2012 NFL Fantasy Football Week 8: Flex Play Rankings (RB/WR)

Running back depth continues to look grim with lackluster play and mounting injuries to even some of the elite talents like Trent Richardson and Maurice Jones-Drew. As a result, for the first time ever I have seven wide receivers listed in the top 10 of my flex play rankings.

What is even more interesting is the three top running backs listed are Jamaal Charles, Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson. Talent wise all three are good enough to be elite options, but all three running backs had their question marks coming into the season.

Peterson has surprised many with this play through seven weeks, and he finally found the end zone against the Cardinals for the first time since Week 1.

Charles has turned into a feature back and only time will tell if he can hold up to the pounding of a full season coming off his ACL injury.

Then we have Johnson, a player who has brought much frustration to fantasy owners for the past two seasons. Because of a respectable performance against the Steelers and the fact that we are in the middle of bye weeks, it’s likely you had him in your lineup.

If so, he probably carried your team to a victory and his day could’ve been even better if not for Jamie Harper taking over goal line duties. This week, Johnson takes on a Colts defense that gave up over 150 yards and three touchdowns to Shonn Greene two weeks ago.

Last Sunday, Indianapolis did a good job against the Browns ground game, but Trent Richardson was clearly playing less than 100 percent and was benched for the second half of the game. Let’s hope Johnson’s recent performances (and that of the Titans as a team) are the start of big things to come.

Poor Matchups

Brandon Lloyd has struggled in recent weeks and it’s not all his fault. Matched up against the likes of Champ Bailey and Antonio Cromartie have taken a toll on his production.  

This week Lloyd has another tough matchup against Cortland Finnegan,  and it could be another slow week as Tom Brady doesn’t mind looking to other options.

LaRod Stephens-Howling had a surprising 100-yard performance last week when we expected William Powell to see the bulk of the carries. Stephens-Howling will have to get it done against the 49ers via the pass for success this week.

Don’t expect him to become another Ahmad Bradshaw or Marshawn Lynch. Stephens-Howling is a different style of running back and the 49ers have a almost two weeks to get ready for this game.

1	Jamaal Charles	Raiders
2	Adrian Peterson	Buccaneers
3	Victor Cruz	@ Cowboys
4	Demaryius Thomas	Saints
5	Percy Harvin	Buccaneers
6	Brandon Marshall	Panthers
7	Jordy Nelson	Jaguars
8	Vincent Jackson	@ Vikings
9	Roddy White	@ Eagles
10	Chris Johnson	Colts
11	Matt Forte	Panthers
12	Eric Decker	Saints
13	Marshawn Lynch	@ Lions
14	Frank Gore	@ Cardinals
15	Ryan Mathews	@ Browns
16	Willis McGahee	Saints
17	Calvin Johnson	Seahawks
18	Alfred Morris	@ Steelers
19	LeSean McCoy	Falcons
20	Larry Fitzgerald	49ers
21	Reggie Wayne	@ Titans
22	Marques Colston	@ Broncos
23	Julio Jones	@ Eagles
24	Mike Wallace	Redskins
25	Darren McFadden	@ Chiefs
26	Wes Welker	@ Rams
27	Miles Austin	Giants
28	Doug Martin	@ Vikings
29	Stevan Ridley	@ Rams
30	Steve Smith	@ Bears
31	Hakeem Nicks	@ Cowboys
32	Denarius Moore	@ Chiefs
33	Jeremy Maclin	Falcons
34	Antonio Brown	Redskins
35	Michael Turner	@ Eagles
36	Ahmad Bradshaw (I)	@ Cowboys
37	Randall Cobb	Jaguars
38	James Jones	Jaguars
39	DeSean Jackson	Falcons
40	Trent Richardson (I)	Chargers
41	Jonathan Dwyer	Redskins
42	Mike Williams	@ Vikings
43	Josh Gordon	Chargers
44	Kenny Britt	Colts
45	Dwayne Bowe	Raiders
46	Mikel Leshoure	Seahawks
47	Darren Sproles	@ Broncos
48	Steven Jackson	Patriots
49	Dez Bryant (I)	Giants
50	Shonn Greene	Dolphins
51	Rashad Jennings	@ Packers
52	Kendall Wright	Colts
53	Jeremy Kerley	Dolphins
54	Felix Jones (I)	Giants
55	Reggie Bush	@ Jets
56	Brandon Lloyd	@ Rams
57	Michael Crabtree	@ Cardinals
58	Malcom Floyd	@ Browns
59	Sidney Rice	@ Lions
60	Larod Stephens-Howling	49ers
61	Vick Ballard	@ Titans
62	Alex Green	Jaguars
63	Santana Moss	@ Steelers
64	Andre Roberts	49ers
65	Shane Vereen	@ Rams
66	Jonathan Stewart	@ Bears
67	Pierre Thomas	@ Broncos
68	Nate Burleson	Seahawks
69	Devery Henderson	@ Broncos
70	Brian Hartline	@ Jets
71	Brandon Gibson	Patriots
72	Phillip Tanner	Giants
73	Earl Bennett	Panthers
74	Montario Hardesty	Chargers
75	Danny Woodhead	@ Rams

Week 8 Standard Rankings – QB | RB | WR | TE | D |