Every Saturday morning, I'll take a quick look at all the week's games, offering my own take on what I think will happen, as well as touching on significant injury news since our Weekly came out. I'll check in every so often over the course of the day to answer questions, too.
Having too many teams to properly manage all of them is a real problem. I'm still kicking myself for not submitting my Super League lineup in time to get Julio Jones in, as I posted on the site I was going to do. I had a couple of injury/questionable tags to worry about, so I picked up Jacquizz Rodgers in a league and stuck him in my flex as a space holder, but absolutely meant to get that stiff out of there -- and forgot. Now I've cost myself 28 points in that Super League lineup, a huge total, and started with a zero in a league where I've opened the season with two high-scoring losses by a total of 4 points. Very frustrating.
But enough about me. The point is, if you've got too many teams to actually keep track of your lineups, cut back. I always think I've done it enough, but a few weeks in it's clear I've still got one team too many. OK, on to the games.
Chargers at Bills: I hear Keenan Allen is questionable for this game after apparently a groin injury in practice. Sounds like he'll play, but you've got to make sure he's active. If he's out there, I'd use him, because eventually he'll break out (and maybe teams will cover Antonio Gates). Gotta worry a little bit about the Chargers here after knocking off Seattle last week. I do like Donald Brown in this game, and I can't believe EJ Manuel will keep things going for Buffalo.
Bengals at Titans: Sounds like A.J. Green is good to go for this game, so I'll be using him. Confirm he's active, but it appears he'll play. I made the Bengals my suicide pool pick; I really like this team. I'd consider Jeremy Hill here, although it's still Giovani Bernard's backfield. Tried to trade Montee Ball for Bernard in dynasty this week and got shot down. Oh well. Really want nothing to do with Tennessee's offense here, just Delanie Walker is the only guy I'd use.
Ravens at Browns: Browns did a nice job against the Saints last week, so I'm wary of using any Ravens. Steve Smith is in a lineup somewhere for me, but I want no part of either running back (although the Browns are probably weaker in that area). Impressed by the job the Ravens D did against Pittsburgh, so I'm not too interested in any Browns. Terrance West is your main running back. Sounds like Jordan Cameron will probably be available, but again, you've got to confirm he's active. Points hard to come by here, I think.
Packers at Lions: In contrast, both of these offenses should be pretty good. Another tough matchup for Eddie Lacy, but if you've got him, as I do in one league, you probably don't have a better option. Two soft pass defenses, I think, so the main receivers for both should be great. And quarterbacks. I kind of like Reggie Bush here, too.
Colts at Jaguars: Really not sure why Pep Hamilton wasn't fired on the spot after the Colts blew that game against Philadelphia on Monday. Just a brutal, stupid loss. And when the Colts got the ball in a tie game with 2-3 minutes left and ran Trent Richardson into the line on first and second down? Inconceivable. Whatever. Neither of these defenses ia very good, but Indy's should be a little better, and Andrew Luck should be in a ticked off mood and come to play. I like Ahmad Bradshaw more than Richardson. Toby Gerhart is supposed to play, yippee. Marqise Lee won't.
Raiders at Patriots: I like Stevan Ridley here, and probably Edelman and Gronkowski will be good too. The ground game will be the main choice of attack, but they'll let Tom Brady stretch his arm out too. Obviously you never really know what the Patriots will do in a given week, but my lean is they'll pound away with Ridley and you just have to hope he doesn't fumble or anything. I'm not mentioning any Raiders players for obvious reasons.
Vikings at Saints: Love the Saints offense here. Khiry Robinson, Marques Colston, Brandin Cooks. If you need encouragement to start Brees and Graham I'm not sure what to say. Maybe the Saint defense will finally deliver. For the Vikings, I kind of like Jerick McKinnnon as a shot in the dark type of player, but there's plenty of risk with that line of thinking. But I would have started him over Jacquizz freaking Rodgers.
Texans at Giants: Arian Foster is questionable but should play. I like Andre Johnson here. Would consider Rashad Jennings, who should play full-time, and the Houston defense is nothing special against the run.
Washington at Eagles: DeSean Jackson says he'll suit up against his former team, but he's hurting. I would not want to count on him. Pierre Garcon looks a lot better. No Jordan Reed, so Niles Paul has value. For the Eagles, you've got Maclin and Ertz, and the guy slinging it to them. I'm kind of looking for Kirk Cousins to get exposed as the mediocre backup he is here. Like the running backs, though I'm not going to get over Sproles scoring 35 points to beat me in a league I thought I'd already won in last Monday night anytime soon.
Cowboys at Rams: In a league I lost Jordan Reed in, I picked up Jared Cook to start this week. Never thought I'd go with Cook, but I have a good feeling about him versus a Dallas defense that hasn't covered the tight end well thus far (big games for Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker). There's my sleeper TE of the week. Dez Bryant questionable but expected to play. Brian Quick against a soft Dallas secondary has desperation appeal, but the Rams will probably lean on Zac Stacy as long as they can.
49ers at Cardinals: No Carson Palmer, in an injury situation that's becoming very troubling. Tough to get excited about Fitzgerald or Floyd with Drew Stanton at quarterback. I'm using Andre Ellington, wouldn't touch Stepfan Taylor or the apparently goal-line back, Jalen Parmele. Parmele? Really, they're going to take Ellington off the field for Parmele? San Francisco may not have Vernon Davis or Vance McDonald, so Derek Carrier is your spot start of the week. Maybe I should have picked him up over Cook.
Kansas City at Dolphins: I know I'll get questions about the Kansas City running back situation. I don't know what to tell you. I thought Charles was going to miss some time with a high-ankle sprain, but he was practicing on a limited basis this week, so who knows. Hopefully you've got Charles and Davis on your roster and can start Davis if Charles is inactive, or start Charles if he's active. That's how I'd handle it, or else avoid it altogether if had a third option. If both guys are active, I have no idea how much they'll play. Sorry. For Miami, I like Mike Wallace and Lamar Miller. Charles Clay questionable.
Broncos at Seahawks: Super Bowl rematch. If I had Peyton Manning, I'd probably be using him, since if I had Manning my backup would be a whole lot worse. Wes Welker returns. No notable injuries here, but I think it's reasonable to think this isn't a wild shootout, so downgrade guys on both teams a little. But if you've got Lynch, Ball, Thomases, Harvin et al, you're probably using them. I'm starting Russell Wilson under the idea he'll have to do more than usual in this game.
Steelers at Panthers: Tough matchup for Pittsburgh, but you're using Brown and Bell if you've got them. I'm sitting Heath Miller for Cook. Pittsburgh's defense has been soft so certainly Cam Newton is viable. Jonathan Stewart becomes interesting if the other running backs are out, but DeAngelo Williams is practicing on a limited basis, so tough to say. Stewart should be the main guy so there's upside there. Decent primetime game without any off-field issues for the pregame crew to dwell on, so there's that.
Bears at Jets: I like the Jets running game and the Bears passing game. Eric Decker is iffy, sounds like both Bears wideouts will probably play, and you certainly can't sit Marshall after last week. Jay Cutler should be fine.
Enjoy the games.
--Andy Richardson
