Fantasy Football News 2011/2012

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HacheMan

HacheMan

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Studs & Duds: DeMarco Murray won't slow down at Philadelphia

look at the Week 8 fantasy landscape:

Studs
•Tim Tebow, QB, Denver Broncos: Rushing for 60 yards is the equivalent of a touchdown. He'll have great opportunities against the Detroit Lions' fading No. 28 run defense.
  • MORE: Don't give up on Sam Bradford yet
•DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys: After exploding for 253 yards and a TD against the St. Louis Rams, he'll spur memories of Emmitt Smith while slashing the Philadelphia Eagles' No. 23 run defense.
•Darren Sproles, RB, New Orleans Saints: He's averaging 7.4 yards a carry and ranks 14th among fantasy running backs. He could achieve his first 100-yard rushing game of the season against the Rams' NFL-worst rushing defense.
•Hakeem Nicks, WR, New York Giants: The Miami Dolphins have allowed the most receptions of 40-plus yards (seven). Nicks is one of the top big-play receivers, ranking fifth for catches of 20-plus yards in 2010.
•A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals: The rookie is playing like a polished veteran. The Seattle Seahawks are forced to start rookie and former third-stringer Richard Sherman at left cornerback because of injuries.
Duds
•Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers: Rivers has thrown more interceptions (five) than TD passes (three) in his last four games. The Kansas City Chiefs held Rivers scoreless while picking him off twice in Week 3.
•Peyton Hillis, RB, Cleveland Browns: Facing the San Francisco 49ers' No. 2 rushing defense isn't the ideal chance for Hillis to show he deserves a huge contract. He's averaging 3.5 yards a carry.
•Reggie Bush, RB, Dolphins: Bush is totaling 55 yards a game and quickly gets phased out of the action. Seventy-one percent of his touches have come in the first half.
•Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals: The Baltimore Ravens have surrendered the fewest TD passes (four) and are the NFL's stingiest defense (13.8 points a game). The Cards put up 10 points in each of their last two road games.
•Nate Burleson, WR, Lions: Burleson has been thrown to four times or fewer during the last five games. He's posted one catch in two out of his last three outings.
Sleepers
•Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens: The Cards have been clipped for an average of 368 yards and 2.7 TDs against quality quarterbacks Cam Newton, Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger. Flacco has a strong chance to rebound from Monday's dismal showing.
•Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos: With Willis McGahee out with a broken hand, Moreno takes the lead role. The Lions have allowed a running back to gain at least 100 rushing yards in three consecutive games.
•Ryan Torain, RB, Washington Redskins: Tim Hightower is out for the season, leaving Torain as the likely featured back. The Buffalo Bills' No. 30 run defense has allowed four runners to total at least 100 total yards.
•Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints: He's received 29% of the carries among the Saints' committee of Mark Ingram, Thomas and Sproles. Ingram, however, could be out with a heel injury, leaving Thomas with more touches against the Rams.
•Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: Roethlisberger has targeted Brown 48 times, three fewer than Mike Wallace. Brown has a nice matchup against the New England Patriots, who are giving up 322 yards a game through the air.
 
HacheMan

HacheMan

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Bradford's Blues

Hope.

Whether it’s politics or sports, you’ve gotta have it. Hope that tomorrow will be better. Hope that last year’s mistakes won’t be repeated. Hope that you don’t become the second straight team to lose by 55 to the Saints.

Well hope is one thing that figures to be in short supply for the 0-6 Rams this weekend, as franchise quarterback Sam Bradford (ankle) has yet to resume practicing, or even to make plans to test out his ailing joint.

All signs are pointing toward episode two of the A.J. Feeley show against New Orleans, which is unfortunate since episode one wasn’t all that good.

For Bradford, the injury is the low point of his disastrous start to a reality-check sophomore season perhaps more people should have seen coming.

In between enough blown protections and wide receiver drops to make any quarterback look bad, Bradford has thrown for just three touchdowns and surpassed 200 yards only twice through his first five starts.

But while it could be tempting for fantasy owners to pack it in and call it a day with their QB2, the reasons for hope in St. Louis remain plentiful. Not hope for making the playoffs, but hope that watchable football will at least soon be on the way.

“Why?” you ask. For starters, there’s now one of the league’s better receivers in Brandon Lloyd where Mike Sims-Walker and Brandon Gibson used to be. Then there’s new slot-man Greg Salas, who made up for one of the season’s worst single game performances in Week 2 against the Giants with an eight-catch, 77-yard effort in Green Bay in Week 6. As anyone who owned Danny Amendola in 2010 can attest, the slot is an all important position in St. Louis.

Last but not least, there’s Steven Jackson, who though undoubtedly on the downside of his career has proven he can still be an above-average NFL running back when healthy. Since resting up during the Rams’ Week 5 bye, Jackson has averaged 4.61 yards over his past 36 carries.

Throw in the fact that Danario Alexander has shown continued improvement and Lance Kendricks has slowly proven capable of catching the ball, and you have an offense that should be able to take big steps forward in the second half of the season as the schedule eases up and Bradford finds himself back under center.

Today it might seem like it makes sense to drop Bradford and add John Beck or Carson Palmer, but you could have a different view on things as early as Week 9 when St. Louis travels to Arizona and squares off with the Cardinals and their 28th ranked pass defense.

NEWS OF THE DAY #2
As has become the norm for Beanie Wells and his injuries, there were mixed signals sent on Wednesday.

Appearing on local radio, Wells painted a picture so bright you’d need shades to stare at it.

“It’s just a matter of controlling the swelling,” Wells said of his injured knee. "It's just a day by day thing. Hopefully I'm out there on Sunday and I personally think I will be."

Wells is an optimist. That’s great. The world needs more of them. Unfortunately, boundless optimism often tends to get checked by stone-cold realism, provided in this instance by the Arizona Republic’s Kent Somers, who has helpfully pointed out Wells’ history of overestimating his ability to take the field and produce when hurt.

"I'm all good.” This is what Wells said of his ailing hamstring just three days before the Cardinals traveled to Seattle in Week 3. "Just needed to rest my wheels and maybe change a tire."

Of course, Wells was not “all good,” and ended up sitting out despite assuring roughly 24 hours before game time he’d “definitely” play.

As Somers points out, what a player does in practice — and not what they say on the radio — is a much better indication of whether or not they’ll take the field.

So what did Wells do in practice Wednesday? Nothing. He was held out.

If he is again on Thursday, prepare to be without your RB2 against the Ravens’ third-ranked run defense, and be ready to pick up and start Alfonso Smith. Averaging just 3.6 yards per carry and going up against a defense allowing only 3.3 yards per carry, the second year undrafted free agent would likely be in for a long afternoon if given the call.

NEWS OF THE DAY #3
Wells wasn’t the only RB2 sitting out on Wednesday. Just three days after a highly disappointing effort against the Broncos’ soft run defense, Daniel Thomas was sidelined by a hamstring injury he’s been able to play — and practice — through the past two weeks.

Of course, he has not played very well, which has become a pattern for the rookie as he runs through injury. More than likely, he will take the field this weekend, but even against a leaky Giants’ run defense, the odds that he gets back on track are low if he’s still less than 100 percent.

If his Wednesday practice participation is any indication, he’s currently far below that level.

NEWS OF THE DAY #4
Despite Kregg Lumpkin’s almost total inability to run the ball (he’s gone just 54 yards on 14 carries since entering the league in 2008), the Bucs have decided to stick with him as LeGarrette Blount’s backup after Earnest Graham was lost for the season with an Achilles injury.

Lumpkin will slide into Graham’s third-down role, making him an intriguing flier in deeper PPR leagues since the Bucs had made throwing to Graham a big part of their offense before he went down. As for every other format? Lumpkin can be safely ignored as long as Blount (knee) returns as expected in Week 9.

NEWS OF THE DAY #5
Having come to terms with his seemingly inevitable dismissal, Tony Sparano has put his Davie, Florida home up for sale. If these pictures are any indication, Sparano might be best served by just resigning now and taking a few months off to relax.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS
Matt Hasselbeck (thumb) was limited in Titans practice Wednesday. He is fully expected to be under center against the Colts on Sunday. … Adrian Peterson (foot) did not participate in Vikings practice after appearing to injure his ankle in Sunday’s loss. He should be active for Week 8, but what he does this afternoon will be critical. … Joseph Addai missed Colts practice three days after aggravating his hamstring injury. Expect Indy’s backfield to consist of Donald Brown and Delone Carter this weekend. … Andre Johnson hinted he needs another week to let his surgically-repaired hamstring heal. … Mark Ingram (heel) missed Saints practice, and will not be rushed back with New Orleans set to take on the Rams. … Philip Rivers insisted his slow start is not due to injury, going as far as to say he’s "as healthy as I've been through six weeks." His 7:9 TD-to-INT ratio would seem to disagree.
 
HacheMan

HacheMan

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Week 8 Rankings
DeMarco Murray didn't wow me on his 91-yard touchdown run to start last week's game. It was all the runs that came after his long score that impressed.

We knew Murray could run through a Wilfork-sized hole and make a safety miss in the open field. We didn't know that he could decisively pick a hole and gain chunks of yards on play after play after that.

Sure, it came against the Rams. He's not going to rack up 253 yards again, but that's not the point. Murray showed a more versatile game than I expected. He made people miss between the tackles at times and ran over defenders other times. He has the speed to get to the outside, but didn't seek the edge when it wasn't there.

More than anything, Murray ran with aggression and knew when to head upfield. It was usually sharp and decisive. Murray may not be a special talent, but just running hard is enough to rack up solid numbers for a while. He's going to be an every-week player until Felix Jones is back, and possibly a top-20 player after that.

Murray feels like a ticking time bomb because of his history of injuries, but he should provide a fun ride while it lasts.


Week 8 Quarterbacks


<TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Tom Brady</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Michael Vick</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Cam Newton</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Matthew Stafford</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>Questionable (ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Ryan Fitzpatrick</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Tim Tebow</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Joe Flacco</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Matt Schaub</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>Probable (thumb)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>John Beck</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Matt Cassel</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Alex Smith</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Christian Ponder</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Andy Dalton</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Matt Moore</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>Questionable (ribs)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Kevin Kolb</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Colt McCoy</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>A.J. Feeley</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Tarvaris Jackson</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>Sidelined (pectorals)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Curtis Painter</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Charlie Whitehurst</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Blaine Gabbert</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>-</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

QB Notes: A note on the notes first. I don’t write notes to encompass everyone. It’s primarily about the games I focus on Sundays, and the Game Rewind games I watch during the week. And off we go:

I watched every Tim Tebow snap last week. You can’t feel better about him as a fantasy prospect after the performance. The numbers added up in the end, which does show that he’s a safe weekly bet because of his running skills. But he seems to have taken a step back as a passer without Josh McDaniels there. He doesn’t wind up getting a lot of his numbers if the Dolphins just recover an onside kick. Half of Tebow’s throws were comically off. His attempt total was down largely because he took so many sacks and couldn’t make good decisions. He threw a few passes that should have been picked off. The Broncos consistently called runs on third-and-three or third-and-five. The first 10 first downs came on the ground. And this all came against Miami.

I still see Tebow as a borderline QB1 moving forward, but feel less confident he can be a top-five type of guy this year.

It will be very interesting to see Jason Garrett’s gameplan this week. It has been very conservative the last two weeks. Tony Romo owners better hope Garrett opens it up. Romo has still been shying away from contact because of his ribs. … The only risk for Drew Brees owners this week is that Brees comes out after three quarters because the Saints have such a big lead again. That offense is rolling with all of the weapons healthy and the offensive line improving.

Wesseling watched Jets-Chargers this week and wondered if Philip Rivers’ arm strength is diminished. I came away thinking his accuracy is just as big a problem. Rivers is just a little off here and there, but it’s adding up. The Chargers are a vertical team and their receivers aren’t getting separation. Whatever plays Norv Turner dialed up to take shots aren’t working this year. It’s affecting Rivers’ decision-making. He’s forcing passes. I give Rivers a decent chance to turn things around because the pieces remain in place. He’s not a bad trade target.

Matt Hasselbeck has no one to throw to. He’s not a great option, even in a great matchup like this. Too many drops and mental errors from his receivers. … Aaron Rodgers is overshadowing him, but Tom Brady is playing at an insane level. While he’s had more interceptions, a big chunk of those picks came off tipped passes. He’s moving in the pocket to avoid rushers like he was a decade ago. So many of Brady’s throws are into tight windows. The Patriots struggled to get the ball vertical against the Ryan brothers, so that’s something to watch this week. Brady has always shredded the Steelers.
<!--RW-->

Week 8 Running Backs


<TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>Probable (foot)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Arian Foster</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Ray Rice</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>LeSean McCoy</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>DeMarco Murray</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Ryan Mathews</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Rashard Mendenhall</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>Probable (knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Darren Sproles</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Chris Johnson</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Ahmad Bradshaw</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Jackie Battle</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>Probable (-)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Peyton Hillis</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>Sidelined (hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Steven Jackson</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>Probable (quadriceps)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Pierre Thomas</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Bernard Scott</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Ryan Torain</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Daniel Thomas</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>Probable (hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jonathan Stewart</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>BenJarvus Green-Ellis</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>Probable (toe)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Mike Tolbert</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>Probable (hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Maurice Morris</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Knowshon Moreno</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>Probable (knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Mark Ingram</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>Doubtful (heel)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>Questionable (back)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Reggie Bush</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>Probable (neck)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Roy Helu</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Delone Carter</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Montario Hardesty</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Donald Brown</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Danny Woodhead</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Ben Tate</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Probable (groin)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Alfonso Smith</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>C.J. Spiller</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Lance Ball</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Keiland Williams</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Dexter McCluster</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Ricky Williams</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Leon Washington</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Kendall Hunter</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Stevan Ridley</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Javon Ringer</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Brian Leonard</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Justin Forsett</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Phillip Tanner</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Isaac Redman</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Tashard Choice</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>Questionable (shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>LaRod Stephens-Howling</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Deji Karim</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>-</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

RB Notes: I don’t think the Giants solved their rush game woes just because Ahmad Bradshaw scored three times against the Bills. Bradshaw actually didn’t have a lot of room to run that afternoon. Brandon Jacobs is back now to siphon value. … The Bills, on the other hand, have an underrated run-blocking group. This is especially true on the interior, where I think they can take advantage of Washington’s aggressive defense.

The long speed of Frank Gore is a little diminished, but the rest of his skills haven’t left. He’s still great in the pass game and he’s always had great instincts and vision. The Browns are strong up the middle, which could make Gore’s life tougher since he doesn’t get to the outside as well. But I’d draft Gore today right where I would in September: Right around No. 10 at running back. Kendall Hunter could keep him fresher late in the season. … This will be a Danny Woodhead game for the Patriots. They won’t bother to run much on the Steelers unless it’s out of shotgun. Stevan Ridley doesn’t get on the field enough on passing downs to trust.

It’s a shame Willis McGahee was hurt because he was running well. Denver’s offensive line can open up holes and Detroit isn’t a great run defense. Don’t be surprised if Lance Ball gets just as much work as Knowshon Moreno. The Broncos staff doesn’t seem to love Moreno. … If it wasn’t clear yet, the 2010 Arian Foster is back and Houston’s line is playing outstanding. In the right matchup, Ben Tate is going to be a decent flex despite being a backup. This is not one of those matchups. Foster doesn’t get enough credit for his skills as a receiver.

Steven Jackson gets hit in the backfield too much. When he gets some room, the explosion is gone. The effort is there. If nothing else, the Rams are staying committed to the run even with the Rams trail. … Mike Tolbert played a lot in the red zone last week, even when Ryan Mathews was healthy enough to be out there. Mathews was just a little hesitant last week, whether it was his finger or his hamstring. It’s something to watch, but you have to play him.

I’ll believe Ryan Torain gets all the carries in Washington when I see it. … Jackie Battle is ranked so high largely because there aren’t many great options outsie the top-15. And the Chargers rush defense is easy to push around. … Bernard Scott should get 15-20 touches, so I trust him as a RB2.
<!--RW-->

Week 8 Wide Receivers


<TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Mike Wallace</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Questionable (hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Hakeem Nicks</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>Probable (knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Vincent Jackson</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>Probable (hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Miles Austin</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Dez Bryant</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>DeSean Jackson</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Marques Colston</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Jeremy Maclin</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>A.J. Green</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Stevie Johnson</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>Probable (groin)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Brandon Lloyd</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>Probable (quadriceps)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Mario Manningham</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Sidney Rice</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Pierre Garcon</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Victor Cruz</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Michael Crabtree</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Probable (foot)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Nate Washington</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Steve Breaston</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Percy Harvin</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>Probable (ribs)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Jabar Gaffney</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Deion Branch</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Greg Little</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>David Nelson</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Antonio Brown</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Torrey Smith</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Lance Moore</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Eric Decker</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Demaryius Thomas</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>Probable (-)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Malcom Floyd</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>Questionable (hip)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>Questionable (ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Mike Thomas</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Michael Jenkins</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Robert Meachem</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Early Doucet</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>Questionable (quadriceps)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Nate Burleson</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Jerome Simpson</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Doug Baldwin</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Danario Alexander</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>Questionable (hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Questionable (knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Davone Bess</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Jason Avant</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Greg Salas</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>Probable (ribs)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Austin Collie</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Damian Williams</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Brandon LaFell</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Jacoby Jones</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Probable (groin)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Mike Sims-Walker</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Eddie Royal</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Chad Ochocinco</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Brian Hartline</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>61</TD><TD>Titus Young</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

WR Notes: I’m stubborn enough to keep ranking Mario Manningham high. He had two scores taken away in his last game against Buffalo. It’s a vertical passing attack and ultimately the Giants trust Manningham more than Victor Cruz. … Michael Crabtree is getting there. He was making tough catches again before the bye week. Everything with him is short and he may never be a guy that stretches the field, but his yards after the catch against Detroit showed me he’s truly healthy again. I like him a lot as a WR2/3 the rest of the way.

Dez Bryant still seems to make a boneheaded mistake or big drop every game, but it really doesn’t matter. He finally had some second half production last week. He is hurt less than Miles Austin from Tony Romo’s suddenly conservative play. I’m not too worried about Austin yet, however. Last week’s game especially was a function of playing the Rams. The Cowboys didn’t have to throw it deep. … Brandon Marshall’s drops have become painful to watch. At least Matt Moore is going to play this week. It’s sad that’s become good news.

Tebow is going to dramatically hurt the values of Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas, and Eddie Royal long term. They are going to cancel each other out. It’s a running offense. They called 11 runs out of shotgun. They will run half the time, and Tebow may not be accurate the other half. With that said, Thomas should be owned in all leagues. The potential is there for him to be the No. 1 guy. … I loved to see the trust the Rams put in Brandon Lloyd right away. His biggest catch came in garbage time but he was clearly the No. 1 guy despite playing in his first game on the team. A.J. Feeley figures to start again. … Vincent Jackson looked plenty healthy last week. He just got Revis’d. I’m not too concerned long term.
<!--RW-->

Week 8 Tight Ends


<TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Jimmy Graham</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>Probable (ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>Questionable (foot)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Aaron Hernandez</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Rob Gronkowski</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Owen Daniels</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Fred Davis</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Brandon Pettigrew</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>Probable (shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Jermaine Gresham</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Visanthe Shiancoe</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>Probable (foot)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Evan Moore</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Ed Dickson</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Jake Ballard</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Brent Celek</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>Probable (illness)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Jared Cook</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Scott Chandler</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Ben Watson</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>Questionable (concussion)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Rob Housler</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Todd Heap</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>Questionable (hamstring)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

TE Notes: The Patriots design more offense for Aaron Hernandez than Rob Gronkowski. Hernandez is ridiculously good after the catch and should look fresh again coming off the bye. … Jason Witten has slowed down literally, but it’s not showing up in the numbers. He’s on pace for the best season of his career and his yards-per-catch is higher than ever. Jimmy Graham is the only tight end I’d rather have than Witten. Owen Daniels’ role didn’t change a ton with Andre Johnson out of the lineup. If A.J. returns, don’t adjust his value. … Fred Davis is probably going to have stinkers, but he’s the best of the second tier of tight ends this year. An every-week starter.

Week 8 Team Defense


<TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Ravens Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Fortyniners Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Texans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Giants Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Saints Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Lions Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Bengals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Titans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Browns Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Cowboys Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Steelers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Seahawks Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Jaguars Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Eagles Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Patriots Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Chargers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Bills Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Redskins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Chiefs Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Broncos Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Panthers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Vikings Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Colts Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Dolphins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Cardinals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Rams Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>-</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Week 8 Kickers


<TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>John Kasay</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Billy Cundiff</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Dan Bailey</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Nick Novak</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Neil Rackers</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Jason Hanson</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Alex Henery</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Olindo Mare</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Rian Lindell</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Shaun Suisham</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Graham Gano</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Ryan Succop</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Dan Carpenter</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Mike Nugent</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Lawrence Tynes</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Matt Prater</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Adam Vinatieri</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>David Akers</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Steven Hauschka</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Jay Feely</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>-</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
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HacheMan

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Reassessing defenses to exploit

By Christopher Harris
ESPN.com

We're at or past the midway point of most fantasy regular seasons, and I thought it would be helpful to delve back into matchups. Now is the time when contenders start dealing for reinforcements and pretenders start thinking about next year, and we all look at fantasy playoff schedules to divine which players might have the easiest time of it in December. But from watching tape the past few weeks, I've found a few defensive units that aren't playing quite as you might expect. So for the "In Depth" portion of this column, let's look at some revisions we might have to make to our matchup thinking.


Five In Depth



1. Broncos Run Defense: This unit is supposed to stink. Back in Week 1, Darren McFadden scorched them for 150 yards on 22 carries in the late Monday night game, making Denver's D look very much like the 2010 group that allowed 154.6 ground yards per game (second-worst in the NFL) and 4.7 yards per carry (tied for second-worst). And I'm not going hog-wild here, suddenly proclaiming these guys are the second coming of the '85 Bears, especially not when Ryan Mathews did them for 125 yards as recently as Week 5. But they've also had some surprisingly good results lately, making them less of a slam-dunk matchup than usual. They've held the Bengals, Titans, Packers and Dolphins to less than 100 yards rushing and haven't allowed a rushing TD to a RB yet this year. (They've allowed four rushing scores, all to QBs.) That may not be sustainable, but it's not bad from a group that gave up an NFL-worst 26 rushing scores in '10 (21 to RBs).


How are they doing this? When I've watched the past couple of games, it's seemed to me that the difference has been blitzing. Rookie outside linebacker Von Miller is as good as advertised coming off the edge, but veteran safety Brian Dawkins has been resurgent and smart coming from the defense's back end, too, often not hell-bent for leather, but controlled, sniffing out running plays and filling holes as he charges the line. I wouldn't say John Fox had a reputation as an unrepentant blitzer in Carolina (his teams were usually about middle-of-the-pack in the number of times they sent extra guys at the line), but he's increased the artillery he's throwing at the line of scrimmage as this season has worn on:


Denver Broncos Blitzing, This Season

<TABLE><THEAD><TR><TH></TH><TH>Blitzes per game </TH><TH>NFL Rank </TH></TR><TBODY><TR class=last><TD>Weeks 1-4 </TD><TD>12.3 </TD><TD>18th </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>Weeks 5-7 </TD><TD>19.5 </TD><TD>5th </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Source: Stats LLC



This is a high-risk strategy that will get you burned, as the Broncos have been burned by Andy Dalton, Matt Hasselbeck and Aaron Rodgers at various times this year. But it's a pass-defense strategy that has the added benefit of clogging the lanes against the run. Last week, I presumed Daniel Thomas had an elite matchup against this defense, and was surprised when I watched the footage to see that Thomas ran hard, but really had nowhere to go. Hey, these guys will give up some yards, and the relative flukiness of no running back TDs against them will be rectified. But don't underestimate the return of D.J. Williams on the strong side, and don't go thinking this unit is an automatic rollover.


2. Giants Run Defense: You know the drill. The Giants are supposed to be smashmouth: all about running the ball and stopping the run. It's time for reality to erase that hype. New York has rushed for the third-fewest yards per game in the NFL on offense, and they've been borderline disastrous keeping opposing RBs in check over the past month. They've been steamrolled by LeSean McCoy, Beanie Wells, Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson in their past four games. What gives?


The Giants were off last week, but I went back and grabbed film of their run-defense lowlights from their previous four tilts. An argument defending the G-Men probably begins with the fact that Justin Tuck hasn't seen the field since Week 3; Tuck will reportedly return for this week's game against the Dolphins. But I also see some inexperienced linebackers making mistakes. Greg Jones has potential, but hasn't completely filled a trouble spot that's plagued the Giants for a few seasons; he doesn't make nearly enough tackles for a 4-3 middle linebacker. Jacquian Williams' speed on the weak side occasionally flashes, but I saw him run his way directly out of tackles on a couple occasions versus the Seahawks and Bills. The good news is that these guys are rookies with nice upside who could start performing better as soon as this year, as they adjust: The art form to defending the run is often slowing down just a bit rather than charging uncontrolled where you think the RB might go. (Antonio Pierce was fantastic at this.) The bad news, though, is that for the moment there are too many big runs coming against the Giants:


New York Giants Rush Defense, Past 4 Games

<TABLE><THEAD><TR><TH></TH><TH>Rush Plays of 10+ Yds </TH><TH>Total Rushes </TH><TH>% of Big Plays </TH></TR><TBODY><TR class=last><TD>Week 3 </TD><TD>8 </TD><TD>40 </TD><TD>20.0 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>Week 4 </TD><TD>2 </TD><TD>32 </TD><TD>6.3 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>Week 5 </TD><TD>4 </TD><TD>29 </TD><TD>13.8 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>Week 6 </TD><TD>2 </TD><TD>23 </TD><TD>8.7 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>Total </TD><TD>16 </TD><TD>124 </TD><TD>12.9</B> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Source: Stats LLC



That 12.9 percent mark is 23rd-best in the NFL, making this Giants D a bottom-10 unit when it comes to stopping big plays on the ground. It's true that the G-Men are still fearsome in their pass rush, but they don't scare me as a running back matchup right now.


3. Bengals Pass Defense: When Johnathan Joseph left Cincy, it was supposed to cripple this unit, and Joseph has been amazingly good for the Texans through seven games. But despite playing without their highly drafted and widely hyped USC linebackers Rey Maualuga and Keith Rivers for most of the year, this Bengals D has just been very strong all around. Could part of that be thanks to a schedule which has included (in order) the Browns, Broncos, 49ers, Bills, Jaguars and Colts? I'm not gonna lie; the thought has crossed my mind. Other than Buffalo, that's a murderer's row of offensive mediocrity. I do think the Bengals' 4-2 record is a mirage, and the fact that they play the Ravens and Steelers four times in their final 10 games doesn't bode well. Still, one can only go by what one sees, and in particular, I see a pass defense that's shaped up to be a tough one.


The key, believe it or not, might be Nate Clements. Clements busted badly his final years in San Francisco -- and his replacement with the 49ers, Carlos Rogers, is playing out of his mind -- but Clements has defended seven passes in six games (the league leaders have 11) after defending 10 all of last year with the Niners. Opposing offenses stay away from Leon Hall, so Clements is going to get tested. He's given up some plays this year, but not a ton, and not nearly as many as we're accustomed to seeing from him lately. And while the sack totals indicate Cincy isn't getting after the QB much (they've got only 14 sacks, tying them for 19th in the league), one gets the impression watching their games that their 4-3 ends are regularly this close to wreaking havoc in the opposition's backfield. Carlos Dunlap, who had 10 sacks last year as a rookie, has been held sack-less in '11, but to my eye is still playing well, while Michael Johnson's conversion to end is complete, and he's playing well, too.


The bottom line, of course, is that until this unit starts playing against good QBs, we're not going to know if this performance is legit. But on the upside, they've got the Seahawks and Titans the next two weeks, so it's very possible they can keep the mojo going.


4. Titans Pass Defense: In their past three games, dating back to Week 4, the Titans have fallen off on defense overall. Perhaps it was predictable. I made much of how weak Tennessee's schedule was to begin the season: Jaguars, Ravens, Broncos, Browns. This was the NFL's top-ranked defense in statistics only, and in allowing 79 combined points against the Steelers and Texans in their past two games, the Titans have crashed back to Earth.


Much will be made of the run defense. Arian Foster and Ben Tate went hog-wild running the ball last week, to the tune of 219 combined ground yards. And two games ago, the Steelers put up 174 rushing yards. But you know, I have to say: When I watch the tape, I'm not overly concerned with what I see from this run defense. They've made mistakes, they've taken bad angles, they've been lined up incorrectly and had the bad fortune of seeing Pittsburgh and Houston gash them right at the spot where they've been misaligned. But I still do think they have ends who can play (Jason Jones and Derrick Morgan, in particular) and at-least-average defensive tackles.


What alarms me more is the fact that their pass defense hasn't been good, either. Colt McCoy, Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Schaub have averaged 291 yards passing per game in the Titans' past three contests, and have combined for eight TDs and two INTs. That amounts to a 107.4 QB rating (I know, I don't like QB rating much, either, but at least it tells you QBs have been good against them), and includes a whopping 69.7 completion rate (31st in the NFL in that span) to go with 7.62 yards per attempt (20th). This hasn't been teams dink-and-dunking to achieve a high completion percentage. Tennessee has allowed seven pass plays of 25 yards or more in these three games.


What does the tape show? The snowball really has rolled downhill, and play-action has been alarmingly effective against this defense. You've got safety Jordan Babineaux leaping forward toward the line every time an opposing QB looks at his RB, as though he might hand it off. I admit Cortland Finnegan is covering better than he did last year, but he isn't tackling appreciably better, and linebacker Will Witherspoon just got hosed on a long Foster receiving score Sunday. Heck, here are the numbers during the past three weeks when opponents have three or more WRs on the field:


Attempts: 53
Completions: 81
Completion percentage: .654
Touchdowns: 5
Interceptions: 1
Source: Stats LLC


I'm not trying to tell you Curtis Painter and the Colts will definitely go crazy via the airways this week. Indy's offense is probably beyond matchup help. But while I do think the Titans are better than they've shown recently against the run, Finnegan & Co. have lately looked like a pretty tasty matchup against the pass.


5. Chiefs offense: Jamaal Charles is hurt. Matt Cassel is mediocre. Of course you want your fantasy defense facing the Chiefs. Right? Right?


