I'm here to make you money in fantasy football

[onlooker]

Was I right or what. I got him in 4 of my fantasy teams. Record breaker!

Murray was no surprise pick up. The surprise was what he did. No one predicted that.

Plus you alerted people about him, when he was probably already scooped up in everyone's league. They should of known about getting him anyway. Someone with higher waiver pick got him in my league.

So enough of the self praising about a pickup that was well known to be the top add this past week.

[Vitooch]

Giants -10 1/2?

---

[ttwarrior1]

+yeh with the rb shortage , anyone with an open spot should of got him. Don't expect another game like that, it was st louis, he might do well again or even start more, but when felix is back or soon as they lose again, something different will happen

I hope stafford is ok

[ttwarrior1]

There’s no point in dancing around it: Week 7 dropped a rather hefty grenade on fantasy rosters as far as injuries are concerned. And with names ranging from Darren McFadden to Matthew Stafford to Beanie Wells hobbling off into the infirmary, there’s an unruly stack of medical reports to review. Let’s begin:

Darren McFadden left in the first quarter with a sprained foot and didn’t return. No word on the severity of this injury as of late Sunday night, but McFadden’s Week 8 bye comes at an ideal time. Michael Bush (17 rush, 99 yds) is the clear beneficiary if Run DMC is unable to go coming out of the bye.

Matthew Stafford suffered knee and ankle injuries late, and had a “noticeable limp” in the locker room after Sunday’s loss to the Falcons, according to MLive.com. Stafford says he was going to attempt to return to the game if the Lions had gotten the ball back, but he never got that chance. Meanwhile, ProFootballTalk.com reports that Stafford is headed for an MRI on Monday, which should clarify his outlook. Shaun Hill immediately becomes a viable start in fantasy leagues if Stafford ends up missing time.

Beanie Wells (12 rush, 42 yds) left with a sprained right knee and didn’t return. Sometimes injuries that are initially called knee sprains end up being something worse, but we won’t know Beanie’s outlook until he undergoes an MRI (and yes, the right knee is the one that was surgically repaired prior to last season). Passing down specialist LaRod Stephens-Howling made significant noise with a 73-yard touchdown catch after Wells left, but Alfonso Smith (5 rush, 17 yds, TD) is likely to take over as the lead back if the Cardinals’ RB1 does indeed miss time.

Tim Hightower (17 rush, 88 yds) suffered a potentially serious knee injury, with ESPN 980’s Chris Russell reporting that the Redskins “strongly believe” that he tore his ACL (we’ll know for sure after an MRI on Monday). Ryan Torain was an afterthought on Sunday (2 rush, -5 yds), but he appears likely to get another chance at the lead back role now. And given Mike Shanahan’s dastardly backfield whims (not to mention Torain’s injury history), Roy Helu should be stashed away in most formats.



Willis McGahee (18 rush, 76 yds) fractured his hand in Sunday’s comeback win over the Dolphins. No word as of Sunday night how much time McGahee might miss, but Knowshon Moreno (7 rush, 28 yds; 2 rec, 10 yds) should be vacating waiver wires en masse this week, with Lance Ball (6 rush, 14 yds) potentially deserving consideration in deeper formats.

Speaking of fractured hands, Santana Moss broke a bone in his left hand in Sunday’s loss to Carolina, with ESPN 980’s Chris Russell reporting that he’s likely to miss 3-4 weeks. Jabar Gaffney (4 rec, 68 yds) and Fred Davis (6 rec, 80 yds, TD) both stand to benefit, with Anthony Armstrong (1 rec, 9 yds) surfacing as a name to watch in deeper leagues.

Mark Ingram had the most productive game of his young career (14 rush, 91 yds), but limped off in the fourth quarter with what was initially being called a bruised right heel. Ingram wasn’t able to put much weight at all on his leg as he walked off, and though X-rays reportedly came back negative, it’s possible that this is an injury that will cost him some time. Pierre Thomas (7 rush, 43 yds; 5 rec, 68 yds) would quickly see a significant spike in value, with the already valuable Darren Sproles (10 rush, 82 yds, TD; 6 rec, 19 yds, TD) getting additional carries as well.

The Bucs lost Earnest Graham (torn Achilles’) for the rest of the season. The good news for LeGarrette Blount’s fantasy owners is that Tampa’s top RB has a Week 8 bye to get healthy, and won’t have to fight Graham for carries when he returns. In the meantime, Blount’s fantasy owners should potentially consider adding Kregg Lumpkin as insurance, though Lumpkin (8 rush, 15 yds; 6 rec, 37 yds) didn’t do much to inspire confidence in his readiness to produce.

Matt Ryan had a scary moment when LT Will Svitek stepped on his ankle, but was able to return. It’s certainly possible that the ankle will swell up, but Ryan should be fine given that he has a well-timed Week 8 bye.

Adrian Peterson (24 rush, 175 yds, TD) limped off with an ankle injury in the fourth quarter, but was able to return. Fantasy owners will want to keep a close eye on practice reports in case the ankle swells up, but hopefully AP will be fine for an extremely appealing matchup against the Panthers next week.

In a cruel twist for anyone who threw Marshawn Lynch into the lineup as a bye-week replacement, the Seahawks RB aggravated a back injury just before kickoff. Leon Washington (7 rush, 39 yds; 4 rec, 10 yds) out-produced Justin Forsett (8 rush, 23 yds) in Lynch’s absence, but neither would be much more than a deep league flex option against the Bengals in Week 8.

Joseph Addai (hamstring) made an unlikely return on Sunday, but left in the first quarter after aggravating his injury. It’s unclear how serious the aggravation was, but clearly Addai rushed it back (and it likely made the decision to sit him easier given that the Colts were trailing 21-0 after the first quarter). With Addai out, Delone Carter had a breakout game of sorts (10 rush, 89 yds, TD, fumble lost), though he did so in a game that was almost entirely garbage time.

