Week 8 Studs and Duds
Each week, the CappersPicks.com fantasy football guru Dave B brings you players you need to be paying attention to – Remember – fantasy football championships are often won by those who live eat and breath fantasy football.
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Week 8 is almost in the books and as per usual, we had some extraordinary offensive performances. This week there are a few New Studs and a few of the reliable Studs turned into Duds.
Enjoy Dave B’s Week 8 Studs and Duds and by all means, leave a message to tell me what you think.
Studs of the Week:
David Gerrard – Jacksonville Jaguars – Absolutely insane numbers this week for Gerrard. He was responsible for all 35 points that the Jaguars scored. Gerrard passed for four touchdowns on 260 yards passing and was able to rumble for a score on the ground for a total of five touchdowns on the day.
Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions – Calvin was a happy boy once Matthew Stafford returned from injury as proven by his nine catches, 101 yards and three touchdowns. The dude just keeps getting it done no matter who starts at quarterback. It’s hard not to like this Stud.
Other Studs:
QBs
Kyle Orton – Denver Broncos – Orton may not have won his game but he held his team in it yet again despite a brutal running game. Orton had another 369 yards passing on the afternoon and continues to be a fixture on the Studs list.
Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions – Welcome back Mr. Stafford! 272 yards and four touchdowns make it look like you haven’t missed a minute this season.
Philip Rivers – San Diego Chargers – Rivers just keeps getting it done this season. Ho-hum – another 305 yards passing and two touchdowns has Rivers on the Studs list….. Again!
Honourable Mention: Jason Campbell – Oakland Raiders
RBs
Jamaal Charles – Kansas City Chiefs – Charles was an absolute monster for the Chiefs in Week 8. 177 yards rushing and another 61 yards receiving is an absolutely huge day!
Maurice Jones-Drew – Jacksonville Jaguars – MJD is heating up and is getting more involved every week. He had 148 combined yards against the Cowboys on Sunday although, like Charles, failed to reach pay dirt.
Frank Gore – San Francisco 49ers – Gore had a Studworthy 30 touches in Week 8 for 125 combined yards. His work allowed the 49ers to get their second win of the season in Jolly Old England.
LaGarrette Blount – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – He started slowly in Week 8 but he owned the second half of his game. All told, this Waiver Wire target this week had 120 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the day.
Honourable Mention: Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings
WRs
Mike Sims-Walker – Jacksonville Jaguars – Sims-Walker has been virtually invisible so far this season but Sunday’s effort has him back on the fantasy radar. Welcome to the Stud column Mr. Sims-Walker, 8 catches, 153 yards and a touchdown makes you a definite Stud. 
Brandon Lloyd – Denver Broncos – Lloyd has been no stranger to the Stud list this season even though he plays on a losing team. 169 yards on 7 catches with one touchdown has you on the Stud list again.
Antonio Gates – San Diego Chargers – Gates now lead the NFL in touchdowns and is as Studly as they come. He caught five more balls for 123 yards and a touchdown in Week 8
Honourable Mention: Steve Breaston – Arizona Cardinals
Duds of the Week:
Ryan Torain – Washington Redskins – Torain did a have a receiving touchdown but many had him as a Top 10 play this week. Against a brutal Detroit defense, Torain managed just 10 yards rushing on nine carries. Three catches for 19 yards is little consolation!
Marshawn Lynch – Seattle Seahawks – Against the NFL’s worst run defense, Lynch had seven yards on nine carries. This was supposed to be his week to light it up, not to end up Dud of the Week!
Randy Moss – Minnesota Vikings – So much was made of his return to Foxboro but 1 catch for 8 yards? You are a deserved Dud of the Week!
Other Duds:
QBs
Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers – 170 yards passing and no touchdowns almost had Rodgers as Dud of the Week. If you were depending on Rodgers, I am truly sorry!
