Fantasy Football Week 8: Soft Defenses Your Stars Will Exploit

Soft defenses can make even the most ordinary players explode onto the fantasy football scene.

Perhaps more than any other major fantasy game, fantasy football is predicated on playing the matchups. You can have a star going up against an elite defense and get burned while your opponent's No. 3 running back racks up 100 rushing yards and two touchdowns against a bad defense.

The St. Louis Rams showed just how forgiving they were in Week 7 when they allowed Dallas Cowboys rookie running back DeMarco Murray to rack up a franchise-best 253 rushing yards and a touchdown.

The Rams, as is the custom, are included in this week's "Soft Defenses Your Stars Will Exploit."

5. Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are giving up 26.1 points per game this season, third-worst in the National Football League.

They have a legit pass defense, but it's their rush defense that continuously lets them down.

Through seven weeks, the Panthers are giving up 4.7 yards per carry and nine rushing touchdowns (tied for worst in the league).

Guess which running back the Panthers face in Week 8.

That's right, Minnesota Vikings superstar Adrian Peterson, the best running back in the league. Peterson is averaging over 17 fantasy points per game this season and just dropped 23.5 fantasy points against the Green Bay Packers.

Start Peterson and you won't be disappointed.

In fact, he may just win your fantasy matchup single-handedly.

4. Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are giving up 25.5 points per game this season and the youth in their secondary is showing.

Through seven weeks, the Cardinals are giving up 274.2 passing yards per game and have netted just four interceptions.

On top of this, their pass rush is still developing, with a mediocre 13 sacks on the season, and they've only forced three fumbles.

In short, start your quarterback and receivers against the Cardinals.

The Baltimore Ravens will be hosting the Cardinals in Week 8. Quarterback Joe Flacco has been struggling this season, but if you don't have better options he may just bust out this week.

Also make sure you start Anquan Boldin and even rookie Torrey Smith could have a big game this week.

We all know what Smith did against the Rams in Week 3, racking up 152 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Since then, he's been curiously ignored by the Ravens despite making some spectacular plays, including a sprawling 20-yard catch toward the end of the Ravens' 12-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 7.

I think the Ravens will get Smith more involved in Week 8 and Boldin should have a big game.

3. Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins may have allowed only 18 points in Week 7, but that was against the Denver Broncos and they gave up a 15-point lead with 7:34 remaining in the game.

The Dolphins are giving up 24.3 points per game this season, in large part because of a bad pass defense. They've given up 257.5 passing yards per game and only notched two interceptions, and they are actually worse than those numbers would suggest.

The Dolphins defense has scored the second-fewest fantasy points this season and they face the New York Giants in Week 8, who just racked up 411 total yards against the Buffalo Bills in Week 6.

Look for quarterback Eli Manning and receiver Hakeem Nicks to explode and for receivers Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham to be good flex options. Cruz has a chance of exploding, but he's a gamble as a starter given his inconsistency.

2. St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams are giving up 28.5 points per game this season, second-worst in the NFL, and they just allowed Cowboys rookie running back DeMarco Murray to post 253 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Their pass defense is pretty good, but their rush defense may be the worst in the league. Through six games, the Rams have allowed a league-worst 5.5 yards per carry.

Running back Darren Sproles, who has flourished with the New Orleans Saints, is an obvious start here after racking up over 22 fantasy points against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7.

Even Pierre Thomas may be a good play here. He racked up 125 total yards in Week 7 and the Saints are going to be around the end zone a lot against the Rams.

Rookie Mark Ingram had his best game of the season in Week 7 with 91 rushing yards, but his status for Week 8 is still in doubt and even if he plays he'll probably be limited.

1. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts just gave up 62 points to the Saints.

Enough said.

But if you need further proof that the Colts are an awful defense, they're giving up a league-worst 32.1 points per game this season, allowing 265 passing yards per game, a league-high 14 passing touchdowns and have given up nine rushing touchdowns this season, tied for worst in the league.

Do you really need any more evidence to start all your stars on the Tennessee Titans in Week 8?

It wouldn't even be a surprise if running back Chris Johnson finally busts out after a dismal start to the season.