Fantasy Football Week 8: Before You Start

Before we get into the news you can use the most to help you set your fantasy football line-up for Week 8 of the NFL season I’m going to do a quick recap of all the big names that have already been ruled out for this week prior to today. The names you would find on that list include: Redskins WR Pierre Garcon, Packers WR Greg Jennings, Jags RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray, Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall, and Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez.

October 7, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) prior to kickoff of a game against the San Diego Chargers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

The biggest name you don’t see on that list that could also have a huge impact on your fake football line-up decisions is Saints TE Jimmy Graham. Battling an ankle injury Graham is going to be a true game time decision and with the Saints playing in the Sunday night match-up against the Broncos that means if you decide to wait it out with Graham your options will be limited if he doesn’t suit up. If you have a back-up TE on your squad that you’re comfortable starting like Martellus Bennett or Heath Miller then you should consider putting either one in your line-up. If Graham does end up playing and has a monster game you will lose out on those points but if he doesn’t you’d be sitting with a goose egg. It’s a high risk-high reward situation, as you play Graham no matter what usually. Another option is to see if someone like Joel Dreessen is available on the free agents list in your league and wait till the injury announcements are made later tonight and go with Graham if he starts and Dreessen if he doesn’t.

Now for the rest of the fantasy football news and notes:

-Even though it’s a few weeks earlier than anyone expected he would be back Rams WR Danny Amendola caused quite a stir this week, as there was a chance he might have played this week against the Patriots. In the end though Amendola wasn’t quite ready to come back from his gruesome clavicle injury and will be inactive today. However, if he was willing to test it out today that’s some good news for Amendola owners out there that he might be ready to come back after the team’s Week 9 bye.

-The Giants play the Cowboys today in one of the only two late afternoon games, which means word on their game time decisions won’t be revealed until after the 1pm kickoffs so if you’re waiting to hear on the status of someone like RB Ahmad Bradshaw you might be out of luck if he doesn’t end up playing. For now you can tentatively pencil him into your line-up, as reports are coming out that he’s expected to play. Bradshaw does have a history of playing through injuries so it wouldn’t be that big of a surprise if he does suit up.

-Colts RB Donald Brown is active and expected to return to the Colts’ backfield. Vick Ballard will still be the starter though so this could become a timeshare situation where you want to avoid either player.

-Packers WR Jordy Nelson is inactive today against the Jaguars. Randall Cobb and James Jones both become must starts and it looks like Donald Driver will get more play as well.

-Steelers RB Isaac Redman out again this week. Look for Jonathan Dwyer to be the man again this week for the Steelers with both Redman and Mendenhall out.

-Browns RB Trent Richardson is active today against the Chargers.

-Jags QB Blaine Gabbert is active and will start today but he’ll be without the team’s prized off-season acquisition WR Laurent Robinson.

-Dolphins will activate WR Jabar Gaffney today.

-Browns WR Mohamed Massaquoi is again inactive, which means Josh Gordon gets a chance to add to his touchdown streak.

-Lions WR Titus Young is active.