That was certainly true early in the season. The Chiefs scored 10 points in their first two games combined, turned it over nine times and averaged only 240 yards from scrimmage. The Bills and Lions mustered 13 and 20 defensive fantasy points against the Chiefs, respectively, in those first two games. Since then, though, Kansas City has faced a few respectable defenses and hasn't given an inch:


Opposing D/ST versus Kansas City Chiefs, Past 4 Games

<TABLE><THEAD><TR><TH></TH><TH>Points allowed </TH><TH>Yards allowed </TH><TH>Turnovers </TH><TH>Sacks </TH><TH>Fantasy Pts </TH></TR><TBODY><TR class=last><TD>Week 3 @SD </TD><TD>17 </TD><TD>252 </TD><TD>1 </TD><TD>1 </TD><TD>6 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>Week 4 vs. MIN </TD><TD>22 </TD><TD>350 </TD><TD>0 </TD><TD>3 </TD><TD>2 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>Week 5 @IND </TD><TD>28 </TD><TD>436 </TD><TD>0 </TD><TD>2 </TD><TD>-2 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>Week 7 @OAK </TD><TD>28 </TD><TD>300 </TD><TD>2 </TD><TD>0 </TD><TD>3 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



I think the most notable explanation for this turnaround is something I mentioned in last week's Hard Count, which is how conservative this Chiefs offense has become. Counterintuitively (because of Charles' injury), Todd Haley has called a higher percentage of runs in the past five weeks (which encapsulate these four games) than any NFL team:


Highest Pct. of Rushing Plays, Past 5 weeks
Kansas City Chiefs 54.1%
Jacksonville Jaguars 52.3%
San Francisco 49ers 50.4%
San Diego Chargers 49.2%
Oakland Raiders 48.1%
Source: Stats LLC


As much as I bash him, Cassel is taking better care of the ball (one of his two picks against the Raiders last week was a silly throw at the end of the first half); this is a guy who fumbled an amazing 14 times in '09 (losing only three), but in '10 and '11 combined he's fumbled only five times (losing two). And the Chiefs have allowed 10 sacks in six games, which is partly a testament to conservative routes and getting rid of the ball quickly, but also an endorsement of an offensive line which has really transformed during the past two seasons. There's no more Ryan O'Callaghan making spot starts and no more aging Brian Waters (though Waters is playing well in New England); left tackle Branden Albert looks worthy of being the 15th overall pick in '08, and right guard Jon Asamoah is mauling people (and scoring TDs!) in Waters' place. Bottom line: I'm not enamored of the Chargers defense's matchup this week in KC.


Five In Brief



6. Chris Johnson's rapid descent: An incredible amount has been written this week about CJ2K (or should that be CJ0K?) and his season-long struggles. It's become fashionable to pile on, perhaps in part because we tend not to like athletes who hold out for more money, seemingly putting themselves above their team. I wish I could defend Johnson, but any objective observer of that Texans game film from last week would have to acknowledge that something is seriously wrong. I thought Johnson was making progress in the Cleveland and Pittsburgh games, but last Sunday it seemed like any time a defensive player put up any resistance, Johnson just turtled. Maybe we'll find out he's hurt. I certainly don't want to question the guy's toughness, not after he's proven to be such a beast in previous seasons. I can buy that the Titans' offensive line isn't doing a great job. But there were plays where Johnson would be charging around the edge with a blocker in front of him, and two defenders would chase him down and instead of trying to power through them, Johnson would just sort of jump in the air and let himself be manhandled. I don't get it. I will say this: If this week's media firestorm doesn't light a fire under the guy in what should be a sweet matchup versus the Colts, nothing will.

7. Vincent Jackson should get better … eventually: Sometimes mediocre receiving numbers are the quarterback's fault, or the game-planner's fault, or the offensive line's fault. In Jackson's case, I think it's been the opposition. Sure, we know he's battled nagging injuries, but take a look at this murderer's row of cornerbacks V-Jax has faced lately: Brandon Flowers of the Chiefs; Vontae Davis of the Dolphins; Champ Bailey of the Broncos; Darrelle Revis of the Jets. Sure, Revis might've interfered with Jackson on his crucial fourth-quarter pick with San Diego down three and driving last week, but the fact that Jackson managed only one grab for 15 yards indicates an uncomfortable stay on the "Island." Things should get quite a bit better for V-Jax against some lesser-light corners later in the season. Unfortunately, this week Jackson gets Flowers again, which lowers him a bit in my eyes. I've ranked him lowest of any ESPN.com ranker (I have him 12th among WRs this week), and consider his Week 3 output against the Chiefs -- five grabs for 63 yards -- a fair estimation of what he's likely to give you Monday night. His net results will come down to whether or not he gives you a TD.


8. Dez Bryant takes the lead: I hated to read that the Cowboys have no plans to remove Bryant from their punt-returning role, because that's how he initially injured his quad in Week 1's loss against the Jets. But that doesn't stop me from listing Bryant higher than any other ESPN ranker this week. Hey, at least I'm consistent. Bryant is eighth among NFL WRs in fantasy points per game despite failing to notch even one 100-yard effort yet this season. Unlike many of the other receivers who top the fantasy rolls right now, Bryant isn't propped up by a single massive effort (like, say, Miles Austin is); instead, Dez has managed between 63 and 90 yards in four of his five outings, and has four TDs. Most importantly, I hope even casual observers are coming around to the point of view I held at the year's outset, which is that Bryant is simply a different kind of athlete. He may have roughly the same measurables as Austin, but there is simply no question which man defenses fear more. Bryant is a force in the red zone and in the open field, and I promise, one of those fantasy-game-winning days is coming. It may not come Sunday night versus that all-star lineup of Eagles defensive backs, but it's coming.

9. Jabar Gaffney is the last man standing: Santana Moss is out for between five and seven weeks, which means in standard-sized fantasy leagues he's pretty much a must-drop. (I suppose you could argue that if he makes it back in five weeks, he could help you in the fantasy playoffs, but how comfortable will you feel starting him?) That leaves Gaffney as the only useful veteran WR on the Redskins roster, unless you're wicked psyched about using Donte' Stallworth. Gaffney will be on the field for every offensive snap, and the likes of Anthony Armstrong, Niles Paul and Leonard Hankerson (the latter two are rookies) will rotate. But sorry, Jabar, I'm still not all-in. Hey, I've written about Gaffney in my "Free-Agent Finds" column this year. He's an OK player. If you're in a pinch, Gaffney is usable; I ranked him 30th among WRs in this bye-heavy week. I just feel his upside is so capped by a lack of deep speed or red-zone talent that all you're really signing up for with Gaffney is four catches for 60 yards every week, with the potential for basically nothing more than that. The truest beneficiary of the Moss injury, in my opinion, is tight end Fred Davis.


10. Bernard Scott's time to shine? Cedric Benson will serve his one-game suspension Sunday, so the starting Bengals' starting RB job is left open for Scott. As recently as last year, I was excited about this guy's potential as a feature back; he's got acceptable size and quite a burst. Unfortunately, he's also lacked durability to an extreme, and it's become relatively clear that Cincy doesn't trust the future of their backfield to him. They've used him as a return specialist and occasional breather-giver for Benson, while Brian Leonard has stayed the team's third-down back. Regardless, this week the job is Scott's, and he has the talent to do something good with it. Still, I ranked him outside my top 20 RBs, mostly because of the matchup. The Seahawks have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher this season; Montario Hardesty came close with 95 last week, but he did it on 33 carries, so let's not chalk that up as an "L" for Seattle's D. They're allowing the fewest yards per carry of any team in the NFL (just 3.1), and have kept the big play to a minimum: Only the Cowboys have allowed a lower percentage of opponent carries to go for 10-plus yards. I think Scott was probably the best one-week waiver add for Sunday, simply because he's a nice bet to touch it 15-plus times, but my expectations are firmly in check.
 
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Flex ranks: Law Firm, Fitz keep high ranks
in.gif


Eric Karabell

Welcome to Week 8 and the latest edition of the flex rankings, where we mix the top running backs, wide receivers -- and don't forget about the tight ends! -- into one neat Top 100 ranking for you to use as a guide for setting your lineups. We still must deal with the bye weeks (and thus, the absence of Aaron Rodgers this week), so the back end of this list certainly isn't strong, but hopefully you can field a worthy lineup. It is, after all, Week 8. We're halfway through the regular season in most leagues.
As always, these are your teams, so the decisions should be yours! We're here to help. Best of luck in Week 8 and beyond!

1. Arian Foster, RB, Texans: Despite offering just three fantasy points the first three weeks, he's already a top-10 running back in standard scoring. I think he'll eventually get to the top, or at least second.
2. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings: I won't go so far as to say he's better off with a rookie quarterback … well, actually, in this case I will.
3. Fred Jackson, RB, Bills
4. Ray Rice, RB, Ravens: Eight carries last week? Really? He averaged 24 the prior two games. He'll get that many this week. Trade for him.
5. Frank Gore, RB, 49ers: In his worst rushing game over the past three weeks, he still had 125 yards.
6. LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles: We know the Eagles can be run on, but McCoy is still the top running back in this matchup versus the Cowboys.
7. Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions: Honestly, even if Matthew Stafford doesn't play -- I think he will play -- I'd still rank Calvin this well.
8. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants
9. Mike Wallace, WR, Steelers
10. Wes Welker, WR, Patriots: He's matchup-proof. And the Steelers aren't exactly impenetrable defensively.
11. Steve Smith, WR, Panthers
12. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars: Was actually productive against the Ravens. I just can't understand why Blaine Gabbert doesn't throw to him more.
13. Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers
14. Andre Johnson, WR, Texans: Make sure he plays, of course. It's looking iffy, though.
15. Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers: I'm clearly a believer. The only thing that worries me with Mathews is his health.
16. Hakeem Nicks, WR, Giants
17. Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs
18. DeMarco Murray, RB, Cowboys: I could see him finishing with roughly half of last week's rushing total … which is still well over 100 yards, and makes him worth using.
19. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals: So what if Kevin Kolb locks in on him? Fitz is nearly a top-10 wide receiver, and his best matchups are still to come. This week is not one of them, however.
20. Marques Colston, WR, Saints
21. Chris Johnson, RB, Titans: If he can't run on the Colts, I guess we're just about outta hope.
22. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Patriots: Surprisingly, the Steelers can be run on, especially up the middle, right where the Law Firm likes to do his damage.
23. Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints
24. Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers: There's some concern here, but a nationally televised ("Monday Night Football") game should motivate him.
25. Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys: Bryant will be open at times … it's up to Tony Romo to find him.
26. Steven Jackson, RB, Rams: Kind of a shame that he must deal with the mess around him.
27. Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys
28. Darren Sproles, RB, Saints: Hey, a screen pass can be just as effective, if not more so, than a run up the middle. He's busy, and that's what matters.
29. Daniel Thomas, RB, Dolphins: Please tell me his durability won't be a long-term issue.
30. Brandon Marshall, WR, Dolphins
31. A.J. Green, WR, Bengals
32. Ryan Torain, RB, Redskins: We'd all like to think he's safe now that Tim Hightower is done for the season. That's what Coach Shanny wants you to think. But I don't think it.
33. Anquan Boldin, WR, Ravens: If only he was 10 feet tall, all those Joe Flacco overthrows Monday night would have looked like perfect spirals in the box score and the Ravens would have scored 30.
34. DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles
35. Mark Ingram, RB, Saints: Might have to sit this one out, and it could make Chris Ivory relevant quickly.
36. Steve Johnson, WR, Bills
37. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Eagles
38. Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos: I ranked him far better than I thought I would. I actually thought Moreno would be decent this season. He hasn't been, but he's getting a chance now with Willis McGahee out.
39. Brandon Lloyd, WR, Rams: Looking good so far, and it might not matter who the quarterback is.
40. Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers: Many fantasy teams are depending on his health. He should be fine for this week, though.
41. Pierre Garcon, WR, Colts: Kind of an all-or-nothing type, eh?
42. Montario Hardesty, RB, Browns: The "other guy" is slated to get more touches, but I don't think the other guy will be as effective.
43. Jackie Battle, RB, Chiefs: It appears he's not in line for the goal-line touches, which could be a problem.
44. Mario Manningham, WR, Giants
45. Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers: The Carolina running back you want, but you still don't want him too much.
46. Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints
47. Aaron Hernandez, TE, Patriots: To me, he's clearly the Patriots tight end you want when both are healthy and active.
48. Sidney Rice, WR, Seahawks: Man, that was an ugly loss to Cleveland. Here's the question: Will he score a touchdown this week?
49. Nate Washington, WR, Titans: He and Matt Hasselbeck will bounce back nicely this week.
50. Maurice Morris, RB, Lions: Don't expect Jahvid Best to play for a few more weeks.
51. Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys
52. Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts
53. Mike Tolbert, RB, Chargers
54. Ben Tate, RB, Texans: Perhaps too high of a rank, but he's clearly productive and doesn't need starter's touches.
55. Eric Decker, WR, Broncos: Giving this another week or two before pronouncing his hot start merely a mirage.
56. Fred Davis, TE, Redskins: Far better than people think. He should be owned in more leagues.
57. Delone Carter, RB, Colts: Nice stats in the 62-7 loss, but it still was a 62-7 loss. Hard to put much meaning behind those numbers.
58. Roy Helu, RB, Redskins: One of the fellows I'm buying low on, before it's too late.
59. Deion Branch, WR, Patriots
60. Jabar Gaffney, WR, Redskins: The Santana Moss injury opens the door for him.
61. Bernard Scott, RB, Bengals: I'm predicting a disappointing performance, actually. So many people have been waiting for the Cedric Benson suspension, but Scott couldn't even average three yards per carry against the Colts a few weeks ago.
62. Greg Little, WR, Browns
63. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Broncos: Got the Tim Tebow targets, but I wouldn't compare Thomas to Carolina's Steve Smith yet, using the theory of the running quarterbacks zeroing in on one option.
64. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers: Well, at least he's a rich man.
65. Percy Harvin, WR, Vikings: Not giving up on him yet, but obviously there's a question he will play this week.
66. Peyton Hillis, RB, Browns: Must remain owned, and he could surprise this week, but I wouldn't get your hopes up.
67. David Nelson, WR, Bills
68. Steve Breaston, WR, Chiefs
69. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots
70. Leon Washington, RB, Seahawks: Not much to like in the Seattle running attack.
71. Michael Jenkins, WR, Vikings: Had a nice Week 7, but he has been around long enough that we shouldn't expect a Brandon Lloyd-type emergence here.
72. Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers: This guy is emerging, however.
73. Alfonso Smith, RB, Cardinals: He's Beanie Wells' replacement. I could see maybe 50 yards, albeit with a chance of a touchdown.
74. Victor Cruz, WR, Giants
75. Lance Ball, RB, Broncos: Could take some touches from Moreno.
76. Lance Moore, WR, Saints
77. Owen Daniels, TE, Texans
78. Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers
79. Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Lions
80. Reggie Bush, RB, Dolphins
81. Mike Thomas, WR, Jaguars: It certainly seemed like Mike Sims-Walker was on the field twice as much as Thomas on Monday. This might be the last time Thomas is ranked here for awhile unless he picks it up this week.
82. Nate Burleson, WR, Lions
83. Keiland Williams, RB, Lions
84. Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers
85. Robert Meachem, WR, Saints
86. Braylon Edwards, WR, 49ers: He's back! And he's No. 86!
87. Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants
88. Torrey Smith, WR, Ravens: I understand why he's interesting, but take away the one big game and what do you have?
89. Jason Hill, WR, Jaguars: Has been putting up decent numbers recently.
90. Malcom Floyd, WR, Chargers
91. Davone Bess, WR, Dolphins: Love him in the points per reception formats.
92. Brian Leonard, RB, Bengals: One reason I'm not going gaga over Bernard Scott.
93. Early Doucet, WR, Cardinals
94. Ricky Williams, RB, Ravens
95. Jerome Simpson, WR, Bengals
96. Javon Ringer, RB, Titans: Don't look at his yards per carry and presume he'd be better than Chris Johnson. It doesn't really work that way.
97. Stevan Ridley, RB, Patriots
98. Anthony Armstrong, WR, Redskins: He's a sleeper choice who can get deep.
99. LaRod Stephens-Howling, RB, Cardinals: Sleeper choice in PPR formats.
100. Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Steelers
Just missed: Justin Forsett, RB, Seahawks; Greg Olsen, TE, Panthers; Donald Brown, RB, Colts; Doug Baldwin, WR, Seahawks; Isaac Redman, RB, Steelers; Kendall Hunter, RB, 49ers; Danny Woodhead, RB, Patriots; Thomas Jones, RB, Chiefs
 
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Too Soon For Andre?

Despite what some of the new rules or Peyton Manning’s commercials would lead you to believe, football is a warrior’s sport. Players play with clubs on their broken hands. They lie about concussions. They refuse MRIs to avoid bad news.

It’s why Terrell Owens played in Super Bowl XXXIX just 49 days after severely spraining his ankle and breaking his leg.

It’s why Tony Romo is wearing a Kevlar vest to protect the lung he punctured in Week 2.

It’s why Byron Leftwich did this.

Is this a good thing? Probably not. What players are willing to do to gain their teammates’ respect and fans’ adoration is often not in the best interest of their long-term health.

But Week 8 will feature no shortage of players doing things they probably shouldn’t be doing. Tony Romo? Still wearing that Kevlar vest. Percy Harvin? Still playing through a debilitating ribs injury. Matthew Stafford and Adrian Peterson? Neither has even considered sitting out after spraining their ankles in Week 7.

But the most impressive show of pain tolerance could end up belonging to Andre Johnson, who is trying to take the field just four weeks after undergoing hamstring surgery. It’s true that in the world of football, what Johnson underwent was a fairly minor operation.

However, it’s also true that in the world the majority of us live in, we’d be hard pressed to walk to the mailbox only one month after undergoing a leg operation, let alone beat press coverage.

Officially, Johnson will be a game-time decision for Sunday’s matchup with the Jaguars. But after taking the practice field each of the past two days, it could end up that the only thing capable of holding him out is the fact that the Texans don’t really need him against an inferior opponent.

But as the Jaguars just proved on Monday against the Ravens, there are no gimmes in the NFL, and if Johnson practices for a third straight time this afternoon, he should find himself back in action much sooner than he probably has any right to be.

That would, of course, be great news for the Texans and fantasy players. As for Johnson’s ability to walk without a hitch 20 years from now? He’ll get back to you on that.

NEWS OF THE DAY #2
In his latest attempt to wake up the Titans’ slumbering run game, coach Mike Munchak has announced he intends to give Chris Johnson a "complete complement of carries" against the Colts to "evaluate C.J. and (the) run game fully."

It’s not a bad idea considering the Colts sport the league’s 31st run defense and Johnson is averaging just 15.5 carries through Tennessee's first six games after averaging 21.1 totes per game in 2009-10.

It will officially be time to panic, however, if CJ2K comes out flat for the seventh time in as many games this season.

NEWS OF THE DAY #3
One day after watching Shaun Hill handle the first-team reps in Lions practice, Matthew Stafford was back under center Thursday, and is said to be good to go for Week 8 "barring a setback."

Stafford’s Week 7 injury was scary, especially for a player with his injury history, but it appears to be little more than a bump in the road between Sundays.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS
Peyton Hillis (hamstring) again missed practice Thursday, and is looking very doubtful for Week 8. One week after rushing for 95 rugged yards against the Seahawks, Montario Hardesty is in line for his second straight start against San Francisco’s second-ranked run defense. … In the words of NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora, Beanie Wells (knee) is “very, very doubtful” for Week 8. If he’s unable to turn in a full practice this afternoon, you can all but count out your RB2. … Mark Ingram (heel) missed another practice Thursday, and should be inactive in favor of Chris Ivory against the Rams. … Adrian Peterson (ankle) returned to practice one day after sitting out, and is in no danger of missing this weekend’s juicy matchup with the Panthers. … Mike Shanahan: still mum on who will be his starting running back this weekend. The smart money remains on Ryan Torain.

BIZARRE/ULTIMATELY MEANINGLESS STATS OF THE WEEK
Both Andy Dalton and Kevin Kolb have thrown for as many touchdowns as Philip Rivers.

DeMarco Murray’s 253 rushing yards last Sunday were as many as Felix Jones has posted all season.

Darren Sproles’ 45 catches are tied for the second in the NFL, and are as many as Santonio Holmes and Miles Austin have combined.

Kenny Britt still has more catches than Denarius Moore.

Chris Johnson has just 11 more rushing yards than Joseph Addai.

Dexter McCluster has one less rushing yard than Peyton Hillis.

FANTASY GAME OF THE WEEK: Dallas at Philadelphia
Two bitter rivals meet in a game that’s a must win for both and ripe with fantasy questions. Can DeMarco Murray shred his second consecutive porous run defense and make Felix Jones’ seat even hotter? Can Dez Bryant build on a rare dominant second half and finally get on the kind of roll he’s teased at for two seasons now? Coming off a bye, will Michael Vick look refreshed, healthy and ready to start posting the kind of fantasy numbers he put up in 2010? Can DeSean Jackson and Miles Austin finally get going? All these burning questions will be in answered in prime-time, possibly in the form of big-time fantasy performances.

BUMMER BYE OF THE WEEK: Green Bay
This one’s pretty simple. The absence of Aaron Rodgers, who is averaging 338.9 yards and 2.86 touchdowns through his first seven games, should be nearly impossible to overcome for owners who have gotten used to winning on the back on their all-world quarterback instead of a strong running back corps.

WELL TIMED BYE OF THE WEEK: Oakland
Not only does Darren McFadden get a week to rest up his sprained foot, but Carson Palmer gets a week to, you know, learn some plays. It’s clear the loss of Jason Campbell is going to be more painful for owners of Raiders receivers than originally thought possible, but with three weeks of practice under his belt, Palmer should be able to establish some order in Week 9. While he’s at it, hopefully he provides some insight into who will be his favorite targets down the stretch.

FOUR PICKS FOR SUNDAY
Big game: Philadelphia 24, Dallas 21. My heart says Dallas, but most recent history suggests Philadelphia. The Eagles have had trouble closing out games this season, but the Cowboys have practically made it an art during the Tony Romo era.

Big game II: Pittsburgh 34, New England 28. The Steelers’ passing attack proves too much for the Patriots to slow down on the road, while Pittsburgh quiets the murmurs the gaudy numbers its pass defense has posted early on this season are an illusion.

Upset of the week: Broncos 27, Lions 21. Coming off back-to-back losses and playing in a charged-up environment with a banged up quarterback, the Lions lose a game they should win after winning a few games they probably should have lost earlier in the year.

The I really don’t have a clue but will pretend I do game: Cincinnati 17, Seattle 9. Playing in one of the toughest road environments in the NFL, the Bengals make a statement against an underrated Seahawks defense on the back of backup running back Bernard Scott.
 
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Matchups: A Sprolesian Spark

1:00PM ET Games

New Orleans @ St. Louis

The Saints are destined for rushing success against a St. Louis defense that ranks 32nd versus the run, permits a league-most 5.49 yards per carry, and was just gashed for what I'd wager goes down as DeMarco Murray's career-best game. The notion is reinforced by Brian De La Puente's stark upgrade at center. Whereas Saints backs managed 247 yards and one rushing touchdown on 67 carries (3.69 average) with now-retired Olin Kreutz on the field, the stats leap to 595 yards and six scores on 112 attempts (5.31 YPC) with De La Puente playing. ... As noted by Chris Wesseling this week, Murray gashed St. Louis for well over 50% of his Week 7 yardage on pitch plays and draws. The Rams are old and slow at outside linebacker and safety, and were always going to be vulnerable to runs that get backs in space. Darren Sproles is the Saints' preferred option on these playcalls. Sproles is averaging over 88 total yards a week with five touchdowns in seven games. In a matchup perfectly suited for Sproles, he's a top-15 running back play and legit RB1 in PPR. ... With Mark Ingram (heel) out for Week 8, both Sproles and Pierre Thomas project to receive boosts in touches and snaps played, because Chris Ivory isn't going to be ready for much work after just three days of practice coming off the PUP list. Sproles routinely gets the ball more in the red zone than Thomas, but the latter is still a must-start RB2 in this matchup.

Jimmy Graham has either a TD or 100 yards in 6-of-7 games. The hapless Rams won't stop him. ... Drew Brees is the No. 2 fantasy quarterback, leading the league in passing yards and attempts while completing a career-high 70.9% of his throws. With Aaron Rodgers on a bye and Tom Brady at Pittsburgh, there isn't a better Week 8 QB play than Brees. ... Breaking his collarbone in Week 1 may have been a veiled blessing for Marques Colston because it allowed his surgically repaired knee to heal completely. Colston struggled with the knee in camp. He's been unstoppable since being re-promoted to a full-time player, hauling in 14 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns in his last two games. Colston is fearless in traffic. Let's not forget that this is his contract year. ... With Colston, Graham, and Sproles dominating targets, the Saints' other wideouts have become totally unreliable fantasy commodities. Colston, Graham, and Sproles have been the intended receivers on 53-of-80 (66.3%) Brees throws over the past two games. Robert Meachem, Lance Moore, and Devery Henderson have 15 combined targets (18.8%) over that span, none topping four in either week. Their playing time has also been incredibly inconsistent and unpredictable. It'd be a complete roll of the dice to use any of the three this week, even with the great matchup.

While it's not hard to imagine the Saints grabbing a big lead and forcing St. Louis into pass-heavy comeback mode, Steven Jackson is playing too well to sit. He showed impressive acceleration on a second-quarter 40-yard burst up the middle in Week 7, polishing off the drive with a six-yard touchdown on the next play. S-Jax has at least 21 touches in three straight games. The Saints' vulnerability is run defense, allowing the second most yards per rushing attempt (5.36) in the NFL. ... As expected, the Rams immediately featured Brandon Lloyd in his St. Louis debut last week. He saw a team-high 12 targets, hauling in six for 74 yards. It's impressive production considering A.J. Feeley was playing quarterback. ... Danario Alexander started at flanker and was targeted six times to rank second on the team, but only secured two for nine yards. Alexander may miss this game with a hamstring strain, leaving the Rams' No. 2 receiver job up for grabs. Brandon Gibson was a healthy scratch last week. Lloyd is the lone Rams receiver worth using in fantasy leagues, regardless of Sam Bradford's (ankle) status. And all signs point to Feeley making another start.

Score Prediction: Saints 38, Rams 17

Minnesota @ Carolina

Adrian Peterson owners concerned a rookie quarterback might make life even tougher on their top-three fantasy pick couldn't have been more pleased with Christian Ponder's debut, in what appeared an impossible matchup with the defending Super Bowl champs. The Vikings tailored their offense around Ponder's athleticism, getting him outside the pocket on rollouts and boots. What Peterson owners should hope for is improved ball movement in the post-Donovan McNabb era, and Ponder delivered by converting 22 first downs, the Vikings' second highest total of the season, as well as a year-best 56.3% third-down conversion rate (9-of-16). Green Bay entered Week 7 ranked fifth in run defense. After Peterson was through with them (24-175-1), the Packers dropped to ninth. The over/under on Peterson's Week 8 rushing yardage should probably approach 200. Peterson is already benefiting from improved quarterback play, and the Panthers rank 29th against the run. No NFL defense has allowed more rushing scores or 20-yard runs.

Ponder's updated target distribution this season: Michael Jenkins 12, Visanthe Shiancoe 9, Devin Aromashodu 7, Percy Harvin 5. ... Harvin's (ribs) targets have been affected by his inability to stay on the field. He's played 47-of-132 snaps (35.6%) in the past two games. While a better passing attack can only help his long-range production, I'd want to see Harvin play four quarters effectively before inserting him into my own lineup. ... Jenkins set a career high with 111 yards in Week 7, gaining 65% of them on the game's first play when he caught Tramon Williams off guard for a 72-yard bomb. In Week 8, Molasses Mike can expect to see plenty of Panthers shadow CB Chris Gamble. Per Pro Football Focus, Gamble has allowed just 8-of-25 passes (32%) to be completed against him this year for 84 yards (3.4 YPA) and one touchdown. ... Aromashodu has a better matchup than Jenkins, squaring off with Captain Munnerlyn. A starter now with Wide Deceiver Bernard Berrian sent packing, it'd still be nice to see Aromashodu put something substantial in a box score before using him in fantasy. ... Carolina has allowed an average of seven catches for 100 yards to tight ends over the past three weeks, including two touchdowns. Shiancoe is coming off his best effort of the year (4-45-1), but keep an eye on his foot injury leading up to game time. He’s certainly got an attractive matchup.

This is a sneaky shootout game with neither defense playing particularly well. Such a scenario would benefit Cam Newton, whose matchup improved when the Vikings suspended LCB Chris Cook for felony domestic assault. Cook was emerging as Minnesota's top corner, and slot CB Antoine Winfield's (neck) status is still shaky. The Panthers probably won't have rushing success against the NFL's No. 4 run defense, instead being forced to lean on Newton to generate ball movement. Newton, of course, can already wing it with the best of them, and Minnesota ranked 29th in pass defense even before Cook's loss. Save perhaps Drew Brees, there isn't a stronger Week 8 fantasy quarterback than 2011's surefire NFL Rookie of the Year. ... Opposing No. 1 receivers have dusted the Vikings for five touchdowns in the past five games, to go with a six-catch, 104-yard average. Steve Smith will end up seeing quite a bit of Cedric Griffin and Asher Allen in this game, and both have been burned throughout the season. Smith leads the league in receiving yards and 20-yard receptions, so you already knew to start him as a top-three WR1.

It's been mentioned repeatedly in this space, and the Panthers' coaching staff may have finally realized it: Jonathan Stewart is the Carolina's best running back, and it's not close. Stewart has quietly played more snaps than Williams in every game since Week 1, and in Week 7 J-Stew received more carries for the first time since Week 2. While Stewart and Williams are no better than flex options in this difficult matchup, the former has far and away emerged as the Panthers' fantasy back to own. Averaging 6.18 yards per touch to Williams' 5.07, Stewart will be the primary runner the rest of the way if the coaches are serious about fielding their best possible lineup. A changing of the guard may have already occurred in scoring position. Stewart has eight red-zone touches over the past two games, compared to Williams' three. Stewart's edges in playing time and usage inside opposing 20-yard lines suggest the Panthers have determined he's their best option in critical situations. ... Brandon LaFell scored a Week 7 touchdown, but hasn't cleared 50 yards since the opener and can't break free from his rotation with Legedu Naanee. While Cook and Winfield’s likely absences increase LaFell’s appeal this week, it will be an unreliable situation until something changes. ... The Vikings are permitting an average of over six catches for 57 yards to tight ends this season. Against Minnesota's Cover-2 defense, Greg Olsen should be in for a bounce-back game. He's off this week's injury report after being limited last week with a mild case of turf toe.

Score Prediction: Panthers 30, Vikings 20

Arizona @ Baltimore

Arizona has faced enough bad QBs to keep its pass defense ranking above 32nd, but I'd take the lower-rated units of Minnesota, Buffalo, Green Bay, and New England over the Cards' pass rush-secondary combo in a heartbeat. While the Cardinals have seen only the 19th most pass attempts against, they've managed to allow the third most completions of 20-plus yards in football. The Steelers recognized Arizona's pitiful back-end play and attacked in Week 7, using frequent spread sets to finish with a 39:27 run-to-pass ratio despite grabbing an early 14-0 lead. Even for as poorly as Joe Flacco has played, this is a matchup that should get him back on track. The Ravens face Pittsburgh's top-rated pass defense in Week 9, so they should feel pressure to reenergize their passing attack in an easy matchup before the key division game. ... As alluded to above, Arizona is extremely vulnerable to long passing plays. Their oversized corners struggle to turn and run with wideouts, and FS Kerry Rhodes' (broken foot) loss is devastating in deep coverage. If you're looking for a WR3 with upside, Torrey Smith is your man. He butters his bread with the long ball, and has exhibited improved short-to-intermediate route running skills since the Week 6 bye.

Anquan Boldin has struggled to create separation since the Ravens traded for him a year and a half ago, but he's put 12 catches for 172 yards and a touchdown in the box score over his last two games. This is the first time Boldin has faced his old team since the trade, so motivation won't be a problem. ... Ray Rice's 13 touches and 63 scoreless yards were disappointing at Jacksonville in Week 7, but the Ravens are sure to get him the ball more this Sunday. Arizona has allowed eight rushing touchdowns in six games. Rice is still a top-six back in fantasy points per game and an every-week starter. ... Ed Dickson hasn't scored since the season opener and is averaging under 38 yards per week. He's not a recommended bye-week option despite a favorable matchup.

