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.

Source

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

Source

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.

Week 4 Pickups

By: Gabriel Harber

It was business as usual this week in the NFL.  The Bolts edged out the Chiefs in a close one, the Colts took the Steelers down to the wire, and Tom Brady tossed 4 INT's. Wait...What!?

If week 3 left you scratching your head, don't worry, you're not alone. If you are looking for that one waiver wire pick up that is going to give you a W in week 4? That's what we're here for.

Antonio Brown:  This one is born of necessity more than anything else.  Anyone who watched Sunday's game against the Colts knows the offensive line has more holes in it than Kesha's clothing.  With the running game being non-existent, and Big Ben under constant pressure, the slot receievers stand to benefit a great deal.  Brown did, with a team high 8 targets.   He is also a great punt returner, so if your league uses return yardage, fire away.

Dane Sanzenbacher:  This one is more of a gut call than anything else, but when you go from relative unknown to catching TD passes in back-to-back weeks, you're bound to turn some heads.  It's been a long time since Chicago fans had a receiver to be excited about, and with Johnny Knox panning out as extraordinarily average, there is room for someone to steal the show.  Sanzenbacher may just end up being that guy.  It's worth noting that he had 5 catches on 7 targets.  If your league is PPR, you want to keep a close eye on him; think shades of Wes Welker.

Brandon Gibson:  Gibson has posted three weeks with respectable yardage totals, and even found the end zone this weekend.  Bradford clearly trusts him, and with the intermittent success he experienced in 2010, he could very well be stepping it up for real this time.

Jason Campbell:  Don't be fooled, the only reason he put up a stinker this weekend is because everyone in California got to sit back and watch the McFadden show.  With emerging weapons in Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford, and a two-headed monster in the backfield, Campbell has all the tools to work with he never had in Washington.  I'm sold.

Torrey Smith: He caught a long TD pass.  Then he caught another one, but for less yardage.  Then it happened again for less yardage.  Then he starts catching passes that aren't even for touchdowns.  I'm really concerned about the downward trend with this guy.......All jokes aside, a lot of people are down on this kid and I can't for the life of me tell why.  The Ravens have matchups against soft pass defenses for most of the season, and Lee Evans sure wasn't producing like this when he was on the field.  It will be interesting to see what happens from here on out, but I can't see the Ravens sitting idly on his talent.

Denarius Moore:  Darrius Heyward-Bey was back and guess what?  Moore thoroughly outplayed him, just as predicted, despite being listed behind him on the depth chart.  McFadden clearly stole the show, but Moore still had 6 targets and a rushing touchdown.  The score was particularly interesting given it was on a run, proving that the Raiders are committed to getting the ball to their playmakers any way possible.

David Nelson/Donald Jones:  As long as Buffalo's offense continues putting up numbers, these guys are worth a flier.  Nelson is a pass-catching monster, but he may already be gone.  Jones is a sneaky flex play in deeper leagues.

Kendall Hunter:  Hunter got most of the workload when Gore went down, and even flashed some brilliance.  With the 49ers looking for any way to generate offense, and Gore averaging only 2.51 yards per carry, Hunter will be given his fair shake.  If Gore can't go this weekend, Hunter is a must add against the Eagles putrid run defense.

Daniel Thomas: This one is a long shot, but I see Thomas still sitting on wires in quite a few leagues.  If you happen to be in one, burn that waiver priority right now!  This guy has all the makings to be the real deal, and it looks like the Dolphins have finally figured out that not only is Reggie Bush not a feature back, he's not even a running back.

Montario Hardesty: Every Hillis owner should be taking note as Hardesty didn't look that bad against a stout Miami run defense.  If Hillis goes down or begins wearing out, Hardesty would be up for an expanded role.  The 4.8 yards per carry was most impressive.

Eric Decker: Decker didn't post the eye popping numbers he did the week before, but still had 12 targets.  I'm willing to chalk this one up to the Titans secondary and as long as the Broncos are committed to feeding him, he remains a viable option.

Brandon Pettigrew/Titus Young:  While defensive coordinators everywhere draw up triple teams to slow Megatron down (hint: it won't work), the rest of the field is becoming wide open for Stafford and crew.  Pettigrew posted a huge game while Young had a fine game to the tune of 8 targets.  As long as the Motor City Massacre (my name for the Lions offense) continues on this pace, both are intriguing options.

James Casey: Super sneaky sleeper here.  Casey exploded from nowhere onto the scene Sunday and was a nightmare for the Saints defense.  He lined up at running back, wide receiver, and tight end, creating matchup problems all day.  Because of his flexibility and knack for getting open, I believe the Texans will be looking for more ways to get him the ball.

Victor Cruz: This one's tough because on one hand, he did have 2 TD's, but on the other hand he only 3 receptions on 5 targets.  For now I say monitor the status of Manningham and Nicks.  If they're out, Cruz makes a decent flex play.

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Gabe is the newest addition to TheFFAddict.com. He will be writing a pickup article every week so check that out. You can also shoot him any questions on Twitter and you can also check out his blog.