Winslow will score his first TD of the year this week
Week 8 has some great matchups for Fantasy Guru’s to exploit! There will also be some big question marks. The biggest question out there is Indy’s Jacob Tamme. Can he become the Dallas Clark type of TE that fantasy owners drool over? My thought is that it will take some time, and this week will be a struggle. (Imagine the pressure on him to perform! Yikes..) If your looking for a go to guy this week, I think Cooley and Witten have the most potential. Yes, I know those guys are already on someone else’s fantasy team… So how about Kellen Winslow or Tony Moeaki?? Or if you have the guts to gamble with Peyton Manning as your Ace in the hole try Tamme and prove me wrong!
1) Antonio Gates – SDC – TE, vs. Tennessee Titans, Sun 4:05 PM
Gates played injured last week and still had 4 catches, 50yds and 1TD… Look for a healthy Gates to do more damage this week. He’s the top stud for a reason! Start’em and don’t think twice.
2) Zach Miller – OAK – TE, vs. Seattle Seahawks, Sun 4:15 PM
Miller has continued to produce week after week. Last week he pulled in 3 catches for 65yds and 1TD. Although he has a tough matchup this week against Seattle, I expect that the Raiders will continue to look for Miller. Start him, but be prepared for a possible bust. He’s one of the best TE’s out there, so you need to let him start!
3) Chris Cooley – WAS – TE, at Detroit Lions, Sun 1:00 PM
Cooley continues to have a great year (thanks again Donovan) and he should have a great week against the Lions! Detriot is coming off their BYE Week rested, but their focus will be on stopping Ryan Torrain leaving Cooley alone for lots of damage. Must start in all formats.
4) Vernon Davis – SFO – TE, vs. Denver Broncos, Sun 1:00 PM
VD has worked his way up to be the 3rd best TE so far this season (thanks to injuries too). He had a good game last week with 4 catches, 74yds and 1TD. With Alex Smith sidelined, VD could become the check down guy that Troy Smith needs this week. Look for similar numbers as last week, which is a must start!
5) Jason Witten – DAL – TE, vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Sun 1:00 PM
Witten has started to re-emerge since his BYE week a few weeks back. He had a great week 7 catching 9 passes for 95yds and 1TD against a tough Giants D. Although Romo will be out, look for Witten to continue to emerge in the offense as the running game continues to struggle. Witten faces a weak Jags D this week which screams “Must Start in all Formats!”
6) Kellen Winslow – TAM – TE, at Arizona Cardinals, Sun 4:15 PM
Winslow still hasn’t found the endzone in 2010, but he has been a consistent TE thusfar. I expect that this will be the week that he will find the endzone (At least once!!) against a poor Cardinals team. Start’em with ease and wait for him to explode!
7) Brandon Pettigrew – DET – TE, vs. Washington Redskins, Sun 1:00 PM
Pettigrew has slowly emerged as a starting fantasy TE this year, thanks to a more balanced offensive attack. With a BYE week to prepare for the Skins, and Javid Best expected to be healthy, BP could have a great week. If you need a replacement this week, BP is your guy! Start em and watch as the Lions beat the Skins.
8) Heath Miller – PIT – TE, at New Orleans Saints, Sun 8:20 PM
Miller hasn’t exactly caught fire since Big Ben returned, but he is a viable fantasy option who will get his fair share of targets. I expect that this will be a tough week for the Steelers, and Mike Wallace may steal the TD show, but Miller is worth starting in all formats.
9) Aaron Hernandez – NEP – TE, vs. Minnesota Vikings, Sun 4:15 PM
Double A has continued to play well and he has been on the field a ton! His PPR value is much higher than his TD value (due to Gronkowski’s red zone abilities) but he is absolutely worth starting. I expect that Brady and company will want to prove a point to Moss and his new team as they battle it out this week, and Double A could be a big part of that.
10) Dustin Keller – NYJ – TE, vs. Green Bay Packers, Sun 1:00 PM
Keller has finally been noticed by defenses!! Scouting teams are making their DKeller the red zone focus, and Green Bay will be no exception. He does still have PPR value and is worth a starting spot, but I woudn’t expect to many TD’s in his near future.
11) Jermaine Gresham – CIN – TE, vs. Miami Dolphins, Sun 1:00 PM
Gresham and the Bengals have become a moster passing attack team. Look for that to continue as long as C. Palmer is healthy and able to throw the rock. Unfortunately there are too many chiefs on offense, and with Ocho and TO screaming for the ball, Gresham becomes a third option at best. Look for 5 catches 47yds and maybe a TD if he’s lucky.
12) Visanthe Shiancoe – MIN – TE, at New England Patriots, Sun 4:15 PM
Shaincoe could be the biggest beneficairy of the Moss addition. He needs a healthy B Farve to have value, and that isn’t looking too good. I expect that the Vikes will use AP for most of the game this week in order to keep Brady off the field. But the Pats secondary is horrible which could prove to be beneficial for Shiancoe. He’s a shaky start this week, and I would look for better options.
