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This week's confidence scale is based off of my own personal football stadium bucket list. I've been to many stadiums but there are still some I need to see before I croak. Obviously there are many other stadiums and rivalries I want to see -- this is just representative of the scale being applied.

1. Ralph Wilson Stadium in December: I really do want to be at a cold, windy, chilly Bills game. Just once. It's just the least desirable choice as I sit at my desk in South Florida.

2. Ratliff Stadium, Odessa, Texas: If you're going to do high school football, do it right.

3. "Death Valley" Clemson's Memorial Stadium: Regarded as one of college football's best experiences. Gotta see the players touch Howard's Rock on their way to the field.

4. Notre Dame Stadium: All those years I lived in Chicago and never made the trip to South Bend.

5. AT&T Stadium a.k.a Jerry World: Looks like the biggest stadium ever and the videoboard has to be awesome in person.

6. Anfield (Liverpool, England): I don't have any allegiances to soccer but a stadium built in 1884 and home to one of Europe's football clubs is a must. Plus saying Wembley is cliché. Would love to see them versus Man U.

7. "Death Valley" LSU's Tiger Stadium: Loud fans, party atmosphere and not far from New Orleans. Hard to beat that. Maybe head to the Superdome the next day!

8. CenturyLink Field: Always have wanted to experience the noise there. Gotta do it before Willll-son retires.

9. Arrowhead Stadium: Another NFL classic. Have to have the pre-game tailgate too.

10. Lambeau Field: The Fenway Park of NFL stadiums. Driven past it, never been inside it. I'll definitely go in someday.

Get your ticket out and hit the turnstile -- Week 8 beckons!

Lions vs. Falcons, Sun., 9:30 a.m. ET

The early start time won't bother the players but it will bother uninformed Fantasy owners -- make sure you have your Lions and Falcons starters in lineups before you hit the sack on Saturday night. As for the game itself, the Falcons offensive line will continue to struggle against a huge Lions defensive front that will come for Matt Ryan right up the middle. During the Falcons four-game losing skid they have averaged 17.0 points per game with 20 points total in their last nine quarters.

Quarterbacks

Matthew Stafford (7.2): It would be nice for Stafford to have Calvin Johnson to throw to against a porous Falcons pass defense but even without him, Stafford should pick up some good gains thanks to playmaker Golden Tate. Atlanta has allowed 250-plus yards in three of its last four games, 20-plus points to quarterbacks in three of its last four and multiple passing scores in two of its last three.

Matt Ryan (5.7): Ryan was tossed around by the Ravens last week (five sacks, nine quarterback hits) and is sure to be in for a tough game against the Lions. The Falcons tried a lot of quick-hitting passes last week and it's part of the reason why their first nine drives stalled out. I'm not optimistic for success on the road again this week.

Running backs

Joique Bell (7.8): With Reggie Bush unlikely to play it means more work on Bell's plate against a Falcons run defense that has allowed at least one touchdown to a running back in all but one game this season. Of the 12 they've allowed, nine have come from four yards from the goal line or closer. Bell's a juicy start in seasonal and one-week leagues.

Devonta Freeman (3.8): What?! Why is his name on here?! Because he leads the Falcons running backs in targets this season and should continue to get chances out of the backfield. If you're desperate in a PPR league, check him out.

Wide receivers

Golden Tate (9.0): Tate's last four games: 32 catches on 45 targets for 448 yards and two touchdowns. The Falcons have actually played moderately well against No. 1 receivers over their last four games, but if we focus on most-targeted receivers over No. 1 guys then they've been wrecked. Tate has to be a part of Fantasy lineups.

Julio Jones (6.9): Jones didn't see much in the way of deep targets until late last week. That might change this week, depending on how the Falcons scheme up their blocking. We saw the Lions pass defense look vulnerable last week, particularly on Kenny Stills' deep bomb for a score. Chances are Jones won't slip through the cracks like Stills did. Expectations should be taken down a notch as Detroit has held Kelvin Benjamin, Jordy Nelson, Eric Decker and Sammy Watkins to 10 Fantasy points or less.

Roddy White (6.5): White's touchdown catch last week was beautiful as he was covered tight and still made a great play. Ryan has no problem throwing his way when Jones is double-covered (or when White is single-covered, apparently). White has three games this season with 13 points or more, three with four points or less. Because he should see a steady dose of targets against the Lions, this could be a week where he'll do better.

Defense/Special Teams

Lions (8.6): Each of the last two DSTs to face the Falcons have finished as Top 12 units. Look for a lot of sacks and turnovers to keep the Lions DST productive.

Falcons (4.7): Atlanta had 33 Fantasy points in their Week 3 blowout of the Bucs, 22 points in their other games combined (less than five per game). This is an easy sit.

Bears at Patriots, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

The matchup is naturally better for New England, if only because its pass defense is more proficient than Chicago's. But it's that New England run defense that looked really rough last Thursday against the Jets. Maybe that was because of the short week, but the Bears are sure to try running the ball with hopes of being as effective as the Jets were. Considering their dysfunction through the air it might be the best option for Marc Trestman's troops.

Quarterbacks

Jay Cutler (8.2): Bill Belichick has had Cutler's number twice in his career. I wouldn't call the Patriots pass defense dominant just because they held Geno Smith to one score, as the previous three passers to play them all threw two touchdowns with an average over 250 yards per game. It's a tough spot for Cutler, but his O-line is as healthy as its been and the Patriots pass rush took a major hit with Chandler Jones injuring his hip. Expect a bounce-back game.

Tom Brady (9.1): Taking on the Bears' ancient Cover 2 scheme with a good but not great pass rush should leave a lot of downfield windows open for Brady. The good numbers will continue.

Running backs

Matt Forte (9.3): Even if the Patriots shore up their run defense you have to imagine Forte will stay a big part of the Bears game plan. Running backs have averaged 25.6 carries for 115.4 rush yards per game against the Pats.

Shane Vereen (7.9): After working 80 percent of the snaps last week (and 100 percent of the eight red-zone snaps), there's no doubt what his role is. Maybe he'll get pulled if this becomes a blowout, but he's a cinch for at least 70 yards if not much more -- assuming he's over an illness that kept him off the practice field on Friday. The Bears have allowed 10-plus points to a running back in three of their last four, including 83 total yards and a touchdown to Lamar Miller in Week 7. If he's out then we'll surely see Jonas Gray and Brandon Bolden take on work in his place.

Wide receivers

Alshon Jeffery (8.1): Jeffery's speed makes him appealing against both Revis and Brandon Browner. Cutler will need real good protection in order to fire shots downfield to Alshon, who has 10 or more Fantasy points in four of his last five games. I wouldn't expect a brutal game like he had last week.

Brandon Marshall (7.9): Marshall might be at his best playing out of the slot but don't expect him to shy away from Darrelle Revis, who was beat a few times last week by Eric Decker when Decker lined up on his side of the field. After last week's postgame outburst expect Marshall to get lots of targets as the Bears commit to improving their passing game.

Brandon LaFell (5.2): I'll take LaFell as at least a No. 3 Fantasy wideout in any matchup where the Patriots might end up throwing a bunch. That could be every week given the state of their running game. LaFell could get open quite a bit against the Bears cornerbacks, plus he's willing to cross the field. I'm tempted to start him in PPR leagues and one-week games.

Julian Edelman (5.1): During the Patriots' three-game winning streak, Edelman has 18 catches on 29 targets for 170 yards and no end zone visits (not even any red zone targets the last two weeks). I suspect the Bears won't focus on shutting Edelman down -- Rob Gronkowski might have the most attention -- so there's a chance he can get back involved on underneath routes. He's OK as a third receiver.

