Fantasy Football Week 8: 20 Under-the-Radar Point Machines You Must Start
Fantasy Football Week 8 is here, and it's nearing that time when you've either given up hope or anointed yourself the best team in your league.
If it's the latter, you'll probably ignore anything you read here because your team is already "as good as it can be."
But if you've already thrown in the towel, pick that thing back up.
The 2010 fantasy football season isn't quite at the point of no return yet, so don't do anything crazy like make slick trades to improve your buddy's team.
Hold onto those hidden gems and waiver wire pickups you have, or go pick up some guys who could keep you from losing your $100 buy-in.
If you need some help finding those guys, you're in the right place.
Here are 20 under-the-radar point machines you must start in Week 8 to save your season.
20. Felix Jones, RB, Dallas Cowboys
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I've been waiting for Felix Jones to break out all season. But I'm waiting...waiting...still waiting.
I actually think that wait ends this week, though.
After failing to top eight carries in the team's first three games, Jones has at least 14 carries in two of the Cowboys' last three games and has taken over as the primary back, ahead of Marion Barber.
Plus, with Tony Romo out and the team facing a terrible Jaguars defense—31st in points allowed and 25th in rushing yards allowed—the Cowboys could lean on Jones in Week 8.
19. Mike Williams, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Mike Williams is on my fantasy team, and he hasn't seen the end zone since Week 5—thanks for that, Mike.
But that should change this week when the Buccaneers face a pretty terrible 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 other threats in the passing game, so Williams has emerged as Josh Freeman's favorite target.
18. Santana Moss, WR, Washington Redskins
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The Redskins aren't exactly loaded with offensive weapons, and Santana Moss has certainly benefited from the lack of other options on the team.
Moss has at least five receptions in all but one game this season, and has 20 receptions for more than 250 yards and a touchdown in Washington's last three games.
I don't see his production slowing down this week against a below-average Lions pass defense.
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17. Josh Scobee, K, Jacksonville Jaguars
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I know what you're thinking: Josh Scobee is a kicker.
But kickers make a big difference in fantasy football, especially in leagues that give more points for longer field goals.
Scobee is perfect on the season, has six field goals of 40 yards or more, has made eight field goals the past three weeks and is a top-seven or eight kicker in most leagues.
Plus, he's playing a Cowboys team that gives up more points to opposing kickers than almost any other team in the league.
16. Zach Miller, TE, Oakland Raiders
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Raiders tight end Zach Miller might have a different quarterback just about every week, 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 contests.
He has a good matchup in Week 8 against a Seahawks defense that gives up 261 yards per game through the air.
Plus, the Raiders aren't exactly loaded with weapons in the passing game.
15. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks
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Marshawn Lynch's yards per carry average hasn't been all that wonderful in Seattle so far, but it's pretty clear he's going to be a big 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 nice matchup this week against the Raiders 28th-ranked rush defense.
Oakland gives up 139 yards on the ground, and Lynch shouldn't have many carries taken away by Justin Forsett.
14. Matt Cassel, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
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Much to the shock of football fans, Matt Cassel has actually been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the league.
In Kansas City's last four games, he has thrown eight touchdowns to just one interception. In fact, he's only thrown three interceptions so far in 2010.
Cassel and the Chiefs should have no problem scoring this week against a Bills defense that allows a league-worst 33 points per game
13. Beanie Wells, RB, Arizona Cardinals
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Beanie Wells' yardage total isn't going to wow anyone, but the main reason I like Wells so much this week is that he seems to be taking over as Arizona's top running back.
In the past two games, he has 34 carries and a touchdown, while Tim Hightower has just 39 carries in the past five games.
Plus, Wells faces Tampa Bay's 31st-ranked run defense this week. The Bucs give up 157.7 yards per game on the ground.
12. Tony Moeaki, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
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Tony Moeaki's stats haven't exactly been mesmerizing, but six teams have byes this week and Moeaki could surprise you with his performance this week.
Kansas City plays Buffalo, and the Bills have been horrific against tight ends all season.
Buffalo's defense gives up more than 13 fantasy points per game and seven touchdowns to opposing tight ends, ranking dead last in both categories.
