Well, it's been really fun writing this blog, but the time has come to wrap things up. Everything is good in Know It All land, just have a lot of family and work and fantasy football obligations right now that I want to concentrate on. This blog was a fun experience, and there might come a time when I bring it back, but for now I'm going to to go on an extended hiatus. A sincere "Thank You" to all the readers, you guys were great and I hope some of my advice, tips and betting picks (hey, 20-14-1 on the year - not too shabby!) helped make your fantasy seasons more successful. Good luck the rest of the year!
The Fantasy Know It All
...
Monday, October 26, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Flex Choice: Jonathan Stewart or Miles Austin?
PROS: The "Daliy Show" has been pretty hot as of late, rushing for 149 yards and 2 TDs in his last two contests. The Panthers face the Bills this week at home, and the Williams are fresh off giving up a staggering 318 rushing yards to the Jets. The Panthers will certainly try to win this tilt by keeping things on the ground - having Jake Delhomme air it out this year has led to big trouble for Carolina - so J. Stew should have plenty of opportunities to rack up yards and maybe a score or two.
CONS: Three concerns with Stewart this week. One, he's questionable this week with a heel injury. Even though he's not expected to miss the game, it could slow him down a little. Two, he hasn't done much outside of the last two games - he only had 99 yards and 0 TDs in his first 3 games. Lastly, and the most obvious factor, is that Stewart remains the second banana behind DeAngelo Williams in the Panthers RB pecking order - so there's always a good chance he loses out when the TD chances arise.
PROS: "I Can See for Miles" is coming off the finest receiving day in the storied history of the Cowboys. He shredded the Chiefs secondary for 10 catches, 250 yards and 2 TDs, including the game-winner in OT. In the wake of this great performance, Austin was named a starting WR over the underperforming Patrick Crayton. The Cowboys are well rested off the bye, and they should be passing plenty to keep pace with the dynamic offense of the Falcons this week. This young man could just be hitting his stride and should be a big part of the Cowboys O this week and the rest of the year.
CONS: Austin exploded onto the scene in week #5, but barely was a blip on the radar before that - he only entered the KC game with a meager 5 catches on the year. It still remains to be seen exactly how much of a factor he'll be in a "normal" week. The Cowboys running game is also doing pretty well this year, and with Marion Barber getting healthy the 'Boys will be sure to give him a healthy dose of carries, probably limiting Austin's looks. There also always a chance the highly inconsistent Tony Romo throws up one of his patented "stinker" games, killing Austin's value in the process.
VERDICT: Difficult decision, but I'm going to go with Austin. Stewart being a little nicked and DeAngelo Williams cutting into the workload gives the young Cowboy WR the slight edge here.
...
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Know It All Five Pack: Week #7
Arrgh! Lttle bit of a downer for the KIA in Week #6 - a disappointing 2-3 week drops his season record to 17-13. Still has his head above water, but the losing week left a sour taste in his mouth. Let's break out the Listerine and freshen up with the Week #7 card, shall we?
NE -15 at TB
Technically, TB is the "home" team here, but the game is actually being played in jolly old England. Frankly, this game could be played in my backyard, East Timor, or the surface of the Sun, and I think the result is going to be the same: A Patriots rout. The Buccaneers just don't have anywhere near the firepower to keep up with a Patriots offense that REALLY found its groove vs. TEN last week. I sense another big Pats win, something like 38-17, so go ahead lay the wood right here and back the Pats.
PIT -4 vs. MIN
Little bit of a case of the line telling you something here, the Vikings are riding high at 6-0 and yet they're a solid 4 point underdog? Yep, here's why: The Vikings squeaked by two decent teams at home and really haven't played anyone tough on the road yet this year. With the return of a healthy Troy Polamalu and a hot Ben Roethlisberger, beating the Steelers at Heinz Field is a very tall order - one I don't believe the Vikings will measure up to. I like Pittsburgh right here, somewhere around 24-17 or thereabouts, to win the game and cover the 4.
HOU -3 vs. SF
The Texans got back to doing what they do well in their big win in Cincy last week: getting the ball to Andre Johnson, and then slowing down the pass rush with screens and dump-offs to Owen Daniels and Steve Slaton. The 49ers might manage to score some points against a very mediocre Houston D, but in the end I think the Texans pull away and cover the FG. Expect maybe 31-24 or 27-20 Texans.
ATL +4 at DAL
I'm sorry Mr. Jones, but I just don't think your Cowboys are that good of a team. I know they can run the ball, and are at home in the Taj Mahal off a bye week, but this Falcons team is straight rolling right now and I don't see a porous Cowboy D doing much to slow them down. The Falcons have a great chance to win this game outright, so I'll gladly take the FG+1 point here and go with the Dirty Birds.
IND -13 1/2 at STL
This is not rocket surgery. The Rams have lost 16 games in a row, the Colts are coming off a bye and are (at worst) one of the best two teams in football. 'Nuff said - Colts roll, let's say 34-13 or 37-17.
GOOD LUCK!!
…
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Week #6 Observations
Week #6 in the NFL has come and gone, with some very surprising results. A few underdogs won their games straight up, and a few matchups that looked to be competitive games turned out to be blowouts. Here's a few thoughts I had regarding last week's action...
