Michael Vick and Jeremy Maclin are out tonight, and LeSean McCoy is questionable with a sprained toe. Seattle, meanwhile, has one player who is worth starting in fantasy.

Other than that, it should be a great game. At least we can learn something from NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock (just remember not to watch the postgame show, which includes such broadcasting luminaries as Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin and Steve Mariucci).

START

Eagles: RB LeSean McCoy, WR DeSean Jackson, WR Jason Avant, TE Brent Celek, K Alex Henery

Seahawks: RB Marshawn Lynch

Quick slants: McCoy is expected to play. If you're fighting for a playoff spot in the last week of your league's regular season, you better hope he does. McCoy has 1,050 yards rushing, 38 receptions, 1,278 total yards and 13 touchdowns. ... Jackson was benched late last week and has been a disappointment in his contract year. He hasn't scored a TD since Oct. 9. We get the feeling he is due. ... Avant had eight receptions for 110 yards and a TD last week, and as we wrote on Tuesday, we think he's a better option than starting receiver Riley Cooper. ... Celek has 29 receptions for 342 yards and one TD in his last five games. If he had one or two more TDs in that span, it would seem like 2009 all over again (Celek had 76 catches for 971 yards and eight scores that season). ... Henery is a low-level starting kicker, but might get more of a chance to boot a few field goals tonight. He is 18-for-21 and has 83 points on the season, but he's made only two kicks of 40 yards or more. ... Lynch's season stats aren't anything special (706 yards, 3.9 yards per carry, six TDs, 20 catches), but he has reached the end zone in seven consecutive games. In his last four contests, he has rushed for 443 yards, caught nine passes for 87 yards and has four TDs. 

SIT

Eagles: QB Vince Young, WR Riley Cooper, defense and special teams

Seahawks: QB Tarvaris Jackson, WR Doug Baldwin, K Steven Hauschka, defense and special teams

Quick slants: Young has thrown for 658 yards in two starts in place of Vick, but he has three TDs, compared to four interceptions, in that span. Last week, he racked up 400 yards, mostly in garbage time of a 38-20 loss to the Patriots. ... Cooper has eight receptions for 146 yards and a TD in his last two games. If you are desperate for receiving help, he is a decent option against a Seahawks pass defense that ranks 20th. ... The Eagles' defense ranks 15th in total yards (344.6), 19th in points allowed (22.8), 16th vs. the pass (234 yards), 15th vs. the run (110.3), has forced 16 turnovers and has 30 sacks. ... Jackson has three more interceptions (12) than TD passes (nine). ... Baldwin should be Seattle's top target with Sidney Rice out for the season, but that's not saying much. He has eight receptions for 120 yards in his last two games, but hasn't scored in his last six contests. ... Hauschka is 17-for-20 on field-goal attempts, but Seattle's woeful offense has limited him to 69 points. ... The Seahawks' defense ranks 14th in total yards (340.5), is tied for 15th in points allowed (21.1), is 20th vs. the pass (240), 11th vs. the run (100.9), has forced 19 turnovers and has only 20 sacks.

We'll address the impact of the Vikings unceremoniously dumping Randy Moss -- and seemingly infuriating everyone but Brad Childress in the process -- but first we'll take a quick trip around the NFL as we enter Week 9, just past the halfway point for leagues that play a 13-game regular season and three-week postseason.

-- Cadillac Williams, you had a good run, or at least an injury-filled one. But that sound you heard Sunday was the keys being handed to LeGarrette Blount, who rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries against the Cardinals. Granted, it was the Cardinals, but considering the state of fantasy running backs, I'd play the young Buc who has rushed for 192 yards on 33 carries (5.8) in his last two games.

Start 'em

-- Jacob Tamme, TE, Colts: Hey, why not? First, you'll probably have to pick him up, since Tamme was owned in only 4.2 percent of the leagues on ESPN.com entering Week 8. Tamme didn't have a catch all season and had six catches for 47 yards in his three-year career prior to Monday. After a six-reception, 64-yard, one-TD performance in place of Dallas Clark against the Texans, he's certainly worth a starting spot.

-- Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions: He threw for 212 yards, four touchdowns and one interception his his first game since Week 1. He also has Calvin Johnson on his team. That's good enough for me.

-- Steve Breaston, WR, Cardinals: In his first appearance since Week 3, he had eight receptions for 147 yards. He's played in only four games and his quarterback may or may not be Derek Anderson, but if you need a third receiver, you could do a lot worse than a player who has 22 receptions for 330 yards in four games. An aside: Arizona's schedule in Weeks 14-16 (fantasy playoff time): home against Denver, at Carolina, home against Dallas.

