Fantasy Breakdown for Week 8

Well we're just about halfway through, and my team is still cruising along, without any real challengers to this point. We are moving past the bye weeks, and lineups will be easier to set—assuming of course you don't have any crippling injuries, i.e. Matt Hasselbeck or Shaun Alexander. Now although I don't have either player, my team will be affected by the loss of those players because my best receiver to this point has been Darrell Jackson. His production will surely be affected, but not to the point where he should be put on the bench. I will also be faced with difficult decisions at running back for the rest of the year because of the unpredictability of Willie Parker and the sudden slump of Reggie Bush the last couple of weeks.

Regardless, I am 6-1 and well ahead in points in my league, so there isn't a whole lot of room to complain. For now it's important to keep combing the waiver wire and also be on the lookout for running back situations where the backup would likely see lots of action in the last three weeks of the season. Last year Michael Turner and Tatum Bell had huge performances at the end of the season to help propel my squad to the championship game. It's never too early to start getting ready for the playoffs...

....Quarterbacks....

It took Donovan McNabb a while to get going last Sunday, but once he did, he ended up with tremendous numbers as usual. Although three picks killed the Eagles, they didn't kill his fantasy stats, as he made up for it by rushing for 75 yards and throwing three TDs and for 300 yards. A beat-up Jacksonville team awaits so 300 yards and a pair of TDs is on the docket again this week. Michael Vick came out of nowhere to throw four touchdowns for the first time in his career in week 8. Good thing I kept playing him despite Jon Kitna putting up better numbers, or I would have missed out on this colossal performance. He also threw two picks, but with four touchdowns I can live with those mistakes. A tough matchup at Cincinnati is looming this week, but Kitna and the Lions are on bye, so no debate this week...McNabb and Vick at QB...

....Running Backs....

With Reggie Bush on bye, I figured my squad wouldn't miss a beat, especially with Willie Parker playing against a horrible Atlanta rush defense. But Parker managed only 47 yards and no touchdowns, as the passing game picked up all five touchdowns for the Steelers! At least Ladanian Tomlinson continued his stellar play with a touchdown pass and reception. The Chargers are playing another soft defense (St. Louis), so another big day is expected. As for Mr. Parker, I don't know what to think. The Raiders have an OK defense, so I think I will give him another shot. Reggie Bush is going up against Baltimore's vicious run defense, so I will definitely toss him in on the bench. In this case I have to go strictly by matchup, so Parker is back in, but I want to see more consistency out of him. Tatum Bell is still a great start every week, picking up a TD and lots of yards the last two weeks. The Broncos are facing a poor Indianapolis run defense, but I would probably start him against any team in the league at this point...Parker and LT at RB and Bell at the WR/RB swing...

....Wide Receivers....

Donald Driver returned to my good graces with a great game in week 7, recording 10 catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. Luckily I didn't need these points to get the W last week, or I would have been pretty disappointed. He has now taken over for Chris Chambers officially, especially considering the Dolphins passed for 400 yards in week 7 and Chambers had only two catches for 29 yards and no touchdowns. Apparently Joey Harrington has some sort of problem with Chambers because he is not able to complete passes to him, although he is targeting him several times a game.The point is moot this week because the Dolphins are on bye, but I can now confidently say Driver is a must start because his receiving mate who had become Favre's favorite, Greg Jeffries, is injured and out for week 8. Darrell Jackson's numbers are going to suffer without Matt Hasselbeck, but I have no other option this week, so we'll see what happens. T.J. Houshmandzadeh continues to play like a number one receiver for the Bengals and is clearly a must start every week, no matter the opponent. It's time to put L.J. Smith on the bench this week because he is questionable (although it's a good sign that practiced on Friday) and I want to see if Marques Colston can step up in the TE slot. Housh, Driver, and Jackson at WR and Colston at TE....

...The Rest....

It's never a good feeling to play against a team that has Peyton Manning, but I have the one quarterback who has been putting up better stats than him, Donovan McNabb. As long as my squad does what its supposed to do, I'll get the win. Yahoo! projected score: Me: 219 My opponent 189....Good luck to all in week 8...