There is only one game remaining in Week 8, but most people's fantasy lineups have already filled out. While Frank Gore or Larry Fitzgerald might make somewhat of an impact tonight on Monday Night Football, it is hard to imagine anyone from the San Francisco 49ers or Arizona Cardinals making or breaking your fantasy football week.
That being said, this article is focusing on the five most suprising performances from Week 8 thus far. So, there is a chance that someone like Andre Roberts or Delanie Walker come through and throw a wrench into the whole process.
Doug Martin, Running Back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
29 rushes, 135 yards, three receptions, 79 yards and two touchdowns
I had projected Martin to be a RB1 option as a rookie in 2012. This didn't happen prior to a breakout Week 8 performance against the Minnesota Vikings. Martin was the No. 1 overall fantasy player this week, besting the second-best running back by a whopping 13 points.
Recent reports also suggest that Tampa Bay is looking into the idea of dealing LeGarrette Blount prior to Tuesday’s trade deadline. This will give Martin more rushes, probably near the level of the 32 touches that he was against Minnesota. He is definitely RB1 material moving forward this season.
Matthew Stafford, Quarterback, Detroit Lions
34/49, 352 yards, four touchdowns (one rush) and one interception
What a worst time to write an article calling out Stafford and projecting his struggles to continue this week against the Seattle Seahawks. The talented young quarterback rallied Detroit late in the fourth quarter for a season saving victory. More important for fantasy owners, he scored a total of four touchdowns, two less than the Lions’ first six games, and tallied over 350 passing yards.
In the end, Stafford finished as the No. 1 fantasy quarterback Sunday. This coming on the heels of many recommending that he be benched against a stellar Seattle defense. Seriously good stuff here.
Blaine Gabbert, Quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars
27/49, 303 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions
Okay, no one could have seen this coming. Gabbert went toe-to-toe with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, coming out with a better fantasy performance than the reigning NFL MVP. While it wasn’t enough to pull off an amazing upset, Gabbert was dynamic on Sunday.
Not only did the second-year quarterback put up QB1 numbers, he threw for 300 yards for the first time in his career and didn’t throw a single interception. That being said, don’t expect this type of performance on a consistent basis.
Titus Young, Wide Receiver, Detroit Lions
Nine receptions, 100 yards and two touchdowns
With Calvin Johnson struggling (six receptions in his last two games), Young stepped up big time and provided the Lions the spark they needed on the offensive side of the ball. He scored two touchdowns, including a game-clinching one in the final minute, to help Detroit pull off a huge win.
Young, who had nine catches in Detroit’s first four games, has made an impact in the three games since its Week 5 bye. The second-year receiver has 17 receptions for 180 yards during that span. Definitely a FLEX option moving forward.
Jason Witten, Tight End, Dallas Cowboys
18 receptions, 167 yards and zero touchdowns
Leave it to Witten to break the Cowboys’ single-game record for receptions against the New York Giants on Sunday. The future Hall of Fame wide receiver racked up a whopping 18 receptions, but failed to score a touchdown in the Cowboys’ loss.
Still, this is a far cry from the lack of production we saw from Witten earlier in the season. He has now become the No. 1 target for Tony Romo once again, which bodes well for his fantasy stock moving forward.