Tight ends

Martellus Bennett (6.2): We've started to see the Patriots struggle with tight ends, giving up at least 10 Fantasy points to three of the last four they've faced. That's about the only thing to hang your hat on here, as Bennett has totaled 12 catches on 21 targets for 127 yards and no touchdowns over his last three games (totaling 13 Fantasy points). He's not one of my favorites this week.

Rob Gronkowski (9.5): Expect a very big game from Gronkowski as the Patriots attack a Bears defense that has a hard time with active tight ends. Tom Brady will like Gronk's matchups against the Bears linebackers and safeties. Gronk will be my tight end of choice in one-week leagues.

Defense/Special Teams

Bears (2.5): There's a real chance they'll get shredded by Brady, just as the last three DSTs to play the Patriots have been.

Patriots (5.7): The Pats had trouble last week with the Jets and face a much taller order at home in Week 8 as the Bears are capable of putting up points. They're a low-end starting option but with the game against the Bears and the Broncos coming to town next week and then a bye, this wouldn't be a bad time to dump them for another option you can use through Week 10 (the Browns? Dolphins? Buccaneers?!).

Ravens at Bengals, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

You can be sure that the Ravens game plan will revolve around attacking the Bengals linebackers with a big dose of the run and play-action passing over the middle. The Bengals have to respond with clock-milking drives and success in the red zone. In their Week 1 meeting the Bengals scored five field goals to account for their first half scoring. Some of those kicks have to turn into touchdowns this time around, a tall order considering the Ravens have allowed seven passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns on the season.

Quarterbacks



Joe Flacco (6.0): While each of the last three quarterbacks to face the Bengals have thrown multiple touchdowns and over 275 yards, Flacco hasn't done it in Cincinnati since his rookie year (here are his last five trips to Cincy). He fell short of 20 Fantasy points last week despite two touchdowns and just can't be counted on beyond as a bye-week replacement. Not having Owen Daniels stinks.

Andy Dalton (4.7): Normally I'd be geeked for Dalton playing at home with his receiving corps healthy but the Ravens pass defense is awfully good. Dalton had a 20-point game at Baltimore in Week 1 on the strength of a circus catch by A.J. Green late in the game. In his defense, Dalton has thrown for 270 or more yards in three straight against the Ravens and could get to that number again provided that Green plays. But the touchdown totals might not be there. He's a risk this week.

Running backs

Justin Forsett (8.3): Bank on a good game as the Ravens appear committed to Forsett and the Bengals run defense has slumped, allowing a rushing touchdown in four straight games along with at least 240 total yards to running backs in two of three.

Bernard Pierce (5.7): We liked Pierce last week because of his potential to score. Same thing this week -- if the Ravens find themselves camped out at the goal line we could see Pierce do his thing. If you're needy for a back this week Pierce might deliver somewhere between six and nine points.

Giovani Bernard (7.1): A rarity last week: the Bengals got away from using Gio. He had 15 or more touches in every game this year until he had nine last week. It's a tough matchup, so count on Cincinnati leaning on him not just as a carrier but also as a receiver. They need him to help swing the time of possession in their favor.

Jeremy Hill (3.5): The only way Hill helps is if there's a goal-line situation and Bernard is pulled or if it's a blowout and he gets extra work. Leave Hill on the bench this week.

Wide receivers

Steve Smith (6.6): Anyone else feeling like Smith is slowing down? Maybe it's just that two of his last three games have come up small. Against the Falcons, Smith wasn't really needed as the run game helped move the offense down the field. He had an end zone target but didn't connect with it. Smith had his best game this season against the Bengals, but in their last four no receiver has had more than 10 Fantasy points against Cincy. I'd chance it with him to either get to 10 Fantasy points or just over because of Owen Daniels' injury adding more targets for the taking for the Ravens receivers.

Torrey Smith (4.45): Last week's score came on a fourth quarter, fourth-down chuck by Flacco where he threw deep into single coverage and Smith made a nice grab for a touchdown. It seemed like an improbable throw-away play call that ended up working out. It's hard to call Smith anything more than a boom-or-bust receiver when he doesn't get a reliable amount of targets from week to week. Over his last two games, he's caught seven of 10 targets for 132 yards and three touchdowns. That's tough to sustain, especially against a defense that's allowed just three touchdowns to receivers this year. Look for about 70 yards from him.

Mohamed Sanu (4.2): Sanu will continue to see a lot of tough coverage with Green not on the field, making him a low-end No. 3 receiver against a good Ravens secondary. He would be better if Green were active.

Defense/Special Teams

Ravens (8.3): The feeling is that this defense is starting to heat up, particularly after rediscovering its pass rush last week. Cincy allowed the Colts to finish as the top DST last week, a dubious honor for a team with so much offense.

Bengals (4.95): With their defense banged up it's not easy to see them holding the Ravens to just a handful of points, especially after seeing how hard the Ravens offense made things on the Falcons last week. Steer clear.

Texans at Titans, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

Tennessee's passing game has done the yo-yo this season -- great one week, miserable the next. Yardage has long been an issue as they've failed to throw for over 250 yards in a game since Week 1. That's going to be key for the Titans this week in order to have a chance against the Texans. On Monday, Houston had a hard time slowing down Ben Roethlisberger and while the Titans don't have a quarterback of his caliber, they should have a blueprint on how to attack the Houston defense. They'll need to follow it to have a chance.

Quarterbacks

Ryan Fitzpatrick (3.6): The matchup is good because the Titans can't put much pressure on the quarterback and their secondary has proven to be a problem (such as on the Pierre Garcon touchdown last week). It's also good because Fitzpatrick is familiar with many players on the Tennessee defense after spending last year there. He's not a bad bet in two-quarterback leagues.

Zach Mettenberger (4.8): Welcome to the NFL, kid -- here's J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney in your face! Mettenberger has a nice, solid arm and experience in a pro-style offense from his college days, but this is a tricky first game because of the Texans pass rush. What helps is that if his O-line can buy him some time then he can dial up some bombs to Justin Hunter. He'll be interesting to watch but not start.

Running backs

Arian Foster (9.6): The Titans haven't allowed a back to get to 10 Fantasy points against them in two weeks, but they've taken on the Jaguars and Redskins, both of whom haven't been very good on the ground (/sheds tear for Alfred Morris). Foster is consistently a big part of the Texans offense and should test the Titans quite a bit.

Bishop Sankey (5.1): Sounds like coach Ken Whisenhunt wasn't happy with Sankey's work last week. Welcome to the club, Ken! It's painfully obvious that he's not doing well in the limited roles the coaching staff is giving him. The Houston run defense isn't anything special but Sankey is tough to trust, even if he has 16 or 18 carries in his last two. I dislike his matchup even more with a rookie quarterback making his first start.

Wide receivers

DeAndre Hopkins (5.6): Hopkins has been sloppy over the last couple of weeks, but a fast outside receiver against the Titans defense should get a chance as at least a third receiver.

Andre Johnson (4.9): Johnson is averaging nine targets per game but has just one touchdown and two games with 90 or more yards (everything else is south of 80 yards). It doesn't help that Johnson hasn't scored on the Titans in his last five meetings. Cornerback Jason McCourty might be assigned Johnson, limiting his effectiveness.