13) Tony Moeaki – KAN – TE, vs. Buffalo Bills, Sun 1:00 PM
Moeaki has continued to play well, and with D Bowe attracting the coverage, he should continue to perform. I love his matchup this week, but I am nervous about his targets. Look for an all out brawl this week against the Bills, in what should be a great game to watch. (Yes, I said it.. The Bills may be worth watching this week thanks to their reinvented offense.) Clock management will limit Moeaki’s fantasy potential this week, and may not be worth the starting spot.
14) Jacob Tamme – IND – TE, vs. Houston Texans, Mon 8:30 PM
Is there another guy this week in the NFL with more pressure to succeed than Tamme? Maybe A. Gonzalez, but that’s about it! I expect this rematch to be another good game, but I can’t reccomend starting a TE who is unproved, super nervous, and all hyped up against a key divisional rival. Enough said! (But if he available on your waiver wire, make your move and stash him for later! He will be good down the stretch if Manning continues to be healthy!)
15) Marcedes Lewis – JAC – TE, at Dallas Cowboys, Sun 1:00 PM
Marcedes has been more like a Chevy truck. Not the best looking TE, but he is rugged and dependable. Look for another game like last week, 3 catches 44yds and 1TD. Worthy of a start? That depends on your other options. I don’t think I would settle for the Chevy until the snow flies, there are better options until then.
16) Jeremy Shockey – NOR – TE, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Sun 8:20 PM
Shockey and company haven’t been playing well lately. With Brees under lots of pressure this week mentally and physically, the Steelers D may prevail. Shockey is more valuable to the Saints as a blcoking TE than a catching TE which leaves me with little choice but to say “avoid him”.
17) Donald Lee – GRE – TE, at New York Jets, Sun 1:00 PM
Lee has a chance to prove himself now that Finley is done for the year. The Jets D will have someting to say about that! Expect another game like last week, 2 catches for 30yds. Not a viable fantasy starter yet until he proves himself.
18) John Carlson – SEA – TE, at Oakland Raiders, Sun 4:15 PM
Carlson is one of those could have been, should have been guys. He had 1 reception for 3yds last week, enough said! Keep him on waivers unless you know something that I don’t….
19) Fred Davis – WAS – TE, at Detroit Lions, Sun 1:00 PM
Freddy may be coming to town this weekend, but it won’t be Davis! Cooley will continue to steal the TE show for the Skins. If Cooley were to go down, then Davis would have some fantasy value, but I can say that about 200 guys. Keep him on waivers.
20) Rob Gronkowski – NEP – TE, vs. Minnesota Vikings, Sun 4:15 PM
Gronkowski is loaded with potential!! He is a TD machine that only gets warmed up for looks each week. He could hold some value in heavy TD scoring leagues this week, but his limited “on the field” playing time makes his almost useless for fantasy teams. If Double A were to get hurt, then Rob could be a nice value fill-in.
21) Anthony Fasano – MIA – TE, at Cincinnati Bengals, Sun 1:00 PM
Fasano is a talented guy on a team with a stud WR. His limited targets will lead to 40yds per week with the occasional TD. That’s not the fantasy value that most of us can afford to gamble with. Keep him out of your lineups unless your desperate. (Although I do think that his match-up this week could have some potential for a big week.. Way too risky for my portfolio!)
22) Owen Daniels – HOU – TE, at Indianapolis Colts, Mon 8:30 PM
Daniels is another guy who hasn’t seen the endzone this year!! Look for that to change this week unless Foster and A Johnson dominate the offense. I don’t think OD is a viable starting fantasy TE, but I do see the potential this week against the Colts. (Another big gamble that most of us can’t afford to roll the dice on!)
23) Shawn Nelson – BUF – TE, at Kansas City Chiefs, Sun 1:00 PM
Shawn Nelson… who?? Ryan Fitzpatrick deserves the credit in Buffalo!! He has played phenominal considering the offense he has, and he has helped Lee Evans, Steve Johnson, and Shawn Nelson all become guys worth considering for fantasy potential. Of the three, Nelson has the least amount of value. Keep him on waivers!
24) Tony Scheffler – DET – TE, vs. Washington Redskins, Sun 1:00 PM
Scheffler has managed to keep his name on the radar even as Pettigrew steals the TE show in Detriot. I don’t expect him to have any fantasy starting value until (and/or if) BP gets hurt. Keep an eye on BP and get ready to pounce if he were to go down!
25) Evan Moore – CLE – TE
Moore is ranked within the top 20 TE’s for receiving yards this year, due to his big play abilities. He seems to be one of those guys that catches 1 or 2 25+yd passes a game and yet he doesn’t score or have any fantasy value. Hmm… Potential is there, but I can’t see him becoming relevant for fantasy teams.
26) Bo Scaife – TEN – TE, at San Diego Chargers, Sun 4:05 PM
27) Billy Bajema – STL – TE, vs. Carolina Panthers, Sun 1:00 PM
28) David Thomas – NOR – TE, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Sun 8:20 PM
29) Daniel Graham – DEN – TE, at San Francisco 49ers, Sun 1:00 PM
30) Daniel Fells – STL – TE, vs. Carolina Panthers, Sun 1:00 PM
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