The Cardinals will struggle to score in this game, and not just because Baltimore's defense allows both the fewest points and yards in the league. Beanie Wells' (knee) absence will render Arizona's offense one-dimensional, and the Kevin Kolb-led passing game has done nothing that suggests it can move the ball against mediocre opponents, much less a top-four pass defense. I'd avoid Kolb, Early Doucet, and Arizona's tight ends. ... In spite of Kolb's struggles, Larry Fitzgerald ranks 16th in per-game fantasy points among wideouts and needs to continue to be played with confidence. The Ravens don't usually put brackets on receivers because FS Ed Reed roams freely in center field and SS Bernard Pollard either covers tight ends or plays in the box. Fitz is the lone Arizona skill player worth serious Week 8 fantasy consideration. ... The Cardinals will use "a little bit of back-by-committee" approach to replace Wells, coach Ken Whisenhunt has confirmed. Chester Taylor will come off the game-day inactives list to split early-down work with Alfonso Smith, while LaRod Stephens-Howling plays the Darren Sproles role on passing downs. None of the above is likely to exceed 15 touches, making it a situation to avoid against the AFC's premier run defense.

UPDATE: Wells increased his practice participation Friday and now has a chance to play against the Ravens. On Friday evening, reliable beat reporter Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic suggested Wells will be on a carry count in the toughest matchup he'll face all year. If I were a Wells owner, I'd have him on my bench hoping he's declared inactive, uses the time off to get healthier, and resumes a full workload next week against the Rams.

Score Prediction: Ravens 27, Cardinals 13
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Jacksonville @ Houston

Arian Foster busted his two-game slump for a whopping 234 total yards and three touchdowns in Week 7, obliterating a previously stout Titans run defense. The Texans have smartly expanded Foster's passing-game role, and he's capitalized with a 96-yard receiving average alone over the past three weeks. In two career meetings with Jacksonville, Foster has poured on three scores and 250 all-purpose yards. He's the most valuable fantasy player in football today. ... Ben Tate racked up 104 yards on 15 carries in Week 7, but keep in mind that the vast majority of his production came in garbage time of Houston's 41-7, blowout win. Specifically, 11 of Tate's runs and 88 of his yards occurred after the Texans built a 27-0 lead. Tate is an excellent young player and might be the NFL's best No. 2 back, but he's a handcuff. ... Andre Johnson (hamstring) will be a game-time decision. His availability would greatly affect the start-ability of Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter, rendering Jones a backup and Walter a low-end WR3. As this is being written, my best guess is that the Texans will give Johnson one more week. But if he's active Sunday, start him.

UPDATE: Kubiak ruled out Johnson on Friday. Jones and Walter will be the Texans' starting receivers Sunday.

It's a notion difficult to grasp because we've seen so many years of pitiful Jaguars secondary play, but it's become a recurring theme in this space: Jacksonville fields a legitimately strong pass defense. Now ranked sixth against the pass, the Jags shut down Joe Flacco last Monday, keyed by a dynamite performance from RE Jeremy Mincey and aggressive press coverage. So far this year, Jacksonville has held Flacco, Cam Newton, and Ben Roethlisberger to a combined 51-of-95 (53.7%) passing for 495 yards (5.21 YPA), and three touchdowns in three games. Neither Flacco, Newton, nor Big Ben has topped 200 yards. Jacksonville's lone hiccup was a 351-yard passing day surrendered to Drew Brees in Week 4, but the Jags picked off Brees twice and held the Saints to 23 points. This is a concern for Matt Schaub, who remains more of a borderline fantasy starter than top-ten signal caller. ... Owen Daniels has skyrocketed to No. 7 in the fantasy tight end rankings with at least 71 yards and/or a touchdown in five of his last six games, the lone outlier being a double team-heavy effort in Baltimore two weeks ago. His burst all the way back from debilitating 2009-2010 knee injuries, Daniels is averaging a career-high 13.1 yards per catch.

Blaine Gabbert looks the part at 6-foot-4 with terrific arm strength and athleticism, but he is deathly afraid of contact. It shows up whenever Gabbert has a defender closing in on him, be it inside or outside of the pocket. This isn't just a long-term concern for Jacksonville; it's a terrible combination with their current crop of wide receivers, who struggle to create separation. Gabbert's accuracy tanks when he's constantly making throws off his back foot, and the Jaguars’ wideouts are prone to drops because they can't find a rhythm. (And aren't any good.) The Texans' defense is banged up, but there won't be a member of Jacksonville's passing game worth using in fantasy leagues until proven otherwise. ... The Jaguars' offensive woes will likely prevent Maurice Jones-Drew from finishing as a top-12 fantasy back, but he's having a marvelous season all things considered. Still a top-14 runner in fantasy points per game, Jones-Drew is averaging 4.57 yards a carry and last week topped 100 rushing yards against a Ravens defense that hadn't allowed an opposing back to reach the century mark since Week 14 last season. MJD is an every-week RB2.

Score Prediction: Texans 21, Jaguars 10

Miami @ NY Giants

The Giants return from a bye with restored health on offense, particularly in the front five. RG Chris Snee has been medically cleared from a concussion, and C David Baas is past his lingering "burner." This is great news for New York's interior run blocking, which has been inconsistent all year. Brandon Jacobs is also due back after a two-game knee injury, but let's not get carried away calling the Giants' backfield a true "committee." When Ahmad Bradshaw and Jacobs have both been active for games -- a four-week sample size -- Bradshaw is averaging 17.5 touches for 87 yards. Jacobs may be the slight favorite for goal-line work, but averages just 44 yards on 10 touches a game. Both have scored three touchdowns. While Jacobs' week-to-week fantasy value will depend on short-yardage scores, Bradshaw remains the Giants' clear-cut lead running back. The Dolphins rank 18th against the run, so think of Bradshaw as a rock-solid RB2 in Week 8. Jacobs is a flex consideration only in non-PPR leagues. He'll hurt you if he doesn't find pay dirt.

Since a rough opener, Eli Manning has turned it on with an 11:4 TD-to-INT ratio and 302-yard average in his last five games. There's always a chance that Bad Eli might show, but working in his favor is a 21st-ranked Dolphins pass defense that has played well in just 1-of-6 games -- last week's loss to Tim Tebow. Miami has permitted a 12:2 TD-to-INT ratio against. Eli is a quality, if low-end QB1 this week. ... Hakeem Nicks plays most of his snaps on the offensive left, leaving him likely to see RCB Sean Smith for the majority of the day. Nicks has at least 96 yards and/or a touchdown in eight of his last nine games. ... During the Week 7 bye, playcaller Kevin Gilbride indicated that slot man Victor Cruz will remain behind Mario Manningham in the pecking order for the foreseeable future, pointing to poor routes and a back-breaking Week 5 fumble that foreshadowed his reduced Week 6 role. Mario stands to benefit as an every-week WR3 moving forward with breakout potential for the stretch run. This week, top Dolphins CB Vontae Davis’ expected absence due to an aggravated hamstring injury could easily result in Manningham’s slump-buster. Seventh-round rookie Jimmy Wilson will start. ... Jake Ballard caught only 34 passes during his college career and went undrafted out of Ohio State two Aprils ago. While he's performed better than anyone could've imagined this season, ultimately Ballard offers very low upside and can get caught on the line blocking for long stretches.

Struggling recently, I'd feel better about using Daniel Thomas if Giants LE Justin Tuck (neck) is out of this week's lineup. In Tuck's two games played this year, the G-Men have allowed opposing tailbacks to rush for 187 yards and one score on 48 carries (3.89 YPC). In four games without Tuck, running backs have 94 attempts for 472 yards (5.02 YPC) and six rushing touchdowns. ... Despite handing the feature back job to Thomas, the Dolphins have tried to keep Reggie Bush involved with at least 10 carries in four straight games. Bush just isn't getting enough yardage to be more than a desperation flex play. He hasn't scored a touchdown since the opener, and his PPR value is way down with a measly eight receptions in his last five games. ... Piggybacking on last week's stat, Matt Moore is now 134-of-236 passing (56.8%) for 1,425 yards (6.04 YPA), six touchdowns, and 13 interceptions with 21 sacks taken in his last nine appearances. His teams are 1-8. ... Moore's target distribution on the season: Brandon Marshall 31, Davone Bess, Brian Hartline 12, Anthony Fasano 7. ... Marshall has settled in as more of a WR2 than top-ten fantasy receiver, but has what should be a favorable matchup with CB Corey Webster. The Giants assign Webster to shadow opposing No. 1 receivers, but his coverage has always been hit or miss. ... Bess is coming off his best game of the season, leading the Dolphins in targets (12) and catches (7). He still hasn't topped 52 receiving yards since Week 1 or scored a touchdown all year.

Score Prediction: Giants 24, Dolphins 13

Indianapolis @ Tennessee

The Titans' passing game has slowed considerably since a fast start, but a date with Indy's easy-to-burn defense may be what the doctor ordered for Matt Hasselbeck. In their past three games, the Colts have been pummeled by Matt Cassel, Andy Dalton, and Drew Brees for a combined 10:0 TD-to-INT ratio, 846 yards on 96 throws (8.8 YPA), and a 80.2 completion rate. Hasselbeck isn't a QB1 and won't be the rest of the way, but he's certainly worth a two-QB league play. ... Nate Washington's numbers have slumped with Hasselbeck's, and last week the Titans' nominal No. 1 receiver was nearly zeroed out of the box score by Texans CB Johnathan Joseph, finishing with one reception for 10 yards. While Washington has flopped since Kenny Britt blew out his knee (47.3-yard average), he's a respectable WR3 in this matchup. Tennessee is likely to have passing success, and Washington is the best bet on the roster for a steady heaping of targets.

Jared Cook doesn't get the ball or play enough for consistent fantasy usage, but he's one of the stronger TE2s going because he possesses playmaking talent. Cook caught another touchdown in Week 7 and has scored in two of his last three games. He's averaging 17.7 yards per reception, a clip that leads all AFC tight ends with more than 10 catches. You could do worse in a bye-week crunch. ... Possession receiver Damian Williams is the Titans' least desirable fantasy player. He's cleared 20 yards in 1-of-6 games and is averaging just 9.9 yards per ball caught. ... The Titans' Week 6 bye did nothing to kick start Chris Johnson, so owners just have to hope running back-friendly matchups turn him around. The Colts rank 31st against the run and are surrendering 5.28 yards per carry to tailbacks over the last month. Johnson's numbers are much more ordinary than his name and contract suggest when extrapolated over the last 16 games. During that span, Johnson's rushing line is 270-1,036-5. And he's obviously reached an entirely new low this year.

After playing passably in his first three starts, Curtis Painter took four steps back in Week 7 at New Orleans. Painter went 9-of-17 for 68 yards and a pick six before being mercifully benched for Dan Orlovsky in the fourth quarter of the historic, 62-7 loss. Painter will keep his job, but can't be trusted in fantasy leagues until he strings together at least two reasonably well-played games. ... Even with Tennessee's defense tanking lately, it's going to take serious cajones to bet on Colts pass catchers this week. Here's an update on Painter's target distribution for the year, in case you're willing to take that leap: Pierre Garcon 33, Reggie Wayne 25, Austin Collie 18, Dallas Clark 16. ... It's clear by now that Garcon is Painter's favorite receiver, ahead of the declining Wayne, little-used Collie, and fantasy non-factor Clark. NFL Network's Sterling Sharpe called out Wayne on Playbook this week for rounding off his routes. Sharpe suggested Wayne has already called it a season. ... The winless Colts inexplicably rushed Joseph Addai back from a hamstring strain in Week 7, and he aggravated the injury in the game's first quarter. I don't think Addai will play in Nashville, though I would've said the same last week. Regardless of Addai's status, Delone Carter will be the best fantasy option in Indianapolis' backfield after finally running with some confidence and purpose against the Saints. Carter now has a touchdown in 2-of-3 games and is coming off a 10-carry, 89-yard performance that figures to earn him a bigger role going forward.

UPDATE: Just like last week, Addai returned to a full practice Friday and is now expected to play against the Titans. It's hard to imagine trusting any member of the Colts' backfield, but my lean would still be toward Carter if forced to pick one.

Score Prediction: Titans 20, Colts 17
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4:05PM ET Games

Detroit @ Denver

Tim Tebow finished his first start of 2011 with 23 standard-league fantasy points, 17 coming after the 5:23 mark in the fourth quarter. For the initial 54:37, the Broncos employed an extremely conservative run-oriented offense, generating scant ball movement with a 30:14 run-to-pass ratio. Shotgun-spread sets and an aggressive attack ensued in comeback mode, and Tebow capitalized to finish fifth among quarterbacks in Week 7 fantasy scoring. Just think how many points Tebow would have scored if the Broncos tailored the scheme to his talent for four quarters. Only time will tell whether old-school coach John Fox is philosophically capable of buying in, but the run-twice-and-pass-on-third-down approach is destined for failure because Tebow's elongated throwing motion makes him a sitting duck in a telegraphed game plan. It'd be an especially bad idea against Detroit's ferocious front four. Denver can be competitive and Tebow can flirt with top-five quarterback stats if the coaching staff lets it happen. ... The Broncos started Eric Decker and Eddie Royal in Week 7, but wound up using Demaryius Thomas on 45-of-77 snaps. Thomas was Tebow's favorite option, seeing a club-high 10 targets while Royal and TE Daniel Fells tied for second with four. If the Broncos do follow through with a spread-type offense (as they should), Thomas will be an every-down player. At this point, my money would be on Demaryius leading the Broncos in receiving the rest of the way.

Willis McGahee underwent surgery Tuesday to repair the fourth metacarpal in his right hand, a procedure the Denver Post expects to cost him at least two weeks. (Agent-driven reports insist the timetable is 1-2 weeks, but that is overly optimistic.) After McGahee went down, Moreno received five of the backfield's next seven touches compared to Lance Ball's two. Ball did close out the game with three straight overtime carries to set up Matt Prater's game-winning field goal, but Moreno projects as the Broncos' lead back. The Lions rank 28th in run defense and allow 5.03 yards per rushing attempt, so this is a favorable matchup to plug-and-play Moreno as an RB2. He won't struggle to flirt with 18 touches if the Broncos approach this game like they did last week's. ... Fox's staff seems to prefer Ball in short-yardage situations, suggesting he may get the goal-line carries if Tebow doesn't just punch it in himself. It's still hard to imagine considering Ball any more than a desperate flex option in this game. Moreno is the Broncos' fantasy running back to own.

The Lions started Maurice Morris against Atlanta last week, using him on 39-of-58 snaps (67.2%). Keiland Williams rotated in to start the second quarter, however, and the two finished with the same amount of carries (9). Williams played 18 snaps (31.0%). While Morris remains the lead back and favorite for all passing-down work, the backfield appears set up for a committee until Jahvid Best (concussion) returns. Denver's run defense has been better than given credit this year, allowing just 3.86 yards per rushing attempt. Neither Morris nor Williams can be considered better than a low-end flex play. ... Virtually all observers at Lions practice this week had positive things to say about Matthew Stafford, who moved around well on his supposedly injured ankle and will start Sunday. Based on all the information I've gathered, I'd feel good about considering Stafford close to or at 100 percent. I also feel very good about his matchup. RE Elvis Dumervil (ankle) is not expected to play Sunday, and Denver is brutal in pass coverage aside from Champ Bailey. Only the Colts are allowing opposing quarterbacks to post a higher passer rating on the season. Always a safe bet for two touchdown passes, Stafford remains a locked-and-loaded QB1.

Brandon Pettigrew had a down week (4-31) as Detroit's passing game stalled against the Falcons, but he still finished second on the Lions in targets and has played well enough to stay in lineups as a proven fantasy starter. Denver is juggling its lineup at safety, and Pettigrew could take over as the Lions' featured passing-game option if Bailey shuts down Calvin Johnson. ... The odds of that happening aren't good, of course. While Bailey did well to prevent Brandon Marshall from getting behind him last week, Megatron is an entirely different beast. You can't sit the No. 1 fantasy receiver regardless of matchup. ... Nate Burleson is on pace for 51 receptions and 508 yards. At this point, Burleson would need a Megatron or Pettigrew injury to be start-able in any given week. ... Titus Young hasn't exceeded 14 yards since Week 4, and his weekly yardage totals have been on a downslope since Week 2, bottoming out with a catch-less game against Atlanta. Like Burleson, Young would need something drastic to occur to be a fantasy starter.

Score Prediction: Lions 24, Broncos 21

Washington @ Buffalo

This game will be played in the friendly confines of Toronto's Rogers Centre, formerly known as SkyDome. Rogers Centre has a retractable roof, so Ryan Fitzpatrick will air it out in favorable conditions regardless of whether the stadium is domed. In last year's Toronto game, Fitzpatrick threw a season-high 51 times for 299 yards against a Bears defense that at the time was among the NFL's best. That doesn't make Fitzpatrick a desirable fantasy option, of course, but it's good to know his popgun arm won't be inhibited by weather. ... Deep threat Donald Jones (ankle) won't return this week, leaving David Nelson and Stevie Johnson as the best bets for targets on the Bills' side. DeAngelo Hall figures to be assigned to Johnson, which certainly isn't a prohibitive matchup for the Bills' No. 1 receiver. It's interesting to note that Nelson, when lined up out wide, will have an eight-inch, 23-pound size advantage on Redskins No. 2 CB Josh Wilson. Nelson has also continued to see action in the slot, where he'd face off with struggling slot CB Kevin Barnes.

When Nelson is outside, C.J. Spiller, Naaman Roosevelt, and Brad Smith will be candidates for inside receiver snaps. It's hard to imagine investing in the cluttered situation for fantasy purposes. Spiller is the best bet, but he's strictly a desperation option. ... The Redskins have a top-11 pass defense because OLBs Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan bring consistent pressure, and Hall and Wilson are effective outside corners. Run defense has been more of an issue for Washington, which is generously surrendering 4.61 yards per rushing attempt and an average of one rushing touchdown per game. The Panthers piled up 175 yards and two scores on 37 carries (4.73 YPC) against the Redskins last week. Fred Jackson is probably the favorite for fantasy MVP as we approach the season's halfway point and should continue to confidently be started as an RB1.

If a troublesome quarterback situation didn't already, top wide receiver Santana Moss' broken left hand needs to enlighten Redskins coaches that a run-heavy offense is their best, and perhaps only option going forward. Historically pass-happy playcaller Kyle Shanahan seemed to buy into that notion last week by running the ball on 16 of Washington's initial 24 offensive snaps. The game plan was scrapped when Carolina took an early third-quarter lead, and after Tim Hightower tore his ACL. Be it with "likely" starter Ryan Torain or Week 8 super sleeper Roy Helu, Shanahan must pick up where he left off in last week's first half, directly attacking a Bills defense that ranks 30th against the run and will be without Pro Bowl NT Kyle Williams (foot). Buffalo is serving up 5.12 yards per carry and has allowed eight rushing TDs in six games. Oh, who's going to get the carries? Your guess is as good as mine. I don't own Torain, so I'll be taking my chances with Helu in a flex spot. ... John Beck showed some moxie in his first start since 2007, with an ability to move the offense and pick up first downs. Without Moss, however, Beck's job just got much tougher. Even as bad as Buffalo's pass defense ranking may appear, Beck is only a low-end QB2.

Beck's target distribution through two appearances: Fred Davis 12, Jabar Gaffney 12, Terrence Austin 7, Anthony Armstrong 4, Niles Paul 2. ... Beck and Davis showed an excellent rapport with six connections for 80 yards and a touchdown in Week 7, and Davis will remain the Redskins' top bet for receiving production the rest of the way. In the Bills' past four games, they've allowed three touchdowns to tight ends and a five-catch, 71.5-yard weekly average. It's another nice matchup for Davis. ... Gaffney is a 31-year-old possession receiver, but he'll see enough targets and play with enough efficiency to be worth WR3 consideration in PPR leagues. He's certainly not a terrible option, as may have been the case were Moss healthy. ... Paul, Armstrong, and Austin are now vying for snaps and looks from Beck in what may be a committee approach at No. 2 receiver. The Skins could also insert rookie Leonard Hankerson at any moment. Avoid the situation in fantasy.

Score Prediction: Redskins 20, Bills 17

4:15PM ET Games

New England @ Pittsburgh

Pats-Steelers has Week 8's highest over/under (52), which should comfort Tom Brady owners as he takes on Pittsburgh's No. 1 pass defense. Brady has historically pummeled the Steelers. In the sides' last two meetings, he's completed 62-of-89 throws (69.7%) for 749 yards (8.42 YPA), seven TDs, and no INTs. With Aaron Rodgers on bye, I'd consider only Drew Brees, Michael Vick, and Cam Newton better Week 8 QBs. ... The Pats typically attack Pittsburgh with a wide-open spread, picking apart the most favorable defensive back-pass catcher matchups Brady can find. Aaron Hernandez and Wes Welker are the two biggest matchup nightmares on New England's roster. Hernandez carries risk, though. He only played 11 snaps in last year's Steelers game, afterward revealing it was part of a game plan that went heavy on two-tight end sets with superior blockers Alge Crumpler and Rob Gronkowski playing the vast majority of downs. Crump and Gronk were utilized to block LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison on the edges. Hernandez didn't catch a pass, while Gronkowski had three touchdowns. Of course, Bill Belichick can't be counted on to repeat a game plan, and Harrison (eye) isn't playing this time around. Both Hernandez and Gronkowski are elite TE1s. While the Steelers have blanketed outside receivers, they've allowed some of the biggest games of the season for Ed Dickson (5-59-1), Owen Daniels (5-69-1), and Jared Cook (4-59).

Steelers RCB Ike Taylor has been terrific all year but doesn't cover the slot, so don't look for him to be on Welker much. Deion Branch and Chad Ochocinco -- assuming the latter even plays -- are more realistic candidates for Taylor's coverage. ... Keep in mind that New England posted a 43:24 pass-to-run ratio in last year's meeting with Pittsburgh, but still saw fit to give BenJarvus Green-Ellis 22 touches, which he took for 123 total yards. You want to play goal-line backs in games with high-scoring projections, and Law Firm remains the Patriots' best bet for carries in scoring position. ... Danny Woodhead and rookies Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen are off the fantasy radar this week. Ridley and Vereen don't get enough playing time, and Woodhead hasn't exceeded nine touches since the opener. He got the ball six times against Pittsburgh last season.

On paper, everything sets up well for Ben Roethlisberger in this game. New England is last in the league in pass defense, and Big Ben is red hot with a 9:1 TD-to-INT ratio over the last three weeks. He's settling in an every-week QB1. ... Rashard Mendenhall took a backseat in the Week 7 game plan as the Steelers relied on a spread offense to attack Arizona's awful pass defense. It'd make sense for Pittsburgh to take a similar approach this week. Mendenhall owners need to be aware that playcaller Bruce Arians is a creative, forward-thinking offensive mind, and averse to running into a brick wall when an opponent is more vulnerable elsewhere. It won't always end well for Mendenhall. In last year's game against the Patriots, Mendenhall finished with 11 carries for 50 scoreless yards and two receptions. Mendenhall needs to be trotted out in fantasy leagues every single week, but his usage and production may be inconsistent because of game flow and plan.

You'd have to think Arians knows it because it's so evident on game tape: The Steelers' offense is exponentially more explosive when Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, and Emmanuel Sanders make up the three-receiver set. With Hines Ward nursing an ankle sprain on the sideline last week, 60 Minutes (3-118-1), Brown (7-102), and Sanders (5-46-1) unloaded on Arizona in a fast-paced, up-tempo aerial assault. Ward promises to be available against the Pats, but he may not play much. Brown and Sanders should both be thought of as desirable bye-week WR3s, and I'd be hard pressed to not rank Wallace as this week's top fantasy receiver play. The Patriots are allowing an average of 6.2 completions of 20-plus yards per game. The Cards just so happen to be second in that statistic, but with a distant 5.0 average of 20-yard pass plays surrendered. ... Heath Miller was recommended in this space last week because of a favorable matchup, but this one doesn't stack up as well. New England is much stronger at safety than Arizona, and the Patriots have held Jason Witten, Antonio Gates, and Dustin Keller to an average of 18.3 yards this season.

UPDATE: NFL Network's Albert Breer was in Pittsburgh all week, covering the events leading up to this game. Breer reported Friday night that Ward is "highly unlikely" to play against the Patriots. Sanders and Wallace will be the starting receivers with Brown playing in all three-wide sets.

Score Prediction: Patriots 27, Steelers 23
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Cleveland @ San Francisco

The Browns planned to give Peyton Hillis his starting job and 20-25 touch-per-game role back this week, but the contract-year runner suffered a setback with his now-lingering hamstring strain and won't play against the 49ers. Hillis' 2012 free agent market value is tanking, and not just because he's been bitten by the Madden Curse. Hillis hasn't been the same player since midway through last season. Dating back to December of 2010 -- a six-game sample size -- he's averaging 3.32 yards per carry. Since Week 11 of 2010 -- an 11-game span -- the average is a more respectable, if still unimpressive 3.72. Hillis had his day in the sun, and I'd bet heavily that last season goes down as the best of his career. The Browns were smart to not pay him. ... The 49ers rank second in run defense and remain the only team yet to allow a rushing score. Montario Hardesty has shown capable of grinding out three yards a carry, but that's it. He doesn't play on passing downs anymore because he can't catch, and the 49ers are a near-lock to keep his rushing stats low. I wouldn't start him. ... San Francisco's defense hasn't been quite as tough against the pass as the run, but is still far from a pushover unit in the air, surrendering the NFL's fifth-lowest passer rating to opposing quarterbacks. Colt McCoy is a fantasy option only in two-QB leagues.

Ben Watson suffered his second concussion of the season in Week 7, the first occurring in training camp. Evan Moore's playing time was already on the rise -- he played a season-high 41 snaps in Week 7 -- and could be in for another bump if Cleveland's starter sits this game out. No. 2 receiver Mohamed Massaquoi is also coming off a concussion, so Moore is a realistic candidate to lead the Browns in targets Sunday. Perhaps only Greg Little would be a better bet for catches and receiving yards. ... Little will square off with 49ers RCB Tarell Brown on early downs and slot CB Carlos Rogers when he moves inside in passing situations. I'm usually high on Little, but not this week. Rogers is playing at a shutdown level, and McCoy struggles to connect on passes outside the numbers. Little will have better matchups ahead. ... Special teamer Joshua Cribbs will supposedly start if Massaquoi can't go. Cribbs could command 5-6 targets in that scenario, making him a solid option in return-yardage leagues. He's off the fantasy football radar otherwise.

To put it mildly, Frank Gore has turned it around after a slow start. Whereas Gore managed a 2.51 YPC average in the 49ers' first three games, he's leaped to 7.86 in his last three with TDs in all of them. Gore's 28-year-old legs are extra fresh coming off a Week 7 bye, and he's playing far too well to be concerned with matchups. ... Kendall Hunter's playing time is slightly down with Gore lighting it up, but he's still one of my favorite lottery-ticket backup running backs to hold for the stretch run, even if you don't own Gore. With bye weeks soon ending, I like to use the strategy of packaging borderline starters sitting on my bench in trades that upgrade my starting lineup. I stack the open bench spots with NFL backups like Hunter, betting that the starter might go down. All it takes is one reserve to "hit," and you may have this year's late-season fantasy star.

Alex Smith predictably crashed back to earth before the open date, following up a 5:0 TD-to-INT ratio in Weeks 4-5 with a 125-yard, one-score game at Detroit in Week 6. Smith lacks talent to sustain effective play, and this is another uninviting matchup. Back to full strength, the Browns' defense is surrendering a league-low 171.5 passing yards per game and paltry 53.3 completion rate to quarterbacks. Smith is a poor bet to hit 200 yards in Week 8. ... Vernon Davis probably won't finish like the top-three fantasy tight end he's been two years running, but he's maintained TE1 value as a top-nine player at the position in fantasy points per game. Look for Davis to face off with Browns SS T.J. Ward often in this one. ... Michael Crabtree appeared to be busting out of his slump before the bye week, but a matchup with shutdown CB Joe Haden and the potential return of Braylon Edwards (knee) to steal targets will take the wind out of Crabtree's sails. Davis is the only member of San Francisco's pass-catching corps I'd be willing to trust against Cleveland.

Score Prediction: 49ers 17, Browns 13

Cincinnati @ Seattle

No Week 8 game is projected to produce less scoring than Bengals-Seahawks with a pathetic 38-point over/under. Avoid players in this game where possible. ... Bernard Scott is the Flavor of the Week because he's starting for suspended Cedric Benson. While expectations should be limited against a stout Seahawks defense permitting a league-low 3.15 yards per carry, Scott may in fact be the Bengals' best option for this matchup. Scott is elusive with short-area quicks, which could give Seattle's heavyweight interior more trouble than Benson's downhill style. The Bengals are a top-nine team in rushing attempts per game, so Scott should offer plenty of volume. Scott started twice in 2009 and racked up 238 yards on 42 touches. Averaging 4.59 YPC entering this season, Scott has a reputable history of per-play effectiveness and offers one-week RB2 appeal. Just don't expect an expanded role going forward. The Bengals are smitten with Benson as their clear feature back. ... Jermaine Gresham has a touchdown in two of his past three games, but he is averaging 38.5 yards per week. Through six games, the Seahawks have allowed two touchdowns to tight ends and a five-catch, 54-yard weekly average. It's a mediocre matchup for Gresham.

Where the Bengals can exploit Seattle is on the perimeter, targeting heavy-legged cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman. A fifth-round rookie, Sherman has entered the starting lineup after recent year-ending injuries to Marcus Trufant and Walter Thurmond III. Assuming the Seahawks don't shadow him with RCB Browner, A.J. Green will draw LCB Sherman for most of this game. Green rarely moves around the formation, almost always squaring off with left corners. You can't beat his Week 8 matchup. ... Jerome Simpson gets the tougher draw and has been wildly inconsistent. He's yet to find pay dirt this season, clearing 45 receiving yards in just 2-of-6 games. ... Andy Dalton makes for a fine two-QB league start against Seattle's 20th-ranked pass defense. Just don't get too cute. He's 20th in fantasy scoring among quarterbacks, this projects as a low-scoring affair, and road games in Seattle don't typically end well for rookie signal callers.

Coach Pete Carroll claims the Seahawks are leaving their Week 8 quarterback to a "game-day decision," but Charlie Whitehurst will likely make another start. Whitehurst was indescribably bad in last week's embarrassing, 6-3 loss to the Browns. No Seahawks pass catcher exceeded 38 yards, and no wideout topped two receptions. If you are starting a Seahawks receiver this week, you're essentially betting on a bounce-back game from Whitehurst. I can't imagine making that bet against a Bengals team that ranks No. 1 in total defense and No. 5 against the pass. Look past Sidney Rice and Doug Baldwin for your Week 8 WR3. ... Realistically, there isn't a single start-able Seahawks fantasy player this week because of the matchup, low-scoring game projection, and Seattle's utter shortage of skill-position talent. Marshawn Lynch has a recurring back injury that left him inactive for Week 7 despite being listed as active on the game-day roster. While Lynch is supposed to play this week, he presents too much risk and not nearly enough possible reward to "wait for" in a late game. Lynch ranks 31st in fantasy scoring among tailbacks.