Sit 'em

-- Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys: He bruised his left forearm and sprained his ankle in Week 8. Since rushing 14 times for 109 yards and catching four passes for 17 yards in Week 5, he has 31 rushes for 89 yards (2.9) and zero touchdowns. The only positive (and it's not Marion Barber still poaching the goal-line carries): Jones has 16 catches for 102 yards in that span.

-- Donald Driver, WR, Packers: He's been bothered by thumb and quad injuries, leading to the veteran failing to catch a pass in back-to-back games. The Packers have a bye in Week 10, so it might make a lot of since to rest him Sunday against the visiting, reeling, rancid, rudderless (feel free to insert your negative description here) Cowboys.

Stock up

-- BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Patriots: Now this is a surprising development. A Patriots running back has a TD in five straight games, and his name sounds like someone you would choose to represent you if you're a Vikings fan deciding to sue Childress for neglect of talent. Green-Ellis had 17 carries for 112 yards and two scores against the Vikings. In the five-game span, he has rushed for 330 yards and six TDs, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

Stock down

-- Jahvid Best, RB, Lions: Sunday, he split carries with Kevin Smith. The rookie had five TDs in his first two games and has zero in five contests since. He has rushed for 199 yards in the five games and is no longer an automatic start. Best is much better suited to PPR formats. He's on pace for 82 receptions this season.

-- Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks: He had nine carries for 7 yards in Week 8 at Oakland. He got some of our hopes up by scoring a TD in his first game after being traded by Buffalo to Seattle, but the former fantasy must-start has 33 carries for 96 yards (2.9) with zero TDs and zero receptions in his last two games.

I know what you're thinking. What are we going to do without Julius Jones as a bye-week option to get 14 carries for 39 yards and no touchdowns now that he's been released by Seattle to make room for Marshawn Lynch?

Our condolences to Jones aside, the trade of Lynch from the Bills to the Seahawks helps the owners who hung on to the disappointing running back who totaled 2,151 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns, and caught 65 passes for 484 yards and one TD in his first two NFL seasons. The last two years, counting 2010, Lynch has rushed for 614 yards and scored two TDs in 17 games.

He should be the featured back for a team that's an improvement over the Bills (which team isn't?), but he's still likely no better than a No. 3 back in 12-team leagues.

As for new, old teammate Justin Forsett (the two played together at Cal), the back who had 36 carries and five receptions the last two weeks for the Seahawks is now a fantasy reserve in any format until we have a better idea of how the carries will be divided. The guess is Lynch will get most of the opportunities, and Forsett will be a third-down back who will get eight to 10 touches per game.

The Seahawks are off in Week 5, but the Bills are not. Lynch's former team will now give more chances to Fred Jackson, who rushed for 1,062 yards and caught 46 passes for 371 yards and scored four TDs in 2009. Jackson will share the load with rookie C.J. Spiller, who has been disappointing thus far (94 combined rushing and receiving yards, one receiving TD).

Sunday, the Bills will play host to the Jaguars, who rank 12th against the run but have allowed six rushing TDs (only Buffalo has given up more).

If you're looking for a second or third running back, Jackson is a decent start this week. I wouldn't play Spiller unless you're desperate.

Smooth Torain

Ryan Torain was one of the top targets on the waiver wire in many leagues this week, and the news got more encouraging Wednesday, when it was disclosed that Clinton Portis would miss 4 to 6 weeks with a groin injury.

Torain rushed for 70 yards and a TD in the Redskins' win over the Eagles in the McNabb Bowl, and the schedule during Portis' absence is favorable.

Sunday, Washington will host Green Bay (No. 25 vs. the run), followed by a home game against Indianapolis (No. 29 vs. the run, five rushing TDs allowed) and road games against Chicago (No. 8, five TDs) and Detroit (No. 26, five TDs). Torain is a top-20 back most weeks, and don't expect Portis to be ready after the Redskins' Week 9 bye.

Time to trade L.T.?

You already know a seemingly rejuvenated LaDainian Tomlinson is a must-start after scoring three touchdowns and averaging 6.1 yards per carry in his first four games with the Jets. But will he continue to be a top-10 back, as he is currently in point-per-reception formats?

That's doubtful, and you have to figure the Jets want to keep 25-year-old Shonn Greene heavily involved in the offense. The second-year back had 22 carries for 117 yards (to Tomlinson's 19 for 133 and two TDs) last week in the Jets' rout of Buffalo, and for the season, he has 54 touches to L.T.'s 68.

They should continue to share, and Tomlinson should continue to produce, but if you have a running-back surplus, you might want to explore trading Tomlinson.

Big name. A value that likely has reached its apex for a 31-year-old with almost 3,000 career carries.

Ideal trade bait.

Coming Friday: In the print editions and on the N-H's online sports section, we'll have a column analyzing the impact of Randy Moss' trade from the Patriots to the Vikings.

