Fantasy Football Quick Hits: Week 8

There’s so much happening on a week to week basis in the NFL, sometimes it’s tough to step back and look at the season as a whole instead of a weekly chaotic mess that often leaves you scrambling to overcome injuries and bye weeks. 

My goal for this article is to not only talk about players trending up and down based on their weekly performances, but also to give some insights on their overall outlook for the remainder of the 2014 season. 

Quick reminder before getting into the Quick Hits: There’s a MILLION DOLLARS going out to the 1st place finisher in Week 8.  

ONE MILLION DOLLARS. 

Click here to get in on the action.

Quarterbacks:

Drew Brees, Saints: Jimmy Graham isn't just "another" red-zone target, he's "THE" red-zone target and until he's back, Brees' stats will take a hit.

Russell Wilson, Seahawks: Two out of the last three weeks he's rushed over 100 yards...this guys a QB!!!

Tom Brady, Patriots: 7 TDs in his last three games, yup it's clear Brady "woke up"

Cam Newton, Panthers: Doesn't have "elite" weapons but makes the most of what he has plus 147 rushing yards his last two games. 

Jay Cutler, Bears: Consistency has always been Cutler's problem and now teammate Brandon Marshall is calling him out demanding for improvement. 

Matt Ryan, Falcons: Injury after injury on Atlanta's Offensive Line has Matt Ryan running for his life, problem is, Ryan can't really run/scramble.

Joe Flacco, Ravens: Posted back-to-back weeks with multi-TDs for the 1st time this year. 

Andy Dalton, Bengals: Missing AJ Green is not only hurting Dalton, but their rushing attack as well. 

Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins: Three straight weeks with 2 TDs and two out of three weeks with over 275 yards.

Robert Griffin III, Redskins Likely will be after the team's bye, Colt McCoy is now the starter. 

Geno Smith, Jets: Gets a MUCH needed upgraded at receiver with the addition of Percy Harvin. 

Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings: INTs will continue to be a problem for this rookie and destroy his fantasy points if your league has negative points for turnovers. 

Kirk Cousins, Redskins: Really have to be struggling on all new levels if you get benched for Colt McCoy.

Running Backs:

Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks: Possibly the best schedule for any RB in the next 3 weeks will quickly help owners forget his 13 combined points from the last two weeks. 

Giovani Bernard, Bengals: Week 7 was his unquestioned worst game of his career and he got BEAT UP but always popped back up which is a good sign the bite-sized Bernard can take a beating but play through it.

Andre Ellington, Cardinals: 33 total touches in Week 7 resulted in 160 total yards and RB1 type numbers in PPR. Expect similar stats going forward.

Justin Forsett, Ravens: Four straight weeks with 10 or more fantasy points in Non-PPR. Back-to-back weeks of 90 or more rushing yards.

Ahmad Bradshaw, Colts: Three straight weeks of TDs and may get even more work with Trent Richardson slightly banged up. 

Shane Vereen, Patriots: Without Stevan Ridley, we expect Vereen to remain a Top 15 RB all year.

Joique Bell, Lions: Even with Reggie Bush back in action, it's clear Bell is the unquestioned goal-line back. TDs in two straight games.

Lamar Miller, Dolphins: No Knowshon means goo things for Miller who has one TD in back to back weeks and at  least 13 points in Non-PPR leagues in four out of five games.

Ronnie Hillman, Broncos: Doing exactly what we thought Montee Ball would be doing, rushing for over 100 yards and scoring multi TDs. 

Rashad Jennings, Giants: Should be back in action once the team get back from bye in Week 9.

Alfred Morris, Redskins: Really really rough patch. Hasn't scored or gained over 60 yards since Week 4.

Chris Ivory, Jets: Expect the Jets to use Ivory as a workhorse more frequently going forward. 

Reggie Bush, Lions: Ankle injury will really hinder his production considering his game is built on speed and cutting. 

Trent Richardson, Colts: Hamstring injury will slow him down right at the time he was starting to string together some solid performances. 

Isaiah Crowell, Browns: Great upcoming schedule and the Number 2 guy behind Tate on a run dominated team.

Knile Davis, Chiefs: Perhaps the most important handcuff to have, even after a few quiet games, he can't be dropped. 

Tre Mason, Rams: Looks like a changing of the guard in the St. Louis backfield.

