NFL Week 8 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (cont.)

We have been bullish on CJ2K, but it has proved to be bull-shh. This is the time to call in Pedro Cerrano from Major League: "I have trusted you, if you no help me now, I say (blank) you Jobu." The Titans have failed to resurrect their running game over the bye week and it has cost them a shot at the playoffs perhaps. Johnson just has to get going, even amid reports of poor conditioning, and the Colts are indeed the worst team in fantasy against RBs. Keep running Johnson out there, at least until he lays an egg this week. As for the passing game, the Colts are suspect there, too. It makes the likes of Matt Hasselbeck, Washington and TE Jared Cook potential stopgaps this week.

Washington at Buffalo

Start 'em

• RB Ryan Torain, TE Fred Davis, K Graham Gano

The loss of Tim Hightower (knee) for the season is initially going to be Torain's gain. Eventually, it will be Roy Helu's job. Torain will likely draw the start and he gets the sixth-worst team in fantasy against RBs. Davis assumes the role of the Redskins' leading receiver with Santana Moss (broken hand) and Chris Cooley (knee) out, so consider Davis closer to a must-start gem now, too, at the tight end position. WR Jabar Gaffney should be much improved and he is the clear choice to be the top outside threat over Anthony Armstrong.

• RB Fred Jackson, WR Steve Johnson, K Rian Lindell

Jackson is as must-start as it gets now, even if the Redskins are in the top half of fantasy against RBs. The Redskins are a lot better defense than most give them credit for, but don't sit any of your Bills because of it. This is not a bad matchup, especially playing at home.

Sit 'em

• QB John Beck, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

The Redskins and Bills looked like promising passing offenses out of the gate. We should throw that out of the window now, particularly with Beck losing a lot of his starting offensive options. Fitzpatrick remains in a quality offense, but it is mostly one geared to run now. They are less of a come-from-behind and surprise people team now. That means modest numbers for Fitzpatrick in most weeks, like it has been for the past month.

Detroit at Denver

Start 'em

• D/ST Lions, K Jason Hanson

The iffy status of Matthew Stafford (ankle) hurts everyone but Calvin Johnson in the Lions offense. It affects Brandon Pettigrew the most, and you have to downgrade Nate Burleson and Tony Scheffler as well, despite the favorable matchup. If Stafford plays, you start him and any of his receivers as needed. The Broncos offense was mostly inept last Sunday, so the Lions defense should be productive for fantasy owners here.

• QB Tim Tebow

You might not need Tebow, but he is good for at least a rushing score or two, particularly with goal-line back Willis McGahee out for a couple of weeks. Tebow is going to have a stadium full of adoring fans behind him, so this should be interesting. He really doesn't have much going with a specific receiver, so trusting Demaryius Thomas or Daniel Fells after they scored a week ago is dangerous.

Sit 'em

• RB Maurice Morris, RB Keiland Williams

Perhaps the sleepers to consider here are the time-share backs Morris and Williams, but the Broncos are fourth-best in fantasy against RBs. Morris and Williams also are deep into a time-share with Jahvid Best (concussion) still expected to be out.

• RB Knowshon Moreno, WR Eric Decker

As often happens often with QB changes, the previous primary receiver takes a significant step back. Decker fell completely off the radar with Tebow, who didn't look good running the Broncos offense until it was in the hurry-up mode. Moreno steps back into the starting lineup with McGahee down, but he does it against a Lions front that is top 10 in fantasy against RBs. Moreno is little more than a flex in this spot and you shouldn't expect much, even if the Broncos are focused on the run. This is the Tebow show now.

New England at Pittsburgh

Start 'em

• RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, TE Rob Gronkowski, TE Aaron Hernandez, K Stephen Gostkowski

The Steelers are not a defense to take advantage of, but you shouldn't be sitting any of your primary Pats options coming off the bye here. BGE figures to get a lot of work against the Steelers front that is improving but still in the bottom half of fantasy against RBs. The Steelers are toughest on QBs (fourth-best) and WRs (third), but you aren't sitting Tom Brady or Wes Welker. You shouldn't be sitting those TEs either.

• QB Ben Roethlisberger, RB Rashard Mendenhall, K Shaun Suisham

Remember when fantasy owners were complaining about Big Ben? Boy, that sure looks dumb now. He is enjoying a career year and he should have a busy day against a Pats defense that is the worst in fantasy against QBs and WRs. It is mostly because the Pats play such fast-paced, high-scoring games, but the Steelers should be able to keep up with Mike Wallace, TE Heath Miller, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders. Mendenhall slumped back below mediocrity in a favorable matchup last week, but the way you beat the Pats is run the ball at them and play keep away. This is a crucial week for Mendenhall.

Sit 'em

• WR Deion Branch, D/ST Patriots

The Steelers have a great secondary, so you should try to find a replacement for Branch at least. Also, Big Ben has curtailed his turnover woes from the early part of the season and the Pats defense has given up passing yards in bushels. The Steelers know they cannot turn the ball over and expect to keep up with Brady here, so expect them to play clean and crisp.