Coach Dick Jauron was kind enough to say the Bills would bring running back Marshawn Lynch "along slowly" in the latter's return from a three-game suspension. Translation: Fred Jackson owners, enjoy your last week of freedom.

I would expect Jackson -- who has thrived in Lynch's absence, totaling 425 yards in three games -- to get the majority of the carries Sunday at Miami. In Week 5, it should be more of a 50-50 split, a prospect fantasy owners detest more than playing against Santana Moss during his one huge game a year.

Jackson is averaging 4.8 yards per carry and is a No. 2 back in point-per-reception leagues, as his 15 catches trail only Arizona's Tim Hightower among all running backs. I would play him even against the Dolphins, who rank third defending the run, allowing only 66 yards per game and 3.0 yards per carry.

By Week 5, when the Bills face the always accommodating Browns defense, Lynch -- a 2007 first-round pick who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two NFL seasons -- should be much more involved.

At that point, you know the drill. Play the matchup game, as you do with almost every back who shares carries, and hope you see "Cleveland," "St. Louis," "Tampa Bay" or Houston" in the schedule column next to your player.

On to the no-huddle ...

-- More sharing: In the last two games, Colts running back Joseph Addai has 23 touches (19 rushes and four receptions). Rookie Donald Brown has 20 (18 rushes and two receptions). Addai has generated 110 total yards and one touchdown, and Brown has 162 yards and a TD.

I'm not an offensive coordinator, and I don't play one on the Web, but that doesn't seem to bode well for Addai owners. At best, it's another split. At worst, Brown will take Addai's job by midseason, whether it's by injury or performance.

Addai should stay in your lineup this week against the Seahawks, who rank 25th against the run, but I wouldn't say the same for a Week 5 matchup at Tennessee.

-- Finally, less sharing: For those keeping score on their laptops, there has been some separation between DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, one of the few backfield timeshare's that actually has worked from a fantasy standpoint.

Williams has 50 touches in three games -- 20 more than Stewart. He has received 64 percent of the rushing attempts between the two (41 of 64), compared to 59.7 percent last season. Stewart, who was limited throughout the preseason by an Achilles injury, has only 12 carries in Carolina's last two games.

Williams owners can feel better about their first-round pick getting more of the workload. The problem is he's still getting less work than he did in 2008 because Jake Delhomme has been awful, and the Panthers have been forced to throw more in their 0-3 start.

Williams should break out soon, however. Following a bye this week, the Panthers play at home against Washington (No. 21 vs. the run), at Tampa Bay (No. 31) and at home against Buffalo (No. 18).

-- Less sharing, Part II: LenDale White had one of the best lines of training camp when he said he lost weight after cutting Patron -- a high-priced tequila, for those of you who don't watch "The Hills" -- out of his diet. Maybe he did all that hard work for nothing.

The Titans, smartly, have given Chris Johnson 53 carries to White's 21, and the slimmer, faster second-year back has generated 457 yards on 64 touches, to White's 85 yards on 22 touches.

White was useful in fantasy last season, strictly because of his 15 touchdowns. Now he's no better than a reserve, one who is most valuable as an insurance policy for owners who have Johnson.

-- And the winner is: The 2008 Pierre Thomas made a belated appearance in Week 3, rushing for 126 yards and two touchdowns in the second half for the Saints. With Mike Bell missing practice again this week because of a knee injury and Thomas saying his knee is close to 100 percent, all signs point to Thomas being a valuable asset the rest of the way.

Reggie Bush, who is averaging only 10 carries per game, is a flex play at best in PPR leagues. The player we once thought could be the next Marshall Faulk is now more of a slot receiver, and Thomas, an undrafted third-year back from Illinois, is a must-start, even Sunday against the Jets and their ninth-ranked run defense.

-- And the winner is, Take II: Fred Taylor, he of the 2,466 career carries and the age at which most running backs are looking for media work (33), may have finally given Bill Belichick reason to stop the back-by-committee insanity.

Taylor, who had 17 rushing attempts in his first two games with the Patriots, had 21 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown last week. He's the only Patriots back worth considering week to week.

Just not this one. New England will host Baltimore on Sunday. The league's top-ranked run defense is allowing 51 yards per game and 2.5 yards per carry. The opposition has yet to score on the ground.

-- On deck: We'll have a live fantasy football chat Thursday night at 7. To access the discussion, go to the homepage of www.News-Herald.com and look for the link to the chat. Saturday, I'll have a column on the fantasy prospects of Glen Coffee, Tashard Choice and other young backs who will play a prominent role in the next few weeks, along with an audiocast and the "big blog," which includes the expanded playlist and start-and-sit advice. All can be found in the Sports section of the N-H's Web site, and the blog will also be posted in this space.

Good luck and remember to thank the owner ahead of you in the waiver-wire pecking order who neglected to pick up Coffee (Glen, not Starbucks).