Don's Week 8 Rankings

QUARTERBACKS
1. Tom Brady vs WAS
2. Peyton Manning at CAR
3. Eli Manning at MIA*
4. Ben Roethlisberger at CIN
5. Carson Palmer vs PIT
6. Brian Griese vs DET
7. Derek Anderson vs STL
8. Donovan McNabb at MIN
9. Brett Favre at DEN
10. Philip Rivers vs HOU
11. Jay Cutler vs GB
12. Marc Bulger at CLE
13. Drew Brees at SF
14. Jon Kitna at CHI
15. Vince Young vs OAK
16. Jason Campbell at NE
17. Jeff Garcia vs JAX
18. Chad Pennington vs BUF
19. Cleo Lemon vs NYG*
20. Daunte Culpepper at TEN

* The NYG-MIA game is in London, England. FYI – The Dolphins will be designated as the home team.

NOTES: Check the injury status of Vince Young (right quad). He was announced the starter this week by coach Jeff Fisher, but you might want to confirm that on game day just to play it safe.

Donovan McNabb has not done much outside of his monster game against Detroit last month, but he faces one of the worst pass defenses in the league, at least statistically, on Sunday.

Carson Palmer would normally rank ahead of Ben Roethlisberger, but Pittsburgh’s defense is much more likely to keep Palmer in check than Cincinnati’s defense against Roethlisberger.

RUNNING BACKS
1. LaDainian Tomlinson vs HOU
2. Willie Parker at CIN
3. Adrian Peterson vs PHI
4. Marshawn Lynch at NYJ
5. Brian Westbrook at MIN
6. Frank Gore vs NO
7. Reggie Bush at SF
8. Brandon Jacobs at MIA*
9. LenDale White vs OAK
10. Kevin Jones at CHI
11. Joseph Addai at CAR
12. Thomas Jones vs BUF
13. Travis Henry vs GB
14. Earnest Graham vs JAX
15. Maurice Jones-Drew at TB
16. Jamal Lewis vs STL
17. Cedric Benson vs DET
18. Jesse Chatman vs NYG*
19. Clinton Portis at NE
20. Laurence Maroney vs WAS
21. Steven Jackson at CLE
22. LaMont Jordan at OAK
23. Fred Taylor at TB
24. Kenny Watson vs PIT
25. DeShaun Foster vs IND
26. DeAngelo Williams vs IND
27. Ahman Green at SD
28. DeShawn Wynn at DEN
29. Rudi Johnson vs PIT
30. Kenton Keith at CAR
31. Jason Wright vs STL
32. Derrick Ward at MIA*
33. Michael Bennett vs JAX
34. Kevin Faulk vs WAS
35. Dominic Rhodes at TEN
36. Najeh Davenport at CIN
37. Selvin Young vs GB
38. Chris Henry vs OAK
39. Adrian Peterson vs DET
40. Greg Jones at TB

NOTES: Check the injury status of Frank Gore (ankle), Brandon Jacobs (knee), Travis Henry (ribs), Maurice Jones-Drew (knee), Jamal Lewis (foot), Steven Jackson (groin) and Rudi Johnson (hamstring).

Gore has downplayed the severity of his injury so it looks like he’ll play. Henry bruised his ribs in Sunday’s game, but should play. Selvin Young could see some more carries, however.

MJD suffered a mild sprain of his knee and barring any setbacks will be okay to play, but will his carries be limited is the question? Greg Jones might see a few more carries and possibly be featured at the goal line.

Jamal Lewis missed Cleveland’s game before its bye week. All indications are that Lewis will play this week, but Jason Wright would get the start otherwise.

Steven Jackson has a really good chance to play according to coach Scott Linehan. Brian Leonard’s role will be significantly reduced if Jackson plays.

Rudi Johnson did not practice on Wednesday and considering how well Kenny Watson has played in his absence, the team probably won’t rush back Johnson.

WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Randy Moss vs WAS
2. Reggie Wayne at CAR
3. Steve Smith vs IND
4. Plaxico Burress at MIA*
5. Chad Johnson vs PIT
6. T.J. Houshmandzadeh vs PIT
7. Braylon Edwards vs STL
8. Laveranues Coles vs BUF
9. Kevin Curtis at MIN
10. Donald Driver at DEN
11. Hines Ward at CIN
12. Torry Holt at CLE
13. Santonio Holmes at CIN
14. Roy Williams at CHI
15. Wes Welker vs WAS
16. Brandon Marshall vs GB
17. Joey Galloway vs JAX
18. Jerricho Cotchery vs BUF
19. Marvin Harrison at CAR
20. Donte Stallworth vs WAS
21. Lee Evans at NYJ
22. Bernard Berrian vs DET
23. Marques Colston at SF
24. Reggie Brown at MIN
25. Greg Jennings at DEN
26. Calvin Johnson at CHI
27. Chris Chambers vs HOU
28. Ronald Curry at TEN
29. Ike Hilliard vs JAX
30. Muhsin Muhammad vs DET
31. Marty Booker vs NYG*
32. Andre Davis at SD
33. Amani Toomer at MIA*
34. Kevin Walter at SD
35. Vincent Jackson vs HOU
36. Brandon Stokley vs GB
37. Roydell Williams vs OAK
38. Derek Hagan vs NYG*
39. Shaun McDonald at CHI
40. Arnaz Battle vs NO

NOTES: Kevin Curtis ranks so high because of Minnesota’s propensity to give up yards in the passing game.

Marvin Harrison (knee) does not appear to be 100 percent, but still warrants top-20 consideration.

Lee Evans still has not scored a touchdown this season, but caught a long pass of 54 yards last week and could be poised for a breakout game against the Jets.

The recently-acquired Chris Chambers figures to steal some looks away from Vincent Jackson, but neither makes a great play with LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates around.

Derek Hagan is the super sleeper of the week, although the Giants’ secondary has played much better after getting torched by Tony Romo and Brett Favre in their first two games of the season.

TIGHT ENDS
1. Antonio Gates vs HOU
2. Dallas Clark at CAR
3. Kellen Winslow vs STL
4. Jeremy Shockey at MIA*
5. Heath Miller at CIN
6. Greg Olsen vs DET
7. Chris Cooley at NE
8. Owen Daniels at SD
9. Desmond Clark vs DET
10. Eric Johnson at SF
11. Vernon Davis vs NO
12. Kyle Brady vs WAS
13. Randy McMichael at CLE
14. Jeff King vs IND
15. Donald Lee at DEN
16. Bo Scaife vs OAK
17. Tony Scheffler vs GB
18. Marcedes Lewis at TB
19. Zach Miller at TEN
20. David Martin vs NYG*

NOTES: Tony Scheffler sprained his ankle last week so his status is up in the air for Monday Night’s game against Green Bay. Bump him up several spots if he plays.

Zach Miller could be a sleeper this week, he had his most productive game of the season last week against Kansas City and has been getting more looks as of late.

Kyle Brady’s ranking is based on the assumption that Ben Watson (ankle) will not play versus Washington.

KICKERS
1. Adam Vinatieri
2. Stephen Gostkowski
3. Robbie Gould
4. Phil Dawson
5. Rob Bironas
6. Kris Brown
7. Jeff Reed
8. Nate Kaeding
9. Lawrence Tynes
10. Jason Elam
11. David Akers
12. John Kasay
13. Shayne Graham
14. Mason Crosby
15. Shaun Suisham
16. Jason Hanson
17. Jeff Wilkins
18. Joe Nedney
19. Matt Bryant
20. Jay Feely

NOTES: Still high on Jeff Reed considering he has a total of just one field goal attempt (50-yarder that he missed) in the last three games. He will have a big game in terms of field goals sooner than later.

DEF/ST
1. New York Giants at MIA*
2. Tennessee vs OAK
3. San Diego vs HOU
4. Chicago vs DET
5. New England vs WAS
6. Indianapolis at CAR
7. Tampa Bay vs JAX
8. Minnesota vs PHI
9. Philadelphia at MIN
10. Jacksonville at TB
11. Green Bay at DEN
12. Pittsburgh at CIN
13. Denver vs GB
14. New Orleans at SF
15. Cleveland vs STL
16. Buffalo at NYJ
17. Carolina vs IND
18. Washington at NE
19. San Francisco vs NO
20. Detroit at CHI

NOTES: The Giants DEF has been on fire since giving up 80 points over the first two games of the season.

New Orleans DEF has been playing much better of late and could have a productive fantasy game against the struggling 49ers.