Fantasy Focus Review: Week 8 Fantasy Football

This was a terrible fantasy week for me. Not only did I lose two huge divisional fantasy games by a total of 3 fantasy points, but my good picks performed pretty poorly while my bad picks did alright. It was a struggle. And then you have me finishing last in the fantasy picks amongst writers – I just want to turn in Week 8 and forget all about it. Kind of like the Redskins offense does every week. At least the fantasy crown stayed in la familia, despite a great QB and WR prediction day from Arsenault. But now I have Papa dogging my fantasy knowledge. Ugh. Here’s the review.

Elite Starters: Guys picked early that I love this week…

1. Peyton Manning – Despite throwing for 347 yards in Week 8, Joseph Addai was the only Colt with a TD pass. Manning finished 9th amongst QBs, but just 13 fantasy points. C-
2. Adrian Peterson – The Packers shut down AP last time out, I DOUBT that happens again. Not this time.
3. Drew Brees – Brees was 7th amongst QBs with 20 fantasy points, a nice day out of him. B
4. Steve Slaton– Ryan Moats numbers, you see them? That’s what Slaton would have had if not for fumble-itas. Slaton got benched after 1 carry and 1 catch. F
5. Chris Johnson– Best running back option in Week 8, best overall. This guy is a stud. A+

Solid Starters: Guys picked in middle rounds that should outplay their ranking/draft position this week…

1. Kyle Orton – The Ravens shut down the Broncos, definitely, Orton was the 21st ranked QB. F
2. Steve Smith – 13th wide receiver, he played well early. B+
3. Marshawn Lynch – 35th RB. Despite being up into the 4th, Lynch had just 9 carries. Buffalo is dumb. F
4. Steve Smith– 15th receiver this week, pretty solid output despite Giants’ struggles. B+
5. Brandon Jacobs – 21st RB, Jacobs had 87 rushing yards despite being way behind. He’s running well. C+

Sleeper Starters: Guys ranked low, drafted low or not at all, but I still like them this week…

1. Nate Burleson – 6 grabs for 89 yards, Nate has had a very nice year, way better than Housh so far. B+
2. Eddie Royal – Eddie is open, ala T.J. Housh in Seattle – too bad nobody throws these guys the ball. F
3. Mike Bell – Just 2 fantasy points for Bell, there goes me reading Sean’s mind. F
4. Donnie Avery – 1 catch for 15 yards, I hate Marc Bulger. F
5. Beanie Wells – 41st RB. Good average, stupid play calling will screw a good day from a RB anytime. F

Sit ‘Em Son: I don’t care where they were drafted, I don’t like these guys starting this week…

1. Julius Jones – 56 rushing yards and 2 grabs for 32 receiving. Not terrible, not good. I expected less. C-
2. Thomas Jones – Thomas had a nice day for the Jets, 102 rushing yards and a 28 yard catch. 18th RB. D
3. Roy Williams – Roy had just 2 catches for 19 yards, but he took one into the end zone. Still, that gives him 3 catches for 35 yards over his last 2 starts. Gross. B
4. Matt Hasselbeck – Well I was wrong in a sense, Matt finished 6th amongst QBs, but that fantasy output didn’t represent the game, as Matt and the Hawks got kicked around. Still, this is fantasy, I was wrong. F
5. LeSean McCoy – McCoy’s 1 65 yard TD run was enough to bury this as a good sit-pick. It looked good for most of the game, but the kid is explosive, and that long run definitely counts. F

Week 8 QBs Review

Ryan Kauffman 3	Josh Arsenault 1	Papa Weimer 2	Lucky Lester 4
Peyton Manning 9	Peyton Manning 9	Brett Favre 2	Peyton Manning 9
Drew Brees 7	Drew Brees 7	Peyton Manning 9	Drew Brees 7
David Garrard 23	Kurt Warner 18	Drew Brees 7	Matt Schaub 20
Kurt Warner 18	Brett Favre 2	Kyle Orton 21	Aaron Rodgers 1
Aaron Rodgers 1	Phillip Rivers 9	Phillip Rivers 9	David Garrard 23

