8 Big-Name Players You May Want to Bench in Week 8

Anthony Dixon, RB, Buffalo Bills

Anthony Dixon was a huge waiver-wire claim target in many of the deeper leagues I play in leading up to this week. With teammates C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson injured and ruled out for the week, Dixon figures to carry the load in his first start for Buffalo this year.

He should start over fellow running back Bryce Brown, likely to be active for the first time this season, but Brown is the far superior player in terms of talent. Dixon, a fullback/running back tweener, just doesn't have the speed or quickness to make something out of nothing on the ground, and he isn't enough of a talented receiver to make up for his athletic shortcomings. I think we could see Dixon get short-yardage, goal line, and third down work (Lord knows, Brown has stones for hands himself), but not much more than that.

The Bills go up against the New York Jets this week, and while they have struggled of late to contain opposing running backs (14 or more points allowed in each of the last three weeks), they are still a solid rushing defense, ranking 14th in the league in Adjusted Defensive Rushing NEP. When we look at the teams played in those last three weeks as well (San Diego, Denver, New England), why do we think the Bills' efficient - but in no way elite - offense can keep up with those totals? JJ Zachariason, our Editor-in-Chief, has termed Anthony Dixon a "dad runner" - in an unappealing matchup with a not-so-talented player, dad should stay at home on the bench this Sunday.