On a positive note, the Houston Chronicle reports that Andre Johnson (hamstring) ran routes at close to full speed during Friday’s practice. This doesn’t guarantee that Johnson will be back for Week 8, as Gary Kubiak said that “there’s still another step for [Johnson] to take” before the Texans activate him, but it certainly seems plausible that Johnson could take that step during the upcoming week.

Other injury notes: Ryan Mathews (13 rush, 39 yds; 4 rec, 26 yds) was dealing with a thumb injury on Sunday, but was able to play through it … Percy Harvin left Sunday’s game with an apparent aggravation of his rib injury … Shonn Greene appeared to suffer a non-contact ankle injury in the second half, but re-entered and looked fine afterward … Hines Ward left with an ankle injury, which meant increased looks for Antonio Brown (7 rec, 102 yds) and Emmanuel Sanders (5 rec, 46 yds, TD) … Mohamed Massaquoi sustained a concussion … The Raiders lost Kevin Boss to a concussion … In addition to being rendered irrelevant by DeMarco Murray, Tashard Choice left with a shoulder injury … Ben Watson sustained a concussion, which could boost the short-term appeal of Evan Moore (4 rec, 35 yds) as a bye-week fill-in … Packers reserve RB Alex Green left with a leg injury … Damian Williams (1 rec, 5 yds) sat out the second half, with the Nashville Tennessean reporting that he got the wind knocked out of him and had a headache … LaDainian Tomlinson was unable to finish Sunday’s game due to an illness … Falcons FB Ovie Mughelli left in the fourth quarter with a potentially serious knee injury … Jacob Tamme left in the second quarter with a head injury … Chris Cooley won’t need more surgery on his troublesome knee.



Defense/offensive line injuries: Texans FS Danieal Manning (fractured left fibula) will reportedly miss at least a month and could be done for the year, a major loss for Houston’s secondary … Chargers LG Kris Dielman sustained a concussion, and LT Marcus McNeill left due to neck pain … Vikings RG Anthony Herrera was able to return after a knee injury, but was visibly limping … Seahawks CB Walter Thurmond III (cracked left fibula) will miss the rest of the season … Rams RT Jason Smith was carried off with what the Rams are calling a strained neck and possible concussion … Titans LB Barrett Ruud sustained a “burner” in his shoulder, but beat writer Terry McCormick reports that the injury isn’t serious … Redskins MLB London Fletcher left with a hamstring injury … Browns RG Shawn Lauvao left with a knee injury … Bucs FS Tanard Jackson came up with a hamstring injury, and MLB Mason Foster aggravated an ankle injury … Bucs reserve lineman Jeremy Zuttah (who was filling in for Jeff Faine) left with a knee injury.

[Full Time Hobo]

Had Beanie and Hightower

Grabbed Torrain... luckily guy in my league recently dropped him
Rogers on a bye this week so shaun hill would be nice

[ramones951]

Down by 31 points heading into tonight with Flacco and Rice still to play. Rushing and passing touchdowns both count as 6. Gonna be close!

Big thanks to DeMarco Murray for keeping me in the game

[Roadtrip635]

I was only able to pick up Murray in one of my leagues, but he helped me win the game. In several other leagues I'm in, it's almost all Cowboy's fans and wasn't even available in FA, most guys had him stashed on their bench from the draft just waiting for Felix to get injured and Murray to get his chance.

[ttwarrior1]

Fantasy Football Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups: Quarterback

Carson Palmer (40%), Oakland (bye)
With three interceptions in less than a half, I haven’t seen Palmer play this poorly since, well, last year. Is he an upgrade over Kyle Boller? Of course, but then again Jeff George would be too. Many will chalk this debacle up to rust or a lack of familiarity with his receivers, and while that played a role, it’s not as if Palmer was lighting up opposing secondaries last season. The matchup against Denver following this week’s bye looks tempting, but nothing I saw yesterday gives me confidence in the newly unretired Palmer.
Sam Bradford (37%), St. Louis
Perhaps Sunday’s performance from A.J. Feeley will give people a new appreciation for Bradford’s talents and willingness to take a beating behind a woeful offensive line. His ankle injury is a concern, but as I mentioned last week, there are plenty of good fantasy matchups left on the St. Louis schedule, particularly now that Brand Lloyd is in the mix.
Alex Smith (22%), San Francisco
Smith entered San Fran’s bye with six passing touchdowns in his last three games. The 49ers face Cleveland in Week Eight, but don’t read too much into the Browns’ gaudy numbers against opposing quarterbacks. Their opponents haven’t exactly been a who’s who of prolific signal callers.
Andy Dalton (20%), Cincinnati
I’ve listed Dalton in each of the last two columns, and I still like his matchup against the Seahawks this week. Their pass defense isn’t as good as the numbers indicated against Cleveland, and their tough run defense, coupled with the absence of the suspended Cedric Benson, should give the “Red Rifle” opportunities to air it out.
John Beck (9%), Washington
In his first start of the season, Beck ran for one touchdown and threw for another while racking up 279 passing yards. That’s now two straight weeks with a rushing score, and his ability to move around and extend plays stood out. Next up for Beck is a Buffalo pass defense who has allowed at least 292 passing yards in each of the last five games. That said, the loss of Santana Moss to a hand injury is a potential red flag.
Fantasy Football Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups: Running Back

