We're back to give you a couple of players to push into your starting lineup or move to your bench, along with a sleeper pick.
Now, you're not going to find "start Adrian Peterson" here. If you drafted a player in the first five rounds, chances are those are your go-to players, so we'll try to give you some less-than-obvious choices to bolster your lineup every week.
On that note, here we go for Week 8:
Start ‘em
Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins quarterback vs. New England
Need an emergency starter at QB this week? Tannehill might be a sneaky pickup against a Patriots defense that, by rank, has given up the seventh fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks in Yahoo! leagues, but if you really look at the numbers they’re skewed because they caught Geno Smith in his every other week bad week, Josh Freeman in his last game in Tampa Bay and Andy Dalton in a monsoon. The second time around Smith accounted for two TDs, as did Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and E.J. Manuel. Tannehill isn’t going to set the world on fire, but he is a solid play if you need QB help.
Jordan Reed, Washington tight end vs. Denver
Reed has supplanted Fred Davis as the starting tight end in Washington, and the Broncos have given up the eighth most fantasy points this season across Yahoo! leagues. Robert Griffin III looked healthy, finally, last week and Reed had a monster week. While he might be more of a focus of the Broncos defense, that defense isn’t very good. It’s possible that this might be a shootout at Mile High.
Sit ‘em
Mike James, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back vs. Carolina
James will be the hot pick up this week with Doug Martin injuring his shoulder, but at this point it’s hard to start anyone in Tampa other than Vincent Jackson. The Panthers haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher since C.J. Spiller cracked the century mark in Week 2, and have only allowed two rushing touchdowns all year.
Thad Lewis, Buffalo Bills quarterback vs. New Orleans
If you’re one of the many owners who lost a quarterback to injury last week or are fighting for your playoff life and looking for a "boom" type player, avoid Lewis. While he played well two weeks ago against Cincinnati, Lewis just doesn’t have the weapons to succeed on the road in New Orleans.
Sleeper pick
Philadelphia Eagles defense vs. New York Giants
Yes, the Eagles are awful. Yes, the Giants won Monday night for the first time all season. But someone has to come out a winner in a matchup of two horrific teams and the Eagles defense did play well against the Tony Romo-led Dallas Cowboys offense last week and the Giants are allowing the most fantasy points to opposing defenses across Yahoo! leagues. Eli Manning and his running backs (and special teams unit) are turnover machines, and the Eagles special teams might also score a touchdown for you.
