Empty the Bench

Week 8 is a bit of a weird one all around in the fantasy world.

Given the drab mudfest at London’s Wembley Stadium last year between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants, we feel like we’re going out on a bit of limb this week by ranking Philip Rivers and Drew Brees #1 and #2 amongst fantasy QB plays. If the notoriously dreary, rainy, fall weather across the pond sets in again, both could very well see their high-octane passing attacks give way to the thrilling action of handoffs to Deuce McAllister and LaDainian Tomlinson over and over … and over.

But aside from Favre’s “slam-dunk” matchup at home against the dismal KC Chiefs– we saw what Favre did (or didn’t do) against the Raiders last week and he’ll be without Coles and maybe Cotchery this week–there really aren’t too many matchups to get psyched about at quarterback. It’s a bit murky at wide receiver, too, given the suckiness of Brad Johnson and other fill-in QBs having a negative impact on the likes of T.J., T.O. and Dwayne Bowe. At least one thing’s for certain though: our man Andre Johnson is rolling.

He’s torched the Colts, Dolphins, and lowly Lions these last three weeks for a combined 30 receptions, 450 yards, and 2 TDs… and despite their artificially inflated ranking against the pass (6th overall), I don’t expect the Bungles to offer much resistance either.

Onto the Week 8 ranks…

Fantasy Week 8 – Top 20 Quarterbacks

1. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers @ NO
2. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints vs. SD
3. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles vs. ATL
4. Brett Favre, New York Jets vs. KC
5. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans vs. CIN
6. Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals @ CAR
7. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts @ TEN
8. Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins @ DET
9. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. NYG
10. Eli Manning, New York Giants @ PIT
11. Matt Cassel, New England Patriots vs. STL
12. Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers vs. ARZ
13. Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay Bucs @ DAL
14. Marc Bulger, St. Louis Rams @ NE
15. Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns @ JAX
16. David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. CLE
17. Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills @ MIA
18. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons @ PHI
19. J.T. O’Sullivan, San Francisco 49ers vs. SEA
20. Dan Orlovsky, Detroit Lions vs. WSH

The rest of the Week 8 fantasy football ranks after the break…

Fantasy Week 8 – Top 30 Running Backs

1. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins @ DET
2. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers vs. SEA
3. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles vs. ATL
4. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys vs. TB
5. Steve Slaton, Houston Texans vs. CIN
6. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers @ NO
7. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams @ NE
8. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants @ PIT
9. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo Bills @ MIA
10. Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons @ PHI
11. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans vs. IND
12. LenDale White, Tennessee Titans vs. IND
13. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. CLE
14. Thomas Jones, New York Jets vs. KC
15. Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins vs. BUF
16. Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens vs. OAK
17. Earnest Graham, Tampa Bay Bucs @ DAL
18. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers vs. ARZ
19. LaMont Jordan, New England Patriots vs. STL
20. Edgerrin James, Arizona Cardinals @ CAR
21. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers vs. ARZ
22. Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions vs. WSH
23. Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns @ JAX
24. Willie Parker, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. NYG
25. Deuce McAllister, New Orleans Saints vs. SD
26. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders @ BAL
27. Dominic Rhodes, Indianapolis Colts @ TEN (Check Addai’s Status)
28. Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints vs. SD
29. Julius Jones, Seattle Seahawks @ SF
30. Mewelde Moore, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. NYG

Fantasy Week 8: Top 36 Wide Receivers

1. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans vs. CIN
2. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals @ CAR
3. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts @ TEN
4. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers vs. ARZ
5. Santana Moss, Washington Redskins @ DET
6. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions vs. WSH
7. Lee Evans, Buffalo Bills @ MIA
8. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati Bengals @ HOU
9. Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons @ PHI
10. Randy Moss, New England Patriots vs. STL
11. Plaxico Burress, New York Giants @ PIT
12. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. NYG
13. Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers @ NO
14. Jerricho Cotchery, New York Jets vs. KC (Check Status)
15. Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys vs. TB
16. Braylon Edwards, Cleveland Browns @ JAX
17. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles vs. ATL
18. Wes Welker, New England Patriots vs. STL
19. Muhsin Muhammad, Carolina Panthers vs. ARZ
20. Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts @ TEN
21. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. NYG
22. Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Bucs @ DAL
23. Isaac Bruce, San Francisco 49ers vs. SEA
24. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints vs. SD
25. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs @ NYJ
26. Antwaan Randle El, Washington Redskins @ DET
27. Chad Ocho Cinco, Cincinnati Bengals @ HOU
28. Kevin Walter, Houston Texans vs. CIN
39. Matt Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. CLE
30. Chansi Stuckey, New York Jets vs. KC
31. Kevin Curtis, Philadelphia Eagles vs. ATL
32. Derrick Mason, Baltimore Ravens vs. OAK
33. Roy Williams, Dallas Cowboys vs. TB
34. Devery Henderson, New Orleans Saints vs. SD
35. Anthony Gonzalez, Indianapolis Colts @ TEN
36. Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints vs. SD

Fantasy Week 8: Top 15 Tight Ends

1. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys vs. TB
2. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers @ NO
3. Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins @ DET
4. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans vs. CIN
5. Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs @ NYJ
6. Bo Scaife, Tennessee Titans vs. IND
7. Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders @ BAL
8. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts @ TEN
9. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. NYG
10. Alex Smith, Tampa Bay Bucs @ DAL
11. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers vs. SEA
12. Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints vs. SD (Downgraded Due to Status)
13. John Carlson, Seattle Seahawks @ SF
14. Chris Baker, New York Jets vs. KC
15. Robert Royal, Buffalo Bills @ MIA

Fantasy Week 8: Top 15 Team Defenses

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ DAL
2. Baltimore Ravens vs. OAK
3. New York Jets vs. KC
4. Tennessee Titans vs. IND
5. Philadelphia Eagles vs. ATL
6. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. NYG
7. New York Giants @ PIT
8. Washington Redskins @ DET
9. Carolina Panthers vs. ARZ
10. New England Patriots vs. STL
11. Buffalo Bills @ MIA
12. San Diego Chargers @ NO
13. Arizona Cardinals @ CAR
14. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. CLE
15. Dallas Cowboys vs. TB