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.
Another week, another big game. I'm feeling this one most acutely because there are six teams on byes in Week 9, and six teams on byes in Week 10. It's like the NFL doesn't even care about those of us in fantasy leagues! Very disappointing. I know I've got several teams counting on Patriots, Packers and Chargers; yeah, those are the teams we're without, not just the Jaguars and Raiders of the NFL.
Denver-San Diego the other night showed the unpredictability of fantasy football. Ronnie Hillman had a great yardage game, but was denied multiple touchdowns by the flukiest of sideline steps, penalties, and Denver giving the ball to Juwan Thompson (lined up as a fullback; Hillman was in the backfield for those plays) twice at the goal line. And if like my son you were one of the people who had Percy Harvin (robbed of multiple touchdowns three weeks ago) AND Hillman, well, you might never want to play fantasy football again.
Lions versus Falcons: This game will kick off at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, which means I'll be able to go right from watching Melissa Stark on NFL Network with my morning coffee to watching an actual game. You can almost hear the wheels turning inside Roger Goodell/NFL owners' heads: Hmmm, having one game kick off really early in the morning on Sunday.... Doesn't sound like Calvin Johnson or Reggie Bush will play. Bush keeps saying he'll play, which makes me want to respond, Shut up. Players can't be trusted. He's doubtful. Fire up Joique Bell and Golden Tate.
Seahawks at Panthers: These teams have played really low-scoring games in back to back seasons, but this one should be different. Defenses aren't as good. Since I benched Philip Rivers for Russell Wilson in three leagues, I hope that's how things work out. Am in favor of quarterbacks and receivers from both teams. And Marshawn Lynch. Avoid Panthers runners, though.
Ravens at Bengals: These games are typically 20-17 types of contests, though it's hard to ignore how the Bengals defense has struggled lately. I am using Smith, Sanu, Forsett, Bernard. This is huge for the AFC North, making it more compelling, I think, than most of the other games. No A.J. Green; definitely not in my lineup even if he's surprisingly active. He didn't practice all week but Marvin Lewis says he's in football form, whatever that means. What like he got fat while he's been sidelined? I'm only worried about him being able to run on a toe injury that apparently could hinder him the rest of the year. No Owen Daniels, so I picked the wrong week to add him in multiple leagues.
Dolphins at Jaguars: Starting the Dolphins defense everywhere. Like Denard Robinson in PPR, don't love him. Jags defense has been a little better lately but still like Miller, Wallace. I have a couple of young Jaguars wideouts in keeper leagues and am kind of frustrated. Allen Robinson strikes me as the best just based on watching them play.
Rams at Kansas City: I went with Kansas City as my suicide pool pick this week, in a competition that's down to just 8 people. I've been feeling regret about the pick ever since. The other one to consider, in my mind, was Dallas over Washington (a week ago it would have been Cleveland, until their dud in Jacksonville). I also thought about Detroit. But I like to avoid good offenses that can have a big game. Maybe I underestimate the Rams. Whatever, it's done. I would start Tre Mason, and am using Jared Cook. That's about it.
Bears at Patriots: Bears a little better against the run than the pass, so I'm not using Jonas Gray, but he is the guy I'd consider after Shane Vereen. Edelman, LaFell, Bears receivers. Forte is my MVP in one league; I'd be undefeated if he'd been more productive in a couple of early games. Should be a fairly high-scoring game but I'm a little nervous about Jay Cutler's psyche and think he could serve up a mistake or two.
Bills at Jets: Two really good run defenses, so not the week to put either Anthony Dixon or Bryce Brown into a lineup, in my opinion. Not thrilled to start Chris Ivory, either, though he's been running really well. Maybe Percy Harvin has a big play in there somewhere to get his new team all excited for a game or two, but I wouldn't touch the Jets passing game. Sammy Watkins is pretty much it, I think.
Vikings at Buccaneers: Awful Bucs defense, so I'm using Jerick McKinnon. For the Bucs, Vincent Jackson. That's about it for interesting fantasy options in this game. Let me think on it a minute. Nope, that's it.
Texans at Titans: Houston could seemingly have won several more games than they have. Moot point cause they're not going to win the South or make a wildcard run, but there's some talent here, while the Titans are headed south in a hurry. Arian Foster, he's the guy to use in this game; Andre Johnson a decent second choice.
Eagles at Cardinals: This game should be fairly high scoring, as it was a year ago. Cardinals defense has some ability to cause problems for opponents, but it's soft against the pass and that's what the Eagles do well. I like all the Cardinals' key receivers, well, both of them, and Andre Ellington. Both teams look like playoff teams, so it's a big one.
Raiders at Browns: A week to use Ben Tate and Jordan Cameron with a lot of optimism. Browns terrible against the run so you can think about Darren McFadden. I am personally not placing too much stock in the Raiders talking about getting Maurice Jones-Drew some carries, but there is a risk there. Still think McFadden should be the guy. Not keen on any of the wide receivers, hard to predict who will be the standout/get the most chances. Raiders need to win a game like this or the 0-fer might stretch into the final month.
Colts at Steelers: Trent Richardson iffy for this game, just more reason to start Ahmad Bradshaw. T.Y. Hilton and Andrew Luck, you don't need my help there. No Reggie Wayne, but I'm wary of trying another wideout. For Pittsburgh, Bell and Brown are two of the league's best, but that's about it. Very surprising how good Indy's defense has been this season. Dropped Heath Miller, finally, this week, so take that as a sign he'll have a good game for a change.
Packers at Saints: I am a little uncertain how this game will play out. Green Bay's offense is on a roll, so I like everyone there. New Orleans is struggling on both offense and defense, but at least they're home. Green Bay soft against the run, so I kind of like Mark Ingram (he and Travaris Cadet are the healthy Saints backs), but what if Green Bay gets ahead 21-0? Suddenly Ingram doesn't look as good. I think I'm starting Jimmy Graham and just hoping he plays enough. Should be a high-scoring shootout, the uncertainty comes in guessing which team will start out ahead, making their running back better than the other team's back.
Washington at Cowboys: Washington going with Colt McCoy at quarterback, and he could be OK. Dallas defense hasn't really been tested yet, and Washington has some talent. It's a week to use someone like Terrance Williams if you've got a receiver spot open. Since I didn't pick Dallas in the pool, I wouldn't mind seeing Washington spring the upset, but I doubt it happens. Entertaining game, and I suspect a big one for Dez Bryant and maybe DeSean Jackson, too.
Enjoy the games.
--Andy Richardson
