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Week 8 of the NFL season got underway Thursday night with the Tennessee Titans' 36-22 romp of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the AFC South showdown provided a surprising amount of fantasy football fireworks.
But for those who weren't fortunate enough to start DeMarco Murray, Derrick Henry or Kendall Wright in a glorious spot against the Jags' sputtering defense, there's still plenty to mull over before kickoff on Sunday.
And because of bye weeks and injuries, owners across the fantasy spectrum are in pick-your-poison positions deciding between players with unfavorable matchups.
But that's why we're here.
With questions abounding and owners jockeying for playoff positions at the midway point of the season, it's time to examine which players with some of this week's tougher matchups are worth trusting.
Accordingly, we'll be examining two players at each position of near or equal value who are in similar spots and selecting who is the more attractive starting option this week:
RB: James White (at BUF) or Duke Johnson Jr. (vs. NYJ)
The running back position has been decimated by injuries through seven weeks, and fantasy owners have scrambled to find viable plug-and-play solutions as a result.
Two of those options come in the form of the New England Patriots' James White and Cleveland Browns' Duke Johnson Jr., who are squaring off against the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, respectively, in Week 8.
However, one is the savvier play.
Although White plays the role of second fiddle to starter LeGarrette Blount, he's proved most effective in the passing game as one of quarterback Tom Brady's preferred targets.
White hasn't seen fewer than five targets in a game since Sept. 22 against the Houston Texans (when Jacoby Brissett was under center), and he's been remarkably consistent over the past month. Specifically, White has tallied at least 50 receiving yards or a receiving touchdown in each of the Pats' last four games.
Also consider that Buffalo's defense has plummeted to 27th in the league against the run (125.0 yards per game), and White could conceivably gash the Bills in tandem with the bruising Blount.
Johnson has a bit of appeal because the Jets rank 26th in average passing yards allowed (282.0 yards per game), but New York's run defense has been consistent thus far. To date, the Jets rank second behind only the Green Bay Packers in rushing yards allowed (74.9 yards per game).
Verdict: James White
WR: Brandin Cooks (vs. SEA) or Marvin Jones (at HOU)
At first glance, this would seem like an easy call.
Brandin Cooks is going up against a Seattle Seahawks secondary that just held the Arizona Cardinals to six points, and Richard Sherman and Co. rank ninth overall in passing yards allowed (226.0 per game).
However, Cooks is at home, and that means there's breakout potential.
"Cooks has scored 12 of his 17 career TDs (71 percent) at home and is the sort of wideout who can give long-limbed Sherman (6'3", 195 lbs) fits at 5'10", 189 pounds with elite agility and 4.33 speed," Rotoworld's Evan Silva wrote.
To expand on that, Cooks has scored three of his four touchdowns this season at home. Furthermore, Cooks' only two 100-yard receiving days this year came on the fast track at the Superdome.
Silva provided another nugget on Twitter that should encourage Cooks owners to pencil the diminutive burner into their lineups:
Then we have Marvin Jones, who will draw a Houston Texans secondary that ranks No. 2 overall in average passing yards allowed (184.7 per game). And while Jones is the No. 6 overall receiver in standard scoring leagues, his production has tailed off of late.
Jones hasn't topped 100 yards since the Lions' Week 3 loss to the Green Bay Packers, and he hasn't cracked double-digit fantasy points in standard leagues over the past four weeks. In fact, the Lions' No. 1 hasn't seen more than seven targets in a game during that span, as Golden Tate's role has expanded, and defenses have honed in on him.
"If somebody is doubling me, we know we have the players to really wreck shop," Jones said, according to the Detroit News' Justin Rogers. "Defenses are going to play how they’re going to play and you just adjust. We have great game plans that prepare us to adjust to anything. We’re not missing a beat."
And with running back Theo Riddick (ankle) slated to return this week and gobble up targets underneath, Jones could be in for a rough afternoon.
Verdict: Brandin Cooks
WR: Alshon Jeffery (vs. MIN) or DeSean Jackson (at CIN)
Alshon Jeffery has been maddeningly inconsistent this season, but the Chicago Bears wideout has a chance to get his groove back when the Minnesota Vikings come to town on Monday night.
With quarterback Jay Cutler (thumb) cleared to play, Jeffery has his preferred gunslinger back in the saddle ready to let it fly against one of the league's tougher defenses.
And while the Vikings' fearsome secondary—which has allowed a meager 197.8 passing yards per game—is a matchup problem, Jeffery is due for some progression to the mean after struggling with Brian Hoyer under center.
"Jeffery is no worse than a low-end WR2 this week," Sports Illustrated's Michael Beller wrote. "Jay Cutler will make his return from a thumb injury, which should translate to a major target share for Jeffery. In Cutler’s seven quarters of action this season, Jeffery has 10 targets and 178 yards."
On the flip side, we have DeSean Jackson.
The Washington speedster has seen at least seven targets in each of his past three games, but he hasn't topped 55 yards in a single outing since he went off for 96 yards and a score in Week 3 against the New York Giants.
With Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins a Cincinnati Bengals secondary that's clamped down on opponents to the tune of 236.1 passing yards per game, Jackson could struggle to get deep on Adam Jones and make owners happy.
Verdict: Alshon Jeffery
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
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