Just over midway through the fantasy football season, many of you are looking for that extra edge to make a push into the playoffs. Every week is pivotal from here on out if you want to earn bragging rights over your friends in your league. It could come down to picking up the right player off the waiver wire, or putting the right player in your starting lineup.

Starting with the quarterback position for week eight. It goes without saying that I do not need to tell fantasy football owners to start Peyton Manning or Aaron Rodgers this week; players of their caliber at any position are must starts every week no matter the opponent.

HOT: Drew Brees. Only projected for 11 points in ESPN.com leagues, Brees is facing a Packers defense that may be without cornerback Sam Shields and facing a potentially hobbled Tramon Williams. Brees and the Saints have played just one game in New Orleans this season. With two gunslinger QBs on each squad, you can expect a shootout in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and Brees to put up some decent numbers.

Tom Brady is facing a Chicago Bears defense that gave up 393 yards to Ryan Tannehill and the Miami Dolphins in Chicago last week. Brady is averaging 24 points per game in a standard league format since his four point performance against Kansas City. If the Bears cannot control the ball in this one, Brady should have an above average day at home.

NOT: Cam Newton. Newton plays a Seattle defense on Sunday that has been subpar the past few weeks. The duel-threat QB put up just 14 points against Green Bay last weekend and could struggle this week. The one bright spot for Newton is that Seattle allows the 10th most fantasy points to opposing QBs and he is capable of hurting a defense on the ground as well.

Looking at the running back position.

HOT: Jerick McKinnon is coming off of a performance last week where he rushed for 103 yards against a Buffalo Bills’ defense who had not allowed an opposing running back to rush for more than 84 yards in a game this season. Owned in just 33 percent of ESPN.com leagues, McKinnon is a solid pickup facing Tampa Bay this weekend. Norv Turner’s offense allows McKinnon to get out in space and use his speed to gain extra yards on the ground and through the air.

Shane Vereen put up 23 fantasy points last week against the Jets despite rushing for just 43 yards. Both of Vereen’s touchdowns last week came via Brady and facing a cold Bears’ defense at home, he could have another good receiving day out of the backfield.

NOT: Alfred Morris is averaging four points in his past three contests. With Colt McCoy as his QB this week against a Cowboys team that is capable of doing whatever they want on offense, don’t look for Morris to break out of his slump anytime soon.

 Morris is a play this week only if you need a flex option.

Wide receivers.

HOT: Golden Tate put up a career-high 154 receiving yards on 10 receptions last week against the Saints. Tate is another must play facing an Atlanta Falcons team that is capable of giving up long touchdown plays.

WAIVER WIRE PICKUP: Odell Beckham Jr., or ODB is on a bye this week but is only owned in 22 percent of ESPN.com leagues despite scoring two touchdowns last week against the Cowboys. ODB has a tough stretch of games coming up after the bye, but is a top option for Eli Manning and worth the risk because of Victor Cruz’s season-ending injury.

NOT: Kelvin Benjamin is up against Seattle defensive backs that are just as big and physical as he is. Benjamin is not the type of WR who is going to outrun a DB and get open, but more of a redzone or short play threat.

Tight ends.

HOT: Jimmy Graham is up against a depleted Packers defense this week and should be able to get pack to putting up big numbers that are expected of him. Keep in mind that Greg Olson had 105 yards against the Packers on Sunday.

NOT: Owen Daniels. Don’t sip the kool-aid and think you are going to get a tight end that is capable of putting up double-digits every week. Only ranked 12 on ESPN.com’s rankings, don’t think he is going to replace your starter in the long run.

Defense/special teams.

HOT: The Miami Dolphins are a good pickup this week because they play the Jags, but unfortunately there is always that one guy in every league who picks up whoever the Jags are playing. The New York Jets are ranked 15 on ESPN.com but are up against a Bills team who will be without C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson. With third and fourth string RBs and Kyle Orton as their QB, any defense is capable of putting up decent numbers against them.