Fantasy Football Week 8: 20 Start'em, Sit'em Locks To Win Your Matchup
Fantasy Football Week 8 is almost upon is, and it's getting close to crunch time in leagues across the country.
Much like the Bills and the Panthers, the playoff chances of fantasy football teams with less than two wins are slim to none.
But for those teams in that 3-4 and 4-3 range, you still have a shot at catching the undefeated juggernauts that seem nearly unstoppable right about now.
So if you're looking for some matchups that could help you inch closer to a fantasy football playoff berth, you're in the right place.
Here's a look at 10 guys you should start and another 10 that you should let ride the pine in Week 8.
10. Start 'Em: Mike Williams, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Mike Williams hasn't seen the end zone since Week 5, but that should change this week when the Buccaneers face the lowly Cardinals defense.
Williams has 16 receptions for more than 220 yards in the last three weeks, and Arizona gives up 227 passing yards and 26.7 points per game.
Tampa Bay doesn't have many offensive weapons, so Williams has emerged as Josh Freeman's favorite target.
10. Sit 'Em: Kevin Walter, WR, Houston Texans
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Like many people, I jumped on Kevin Walter after he scored a touchdown in each of the team's first three games.
But in the team's last three games, he has just six catches for 59 years, and he failed to catch a pass in the team's Week 7 victory over Kansas City.
I'd avoid Walter this week, especially considering that the Texans play a pretty good Colts pass defense.
9. Start 'Em: Matt Cassel, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
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Believe it or not, Matt Cassel has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the league.
In the Chiefs last four games, Cassel has thrown eight touchdowns and just one interception. In fact, he's only thrown three interceptions all season.
Cassel and the Chiefs should put up a ton of points this week against a Bills defense that allows a league-worst 33 points per game.
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9. Sit 'Em: Donovan McNabb, QB, Washington Redskins
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Donovan McNabb doesn't have a bad matchup in Week 8. In fact, he has a pretty good one against the Lions.
But he has had some favorable matchups already this year, and he still hasn't thrown more than one touchdown pass in a game all season.
McNabb actually has more interceptions (seven) than he does touchdowns (six).
8. Start 'Em: Zach Miller, TE, Oakland Raiders
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Raiders tight end Zach Miller might not have the greatest quarterback situation, but he's performed well all season.
Miller has 22 catches in his last four games, and he's caught a touchdown in four of the team's last five.
He has a good matchup in Week 8 against a Seahawks defense that gives up 261 yards per game through the air. Plus, who else are they going to throw the ball to?
8. Sit 'Em: Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers
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Michael Crabtree has reached the end zone in two of the last three weeks, but he's also had less than five receptions in five of seven games this season.
Crabtree should also ride the pine because the 49ers play in London this week, which tends to be a grueling trip that results in sloppy play.
Plus, Troy Smith is making his first start at quarterback for the 49ers, so there's really no telling how he will perform.
7. Start 'Em: Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions
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Matthew Stafford is set to return to the Lions this Sunday after missing most of the season with a shoulder injury, and his return couldn't come at a better time for Stafford owners.
The Lions play the Redskins on Sunday, and Washington's defense ranks second to last in total yards and passing yards allowed.
Stafford is drooling right about now.
7. Sit 'Em: Shonn Greene, RB, New York Jets
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Shonn Greene was supposed to be the fantasy football monster on the Jets this year, but it's been LaDainian Tomlinson that's gotten all the love in New York.
Greene has 10 carries or less in four of the team's six games, and he's scored just one touchdown all season.
With LT playing a lot and playing well, I'd avoid Greene unless Tomlinson goes down with an injury.
6. Start 'Em: Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks
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Marshawn Lynch isn't going to blow anyone away with what he's done in Seattle so far, but it's obvious he's going to be an important part of the team's offense.
Lynch has 41 carries and a touchdown in his first two games as a Seahawk, and he has a very favorable matchup this week against the Raiders 28th-ranked rush defense.
Oakland gives up 139 yards on the ground.
6. Sit 'Em: Donald Driver, WR, Green Bay Packers
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Donald Driver started the year off on a roll, but he's cooled off considerably in the last few weeks.
In his last three games, he has just 10 catches, and he hasn't had more than 89 receiving yards in a game all season.