Matt Hasselbeck – Seattle Seahawks – Hasselbeck was a victim of his team not doing anything to help him but 160 yards passing, no touchdown and an interception is a Dud performance any way you slice it!
Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers – After a triumphant return to the NFL, Big Ben was facing a very vulnerable Saints defense. 195 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception has Ben in an unfamiliar spot – in the Dud column.
RBs
Felix Jones – Dallas Cowboys – The Dallas running game was supposed to get a whole lot more work and finally shake the early season doldrums. 36 combined yards for the lead back for the Cowboys has us realizing that the Dallas running game is a complete Dud.
Jonathan Stewart – Carolina Panthers – DeAngelo Williams’s injury gave Stewart a chance to light it up this week against a somewhat vulnerable Rams defense. He only delivered 38 combined yards on 15 touches in what was another Carolina rushing Dud performance.
Jahvid Best – Detroit Lions – Best had his chance to emerge as THE MAN in Detroit. Instead, he only had 48 yards rushing and was out-produced by his backup – Kevin Smith – DUD!
Honourable Mention: LaDainian Tomlinson – NY Jets, Cedric Benson – Cincinnati Bengals
WRs
Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs – Bowe has been one of the Hottest Receivers in the NFL but in Week 8, he only had three catches for 18 yards. A touchdown salvaged his day a bit but based on his recent outings, Sunday was a Dud!
Ochocinco – Cincinnati Bengals – Terrell Owens continues to steal his thunder (TO had two touchdowns). Ocho had three catches for a miniscule 34 yards on Sunday – ungood!
Wes Welker – New England Patriots – What happened to our beloved Wes Welker? Three catches for 24 yards is a total Dud effort for a usually reliable Stud!
Mike Williams – Seattle Seahawks – Williams caught 21 passes in Weeks 6 and 7. In Week 8, he has 1 catch for 27 yards – Dud!
Hines Ward – Pittsburgh Steelers – 3 catches for 15 yards in a marquee matchup – Dud!
Week 8 NFL Top Performers
David Garrard (Jac – QB) — 260 Pass Yds, 4 Pass TD
Calvin Johnson (Det – WR) — 101 Rec Yds, 3 Rec TD
Matthew Stafford (Det – QB) — 212 Pass Yds, 4 Pass TD
BenJarvus Green-Ellis (NE – RB) — 112 Rush Yds, 2 Rush TD
Jamaal Charles (KC – RB) — 177 Rush Yds, 61 Rec Yds
Brandon Lloyd (Den – WR) — 169 Rec Yds, 1 Rec TD
LeGarrette Blount (TB – RB) — 120 Rush Yds, 2 Rush TD
Mike Sims-Walker (Jac – WR) — 153 Rec Yds, 1 Rec TD
Jason Campbell (Oak – QB) — 310 Pass Yds, 2 Pass TD
Adrian Peterson (Min – RB) — 92 Rush Yds, 1 Rush TD
Philip Rivers (SD – QB) — 305 Pass Yds, 2 Pass TD
Darrius Heyward-Bey (Oak – WR) — 30 Rush Yds, 105 Rec Yds
Larry Fitzgerald (Ari – WR) — 72 Rec Yds, 2 Rec TD
Frank Gore (SF – RB) — 118 Rush Yds, 1 Rush TD
Terrell Owens (Cin – WR) — 65 Rec Yds, 2 Rec TD
Vince Young (Ten – QB) — 253 Pass Yds, 2 Pass TD
Antonio Gates (SD – TE) — 123 Rec Yds, 1 Rec TD
Marcel Reece (Oak – RB) — 32 Rush Yds, 90 Rec Yds
Troy Smith (SF – QB) — 196 Pass Yds, 1 Pass TD
Nate Washington (Ten – WR) — 117 Rec Yds, 1 Rec TD
Kyle Orton (Den – QB) — 369 Pass Yds, 1 Pass TD
Josh Freeman (TB – QB) — 278 Pass Yds, 1 Pass TD
