Week 8 Where to Put em

Where to Put 'em is the Fantasy Football Nerd's look at the best and worst matchups for Week 8 of the 2011 NFL season. Decisions are based upon the FFN rankings and matchup analysis. Given the known conditions, these matchups are the ones to watch and/or avoid.



This list does not generally include the elite players that you are going to start regardless of matchup. You don't need us to tell you to start Aaron Rodgers, Andre Johnson, or Adrian Peterson. Where to Put 'em takes a look at other players on your team that we believe either have great matchups or should be avoided for multiple reasons. Factors like opposing defense, performance trending, and peer comparisons may influence our decisions.



Bye Weeks: Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, New York Jets, Oakland, Tampa Bay

Put 'em In The Game: Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger headlined our Week 7 Where to Put'em column and we did pretty well with those predictions so why mess with a good thing? Big Ben should have a fantastic day this weekend against a Patriots defense that gives up more passing yards than any other team and the second most fantasy points to opposing QB's. The Patriots have such an efficient offense that this game could easily turn into a shootout. Start Roethlisberger with confidence.

Put 'em In The Game: Eli Manning
He's rested and has been having a great season to date. Miami coughs up more fantasy points to opposing QB's than any other team in the NFL and Eli is rolling. While Tim Tebow started out slow last week against Miami, the Dolphins allowed him to look good at the end. Tebow is no Manning so Eli and his stellar supporting cast should be able to throw all over Miami's secondary with relative ease.

Put 'em In The Game: Joe Flacco
It often pays to have a short memory with Joe Flacco. He should rebound nicely from his abysmal performance on Monday night. The Cardinals will be visiting the Ravens and they're currently giving up the third most fantasy points and yards (289 yards/game) to opposing QB's. Expect a healthy dose of downfield shots to Boldin and Smith.

Put 'em In The Game: Chris Johnson
CJ2K has not lived up to the "stud" moniker in 2011 that he earned in years past. Consider this his last chance. Indianapolis gives up the second most yards per game (185 yards) and the sixth most fantasy points to opposing RB's. Even with some question marks regarding his offensive line, CJ2K should still be able to see the century mark and a score in this easy match-up. Don't give up on him yet!

Put 'em In The Game: DeMarco Murray
We highlighted DeMarco Murray as Felix Jones' replacement in last week's Where to Put'em and he exceeded even our expectations with a team-record 253 yards rushing and a score. He's not going to repeat those numbers - let me repeat that: he's not going to repeat those numbers this week against the Eagles, but Philadelphia has been laying down the red carpet to opposing rushers giving up the 2nd most yards (182) and the 3rd most fantasy points to them all year long. Murray is a great play this week.

Put 'em In The Game: Ryan Mathews
The last time Ryan Mathews faced the Chiefs in Week 3, he was two yards shy of the century mark rushing, but he did have 2 scores and 4 receptions for 51 yards. All in all - a very solid fantasy day. Kansas City hasn't gotten much better over the interim month. They're giving up the 9th most fantasy points to opposing backs. Mathews may not repeat his Week 3 performance, but he'll do well enough to make owners happy.

Put 'em In The Game: Anquan Boldin
We like Anquan Boldin for the same reasons as Joe Flacco above, but we're adding another: Boldin gets to face his former team and we love to see those match-ups. Ben Roesthlisberger threw all over the Cardinals last week so we're expecting to see a healthy stat-line from Flacco which should help Boldin see the century mark and possibly a score.

Put 'em In The Game: Marques Colston
Marques Colston's shoulder injury from Week 1 is apparently just a faded memory. He looked great last week even when he took some hard hits. His first TD last week was classic Colston. This week he faces a St Louis defense that gives up more receiving TD's than any other team and the 3rd most fantasy points to opposing WR's.

Put 'em In The Game: Fred Davis
We've been singing the praises of Fred Davis all season long and that should continue this week. He makes the most of his targets and he's sure to see more of them with both Chris Cooley and Santana Moss out. The Redskins give up the 4th most fantasy points to opposing TE's. Davis should have a fine day.

