fantasy football, NFL, sports news

The starting roster scramble is about to begin in earnest for fantasy football owners.

With more teams observing bye weeks of the 2009 NFL regular season this weekend, fantasy owners will spend precious team management time plugging holes in rosters left by idle players.

Complicating matters for several owners are injuries to both starting fantasy players and those on the bench. Those in an extreme pinch will need to seek salvation from the waiver wire in order to make it through the weekend.

Let the hysteria begin.

There is hope, however. Many a fantasy owner has had to strategically manipulate the waiver wire to find the perfect plug-and-play starter over the years. We all have been there.

Usually it happens with the least carried positions on fantasy rosters: Tight ends, kickers and defenses. However, those with rosters decimated by injuries will need more than a one-week stop gap at the least valuable fantasy positions.

Scouring the waiver wire for the right plug-and-play is risky business, but there are several players who could fit the bill this weekend.

Week 8 Byes

Bengals: Carson Palmer, Cedric Benson, Chad OchoCinco
Chiefs: Matt Cassel, Dwayne Bowe
Patriots:  Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Ben Watson
Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger, Rashard Mendenhall, Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward, Heath Miller
Buccaneers: Cadillac Williams, Antonio Bryant, Kellen Winslow
Redskins: Jason Campbell, Clinton Portis, Santana Moss

Potential Week 8 Plug-and-Plays

The players listed below are unowned in a majority of fantasy football leagues and have favorable match-ups in week 8. Any one of these guys is worth a start this weekend for an in-need fantasy football owner.

Quarterbacks

David Garrard, Jaguars (@ Titans)
Next up against the swiss cheese secondary of the Titans, Garrard and the Jags.

Marc Bulger, Rams (@ Lions)
I actually want to watch this game on Sunday. It could be pretty exciting offensively.

Vince Young, Titans (v. Jaguars)
Sneaky, sneaky play. Very risky. Could pay off nicely for a desperate owner in a deep league.

Running Backs

Chris Brown, Texans (@ Bills)
The Bills give up a good bit by way of ground and Brown should get more goal line chances this weekend.

Justin Fargas, Raiders (@ Chargers)
If there is one thing the Raiders are good at it is sticking to the running game despite trailing by 30 points.

Wide Receivers

Patrick Crayton, Cowboys (v. Seahawks)
Roy Williams is awful. Moving back to the slot could be the best thing that has happened to Crayton.

Kenny Britt/Justin Gage, Titans (v. Jaguars)
These are dangerous play with Vince Young at quarterback, but Young could surprise us all with one nice start before getting back in the tank.

Tight Ends

Donald Lee, Packers (v. Vikings)
No JerMichael Finley could mean increased looks for Lee, especially near the goal line.

Kevin Boss, Giants (@ Eagles)
Recently, no team in football has been getting burned by tight ends more than the Eagles (see: Zach Miller, Fred Davis).

Kickers

Josh Scobee, Jaguars (@ Titans)
The Jags should move the ball well against a depleted Titans’ D, offering opportunities for Scobee.

Defense/Special Teams

Cardinals DST (v. Panthers)
Jake Delhomme brings his interceptions tour all the way across the country this weekend for a show in the desert.

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