Last week, this space carried the headline, "Stay away from Matt Forte." Forte proceeded to rack up 154 yards from scrimmage with two touchdowns, and was RB3 for the week. You win some, you lose some. Let's try to have very few losses this time.
With that said, through seven weeks our Position vs. Fantasy Defensive Points Allowed tool is a nice tool to help you find good matchups. It'll keep getting stronger as the weeks go by, and we'll have less reason to say things like, "But they played against Gronk last week! Gronk!"
As always, please remember that the players listed are mostly meant to be borderline guys, who need reasons for you to play or bench them. You won't see recommendations to start David Johnson and Cam Newton, because you should always start Johnson and Newton. Make sense? Good.
Note: The fantasy points per game (FPPG) referenced below are from FOXSports.com standard leagues.
Week 8 byes: Ravens, Rams, Dolphins, Giants, Steelers, 49ers
Thursday game: Jaguars at Titans
Quarterbacks
Stay away: Dak Prescott, Cowboys (vs. Eagles)
Prescott has been a pleasant surprise, but he's QB14 in FOXSports.com fantasy scoring, hasn't surpassed 300 passing yards in a game, and (low volume alert!) averages just a shade over 30 passing attempts. Against an Eagles' D that leads the league with 10.8 FPPG allowed to opposing quarterbacks, Prescott is a player to avoid in Week 8.
Also:
The Bronco defense is where fantasy QBs and WRs go to die, allowing just 11.9 FPPG to QBs. Philip Rivers threw for just 178 yards and a TD against them in Week 6, and should have a similarly tough road in Denver on Sunday.
Play, play, play: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jets (@ Browns)
Is Angry Fitz like Angry Brady? Not really, but the Jets' off-again, on-again signal caller will visit a Browns' defense that ranks 31st with 21.3 FPPG allowed to opposing quarterbacks, and is among the league's worst in every major pass defense category. If you're without Big Ben or Eli this week, Fitz is a sneaky streaming candidate as a top-15 QB play.
Also:
Russell Wilson isn't very mobile and has been a fantasy disappointment, but he's got a matchup with the 28th-ranked Saints (19.6 FPPG allowed to opposing QBs) on tap. Start him if you've got him.
Running backs
Stay away: Ryan Mathews, Eagles (@ Cowboys)
Due to all the bye teams, Mathews begins the week at a solid RB24 in my rankings. However, he only split snaps with Darren Sproles last week, and visits a Cowboys' D that allows just 13.1 FPPG to opposing running backs. He's not a must-bench, but he's a pretty uninspiring option.
Play, play, play: Devontae Booker, Broncos (vs. Chargers)
Booker isn't taking C.J. Anderson's job, but he should keep half of it like he had in Week 7, when he ran 17 times for 83 yards and a score and spent time after the game brainstorming tandem nicknames with Anderson (who likes "Rocky and Bullwinkle"). Booker's matchup with the subpar Charger defense (23.3 FPPG allowed to opposing RBs) could be productive even in a timeshare. Interesting fact for PPR owners: The Chargers have allowed 8.7 receptions per game to running backs, which helps both Denver backs.
Wide receivers
Stay away: DeSean Jackson, Redskins (@ Bengals)
Are you still considering this guy, even though he's WR50 in FOXSports.com fantasy scoring? What if we told you he's facing a Bengals' defense that ranks a solid seventh with 19.9 FPPG allowed to opposing wide receivers? Jackson is a home-run hitter who's too inconsistent to trust.
Also:
Remember what we said a few paragraphs back about the Broncos clamping down on fantasy QBs and WRs? They've terrorized everyone in their path, and allowed a combined six catches for 45 yards to Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin in Week 6. Avoid the Charger wideouts if you can.
Play, play, play: Stefon Diggs, Vikings (@ Bears)
After two weeks of the season, we all had Diggs in the Pro Bowl. Then he came back to earth and got hurt, making us forget that he's actually pretty good. Against a struggling Bears' defense that gives up a whopping 28.3 FPPG to opposing wide receivers, betting on a Diggs rebound won't be the worst idea you ever have.
Also:
Quincy Enunwa joins Fitzpatrick and Brandon Marshall for a cupcake matchup with the Browns, and is certainly flex-ible ... The identity of Terrelle Pryor's quarterback is TBD, but either Cody Kessler or Josh McCown will be good enough to return him to starting status against the CB formerly known as Revis Island and a defense that allows 27.1 FPPG to opposing tight ends.
Tight ends
Stay away: Jason Witten, Cowboys (vs. Eagles)
Witten is sixth among tight ends in targets, but ranks 23rd in FOXSports.com fantasy scoring (thanks to zero touchdowns). He's got a Sunday night matchup versus an Eagles' defense that has allowed 3.5 FPPG to opposing tight ends, and a league-low 13 receptions to players at that position. Stay away from Witten, who will also have Dez Bryant back to compete with for Prescott's affections.
Play, play, play: C.J. Fiedorowicz, Texans (vs. Lions)
Fiedorowicz is under the radar at just 8.0 percent ownership in FOXSports.com leagues, but he's an interesting play this week against a Lions' D that has allowed seven touchdowns and 12.3 FPPG to opposing tight ends. With 19 receptions for 229 yards, Fiedorowicz ranks fifth at his position over the last four weeks. You can start him with confidence over bigger names such as Antonio Gates, Julius Thomas and Coby Fleener.