Cleveland at San Francisco

Start 'em

• TE Vernon Davis, WR Michael Crabtree, D/ST 49ers, K David Akers

This is going to be another great week to use the 49ers defense against a pitiful Browns offense that mustered just six points against the Seahawks. The Browns aren't particularly good on defense either, so expect continued success from improved game-manager Alex Smith and start his primary weapons in Davis and Crabtree. Frank Gore is an obvious must-start among backs, especially coming off a week of rest.

Sit 'em

• RB Montario Hardesty, RB Peyton Hillis, WR Greg Little

This is clearly a "sit all" game for the Browns. Hardesty could be a sleeper down the stretch, but Hillis might play here. Regardless, both backs will be worthless against a defense that is No. 1 in fantasy against RBs. The 49ers are not that vulnerable to the pass either, so avoid Colt McCoy and his bevy of underwhelming receivers.

Cincinnati at Seattle

Start 'em

• WR A.J. Green, TE Jermaine Gresham, K Mike Nugent, D/ST Bengals

Andy Dalton isn't yet useful outside of two-quarterback leagues, but his leading targets Green and Gresham should be used here. The Bengals defense faces a struggling Seahawks offense, which isn't good even if Tarvarvis Jackson (pectoral) returns.

Sit 'em

• RB Bernard Scott, RB Brian Leonard

The Bengals will be without Cedric Benson because of a suspension, but we should expect these two backs to share carries to the point of crippling each other for fantasy owners. Also, the Seahawks have a very underrated run defense, so there might not be much in the way of rushing yards to go around anyway. Like the Browns game a week ago, this looks like another low-scoring defensive struggle.

• RB Justin Forsett, RB Leon Washington

Marshawn Lynch is another of the starting backs who may be down and out, but the time-share behind him is going to be just like the Seahawks' fill-ins: Part-timers and not that productive. There are sleepers because of potential opportunity and waiver options because of injury, but you shouldn't be starting any of the Bengals or Seahawks in standard leagues -- unless out of necessity.

Dallas at Philadelphia

Start 'em

• RB DeMarco Murray, TE Jason Witten, K Dan Bailey

Murray is the load-carrier for the Cowboys now after his 253-yard breakthrough. He gets the first start of his career -- Tashard Choice started last week -- and Murray gets it against Eagles defense that is fourth-worst in fantasy against RBs. You probably should be starting all of your Cowboys in this expected shootout, even if Tony Romo, Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are facing those elite corners. The guess here is Murray and Witten open hot and everything opens up in this offense. The Eagles defense has been bad.

• QB Michael Vick, WR DeSean Jackson, WR Jeremy Maclin, K Alex Henery

You won't be sitting LeSean McCoy against any defense, even if the Cowboys are third-best in fantasy against the run, but you should also keep Vick, and his duo on the outside, active in this pivotal NFC East tilt.

Sit 'em

• D/ST Cowboys, D/ST Eagles

This game is a fantasy owners dream. It figures to feature plenty of fireworks and touchdowns, and they will come in prime time -- perhaps after your opponents fantasy starters are done for the week. The only real fantasy options you don't want to take a risk on here are the defenses. They might be able to force a turnover or two, but they are going to give up yards and points in offenses that have geared up for this game. The winner could be the favorite to win the NFC East in a down year. The better offense wins.

San Diego at Kansas City

Start 'em

• QB Philip Rivers, TE Antonio Gates, WR Vincent Jackson, RB Ryan Mathews, K Nick Novak, D/ST Chargers

San Diego hasn't been great offensively, perhaps because Rivers hasn't been good and Gates hasn't been healthy. They are going to break through here against the Chiefs in prime time. This is a "start all" game, even if they are on the road. The Chiefs are bottom 10 in fantasy against backs, too, so Mike Tolbert can be a useful flex in addition to Mathews being a starter for you.

• WR Dwayne Bowe, WR Steve Breaston

The Chargers are an elite secondary, sitting fourth-best in fantasy against WRs, but Matt Cassel has been healthier of late and is involved Steve Breaston more now. Plaxico Burress didn't get yards last week against the Chargers, but he did pick up scores. Consider Breaston a nice sleeper option if you are down a bye-week WR.

Sit 'em

• RB Jackie Battle, RB Thomas Jones, RB Dexter McCluster

The Chiefs woke up last week, but did it mostly with the help of a gaggle of turnovers handed to them. Rivers and the Chargers are not going to be as forthcoming. The Chargers have one of the elite defensive units in football, somewhat quietly, so don't consider any Chiefs other than Bowe and maybe Breaston. This game turning into a shootout after the Chargers get up big early might be the only way your Chiefs help you.

Eric Mack writes fantasy for SI.com, including the Start 'Em, Sit 'Em, the Weekend Fantasy Watch List and his Sunday night staple: Fantasy Football Fast Forward. If you need a further clarification on lineups this week hit him up on Twitter. You can mock him, rip him and (doubtful) praise him before asking him for fantasy advice @EricMackFantasy.