Week 8 Defense Rankings

Just when you think you can trust the Steelers defense, they turn around and put up a two point performance against the Kansas City Chiefs. That is a Chiefs team without Jamaal Charles for the season, and also without top receiver Jeremy Maclin for that week. It could have been worse, as the San Diego Chargers put up a negative performance. So if you were in a situation where you could only start the Broncos, who were on a bye, or the Chargers who faced the Raiders, you would have looked like a genius if you started the team that didn't play. But you probably weren't in that predicament.

Sleeper Picks

1) Atlanta Falcons

The Buccaneers are limited with offensive weapons. Austin Seferian-Jenkins is questionable and Vincent Jackson will not play. The Falcons D has eight interceptions on the year and Jameis Winston has thrown seven interceptions on the season.

2) Houston Texans

Marcus Mariota might not play due to a knee injury. He will be a game time decision and even if he does play, he will likely not be a factor to tuck and run himself. He faces a Texans team coming off a poor start but they are still in the hunt for the division. They will be at home and I would expect the defensive line to come through in this game and collect a couple sacks.

3) Cincinnati Bengals

They are coming off a bye week, and they will likely get to face Landry Jones. Jones has done an admirable job filling in for Ben Roethlisberger, but he is a third string quarterback. Kansas City scored 12 defensive points according to Yahoo scoring, and I fully expect the Bengals to put up a similar, if not, better point total if Jones starts.

Notes

The Vikings take on a Bears offense that does have some weapons on offense, but that should not scare you away from streaming them. The Bears offensive line should give up quite a few sacks and its hard to imagine Jay Cutler ever playing a perfect game. The Vikings schedule after the Bears will feature the Rams and Raiders.

The Broncos/Packers matchup should be an interesting one. The Broncos are the best defense in the game right now. But it could be the Packers defense that ends up with more points as they face Peyton Manning and his league leading 10 interceptions.

I think the Patriots matchup well against the Dolphins for Thursday night football. Lamar Miller is coming off a Sunday where he was used heavily, and I wouldn't expect him to be leaned on in the Dolphins game plan. The Patriots corners should do a good job covering up Jarvis Landry and the rest of the Dolphins receivers.

The New York Giants are getting a lot of pick ups this week, but don't forget the last time they were getting a lot of attention. That was a couple weeks ago against the San Francisco 49ers, and they came away with two points. This time, they face a much better offense in the New Orleans Saints, granted it's not what it used to be. It would be tough to start them with the other defenses available.

What is up with Andrew Luck and the Colts offense? Their game this week against the Panthers is a confusing one, and one I'd want to avoid. Is this the week things start to click on offense? The Panthers do have question marks on defense with Jared Allen nursing a back injury and and Shaq Thompson sidelined with a knee injury.