Week 8 Start 'Em/Sit 'Em - Quarterback and Running Back Edition

By: The Football Girl | Posted: October 28, 2010

With so many of our fantasy teams fighting for their playoff lives, each week becomes more critical.  There are some interesting fantasy matchups this week, like hot running backs such as Darren McFadden and Chris Johnson against top rush defenses in Seattle and San Diego.  As always, this advice tries to avoid the obvious – yes, you should start Peyton Manning against the Texans.  So check it out and hope these suggestions help you on your way to fantasy victory.

Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Matthew Stafford (vs. Washington):  Stafford “feels good” being back and owners should feel good about starting hum against the second to worst pass defense in the league.  The Skins have allowed 292 yards a game and 10 touchdowns this season, meaning Stafford should get reacquainted with his receivers rather quickly.

Kyle Orton (at San Francisco, sort of):  The 49ers don’t allow a lot of yards (215 a game) but they do allow touchdowns (11 on the season).  Even in last week’s debacle, Orton still managed two touchdowns, and hasn’t had any games this season without at least one score.

Matt Cassel (vs. Buffalo): Cassel is finally looking like the guy the Chiefs hoped when they grabbed him last season.  Cassel has thrown for five touchdowns in the last two games and has found clear chemistry with Dwayne Bowe.  And Buffalo, while only allowing 204 yards a game in the air is near the league lead in touchdowns allowed with 14.

Ryan Fitzpatrick (at Kansas City):  Fitzpatrick’s been on fire, to the tune of 11 touchdowns in four games as a starter.  The emergence of Steve Williams and reliability of Lee Evans make Fitzpatrick a great start any week, but certainly against the Chiefs who have allowed opposing quarterbacks 243 yards a game.

Sit ‘Em

Matt Hasselback (at Oakland):  As an ’09 Hasselback owner it’s hard to imagine a scenario of ever recommending the guy.  People were high on him heading into Arizona, yet he put up sub-oar numbers (1 TD, 192 yards, 1 fumble lost).  This week the numbers shouldn’t improve much as the Seahawks take on the fifth rated Raiders passing defense.

Sam Bradford  (vs. Carolina):  Bradford has played well all season, no doubt.  He’s been a decent non-elite quarterback option, with a seemingly endless supply of random receivers.  But after averaging about 200 yards passing the past two weeks and facing a Panthers pass defense that’s only allowed opposing quarterbacks 182 yards a game, I’d suggest giving Bradford a week off.

Mark Sanchez (vs. Green Bay): Sanchez has only thrown for one touchdown in the last two games, and for under 200 yards in each of the last three games.  He doesn’t seem to have developed any chemistry with Santonio Holmes.  With the strong running game, Sanchez isn’t a solid start unless there are playing a terrible defense which Green Bay is not.

"I like to throw touchdowns!"

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Thomas Jones (vs. Buffalo): Jones has definitely carved his niche in a platoon with Jamaal Charles, rushing for over one hundred yards his past two games.  He should see plenty of opportunity against a Bills rush defense that is allowing the third most fantasy points to running backs.  (P.S.  Check out our new podcast with Jones and see what he thinks about fantasy and a lot more.)

Frank Gore (vs. Denver):  Gore has two 100-plus rushing games in a row, but only one touchdown for the season.  That could very well change as he faces the Broncos who have allowed a league-leading twelve touchdowns on the ground.  And fill-in Troy Smith will likely make Gore more relied upon than normal.

Beanie Wells (vs. Tampa Bay): Tim Hightower just won’t go away, and that’s been the story for Wells owners. But last week Wells finally significantly surpassed Hightower in carries (and scored his first touchdown), and is now poised for true featured back status after Hightower’s fumble problems.  And it couldn’t come on a better week, as the Cards host the Bucs who give up 157 yards a game on the ground.

Sit ‘Em

Ryan Mathews (vs. Tennessee):  Let’s face it, Mathews is one of the biggest fantasy busts out there.  The promising rookie has had no hundred yard games, only one touchdown and has been pretty much absent in the passing game.   Plus, Mike Tolbert and Darren Sproles have become larger parts of the offense.  On top of that, Mathews and company face a Titans defense that has only allowed one rushing touchdown all season!

Jonathan Stewart (at St. Louis): Stewart has been largely ineffective fantasy-wise, not garnering more than 43 yards in any game and only rushing for one touchdown.  Even if DeAngelo Williams is out Sunday (a big if), Stewart is not reliable for a big game, especially against the Rams who have only allowed two touchdowns on the ground.

Cedric Benson (vs. Miami):  Benson has been pretty average this season, only mustering a single hundred yard game and not scoring a touchdown since Week 3. Benson’s going to have to prove himself as elite- or at least above-average – before we can recommend starting him again.  Plus, this week the Bengals tangle with a Dolphins team that’s allowed just about 100 yards a game on the ground.

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Erik
Posts: 2

Gore a Start?
Reply #3 on : Sat October 30, 2010, 14:11:04

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Thank you for alerting us that Frank Gore is a start this week. I was going to bench him too, but because I read this, I now have him back in my lineup. Hopefully, you like Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson as starts as well!

Melissa
Posts: 1

Re: Thomas Jones Link
Reply #2 on : Fri October 29, 2010, 20:59:42

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You are completely right. I thought we had done that but obviously not. It's been updated now. Thanks so much for taking the time to write and give us the heads up.

Anonymous
Posts: 2

Re: Week 8 Start 'Em/Sit 'Em - Quarterback and Running Back Edition
Reply #1 on : Fri October 29, 2010, 19:54:19

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When you mention a podcast (Thomas Jones) it's a good idea to put an inline link there so if your audience wants to listen, they don't have to hunt around for it.