Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 8: Smart Sleepers to Exploit and Lineup Advice
Hindsight remains undefeated, a crystal-clear view of the fantasy football landscape for all to observe and learn from on a week-to-week basis.
Some hate hindsight, such as the Buffalo Bills, a team that trotted out LeSean McCoy for some inexplicable reason (a conversation for another time). Every fantasy owner should love it, though, especially if things worked out as advised.
Those who streamed Kirk Cousins of the Washington Redskins as a sleeper into a starting role in Week 7 were rewarded with a top-five performance at quarterback before Monday thanks to his 21 points.
A brief example, but owners who do the proper prep throughout a week embrace hindsight more than anyone else. Well, except those who whiffed, but hindsight helps prevent future issues, in theory. Here's a look at the week's value comparisons and matchups to know.
Quarterback
| Andrew Luck (vs. KC) vs. Drew Brees (vs. SEA) | Andrew Luck |
| Aaron Rodgers (at ATL) vs. Tom Brady (at BUF) | Aaron Rodgers |
| Tyrod Taylor (vs. NE) vs. Andy Dalton (vs. WAS) | Andy Dalton |
| Jameis Winston (vs. OAK) vs. Matthew Stafford (at HOU) | Jameis Winston |
| Marcus Mariota (vs. JAC) vs. Philip Rivers (at DEN) | Marcus Mariota |
Matchup to Know: Aaron Rodgers, GB (at ATL)
Aaron Rodgers in a dome? Yes, please.
The Green Bay Packers star quarterback had disappointed most owners who invested a high pick in his services to start the season. He had posted north of 20 points just two times in five games, struggling to get on the same page as his receivers and perplexing most viewers.
Week 7, though, saw Rodgers post 23 points against the Chicago Bears via three touchdowns while getting weapons such as Davante Adams and Ty Montgomery involved.
Now Rodgers has what should be a shootout with Matt Ryan against the Atlanta Falcons, owners of a defense that has allowed three or more passing touchdowns to four teams already.
Another three and 20 points seem on the menu for Rodgers.
Sleeper to Exploit: Jameis Winston, TB (vs. OAK)
Hardly owned in more than 50 percent of leagues, now is the time to jump all over Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston.
Winston put up another three-touchdown game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7, his third of the season. With outstanding targets such as Mike Evans, it's no wonder he's totaled 20 or more points three times.
Still a matchup-based play given the rest of the team around him, though, Winston should have a major day against the Oakland Raiders in Week 8. The Raiders have allowed four opposing quarterbacks to score 21 or more points, with a pair throwing four scores apiece.
Look for Winston to keep the ball rolling in an exploitable portion of the schedule.
Running Back
| Melvin Gordon (at DEN) vs. Matt Forte (at CLE) | Matt Forte |
| LeGarrette Blount (at BUF) vs. DeMarco Murray (vs. JAC) | DeMarco Murray |
| Spencer Ware (at IND) vs. David Johnson (at CAR) | Spencer Ware |
| Frank Gore (vs. KC) vs. Isaiah Crowell (vs. NYJ) | Isaiah Crowell |
| Devonta Freeman (vs. GB) vs. Christine Michael (at NO) | Christine Michael |
Matchup to Know: Christine Michael, SEA (at NO)
Like clockwork, the New Orleans Saints coughed up 18 points to Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware in Week 7.
Now it's Christine Michael's turn. The Saints had entered Week 7 allowing the most points on average to opposing running backs after two opposing backfields went for stunning totals of 36 and 52 points against the unit.
Michael won't hit those numbers on his own by any means, but he's the lead back for the Seattle Seahawks and has received 16 or more carries in four consecutive games, of which he's gone for 14 or more points in three and tallied four total rushing scores.
A budding workhorse, Michael's usage will see him to a major day.
Sleeper to Exploit: Devontae Booker, DEN (vs. SD)
The Denver Broncos aren't afraid to give Devontae Booker a bigger workload.
Owners shouldn't fear it, either, not going into a Week 8 encounter with the San Diego Chargers. Booker hadn't received much attention while playing second fiddle to C.J. Anderson to start the season.
Now Booker gets to go against a Chargers defense that allowed 21 or more points to four opposing backfields over the first six weeks of the season before the Falcons' Tevin Coleman posted a smooth 13. Devonta Freeman was right beside him with nine points.
Wide Receiver
| Davante Adams (at ATL) vs. T.Y. Hilton (vs. KC) | Davante Adams |
| A.J. Green (vs. WAS) vs. Mike Evans (vs. OAK) | A.J. Green |
| Julio Jones (vs. GB) vs. Randall Cobb (at ATL) | Julio Jones |
| Marvin Jones (at HOU) vs. Larry Fitzgerald (at CAR) | Larry Fitzgerald |
| Doug Baldwin (at NO) vs. Julian Edelman (at BUF) | Doug Baldwin |
Matchup to Know: Michael Crabtree, OAK (at TB)
On the other side of the Oakland-Tampa Bay encounter is a gold mine for fantasy production.
Though Amari Cooper is great in his own right, Michael Crabtree has put on an absolute show this year for fantasy owners. He has hit double digits five times, scored six touchdowns and continues to look like one of the best fantasy targets in the game today.
These numbers and good trends look great ahead of an encounter with the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay found a way to cough up nine touchdowns to wideouts over the first four games of the season, good for 28 or more points in every encounter.
This matchup all but assures Crabtree double-digit production. What really makes it attractive, though, is a ceiling taking into account his finding the end zone for one or two scores.
Sleeper to Exploit: Davante Adams, GB (at ATL)
Remember the Adams mention? Keep riding the hot hand.
Adams caught 13 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns in Week 7 against the Bears, good for 25 points and his third trip into double digits.
Despite this, Adams might remain firmly in the sleeper category for most (he entered the breakout game owned in 17.5 percent of leagues) because of big names around him such as Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson.
But Rodgers hasn't had a great rapport with anyone but Adams as of late going into a likely high-scoring game against the Falcons. Atlanta, as hinted, doesn't do well against wideouts—four opposing sets have scored 21 or more points.
Adams can find the end zone against a team like Atlanta so long as the same connection with Rodgers emerges again in Week 8.
Tight End
| Rob Gronkowski (at BUF) vs. Julius Thomas (at TEN) | Rob Gronkowski |
| Delanie Walker (vs. JAC) vs. Vernon Davis (at CIN) | Vernon Davis |
| Jimmy Graham (at NO) vs. Kyle Rudolph (at CHI) | Jimmy Graham |
| Zach Miller (vs. MIN) vs. Travis Kelce (at IND) | Travis Kelce |
| Zach Ertz (at DAL) vs. Jack Doyle (vs. KC) | Jack Doyle |
Matchup to Know: Travis Kelce, KC (at IND)
Fantasy owners need to give Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs one last chance.
Yes, hindsight burns here. Kelce looked like one of last week's top plays at tight end thanks to a game against the Saints—he wound up scoring two points.
Yes, Kelce has hit double digits only once this year. Yes, he's scored only two touchdowns.
Week 8 has to be it for fantasy owners. Kelce gets the Indianapolis Colts, a unit that just gave up nine catches for 116 yards and a score, good for 17 points, in Week 7. The Colts don't defend athletic tight ends well, so Kelce should have plenty of chances to contribute and win back the faith of his owners.
Sleeper to Exploit: Vernon Davis, WAS (at CIN)
With it sounding like Washington tight end Jordan Reed will be out of action until Week 10, per ESPN's Britt McHenry, Vernon Davis once again flies under the radar as a must-start player.
Davis took over in Week 6 and caught two passes for 50 yards and a score, good for 11 points. His usage increased in Week 7 with his six grabs for 79 yards and seven points.
Expect Davis' role to remain the same or increase against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8, especially with the Bengals once again struggling to contain tight ends. The unit entered Week 7 allowing the fifth-most points to the position.
As a means to control the pace of the game, look for the Redskins to go at Davis early and often.
All scoring info and statistics courtesy of ESPN.com standard leagues, as are points-against info and ownership stats.
Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.
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