🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE NEW
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Fantasy Mad Libs: Starters and Sitters For Week 8

By Erik Daniel Drost (Flickr) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Cliff Clinton evaluates some unexpected sleepers and busts for Week 8 of the 2016 NFL season by playing a game of fantasy football fill in the blanks.

I'm infamously bad at Halloween. No, I guess that's not right; I'm bad at fantasy football despite how much effort I put into it. I'm... uninterested in Halloween. Don't get me wrong, it has all of my favorite things (alcohol and bad food.) I've mostly stayed away from dressing up too ridiculously, in a holiday that makes it a contest. It has all of the same appeal as taking selfies; I'm a fat guy in his mid 20's, and unless I want to go as Chris Farley every year it's best to just downplay it, and make a fool of yourself the old fashioned way (alcohol and bad food.)

Anyway, I'm going to most likely get together with close friends, and since I'm now scared to wear my clown mask for fear of being attacked by angry villagers... I came up with some great football related costumes that I may be wearing. And heck, if you need a costume, give it a shot.

Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive our full season NFL (or NBA) Premium Pass for free, a $59.99 value. Just email [email protected] with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium pass.

Editor's Note: The FFPC Playoff Challenge is back with a massive $500,000 grand prize and $1.35 million total prize pool, paying down to 800th place. Here's the deal: no salary cap, no draft, no pickups, no subs. Choose 10 players, and as NFL teams get knocked out so will your players, so choose your team wisely. The 7,250 entries will sell out quickly, and registrations will close on Saturday January 10th at 4:30 pm ET . Don't wait - get your team now and end your fantasy football season with a shot at $500,000! Sign Up Now!

Football Costume Ideas

The Las Vegas Elvis Raider: One part cheesy Elvis wig, one part white pants, one part Raiders jersey. Tell everyone you are "all shook up" to see Derek Carr down the street from The Strip, or let people know that you're "Hubba Hubba Hoping" that Latavius Murray won't screw you over this week!

A Color Rush Jersey: One part overly bright spray-paint can on sale at Home Depot because no one ever buys that color. Apply to white clothing with gusto. Let everyone know you're gonna be playing on Thursday night, despite the sub-optimal match-up possibilities.

Tom Brady: One part Tom Brady jersey, one part handcuffs. You can also go bottomless, if you're prepared to go to jail for a great gag.

A Sweet Play-Recap Vine: One part Odell Beckham Jr. costume, one part leaving halfway through the party.

The Shoddy NFL Judgement System: One part Roger Goodell suit, one part eight ball. If someone asks you who you are, give them a complicated and/or condescending answer. If they ask you again, let your eight ball do the hard work! After all, you're the rich guy, you don't have time for that!

Anyway, on to the advice...

Running Back

Isaiah Crowell will either be on my bench or will ruin my week.

This isn't exactly the sexiest pick in the land, but anyone who is playing Crowell in a week chock full of BYEs is looking for disappointment. The Cleveland Browns RB did decent work with his touches in Week 7, but ultimately has seen his workload drop in the last three weeks. He has yet to top 14 touches or 70 rushing yards in the last three weeks, and that won't start with the Jets.

Dear Ty Montgomery, do you like like me? I like like you this week.

Is this cheating? IT FEELS LIKE CHEATING! It's also partly why I'm so excited about Ty Montgomery in general. He's a RB! He's a WR! He's like if the Dexter McCluster thing actually worked in Kansas City! Montgomery will be serving partially as a RB, partially as a WR, in a game vs Atlanta that is both simultaneous shootout and weird Green Bay matchup vs the Atlanta defense all at once. Of course, if my fever dream of a Sunday is as predicted, it could mean a disgustingly big day for guys like Ty.

Am I going to really start Robert Kelley in Week 8?

Chris Thompson was the "run, don't walk" pickup for mostly everyone who owned Matt Jones or simply needed an RB in Week 8, but it looks like Kelley, not Thompson, will be getting the start in London. It's worth discussing the split; Thompson will be the third-down back and potentially the goal line option, but if you are desperate, go with the guy being forecasted as the starter until we know more about what this committee division looks like.

Wide Receiver

Don't hand me my money back, I'm going double-or-nothing on Larry Fitzgerald

Any Arizona Cardinal not named "David Johnson" has been more than a little frustrating to own, but Fitz has been solid. A WR1 in nearly every league, a consistent amount of targets, and a Carolina defense that is more apt to allow a shootout than to stop any significant forward progress. Fitz should be more reminiscent of his game vs San Francisco than what the last two week have looked like.

I will be discarding my Jordy Nelson and replacing him with two cards from the deck

In a column that is stark full of advice that is probably neither new nor artfully written, I will be also telling you that Desmond Trufant is very good at playing cornerback, and has been shadowing the number one receiver on the opposing offense every matchup so far. As a Jordy Nelson owner, this is devastating, but I'd rather violate the "never sit your stud" rule than lose a game like this again. While I am passionately riding with some Packers (TY!), I'm sitting out on Jordy.

I am out of options, and will be swiping left on Cordarrelle Patterson (owned in less than 2% of leagues)

This is a recommendation that seems brutally obvious despite such low ownership percentage. Patterson is the WR2 on Minnesota, getting consistent targets in the last three games, and is facing a team that welcomes opposing wide receivers with fruit baskets and touchdowns. If you're hurting in any league (looking at you, already miserable Odell owners), Patterson is more than likely waiting for you.

