Scott Engel of RotoExperts.com previews the Week 8 matchups from fantasy perspectives.
Miami Dolphins at New York Giants
The only Dolphins player worth starting this week is WR Brandon Marshall, whose size should give the Giants' corners problems. If the Dolphins fall behind, Daniel Thomas will be a non-factor, and Reggie Bush does not get used enough to consider for bye week usage. Miami has allowed 12 TD passes, and at least two scoring tosses from Eli Manning are very possible. Hakeem Nicks is a must-start, and if Mario Manningham does not produce this week, it's time to cut him. Ahmad Bradshaw should soar past the 100-yard mark and Brandon Jacobs could score.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans
Maurice Jones-Drew takes on all comers and still gets his yardage. Lock him in as a RB1, but a rookie QB and lack of impact players at WR have rendered the rest of the Jaguars' offense nearly useless. Start Jason Hill only if you are desperate. The Jaguars' defense has been better lately, but it seems no team can stop Arian Foster right now. Matt Schaub has proven he can do the job even without Andre Johnson, and you should start him with confidence. He spreads the ball around a lot, so any pass-catchers besides Owen Daniels are a gamble.
Arizona Cardinals at Baltimore Ravens
Joe Flacco is a very good start against Arizona's 28th-ranked pass defense, and Anquan Boldin should score against his former team. Torrey Smith's speed versus the Arizona secondary makes him a terrific bye week plugger. Ray Rice is likely to rebound from a very disappointing Week 7. Without Beanie Wells, Kevin Kolb is in for a long day and Larry Fitzgerald might post only acceptable totals. Alfonso Smith struggles making defenders miss and you should try hard to find a better option.
New Orleans Saints at St. Louis Rams
The Rams poor front seven should make Darren Sproles look like a top RB1 this week, and Pierre Thomas is an excellent option as a flex. Drew Brees shouldn't have to air it out for the Saints to dominate, so it could be another week of Jimmy Graham and Marques Colston racking up receptions while the other WRs get lost. The Saints rank 15th against the run, so they likely won't be a shutdown unit against Steven Jackson. Brandon Lloyd is very happy with his new situation and could enjoy a good day against the sometimes-shaky Saints secondary.
Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers
Adrian Peterson against the Panthers' 29th-ranked rush defense could be the mismatch of the week. Christian Ponder's mobility should keep him out of some trouble, so do not be afraid to use him as a bye week sub. The Panthers might want to corral Michael Jenkins after he exploded last week, so Ponder could look to other targets. Minnesota's 29th-ranked pass defense is facing a mismatch against the elite passing duo of Cam Newton and Steve Smith. Jonathan Stewart is worth the RB2 start for more potential TD chances.
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
The Titans will come out fuming after being embarrassed by the Texans last week, and the Colts probably will not be able to generate much offense. Other than Pierre Garcon, you should steer clear of any Indianapolis players. Matt Hasselbeck should use the passing game to loosen up the defense for Chris Johnson, and you can expect over 250 passing yards and more than one TD from the QB. Johnson is in the spotlight as he tries to pump some new life into his season, and you should look forward to a 100-yard day.
Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos
Matthew Stafford is banged up, and the Lions' running game doesn't scare anyone. While a Calvin Johnson TD seems like a given every week, Detroit could struggle to generate a consistent attack this week. Temper your expectations for Stafford and Brandon Pettigrew. Avoid the mediocre Detroit RBs if you can. Tim Tebow will likely be harassed by the Detroit defensive line, but should still be good for one TD pass and a TD run. Demaryius Thomas is an upside performer, but Eric Decker has yet to show a true connection with his new QB. Knowshon Moreno probably won't do much against the Lions' front wall.
Washington Redskins at Buffalo Bills
Starting any Redskins RB is a gamble, not only because of Mike Shanahan, but also because of the injury to Santana Moss. Jabar Gaffney is not WR1 material, and only Fred Davis can truly challenge the defense. Washington's defense could spend a lot of time on the field, and Fred Jackson should romp again. The Redskins rank 11th against the pass, so it likely will be another acceptable, if not outstanding performance from Ryan Fitzpatrick with Stevie Johnson possibly catching another TD.
Cincinnati Bengals at Seattle Seahawks
The Bengals shouldn't hesitate to let Andy Dalton attack the injury-depleted Seahawks secondary. A.J. Green should find the end zone again, and Jerome Simpson is a very good bye week filler. Dalton chould throw a pair of TD passes -- including one to TE Jermaine Gresham. Bernard Scott could deliver adequate numbers, and Brian Leonard must be considered a desperation start. Seattle's defense is worth respecting, but Cincinnati has good offensive balance. The Bengals rank fifth against the run, so Marshawn Lynch might not fare very well. Seattle's passing game offers little to fantasy owners if the ground game can't get untracked.
Cleveland Browns at San Francisco 49ers
This is a bad scene for the Browns, who could have a hard time generating anything offensively against the stout 49ers defense. Stay away from Browns players this week, but don't expect San Francisco's Michael Crabtree to provide good numbers facing Cleveland's Joe Haden. Alex Smith should still be able to post quality totals by working to the likes of Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker. Frank Gore is a top Week 8 start against the Browns' 20th-ranked run defense.
New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are just 12th against the run this year, so BenJarvus Green-Ellis could put in some quality work. Tom Brady probably won't have his best day, but two TD passes and 275-plus yards are still possible. Wes Welker should find soft spots in the secondary, and Rob Gronkowski could break his recent TD silence. The Patriots' run-stuffers should quell Rashard Mendenhall. But this will likely be Ben Roethlisberger's day, as he uses the speedy trio of Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders to terrorize the Pats' secondary.
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
You can throw out all the defensive numbers and trends here, as both teams badly need this win in a highly-charged rivalry matchup. The Cowboys might have the league's best rush defense, but LeSean McCoy can still hurt them as a dual threat. Michael Vick could take some hits, but he's a must-start, as are DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. You can even take a flier on Jason Avant. DeMarco Murray's speed could carry him over 100 yards against the Philly LBs, and Dez Bryant should shine in the big-game atmosphere. Expect a Miles Austin TD and a prolific performance from Tony Romo.
San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs
Ryan Mathews should bounce back nicely from last week's disappointment. Philip Rivers' owners shouldn't expect a big turnaround this week, as the Chiefs know his tendencies well. Vincent Jackson could frustrate again as he battles physical coverage throughout the game. Antonio Gates is a must-start, even if Rivers sputters. The Chargers have been vulnerable to the run, but the Chiefs do not have the personnel to fully exploit the matchup. Matt Cassel is not a recommended option against the Chargers' third-ranked pass defense. You have to start Dwayne Bowe, yet there are better bye week pluggers than Steve Breaston.
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