Justin Hunter (5.8): If the Titans need a boost offensively they might look to Hunter, who has some very good deep speed. The Texans have not been able to handle fast receivers this season and the Titans will take some deep shots with Hunter from Mettenberger. Hunter is a high-risk, high-reward Fantasy choice perfect for those in one-week leagues.

Kendall Wright (4.7): Wright has scored and posted nice Fantasy totals in his last two games with eight or more targets. Most weeks he gets a lot of targets but doesn't always get a lot with it, but this matchup is great. Wright has some quicks and the Texans clearly have a problem with fast receivers. That could help Wright's teammate more than himself.

Tight ends

Delanie Walker (4.2): Tough matchup for Walker as the Texans have been great against opposing tight ends. Having Mettenberger start doesn't promise a big game for him.

Defense/Special Teams

Texans (7.5): The Texans should be able to come up with a handful of sacks and a takeaway against a rookie making his first start. That might be enough to make them a Top 12 DST.

Titans (4.9): Even if there's some familiarity with Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Titans could have a hard time slowing down the Houston offense. I'm not ready to trust them.

Rams at Chiefs, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

I wonder if Andy Reid will be tempted to give Alex Smith more license to throw downfield this week given the state of the Rams secondary. In their last two games the Niners and Seahawks blasted them for 656 passing yards and five touchdowns. By comparison, the Rams are much better against the run, holding those same two teams' running backs to a total of 117 rush yards, 58 receiving yards and no touchdowns. It especially feels like Smith is due for a good game.

Austin Davis (3.5): Even though they don't have a star defensive back, the Chiefs are playing fairly well against the pass with some good talent and a still solid pass rush. Sometimes that's all you need. No quarterback has hit more than 18 Fantasy points against them in four contests, and that includes Philip Rivers last week.

Alex Smith (6.6): Last year, Smith had six of his eight big games against terrible pass defenses. This year most of his matchups have been tough -- he's only done well in two games against respectable defenses in Miami and New England and stunk it up against the Titans. The story's the same with Smith as he's a boom or bust Fantasy quarterback, but with the matchup in his favor, you could definitely do worse.

Running backs

Tre Mason (5.9): Over the last two weeks, Mason has dazzled against banged-up versions of the 49ers and Seahawks defenses to the tune of 23 carries for 125 yards, a rushing score and a 12-yard catch. He has nearly as many rushing yards as Cunningham on 13 fewer carries and is averaging 1.5 more yards per carry than Zac Stacy with two more 20-plus-yard runs. The Chiefs haven't allowed a touchdown to a running back this year but have allowed 5.1 yards per carry to backs. I am comfortable with Mason as a No. 2 Fantasy running back, even if he loses passing downs work to Cunningham and some carries to Stacy.

Jamaal Charles (9.1): The Rams defensive line is starting to make strides, and as a result opposing rushers have not fared well against St. Louis the past couple of weeks. In fact, only DeMarco Murray and Bobby Rainey (!) have posted more than nine Fantasy points against the Rams all year. Yet, we'll all happily start Charles, who should be in line for a bunch of catches.

Wide receivers

Brian Quick (3.3): Quick can run all the routes and use his physical style as much as he wants to, but if he's only going to get a handful of targets then he's wasted space. Quick has four or fewer targets in three of his last four games with six combined in his last two games against division rivals. Based on how the Chiefs have done against opposing receivers (only two have had more than 10 Fantasy points against them this year), Quick isn't a safe choice.

Dwayne Bowe (5.4): How lucky are you feeling? The matchup is sensational for Bowe, but his track record this season isn't so good -- he has yet to score and doesn't have any more than eight Fantasy points in a game this year. I'll chance it with him as a borderline No. 2/No. 3 Fantasy receiver on the hunch that Smith will be given the chance to throw.

Tight ends

Travis Kelce (5.8): The Rams have been solid against opposing tight ends, or at least they were until Cooper Helfet caught them by surprise last week. Last week was the exception, not the rule, so don't look for a big week from Kelce. The problem is that there aren't a lot of good replacements for him, so if you're stuck then stick with the big fella and hope he can pull a Helfet.

Defense/Special Teams

Chiefs (6.1): Only one DST over the last three weeks has posted a Top 12 finish against the Rams, and it wasn't the Niners or the Seahawks. The only way I'd go with the Chiefs is if I was in a pinch.

Rams (5.9): The Rams defensive line has been picking up steam, which will help them stay competitive. But the Chiefs haven't allowed an opposing DST to finish in the Top 12 in five straight games. I like the Chiefs DST better, but it's a close call.

Dolphins at Jaguars, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

The stars aligned for the Jaguars last week -- their opponent struggled to make tackles and the time of possession went the Jags way. So despite being 5 of 16 on third downs and turning the ball over three times, the Jaguars came away with a win. Don't expect the same thing to happen against a Dolphins defense that played sharp last week at Chicago and will bring a heavy pass rush for the Jacksonville O-line to deal with.

Quarterbacks

Ryan Tannehill (7.8): If you take the average of the last three games for every quarterback, Tannehill ranks seventh. That's how hot he's been, posting at least 240 pass yards and 35 rush yards in every game to go with two passing touchdowns per contest. He's a tremendous one-week quarterback even though the Jaguars pass defense looks like world beaters in their last three games against the Steelers, Titans and Browns. Losing pass rusher Andre Branch will hurt the Jags and help Tannehill.

Blake Bortles (3.0): The Dolphins really should be able to contain Bortles and pick him off a time or two, thanks in large part to their pass rush. It's a favorable matchup for them, which makes it unfavorable for Bortles.

Running backs

Lamar Miller (8.5): The Jaguars run defense had been great, but losing leading tackler Paul Posluszny is a tough blow. Expect the Dolphins to keep giving Miller a lot of work and test the Jaguars run defense. Miller has averaged 17.0 touches per game over his last three.

Denard Robinson (5.6): I'm not ready to believe in 'Shoelace' just yet. Our Chris Towers did an extensive blog on Robinson's breakout Week 7 and he's not expecting big things moving forward. The Dolphins are allowing 3.7 yards per carry to running backs on the season with only two getting more than even 50 yards on the ground. I don't think the Jaguars will be in a position to give Robinson so much work.

Wide receivers

Mike Wallace (7.3): Wallace scored again last week but again showed he's a dangerous Fantasy option because he's so touchdown dependent. The Jaguars haven't allowed a receiving touchdown in three weeks and have given up just five on the season but enter this game with both starting cornerbacks iffy to play. Wallace is too hot to flat-out sit, plus if we like Tannehill to have a good game then Wallace should be able to come through.

Allen Robinson (3.7): Don't lean on Robinson for his penchant for touchdowns -- he scored his first one last week. But the bevy of targets and catches he tends to get in come-from-behind play make him appealing in PPR leagues. He has at least 14 Fantasy points (PPR scoring) in each of his last two.

Cecil Shorts (3.0): Before last week's game, the Dolphins allowed over 200 passing yards to consecutive opponents. The Jags won't get that many but the opportunities will be there. Shorts has 25 targets in his last two games but just nine Fantasy points to show for it.

Tight ends

Charles Clay (4.6): It feels like Clay's big game last week had to do with the defensive scheme the Dolphins went up against, not a philosophical change in how their offense will work (he had just as many targets the week before). Before last week, Clay had 35 yards or fewer in every game. The Jaguars should be able to solve Clay without losing too much to the Dolphins other receivers.

Clay Harbor (6.0): It's actually a decent matchup for Harbor as the Dolphins allowed a touchdown to tight ends in four straight games before they did a good job against an off-target Bears offense. If the Jaguars can get near the red zone then Harbor might be a factor. In a week with some so-so tight ends, Harbor could fill in as a high-risk, high-reward lineup choice.

Defense/Special Teams

Dolphins (8.7): The best DST on the board this week, if only because the Jaguars have allowed every single opponent finish as a Top 12 option, including the Browns last week.

Jaguars (4.5): Tannehill is playing too well and the Dolphins offense has been too overwhelming against bad defenses. No team has finished as a Top 12 DST against Miami since Week 2.

Bills at Jets, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

It's the battle of new-look offenses as the Bills debut the backfield of Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown while the Jets show off newly acquired receiver Percy Harvin. I'm way more intrigued by the Jets' changes, especially coming off of a game where they were functional against a good Patriots defense. Harvin won't stretch the Bills secondary, but he will make the linebackers a step slower as they key in on him. That might be enough to give their run game a boost against the Bills -- or give their receivers and tight ends a split second more to get open.

Quarterbacks

Kyle Orton (6.4): Don't expect the Jets to come up with a solution for defending Sammy Watkins, or perhaps any other Bills receiver for that matter. Every single quarterback, from Derek Carr to Tom Brady, has thrown two-plus touchdowns on the Jets this season. Orton's been playing great but hasn't quite finished as a Top 12 quarterback yet. I wouldn't bet on it being this week, but he is a pretty good one-week replacement quarterback if you can't get your mitts on Ryan Tannehill.

Geno Smith (3.3): Adding Harvin to the mix will only help Smith's numbers, so long as he targets Harvin and the speedster finds ways to make plays after the catch. That never really materialized much in Seattle, so it's tough to buy into it happening in New York, but at the very least Harvin will make things a little bit easier for the Jets passing game. Buffalo has allowed one passing touchdown in three of its last four games.

Running backs

Bryce Brown (5.5): There might not be a bigger wild card this weekend than Brown. We can assume he'll log close to 15 touches like Spiller did, but there's no way of knowing for sure. We know the Jets run defense has been awful over the last three weeks, but it's come at the hands of dominant passing offenses that were basically dared to run against them. Here's the point that sticks with me: The Bills watched C.J. Spiller struggle for most of the season and didn't consider making a move to have Brown help out. Why not? And, who's to say Brown will fare better than Spiller? Risky, which is why I'd take him as a flex or No. 3 back if at all possible.

Anthony Dixon (5.3): It looks as if Dixon will shoulder the Fred Jackson load for the Bills, working in hustle-up situations and passing downs. He might also factor in on rushing downs if only because the coaching staff trusts him a little more than Brown. Dixon also caught three of four targets last week, the first four targets he's had this season. I wouldn't expect a monster game from Dixon.

Chris Ivory (6.1): The Jets will try to get Ivory going, and having Harvin keep linebackers frozen will help him out, but the Bills run defense remains really solid. Jerick McKinnon became just the second running back this season to have even 19 carries against Buffalo, and he needed every one to get 103 yards. Ivory rarely gets that many, though he did last Thursday. It's hard to trust Ivory if he's not getting a lot of work -- facing a defense that hasn't given up a touchdown to a running back this season also hurts his cause.

Chris Johnson (4.5): Against the Patriots Johnson had over 80 total yards for the first time since Week 1. Don't expect him to do it again as the Bills run defense is better than the Pats.

Wide receivers

Sammy Watkins (7.4): While the Jets have allowed a bunch of passing touchdowns (18 to be exact), only eight have gone to receivers. Of those eight, five have gone to non-No. 1 receivers. Maybe we're overreacting to call Watkins a no-brainer this week since it's easy for the Jets to cover him closely and take their chances with other receivers. Call Watkins a good No. 2 Fantasy receiver.

Robert Woods (4.1): If Watkins is going to draw coverage then Woods will have opportunities in single coverage against weak defensive backs. He does have 39 targets in his last five games but had negative Fantasy points last week on a four-catch, 10-yard day against the Vikings. Still, this matchup is easier for him and there is potential for him to help Fantasy owners out against a bad secondary. If you need a sleeper, consider Woods.

Eric Decker (6.7): The weakness of the Bills defense is in that secondary and Buffalo has allowed at least one touchdown to an opposing receiver in every game this season. He should finish as a Top 24 receiver with at least 10 Fantasy points, just as he's done in each game he's scored in so far this season.

Percy Harvin (2.4): I'm not ready to trust Harvin in my Fantasy lineup. He'll help his teammates before he helps owners, particularly since it's his first week in New York's run-dominated offense.

Tight ends

Scott Chandler (5.2): Since Kyle Orton has taken over, Chandler has caught 13 of 21 targets for 162 yards, which is better than how he did in four games with EJ Manuel. The Jets finally firmed up against opposing tight ends but gave up seven touchdowns to the position in the four games prior to Thursday night's game against the Patriots. Chandler has scored in two of his last three against the Jets and is a major sleeper for Week 8.

Jace Amaro (4.8): His playing time could shrink with Harvin expected to get a decent amount of work. Owners might consider breaking up with him if he doesn't do anything significant here. The Bills have done well against suspect tight ends.

Defense/Special Teams

Bills (7.1): Geno Smith played great last week against the Patriots, but can he keep it up? Inconsistency has always stuck to Smith like his shadow. We'd definitely give the Bills a shot against Smith.

Jets (4.1): With the woes in the secondary, the Jets can't be trusted to shut down the Bills, even if it's the Fred Jackson-less and C.J. Spiller-less Bills.

Seahawks at Panthers, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

Last year both of these defenses were outstanding. This year they're both disappointing -- the Panthers stink all around, but the Seahawks' pass defense really leaves a lot to be desired. It goes without saying that the team that better takes advantage of their matchup should come out ahead. Advantage Seahawks in that case, assuming they don't lose sight of Marshawn Lynch again.

Quarterbacks

Russell Wilson (8.6): The Seahawks might not be able to resist the target on the back of the Panthers secondary -- each of the last four opposing quarterbacks had at least 22 Fantasy points against them with three owning at least 25 Fantasy points. Wilson has scored 24, 38, 10 and 40 Fantasy points over his last four games, with the 10-point dip happening against a good Cowboys defense. Bank on him delivering a big stat line.

Cam Newton (6.8): The Seahawks have allowed multiple passing touchdowns in five straight games with one interception over that span. Don't believe me?! Look here. If Newton had a solid offensive line in front of him then I'd buy him as a 250-yard, two-touchdown candidate against the Seahawks. But Pete Carroll is going to see the Panthers with potentially two backup guards and a backup left tackle and attack. But then again, Newton's going to see a Seahawks run defense without Bobby Wagner and take off. I'd probably prefer to not start Newton if I could help it.

Running backs

Marshawn Lynch (8.8): What the fruity Skittles is going on with Lynch? Two weeks ago he didn't get much work, but at least had a good rushing average. Last week he got the work but couldn't find room against a Rams defense that played up to his standard. The matchup sure suggests Lynch will get back in the groove, so owners shouldn't panic.

Jonathan Stewart (4.7): Hey, if Tre Mason could rip through the Seahawks run defense then shouldn't Stewart be able to? Maybe in his younger days, but now Stewart is averaging 12.5 touches per game and will really be impacted by the Panthers banged up offensive line.

Wide receivers

Doug Baldwin (5.9): The Panthers secondary is a mess right now and Baldwin should be able to capitalize. Receivers have caught 11 touchdowns against Carolina in the Panthers last five games! Hopefully the target spree we saw last week will continue.

Kelvin Benjamin (6.4): I can't help but think the Seahawks will do everything they can to keep Benjamin contained. One way to do it would be to give him the Richard Sherman treatment with safety coverage tilted his way. DeSean Jackson and Randall Cobb -- short speedy burners -- account for two of the three receiver touchdowns against Seattle this year (Andre Roberts has the other). Benjamin is just as risky as Cam is this week -- if I could sit him down for better choices then I would.

Tight ends

Greg Olsen (8.8): This is probably the best bet of all Panthers players to have a big game. He has 10-plus Fantasy points in all but two games and has six-plus catches in all but two games this season. The Seahawks are uncharacteristically bad against tight ends in 2014.

Defense/Special Teams

Seahawks (6.9): It feels like the Panthers offensive line will be the Achilles heel for Cam & Co. If they can't operate behind it they'll struggle in every area of the game. That would mean some sacks for the Seahawks along with an interception. Don't give up on this DST yet!

Panthers (3.4): The prevailing thought is that the Seahawks will roll up a lot of yardage on them. Each of the last two DSTs to play the Seahawks have finished as Top 12 options, but one was the Rams last week with all of their special-teams chicanery.

Vikings at Buccaneers, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

For most of the season we've seen teams put up their very best offensive numbers against the Buccaneers. That's because their pass rush isn't strong and their secondary makes tons of mistakes. Coming out of the bye week you'd like to think Lovie Smith has some answers for their problems, but that doesn't mean he does -- or that the Vikings won't test the defense in every way possible.

Bonus fact: Former Vikings coach Leslie Frazier is coordinating the Buccaneers defense these days. He wasn't with the team when they scouted and ultimately selected Teddy Bridgewater or Jerick McKinnon, so the only edge the Buccaneers might have is in attacking Minnesota's defense, which isn't quite the same scheme as what Frazier ran in Minnesota.

Quarterbacks

Teddy Bridgewater (4.1): The matchup is gorgeous -- of the six quarterbacks the Buccaneers have faced, five have posted at least 20 Fantasy points, four have thrown for over 300 yards and three have thrown at least three touchdowns. Now a reality check: Bridgewater has one game with at least 20 Fantasy points (and two starts with 10 points combined), one game with at least 300 yards passing and one passing touchdown on the season. He's a risk worth taking as a bye-week replacement in deep leagues or two-quarterback formats.

Mike Glennon (6.5): We might see the Buccaneers offense play better coming out of the bye, as that unit has enough horses to make some sort of an impact. The Vikings have been mostly bad against opposing quarterbacks and Glennon has been good for 19 to 22 Fantasy points in three straight games. I wouldn't rule him out as a one-week sleeper.

Running backs

Jerick McKinnon (7.5): McKinnon is clearly the Vikings top back and is definitely in line for a big game against a bad Bucs run defense. Tampa Bay has allowed six backs to hit at least 10 Fantasy points in their last five games. McKinnon has massive potential to deliver a major breakout game. I like him in one-week leagues and seasonal leagues.

Doug Martin (6.3): By all accounts Martin will stay as the Buccaneers top running back, which is good since they're about to kick off a five-game stretch against bottom-feeder run defenses. Minnesota didn't allow a rushing score last week but did give up at least one to a running back in the five games prior. They're also giving up 4.7 yards per carry on the season to backs. If Martin can't get it going this week, it's time to think about parting ways.

Wide receivers

Cordarrelle Patterson (4.0): The dude scores last week and still can't get more than 20 receiving yards. He's failed to hit that low total in three straight games despite 16 targets in that span. And now here comes a magical matchup against cornerbacks who are just as inept as he is, especially against fast receivers. Patterson sure qualifies, but with three receptions for 20-plus yards on the year (and none in the last three weeks), he's just too risky to use. I projected him for a game similar to last week -- maybe a smidge better.

Jarius Wright (3.2): Maybe Wright is the big sleeper in this matchup. Over the last three weeks he has more targets, catches, yards and Fantasy points than Patterson (and that's with Patterson scoring in Week 7!). Jennings has slightly better numbers in the last three games but he doesn't have speed like Wright does. If you're desperate and can't find someone like Mike Evans, give Wright a shot.

Greg Jennings (2.9): Jennings isn't a bad option in deeper PPR leagues since he should come up with plenty of receptions against this secondary. It's been outside receivers who have done the most damage to the Buccaneers, though usually ones with plenty of speed. That makes Jennings third-best on his own team.

Vincent Jackson (8.4): What a great matchup for Jackson to come off a bye to face. In their last four games, the Vikes have allowed multiple touchdowns to receivers in three of them. V-Jack has a touchdown or 100-plus yards in three of his last four along with at least 10 targets in each of the three games Glennon has started. He should wreck the Vikings.

Mike Evans (5.5): Evans last three games: 12 catches on 22 targets for 172 yards and a touchdown in each of his last two. No one is talking about him. I promise you that Glennon will trust Evans on a 50-50 bomb if he's in coverage against 5-foot-8 cornerback Captain Munnerlyn. He's worth a look if you're really thin at receiver this week or if you're chasing a cheap receiver in one-week leagues.

Louis Murphy (2.7): Another wideout who has benefitted from Glennon's play. His last three (and only three) with the Bucs: 16 catches on 27 targets for 206 yards and a score in each of his last two. The only downside is that the Vikings have actually done well against slot receivers, so Murphy isn't promised another big game.

Defense/Special Teams

Vikings (3.9): Expect the Vikings to get rocked for at least 21 points and 300 yards of offense. The Bucs are averaging 25.0 points per game in Glennon's three starts.

Buccaneers (6.5): I never like trusting bad defenses in Fantasy, but I would take a chance on them picking up some turnovers and holding the Vikings to under 20 points, which they haven't registered in each of their last three. The Bucs are also worth a look in one-week leagues.

Eagles at Cardinals, Sun., 4:05 p.m. ET

Even with the Eagles offensive line not quite reloaded with their first-team offense, this has the look of a high-scoring game. The Cardinals pass rush still might be without Calais Campbell and therefore could be muted. Last week the Cardinals had one sack and one quarterback hit of Derek Carr. If they can't get to Nick Foles, the Eagles will be able to hold up their end of the bargain on the scoreboard. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have allowed Carson Palmer to get sacked once each in their last two games. Led by Connor Barwin, Vinny Curry and Trent Cole, the Eagles pass rush will scheme to try make things harder on Palmer. Palmer and Foles each threw three touchdowns in their meeting last season.

Quarterbacks

Nick Foles (7.4): The Cardinals did a nice job on rookie Derek Carr in Week 7, but before that they allowed at least 20 Fantasy points to three straight opposing passers and multiple touchdowns to three of their last four. Foles has played like a rookie in two road games, completing barely more than half of his passes in them. That shouldn't be the case here as Arizona's pass defense has plenty of exploitable spots, particularly to tight ends, where Foles attacked last year. I'm fine with Foles as a low-end starter in what should be a high-scoring game.

Carson Palmer (8.5): In their last game, Philadelphia put a ton of pressure on Eli Manning, forcing him into some bad passes and no touchdowns (but no turnovers). Before that game every quarterback had multiple passing touchdowns on the Eagles, all of whom had 20-plus Fantasy points. Palmer is once again a nice, safe pick. It wouldn't be surprising if he threw three touchdowns just as he did against the Eagles last year.