11. St. Louis Rams Defense/Special Teams
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The Rams defense is a middle-of-the-road team in most major categories, but does rank eighth in the league, allowing just 18.7 points per game.
There's nothing in particular that's going to jump out at you about St. Louis, but their Week 8 opponent—the Carolina Panthers—is a different story.
No team in the league has given up more fantasy points to opposing defenses than the Panthers.
10. Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions
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Matthew Stafford is set to return to the Lions this Sunday after missing a big chunk of the season with a shoulder injury.
And his return couldn't come at a better time for fantasy football owners who hung onto Stafford.
The Lions play the Redskins on Sunday, and Washington's defense ranks second to last in total yards and passing yards allowed.
What a welcome back party.
9. LaGarrette Blount, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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LaGarrette Blount isn't going to win any humanitarian awards, but he could win you your fantasy matchup in Week 8.
The Bucs running back ran just 11 times in Week 7 against St. Louis, but he still managed to rack up 72 yards, 66 of which came in the second half.
With no certifiable No. 1 starter in Tampa Bay and a good matchup against Arizona's 29th-ranked rush defense this week, Blount should be in your lineup.
8. Davone Bess, WR, Miami Dolphins
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Davone Bess has quietly emerged as one of the league's best slot receivers, in the mold of guys like Wes Welker and Eddie Royal in the past.
Bess has at least five catches in all but one game this season, and he's scored a touchdown in each of the last three weeks.
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.
7. Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Detroit Lions
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Brandon Pettigrew has gotten into the end zone just once so far this season, but he's on pace for nearly 90 receptions and 900 yards this season.
In fact, Pettigrew has at least six catches in four of the Lions' first six games and hasn't had fewer than four receptions in a game since Week 1.
If that's not enough to convince you, the Lions will face the Redskins' 31st-ranked pass defense on Sunday.
6. David Gettis, WR, Carolina Panthers
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David Gettis dropped an easy touchdown in Week 7 against the 49ers, but don't let one drop prevent you from starting him in Week 8.
Gettis looks as if he'll benefit the most from Steve Smith's presence on the other side of the field. He exploded last week against San Francisco with eight catches for a career-high 125 yards and two touchdowns.
He appears to be the No. 2 receiver in Carolina, ahead of Brandon LaFell, and he'll probably get some garbage points for receiving yards because the Panthers likely won't win this week.
5. Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Buffalo Bills
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Ryan Fitzpatrick's numbers absolutely boggle my mind.
In four games as the Bills starter in 2010, 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 should see a big day from Fitzpatrick on Sunday.
4. Pierre Garcon, WR, Indianapolis Colts
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Pierre Garcon has been somewhat lost in the shuffle in Indianapolis for much of this season, but that's not going to happen anymore.
Garcon has 10 catches for more than 150 yards and a touchdown the last two weeks, and the Colts play the horrific Texans pass defense in Week 8.
And in case you forgot, Dallas Clark and Austin Collie won't be playing. That should mean a huge increase in the number of targets for Garcon.
3. Mike Williams, WR, Seattle Seahawks
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Mike Williams has been a heck of a player the past two games, with 21 catches for 210 yards and a touchdown.
He doesn't have a great matchup this week against the Raiders No. 5 pass defense, but you have to stick with him while he's hot.
And it's not as if Seattle is loaded with other options in the passing game.
2. Jon Kitna, QB, Dallas Cowboys
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Tony Romo's out for a while, so Jon Kitna is the Cowboys new starting quarterback.
And he's likely been a very hot commodity on the waiver wire this week.
Kitna has a ridiculous number of weapons, and he showed that he can be a very good fantasy quarterback when he threw for 187 yards and two touchdowns on Monday night.
And Dallas has a good matchup against a weak Jaguars team in Week 8.
1. Steve Johnson, WR, Buffalo Bills
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Steve Johnson has impressed all season, so I put in a waiver claim for him this week—luckily, I got him.
Johnson started off slow with just three receptions in each of the team's first four games, but has five and eight catches in the last two weeks, respectively.
Johnson's also reached the end zone in four consecutive games and has five touchdowns overall. The Bills have a good matchup against a weak Chiefs secondary in Week 8
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