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.
Happy Halloween ladies! Another full week of games, another 9:30 a.m. Sunday game, and another week to put faith in a player who lets you down. Who will it be this week? We're going to talk through it and simply not start that player. OK, let's go.
Lions at Kansas City at 9:30 a.m. EST: Yet another England game. Are the Brits enjoying these games? There sure are a lot of them, so I hope so. No real injuries of note (you know since Jamaal Charles). Lions have a new offensive coordinator so maybe they'll give more work to Abdullah and figure out how to throw it to Golden Tate successfully. Things can't be much worse, so you gotta figure they'll run more. Hey, I told you to use Charcandrick West last week. He's the guy.
Buccaneers at Falcons: Some discussion about Matt Ryan. I think the issue is mostly they can run the ball well for the first time in years and they're scoring too many touchdowns that way. Plus Julio got robbed of a TD catch last week. I'm starting healthy Falcons here, which doesn't included Hankerson. For the Bucs, no VJax or Seferian-Jenkins. Atlanta defense isn't a pushover right now, but Doug Martin and Mike Evans look fine.
Chargers at Ravens: Antonio Gates is the big, likely absence in what figures to be a shootout. I'm assuming he won't play, though we won't know for sure until tonight (if he doesn't fly) or tomorrow when the inactives come out, if he does. I personally wouldn't consider Ladarius Green unless Gates is out, but I suppose he could catch something. Two disappointing teams who collectively have lost some tough games. But hey, they can still help fantasy teams.
Vikings at Bears: No noteworthy injuries. I like the Vikings defense but am not concerned about Matt Forte. Mildly debating sitting down Martellus Bennett for Jacob Tamme (they are close in rankings) but probably won't. Peterson and Stefan Diggs are the interesting Vikings, maybe Mike Wallace. I have a standard league where I've been wasting time starting Dwayne Allen half the season, maybe this week I'll start Kyle Rudolph with the same hope; that he scores.
Cardinals at Browns: By starting Danny Amendola on Thursday, I no longer have to worry about John Brown, who's iffy for this game. Though I wish I'd benched Amendola. Whatever. Happily using Chris Johnson against a Brown team that can't stop the run. Fitz and Floyd certainly look better if Brown out. Gary Barnidge for Cleveland, and no one else leaps to mind. Maybe Duke and Benjamin in PPR.
Titans at Texans: Picked up the Titans defense even though Brian Hoyer doesn't actually take many sacks, though he does throw the occasional pick. Beggars can't be choosers when you change defenses each week. If I had to start a Texans a running back I think it would be Alfred Blue, but I have a little more long-term hope for Chris Polk. Basically these guys are slightly more usable than Titans backs. Nate Washington a nice option, again, facing his former team. Mettenberger at quarterback again, but it can't be as bad as last week. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Giants at Saints: I think both teams will score a lot in this game. My various teams are loaded (littered?) with Giants and Saints. I like Darkwa but not enough to actually start him this week, I don't think, although it's between him, Abdullah and Mike Davis in one league (yeah I know). So Darkwa might still start for me.
Bengals at Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger is back. You have to worry a little bit about rust, but I'd probably just chuck him out there. Certainly Brown and Bryant look good. For the Bengals, I like the passing game, which includes Giovani Bernard. Big game; I think Pittsburgh has a chance.
49ers at Rams: Can Todd Gurley keep it up? Maybe. Love the player. Love the Rams defense too. Carlos Hyde is out so I'm picking up Mike Davis in a league or two, though it sounds like they may go with Reggie Bush as their main back. We'll see; should have more clarity by Sunday morning. Risky to count on him. Or anything to do with either passing game, of course.
Jets at Raiders: Jets might not have Eric Decker, though it sounds like he'll play. He says he will, and the Jets have basically nothing else. Like Chris Ivory. Oakland's offense, well, it's not the Patriots, so I'll basically pass on almost everyone. Think you probably have to use Amari Cooper, but, tough matchup.
Seahawks at Cowboys: We have Darren McFadden very high in the PPR rankings. Am sure you noticed. Well, Dallas had a good thing going last week with McFadden and that offensive line just mauling the Giants until Matt Cassel came along to muck it up with turnovers. Seattle, great defense, but I think McFadden could be OK. Oh yeah, Dez Bryant might play. I'm afraid to chance him myself, but I guess you might not have a better option.
Packers at Broncos: Friend of mine made the Packers his pick in a Survivor Pool. That's what it's come to for Peyton Manning; being picked against even while at home leading an undefeated team. Sounds like James Starks is hurt so it will be mostly Eddie Lacy. Probably not doing a whole lot. but hey, like I said, I'm mulling Mike Davis in a league. For Denver, I'm fine with the wideouts. I'm not a huge Hillman fan, but he's probably the No. 1 there right now.
Colts at Panthers: I feel like we've already seen enough of these teams in primetime, and they haven't even been on that much. But Carolina has Cam Newton and Greg Olsen, and the Colts are just painful to watch them screw things up. I do like watching Luck and T.Y. Hilton, and I kind of think Frank Gore is a sneaky play, so I'll get him into a lineup somewhere. Colts gotta win or they're going to be a 3-6 first-place team that fires its coach after facing Denver next week. And no one really wants that.
My survivor picks, for what it's worth, would be the Rams or Falcons. But I'm out, so it isn't worth all that much, really. Hey, be safe this Halloween. Watch out for those chewy popcorn balls, tough on your teeth. And that kid dressed as Chuckie, 'cause that's just wrong.
Enjoy the games.
