Dia de los Muertos came a bit early this year. When I look at my roster, I see a dead year filled with season-ending injuries. Reggie Wayne. Doug Martin. Sam Bradford. Julio Jones. Vick Ballard — not to mention the guys who will miss more than a month like David Wilson, Steven Jackson and Chris Johnson. Okay, Johnson is still technically still active, but he’s killing some of our line-ups.
Now it is more crucial than ever to consult the crystal balls of Yahoo, ESPN and CBS. Each week, I pull up the rankings from each week to find the consensus rankings. This helps me find the outlier – either someone who might be poised for a breakout or a goose egg. It is like crossing the dentist off your trick-or-treat neighborhood map. Below is what results of hours upon hours of research.
Brian Reddoch is a CraveOnline reporter and rabid fan of all teams Seattle. You can follow him on Twitter @ReddReddoch or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty (Except Dalton — Icon)
Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings
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Quarterbacks
Stash and Wait: Andy Dalton, Bengals
Andy has turned into a boy cowboy lately. He is flinging the ball and scoring touchdowns (six in two weeks). He is not Peyton Manning, but you may need him down the road. -
Quarterbacks
Worth a Second Look: Colin Kaepernick, 49ers
I haven’t been much of a fan of Captain K this year. He’s only had only one breakthrough performance (week 1). The cuffs have been weirdly placed on him so he doesn’t run as much as you hope while he watches in horror as his WRs can’t get separation. This might be the week it all turns around because this week they face the Jaguars.Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
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Quarterbacks
Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid: Terrelle Pryor, Raiders
Pryor has been a horror movie this year in the very best of ways. He has done a lot with a little much like a cheap thrill flick. With eight quality QBs out this week (six byes plus two injured), it is easy to want to pick up Pryor. The Steelers have been brutal this year to fantasy QBs so proceed with extreme caution.Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images
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Quarterbacks
Sleeper Pick of the Week: Carson Palmer, Cardinals
For Halloween this year, it is rumored that Palmer is going as a the Tommy Trojan statue. With his lack of mobility, this is perfect, especially this week against the Falcons. The Falcons would be the best car salesmen in the world (no pressure, get it?). With time in the pocket, Palmer could be a valuable bye-week add.Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
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Quarterbacks
Top Tier: Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers
2nd Tier: Robert Griffin III, Colin Kaepernick, Matthew Stafford, Eli Manning, Tony Romo, Matt Ryan, Cam Newton
Shaky starts: Russell Wilson, Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Tom Brady, Andy Dalton
Bye Week Only: Ben Roethlisberger, Andy Dalton, Geno Smith, Terrelle Pryor
Don’t Bother: Brandon Weeden, Ryan Tannehill, Chad Henne, Josh Freeman, Thaddeus Lewis, Mike GlennonPhoto by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images
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Running Backs
Pick Up Immediately: Mike James, Buccaneers
With Doug Martin tearing his labrum, Mike James will get a chance to run on the hamster wheel. We’ll see how he does week 1, but at best he’ll be a great flex option and at worst he’ll be a primary starter who can ride your bench.Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images
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Running Backs
Worth a Second Look: Zac Stacy, Rams
Imagine your Halloween costume is the Rams offensive coordinator. Your main QB goes down and your backup isn’t capable of performing the entire playbook. How much more are you going to rely on your running back?Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
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Running Backs
Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid: Roy Helu, Washington
Yes, he scored three times last week, but that won’t last. I hate to write it but I feel forced to remind people – “I saw Helu and you say good-bye,” John Lennon. Smart man. Shot in the back, very sad.
(bonus points to whomever gets the movie quote there.)Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
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Running Backs
Stash and Wait: Andre Brown, Giants
How bad is the Jaguars running defense? The 31st ranked team (Colts) against the run would need to be 20% worse to come close to Jaguars turnstile D-Line.Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
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Running Backs
Top Tier: Marshawn Lynch, Jamaal Charles, LeSean McCoy
2nd Tier: Adrian Peterson, Eddie Lacy, Frank Gore, Knowshon Moreno, Le’Veon Bell, Reggie Bush, Darren McFadden, Joseph Randle, Darren Sproles, Alfred Morris
Shaky starts: Fred Jackson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Lama Miller, Zac Stacy, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Steven Ridley, DeAngelo Williams, Peyton Hillis,
Bye Week Only: Kendall Hunter, Jaquizz Rogers, Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory, Joique Bell, Willis McGahee, Rashard Mendenhall, Andre Ellington
Don’t Bother: Brandon Bolden, Bilal Powell, CJ Spiller, Roy HeluPhoto by Drew Hallowell/Philadelphia Eagles/Getty Images
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Wide Receivers
Pick Up Immediately: Jarrett Boykin, Packers
Some wide receivers make their quarterbacks look good. Some are good because of their quarterbacks. Whomever Aaron Rodgers is throwing to deserves a doublecheck pick-up off the waiver wire. Boykin is at an insanely low 35% ownership in Yahoo.Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
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Wide Receivers
Worth a Second Look: Rueben Randle, Giants
Three scores in three games. He could be the flex option you’ve been looking for.Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
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Wide Receivers
Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid: Tavon Austin, Chris Givens, Rams
With Rams QB Sam Bradford taken behind the injury woodshed, his receiver's owners will suffer. New QB Kellen Clemens is adequate but expect much less going forward. And don’t listen to any Tebow rumors you may hear. That would be a Halloween scare.Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
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Wide Receivers
Sleeper Pick of the Week: Anquan Boldin, 49ers
It has been a long time since week 1’s amazing performance. He is poised to deliver again his week against a paper Jax’ “defense”.Photo by Michael Thomas/Getty Images
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Wide Receivers
Top Tier: Dez Bryant, Calvin Johnson, AJ Green, Jordy Nelson, DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Victor Cruz, Wes Welker
2nd Tier: Larry Fitzgerald, Vincent Jackson, Demaryius Thomas, Justin Blackmon, Marques Colston, Eric Decker
Shaky starts: Jarrett Boykin, Josh Gordon, Mike Wallace, Terrance Williams, Harry Douglas, Anquan Boldin, Steve Smith, Michael Floyd, Hakeem Nicks, Cecil Shorts,
Bye Week Only: Roddy White, Dwayne Bowe, Golden Tate, Sidney Rice, Jeremy Kerley, David Nelson, Ted Ginn Jr., Aaron Dobson, Stephen Hill, Kris Dunham, Greg Jennings, Denarius Moore, Julian Edelman
Don’t Bother: Riley Cooper, Emmanuel Sanders, Mike Williams (TB), Percy HarvinPhoto by Jason Miller/Getty Images
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Tight Ends
Top Tier: Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski
2nd Tier: Vernon Davis, Julius Thomas, Jordan Reed, Tony Gonzalez
Shaky starts: Jordan Cameron, Jason Witten, Greg Olsen, Heath Miller,
Bye Week Only: Kyle Rudolph, Jeff Cumberland, Rob Housler, Jared Cook
Don’t Bother: Any one else including Andrew Quarless replacing the injured Jermichael Finley.Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