Tight End

Parachute? I don't need no parachute, I have Antonio Gates

In a week where many of the San Diego Chargers fantasy options are doing the "I'm Benched Shuffle," Antonio Gates is a beacon of light. Preventing TE yards is one of the few weakness of Denver's defense, and Gates is still available in more than 40% of leagues. It's a particularly brutal week for TE, so don't be afraid to take a flyer on a veteran.

Don't cry kids! We will bury Eric Ebron in the yard

I've seen trades for Eric Ebron this week, I've seen people hoping he's the answer for Week 8... but I'm going to need someone to sit me down and tell me why. The Houston Texans haven't given much away to the position, not allowing more than 40 yards to any TE so far (except for you, Indianapolis. Four for you, Indianapolis, and none for Denver!) Let the man heal for one more week before you take a chance on him.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Nico Collins

Suffers Concussion Against Steelers
Nico Collins

Carted to Locker Room for Concussion Evaluation
Christian Braun

Unavailable Tuesday
Aaron Gordon

Probable to Play Tuesday
Jamal Murray

in Danger of Missing Another Game Tuesday
Coby White

Sits Out First Leg of Back-to-Back
Josh Giddey

to Remain Out Tuesday
Norman Powell

Uncertain for Tuesday
Jerami Grant

Listed as Doubtful for Tuesday
Deni Avdija

Ruled Out for Tuesday
Jose Alvarado

to Miss Two More Weeks
Brandon Williams

Sits Out Second Consecutive Game
Moussa Cisse

Cleared to Play Monday
Daniel Gafford

Won't Play Against Nets
P.J. Washington

to Miss One More Week
Baylor Scheierman

Makes First Start of Season
Brandon Ingram

Available Monday
Paul George

Good to Go Monday
Joel Embiid

Active on Monday
Sam Hauser

Cleared for Monday
Jaylen Brown

Won't Play Monday
Egor Demin

Inactive Monday
Moussa Cisse

Upgraded to Probable on Monday
Kyle Tucker

Mets Meet With Kyle Tucker
Dalton Kincaid

"Should be Fine" for Divisional Round
Conor Garland

Returns From Five-Game Absence
Kiefer Sherwood

Out Monday, Could Miss Several Weeks
Marco Rossi

to Miss 2-3 More Weeks
Louis Crevier

Back for Blackhawks Monday
Jordan Eberle

Available Against Rangers
Joel Eriksson Ek

Out Monday
Brad Marchand

Misses Third Straight Game
Jamie Benn

Returns to Action Monday
Brooks Koepka

Officially Returning To PGA Tour
Tucker Kraft

Hopes to be Ready for Week 1 of Next Season
CFB

Georgia Lands Kentucky Transfer Dante Dowdell
Matthew Stafford

has "Little Sprain," Should be "Good to Go"
CFB

Sam Leavitt Expected to Sign with LSU
Green Bay Packers

Packers Expected to Work Out New Deal With Matt LaFleur in the "Coming Days"
CFB

Dylan Raiola Commits to Oregon
CFB

Isaiah Horton Landing with Texas A&M
Jet Greaves

Beats Mammoth With 25 Saves
Roman Josi

Ends Dry Spell With Three-Point Effort
Joonas Korpisalo

Shuts Door on Penguins
Jack Hughes

Has Two Helpers in Losing Effort
Tomas Hertl

Matches Vegas Record With Five Points
Justin Sourdif

Exits With Injury Versus Predators
Denton Mateychuk

Sustains Upper-Body Injury Sunday
George Kittle

Suffers Torn Achilles on Sunday
Omarion Hampton

Active for Wild-Card Round Against Patriots
George Kittle

Ruled Out After Non-Contact Achilles Injury
Cole Perfetti

Contributes Two Assists in Sunday's Win
Carl Grundstrom

Misses Sunday's Practice
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Request Interview With Ejiro Evero
Travis Konecny

Hurt at Sunday's Practice
Thatcher Demko

Lands on Injured Reserve
Colin Miller

Injured Versus Devils
Bryan Rust

Remains Out Sunday
Los Angeles Rams

Mike LaFleur to Interview With Raiders and Cardinals
Aaron Rodgers

Steelers Open to Re-Signing Aaron Rodgers?
Matthew Stafford

X-Rays Come Back Negative
MacKenzie Gore

Yankees Pursuing Trade for MacKenzie Gore
Alex Bregman

Cubs Sign Alex Bregman to Five-Year, $175 Millon Contract
Freddie Freeman

Withdraws from World Baseball Classic
Max Kepler

Receives 80-Game PED Suspension
CFB

Cam Coleman Visiting Alabama on Friday
Omarion Hampton

Expects to Play Sunday Night
CFB

Eric Singleton Jr. Enters Transfer Portal, Trending to Land at Florida
CFB

NCAA Denies Trinidad Chambliss a Sixth Year of Eligibility
Omarion Hampton

Questionable for Wild-Card Weekend
Kyle Tucker

Mets Remain in Mix for Kyle Tucker
Ketel Marte

Will Remain With Diamondbacks
Rashee Rice

to be Reviewed Under League's Conduct Policy
Daniel Jones

Colts Plan to Re-Sign Daniel Jones
Davante Adams

Off the Injury Report, Will Play Against Carolina
Bo Bichette

Phillies to Meet With Bo Bichette
Rome Odunze

Will Return for Wild-Card Game on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Commits to Baylor
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Fire Head Coach Mike McDaniel
Sam LaPorta

Plans to be Back for Training Camp
Owen Caissie

Shipped to Miami as Centerpiece of Trade
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Officially Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Finalizing Deal to Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
CFB

Jackson Arnold Signs with UNLV
CFB

Sam Leavitt Scheduled to Visit Tennessee

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP