by John Halpin

Comment

The four "worry levels" — High, Medium, Low and Non-Existent — are subject to change on a weekly basis and completely, subjectively determined by the humble fantasy analyst who writes this article. If you have any comments, insight, etc., please post a comment below. Under the most recent week and for the season, the player order goes according to who got the most touches.

The Bills, Raiders, Browns, Rams, Jets and Vikings have byes in Week 9.

Arizona Cardinals

Committee worry level: High
Week 8: Beanie Wells (eight carries, 47 yards); Tim Hightower (eight carries, 39 yards, TD; eight receptions, 57 yards)
Season: Hightower (63 rushes, 206 yards, 5 TD; 39 receptions, 296 yards); Wells (57 rushes, 238 yards, TD; four receptions, 17 yards)

Comment: The game against the Panthers was a blowout most of the way, so I'm not making any changes here. I'm still on the Beanie Bandwagon.

Atlanta Falcons

Committee worry level: Low
Week 8: Michael Turner (20 carries, 151 yards, TD); Jason Snelling (DNP - injury); Jerious Norwood (DNP - injury)
Season: Turner (138 carries, 554 yards, 8 TD; three receptions, 21 yards); Snelling (19 carries, 122 yards; 11 receptions, 100 yards, TD); Norwood (19 carries, 78 yards; eight receptions, 55 yards)

Comment: I guess nobody wants to stay healthy behind Turner. Good thing the Falcons apparently don't care if they throw to any of their backs.

Baltimore Ravens

Committee worry level: Low
Week 8: Ray Rice (23 carries, 84 yards, TD; five receptions, 24 yards); Willis McGahee (two carries, minus-one yard; one reception, four yards); Le'Ron McClain (three carries, 31 yards)
Season: Rice (96 carries, 525 yards, 4 TD; 38 receptions, 349 yards, TD); McGahee (47 carries, 201 yards, 5 TD; nine receptions, 62 yards, 2 TD); McClain (18 carries, 76 yards, TD; 12 receptions, 76 yards)

Comment: Over the last four games, McGahee has 15 carries for 11 yards. Ouch.

Buffalo Bills

Committee worry level: High
Week 8: Marshawn Lynch (nine carries, 43 yards; three receptions, six yards); Fred Jackson (nine carries, 28 yards)
Season: Jackson (112 carries, 445 yards; 20 receptions, 177 yards, TD); Lynch (70 carries, 217 yards, TD; 17 receptions, 123 yards)

Comment: Nice to see Jackson back in the mix. I wish I knew if Trent Edwards' return will mean anything in Week 9.

Carolina Panthers

Committee worry level: Medium
Week 8: DeAngelo Williams (23 carries, 158 yards); Jonathan Stewart (17 carries, 87 yards, 2 TD)
Season: Williams (128 carries, 619 yards, 5 TD; 18 receptions, 173 yards); Stewart (74 carries, 360 yards, 4 TD; 12 receptions, 89 yards)

Comment: Stewart's 2008 rushing numbers: 184 carries, 836 yards, 10 TDs. Stewart's current pace for 2009: 169 carries, 823 yards, nine TDs. Right on target.

Chicago Bears

Committee worry level: Non-existent
Week 8: Matt Forte (26 carries, 90 yards, 2 TD; two receptions, 31 yards)
Season: Forte (118 carries, 408 yards, 3 TD; 24 receptions, 185 yards)

Comment: Nice numbers for Forte in a blowout win over the sad-sack Browns. Let's see what he does in a tougher spot at home against the Cardinals this week.

Cincinnati Bengals

Committee worry level: Non-existent
Week 8: Bye
Season: Cedric Benson (164 carries, 720 yards, 5 TD; 10 receptions, 66 yards)

Comment: The bye week did nothing to quell my amazement at Benson's season. Wow.

Cleveland Browns

Committee worry level: Low
Week 8: Jamal Lewis (16 carries, 69 yards); Jerome Harrison (five carries, 19 yards)
Season: Lewis (98 carries,349 yards; six receptions, 70 yards); Harrison (69 carries, 254 yards; 18 receptions, 111 yards)

Comment: No receptions for the backs last week, huh? I guess when your whole team has seven catches, that'll happen. Ugh.

