Week 8 Starts/Sits: Tale of two Ryans

In terms of bye weeks, Week 8 is the final bit of calm before the storm  (16 teams on bye over the next three weeks). With a relatively full slate of games (just the Giants and 49ers are resting) on tap for the weekend, here's the lowdown on some players that look better or worse than usual this week:

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STARTS

QB – Ryan Tannehill, Mia at Jac – Tannehill has been the sixth-most productive fantasy QB on a per game basis over the past month with averages of 266.3 passing yards, 2.0 TD passes and, not to be overlooked, a robust 44.0 rushing yards. And you have to love the matchup this week against a Jacksonville secondary that is giving up right at 300 passing yards per game to opposing QBs in addition to an even 100.0 QB Rating. Consider Tannehill as a top replacement option for the bye-bound Eli Manning and Colin Kaepernick.

RB – Darren McFadden, Oak vs. Cle – The Cleveland Browns are so bad at defending the run that they couldn't even contain a Jaguars backfield that had accrued the fewest rushing yards per game from the RB position before Denard Robinson posted a 22/127/1 line vs. the Browns in Week 7. Now Run-DMC gets a crack at the Pounded Puppies, and McFadden comes in as a RB2-level commodity since Week 2, ranking No. 21 in fantasy PPG at RB in that span (min. 3 games). Could McFadden reach the century mark rushing on Sunday for the first time since Week 2 of last season? I certainly wouldn't be surprised. At the very least, I think he reaches 100 total yards and gets an opportunity (or two) to hit pay dirt.

RB – Travaris Cadet, NO vs. GB – With Pierre Thomas expected to sit this week (shoulder), Cadet is poised for yet another 6-plus catch, 50-plus receiving yard effort, something he's managed in two of the past three games (he also picked up a TD grab in the other game). As the clear lead backfield receiving option for a team that completes more passes per game to the RB position than any other team, Cadet should be PPR gold this week. And if Khiry Robinson also sits with his forearm injury, Cadet could also see a few carries to help give Mark Ingram (another strong play) a breather.

WR – Andrew Hawkins, Cle vs Oak – Speaking of PPR gold, Hawkins also belongs on the list of likely high volume targets in Week 8. He's coming off a stellar 5/112 effort against Jacksonville last week, his highest yardage effort of the season, though he's been 70 yards or better in four of six contests. He's also been targeted at least nine times in every game save one. This week, he goes against an Oakland defense allowing a QB Rating of 106.9, third-highest in the NFL. Assume that 6-7 catches and 75-85 yards is close to Hawkins' floor on Sunday.

WR – Donte Moncrief, Ind at Pit – With Reggie Wayne (and his nearly nine targets per game) ruled out for Sunday, look for the Colts' rookie wideout to have a breakout game. If you're expecting Hakeem Nicks to be the beneficiary of Wayne's absence, you're taking a mighty leap of faith in a guy that has eclipsed 52 receiving yards just once in his past 16 games. I'd rather bet on the ample size/speed talents of Moncrief, who got a vote of confidence this week from Colts OC Pep Hamilton, basically saying that the team has a high level of comfort in his ability to step in and contribute now. Don't be shocked if/when that contribution in Week 8 is something close to 70 yards and a TD.

TE - Zach Ertz, Phi at Ari – You'd like to see a few more targets for Ertz, who ranks 13th among tight ends in fantasy points despite landing at No. 19 at the position in total targets. This week, Ertz owners could get their wish for more as Arizona, historically bad against the TE position in '13, is struggling to contain tight ends once again. The Cardinals have already allowed three tight ends to top 80 receiving yards (Antonio Gates, Larry Donnell and Jordan Reed), and that doesn't include Julius Thomas' 66/2 line he hung on them in Week 5. Coming off a 3/47/1 line against the Giants before going on bye last week, don't be surprised if Ertz tallies another double-digit fantasy point effort against the Cards.

SITS

QB – Matt Ryan, Atl vs. Det – While this week's London tilt between Detroit and Atlanta is technically considered a home game for the Falcons, obviously this matchup will be far from the comforts of the Georgia Dome. And that's a problem for Ryan, who has an unsightly INT rate away from home since the start of last season (12 road games, 20 INTs). To make matters worse, Ryan will face a Lions defense that ranks as the stingiest in fantasy to opposing signal callers. Ryan owners might want to look on the waiver wire for a replacement Ryan (Tannehill) this week.

RB – Denard Robinson, Jac vs. Mia – As stated above in my support of Run-DMC, I'm giving most of the credit to a bad Browns run defense for Robinson's breakout performance in Week 7. Against an underrated Miami defense that is allowing just 4.7 Yards Per Play (lowest in the NFL) and 3.7 YPC to opposing RBs, I suspect the Jags' running game to revert back to the unit that wasn't even able to manage 50 rushing yards per game before last week.

RB – Alfred Morris, Was at Dal – With Colt McCoy at QB, you have to ask yourself what the offensive upside is for the Redskins this week on the road in Dallas on Monday night against a Cowboys defense that has yielded the ninth-fewest points per game (21). Considering that the vertical passing game becomes something of a non-entity under the direction of the feeble-armed McCoy, the Cowboys should be able to comfortably load up the box on defense. and that spells trouble for Morris, who enters the week in a three-game tailspin in which he's averaged a mere 41.3 rushing yards (2.8 YPC) and has failed to find the end zone.

WR – Brandin Cooks, NO vs. GB – I'm officially hopping off the Cooks bandwagon. I feel like I've went to bat for him every week, and I'm getting tired of striking out - his tantilizing talents have delivered very little since his teasing NFL debut in Week 1. Cooks ranks No. 102 in Yards per Catch (8.2) among all receivers that have played at least 25% of their team's offensive snaps. And since Week 1, none of his 27 catches have gained 20 yards. And the matchup this week isn't ideal for Saints receivers as Green Bay has yielded the lowest QB Rating in the NFL (74.0) and the third-fewest yards per game to the WR position (127.4).

WR – DeSean Jackson, Was at Dal – Like Morris (above), expect Jackson to also be burdened by McCoy being behind center this week. McCoy's lack of arm strength runs counter to Jackson's excellent vertical talents, and then you have to consider that the Dallas secondary is allowing the fewest pass plays of 20-plus yards per game (2.8). It's understood if you feel like you still need to roll the dice with Jackson this week, just don't value him as anything more than a WR3.

TE -  Jason Witten, Dal vs. Was – Time to cut the cord on Witten, who is still being started in almost two-thirds of Yahoo leagues (65%) despite the fact that he is averaging just 38 yards per game and has scored just one TD this season. Not only that, Witten is on pace for just 80 targets (despite playing every offensive snap this season) - to put that in context, he's finished with at least 117 targets in each of his past seven seasons. In the last couple weeks, we've seen backup tight end Gavin Escobar emerge with three touchdown grabs. And, considering that Witten rates (according to ProFootballFocus) as the No. 1 blocking tight end in the league this season, it makes sense that Dallas would continue to favor him in that aspect of the offense as it's helping to do wonders for DeMarco Murray and the rushing game.