Every week in the fantasy football season, owners needs to make decisions to start and sit players. When it comes to WRs and QBs, the decisions do not feel as pressing, but, for RBs, its seems as if winning and losing ride on the right choice.
Here are a few of the bigger RB start/sit decisions for RBs in Week Eight of the 2008 fantasy football season.
New England Patriots: RB Sammie Morris was looking like he finally cleared-up the muck that was the Patriots backfield. He rushed for 138 yards in a half but hurt his knee. The new Patriots starting RB? Benjarvis Green-Ellis. He is a start against the St. Louis Rams.
Pittsburgh Steelers: RB Willie Parker will miss his second consectutive should-have-returned-already game. His replacement Mewelde Moore has filled-in and the Steelers backfield hasn't missed a beat. Today, the Steelers face the tough front seven of the New York Giants. Sitting Moore isn't a poor decision if you have a better option.
Philadelphia Eagles: RB Brian Westbrook had two weeks to recover from broken ribs and a high ankle sprain. He hurt the ankle in Week Three, sat Week Four because of the sprain, played in Week Five and broke the rib, sat in Week Six and had a bye in week Seven. Westbrook is listed as probable for this week's game against the Atlanta Falcons. Start him if you have him, but be wary.
Washington Redskins: RB Clinton Portis continues to deal with a hip issue. This caused some questioning amongst fantasy players prior to last week's game. Portis rushed for 179 yards. As the Number One RB in fantasy football this season, he starts until he is listed as doubtful by the Washignton Redskins. Until then, a slightly nagging injury is a positive that prevents him for risking further injury during practice.
Cincinnati Bengals: RB Cedric Benson gets to face the 2-4 Houston Texans. One looks at the Texans record and thinks this may finally be the game a Bengals rusher tops 75 rushing yards in a game. On the year, the Texans rank 22nd in RYA, but, over its past three games, the Texans rank 8th. It is the Texans passing game that has been allowing the yardage. I'd sit Benson but start T.J. Houshmandzadeh and even Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson is faced with that choice.
St. Louis Rams: RB Steven Jackson is coming off his best game of season, and now he is unlikely to play according to FOXSports. Jackson has not been Top 5 worthy all season with the exception of last week's game. If there is a decent option available, I'd sit Jackson.