Fantasy Football Week 9: Fact or Fiction on Week 8's Top Performers

It is impossible to win in fantasy football if you do not separate the fluke games from the trends. 

Just because a player has one big week, it does not mean that he should remain in your starting lineup for the rest of the season. Sometimes what people think is a breakout game is really only a one-time occurrence. 

Week 8 of the NFL season featured a good number of big performances from lesser-known players and from those that had been underperforming to this point of the year.

Read along to see which games were a sign of the future and which were just a mirage. 

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Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 8 Stats

29 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD; 3 catches, 79 receiving yards, 1 TD; 32 fantasy points

Fact or Fiction?

Doug Martin was one of the biggest sleepers in the preseason and now he is finally proving that notion right.

The statistics were not a fluke. The rookie running back looked good on the field, making cuts and breaking tackles throughout the game.

Just as important, backup LeGarrette Blount only finished with 16 yards on eight carries. When the team needed a goal-line carry late in the game, Martin was the one who finished with a one-yard touchdown.

There are a few solid rush defenses coming up on the schedule, so Martin will not score over 30 fantasy points every week. However, he has proven to be a must-start in all leagues for the remainder of the season.

Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions

Week 8 Stats

34-of-49, 352 passing yards, 3 TD, 1 INT; 4 carries, 12 yards, 1 TD; 31 fantasy points

Fact or Fiction?

This is the type of production that was expected out of Matt Stafford coming into the season. Unfortunately, he had not been able to get into the end zone with consistency.

It is the first time all season that he threw multiple touchdown passes in a game. The good news for fantasy owners is that it will not be the last.

Stafford has thrown over 40 pass attempts in all but one game this season. This gives him plenty of opportunities to build up his yardage totals, which will prevent him from having a bad fantasy day.

Titus Young also proved this week that he could be a secondary threat when Calvin Johnson is double- and triple-teamed by the defense in the red zone. This will help the quarterback's fantasy outlook for the remainder of the season.

Dolphins D/ST

Week 8 Stats

Nine points allowed, two turnovers, one blocked punt, one TD; 20 fantasy points

Fact or Fiction?

This game has much more to do with the New York Jets and their problems than the Miami Dolphins.

Blocked punts are more fluky than anything else (although it is also a result of having a quarterback on the punt team) and those are points that will not be duplicated week to week.

The schedule also gets tougher with four of the next six games against teams with a .500 record or better. Despite the solid run defense, this is not a team that can be trusted to consistently produce in fantasy.

However, it might be a good strategy to follow the Jets and start opposing defenses until things change offensively. 

Willis McGahee, RB, Denver Broncos

Week 8 Stats

23 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD; 2 catches, 33 yards; 1 fumble; 19 fantasy points

Fact or Fiction?

Only the Buffalo Bills are worse against the run than the New Orleans Saints. The defense gave up 170 yards on the ground per game coming into this week and Willis McGahee scored the 10th rushing touchdown on the unit this year.

This does not completely discredit the running back's accomplishments, but it is important to have a frame of reference before considering this a trend.

McGahee has only scored double-digit fantasy points in three of seven games this year. He is capable of big games, but fantasy owners have to make sure they check the matchup before plugging him into their lineup.

Fortunately, six of his last nine games are against teams ranked 20th or worse against the run this season.

He has a lot of value remaining as long as you remember to adjust your lineup accordingly.

Titus Young, WR, Detroit Lions

Week 8 Stats

9 catches, 100 yards, 2 TD; 22 fantasy points 

Fact or Fiction?

Although this will be disappointing to everyone who drafted and then cut Titus Young after a poor start to the year, this game was real.

Young was having a hard time getting looks with Nate Burleson ahead of him on the pecking order. In the three full games before the veteran's injury, Young only had 15 targets, compared to 29 for Burleson. 

Now that Burleson is officially on the injured reserved list, Young will get a chance to make the most of his opportunity.

Do not expect 22 fantasy points every game. However, he will rack up points consistently as long as defenses focus exclusively on stopping Calvin Johnson.

Pick him up in your league if he is available.

Denarius Moore, WR, Oakland Raiders

Week 8 Stats

5 catches, 96 yards, 1 TD; 15 fantasy points

Fact or Fiction?

Even with Darrius Heyward-Bey completely healthy, Denarius Moore is the No. 1 receiver on the Oakland Raiders.

He now has a touchdown in three straight contests and has seen at least eight targets in every game this season. 

In the next five games, the Raiders face four of the 10-worst pass defenses in the NFL. Each one allows over 250 yards per game, leaving plenty of room for Moore to continue his recent hot streak.

The second-year receiver should remain in your starting lineup until further notice.

Steve Smith, WR, Carolina Panthers

Week 8 Stats

7 catches, 118 yards, 0 TD; 11 fantasy points

Fact or Fiction?

He still has not gotten into the end zone this season, but this performance was closer to what was expected heading into the year.

Steve Smith was targeted a season-high 16 times on Sunday, 10 more than anyone else on the team. Quarterback Cam Newton realized that giving the ball to his star receiver is his best chance to win.

The receiver will go as far as Newton does this season. The good news is the quarterback showed signs of improvement this week after poor few games.

Carolina still faces the three worst pass defenses in the NFL in the New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Newton keeps throwing the ball in the direction of Smith, good things will happen for fantasy owners. 

Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys

Week 8 Stats

18 catches, 167 yards, 0 TD; 16 fantasy points

Fact or Fiction?

Those that had Jason Witten in a PPR league are probably jumping with joy after the incredible performance.

Unfortunately, this level of play will not be replicated throughout the year.

Tony Romo was forced to throw the ball 62 times against the New York Giants after the team was down 23-0 early. Witten was the beneficiary with 22 targets, but this number is certain to go way down in the coming weeks.

The tight end is also not a threat in the red zone like he was a few years ago. Witten only has one touchdown catch this season, with Romo looking for receivers Miles Austin and Dez Bryant at the goal line instead. 

Touchdowns are what separate a solid fantasy player from a great one. At this point in his career, Witten is no longer a great option. 

Vick Ballard, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Week 8 Stats

12 carries, 55 yards; 1 catch, 16 yards, 1 TD; 12 fantasy points

Fact or Fiction?

Vick Ballard was named the starter over Donald Brown, causing many to start the big rookie out of Mississippi State in fantasy.

However, Brown received 14 carries compared to Ballard's 12 and was the more effective runner when he was in the game, averaging over a yard more per carry.

Ballard did score a touchdown in overtime on an amazing finish at the goal line, but was inches away from a much more disappointing day.

He should still be part of the offense going forward, but owners should keep him on the bench until he establishes a hold on the starting job with Indianapolis.