Fantasy Football Week 8: Soft Defenses for Your Stars To Exploit
Fantasy football Week 8 is one of the most important weeks of the season for many teams. A win is extremely important to help get the second half of your season off on the right foot, and nothing helps your team pick up that victory like cupcakes.
For those unfamiliar with the concept of football cupcakes, they are the league's softest, tastiest defenses for fantasy players. They struggle against the pass, the run or both, and frequently give up big days to opposing offensive players.
For fantasy football owners, the cupcake is something that gets them excited each week. When you see one on the schedule, you get excited and you can't wait to enjoy the big points that are sure to come. These 10 guys are the biggest cupcake-eaters of Week 8, with five rushers and five pass-catchers.
Rushing Cupcake Eater 5: Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
1 of 10
Why He’s a Cupcake Eater: Peterson has been incredibly successful in 2010, regardless of the opponent. But he's been especially good against the league's worst run defenses. His powerful, explosive running style makes him a nightmare for even the sturdiest of defenses, much less the bottom of the league's barrel.
Who’s The Cupcake: New England ranks 18th in the NFL against opposing running backs this season. However, they've faced just one runner anywhere near as talented as Peterson, and have yet to face one with his skill set.
Cupcake Meter: 6.5 out of 10. Peterson should get plenty of work regardless of who's at quarterback for the Vikings this week. He's fully capable of shouldering a big load and should find big success against a mediocre Patriots defense.
Passing Cupcake Eater 5: Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
2 of 10
Why He’s a Cupcake Eater: Bowe has made his living off of cupcakes in 2010, putting up back-to-back 20-point games in the last two weeks against the NFL's dregs. However, he's a second wideout trapped on a team where he's the first receiver, so he fades badly against elite teams.
Who’s The Cupcake: Buffalo's terrible defense comes to town this week. They've given up a touchdown in each of their last five games to opposing wideouts, and have yet to allow fewer than 18 points to the position since Week 1. That was against a Dolphins team still trying to get their sea legs under them.
Cupcake Meter: 6.5 out of 10. When you play a Chiefs pass catcher, you always run the risk of them never seeing the ball in head coach Todd Haley's run-centric offensive scheme. But with another soft, delicious pass-defense this week, it's a fairly safe bet that Bowe's poised for another big game.
Rushing Cupcake Eater 4: Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams
3 of 10
Why He’s a Cupcake Eater: Jackson has been a workhorse for the Rams in 2010, averaging more than 21 carries per game. He's a little banged up right now, but as we saw last week, that won't keep him from enjoying cupcakes.
Who’s The Cupcake: Carolina's run defense is terrible and it struggles against power runners like Jackson.
Cupcake Meter: 7 out of 10. Jackson said on Thursday that he intends to play on Sunday despite his thumb injury, and he should still get you 100 yards or more with relative ease. After all, his thumb is hurt but his legs are just fine.
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Passing Cupcake Eater 4: Miles Austin, WR, Dallas Cowboys
4 of 10
Why He’s a Cupcake Eater: Sure, Austin has got a new quarterback in Dallas. And sure, he's put up back-to-back howlers against upper-mid level defenses. But when you're up against a defense as soft as the one Austin has this week, you can't help but find success.
Who’s The Cupcake: Jacksonville has been the NFL's worst team against opposing wideouts in 2010 and has given up a touchdown in every game the Jaguars have played this season. They've given up at least 20 points to wideouts in all but one of their games. And that one was against a run-heavy Tennessee team who still put up 14 points on them
Cupcake Meter: 7 out of 10. Austin would top this list if we knew for sure that Jon Kitna could still function as an NFL quarterback. I'm not saying he can't, but we just don't know. He shouldn't have much trouble against the Jaguars awful secondary though, and Austin should have a big day.
Rushing Cupcake Eater 3: Ryan Torain, RB, Washington Redskins
5 of 10
Why He’s a Cupcake Eater: Did you see what Torain has done the last two weeks? He gashed the Colts for 100 yards and two touchdowns, and he's the kind of back who loves matchups like the one he's got this week.
