History Lessons: Fresh data for Fantasy owners

It's only Week 8, but we're going to see four in-season rematches between division rivals. That means we not only have past data to look at, but data from previous games within the last two months. Familiarity between opponents is always a helpful indicator of what to expect in a game.

Dolphins-Jets

We were concerned about Brown's initial meeting with the Jets not only because he struggled against them in 2007 but also because Jets head coach Rex Ryan had mastered the Wildcat in two games against the Dolphins in 2008 while with the Ravens. Brown blew those concerns away, and with the Jets' run defense yet to be tested without defensive tackle Kris Jenkins playing, Brown should continue to do well. And if he's doing well, so should Ricky Williams -- he had 138 total yards against the Jets earlier this year and has 230 total yards over his last three against them.

An even better lock to do well in this matchup is Thomas Jones, who has four touchdowns in his last five games against the Dolphins. Jones has also scored in four straight games with over 120 rush yards in each of his last two. He'll share the ball some with rookie Shonn Greene, but if the Jets stick to running the football as much as they have over their last few games then both should have a relative measure of success -- maybe not 100 rush yards for Jones or Greene because the Dolphins' run defense is good, but a healthy total.

You'll also remember that their first meeting was Braylon Edwards' debut with the Jets, where he looked like a world-beater who had been stuck in moth balls over the last year-plus (that's not far from the truth). Since that game, Edwards has been awful. But he's received double coverage, which could end this week with the return of Jerricho Cotchery from injury. Also, the Dolphins lost their best cornerback, Will Allen, to a torn ACL in Week 7. They'll have rookies Sean Smith and Vontae Davis lining up this week, a situation where even Mark Sanchez could find success throwing the ball.

Jaguars-Titans

Jacksonville did a really good job exposing the Titans' secondary in Week 4 as Garrard had his highest yardage output for the season at that point and Mike Sims-Walker posted his best career game with two touchdowns and 91 receiving yards. The Titans' secondary isn't expected to be any better after their bye week, which means more success for these Jaguars.

Meanwhile, we've got a pretty good idea of what to expect from Maurice Jones-Drew in this matchup. Last year the Titans were good at holding him back from gaining big yardage but not from holding him out of the end zone. And again in Week 4 Jones-Drew found the end zone but didn't have the massive yardage we've come to expect. Granted, he didn't exactly have many touches in Week 4 (six carries, three catches), so we should probably expect more yardage this time. Maybe just not a lot more.

Chris Johnson -- who torched Jacksonville in 2008 -- had 94 total yards earlier this season against the Jaguars. No one should sit him in Fantasy play this week because of his potential, nor because of his history: In two games last year Johnson had a touchdown and 215 total yards. He should be a big part of what the Titans do in this game.

Of course, we might see Tennessee throw plenty, which they did in the first matchup. Kerry Collins attempted 48 passes and had his best yardage game of the season. With a week of rest and the prospect of taking on Jacksonville without their best defensive back, Rashean Mathis, he could do even better. That could also spell good news for Kenny Britt and Nate Washington, who each caught seven passes from Collins in Week 4.

Raiders-Chargers

LaDainian Tomlinson's Fantasy owners should feel very comfortable starting him this week. He scored against the Raiders in the season opener -- and hasn't scored since. And, as we've said for years and years, Tomlinson has dominated the Raiders like no other opponent over his career (20 career touchdowns, averaging 115 or so yards per game against them). He seems healthy and faces the Raiders at home, who own the third-worst run defense in the NFL. Need we say more?

One interesting trend that continued in the series was the lack of stats from San Diego's passing game. Philip Rivers threw one touchdown -- caught by Vincent Jackson -- and Antonio Gates had modest totals. In fact, Gates hasn't topped the 70-yard mark against Oakland since 2006 and scored against them once in his last five. Jackson has improved, scoring in his last two against the Raiders. And let's face it -- you're not benching any of these guys unless you're just absolutely loaded at the position.

