushing scores. He has a 13:2 TD-to-INT ratio in the last five.

Score Prediction: Giants 27, Cowboys 17

Sunday Night Football

New Orleans @ Denver

The expert prognosticators are anticipating a scoring bonanza on Sunday Night Football. Saints-Broncos has an over-under of 55.5, which is the highest point projection of the season to date. The Saints' defense can't stop anybody, and no one can stop the New Orleans offense. Fire up your guys. ... Because New Orleans' defense is so bad, Drew Brees is having to do more than ever. He's putting this team on his back. That may not end especially well in the won-loss column, but it's welcomed news for fantasy owners. Brees is on pace for a career-high 48 TD passes. He's third in the NFL in passing yards, and the two guys ahead of him (Eli Manning, Tom Brady) haven't had their bye weeks yet. The Broncos do one thing well defensively -- rush the passer -- and Brees can counteract that with a devastatingly quick release and decision making. He's a virtual lock for a big passing night. ... Marques Colston is on a rampage. He has 25 catches for 357 yards and five touchdowns in his last three games. Colston is an every-week WR1. ... Colston is blowing up, but Lance Moore was the Saints' best receiver in last Sunday's win over the Buccaneers. Getting open at will on third downs, Moore secured 9-of-10 targets for 121 yards in a truly dominant effort. Moore can be considered Brees' No. 2 pass option until we see Jimmy Graham (ankle) prove he's back at full strength. In a shootout game, Moore is a legit WR2.

Graham is shaping up as a game-time decision, which is problematic in a game with a late start. Backup David Thomas scored a touchdown last week, but it was Thomas' first score in his last 17 games. Broncos TE Jacob Tamme would be a better fallback option for Graham owners, if he indeed is declared inactive. We’ll know more by Sunday. ... Devery Henderson caught 3-of-3 targets in Week 7 for 75 yards. Henderson is a similar player to Vikings WR Jerome Simpson, and he's not suddenly going to turn into a reliable fantasy contributor as a ninth-year NFL player. He's a situational, sideline-running deep threat. Henderson is a WR5. ... Fellow vertical speedster Joseph Morgan shook off a massive hit to score a thrilling 48-yard touchdown in Week 7, but will miss Week 8 with a chest injury. ... Darren Sproles' nine touches in last week's win over the Bucs were disappointing after New Orleans' bye, but he still generated 59 yards and a score. Fantasy owners should ride it out and remain confident Sproles' workloads will pick up. He's too valuable to the offense to stay in the single-digits for touches. ... Pierre Thomas has overtaken Mark Ingram as the favorite for rushing attempts in the Saints' backfield, and also scored on a fourth-quarter red-zone carry from five yards out against Tampa Bay. Ingram is waiver-wire fodder. Thomas is a flex option.

The Saints' defense has allowed 2,793 yards this season. It's the most yardage allowed in NFL history through six games. Steve Spagnuolo's unit is thoroughly abominable. It can't get after the passer. There are frequent back-end coverage busts. New Orleans can't stop the run. The No. 5 quarterback in fantasy points per game, Peyton Manning has rediscovered elite form and seems to get better every week. He put on an absolute clinic in the second half of Denver's Week 6 comeback win over San Diego. ... Also lock in Demaryius Thomas. A physical freak after the catch and Manning's go-to red-zone option, Thomas has 100-plus yards and/or a touchdown in all but one game this year. He'll match up Sunday night with Saints RCB Patrick Robinson, who's been getting torched relentlessly. Robinson was the main culprit in Vincent Jackson's 7-216-1 stat line from Week 7. ... Eric Decker is a top-20 fantasy receiver on a per-game basis, and I'd never discourage you from starting him in a projected shootout. But Decker has a tougher Week 8 matchup than Thomas, set to deal with Saints top CB Jabari Greer. Decker remains well worthy of a borderline WR2 fantasy play. He leads Denver in catches and is second to Thomas in yards.

No Broncos skill player has a more favorable Week 8 matchup than Willis McGahee, though. New Orleans' 31st-ranked run defense is getting tagged for 4.93 yards per carry and has allowed eight rushing touchdowns in six games. It's fair to wonder if McGahee might slow down as his age-31 season progresses, but he's currently coming off a bye week with fresh legs. Look for McGahee to reenter the end zone this week after a two-game drought. ... Broncos rookie Ronnie Hillman isn't one of the top lottery-ticket "stash" backs because he almost certainly wouldn't be entrusted with a full workload in the event of a McGahee injury. Hillman is also averaging just 2.94 yards per carry on 17 attempts thus far. He's shown faster feet and better acceleration than that statistic suggests, but is still learning to play in the NFL. ... Rotating Broncos tight ends Jacob Tamme and Joel Dreessen are clear-cut fantasy backups, although it's reasonable to think one of them will find pay dirt against the Saints if this game plays out as it projects. Tamme catches more passes than Dreessen, but is working on a five-game touchdown drought. Dreessen is like Scott Chandler in that he'll hurt you if he doesn't score.

