Fantasy Football Preview - Week 8

So here we are, just at the halfway point of the fantasy season, and on Halloween no less. Let's take a quick look and see the scariest things in the league:

Last week Vicks Vet Service set a new record by amassing 177 points
Mr. Scotts F**KUps have turned it around and won 2 straight
LaDanian Tomlinson looks like a round 1-3 bust
The Saints look pretty much unbeatable

So here we go with this weeks matchups:

Beer Burgers & Blue (5-2) vs. LT Get Outta My Way (1-6)
Triple B's stint at the top of the league was brief, as predicted, and this week it doesn't seem to get any easier. Although it should. Unbeknownst to me somehow, my team's predicted total is only in the high 70s and is actually a few points lower than my non-existent opponent. For a team that just lost the top spot in a week where their lineup was crippled by bye weeks and injuries this sort of prognostication has to worry you, if you were me and I am, in which case it does. Recently acquired WR, Tory Holt brings with him a lot of age, but also a lot of experience and a lot more catches in his life than Bernard Berrian. With the Great White Hope, Wes Welker, on his bye week, the team will look for the new addition to pick up some of the slack. Can a full BBB lineup overcome some weird ESPN math and defeat an opponent that they should have no problems with?

Mr. Scotts F**KUps (2-5) vs. Giant Ten Pins (3-3-1)
The FUps are on the rise, winning 2 straight and putting the league on notice that they won't just roll over (like some other team that wasn't mentioned). However, much of that success has been attributed to WR Randy Moss who is on his bye week this week, along with every single backup on the F**kUPs roster. So you can't really question the lineup they're going with this week - too much. Terrible Terrell Owens will try to step in and lead the receivers, although since this is not 3 years ago, it's unlikely that will happen. QB Eli Manning will need to exercise his demons in Philadelphia and Ahmad Bradshaw will need to show that his injured ankle isn't enough to slow him down. It's likely that the majority of scoring will have to come from the young WRs - Austin Collie and DeVry Henderson as well as the Cardinals defense, if the F**kUPs hope to continue F'ing up the standings.
The Giant Ten Pins are rolling after knocking off the former top seed. They'll again go with what works, in the Matt Ryan/Michael Turner combination, who are likely in for a shoot-out with the Saints on Monday Night Football. Even with a loss, it could mean large quantities of fantasy points for each. RB Lesean McCoy will be stepping in for the injured Brian Westbrook in his customary "have a really good game against the Giants" role, and should provide a decent fantasy score. The names Donald Driver, Miles Austin and Donney Avery don't sound all that scary to opposing teams, but if you look at the trio's stats for the year and then factor in the number of games where Austin and Avery have played and you start to worry. Vernon Davis is coming off a huge game last week and depending on who the 49ers quarterback is, he could have a big day as they're likely to be playing from behind.

NY DAs Office (2-5) vs. AnyGivenSunday (5-2)
First off, Happy Birthday Jay. Now, the DAs Office has dropped 2 in a row but are in a good position to rebound this week as their opponent mourns the loss of Leon Washington. QB Peyton Manning is likely in for a productive afternoon against the 49ers. The DAs Office will hope for total Colts domination, so that RB Joseph Addai gets into the scoring action as well. WRs Steve Smith (of the Giants), Johnny Knox and Mike Sims-Walker are three of the breakout fantasy stars of the year at WR and they've joined forces on the same team to create... a fantasy team that's 3 games under .500. But they can turn it around and will need to with RB Brandon Jacobs in a familiarly tough spot against the Eagles who will blitz constantly to fill gaps and limit the bruising backs running room.
AnyGivenSunday reluctantly dropped fantasy find Leon Washington for the Lions defense of all things, a clear sign of hallucination due to extreme grief. Anyway, Aaron Rodgers will get his re-match with Brett Favre (provided that Lambeau field doesn't swallow up the traitorous QB as he comes out for the opening coin toss) and the Minnesota Vikings. RB Adrian Peterson will likely shoulder a big load of the Vikes offense as the crowd noise is expected to reach decibel levels that will make Favre's old ears bleed, making him unable to call out hot routes and resign to handing off to All Day. APs backfield mate Marion Barber will be running on the Seahawks, and depending on Jason Garrett's play calling he may be running all day, as Seattle can't stop much of anything on defense. The original Steve Smith looks to break out of his funk against the Cardinals while Mario Manningham hopes to fend off the emerging rookie Hakeem Nicks for #2 WR honors. Rookie Michael Crabtree apparently did enough in one week to earn himself a start in week 8 and could be a difference maker.

