Week 8 Bank/Tank

Well, week eight is among us; the halfway point in the NFL season...wait, what? That's right. We are almost half the way through this NFL season, and it is shocking to me too. I guess it's just like the old saying goes: time flies when you are having fun, and that's what the NFL season has been; fun. While it's sad that we have just moths until football season is dead and gone, we have plenty of time to see teams flip their season around, or flop on the spot. 

But enough of this nonsense. Let's move on to what you really came here for: my week eight Bank/Tank. Last week was, actually, a good week considering how odd the games themselves were. I went 12-8-2, and I could of done a lot better, but this was the best I have ever done on my "Tanks". I finished 8-3 in terms of Tanks when I usually finish around .500. Tanks are the hardest part about this. It's hard to go against superstars, but sometimes you just have to. Hopefully I can improve this week (I'm sure I will), so let's get the bus rollin'.

Quarterbacks

Bank

Eli Manning vs Miami (4th, 7th) - We have seen some good things from Manning this year. No, not Peyton, Eli! He's taken care of the ball much better in his first six games this year (seven turnovers in six games), and the matchup against Miami's 31st ranked defense (against opposing quarterbacks) can't get much better. He is starting to get Ballard involved, and all three of his main wide receivers (Nicks, Manningham, Cruz) are huge threats to the defense. If you aren't starting Manning this week, well, you should be.

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Christian Ponder @ Carolina (15th, 22nd) - One thing we all know about the Bills is that they have one terrible defense. Although the Bills' offense has had success this year, their defense has not. Ponder looked like a legitimate NFL quarterback in his rookie debut, and I think we all expect more of that from him moving forward. The way he played last week, and the way this Bills' defense has played (17.2 points to opposing quarterbacks). If you are looking for a quarterback that is probably going to be on free agents, then this is going to be your guy.

Extra: Matt Hasselbeck vs Indianapolis(12th, 13th)

Tank

Tom Brady @ Pittsburgh (6th, 3rd) - The Steelers have been really good against opposing quarterbacks by only allowing 11.0 points per game in 2011. In four of their seven games, they have held opponents ' quarterbacks under 10 points (two of which came on their three games at Heinz Field). Now, I'm not saying Brady is going to score under 10 points, but I doubt he gets over 20. In fact, I would play "Big" Ben Roethlisberger over Brady this week, although it is unlikely that you have the two of them.

Ryan Fitzpatrick vs Washington (14th, 14th) - Remember when this guy was a top ten quarterback? Yes? Well, that's dead and gone now. Fitzpatrick is now struggling to put up any type of numbers, and with two straight losses, he is just trying to find a way to put up wins. After putting nine touchdowns in his first three games, he has just a third of that number in his last three, and if you can't do that math, that is only three touchdowns in the last three games. In regards to points, his first three games saw 64 points among them. He has less than half of that (29) in his last three. Not only that, but the Redskins defense had been very good against opposing quarterbacks with only 14.2 points allowed per game. If you are starting Fitzpatrick then you could be in for another single digit fantasy day.

Running Backs

Bank

Jackie Battle vs San Diego (13th, 18th) - Last week, the whole "feature back" thing didn't quite work out, but he was still productive with the carries that he got (16 carries for 76 yards). I thought he would do a lot more, but with the type of carries that he is getting it's hard not to like him. San Diego has a decent fantasy run defense, but they have been terrible as of late; they are allowing 14 fantasy points to opposing running backs on the season, but in their last three games they have let up 19 fantasy points (on average) to Miami, Denver, and the New York Jets. Jackie Battle should be a great fantasy option for this week with the 15-20 carries he should get.

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Steven Jackson vs New Orleans (6th, 14th) - You think this guy has been bad this year? Not the least. Excluding the one game that he sat out, he has scored double digits in five of six weeks. Not bad. He is ranked 25th among running backs, and that is with two weeks of zero points (his bye, and a week of injury). New Orleans defense is very bad: over 120 yards to opposing running backs in all of the last three games, including two rushing touchdowns in those games. If Feeley is the started again, I think you are going to see the Rams use Jackson early and often.


