Week 8 is upon us and six more teams are on byes. With six teams not playing this weekend and way too many good players out due to injury, I will help you try to find some diamonds in the rough and some Bye Week Broskis to keep your starting lineups strong.

Quarterbacks

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Ben Roethlisberger (vs. New England) -- Whenever I have not expected much from Big Ben, he has really delivered the goods, just like his 361-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7. Clearly his foot issue agrees with him, as Ben has thrown for nine touchdowns in the three games since the injury. Mike Wallace is the league’s premier vertical threat, Antonio Brown is coming off of a season-best 102 yards and tight end Heath Miller has scored or topped 70 yards in three of his last five games. In other words, the Steelers passing game is starting to peak right when they need it against a lackluster New England Patriots secondary. For the year, the Pats have allowed 22 points per game to opposing quarterbacks (fourth) while giving up 334 yards and 1.67 scores each week. Opposing quarterbacks have a 100 percent consistency rate against the Patriots this year, as every single one of them has thrown for at least 300 yards with one touchdown or tossed multiple scores. No quarterback has been below a solid 17 points against New England, and last year Ben had his best Fantasy day of the year against the Pats as he torched them for 387 yards and three touchdowns. I think Big Ben is looking at his third game of 24-plus points in his last four in Week 8 and he is a great start for your teams. (Projection Snapshot: 307 yards passing and two TDs with 13 yards rushing)

Quarterback Bye Week Broski: Matt Hasselbeck (at Indianapolis), Andy Dalton (at Seattle) and Shaun Hill (at Denver) if Matthew Stafford is out.

Ride the pine ...

Ryan Fitzpatrick (vs. Washington) -- The Genius has certainly cooled off from his quick start and may have a tough time turning it around against a very solid Washington Redskins pass defense. In 2011, only rushing quarterbacks like Mike Vick and Cam Newton have even topped 15 points against the Skins since Week 2. Despite playing some very good quarterbacks this year, none have reached 270 yards passing and only one has thrown for multiple touchdowns against the Skins. In fact, over their last four games, the Skins have allowed just three passing touchdowns and are giving up only 222 yards passing per game. For the year, Washington is the 13th ranked pass defense at 238 yards per game, but they have allowed only five passing scores, third best in the league. Enter Fitzpatrick, who has just three passing scores in his last three games while averaging just 212 yards and you see why I am not too optimistic about his chances for a big day in Week 8. Fred Jackson is carrying this team right now and the Bills have been depleted by injuries at the wide receiver position. Here is a crazy calendar stat: Over the last two seasons The Genius has just three games with multiple touchdowns after October 25 in 17 starts. He does not like the cold and I do not like his matchup this week, so I would bench him this week. (Projection Snapshot: 219 yards passing and one TD with two INTs).

Running Backs

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Chris Johnson (vs. Indianapolis) -- It is now or never for Chris Johnson, folks. If you watched the Sunday Night Massacre in Week 7, you know this Colts team is not good. In their last three games alone, five running backs have produced nine or more Fantasy points against them and four have gone for double digits. Streaks have been snapped and records set against them on a weekly basis and here is a look at some of those highlights from the last three weeks alone: Jackie Battle had his first 100-yard rushing game, Cedric Benson scored his first red zone touchdown of the year, Darren Sproles had his first multiple touchdown game, Pierre Thomas had his first game of 100-plus total yards and Mark Ingram set a career high with 91 yards rushing. That means the stars have all aligned for Chris Johnson to break his streak of suckitude in Week 8 against a Colts team that has allowed a league high nine rushing touchdowns and is ranked 31st against the run, giving up 151 yards per contest. For the year, the Colts are giving up 24.14 points per game to opposing runners, fourth most in the NFL and just gave up 50 points to the Saints in Week 7. Running backs have hit at least 19 points in every game but one against the Colts and that was when another first round bust, Rashard Mendenhall, had one of his worst games of the year. The fact that Chris Johnson has to be on this list is ridiculous, but when you consider that he is the 30th ranked runner thus far and has only six more points on the year than Arian Foster had last week, he is far from an automatic start. Johnson has just two double-digit point games on the year and is averaging 2.9 yards per carry, which has put his level of conditioning into question. He has to quiet everyone with a vintage Chris Johnson performance and I think we get it this week. He has 100-plus yards or a score in three straight against Indy and had 178 total yards with a score in his last home game against them. Come on Chris, the Fantasy world needs ya. (Projection Snapshot: 118 yards rushing, one TD, 23 yards receiving)

