Week 8 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Joseph Addai and Other RBs You Must Bench

There are a number of reasons to keep Indianapolis Colts running back Joseph Addai on your fantasy bench this week, and his hamstring injury tops them.

The Colts have yet to update his playing status this week after he left his team's Week 7 game against the New Orleans Saints, having re-aggravated the hamstring injury that's been bothering him all season long. It's not looking likely that he'll start, considering their 0-7 record and that backups Delone Carter and Donald Brown can easily pick up his slack.

However, if he does play, he's not worth the fantasy start. The Colts take on the Tennessee Titans this week, and despite allowing 222 rushing yards to the Houston Texans last week, they won't likely struggle in the same way against the Colts' far less fearsome rushing attack.

Addai's rushing stats have been in decline every week since his season-high 86 yards and a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3. It doesn't seem too long until he is replaced by either Carter or Brown as the starter, even if he can get healthy.

The Miami Dolphins' Daniel Thomas is also a bad start this week, despite the fact that he will likely get at least 20 carries in the team's contest against the New York Giants.

Thomas had just 53 yards on 19 carries in last week's loss against the Denver Broncos, despite Denver having one of the worst rushing defenses in the league. This week, he faces a Top-10 rushing defense, and it doesn't seem likely that he will do much better.

While it's hard to sit a back who is guaranteed to get so many touches, I recommend sitting Thomas this week. That is, so long as you have a replacement with a better matchup.

St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson, whose team hosts the New Orleans Saints this Sunday, faces a highly unkind matchup this week. The Saints allowed the Colts to put up 155 total rushing yards in Week 7, but still crushed the team by a score of 62-7.

This week shouldn't be that much different, with New Orleans taking on their second winless team in as many weeks. However, the Rams are unlike the Colts in that they are more than willing to nearly abandon running the ball as soon as they are behind in points.

Considering what the Saints did to Indianapolis last week, the Rams aren't going to be running the ball for long on Sunday.

Jackson is averaging 58 yards per game, but his numbers week-to-week have varied wildly. He has just two scores on the season. It's the Saints offense, not the defense, that will dictate how successful Jackson is this week.

If last week is any indication, he won't be given enough chances to make a positive impact to your fantasy team in Week 8.