Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 8 Edition

Fantasy Football can beat you up emotionally, especially when you bench a guy that outproduces the guy you start and then you end up losing. These type of decisions sometimes usually leave me stressed and somewhat depressed come Sunday night. But like in the NFL, you have to maintain a short memory and move forward. Again, it's a grind and you just have to realize you're not going to be perfect when making some of these decisions.

Last week was an up and down week. Tim Tebow and DeMarco Murray turned out to be golden starts, while Reggie Wayne and Ryan Torain were absolute duds. So we move forward to Week 8, still absorbing as much information as we can as I do my best to recommend the best players for your respective lineups.  

Disclaimer: Kickers and defenses are left out each week, also I try to leave the most obvious selections out. Start Tom Brady!

QBs Start 'Em

Ben Rothlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New England

Watching Ben in the preseason, he looked sharp and this Steelers offense looked very fluid. However, the Steelers started slow as did Big Ben. But Ben has started to heat up as of late with 9 TD's in his last three games and now has a nice matchup playing against Tom Brady and the Pats in what should be a shootout. New England's secondary has played a bit better the last two games against the Cowboys and the Jets, but they are still ranked dead last against the pass. Hines Ward could be out for this game, but Ben still has Mike Wallace of course, as well as the emerging Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders. Look for Ben to come close to 300 yards passing and hit for at least two TD's. 

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Buffalo Bills vs. Washington

Now is the time of year to be careful when starting QB's in Buffalo, but no need to worry this Sunday as it will be sunny and 51 degrees. Since the weather will be fine, I like Fitzpatrick this week. First, as we all know, the guy is obviously a smart dude. He graduated from Harvard, enough said. So give this guy a bye week and two weeks to prepare for a team and that doesn't bode well for the opposing defense. On paper it doesn't look like a great matchup with the Skins ranked eleventh against defending Fantasy QB's, but I like this spot for the Bills and Fitzpatrick. Steve Johnson has had time to rest his healthy groin, Donald Jones could be returning and Fitzy has had two weeks to dissect this defense. I think Fitzy might be in for a pretty juicy game come Sunday. Look for around 300 yards with 2-3 TD's. 

Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens vs Arizona

I didn't want to put Flacco here, but I'm trying to pick guys that aren't so obvious so I'm going with Joe Cool. But this is a good matchup. Like I said last week, any time you have a QB going against Arizona you always gotta start em'. After running Ray Rice just eight times last week, expect Baltimore to get more balanced this week which will help the passing game. I know it's hard to pull the trigger on Flacco, but the end of day it's Arizona, they rank 29th in defending Fantasy QB's and the Baltimore defense is going to create a ton of possessions for this offense. This time I think they make it work. This Arizona D is not nearly as good as Jacksonville's. 

Sit 'Em

Colt McCoy, QB, Cleveland Browns @ San Francisco

Colt let me down last week against Seattle, but I still will recommend him in the future. Just not this week against the 49ers. San Fran actually hasn't been great at defending the pass, ranked 22nd , but I simply just can't trust McCoy in this spot. The 49ers D just has been extremely tough, creating turnovers and shutting down the opposition's run attack. The Browns will fail to find a balance and I don't think these Browns wideouts match up well with the 49ers secondary. 

Alex Smith, QB, San Francisco 49ers vs. Cleveland 

Have Aaron Rodgers on a bye this week and looking for a spot starter? Don't turn to Alex Smith. Smith has been efficient this year with 8 TD's and just 2 Int's, but the Browns have been playing stellar pass defense. They are No. 1 against the pass, only allowing just 171 yards a game. Avoid Smith, as the Browns secondary has just been elite so far this year. 

Kevin Kolb, QB, Arizona Cardinals @ Baltimore 

This is is actually kind of obvious, but if somehow you are thinking of starting Kolb, Fuhgedaboutit!

RBs Start 'Em

Darren Sproles, RB, New Orleans Saints @ St. Louis

This game is like the perfect storm for Sproles owners. The Rams have been brutal against the run ranked dead last after last week's fiasco against DeMarco Murray and it also looks like Mark Ingram may not play Sunday. That means more opportunity for Sproles to tear up this weak defense. He could have his best game of the year, although last week will be hard to top, when he ran for 88 yards and TD and also caught a TD. It appears AJ Feeley might start for the Rams again, which will lead to a lot of 3 and outs and a lot of scoring chances for the Saints. Expect Sproles to go over 100 total yards and to find the endzone at least once. He is a must-start this week. 

Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans Saints @ St. Louis

This is assuming Mark Ingram doesn't play. If he does, he goes in this spot, but if Ingram is indeed out then Thomas becomes a very solid start. He will become the new goal line back and I would expect at least 15 carries. Last week went over 100 total yards and if Ingram is out he could indeed hit that mark again and possibly find the endzone. 

Jackie Battle, Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Diego Chargers

I like Battle. He's a tough hard-nosed runner who hits the hole and doesn't avoid contact. The Chiefs still are a run first team and Battle is the No. 1 guy. Dexter McCluster and Thomas Jones will still be involved, but Battle will continue to get the majority of the carries and goal line looks. The Chargers on paper look good, ranked eleventh in defending Fantasy RB's, but the last 2 weeks they have let up 100-yard games to Willis McGahee and Shonn Greene. I think Battle has a chance to top 100 yards in this or finish with around 70 yards rushing and a TD.

Sit 'Em

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers vs. Minnesota

This one is fairly obvious as Williams has been brutal this year, but I just want to vent for a second. Why would Carolina pay Williams $43 million and $21 million guaranteed and then only give him 10 carries a game? I understand Jonathan Stewart is there, but why not just keep Stewart then and let Williams walk? Stewart is getting more touches per game! He is the one getting the receiving yards and even gets most of the goal line carries. It's just real frustrating to be a Williams owner when you expected Carolina to give him the rock often after the big payday. To me, it just would of made more sense to let Williams walk, rather than pay him all that money and rarely use him. No? Anyway, enough ranting. Williams will be average once again, have 10 carries for 40 yards and be totally insignificant. But hey, maybe Carolina will give him at least 15 carries and get him more involved in the pass game this week. Then again, no chance!

Peyton Hillis,  Cleveland Browns vs. San Francisco

Hills should return this week, but he can't be started. The 49ers have been stout against the run allowing just 74 yards per game and no touchdowns! Stay away from Hillis and try to trade him fast!

Chris Johnson, Tennennsee Titans vs. Indianapolis 

I was against Johnson going into this year because last year he didn't look like the same back. I think former head coach Jeff Fisher ran him into the ground and it wore Johnson out. Then he sat out the whole off-season and now reports are his conditioning isn't up to par. He has been brutal this year with just 1 TD, 1 100-yard game while averaging just 2.9 YPC. He also said this week he's not the issue. C'mon Chris, you gotta take some responsibility here. Owners keep waiting patiently for Johnson, but I have been saying trade the guy since week 1. If Johnson has a big game, make sure you move him directly after, because odds are he's going to struggle throughout the season. With all that said, the Colts can't stop the run, but I don't trust Johnson so avoid him. 

WRs Start 'Em

Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills vs. Washington

I love this guy, runs good routes, tough, has good hands, Johnson is just an exciting player to watch. Johnson started out hot with 3 straight 90-yard games where he scored in each of em, but then started to struggle a bit once he was battling a groin injury. With a week to rest, Johnson should be ready to go. Redskins CB DeAngelo Hall can't cover Johnson, Fitzpatrick just had two weeks to learn how to rip apart this defense which equates to me highly recommending Stevie Johnson this week. Get him in your lineups!

Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos vs. Detroit

Call it a hunch, but I like Thomas this week. I really like Thomas to slowly get better and better as the season wears on and I think this week he makes for a sneaky start. Tebow will be playing his first home game as a starter and there is no doubt he will look Thomas' way. At 6'3, 235 lbs., Thomas makes for a nice redzone target as well as the type of guy that can catch that bomb in the middle of the field. I am expecting a 50-yard 1 TD performance from Thomas this week. 

Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New England

There is a very good chance Hines Ward does not play this week against the Pats and that means Brown will continue to get a lot of looks. Last week, after Ward went out, Brown heated up and finished with 7 catches for 102 yards. Big Ben and Brown have a rapport dating back to last years playoffs and I think as the season goes on these two will continue to hook up. This is a good spot to take a chance and start Brown. 