Steven Jackson, Falcons: Terrible offensive line isn't opening up any holes resulting in Jackson getting stuffed before he reaches the line of scrimmage. 

Denard Robinson, Jaguars: MONSTER game in Week 7 with 22 carries for an impressive 127 yards and a TD. 

Benny Cunningham, Rams: If Rookie Mason is going to get the carries, Cunningham is going to get the targets in the passing game.

Anthony Dixon, Bills: RBBC with Bryce Brown while Fred Jackson is out.

Bryce Brown, Bills: RBBC with Anthony Dixon while Fred Jackson is out.

Pierre Thomas, Saints: Likely out a few weeks (2-3) with a shoulder injury. 

Andre Williams, Giants: Didn't take advantage of the opportunity while Jennings was sidelined with an injury. 

Travaris Cadet, Saints Should see an expanded role with Pierre Thomas sidelined a few weeks. 

Fred Jackson, Bills:  Expected to miss about a month with a groin injury.

Donald Brown, Chargers: Ryan Mathews coming back and Branden Oliver playing well is bas news for Brown.

 Antone Smith, Falcons:  Wasn't getting enough touches to be a consistent/reliable option.

Wide Receivers

Jordy Nelson, Packers: Tearing through opponents on a weekly basis and on pace for 1,627 yards, 14 TDs, off of 107 receptions.

Calvin Johnson, Lions: Hasn't played since Week 5, hasn't had more than 10 fantasy points in Non-PPR since Week 1. 

Julio Jones, Falcons: Hasn’t scored since Week 3 and has just one game with over 100 yards in his last four outings. 

A.J. Green, Bengals:  Toe is reportedly getting better each day.

Golden Tate, Lions: Double digit targets and over 100 receiving yards in 3 of last 4 games.

T.Y. Hilton, Colts:  At least 5 catches in EVERY game this year, three out of last four games with over 100 yards.

Kelvin Benjamin, Panthers: Has caught a TD in four of last five games. 

Pierre Garcon, Redskins: Showed some life in Week 7 for the first time since Week 3. 

Andre Johnson, Texans: 8, 12, and 9 targets in last three games but only one TD.

Mike Wallace, Dolphins: On pace for 12 TDs thanks to scoring in 3 straight games. 

Terrance Williams, Cowboys: Hasn't caught more than 2 passes in the last three weeks but does have 2 TDs during that span.

Sammy Watkins, Bills: Best game of his young career game in Week 7 with a major confidence booster game winning TD.

Michael Crabtree, 49ers: Just 13 catches in the last four games. AWFUL

 Brian Quick, Rams: Was posting solid stats every week but that ended the last two weeks as he caught just 3 passes the last two games. 

Percy Harvin, Jets: Is it possible his stick can go up despite moving from the Seahawks to the Jets? We'll see after Week 8 how Gang Green plans to utilize the talented yet troubled Harvin.

Rueben Randle, Giants: Should continue to get double digit targets every week once the Giants return from their bye. 

Odell Beckham Jr., Giants: Great news for his fantasy stock with Eli looking to him in the red-zone (caught 2 TDs vs Dallas in Week 7).

Doug Baldwin, Seahawks: Now Seattle's number 1 receiver but need to keep in mind the Seahawks are a run first team. 

Davante Adams, Packers:  Locked in as Aaron Rodgers Number 3 Target. 

Tight Ends

Jimmy Graham, Saints: Shoulder injury may keep him active in merely a decoy type role.

Greg Olsen, Panthers: On pace to finish with the best stats of his career, three straight weeks with double digit fantasy points in Non-PPR.

Antonio Gates, Chargers: Four TDs in the last three games should come as no surprise for Philip River's favorite Red-zone target. 

Jordan Reed, Redskins: Seems fully recovered from his injury should continue to get better each week.

Dwayne Allen, Colts: Not catching a lot of passes but has scored in 5 of 7 games. 

Vernon Davis, 49ers:  Of the games he's been active he's scored just double digit fantasy points just ONCE in five outings. 

Travis Kelce, Chiefs: Targets have taken a BIG dive since his monster night vs. the Patriots. 

Charles Clay, Dolphins: Finaly found the end-zone...only took him six games. 

Jermaine Gresham, Bengals: 10 catches in Week 7, perfect time to SELL HIGH. 

Gavin Escobar, Cowboys: Has more TDs in one game than Jason Witten does all year.

Have fun and good luck in Week 8.