Empty the Bench

Starting the studs at RB, QB, and WR is easy, but fantasy championships are won with the well-informed decisions we all make on fringe starters every week. We agonize over these players until 7 minutes before kickoff, then kick ourselves about the guys we started 8 minutes after kickoff; we’re talking about the WR/TE Flex and WR/RB Flex plays.

As we gear up for the playoff run, Empty the Bench will be making a small change in policy. We have expanded our Position Rankings to include 20 Quarterbacks, 30 Running backs, 36 Wide Receivers, 15 Tight Ends and 15 Team Defenses. You can now refer to the Position Ranks for your WR3 and RB2 ranks. From here on out, the Cheat Sheet will be focused on those crucial flex-position rankings.

Prepare to plant foot squarely in ass–Empty the Bench’s Week Eight Cheat Sheet is here.

Week 8 Cheat Sheet Rankings

Week 8 Wide Receiver/Tight End Flex Plays

1. Lee Evans, Buffalo @ NYJ
2. Andre’ Davis, Houston @ SD
3. Greg Jennings, Green Bay @ DEN
4. Tony Scheffler, Denver vs. GB
5. Donald Lee, Green Bay @ DEN
6. Devery Henderson, New Orleans @ SF
7. Owen Daniels, Houston @ SD
8. Ronald Curry, Oakland @ TEN
9. Roydell Williams, Tennessee vs. OAK
10. Devin Hester, Chicago vs. DET

Fortune Cookies: Lee Evans only had 1 TD in the first eight weeks last year, but he still finished with 8 TDs. The turnaround starts this week against a poor Jets secondary… Andre’ Davis is making everybody forget about the other Andre in Texas, and he has a chance to light up the suspect Chargers corners for a big play or two… The Denver pass defense is formidable, but Greg Jennings shouldn’t draw Champ Bailey’s suffocating coverage most of the day… We’re fans of Tony Sheffler: he has a nice rapport with Cutler, and somebody has to pick up all the catches Javon Walker left on the table… The unheralded Donald Lee quietly has at least 3 receptions in every game so far, and we think he should be a good possession option for Green Bay this weekend… Devery Henderson is feast or famine, but he appears to be back in the good graces of Drew Brees and it’s a solid matchup… It looks like Matt Schaub will play, and his favorite target Owen Daniels could be a big safety blanket for the banged up QB… He’s been playing well recently, but don’t expect too much from Ronald Curry in this difficult matchup… Roydell Williams has put up 10 receptions for 168 yards over the last two weeks, and we think he’ll keep it rolling… Devin Hester was almost our WR Sneaky Play this week; we love the matchup and the Bears clearly want to get the freak athlete involved…

Week 8 Wide Receiver/Running Back Flex Plays

1. Kevin Jones, Detroit @ CHI
2. Laurence Maroney, New England vs. WSH
3. Donte’ Stallworth, New England vs. WSH
4. Calvin ‘Megatron’ Johnson, Detroit @ CHI
5. DeShawn Wynn, Green Bay @ DEN
6. Andre’ Davis, Houston @ SD
7. Devery Henderson, New Orleans @ SF
8. Thomas Jones, New York Jets vs. BUF
9. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina vs. IND
10. Greg Jennings, Green Bay @ DEN

Fortune Cookies: The Lions will be looking to make a (positive) statement in Chicago, and Kevin Jones will be the one leading the charge one way or the other… The Redskins’ rush defense is only giving up 80.7/per, but Laurence Maroney is very well-rested, and this is the Patriots we’re talking about… With all the attention on Randy Moss–as if he could be stopped or something–there’s no reason to think Donte’ Stallworth’s three-week scoring streak will end at home… Megatron Johnson is set for a monster second half of the season, and the depleted Bears have proven vulnerable to the pass… The Broncos sport the league’s absolute worst rush defense, generously allowing opponents 176/per, and DeShawn Wynn has emerged as the clear-cut starter for the Pack… The Chargers’ secondary is their weakest link, and Andre’ Davis might have a big play or two in him with his team down early and throwing a lot… Devery Henderson has been spotty at best this season, but his quarterback seems to have settled down and he finally found the endzone last week… He makes us yawn more than another “gripping” Denzel Washington performance, but Thomas Jones has no excuse to not put up at least decent stats against the NFL’s 25th-ranked rush defense… Any minute now, DeShaun Foster is going to let his sore toe get the best of him, and DeAngelo Williams will take over and never look back… Greg Jennings will likely be matched up with Dre Bly, who likes to gamble; if Bly guesses wrong, Jennings could be in for a long slant to the endzone…

More Week 8 Fantasy Goodness:

Week Eight Position Rankings

Week Eight Matchups

Week Eight Stock Report