Between the Hashes- Week 8 Edition
Hello everyone, my name is Matt Lund and welcome to the first edition of Between the Hashes.
Quick thing about me, I’m a graduate of Towson University, Go Tigers! I love all sports, especially Football, so I’ll try to bring some insight to my blog about all things football, including everyone’s favorite distraction from work and all other daily things related, Fantasy Football. I’ve grown up watching, playing and coaching different sports, so its been a part of my life since I can remember.
Anyway, on with the show. Week 8. Week 8? We’re reaching the halfway mark of the NFL season and depending on where you are in the standings you’re either loving life or hating setting your lineups each week.
This season has been unlike any other in recent memory, partly due to the lockout, in terms of understanding roles of players on each team and whether teams themselves will be more pass or run-oriented. There’s just not much definitive about this season, but maybe that’s a good thing especially if you have players (either through the Draft, or Waiver Wire) that you’ve keyed on and have gotten you production.
If there’s one thing for certain in Fantasy, its that you start your studs and let them take you to the promise land. What this blog won’t do is tell you to “definitely” start Tom Brady or Drew Brees, Adrian Peterson, etc, because everyone knows they are bonafide starters week-in and week-out. What you will see is players that have either, (A. Good situation going, or (B. Great matchup, in case you don’t have those studs to plug into your lineup.
That being said, onto some of the players I like this week, and also players I don’t like this week, and you may not want to play these guys.
Quarterback:
Cam Newton (Car):
Newton broke onto the scene this season and quickly asserted himself. His strong arm and play-making abilities have brought the vertical game back to Carolina’s offense. He’s rushed for at least a TD in all but one game so far this season. He’s also helped to resurrect one career in particular (see Steve Smith) and should continue to roll this Sunday vs Minnesota. The Vikings who weren’t very good to begin with on the back end, will be without Chris Cook (off-field dispute) and possibly Antoine Winfield (neck) and have given up the 8th most FP to WR this season.
Fearless Prediction: 240 yards/1 TD/1 INT, 40 yds rushing, 1 TD
Eli Manning (NYG): The other Manning has played fairly well with his older brother not hogging all the attention in the family. You could argue that he has faced some soft D’s against the pass, but in Fantasy, who’s going to argue that. Even though he didn’t throw a TD his last game, he’s completing nearly 64% of his passes and should have a healthy Hakeem Nicks ready to go after the Giants bye week. Their opponent, Miami, has no pass rush and has given up the 11th most FP to QB’s in the last four weeks.
Fearless Prediction: 285 yards, 2 TD’s
Matt Hasselbeck (Ten): Yep, Hasselbeck. The Titans play the Indianapolis Colts this week after the Colts were embarassed, 62-7 last week against the Saints. The Colts are a team you want to face if you’re looking to “get better” and for Hasselbeck, that’s what he’ll want to do on Sunday. He won’t put up Brees-like numbers, but he’ll get the job done if you need him as he tries to exploit that Colts’ secondary.
Fearless Prediction: 220 yards, 2 TD’s/1 INT
Running Backs:
Ray Rice (BAL): # 27 for the Ravens only got the rock eight times in Monday night’s loss to the Jaguars. Not enough. Terrell Suggs know that and so does Cam Cameron. Against the Arizona Cardinals, Ray Rice will get the rock early and often as the Ravens play at the friendly confides of M&T Bank Stadium. Cards have given up the 8th most FPG to RB’s in the last four weeks. Start him.
Fearless Prediction: 23/110/1 TD
Ryan Mathews (SD): If Mathews is healthy, this matchup looks very promising against the Chiefs. Mike Tolbert is still in the mix, but he’s a little banged up. He’s averaged nearly 16 FPG in his career vs the Chiefs.
Fearless Prediction: 16/75 yards
DeMarco Murray (DAL): OK, did anyone really think Murray would set a Cowboys’ record for most yards in a single game? Me either and I didn’t start him (still won thankfully) but you’ll want to give him a 2nd try again this week against the Eagles. The Eagles, while playing better against the Redskins, are still pretty porous against the run. Murray is now the guy in Dallas and they’ll look to get him involved in this Sunday night showdown.
Fearless Prediction: 18/92/1 TD
Bonus RB’s I like: Ryan Torain (@ BUF), Jonathan Stewart (vs. MIN)
Wide Receivers:
Wes Welker (NE): Welker does everything for the Patriots. Line him up in the slot, on the outside, hell, he will give you a cup of gatorade without issue too, he’s just dependable. That will continue in this matchup at the Pittsburgh Steelers. He hit up the Steelers secondary for 8/89 last year in the blowout win.
Fearless Prediction: 10/100/TD
A.J. Green (CIN): This rookie has outplayed Juilo Jones as the top rookie WR so far. Green has 4 TD’s and has shown good chemistry the last 2-3 weeks with Andy Dalton at QB. The Bengals head to the Northwest to face the Seattle Seahawks that has some injuries in their secondary, and this could be another week where Green scores.
Fearless Prediction: 6/70/TD
Marques Colston (NO): Since coming back from a collarbone injury, Colston has been on fire. He was on the receiving end of two TD throws by Brees last week vs the Colts and the good times should continue this week against a sorry Rams defense. They have given up the 7th most points to WR’s in the last four games and I expect at least one TD from Colston this week.
Fearless Prediction: 7/85/TD
Tomorrow I will have some players to look for from the TE position as well as some players you might want to keep on the bench for Week 8.