UPDATE: Tarvaris Jackson took a big step in his recovery from a strained pectoral in his right (throwing) arm Friday, participating in a full practice. Multiple reports suggest Jackson is now likely to start. I'm not confident that Jackson will be 100 percent on game day, and would continue to avoid the entire Seattle offense when it comes to lineup decisions.

Score Prediction: Bengals 17, Seahawks 10

Sunday Night Football

Dallas @ Philadelphia

This game has the second highest over/under of Week 8 at 51 points, so get your Cowboys and Eagles going. ... Philly returns from its bye with an O-Line at full strength. LT Jason Peters is back from his hamstring injury, and the interior of LG Evan Mathis, C Jason Kelce, and RG Danny Watkins was hitting its stride prior to the off week. Michael Vick is poised for a monster second half. ... Dallas' pass defense has overachieved relative to its middling secondary talent, but this game's high-scoring projection, the offensive line's improved health, and DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin's recent performance should lock the Eagles' receivers into fantasy lineups. While D-Jax has been inconsistent as usual, he's averaging 76 receiving yards per game and turned in an insane 4-210-1 line in his last meeting with Dallas. ... Maclin has been even more productive, averaging over seven catches for 98 yards per game since Week 1, to go with three touchdowns.

Slot receiver Jason Avant no longer has to worry about Steve Smith vulturing snaps, but remains an underwhelming WR3 option whenever D-Jax and Maclin are at full health. Avant hasn't scored a touchdown on the season while topping 40 yards in just 2-of-6 games. ... The Cowboys rank No. 1 in the league in run defense, but LeSean McCoy has proven matchup-proof in his true breakout season, already dusting the Falcons' top-six unit for 116 yards and two scores. Only Fred Jackson is averaging more fantasy points per game among NFL running backs, and McCoy's 5.42 YPC ranks third among players with at least 50 rushing attempts. ... Brent Celek had his best game of the season before the bye (4-42-1), but the touchdown was his first all year and he's yet to clear 45 yards entering Week 8. Even in a potential shootout, it's difficult to get excited about Celek when he's blocking on a big majority of his snaps and averaging under nine yards a catch.

In terms of corner-receiver matchups, Dez Bryant plays split end in the Cowboys' base offense, aligning to the left side of the formation. He'll primarily see RCB Nnamdi Asomugha in coverage. Miles Austin is a flanker-slot receiver. His usual position is RWR, meaning Austin will draw a mix of LCB Asante Samuel and slot CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in what projects as a more favorable matchup than Bryant's on paper. Both Austin (No. 6) and Bryant (No. 10) are top-ten fantasy receivers in points per game. So they're every-week starters. ... The best bet for targets and receptions on Dallas' side, however, may be Jason Witten. In matchups with Tony Gonzalez, Fred Davis, and Vernon Davis, the Eagles have been gashed for three touchdowns by tight ends and a per-game average of 7.3 catches for 85.7 yards. Philly has simply never been effective in coverage of tight ends. In his last four meetings with the Eagles, Witten has piled up 24 catches for 234 yards and four touchdowns. In terms of a statistical line average, that's 6-59-1. I'd take it.

Tony Romo will take his final painkilling injection for a previously cracked rib and should be as healthy as he's been all year. With six touchdowns and two 300-plus yard efforts in his last three games, Romo is a shoo-in QB1 this week. Philadelphia has a top-ten pass defense, but has allowed nearly two passing scores per game despite having faced one of the NFL's weakest slates of signal callers. The Eagles' quarterback opponents so far (in order of goodness): Eli Manning, Matt Ryan, Sam Bradford, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Alex Smith, Rex Grossman. ... DeMarco Murray's breakout Week 7 game should be taken with a grain of salt considering the matchup with St. Louis' league-worst run defense and Dallas' out-of-nowhere ability to open running lanes. The Cowboys haven't been able to run block all season, but suddenly could against a Rams team that played the entire game on its heels. The good news is Murray has another favorable matchup with a Philly defense that ranks 23rd against the run and surrenders 4.82 YPC. I would immediately look to sell Murray after this week. Felix Jones (ankle) will eventually return, and at least based on what I saw from Murray as a junior and senior at Oklahoma, last week's game will prove a mirage in the long run.

Score Prediction: Eagles 27, Cowboys 23

Monday Night Football

San Diego @ Kansas City

The Chiefs' defense has padded its stats in consecutive matchups with Donovan McNabb, Curtis Painter, and the disastrous Raiders duo of Kyle Boller and Carson Palmer, aided by an early-game injury to Darren McFadden. K.C. now ranks what appears to be a somewhat respectable 18th in total defense, 17th against the pass, and 25th versus the run. We just don't know how good this Chiefs defense is because of the pathetic schedule. On San Diego's side, what we do know is that coach Norv Turner divvies up tailback playing time based heavily on practice reps. Mike Tolbert (hamstring, hand) missed two practices this week, and the last time that happened Ryan Mathews exploded for season highs in touches (25), total yards (149) and touchdowns (2) against these same Chiefs in Week 3. While Tolbert only got the ball seven times in that game, Mathews handled goal-line duties and a comfortable majority of passing-down snaps. Games don't always (rarely?) play out as we expect them to, but it'd be reasonable to anticipate a healthy dose of Mathews at Arrowhead Stadium. It's hard to imagine using Tolbert in a fantasy league.

UPDATE: Tolbert missed a third straight practice Friday. Afterwards, Turner acknowledged that he's "not hopeful" Tolbert will be available against the Chiefs. Mathews should be in line for no fewer than 24 touches on Monday Night Football.

Speculation via Wesseling, ESPN's Matt Williamson, and NFL Network's Jason La Canfora this week that Philip Rivers is playing hurt was vehemently disputed by Rivers and the Chargers' coaching staff. If Rivers and Turner are to be believed, the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback should finish fast against one of the league's softest pass-defense schedules, and it will start on Monday night. Rivers has historically lit it up at Arrowhead, in his last three games there completing 74-of-117 passes (63.2%) for 912 yards (7.79 YPA), seven touchdowns, and one interception. Amid the rumors, I personally would consider Rivers a QB2 until he actually plays well in a game. But the matchup isn't prohibitive, and Rivers' track record suggests he'll pick it up. ... Antonio Gates will play Monday night, and his availability alone makes him a top-five fantasy tight end play. It's icing on the cake that Gates has 194 yards and three touchdowns on 12 catches in his last two meetings with the Chiefs. ... Vincent Jackson owners need to shake off last week's 1-15 clunker against Darrelle Revis and use him against Kansas City. Jackson is as healthy as he's been since the season started and might be the best "buy low" in fantasy football right now.

Matt Cassel's three-game hot streak crashed to an end against Oakland in Week 7, completing 50% of his 30 attempts for 161 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Chargers rank third in pass defense, so this is a forbidding matchup for a quarterback who isn't any good. ... If San Diego continues the coverage strategy it employed against the Jets last week, Quentin Jammer will be assigned to Dwayne Bowe with rookie Marcus Gilchrist on Steve Breaston. Jammer held Santonio Holmes to 24 yards on two Week 7 catches, while Gilchrist was promoted onto the first-team defense this week after ex-starter Antoine Cason allowed a trio of red-zone touchdowns to Plaxico Burress. I'll never recommend Breaston because I don't believe in him as a player or his offense, but he's got a good-looking matchup. Playing out of his mind in a contract year, Bowe is the No. 6 fantasy receiver and has earned a start every week. Just keep in mind that the Chargers have held Bowe under 14 yards in three of their last four meetings with him.

Last week's snap and touch distribution in the Chiefs' backfield (snaps are first, touches second): Jackie Battle 41, 16; Dexter McCluster 23, 11; Thomas Jones 14, 9. ... 7 of Jones' 9 carries against the Raiders occurred after Kansas City built a 28-0 lead. Jones is a non-factor unless the Chiefs are blowing out a team, and that won't happen on Monday night. ... Battle has clearly taken over as the team's lead back, and has a favorable Week 8 matchup. Simply unable to field an effective rush defense this season, the Bolts are serving up 4.74 yards per carry and rank 21st versus the run. Last week, they allowed Shonn Greene's best game since Week 4 of 2010, when he had a cupcake matchup with the Bills. Battle is a low-end RB2 but high-end flex option.

Score Prediction: Chargers 20, Chiefs 17
 
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Week 8 Injury Questions

Older receivers have plenty going against them. Their ability to separate is severely compromised. They can’t make people miss or outrun defenders after the catch. And, of course, they are more susceptible to injuries.

The Hines Ward situation is similar to what went on with Donald Driver in Green Bay. Both are among the greatest players in their respective franchises’ histories, but both are nearing the end of the line. And both are getting outplayed by younger, faster, healthier receivers.

With Ward nursing an ankle injury this week, it’s time for the Steelers to put their explosive passing game on full display. Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders are better options for both Pittsburgh and fantasy owners. Their coming-out party is here, kind of like the fiesta Jordy Nelson and James Jones threw last season.

As we get set for Week 8, we’ll have our eye on how these receivers are handling their chance.

Of course, the Rotoworld News Page will be humming all Sunday morning to bring you official word on all your injured players ahead of kickoff. And to make sure you’re prepared, read every word of these rankings from Gregg Rosenthal/Chris Wesseling -- after all, they had the most accurate ranks on the internet last week according to FantasyPros.com. And make sure you take the time to read Evan Silva’s mind-blowing Matchup Column for help with close calls.

And if you want to draft a new team just for this week, check out SnapDraft here.

OK, let’s get to the hurt folks:

1 P.M. GAMES
DOLPHINS at GIANTS
* Brandon Jacobs (knee) is back, knocking Ahmad Bradshaw down a peg or two.
* Daniel Thomas (hamstring) is set to play through a questionable tag as a weak RB2 option again. UPDATE: Thomas was downgraded on Saturday to out. Reggie Bush and Lex Hilliard will carry the load.

JAGUARS at TEXANS
* Andre Johnson (hamstring) still isn’t ready. Jacoby Jones gets another start at split end.

COLTS at TITANS
* Joseph Addai (hamstring) is a true game-time call. At 0-7, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Colts err on the side of caution. Delone Carter will start if Addai can’t.
* Matt Hasselbeck’s thumb isn’t a concern. He’s ready to go in this plus matchup.

VIKINGS at PANTHERS
* Percy Harvin (ribs) will likely be active, but the Vikings are handling him with kid gloves. He’s just not playing enough snaps to be a reliable fantasy option.
* Adrian Peterson (ankle) gave owners a mid-week scare, but he’s fine. Expect a full workload.

SAINTS at RAMS
* Mark Ingram (heel) is out. Look for Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas to share the load evenly, with Chris Ivory possibly getting a couple short-yardage/goal-line carries.
* Jimmy Graham (ankle) practiced in full on both Thursday and Friday. He’s fine.
* Danario Alexander (hamstring) is not expected to play. Look for Brandon Gibson to be active, but he may rotate with Greg Salas at flanker. Regardless, none are an option because…
* Sam Bradford (ankle) is out again. A.J. Feeley, who targeted Brandon Lloyd heavily last week, will start once again.

CARDINALS at RAVENS
* Beanie Wells (knee) is at far less than 100 percent and a game-time call in a brutal matchup. If you have other options, go to them. If Wells sits, Alfonso Smith, LaRod Stephens-Howling and Chester Taylor will form some kind of ugly committee.
* Early Doucet (quad) is tentatively expected to play as a risky WR3 option.
* Todd Heap (hamstring) is a game-time call as well. Rookie pass-catcher Rob Housler will draw the start if Heap can’t go.
* Lee Evans (ankle) remains sidelined. Torrey Smith will try to get going in this dream matchup.

4 P.M. GAMES
LIONS at BRONCOS
* Matthew Stafford (ankle) practiced in full Friday, making him a quality QB1 play.
* Jahvid Best (concussion) is still out. Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams will share the load once again.
* Willis McGahee (hand) is out. Knowshon Moreno will lead a backfield that also figures to use Lance Ball in certain situations. Tim Tebow is the likely goal-line back.

REDSKINS at BILLS
* Santana Moss (hand) is out. Look for Anthony Armstrong and Niles Paul to rotate on the outside and Terrence Austin to get some slot work. Fred Davis and Jabar Gaffney will be John Beck’s favorite targets.

PATRIOTS at STEELERS
* BenJarvus Green-Ellis (toe) is fully expected to play through a questionable tag.
* Hines Ward (ankle) is not expected to play. See above for more.

BROWNS at 49ERS
* Peyton Hillis (hamstring) is not expected to play. Look for another ugly, sloppy day at the office for Montario Hardesty.
* Mohamed Massaquoi (concussion) is out. Josh Cribbs will start opposite Greg Little.
* Ben Watson (concussion) appears likely to play now. Evan Moore’s snaps will take a hit.
* Braylon Edwards (knee) is headed for a game-time call. Avoid.

BENGALS at SEAHAWKS
* Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral) is tentatively expected to play, but he’s far from 100 percent. Regardless, there’s not a single quality fantasy play in the entire Seahawks lineup this week.
* Marshawn Lynch (back) is ready to go after last week’s late scratch. Yawn.

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
COWBOYS at EAGLES
* Felix Jones (ankle) remains sidelined and Tashard Choice has been waived. It’s the DeMarco Murray show again, although he’ll find the sledding much tougher this week. Phillip Tanner is Murray’s backup.

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
CHARGERS at CHIEFS
* Antonio Gates (foot) is ready to go for the second straight week. At least 40 snaps is a good bet.
* Mike Tolbert (hamstring, hand) is not expected to play. If Ryan Mathews can make it through four quarters, he’ll have a monster effort.
* Malcom Floyd (hip) is tentatively expected to play, but he’s not a great fantasy option at less than 100 percent. A fully healthy Vincent Jackson and Gates figure to dominate targets.

SURVIVOR PICK OF THE WEEK
We hit last week with the Cowboys or Saints in laughers. Also recommended staying away from the Ravens and Raiders, so we’re hot.

This week’s most likely winner is the Ravens. The Cardinals are off a home loss and now have to travel across the country to face a Ravens team that was humiliated on Monday Night Football. If you want to save the Ravens for later home games with the Colts or Browns, the Titans should be safe in a desperation spot. Also, the Rams have no shot against the Saints without Sam Bradford.

One spot I’d stay away from is the Lions. The fighting Tebows in their home debut will make for a very tough game.

MY TOUGHEST DECISION OF THE WEEK
In a 10-team non-PPR league with bloated starting lineups, my flex spot came down to Pierre Thomas vs. Jackie Battle.

Injuries have placed both in ideal scenarios. With Mark Ingram (heel) sidelined, Thomas is in line for a bump in touches. And with Jamaal Charles (knee) done, Battle has slowly ascended to the clear feature back role.

I like both, but I decided to roll with Thomas this week. He gets the dream matchup against the Rams’ historically bad run defense and is coming off a game in which he averaged 8.3 yards per touch. Although Chris Ivory may vulture a goal-line carry, Thomas is always a threat to take a screen pass to the house.

Battle has a plus matchup as well, but isn’t a factor in the passing game. If the Chiefs do happen to get behind by a couple scores early, he could be rendered a non-factor. Put simply, Thomas’ ceiling is higher this week.
 
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Instant Impressions: Week 8

By Christopher Harris
ESPN.com


• Trick or treat. We must start where we seemingly always start, with Chris Johnson and his endlessly crumbling fantasy football empire. CJ0K wound up with 34 yards on 14 carries Sunday against the supposedly woeful Colts run defense, and by the fourth quarter he was basically benched. Javon Ringer had nine carries for 44 yards in that final stanza as the Titans were putting Indy away, while Johnson had one carry for 5 yards. And then coach Mike Munchak told reporters after the game that he would determine his desired RB based on the "flow of the game," and that "every game will be different." If Johnson's owners weren't already in a panic, that should just about do it. You absolutely can consider benching Johnson now, depending on what else you have in your backfield. You can't trade Johnson away, nor should you be thinking about buying low. And you can't drop him. I said this all last week, but here it is again: I am just fine letting CJ0K ride fantasy pine until and if he posts a big game. And at this point, he's produced so many stinkers, I won't mind if he's on my bench when and if he finally goes off. At least then I'll know he's still capable of producing big games, and can consider starting him again.


• Mario Manningham finally made an appearance on the fantasy rolls this week, with six grabs for 63 yards and a score on nine targets. He also nearly connected on another TD on a fade in the back corner of the end zone. And Victor Cruz was difficult to contain out of the slot, with seven grabs for 99 yards and the game-winning score on nine targets. These numbers are notable because these two players are usable as top-30 fantasy receivers every week, but considering Hakeem Nicks left Sunday's contest with an injured hamstring, Manningham and Cruz may be getting an even bigger bump. Nicks himself had a respectable six catches for 67 yards before the injury, but anyone who's owned the dude over the past few years knows that his legs are fragile entities, indeed. If Nicks misses time, Manningham and Cruz will each play in two-receiver sets, and be top-20 options.


• We got word late Sunday morning that Beanie Wells would be able to play despite a balky knee, but the general sense was that he'd be able to handle only a limited workload, and that fantasy owners would be wise to look elsewhere, especially considering that the Cardinals were headed to Baltimore to take on a testy Ravens squad. Well, Beanie did substantially more than just dabble in Sunday's contest, winding up with 22 carries for 83 yards and a short TD plunge, on which he landed on his head. There are still worries swirling about Wells' knee, which Arizona beat reporters contend may bother Beanie for the rest of the season. In other words, the risk hasn't been taken away. There's still a whole bunch of potential for fantasy frustration in the season's second half. But at least we did see him finally tough out an injury.

• As though he wanted to tell Mike Shanahan, "No, I'm the most frustrating head coach in the league when it comes to my fantasy backfield," Bill Belichick activated Kevin Faulk for Sunday's game, and proceeded to give Faulk 11 touches from scrimmage, as opposed to five for BenJarvus Green-Ellis and zero for Danny Woodhead and Stevan Ridley. Certainly, this isn't an indication that Faulk is now Belichick's lead dog. The game situation (the Patriots were behind the entire way) dictated Faulk's usage. I don't view Faulk as addable, except perhaps in awfully deep PPR leagues. But let this serve as notice that we simply cannot predict what New England will do with its RBs on a weekly basis. As of this writing, I have no indication that BJGE's terrible day (hello, five carries for 9 yards) had anything to do with his injured toe. It was just the way the game went. And it's why your fantasy team is healthiest when you don't have to deal with any of these dudes.

• Does the Madden Curse trickle down to backups? Montario Hardesty made it through two carries for 6 yards before feeling his calf pop, and he sat out the rest of the Browns' game against the 49ers on Sunday afternoon. Of course, the main cursed player, Peyton Hillis, was already out of his second straight game because of an injured hammy, and Hillis is stuck on a woeful 60 carries for 211 yards and two TDs through seven games. Hardesty is reportedly due to undergo an MRI on his calf Monday, but one imagines this injury will linger at least into Week 9, meaning Cleveland really needs Hillis back next week. There's a chance that happens, and if it does, Hillis probably vaults back into flex territory. If it doesn't, we could be looking at a whole lot of Chris Ogbonnaya work, but only the desperate need to consider adding Ogbonnaya just yet.


• The most startling thing about the Cowboys rolling over like zombie corpses Sunday night was how Tony Romo basically did the Eagles a favor by refusing to look at Dez Bryant or Miles Austin. Yes, OK, those are some impressive defensive backs that Philly boasts. But when your defense is in the process of failing to even slow down Michael Vick and as the scoreboard deficit mounts, how in the world do you target Bryant only five times and Austin only three times? I watched the game, and I do understand that Romo was often under siege, but I don't care. If you're getting killed and your only hope of salvation is some big plays, you have to get those outside receivers involved. Not doing so is just stupid. The Cowboys play a depleted Seahawks secondary in Week 9, and one assumes Romo will go back to his gunslinging ways; I don't think you can bench him or his two top outside guys. But enough with this Laurent Robinson stuff, huh, Tony? As with Ogbonnaya, only the truly desperate need consider adding Robinson.

• When Tim Tebow is good, we put him way up top of Instant Impressions. When he's as bad as he was in Week 8, we sneak him in way down here. That was an entirely brutal performance by Tebow, one that surely has Broncos fans chastened. Somehow Timmy T managed to salvage 12 fantasy points out of the day in standard ESPN.com leagues, but that was thanks to a garbage-time drive and a late TD to Eric Decker, after the Lions were already winning by 42 points. Tebow's stat line -- 18-of-39 for 172 yards and two turnovers that went for Detroit defensive TDs -- doesn't do justice for how poorly he played. Too often, his passes just have no chance for completion from the moment they leave his hand. He doesn't appear to read defenses, or really grasp the concepts involved in doing so. And despite 63 yards rushing on a few pretty good scrambles, overall his pocket presence regressed. Hey, the Lions can be pretty intimidating up front on defense, and I do think Tebow gets another start, next week at the Raiders. When you're this bad and can still salvage 12 fantasy points, well, I guess that's something, but another stinker like this, and Timmy T may not be starting in Denver any longer.


• Percy Harvin suited up despite injured ribs that caused him to miss a great deal of game action in Week 7, and he scored on a first-quarter run that rewarded any fantasy owner brave enough to start him. Unfortunately, Harvin later took another shot to the midsection that caused him to sit out much of Sunday's second half, though he did return late on the Vikings' game-winning drive to make a couple of extra grabs. Minnesota is off for Week 9, so hopefully Harvin can rest and put this sporadic playing time behind him. With Christian Ponder in the mix, the Vikings' offense overall is looking sharper and more dynamic, and Harvin seems to have the ball in his hands more (when he's in there).


• Joseph Addai was active for Sunday's contest against the Titans, but was unofficially designated the Colts' "emergency back," meaning Indy didn't want to use him, because of his injured hammy. Mission accomplished. Addai sat while Delone Carter (nine carries for 46 yards) and Donald Brown (10 carries for 33 yards and a 4-yard fourth-quarter score) carried the mail. For as long as Addai is out, neither Carter nor Brown is an attractive fantasy play, considering how poor Indy's offense is overall, and considering they're in a straight platoon with one another. The larger question is whether Addai can completely reclaim his starting gig when he finally gets right. I suspect he will, but we won't know for sure until health visits Addai's legs.
 
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Four Downs: CJ2K's slump hits new low
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Eric Karabell

I recently had a conversation with a friend who was annoyingly boasting how his undefeated fantasy team was able to overcome the season-ending injury to Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles. I told him he was lucky he hadn't drafted Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson instead. He looked back at me awfully confused. My reasoning would become obvious. Charles got hurt in Week 2, and his owners never had to consider starting him again. There was closure. They replaced him and moved on.


Chris Johnson, however, is the early-first-round bust that just keeps on busting, and I call that more frustrating. In Week 8, with a near-dream matchup against the Indianapolis Colts on tap, my fellow ESPN fantasy rankers and I ranked the beleaguered Johnson 10th among running backs, surprisingly confident -- maybe it was just wishful thinking? -- the 2,000-yard rushing king from 2009 would do something good against an overmatched foe. Well, what he did was make those few owners who already added backup Javon Ringer mighty happy, because it sure seems like Ringer is the Titans running back to own moving ahead.
Chris Johnson's 2011 futility

Fewest yards per rush, first seven games of season (minimum 100 attempts), since 2000.
<TABLE><THEAD><TR><TH>Player </TH><TH>YPC </TH><TH>Year </TH><TH>Previous season totals </TH></TR><TBODY><TR class=last><TD>Edgerrin James </TD><TD>2.7 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>2005: 360 attempts, 1,506 rush yards </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>Eddie George </TD><TD>2.7 </TD><TD>2001 </TD><TD>2000: 403 attempts, 1,509 rush yards </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>Eddie George </TD><TD>2.8 </TD><TD>2003 </TD><TD>2002: 343 attempts, 1,165 rush yards </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>Chris Johnson </TD><TD>2.8 </TD><TD>2011 </TD><TD>2010: 316 attempts, 1,364 rush yards </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Yes, I'm a bit surprised. I didn't think Johnson would go all DeMarco Murray from Week 7 (253 yards) on the Colts, but 14 carries for 34 yards is downright depressing. In the first half it was far worse; he had a moribund 14 yards on eight attempts. Ringer, meanwhile, exploited the matchup against the brutal run defense, rushing for 60 yards on 14 chances, gaining 102 total yards and providing 10 fantasy points. OK, so that's not prolific, and I'm not even expecting RB2 numbers from him moving forward, but I do think he's worth adding in standard leagues this week -- he's currently owned in just 2.3 percent of leagues -- just in case this was all Johnson's fault. I mean, the Titans' blocking hasn't looked top-notch, but Johnson looks slow and disinterested. In Week 9 the Titans face the tougher-than-you-might-realize Cincinnati Bengals. I wouldn't expect Ringer or Johnson to be among my top 20 running backs, but Ringer at least appears to have a better shot right now.


Johnson's four fantasy points Sunday give him seven in two weeks, and he's averaging 2.8 yards per carry for the season. You might ask why we would be surprised by this, but consider that only four running backs were active in more ESPN standard leagues in Week 8 than Johnson: Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice, Maurice Jones-Drew and Arian Foster. They averaged 21 fantasy points. Johnson, active in 95.5 percent of leagues (more than such backs as LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore and Fred Jackson!) is averaging fewer than seven fantasy points per game. Kudos to the Titans for apparently moving on. It's time fantasy owners do the same, as well. Second down: Meanwhile, fantasy's top scorer entering the Sunday night game was St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson, who exploded for 30 fantasy points by rushing for 159 yards and two scores on an average-at-best New Orleans Saints defense. Jackson's prior top fantasy game this season was 13 points in Week 7. The prevailing wisdom that the Saints would lambaste the winless Rams, taking an early lead and rendering the Rams' running game useless, was obviously misdirected. Jackson had been in double digits in fantasy scoring nearly every week, and was active in 82.5 percent of leagues, still a strong RB2. He'll remain so in coming weeks, perhaps advancing to RB1 status. What's interesting to me -- other than how poorly the Saints played -- is that wide receiver Brandon Lloyd has 18 fantasy points and 25 targets in two games for the Rams, doing so with A.J. Feeley at quarterback. Perhaps Sam Bradford owners have something to look forward to after all.


Third down: The New York Giants were able to overcome an early deficit in their matchup against the winless Miami Dolphins, but we can't help but be concerned about running back Ahmad Bradshaw and wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, neither of whom would be called durable. Bradshaw played through major foot problems last season, then left Sunday's game because of a foot injury. He returned and finished with eight fantasy points, so it could have been worse, but watch this situation. Nicks was targeted a team-high 10 times, catching six passes for 67 yards, but he left because of a hamstring strain. Nicks is a terrific talent, but Eli Manning does have plenty of options; both Mario Manningham and Victor Cruz caught touchdown passes and were targeted nine times against the Dolphins, and the Week 9 matchup with the New England Patriots is enticing for all. Even if Nicks does play, I think it's reasonable to presume Manningham and Cruz are WR3 types and usable in many leagues. Fourth down: No Mike Shanahan-coached NFL team had ever been shut out before Week 8, when the Buffalo Bills accomplished that feat with a 23-0 decision. The Bills aren't exactly the Baltimore Ravens defensively. They had four sacks in six games entering play, and then added nine more Sunday. The Redskins have offensive line injuries and a paltry passing game. In fact, tight end Fred Davis was the only Redskin active in more than half of ESPN's leagues. Fantasy owners should not be buying into running back Ryan Torain; he ran eight times for 14 yards Sunday. In three games since his surprising 135-yard, 19-point fantasy performance, he has rushed 20 times for 31 yards. I want to see what rookie runner Roy Helu can do, but at this point just avoid all Redskins other than Davis.
 
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Browns' running backs are truly 'cursed'

By Jamison Hensley

Players shrug off the Madden Curse, saying they don't believe in the run of bad luck to those who make the cover of the popular video game. Well, some might want to consider the validity of the curse after seeing its widespread impact this year.

<!--INLINE MUG-->
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Hillis
<!--END INLINE MUG-->Starting running back Peyton Hillis, who is the current face of "Madden NFL 12," is day to day with a pulled hamstring but he has probably gotten off the easiest of the Browns running backs.

Backup Montario Hardesty will "miss games" after suffering a tear in his right calf Sunday, according to The Cleveland Plain Dealer. And don't forget about Brandon Jackson, who was lost before the season started with turf toe.

One could argue that the Browns' running game has been cursed all season. Cleveland's rushing attack ranks 29th in yards per game (87.6), 30th in yards per carry (3.2) and last in touchdowns (two).

If Hillis misses a third straight game, Chris Ogbonnaya would start at Houston less than four weeks after being claimed off the Texans practice squad. The Browns will also hold tryouts for running backs on Tuesday, coach Pat Shurmur said.
 
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Hakeem's Hamstring Hurts

Leg injuries dominated the medical charts on Sunday, and perhaps none was of more immediate concern than the hamstring injury sustained by Hakeem Nicks against the Dolphins. The early word as of Sunday night: Nicks is headed for an MRI on Monday, and was quoted by ESPN New York as saying, “It felt like a cramp that didn't go anywhere in one spot in my hamstring, but we'll see how it feels in the morning.” The reason for optimism here is the use of the word “cramp,” but any hamstring injury has to be considered problematic until proven otherwise. If Nicks does miss time, Mario Manningham (6 rec, 63 yds, TD) and Victor Cruz (7 rec, 99 yds, TD) would both see an increase in targets and value.

In other Week 8 injury news…

Beanie Wells was statistically impressive against the Ravens (22 rush, 83 yds, TD), but told reporters after the game that he expects his knee injury to be “an all-year thing.” Furthermore, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com observed that Wells had “no burst of speed” and described the RB’s right knee as “trouble.” These are not happy words for Wells’ long-term value this season, but the good news in the near future is that next week’s matchup against the Rams is as good as matchups get.

Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) left in the third quarter to get X-rays, but was able to return in the fourth. After the game, Bradshaw told the New York Daily News that the injury was an aggravation of a pre-existing issue, and said, “I knew it was fine. Just being precautious about it.” It sounds like Bradshaw has a good chance to play in Week 9, but fantasy owners will want to keep an eye on practice reports to make sure. Brandon Jacobs would theoretically benefit from any Bradshaw absence, but the backup RB looked slow and tentative (and was repeatedly booed by Giants fans) on Sunday in his first game action since Week 4.

Follow me on Twitter: @MattStroup

Ken Whisenhunt said after Sunday’s game that Kevin Kolb may be dealing with turf toe, with beat writer Kent Somers reporting that Kolb was in a walking boot after the game. This didn’t initially have the sound of a serious injury, though we may not definitively know the Arizona QB’s status until practice begins this week. John Skelton would be next in line if Kolb is forced to miss time.

Joseph Addai (hamstring) was active on Sunday, but didn’t get a single snap as the emergency RB. It’s possible that Addai will make it back for Week 9, but he obviously remains a risky play until he makes it through a game without any setbacks. Delone Carter (9 rush, 46 yds) and Donald Brown (10 rush, 33 yds, TD) formed an unexciting platoon in Addai’s absence, and both remain low-upside options going forward even if Addai is out.

Montario Hardesty (calf) is headed for an MRI on Monday. With no Hardesty and no Peyton Hilis, the Browns were left to hand the ball off to Chris Ogbonnaya (11 rush, 37 yds; 5 rec, 24 yds) against a tough 49ers D. Ogbonnaya would be in line for a heavy workload if Hillis and Hardesty remain out next week, but would only be a flex option given the limited scoring potential of the Cleveland offense.

