Week Eight fantasy tips: WRs

The one benefit to Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall of having Matt Moore at quarterback is Moore's willingness to throw the deep ball. We saw in Week Six against the Jets how fearless Moore is, repeatedly targeting Marshall, even with Darrelle Revis on him. Marshall has 12 catches for 170 yards in two games with Moore at quarterback, and he should have an edge over whichever Giants corner is covering him on Sunday. However, the Giants' front four is expected to put a lot of pressure on Moore, which will make it difficult for him to get Marshall the ball. Marshall will get the targets, but he might not be able to get many deep balls on Sunday. Marshall makes a No. 2 fantasy receiver with upside because of the high number of targets.

The Bills face a Redskins defense that hasn't been playing well in recent weeks, and Buffalo is coming off a bye. The Redskins are allowing 161 receiving yards to opposing wide receivers per game over the last three. That bye gave RB C.J. Spiller time to learn his role as a receiver, and with Fred Jackson playing so well as the featured back, he's been knocked from the backfield. He caught all five balls targeted at him in the team's last game, for 39 yards, and the Bills will continue to get him involved. He isn't worthy of a start, but watch how he does against Washington, as he may be worthy of a flex spot down the line.

After promising starts to the season, Lions WR Nate Burleson and Titus Young have tailed off. They were targeted a combined six times in Week Seven, with Young catching no passes and Burleson's lone reception going for one yard. Their productivity has declined for several weeks. If looking for bye-week fill-ins, you might want to look elsewhere. Burleson, a starter, is preferable to Young, a reserve, if you have to make a choice between the two. The Broncos, this week's opponent, are allowing 207.7 yards and 1.7 TDs per game to the position over their last three, so there is upside here if you're forced to go that route.

Steelers WR Hines Ward (ankle) missed practice on Wednesday. If you need him on Sunday, make sure to monitor his progress throughout the week. If Ward doesn't play, WRs Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders could get more opportunities vs. New England on Sunday. Brown (7-102-0 in Week Seven at Arizona) is already a key part of the offense, and Sanders (5-46-1, season-high seven targets in Week Seven) had nine targets and a TD vs. the Patriots last season. The Patriots are allowing 170.7 receiving yards and one TD per game to the position over their last three. Brown makes a No. 2 fantasy receiver this week and Sanders a bye-week or injury fill-in.

Bengals WR Jerome Simpson caught six passes for 101 yards in Week Six vs. Indianapolis, and he was targeted nine times. Simpson was targeted nine times apiece in the first two games before seeing only 14 passes come his way in Weeks Three through Five. If he has become an option in the passing game, he'll be a player to consider adding. His opponent, Seattle, is allowing 180.7 yards and 0.7 TDs per game over their last three to the WR position. That makes Simpson a No. 3 fantasy receiver this week but better-suited as a flex or bye-week fill-in.

Texans WR Andre Johnson returned to practice Wednesday after missing the previous three weeks with a hamstring injury. It's a great sign that Houston has its best wideout back on the practice field, but it's unlikely he'll return this week against the Jaguars. Johnson said he was excited to be back practicing with his teammates, but if he felt on Sunday the way he did on Wednesday, he wouldn't play. In Johnson's absence, Kevin Walter has been the club's most consistent wideout, averaging 4.7 receptions for 44.3 receiving yards and 0.3 TDs each week — not the production that will set the fantasy world on fire. However, with a trip to Nashville, where the Titans' defense is reeling after consecutive blowout losses, allowing 143.7 yards and one TD per game to opposing wideouts over the last three, Walter is not a terrible bye-week or injury fill-in. 

Stranded on Revis Island last Sunday against the Jets, Chargers WR Vincent Jackson (1-15-0) did not have the impact fantasy owners (or the Chargers) were hoping for. The matchup this week is more favorable, though the man guarding Jackson — Chiefs CB Brandon Flowers — is the reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Flowers lacks the size and strength to slow down the Bolts' wideout in the same way that Revis did. For the season, Jackson is averaging more than 17 yards per reception, while the Chiefs are allowing 151.7 yards and 1.3 TDs per game. Jackson makes a No. 1 fantasy receiver this week.

Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/10/27/week-eight-fantasy-tips-wrs-3

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