Knowshon Moreno (46%), Denver
With Willis McGahee’s broken hand almost certain to keep him out of action this week, Moreno is sure to be a hot waiver wire target. He rushed for 28 yards on seven carries in relief of McGahee this week, but he has failed to show any ability to live up to his lofty draft status over the course of his brief career. The Broncos take on Detroit next week, who has been victimized on the ground the last few weeks, but I have a hard time recommending Moreno outside of PPR leagues. It’s also worth noting that Lance Ball and Tim Tebow are more likely options around the goal line.
Ben Tate (42%), Houston
Obviously Arian Foster looks as healthy as ever, but Tate’s 104-yard performance on Sunday proved his value as a handcuff should Foster suffer any setbacks. Keep in mind that the Texans face Carolina and Indianapolis in Weeks 15 and 16, giving Tate even more value.
Montario Hardesty (36%), Cleveland
The good news is that Hardesty held up under a heavy workload on Sunday and compiled 122 total yards against a solid Seattle defensive front. The bad news is that he averaged fewer than three yards per carry and had just one run of over eight yards. If Peyton Hillis misses next week’s game against San Francisco, Hardesty would still be a flex option based on the workload despite a tough matchup, but that’s about it.
Maurice Morris (35%)/Keiland Williams (3%), Detroit
Morris and Williams essentially split the backfield touches with Jahvid Best out on Sunday. Morris got 31 of his 50 rushing yards on one play, but he was more involved in the passing game. Williams also looked decent on the ground and looks like the better short yardage option. Given the rumors about Best potentially missing the rest of the year, it’s worth stashing one of these guys just in case. Those rumors have obviously been denied, but you have to acknowledge Best’s lengthy injury history. Next week’s matchup with Denver isn’t quite as good as it may seem since the Broncos have yet to allow an opposing running back to rush for a score.
Delone Carter (19%), Indianapolis
With Joseph Addai aggravating his hamsting injury, Carter stepped in and ran for 89 yards and a TD on 10 carries while the Colts were being dismantled by New Orleans. The game was already out of hand when Addai was injured (yes, I know it was only the first quarter), so the severity of the injury is unclear. However, the Colts face a Tennessee defense that was just shredded on the ground and has allowed a 100-yard rusher in each of their last two games.
Bernard Scott (9%), Cincinnati
With Cedric Benson serving his suspension this week, Scott will get the start against Seattle. I like Scott’s skill set, but the Seahawks have been tough on opposing runners this year. Based on his workload, Scott becomes a decent flex option as a bye week fill-in.
Alfonso Smith (1%), Arizona
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Beanie Wells got dinged up this week. With Wells on the sideline, Smith stepped in and rushed for a score against the Steelers. He finished with 17 rushing yards on five carries, and he also filled in for Wells in Week Three with 75 total yards. Wells has typically been a slow healer, but Smith isn’t a particularly attractive option with the Ravens up next on the schedule. LaRod Stephens-Howling will also take over on passing downs, further limiting Smith’s value.
Kregg Lumpkin (1%), Tampa Bay (bye)
Early reports are that Earnest Graham has a torn Achilles, which would end his season. The Bucs have the bye week for LeGarrette Blount’s knee to get healthy, but if that isn’t enough time, Lumpkin would be the de facto starter. He struggled on the ground against the Bears, tallying just 15 yards on eight carries. Lumpkin did catch six balls for 37 yards, which makes him far more intriguing in PPR leagues should Blount remain out.
Fantasy Football Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups: Wide Receiver

Michael Crabtree (38%), San Francisco
I’ve been on the Crabtree bandwagon for a couple weeks, and even with Joe Haden looming on Sunday, his ownership percentage is way too low. It’s probably a week where you think twice about starting him, but his foot seems healthy and there are a number of great matchups left on the San Francisco schedule.

Steve Breaston (29%), Kansas City
With five catches and 64 yards on Sunday, Breaston has at least 50 yards in four straight games. One of those games was against the Chargers, who just gave up three scores to a number two wideout and travel to Arrowhead on Sunday.
Antonio Brown (29%), Pittsburgh
Brown had a career day with seven catches for 102 yards against the woeful Arizona secondary. With Hines Ward banged up, Brown seized the opportunity as the Steelers went to more wide open offensive sets. The Steelers continue to struggle at establishing the run game (as my fellow Rashard Mendenhall owners can attest), which could mean more big games from Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh passing attack.
Greg Little (29%), Cleveland
The rookie receiver now has at least five catches in three straight games and led the Browns with seven targets on Sunday. The yardage was disappointing, but he’s emerging as a strong PPR league option and remains a solid red zone target. Beware this week, as the 49ers have given up just one TD to an opposing wideout since Week Two. Still, the Browns are sure to force feed Little the ball either way.
Jabar Gaffney (19%), Washington
With Santana Moss out with a hand injury, Gaffney will be asked to step up as the number one wideout. He has significantly more value in PPR leagues, but with the exception of a matchup with the 49ers, there are some decent matchups on Washington’s schedule over the next month or so. Terrence Austin has also showed some chemistry with Beck, so keep an eye on him as well.
Demaryius Thomas (9%), Denver
The numbers, three catches for 27 yards and a score, don’t necessarily stand out. But the 10 targets do. Thomas did have a couple drops, but he’s sure to be a huge part of the Denver passing game with Brandon Lloyd now in St. Louis. He’s worth adding in any format.
Michael Jenkins (7%), Minnesota
As I said four weeks ago, the numbers might be tempting, but don’t go pick him up. Sometimes old advice is the best advice, like never eat yellow snow.
Fantasy Football Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups: Tight End

Jermaine Gresham (42%), Cincinnati
As I mentioned above, I think the Bengals will be forced to throw it a decent amount against Seattle. While that is good news for Gresham in and of itself, it’s worth noting that the Seahawks have given up a touchdown to an opposing tight end in two of the last three games.
Heath Miller (31%), Pittsburgh
Always one of Roethlisberger’s favorite red zone targets, Miller now has touchdowns in two of the last three weeks. The Patriots have given up a couple big games to opposing tight ends, making Miller a decent bye week fill-in.
Visanthe Shiancoe (19%), Minnesota
A solid tight end can be a young quarterback’s best friend, which could help Shiancoe re-emerge as a fantasy factor over the remainder of the year. Next week Minnesota takes on a Carolina defense that just got lit up by Fred Davis, which makes Shiancoe a reasonable option if you’re desperate.
Streaming Defense(s) of the Week

Cincinnati (24%) at Seattle
The Bengals have been a terrific fantasy defense this season, and words can’t do justice to the ineptitude of the Seattle offense on Sunday. Charlie Whitehurst actually made Seattle fans pine for Tarvaris Jackson, maybe even Dan McGwire from the early 90s. That Seahawks-Browns game could have single-handedly killed any interest for football in London.