Darren Sproles (at St. Louis) -- I know many of you are starting him, but if I had a start of the week, it would be Darren Sproles. He has been the perfect fit at running back for the New Orleans Saints and is off to an amazing start in 2011 with 618 total yards and five total touchdowns through seven games. Sproles has been the best fantasy back for the Saints, amassing 12 points per game in standard formats and just about 19 points per game in point-per-reception leagues. He has produced at least nine points in six of his seven games and has been in double-digit points (if you get individual return scores) five times. Sproles is averaging 7.4 yards per carry and has 45 catches to lead all running backs. He could be in line for a big workload in Week 8 as Mark Ingram nurses a heel injury, so he is a good bet to top 100 total yards. Sproles is coming off a season high 12 carries in Week 7 against the Colts, where he ran for a season high 88 yards and a score to go with 19 yards receiving and another touchdown. He could do even better this week against the Rams, who enter Week 8 as the league’s worst run defense, giving up 184 yards per game on a league high 5.5 yards per carry. DeMarco Murray just torched St. Louis for 253 yards and a touchdown in Week 7 and I think the Saints RBs (including Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram, if he plays) will get close to 200 yards and two scores against St. Louis this week. After all, the Rams have given up at least 23 points to running backs in five of their six games and they have given up at least 25 points to running backs in all four of their indoor games, while averaging 29 points allowed in the domes this year (which is 180 yards and two scores). (Projection Snapshot: 73 yards rushing, one TD; 22 yards receiving)

Running Back Bye Week Broski: Pierre Thomas (at St. Louis), Ryan Torain (at Buffalo), Brandon Jacobs (vs. Miami), Delone Carter (at Tennessee).

Ride the pine ...

Jackie Battle (vs. San Diego) -- Battle had a solid 76 yards on 16 carries in the Chiefs’ 28-0 brutalizing of the Oakland Raiders in Week 7, but I definitely saw some things that concerned me about his upside heading into Week 8. The Chiefs could not have been in a better offensive situation for a running back last week, but Battle saw just 16 of the team’s 38 handoffs against the Raiders which is not what you’d expect from a “featured back.” Even worse is that Battle was not in at the goal line against Oakland, as full back LeRon McClain got the goal line carry in a single-back set and punched in the touchdown. He saw less than 50 percent of the team’s carries last week as Dexter McCluster (10) and Thomas Jones (9) were still very much involved. The good news for Battle is that he averaged 4.8 yards per carry, while McCluster (3.8) and Jones (2.1) struggled to churn out the yardage. However, against a solid San Diego Chargers team, I do not see another 39 rushes for the Chiefs and Battle may not get enough chances to be a reliable option for your teams. He is not much of a pass catcher, with just 3 receptions for 24 yards on the year, so he will have to get it done with his legs. The Chargers are giving up 121 yards per game on 4.7 yards per carry, but they have allowed just two running back scores on the year and I don’t see a huge game for Battle. After all, San Diego is allowing just 14.67 points per game to opposing runners, sixth fewest in the NFL, and Kansas City was held to 35 yards rushing on 17 carries as a team in their last meeting. I am not expecting the Chiefs to win this war and I would stay away from Battle on Monday Night. (Projection Snapshot: 58 yards rushing, 15 yards receiving).

Maurice Morris (at Denver) -- The Denver Broncos’ run defense has been very solid of late and Mo Morris is in much more of a timeshare than we initially envisioned. The Broncos have not allowed a single running back touchdown all year and are giving up just 14 points per game to opposing runners, fifth fewest. Since Week 1, when the Oakland Raiders ran for 191 yards, only the San Diego Chargers have even rushed for 100 yards as a team against the Broncos and three teams failed to even reach 80 yards. In fact, the Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers averaged just 64 yards rushing per game with zero scores on the ground against the Broncos. As for the Detroit running back by committee, Morris saw nine carries in Week 7, same as teammate Keiland Williams, so it is clearly not a one-man show in Detroit while Jahvid Best is out. With Williams slated to be the team’s short-yardage back, Morris’ upside becomes even more limited heading into Week 8 and I would avoid him if at all possible against the underrated Denver run defense. (Projection Snapshot: 38 yards rushing and 25 yards receiving).

Wide Receivers

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Brandon Lloyd (vs. New Orleans) -- Lloyd is the clear No. 1 receiver in St. Louis and will be on his way to a very solid second half of the season starting in Week 8 against the Saints. I know the Saints shut down and embarrassed the Colts on Sunday night Week 7, but the Rams’ offense will not just disappear like Indy’s did and Lloyd will get plenty of chances to make plays. He saw a team-high 12 targets in his debut and caught six of them for a very solid 74 yards. Lloyd was targeted twice in the red zone and narrowly missed a touchdown against a tough Dallas secondary. This week he will find success against a New Orleans team that has allowed eight wide receiver touchdowns, third most in the NFL, even if he has to go with A.J. Feeley at quarterback should Sam Bradford not be ready. The Rams will be behind all game long and will have to throw it a ton, so look for 10-plus targets again from Lloyd who should produce double digit points for your teams as a great second or third receiver. (Projection Snapshot: 89 yards receiving, six catches and one TD).

Nate Washington (vs. Indianapolis) -- You can call me stubborn, but I am going back to the Nate Washington well this week against the Indianapolis Colts. Washington completely laid an egg last week with one catch for 10 yards, and I apologize for that, but this week he will bounce back against the Colts. No team in the league has been quite so generous to opposing top receivers as the Colts have in 2011. Opposing No. 1 receivers have scored seven touchdowns against Indy this year, most in the league. And when you break it down week-by-week, it becomes even more amazing. Andre Johnson had seven catches for 95 yards and a score in Week 1 and Mike Wallace had five catches for 144 yards and a score in Week 3. Over the last three weeks it has been even more absurd. In Week 5, Dwayne Bowe had his best game of the year with seven catches for 128 yards and two scores. In Week 6, rookie A.J. Green had five catches for 51 yards and a score and then just last week, Marques Colston had his best game of the year with seven catches for 98 yards and two scores. That’s 17 catches for 277 yards and five scores to opposing No. 1s in the last three weeks alone! For the year, no top receiver has been below five catches against the Colts and they are giving up an average of 16.1 points per game to opposing top receivers. Burn me once, shame on you Nate Washington; burn me twice, shame on me. I don’t think that happens and I would roll with Nate one more week against this hapless Colts pass defense. (Projection Snapshot; 74 yards receiving, one TD).

Wide Receiver Bye Week Broski: Demaryius Thomas (vs. Detroit), Torrey Smith (vs. Arizona), Antonio Brown (vs. New England).

Ride the pine ...

Sidney Rice (at Cincinnati) -- Rice is in a two-game slump after a fast start to his 2011 season as he has totaled just 76 yards on six catches over the last two weeks. Things will not get any easier in Week 8 when Rice takes on the Cincinnati Bengals at home. The Bengals allow just 13.3 points per game to opposing wide receivers, second fewest in the NFL and they have been especially tough of late. They have given up just one wide receiver touchdown in their last four games combined and have held Steve Johnson, Pierre Garcon, Reggie Wayne, Mike Thomas and Michael Crabtree under 60 yards and without a touchdown during that span. The only score they have given up came on a blown coverage to Jason Hill a few weeks back. The Hawks looked horrendous throwing the football against the Browns (best defense in terms of points allowed to wide receivers) and I expect Week 8 to be no different. I would definitely look for another option at receiver this week as I expect Rice’s slump to hit three games this Sunday. (Projection Snapshot: 51 yards receiving).

Tight Ends

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Fred Davis (vs. Buffalo) -- The time is now to make Fred Davis an every-week starter for your teams. For starters, he has topped 80 yards receiving in four of his six games this year and is the sixth-ranked tight end with 54 points in six games. Davis has a very solid 67 percent consistency rate and with Santana Moss out, he is the clear top option in the Skins’ passing game. He has been over 80 yards in both games that John Beck has played in and led the team with eight targets, six catches, 80 yards and a score in Beck’s only start. He is averaging 15.1 yards per catch, is second among the 30 most-targeted tight ends with a 10.4 yards per target average and is catching more than 67 percent of his targets. In other words, Davis is putting up very good wide-receiver-level metrics and you get to play him at tight end. The Buffalo Bills are giving up a generous 11 points per game to opposing tight ends over the last 4 weeks, but I don’t really care about the matchups right now as it relates to Davis. He is that rare tight end right now who is really the No. 1 receiver for his team and that makes him a great play week in and week out. Davis is still being started in less than 70 percent of leagues and unless you have Antonio Gates, Jimmy Graham or a New England tight end, Davis should be in your lineup this week. Even if you have those guys, Davis is a great flex option as we pointed out on Fantasy Football Today last week. The guy is a very safe bet and a great start for all teams and in all formats. (Projection Snapshot: 72 yards receiving, one TD).

Tight End Bye Week Broski: Dallas Clark (vs. Tennessee), Joel Dreessen (vs. Jacksonville).

Good luck this week!

Glossary
Target Conversion Rate or Catch Rate (TCR): The percentage of a player's targets (passes thrown to them) that are converted into receptions. Over 60 percent is excellent, 66 percent is elite and under 52.5 percent is worrisome.
Yards per Target (YPT): A player's receiving yards divided by his targets. In other words, the numbers of yards a team gains on average every time they attempt a pass to a certain player. Over 10 is exceptional, over 8 is solid and 6 or lower is horrendous.
Red Zone Opportunities: A player's total number of pass+rush+targets inside the opponent's 20 yard line
Red Zone TD Rate: The percentage of a player's Red Zone opportunities that result in a TD
Goal Line Opportunities: A player's total number of pass+rush+targets inside the opponent's 5 yard line
Goal Line TD Rate: The percentage of a player's Goal Line opportunities that result in a TD
Consistency Rate: The percentage of quality starts a player gives you out of 16 games. For QBs that is a game with 300+ yards passing OR multiple TDs. For RBs/WRs: A game with 100+ yards rush/rec or a game with a TD. For TEs: A game with 60+ yards receiving or a TD. For a Kicker: A game with multiple FGs.
Big Game Rate: The percentage of dominant starts a player gives you out of 16 games (games missed with injury count as a bad game since they do not help your Fantasy teams). For a QB that is a game with 300+ yards and 2+ TDs or 200+ yards and 3+ TDs. For a RB/WR that is a game with 100+ combined rush/rec yards and a TD or a game with multiple TDs. For a TE that is a game of 60+ yards and a TD, 100+ yards or a game with multiple TDs.

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