Other Injury Notes: Percy Harvin sat out much of the second half before returning for two key catches late, an absence that may have been related to his lingering rib injury (which will presumably be less of an issue after a Week 9 bye) ... Vernon Davis played through an arm injury Sunday, and has been told by doctors that he won’t need an MRI, according to CSN Bay Area … Matthew Stafford sustained a minor hand injury, but had no trouble playing through it … Blaine Gabbert left with bruised ribs, but only missed one series before returning … Per NBC’s Michele Tafoya, Eagles backup RB Dion Lewis was not active after being shaken up during a minor car accident on Sunday.

Editor’s note: If you want to draft a new fantasy team, check out SnapDraft here.

Defense/Offensive Line Injuries: In the latest setback for the Houston defense, LB Darryl Sharpton is done for the season with a torn quad tendon … Panthers LB trouble: Thomas Williams left with a neck injury, Jason Phillips left with a calf injury and Omar Gaither sustained an apparent lower leg injury … Ray Lewis left Sunday’s game with a stinger in the first quarter, but was able to return… Dolphins C Mike Pouncey sustained a head injury … The Cowboys lost LB Sean Lee to a wrist injury, DB Mike Jenkins to a hamstring injury and NT Jay Ratliff to a possible head injury … Giants C David Baas (knee) is headed for an MRI, and Osi Umenyiora underwent X-rays for an undisclosed injury, according to the New York Daily News … Patriots DE Shaun Ellis was forced from Sunday’s game with a rib injury … Playing his first game in over a year, Bengals DB Pacman Jones injured his right hamstring on a long punt return … Saints RT Charles Brown left with a knee injury and didn’t return … The Steelers lost LaMarr Woodley to a hamstring injury … James Harrison (eye) is not expected to play in Week 9, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette … 49ers DE Ray McDonald left with a hamstring injury and didn’t return … Broncos RT Orlando Franklin left with a knee injury.
 
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Reading Rob Ryan's Mail

"It all comes down to coaching," Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said after Sunday night’s blowout loss to the Eagles. "Andy Reid was reading my mail. He kicked my ass. I've got to be smarter than this." The win advanced Reid to 13-0 in games played after the Eagles’ bye week.

Reid’s game plan involved attacking Ryan’s tendency to aggressively pursue with his front seven, leaving a nimble LeSean McCoy with the opportunity for cut-backs and change-of-direction runs.

Drawing comparisons to Hall of Famer Barry Sanders due to his elite lateral agility, McCoy is “playing as well as any back in the league right now,” according to Reid. New offensive line coach Howard Mudd’s unit is starting to gel with LT Jason Peters returning from injury, Todd Herremans solidifying right tackle, and rookies Danny Watkins and Jason Kelce finally hitting their stride on the interior. "It's easy for a back to find a hole out there,” said McCoy, “when they're pushing the defensive line back five yards on every play.” Having overtaken Fred Jackson as fantasy’s No. 1 running back, McCoy is on pace for 309 carries, 1,723 rushing yards, 53 receptions, 315 receiving yards and 23 total scores through seven games.

Taking advantage of wide scrambling holes and passing lanes, Vick posted his most efficient performance since earning a new contract behind his record 99.8 Total QBR against the Redskins on Monday Night Football last season. Vick’s 90.1 Total QBR Sunday night was the second-highest since his release from prison, going 13-of-17 for 187 yards and two touchdowns through the air and adding 45 more yards on the ground when the game was still relatively close. His final numbers aren’t eye-popping, but Vick did the majority of his damage in just one half.

We advised last week on Twitter to buy low on Vick with the offensive line improving and his zero rushing scores likely to begin trending toward last year’s total of nine. His 264.6 passing yards and 60.3 rushing yards per game this season have both exceeded his 2010 equivalents. Vick is now on pace for a career-high shattering 4,233 passing yards, a career-high 25 passing touchdowns and 965 rushing yards.

Fun with On-Pace Numbers

Cam Newton / Steve Smith - Your No. 1 fantasy QB in total points at the mid-season mark is a rookie. Newton deserved a better fate against the Vikings, converting a clutch 4th-and-15 throw for 44 yards to Brandon LaFell to put the Panthers in position for the game-winning field goal with less than a minute remaining. His ensuing scramble would have set up 1st-and-goal from inside the 5-yard line if not for a questionable holding call on Smith. As it turned out, Olindo Mare blew a 31-yard field goal that would have sent the game to overtime.

With 290 yards and a career-high three passing scores, Newton joined Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan and Sam Bradford as the only rookie QBs since 1960 with five 250-yard passing games. “He is good,” NFL sack leader Jared Allen told Yahoo’s Michael Silver Sunday night. “Scary when he gets out of the pocket.” The 2011 No. 1 overall pick is on pace to demolish the rookie passing record with 4,786 yards, 22 touchdowns, 638 rushing yards and an NFL record 14 rushing scores. Smith remains the NFL’s leader in receiving yards, on pace to threaten Jerry Rice’s single-season record of 1,848 yards.

Ben Roethlisberger / Mike Wallace - The Steelers ditched their power-running, big-play passing attack to beat the Patriots at their own game with short throws to exploit the soft underbelly of the defense while maintaining a marked advantage in time of possession. Playing keep away from Tom Brady, Big Ben held the ball for more than 39 minutes while his 36 completions (to nine different receivers) and 50 attempts were each the second-most he’s posted in a single game.

After starting the season with a 3:5 TD-to-INT ratio through four games, Roethlisberger has posted an 11:2 ratio in the past four contests. Trailing only Brady (99), Roger Staubach (99) and Ken Stabler, ESPN Stats & Info points out that Roethlisberger (106) is the fourth-fastest QB to 75 wins. Now seventh among fantasy QBs, Big Ben is on pace for a career-high 4,608 yards and 28 touchdowns while Wallace is on pace for an 86/1,600/10 line.

Matthew Stafford / Calvin Johnson - Detroit’s 45 points were the franchise’s most on the road in 45 years. The constrast between a dangerously efficient Stafford and inaccurate turnover machine Tim Tebow was stark, as borne out by the 91.3 difference in their Total QBRs -- the highest among two opposing QBs this season. Powered by a first-half mark of 16-of-22 for 191 yards, two scores, and 11 first downs, Stafford recorded the highest Total QBR (94.6) of his career. His breakout season is now on pace for 4,358 yards and a 38:12 TD-to-INT ratio. Joining Randy Moss (2007) as the only players with 11 touchdowns through eight games, Megatron is on pace for a 94/1,608/22 line as fantasy’s No. 1 receiver.

Eli Manning - The past month may be the most impressive stretch of Eli’s career. He hasn't been picked in four of his past five starts while racking up 11 touchdowns. His 45 attempts against the Dolphins Sunday are the second-most of his career without throwing an interception. The Giants’ schedule gets tougher from here with the Patriots, 49ers, Eagles, Saints, Packers and Cowboys on the docket over the next six weeks, though Manning’s numbers should survive just fine as long as Hakeem Nicks’ hamstring injury isn’t serious. Eli is on pace for a career-high 4,862 yards and 30 touchdowns as fantasy’s No. 7 QB in points per game.

Fred Jackson - If Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy hadn’t attended tiny Coe College in Iowa before moving on to graduate studies at Harvard, Jackson might still be trapped in a bottom-rung indoor league. Six years after landing a tryout with the Bills and a season in NFL Europe, F-Jax has become the first Bills runner to go over 1,000 scrimmage yards in the first seven games since Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas in 1991. Carrying the Bills offense over the past month, Jackson is on pace for 302 carries, 1,648 rushing yards, 62 receptions, 807 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns and a 5.46 yards per carry average.

Steven Jackson - One of the game’s true warriors on a string of going-nowhere Rams squads, S-Jax was the inspirational leader in the unthinkable upset over the Saints. Jackson got SI.com’s Peter King so fired up that he wanted to hit Rodney Harrison. He wouldn’t allow teammates to lose focus, at one point getting in LT Rodger Saffold’s face after a false-start penalty. The linebacker-sized feature back cleared 150 yards with two scores for the first time since 2008 while passing Marshall Faulk for third on the franchise’s career yardage list. Now healthy after an early-season quad injury, Jackson is averaging 5.3 yards per clip while on pace for 1,216 total yards and 11 scores.

Frank Gore - After gashing the Browns defense for 134 yards, Gore joined O.J. Simpson (1975), Terrell Davis (1998) and Larry Johnson (2005) as the only backs with four consecutive games of 125+ yards and a touchdown. His current streak is the longest of consecutive 100-yard performances by a 49ers back since Garrison Hearst in 1998. Rolling into another attractive matchup against the Redskins, Gore is on pace for a 320/1,543/11 rushing line.

Adrian Peterson - The coaching staff discussed increasing Peterson’s passing-game contributions last week as a way to boost offensive efficiency. The result was five catches for a career-high 76 receiving yards as Peterson took advantage of the room to roam underneath provided by a mobile quarterback. Since rookie Christian Ponder took the reins two games ago, Peterson is averaging 168.5 scrimmage yards per game. To go with seven scores in his past four games, Peterson is on pace for a 334/1,596/18 rushing line. There’s not another player I’d rather own the rest of the way.

Tight Ends - With the exception of a two-game minislump in Weeks 3 and 4, Fred Davis has cleared 80 yards in every game. The breakout TE1 is on pace for an 82/1,182/5 line as fantasy’s No. 4 tight end. … Jimmy Graham’s on-pace numbers “dropped” to 98 receptions, 1,426 yards, and 10 touchdowns after a 39-yard outing against the Rams. … Rob Gronkowski lost a Week 8 touchdown due to a bad call, but he’s still on pace for an 82/1,131/11 line as fantasy’s No. 2 tight end.


<!--RW-->Short Quotes on Struggling Players

Profootballtalk.com’s Mike Florio on Chris Johnson: "Something’s wrong with Johnson, and the question isn’t whether he’ll get it back this year. The question is whether he’ll get it back ever.”

Profootballtalk.com’s Mike Florio on Tim Tebow: “It’s easy to say that he’s a work in progress. But not every unfinished painting becomes a masterpiece. Tebow, once fully developed, could be a .500 quarterback at best.”

Undisclosed Lions defender to Yahoo! Sports’ Michael Silver on Tebow: “Can you believe ’15’? Come on – that’s embarrassing. I mean, it’s a joke. We knew all week that if we brought any kind of defensive pressure, he couldn’t do anything. In the second half it got boring out there. We were like, ‘Come on – that’s your quarterback? Seriously?’”

Committee Time

Titans - Javon Ringer (19 touches, 102 yards) / Chris Johnson (17 touches, 51 yards)

Both backs saw 14 carries, and an increasingly more effective Ringer held a 60-to-34 edge in yards. Despite Johnson’s $13.5 million-to-$525,000 advantage in salary, it was Ringer who played all but two snaps in the fourth quarter as the feature back. Coach Mike Munchak announced afterwards that the Titans would dole out carries based on "flow of the game." Ringer has the hot hand heading into Week 9 against the Bengals and should be owned in all fantasy leagues.

Saints - Pierre Thomas (11 touches, 34 yards, TD) / Darren Sproles (12 touches, 76 yards) / Chris Ivory (6 carries, 18 yards)

Thomas and Sproles were expected to run roughshod over the Rams soft defense, but St. Louis ended up dominating the line of scrimmage. Mark Ingram (heels) should be welcomed back with open arms if he’s ready to play against the Bucs in Week 9. If not, Ivory will continue to handle short-yardage work.

Giants - Ahmad Bradshaw (18 touches, 88 yards) / Brandon Jacobs (5 touches, 10 yards)

Bradshaw’s mid-game foot X-rays raised eyebrows due to his extensive history of foot and ankle surgeries. Rotoworld’s game charter noted that he looked “tentative and slightly hobbled” upon his return, advising readers to sell if possible. Jacobs continues to bellyache about his limited role, which often leads to appeasement. He’s a good bet for increased carries at New England next week with Bradshaw at less than 100 percent.

Panthers - Jonathan Stewart (15 touches, 59 yards) / DeAngelo Williams (9 touches, 39 yards)

It will be interesting to see if Stewart can take the lead-back role and run with it after out-carrying Williams for the second consecutive game. Stewart is the better, more explosive back -- and it’s an open-and-shut case. Heading into the Week 9 bye, Stewart remains a high-upside flex option while Williams is essentially unstartable.

Patriots - Kevin Faulk (11 touches, 52 yards) / BenJarvus Green-Ellis (5 carries, 9 yards)

Danny Woodhead and Stevan Ridley were afterthoughts with Faulk assuming his old passing-down role. Green-Ellis figures to remain the primary ball carrier, but he will lose snaps on passing downs because Faulk is Tom Brady’s most trusted chip-blocker and pass protector. At age 35 coming off reconstructive knee surgery, Faulk isn’t a good bet to stay healthy and productive enough for reliable value as a PPR flex option.

Browns - Chris Ogbonnaya (16 touches, 61 yards) / Montario Hardesty (2 carries, 6 yards)

Hardesty started after Peyton Hillis’ (hamstring) mid-week setback, but lasted only a few plays before a strained calf muscle sent him to the sidelines. Plodding third-down back Ogbonnaya carried the load the rest of the way against a stout Niners run defense. Coach Pat Shurmur said he didn't know for sure that Hillis wouldn't play until Sunday morning, so there’s a decent chance that he will return to face the Texans in Week 9.

Redskins - Ryan Torain (8 carries, 14 yards) / Roy Helu (3 catches, 20 yards)

Torain has managed 31 yards on 22 carries (1.55 per) since his out-of-nowhere breakout game against the Rams in Week 4. The Redskins’ offensive line is in shambles, and Torain doesn’t see the field once the team falls behind. Helu is a good bet to play more snaps -- if not record more touches -- going forward.

Lions - Maurice Morris (14 touches, 65 yards, TD) / Keiland Williams (12 touches, 30 yards)

This was a fairly even breakdown in touches -- if not snaps -- for the second straight game. The Lions expect to have Jahvid Best (concussion) back in the lineup following the Week 9 bye. Morris is worth keeping around as insurance, though it’s a good time to drop Williams in all leagues.

Injury Ward

Kevin Kolb, Cardinals - Turf Toe
Blaine Gabbert, Jaguars - Ribs
Beanie Wells, Cardinals - Knee
Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants - Foot
Montario Hardesty, Browns - Calf
Hakeem Nicks, Giants - Hamstring
Percy Harvin, Vikings - Ribs
Vernon Davis, 49ers - Arm

Check out Matt Stroup’s “Hakeem’s Hamstring Hurts” for in-depth analysis of Sunday’s M*A*S*H unit fallout.


<!--RW-->Awards Section

Stat of the Week: According to ESPN Stats & Info, Tim Tebow’s 3.4 in Week 8 is the lowest Total QBR of any quarterback with at least 50 action plays in a single game since 2008. Tebow’s Total QBR has declined significantly in each of his five career starts (83.3, 58.5, 31.2, 16.4, 3.4).

Runner-Up: Week 8 marked the fourth time that Chris Johnson has been held under 35 rushing this season, which matches his career total from 2008-2010 combined.

Quote of the Week: FOX studio analyst Jimmy Johnson was asked, “Gun to head, sign Tiki or T.O.?” Johnson’s response: “Give me the bullet.”

Runner-Up: Brandon Jacobs, upset after receiving just four carries in the Giants’ Week 8 victory over the Dolphins: “I’ve got nothing positive to say. The most positive thing: I got family at home and I got a fast-ass car being delivered on Tuesday. That’s it.”

Tweet of the Week: From @KenzLife on the Suck For Luck race and the Dolphins’ early-week signing of J.P. Losman: “It's like a poker match between the Fins & Colts. ‘I'll see your Painter and raise you a Losman.’ Even his last name sends a signal.”

Runner-Up: From Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News on the Terrell Owens workout-turned-infomercial on ESPN and NFL Network: “Source with knowledge but little interest in T.O. workout confirms the Giants are one of the 32 teams completely ignoring it.”

Second Runner-Up: From the Everett Herald’s John Boyle on Rangers star Mike Napoli twisting his ankle on second base: “Yikes. Napoli's ankle bent so badly that I think I just heard Ndamukong Suh taunting him.” www.rapsports.com

Third Runner-Up: From writer Paul Raff a/k/a @MookieWilson86 on Sunday night’s game: “Nice moment of sportsmanship when Rob Ryan handed Andy Reid that congratulatory McRib sandwich at midfield.”

Fantasy MVP of Week 8: LeSean McCoy, Eagles

Fantasy Breakout Player of Week 8: Steven Jackson, Rams

Fantasy Rookie of Week 8: Cam Newton, Panthers

Fantasy Disappointment of Week 8: Saints Offense

Fantasy Fraud of Week 8: Ryan Torain, Redskins

Fantasy Fluke of Week 8: Reggie Bush, Dolphins

Fine Fifteen Fantasy Offenses

1. Eagles
2. Packers
3. Saints
4. Patriots
5. Cowboys
6. Panthers
7. Steelers
8. Lions
9. Giants
10. Texans
11. Chargers
12. Falcons
13. Bills
14. Ravens
15. Jets

Just Missed: Vikings, Rams

Early Waiver Look

QB: Christian Ponder, Tarvaris Jackson, Andy Dalton, Brady Quinn
RB: Javon Ringer, Roy Helu, Chris Ogbonnaya, Donald Brown, Kevin Faulk, Lance Ball
WR: Lance Moore, Emmanuel Sanders, Ben Obomanu, Laurent Robinson, Early Doucet, Titus Young, Doug Baldwin, Greg Salas, Braylon Edwards, Leonard Hankerson
TE: Ben Watson, Heath Miller, Brent Celek, Jake Ballard, Zach Miller
D/ST: Raiders, Falcons

 
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MNF Matchup: Chargers @ Chiefs

Monday Night Football

San Diego @ Kansas City

The Chiefs' defense has padded its stats in consecutive matchups with Donovan McNabb, Curtis Painter, and the disastrous Raiders duo of Kyle Boller and Carson Palmer, aided by an early-game injury to Darren McFadden. Kansas City now ranks what would appear to be a somewhat respectable 18th in total defense, 17th against the pass, and 25th versus the run. We just don't know how good this Chiefs defense is because of the pathetic schedule. On San Diego's side, what we do know is that coach Norv Turner divvies up tailback playing time based heavily on practice reps. Mike Tolbert (hamstring, hand) didn't practice this week and is listed as doubtful for Monday night's game. The last time Ryan Mathews received a full workload, he exploded for season highs in touches (25), total yards (149) and touchdowns (2) against these same Chiefs in Week 3. Mathews handled goal-line duties and a comfortable majority of passing-down snaps. It'd only be reasonable to anticipate a healthy dose of Mathews at Arrowhead Stadium, and the 2010 first-round pick has demonstrated dynamic ability when healthy so far in his career. He's the best fantasy play on either side in this game.

Speculation via Chris Wesseling, ESPN's Matt Williamson, and NFL Network's Jason La Canfora this week that Philip Rivers is playing hurt was vehemently disputed by Rivers and the Chargers' coaching staff. If Rivers and Turner are to be believed, the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback should finish fast against one of the league's softest pass-defense schedules, and it will start on Monday night. Rivers has historically lit it up at Arrowhead, in his last three games there completing 74-of-117 passes (63.2%) for 912 yards (7.79 YPA), seven touchdowns, and one interception. Amid the rumors, I personally would consider Rivers a QB2 until he actually plays well in a game. But the matchup isn't prohibitive, and Rivers' track record suggests he'll pick it up. ... Antonio Gates will play Monday night, and his availability alone makes him a top-five fantasy tight end play. It's icing on the cake that Gates has 194 yards and three touchdowns on 12 catches in his last two meetings with the Chiefs. ... Vincent Jackson owners need to shake off last week's 1-15 clunker against Darrelle Revis and use him at Kansas City. Jackson is as healthy as he's been since the season started and might be the best "buy low" in fantasy football right now.

Matt Cassel's three-game hot streak crashed to an end against Oakland in Week 7, completing 50% of his 30 attempts for 161 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Chargers rank third in pass defense, so this is a forbidding matchup for a quarterback who isn't any good. ... If San Diego continues the coverage strategy it employed against the Jets last week, Quentin Jammer will be assigned to Dwayne Bowe with rookie Marcus Gilchrist on Steve Breaston. Jammer held Santonio Holmes to 24 yards on two Week 7 catches, while Gilchrist was promoted onto the first-team defense this week after ex-starter Antoine Cason allowed a trio of red-zone touchdowns to Plaxico Burress. I'll never recommend Breaston because I don't believe in him as a player or his offense, but he's got a good-looking matchup. Playing out of his mind in a contract year, Bowe is the No. 6 fantasy receiver and has earned a start every week. Just keep in mind that the Chargers have held Bowe under 14 yards in three of their last four meetings with him.

Last week's snap and touch distribution in the Chiefs' backfield (snaps are first, touches second): Jackie Battle 41, 16; Dexter McCluster 23, 11; Thomas Jones 14, 9. ... Seven of Jones' nine carries against the Raiders occurred after Kansas City built a 28-0 lead. Jones is a non-factor unless the Chiefs are blowing out a team, and that probably won't happen on Monday night. ... Battle has clearly taken over as the team's lead back, and has a favorable Week 8 matchup. Simply unable to field an effective rush defense this season, the Bolts are serving up 4.74 yards per carry and rank 21st versus the run. Last week, they allowed Shonn Greene's best game since Week 4 of 2010, when he had a cupcake matchup with the pre-Marcell Dareus Bills. Battle is a low-end RB2 but high-end flex option. Jones is waiver-wire fodder and McCluster doesn't get the football enough to be trusted.

Score Prediction: Chargers 20, Chiefs 17
 
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A Mess For Mathews

With Mike Tolbert inactive Monday night, we expected the Chargers to ride Ryan Mathews until the wheels fell off. Well, they did.

Mathews has certainly earned a reputation as an elite, special talent with the ball in his hands. He’s also earning a reputation as someone that is often nicked up. Since breaking into the league last season, Mathews has dealt with a recurring high-ankle sprain, wrist surgery, toe soreness and a calf strain. After Monday night, we can add groin pull to that list.

Mathews gave way to third-stringer Curtis Brinkley midway through the fourth quarter Monday night, allowing Brinkley to rack up a touchdown, a two-point conversion and 67 total yards. The good news for Mathews’ owners is that he watched in full pads from the sidelines, hinting at a minor injury. It's also worth noting that Brinkley was getting examined for a concussion after the game. The bad news is that Mathews has a history of playing poorly through injury. He has a short week to get ready for Sunday's game against the Packers.

CHARGERS at CHIEFS RANDOM THOUGHTS
Rookie WR Jonathan Baldwin was really impressive. Leaps to get the ball at its highest point, catches it with his hands. He’s playing in enough two-wide sets to be worth a look. … Antonio Gates was robbed of a touchdown by a weak offensive pass interference call. He still played well despite consistent double teams on third downs and in the red zone. … Brandon Flowers did not shadow Vincent Jackson. For some strange reason, V-Jax just isn’t the primary read on many routes right now. The Chargers must correct that. … Something is off with Philip Rivers. He missed some easy throws and tossed knuckleballs on a couple others. He also has just three touchdown passes in his last five games. … Jackie Battle merely gets what is blocked and falls forward. He’ll throw up some duds that way, but 12-16 touches weekly is a good bet.

Editor’s Note: For early rankings, projections, the Running Back report, the top-200 going forward list and much more, check out the Season Pass!

NEWS OF THE DAY #1
Coach Mike Munchak confirmed Monday that Chris Johnson will remain his starter going forward. That’s a sentence I never thought I’d have to write.

But the bottom line is that Johnson has been outplayed all season long by Javon Ringer. Period. There’s no other way to look at it. So out of fairness to everyone else in the locker room whose playing time is decided by production, Munchak has no choice but to go with a “hot hand” style of backfield. And right now, there’s no reason to think Johnson will get a hot hand. Predicting workloads for Johnson and Ringer is going to be extremely difficult for the foreseeable future.

NEWS OF THE DAY #2
Here are the Patriots running back snap counts from Week 8: Kevin Faulk 39, BenJarvus Green-Ellis 13, Danny Woodhead 4, Stevan Ridley 0.

That’s right -- in his first game of the season, Faulk led the Patriots backfield in snaps by a wide margin. That’s because the coaches view him as their “passing back,” one that excels in both blitz pickup and catching the ball out of the backfield. Never mind that Faulk is 35 and coming off ACL surgery.

When the Patriots are winning, the Law Firm will lead the backfield in snaps and touches. When they are behind -- as they were in Week 8 -- it’s Faulk and Woodhead. This is another situation that will be almost impossible to project on a week-to-week basis.

NEWS OF THE DAY #3
Tim Tebow will start Sunday’s game against the Raiders. That’s all he’s guaranteed for now.

From here, it looks like the Broncos want to leave Tebow out there long enough to show the fans he can’t play -- but not leave him out there for too long and thus lose the locker room. Regardless, Tebow is clearly a long way away from being a mediocre NFL quarterback.

But fantasy owners should ignore his real-life ineptitude. In two starts, Tebow has rushed for 122 yards, thrown for 333 and tossed three touchdowns. And that’s with him playing as poorly as an NFL quarterback can possibly play. With just a slight improvement, Tebow will have QB1 status.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS
Darren McFadden (foot) was held out of practice Monday. His status remains unclear. … Hakeem Nicks’ hamstring MRI came back clean and he’s simply day to day. … The Lions had no update on Jahvid Best (concussion). … Montario Hardesty (calf) is going to miss at least two weeks. Peyton Hillis (hamstring) is day to day. Chris Ogbonnaya is next up. … Andre Johnson (hamstring) is still not close to 100 percent. He’s very questionable for Week 9. … Kevin Kolb (turf toe) is no lock to play this week. … Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) is sore and needs to be monitored. … Sam Bradford (ankle) is out of his walking boot. … Julio Jones (hamstring) is on track to return this week. … Fred Davis (ankle) has a mere Grade 1 ankle sprain.

DEPTH CHART QUICK SLANTS
Tarvaris Jackson is fully expected to start next week. … The Redskins claimed Tashard Choice off waivers. He’ll slide into the three-hole in Mike Shanahan’s unpredictable backfield for now. … Coach Andy Reid admitted that DeSean Jackson is used as a decoy at times. … The Vikings’ reiterated their commitment to using Adrian Peterson in the passing game. … Joseph Addai (hamstring) was only active Sunday in case of injury to Delone Carter or Donald Brown.

Editor’s Note: Sick of your team yet? Get a new one and win real cash with SnapDraft!

WAIVERS
DEFENSIVE SPOT STARTS
Adding a different defense/special teams each week based on matchups is a fine strategy. Here are units that might be on waivers to consider this week for streaming purposes:

1. TEXANS vs. Browns - At this point, Houston’s unit should be owned in all formats. They are giving up just 18.1 points per game and are averaging two turnovers forced.

2. RAIDERS vs. Broncos - As mentioned above, Tim Tebow is in for another start. In his five career starts, Tebow has thrown four interceptions, fumbled five times and been sacked 19 times.

3. COWBOYS vs. Seahawks - The Sunday night massacre in Philadelphia was not a fair assessment of Dallas’ defense. The Eagles were in full desperation mode, coming out of a bye and playing a nationally televised night game. Look for a big bounce-back out of Rob Ryan’s unit this week.
 
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Baldwin Brothers

Prior to Monday night's breakout game against the Chargers, Chiefs first-rounder Jonathan Baldwin was known primarily for trashing his teammates and coaches after leaving Pitt and mangling his hand in a training-camp fight with Thomas Jones' gun show. Finally healthy and in game shape after two months on the sideline, the athletic play-maker put on a show in front of the Arrowhead faithful with 82-yard breakout game highlighted by a leaping 39-yard touchdown.


The timing of Baldwin's breakout was interesting, as SI.com's Peter King touched on the Chiefs rookie in his Monday morning review of Michael Holley's new book War Room: The Legacy of Bill Belichick and the Art of Building the Perfect Team. Belichick advised Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff against his blockbuster trade for Julio Jones because Baldwin is "just as good." Another member of the Belichick tree, Chiefs GM Scott Pioli, ended up pulling the trigger on the physical downfield threat.


Along with Seattle slot receiver Doug Baldwin, who has topped five receptions and 70 yards in three of his last four games, Jonathan headlines this week's waiver pickups.


On to the players. Here is how I rank the top players at each position as we head into Week 9. Full writeups of each player are below.


Editor's Note: Join subscriber only chats, get weekly rankings before anyone else, plus exclusive weekly projections, stat tools, dynasty ranks, columns, and much more including the Rotoworld Oracle in our Season Pass.


Quarterbacks
Matt Cassel
Sam Bradford
Christian Ponder
Tarvaris Jackson
Andy Dalton

Running Backs
Javon Ringer
Roy Helu
Chris Ogbonnaya
Donald Brown
Kevin Faulk
Kendall Hunter
Chris Ivory
Tashard Choice

Wide Receivers
Jonathan Baldwin
Early Doucet
Emmanuel Sanders
Doug Baldwin
Lance Moore
Braylon Edwards
Titus Young
Leonard Hankerson
Ben Obomanu

Tight Ends
Brent Celek
Heath Miller
Jake Ballard
Zach Miller

Defense/Special Teams
Raiders
Texans
Falcons

Quarterbacks

Matt Cassel, Chiefs - I’ve never been a believer in Cassel, but rookie Jonathan Baldwin gives the Chiefs offense a different dimension and the schedule is made-to-order for fantasy success. Already a respectable 15th in fantasy points over the past five weeks, Cassel has dream matchups against the Dolphins (third-most fantasy points to opposing QBs), Broncos (most) Patriots (second-most) over the next three weeks. He’s a borderline QB1 for the next month.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.

Sam Bradford, Rams - Bradford has finally ditched his walking boot, though his status is still up in the air for an attractive matchup against the Cardinals’ burnable secondary in Week 9. Even if he ends up sitting out again, Bradford is well worth a roster stash with Brandon Lloyd emerging as a viable go-to receiver and Steven Jackson providing a stable ground attack. This offense has a chance to make waves in the second half of the season.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.

Christian Ponder, Vikings - Ponder’s 102.7 passer rating and 8.4 yards per attempt against the Panthers are both season-highs, as he continues to show an aggressive streak and a strong enough arm on mid-level throws. Fantasy’s No. 13 QB in just over two starts the past three weeks, Ponder has the entire Vikings offense on the rise heading into the Week 9 bye. He has a host at high-end QB2 value in the second half.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12- and 14-team leagues.

Tarvaris Jackson, Seahawks - After a disastrous September, T-Jax has established career-highs of 319 and 323 yards in two of his past three games. The return of Sidney Rice, emergence of Doug Baldwin and improved offensive line play have helped turn Jackson’s season around. Over the past five weeks, he’s been top-12 in fantasy points per game.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.

Andy Dalton, Bengals - Dalton is a fine young quarterback, but he’s feasted on low expectations and an unbelievably easy schedule thus far as fantasy’s No. 22 QB. His darkhorse Rookie of the Year status is about to take an uppercut to the jaw with matchups looming against the Steelers (27th-most fantasy points to opposing QBs), Ravens (31st-most), Browns (30th-most), Steelers again and Texans (28th-most) after squaring off with the Titans in Week 9. Dalton is only an option in two-quarterback leagues going forward.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.