Put 'em In The Game: Vernon Davis
Vernon Davis comes in ranked #7 among TE's this week on FFN. After putting up terrible numbers last week (2 rec for 8 yards), look for Davis to bounce back nicely against the Browns in Week 8. While they're only giving up 48 yards on average, Cleveland is giving up the 3rd most fantasy points to opposing TE's.

Put 'em In The Game: Jason Hanson
Jason Hanson is currently the 2nd best kicker in terms of fantasy points and is #2 this week among all kickers on FFN's Week 8 rankings. The Lions are on a roll this year and Hanson should get quite a few opportunities this week against Denver.

Put 'em On The Bench: Tim Tebow
Tebow didn't really start to turn it on until the second half of last week's debut. He ended the day with respectable numbers and we recommended him based upon the match-up. Using the same match-up criteria, we're recommending sitting him this week. FFN has Tebow ranked 6th among all QB's this week but I don't think he'll live up to those stats. Ndamukong Suh and company give up the 8th-fewest yards per game (219) and the 6th-fewest fantasy points to opposing QB's.

Put 'em On The Bench: Matt Cassel
San Diego gives up the 2nd-fewest yards per game through the air (186 yards) and Matt Cassel is too inconsistent to trust against a solid Chargers defense. He threw for just 176 yards, 2 scores, and an INT when he faced them in Week 3. His numbers could be similar, but after a whipping last week by Oakland where he managed just 2 fantasy points, Cassel could also end up well south of his Week 3 numbers.

Put 'em On The Bench: Christian Ponder
Christian Ponder's first pass against Green Bay last week caught everyone off guard. He looked confident and comfortable against the Packers' porous secondary, but Carolina's secondary is quite a bit tougher and will give Ponder a run for his money. Adrian Peterson should do well enough that the Vikes won't have to depend on their passing game.

Put 'em On The Bench: Marshawn Lynch
If you were like Andy in the FFN Users League II, you were caught by surprise when Marshawn Lynch couldn't go last week. Apparently he hurt his back during warm-ups and just couldn't go. If he plays, he'll face a Bengals defense that is giving up the 5th-fewest rushing yards and the 12th-fewest fantasy points to opposing RB's.

Put 'em On The Bench: Peyton Hillis
Picture your best friend - he/she is dependable, hard-working, and always there for you. Peyton Hillis is not your best friend. Regardless of whether or not he's a "go" this week, it would probably be best to put him on your bench. The 49ers are no slouches on defense. They rank 1st in fewest yards allowed, fewest TD's allowed, and fewest fantasy points allowed.

Put 'em On The Bench: Eric Decker
Tim Tebow is enough of an unknown quantity that even with Brandon Lloyd no longer in the picture, it's tough to expect much out of Eric Decker as the Bronco's #1 receiver. The Lions are tough and Decker just isn't getting the number of targets that he used to with Orton - similar to the Reggie Wayne/Pierre Garcon situation in Indy. It's disappointing to see Decker sliding like this.

Put 'em On The Bench: Reggie Wayne
Tennessee gives up the 5th-fewest fantasy points to opposing WR's. That's generally enough to warrant some caution, but when this one-time fantasy stud can't connect with his QB over the past six weeks, it's cause for more than concern. Reggie Wayne is no longer an elite-producing fantasy receiver. It's a shame, but sit him until his situation improves.

Put 'em On The Bench: Jermaine Gresham
Jermaine Gresham has been a fantasy gem this season ranking 13th among all in his position. Without Cedric Benson in the backfield, the Bengals' offense should continue to sputter. The Seahawks rarely allow TE's to see double digit fantasy points and Gresham could have difficulty helping Cincy win this one.

Put 'em On The Bench: Adam Vinatieri
Colts players not named Pierre have seen their fantasy values dropped this season. This includes Adam Vinatieri. With the exception of Week 2, Vinatieri has not seen double digits all season. Once a solid fantasy kicker, he's currently 24th in fantasy points among all kickers. Until the Colts can figure things out and get into the red zone more reliably, Vinatieri will continue to flounder.

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