Fantasy Football Week 8: 10 Rules to Follow to Make a Playoff Push

Fantasy football season is in full swing, and many fantasy owners are in the middle of a playoff race.

What you do over the course of the next four to six weeks can either get you the top seed, clinch a playoff spot or leave you wondering what you did wrong to miss the playoffs.

Here are 10 rules you should follow when making a playoff push.

10. Don't get hung up on the big names

Larry Fitzgerald and Randy Moss are big stars in the NFL and are fantasy favorites. However, this season they are not having the best of fantasy seasons, and there may be better options. While you should not cut these players, take a look what's out there and know that you don't need to always start them, especially in receiver-deep leagues.

9. Trade with the bottom-dwellers

Just because your best friend Tim is sitting in last place with Calvin Johnson doesn't mean you should avoid dealing with him. If you have some quality bench players that you can afford to part with, maybe you should try to pull the trigger and get the WR or quality player you need. Players for teams in last can't make an impact if they're not in the playoffs, so why not make an effort to get them to help your team?

8. Keep track of byes and take advantage

There are only three more weeks of byes, and some owners will need to add/drop players in order to fill their positions. Some boneheaded owner might drop a quality player because he has a bye, and that's when you need to pounce on the opportunity. Owners make mistakes like this all the time, and the owners who have a keen eye for it are the ones you see in the playoffs.

7. Look out and prepare for injuries

Injuries are a big part of fantasy football, and the way owners have prepared for them ultimately determines if they'll have success down the road.

For example, several years ago Priest Holmes was the top running back in fantasy but suffered from injury. Those people who selected his backup, Larry Johnson, would see even better stats in the eight games he played in place of Holmes.

This week the big issue is owners with Tony Romo as a quarterback. Do you go after Jon Kitna ASAP or go after a different QB? Preparing and reacting to these injuries is key to success.

6. Play the matchups

Unless you have a top 10 player in the NFL, most players should be started based on matchup rather than name. Players who are usually not household names might have better games one week because they are playing a defense like the Jaguars compared to a player against the Jets. People who exploit the matchups with their second-tier players often find the most success.

5. Eye the waiver wire

Two weeks ago in my fantasy league, several of my receivers were on bye, and my backup had just been ruled out with an injury the Friday before. I looked at the waiver players and saw that Deion Branch, who had just been traded from Seattle to the Patriots, was available. It was a risk, but it was better than nothing, and I was promptly rewarded with 13 points.

There are a lot of players who have quietly successful that go unnoticed. Every week check projections and rankings to see who is still out there.

4. Don't rely on one-week wonders

Every couple of weeks there is that no-name receiver or third-string quarterback who comes in and has a fantastic fantasy week. Before you know it owners are rushing to pick them up, and half of them have the player starting in their lineup that said week. Now while there is no risk in picking up the player, see what he does for another week or two before he earns a spot in your lineup.

3. Just because you're in first now...

Fantasy football is something you have no control over. You can pick the players and make the moves, but ultimately it is the performance of the guys you have no influence over that drives your team success. Teams that could be hot performers for eight weeks could go cold for several weeks in an instant.

So, don't just continue to play the same guys because they were awesome for the first part of the season. If the same players continue to falter, it may be time for a change, or your playoff chances might dwindle.

2. Check to see if your players match up against each other 

One thing that is one of the most frustrating is when your best running backs are going against each other. The odds are in this case that one will do good and the other not so much more than when they are going against different teams.

Another key thing is if your team is anchored by a top-rated defense and your players play that defense often down the stretch. You might want to avoid cancelling out your points and go with a different matchup.

1. Prepare for your league's playoff system accordingly

Leagues all vary in how their playoffs are set up. Some are four weeks, while others are three. A league's championship could end Week 16, while another could finish Week 17. Regardless, you need to plan and prepare for optimal performance each week.

For example, if your star running back is Rashard Mendenhall and the Steelers are 13-2 with home field wrapped up, chances are his reps will be minimal if he has any at all. Same goes for perennial contenders like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

You might want to pick up or go after the best running backs who play on non-contending teams because they are the least likely to throw in the towel during those championship weeks.