The Guru Gridiron Report: Week 8 Review & Recap

Wow was week 8 a strange week. There were many good teams and great fantasy players out on the BYE and mix that in with tough injuries to guys like Tony Romo, Steven Jackson, and Reggie Bush sent guys scrambling for backup players. When the dust settled the results were mixed, but most big name players came to play and some new guys like rookie Donnie Avery came and showed his stuff. Let's analyze player values through week 8.

(Note: We missed week 7 with The True Guru down with the flu, so are new FVR values do reflect week 7 as well.)

Quarterbacks

Jay Cutler - EVEN FVR: 8.9

Hopefully the BYE will help him with the nagging injuries, but he has been in a slow decline since week 2. There is talk of benching him for others in some fantasy leagues.

Derek Anderson UPGRADED FVR: 8.0

Anderson is slowly doing better. 246 yards and a TD is another big step for him improving and being the QB we expect him to be. Its worth noting he did it against a great defense as well.

Gus Frerotte EVEN FVR: 7.0

He threw a TD and had one big play in this game to Berrian. He is at best a desperation BYE week start.

Philip Rivers UPGRADED FVR: 9.4

Rivers does two things well, throw TDs and lose. Whatever he does, he is an outstanding fantasy QB.

Tony Romo EVEN FVR: 8.9

Inured. Out till week 11.

Aaron Rodgers EVENFVR 8.9

BYE WEEK.

Jake Delhomme UPGRADED FVR: 8.4
Another solid game for Jake and he is really getting his chemistry back with Steve Smith.

Drew Brees EVEN FVR: 9.6

Another great game for Brees. He is one of the best fantasy QBs.


Donovan McNabb UPGRADED FVR: 8.6
He's getting back weapons and looking good. He rushed one him, but didn't throw any. Still, a good game.


J.T. O'Sullivan DOWNGRADED FVR: 6.0
He is no longer the starter for the 49ers. We expected this. Our favorite all year was Shaun Hill. Get him now.


Matt Schaub UPGRADED FVR: 8.7
Another great game for Schaub. He has the weapons and is really building chemistry.


Jason Campbell UPGRADED FVR: 8.4

Still needs more TDs, but he's getting the yards.

Matt Cassel UPGRADED FVR: 7.8
Needs to cut down on the INTs, but not a bad game overall. Still a backup fantasy QB.

Kurt Warner UPGRADED FVR: 9.5
381 yards and 2 TDs on the road. Pray he stays healthy.

Matt Hasselbeck EVEN FVR 7.2 LOOK TO TRADE
Injured.

Brett Farve - DOWNGRADED FVR: 8.5
Farve is throwing way too many INTs and not enough TDs. He had 2 this week, but against tougher defenses he would have had a terrible week. We were very high on Farve coming in and we can only hope the second half of the season produces better results.


David Garrard UPGRADED FVR: 8.0

Great week for Garrard, 283 yards and 2 TDs. As we expected he is in mid-season form and looking good.

Trent Edwards DOWNGRADED FVR: 7.7
Not the best on the road and should only be started at home and as your second QB.


Runningbacks


Marion Barber DOWNGRADED FVR: 9.1

He needs Romo back. The Cowboys just aren't moving the ball.


Steve Slaton EVEN FVR: 8.7

He didn't have much of a game, but remains a great runningback.


Reggie Bush EVEN FVR: 9.0
Injured for 2 to 4 weeks.


Tim Hightower UPGRADED FVR: 8.4 LOOK TO ACQUIRE
He got a TD and not much else. Not a bad 3rd RB if you need one.

Ronnie Brown - DOWNGRADED FVR: 8.4
We were expecting this decline. Expect more.

Matt Forte EVEN FVR: 8.8
BYE WEEK


Michael Turner DOWNGRADED FVR: 8.5
Turner is one of the top runners in the league, but lacks consistency Great game, good game, bad game, etc..

Ryan Grant EVEN FVR: 7.1 LOOK TO TRADE
BYE WEEK

Thomas Jones UPGRADED FVR: 8.5
Jones had a solid week and scored another TD.

Jonathon Stewart EVEN FVR: 6.9
Another tough week for Stewart.

Steven Jackson DOWNGRADED FVR: 8.6
Jackson was out with a quad injury. Hopefully its a one week injury.

Leon Washington UPGRADED FVR: 7.4
Big game. 2 TDs and he runs back punts.

Leonard Weaver UPGRADED FVR: 6.8
2 TDs for Seattle on passes nonetheless. Keep an eye on him, but don't get too excited.

Sammy Morris DOWNGRADED FVR 7.4
Out with Knee injury.

Wide Receiver

Terrell Owens DOWNGRADED FVR: 8.9
Wow. First double coverage, then no Romo. Now, Johnson stinks.



Donnie Avery UPGRADED FVR: 8.0
Quickly he is becoming Bulger's new friend and main target.

Kevin Walters UPGRADED FVR: 8.3
Very inconsistent, but another huge game with 2 TDs.

Jerricho Cotchery EVEN FVR: 8.7
Had a solid game, but no TDs. Still, he's Farve's favorite target.


Plaxico Buress DOWNGRADED FVR: 8.2 Look To Trade
Another bad week. Almost didn't play.

Andre Johnson UPGRADED FVR: 9.2
Another big game. He should continue to climb.

Torry Holt EVEN FVR: 6.0 LOOK TO TRADE
Its almost like he's not there.

DeSean Jackson DOWNGRADED FVR: 8.4
He had an OK game, but he is getting downgraded with the return of Westbrook, Curtis, and eventually Brown.


Greg Jennings EVEN FVR: 9.5
BYE WEEK

Roy Williams UPGRADED FVR: 8.1
He got his first TD as a Cowboy and is getting more reps.

Donald Driver EVEN FVR: 8.2
BYE WEEK

Braylon Edwards DOWNGRADED FVR 8.7
Needs to get open more and Anderson has to improve.

Randy Moss EVEN FVR: 8.4 LOOK TO TRADE
Coming off of last weeks game he's still Moss.

Larry Fitzgerald EVEN FVR: 9.7
Boldin got the TDs, but Fitzgerlad got the yards.

Steve Breaston UPGRADE FVR: 8.0
He may be #3, but 9 catches and 100+ yards says he is still a fantasy WR.

Tight Ends

Mercedes Lewis EVEN FVR: 7.8
We like this guy and as Garrard get hotter, so will Lewis. Caught a long TD in week 6.

Antonio Gates EVEN FVR: 9.5
Back to #1 in Tight Ends for Gates.


Jason Witten DOWNGRADED FVR: 8.5
No Romo and now some bad ribs. Big drop.


Dustin Keller EVEN FVR: 6.1
Where was this guy week 6?

John Carlson DOWNGRADED FVR: 7.9
Not much activity for Carlson this week.

Tony Gonzalez UPGRADED FVR: 8.6

Had a big game against the Jets and caught a TD.

Chris Cooley EVEN FVR: 8.8
6 catches and some yards. Not a bad day.

Visanthe Shiancoe EVEN FVR: 7.2
BYE WEEK