If you’re like me, your team is hovering at an even record, getting wins by the skin of its teeth or losing in a blowout, even to teams without Peyton Manning or Jamaal Charles. It’s time to make a stand – time to prove we can compete with the top flight teams.
And to do so – especially during a crucial bye week, with six teams getting a breather – will mean getting some much-needed, big-time points from players who are normally on your bench or the waiver wire. The stats have been checked, the matchups have been studied and the footage has been watched – albeit, thanks to the NFL Red Zone Network. So now it’s time to take control of your league and either go big or go home.
Here are five week 8 sleepers:
Ed Miller is a contributor for CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @PhillyEdMiller or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Week 8 Sleepers
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Pittsburgh Defense
The Steelers’ defense is starting to come around this season. No, really, it is! After a solid week against Baltimore, Pittsburgh heads to Oakland to face another stalling offense – Oakland. The Raiders have given up the sixth most fantasy points to defenses this season and there might just be a few interceptions in this one. Use them if they’re available.
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Carson Palmer QB - Arizona
A lot of fantasy owners passed on Palmer during the draft, which might just mean he’s available in your league but if not we hope you’ve had him riding the pine. The veteran has eight touchdown passes and 13 interceptions this season and has thrown for 1,741 yards. This week, the Cardinals will face off against Atlanta – a team that has allowed the fifth most fantasy points to quarterbacks and 268 yards per game in the air. He’s a lock.
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Jordan Reed TE - Washington
Did Reed get a little banged up against Chicago last week? Yes. But even if he’s not quite 100 percent, he’s still better than Fred Davis, who has disappeared this season. Last week Reed had nearly 20 fantasy points and with Davis a potential health scratch yet again versus Denver – a team that has allowed a lot of fantasy points to tight ends – Robert Griffin III will surely want to get the ball to Reed – because let’s face it, RGIII loves his tight ends.
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Peyton Hillis RB - New York Giants
In his first week with the Giants, Hillis had 81 total yards and a touchdown against a lowly Minnesota defense but he’s a hot commodity these days. While he admitted to being a little out of shape after the contest, Hillis proved to be a worthy goal line back during his 23 touches. We expect Big Blue to use him more this week against Philadelphia, a defense that gives up plenty of yards – and fantasy points.
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Terrance Williams WR - Dallas
It might not be fair to call this guy a sleeper anymore, having scored a touchdown in the last three consecutive games. He’s become a big go-to target for Tony Romo and that shouldn’t change this week, against a Detroit team that has allowed the sixth most fantasy points to receivers this season. There’s 10 points in his future this week – book it.
