It’s matchup #8 in your Fantasy Football League this week, which marks the halfway point of your season, so I figured now would be a good time to look back at my own teams and see how I’ve fared with my drafts and the moves I’ve made.

As you know, I’m playing in 4 League’s myself this year (which is actually a little bit of overkill for my tastes), and am happy to see my teams on top of the standings in 2 of them, and not out of it in the others.

The 1st Round Picks in my drafts were Frank Gore in two of them (6th Pick in both Leagues, #5 scoring RB so far), Maurice Jones Drew (3rd Pick, #14 RB), and Andre Johnson (8th Pick, #19 WR).

Frank Gore has lived up to his 1st Round status thus far, but Jones-Drew and Johnson haven’t quite yet (I’m still glad they’re on my teams).

Nicks has been my best Draft Pick so far this year, who is yours?

Looking at the rest of the Rounds, a few of my best Picks were Hakeem Nicks in the Sixth Round (#2 Scoring WR), Eli Manning in the Seventh to be my starting QB (#7 scoring QB), and Malcom Floyd in the 12th Round (#10 WR, while missing last weeks game), while some of my worst included Ryan Grant in the Second (went on IR in Week 2) and Shonn Greene in the Second (hated that pick at the time I made it).

• Flameout: Redskins QB Donovan McNabb. After his 416 yard passing game I traded him for Darren McFadden.  Worked out pretty well for me this week as 22 other QB’s scored more Fantasy points in Week 7.
• Phenom: Rams RB Steven Jackson. His 145 Total Yards against the Bucs were good for a Top 10 Fantasy Running Back day.
• Phenom: Ravens RB Willis McGahee. The matchup against Buffalo proved favorable as McGahee rushed for 64 yards on 11 carries, and scored on a 2-yard plunge to fill-in admirably in your lineup.
• Phenom:  DEF Kansas City. My Hope-You-Listened-To-Me-Pick-Of-The-Week. Forced 3 Turnovers, including an INT Return TD, to post the #7 Fantasy scoring defense performance of the week.
• Flameout: Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown. I repeat: DO NOT start your RB#2′s or worse against the Steelers, maybe even your RB#1′s.
• Phenom:  DEF Seattle. 2 Sacks, 1 INT, and 4 Fumble Recoveries added to their #5 overall Fantasy scoring defense ranking.
• Flameout: Packers WR Donald Driver. His 139-Consecutive-Games-with-a-Reception-streak was snapped against the Vikings.
• Flameout: Cowboys WR Roy Williams. Another receiver who failed to catch a pass in Week 7, registering zero points on your Fantasy scoreboard.

• Phenom: Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez. Matt Ryan threw for 299 yards in the Falcons win, but 201 of them went to Roddy White.
• Flameout: Bengals QB Carson Palmer. Was the #2 Fantasy scoring QB in all the land to nab my Hope-You-Ignored-Me-Pick-Of-The-Week moniker.
• Phenom: 49ers WR Michael Crabtree. I had to start him last week and tried to justify it by making him my phenom pick.  I apologize for that.
• Phenom: Saints WR Robert Meachem. Didn’t get the big play you we’re looking for if you plugged him in your lineup for Matchup #7 (like me).
• Phenom: Patriots WR/RB Danny Woodhead.  If you’re like reader “MillerMan55″, who wrote in:  “I have a ton of guys either injured or on a bye week and my flex back has come down to either Roy Williams (cowboys) or Danny Woodhead. I was planning on starting Woodhead, but was very iffy about doing so.  So either I love you or hate you this week Steve, but either way I appreciate the advice!”, you liked the choice of Woodhead, but otherwise he didn’t score you many points last week.

A lot of Fantasy Owners are searching for replacements after Romo went down and Jon Kitna had to step in.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Dallas Cowboys

• Phenom: Cowboys QB Jon Kitna. Don’t feel bad about picking up Kitna if you’ve lost Tony Romo, especially this week as Dallas faces the team giving up the 2nd most fantasy points per game to QB’s on the season.
• Flameout: Jaguars QB David Garrard. He’s back, but you can find better matchups to fill-in for Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan or Eli Manning.

• Phenom: Redskins RB Ryan Torain. Opposing rushers destroy the Lions defense, that’s all you need to know.
• Flameout: Lions QB Mathew Stafford. He’s back playing this week, but that’s about the only positive sign I see.  Wait and see how Stafford performs coming off his injury before adding him to your team or lineup.

