FANTASY FOOTBALL: Week Eight Starters

Week eight is here and the NFL football season is flying by. Before you know it, the playoffs will be here. Now is the part of the season where the games mean the most. Here now is a list of players that should do well for you this weekend.

QUARTERBACKS

1. Kurt Warner- Once again, Kurt Warner should be the best fantasy quarterback this weekend. This weekend, Warner and the St. Louis Rams go to Arrowhead Stadium to face the Kansas City Chiefs. This game will be much more difficult for Warner. Arrowhead Stadium is one of the toughest places in the NFL to play in. However, the St. Louis Rams have way too many offensive weapons not to score any points. Warner should have lower statistics this week, but he should still throw for close to 300 yards and have three TDs.

2. Brian Griese- Last weekend, Griese had another stellar game. Griese threw for almost 350 yards and had three TD passes. This weekend, Griese will have another great game. Griese and the Broncos go to Cincinnati to face the Bengals. The Bengals have no offense, so this game will be over early. Look for Griese to once again have over 300 yards passing and at least two scores.

3. Peyton Manning- This weekend, Manning and the Indianapolis Colts host the NE Patriots. These two teams played each other in Week Six, where Manning threw for 334 yards, one TD and three interceptions. Manning should have a better game this time around. The Colts have to pick it up a notch in order to stay competitive in the AFC Eastern Division. Look for Manning to throw for 275 yards and two scores.

4. Daunte Culpepper- Last weekend, against the Chicago Bears, Culpepper spread the ball around to all of his wide receivers. He threw three TDs in that game, all to different receivers. This weekend, Culpepper and the Minnesota Vikings host the Buffalo Bills. The Bills have a solid defense, but the Vikings’ offense should still be able to put points on the board. Look for Culpepper to throw for two scores and have around 250 yards passing.

5. Jeff Garcia- Last weekend, Garcia added four more TDs to his yearly total. Garcia now has 19 TDs with only four interceptions on the year. Right now, Garcia has thrown more TDs than Kurt Warner. This weekend, Garcia and the 49ers go to Carolina to play the Panthers. The Panthers have a beatable secondary, so Garcia should once again have a good game. Look for Garcia to throw at least two more TDs and have around 250 yards passing.

Sleeper of the Week-

Donovan McNabb- A good, up and coming quarterback in the NFL looks to be Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles. With no real threat at wide receiver, and the loss of running back Duce Staley, McNabb is still doing a terrific job. This weekend, McNabb and the Eagles host the Chicago Bears. Look for a decent game from McNabb, as he should throw at least one TD and have around 225 yards passing.

RUNNING BACKS

1. Marshall Faulk- This weekend, Faulk will be playing against one of the toughest defenses in the NFL. Faulk and the St. Louis Rams head to Arrowhead Stadium to face the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs play opposing teams very tough at home. So, there is no doubt this will be a big test for the St. Louis Rams. However, the Rams have the most explosive offense ever seen in the NFL. Something is going to have to give. Look for Faulk to continue to get plenty of yards in this game, as he should be close to 150 total yards. Also, he should hit the end zone at least once.

2. Edgerrin James- Last weekend, Edgerrin James put on an awesome performance against the Seattle Seahawks. James scored three times and had over 200 total yards. This weekend, James and the Colts play host to the New England Patriots. These two teams met once this season already, as James had only 75 yards rushing and no TDs. Look for James to have a much better game this time around, as he should have over 100 yards rushing and have at least one score.

3. Emmitt Smith- This weekend, Emmitt Smith will probably have one of his best games of the year. This weekend, Smith and the Cowboys play host to the Arizona Cardinals. The Cowboys are struggling mightily on offense and the Arizona Cardinals defense is one of the worst in the league. This weekend’s game is a must win for the Cowboys, so Smith could be in for a good game. Look for Smith to have over 100 yards rushing and one score.

4. Mike Anderson- Another good running back to have this weekend is Mike Anderson of the Denver Broncos. Anderson, taking over for the injured Terrell Davis, will get another start again this weekend against the hapless Cincinnati Bengals. Anderson has done a fine job this season filling in for Davis. Look for Anderson to have another good game this weekend. Look for Anderson to top the 100 yard rushing mark and have one TD.

5. Charlie Garner- This weekend, Garner and the San Francisco 49ers go east to Carolina to play the Panthers. So far this season, Garner has over 950 total yards and six TDs. This weekend, Garner should have another good outing. The 49ers have really put up some points this season and this weekend’s game looks to be no different. Look for Garner to have another 100 yards rushing performance with one score.

Sleeper of the Week-

Tony Richardson- A good sleeper pick this weekend looks to be Tony Richardson of the Kansas City Chiefs. This weekend, Richardson and the Chiefs play host to the St. Louis Rams. The Rams defense is ranked towards the bottom of the NFL, so Kansas City should be able to put some points on the board. Look for Richardson to have around 75 total yards and one score.

WIDE RECEIVERS

1. Randy Moss- This weekend, Moss and the undefeated Minnesota Vikings host the Buffalo Bills. This should be a test for Moss and the Minnesota offense, as Buffalo has one of the better defenses in the league. However, Moss should still have a good game. Look for Moss to have over 100 yards receiving and at least one score.

