NFL Week 8 Fantasy Football: Start Matthew Stafford, Sit Ben Roethlisberger
Here's my breakdown of last week's advice:
QBs: Start Matt Cassel, 15 points; Sit Tony Romo, 5 points.
That puts me at +10.
RBs: Start Marshawn Lynch, 8 points; Sit Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, 3 points and 4 points, respectively.
We'll take Williams' numbers since they were slightly better, for a net of +4 points.
Now I'm at +14 points.
WRs: Start Jeremy Maclin, 5 points; Sit Wes Welker, 2 points.
So far, I've nailed all these picks, for a total of +17 points.
TEs: Start Jeremy Shockey, 3 points; Sit Vernon Davis, 13 points.
That's a killer. But, I still finish the week with a total of +7 points for your fantasy team.
In my two weeks of doing this, my fantasy advice has netted a grand total of +9 fantasy points.
I'll try to do even better this week with my Week 8 picks.
QBs: Start Matthew Stafford
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All indications are that Matthew Stafford will return to the field this week after separating his shoulder earlier in the season.
He returns at exactly the right time, as the Lions will face the second-worst pass defense in the NFL, the Washington Redskins.
If he does start (check your lineups right before game time), he should go right back to posting big passing numbers.
QBs: Sit Ben Roethlisberger
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Ben Roethlisberger has been playing well since returning from suspension, so why should you sit him?
Well, for one, he's playing a tough New Orleans Saints pass defense. Though the Saints have been struggling this year, it's mostly the offense that has problems. The defense has been playing fairly well all year, good for the third-best pass defense, allowing just under 180 yards per game through the air.
Plus, the Saints have a way of baiting gun-slinging quarterbacks into a bad throw or two.
RBs: Start Frank Gore
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Frank Gore should be the beneficiary of running against a Denver Broncos defense that is in shambles right now.
Darren McFadden and the Oakland Raiders ran all over Denver last week, en route to a 59-14 win.
I don't think one week will make too much of a difference for the Broncos, so the 49ers offensive coordinator should lose his job if he doesn't get Gore the ball.
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RBs: Sit Darren McFadden
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Yes, I know he scored a ton of points last week. But, you can't realistically expect him to put up numbers like that every week.
You can't even expect him to put up numbers half as good as that every week.
He's still injury-prone, and he's facing a surprisingly good Seattle Seahawks defense this week.
The Seahawks rank second in the NFL in rush yards allowed per game, at 77.5 ypg. Therefore, the Raiders will have to pass if they want to move the ball.
WRs: Start Dwayne Bowe
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Dwayne Bowe has had two straight 20 point fantasy games. This week, he gets to play against a horrible Buffalo Bills defense in Kansas City.
Matt Cassel has been improving at quarterback for the last few weeks as well. This has a lot to do with offensive coordinator Charlie Weis opening up the offense and calling more creative plays.
Look for Bowe to benefit from that some more this week, as he plays against the hapless Bills defense.
WRs: Sit Miles Austin
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This should actually read, "Sit Every Dallas Cowboys Receiver". Austin and his mates will now be catching passes from Jon Kitna.
It's not that Kitna's bad, but to say he's as good as Tony Romo is a gross overstatement.
Losing Romo definitely caused the Dallas offense to stall in the second half on Monday night. They won't be the same high-powered unit as long as Romo is out.
TEs: Start Visanthe Shiancoe
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If Brett Favre is able to play on his fractured ankle, he likely won't be able to throw the deep ball as well. That means more short passes to Shiancoe.
If Favre is not able to play, that means Tarvaris Jackson will be the quarterback.
That means more short passes, safer check-down routes to Shiancoe and Percy Harvin.
Plus, the Vikings are playing the Patriots, who allow the third-most passing yards per game.
So no matter what happens, Shiancoe should have a pretty good fantasy day.
TEs: Sit John Carlson
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John Carlson has the second most receptions on the Seattle Seahawks.
However, he has only scored one touchdown.
This week, the Seahawks play the Oakland Raiders, who have a pretty good pass defense. They should be able to force QB Matt Hasselbeck to hurry a few passes.
Don't expect big numbers from Carlson this week.
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