Corner Lockdown - Week 8 Oct 25, 2012 | More
More articles from Steve Rudy, Jr.

Running Wild

 
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Oakland

Heyward-Bey is now fully recovered from his concussion and had a nice game last Sunday. He caught just four passes, but he was able to deliver 85 receiving yards. He was targeted a team-high seven times and seems to be Carson Palmer’s favorite target most weeks. Oakland has a good match-up in Week 8 against a soft Kansas City pass defense, so spot start Heyward-Bey if you need receiver help.

Vick Ballard, RB, Indianapolis

Ballard seems to be the starting tailback for the Colts right now and could be a solid play this weekend against the Tennessee Titans. He got 20 carries last week and put up a respectable 84 yards. If he can get this kind of workload in Week 8, Ballard should be in your starting lineup. He doesn’t offer a lot catching the ball, but the fact that Tennessee is allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs on the season makes Ballard a very enticing play.

Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis

New England doesn’t have the defense it once had and has been giving up points like crazy. Opposing quarterbacks have scored the fifth-most fantasy points against the Patriots defense, so Bradford should be worth a look. There’s a good chance that the Rams will be behind all game and will have to play catch-up through the air. Bradford is capable of putting up big numbers, and I see him doing that in this contest.

Lock of the Week

 
Alex Green, RB Green Bay Packers

Green got the work in Week 7, he just didn’t deliver. He received 20 carries, rushing for only 35 yards and also had four catches for 29 yards. That should change Sunday against Jacksonville. As long as Green gets the carries once again, he should put up a very nice stat line. The Jaguars are allowing the third-most fantasy points to running backs and overall have a terrible defense. Look for the Packers to get up big early on and rely heavily on the run game in the second half.