Fantasy Football Start and Sit: Week 8
Our Fantasy Football Start and Sit column is back for week 8, and we’re gearing up to help you get going in the right direction, whether that means starting or continuing a streak.
While the player selection is limited, our Start/Sit column still gives you an in depth look at at least four players that should be great starts, and four that you shouldn’t touch. We try our best to stay away from guys who are already locks/studs in our Start section, and try to lead you away from big names that just won’t live up to the hype in the Sit section.
But before we get into, check out how we did in week 7.
The Hits: Brett Favre (Sit), Roy Williams (Sit), Greg Jennings, Vernon Davis, DeAngelo Williams (Sit), Heat Miller (Sit)
The Misses: Kyle Orton, Felix Jones
Without further haste, here are the four guys to sit and start for week 8:
Start
QB Matt Cassel, KC vs BUF
Cassel isn’t a beast by any means, but he’s thrown zero picks in his last three games, and gets to face a Bills pass defense that’s intercepted just one pass all season. Throw in the 14 touchdown passes they’ve allowed and the fact that the improving Cassel is playing at home with a strong rush attack, and he’s got Start written all over him.
RB Ryan Torain, WAS @ DET
All Torain has done is take at least 20 carries for over 100 rushing yards in each of his past two games. He doesn’t score every week and isn’t as involved in the passing game as we’d like, but you can’t ignore the role and production of late. He’s got a pretty tough schedule down the stretch in fantasy, so use him while you can and expect a big game against a poor Lions defense.
WR Wes Welker, NE vs MIN
Welker has been very quiet of late, and really hasn’t done anything worth mentioning since week two. He and Tom Brady have been working out the kinks of trying to work magic without Randy Moss around, and getting a date with the vulnerable Vikings secondary doesn’t hurt. Minnesota simply doesn’t have the secondary depth to keep him from getting open underneath.
TE Jason Witten, DAL vs JAX
Sure, he’s a big name, but with Tony Romo out for 6-8 weeks, many people are acting like his stock will hit a wall. Not so fast, Cowboys haters, as Witten was targeted early and often when Jon Kitna entered the game on Monday Night Football. Expect more of the same against a pretty awful Jaguars defense, and look for Witten to be Kitna’s security blanket when he gets in trouble going forward.
Sit
QB Mark Sanchez, NYJ vs GB
Quick, name the last fantasy quarterback to play lights out football against the Packers. Seriously, taking a look at Green Bay’s ability to humble opposing quarterbacks makes Brett Favre’s debacle last week, well, logical. Opposing quarterbacks are constantly harrassed by the Packers, and while that may not mean the Jets lose for the first time since week one, it could very likely mean Sanchez has his worst game in quite a while.
RB Ronnie Brown, MIA @ CIN
Brown is coming off of a terrible showing against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in which he had 11 total touches for a laughable 34 yards. The worst part was two of the touches were receptions and they went for 20 yards. Yeah, disgusting after doing the math. Combine that with the fact that Ricky Williams (at 34, mind you) is running harder and with more to prove than Brown, and the former Wildcat stud is simply losing his fantasy pizazz. Sit him until he breaks out for one of his classic 3 touchdown games and makes us look like fools.
WR Kenny Britt, TEN @ SD
It’s usually unwise to bet against a guy fresh off of a 200+ yard and three touchdown affair, but when it’s Kenny Britt, people have to at least listen to the logic. Britt may be racking up touchdowns and be living it up after quite arguably the best game he’ll ever encounter, but it’s all likely to come to an end (if only for the week) in week 8. He’s going on the road, facing the league’s best pass defense, and has never displayed elite consistency before in his career. Needless to say, leave the one week wonder on the bench until he proves he can crush corners for a living on a weekly basis.
TE Antonio Gates SD vs TEN
On the flip side, over in San Diego, tight end Antonio Gates is playing on Sundays, but skimping out on practices. Skipping practice and playing games with a bum toe will catch up with you eventually. Gates may be that rare phenom that can be slowed down by nothing, but we’d exercise caution and see if he can rest up and be ready to go again after the Chargers’ week 10 bye.
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