[ttwarrior1]

id pick up a brown with hines ward possibly out for the next game, he should be demoted soon anyway

[Pramii]

Could you tell me who to drop:

I need to pick up a kicker for this week(I was thinking Longwell, Mare or Novak), but I don't want to drop Crosby, as I want to keep him as my kicker for the rest of the season.

My roster:

Brady, Tebow
Mendenhall, Sproles, Jacobs, S.Jackson
Bowe, Boldin, D.Nelson, Meachem, Deymarius Thomas, Julio Jones
Graham, Hernandez
Crosby
Baltimore

I think it would be the best to drop Meachem, as his role is limited with Colston being back in action.
Thomas could be Tebow's go to guy.

AND, do you have any thoughts on Jones. Some guy in my league dropped him and I just picked him up off the waiver wire.
Do you think he will get a fair amount of targets?

And the last question: Where do you see my teams weaknesses? (12 team league)

thx for your help

[William Walters]

ttwarrior..........in post #6 (below link) you say the following to me:

"I dont like roto world, they post too much false information, i got none of that from rotoworld"
Link: http://forum.sbrforum.com/players-ta...l#post11985693

Now, above..........you copy & paste direct form Rotoworld without giving credit.

Link: http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nf...MC-Needs-an-MD

[ttwarrior1]

no i got it from another site that roto world got it from

You think thats mine

I;ll be posting info from several sites this week. don't like doesn't mean all, just some.

Most info comes from yahoo, cafe, and simply just a google search, i might not even look at the tite of the site im on.

[William Walters]

no i got it from another site that roto world got it from

You think thats mine

I;ll be posting info from several sites this week. don't like doesn't mean all, just some.

Most info comes from yahoo, cafe, and simply just a google search, i might not even look at the tite of the site im on.

BTW....KFFL.COM is another site I'm sure you visit, yet.........will claim not to.

I wish you were in my FF League. I'd take your carpet cleaning money straight out of your wallet.

[Full Time Hobo]

Have the chance to pick up Tate and Moreno... who to go with?

[William Walters]

Have the chance to pick up Tate and Moreno... who to go with?

Short term Moreno........will get touches next couple of weeks. Tate is an unknown as you must depend upon blowouts or hope for Foster injury.

[Full Time Hobo]

Thanks William

[ttwarrior1]

jimmy graham baby

[ngates815]

Disastrous week for me. Up 24 with him having MJD going tonight.

Hightower, done for year.
Earnest Grahm, done for year.

Now my RB's are - Ryan Matthews, Ryan Grant, Thomas Jones, Keiland Williams.

Doesn't look promising. Need to make it through this bye week. I have no Backup QB, no backup TE.

Obviously dropping Grahm and Hightower, but need to drop 1 more. Need to pick up another Defense to play since Green Bay is on bye. Add/Drops are 5 bucks each...

[Zzapper]

Cruz, Decker or Rice this week? thanks

[ttwarrior1]

ugg nobody on free agency??

don't like none of those, nadda

[ttwarrior1]

ark Sanchez, QB, New York Jets: Sanchez has received a lot of criticism, but the dude went into San Diego and walked away with a victory. He only threw for 173 yards, but he tossed a trio of touchdown passes to Plaxico Burress. He also ran for 25 yards. He’s a solid bench option.
Ruling: Get ‘em.
.

.
Tim Tebow, QB, Denver Broncos: If you weren’t convinced that Tebow can be a terrific fantasy quarterback, his performance on Sunday should have changed your mind. Tebow threw for 161 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also ran for 65 yards.
Ruling: Get ‘em.
.
Ben Tate, RB, Houston Texans: Tate ran for 104 yards on 15 carries. He should be owned as an insurance policy for Foster, but days like this aren’t likely with Foster healthy.
Ruling: Get ‘em.
.
DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys: If he is available in your league he’ll be the hottest free agent add after running for 253 yards and a touchdown.
Ruling: Get ‘em.
.
Knowshon Moreno, RB, Denver Broncos: Moreno only had 38 total yards (28 rushing), but with Willis McGahee’s hand injury he should get a chance at a more prominent role.
Ruling: Get ‘em.
.
Kregg Lumpkin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lumpkin combined for 52 total yards, but is a necessity add just because Tampa’s RBs are so banged up.
Ruling: Get ‘em.
.
Michael Bush, RB, Oakland Raiders: The fact that he ran for 99 yards (plus 12 yards receiving) in a game that saw his quarterbacks throw six interceptions is impressive. If Run DMC is out after the bye, Bush is a must start. Regardless he’s a valuable handcuff.
Ruling: Get ‘em.
.
Montario Hardesty, RB, Cleveland Browns: Hardesty answered the call 33 times for 95 yards, adding two catches for 27 yards. With Hillis’ health concerns Hardesty should be owned.
Ruling: Get ‘em.
.
Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: Brown caught seven passes (nine targets) for 102 yards. After a couple of down weeks he bounced back in a big way. He’s good WR depth.
Ruling: Get ‘em.
.
Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos: Thomas caught three passes for 27 yards and a touchdown. Those aren’t electric numbers, but he was targeted a team-high ten times. As he gets in game shape and familiar with Tebow he should do good things.
Ruling: Get ‘em.
.
Dezmon Briscoe, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Briscoe caught six passes (ten targets) for 73 yards and a score. The Bucs are spreading the ball around making their WRs hard to rely on.
Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em.
.
Jabar Gaffney, WR, Washington Redskins: Gaffney has been a steady option this year having at least 54 yards in every game. He caught four passes (eight targets) in this one for 68 yards. Santana Moss injured his hand, which should lead to more production for the steady wideout.
Ruling: Get ‘em.
.
Michael Jenkins, WR, Minnesota Vikings: Jenkins caught three passes (eight targets) for 111 and a touchdown. He’s had a few solid games and should be a decent bench option as Christian Ponder improves.
Ruling: Get ‘em.
.
Plaxico Burress, WR, New York Jets: He had been a forgotten man before his three touchdown performance. He only finished with four catches (eight targets) for 25 yards, but nobody that used him is complaining. He won’t have games like this, but he is a legit red zone threat.
Ruling: Get ‘em.
.
Roy Williams, WR, Chicago Bears: Williams caught four passes (five targets) for 59 yards and a touchdown. It was his second straight game with at least 50 yards. I’m not fully bought in though.
Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em.
.
Steve Breaston, WR, Kansas City Chiefs: Breaston caught five passes (nine targets) for 64 yards. He’s averaging 66.3 yards in his past four games.
Ruling: Get ‘em.