Vikings-Packers

One of the most intriguing anomalies that spawns from this rivalry is how Ryan Grant continues to post decent stat lines against the Vikings' run defense. Grant has had at least 90 total yards and/or a touchdown in every game in his career against the Vikings. Minnesota's run defense perked up last week against the Steelers and is one of the better units in the league, but the Packers got good play from their re-tooled O-line last week and might give Grant the room he needs to get his yardage.

Another anomaly was the play of Aaron Rodgers. In 2008 he couldn't do anything against the Vikings but he had a whopping 384 yards and two touchdowns in Week 4. Now he'll get the Vikings without cornerback Antoine Winfield; Minnesota's pass defense was good last week without him but wasn't tested much. The Packers should do plenty of passing while defending their home turf.

And of course there's Brett Favre, who threw well in his first game against his old team. But his best games have been when the Vikings don't run the ball effectively -- Adrian Peterson's three best Fantasy outings have come in Favre's three worst (Weeks 1, 5 and 7). Chances are that their Week 8 game will mirror their Week 4 game, which means you'll see Peterson get his stats, but Favre will do plenty of throwing.

Big game in the NFC South

Monday night the Falcons and Saints will square off in what might essentially be the last chance for Atlanta to have a shot to win the NFC South. The Falcons have two losses to the Saints' zero, but if the Falcons somehow win out, they'll take the division by virtue of their two wins over the Saints (both teams would then finish 14-2).

OK, talk about winning out after six games is nuts. But last year's games were both high-scoring affairs that saw seven touchdown passes, four rushing touchdowns, two 300-yard passing games and plenty of other really productive stat lines. In essence, the game should be a windfall for Fantasy owners of Saints and Falcons players.

The Saints are a changed team defensively, but their offense is still rocking and rolling. They'll be familiar with the Falcons' defensive scheme, which is the same from last year. That bodes well for Drew Brees, who not only has at least two passing touchdowns in each of his last five against the Falcons but had 652 passing yards against them in two games last year. That includes a 422-yard whopper where he completed at least two passes to eight different receivers in a 14-point loss (58 pass attempts). Of his receivers, Colston was his most successful in the series last year, totaling 166 yards on 10 catches. Colston has only scored in one of five career games against the Falcons -- a two-touchdown effort in late 2007. Devery Henderson hasn't scored in his last three against the Saints, nor has he topped 100 yards in a game against them in his last four. Three of his last four against Atlanta has seen him end up with less than 40 receiving yards. Henderson's also been ice cold since Week 1 of the season, failing to score or total over 100 yards.

One spot that might be a point of emphasis for the Saints is at tight end: In two games last season, Brees completed 12 passes for 145 yards to tight ends Jeremy Shockey and Billy Miller. Shockey is pretty much the only regular tight end target for New Orleans, and the matchup against the Falcons' safeties will still be appealing to Brees.

The Falcons had their share of success against New Orleans in 2008 but face a much different team now. Last year's New Orleans defense was average at best and allowed plays of 20-plus yards nine times to the Falcons in two meetings. Michael Turner accounted for some of those plays and compiled 157 rush yards and two touchdowns against New Orleans last year. Roddy White was also successful to the tune of a score and 232 receiving yards. Matt Ryan threw three touchdowns and ran for another in the two games with a 315-yard effort in New Orleans and a 248-yard effort at home.

The Saints haven't allowed a touchdown to an opposing tight end all season. Of course, they really haven't faced any good ones, either -- Brent Celek is probably the most athletic tight end they've faced and he had over 100 yards on eight catches. Tony Gonzalez should pose quite a challenge to the Saints, especially when you consider that two of his three best games this season have come indoors against 4-3 scheme defenses (and all three touchdowns have come in domes, too).

Bottom line: It's pretty much a lock to start any prominent Saints and Falcons in Week 8.

How do you think history will treat you? E-mail your Fantasy Football questions to DMFantasyFootball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: History Lessons ing the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state and we'll get to as many as we can.