2. Marvin Harrison- A couple of weeks ago, the New England Patriots got the best of the Indianapolis Colts. However, Harrison still had a decent game. In that game, Harrison scored once and had 159 yards receiving. This weekend though, they play in Indianapolis. Look for the entire Colts offense to get back on track in this game. Look for Harrison to score once again and have over 125 yards receiving.

3. Terrell Owens- Lately, the hottest wide receiver in the NFL has been Terrell Owens. Last weekend was no different, as Owens scored two more touchdowns. This weekend, Owens and the 49ers go to Carolina to face the Panthers. Another good game is in the works for Owens this weekend. Look for Owens to have close to 100 yards receiving and one score.

4. Rod Smith- Last weekend, Rod Smith had an awesome game. Smith lit up the Cleveland Browns secondary for 111 yards receiving and three TDs. This weekend, Smith and the Broncos play another awful defense in the Cincinnati Bengals. Smith should have another great game this weekend, as he should score once and have close to 100 yards receiving.

5. David Boston- A good wide receiver to start this weekend is David Boston of the Arizona Cardinals. This weekend, Boston and the Cardinals go to “Big D” to face the Cowboys. Boston should be in for a good game, as Dallas has some of the worst cornerbacks in the NFL. Look for Boston to score once on a long TD and have close to 100 yards receiving.

Sleeper of the Week-

Sylvester Morris- A good sleeper pick this weekend could be Morris of the Kansas City Chiefs. This weekend, Morris will face the St. Louis Rams. We all know how many yards the Rams’ defense has given up this year, so this could be a good game for him.

TIGHT ENDS-

1. Tony Gonzalez- This weekend, Gonzalez and the Kansas City Chiefs play host to the St. Louis Rams. The Rams’ defense is one of the worst defenses in the league, so Gonzalez should be in for a big day. Look for Gonzalez to have close to 75 yards receiving and at least one score.

2. Frank Wycheck- One TE this season that is having a great year so far has been Frank Wycheck of the Tennessee Titans. This season, Wycheck has caught three TDs and has also thrown for another. Wycheck had a total of two receiving TDs all of last season. Look for another good game this weekend, as Wycheck and the Titans go to Baltimore to play the Ravens. The Ravens haven’t been able to put many points on the scoreboard as of late, but the Titans should be able to in this game. Look for Wycheck to score at least once and have over 50 yards receiving.

3. Jackie Harris- This weekend, the struggling Dallas Cowboys play host to the Arizona Cardinals. The Arizona Cardinals have a pretty soft defense, so Harris should be able to hit the end zone this weekend. Look for Harris to catch many passes in this game, as he should have close to 50 yards receiving and one score.

4. Shannon Sharpe- One of these weeks, Baltimore is bound to score a touchdown. In the last three weeks, Baltimore has not scored a single TD. Look for that to finally change this weekend. If quarterback Tony Banks struggles early in this game, look for Banks to be replaced by back up quarterback Trent Dilfer. Whoever is the quarterback, Sharpe should have a decent game. Look for Sharpe to have close to 50 yards receiving and one score.

5. Rickey Dudley- One of the best TE’s last season was Rickey Dudley of the Oakland Raiders. Last season, Dudley scored a total of nine TDs. So far this season, Dudley has no TDs and only a total of 100 yards receiving. Maybe this will be the week he breaks out of his slump and actually scores. This weekend, look for Dudley to have around 40 yards receiving and one score.

Sleeper of the Week-

Chad Lewis- Maybe not a sleeper for too long, but Chad Lewis of the Philadelphia Eagles has looked really good in the past couple of games. Another good thing about Lewis is that he looks to be Donovan McNabbs’ go to guy. This weekend, Lewis and the Eagles play host to the struggling Chicago Bears. Look for Lewis to have around 40 yards receiving and one TD.

DEFENSES AND SPECIAL TEAMS-

1. Miami- The best defense this week looks to be the Dolphins. They visit New York to face the Jets. This should be a low scoring event, with Miami getting the advantage.

2. Philadelphia- A great start this weekend for a defense. With Cade McNown at quarterback for the Chicago Bears, look for at least two interceptions.

3. Denver- The Broncos come east to face the Cincinnati Bengals. This will be another ugly win for the Broncos. No chance for the Bengals in this game.

4. Baltimore- The best defense so far this season has been the Baltimore Ravens. However, this weekend they face the Tennessee Titans. This will be a big game for this defense, but they should be able to contain the Titans to fewer than 20 points.

5. Tennessee- This weekend, the Titans face the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens’ offense hasn’t scored a TD in the past three games. That should change this weekend though, but the Ravens offense is not going to put up a bunch of points.

Sleeper of the Week-

Pittsburgh- With the thumb injury to Tim Couch, back up Doug Pederson steps in to start for the Cleveland Browns. Please, Couch with a broken thumb can throw better than Pederson. Just ask the Philadelphia Eagles fans.