Score Prediction: Broncos 35, Saints 31

Monday Night Football

San Francisco @ Arizona

If the Giants are fielding 2012's premier pass-blocking line, the 49ers are their equal in terms of run blocking. This is a beastly front five that kicks the tar out of opponents in two-tight end jumbo sets. Washington leads the league in rushing yards per game due to its dual-threat quarterback, but the Niners are a close second. And no team can match San Francisco's team yards-per-carry average (5.89) or volume of 20-plus-yard runs (10). Frank Gore also happens to have a favorable Week 8 matchup. Fully recovered from last Thursday night's rib scare, Gore will square off with a Cardinals defense that has surrendered 331 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 62 carries (5.34 YPC) over its last two games. The Niners do have perhaps the NFL's toughest run-defense schedule for the fantasy playoffs (vs. MIA, @ NE, @ SEA), so Gore will remain a recommended sell-high candidate for the next few weeks. ... 49ers No. 2 tailback Kendall Hunter continues to impress on his change-of-pace opportunities, averaging 5.16 YPC with six catches for 73 yards. Hunter isn't a fantasy option as long as Gore is healthy, but he's squarely on the radar as a lottery-ticket, late-season stash. Gore is 29 with over 2,000 career touches worth of wear on his tires.

Be it due to a mysterious finger injury or waning confidence as Jim Harbaugh increases backup Colin Kaepernick's game-day contributions, Alex Smith has taken a major step back since his hot start to the year. He's completed 33 of his last 55 passes for 340 yards (6.18 YPA) and a 1:4 TD-to-INT ratio. Smith is dinking and dunking again. Regardless of whether he's playing well -- and he isn't right now -- Smith is no more than a back-end QB2. The Cardinals are playing top-four pass defense, so look for Harbaugh to attack them with the run. ... Vernon Davis laid a Week 7 goose egg in large part because he spent most of the Seattle game as an in-line run blocker. Not even targeted, Davis' reduced pass-catching role appeared to be specific to that week's game plan. Look for Davis to get back on track this week. ... Mario Manningham returns from his shoulder injury on Monday Night Football as a low-end WR3. He is clearly ahead of Randy Moss and Kyle Williams on the depth chart, but figures to draw Patrick Peterson in primary coverage and can be taken out of games with physical jamming at the line. ... Michael Crabtree ate up Peterson's off-coverage cushion for a 7-120 line in November of last season. The Niners and Cards met again in December, and Arizona defended Crabtree differently, holding him to 63 yards on seven catches. Crabtree can be a PPR asset on Monday night. He's just never a good bet to score touchdowns.

Cards scatback/returner La'Rod Stephens-Howling's Week 7 stat line (20-104-1, 4-45) is awfully deceptive. Plenty of fantasy owners will "chase" last week's points into Week 8. Don't be one of them. As acknowledged after the game by coach Leslie Frazier, Minnesota's defense sold out to eliminate Larry Fitzgerald (4-29), and in exchange allowed Arizona to run the ball with success. "Take away Number 11," Frazier said, when quizzed about his game plan. "They might get some runs, but can't give them big plays over the top." The strategy worked in Minnesota's 21-14 win. 49ers DC Vic Fangio is a more conventional thinker, rarely designing game-specific defenses. San Francisco can take away Arizona's run game by simply winning the trench battle. And they will do so handily. ... Coach Ken Whisenhunt had planned to ride the "hot hand" entering Week 7. Stephens-Howling had it, so William Powell finished with just five touches. This is an incredibly difficult matchup for an Arizona team that can't run block. Avoid the Cards' backfield in Week 8.

John Skelton is a streaky passer with major shortcomings as an athlete and placer of the ball. He faced this 49ers' defense twice this year, was picked off three times without a touchdown in the first game. Skelton threw for 289 yards, three scores, and two interceptions in the second go-round. Skelton isn't even on the two-QB league radar Monday night, but all is not quite lost for Fitzgerald despite last week's game. Fitz found pay dirt in both of his 2011 meetings with San Francisco. ... The 49ers rank No. 1 in both total defense and pass defense. The statistics say Arizona is highly unlikely to enjoy success from a passing standpoint in this matchup. If Fitzgerald is going to get "his" on Monday night, there probably won't be much left over for the likes of Andre Roberts, Rob Housler, Early Doucet, and rookie Michael Floyd. ... Roberts is a clear-cut WR4, and nothing more. He can have solid games when opponents sell out to eliminate Fitzgerald. I think the 49ers will do what they normally do on defense in this game, and Roberts will come away with something more like his two 2011 lines against San Francisco: 3-51, 2-8-1.

Score Prediction: 49ers 20, Cardinals 13