Who’s The Cupcake: Detroit ranks dead-last against opposing running backs in 2010. The Lion have given up 30-or-more points three times and 29 points in their last game against the Giants.
Cupcake Meter: 8 out of 10. This is as soft of a defense as you'll find in the NFL. But the Lions' lack of pass defense means the Redskins won't rely on Torain quite as much as they have in previous weeks. He'll still have a monster day, but it won't be the best in the NFL.
Passing Cupcake Eater 3: Greg Jennings, WR, Green Bay Packers
6 of 10
Why He’s a Cupcake Eater: Jennings has feasted on mediocre defenses the last two weeks, posting back-to-back double-digit point performances after failing to pass that mark for four of the Packers' first five games. He loves soft defenses and is adept at finding the end zone against them.
Who’s The Cupcake: What happened to the Jets? They have yet to give up fewer than 15 points to opposing wideouts this season. Even with Darrelle Revis back, this team can't seem to stop anyone, ranking 30th in the NFL against receivers.
Cupcake Meter: 8 out of 10. It's still possible that Revis shuts down Jennings, but given the fact that there's no one else healthy in Green Bay to throw to, it feels like he'll have a great day regardless.
Rushing Cupcake 2: Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers
7 of 10
Why He’s a Cupcake Eater: Gore has been munching on every NFL defense in 2010, using his versatility to post strong numbers in five of his team's seven games. But Frank loves him some cupcakes, putting up his biggest numbers against some of the NFL's weakest defenses.
Who’s The Cupcake: The Denver Broncos might actually have the worst run defense in the NFL, allowing four 100-yard rushers. They gave up 41 points to Baltimore's running backs, 22 points to the Jets and a mind-numbingly bad 66 points to the Raiders over the last three weeks.
Cupcake Meter: 9 out of 10. Gore's going to have himself a monster game in London this week, as the Broncos haven't been able to stop anyone's rushing attacks in 2010. Expect Gore to thoroughly enjoy his English experience.
Passing Cupcake Eater 2: Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions
8 of 10
Why He’s a Cupcake Eater: Johnson is such a talented receiver that he can have a huge day against just about any defense. But he's almost a lock to put up big numbers against the NFL's weakest defenses.
Who’s The Cupcake: Washington ranks 27th in the NFL against wide receivers. The Redskins have allowed 20-or-more points four times and double-digit scoring in all but one of their contests this season. They lack the necessary secondary depth to hang with Megatron.
Cupcake Meter: 9 out of 10. Unless Matt Stafford has forgotten how to throw the football, you can pretty much pencil Johnson in for a monster game in this one.
Rushing Cupcake Eater 1: Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans
9 of 10
Why He’s a Cupcake Eater: Foster has turned into one of the NFL's best running backs, and he's done it with spectacular performances against some soft defenses.
Who’s The Cupcake: The Indianapolis Colts, who have a history with Foster and rank 28th in the NFL against opposing rushers. Arian blasted the Colts for 41 points in Week 1, getting many a fantasy-football season off on the right foot.
Cupcake Meter: 10 out of 10. Will Foster give you 41 points again? Probably not. But will he still have a fantastic game? Barring an injury or Gary Kubiak brain fart, yes. Foster is a lock to go off this week.
Passing Cupcake Eater 1: Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts
10 of 10
Why He’s a Cupcake Eater: He's the only healthy, reliable option left in Indianapolis. And even when the Colts were loaded, Wayne was their best receiver and fully capable of going off against a soft opponent.
Who’s The Cupcake: The Houston Texans are allowing 26.7 points per game to opposing wideouts in 2010, and Reggie blasted them for 15 points in Week 1. They can't stop even the mildest of passing attacks, and even depleted, Indy's got one of the best.
Cupcake Meter: 10 out of 10. Houston's ineptitude at stopping the pass coupled with the Colts lack of receivers means Wayne is going to get plenty of looks in this one. The Texans don't have the weapons to shut him down or even contain him, and he should run roughshod over them again this week.
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