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Week 8 Booms and Busts: Late Games

Between bye weeks, injuries and unforeseen performance issues, it sometimes takes some digging to find players that you will be able to add to your lineups for instant offense, or those which you should avoid playing if you have better options.

Below are my Week 8 lineup picks for players that can be booms and busts for fantasy football owners. Hopefully I can help you shape your optimal lineups to win this weekend.

Onto the picks!

Editor's Note: Identify fantasy football draft busts, overvalued ADPs, and key players to avoid so you can draft with confidence this season.

Week Eight Booms

Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB, NYJ) at OAK  

Fitzmagic has averaged over 22 points per game since the Jets' Week 5 bye and heads to Oakland to take on the 23rd ranked fantasy pass defense. Chan Gailey's offense, along with Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, have made Fitzpatrick a worthy start for owners battling injuries and bye weeks.

Eddie Lacy (RB, GB) at DEN

Reports out of Green Bay state that Lacy was pretty banged up before last week's bye, hence James Starks getting the lion share of the carries in the Packers' 27-20 win over the Chargers in Week 6. Those same reports say that Lacy is finally healthy this week, while Starks is now nursing a hip injury. The Broncos pass rush is a force to be reckoned with, and the Packers will have to play a balanced game if they want to win this battle of the unbeatens. I think Lacy will play like the stud everyone expected him to be back when they drafted him in August.

Greg Olsen (TE, CAR) vs. IND

I will keep this one simple. The Colts are 20th in the league in fantasy points allowed to tight ends.  Olsen is Cam Newton's favorite target. Olsen is always starting in season-long leagues, but is not always atop the lists for DFS players. If you didn't spend for Gronk on Thursday night, I think Olsen is a great play.

Week Eight Busts

Frank Gore (RB, IND) at CAR

A quick glance at Carolina's rushing defense (21st in fantasy points against) shows you a team that has struggled against the run. But if you account a good chunk of those points were accumulated when stud LB Luke Kuechly was on the shelf. Sure the Eagles put up big rushing numbers last week, but that was thanks to a few big plays that Chip Kelly's offense is always capable of. The Colts are not the same type of big-play offense when running the ball and adding Ahmad Bradshaw into the mix will not help Gore's case. I am passing on him in all league formats this week.

Jimmy Graham (TE, SEA) at DAL

The saga of Jimmy Graham as a Seahawk continues in Jerry's World on Sunday, as the tight end continues to disappoint fantasy owners. This week he has to deal with a good Cowboys linebacking corps that has done a great job shutting down tight ends (5th least points allowed against the position). Graham may be able to make adjustments after next week's bye, but don't expect much more than the 7.1 points per game he has averaged in standard non-PPR leagues.

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