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BTB is back with the Week 8 edition of our fantasy football primer.
Quarterbacks
Start
Kyle Orton - Two weeks ago I made a couple snide comments that Kyle had spent the past few seasons on the bench and that was where you should leave him. Its time for me to eat a little crow. Don't get me wrong, Orton is still no Peyton Manning, but he will put some solid points on the board for you this weekend. Since coming out of his paid retirement the Buffalo QB has been averaging nearly 300 yards per game and he is pushing a 2:1 touchdown to interception ratio. This week the Bills will face a run defense that will stuff their meager rushing efforts, so the team will look to ride on Orton's right arm.
Carson Palmer - Palmer has returned from his shoulder issue with a vengeance. This week his Arizona Cardinals play Philly who have proven generous to opposing passers. With the exception of Eli Manning two weeks ago, opposing quarterbacks have all put up impressive points performances each week against the Philadelphia Eagles secondary. With receivers like Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd, there is little reason to believe that #3 will put up less than 20 points minimum this week.
Ryan Tannehill - The Texas A&M product is like the weather, hot one day cold the next, but all signs point to this weekend being a good day for the Dolphins QB. The reason behind the bright forecast has as much to do with the inabilities of his opponents as it does Tannehill's skill set. The Jacksonville defense has surrendered a ton of passing yards in just half a season. Even a middle of the road passer can cash in big time when the Jags are on the opposite side of the field.
Sit
Jay Cutler - While the man he replaced in Chicago is rising, Cutler's stock in showing a downward trend. Cutler's seven interceptions rank him among the Eli Manning award contenders for the most interceptions in one season. One week ago the Miami secondary gave him fits and this week he faces a much more efficient group from New England. This would be a good time to let Jay Cutler ride the pine.
Andy Dalton - Without his right hand man, A. J. Green, Dalton is floundering around like a ship caught in the doldrums. Dalton and the Bengals failed to dent the scoreboard against the Colts last week, and their prospects against the Baltimore Ravens do not look much better.
Running Backs
Start
Joique Bell - With his counterpart, Reggie Bush, dealing with an ankle injury, Bell finds himself in a prime situation to be the top fantasy RB of the week. This week the Lions will face an Atlanta Falcons run defense that resembles a giant red sieve. With Megatron still dealing with his own injury issues, look for Detroit to ride the opportunity bandwagon all the way to victory with Bell doing the lion's share of the work.
Darren McFadden - It is hard to put any Oakland Raider on my must start list, but this week the silver and black will face a Cleveland Browns defense that made Jacksonville's Denard Robinson look like DeMarco Murray. Run DMC is a far more talented back, and the Raiders rarely rotate him out of the lineup, so he will have plenty of chances to put some serious points on the board for you.
Lamar Miller - Miller is a back on the cusp of big things, and this week should be a "statement" game for him. Miller is currently rushing for nearly 5 yards per pop and has become a weapon in the Phins passing game as well. This week he will be helped along by a Jaguars defense that will be without its top run stopped, linebacker Paul Posluszny.
Sit
Tre Mason/Zac Stacy/Benny Cunningham - The St. Louis Rams have a three-headed running game, I won't call it an attack, and nobody knows how the team will split up the duties. Add to that an opponent who has yet to allow a rushing touchdown, and you have a recipe for disaster if any of these three guys are in your lineup this weekend. Sit 'em all.
Giovani Bernard - The Ravens defense owned Gio in week one, and the Baltimore run D looks to have improved since that meeting. With the Bengals aerial assault hamstrung by the absence of A. J. Green, they are going to have to look at other options, so Bernard will likely get plenty of touches, just don't expect much success when they give him the rock.
Alfred Morris - Yes Dallas does feature a "no-name" defense, but only Arian Foster has really cashed in on that fact. With a starting lineman already being benched and another on the threshold of Jay Gruden's wrath, don't expect the Washington line to free up Morris this weekend against the gang tackling Cowboys.
Wide Receivers
Start
Doug Baldwin - The Percy Harvin trade allowed Baldwin to move to his natural position, the slot. He rewarded the Seahawks with an outstanding first outing in a losing effort at St. Louis. This week he will be lined up opposite the Carolina secondary which has struggled. Look for Pete Carroll to exploit this mismatch early and often as he attempts to get the talented but reeling Seattle club back in rhythm.
Michael Floyd/Larry Fitzgerald - Pass defense is an obvious weakness for the Philadelphia Eagles. Pass catching is a strength for Carson Palmer's two prime targets. Considering that the Eagles pass defense is among the worst for surrendering aerial touchdowns, smart money says get these guys into your lineup.
Golden Tate - Last week I told you to get Tate on the field, and this week I am going to do the same. I ignored my own advice last week and paid the price. That will not happen again. The Atlanta Falcons have the second worst pass defense in the league, and without Megatron, Golden Tate is Matthew Stafford's most reliable target. START HIM!
Sit
Steve Smith - The Panthers face a pair of tough corners in Cincinnati Bengals Terrance Newman and Jimmy Smith. The Baltimore is starting to evolve and Smith is seeing fewer and fewer target as Owen Daniels and Torrey Smith become more involved. The combination is going to be too much for you to rely on Smith this week. Jimmy will be the winner in the Smith Family War this weekend.
Tight Ends
Start
Owen Daniels - I mentioned that Daniels is playing an expanded role in the Ravens offense, and tight end is a position that the Bengals struggle to defend. With the Cincinnati corners playing at a high level, Joe Flacco will be forced to look elsewhere with his passes, and Daniels will cash in on the opportunity.
Sit
Delanie Walker - Call the Houston Texans the anti-Bengals. They suffocate opposing tight ends on a regular regular basis. With the other issues that the Tennessee Titans face in the passing game, I don't see much opportunity for Walker this Sunday.
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