Hot or Not - Week 8 (Finally start Matt Stafford and Jon Stewart)

In last week's picks, we were 13-5. You're welcome if you started Todd Heap and Dwayne Bowe or if you benched Donald Driver and both Miami RBs. However, my deepest apologies if you benched Matt Ryan and started Ben Watson. It's looking like Ricky Williams is the better back in Miami, and he could start taking over Brown. If you own both backs, you need something to budge because both have to be benched with just 10 carries per game.

HOT


QBs


Matt Stafford (DET QB) vs. WAS 4
Matt Stafford is back and fully healthy after the bye. We hope you picked him up early enough because Stafford's upcoming schedule is easier than getting into the University of Phoenix. He probably would have played in week seven if the Lions weren't on a bye. He's been dropping 70-yard bombs in practice, so he should take full advantage of Megatron as well as Pettigrew, Scheffler, Burleson, and Best. Washington has been making opposing QBs look good all season (except for Hall's 4 picks from Cutler last week.) With Flacco, Ryan, Cutler, Eli, and Vick/Kolb on a bye and Romo injured, Stafford is a top ten option this week.


Ryan Fitzpatrick (BUF QB) vs. KC 17
Is Fitzpatrick the more valuable Fitz this year? Larry Fitzgerald has only one 10 point game all year. Of all QBs in the league, Ryan Fitzpatrick is averaging the most fantasy points per game - more than Peyton, Rivers, and Rodgers. The matchup is average, but Fitzpatrick is bordering on every-week-starter status. So feel free to plug him in!

Jon Kitna vs. JAC 2
When Romo went down early last week, Kitna stepped in and looked like Shitna. However, he hasn't played a down in the NFL in years and barely gets practice time with the starters. You saw his play slowly improve through this single game (making effective use of Dez Bryant on two TDs). Imagine what he could do with a full week of practice with all these weapons. Plus, he gets a perfect first matchup against the jankity Jaguars. I can't really recommend plugging in Kitna as a top option, but if you're staring at some scary options this Halloween weekend, go with Kitna. He may surprise you.

RBs


Beanie Wells (ARZ RB) vs. TB 7
As mentioned in the Matchups column, Hightower's fumbles have landed him in the doghouse. This gives Wells the opportunity to exploit a good matchup and finally live up to your draftday expectations.

Jon Stewart (CAR RB) vs. STL 19
DeAngelo Williams is a game-time decision and many are tentatively guessing that Williams will sit. Thus, this could be a big weekend for guys named Jon Stewart, with the Rally To Restore Sanity on Saturday, and Jon Stewart's first start of the season on Sunday. If Williams plays, do not start Stewart; he's been crap all season. But if you've patiently held onto Stewart all year, now's your chance to plug him in your flex and he won't disappoint.

Donald Brown / Mike Hart (IND RBs) vs. HOU 10 
Here's another injury situation to monitor. On the off chance that Addai suits up, I can't really play anybody because you'd think Addai will be on a limited snapcount so no one will get enough carries to be a fantasy asset. Assuming Addai sits, you will either be shouting, "What can Brown do for you!?!" or "My Hart will go on!" If Brown practices Saturday and can suit up for MNF, he'd be the featured back. If not, Hart will be the featured back. In this matchup, whoever plays should be in fantasy lineups. We may not know until Monday, so it's risky to wait unless you have both backs. Pick up Brown and Hart if they're available and monitor the health of this backfield closely over the next few days.

Marshawn Lynch (SEA RB) vs. OAK 4
After two okay games on a new team, Lynch might be an RB2 must start, or maybe he's a borderline flex play. Either way, start him with confidence this week against Oakland. If I were a betting man, which I am, I'd bet against Oakland putting up 59 points again. Assuming Seattle is not blown out, Lynch will get the rock plenty and do some damage against Oakland's soft run D.

Ryan Torain (WAS RB) vs. DET 1
What a beautiful matchup for my favorite waiver wire wonder. 


WRs

Dez Bryant (DAL WR) vs. JAC 1
Bryant had his break-out game last week while Roy Williams became an afterthought. I'm not sure Williams will continue to just be an afterthought, but I'm starting a Dallas WR this week besides Miles Austin, it's gotta be Bryant. (On a side note, Austin-owners should not panic too much about his horrible outting with Kitna at the helm. Kitna had a hard time getting deep and Austin's value surely takes a little hit, but after a week of practice, I expect Austin to at least be a WR2, so you have to start him.) Bryant and Kitna showed good chemistry, so start him in this wonderfully generous matchup.

Pierre Garcon (IND WR) vs. HOU 2
I have a Team Pierre in one league with Pierre Garcon and Pierre Thomas. Needless to say, I suffered through some rough weeks early in the season. But with Garcon back, at least half my Pierre duo is solid. With Austin Collie and Dallas Clark out, Garcon will see double digit targets. 10+ targets from a guy named Peyton Manning make Garcon a terrific start in MNF. And with an awful secondary, Houston will make this Haitian look like a hero. 


TEs

Jacob Tamme (IND TE) vs. HOU 2
I can't recommend starting Tamme over any serviceable options, but if you're in a bind, Tamme is a nice upside play. He could see a good amount of targets, but of course he's no Dallas Clark. Still in this generous matchup, don't be surprised if Tamme catches 4 for 60.

Tony Moeaki (KC TE) vs. BUF 1
Buffalo made Todd Heap look incredible. Dwayne Bowe looks to be taking over Moeaki's role as the top target on this team. But Moeaki is worth a start in this matchup.

NOT HOTs Coming Later on Friday.