NFL Week 8 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em

It was a Red Cross Sunday in Week 7, with players going down everywhere, so there are plenty of options to pick through this week for your starting lineup. Here's some advice to heed, though: Don't trust these backups.

There were good reasons these guys weren't starters in the first place and, in almost all cases, there isn't a one-for-one swap, starter for backup. Seeing Matthew Stafford, Andre Johnson, Beanie Wells, Jahvid Best, Peyton Hillis, Mark Ingram, Willis McGahee, Felix Jones, Santana Moss, Brandon Jacobs, Joseph Addai, Marshawn Lynch, Hines Ward, Tim Hightower (on IR and out for the season) and Sam Bradford all injured would seemingly be a time to capitalize on their backups.

Nope. They merely leave a clustered mess behind.

The good news is we do get our Pats, Eagles, Giants, 49ers, Bills and Bengals back. But even that is offset by the second-toughest bye week of the season that leaves us without: Green Bay, N.Y. Jets, Atlanta, Chicago, Tampa Bay and Oakland.

Don't fret, there will be just two four-team bye weeks remaining after this one: Week 9 and 11. It should be smoother sailing from here.

For now, get your lineups set with our industry-leading Start 'Em and Sit 'Em:

Note: The obvious choices are omitted below. We focus our energy on the players you might actually be making a decision on.

New Orleans at St. Louis

Start 'em

• RB Mark Ingram, RB Darren Sproles, K John Kasay, D/ST Saints

The Rams run defense is so bad they gave up 253 yards rushing to a backup running back last Sunday. It should make for Ingram's best day yet, even if Sproles is the Saints RB to have still. Ingram is dealing with a heel issue, so watch that in case he doesn't suit up. Both backs are strong plays, and you might even get 60 yards and a score out of Pierre Thomas here, especially if Ingram cannot go. This is going to be another Saints blowout, so expect a lot of running out the clock. The Saints defense is a solid play, regardless of whom starts at quarterback for the Rams.

• RB Steven Jackson, WR Brandon Lloyd

Jackson held up very well against a very good Cowboys run defense, so you have to put him closer to the must-start category -- even if the Rams are a sad bunch. Lloyd should only get better and better, particularly if Sam Bradford (ankle) can play.

Sit 'em

• WR Robert Meachem, WR Devery Henderson

This early season power combo has fallen on hard times since the re-emergence of Marques Colston. They could sneak up and get a token touchdown or two between them, but counting on that happening with the way Drew Brees, Colston and Jimmy Graham (obvious must-starts) are jelling is a bad move. The passing game, while always first for the Saints, might take a step back and watch the running game develop here.

Jacksonville at Houston

Start 'em

• QB Matt Schaub, D/ST Texans, K Neil Rackers, TE Owen Daniels

The Jags might have nearly blanked the Ravens at home, but this road game presents a far bigger test. Arian Foster is the hottest thing going right now, and WR Andre Johnson (hamstring) has to start if he plays. He likely will, which will help Schaub stay in fantasy lineups but will force you to remove the likes of WR Jacoby Jones and WR Kevin Walter, who really weren't consistent in Johnson's absence anyway. As for the tight end, Daniels has emerged as a solid starter and the Jags are eight-worst in fantasy against TEs. You will want to use the Texans defense in any format here, too, especially against a rookie quarterback.

Sit 'em

• WR Jason Hill

Hill made some surprise catches Monday night, but he will slink back behind Mike Thomas and maybe even Mike Sims-Walker in Blaine Gabbert's pecking order. Marcedes Lewis will make more of an impact than he has down the stretch, but he still isn't a good play either. The Texans have played some very good defense; none of your non-Maurice Jones-Drew Jaguars look like favorable plays.

• RB Ben Tate

The Jags shut down the Ravens running game, and Foster doesn't figure to give up enough carries to keep Tate secondarily productive here for fantasy owners. The Jags are in the top 10 against RBs in fantasy.

Minnesota at Carolina

Start 'em

• WR Michael Jenkins

We are going to jump on the Jenkins bandwagon. Somehow, he, not Percy Harvin, is the Vikings' leading receiver. Jenkins looked solid with Christian Ponder, so it wasn't just Donovan McNabb. Visanthe Shiancoe looked a bit more productive, too, if you need a sleeper at tight end. You shouldn't like anyone other than Adrian Peterson in this Vikings offense, but perhaps Jenkins or Shiancoe can be a sleeper for you.