Watch List: Brady Quinn, John Skelton, Matt Flynn, Vince Young, Shaun Hill

Quinn may get the call in a few weeks if Tim Tebow can’t turn himself into a quarterback. … An accuracy-challenged Skelton isn’t better than Kevin Kolb, and it’s not even close. But those in two-quarterback leagues may have to take the plunge if Kolb’s turf toe keeps him out this week against the Rams.

<!--RW-->Running Backs

Javon Ringer, Titans - Coach Mike Munchak now insists that Chris Johnson remains the starter, but his crunch-time actions from Week 8 are telling. Ringer played 33 snaps to CJ1K’s 30, taking over as the feature back in the fourth quarter. Munchak also conceded that game momentum will be a factor, and all of the evidence this season points to Ringer as the back most likely to come up with the “hot hand.” Ringer won’t overtake Johnson outright this week, but this is as fluid as a backfield situation gets. He could easily end up as the lead back for the majority of November and December.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.

Roy Helu, Redskins - Helu didn’t see a single carry against the Bills, but he led the backfield in snaps again while Ryan Torain has managed just 1.55 yards per carry since Week 4. Circling the drain, the Redskins aren’t going to be playing with the lead much the rest of the way. Helu’s snaps should continue to rise, and there’s still a chance that he’ll overtake Torain for early-down work.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.

Chris Ogbonnaya, Browns - The coaching staff tentatively expects Peyton Hillis (hamstring) to play Sunday against the Texans, but it’s hard to be optimistic after last week’s setback. Until the Browns give a more certain answer on Hillis’ status, Ogbonnaya is worthy of a pickup as a potential three-down back even in a tough Week 9 matchup. Rotoworld won’t rank the underwhelming Ogbonnaya as more than a flex option, but his pass-catching ability is tempting in PPR leagues.

Recommendation: Worth a look as an injury fill-in.

Donald Brown, Colts - A better passing-down option than Delone Carter, Brown took over as the Colts’ feature back in comeback mode during the third and fourth quarters last week. The former first-round bust has shown signs of improvement in brief glimpses this season. Though he’s worthy of a roster spot as long as Joseph Addai (hamstring) remains sidelined, Brown isn’t going to be more than a risky flex option against the Falcons.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.

Kevin Faulk, Patriots - It’s time to disabuse fantasy owners of the notion that a 35-year-old role player coming off ACL surgery will become a lineup fixture in PPR formats. Even when healthy and in his prime, Faulk was never more than a borderline flex play. While he did lead all Patriots backs in snaps against the Steelers, that was a game momentum issue with New England playing from behind. Pick him up if it makes you feel like an active owner, but don’t expect reliable value the rest of the way.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper PPR leagues.

Kendall Hunter, 49ers - This is the week that bye-week teams are reduced from six to four, a sign that the end is nigh for the bye. That being the case, it’s time to start dealing away borderline starters to create roster space for stashes such as Hunter, Toby Gerhart, Ricky Williams and perhaps even the Eagles’ Dion Lewis. All it takes is one injury to give each of these backs a shot at high-end RB2 value the rest of the way.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a roster stash.

Chris Ivory, Saints - With Mark Ingram (heel) out, Ivory played six snaps in Week 8 -- and was given the ball on all six of them. Ivory was predictably rusty but showed glimpses of the physicality that made him a coaching staff favorite as a rookie. If Ingram sits out again, Ivory should get a chance at short-yardage work against the Bucs in Week 9.

Recommendation: Worth a look in touchdown-heavy leagues.

Tashard Choice, Redskins - Choice will gain notice in fantasy circles this week because any runner in a Shanahan backfield can surface as a factor at a moment’s notice. Expectations need to be tempered, though. Choice won’t play this week due to a hamstring strain, and he was battling a shoulder injury in Dallas. No longer an effective player, Choice has averaged 2.7 yards per carry this year and 3.4 yards per in his last 22 games going back to beginning of 2010. I’d let someone else waste a roster spot and a waiver claim on Choice.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.

Watch List: Curtis Brinkley, Jacob Hester, Taiwan Jones, Thomas Clayton, Danny Ware, Phillip Tanner, Toby Gerhart

The Chargers backfield is up in the air heading into Week 9 against the Packers. Brinkley (concussion) may have a hard time gaining clearance by Sunday. If Ryan Mathews (groin) and Mike Tolbert can’t get back on the field, Hester could end up with a major role. … Jones could see a few carries if Darren McFadden (foot) misses this week’s game. … The Browns were expected to give Clayton a look with Montario Hardesty (calf). … Ware could take on a larger role if Ahmad Bradshaw’s foot injury takes a turn for the worse.

Hold Off: Steve Slaton, Lance Ball

Slaton is still no better than third on the depth chart in Miami. … Willis McGahee plans to play in Week 9, which would send Ball back to the bench.

Cut Bait: Keiland Williams, Bernard Scott, Danny Woodhead

The Lions hope Jahvid Best can return in Week 10, leaving Williams as the third-stringer. … Scott can be dropped in 10-team leagues with Cedric Benson returning from suspension. … Woodhead appears to have lost his job to Faulk.

<!--RW-->Wide Receivers

Jonathan Baldwin, Chiefs - Drawing comparisons to Vincent Jackson as a big, physical downfield threat, the first-rounder was inactive for the first month and a half after injuring his hand in a locker room fight with Thomas Jones. Finally healthy, Baldwin put on a sensational show in front of the home crowd on Monday Night Football, adding a much-needed big-play threat to the Chiefs offense. Baldwin is in the slot for now, but the Chiefs will have to give some thought to moving him outside in a swap with Steve Breaston. Either way, the athletic Baldwin is a must-add with fantastic fantasy matchups against the Dolphins, Broncos and Patriots the next three weeks.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.

Doug Baldwin, Seahawks - A top-25 fantasy receiver over the past five weeks, Baldwin has at least five receptions and 70 yards in three of his past four games. Tarvaris Jackson’s slot receiver has been fearless over the middle and offers better than advertised run-after-catch ability. With Seattle’s passing game on the rise, Baldwin should be owned in all PPR formats.

Recommendation: Should be owned in PPR leagues.

Early Doucet, Cardinals - On pace for a respectable 64/821/6 line, Doucet has made the most of his limited snaps this season. With Larry Fitzgerald drawing the coverage away, Doucet has gained WR3 value as a top-35 fantasy receiver over the past five weeks. Week 9 offers an ideal matchup against the Rams’ subpar corners, but Kevin Kolb’s turf toe injury tempers expectations.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.

Lance Moore, Saints - Drafted this summer as a potential WR3 sleeper, Moore has been remaindered by the emergence of Darren Sproles and Jimmy Graham. He drew a team-high 10 targets against the Rams, corralling seven of them for 74 yards. Moore is skilled enough that he’s worth a look in deeper leagues to see if he can use that performance as a springboard to PPR value.

Recommendation: Worth a look in PPR leagues.

Braylon Edwards, 49ers - Edwards returned to his starting job in Week 8 and saw seven of Alex Smith’s 24 targets. Smith doesn’t generate more than 200 yards per week in a run-oriented offense, so expect Edwards’ production to be spotty even if he does added a much-needed playmaking element on the outside.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a roster stash.

Titus Young, Lions - Young’s 66-yard performance in Week 8 was artificially boosted by blown coverage on a 41-yard touchdown. With Nate Burleson disappearing over the past month, though, the Lions could look to expand the more explosive Young’s role during the bye week. In a shot-gun heavy offense, the rookie is worth a look in deeper leagues.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.

Emmanuel Sanders, Steelers - Antonio Brown has emerged as the more valuable of the two 2010 draft picks, but he’s already owned in the majority of fantasy leagues. Just as talented -- if not more so -- Sanders is coming off back-to-back five-catch games as the Steelers continue to move to more of a spread look on offense. Hines Ward (ankle) is expected to practice Wednesday, and Sanders is now getting his checked out. He’s a talented roster stash going forward.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.

Leonard Hankerson, Redskins - The third-round rookie out of Miami saw his most extensive action of the season against Buffalo, seeing four targets. With Santana Moss out a month, Hankerson has the most ability and fantasy upside of a sorry group of Redskins receivers. There’s WR3 potential here if Hankerson can leapfrog Anthony Armstrong and Terrence Austin to start opposite Jabar Gaffney.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a roster stash.

Ben Obomanu, Seahawks - The last time the Seahawks had two 100-yard receivers in the same game was in 2004 against the Cowboys, when Darrell Jackson and Jerry Rice pulled off the feat. Obomanu made the most of his four targets in a surprise start, but Big Mike Williams (hamstring) is expected to return this week. Obomanu is a poor bet to sustain WR3 production as the third or fourth option in Seattle’s passing attack.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.

Watch List: Laurent Robinson, Greg Salas, Denarius Moore, Damian Williams, Earl Bennett

Robinson has my attention because he’s always been an injury-prone player with plenty of talent. Fantasy leagues just can’t count on any consistency as the fourth option in the passing game. … Salas is worth a look in PPR leagues if Bradford makes it back this week. … It wouldn’t suprise me if Moore emerges as Carson Palmer’s top receiver. … Bennett should return to his slot duties, but his ceiling is low.

Hold Off: Eddie Royal, Jason Avant

Royal isn’t going to see 13 targets again this season. … Avant will be back down below 50 yards again in Week 9.

Cut Bait: Michael Jenkins, Robert Meachem, Nate Burleson

The majority of Jenkins’ production has come in two-of-eight games. He’s not worth carrying through the bye week in 12-team leagues. … Burleson is on pace for just 500 yards.

<!--RW-->Tight Ends

Brent Celek, Eagles - Celek’s season-best 7/94/1 line was the result of a perfect storm against a tight-end friendly Dallas defense that lost coverage linebacker Sean Lee early in the game. Even if Michael Vick prefers his downfield receivers, there’s reason to believe Celek could keep rolling for one more week. The Bears’ Cover-2 defense allows the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season, making Celek an interesting matchup gamble for the second straight game.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play.

Jake Ballard, Giants - It’s time to give Ballard credit as a lumbering Kevin Boss clone with decent pass-catching skills. His average of 9.0 fantasy points over the past five weeks ranks fifth among tight ends, and he hasn’t been held under 55 yards in three straight games. Even if he lacks upside, Ballard could be a consistent borderline TE1 going forward.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.

Heath Miller, Steelers - Miller is coming off a season-best nine targets, seven catches and 85 yards against a Patriots defense concentrating on stopping the big play, so there’s plenty of potential for point-chasing. The Week 9 matchup is also forbidding against the stingiest tight-end defense in the NFL (Ravens). On the bright side, Miller has been a top-five fantasy tight end over the past three weeks as his passing-game role increases with the offensive line solidifying. He has a shot at borderline TE1 status going forward.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.

Zach Miller, Seahawks - Seattle’s passing game has been downright frisky in Tarvaris Jackson’s last few games, and Miller draws a tight-end friendly Dallas defense that was carved up by Celek in Week 8. He’s only a desperation matchup play this week.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.

Watch List: Visanthe Schiancoe, Ben Watson, Ed Dickson

Schiancoe, Watson, and Dickson offer similar production to Celek and Heath Miller, but the matchups aren’t quite as good this week.

Hold Off: Scott Chandler, Marcedes Lewis, Tony Scheffler, Donald Lee

We’ve been down this road with Chandler before. He’s not going to find the end zone every week, so there’s an ongoing risk of a goose egg. … Lewis has no value because Blaine Gabbert is the NFL’s worst quarterback. … Scheffler remains behind Brandon Pettigrew.

Cut Bait: Rob Housler, Evan Moore

Defense/Special Teams

Texans - Even without Pro Bowler Mario Williams, this continues to be a top-10 fantasy and NFL defense. The Texans have held their last two opponents to an average of just 161 yards per game, and Week 9 brings an inviting matchup against a Browns offense lacking playmakers.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.

Raiders - Coming out of their bye week against Tim Tebow in the Black Hole, one could make the case that the Raiders are the No. 1 fantasy defense play for Week 9. Tebow has been sacked an average of 6.5 times the past two weeks, and he’s coming off a fumble-six, a pick-six, and two more fumbles against the Lions. His elongated motion and failure to read defenses in a timely fashion leave him as a fantasy defense’s dream matchup.

Recommendation: Should be owned as a matchup play.

Falcons - Curtis Painter has three interceptions to zero touchdowns over the past two games, mustering just 17 points of offense against the Titans and Saints. The Falcons defense has improved of late, holding its last two opponents under 20 points.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play.
 
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Free-agent finds: Week 9

Brown, Heyward-Bey, Ringer, Baldwin, Ogbonnaya emerge as top options


By Christopher Harris
ESPN.com


Some scheduling madness dominates the frontal lobe here at Free-Agent Finds this week. You'll note that we're finally done with the four-game stretch during which six NFL teams were on bye at the same time. That was no fun for fantasy owners. When you scrape the bottom of the barrel, and all you get is barrel? Time for NFL teams to get off their tuchus. So you'll only see four teams on bye for Week 9.


Beginning in Week 10, we'll have at least one Thursday game every week (for Thanksgiving it'll be three games), meaning you'll have to remember to submit some players early. Strangely, however, Week 10 also features no bye-week teams, while Week 11 will feature the final four bye-week teams (the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans). Oh, yeah, and then for Week 16, when many leagues hold their fantasy championships? We'll see one Thursday night game, 13 Saturday afternoon games, one Sunday night game and one Monday night game, because of the Christmas holiday. Nothing like dragging out your league's trophy presentation, eh?


I guess the bottom line is: Be on top of the schedule and your final few (sporadic) bye weeks. And keep coming back to Free-Agent Finds for injury and depth-chart replacements.



Week 9 byes: Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings.


Standard ESPN League Finds



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<CITE>AP Photo/Michael Conroy</CITE>With the Steelers spreading the ball around a lot, receivers like Antonio Brown are thriving.




Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (owned in 23.8 percent of ESPN.com leagues). Brown tied Pierre Garcon for the most targets in the NFL during Week 8. The New England Patriots were hell-bent on not letting Mike Wallace beat them deep, and thus played a ton of soft Cover 2 against the Steelers' spread formations. That was tailor-made for Brown and Heath Miller, who dominated time after time with underneath grabs. It may not always be thus. Hines Ward's ankle injury probably won't keep him out much longer, and he'll steal targets, plus Emmanuel Sanders (owned in 6.3 percent of leagues) had eight targets himself Sunday and stayed on the field on rare occasions when the Steelers went two-wide. Still, Brown has separated himself as the best No. 2 target here behind Wallace. He's addable in all leagues, though you're likely to see ups and downs in his production.


Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Oakland Raiders (52.3 percent). I didn't want to lead this column with DHB because (a) I've already put him in this column on two previous occasions; and (b) He's already owned in just over half of ESPN.com leagues. Still, I want to plug him in again as a reminder: Heyward-Bey should definitely be owned in all leagues. Add him now. The Raiders' pass attack won't look as terrible as it did in Week 7 versus the Kansas City Chiefs; Carson Palmer simply didn't know the offense. Listen, I'm as skeptical as the next guy about Palmer suddenly blazing a renewed path of glory, but he's not Kyle Boller, for heaven's sake. And lest we forget because of Oakland's Week 8 bye, DHB has four straight games of at least 82 yards receiving, and in that span he's got a whopping 39 targets. Until further notice, he's absolutely the Raiders' No. 1 wideout.


Javon Ringer, RB, Tennessee Titans (2.3 percent). I put Ringer on this list last week, and I wrote: "Ringer isn't anything close to an elite back, and he's nobody you can start in a fantasy league right away. But I think he's definitely worth a stash as this potential melodrama plays out." Well, the melodrama ratcheted one notch higher in Week 8, as Chris Johnson managed 14 carries for 34 yards and Ringer basically replaced him in the fourth quarter. The Titans still swear up and down that CJ0K is their starter and that they'll manage their RB situation on a game-by-game basis. Ringer still isn't startable. But he's ever more addable. Stash him, and let's see what happens.


Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (0.4 percent). I was a little too high on Steve Breaston this week. I saw potential weakness in the San Diego Chargers' secondary and thought Dwayne Bowe would steal most of their attention, so there would be open looks on the other side of the field. And while Breaston did make a big catch in overtime and managed three grabs for 42 yards overall, it was Baldwin who was on the field more, and appeared to play in most of the Chiefs' two-receiver sets. The mercurial rookie missed the season's first five games because of a broken bone in his hand that he suffered in a locker-room fight, but apparently Baldwin is out of the doghouse and in the starting lineup. I still have big-time questions about this kid's route running, maturity and work ethic, but he flashed his immense talent on a long TD catch Monday night. I'm not sure I'm ready to run him out there in my fantasy lineup just yet, but he should be picked up by any WR-needy squads.


Chris Ogbonnaya, RB, Cleveland Browns (0.2 percent). Montario Hardesty lasted two carries in his spot start Sunday before feeling his calf go kablooey. He'll certainly miss Week 9 and might be out longer, and there's no guarantee that Peyton Hillis' hamstring will be ready for action against the Houston Texans on Sunday. That might leave Ogbonnaya as the starter by default. He's been the Browns' third-down back for a few straight weeks, but don't think of Ogbonnaya as a puny little guy: He's big and solidly built enough to handle a bunch of carries. Unfortunately, he hasn't really ever shown NFL-level talent. If Hillis can't play, Ogbonnaya would be a candidate for 15-plus touches, which is never bad news for fantasy teams in search of desperation options. I'm skeptical Ogbonnaya would do a ton with that workload (after all, he had only 61 yards on 16 touches against the San Francisco 49ers), but it's possible for a one-week wonder to rescue fantasy teams out of nowhere.


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<CITE>Jim O'Connor-US PRESSWIRE</CITE>Jake Ballard's emergence has added yet another name to a deep crop of solid fantasy tight ends.




Jake Ballard, TE, New York Giants (9.2 percent). Ballard was one terrible deep drop away from a huge game versus the Miami Dolphins in Week 8, but he continued to establish himself as the obvious pass-catching starter in the high-flying Giants offense. His targets have increased in every game since Week 3, and he's got at least 55 yards receiving in three straight. Don't let anyone oversell you on Ballard; he's still not a great week-to-week bet because New York has such good depth at wideout. (It sounds like Hakeem Nicks avoided serious injury to his hammy Sunday.) I don't view Ballard as a serious candidate to crack the tight end top 10 in any of my weekly ranks for the rest of the season. But if you're suffering with someone like Dallas Clark, Ballard may be a better weekly alternative.


Oakland Raiders Defense (13.0 percent). Ick. While this defense has mustered positive fantasy points in five of their seven outings this season, they're tied for 18th in sacks and tied for 25th in turnovers created, which leads them to their No. 27 ranking in fantasy points. And if their offense is going to continue to turn the ball over at such a high rate (they're tied for third for the NFL's most turnovers), well, that doesn't help. But well-rested and home in Week 9, the Raiders will face Tim Tebow and the woeful Denver Broncos offense that just handed the Detroit Lions' D two defensive TDs and 28 fantasy points. Hey, there's no question this could backfire. But I have the Raiders down as my best bye-week fill-in defense if, for example, you normally use that Lions D.


Other acceptable bye-week substitutes, about whom I've written in previous weeks: Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals (17.9 percent); Carson Palmer, QB, Oakland Raiders (19.3 percent); Jackie Battle, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (58.0 percent); Delone Carter, RB, Indianapolis Colts (36.1 percent); Lance Ball, RB, Denver Broncos (0.2 percent); Braylon Edwards, WR, San Francisco 49ers (43.2 percent); Jacoby Jones, WR, Houston Texans (7.8 percent); Heath Miller, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers (42.8 percent).


Deeper League Finds



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<CITE>Denny Medley/US Presswire</CITE>Curtis Brinkley had a big game Monday night after Ryan Mathews got hurt, but his status for Sunday is up in the air.




Curtis Brinkley, RB, San Diego Chargers (0.0 percent). Brinkley is an undrafted 26-year-old who's languished on and off the Chargers' practice squad for the better part of three seasons. He was also the victim of a shooting in 2009, and apparently still has a bullet lodged in the vicinity of his heart. But Brinkley overcame all that to play a significant role Monday night, as Mike Tolbert missed the game because of a hamstring injury, and Ryan Mathews suffered a groin injury during the contest. Unfortunately, after managing 67 yards and a touchdown on 13 touches from scrimmage, Brinkley himself suffered a concussion, and his status for Week 9 is very much up in the air. As such, he's probably really only addable for deep-leaguers.


Tashard Choice, RB, Washington Redskins (1.8 percent). Mike Shanahan got a new toy this week, as he grabbed Choice off waivers from the archrival Cowboys. In Dallas, Choice never lived up to expectations, and consistently ticked off his coaches with spotty pass protection and a lack of durability. In D.C., he'll jump aboard the Shanny RB bandwagon, muddying the near- and long-term futures of Ryan Torain and Roy Helu. For the moment, Choice is the third-stringer in this offense. But the Skins were just shut out, and Torain managed all of 20 yards on nine offensive touches. As I seemingly write every week, will anyone be surprised if someone like Choice comes off the bench to lead Washington in carries at some point? It sounds like a hamstring injury will likely keep Choice out for Week 9, but he could be ready to roll soon thereafter.


Kevin Walter, WR, Houston Texans (27.7 percent). It wasn't a good sign that Andre Johnson was ruled out Friday. It makes you understand that his recovery from hamstring surgery isn't going as smoothly as anticipated. Houston's beat reporters seem relatively convinced that AJ will be highly questionable for Week 9, too, which puts Walter back in the fantasy mix. I still stubbornly prefer Jacoby Jones for his deep-threat upside, but Walter did grab five passes for 70 yards last week, and he does have 27 targets in Johnson's nearly-five-game absence. His upside is capped, but he can be a consistent source of a few points each week.


Kevin Faulk, RB, New England Patriots (0.3 percent). According to ESPNBoston.com, Week 8's snap count for Patriots running backs broke down like this: Faulk played 39 snaps. BenJarvus Green-Ellis played 13. Danny Woodhead played four. And Stevan Ridley played zero. Sweet! Of course, it was the fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers were ahead of the Pats all game that determined this usage. Faulk won't always get such a ridiculous workload; when New England has a lead, Green-Ellis will go back to being the man. But the very fact that the 35-year-old Faulk could get such a workload in his first game back from his torn ACL is amazing. You don't want to bet on Bill Belichick's RBs any more than you want to bet on Mike Shanahan's. But those in deeper PPR leagues can once again consider Faulk as fantasy depth.


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<CITE>Brad Mills/US Presswire</CITE>Brent Celek is showing signs again of being a top-10 tight end, but how long will that last?




Brent Celek, TE, Philadelphia Eagles (5.6 percent). Celek broke out in Week 8, catching seven of his nine targets for 94 yards and a TD. And that makes back-to-back strong fantasy games for Celek, who had four grabs for 42 yards and a score back in Week 6. There's some upside here, because when defenses try to stop Philly the way the Cowboys did -- sitting back, containing the Eagles' deep-speed wideouts -- Michael Vick just proved he's willing to use Celek to dink and dunk a defense to death. However, until we see a pattern of teams defending Vick this way, Celek looks more like a one-week wonder than a standard-league fantasy threat.


John Skelton, QB, Arizona Cardinals (0.0 percent). OK, this is ugly. You'd have to be in a deep two-QB league to even consider adding Skelton, who spent his rookie year in '10 compiling a 47.6 completion rate. But Kevin Kolb has a case of turf toe that he claims limits his ability to throw the ball hard, and considering Kolb already didn't exactly have a laser arm, that's a problem. There's a chance that the Cardinals decide to sit Kolb versus the St. Louis Rams this week, and hand the reins to his backup, Skelton. I know, it's not like Larry Fitzgerald has done much with Kolb throwing him the rock. But it's never a terrible plan to invest in the guy tossing to Fitz, especially when the opposing defense is (last week's win over the New Orleans Saints notwithstanding) usually pretty burnable.


Steve Slaton, RB, Miami Dolphins (0.5 percent). Good heavens. Steve Slaton: goal-line back? Yes, indeed, Slaton appeared to inherit that role Sunday versus the New York Giants, getting three looks from the 1. He converted one of them for his first TD since Week 11 of '09. I have a hard time believing this continues. Daniel Thomas will hopefully get his hammy healthy this week, and Reggie Bush is coming off a 100-yard day. Plus Lex Hilliard is a natural in the short-yardage role. Nevertheless, my duty is to report on lottery tickets, and I guess Slaton now qualifies as the unlikeliest of lottery tickets. In, like, 20-team leagues? Yeah, I'm probably still not adding Slaton. But someone truly desperate might.


Other acceptable bye-week substitutes for deep-leaguers, about whom I've written in previous weeks: Kregg Lumpkin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1.5 percent); Chris Ivory, RB, New Orleans Saints (0.5 percent); Lex Hilliard, RB, Miami Dolphins (0.5 percent); Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos (17.5 percent); Laurent Robinson, WR, Dallas Cowboys (1.0 percent); Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle Seahawks (21.3 percent); Greg Salas, WR, St. Louis Rams (0.0 percent).
 
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HacheMan

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2011 ranks: Patriots options slowly sinking

Eric Karabell

Welcome to November and the Week 9 edition of the "rest-of-season" fantasy football rankings. This is usually the month that makes or breaks fantasy teams. Perhaps you're still in contention in your league at 4-4 and can't tell whether you're playoff material. In November, you'll likely find out. In November you'll also run out of time to make trades. Hopefully these rankings -- which are still one man's opinion, mind you -- can help you in your decision-making.


Once again, note that these are not the Week 9-specific rankings; those will be posted Wednesday and updated Friday. Enjoy, and best of luck! Quick click by position, for easy reference:
Top 40 Quarterbacks | Top 60 Running Backs | Top 60 Wide Receivers
Top 30 Tight Ends | Top 32 Defense/Special Teams | Top 100 Overall

Top 40 Quarterbacks

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<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 100%"><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Rank </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 200px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">Player <CENTER></CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Team </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Prev. </CENTER></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Aaron Rodgers </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Cam Newton </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Car </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Tom Brady </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Drew Brees </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NO </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Matthew Stafford </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Det </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Michael Vick </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Phi </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Tony Romo </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Dal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ben Roethlisberger </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Pit </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Eli Manning </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Matt Schaub </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Hou </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Philip Rivers </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SD </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Josh Freeman </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>13 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>13 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Matt Ryan </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Atl </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>14 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>14 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Tim Tebow </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Den </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>15 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Joe Flacco </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Bal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>15 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>16 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ryan Fitzpatrick </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Buf </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>16 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mark Sanchez </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYJ </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>18 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Matt Hasselbeck </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ten </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>18 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>19 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Andy Dalton </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Cin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>19 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>20 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Matt Cassel </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>21 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>21 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Colt McCoy </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Cle </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>20 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Alex Smith </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SF </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>23 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>23 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Sam Bradford </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>StL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>26 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>24 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Kevin Kolb </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ari </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Carson Palmer </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Oak </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>24 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>26 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jay Cutler </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Chi </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Christian Ponder </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Min </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Curtis Painter </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ind </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Tarvaris Jackson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Sea </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>35 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">John Beck </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Was </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>31 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Matt Moore </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Mia </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Blaine Gabbert </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Jac </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>31 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>33 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Shaun Hill </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Det </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>34 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>34 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Vince Young </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Phi </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>35 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Charlie Whitehurst </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Sea </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>33 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>36 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Kyle Orton </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Den </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>39 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>37 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Rex Grossman </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Was </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>36 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>38 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jon Kitna </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Dal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>39 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Brady Quinn </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Den </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>40 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">A.J. Feeley </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>StL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>40 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



www.rapsports.com
• I'm beginning to hear whispers of discontent from Tom Brady's fantasy owners. The last time he reached 20 fantasy points in a game was in Week 3. Now, I'm not particularly concerned about Brady nor do I think you should trade him for Chad Ochocinco, but his 15 fantasy points in Pittsburgh continued a trend. Not that I expected 50 touchdown passes, but after throwing 11 in the first three weeks, he has seven in four games. I still want Brady for the fantasy playoffs (Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills the final three weeks), but I can't deny Cam Newton his rightful place at No. 2. He has earned it -- he's actually fantasy's top scorer this season! -- and he has outscored Brady by 37 points this season.
• As for Brady's Week 8 foe, Ben Roethlisberger might actually be better off with longtime target Hines Ward on the sidelines. I really like Antonio Brown, the team leader in targets, and Emmanuel Sanders clearly has skills. Roethlisberger has reached 20 fantasy points three of four weeks. I don't like the matchups in his next two games (Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals), but after that it's relatively smooth sailing. I moved Big Ben past the slumping Philip Rivers, who leaves the top 10 and takes his league-leading interception total with him. Look, I know what Rivers did in 2010 and in years past. But it's Week 9, more than halfway through the 2011 season, and Rivers isn't a top-10 quarterback. He's currently 16th among quarterbacks in fantasy scoring, with fewer points than such passers as Colt McCoy and Matt Hasselbeck.
• Tim Tebow was awful Sunday. Just downright awful. A few more games like that -- or maybe even before then -- and the Broncos might actually hand the reins back over to Kyle Orton or even give Brady Quinn a shot. Tebow did produce 12 fantasy points, more than Drew Brees and Tony Romo, but something has changed: Now I'm not so sure Broncos coach John Fox sticks with him if Tebow doesn't improve. Using "fantasy statistics" as a measurable to persuade Fox to stick with Tebow probably wouldn't work.
• By the way, St. Louis Rams wide receiver Brandon Lloyd is really good, and he's getting targeted a ton. The pending return of quarterback Sam Bradford now interests me more than I thought it would. I moved him up a few spots based on the upside. With many bye weeks over, I'd take a shot on a "home run threat" at quarterback.
Top 60 Running Backs

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<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 100%"><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Rank </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 200px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">Player <CENTER></CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Team </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Prev. </CENTER></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Adrian Peterson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Min </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Arian Foster </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Hou </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">LeSean McCoy </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Phi </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ray Rice </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Bal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Fred Jackson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Buf </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Matt Forte </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Chi </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Frank Gore </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SF </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Michael Turner </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Atl </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Maurice Jones-Drew </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Jac </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Steven Jackson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>StL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>15 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Rashard Mendenhall </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Pit </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ryan Mathews </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SD </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>13 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Darren McFadden </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Oak </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>14 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ahmad Bradshaw </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>13 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>15 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Darren Sproles </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NO </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>16 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Beanie Wells </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ari </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>20 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">BenJarvus Green-Ellis </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>16 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>18 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">LeGarrette Blount </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>19 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>19 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Daniel Thomas </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Mia </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>18 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>20 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jahvid Best </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Det </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>21 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>21 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Shonn Greene </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYJ </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Chris Johnson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ten </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>14 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>23 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">James Starks </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>26 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>24 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jonathan Stewart </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Car </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Cedric Benson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Cin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>26 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jackie Battle </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>33 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Peyton Hillis </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Cle </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>23 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">DeMarco Murray </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Dal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">DeAngelo Williams </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Car </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mark Ingram </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NO </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>31 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Javon Ringer </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ten </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>60 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mike Tolbert </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SD </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>31 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>33 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Marshawn Lynch </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Sea </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>35 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>34 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Michael Bush </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Oak </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>34 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>35 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Willis McGahee </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Den </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>36 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>36 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Pierre Thomas </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NO </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>38 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>37 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Maurice Morris </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Det </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>47 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>38 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Felix Jones </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Dal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>39 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>39 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ryan Torain </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Was </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>40 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Knowshon Moreno </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Den </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>37 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>41 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ben Tate </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Hou </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>40 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>42 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Delone Carter </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ind </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>42 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>43 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Montario Hardesty </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Cle </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>24 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>44 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Joseph Addai </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ind </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>41 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>45 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Reggie Bush </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Mia </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>52 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>46 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Donald Brown </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ind </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>43 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>47 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Roy Helu </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Was </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>45 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>48 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Chris Ogbonnaya </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Cle </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>49 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Bernard Scott </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Cin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>44 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>50 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Tashard Choice </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Was </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>59 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>51 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Lance Ball </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Den </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>52 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Brandon Jacobs </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>56 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>53 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">LaDainian Tomlinson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYJ </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>48 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>54 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Thomas Jones </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>49 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>55 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ryan Grant </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>50 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>56 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Stevan Ridley </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>46 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>57 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Alfonso Smith </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ari </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>53 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>58 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Kregg Lumpkin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>54 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>59 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Chris Ivory </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NO </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>60 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Kevin Faulk </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



