Every Saturday morning, Andy Richardson offers brief overviews of the upcoming Sunday games, including significant developments involving injuries. He'll also offer opinions on lineup questions over the course of the day.
A word on the Trent Richardson deal. When I heard about it, I actually had to check multiple sites to confirm that it was for real -- that's how crazy it seemed. The second thing I did was offer up Jamaal Charles for Richardson in my dynasty league. I was turned down.
I don't see any way this is a "win-win" for the Browns. They get one draft pick, which history suggests they'll squander anyway. They tick off their players and fan-base and appear to throw in the towel on a season that's two weeks old. I understand the new regime, which didn't draft Richardson, thinks they're the smartest guys in the room and all, but I will take the Colts end of this deal 100 times out of 100.
OK, where were we? On to the games.
Houston at Baltimore: I expect there won't be a ton of offense in this game, with both teams having pretty good defenses, especially against the run. Bernard Pierce is likely to get the start for Baltimore, and I'd use him -- not expecting a big, 150-yard type game, but maybe 80 and a touchdown; he should play pretty much full-time. Receivers look OK, I'm using Marlon somewhere. Andre Johnson is fine. Would use Foster, not Tate.
N.Y. Giants at Carolina: I like New York's passing offense in this game, a lot. I am not willing to use David Wilson until I see some indication the Giants are going to make him a full-time guy (which maybe one more week of giving snaps to Jacobs/Scott should lead to). I guess you can use Panthers if you have them, certainly Olsen. Cooler on Smith, Newton, and Williams.
Green Bay at Cincinnati: Bengals have a very good defense, but you don't sit down Green Bay's passing game, and if you picked up James Starks this week, what would you be waiting for? Put him in the lineup. My general rule if I win the battle for a hot waiver claim is to just start him and hope for the best. Starks might have no value after this week so may as well get something out of him while you can. My Gio Bernard pick worked out well last week, and I'd use him again; should be more productive overall than BJGE.
St. Louis at Dallas: Expected more out of the Rams defense than I've seen so far. Since it hasn't been that great, I'd go ahead and use Cowboys and Rams here. I expect some Daryl Richardson questions; I'd use him, because again, he should be close to full-time. Rams receivers are trickier. I would not use Austin Pettis, but Givens should be good and Tavon has PPR value. DeMarco Murray had a huge game against the Rams way back when.
Cleveland at Minnesota: Browns catch a real break being on the road this week. Oh right, they're not tanking the season, they're making the team better. Please, continue to make the team better by trading Josh Gordon away, too. I am looking forward to seeing Brian Hoyer do nothing in this game -- sorry, nothing against him personally, I've just grown tired of all the mythology around the guy ever since he was a backup in New England and the Patriots were supposedly going to trade him for a first-round pick or something. Whatever, he may be fine, but I want nothing to do with Cleveland's offense beyond Jordan Cameron and, to a lesser extent, Gordon. I wonder if the Browns defense will suffer from the team giving away Richardson. Can't help, I'll say that.
Tampa Bay at New England: Season is ending quickly for the Bucs. Maybe they can sneak in and steal a win, but far more likely that Josh Freeman has another lousy performance and Mike Glennon is in the lineup in a week or two. If you've got Doug Martin and Vincent Jackson, go ahead and use them. For the Patriots, well, it's hard to have a ton of confidence, but I would be using Brady, Ridley and Edelman. I would not use Rob Gronkowski, even if he's active, because this is the Patriots and I don't trust them to actually put him on the field until they do it. Zach Sudfeld, well, sleeper potential, but you must have a better option.
Arizona at New Orleans: This is apparently supposed to be a shootout, but I don't know. Maybe the New Orleans offense just isn't what it used to be. Or maybe I'm underestimating them. Mark Ingram probably won't play, which is good news for Pierre Thomas and of course the New Orleans offense in general. Breakout year for Ingram some said -- right. The big question here, I know, is whether to use Larry Fitzgerald. I'm the kind of guy who simply avoids injuries whenever possible, so I'm benching him for a decent alternative if I have one. ("Decent" can mean a lot of things; I'm not sitting him for Harry Douglas or Rueben Randle, but would do so for Miles Austin or Chris Givens -- a decent starter in a game that should have lots of offense.) Like Michael Floyd a lot this week. Sounds like Rashard Mendenhall is fine, too.
San Diego at Tennessee: I spent decent coin in blind bidding waivers to acquire Philip Rivers in a league where I have Andrew Luck. I don't want to use Luck at San Francisco this week, and I love Rivers' schedule over the next 6 weeks; it's awesome. Assuming I right that Tennessee's defense isn't that great, anyway. We'll find out here. Kendall Wright has been cleared from his concussion so sounds like he's OK. I like Chris Johnson a lot, Ryan Mathews, eh. Would be nicer if I knew he'd play full-time.
Detroit at Washington: Should be a shootout, which is a recurring theme for Washington this year. When we did the Weekly on Tuesday, Jim Schwartz had said Reggie Bush's injury "isn't long-term, but you could call it medium term." I took that to mean Bush would definitely miss this game. He practiced Friday, making us think he would play, but now there's a report that Bush might not play. It's huge, as Joique Bell would be awesome if Bush can't go. As I write this, I'm of a mind not to use Bush, period, and use Bell. Tomorrow morning things may look different. Love both passing games here.
Atlanta at Miami: Atlanta's defense is a wreck so Miami's offense looks good here. I wouldn't go crazy, but there's no starter I'd dismiss. For Atlanta, I want no part of Roddy White and no part of the running back committee. Julio and Matt, sure, they'll be fine.
Buffalo at N.Y. Jets: Jets defense good, Jets offense bad. I'd use C.J. Spiller and Stevie Johnson, and have some interest in Chris Ivory, who is all New York's offense should have going for it. No part of Jets passing game. I picked up the Bills defense in two leagues where I normally start the Bengals.
Jacksonville at Seattle: Made the Seahawks my suicide pick. I don't think this will be a blowout, but things certainly look favorable for Seattle. Their defense and Marshawn Lynch are about the only really appealing starts in this game, for both teams.
Indianapolis at San Francisco: I am using Trent Richardson here, but not happily. He was my first-round pick in a money league and since it was a pretty tough draft room, I don't have a lot of great options if I sit him down because of the tough matchup and new uniform. Am just hoping he gets 15-18 touches and scores a short touchdown, unlikely as it might be against this good defense. Sitting Andrew Luck, but would probably use Wayne and maybe Hilton and Fleener. San Francisco's offense should be really good. Can't use Vernon Davis, though, who looks like a longshot to be active (I doubt he will be).
Chicago at Pittsburgh: Thrilla. Steelers defense still good enough that they'll be competitive, although their offense should do zip. I am desperately shopping Antonio Brown, that's how cool I am on the 2013 Steelers. LeVeon Bell may -- may -- be active, but I would save him for next week even if the Steelers don't. I know A.J. Green got shut down by Ike Taylor, but you're a more daring owner than me if you bench Brandon Marshall; I wouldn't.
Oakland at Denver: Oakland hasn't looked too awful the first two weeks, but that's scheduling. They should look pretty awful here. I am all over Denver -- running, passing, kicking, special teams, defense. No Raiders anywhere near my lineup.
Feel free to post questions, I will get to them over the course of the day. Enjoy the games.
