Reviewing Week 8

Star Of Stars

QB: Matthew Stafford – Nothing like landing in the “Expletive of the Week” category to get a player back on track. Stafford went off for 352 yards and 3 TD passes, plus 1 rushing TD against what has been to date a tough Seahawks defense. Stafford has as much talent as any QB in the league, and hopefully for his fantasy owners, this game is a precursor to what’s to come.

RB: Marshawn Lynch – Notwithstanding Doug Martin’s game against the Vikings (his performance is discussed below), this week’s rushing performances did not result in many overwhelming statistical outputs. Lynch amassed 105 yards on only 12 carries, and he found the end zone once for his owners. Lynch is as consistent as any RB, and provides RB1 value to his owners.

WR: Demaryius Thomas – Similar to the RBs, the WRs (exempting the TEs) had many quality outings, but not many that would be classified as monster performances. Demaryius Thomas lands here with a great day – 7 catches for 137 yards and a TD. Manning and Thomas are beginning to click on another level, and going forward, don’t be surprised if Thomas puts up WR1-type numbers.

TE: Rob Gronkowski – Gronk is competing for most appearances on this board, and he takes the nod over Witten here. After 8 catches, 146 yards and 2 TDs, we’re running out of accolades to hand out to Gronk. Poor Rams had no chance on Sunday!

Unforeseen Explosions

QB: Blaine Gabbert – Gabbert had a nice game against the Packers, going for 303 yards and a TD. So where does Gabbert stand on the QB food chain?  Unfortunately for Gabbert fans (assuming there out there somewhere), he still sits towards the very bottom.  Unless you’re in a deep league or a 2 QB league, his ownership is not recommended.

RB: Doug Martin – Martin had by far the top RB performance this week, with the following lines: 29 carries, 135 yards and a TD, and 3 catches for 79 yards and a TD. Shades of Marshall Faulk going on here. Martin is firmly in the RB2 category (towards the upper end), and should be starting in all leagues.

WR: Titus Young – A very popular sleeper going into drafts, Young had largely disappointed this season. That streak broke on Sunday, as he went for 9 catches, 100 yards and 2 TDs? So what does Young’s outlook appear to be for the rest of the season? With Burleson out for the remainder of the year, expect Young to find himself elevated to WR3 status. Young will mix in some duds with some good games, but he should have a useful second half, and can help teams down the stretch. 

TE: Jason Witten – Considering the widely held concerns about Witten’s increasing number of drops this season, Witten’s performance on Sunday, with 18 catches for 167 yards, was ‘unforeseen’ to say the least.  Where did this come from? Not sure.  More importantly, will this continue? Not at this level, but Witten still falls into the low end TE1 category, and as such, remains a lower end starting TE option.

Week 9 Projections

Quarterbacks

1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers (Cardinals)

2. Drew Brees, Saints (Eagles)

3. Robert Griffin III, Redskins (Panthers)

4. Matt Ryan, Falcons (Cowboys)

5. Matthew Stafford, Lions (at Jaguars)

6. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (at Giants)

7. Peyton Manning, Broncos (at Bengals)

8. Cam Newton, Panthers (at Redskins)

9. Andrew Luck, Colts (Dolphins)

10. Josh Freeman, Buccaneers (at Raiders)

11. Matt Schaub, Texans (Bills)

12. Eli Manning, Giants (Steelers)

13. Tony Romo, Cowboys (at Falcons)

14. Carson Palmer, Raiders (Buccaneers)

15. Jay Cutler, Bears (at Titans)

16. Joe Flacco, Ravens (at Browns)

17. Philip Rivers, Chargers (Chiefs)

18. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (Vikings)

19. Andy Dalton, Bengals (Broncos)

20. Matt Hasselbeck, Titans (Bears)

Running Backs

1. Arian Foster, Texans (Bills)

2. Ray Rice, Ravens (at Browns)

3. LeSean McCoy, Eagles (at Saints)

4. Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks (Vikings)

5. Matt Forte, Bears (at Titans)

6. Alfred Morris, Redskins (Panthers)

7. Ryan Mathews, Chargers (Chiefs)

8. Darren McFadden, Raiders (Buccaneers)

9. Doug Martin, Buccaneers (at Raiders)

10. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs (at Chargers)

11. Reggie Bush, Dolphins (at Colts)

12. Adrian Peterson, Vikings (at Seahawks)

13. Trent Richardson, Browns (Ravens)

14. Willis McGahee, Broncos (at Bengals)

15. Rashad Jennings, Jaguars (Lions)

16. Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants (Steelers)

17. Darren Sproles, Saints (Eagles)

18. Michael Turner, Falcons (Cowboys)

19. Mikel Leshoure, Lions (at Jaguars)

20. C.J. Spiller, Bills (at Texans)

21. Chris Johnson, Titans (Bears)

22. Jonathn Dwyer, Steelers (at Giants)

23. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers (at Redskins)

24. Felix Jones, Cowboys (at Falcons)

25. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Bengals (Broncos)

Wide Receivers

1. A.J. Green, Bengals (Broncos)

2. Calvin Johnson, Lions (at Jaguars)

3. Brandon Marshall, Bears (at Titans)

4. Victor Cruz, Steelers (Giants)

5. Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers (at Raiders)

6. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos (at Bengals)

7. Julio Jones, Falcons (Cowboys)

8. Percy Harvin, Vikings (at Seahawks)

9. Reggie Wayne, Colts (Dolphins)

10. Marques Colston, Saints (Eagles)

11. Roddy White, Falcons (Cowboys)

12. Denarius Moore, Raiders (Buccaneers)

13. Randall Cobb, Packers (Cardinals)

14. Mike Wallace, Steelers (at Giants)

15. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals (at Packers)

16. Steve Smith, Panthers (at Redskins)

17. Dez Bryant, Cowboys (at Falcons)

18. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles (at Saints)

19. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs (at Chargers)

20. Torrey Smith, Ravens (at Browns)

21. Miles Austin, Cowboys (at Falcons)

22. Jordy Nelson, Packers (Cardinals)

23. Eric Decker, Broncos (at Bengals)

24. Hakeem Nicks, Giants (Steelers)

25. Mike Williams, Buccaneers (at Raiders)

26. Antonio Brown, Steelers (at Giants)

27. Titus Young, Lions (at Jaguars)

28. DaSean Jackson, Eagles (at Saints)

29. Steve Johnson, Bills (at Texans)

30. James Jones, Packers (Cardinals)

Tight Ends

1. Jimmy Graham, Saints (Eagles)

2. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons (Cowboys)

3. Jason Witten, Cowboys (at Falcons)

4. Heath Miller, Steelers (at Giants)

5. Martellus Bennett, Giants (Steelers)

6. Owen Daniels, Texans (Bills)

7. Brandon Pettigrew, Lions (at Jaguars)

8. Antonio Gates, Chargers (Chiefs)

9. Greg Olsen, Panthers (at Redskins)

10. Brent Celek, Eagles (at Saints)

11. Jermaine Gresham, Bengals (Broncos)

12. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (at Seahawks)

13. Scott Chandler, Bills (at Texans)

14. Jermichael Finley, Packers (Cardinals)

15. Brandon Myers, Raiders (Buccaneers)