Fantasy Football Week 8: Drew Brees, Adrian Peterson and 5 Fantasy Locks

Seeing as the NFL is firmly in the middle of its run of bye weeks, fantasy football lineups have often been compromised over the past few weeks and will continue to be in the near future. Because of that, it is important that studs come up big to make up for any possible loss in production.

Quite a few players have been carrying the load for their fantasy teams over the past month, but sure-thing superstars like Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte will be resting up in Week 8.

If you own either of those players, then you will need somebody to come up big in their absence. Here are five fantasy locks you can count on this weekend.

Chris Johnson: RB, Tennessee Titans

Tennessee Titans former All-Pro running back Chris Johnson has been a colossal disappointment this season. With just 268 rushing yards and one touchdown through six games, he has actually become a borderline bench player to this point.

As frustrating as his play has been, though, better days should be on the horizon. With Johnson at his lowest point in terms of value and production, he gets the perfect Week 8 opponent in the form of the Indianapolis Colts.

The 0-7 Colts were torched through the air by the New Orleans Saints last week, but they still have the league's second-worst run defense as they allow over 150 yards per game on the ground. It's now or never for Johnson because if he can't get it going against Indy, then he never will.

Keep the faith Chris Johnson owners, because this will be his breakout week.

Projection: 135 rushing yards, 30 receiving yards, two total touchdowns.

Jimmy Graham: TE, New Orleans Saints

Not only is New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham probably the NFL's best tight end right now, but he is arguably the league's best pass-catcher, period. With 45 catches for 674 yards and five touchdowns through just seven games, Graham has better numbers than nearly every wide receiver in the game.

Operating in one of the league's most explosive passing offenses, Graham has quickly developed into quarterback Drew Brees' favorite target. Graham's string of four consecutive games with at least 100 yards receiving was broken last week, but he still ended up with two touchdowns against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Saints have another cupcake matchup this Sunday when they take on the winless St. Louis Rams. St. Louis is much worse against the run than it is against the pass, but the Saints really haven't committed to running the ball this season.

With that said, they can essentially pass on anyone, and I doubt the Rams are going to put up much resistance, especially against an athletic freak like Graham.

Projection: Seven catches for 120 yards and one touchdown.

Mike Wallace: WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Speed receivers like the Pittsburgh Steelers' Mike Wallace are often hit-or-miss in terms of fantasy production, but Wallace always seems to make the most of his opportunities, no matter how often quarterback Ben Roethlisberger targets him.

Wallace has made a habit of burning lackluster secondaries this season, he has three straight games with a touchdown and he hasn't had less than 76 receiving yards in a single game. When you take all of that into account, there may be no surer thing in fantasy than Wallace.

He will get the opportunity to work against another leaky secondary in Week 8 as the Steelers take on the New England Patriots. The Patriots are an abomination against the pass as they allow over 320 yards per game through the air.

With so many statistics in support of Wallace, it would be a shock if he didn't come up huge on Sunday.

Projection: Five catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns.

Drew Brees: QB, New Orleans Saints

Despite throwing for 383 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees turned in a very disappointing performance with three interceptions. While lesser players would have let that bother them, Brees was able to put that all behind him in Week 7.

With the Saints in need of a win and Brees in need of redemption, he scorched the Indianapolis Colts for 325 yards and five touchdowns as the Saints slaughtered the Colts 62-7.

While that will be a tough performance to repeat, Brees will have another tasty matchup in the form of the winless St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

The Rams didn't let Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo tear them up as many expected last week, but the Saints have a far more complex passing offense. Brees possesses an endless array of weapons from Jimmy Graham and Marques Colston to Devery Henderson and Lance Moore, and so many others.

Because of that, Brees is as sure as it gets in Week 8.

Projection: 330 passing yards, three touchdowns, one interception.

Adrian Peterson: RB, Minnesota Vikings

Regardless of the Minnesota Vikings' 1-6 record, running back Adrian Peterson is the most complete running back in football, and probably the most consistent back by fantasy standards as well. With 712 yards and eight touchdowns through seven games, Peterson is a lock to perform on a weekly basis.

While Peterson is capable of cutting up any defense in the league due to his rare combination of size, strength and speed, he will have the benefit of a date with the soft Carolina Panthers run defense on Sunday. The Panthers give up over 130 yards per game on the ground and were trampled by Michael Turner and the Atlanta Falcons a couple weeks ago.

Peterson could very well duplicate or exceed Turner's numbers, meaning he is in for a monster game.

With rookie quarterback Christian Ponder under center for the Vikes, they will want to protect the youngster as much as they can with the running game, and that is a good omen for AP.

Projection: 150 rushing yards, 20 receiving yards, three total touchdowns.