FanEx Sports Fantasy Advice: NFL Week 8
Here are some of my favorite plays this week for daily leagues. I am really looking forward to the Washington @ Denver and Dallas @ Detroit games for fantasy purposes, so don’t feel bad about doubling up on players from those games.
Robert Griffin III: Last week versus Chicago Griffin rushed 11 times for 84 yards and completed 18-of-29 for 298 yards and one interception. It looks like he is finally getting his legs back and it is going to help his passing game as well. Washington faces the Broncos who are tough against the run while having the best offense in the league. Last week they allowed the Andrew Luck to have the most fantasy points of the week for quarterbacks and on the season they have given up the most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Tony Romo: The Lions defense has gone from good to bad fairly quickly. In their last two games the Lions have allowed Andy Dalton and Brandon Weeden to average 25-of-39 passing (65%) for 332 yards, 2,5 touchdowns and 1 interception. Teams are averaging 39 pass attempts against the pass happy Lions and Romo should have to keep up with Matthew Stafford who is also in line for a big game.
Darren Sproles: Buffalo is giving up 100+ rushing yards per game to running backs at a 4.1 yards per carry clip. But what I really like for Sproles’ matchup is that the two pass catching running backs they’ve seen this year, Giovani Bernard and Shane Vereen have caught 13 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. When you add that to the fact Jimmy Graham will either be limited or not play and Sproles is set up for a good game.
Knowshon Moreno: Much of Moreno’s value depends on if he gets goal line carries or if Peyton Manning throws the ball. But there are a couple of things going for him this week. First off is Washington’s run defense. They just gave up three rushing touchdowns to Matt Forte and are giving up 104.8 rushing yards per game to running backs. Really they’ve only faced two good running backs, LeSean McCoy and Forte, and they've gone for 298 yards and four touchdowns against them. So Washington has a poor run defense, but the question is, will Denver use Moreno enough? I think they will because last week against the Colts Manning was hurried and sacked more than he has been in five years. They will want to establish the run to keep the defense honest instead of pinning their ears back to get to Manning.
Marshawn Lynch: There really isn’t a better matchup for a running back this week. St. Louis has an awful run defense and Kellen Clemens as their starting running back. They will most likely run the ball with Zac Stacy, which they will have trouble doing, which in turn will give Seattle little need to really air it out. Lynch should have plenty of opportunities to put up big numbers on them.
Larry Fitzgerald: The Falcons pass defense has been getting beat this season fairly easily. They have given up two or more passing touchdowns in every game this season and amazingly lead the league with 14 allowed. Last week Vincent Jackson beat them for two touchdowns and 138 yards and Fitzgerald plays a similar pattern of slot and outside receiver as Jackson. He has also had 10 days to heal up his hamstring and appears good to go.
Rob Gronkowski: This is of course a no-brainer, but he’s still normally priced in daily games and he was just targeted 17 times and caught eight for 114 yards and came close to a touchdown. This week he faces an easier defense against tight ends in Miami, who are giving up an average of one touchdown per game to tight ends. Gronk will have a game under his belt and should play even more snaps this week and I would be astonished if he can’t get into the end zone.
Tony Gonzalez: Gonzo will once again see tight coverage with Roddy White out, but at least Patrick Peterson will be on Harry Douglas, while Gonzo faces the rest of the team which has given up 102.4 yards and 1.14 touchdowns per game to tight ends. That’s almost 20 more yards per game than the second worse team.