NFL Week 8 Fantasy Football Sleepers and Waiver Wire Steals: Shonn Greene, Alex Smith, Vince Young, Mike Wallace
Week 8 is filled with injuries, 6 teams on bye weeks, and under achieving players. For bye week information and who you should start and sit, click this link.
So who are Week 8’s diamonds in the rough, or needles in the haystack?
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1. Shonn Greene-RB-Jets WOW!!! What a coming out party Greene had last week. How are these stats for someone owned in less than 3% of fantasy leagues; 19 carries for 144 yards with 2 TD’s. Amazing. Even better (except for Leon Washington, who was having a good season of his own), Leon Washington went down with a broken leg. The Jets liked to run before, and Greene busting out will make them like running the ball even more. This guy is a must have!
2. Alex Smith-QB-49ers Smith came into last weeks game and looked like a 1st round draft pick for the first time since being drafted in the first round 5 years ago. Head Coach Mike Singletary named Smith the starter already for the game this week versus the Colts. This will not be an easy game for Smith, but if you are not deep at the QB position, adding Smith will come in handy when the 49ers face easier match ups.
3. Mike Wallace-WR-Steelers This is not the first time I am telling you to pick this guy up. He week by week is becoming more and more involved in the Steelers offense. Last week Wallace had 2 carries from the WR spot for 19 yards, adding to his 3 catch, 72 yard, 1 TD performance. Ward is losing touches to Wallace week by week.
4. Vince Young-QB-Titans It is now only a matter of time before Kerry Collins regains the clipboard. The Titans season is in the toilet, and they have to start Young for 2 reasons. First, to see if he is their QB of the future. Secondly, to display his talents for trade value purposes. If Young wants to continue to collect a NFL check in the future, he will have to seize any playing time he may see and perform well. If you have an open roster spot, hold Young.
Cereno, my Rookie Fantasy Player needs help this week and writes;
“Just Got Back from vacation…and what a Bad week 7 it was!!
I’m looking to dump some guys off my team due to frustration alone…Guess this a typical rookie mistake!…should I hold on to these guys? (Portis, Barber, Braylon, T Edwards, Henne, and Hasselbeck?)
My Team
Matt Schaub
Hasselbeck
Clinton Portis (J Stewart, Mauroney, and Tashard Choice are available)
Maurice Jones-drew
mike sims-walker
marquis Colston
Brandon Marshall
Heath Miller
w/r/t Braylon Edwards (I’m just fed up…Derrick Mason, Nicks, Moore)
Bench:
Trent Edwards ( This guy is killing me…Alex Smith Is available)
Chade Henne (this guy is gone also)
Johnny Knox
Marion barber (see Clinton Portis replacemnet choices)
Chris Cooley
London Fletcher (should I dump him for James Harrison?)”
Cereno, let me know what your record is next time you write in, I am curious. My advise to you is to keep Portis and Barber, they both will have more touches than anyone else you listed. Dump Edwards for Alex Smith. Grab my number 1 sleeper, who Thomas Jones should worry about, and keep London Fletcher, who has been having a solid season.
Got questions, we have answers. Leave them in the comments section below and we will get back to you. Playoff push is here, lets steal some wins!
Kurt Fraschetti / ProFootballinsight
Kurt@ProFootballinsight.net
1)do you like my team?
2) who would you start at rb this week. i think i’ve got to go with austin, fitzgerald and colston, so i have room for 2 rbs. dont know if greene is smarter than stewart and dont know if westbrook starting or not. Please let me know if you believe i start barber and westbrook if westbrook plays and if he doesnt, who should i start at rb?
3) felix jones is available. would you drop someone (who?) and pick him up?
4) anthony gonzalex (wr, ind.) is avavilable. would you drop someone (who?) and pick him up?
QB Aaron Rodgers,
RB Marion Barber,
RB Shonn Greene,
RB/WR Miles Austin,
WR Larry Fitzgerald,
WR Marques Colston,
TE Jason Witten,
D/ST Vikings D/ST, Bench Brian Westbrook,
Need a kicker, will worry about it later
Bench Percy Harvin,
Bench Rashard Mendenhall,
Bench Sidney Rice,
Bench Hakeem Nicks,
Bench Jonathan Stewart,
Bench Jamaal Charles,
Corrected email.
Hi David,
Thanks for writing in. Yes, I do like your team…
I would find a different defense this week if there is one out there. I expect Minne. to give up nearly 30 points.
I would drop Hakeem Nicks for Anthony Gonzalez. Nicks is a #3 on a team which commits to the run first. Gonzalez is a #2 on a pass heavy team.
There is so much offensive talent in Dallas, that it is unknown which of their three backs or three WR’s or TE will explode on any given week. I do like Barber’s match up against the Seahawks this week.
Greene will be hit or miss, but I do like his chances better than Stewart’s chances against Arizona’s #1 rush defense. I expect Arizona to take an early lead, causing the Panthers to have to pass. Greene’s touches will be limited as well, due to the time of possession that the Dolphins usually command.
My only other concern is that you are starting 3 Cowboys…. This is great if they score 45 points. This will be your downfall if the Cowboys offense does not show up. I would be super glued to my TV on the Dallas game if I were you with this line up!
Brian Westbrook may be a better start than Greene, but it all depends on Westbrook’s status leading into this weekend. Keep Greene in your line up, but if at the last minute, the Eagles release that Westbrook is fine and will play, get him in!
Hope this helps and check back in with us every week for your fantasy needs!
