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.
The Thursday games have been pretty bad so far. It almost makes you not glad there's football on. Most of the overall scores have been low, most of the fantasy numbers have been disappointing. The exception is Broncos-Ravens, but that's a different story -- that game wasn't played on a short week.
Going forward, my general rule with these games might be, running backs from teams you think will win. Of course, that didn't work with Patriots-Jets. I don't know, it's a theory that's still in development. On to tomorrow's games.
Baltimore at Buffalo: Ray Rice is a gametime decision. I'm benching him, and unless he's inactive I'm not using Bernard Pierce, either. Unfortunate, since it's a nice matchup. If Rice is active, I expect they'll split the work fairly evenly. For Buffalo, the matchup isn't as nice, and again the workload should be split. In short, it's not a great game to chase stats from. I'm using Marlon Brown somewhere with no other choice and would use Torrey Smith, too.
Cincinnati at Cleveland: It appears Cincinnati's entire secondary is hurt for this game, although you shouldn't need an extra reason to start Jordan Cameron or Josh Gordon coming off last week's huge performances. I want no part of the Browns' running back committee, ever. Wouldn't really want to touch either Bengals runner, either, though I suppose Bernard has some appeal in PPR. A.J. Green will be shadowed by Joe Haden, but you know, he's A.J. Green.
Chicago at Detroit: Nothing of note from this game. Nate Burleson is out, so you can use Ryan Broyles in PPR; Reggie Bush is in, so Joique Bell isn't very appealing. Chicago's offense should be pretty good.
Seattle at Houston: More defense than offense in this one. I'd avoid both passing games. Don't really want to mess around with banged-up Andre Johnson, but it sounds like he'll play. Don't like the matchup for Lynch or Foster, but most will need to use them anyway.
Indianapolis at Jacksonville: This is the chance for Trent Richardson; I may even use him in that Super League thing. Ahmad Bradshaw (neck) is out. Based on watching that Seattle-Jacksonville game last week, I actually think the Jaguars are better defending the run than the pass, but regardless, Richardson should lead the way in this game. I'm starting Luck and Richardson in one league (didn't draft them knowing they'd be on the same team, obviously) and hoping the Colts score a ton. Jones-Drew has a nice recent history here, but I understand some have been burned by him lately.
N.Y. Giants at Kansas City: Gotta respect the KC defense. Can't really use the Giants running game with any confidence. Victor Cruz and maybe Hakeem Nicks, and of course Jamaal Charles; those are the viable options in this game. I took a zero with Nicks last week which was a real drag, but what am I gonna do? I've got nobody realistic to start over him, so I'm hoping the Giants get things a little bit turned around here.
Pittsburgh versus Minnesota across the pond: I might be getting my time zones confused, but I believe this game has already happened. No? OK. No Christian Ponder. I have LeVeon Bell in a couple of leagues but am leaving him on the bench. I think. He's usable if you're in a pinch. Gotta use Antonio Brown, too. Roethlisberger looks OK. Haven't seen a weather report but it's something to watch for on the pregame tomorrow morning; sometimes rain is an issue, which would mean more running (which I expect plenty of anyway). Sounds like Bell might get 15-plus carries, so I would risk him if I had no other really good option.
Arizona at Tampa Bay: I wouldn't use Rashard Mendenhall, but the way Tampa Bay's week went it's tempting to bump key parts of the Arizona offense up your rankings. For Tampa Bay, both starting wideouts are questionable and the quarterback is making his NFL debut. I'm certainly avoiding Williams and wouldn't be happy about using Vincent Jackson, though he's great and all. Best to just stay away is my view with the Bucs. I'm mystified by these reports as if it's a big deal whether Josh Freeman is active or not, and that he wants to be traded. He's getting benched for Mike Glennon. He has no backup or trade value.
N.Y. Jets at Tennessee: Maybe I made this joke when these teams played a year ago, but it would be awesome if the Jets wore their throwback "Titans" uniforms in this game to really confuse people. Then the Titans could wear their throwback Oilers uniforms, and youngsters could wonder what the connection of Tennessee to oil is. As for the game, I respect the Jets defense a lot, and I respect any defense matched up with the Jets offense. I would use Chris Johnson, and maybe Bilal Powell given his close to full-time status, and the defenses.
Philadelphia at Denver: Scha-wing! I like everyone here. LeSean McCoy has a tough matchup with a strong run defense, but I'd use him anyway, he'll make up for it as a receiver. Denver running backs, Knowshon Moreno is the only one I would (and am, in fact) gamble on using. Very disappointed in Montee Ball, especially since I traded up to take him at 1.1 in my rookie draft back in May. Denver's passing offense is an easy start, all of them. That said, I think the 13.5 point spread is way too high. I expect Denver to score in the 30s, certainly, but I like Philly to score enough to cover.
Washington at Oakland: Don't know about Terrelle Pryor. Both defenses are shall we say doo-doo, so I'm all over Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden, RG III and Garcon too. The QB uncertainty with Oakland makes it harder to start Denarius Moore or Rod Streater, but the matchup is nice. Not sure who the tight end will be for either team, but you don't want to use Oakland's. Sounds like Jordan Reed won't play. For those in really dire straits at tight end.
Dallas at San Diego: I like this game as having shootout potential. Both passing games look good to me, and DeMarco Murray is also an option coming off a big game.
New England at Atlanta: Oh boy. As if the status of Rob Gronkowski weren't confusing enough, this is the night game, so most who have him can't wait for the inactives list. I don't know if he'll play, I just know I wouldn't consider him unless my other options are Charles Clay or Tony Gonzalez -- i.e., a tight end playing in this game or the Monday game. Danny Amendola is firmly on my bench, but I wouldn't want to count on Julian Edelman, either, just in case. If you ask any questions regarding these players, my answer will be, I don't risk zeroes, so I'm not using Gronk or Amendola this week. Falcons, running back committee against a good run defense, not appealing. I"m still not using Roddy White.
Miami at New Orleans: I went with the Saints as my weekly suicide pool pick, which I'll defend thusly: I don't choose road teams, and don't like the Broncos-Eagles matchup. New Orleans' offense should be just fine in this game. For Miami, I kind of like Lamar Miller here, and maybe Wallace and Hartline, but I don't see it as a high-scoring shootout; the Saints D is improved. In any case, it's a matchup of undefeated teams, so you can do a lot worse for a primetime game. Like 49ers-Rams, for example.
Enjoy the games.