Extra: DeMarco Murray @ Philadelphia (10th, 12th)

Tank

Rashard Mendenhall vs New England (16th, 11th) - It's the Steelers against the Patriots! Are the Steelers are going to run the ball? Is that the way they are going to win this game? Even if they do run the ball, Mendenhall is averaging 3.7 yards per carry on the year. I think it's safe to say this guy isn't going to reach double digits this week.

Bernard Scott @ Seattle (26th, 24th) - If you aren't already on the bandwagon then you shouldn't be jumping on it now. Seattle has been, believe it or not, stout against the run this year, and Scott has been sub-par, for that matter. Seahawks allow only 3.1 yards per rush this season, which is an NFL best. Coach Lewis has even come out and said that the three running backs--Scott, Leonard, and Peerman--are all going to get touches this week, and I wouldn't be surprised in Scott gets less than half of them. Keep Scott on the bench this week, if he is on your bench.

Extra: Lesean McCoy vs Dallas (9th, 5th)

Wide Receivers

Bank

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AJ Green @ Seattle (10th, 15th) - Without Cam Newton, Green might be the rookie of the year thus far. Him and Dalton have been great in that rookie to rookie connection; together, they have gone for over 450 yards and three touchdowns. Green also has double digits in five of his six games, and the one that he did not reach double digits, he still had four receptions. Seattle has given up 21.2 points to opposing wide receivers (the four points performance in week seven against the Browns really padded their stats). I expect the Bengals to resort to their passing game after they can't find a way to run the ball.

Demaryius Thomas vs Detroit (23rd, 30th) - Last week, Tim Tebow sure didn't look good, and he definitely wasn't "Tebowing" until the fourth quarter. But you know what he was doing? Looking for Demaryius Thomas, the most athletic wide receiver on this football team. It's a huge risk to put Thomas in your lineup, but he is a guy that you can probably find on your waiver wire and just plug in there. Detroit does have a fair pass defense, but Houston (their top corner) is hobbled. Thomas is either going to drop you a big fat nothing here, or he is going to put up a very productive fantasy day. Let's just hope it's the second choice.

Extra: Desean Jackson vs Dallas (9th, 14th), Michael Jenkins @ Carolina (21st, 36th), Jabar Gaffney @ Buffalo (18th, 26th)

Tank

Larry Fitzgerald @ Baltimore (16th, 10th) - Ten, six, seven. Those are the numbers that Fitzgerald has put up the last three weeks, and two of the tree were against mediocre defenses. Baltimore has a ridiculous defense at home, and the Cardinals are just not playing good football right now. To go right along with that, Beanie Wells is injured, and it isn't going to take much for the Ravens to stop the likes of Alfonso Smith and LaRod Stephens-Howling.. Furthermore, we are going to see the Ravens drop more into coverage, and you know who they are going to be covering. Two thumbs pointed at this guy.

Eric Decker vs Detroit (27th, 28th) - See Thomas, Demaryius. Decker is going to see less opportunities with Thomas seeing more opportunities.

Extra: Malcom Floyd @ Kansas City

Tight Ends

Bank

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Owen Daniels vs Jacksonville (4th, 6th) - Andre Johnson is out again, and that means another dose of Daniels for Houston this week. I know that Daniels has been tough to hang with (16 points in the least three weeks), but stay with him for one more week. The Jaguars are giving up nine points per game to opposing tight ends (fifth in the league). I'm sure you are probably starting Daniels anyways, but I think he finds double digits quite easily this week.

Tank

Brandon Pettigrew @ Denver (10th, 9th) - After a tough matchup and bad performance against the Falcons last week, Pettigrew finds himself in another "stay away" matchup this week.  The Broncos allow just under five points per game to opposing tight ends this year, which is fifth in terms of defenses. I think that Stafford exposes the Broncos' weaknesses at the corner back position, so stay away from Pettigrew this week.

Extra: Daniel Fells vs Detroit

Thanks for reading. If I see more players that I like before Sunday then I will mention it on Twitter and put it in the "Extras". Speaking of Twitter, you can follow me there and ask me any question regarding football or maybe even some nonsense. You can also email me your longer questions. Be sure to check out the Injury Report before you push that "submit" button on Sunday, also check out my rankings that will be updated periodically. Good luck, and I will see you next week.