• When it comes to the top 20 running backs, there are a few drop-offs, or tiers, as you roll down the ranks. I could make a legitimate case for any of the top three running backs as fantasy's top non-quarterback. Few would think of Philadelphia Eagles star LeSean McCoy that way, but he has scored a touchdown in every game this season, and he has racked up 58 rushing attempts the past two games, exploding for 311 rushing yards. I'd trust each member of the top nine at running back, without fail, and certainly the game Steven Jackson had in Week 8 was impressive. It's the 11-20 range at running back that produces numerous question marks, and has forced many fantasy owners to use wide receivers more than usual at the flex spot.
• For example, I dropped injured Oakland Raiders RB Darren McFadden a few spots after the team remained uncertain he would play through a foot sprain in Week 9. Beanie Wells of the Arizona Cardinals did well Sunday against the Ravens, but he has admitted his knee will be a problem all year. What if he suddenly -- as he did in Week 3 -- misses a game? Jahvid Best and his concussion issues are risky. BenJarvus Green-Ellis suddenly appears risky after barely touching the football Sunday. Kevin Faulk? Really? And Dolphins rookie Daniel Thomas certainly doesn't seem durable. If you want to start using Reggie Bush after his 100-yard rushing game, I think that's a mistake. It was only the second 100-yard rushing performance of his career.
• Well, at least we finally got Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson out of the top 20. I think cutting the consensus top-five pick from draft day remains a mistake, but then again, activating him doesn't seem wise, either. Still, I have to give him the nod over Javon Ringer for the rest of the season. As for Week 9, well, we shall see in Wednesday's rankings. Stay tuned.
• The Washington Redskins did not score in Week 8, and the team reacted by signing released Dallas Cowboys underachiever Tashard Choice. I ranked Choice No. 50. While I wouldn't rush out to do as the Redskins did and sign Choice in fantasy, let me just remind you that Mike Shanahan is the Redskins' coach, and if Choice ends up with the most touches in Week 9, I wouldn't be a bit surprised. I mean, check out the work Ryan Torain has done the past three weeks, with 30 rushing yards on 21 carries. Oh, and Roy Helu didn't get a single carry in Week 8. Way to keep us all on alert, Coach Shanahan.
• Speaking of running backs getting released in real life and then finding a new home, I'm glad I wrote about Chris Ogbonnaya as a sneaky pickup a few days after the Cleveland Browns signed him. The former Houston Texans RB might actually start this week now that Montario Hardesty has joined Peyton Hillis on the sidelines. I'd like to see what Josh Cribbs could do with 14 rushing attempts, but … ah, why bother? Anyway, Ogbonnaya gets to face his former Texans teammates this week, which is mildly interesting.
• Bernard Scott had his chance to shine for the Bengals, and he turned in a 76-yard effort on 22 carries. If Scott remained the starter, I could see him in my top 30. But Cedric Benson is the starter, and his one-game suspension is over. I don't see much reason to keep Scott around. I moved Benson up and Scott down. It's running back tough love.
Top 60 Wide Receivers

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<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 100%"><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Rank </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 200px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">Player <CENTER></CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Team </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Prev. </CENTER></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Calvin Johnson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Det </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Greg Jennings </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mike Wallace </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Pit </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Steve Smith </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Car </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Hakeem Nicks </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Wes Welker </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Andre Johnson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Hou </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Larry Fitzgerald </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ari </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">DeSean Jackson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Phi </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Dwayne Bowe </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">A.J. Green </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Cin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>15 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jeremy Maclin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Phi </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>13 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>13 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Roddy White </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Atl </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>14 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Vincent Jackson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SD </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>15 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Brandon Lloyd </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>StL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>20 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>16 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Steve Johnson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Buf </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>14 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Marques Colston </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NO </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>18 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Dez Bryant </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Dal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>16 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>19 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Miles Austin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Dal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>18 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>20 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Brandon Marshall </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Mia </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>19 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>21 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Pierre Garcon </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ind </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>23 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Santonio Holmes </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYJ </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>21 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>23 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jordy Nelson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>24 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Reggie Wayne </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ind </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Sidney Rice </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Sea </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>26 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Percy Harvin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Min </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>26 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Anquan Boldin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Bal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Julio Jones </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Atl </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>24 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mario Manningham </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Eric Decker </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Den </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>31 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>31 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mike Williams </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Deion Branch </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>33 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Nate Washington </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ten </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>35 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>34 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Victor Cruz </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>36 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>35 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Darrius Heyward-Bey </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Oak </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>33 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>36 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Michael Crabtree </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SF </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>43 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>37 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Malcom Floyd </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SD </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>38 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>38 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Plaxico Burress </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYJ </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>34 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>39 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Antonio Brown </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Pit </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>47 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>40 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Robert Meachem </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NO </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>41 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>41 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mike Thomas </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Jac </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>37 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>42 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">David Nelson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Buf </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>40 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>43 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Lance Moore </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NO </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>42 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>44 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jacoby Jones </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Hou </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>39 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>45 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Demaryius Thomas </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Den </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>45 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>46 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jabar Gaffney </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Was </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>44 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>47 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jon Baldwin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>48 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Nate Burleson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Det </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>48 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>49 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Greg Little </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Cle </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>49 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>50 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Kevin Walter </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Hou </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>50 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>51 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Steve Breaston </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>51 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>52 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Denarius Moore </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Oak </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>52 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>53 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Titus Young </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Det </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>54 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Torrey Smith </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Bal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>55 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Emmanuel Sanders </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Pit </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>56 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Braylon Edwards </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SF </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>57 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jerome Simpson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Cin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>56 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>58 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Early Doucet </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ari </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>58 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>59 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">James Jones </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>59 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>60 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Josh Cribbs </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Cle </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



• A few weeks ago, Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker was on pace to break seemingly every meaningful receiving record ever set in the NFL. Well, that's not quite true, but he was thriving, having scored 91 fantasy points the first four games. But as Brady goes, so goes Welker, who has seen his fantasy points drop in four consecutive games, culminating in just three points Sunday. I'm not giving up on him, of course, but he must drop a little in these rankings. Welker remains one spot up on Andre Johnson. The Texans receiver is a little like McFadden, in my eyes; I think he'll play this week, and when he plays he should be mighty good, but it's not a given he plays every week.
• Perhaps those owning Cowboys studs Dez Bryant and Miles Austin are jumping ship after Sunday night's shocking lack of activity -- a combined six receptions, divided equally, on eight combined targets -- but I'm not at that point yet. Did you see them complaining to coaches and teammates in the fourth quarter? Generally that act (complaining) works, and I expect more than 20 combined targets in Week 9. The duo remains in my top 20, and there remains no sign of Laurent Robinson in these rankings. No worries, Bryant and Austin owners.
• Meanwhile, the Ravens' Anquan Boldin has produced three consecutive double-digit fantasy performances, and before you get too scared of his pending Week 9 matchup against Pittsburgh, note that Boldin had 13 points against the Steelers in Week 1. Boldin moves up a bit, though he's still not in my top 25. As for Torrey Smith, who made a critical catch on the final scoring drive Sunday, he still hasn't hauled in more than three passes -- or scored a touchdown -- in any game since his mammoth Week 3 performance.
• How nice it is to see the Titans' Nate Washington produce a decent game. It has been awhile since he has done so, basically since Kenny Britt's season-ending injury in Week 3. Washington scored two touchdowns Sunday, one on a 3-yard rush, the other on a pass reception. I wouldn't rush out and get Washington or his quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck, but there are enticing games on the schedule, and these two are at least usable.
• The San Francisco 49ers are 6-1. No, it's true. Check the NFL standings. I've been cautious in ranking wide receivers Michael Crabtree and Braylon Edwards, because this team doesn't throw a lot. After missing four games, Edwards returned Sunday and caught 42 yards worth of passes, and with San Fran's own enticing schedule, that's enough for me to rank him. Crabtree actually scored a touchdown, his first of the season! OK, so I'm not a big fan of Crabtree, but I moved him up a bit.
Top 30 Tight Ends

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<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 100%"><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Rank </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 200px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">Player <CENTER></CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Team </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Prev. </CENTER></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jimmy Graham </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NO </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jason Witten </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Dal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Fred Davis </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Was </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Owen Daniels </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Hou </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Antonio Gates </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SD </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Aaron Hernandez </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jermichael Finley </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Rob Gronkowski </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Greg Olsen </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Car </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Vernon Davis </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SF </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Tony Gonzalez </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Atl </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Brandon Pettigrew </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Det </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>13 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Dallas Clark </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ind </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>13 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>14 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jake Ballard </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>15 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jermaine Gresham </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Cin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>15 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>16 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Kellen Winslow </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>14 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Dustin Keller </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYJ </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>16 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>18 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Heath Miller </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Pit </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>19 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jared Cook </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ten </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>18 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>20 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ed Dickson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Bal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>19 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>21 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Visanthe Shiancoe </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Min </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>20 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jeremy Shockey </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Car </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>21 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>23 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Scott Chandler </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Buf </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>24 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Brent Celek </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Phi </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Daniel Fells </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Den </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>23 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>26 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Marcedes Lewis </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Jac </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Benjamin Watson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Cle </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Tony Scheffler </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Det </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Joel Dreessen </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Hou </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Lance Kendricks </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>StL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



• Week 8 wasn't the best week for the top tight ends. The Saints' Jimmy Graham now has consecutive games with fewer than 100 yards after topping the mark four weeks in a row. Jason Witten has seen his yards decline each of the past three games, culminating in 28 yards Sunday. Aaron Hernandez caught only two passes for nine yards against the Steelers, though one went for a touchdown. Vernon Davis saw only three targets. Such is the oft-erratic nature of the position. At least Fred Davis keeps on getting things done, even if his team isn't scoring!
• The tight end leaders in Week 8 were Scott Chandler of the Bills and Philadelphia Eagles afterthought Brent Celek, each with 15 fantasy points. Don't get too excited about either guy. Chandler caught just two passes Sunday, though both were touchdowns. He hasn't topped two catches in a game since Week 1; his six touchdown catches for the season have come on only 15 receptions. That kind of touchdown-per-catch ratio is tough to maintain. Celek entered Week 8 with 15 fantasy points, then matched it against Dallas. I think it was more a factor of what the Cowboys allowed, not a change in team philosophy. I did rank Chandler and Celek, but I wouldn't start them.
• The tight end targets leader in Week 8 was Witten with 12, but the Colts' Dallas Clark was next with 10. Remember Clark? He was one of three Colts receivers -- joining Pierre Garcon and Reggie Wayne -- to reach double digits in targets, but don't call it a trend. In Week 7, Clark didn't have a single reception. For the season, Clark is outside the top 20 tight ends. Blame the lack of Peyton Manning for that.
Top 32 Defense/Special Teams

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<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 100%"><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 40px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Rank </CENTER></TH><TH style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">Player <CENTER></CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 40px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Prev. </CENTER></TH><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; WIDTH: 5px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER></CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 40px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Rank </CENTER></TH><TH style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">Player <CENTER></CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 40px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Prev. </CENTER></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Baltimore Ravens </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Tennessee Titans </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>18 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Green Bay Packers </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>18 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jacksonville Jaguars </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>19 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Pittsburgh Steelers </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>19 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Washington Redskins </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>15 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">New York Jets </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>20 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Oakland Raiders </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>20 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">San Francisco 49ers </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>21 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Tampa Bay Buccaneers </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>21 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Detroit Lions </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Seattle Seahawks </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Chicago Bears </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>23 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Kansas City Chiefs </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Cincinnati Bengals </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>24 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Cleveland Browns </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>24 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">New Orleans Saints </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">New England Patriots </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>23 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Houston Texans </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>26 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Minnesota Vikings </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Philadelphia Eagles </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>13 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Arizona Cardinals </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>26 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Atlanta Falcons </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Miami Dolphins </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>13 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Buffalo Bills </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">St. Louis Rams </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>31 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>14 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">San Diego Chargers </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>14 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Carolina Panthers </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>15 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Dallas Cowboys </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>31 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Denver Broncos </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>16 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">New York Giants </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>16 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Indianapolis Colts </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



Top 100 Overall

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<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 100%"><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Ovr.
Rank </CENTER></TH><TH style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">Player </TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Team </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Pos.
Rank </CENTER></TH><TH style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Next 3
Weeks </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Prev. </CENTER></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Adrian Peterson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Min </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>bye, @GB, OAK </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Arian Foster </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Hou </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CLE, @TB, bye </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">LeSean McCoy </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Phi </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CHI, ARI, @NYG </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ray Rice </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Bal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@PIT, @SEA, CIN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Calvin Johnson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Det </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>bye, @CHI, CAR </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Fred Jackson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Buf </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYJ, @DAL, @MIA </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Matt Forte </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Chi </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@PHI, DET, SD </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Aaron Rodgers </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>QB1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@SD, MIN, TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Greg Jennings </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@SD, MIN, TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Frank Gore </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SF </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@WAS, NYG, ARI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Michael Turner </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Atl </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@IND, NO, TEN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Cam Newton </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Car </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>QB2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>bye, TEN, @DET </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>18 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>13 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Maurice Jones-Drew </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Jac </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>bye, @IND, @CLE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>13 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>14 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Tom Brady </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>QB3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG, @NYJ, KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>15 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Drew Brees </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NO </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>QB4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB, @ATL, bye </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>14 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>16 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Steven Jackson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>StL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@ARI, @CLE, SEA </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Rashard Mendenhall </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Pit </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB11 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BAL, @CIN, bye </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>16 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>18 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Matthew Stafford </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Det </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>QB5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>bye, @CHI, CAR </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>36 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>19 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mike Wallace </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Pit </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BAL, @CIN, bye </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>21 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>20 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ryan Mathews </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SD </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB12 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB, OAK, @CHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>19 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>21 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Darren McFadden </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Oak </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB13 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>DEN, @SD, @MIN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>15 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Michael Vick </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Phi </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>QB6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CHI, ARI, @NYG </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>23 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Steve Smith </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Car </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>bye, TEN, @DET </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>23 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>24 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Hakeem Nicks </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@NE, @SF, PHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Wes Welker </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG, @NYJ, KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>26 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ahmad Bradshaw </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB14 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@NE, @SF, PHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>20 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Andre Johnson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Hou </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CLE, @TB, bye </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Larry Fitzgerald </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ari </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>STL, @PHI, @SF </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">DeSean Jackson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Phi </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CHI, ARI, @NYG </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Tony Romo </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Dal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>QB7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SEA, BUF, @WAS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>26 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>31 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Darren Sproles </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NO </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB15 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB, @ATL, bye </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>38 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jimmy Graham </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NO </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TE1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB, @ATL, bye </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>31 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>33 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ben Roethlisberger </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Pit </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>QB8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BAL, @CIN, bye </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>59 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>34 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Dwayne Bowe </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>MIA, DEN, @NE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>35 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">A.J. Green </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Cin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR11 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@TEN, PIT, @BAL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>45 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>36 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Beanie Wells </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ari </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB16 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>STL, @PHI, @SF </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>43 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>37 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jeremy Maclin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Phi </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR12 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CHI, ARI, @NYG </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>37 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>38 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Roddy White </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Atl </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR13 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@IND, NO, TEN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>35 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>39 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">BenJarvus Green-Ellis </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB17 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG, @NYJ, KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>34 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>40 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Vincent Jackson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SD </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR14 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB, OAK, @CHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>33 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>41 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">LeGarrette Blount </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB18 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@NO, HOU, @GB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>42 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>42 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Daniel Thomas </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Mia </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB19 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@KC, WAS, BUF </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>41 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>43 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jahvid Best </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Det </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB20 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>bye, @CHI, CAR </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>44 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>44 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Shonn Greene </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYJ </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB21 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@BUF, NE, @DEN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>47 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>45 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Brandon Lloyd </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>StL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR15 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@ARI, @CLE, SEA </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>56 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>46 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jason Witten </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Dal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TE2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SEA, BUF, @WAS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>46 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>47 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Chris Johnson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ten </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB22 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CIN, @CAR, @ATL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>24 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>48 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Steve Johnson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Buf </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR16 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYJ, @DAL, @MIA </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>40 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>49 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Eli Manning </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>QB9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@NE, @SF, PHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>82 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>50 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Marques Colston </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NO </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR17 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB, @ATL, bye </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>50 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>51 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">James Starks </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB23 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@SD, MIN, TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>66 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>52 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Dez Bryant </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Dal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR18 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SEA, BUF, @WAS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>48 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>53 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Fred Davis </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Was </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TE3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SF, @MIA, DAL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>57 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>54 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Miles Austin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Dal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR19 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SEA, BUF, @WAS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>52 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>55 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jonathan Stewart </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Car </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB24 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>bye, TEN, @DET </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>71 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>56 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Brandon Marshall </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Mia </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR20 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@KC, WAS, BUF </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>54 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>57 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Owen Daniels </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Hou </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TE4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CLE, @TB, bye </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>64 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>58 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Pierre Garcon </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ind </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR21 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>ATL, JAC, bye </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>61 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>59 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Matt Schaub </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Hou </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>QB10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CLE, @TB, bye </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>49 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>60 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Santonio Holmes </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYJ </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR22 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@BUF, NE, @DEN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>58 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>61 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Philip Rivers </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SD </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>QB11 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB, OAK, @CHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>39 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>62 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jordy Nelson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR23 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@SD, MIN, TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>60 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>63 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Cedric Benson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Cin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB25 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@TEN, PIT, @BAL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>88 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>64 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Reggie Wayne </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ind </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR24 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>ATL, JAC, bye </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>65 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>65 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Antonio Gates </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SD </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TE5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB, OAK, @CHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>69 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>66 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Sidney Rice </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Sea </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR25 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@DAL, BAL, @STL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>72 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>67 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jackie Battle </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB26 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>MIA, DEN, @NE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>90 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>68 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Aaron Hernandez </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TE6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG, @NYJ, KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>53 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>69 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Percy Harvin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Min </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR26 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>bye, @GB, OAK </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>68 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>70 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jermichael Finley </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TE7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@SD, MIN, TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>67 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>71 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Anquan Boldin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Bal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR27 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@PIT, @SEA, CIN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>74 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>72 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Peyton Hillis </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Cle </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB27 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@HOU, STL, JAC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>51 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>73 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Julio Jones </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Atl </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@IND, NO, TEN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>63 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>74 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Rob Gronkowski </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TE8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG, @NYJ, KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>81 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>75 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mario Manningham </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR29 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@NE, @SF, PHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>83 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>76 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">DeMarco Murray </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Dal </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SEA, BUF, @WAS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>62 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>77 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Greg Olsen </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Car </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TE9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>bye, TEN, @DET </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>92 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>78 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">DeAngelo Williams </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Car </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB29 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>bye, TEN, @DET </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>75 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>79 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Eric Decker </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Den </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR30 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@OAK, @KC, NYJ </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>80 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>80 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mark Ingram </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NO </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB30 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB, @ATL, bye </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>77 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>81 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Vernon Davis </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SF </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TE10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@WAS, NYG, ARI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>73 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>82 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mike Williams </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR31 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@NO, HOU, @GB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>70 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>83 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Deion Branch </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR32 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG, @NYJ, KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>78 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>84 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Nate Washington </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ten </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR33 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CIN, @CAR, @ATL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>89 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>85 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Javon Ringer </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Ten </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB31 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CIN, @CAR, @ATL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>86 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Victor Cruz </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYG </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR34 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@NE, @SF, PHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>91 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>87 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Tony Gonzalez </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Atl </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TE11 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@IND, NO, TEN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>76 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>88 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mike Tolbert </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SD </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB32 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB, OAK, @CHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>85 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>89 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Darrius Heyward-Bey </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Oak </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR35 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>DEN, @SD, @MIN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>84 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>90 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Marshawn Lynch </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Sea </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB33 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@DAL, BAL, @STL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>97 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>91 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Michael Crabtree </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SF </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR36 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@WAS, NYG, ARI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>92 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Brandon Pettigrew </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Det </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TE12 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>bye, @CHI, CAR </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>87 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>93 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Josh Freeman </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>QB12 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@NO, HOU, @GB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>94 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Malcom Floyd </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SD </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR37 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>GB, OAK, @CHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>95 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>95 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Plaxico Burress </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYJ </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR38 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@BUF, NE, @DEN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>86 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>96 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Michael Bush </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Oak </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB34 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>DEN, @SD, @MIN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>96 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>97 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Willis McGahee </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Den </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB35 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>@OAK, @KC, NYJ </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>98 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>98 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Pierre Thomas </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NO </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>RB36 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB, @ATL, bye </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>99 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Antonio Brown </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>Pit </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR39 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BAL, @CIN, bye </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>100 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Robert Meachem </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NO </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WR40 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB, @ATL, bye </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NR</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
HacheMan

HacheMan

hacheman@therx.com
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Midseason Mock

With the midseason point of fantasy seasons now in the rearview mirror, it’s time to stop living in the past. We don’t get any points for what our players did in Weeks 1 through 8, and we certainly don‘t care what they did in 2010; all that matters now is what they will do going forward.

With that sentiment in mind, the Rotoworld Staff gathered Tuesday for a Midseason Mock Draft. The idea was simple: If you were drafting today, just for Weeks 9-16, who would you take? This is also the concept behind the top-200 list (updated by Chris Wesseling in the Season Pass every Wednesday at Noon ET).

The rules for this draft were as follows: 10 teams, half-PPR, eight starting spots (QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, FLEX, TE). Again, stats from Week 1-8 do not count -- we’re only looking ahead here.

The results:

ROUND ONE
1.01: Arian Foster, RB, Texans (Adam Levitan)
1.02: Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings (Chris Wesseling)
1.03: LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles (Patrick Daugherty)
1.04: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers (Aaron Bruski)
1.05: Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders (Matt Stroup)
1.06: Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions (Evan Silva)
1.07: Ray Rice, RB, Ravens (Rotoworld top-200 default pick)
1.08: Fred Jackson, RB, Bills (Josh Palgon)
1.09: Matt Forte, RB, Bears (Rotoworld top-200 default pick)
1.10: Michael Vick, QB, Eagles (Rotoworld top-200 default pick)

NOTES: The elite of the elite has remained pretty constant with what we thought coming in. Of these 10 guys, nine were consensus top-16 picks before the season started. … The only pick here that might raise some eyebrows is Michael Vick since he’s currently the No. 6 overall quarterback. But with all of his weapons healthy, the bye week gone and the offensive line rapidly improving, the sky is the limit. He hasn’t even run for a touchdown yet. … Fred Jackson is not a “sell high” candidate. His MVP-caliber campaign is for real.

ROUND TWO
2.01: Mike Wallace, WR, Steelers (Rotoworld top-200 default pick)
2.02: Tom Brady, QB, Patriots (Rotoworld top-200 default pick)
2.03: Frank Gore, RB, 49ers (Josh Palgon)
2.04: Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars (Rotoworld top-200 default pick)
2.05: Cam Newton, QB, Panthers (Evan Silva)
2.06: Drew Brees, QB, Saints (Matt Stroup)
2.07: Wes Welker, WR, Patriots (Aaron Bruski)
2.08: Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers (Patrick Daugherty)
2.09: Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers (Chris Wesseling)
2.10: Hakeem Nicks, WR, Giants (Adam Levitan)

NOTES: Here we have the season’s fantasy MVP, Cam Newton. He’s the No. 1 overall quarterback and it’s certainly not a fluke. If he outscores Aaron Rodgers or Michel Vick the rest of the way, it wouldn’t be a surprise. … Minor health concerns surrounding Ryan Mathews and Hakeem Nicks likely caused them to slip. Both are really special talents. … The biggest surprise of the round is Ben Roethlisberger. Here is Patrick Daugherty on his pick: ‘Why Roethlisberger over Stafford? How about three legitimate deep threats and nearly across the board better numbers (save for raw touchdowns)? Only a particularly brutal early winter in Pittsburgh will slow down Big Ben.’ … Wes Welker and Tom Brady have gone a little cold the last two weeks, but their Week 13-16 schedule looks like this: Colts, Redskins, Broncos, Dolphins.

ROUND THREE
3.01: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals
3.02: Greg Jennings, WR, Packers
3.03: Steve Smith, WR, Panthers
3.04: Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers
3.05: Steven Jackson, RB, Rams
3.06: Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints
3.07: Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs
3.08: Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions
3.09: Roddy White, WR, Falcons
3.10: Michael Turner, RB, Falcons

NOTES: Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals can’t be happy with their new franchise quarterback, Kevin Kolb. Still, there’s plenty of room for a big second half thanks to plus-weather conditions, two matchups with the Rams and the likelihood of big deficits in other matchups. … Jimmy Graham is the first tight end off the board and rightfully so. He’s unguardable. … Matthew Stafford was available in Round 7 or 8 of most preseason drafts. We knew that was a steal. … If we knew Cam Newton was going to be this good, Steve Smith would have gone in this range before the season. Smith still has remarkable “go get it” ability. … Roddy White never really looked healthy in the first half of the year and Matt Ryan has plenty of room to take a leap forward. There’s room to grow here as the Falcons come out of their bye.

ROUND FOUR
4.01: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Eagles
4.02: DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles
4.03: Andre Johnson, WR, Texans
4.04: Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys
4.05: Beanie Wells, RB, Cardinals
4.06: Marques Colston, WR, Saints
4.07: Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys
4.08: Chris Johnson, RB, Titans
4.09: Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys
4.10: Peyton Hillis, RB, Browns

NOTES: Yes, Jeremy Maclin is a better pick than DeSean Jackson. In D-Jax’s last 16 games, he’s been held to 50 or fewer yards eight times. We can’t have that in the fantasy playoffs. … Andre Johnson would have gone in Round 1 or 2 if his hamstring was healthy. It’s not -- and he’ll be susceptible to aggravation upon his return. … Beanie Wells is going to play through some knee pain all year. It’s a high-risk, high-reward kind of pick. … Peyton Hillis has an up arrow again thanks to Montario Hardesty’s calf injury. If Hillis could sustain health, he’d get 25-plus touches a game. … The Cowboys’ refusal to highlight Miles Austin and Dez Bryant in the passing game is mind-boggling. If they want to win, that will change. … Chris Johnson was the No. 1 overall pick in a lot of leagues. What’s happened to him is pretty inexplicable, but it’s happened: Javon Ringer is a better back than him right now. It’s a gamble to even take CJ2K this high. … Marques Colston’s knee issues were a major concern coming into the year. Not so much anymore. He’s leading the Saints’ receiving corps in snaps on a weekly basis.

ROUND FIVE
5.01: Aaron Hernandez, TE, Patriots
5.02: Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers
5.03: Brandon Lloyd, WR, Rams
5.04: Darren Sproles, RB, Saints
5.05: A.J. Green, WR, Bengals
5.06: Jahvid Best, RB, Lions
5.07: Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants
5.08: Stevie Johnson, WR, Bills
5.09: Brandon Marshall, WR, Dolphins
5.10: Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots

NOTES: Aaron Hernandez is the second tight end off the board. He’s essentially a wideout and No. 2 passing game option that happens to be playing tight end. … Philip Rivers’ woes have taken a lot of the luster off Vincent Jackson. But much like Matt Ryan, Rivers can’t play any worse. … In this half-PPR or full-PPR formats, Darren Sproles is a beast. He’s showing no signs of wearing down despite 12.0 touches per game. … We have no idea if Jahvid Best (concussion) will return after the bye. The reason he drops to here is the fear this could be a serious, long-term situation. … Two Patriots tight ends in one round? Yep. … Brandon Lloyd and Josh McDaniels really figure to get going once Sam Bradford returns to health.

ROUND SIX
6.01: Jermichael Finley, TE, Packers
6.02: Daniel Thomas, RB, Dolphins
6.03: Victor Cruz, WR, Giants
6.04: Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers
6.05: Percy Harvin, WR, Vikings
6.06: Anquan Boldin, WR, Ravens
6.07: Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys
6.08: LeGarrette Blount, RB, Bucs
6.09: Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers
6.10: Eli Manning, QB, Giants

NOTES: With all the weapons on the Packers, opposing defenses often choose to focus on Jermichael Finley. That’s how good he is. At some point, Aaron Rodgers figures to start force-feeding Finley. … The most interesting name here is Victor Cruz. Now locked into the slot role, Cruz has a major up arrow as he strings together consistency. … LeGarrette Blount is healthy and expected to be a three-down back going forward. If he performs in that role, he’ll be a steal here. But it’s obvious not too many think he will. … Percy Harvin’s snap count has been a joke in the first half. With the bye week here, perhaps his ribs will heal and the Vikes will use him more down the stretch. … Eli Manning is smoking hot, while Philip Rivers simply looks injured out there.

ROUND SEVEN
7.01: Julio Jones, WR, Falcons
7.02: Owen Daniels, TE, Texans
7.03: Fred Davis, TE, Redskins
7.04: Santonio Holmes, WR, Jets
7.05: Mario Manningham, WR, Giants
7.06: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers
7.07: Jordy Nelson, WR, Packers
7.08: DeMarco Murray, RB, Cowboys
7.09: Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers
7.10: Pierre Garcon, WR, Colts

NOTES: Chris Cooley went ahead of Fred Davis in a lot of preseason drafts, but that was a mistake from Week 1. Davis is a beast and the ’Skins only playmaker left. … There’s still room to believe in a Mario Manningham breakout. He’s been robbed of touchdowns on multiple occasions so far and, as mentioned earlier, there aren’t many quarterbacks hotter than Eli Manning right now. … Yes, Pierre Garcon is a much preferred play over the declining Reggie Wayne. … Dallas’ backfield situation is unclear. What we know is that DeMarco Murray has performed when given the opportunity and Felix Jones hasn’t. … Jonathan Stewart is a better pass-catcher, goal-line back and pure runner than DeAngelo Williams. The Panthers know it. … Santonio Holmes has been vastly underused by the Jets for more than a year now. There’s little reason to think they’ll stop wasting his talent.