Running backs

LeSean McCoy (8.2): I might not look for a great game from McCoy but he should still score, just as three running backs have done in three of the Cardinals last four games. The big fear is that McCoy won't have as many open areas to exploit like he had in Week 6, as Arizona is holding opposing backs to 3.1 yards per carry this season. With a large workload expected McCoy should be a part of Fantasy lineups, but he might not do much better than the 115 total yards he had against the Cards last year.

Darren Sproles (4.9): Sproles practiced this week and looks like he'll play, but no one should trust him for Fantasy purposes unless special-teams play counts or unless you're desperate. He went into the bye with exactly seven carries in each of his last two games. He did OK with them but hasn't had double digits in Fantasy points since Week 2. That was also the last time he had even 10 touches in a game.

Andre Ellington (7.0): Ellington seems to be getting over the foot injury that might have cost him time earlier this season. He sure didn't seem too slow last week against the Raiders. Look for him to be used out of the backfield a bunch as the Eagles have allowed a moderate 4.1 yards per carry and a gluttonous 12.2 yards per catch to running backs in their last five games.

Wide receivers

Jeremy Maclin (8.7): Whether they're covered by Patrick Peterson or Antonio Cromartie, top receivers have found their way into the end zone against the Cardinals. Mac has one touchdown in his last three games after scoring in each of his first three, but in a game where the Eagles should end up throwing a bunch he'll probably end up with good receiving totals.

Jordan Matthews (3.1): Teams have tried picking on Cardinals slot cornerback Jerraud Powers, but he actually leads the Cardinals in interceptions and is second in passes defensed. If that's where Matthews will be stationed then he's not exactly a lock for a big game, which he hasn't had in his last three games anyway.

Michael Floyd (7.1): Floyd has at least 10 Fantasy points in each of three games with Carson Palmer as his quarterback. The Eagles sloppy secondary has given up eight touchdowns to receivers, including five to No. 1-type receivers. I expect another very good game.

Larry Fitzgerald (4.3): Take away the good home game against the Redskins -- the one where he tied his season-high in catches with six and scored his lone touchdown -- and Fitzgerald has had five or fewer Fantasy points in every other game. Scary downside with Fitzgerald, and we've seen him struggle even in favorable matchups (just 21 receiving yards last week at Oakland?!). Even though the game is expected to be high scoring, Fantasy owners just can't trust him.

Tight ends

Zach Ertz (6.9): Expect the Eagles to try hard to keep Ertz involved in the gameplan against the Cardinals, who still stink at covering tight ends. Ertz scored in his last game and raked in two touchdowns against the Cards last season. He's a great flier in one-week leagues.

Defense/Special Teams

Eagles (5.1): Don't expect the matchup to yield big numbers for the Eagles DST -- it'll have to come down to another fortunate touchdown off a kick or a turnover for them to continue their hot streak. The Cardinals haven't allowed a Top 12 DST finish with Palmer under center yet this year.

Cardinals (5.5): Maybe if Calais Campbell played and maybe if the Cardinals pass rush was stronger this would be a no-brainer. But because Campbell might be out and the pass rush wouldn't be great even if he were in, this is no better than a low-end starting option.

Colts at Steelers, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET

The Steelers got momentum back on their side just before halftime of their game against the Texans and rode it all the way to a win. Don't expect this Steelers defense to create so many turnovers this week against a Colts offense that has been playing lights out. Moreover, the Colts defense has started to hit its stride and could really make things hard for the Steelers. This one might not be pretty.

Quarterbacks

Andrew Luck (9.4): While Luck's track record outdoors on grass isn't great, his track record in 2014 is flawless. Even if he plays without Reggie Wayne he should have a very good stat line. The Steelers have allowed only 10 passing touchdowns this season but haven't taken on anyone better than Cam Newton or Mike Glennon.

Ben Roethlisberger (6.9): Only Peyton Manning and ... Blake Bortles?!? ... have posted big games on this Colts defense. Roethlisberger will be their toughest challenge in a while, particularly since he's at home and has a stellar receiver like Antonio Brown, but this is still a tough matchup for him. He's a high-end No. 2 quarterback in my eyes.

Running backs

Ahmad Bradshaw (8.0): There's no doubt that Bradshaw should continue to play well against a Steelers defense that just can't slow down the run. Three of the last four starting running backs to play the Steelers have posted at least 11 Fantasy points and the one who didn't was Toby Gerhart. Bradshaw has 11 or more Fantasy points in five of his last six games.

Le'Veon Bell (8.9): Bell has to be a key for the Steelers offense. If he can keep the chains moving and find the end zone then the Steelers should at least stay competitive. The only reason why the Colts run defense looked so good last week was because the Bengals couldn't stick with the run for very long. In the five games prior to last week, the Colts allowed an average of 4.9 yards per carry, 13.1 yards per catch and six total touchdowns to running backs.

Wide receivers

T.Y. Hilton (6.8): Hilton's track record of playing outdoors on grass isn't great, but his recent track record of targets (at least nine in 6 of 7 games) and Fantasy totals (at least nine Fantasy points in four straight) keep his appeal up. The Steelers defense has stepped up against receivers, though DeAndre Hopkins did total 100 yards against them. Hilton should be able to pick up around 10 Fantasy points on Sunday.

Antonio Brown (8.9): This is a pretty stiff test for a Colts pass defense that has allowed just four touchdowns and no 100-yard games to receivers all season (Andre Johnson did have 99 yards two weeks ago). Brown is pretty much uncoverable.

Martavis Bryant (2.8): You'd have to be a special kind of desperate to need Bryant in Fantasy, but in deeper leagues I could see him being worth the risk. The Steelers will have to throw a bunch and Bryant's deep speed and size could help him pick up some stats. He played about a third of the snaps last week.

Tight ends

Dwayne Allen (7.0): Normally the Steelers are excellent at covering tight ends, but Allen has been on a roll this season. Plus with Reggie Wayne out, Allen is a likely candidate to snap up extra targets.

Coby Fleener (5.4): Look for a lot more playing time for Fleener with Wayne out. It'll probably mean some extra attention from the Steelers defense as well, but the opportunity should be there.

Defense/Special Teams

Colts (5.0): When's the last time the Colts defense went to Pittsburgh and figured to be the better unit?! It'll happen this week as the Colts have allowed 19.4 points per game, and that includes giving up 31 points to the Broncos in Week 1. They're a low-end starting option.

Steelers (2.3): A bad defense against a great offense is a recipe for disaster (or for nachos since you'll probably want something to chow down on while watching Luck play).

Raiders at Browns, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET

The Browns execution on defense last week was horrendous, as they couldn't wrap up Denard Robinson. The Raiders have to see that and might think about trying to force-feed the run. The Browns haven't been overly strong against the run all season, so there might be an opportunity for Oakland to lean on Darren McFadden to keep it close with Cleveland. The Browns wouldn't give up wins to the last two winless teams in the league in consecutive weeks, would they?

Quarterbacks

Derek Carr (3.4): Take out a random, wacky beating by the Titans quarterbacks in Week 5 and the Browns pass defense has held opposing quarterbacks to 19 Fantasy points or less in every other game. The yardage has also fallen below 275 yards in every game since Week 2 and under 250 yards in four of their last five. Carr should stay parked on waivers.

Brian Hoyer (3.7): I have an inkling that the Browns could attack the Raiders secondary just as each of the last three quarterbacks have done (getting 20-plus Fantasy points each). It might depend on how the Browns run defense holds up against the Raiders and certainly how the Browns running backs do. Hoyer might be effective on play-action passes, but only brave owners in two-quarterback leagues and very desperate owners in standard formats should give Hoyer a shot.