Dogs and Guns (2-4-1) vs. Wandering Jews (3-4)
It's been a rough go of things lately for last years champion. Much of the teams hope resides in QB Jay Cutler, who this week will face a week Cleveland team he should be able to exploit, with only minimal interceptions. The running game should be solid as Chris Johnson and Ronnie Brown should each get a significant number of carries. Who knows, maybe Brown will throw a few passes too. The WRs are leaning Seattle heavy against a somewhat porous Dallas secondary, with both T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Nate Burleson starting in addition to TE John Carlson. However, if the Cowboys get pressure up front on Hasselbeck, the plan may back fire. Larry Fitzgerald, of course, is a solid play but may find himself with the weight of the team on his shoulders if the Cowboys shut down the high powered Seahawks. Mike, re-read that last part "high powered Seahawks". They're not. Only three teams in football have three or more players you can start on the same fantasy team and hope to win: the Saints, Colts and Patriots.
The Wandering Jews just had their win streak snapped and as the streakest team in the league, are now looking down the tunnel at another 3 game losing streak unless they win this week. QB Joe Flacco is the better matchup play against a tough Denver team than Donvan McNabb against the Giants, considering that loss to the Raiders. RB DeAngelo Williams should have a good matchup against the Cardinals despite what people are saying about how the Cardinals run defense stiffened up at the end of last season. LaDanian Tomlinson is on his last chance as the Chargers face the Raiders, but can't be relied on for production the way he once was. WRs Marques Colston and Brandon Marshall lead a proficient air attack with Cowboys #3 Patrick Crayton bringing up the rear. Colston especially should have a good game on Monday Night as he has separated himself as the guy Drew Brees looks for on every play, before he checks to another receiver. TE Greg Olsen has yet to dazzle in this, the season everyone thought he would emerge, but facing the Browns will make anyone look like the next coming of Mark Bavaro. This matchup will heavily swing the fates of these two teams, and unfortunately, it may come down to the kickers.

In another week, this matchup would have been the game of the week:
Vick's Vet Service (6-1) vs Wide Right (4-3)
The VVS reclaimed the top seed after an impressive victory last weekend. This week they look to hold on to that spot as they face the hottest team in the league. QB Tony Romo will be facing a Seattle team that the Cowboys should be able to run or throw on, depending on their game plan. Still, Romo has this stupid habit of putting up around 30 points per game in order to win a game he shouldn't. RBs MJD and Ricky Williams combine for a brutal combination of backs, capable of large quantities of pointage. WRs Roddy White and Vincent Jackson aren't household names yet, but are fast becoming. Devin Hester is also on the team, and against the Browns could potentially do something. And of course, just in case you get close enough to win, TE Dallas Clark will do just enough to assure his team a victory.
Wide Right looks to keep the hot streak going, but with QB Tom Brady and WR Dwayne Bowe on bye's this week it will be hard. Especially with no suitable replacements on the gameday roster. RBs Steve Slaton and Marshawn Lynch will face off against each other on Sunday, but are playing for the same team in fantasy. Buffalo fan favorite WR Lee Evans looks to exploit a weak Houston secondary along with rookie Percy Harvin who will try to sneak his way through the Packer defense on his way to a non-Lambeau leap. Wide Right is lacking fire power this week and it seems a shame that the winning streak will come to an end in such a manner.

And now, this week's game of the week:
The New Good Ones (4-3) vs The Breakfast Club (4-3)
The New Good Ones face a tough challenge this week, and seem to be perfectly fine going into it a man down. QB Philip Rivers faces the Raiders this week, meaning that he can either throw for 350 yards and 4 TDs, or 150 yards a TD and be on the bench by halftime. Regardless of how long the starting QB plays, the running game will be there all day. RBs Matt Forte and Thomas Jones are locked in to get carries (especially with the injury to Leon Washington). While Jones faces a stiff Dolphin run defense, as mentioned previously the Bears face the Browns, so Matt Forte should be able to put 2 weeks worth of numbers up this week. The receivers are all banged up, but Reggie Wayne, DeSean Jackson and Anquan Boldin are all capable of a getting into the endzone on a single short route even if they are hobbled. TE Visanthe Shiancoe has been a solid scorer all season, and this week a solid contribution from him may be crucial as the New Good Ones play man down.
"Good times, bad times, you know I've had my share" The Breakfast Club finally got back on the winning track and now look across the field at a team that may be their equal. QB Drew Brees should be looking to light up the stage on Monday Night and that could mean big points for the Breakfast Club, as he is capable of 60. The running game isn't impressive sounding, but with Kevin Smith facing the Rams and Darren Sproles taking on the Raiders, they instantly become more dangerous players than they should be. The receivers are a bit thin with Chad Johnson on his bye week, but the news seems good that Andre Johnson will play this week against Buffalo. Sidney Rice has been one of Brett Favre's favorite targets, and with Bernard Berrian injured he could be in line for a few more targets this week. TE Tony Gonzalez has begun to fade from the Falcons offensive plans, but he's still Tony Gonzalez and he can have a big game at any time.

This week the Giants face the Eagles, in Philadelphia. Because of the importance of this game - the G-men having lost 2 straight and the Eagles being from Philly and evil - appropriate measures must be taken. So, for this week only (possibly) I will not only wake up early (which I do to set my final roster each week anyway), but I will throw on laundry day clothes and leave my apartment prior to 5pm, and walk 20 minutes (or however long it takes) to the nearest McDonalds, for breakfast at halftime, in order to reverse the current Giants trend and defeat the evilness of Philadelphia.

Happy Halloween everyone.