Dallas Cowboys

Committee worry level: High
Week 8: Marion Barber (14 carries, 53 yards, TD; one reception, minus-two yards); Felix Jones (eight carries, 39 yards; one reception, 30 yards); Tashard Choice (four carries, 11 yards)
Season: Barber (86 carries, 397 yards, 4 TD; six receptions, 57 yards); Choice (48 carries, 236 yards, 2 TD; 13 receptions, 115 yards); Jones (37 carries, 288 yards, TD; four receptions, 56 yards)

Comment: Jones has officially started to muck things up for the other guys. I think I saw Choice's picture on a milk carton today.

Denver Broncos

Committee worry level: Medium
Week 8: Correll Buckhalter (eight carries, 16 yards; six receptions, 30 yards); Knowshon Moreno (10 carries, 39 yards, TD; two receptions, minus-four yards, TD)
Season: Moreno (109 carries, 420 yards, 2 TD; 11 receptions, 64 yards, TD); Buckhalter (55 carries, 329 yards, TD; 18 receptions, 155 yards)

Comment: Go away, Buckhalter. You're just an OK back, and you're standing in the way of a potential fantasy star. Get lost already.

Kevin Smith's seen his backup take advantage of his recent absence. (Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images)

Detroit Lions

Committee worry level: Medium
Week 8: Kevin Smith (16 carries, 45 yards; four receptions, 49 yards); Maurice Morris (14 carries, 63 yards; one reception, 19 yards)
Season: Smith (125 carries, 393 yards, 3 TD; 24 receptions, 198 yards); Morris (26 carries, 106 yards, TD; four receptions, 48 yards)

Comment: Another committee? Smith missed some of last week's game due to a shoulder injury, but earlier this week head coach Jim Schwartz said it was always the plan to use two backs once Morris was healthy. Smith's still the lead back, but now he has to share. I hate fantasy football sharing.

Green Bay Packers

Committee worry level: Non-existent
Week 8: Ryan Grant (10 carries, 30 yards; three receptions, 21 yards)
Season: Grant (128 carries, 525 yards, 3 TD; 16 receptions, 124 yards)

Comment: We should have expected that against the Vikings. Grant continues to be a solid RB2.

Houston Texans

Committee worry level: High
Week 8: Ryan Moats (23 carries, 126 yards, 3 TD; two receptions, 25 yards); Chris Brown (seven carries, 22 yards; two receptions, seven yards); Steve Slaton (one carry, one yard; two receptions, 10 yards)
Season: Slaton (110 carries, 342 yards, 2 TD; 29 receptions, 314 yards, 3 TD); Brown (43 carries, 142 yards, TD; five receptions, 21 yards); Moats (38 carries, 182 yards, 3 TD; two receptions, 25 yards)

Comment: We all worried that Slaton's slippery hands would eventually get him benched, didn't we? Moats is going to be in the mix until he proves he can't cut it. Slaton's not done yet, but he's no longer a must-start. Watch Brown in short-yardage spots, too. This is chaos, and you should be wary of starting any of these guys.

Indianapolis Colts

Committee worry level: Medium
Week 8: Joseph Addai (20 carries, 62 yards; two receptions, four yards); Donald Brown (DNP - injury)
Season: Addai (102 carries, 336 yards, 4 TD; 29 receptions, 160 yards, TD); Brown (46 carries, 212 yards, 2 TD; seven receptions, 138 yards)

Comment: Brown should be back after missing Week 8 with a shoulder injury. The Colts would be wise to limit Addai's workload, since he's been injury prone. I could see starting Brown this week.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Committee worry level: Non-existent
Week 8: Maurice Jones-Drew (eight carries, 177 yards, 2 TD; one reception, minus-four yards)
Season: Jones-Drew (116 carries, 640 yards, 10 TD; 27 receptions, 161 yards)

Comment: That's a pretty nice yards-per-carry average, eh? If you own MJD, after you jumped for joy over his performance against the Titans, did you wonder what he could have done if he got the ball more than nine times?

David Garrard has apparently been told he can't audible from run plays to pass plays anymore, because the team wants the ball in MJD's hands as often as possible. Hallelujah!