Sit 'Em

Sidney Rice, Seattle Seahawks vs. Cincinnati

Rice had a tough matchup last week against the emerging CB Joe Haden and it doesn't get any easier this week against Leon Hall and the Bengals sound secondary. Cincinnati ranks fifth in the league against the pass, giving up 189 yards per contest and having allowed an average of just 13.3 Fantasy points to opposing wideouts. Keep Rice on the pine this week. 

Greg Little, Cleveland Browns @ San Francisco

Little is probably the No. 1 option in the Cleveland passing game and I think going forward he will start to heat up, but this is not the week to use him. The 49ers are going to bottle up this Cleveland offense in what should be another extremely low scoring game for the Browns. 

Brandon Lloyd, St. Louis Rams @ New Orleans

Maybe you think this is a good week to go with Lloyd as they face New Orleans. The Rams will be passing a ton, the only problem is it appears Sam Bradford might be out again this week, leaving it up to AJ Feeley. You simply can't trust Feeley against New Orleans who will bring constant pressure and disrupt him. Just wait until Bradford returns before starting the NFL leader in receiving yards last season. 

TEs Start 'Em

Fred Davis, Washington Redskins @ Buffalo

With Santana Moss out the next 5-7 weeks and Chris Cooley out for the year, Fred Davis is easily the #1 receiving target for the Skins right now. Davis is a very talented player and will be force fed the ball for now. He's got to be in your lineup almost every week until proven otherwise, regardless of matchup. 

Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers vs New England Patriots

The Ol' vet is starting to heat up as Big Ben is starting to look Miller's way often. He has two TD's in his last three games while catching around four balls per game. Miller still has some juice left and there is a good chance he finds the endzone once again this week. 

Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings @ Carolina

Another veteran who is starting to heat up a bit is Shiancoe. The rookie QB Christian Ponder is relying on the big target connecting with Shiancoe nine times for 90 yards and a score in the past two weeks. Shiancoe's had 8 targets last week and expect the same amount of looks again this week with Shiancoe finishing with around 50 yards and a possible score. 

Sit 'Em

Joel Dreessen, Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville

With Andre Johnson returning, Dreesen's time to produce is pretty much up. He has two TD's in his last three games, but expect Dreeseen to produce very little now with Johnson back in the lineup. You can most likely just release him from your roster at this point. 

Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers vs. Minnesota

Last week we told you to avoid the Wayne, NJ product because of a turf toe injury. Reports were it wasn't that serious, but turf toes seriously hinder a player's effectiveness and Olsen finished with just 1 catch for 4 yards. Until Olsen declares himself fully healthy, you need to continue to bench him, as Jeremy Shockey will be the Tight End to start in Carolina.

Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots @ Pittsburgh

During the bye week, pictures were found on Twitter of Gronkowski and a porn star. What he was doing with that girl, who knows, but Gronk has since apologized to Belichick and the organization. Some may say yea that's cool, porn star! Yea! But I say focus on football, son! It would of been better if he was hanging with Brady and Gisele in the Bahamas! Anyway, I think Aaron Hernandez is the Tight End to start against Pitt this week, so sit Gronk this week and hope he stays away from the porn stars because they will only cause distractions. 

IDPs Start 'Em

Stephen Tulloch, LB, Detroit Lions @ Denver

Tulloch should rack up plenty of tackles as the Broncos will run the ball a lot with Moreno, Ball and Tebow. There is a chance he finishes with around 10 tackles in this game. 

Antonio Smith, DE, Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville

Went against Smith last week, but love the matchup this week against Jacksonville and rookie Blaine Gabbert. Smith should finish with a couple of sacks and could finish with a nice tackle total as the Jags will pound the run. 

Kenny Phillips, S, New York Giants vs. Miami Dolphins

With Matt Moore tossing the rock for the Phins, Phillips could end up picking off a couple passes this week and should get a nice tackle total as well as they stack the box against the Phins. 

Sit 'Em

DeAngelo Hall, CB, Washington Redskins @ Buffalo 

Hall really only gets Int's when they are thrown right at him and Fitzpatrick won't be giving him any of those gifts this week. Hall in my mind is overrated and really shouldn't be owned, so don't even think about starting him.

Roman Harper, S, New Orleans Saints @ St. Louis

The Rams won't be running much nor completing many passes leaving little chance for Harper to get a good amount of tackles. There will be a lot of 3 and outs with AJ Feeley behind center for the Rams, so leave Harper on your bench this week. 

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