Driver also doesn't gave the greatest of matchups against the Jets this week, who should have a healthy Darrelle Revis back in the mix.
5. Start 'Em: Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Buffalo Bills
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Ryan Fitzpatrick's numbers are almost hard for me to believe.
In four games as the Bills starter, he has thrown 11 touchdowns and has at least two touchdown passes in every game.
Add that to the fact that Fitzpatrick is facing a Chiefs defense that ranks 25th in passing yards allowed, and you have a recipe for success.
5. Sit 'Em: Jeremy Shockey, TE, New Orleans Saints
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Jeremy Shockey has fallen victim to playing for a team with a lot of offensive weapons.
He only has two games with more than three receptions all season, and he has just four catches in the Saints last two games.
Shockey's also gotten into the end zone just twice so far, so I'd sit him down until he shows he'll have a bigger role in the offense.
4. Start 'Em: Davone Bess, WR, Miami Dolphins
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Davone Bess has quietly emerged as one of the best slot receivers in the NFL.
He has at least five catches in all but one game this season, and he's scored a touchdown in each of the team's last three games.
Plus, the Dolphins play the Bengals this week, and we all saw how Cincinnati's secondary was sliced up by Matt Ryan and Roddy White in Week 7.
4. Sit 'Em: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers
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It hasn't really mattered who the Panthers are playing, Jonathan Stewart just can't seem to get going.
Stewart has eight carries or fewer in all but one game so far, and he's failed to rush for more than 43 yards in a single game all season.
He has just two touchdowns, and one of them came on a 55-yard pass play.
3. Start 'Em: David Gettis, WR, Carolina Panthers
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Sure, David Gettis dropped a clear touchdown last week against San Francisco, but that shouldn't prevent you from starting him in Week 8.
Gettis looks like he'll benefit the most from Steve Smith's presence on the other side of the field. He exploded last week with eight catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns in the team's first win of the season.
He appears to be the No. 2 receiver in Carolina, and he'll probably get some garbage points for receiving yards because the Panthers won't be ahead very often.
3. Sit 'Em: Visanthe Shiancoe, TE, Minnesota Vikings
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Visanthe Shiancoe started the season with 10 receptions for more than 160 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings first two games of the season, but he's done diddly squat since then.
Shiancoe has just six receptions in the team's past four games and was held to zero and one catch in two of those games.
The acquisition of Randy Moss was supposed to open up the field for Shiancoe, but it's done it for Percy Harvin instead.
2. Start 'Em: John Kitna, QB, Dallas Cowboys
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With the injury to Tony Romo, John Kitna is the Cowboys new starting quarterback, and I wouldn't expect to see a big dropoff in production.
Kitna has a ridiculous amount of weapons, and he already shown that he can be a very good fantasy quarterback when he threw for 187 yards and two touchdowns on Monday night.
He'll be a huge waiver wire pickup this week, especially considering that six teams have byes in Week 8.
2. Sit 'Em: Justin Forsett, RB, Seattle Seahawks
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The trade for former Bills running back Marshawn Lynch looks like it will really stifle Justin Forsett's production.
Forsett did get into the end zone two weeks ago, but he has just 19 carries in two games since the acquisition of Lynch, who already has 41 carries as a Seahawk.
Forsett's fantasy impact will probably take a pretty big hit as long as Lynch stays healthy.
1. Start 'Em: Steve Johnson, WR, Buffalo Bills
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Bills wide receiver Steve Johnson has gradually improved throughout the season on his way to becoming a fantasy waiver wire sensation.
He had three receptions in each of the team's first four games, but has five and eight catches the last two weeks respectively.
Johnson's also reached the end zone in four consecutive games and has five touchdowns overall.
And the Bills have a good matchup against a struggling Chiefs secondary in Week 8.
1. Sit 'Em: Brett Favre, QB, Minnesota Vikings
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Look, Bret. We get it. You want to play on Sunday.
But Favre likely wouldn't be playing if it wasn't for his consecutive starts streak, so I'm not sure he can be very effective against the the Patriots this week.
He really should be watching from the sidelines, but we all know he won't be.
Even if he does start, his production hasn't been very good anyway. He has more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (seven).
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