Kansas City Chiefs

Committee worry level: High
Week 8: Bye
Season: Larry Johnson (132 carries, 358 yards; 12 receptions, 76 yards); Jamaal Charles (23 carries, 116 yards; 14 receptions, 120 yards)

Comment: Charles will be the first option in L.J.'s absence this week, but keep an eye on Kolby Smith, who'll make his 2009 debut. As soon as Johnson has another bout of Twitter rage, Smith could have a starting job.

Miami Dolphins

Committee worry level: Medium
Week 8: Ronnie Brown (11 carries, 27 yards; one reception, two yards); Ricky Williams (eight carries, 27 yards; two receptions, 41 yards)
Season: Brown (120 carries, 518 yards, 7 TD; 10 receptions, 66 yards); Williams (78 carries, 423 yards, 5 TD; 15 receptions, 185 yards, TD)

Comment: Tough game last week for Miami's dynamic duo. Time to break out the Wildcat against the Pats!

Minnesota Vikings

Committee worry level: Low
Week 8: Adrian Peterson (25 carries, 97 yards, TD; one receptions, 44 yards); Chester Taylor (five carries, 12 yards; two receptions, 15 yards)
Season: Peterson (163 carries, 784 yards, 9 TD; 19 receptions, 189 yards); Taylor (45 carries, 123 yards; 24 receptions, 209 yards)

Comment: Purple Jesus only has two 100-plus-yard games in eight weeks. I hope he uses the bye week to get himself straightened out. Slacker.

New England Patriots

Committee worry level: High
Week 8: Bye
Season: Laurence Maroney (61 carries, 265 yards, 2 TD; six receptions, 36 yards); Kevin Faulk (23 carries, 94 yards; 19 receptions, 157 yards, TD); Sammy Morris (30 carries, 109 yards; 12 receptions, 137 yards); BenJarvus Green-Ellis (14 carries, 73 yards; two receptions, 11 yards)

Comment: Morris didn't practice Wednesday, so we could be looking at another solid week for Maroney.

New Orleans Saints

Committee worry level: High
Week 8: Mike Bell (17 carries, 49 yards); Pierre Thomas (14 carries, 91 yards, TD; two receptions, nine yards, TD); Reggie Bush (two carries, three yards, TD; two receptions, 11 yards)
Season: Bell (89 carries, 392 yards, 2 TD; one reception, nine yards); Thomas (70 carries, 405 yards, 4 TD; eight receptions, 65 yards, TD); Bush (47 carries, 178 yards, 4 TD; 20 receptions, 155 yards)

Comment: Just when we thought Bell would get all the touchdowns, Thomas picked up a pair on a 22-yard run and a one-yard catch. Also, Bush scored on a one-yard run. I'd rather pick names out of a hat than recommend one of these guys based on research.

New York Giants

Committee worry level: Medium
Week 8: Brandon Jacobs (20 carries, 86 yards; two receptions, 21 yards); Ahmad Bradshaw (nine carries, 21 yards, TD)
Season: Jacobs (140 carries, 550 yards, 2 TD; nine receptions, 55 yards); Bradshaw (89 carries, 476 yards, 4 TD; seven receptions, 69 yards)

Comment: Jacobs was pretty good in the Giants' awful loss, but we're all still waiting for a big one from him. This week against the Chargers, maybe? Yes. I'm saying yes.

New York Jets

Committee worry level: Medium
Week 8: Thomas Jones (27 carries, 102 yards; one reception, 28 yards); Shonn Greene (eight carries, 18 yards)
Season: Jones (149 carries, 704 yards, 7 TD; six receptions, 49 yards); Greene (34 carries, 192 yards, 2 TD)

Comment: Greene came back to Earth, while Jones continued his terrific season. He deserves his rest this week.

Oakland Raiders

Committee worry level: High
Week 8: Justin Fargas (18 carries, 59 yards, TD; three receptions, 20 yards); Michael Bush (seven carries, 27 yards; two receptions, 14 yards); Darren McFadden (DNP - injury)
Season: Fargas (72 carries, 263 yards, TD; 11 receptions, 73 yards); Bush (63 carries, 231 yards, 2 TD; 12 receptions, 73 yards); McFadden (47 carries, 146 yards, TD; seven receptions, 53 yards)

Comment: Fargas has clearly overtaken Bush, and McFadden will probably have to earn his time if he ever comes back. If McFadden disappoints, head coach Tom Cable might smack him around like ... oh, forget it.