Week 8 RBs Review

Ryan Kauffman 2	Josh Arsenault 4	Papa Weimer 1	Lucky Lester 3
Adrian Peterson 11	Adrian Peterson 11	Steven Jackson 5	Adrian Peterson 11
Maurice Jones Drew 3	Steve Slaton 60	Frank Gore 5	Steve Slaton 60
Kevin Smith 21	Jospeh Addai 17	Adrian Peterson 11	Chris Johnson 1
Frank Gore 5	Maurice Jones-Drew 3	Chris Johnson 1	Ray Rice 8
Steven Jackson 5	Chris Johnson 1	Maurice Jones-Drew 3	Steven Jackson 5

Week 8 WRs Review

Ryan Kauffman 3	Josh Arsenault 1	Papa Weimer 2	Lucky Lester 4
Larry Fitzgerald 21	Reggie Wayne 1	Marques Colston 6	Brandon Marshall 49
Reggie Wayne 1	Marques Colston 6	Reggie Wayne 1	Reggie Wayne 1
Marques Colston 6	Brandon Marshall 49	Roddy White 6	Marques Colston 6
Mike Sims-Walker 72	Larry Fitzgerald 21	Larry Fitzgerald 21	Miles Austin 8
DeSean Jackson 9	Vincent Jackson 3	Brandon Marshall 49	Mike Sims-Walker 72

Week 8 TEs Review

Ryan Kauffman 3	Josh Arsenault 4	Papa Weimer 2	Lucky Lester 1
Owen Daniels 24	Owen Daniels 24	Antonio Gates 14	Dallas Clark 2
Antonio Gates 14	Antonio Gates 14	Tony Gonzalez 6	Jeremy Shockey 7
Dallas Clark 2	Dallas Clark 2	Dallas Clark 2	Owen Daniels 24
Tony Gonzalez 6	Jason Witten 14	Owen Daniels 24	Jason Witten14
Jason Witten 14	Jeremy Shockey 7	Jason Witten 14	Vinsanthe Shiancoe 13

Week 8 DSTs Review

Ryan Kauffman 3	Josh Arsenault 2	Papa Weimer 4	Lucky Lester 1
Chargers 13	Bears 1	Broncos 24	Cardinals 25
Cardinals 25	Cardinals 25	Lions 14	Cowboys 5
Broncos 24	Chargers 13	Giants 18	Bears 1
Ravens 2	Texans 8	Cardinals 25	Colts 5
Cowboys 5	Colts 5	Colts 5	Chargers 13

Week 8s Overall Writer Rankings

Ryan Kauffman 4	Josh Arsenault 2	Papa Weimer 1	Lucky Lester 4
1.QBs 1	1.QBs 1	1.QBs 2	1.QBs 4
2.RBs 2	2.RBs 4	2.RBs 1	2.RBs 3
3.WRs 4	3.WRs 1	3.WRs 2	3.WRs 4
4.TEs 3	4.TEs 4	4.TEs 2	4.TEs 1
5.DST 3	5.DST 2	5.DST 4	5.DST 1

Who did we miss? Percy Harvin and Greg Jennings were both Top 5 performers and not one of us picked the rookie or Jennings despite a couple of us picking Favre and Rodgers. Interesting… As for running back absentees, how about Ryan Moats finishing 2nd in Week 8, you just can’t predict that business. Matt Forte finally made a Top 5 list, finishing 4th with 26 fantasy points against that burly Browns defense. Mark Sanchez, Donovan McNabb, Tony Romo, and Matt Hasselbeck finished 3, 4, 5, and 6 – and not a single one of us predicted one of those signal callers in a Top 5. Dustin Keller finished atop the TE rankings, while Kevin Boss, Brent Celek, and Spencer Havner (again) finish out the Top 5 at that position. Defensively, we all picked the Cardinals (final ranking 25th of 26 teams) but left out the Panthers (tied for 2nd with the Ravens). We also left out the Dolphins who rode two kick off return touchdowns to a huge defensive/special teams day in a win over the Jets. Kickers kicked, that’s all I remember there. Until next week!