Fantasy Football Week 8: Examining Risky Lineup Choices for Sunday Slate

Fortune favors the bold, but catastrophe can also strike upon the daring. In many instances, fantasy football players must decide whether to swing for the fences or play it safe.

A life without risk is hardly a full life at all. Is that a wise mantra or a callous daredevil justifying his or her own questionable decisions? Risks are risky for a reason; they could fail miserably and leave you desolate. 

Or they can propel you to a Week 8 victory. Decisions, boy are they difficult to make.

Just remember, the worse that can happen here is losing a game based on a game. If there is ever a time to take a risk, it's in fantasy sports, where the stakes aren't all that high in the grand scheme of things. That doesn't mean owners should shout "YOLO" and bench Jamaal Charles on a whim, but let's take a look at some perplexing players capable of lighting up the scoreboard or doing nothing at all.

Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons (vs. Detroit Lions)

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Matt Ryan has compiled the NFL's fourth-most passing yards per game, trailing Andrew Luck, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning. How, exactly, is he so risky going into his Sunday morning matchup in London?

After a scorching start to the season, Ryan has thrown just one touchdown in each of the past three games. While he puts up good yardage, he has averaged a mere 6.66 yards per attempt over his past four games.

Week	OPP	CMP/ATT	Pass YDs	TDs	INTs
4	MIN	298	25/41	3	2
5	NYG	316	29/45	1	1
6	CHI	271	19/37	1	1
7	BAL	228	29/44	1	0

He looked well on his way to blossoming back into an elite fantasy passer, but that early barrage now looks misleading. In his two dominant efforts, Ryan feasted on the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, two of the league's bottom-five passing defenses.

Now he gets the Detroit Lions, who rank No. 6 in passing defense despite having already sparred with Brees and Aaron Rodgers. They've allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks under standard ESPN scoring, surrendering seven passing touchdowns while pocketing eight picks.

While the Atlanta Falcons offensive line has faltered, the Lions have assembled 21 sacks behind a vicious defensive line. This matchup is bad news for Matty Ice. Carson Palmer, Ryan Tannehill and Alex Smith make better Week 8 plays.

Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders (vs. Cleveland Browns)

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Since everyone finally gave up on Darren McFadden, the oft-injured running back has of coursed stayed healthy and become a sneaky fantasy play.

He's hardly the ferocious runner of old, tallying a middling 3.8 yards per attempt with 279 rushing yards on the season. He has, however, received at least 10 carries in every game since Week 1. Getting opportunities is half the battle, especially at running back.

A star he is not, but McFadden is worth a look this weekend against the Cleveland Browns, who just allowed 127 rushing yards to Denard Robinson last Sunday. The Jacksonville Jaguars had not previously credited a 50-yard rusher in 2014.

The Browns have relinquished 5.0 yards per carry, second-worst behind the destructing Carolina Panthers. They're last in rushing yards allowed per contest, and McFadden pulled out 48 rushing yards and a touchdown last week against the Arizona Cardinals, who boast the league's second-best rushing defense.

Now that owners are expecting something from McFadden, Footballguys.com's Sigmund Bloom figures this will be the week he falls apart.

Perhaps, but injuries are an unfortunate part of the game that can happen to anyone. Don't expect McFadden to orchestrate a fantasy championship, but he can help produce a win this week.

Percy Harvin, WR, New York Jets (vs. Buffalo Bills)

After generating disappointing results with the Seattle Seahawks, Percy Harvin's move to the New York Jets presents a fresh start for the talented wideout. Can his fantasy owners expect a different outcome in his Jets debut this Sunday?

The newcomer is confident that he'll make an immediate impact, per ESPNNewYork.com's Jane McManus.

Seattle tried its darnedest to feed Harvin the ball in open space, but he only amassed 225 yards in 33 catches. According to McManus, Rex Ryan has different plans for the dynamic wideout.

Although the Jets are anxious to show off their new acquisition, especially against a division rival at home, one week is not enough time to digest an NFL playbook. According to ESPN.com's Rich Cimini, Harvin will have to inflict damage in a limited role.

He's certainly capable of making that happen, as it only takes one or two snaps for him to leave his mark on the field. Yet that's quite the gambit against a solid Buffalo Bills defense. Owners in a deep bind can hope to hit the jackpot, but Harvin isn't a top-35 receiver this weekend.

As always, playing Harvin is a matter of how lucky you feel.

Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints (vs. Green Bay Packers)

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Jimmy Graham owners, prepare for another agonizing week.

Although Graham played last Sunday despite suffering a shoulder injury before a well-timed bye week, the premier tight end did not record a single catch against the Detroit Lions. 

He was listed as questionable on Friday's injury report, placing his status in turmoil for Sunday night's pivotal clash with the Green Bay Packers. Now his owners are once again placed in an impossible dilemma.

Some of those unfortunate souls might actually prefer him to sit out the week. If he plays, the pressure is on to start the superstar out of fear of missing a game-breaking performance. To take that chance, however, they could endure another giant zero like last week, where he suited up but rarely saw the field.

The New Orleans Saints playing on Sunday night only amplifies the predicament's difficulty. If he's ruled out at the last second, gamers have a very limited pool of alternatives available to salvage a few points.

Given his aptitude in the red zone along with a decent matchup inside the Superdome, play Graham if he's playing and hope for the best.