[ttwarrior1]

Quarterbacks: Christian Ponder — Vikings ($6 FAAB value)
Ponder has gone virtually unrecognized this week for almost leading a fourth-quarter comeback against the mighty Green Bay Packers. While he made some good throws, his completion percentage leaves something to be desired at 44.9%. It is also a bit disconcerting when your best available receiving weapons are Michael Jenkins and Visanthe Shiancoe. Hopefully Percy Harvin can get healthy and Adrian Peterson can keep defenses honest, Ponder could certainly build on a decent starting debut. The Vikings have a pretty decent schedule for Ponder, going up against Carolina, Green Bay again, Oakland, Atlanta, and Denver in the coming weeks.

Tarvaris Jackson — Seahawks ($5)
Charlie Whitehurst stunk up the joint against the Browns, and Jackson is on the mend. Prior to his injury, T-Jax was heating up, throwing for over 300 yards and 3 TDs against Atlanta before being hurt during the Giants game. The problem is his schedule — the Seahawks get the Bengals, Cowboys, and Ravens next before his schedule softens up with St. Louis and Washington. As such, Jackson is a bit of a desperate play over the next few weeks, but his rushing ability gives him some upside.
Andy Dalton — Bengals ($8)
Dalton here is an extension of being in last week’s waiver wire. Unless he was stashed during the Bengals’ bye week, he should be available for you in case you desperately need a quarterback. Dalton gets a good matchup against the Seahawks this week, so if you need a fantasy plug he could be your man. He gets the Titans and Steelers after that, two tougher matchups, so tread carefully.
Carson Palmer — Raiders ($4)
He was pressed into duty having just come out of retirement a few days earlier and had a predictably terrible Raiders debut. Palmer will get a chance to get up to game shape and speed during the team’s bye week, and he should be just fine going forward. He has a lot of great weapons on offense, so unless his skills deteriorated beyond repair, it is hard to imagine Palmer not having some success in Oakland.
Running Backs:
Alfonso Smith / LaRod Stephens-Howling — Cardinals ($9 / $3)
The prognosis on Beanie Wells is that he will be out a minimum of 1-2 weeks with a knee injury, opening the door for Smith and LSH to shine at running back. With Wells’ injury history and some nervousness coming from Arizona about how long he will be out, Smith could turn out to be a great waiver wire pickup. Stephens-Howling got the big play for a touchdown, but Smith will likely be the starter and garner more playing time in Wells’ absence. The Cardinals get a Baltimore defense that is sure to be angry next week, but then they get great rushing matchups against the Rams and Eagles.
Kregg Lumpkin — Bucs ($3)
Tampa Bay is on a bye this week, so grabbing Lumpkin is not as much of a priority as it might be if they were playing, but he is worth a look if you are interested in handcuffing still-injured LeGarrette Blount or just stashing him early. We are still a bit in the dark about Blount’s injury — right now the understanding is he will come back after the bye, but he could very well be out beyond that — and the Bucs do not really have any other viable running backs with Earnest Graham’s season-ending injury depleting their depth.
Roy Helu — Redskins ($10)
Mike Shanahan continues to toy with fantasy football owners as you have been repeatedly warned about, but with Tim Hightower out of the picture, the fantasy mess has been cleared up significantly. Ryan Torain figures to get the starts, but the way he has been utilized the past few weeks plus his injury history tells me that Roy Helu is a guy you want to pick up. Helu and Torain both had terrible weeks against the Panthers, not really getting opportunities to produce while the Redskins were trying to come from behind. Helu is averaging 4.9 YPC, and if he gets hot you know Shanahan is going to ride him until his whimsy says otherwise.
Knowshon Moreno — Broncos ($5)
Add Willis McGahee to the “out 1-2 weeks” club, making Moreno relevant again, if for a short amount of time. Moreno becomes the starter for the Broncos, who have found new life with Tim Tebow at the helm. It will be interesting to see how Moreno performs as defenses have to prepare for Tebow’s rushing threat. Moreno’s had a roller coaster of a career, and it seems like he will have another opportunity for a high point.
Michael Bush — Raiders ($4)
Luckily for Darren McFadden and the Raiders, they are on a bye this week. We are still unsure the extent to which Run DMC sprained his foot, but it is time to handcuff him with Bush. If McFadden is out for any amount of game time, Bush becomes an excellent plug — he performed very well in McFadden’s absence last week against the Chiefs, despite the offense throwing interceptions like they needed to meet a quota.
Pierre Thomas — Saints ($2)
If Mark Ingram is out for any amount of time, look for Thomas to try to seize the opportunity. He has been very good in limited duty this season, and the Saints have the Rams next up on their whooping stick. He is like a hybrid of Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles, bringing versatility to the position. With the logjam in the New Orleans backfield and Ingram’s injury turning out to be minor, though, I would not spend a lot of money or a high waiver pick on PT Bruiser.
Wide Receivers:
Antonio Brown / Emmanuel Sanders — Steelers ($8 / $4)
If you picked up Brown a few weeks ago and gave up on him after being a disappointment, now is the time to grab him again. Brown led the team in targets last week as Ward was knocked out with an injury, and if he starts scoring some touchdowns he could be a real fantasy boon for owners. He is averaging 14.6 YPC, second on the team to the ridiculous 20.3 YPC Mike Wallace is averaging. Emmanuel Sanders had a good fantasy game after Ward left as well, scoring a touchdown on seven targets.
Demaryius Thomas — Broncos ($8)
This is three weeks in a row for Thomas, but now that we have seen him in action he seems to be the best option in Denver at wide receiver. Tim Tebow targeted him the most out of his receivers by far (10), and he wound up scoring a touchdown en route to a good fantasy day. Eric Decker, in contrast, was targeted just 3 times. Of course, Thomas’ value is mitigated by the arm behind the throw — Tebow was not exactly throwing darts against Miami. He is all the way back from his Achilles injury, though, and could be the next Brandon Lloyd in Denver if he stays healthy.
Tight Ends:
Visanthe Shiancoe — Vikings ($5)
Getting Ponder in the lineup has done wonders for Shiancoe, who has been targeted 16 times over the past two games en route to good fantasy numbers. He is an athletic tight end who thrived when Brett Favre was slinging it, and Ponder seems to like throwing his direction. If you need a tight end, Shiancoe looks like a good pickup.
Lance Kendricks — Rams ($3)
I kept him here because he might still be available, or his owner might be dropping him this week after the big goose egg he put up last week. My reason for Kendricks’ poor performance: A.J. Feeley. Kendricks was starting to show some signs of fantasy life before Bradford went down with an injury, catching four balls in each game on 17 total targets. With Brandon Lloyd sliding into the offense seamlessly and Mark Clayton’s eventual return, Kendricks could see some more big hits down the seam as defenses open up. He would be a good stash if you have the room.

