Fantasy Football Weekly: Week 8 pickups

There are six teams on bye this week and there’s a very good chance that you have multiple starters you’re about to bench. If you’ve been running with Andrew Luck or Philip Rivers and figured you’d dump your backup, it’s time to grab that one-hit wonder.

It’s a tough week for running backs too. I had to start Mike James in one of my leagues, and although it didn’t completely crush my running game, it still hurts to start someone this late in the season when the last time you heard their name was on a Saturday.

If this is the week you stacked your byes or if you need to fill a gaping hole in your lineup, check out these players and pick up a win in Week 8.

Your six Week 8 bye teams: BAL, CHI, HOU, IND, SD, TEN

QB – 19% Geno Smith, NYJ @ CIN – This guy seems to find a way to get a TD or two every week despite a revolving door of offensive skill players around him. Rex Ryan decided just a few plays into the game that Chris Ivory was going to replace Bilal Powell at running back and Ivory won the carries battle 34-3. The only consistent feature of this offensive attack all year has been Smith.

WR – 8% Andre Roberts, ARI vs. ATL – With Larry Fitgerald obviously ailing and the running game becoming more stagnant as Rashard Mendenhall continues to get carries, Carson Palmer will have to go to the air even more and Roberts can be the benefactor. I’m really hoping that Andre Ellington will become this team’s every down back but that seems a little farfetched seeing as Arians won’t let his love for Mendenhall go.

RB – 52% Joseph Randle, DAL @ DET – Good matchup here for last week’s breakout running back. If DeMarco Murray doesn’t play then Randle will be in line for the start and another great day on the field. It seems like everyone desperately needs another back right now and this is a great option for plug and play on such a big off-week for the position.

TE – 58% Jordan Reed, WAS @ DEN – This guy is a MUST OWN. The Redskins will be passing all day and will be able to expand the offense a bit more with RG3’s knee becoming less and less of an issue. The best sign for Reed owners is that Fred Davis was a healthy scratch last week. Even you have a good TE, get this guy on your team for Flex purposes.

DEF – 35% Pittsburgh Steelers @ OAK – The old timey Steelers D should come out in this game. The run-stuffing, hard-hitting, flying-Polomaluing Steel Curtain will be in full effect, especially since the Raiders continue to have issues running the ball. Darren McFadden will return for Oakland but he won’t be 100% and has a rough match up ahead of him. Ignore Pitt’s record in this one, the D will be ready to shut down the Raiders.

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