Ahmad Bradshaw: Banged-Up Giants RB Matches Up Well vs. Short-Handed Cowboys

Fantasy owners should anticipate another big-time performance from New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw in Week 8 vs. the Dallas Cowboys.

Bradshaw matches up excellently with the Cowboys, who are even more susceptible to the run this weekend following the loss of star linebacker Sean Lee to a season-ending toe injury. Lee is currently Dallas' leading tackler this season, with 58 through the first seven weeks of the season.

Don't underestimate the impact Lee's loss will have on the Cowboys' run stoppers this weekend.

As for Bradshaw, although this past week has been clouded with uncertainty because of his banged-up foot, CBSSports.com's Alex Raskin reported Saturday via Twitter that head coach Tom Coughlin was "confident" Bradshaw would play on Sunday afternoon:

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#NYG Notebook: Coughlin 'confident' Bradshaw plays vs. #Cowboys; Is Blackburn among NFL's best MLBs? cbsprt.co/UNu4hE via @cbssports

— Alex Raskin (@alexraskinNYC) October 27, 2012"

Coughlin's confidence is phenomenal news for Bradshaw owners who have been getting stellar production from the veteran since he returned in Week 4 from an early season neck injury.

Bradshaw has rushed for nearly 400 yards and three touchdowns over the past four weeks, and will be pitted against a Dallas Cowboys defense that he thrived against in the season opener back in early September. He rushed for 78 yards and a score on 17 carries (4.6 yards per carry) against Rob Ryan's defense in Week 1. 

Dallas' rushing defense comes into Week 8 ranked a mediocre 14th in the NFL, surrendering 105 yards on the ground per game. Dallas gave up 112 rushing yards and a touchdown on just 21 carries from the Carolina Panthers last weekend. 

The Cowboys are allowing exactly four yards per carry to opposing running backs in 2012 and have given up five rushing touchdowns in their first six regular season games this fall.

Look for Bradshaw to flirt with a 100-yard day on Sunday as he should see enough carries to make a difference in Week 8. He's scored a touchdown in each of the past three games and has an undeniable nose for the end zone at the moment. Coughlin will want to ride the hot hand against a short-handed and vulnerable Dallas front seven, and I don't blame him.

For Cowboys fans, Lee's loss and Coughlin's confidence is terrible news. But for Ahmad Bradshaw owners this weekend, the combination of the two will equal another big-time fantasy performance from the Giants running back. 

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.