Kurt Fraschetti
Kurt:
You’re prompt responses are greatly appreciated. I agreed with you comment about playing too many Dallas players, but, until I have another rb better than mario to start, i have no choice, and i cant bench witten or austin. i did just trade colston for ray rice, as i neeed a rb.
You already suggested dropping Hicks for A. Gonzalez. i’m surprised you wouldnt drop Collie before Hicks. Would you drop someone for Felix Jones (another Dallas player!). So, that’s two drops, if i get A. Gonzalez and Jones. Maybe drop Stewart and Hicks or Collie for Gonzalez and Jones? Please let me know.
QB Aaron Rodgers,
RB Marion Barber,
RB Ray Rice,
RB/WR Miles Austin,
WR Larry Fitzgerald,
TE Jason Witten,
D/ST Vikings D/ST,
Need a kicker, will worry about it later
Bench Percy Harvin,
Bench Rashard Mendenhall,
Bench Brian Westbrook,Sidney Rice,
Bench Hakeem Nicks,
Bench Jonathan Stewart,
Bench Jamaal Charles,
My starting lineup includes sidney rice at wr.
thanks.
Kurt:
Sorry, F. Jones was picked up. So, i suppose you’re only move would be to drop Hicks (and not Collie) for A. Gonzalez. i know collie on higher scoring team but if i get a. gonzalez, that would be two on colts instead of one on colts and one on giants.
I had Trent Edwards for my bye week replacement in week 8. I ONLY need the player this week as my other QB’s are Tom Brady and Carson Palmer.
I am debating between getting Fitzpatrick, Stafford, or Bulger for this week as the only other options do not have a good match up.
Point system for our league is as follows:
0.1 point per rushing yard
0.1 point per recieving yard
0.05 point per passing yard
1 point per reception
6 points for each rushing TD
6 points for each receiving TD
4 points for each passing TD
-1 points for each INT
2 points for each rushing extra point
2 points for each receiving extra point
1 point for each passing extra point
Here are the available QB’s in the order I have them ranked:
Quarterback Team Opponent Total Points for the year
M. Stafford DET vs STL 61.7
M. Bulger STL at DET 49.5
R. Fitzpatrick BUF vs HOU 21.95
Vince Young TEN vs JAC -0.4
Alex Smith SFO at IND 22.9
J. Russell OAK at SDC 48.75
C. Henne MIA at NYJ 43.55
J. Delhomme CAR at ARI 65.7
D. Anderson CLE at CHI 37.95
Stats for in Stafford does not start:
Quarterback Team Opponent Total Points for the year
D. Culpepper DET vs STL 25.6
Any help would be apprecitated!!
Quarterback – Team – Opponent – Total Points for the year
Ryan Fitzpatrick – BUF – vs HOU – 21.95
Matthew Stafford – DET – vs STL – 61.7
Marc Bulger – STL – at DET – 49.5
Alex Smith – SFO – at IND – 22.9
Vince Young – TEN – vs JAC – -0.4
JaMarcus Russell – OAK – at SDC – 48.75
Chad Henne – MIA – at NY – 43.55
Jake Delhomme – CAR – at ARI – 65.7
Derek Anderson – CLE – at CHI – 37.95
Daunte Culpepper – DET – vs STL – 25.6
David,
You are right with the two Colts. My reasoning is this… Collie is stealing Gonzalez’s points, when Gonzalez comes back, he will be your starter in this group at the bottom of your list. It is unknown when exactly Gonzalez will return, so I would want you to hold the more valuable of the two. Hicks stock increases if Manningham does not play… Which is yet to be determined, but it looks like he will play this weekend. Let me know what else happens from here!
Gary,
These QB’s all are horrible starts to try to squeak out a win with. Let’s start with your three you are currently debating.
1. Matthew Stafford. I do not like this play due to his health. Returning from injury, and being a rookie are two negatives, and the St. Louis Defense is not as bad as people would like to think. Their offense kills them.
2. Marc Bulger. He is as good, or as bad as his back up. He has no one to throw the ball to at the WR position, and dearly misses Torry Holt and Issac Bruce. I would not start him either.
3. Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick has a ton of tools around him to use, other than an offensive line! Houston should take a lead causing the Bills to have to use the pass game to play catch up. In the old Rams offense, Fitzpatrick had a few huge games, and out of your three, would be my safest start.
Aside from your big three, Derek Anderson blows against anyone anymore. I like Alex Smith’s upside in a run supported offense, just not against Indi. If Jake Delhomme is not benched, he could end up with a nice game against Arizona, as their defense will concentrate on the two headed running attack of the Panthers. Plus the Panthers will be playing from behind as well. Chad Henne is consistent, but leaves the offense too much for the wildcat, plus Pat White will start to see some time. Not to mention, the Jets D will send the house at Henne. Vince Young has a chance to explode…. The question is, will he? I picked him up to hold on my bench in the event that he does have a big game this week.
I hope this helps, let me know if you have any other issues or questions.
Kurt
PFI’s Midseason Fantasy Football Awards http://www.profootballinsight.net/2009/10/nfl-fantasy-football-pfi-mid-season-fantasy-awards-manning-austin-forte/
[...] As I said a few weeks back, Vince Young will have to play out of his mind when given the opportunity to secure a contract and hopefully a starting job after this season. This is showtime for Young, who has guided the Titans to its first two victories of the season, including a quality win over the 49ers. It does help when you have fantasy freak Chris Johnson in the backfield to take the focus off of you, but Young is playing like a viable starter and also is a dual threat with his legs and his arm. [...]
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