Welcome to my fantasy football corner, Week 8 edition. Before I get into the fantasy talk, I thought I’d put in a word on an oft-visited topic in my world: the lifeless Buffalo Bills. Two straight overtime losses by three points only put the exclamation point on an already disappointing season. People ask me every Sunday, ‘Isn’t it really hard to see them lose like that?’ My answer is no.
What is difficult for most football fans to understand is that Buffalo has a sports culture that expects games like that; I am never, ever surprised when the Bills find a new, stunning way to lose. I could fill this article with stories of games where you would have thought it was impossible for the Bills to lose, but they managed to do it. So now, when the Bills lose, there are only two things I get out of it: looking forward to the top draft pick next year and being able to rip on the Pipe Dream sports editors for picking against the Bills every week because they fight close games and opponents don’t usually cover the spread. Take that, Justins!
And with that, some fantasy thoughts on guys you might need some advice on.
WES WELKER ‘ What happened? Welker recorded two scores in Week 1 but has put up subpar numbers in every week since. In PPR leagues, he’s giving owners decent points, but how come he hasn’t reached the end zone? He just doesn’t seem to be a red zone target anymore; the emergence of Benjarvus Green-Ellis has put the Patriots in more red-zone run situations than pass situations. You have to start sitting Welker in tough matchups because he can’t be relied on until the results tell you he can be. But don’t blame Welker; blame his quarterback ‘
TOM BRADY ‘ For an elite quarterback, he’s been awfully average. He has 13 or fewer fantasy points in five of seven games this year, hasn’t eclipsed 300 passing yards and has thrown only one touchdown in each of his past four games. But owners have two good things working for them here: he’s not turning the ball over much (he only has turnovers in two games this year), and because he IS an elite quarterback, you can expect a bounce back, especially when the playoff push comes into play.
DONOVAN MCNABB ‘ In what was already a rough season, McNabb was benched for Rex Grossman (seriously?) at the end of the Skins’ Week 8 loss. He’s been consistently mediocre all season long, throwing for no more than one touchdown pass and giving up at least one turnover in each of the past six games. While he may be top-15 points-wise, you should not be starting him unless absolutely necessary. Here, the potential for a bounce back is extremely limited; I don’t see this situation getting any better.
DEZ BRYANT ‘ Bryant was talked up after the NFL draft, but his fantasy relevance was unknown. Bryant, though, has been reaching the end zone lately, including four times in a two-week span (against the Vikings’ and Giants’ stiff defenses). But can you start him? Eh, maybe. If you’re hurting for a bye week filler, you could do worse. But unless you’re really hurting at receiver, you should keep him on your bench. Return touchdowns are sparse, and teams are going to start kicking away from him sooner or later. I will say this, though: if he maintains a strong role in the passing game like he did this week (seven catches on nine targets), you should consider it.
LEGARRETTE BLOUNT ‘ All season in Tampa Bay, fantasy owners have been taking chances on running backs: Cadillac Williams, Earnest Graham and even Kareem Huggins. Those of you that took a chance on Blount finally saw a gamble pay off. Blount carried 22 times for 120 yards and two scores, and while it was against the soft Cardinals defense, the Bucs have been looking for an explosive back for a long time, trying and failing repeatedly with Williams and Graham. If they’re smart, they’ll ride Blount’s hot streak, and you should too.
MATTHEW STAFFORD ‘ He came back from his injury and showed us why he should be considered a fantasy option by throwing four touchdown passes. So is he worth your roster spot? I’m gonna take a chance and say yes. Look at how well the Lions’ offense has been clicking even in his absence: 20+ points in five of seven games. He’s in the same realm as a guy like David Garrard as far as fantasy quarterbacks go, but I think he is a different, and better, option. Garrard is good essentially every other game, and wildly inconsistent match-ups-wise: He’ll put up just 15 points on the last-place Bills’ defense but hang 30 on the tougher Cowboys. Stafford’s upside alone is worth a speculative add, and you should feel confident starting him as a bye week filler.