Here is who you should start and who you should sit for Week 8.
START: Eddie Lacy, GB RB
To be honest, in the beginning of the season I didn’t think that Lacy would make any kind of splash in the Packers’ offense. For the last couple of years the Green Bay Packers have been a pass-first team and would sprinkle in a rush here and there, boy, how the times have changed. With the Packers losing so many receiving options (Jermichael Finley, Randall Cobb, James Jones) they have had to adjust their offense. In the last three weeks Lacy has rushed the ball 67 times for 301 yards and a touchdown, having everyone forget the terrible start he had to the season.
He has a good matchup this week against the Minnesota Vikings who in their last three contests have allowed four rushing touchdowns and an average of 21 fantasy points to running backs. With the shortage of running backs this week there is no reason this guys should be sitting on anyone’s bench (unless you have Jamaal Charles and LeSean McCoy then it’s understandable). Make sure Eddie Lacy is in your lineup and reap the rewards, he should finish the game with 100 yards and a touchdown.
QB – Start ’em Week 8
Michael Vick
Robert Griffin III
Matthew Stafford
Colin Kaepernick
Carson Palmer
Ben Roethlisberger
Eli Manning
Tom Brady
Matt Ryan
RB – Start ’em Week 8
Adrian Peterson
Frank Gore
Stevan Ridley
Reggie Bush
Marshawn Lynch
Lamar Miller
Darren Sproles
Knowshon Moreno
Roy Helu
Jamaal Charles
LeSean McCoy
WR – Start ’em Week 8
All Broncos receivers
Victor Cruz
Marques Colston
Larry Fitzgerald
Jarrett Boykin
Antonio Brown
Terrence Williams
Pierre Garcon
Anquan Boldin
Rueben Randle
Golden Tate
Harry Douglas
Greg Jennings
DeSean Jackson
A.J. Green
TE – Start ’em Week 8
Heath Miller
Vernon Davis
Jordan Cameron
Tony Gonzalez
Jordan Reed
Jason Witten
Kyle Rudolph
Rob Gronkowski
SIT: Justin Blackmon, Jac WR
Since his return from a four-game suspension he has been on a roll, racking up 25 receptions for 384 yards and a touchdown. So why is he a must-sit for Week 8? Well, he is facing a very formidable pass defense in the San Francisco 49ers who have allowed only four passing touchdowns all year to wide receivers. With Blackmon being the only real weapon that Jacksonville possess you can guarantee that the 49ers will make a concentrated effort to not let Blackmon beat them. I expect the 49ers to blanket him all day with some double teams, some high-low coverage’s, and some exotic zone schemes. Niners have been so good in pass coverage that in their last six games they are allowing an average of only 10 pass completions/game to wide receivers–outstanding, considering how pass happy teams are now-a-days. Everything points to him not being in your starting lineup this week, so if you have better options to play then play them, if not, I hope your happy with 4 receptions for 52 yards because that’s all Blackmon will get this weekend.
QB – Sit ’em Week 8
Ryan Tannehill
Geno Smith
Terrelle Pryor
Russell Wilson
Alex Smith
Christian Ponder
Andy Dalton
Tom Brady
RB – Sit ’em Week 8
Maurice Jones-Drew
Fred Jackson
Zac Stacy
Willis McGahee
BenJarvus Green-Ellis
Steven Jackson
Joseph Randle
Peyton Hillis
Chris Ivory
Le’Veon Bell
Alfred Morris
Brandon Bolden
Andre Ellington
WR – Sit ’em Week 8
All Rams receiver
Kenbrell Thompkins
Dwayne Bowe
Mike Wallace
Denarius Moore
Steve Johnson
Justin Blackmon
Emmanuel Sanders
Josh Gordon
Danny Amendola
Sidney Rice
Miles Austin
Andre Roberts
Jeremy Kerley
TE – Sit ’em Week 8
Jared Cook
Brandon Myers
Brent Celek
Zach Miller
Brandon Pettigrew
Charles Clay
Scott Chandler
That’s the start ’em sit ’em list for Week 8. If you have any start ’em sit ’em questions feel free to ask me on Twitter @SidSaysFC.
