Fantasty Football Week 8: Pierre Garcon and Hines Ward Will Impress

All stats regarding percent owned, percent started and points are for ESPN standard 10-team scoring leagues. Parentheses: (opponent, percent started, percent owned).

Quarterbacks

Studs

MIA Chad Henne (@CIN, 13, 60): Cincinnati Bengals cornerbacks Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall missed practice Wednesday. Hence, this week should be much kinder to Henne than last week's matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

DEN Kyle Orton (@SF, 64, 98): He has thrown two touchdown passes in four of his seven games this season. He is a top-three fantasy quarterback thus far with 123 points. By the way, the San Francisco 49ers have allowed 11 passing touchdowns, and the season isn’t at the halfway mark.

Duds

PIT Ben Roethlisberger (@NO, 48, 99): I feel like I’m committing a sin saying this. Roethlisberger has averaged 10.3 yards per attempt since returning from suspension, but the New Orleans Saints allow just 6.5 YPA. This will be a big week on the ground for the black and gold.

MIN Brett Favre (NE, 44, 87): All those records don’t mean anything when you are hurt and old. I loved Brett Favre growing up and I have the utmost respect for him. The old gunslinger is just warn out and doesn’t even look like he wants to be there mentally.

Running Backs

Studs

KC Thomas Jones (BUF, 47, 100): The Buffalo Bills suck, especially against the run, ranking last in the league. Jones has 225 yards and two touchdowns the past two weeks on 39 carries. The Chiefs are clearly a run-first team and it is working.

HOU Arian Foster (@IND, 68, 100): He might not repeat his Week 1 rampage, but the Indianapolis Colts allow 137 yards per game on the ground. The Colts' defense has looked soft and Foster has looked as tough as a nail this season.

WAS Ryan Torain (@DET, 84, 100): Two straight outings with at least 20 carries and 100 yards. The Detroit Lions are tied for the most 40-plus-yard runs this season. Plus, the Lions allow the most fantasy points per game to opposing backs.

Duds

CIN Cedric Benson (MIA, 77, 100): The Dolphins are a top-10 run defense—only two 20-plus-yard rushes. The Bengals seem to be getting comfortable with their passing game. Benson most likely will play more of a play-action role this week.

OAK Darren McFadden (SEA, 63, 100): Surprisingly, the Seattle Seahawks are second in rush defense, dominating where football is won and lost—in the trenches. I like McFadden more in the passing game this week, but that isn’t necessarily the job of a running back now is it?

Side Note: McFadden could be a good flex play if your league plays the flex due to his receiving ability.

CAR DeAngelo Williams (@STL, 70, 100): Sprained his foot last week and has yet to have a 100-yard game. It doesn’t help that the Carolina Panthers are awful.

Wide Receivers

Studs

PIT Hines Ward (@NO, 81, 100): How can you root against him? He is always happy, especially when he gets hit. He has 12 receptions in the two games since Roethlisberger returned, along with 18 targets. By way of comparison, wide receiver Mike Wallace (57, 100) has seen only 10 targets in the past two weeks. Ward and Roethlisberger are each other’s better halves and need each other to succeed.

IND Pierre Garcon (HOU, 35, 90): Garcon had his first 100-yard game and touchdown this season in their last outing. The Houston Texans are dead last in pass coverage and have allowed the second most 40-plus-yard completions this season. I like Garcon for at least one deep one.

DAL Roy Williams (JAC, 41, 80): In Detroit, Williams had his best season—82 receptions, 1,310 yards, seven touchdowns—with Jon Kitna at quarterback. Well, Kitna has dusted off the rust and is lining up behind center for the Dallas Cowboys. I like what I saw from Kitna last week, and they face the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars this week.

NE Aaron Hernandez (@MIN, 59, 80): Brady looks for him all day—third on the team with 34 targets—and Hernandez averages 59.2 yards a game. I like him stepping it up this week in a big win for New England.

Duds

TEN Kenny Britt (@SD, 48, 91): The San Diego Chargers aresecond in the league in pass coverage, allowing just six passing touchdowns compared to seven interceptions. Veteran Kerry Collins has stepped in at quarterback for the time being and is facing the league leaders in sacks. Collins will be hurried all day, forcing him to constantly check down.

WAS Santana Moss (@DET, 61, 100): This is mostly a gut call. McNabb, in my opinion, has struggled this year adjusting to the new offensive scheme. I love Detroit’s coach Jim Schwartz and think he will adjust coverage this week and confuse McNabb.

CAR Steve Smith (@STL, 59, 95): His status as a must-start player has clearly gone down this year, thanks to poor quarterback play and a high ankle sprain. The St. Louis Rams are on the rise and get a win this week against a weak Carolina team.

PIT Mike Wallace (@NO, 57, 100): The Saints are second-best defending the deep ball, and Wallace averages 25 yards per reception. The Saints also allow only 6.5 yards per passing attempt. It’ll be a frustrating week for Wallace.

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