[ttwarrior1]

PICKUP OF THE WEEK

Karlos Dansby – ILB, Miami Dolphins: The poster child for the 'Slow starter that may have been cut loose by an impatient IDP owner', Dansby has shown signs of breaking out of his funk of late, racking up 19 tackles and a sack over his past two games, and while the New York Giants aren’t a favorable matchup for opposing fantasy linebackers Dansby could still represent an excellent addition for the stretch run.

Everson Griffen – DE, Minnesota Vikings: The second-year pro had by far his best game of the season in last Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers, tallying four total tackles and logging his third sack of the season. Griffen is lining up in a number of spots along the Vikings defensive line, affording him extra snaps, and could be in for even more work if Brian Robison gets a week off for his junk-stomping gaffe.

James Hall – DE, St. Louis Rams: The 34 year-old twelfth-year veteran just keeps chugging along, making three stops and sacking Tony Romo in the Rams blowout loss to the Cowboys last week. This week’s matchup with the New Orleans Saints is far from ideal, but sometimes IDP owners in a bye-week bind can’t be too choosy, and those owners could likely do much worse than Hall.

Donald Butler – ILB, San Diego Chargers: Butler has been leaving the field in passing situations but that doesn’t seem to have hindered his fantasy production too adversely, as Butler amassed eight total tackles and scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery in San Diego’s loss to the Jets. If Butler’s solid play continues he may find himself back on the field in the nickel, making him a prime “buy low” or waiver target right now.

Jerod Mayo – WLB, New England Patriots: Huhwhowhat? Jerod Mayo on the waiver wire? You’d be surprised by how many IDP leagues in which that’s the case, as owners in shallower leagues eschewed holding a roster spot while the NFL’s leading tackler from 2010 recovered from a sprained MCL. Mayo made a surprise return to Patriots' practice last Friday, making it likely that he’ll return to action in Week 8, and if Mayo is available in your IDP league make with the going to get him.

Abram Elam – FS, Dallas Cowboys: Elam had his best outing as a member of the Dallas Cowboys last week, pacing the team with eight total tackles and forcing a fumble in a win over the Rams. No team in the National Football League has allowed more fantasy points per game to opposing defensive backs than the Cowboys' opponents this week, the Philadelphia Eagles, so Elam should be near the top of IDP wish lists for owners in need of a plug-and-play DB.

T.J. Ward – SS, Cleveland Browns: You have no idea how much it pleases me to be able wrap up this week’s column by saying something nice about Ward, who is one of my favorite players but who has also been one of the biggest fantasy disappointments so far this season after a very successful rookie campaign. Ward broke through a bit in Week 7, making seven total tackles and logging a sack and forced fumble in the Browns' win over the Seahawks. One game does not a resurgence make, but coming off his best game of the season and with some favorable matchups on the horizon Ward is at least back on the IDP radar.

[ttwarrior1]

yahoo pickups

Christian Ponder
Solid Buy (12-teams plus) "The Thinker" displayed fantasy star potential in first NFL start

Christian Ponder(notes) (QB) Minnesota Vikings
Ponder finished his first NFL start in Week 7 with 219 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also chipped in 31 rushing yards. Conventional fantasy wisdom has always warned us away from from rookie signal-callers. But this season has thrown that notion out the window. Cam Newton(notes) is currently the No. 2 ranked passer on a per game basis in virtual pigskin. And though Andy Dalton(notes) has paled in comparison, he's proven to be no pushover, surpassing the 20-point threshold twice in six starts. Sure, a rocky start or three should be expected, but because of Ponder's terrific intangibles, smooth mechanics and versatility he could deliver a number of excellent fantasy performances. The Vikes' upcoming slate is certainly a friendly one.

ATT/CMP 22/49
CMP% 44.9
YDS/G 159.0
TDs 2
INTs 2
Y% 9
FAAB $8

Pierre Thomas
Strong Buy (10-teams plus)Sean Payton could fire up the PT Bruiser with Ingram hurting

Pierre Thomas(notes) (RB) New Orleans Saints
For the most part, PT has been the third man in the Saints' backfield band. Darren Sproles(notes) and Mark Ingram(notes) have carved out significant roles. Still, despite a limited workload, Thomas has been incredibly efficient, netting 6.0 yards per touch. With the rookie Ingram felled by a bruised heel, Thomas could once again illuminate, especially given the mouth-watering matchup this week at St. Louis. The rancid Rams, still bleeding profusely after last week's one-man thrashing provided by DeMarco Murray(notes), have surrendered 5.9 yards per carry, 200 total yards per game and six touchdowns to RBs equal to the second-most points allowed. Assuming his touches increase, he's a borderline RB2 in yet another cumbersome bye week. Bow down.