• Phenom: Chiefs QB Matt Cassel. I also like Ryan Fitzpatrick as a fill-in candidate this week, but I pick Cassel here because the Bills defense is dreadful, having allowed 13 Touchdown Passes and picking off only 1 pass all year.
• Flameout: Bills WR Lee Evans. Had a huge game last week, which was his first 100+ yard receiving game since week 12 of 2008.  Playing on the road at Arrowhead Stadium will make it tough for Evans to approach the same receiving totals from Week 7.

• Phenom: Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart. This pick is predicated on DeAngelo Williams not playing, so keep an eye on his  status leading up to the game.  When Stewart has been given a full workload, he’s been very successful.
• Flameout: All Rams WR’s. Quick, name me one who’s playing? …I thought that would take you a little while.  Also, Carolina is allowing the 3rd fewest Fantasy points per game to wide receivers.

• Phenom: Jets TE Dustin Keller. The Packers Linebacking core and Safety spots are battling a long list of injuries, giving Keller a good chance for a big game.
• Flameout: Packers WR Greg Jennings. Darrelle Revis says he’s 100% healthy again, and Antonio Cromartie is on the other side, so it looks like Jennings is in for another disappointing day.

• Phenom:  DEF Denver. Troy Smith is starting at QB for the 49ers with Alex Smith out, giving the Bronco’s a good opportunity to turn around their defensive fortunes.
• Flameout: Bronco’s RB Knowshon Moreno. Scored Touchdowns on 2 receptions last week to salvage a nice Fantasy scoring day, but has tweaked his hamstring this week and is facing the a Niners defense who is still very stingy against the run.

• Phenom: Chargers RB Darren Sproles. With Malcom Floyd still out and going against Fantasy’s #1 defense, look for Phillip Rivers to check down to Sproles often out of the backfield much like last weeks game.  Also, if you play in a League that awards points for return yardage, Sproles is almost a must start (scored 20.60 pts last week for me in this format).
• Flameout: Chargers RB Ryan Mathews. Mathews skill set compared to Sproles is the reason for these picks.  The Titans have allowed just 1 rushing Touchdown, but RB’s have 42 receptions against them, which is tied for the 4th most in the NFL.

• Phenom: Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman. My top pick for a QB fill-in this week.  I like the matchup and Freeman’s skill set going against Arizona’s 27th ranked Defense.
• Flameout: Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald. Everything I’ve said about him up to this point still applies this week.  In standard formats, his highest Fantasy point output of the season has been just 10 points.

• Phenom: Patriots WR Deion Branch. Has seen more passes thrown his way than Wes Welker the past 2 weeks and Antoine Winfield (the best tackling corner in the game) covers the slot receiver in Nickel packages, leaving Branch to exploit Rookie Chris Cook, Asher Allen, or Frank Walker on the outside.
• Flameout:  DEF Minnesota. After leading the league in Sacks last season, the Vikings have just 6 through six games this year, tied for 2nd worst in the NFL.

• Phenom: Seahawks WR Mike Williams. In the past 2 games, Williams has seen 16 and 15 passes thrown his way, which he’s turned into 21 catches, 210 yards, and a TD.
• Flameout: Raiders WR Louis Murphy. Jason Campbell’s best outside target is out this week with a bruised lung (ouch), making this my Keep-An-Eye-On-The-Injury-Reports-Reminder-Of-The-Week.

• Phenom: Steelers WR Mike Wallace. Is averaging an insane 25.3 yards per reception and has scored in both games since Big Ben’s return under center.  Pittsburgh takes a few shots to him downfield every game, and they connect an awful lot.  He’s one guy I’ve been exploring trades for in my Leagues.
• Flameout: Saints QB Drew Brees. I’ve already told you how I feel about RB’s against the Steelers, but they’ve also not allowed a QB to throw for multiple Touchdowns in any game this season.

Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts

• Phenom: Colts WR Pierre Garcon. With Dallas Clark and Austin Collie out of the lineup, someone needs to step up alongside Reggie Wayne.  All roads lead to that guy being Garcon.
• Flameout: Texans RB Arian Foster. Don’t take this the wrong way, because you’re starting him, but don’t expect another 40+ point outburst like he had in week 1 this go-round with Indy.

You're Welcome.

Random Non-FF Thought of Week 8

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