Welcome to the Week 8 starts and sits. We’ve highlighted some options that we like and some that we don’t like for the upcoming week’s games. If you need deeper analysis, please feel free to join us at Rotobahn.com and check out our comprehensive lineup rankings. If you want information on late-breaking injury information on game day, follow us on twitter. Just follow the link on our home page.

Quarterbacks

Starts

Eli Manning vs Dolphins

He’s a QB1 now and we think you roll with him unless he regresses. Losing Kevin Boss and Steve Smith has not had the negative impact that many expected.  They have been effectively replaced by Jake Ballard and Victor Cruz respectively. This week, Eli should be able to slice up a reeling Dolphins defense in a home start.

Tim Tebow vs Lions

He made us sweat out last week’s recommendation, but in the end, he played some inspired football and posted nice fantasy numbers. The emergence of a healthy and active Demaryius Thomas was a very welcome event. That gives Tebow three solid weapons in the passing game and allows Eddie Royal to play out of the slot where he belongs. We like Tebow at home this week as a decent QB1 with nice upside.

Joe Flacco vs Cardinals

He wasn’t as bad as he is being given credit for on Monday Night Football, but the Ravens’ offense certainly was. Nevertheless, we expect a solid bounce back against a Cardinals defense that just doesn’t look good right now. We also figure Anquan Boldin to be fired up against his old team. Look for multiple scores for Flacco, who plays better at home.

Sits

Colt McCoy @ 49ers

We’re still fans of the little QB that could, but we don’t like him as a weekly fantasy starter and we certainly don’t want him active in this matchup. The only good news we see is that he’ll have to throw at the end of the game.

Kevin Kolb @ Baltimore

Don’t be tempted if you are in need. There should be better options out there. Kolb is struggling right now and this is a brutal matchup. Avoid him like the plague.

Wide Receivers

Starts

Anquan Boldin vs Cardinals

He’ll be fired up as will his team after their brutal loss last week. As I mentioned earlier, Boldin is going to be jacked up to play his old team and this is a big game for his current team. The matchup is good on its face anyway, so give Anquan a go this week.

Deion Branch @ Steelers

The Steelers will bring pressure, and that usually means a good day for Branch, who has a deep connection with Tom Brady. He should be a solid bet to post WR3 numbers and he is available in a fair number of leagues.

Steve Breaston vs Chargers

He is going to see plenty of single coverage and we expect plenty of scoring in this game. Breaston should post very solid WR3 numbers in week eight. He is healthy and going well right now.

Sits

Michael Crabtree vs Browns

He may do something, but we don’t see him having a big day with Joe Haden covering him, which is what we expect. Expect a down week, though we are pleased with Crabtree’s play the last few weeks. He has played better than his stats suggest, and he looks to be healthy at this point.

Robert Meachem @ Rams

They are going to dominate the Rams. It could be over early, and after Meachem did so little in a massive blowout last week, we are very leery of starting him here.

Running Backs

Starts

Darren Sproles @ Rams

We never trust the Saints to do what we expect them to do, but this week, it’ll be hard for them to confuse us. They are going to light-up the most likely Jay Feeley-led Rams, and once they have it packed away, they are going to lean on Sproles and Pierre Thomas. With rookie Mark Ingram very shaky to even play, we expect good things. He’s a borderline RB1.

Bernard Scott @ Seahawks

He’s a reasonable RB2 option and a very nice flex option in larger leagues. The matchup is solid, and with Cedric Benson out serving his suspension, Scott is going to dominate the touches. He’s also available in some leagues.

Montario Hardesty @ 49ers

He is very likely to be the lead back, and he is a solid two-way player, so he can be a factor after they fall behind. The matchup may not be great, but as long as Peyton Hillis misses the game, we like Hardesty as a low end RB2 or a very nice flex option.

Sits

Marshawn Lynch vs Bengals

He is impossible to trust after being inactive at the very last second in week seven. Head Coach Pete Carroll admitted after the game that Lynch has been struggling with back issues for some time. It makes sense given his lack of visible burst. We are avoiding him until he proves his health to us.

Mike Tolbert @ Chiefs

Tolbert would be a good play, but we are more concerned with his hamstring than a lot of other outlets. Though it was reported as a small injury, it did not look small when he left the field and contrary to many reports, Tolbert did not return, and it was a close game. Since the Chargers play on Monday, Tolbert makes for a very risky play as he could leave you high and dry if he sits out.  We’d look elsewhere.

Tight ends

Starts

Fred Davis @ Buffalo

We think he’s too good for this list, but with him still being available in 24% of Yahoo leagues, we figured we’d throw him out one more time. Davis is now the number one option for Washington in the passing game, and this week’s match-up at Buffalo is not scary at all. Get him in there! Davis should be owned in all leagues.

Jermaine Gresham @ Seahawks

Gresham should also be owned in all leagues, yet is still available in 47% of Yahoo leagues. He makes a nice play in week eight and we’d start him on most weeks going forward in 12-team leagues.

Jake Ballard vs Dolphins

He is available in most leagues if you need some help. Ballard is becoming a very consistent option and he seems to have the trust of Eli Manning. They use him in the red zone, so we like him as a starting option if you need one. We also like the matchup.

Sits

Dallas Clark @ Titans

It’s sad to say, but though he is a good player, he is not currently a fantasy option. They are using him as a blocker far more often than in the past, and he obviously is not as productive on a per-target basis as he once was with Manning throwing him the ball. We’d avoid him this week in most formats.

Marcedes Lewis @ Texans

He’s a good player, but they are not throwing the ball enough right now. We wouldn’t bet on his bust-out game happening this week. There are better options right now.