Charch: Week 8 Player Rankings
By Paul Charchian-
FantasyVictory.com
Who should you start this week? Let's check out this week's player rankings:
Quarterbacks
Featured QB: Cam Newton
By my eyes, Cam Newton is coming off his best passing game. He's making tougher throws than he did earlier in the season. His accuracy and touch have improved. And that might be the way to a very nice stat line this week. The Vikings rank 30th in passing yards allowed, and have given up the 8th-most passing touchdowns. On the flip side of those stats, the Vikings have only allowed one quarterback rushing touchdown in their last 54 games (!), which is unreal. But Newton is demolishing all reasonable expectations for his rushing productivity, so who's to say that he won't score. For once, Cam's passing line might outweigh his rushing production for fantasy owners.
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Running Backs
Featured RB: Fred Jackson
If you're still searching for this year's Arian Foster, call off the search party—it's Fred Jackson. Through six games, Jackson's racked up 880 combo yards and six scores. That puts him on virtually an identical trajectory to Arian Foster's 813 combo yards and seven scores through six weeks last season. While the Redskins have been slightly above average against fantasy rushers, they've allowed opposing backs to score in three consecutive games. With the Bills averaging over 31 points per game, Jackson is an every-week fantasy starter until he proves otherwise.
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Wide Receivers
Featured WR: Miles Austin
Miles Austin started the season on an absolute tear, with four touchdowns in his first two games, but hasn't quite regained that form since returning from injury two weeks ago. A two-catch for 16-yard performance last week against the lowly Rams may be due to the fact that DeMarco Murray had no issue running anywhere on the field, but Austin's counterpart Dez Bryant had a solid game. Maybe the fact that Bryant has received opponents' best coverage will play into Austin's hands this week as they face Nnamdi Asomugha and the Eagles. Philadelphia has not allowed a number one receiver to score since Roddy White did it in Week 2 and Michael Crabtree's 68 yards was the best number one yardage total against the Eagles this season.
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