ROUND EIGHT
8.01: Willis McGahee, RB, Broncos
8.02: Mike Williams, WR, Bucs
8.03: Greg Olsen, TE, Panthers
8.04: Sidney Rice, WR, Seahawks
8.05: Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers
8.06: Tony Gonzalez, TE, Falcons
8.07: Shonn Greene, RB, Jets
8.08: Greg Salas, WR, Rams
8.09: Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers
8.10: Jackie Battle, RB, Chiefs

NOTES: The most interesting pick here is Antonio Brown. Even if Hines Ward is healthy, the Steelers know they have to reduce the veteran’s snaps. Brown and Emmanuel Sanders are simply better players. … Jackie Battle isn’t very good, but he’s the primary back on a team with an elite run-blocking offensive line. Not bad for the last pick. … Mike Williams has predictably sunk like a stone after his fluky rookie year. … There’s not much hope that Shonn Greene will all of a sudden become a difference-making talent. In fact, there’s none. … In case you were wondering -- yes, Patrick Daugherty is from St. Louis. Here’s his take on the Greg Salas pick: “Salas is in the slot, a position that anyone who owned Danny Amendola in 2010 can tell you is all important in St. Louis. Should rack up catches down the stretch.”

Remember, this is not the Rotoworld official rankings going forward. This draft contains human biases, preferences, selecting for need etc. If you want a full top-200 list for the rest of the season, check it out in the Season Pass. Chris Wesseling will be updating it to reflect the latest news by noon every Wednesday.


OK, let’s get to Tuesday’s news:

INJURY QUICK SLANTS
Ryan Mathews (groin) is in serious doubt for Week 9 while Mike Tolbert (hamstring) is expected back. … Kevin Kolb admitted that his latest case of turf toe is serious. … Felix Jones (ankle) is listed as day to day. … Julio Jones (hamstring) looks like a full go for Week 9. … Earl Bennett (chest) has been cleared to play. He should get his slot job back quickly. … LeGarrette Blount (knee) is ready to go and expects to get a majority of third-down reps. … Emmanuel Sanders popped up with a knee ailment Tuesday. No word yet on the severity. Meanwhile, Hines Ward (ankle) is expected back in practice Wednesday. … Tashard Choice (hamstring) is not expected to make his Redskins debut until Week 10. … Willis McGahee (hand) claims he plans on playing Sunday.

DEPTH CHART QUICK SLANTS
The Raiders signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but he’s not worth an add as a rotational receiver. … Lance Moore was fourth among Saints receivers in Week 8 snaps with 38. … The Browns finally gave up on WR Brian Robiskie. … The Bucs said Tuesday that they want Arrelious Benn more involved in the offense going forward. … The Patriots confirmed that Kevin Faulk played the majority of running back snaps in Week 8 simply because they were trailing. … Antonio Gates played 75-of-81 snaps Monday night. He’s locked in as a must-start. … Cedric Benson came off his suspension and rejoined the Bengals Monday.
 
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HacheMan

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Target Watch: Week 9

The numbers by each name are targets for weeks' 2-8 followed by the total year to date targets in parenthesis.

All snap count data comes from our friends over at Pro Football Focus.


Arizona Cardinals

Larry Fitzgerald: 9-8-11-8-BYE-10-5 (58), Early Doucet: 6-6-6-16-BYE-5-6 (48), Andre Roberts: 7-6-0-6-BYE-5-3 (31), Todd Heap: 1-10-6-dnp-BYE-dnp-dnp (20), Rob Housler: 0-0-1-8-BYE-6-2 (17),Jeff King: 2-0-1-6-BYE-1-3 (16)

Kevin Kolb continues his inconsistent play which is really hurting Larry Fitzgerald and making it impossible to rely on any of the secondary receivers. Early Doucet had his second touchdown in as many games, but also totaled 50 yards in those two combined. No touchdown equals a very poor fantasy day for Doucet.

Beanie Wells had 22 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown against a stout Ravens defense when early in the week it didn't even look like he'd play. He says he knee is going to continue to hurt all season which is bad news, but also showed he is willing to play hurt and this week showed that he can.


Atlanta Falcons

Roddy White: 4-17-11-9-5-10-BYE (69), Tony Gonzalez: 9-8-9-8-3-8-BYE (52) Julio Jones: 7-7-17-4-dnp-dnp-BYE (41), Harry Douglas: 2-7-0-5-4-7-BYE (29), Jason Snelling: 3-2-dnp-2-1-1-BYE (16), Jacquizz Rodgers: 0-3-1-1-1-4-BYE (15), Michael Turner: 1-0-2-0-3-1-BYE (11)

Roddy White is still the guy, but he's not as explosive as he's been in the past and the Falcons have missed Julio Jones quite a bit. Harry Douglas has some ability and had a decent game in Week 8, but Jones is a special player and fits well in this offense.


Baltimore Ravens

Anquan Boldin: 7-14-2-BYES-9-12-12 (63), Ed Dickson: 6-9-12-BYES-3-5-9 (49), Ray Rice: 8-7-5-BYES-7-8-9 (49), Torrey Smith: 0 -8-6-BYES-5-5-9 (34), Dennis Pitta: 3-1-1-BYES-5-3-8 (23), Vonta Leach: 1-4-3-BYES-2-1-1 (15)

Ray Rice benefited from Anquan Boldin's big game and pass interference calls which set him up at the goal line. He has now surpassed his touchdown total from last season in his 7th game of this season. Remember the days when we worried about Willis McGahee?

The Ravens got down quick in this one and had to throw the ball a ton, which helped Boldin put up a big yardage game and give Dickson, Smith and Pitta a whole bunch of targets. Dickson and Pitta continue to cancel each other out and Smith is boom or bust since most of his targets are deep passes and the Ravens aren't usually pass happy.


Buffalo Bills

Stevie Johnson: 14-10-6-5-10-BYE-9 (60), David Nelson: 13-8-3-2-6-BYE-5 (43), Fred Jackson: 2-6-8-6-6-BYE-4 (33), Scott Chandler: 4-3-2-1-1-BYE-2 (18), C.J. Spiller: 1-1-1-2-5-BYE-3 (14), Naaman Roosevelt: dnp-1-1-7-2-BYE-1 (12)

The target numbers are starting to filter down to just Stevie Johnson and David Nelson, but the production of both has fallen off of late. As it gets colder it is hard to see those numbers taking a sharp trend upward. They are the two to own of course, but don't bet the farm on them.

Scott Chandler is up to his old tricks. The dude scores a touchdown on 40 percent of his receptions. If only he had 30 receptions instead of 15! It’s amazing that he has six touchdowns and is pretty much unownable in most leagues.


Carolina Panthers

Steve Smith: 13-7-10-7-7-9-9 (73), Greg Olsen: 4-10-7-5-10-3-7 (52), Legedu Naanee: 7-2-11-7-2-3-7 (44), Jeremy Shockey: 5-7- 5-7-7-4-3 (41), Jonathan Stewart: 8-3-4-1-3-0-3 (25), Brandon LaFell: 5-0-6-2-1-3-2 (24), DeAngelo Williams: 4-3-1-0-3-0-2 (15)

Steve Smith should win the comeback player award once again, and coming back from the likes of Jimmy Clausen is adversity at its finest. After Smith the numbers continue to be scattered with only Greg Olsen having any kind of consistent play, at least in relation to his teammates. I was worried about Olsen's turf toe, but he looked good on a seam route to score his touchdown and on the whole he is seeing a lot more targets than Shockey. But he's still more of a matchup play.

Brandon LaFell saw 42 snaps to Legedu Naanee's 61, but also only had 2 targets to Naanee's 7. I have to believe LaFell will continue to see more work going forward.


Chicago Bears

Matt Forte: 14-8-5-7-7-4-BYE (51), Devin Hester: 9-5-2-7-7-9-BYE (44), Johnny Knox: 6-9-4-2-4-6-BYE (35), Dane Sanzenbacher: 7-7-2-10-3-3-BYE (33), Roy Williams: dnp-4-1-1-4-5-BYE (19) Kellen Davis: 1-2-1-3-3-2-BYE (17), Sam Hurd: 3-1-2-5-0-0-BYE (11)

There isn't much to say about Matt Forte besides heaping praise so I'll move onto the wide receivers. Whoops, the heaps of praise just slid down into the gutter. Amazingly Roy Williams showed up in Week 7. He caught 4 of 5 targets for 59 yards and a touchdown. With 9 targets Devin Hester had a stat line like Devin Hester, 4 receptions for 46 yards. Johnny Knox had his best game in a month with 3 receptions for 53 yards. Yes, this receiving corps is pretty sad, but I'm going to go out on a very slim limb in a wind storm and say that Roy Williams leads this team in receiving from here on out. That might not mean too much in fantasy, but in a land of the blind the one-eyed man is king.
<!--RW-->Cincinnati Bengals

A.J. Green: 14-5-10-8-7-BYE-10 (58), Jerome Simpson: 9-4-3-7-9-BYE-2 (43), Jermaine Gresham: 5-8-7-7-6-BYE-dnp (41), Andre Caldwell: 4-12-5-4-4-BYE-6 (36), Brian Leonard: 2-1-2-3-2-BYE-3 (15)

Against the stout Seattle rush defense the Bengals took to the air and were successful for the most part. Unfortunately going forward their competition gets a little stouter, but Andy Dalton to AJ Green has turned into a great combo already. Jerome Simpson got a touchdown, but only 2 targets. He'll only be worthwhile as a desperation spot starter going forward.

Bernard Scott didn't have much room to run against the Seahawks tough rush defense, but did a good job grinding out yardage and looked quicker than day-suspended Cedric Benson. Scott should see more work going forward, but it's not a given that he will.


Cleveland Browns

Greg Little: 5-5-8-BYE-12-7-11 (51), Ben Watson: 4-10-9-BYE-8-4-3 (45), Mohamed Massaquoi: 6-6-9-BYE-7-2-dnp (37), Josh Cribbs: 3-6-8-BYE-5-6-3 (34), Evan Moore: 1-3-2-BYE-3-4-2 (21), Peyton Hillis: 4-dnp-6-BYE-1-dnp-dnp (19), Montario Hardesty: 0-4-9-BYE-4-2-0 (19), Alex Smith: 5-4-2-BYE-3-2-1 (17), Chris Ogbonnaya: dnp-dnp-0-BYE-dnp-5-8 (13)

The Browns continue to bore the football and fake football world into a coma. Greg Little continues to get his targets, but until Colt McCoy can Popeye-up his arm so he can keep defenses honest, I don't see any Browns' receivers being consistent enough to start week in and week out.


Dallas Cowboys

Jason Witten: 14-9-10-BYE-4-6-12 (64), Miles Austin: 15-dnp-dnp-BYE-10-5-3 (42), Dez Bryant: dnp-4-5-BYE-8-8-5 (38), Laurent Robinson: dnp-5-10-BYE-2-3-8 (28), Felix Jones: 2-3-7-BYE-4-dnp-dnp (20), Kevin Ogletree: 4-7-2-BYE-2-0-0 (17), Martellus Bennett: 0-3-3-BYE-3-0-1 (10), Demarco Murray: 1-0-1-BYE-2-2-3 (10).

The Eagles put the beatdown on the Cowboys and took Miles Austin and Dez Bryant out of the game. Laurent Robinson benefitted with 8 targets and over 100 yards, his second 100-yard game on the season. Tony Romo didn't want to test the Eagles corners so Witten and Robinson got all the work. That won't be the case every week of course.


Denver Broncos

Eric Decker: 9-12-10-5-BYE-3-12 (56), Eddie Royal: 3-dnp-dnp-dnp-BYE-4-13 (26), Daniel Fells: 2-4-3-4-BYE-4-1 (24), Matt Willis: 4-3-1-3-BYE-2-3 (18), Willis McGahee: 2-5-2-1-BYE-0-dnp (17), Demaryius Thomas: dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-BYE-10-3 (13), Lance Ball: 1-5-2-0-BYE-0-3 (12), Knowshon Moreno: dnp-0-1-3-BYE-2-2 (11)

Last week Tim Tebow targeted Demaryius Thomas 10 times and Eric Decker 3, this week he targeted Decker 12 times and Thomas 3. And of course we could be seeing Kyle Orton or Brady Quinn any day now so tying to get a handle on who will be targeted is tough. The good news is that Decker should continue to be a big part of this offense as he should be and that Eddie Royal is back in the fold enough to be on the radar again.

The running back situation remains ugly (no, they didn't trade for Marshawn Lynch). Lance Ball and Knowshon Moreno split the work for the most part and with Tebow unable to move the ball it was difficult for those two to do much of anything. Now Willis McGahee is trying to come back for this week. As long as Tebow is at the helm it will be difficult to start any Denver player.


Detroit Lions
www.rapsports.com
Calvin Johnson: 7-11-13-6-9-11-7 (74), Brandon Pettigrew: 3-13-9-5-14-6-4 (60), Nate Burleson: 9-2-4-4-10-3-7 (44), Jahvid Best: 8-7-8-4-8-dnp-dnp (40). Titus Young: 7-8-5-4-5-3-5 (38), Tony Scheffler: 3-1-1-1-dnp-3-3 (13), Maurice Morris: 0-2-0-1- 1-4-3 (13)

The Lions had their way with the Broncos and once again Calvin Johnson did his usual damage. Brandon Pettigrew was outproduced by Tony Scheffler which is a little worrisome, but Pettigrew was on the field 51 snaps to Scheffler's 18. This might be a good time to grab Pettigrew cheap. Titus Young had a wide open touchdown, but he and Nate Burleson will continue to hurt each other's overall numbers.

With Jahvid Best still out, Maurice Morris saw 42 snaps to Keiland Williams' 19. Morris is the back to own while Best is recovering.


Green Bay Packers

Greg Jennings: 8-10-7-5-10-10-BYE (58 )Jermichael Finley: 6-8-6-7-4-2-BYE (37). Jordy Nelson: 2-5-6-7-3-4-BYE (35) James Starks: 4-4-6-3-2-4-BYE (24), James Jones: 2-6-3-7-1-4-BYE (24), Donald Driver: 1-2-4-2-5-1-BYE (22), Randall Cobb: 2-1-3-2-0 -2-BYE (12)

Another day and another nearly flawless game from Aaron Rodgers in Week 7. Right now he could turn Benard Berrian into a top 10 receiver. Yes, he’s that good. Like Colt McCoy and Drew Brees he likes to throw to many different receivers (KUHHHHHHHNN!!!!) and the only extremely reliable one has been Greg Jennings. Jordy Nelson is the #2 non kicker/quarterback fantasy player on the Packers right now even though Finley has been target more. The battle for 2nd should be a close one. After that the two James’ are battling over 4th and 5th. Jones and Starks are picking up the scraps that they can and doing it admirably. Ryan Grant is pretty much droppable at this point. Starks out plays him at every turn.


Houston Texans

Owen Daniels: 5-9-7-11-3-5-6 (48), Jacoby Jones: 4-2-1-11-7-4-5 (37), Andre Johnson: 9-12-5-dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp (37), Arian Foster: 2-dnp-5-7-11-5-4 (34), Kevin Walter: dnp-3-1-6-8-4-9 (33), Derrick Mason: 2-10-3-1-4-1-2 (29), Joel Dreessen: 2-1-1-9 -2-2-2 (20)

The Andre Johnson-less Texans have spread his targets out between Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones fairly evenly. Both will continue to have some value while Johnson is out, but will cut into each other's production.

Owen Daniels is the team's overall target leader and continues to put up respectable fantasy numbers, but unfortunately fellow tight end Joel Dreessen has scored 2 touchdowns the last two weeks, in essence stealing the fantasy food from my Owen Daniels' led fake teams!
<!--RW-->Indianapolis Colts

Reggie Wayne: 8-13-8-7-6-4-14 (71), Pierre Garcon: 5-10-8-8-11-6-15 (69), Austin Collie: 10-7-7-2-6-5-7 (47), Dallas Clark: 8 -6-4-5-7-0-10 (45). Joseph Addai: 4-2-2-1-dnp-2-dnp (15)

When I look through the target leaders Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon are always near the top, but when I look at actual production they are a little further down. Usually opportunity breeds fantasy points, fame and fortune in this game, but instead it's breeding contempt and uproarious laughter.


Jacksonville Jaguars

Mike Thomas: 10-8-11-7-6-1-4 (58), Jason Hill: dnp-5-9-7-3-8-5 (42), Marcedes Lewis: dnp-2-7-4-8-3-9 (36), Mike Sims-Walker: 11-6-6-dnp-dnp-2-4 (33), Maurice Jones-Drew: 4-3-4-0-3-3-4 (21), Deji Karim: 1-2-1-4-1-0-1 (13), Jarett Dillard: 2-0-3-1-3- dnp-3 (12)

Don’t waste your time. Really. I'm not kidding.


Kansas City Chiefs

Dwayne Bowe: 8-6-9-11-BYE-10-11 (63), Steve Breaston: 2-6-5-5-BYE-9-4 (33), Dexter McCluster: 5-6-4-2-BYE-2-3 (27), Leonard Pope: 3-3-1-3-BYE-1-1 (18), Jonathan Baldwin: dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-BYE-5-8 (13), Keary Colbert: dnp-1-4-2-BYE-0-1 (11)

The biggest news out of this game was Jonathan Baldwin. He has a ton of talent and flashed some of it on Monday night. Of course he is a rookie on a team that favors the run and already has a No. 1 receiver and a seasoned No. 2 receiver to compete with. He had the second most targets beating out Steve Breaston and if that keeps up he should be able to continue putting up decent numbers, but it is still too early to tell.


Miami Dolphins

Brandon Marshall: 11-7-8-BYE-13-9-6 (67), Davone Bess: 5-9-5-BYE-3-12-5 (46), Brian Hartline: 7-4-5-BYE-6-2-2 (33), Reggie Bush: 1-1-2-BYE-2-2-5 (23), Anthony Fasano: 2-2-4-BYE-2-2-1 (19), Daniel Thomas: 1-3-dnp-BYE-1-5-dnp (10)

There weren't many yards or touchdowns to go around for the Dolphins last week, but Brandon Marshall did lead the team in targets once again. With Matt Moore behind center, Marshall is the only receiver even worth rostering.

With Daniel Thomas out, Reggie Bush had a nice game. It was only his fourth 100-yard rushing game ever and his first since the 2008 season. He ran with decisiveness which was good to see, but he had a couple games like that early in the season and then was unable to keep it up. He fooled me once and he'll have to try harder to fool me again, especially with Daniel Thomas most likely back soon.


Minnesota Vikings

Percy Harvin: 8-5-7-2-9-3-5 (43), Visanthe Shiancoe: 7-2-8-6-7-8-4 (43), Michael Jenkins: 3-10-1-6-6-8-2 (39), Bernard Berrian: 4-5-6-dnp-7-dnp-dnp (24), Devin Aromashodu: 2-2-2-5-2-5-6 (24), Adrian Peterson: 2-5-1-0-1-1-5 (18), Kyle Rudolph: 1 -3-4-0-3-1-5 (18)

Percy Harvin seems to leave every game with an injury, but he's still leading the team in targets and is pretty darn good at football. He’s the only Minnesota receiver I'd want on my fake team. Christian Ponder is also targeting his tight ends quite a bit, but Shiancoe and Rudolph are going to hurt each other's value going forward.

Adrian Peterson is better than anyone at football.


New England Patriots

Wes Welker: 11-20-14-8-10-BYE-8 (83), Rob Gronkowski: 6-9-5-4-7-BYE-9 (47), Deion Branch: 10-3-4-8-5-BYE-7 (46), Aaron Hernandez: 8-dnp-dnp-9-14-BYE-4 (45), Chad Ochocinco: 2-4-2-3-1-BYE-1 (16), Danny Woodhead: 2-5-0-dnp-3-BYE-0 (11)

There are only 4 players getting targets for the Patriots. Compared to the Packers these numbers seem odd for such a high powered passing attack. This does make it easier to start all of these guys week in and week out though.

Kevin Faulk saw the bulk of the work with the Patriots playing from behind. Stevan Ridley has quickly lost his snaps and that is sad. Green-Ellis will be the guy when the Patriots are ahead, but this committee is scary.


New Orleans Saints

Jimmy Graham: 7-8-14-12-11-7-8 (74), Darren Sproles: 10-9-7-7-11-6-7 (66), Marques Colston: dnp-dnp-3-6-11-7-6 (42), Lance Moore: 4-9-6-6-3-4-9 (41), Robert Meachem: 4-8-6-5-2-2-3 (38), Pierre Thomas: 4-1-4-3-1-6-4 (28), Devery Henderson: 3-4-1-1-2 -2-4 (26)

Lance Moore led the way in targets against the Rams which might just be an anomaly, but I like Moore so much that I want to square peg it into a round target hole. But I'll hold off for now especially since he was fourth in total number of plays for Saints wide receivers. Graham, Sproles and Colston remain your target leaders and the guys you start every week.

With Ingram out we saw Chris Ivory take his place and the snap count numbers went to Sproles with 43 snaps, then Pierre Thomas with 26 and Ivory with 6. Sproles is still the guy to own with Ingram the guy to hold onto and hope.
<!--RW-->New York Giants

Hakeem Nicks: 7-5-14-7-7-BYE-10 (61), Mario Manningham: 7-dnp-5-9-8-BYE-9 (45), Victor Cruz: 2-5-9-11-4-BYE-9 (42), Ahmad Bradshaw: 5-5-5-5-2-BYE-5 (29), Jake Ballard: 1-1-3-4-5-BYE-7 (24)

The big three receivers are fighting each other for looks and touchdowns and there is no easy way to predict who will get theirs from week to week. And now TE Jake Ballard is slowly inching up the target list. All are viable fantasy players, but you won't be able to bank on big games from any one player.

Ahmad Bradshaw was on the field for 48 plays while Brandon Jacobs was out there for 16, just enough for him to get all sulky.


New York Jets

Dustin Keller: 6-9-8-2-5-8-BYE (46), Plaxico Burress: 2-6-8-8-4-8-BYE (45), Santonio Holmes: 4-2-11-6-4-3-BYE (40), LaDainian Tomlinson: 2-6-3-1-4-4-BYE (27), Jeremy Kerley: 0-0-1-3-4-7-BYE (15), Shonn Greene: 2-7-0-2-2-1-BYE (15)

Shonn Greene has had 20-plus touches three weeks in a row. He's a pretty mediocre talent, but it's hard to beat his opportunities coupled with a nice schedule on the horizon.


Oakland Raiders

Darrius Heyward-Bey: dnp-3-7-12-9-11-BYE (49), Denarius Moore: 8-6-5-6-4-5-BYE (35), Darren McFadden: 8-3-6-3-1-1-BYE (23), Jacoby Ford: dnp-dnp-2-7-4-5-BYE (22), Derek Hagan: 8-3-5-3-0-1-BYE (20), Brandon Myers: 3-1-0-1-1-1-BYE (12). Michael Bush: 0-2-4-0-1-3-BYE (11)

Darrius Heyward-Bey has clearly become the No. 1 receiver for Oakland and has topped 7 targets and 82 yards in his last 4 games. Greg Jennings, Calvin Johnson and DHB were the only receivers to do that heading into Week 8. And getting to 89 yards receiving with Kyle Boller and a just-from-the-couch Carson Palmer at the helm is quite an accomplishment.

Darren McFadden had a bye week to rest his foot which looks like it should be enough time to do so, but Michael Bush was the clear No. 1 when he was gone getting 56 snaps to Taiwan Jones' 8.


Philadelphia Eagles

Jeremy Maclin: 15-7-11-8-7-BYE-3 (54). DeSean Jackson: 3-6-9-7-6-BYE-6 (49), Jason Avant: 4-5-8-10-4-BYE-5 (43), Brent Celek: 7-2-4-5-9-BYE-9 (39), LeSean McCoy: 4-3-9-7-4-BYE-3 (33)

The Cowboys took away the outside receivers and gave up chunks of yardage to Brent Celek and LeSean McCoy so the target numbers aren't exactly what you’ll see every week. But Celek has had back to back 9 target games and that's a trend worth trending.


Pittsburgh Steelers

Antonio Brown: 6-8-10-4-2-9-15 (63), Mike Wallace: 9-7-4-7-6-7-7 (58), Heath Miller: 3-6-3-4-6-4-9 (40), Hines Ward: 6-4-4-8- 4-4-dnp (39), Emmanuel Sanders: 3-5-2-3-4-7-8 (35), Rashard Mendenhall: 2-4-2-dnp-0-2-4 (15), Isaac Redman: 1-0-1-3-1-2-2 (10)

Antonio Brown leads the Steelers in targets so that's good for him and for you if you own him. With Hines Ward out, Emmanuel Sanders' targets have shot up, but Ward is most likely going to be back soon. For the Steelers sake, he should take a little more time off.


San Diego Chargers

Vincent Jackson: 15-8-4-6-BYE-8-8 (52), Ryan Mathews: 9-4-5-1-BYE-5-7 (36), Malcom Floyd: 2-5-3-7-BYE-4-7 (36), Mike Tolbert: 9-5-8-3-BYE-1-dnp (35), Antonio Gates: 1-dnp-dnp-dnp-BYE-7-7 (28), Randy McMichael: 1-5-6-6-BYE-3-3 (27), Patrick Crayton: dnp-7-1-2-BYE-1-4 (15), Curtis Brinkley: dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-BYE-0-3 (3)

Vincent Jackson is still the go to guy, but has had some tough matchups defensively and Philip Rivers has not been right. He should be able to put together some nice games in the weeks ahead.

As long as Antonio Gates is on the field he's going to do good things, but watching him hobble around is hard to do as a fantasy owner.

The running back situation is like a bad zombie movie with Tolbert, Mathews and now Brinkley all hurting to an extent. It is looking like Tolbert is the healthiest of the bunch right now.
<!--RW-->Seattle Seahawks

Sidney Rice: dnp-10-6-5-BYE-5-14 (40), Doug Baldwin: 2-4-6-9-BYE-3-8 (38), Ben Obomanu: 6-2-4-10-BYE-2-4 (34), Zach Miller: 2 -3-6-0-BYE-dnp-5 (20), Mike Williams: 3-1-5-dnp-BYE-4-dnp (18), Golden Tate: 2-3-0-3-BYE-1-4 (18), Justin Forsett: 3-3-4-1- BYE-1-1 (18), Anthony McCoy: 3-0-0-6-BYE-4-1 (17), Marshawn Lynch: 2-3-4-6-BYE-dnp-0 (17), Leon Washington: 1-1-1-1-BYE-4-2 (12)

Tarvaris Jackson returned this week which helped Sidney Rice to a fat 14 targets and Doug Baldwin to 9. Jackson is a much more productive quarterback than Whitehurst so even on 4 targets Ben Obomanu was able to have a good game. They are going to be inconsistent, but TJax makes the receivers' prospects much better.


San Francisco 49ers

Michael Crabtree: dnp-6-9-5-15-BYE-9 (46), Vernon Davis: 2-9-6-3-2-BYE-3 (31), Josh Morgan: 5-4-3-6-dnp-BYE-dnp (20), Frank Gore: 3-2-2-2-5-BYE-0 (18), Delanie Walker: 4-2-3-3-3-BYE-0 (16). Ted Ginn: 7-0-1-0-5-BYE-1 (14), Braylon Edwards: 2-dnp-dnp- dnp-dnp-BYE-7 (14)

Michael Crabtree has risen from the ashes to become a solid player (at least for the last few weeks) and is starting to look like a solid fantasy player. But in this offense there isn't a ton of passing yards to go around. That makes the return of Braylon Edwards problematic. He and Vernon Davis will need to fight over the scraps and there won't be that many for a team averaging 1.29 receiving touchdowns and 179 yards passing which is second only to the unbelievably inept passing offense of the Jaguars.


St. Louis Rams

Brandon Lloyd: dnp-7-11-BYE-dnp-12-13 (58), Danario Alexander: 7-8-8-BYE-10-6-dnp (39), Brandon Gibson: 8-7-1-BYE-10-dnp-6 (37), Lance Kendricks: 4-3-9-BYE-6-1-3 (31), Greg Salas: 8-dnp-dnp-BYE-10-2-6 (29), Steven Jackson: dnp-1-8-BYE-5-5-5 (24)

A.J. Feeley is liking him some Brandon Lloyd with a quarter of 100 targets in just two weeks! I have a good feeling that Sam Bradford will also hop on that train so I'm hoping the numbers stay high. Greg Salas had 10 targets the last time Sam Bradford played and is now firmly implanted into the starting lineup. Bradford liked targeting the slot position and Salas is just waiting for him to come back.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike Williams: 4-9-8-9-13-11-BYE (64), Kellen Winslow: 8-4-6-9-10-12-BYE (57), Preston Parker: 7-1-7-3-5-6-BYE (35), Earnest Graham: 5-8-6-0-2-1-BYE (31), Arrelious Benn: 2-4-1-4-6-1-BYE (25), Dezmon Briscoe: 4-0-0-2-2-10-BYE (20), Kregg Lumpkin: 0-1 -3-1-0-8-BYE (14)

Mike Williams was the 8th most targeted player in all of the NFL heading into Tampa's bye last week and leads his team in red zone targets. So why was he 52nd in fantasy points and tied for 2nd in fantasy points for Tampa Bay wide receivers? That is a good question sir or madam. All I can tell you is they haven't given up on him in the slightest. And he did have a decent game with 6 receptions for 75 yards in London in Week 7. The touchdowns will come.

Earnest Graham is done for the year and Kregg Lumpkin is clearly a 3rd down back at best. Thankfully LeGarrette Blount is most likely back this week.


Tennessee Titans

Nate Washington: 11-9-4-8-BYE-3-6 (48), Chris Johnson: 5-7-2-3-BYE-6-5 (35), Lavelle Hawkins: 4-5-4-8-BYE-7-5 (33), Damian Williams: dnp-3-4-11-BYE-4-5 (29), Jared Cook: 3-2-6-9-BYE-2-2 (26), Javon Ringer: 2-2-0-6-BYE-1-6 (17)

Nate Washington got into the end zone twice on Sunday, but only had 34 yards receiving. Lavelle Hawkins and Damian Williams are going to continue to eat into his targets and production. Jared Cook continues to not get the targets he needs to be fantasy relevant even though his receiving abilities should make him as relevant as they come.

Javon Ringer saw 35 snaps to Chris Johnson's 32 and they were also close on number of looks with 20 for Ringer and 19 for Johnson. Unless Johnson really takes a big step forward quickly these numbers are going to stay the same or tilt Ringer's way.


Washington Redskins

Fred Davis: 7-3-6-BYE-11-8-9 (50), Jabar Gaffney: 8-6-4-BYE-10-8-5 (48), Santana Moss: 9-8-10-BYE-6-2-dnp (43), Anthony Armstrong: 4-0-dnp-BYE-dnp-4-4 (18), Roy Helu: 4-2-0-BYE-4-2-4 (16), Tim Hightower: 2-6-3-BYE-dnp-1-dnp (15), Terrence Austin: dnp-4-0-BYE-1-6-3 (14), Donte Stallworth: 5-dnp-1-BYE-3-dnp-2 (11)

This passing game for fantasy is Fred Davis and then Fred Davis. Don't try to get cute. The running game is the opposite of cute of course with Ryan Torain doing next to nothing and the Redskins barely even making an attempt to run the ball all game. Roy Helu was on the field for 35 snaps to Torain's 22 mainly because they were passing so much. I know Shanahan is a punch line for fake footballers like ourselves, but we always try to squeeze as much production as we can out of his running backs. Right now there just isn’t any to squeeze. The addition of Tashard Choice doesn't help much even though he is currently injured. But until I see somebody have some real success and actually get a good amount of opportunities I'm taking a Shanahan break.
 
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