Philadelphia Eagles

Committee worry level: High
Week 8: LeSean McCoy (11 carries, 82 yards, TD; two receptions, 10 yards); Brian Westbrook (DNP - injury)
Season: McCoy (70 carries, 294 yards, 2 TD; 15 receptions, 102 yards); Westbrook (41 carries, 197 yards, TD; 17 receptions, 130 yards, TD)

Comment: Westbrook's on track to play this week. He's also probably on track to miss his next game by Week 12 at the latest. Who wants to guess the next injury? I'll take the tried and true "pulled hamstring."

Pittsburgh Steelers

Committee worry level: Medium
Week 8: Bye
Season: Rashard Mendenhall (78 carries, 418 yards, 4 TD; eight receptions, 69 yards); Willie Parker (60 carries, 187 yards; five receptions, 53 yards, TD); Mewelde Moore (21 carries, 71 yards; 14 receptions, 100 yards, TD)

Comment: Mendenhall only carried 10 times against the Vikings. I think Ben Roethlisberger might just start throwing on every down, like Jim Kelly did with the USFL Houston Gamblers. You remember that, right?

San Diego Chargers

Committee worry level: Medium
Week 8: LaDainian Tomlinson (18 carries, 56 yards, 2 TD); Darren Sproles (five carries, 38 yards; one reception, eight yards)
Season: Tomlinson (79 carries, 267 yards; 3 TD; seven receptions, 32 yards); Sproles (48 carries, 169 yards, TD; 20 receptions, 267 yards, 2 TD)

Comment: Welcome to the 2009 fantasy season, L.T. Averaging more than three-ish yards a carry sometime might be a nice next step.

San Francisco 49ers

Committee worry level: Low
Week 8: Frank Gore (13 carries, 91 yards, TD; five receptions, 43 yards); Glen Coffee (one carry, eight yards)
Season: Coffee (74 carries, 194 yards, TD; 10 receptions, 69 yards); Gore (65 carries, 364 yards, 4 TD; 15 receptions, 115 yards, TD);

Comment: Nothing to see here. All is well, until Gore gets his next nagging injury.

Seattle Seahawks

Committee worry level: Low
Week 8: Julius Jones (15 carries, 56 yards; two receptions, 32 yards); Justin Forsett (one carry, six yards; one reception, 14 yards)
Season: Jones (89 carries, 346 yards, TD; 14 receptions, 99 yards, 2 TD); Forsett (19 carries, 109 yards; 11 receptions, 95 yards)

Comment: The Seahawks waived Edgerrin James this week, making Forsett the clear No. 2 back. If you're not starting Jones, getting him in there against the Lions might be a good idea.

St. Louis Rams

Committee worry level: Non-existent
Week 8: Steven Jackson (22 carries, 149 yards, TD; three receptions, 17 yards)
Season: Jackson (165 carries, 784 yards, TD; 24 receptions, 186 yards)

Comment: A touchdown! FINALLY! All right!

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Committee worry level: Medium
Week 8: Bye
Season: Cadillac Williams (76 carries, 310 yards, 2 TD; 17 receptions, 117 yards, TD); Derrick Ward (45 carries, 178 yards, TD; seven receptions, 46 yards)

Comment: Rookie Josh Freeman takes the QB reins for the Bucs this week, so they'll probably try to run a lot. I still have faith in Ward.

Tennessee Titans

Committee worry level: Low
Week 8: Chris Johnson (24 carries, 228 yards, 2 TD; two receptions, 11 yards); LenDale White (13 carries, 47 yards)
Season: Johnson (119 carries, 824 yards, 4 TD; 18 receptions, 137 yards, TD); White (52 carries, 195 yards, TD; two receptions, 12 yards)

Comment: Holy cow, is Johnson fast. However, you have to wonder if teams will start to load up against the Titans' run game even more than before, since Vince Young standing in the pocket wouldn't scare a Pop Warner team.

Washington Redskins

Committee worry level: Non-existent
Week 8: Bye
Season: Clinton Portis (120 carries, 490 yards, TD; nine receptions, 57 yards, TD)

Comment: I know Portis has been a pain in the a** to his coaches sometimes, but doesn't he deserve better than this mess?