Fantasy Football Week 8: Top Sleepers at Each Position

Now that the weekend is officially here, the injuries are starting to make some fantasy players very nervous. Combine those with the bye weeks, and you may be scrambling for someone to fill in for you. If you are in that undesirable position, here is a list of players at each position that would be great spot starts. 

If you read this and still have questions, I will be answering your questions up until the first wave of games kicks off on Sunday in the comments below, on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/KoreyBeckettBR and through e-mail at [e-mail]

QB Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams

Bradford is currently the 21st-ranked quarterback in fantasy and has struggled mightily against the good defenses that he has taken on. Against the poor pass defenses, though, he has had a couple of great games and a smattering of above-average games.

This week, Bradford and the Rams take on the New England Patriots who seem content with not stopping the pass this year. They have given up at least one passing touchdown in every one of their contests, and that trend is not expected to stop now.

The Patriots rank 28th against fantasy quarterbacks and have given up at least 23 points in four of their last five contests with the only other one being against Mark Sanchez and the Jets. I feel like that one shouldn't even count.

While he might not set the world on fire, Bradford is a quality play this week if you are in great need and should get between 18-20 points in standard scoring leagues.

QB Brandon Weeden, Cleveland Browns

Ever since his inauspicious debut against the Eagles when he got trapped under a flag and then laid a fantasy goose egg, Weeden has been consistently average to above-average.

The Browns take on a Chargers defense that has given up double-digit fantasy points in every game this season, and Weeden has averaged around 15 points in his last five games. If you had Dalton, Fitzpatrick, Schaub or Flacco, then Weeden is a good play if you couldn't get Bradford or Andrew Luck.

I am not expecting a 25-point game out of Weeden, but if you want a solid 15-17 points, then he certainly should be able to provide that for you.

RB Willis McGahee, Denver Broncos

He may not be the deepest sleeper you've ever seen, but his inconsistency has made fantasy owners very wary. Other than two breakout games against the Raiders and Falcons, McGahee hasn't broken double digits.

However, he is not only a sleeper, but a must-start this week as the Broncos take on a New Orleans Saints defense that has been downright terrible. The only game in which they haven't had a running back go off for a huge day was against Green Bay, but they barely even run the ball.

If you have an open flex start, you have to play him. If you have a tough start for one of your running backs, you should definitely consider placing McGahee in your lineup.

I would put him in the No. 5 to No. 10 range for RBs this week, and I expect 16-20 points for the ever-so-unpredictable McGahee.

RB Alex Green, Green Bay Packers

I know in the last slide I said that the Green Bay Packers don't even run the ball, but they do take on the Jacksonville Jaguars this week.

If it is as lopsided as I think the game will be, then Green should see a lot of action in the second half of the tilt. The good news doesn't stop there as the Jags are No. 30 against the run in fantasy football.

Green should see pretty much every carry for the Packers at about 22-27 rushing attempts. If he can break a couple of big runs, he should have a good fantasy day.

And if the Packers don't continue to be a fantasy headache when it comes to their RBs and actually give the ball to Green near the goal line instead of fullback John Kuhn, then Green should have a great day.

My prediction is about 11-15 fantasy points, not an explosive game, but enough to help you through the injury/bye week fiasco.

WR Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

If you have Brown on your fantasy team this week, you have to be drooling over the matchup with the worst pass defense in the league (Washington Redskins).

If you have Brown and you are in a PPR league, you must be completely head over heels. The Redskins were torched by a similar receiver in Danny Amendola of the St. Louis Rams back in September, and I expect a re-run of that with Brown.

He may be ranked in the 30s of WRs right now, but if you have Brown just remember this stat: The Redskins gave up 58 points to Cincinnati Bengals receivers earlier this season.

58. Points.

Please get a hold of me and let me know whom you are thinking of playing over him. I will probably tell you to play Brown, but I just want the evidence to be there if I tell you to play the young kid from Central Michigan over Larry Fitzgerald.

I expect Brown to have 215 fantasy points this week. Alright, maybe just 18. Still very good, though. Maybe 215 in a PPR league.

WR Nate Washington, Tennessee Titans

Washington has been spotty at best this season and hasn't been a yardage stud, getting most of his points from touchdowns.

Against a poor Indianapolis Colts pass defense that ranks No. 28 against receivers, this should be a week when Washington gets in the end zone.

He still is a little risky and should be played if you are really clamoring for a wide receiver this week. But Matt Hasselbeck does seem to prefer Nate Washington more than his other receivers and should be a major beneficiary this week.

This week he should have about 11 points, which is a heck of a lot better than nothing. He'll get his catches and at the very least 50 yards. Play with caution, though.

TE Brandon Myers, Oakland Raiders

Tight end is a tough position to pick a sleeper in. The good tight ends are obviously not sleepers, and every one of them outside of the top five has been below average at best.

This is a pure matchup play (Oakland plays Kansas City) that you should take advantage of if you don't have any of the following tight ends: Rob Gronkowski, Owen Daniels, Jimmy Graham, Heath Miller, Vernon Davis and the reason I don't sleep at night, Antonio Gates.

Expect about five points out of Myers if he doesn't get into the end zone, and obviously 11 points if he does find his way there.

D/ST Cleveland Browns

If you're feeling dangerous, and I mean downright Darkwing Duck dangerous, then you should roll with Cleveland this week on defense.

The Chargers look a little shaken up right now after blowing a huge lead to Denver on Monday Night Football two weeks ago. This will either be very good for the Browns or very bad.

If Phillip Rivers has his head on right for this game, then the Browns may go negative. If Rivers plays like he has already a few times this year, then the Browns should be able to top double digits.

Also, you have to take into consideration that the Browns have a kick returner that can get you a touchdown at any time in Josh Cribbs, even if he isn't what he used to be.

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That does it for this segment, remember to contact me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/koreybeckettBR on e-mail at [e-mail] or in the comments below. God bless and good luck!