We are now 8 weeks into the season and the bye weeks are in full swing. Many owners are frantically looking for talent to fill bye week players and others are trying to strengthen their overall team for a possible playoff run. It’s interesting to note that during bye weeks some owners actually drop some worthwhile players. For example, I snatched up Felix Jones last week. Sure he is still injured, but he could be a valuable pick up down the stretch depending on how he returns from the ankle injury. He has a favorable schedule starting week 10 with BUF, WAS, MIA and ARI.

Injuries continue to play a part in the NFL season. We see new players on the list every week, some with minor nagging injuries, others with more serious injuries that could cause them to lose multiple games going forward. Here is the 8th list on the season of players who could have some value going forward.

WIDE RECEIVER
Torrey Smith BAL (3-57): Smith still has some minor value, depending on the match and the way Joe Flacco is playing. Right now, Smith is more of a bye week cover who carries big play potential. Against ARI he only turned in a 3 catch performance. This week versus PIT could be an uphill battle against the Steelers secondary.

Damian Williams TEN (4-60): As the #2 opposite of Nate Washington his production hasn’t been spectacular, rather in consistent putting in a good performance every other game. Last week was a 4-60 performance vs IND and he faces CIN this week. He might be worth a look vs CIN seeing what the SEA receivers did to their secondary.

Michael Crabtree SFO (5-54-1 TD): Might be a shot in the dark here, but I have see Crabtree available in 2 leagues (out of 3 I play in). I would suspect he is taken in most, but could be worth a pick up. Smith still isn’t performing well but has been effective the last few weeks and SF continues to win. Crabtree does continue to nurse a foot injury. SF faces WAS this weekend.

Braylon Edwards SFO (4-42): Being injured much of the season, Edwards returned with a 4-42 performance against CLE, both season highs in only 3 games this season. Much like Crabtree, Edwards is still nursing his injury (knee) but will give Smith another viable target out wide to complement Crabtree. Week 9 SF plays WAS.

Ben Obomanu SEA (4-107): Obomanu has come on recently for the Seahawks. Mike Williams was inactive on Sunday, which gave Obomanu the start and he produced. Much like the playoffs last year, Obomanu could come on in the second half of the season to post some worthy numbers.

Jon Baldwin KCC (5-82-1 TD): The rookie played in only his second game and recorded season high in receptions, yards and scored his first TD vs San Diego. Baldwin has been the slot WR this season with Breaston playing opposite of Bowe. He is now showing his talent and the potential he has in the KC offense. He might be worth a shot on a match up basis, but his value is increasing.

Malcolm Floyd SDC (5-107): His name has been coming up weekly on the FFS Forums as it relates to keeping or dropping him. Vincent Jackson (and Philip Rivers for that matter) continues to struggle, but Floyd has put up two 100 yard games to date but only has 1 TD to show for his efforts. Floyd has a dinged hip, but was the top Chargers WR on Monday vs KCC. Look for a good match up vs GB this week.

Laurent Robinson DAL (5-103-1 TD): I figured Robinson to slip through the cracks after Miles Austin returned, but Robinson put in another strong game vs PHI, 103 yards and a TD. The numbers are a bit skewed because of a 70-yard TD pass from Romo, outside of that performance he has seen 25-40 yards per game.

RUNNING BACK
Javon Ringer TEN (14-60, 5-42): Might it be a “passing of the torch” in TEN this week? Doubtful, but owners are no longer relying on CJ2K as a “sure thing” since ending his hold out and signing, has only 302 yards and 1 TD in 7 games. While Ringer doesn’t have the numbers CJ does, he has outplayed him all season long. Munchak says they will split carries making Ringer a bit more valuable now.

Lex Hilliard (1-4) /Steve Slaton MIA (5-7-1 TD): It’s worthwhile to watch the injury to rookie, Daniel Thomas. In week 8 it was Steve Slaton with a TD. Personally, I believe is a better RB who knows the MIA system and has the size to fill in for either Thomas (if the injury lingers) or Bush (if he gets injured). Right now, it’s probably a bit of a filer on either RB, but they are worth a look as the season moves on.

DJ Ware NYG (2-1): With the injury news on Ahmad Bradshaw’s foot, his season could be in doubt the rest of the way. Brandon Jacobs is coming off an injury and looks to carry a bulk of the work on the ground, but Ware could figure into the running attack. Look for Ware to be the primary 3rd down RB in week 9 vs NE.

Chris Ivory NOS (6-18): Coming off the PUP week before last week’s game, Ivory rushed for only 18 yards but carries between him, Thomas and Sproles were nearly the same. With Ingram out, Ivory might see more playing time in the backfield for Peyton and the Saints. I would expect him more to figure in the rushing game when the Saints are holding the lead, last week trailing the Rams the rushing game was almost non-existent.

Kevin Faulk NEP (6-32): No fantasy owner can figure out “The Hoodie” when it comes to deploying his rushing game. One week it’s Ridley, another week, BGE, then another week Woody. Let’s now add Kevin Faulk to the mix. It appears he is now the #2 behind BGE for the Patriots. With BGE dealing with an injured toe, Faulk could see an increase in production.

Chris Ogbonnaya CLE (11-37, 5-24): I mentioned Ogbonnaya 2 weeks ago on the FFS when CLE played SEA, as Hillis was a late scratch. With Hardesty nursing a calf injury and Hillis day-to-day with the hammy, Ogbonnaya becomes the starter. He has a rapport with Schmur and while his 37 yard performance wasn’t too impressive, HOU could be a good match up this weekend.

Curtis Brinkley SDC (10-43, 3-24): With Tolbert still ailing from injury and now Ryan Mathews back on the list, it’s Curtis Brinkley who got the shot on MNF to turn in a modest performance. We saw earlier in the year Jessie Hester have a similar performance in week 5 vs DEN. Unfortunately Brinkley suffered a concussion, which leaves his week 9 status in the air, but if healthy he could play against GB if active.

QUARTERBACK
Sam Bradford STL (DNP): It might be worthwhile to keep an eye on the progress that Bradford is making. It was reported he is out of the walking boot and is making good steps in his return to the field. Add that news to the addition of Brandon Lloyd and a fairly cushy schedule (ARI, CLE, SEA, ARI) starting this week. Could be a worthwhile addition for a playoff run.

List 7:
WR: Harry Douglas ATL, Jerome Simpson CIN, Danario Alexander STL, Naaman Roosevelt BUF, Greg Little CLE, Arrelious Benn TBB, Devin Hester CHI,
TE: Jake Ballard
RB: Donald Brown IND, DeMarco Murray DAL, Earnest Graham TBB, Maurice Morris/Keiland Williams DET,
QB: None

List 6:
WR: Victor Cruz NYG, Doug Baldwin SEA, Darius Heyward-Bey OAK, Jerome Simpson CIN, Early Doucet ARI, Damian William TEN, James Jones GBP
TE: Joel Dreessen HOU
RB: Jackie Battle KCC, Delone Carter IND, Jacob Hester SDC
QB: None
Notables: Jonathan Dwyer PIT RB, Brandon Pettigrew DET TE

List 5
List 4
List 3
List 2
List 1