Week 8 Start Em Sit Em: Jackie Battle and Explosive Flex Plays

There are fringe starters who'll be amongst the top scorers of Week 8. To say they're worthy of a flex spot is a gross understatement. Start them and watch your points go through the roof. Bench them and kick yourself for missing out on a boatload of points.

Here are the most explosive flex plays of the week.

Saints Running Backs

Mark Ingram is coming off a 91-yard performance, but his projected success has more to do with how horrible the Rams are, rather than how talented Ingram is.

So just how horrible are the Rams? For starters, they put forth the worst run defense in the league, allowing 183.8 rushing YPG. Even more alarming is that they are getting worse. Last week they let rookie DeMarco Murray (who?) rush for 253 yards.

Ingram is questionable after sustaining a heel injury, so if he's not able to go, Darren Sproles is a must start. Even Chris Ivory would be a legitimate flex play this week if Ingram can't go. Anyone getting touches is going to accrue monster yards and numbers.

Jackie Battle

Jackie Battle has become all the rage amongst fantasy football dorks. He's not Jamaal Charles, but he's gaining 5.2 YPC and he's got a combined 195 yards in his last two starts. The Chiefs running game is coming around and Battle is now a key part of their success.

With 19 touches against the Colts and 16 touches against the Raiders, you can expect the Chiefs to feed him at least 15 carries against the Chargers. They narrowly lost to San Diego last time around and Battle is the "X" factor this time around.

The Chargers allow 121.7 rushing YPG and the Chiefs are going to dwarf the 81 rushing yards they accrued against the Chargers in their first matchup this season. Battle is good for 85 yards and a score this week.

Brandon Lloyd

Brandon Lloyd hasn't established a comfort level with the Rams. Last week he looked out of sorts, but A.J. Feely was at the helm. Bradford's status is still up in the air, but if he plays, Lloyd is going to have a monster outing.

The Rams are going to get behind early and Lloyd's 74 yards last week are nothing compared to what he'll accrue if the Rams get their franchise quarterback back under center.

Danario Alexander is banged up and there is finally a legitimate receiver in St. Louis. Not since Mark Clayton was healthy have the Rams had any receiver worth mentioning.