• QB Cam Newton, TE Greg Olsen, K Olindo Mare, D/ST Panthers

Newton did something real exciting last week -- other than winning a game: He bounced back from a slow start to have another big day. It might have been the last thing you needed to see. He makes Steve Smith a fantasy beast and uses both his tight ends Olsen and Jeremy Shockey well. Start Olsen over Shockey, but both can be useful.

Sit 'em

• QB Christian Ponder, D/ST Vikings, K Ryan Longwell

The Vikings offense showed a bit more pep against the Packers at home, but they go back out on the road here. It should make for a lot tougher game. Heck, we might even see McNabb again before this season is over. The Panthers have a decent secondary that can make life hard on a rookie passer on the road in his second NFL start.

• RB DeAngelo Williams, WR Brandon LaFell

Jonathan Stewart is looking like a better option than Williams but neither is exciting this week. Stewart at least stays productive with scores and receptions. Williams seems to disappear in the middle of the field and fails to have a fantasy impact. The Vikings are in the bottom half against RBs, but they still are not a matchup to take advantage of. LaFell resurfaced with a touchdown last week, and he can be a stopgap, but he is just too inconsistent to trust. Those balls that went to LaFell can go back to Olsen this week.

Miami at N.Y. Giants

Start 'em

• WR Brandon Marshall, RB Daniel Thomas

The Giants defense is in the bottom 10 against WRs and RBs, so Marshall and Thomas look like great plays. You should even consider Reggie Bush and Davone Bess as flex options. Matt Moore isn't even an average NFL quarterback, but the Giants are a below-average NFL defense right now and we can take advantage of what should be some garbage time for the Dolphins offense.

• QB Eli Manning, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, WR Hakeem Nicks, D/ST Giants, K Lawrence Tynes

This is a "start all" game for the Giants, who go as Manning goes. The Dolphins are fifth-worst in fantasy against QBs, so Manning figures to have a productive day. That makes all of his primary receivers viable starts, including a healthier Mario Manningham and the emerging Victor Cruz. The defense will also get Justin Tuck back, so the Dolphins will be face a strong and deep pass rush coming from a lot of different directions.

Sit 'em

• RB Brandon Jacobs

Jacobs (knee) is going to try to come back, but even if he does, he will be limited to goal-line work, you have to figure. The Giants have a brutal stretch of games coming up and they need Jacobs healthy. They are not going to waste Jacobs' bullets here on putting away the Suck for Luck Dolphins. Look elsewhere for a flex option.

Arizona at Baltimore

Start 'em

• QB Joe Flacco, WR Anquan Boldin, K Billy Cundiff, D/ST Ravens

Your Ravens are coming off a real stinker Monday night, but this matchup in a short week qualifies as a good one. You still have to start Ray Rice, despite a decent Cardinals run defense, but the opportunities to capitalize here are with the passing game. Flacco should be much better against a Cards defense that is sixth-worst against QBs, and Boldin should be active in all leagues against the third-worst team in fantasy against WRs. You might even want to take a shot on rookie Torrey Smith. After that debacle against the Jags offensively, the Ravens kick it in here.

Sit 'em

• RB Alfonso Smith, RB LaRod Stephens-Howling, QB Kevin Kolb

You cannot sit Larry Fitzgerald, but all your other Cardinals shouldn't be used here against a hungry Ravens defense. Beanie Wells (knee) is out and Smith will likely get the majority of touches in his place, but neither he nor third-down back Stephens-Howling are a good play against a Ravens defense that is No. 2 against RBs or QBs. This one could be a shutout for the Ravens D/ST.

Indianapolis at Tennessee

Start 'em

• RB Delone Carter, WR Pierre Garcon, K Adam Vinatieri

The Colts have found something with Carter, who might not start over the banged-up Joseph Addai but he will prove productive enough for fantasy owners. Carter should get the bulk of the work as the Colts evaluate for 2012. Further, the Titans are fifth-worth in fantasy against RBs. Garcon was quiet Sunday night, but this game figures to be a lot more productive for the Colts receivers, including Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark. You can start them as necessary.

• RB Chris Johnson, WR Nate Washington, K Rob Bironas