RUSH/G7.3
YDS/G 31.7
YPC 4.4
REC/YDS20/206
TDs 1
Y% 50
FAAB $21

Knowshon Moreno
Strong Buy (12-team leagues plus) Fractured McGahee could reopen door for once promising Moreno

Knowshon Moreno(notes) (RB) Denver Broncos
Moreno, left for dead by many owners several weeks ago, may reanimate with Willis McGahee(notes) nursing a fractured hand and expected to miss 1-2 weeks. Lance Ball(notes) is also expected to be involved, but the former 1,100-yard back should be the primary ball carrier if the incumbent is sidelined for a prolonged period of time. Upon initial glance, Denver's Week 8 opponent, Detroit, is a defense to fear. The Lions have yielded the seventh-fewest fantasy points to RBs on the year. But looks can be deceiving. Ndamukong Suh(notes) and cohorts have given up 4.8 yards per carry to RBs. Moreno would have difficulty penetrating a cloud, but if the Broncos can attack the edges, they should have some success. Throw in his pass-catching ability and Tebow's fondness for check-downs, and the former first-rounder has fair odds of contributing at least Flex-worthy numbers in 12-team leagues.

RUSH/G 4.3
YDS/G 13.5
YPC 3.2
REC/YDS 8/92
TDs 1
Y% 46
FAAB $20

Roy Helu
Solid Buy (12-teams plus) Hightower's season-ending setback could finally boost touches for rookie

Roy Helu(notes) (RB) Washington Redskins
Last week in Carolina, Mike "Lucifer" Shanahan, the bane of the fantasy community's existence, once again served owners a bitter serving of evil, reinserting Tim Hightower(notes) into the starting lineup over Ryan Torain(notes). But with Hightower possibly out for the year with an ACL tear, Torain and Helu both stand to benefit – unless the devilish coach re-signs Maurice Clarett tomorrow. Helu has shown promise in small doses, evident in his 4.9 yards per carry average. Without question, he is the most versatile and explosive back currently on the Redskins roster. For now, he should remain entrenched in a third-down role, but given Torain's susceptibility to injury and Shanahan's lust for treachery, it's very conceivable that the rookie could eventually become the bell cow. Consider this your last chance to invest at the ground floor.

RUSH/G4.5
YDS/G 21.8
YPC 4.9
REC/YDS9/72
TDs 0
Y% 15
FAAB $17

Bernard Scott
Solid Buy (12-teams plus) Benson's one-game suspension pushes Scott into starting lineup

Bernard Scott(notes) (RB) Cincinnati Bengals
Upon hearing the news that Cedric Benson's(notes) three-game suspension was reduced by two, plaster walls suddenly didn't feel safe. Scott enthusiasts, frustrated by the turn of events, likely hurled fists in the sheetrock's direction. But in another brutal bye week, Scott, despite a very difficult matchup, should at least provide serviceability as an RB2 in deeper formats. Cincinnati is a team that leans heavily on the run. This year, the Bengals have averaged 27 rush attempts per game. Assuming Scott takes on a 20-25 carry workload, he should, through sheer attrition, finish with 70-80 yards. Keep in mind Seattle has held opposing rushers to just 3.1 yards per carry on the year. Still, for owners in deeper formats, 7-8 fantasy points could be a godsend with a number of marquee backs hurt or on bye.

RUSH/G5.0
YDS/G 14.2
YPC 2.8
REC/YDS5/13
TDs 1
Y% 10
FAAB $12

Antonio Brown
Strong Buy (10-teams plus) In the desert, long-bomb specialist finally detonated

Antonio Brown(notes) (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers
Prior to Week 7, Brown had been on the cusp of breaking out. Sunday against Arizona, he finally did, grabbing a season-best seven passes for 102 yards. With Hines Ward(notes) hobbled, similar performances could be in the offing for the explosive rookie. Mike Wallace(notes) is Big Ben's favorite downfield target, but with the attention he draws, Brown will continue to see a large bundle of targets moving forward. Because of his plus speed and advancements in route-running, he should win many of those "mano y mano" matchups, especially this week. The Steelers host a New England defense that's allowed 37 pass plays of 20-plus yards, the most in the league. Wide receivers are also performing nearly 25-percent above the league average against the Pats. In what could be a high-scoring affair, Brown is primed to light up StatTracker scoreboards. Lasso him in all formats.

TGT/G6.0
REC/G 3.5
YDS 52.0
YPC 14.6
TDs 0
Y% 30
FAAB $15

Jabar Gaffney
Strong Buy (10-teams plus) With Moss handicapped, Gaffney set to assume No. 1 role

Jabar Gaffney(notes) (WR) Washington Redskins
Gaffney is yet another widely available commodity positively impacted by injury. Starter Santana Moss(notes) is expected to miss at least a month after undergoing surgery Monday on his fractured left hand. Anthony Armstrong(notes) and rookie Niles Paul(notes) should also see an uptick in targets. Gaffney has produced noteworthy totals on occasion this season, posting nearly identical numbers to Moss. He's yet to exceed 70 yards in a game, but his useful 2-55-0 game against Philly is his worst effort of the season. John Beck(notes) performed well in his 2011 starting debut last week in Carolina. If he carries momentum into Buffalo this week, he and Gaffney have a good shot of connecting for 70-plus yards and a touchdown. The Bills have surrendered the 10th-most fantasy points to WRs this season. Also keep in mind with tough rushing matchups upcoming over the next several weeks (SF, at Mia, Dal and at Sea), Mike Shanahan could become more air-minded, enhancing Gaffney's value as a WR3.