Running backs

Darren McFadden (6.2): With the defensive line banged up and potentially down two starters and the linebackers beyond Karlos Dansby still not playing at a quality level, the Raiders will be motivated to try and get McFadden moving. He has at least 15 touches in four straight games and at least eight Fantasy points in each of his last two. It's a risk, but the matchup is favorable for McFadden. I expect him to end up as a Top 24 back.

Ben Tate (7.7): Even in a disappointing loss, Tate had 16 carries and a catch last week. That's a nice silver lining to an otherwise awful performance from him. The matchup is great this time around, as the Raiders have allowed five starting running backs in six games to get at least 15 Fantasy points. Oakland has also allowed at least one rushing score to a running back in those five games. Try Tate again.

Isaiah Crowell (5.8): Crowell is a sneaky boom-or-bust back, thanks to the matchup against the Raiders. We've seen non-No. 1 running backs deliver at least 14 Fantasy points twice against Oakland this season, including Stepfan Taylor scoring twice last week.

Wide receivers

James Jones (5.7): There's some hope for Jones as a No. 3 receiver, though he's not considered the speedy kind of receiver that Holmes is. In Jones' favor are targets (over seven per game) and catches (five per game). You might like to know that all of the five receivers who have at least five catches against the Browns have posted nine or more Fantasy points. Jones as a sneaky one-week play? If you're feeling gutsy give it a try.

Andre Holmes (4.4): The Raiders did more mixing and matching with their receivers last week, giving Holmes just 34 of 51 possible snaps -- low for what was expected to be a starting NFL wideout. The bigger factor was Derek Carr not playing to even modest expectations, and that hampered everyone's numbers for the Raiders. If there's hope for this week it's that the Browns have allowed a touchdown to a receiver in each of their last three, and they can get beat deep. Holmes barely registers as a No. 3 receiver but there is still some hope.

Andrew Hawkins (3.5): We've been waiting for Hawkins to score this season, and last week's 100-yard game was cool. The Raiders have allowed a touchdown to a receiver in three straight games but it's been bigger, outside receivers who have done it. Maybe that makes Miles Austin a sleeper for this week. I wouldn't trust either guy.

Tight ends

Jordan Cameron (7.1): The Raiders secondary suffered another blow when safety Usama Young went down. Replacing him is Brandian Ross, who has been a liability in coverage. I love this matchup, especially given how the Raiders have struggled against tight ends.

Defense/Special Teams

Raiders (3.5): There's a real chance the Browns trample the Raiders, just as many opponents have this season. Last week was the first time a DST finished as a Top 12 option against Cleveland. It's unlikely to happen again.

Browns (7.3): DSTs against the Raiders have finished in the Top 12 in five of six weeks. And even with all their mishaps last week, the Browns DST still managed to crack the Top 12 against Jacksonville. Expect a bigger output this week.

Packers at Saints, Sun., 8:30 p.m. ET

Drew Brees has always managed to save something special for Sunday night home games, and this should be no exception. He also has shredded Dom Capers' Packers defense twice over the previous three seasons, averaging 432.5 yards and three touchdowns per game. We saw Brees have his best game of the season last week at Detroit without contributions from Jimmy Graham. Assuming Graham plays more this week and gets, say, 10 targets, then Brees should have a sensational week.

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers (9.6): I'm pretty sure Scott Tolzien could start for the Packers and he'd have big numbers against this Saints defense. Rodgers is a slam-dunk even though only two quarterbacks have hit over 20 Fantasy points against the Saints (both actually hit 30-plus).

Drew Brees (9.2): Familiarity with the Packers defensive scheme, a banged-up Packers secondary, a banged-up running back corps and home-field advantage are just four reasons to love Brees. The Packers weak pass defense is a convenient fifth reason.

Running backs

Eddie Lacy (7.3): With James Starks expected to play, Lacy won't have a king-sized workload. He can still score and lead the Packers backs in touches against a Saints run defense that has allowed a touchdown to a running back in all but one game this season. He's fine as a No. 2 Fantasy running back.

Mark Ingram (6.4): It's good for Ingram that Khiry Robinson will be sidelined. The Packers run defense isn't great and if the Saints build up a lead we could see Ingram be part of the reason for it and/or grind down the clock at the end of the game. One note: The Packers have allowed just one rushing touchdown to a running back in their last four games but have allowed 4.3 yards per carry in that span. Ingram is a No. 2 Fantasy back.

Travaris Cadet (5.4): With Pierre Thomas out we're expecting to see a lot from Cadet, who has delivered at least 10 Fantasy points in PPR leagues in each of the last three games -- and that's with Thomas involved. He's a can't-miss in PPR formats and is even a good third option in standard leagues. The Packers have allowed 9.4 yards per catch to backs this season.

Wide receivers

Jordy Nelson (9.7): Only the Buccaneers allow more Fantasy points per game to receivers than the Saints. As good as Nelson has been in his previous two games against the Saints, he should be even better in Week 8.

Randall Cobb (9.4): Cobb has scored in four straight and has at least five grabs in three of those four. Expect another big game from him against a Saints secondary that can't keep up with his speed.

Davante Adams (4.6): The slow build has been on for Adams, who has a touchdown in two of his last three and either 7 or 8 Fantasy points in standard play per game (8 to 13 in PPR). With the Packers expected to throw in a high-scoring game without much defense, Adams should at least match the eight targets he had at Miami two weeks ago. Of the nine scores the Saints have allowed to receivers this year, seven have come to receivers lined up on the outside to non-No. 1 targets. The Saints are certain to leave Adams in single coverage, meaning he'll have a chance at being helpful. I like him as a cheap risk in one-week leagues.

Marques Colston (7.0): Colston might be as explosive as a used firecracker but it remains clear that he's a reliable target that Drew Brees keeps going to. Given the matchup and the likelihood that it will be high scoring, it's probably smart to keep Colston active.

Brandin Cooks (4.5): There will be an appealing matchup on the outside for the Saints as Davon House should continue starting in place of Sam Shields. The Panthers went his way a bunch last week and the Saints could do the same with a speedster like Cooks.

Tight ends

Jimmy Graham (8.6): You have to be encouraged by the practice time Graham got in this week and by this being his second game back. The Packers have been great against tight ends but the only two real threats they've faced have been Martellus Bennett (134 yards) and Greg Olsen last week (105 yards). Graham should be back in Fantasy owners' good graces so long as he practices and there are minimal restrictions on him in the game.

Defense/Special Teams

Packers (3.7): With the Saints expected to hang a lot of points up on them this week, it's tough to expect a solid performance from the defense.

Saints (2.1): DSTs have been shut out of the Top 12 by the Packers for four straight weeks, which is a surprise -- they should be kept out of the Top 12 all season! No way should the Saints be in any lineup.

Redskins at Cowboys, Mon., 8:30 p.m. ET

The decision to move to Colt McCoy is a really curious one by the Redskins coaching staff. It suggests that they're more comfortable going with him than Cousins, even though Cousins completed nearly 62 percent of his passes for 8.38 yards per attempt (that's good) and 10 touchdowns over 204 attempts. For his career, McCoy has completed 58.9 percent of his passes for 6.33 yards per attempt and a touchdown every 33 pass attempts. He did nothing to help Garcon get into the end zone on his touchdown last week.

