The fantasy football schedule is now into Week 8 and things will get started up on Thursday night football with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers going at it and with things heating up around the league, some of the best free agent sleeper options going forward includes running back Mike James, Peyton Hillis and Jarrett Boykin.
The injury to Doug Martin helps make James into a sleeper going forward and while his shoulder injury will not be season ending, the Buccaneers are planning to sit Martin on Thursday and that makes James a top option. While he hasn't done much this season, he looked good in the preseason and on Sunday in relief of Martin against the Falcons, as he ran hard and did not look overmatched and the Buccaneers will need him on Thursday. He came into that game with just three carries and four touches over the previous three weeks, but he killed all that on Sunday, snagging 14 carries for 45 yards and also adding three receptions for eight yards in the loss to Atlanta. James has good speed and will be a solid start option in Week 8 and if he has a good game against the Panthers, the team may decide to be even more patient with Martin as he heals.
Martin has not been having quite as productive of a season as he had as a rookie, but one of the main reasons for that is the play of the Buccaneers overall and the fact that they are still winless this season. James will get touches on Thursday and if he makes the most of them, Greg Schiano will continue to play him and against the Panthers he faces the fourth ranked rushing defense in the league and while that will be tough, there's no reason to think he can't handle the pressure, even as a rook.
James will be considered a top sleeper until he has a breakout game and everyone picks him up, but if you are a fantasy owner, he is a prime handcuff for the rest of the season and he should get way more carries than Brian Leonard, who is used more as a change of pace back and a blocker. James is obviously nowhere near the skills of Martin, but Schiano said that he understands how the team handles its scheme and that means he will be trusted moving forward and with his quickness and pass catching ability, he could be a big factor for Mike Glennon.
Peyton Hillis and Jarrett Boykin are two players that could do some damage as well and they come in as sleepers for injury players. Hillis scored a TD on MNF and is coming in for David Wilson and Brandon Jacobs, while Boykin is in after Randall Cobb and James Jones were injured. He had a TD and over 100 yards against the Browns and he will continue to trend upwards. The Buccaneers are playing the Panthers while the Giants have the Eagles and Hillis should get a nice amount of carries after hitting double digits and scoring against the Vikes.