TGT/G 7.1
REC/G 3.8
YDS/G 60.2
YPC 15.7
TDs 1
Y% 19
FAAB $16

John Beck
Solid Buy (12-teams plus) Week 8 QB Plug n' Play

John Beck Washington Redskins
Beck may not have been a force of evil in a bozo nightmare, but he was awfully close, notching the fifth-best line by a QB in Week 7. Unlike Rex Grossman(notes) the previous week, he actually hit intended targets square in the numbers on a fairly consistent basis finishing 22-for-37 with 279 yards and a touchdown. He also added 10 rushing yards and an end-zone scramble. The loss of Santana Moss smarts, but Beck's dependency on standouts Fred Davis(notes) and Gaffney should lead him to fruitful production in consecutive weeks. Washington's Week 8 foe, Buffalo, has given up 289 passing yards and 1.7 passing touchdowns per game to QBs, equal to the third-most fantasy points allowed. Mike Shanahan would like to establish a consistent ground game, but if Ryan Fitzpatrick(notes) dissects the 'Skins secondary much like Cam Newton did a week ago, Beck may again log 35-plus attempts. Aaron Rodgers(notes) owners, here's your one-week savior.

ATT/CMP 30/52
CMP% 57.7
YDS/G 198.0
TDs 3
INTs 1
Y% 10
FAAB $8

Cincinnati Bengals
Solid Buy (all leagues) Week 8 DEF Plug n' Play

Cincinnati Bengals Defense/Special Teams
Abominable. That's how Seattle's offense played last week in Cleveland. The 'Hawks managed just six points on 298 total yards. And Charlie Whitehurst(notes) was sacked five times. Tarvaris Jackson(notes) is expected to return this week, but he's hardly an upgrade. Potentially minus Marshawn Lynch(notes), this is a very vulnerable team even at home. The unheralded Bengals have played spectacular defense this season, checking at No. 10 in per game average. Considering Seattle QBs have been sacked a league-high 23 times, Geno Atkins(notes) and company should have a field day. Meow!

PA/G 18.5
YDSA/G 366.0
SCKS/G 2.3
TOs 9
TDs 2
Y% 25
FAAB $5

Other Week 8 Pickups: Shaun Hill(notes), Det, QB, Delone Carter(notes), Ind, RB, Alfonso Smith(notes), Ari, RB, Christopher Ivory(notes), NO, RB, Kregg Lumpkin(notes), TB, RB, Demaryius Thomas(notes), Den, WR, Michael Jenkins(notes), Min, WR

[Sidetracked]

could use a second opinion

tebow/andy dalton?
antonio brown/jerome simpson? third wr
joe addai/mark ingram?

heres my whole team id like to see best lineup

qb- Tebow
wr- vincent jackson
wr- stevie johnson
wr- antonio brown
rb- mark ingram
rb- ryan torain
te- jimmy graham
flex- bernard scott
k- baily
def- buffalo
bench
wr- jerome simpson
wr- roddy white bye
wr- jordy nelson bye
rb- joe addai
rb- laggarete blount bye

trying to get mo morris off of waivers too

this team is 2-5 and i think its nasty, get ******* unlucky every week...and had jamaal charles injury

[Speedy88]

Owen Daniels vs JAC or Aaron Hernandez @ PIT

I really like Hernandez here. Houston will probably take a 2 TD lead into the half and run the ball the rest of the game. Which i'm okay with because I have Arian Foster.

[ttwarrior1]

easy one, dalton, brown, ingram

If andre johnson is out i like daniels, i don't like a hernandez that much at pitt. If houston takes a 2 td lead it will be because of a guy like daniels

Trade one or start both

[solecrazy]

Lost 4 games in a row with by a total of 10 points and cant afford to lose anymore games to make playoffs. I was offered Brees, Starks, and Jordy Nelson for Eli, Mendenhall, and Jimmy Graham.
What do you guys think about this trade? I know im giving up one really elite player (Graham) a decent QB and a struggling RB for a elite qb and an average rb and wr.
My current roster is
Qb: Eli, Fitzpat
Rb: CJ, Mendenhall, Knowshon, Battle
Wr: Miles austin, roddy white, b marshall, b lloyd
Te: Graham and Fred Davis

[ttwarrior1]

looks like b marshall has been a weekness and m austin being out i guess

Anyway u can start 2 tight ends? I love jimmy alot but fred davis is a good play rest of the season

Offer some trades to others with fred davis, and Eli. Don't get too hyped about getting a great qb. You need mendy and graham. Starks isn't worth a start that often and jordy wouldnt start for u either

[solecrazy]

looks like b marshall has been a weekness and m austin being out i guess

Anyway u can start 2 tight ends? I love jimmy alot but fred davis is a good play rest of the season

Offer some trades to others with fred davis, and Eli. Don't get too hyped about getting a great qb. You need mendy and graham. Starks isn't worth a start that often and jordy wouldnt start for u either

yeah after thinking it about for a while im giving him higher caliber players. my league doesnt allow two TEs. i just keep losing because none of my players are consistent and ive been playing teams who has a player that racks up points.

[k1ane]

Yo man I need your help....

I need a running back for this week because both Willis McGahee and Beanie Wells are hurt.
I wanna trade for DeMarco Murray and the kid that has him needs a TE because Keller is on a bye.
Should I trade Antonio Gates or Rob Gronkowski???

[k1ane]

^^ Gates has been hurt and its still lingering but I feel like hes a bigger role as Gronkowski has been less productive since Hernandez came back.

[ttwarrior1]

u should be getting more than , don't know what to tell you. I believe murray back to reality soon

[ngates815]

fukk me.


Dropped Helu last week for Keiland Williams.


Tried getting Helu back, but was already snagged on the Waivers.

I have a bye week from hell.


Had to use my #2 waiver spot to get Bernard Scott...Not happy about that.

Needed a QB for this week, went with Flacco against Arizona fantastic defense.

Needed a TE for this week, went with some white guy on NYG.

QB - Flacco (Josh Freeman)
WR - Calvin Johnson, Desean Jackson, Crabtree (Roddy White, Jacoby Jones)
RB - Ryan Matthews, Bernard Scott (keiland Williams, Ryan Grant, Thomas Jones)
TE - Ballard (Tony Gonzalez)

K - Jason Hanson
DEF - Minnesota (Green Bay)

Guys in the parenthesis are on bench. Still trying to figure something out about Crabtree at my W/RB slot, may go with one of the RB's on bench, or see if a "decent" WR is in the pool of guys to pick up.

[k1ane]

Thanks for that shitty response.. big help