Quarterbacks

Colt McCoy (3.8): Just for fun, let's see if we can make the case for McCoy. Dallas' pass defense has allowed four of seven quarterbacks to hit 20-plus Fantasy points, though only one in their last three games. And while the Dallas pass rush isn't dominant by any means (seven sacks), the Redskins offensive line isn't anywhere near the strength many thought it would be. That's awful for McCoy, who basically needs a clean pocket to run the Washington offense effectively. Expect him to throw a bunch, potentially 35-plus times. In eight career games with 35 pass attempts, McCoy has averaged 222.0 yards per game with three games with multiple passing touchdowns and at least one interception in seven of the eight. Did I really have to write this much? Pass on McCoy.

Tony Romo (9.0): When a defense is starting David Amerson and Bashaud Breeland as its top cornerbacks then you know you're in for a great day. Tack on a damaged Redskins pass rush and you have the makings of a big day for Romo. He's perfect Monday night insurance for one-week leagues.

Running backs

Alfred Morris (5.2): Forget about the matchup, which isn't a cake walk, Morris isn't getting the opportunities needed to be a difference maker. He had 16 carries in what was believed to be a favorable matchup for him last week. Why not more? It's proof that Jay Gruden's pass-happy ways can't be contained -- he's just going to order a ton of throws whether he needs to or not. Sit Morris this week and hope that things play out better for him against the Vikings next week.

DeMarco Murray (9.5): Washington's run defense is the only salvageable part of what they do, but it doesn't mean they'll suddenly put Murray in neutral. Expect the typical stat line from Murray, if not a smidge less since he might not be needed to touch the ball 25 times.

Wide receivers

Pierre Garcon (5.0): I'm not saying this because Garcon had a long touchdown last week, but McCoy is the better quarterback for Garcon because he can throw a mostly accurate pass in short range. Expect a lot of catches from Garcon.

DeSean Jackson (4.8): Scheming up against Jackson will be a big focus for the Cowboys defense, though it helps them that McCoy is under center instead of someone with an actual strong arm like Robert Griffin III or Kirk Cousins. Count on Dallas keeping coverage on top of Jackson to keep him from breaking any long plays. FYI, Jackson didn't have a single target from McCoy last week. That'll change this week, but it might not mean he'll get deep targets.

Dez Bryant (9.5): I think this could be the best game of the season for Bryant given the inexperienced Redskins cornerbacks. It's very possible he winds up scoring two touchdowns and getting over 100 yards.

Terrance Williams (8.0): Williams already tends to play his best ball at home in the first place. Taking on a Redskins defense that allowed multiple touchdowns to receivers in each of their last two games and three of their last five only puts more icing on the proverbial cake. It should be a big pass party for the 'Boys.

Tight ends

Jordan Reed (7.9): McCoy should lean on Reed in a major way as the Cowboys have consistently struggled against quality tight ends this season. Reed caught three of four targets from McCoy for 25 yards in the fourth quarter last week, the only quarter Reed was thrown at by McCoy.

Gavin Escobar (5.6): Escobar is the deep heave play at tight end to come up with a short-area touchdown while the Redskins key in on Jason Witten. Neither Cowboys tight end is really worth trusting -- Washington has been outstanding against tight ends since the four-score game by the Giants guys back in Week 4.

Defense/Special Teams

Redskins (1.7): Impossible to trust against a Cowboys offense that's been so strong all season. No Orakpo, no DeAngelo, no pass defense, no bueno.

Cowboys (7.9): Did you hear that Colt McCoy was starting for Washington???

Chargers at Broncos, Thu., 8:25 p.m. ET

The Bolts beat the Broncos on a Thursday game in Denver last season by dominating time of possession (38:49 to 21:11) and getting a total of 41 carries for 168 yards and a touchdown on the ground from their running backs. I would imagine the Chargers will try to use a similar formula, using the run to set up the pass, in hopes of staying within striking distance in the fourth quarter. At 5-2, the Chargers need this win to flirt with a chance at a division title.

Quarterbacks

Philip Rivers (8.1): Rivers had a mediocre game last week despite throwing two touchdowns and had another pair of so-so games last year against the Broncos. Denver's held the last three starting quarterbacks its faced to 18 Fantasy points or less, but that doesn't include garbage-time touchdowns from backups. Given the short week and the state of the Denver defense, I might expect another good-but-not-great game from Rivers.

Peyton Manning (9.8): Unrelated-to-Peyton note/embarrassing fact about the author, Vol. 7 of 16: I still have all the old cassette tapes of music I had from my childhood. Included in that collection: Loverboy and Slick Rick.

Running backs

Branden Oliver (7.2): The Broncos have been great against the run this season but if Mike McCoy dusts off his 2013 gameplan against the Broncos, then Oliver could end up with a big day. It would make sense to -- Oliver had just 15 carries last week and the Broncos defense is going to be a little tired after playing on Sunday night only to turn around and play four nights later. It's probably best to treat Oliver as a No. 2 Fantasy running back, but there's potential.

Ronnie Hillman (8.1): The more he plays, the better he looks and the more confidence the coaching staff has in him. Hillman should especially benefit from playing a banged-up and tired Chargers defense on a short week. The Bolts have been pretty good against the run but over the last two weeks Hillman has busted up better run defenses. Hillman is a Top 10 rusher for me and an excellent one-week league choice.

Wide receivers

Eddie Royal (5.3): Royal is my favorite San Diego receiver because he can work as an extension of the run game on short passes as well as take advantage of lesser Broncos cornerbacks. Only one of the five wide receiver touchdowns allowed by the Broncos this season has gone to a No. 1 wideout.

Malcom Floyd (3.9): Floyd has scored most recently on soft secondaries in Jacksonville and Oakland. The Broncos secondary is not soft, especially along the outside. Maybe he gets an end zone target or two, but he's too risky to use.

Keenan Allen (3.8): The targets have been there for him but the stats haven't. Even though he scored twice in his last game against the Broncos he has none this year, continues to look slower than 2013 and faces off against a much better secondary in Denver this time around.

Demaryius Thomas (9.6): Unstoppable, especially against a Chargers secondary expected to be without cornerback Brandon Flowers.

Emmanuel Sanders (7.5): The good: Sanders has at least 10 Fantasy points in four of his last five games. The bad: He has exactly 10 in three of them. After getting nine targets or more in each of his first four games, Sanders has nine total in his last two. Ultimately the matchup is right and his quarterback is good -- start him as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver.

Wes Welker (3.6): We saw Welker score last week on his longest play in two years -- an out-and-up where he got open along the outside and then dove for a touchdown. It was a great play, but Fantasy owners can't count on him for those kinds of moments because it's not really what he does. I'm still hesitant to start him.

Tight ends

Antonio Gates (6.4): Gates remains a good starter this week as the Broncos have been susceptible to tight ends with a good amount of targets (at least five). His last three games against Denver leave a lot to be desired and his last four games in Denver haven't been parties either.

Julius Thomas (9.0): Thomas' touchdown streak was snapped last week in a dud against the 49erts. The Chargers haven't truly been tested by a quality tight end yet (sorry, Clay Harbor).

Defense/Special Teams

Chargers (2.7): The Chargers DST has slid the past few weeks against beatable offenses. Shameful. No way can you trust them this week.

Broncos (5.3): Last week was the first time a DST finished as a Top 12 unit against the Chargers and it barely happened. Assuming this game goes like how most Broncos games go, the DST won't suffer much if at all. The Broncos play at the Patriots next week, so you could eject them from your team and double-back for them before Week 10 if you're so inclined.