Big Win in the Big Easy
All I can say about the Saints is WOW! New Orleans completely dismantled the Giants to the tune of 48-27, basically scoring at will and shutting down the G-Men most of the day. Can anyone stop this juggernaut? Is it possible that maybe even they run the table? They don't look they have any stiff tests until week #12...when Tom Brady and NE come calling. What a game that should be!
Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...
It did. The Redskins season was already going in the wrong direction, but now they're officially in the toilet after losing at home to a terrible Chiefs team. HC Jim Zorn has been stripped of his play-calling duties, the team opting to turn the reins over to offensive asst. Sherman Lewis, who was last seen calling bingo numbers at a senior citizen center. I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried. Dan Snyder has a complete mess on his hands, and this franchise could be in for a VERY long year.
Has anyone tackled Zach Miller yet?
I'm pretty sure he's still weaving his way through the Eagles secondary as I write this. The Eagles were 14 point favorites and proceeded to fall flat on their face, losing to Oakland 13-9. The Birds were plagued by a leaky offensive line and, to the surprise of no one who has followed this team during the McNabb-Reid era, incredibly poor clock and time out management. The Eagles still have the talent to be a playoff team, but a few more efforts like this will see them sitting at home after week #17.
Titanic Loss
59-0. FIFTY-FRICKIN'-NINE TO ZERO! The Patriots showed no mercy in destroying the Titans in snowy Foxboro on Sunday - let's try to put this massacre in perspective:
1 - The 45-0 halftime lead was the largest EVER in the history of the NFL
2 - 59-0 ties the largest margin of victory since the AFL/NFL merger
3 - Tom Brady threw 5 TDs...IN THE 2nd QUARTER!
It was obvious that the Titans weren't playing well coming into the game, but that effort was simply pathetic. Jeff Fisher's long tenure could be coming to a very embarassing end...
Living a charmed existence
The Vikings dodged yet another bullet this week, almost letting a big lead slip away to the Ravens before holding on to win 33-31. Minnesota remains undefeated, but they could easily be 4-2 if not for ridiculously good luck. Still, 6-0 is 6-0, and the Vikings are pulling away in the NFC North, but I wouldn't like their chances against the Colts or Saints right now they way they're letting teams hang around.
Too legit to quit
Seriously, I know I've said this before, but it's time to stop doubting the Broncos. Any team can win 2-3 games in row, but you don't get to 6-0 in the NFL by accident. Another big win from the "McDaniels Magicians" puts them an insane 3 1/2 games up in the AFC West. They'll sit back this week and bask in their undefeated glow before coming off the bye to visit the Ravens in week #8. I'm sure a lot of people will be picking Baltimore to bring them back down to earth - but you won't see me betting against them.
...
All I can say about the Saints is WOW! New Orleans completely dismantled the Giants to the tune of 48-27, basically scoring at will and shutting down the G-Men most of the day. Can anyone stop this juggernaut? Is it possible that maybe even they run the table? They don't look they have any stiff tests until week #12...when Tom Brady and NE come calling. What a game that should be!
It did. The Redskins season was already going in the wrong direction, but now they're officially in the toilet after losing at home to a terrible Chiefs team. HC Jim Zorn has been stripped of his play-calling duties, the team opting to turn the reins over to offensive asst. Sherman Lewis, who was last seen calling bingo numbers at a senior citizen center. I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried. Dan Snyder has a complete mess on his hands, and this franchise could be in for a VERY long year.
I'm pretty sure he's still weaving his way through the Eagles secondary as I write this. The Eagles were 14 point favorites and proceeded to fall flat on their face, losing to Oakland 13-9. The Birds were plagued by a leaky offensive line and, to the surprise of no one who has followed this team during the McNabb-Reid era, incredibly poor clock and time out management. The Eagles still have the talent to be a playoff team, but a few more efforts like this will see them sitting at home after week #17.
59-0. FIFTY-FRICKIN'-NINE TO ZERO! The Patriots showed no mercy in destroying the Titans in snowy Foxboro on Sunday - let's try to put this massacre in perspective:
1 - The 45-0 halftime lead was the largest EVER in the history of the NFL
2 - 59-0 ties the largest margin of victory since the AFL/NFL merger
3 - Tom Brady threw 5 TDs...IN THE 2nd QUARTER!
It was obvious that the Titans weren't playing well coming into the game, but that effort was simply pathetic. Jeff Fisher's long tenure could be coming to a very embarassing end...
The Vikings dodged yet another bullet this week, almost letting a big lead slip away to the Ravens before holding on to win 33-31. Minnesota remains undefeated, but they could easily be 4-2 if not for ridiculously good luck. Still, 6-0 is 6-0, and the Vikings are pulling away in the NFC North, but I wouldn't like their chances against the Colts or Saints right now they way they're letting teams hang around.
Seriously, I know I've said this before, but it's time to stop doubting the Broncos. Any team can win 2-3 games in row, but you don't get to 6-0 in the NFL by accident. Another big win from the "McDaniels Magicians" puts them an insane 3 1/2 games up in the AFC West. They'll sit back this week and bask in their undefeated glow before coming off the bye to visit the Ravens in week #8. I'm sure a lot of people will be picking Baltimore to bring them back down to earth - but you won't see me betting against them.
...
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Week #6: What I'll Be Keeping My Eye On
Wow, week #6 already? The NFL season is flying by as usual, it just can't be long enough for me (c'mon 20 game seasons! The owners would love it - not so sure the players would be on board...) While last week featured a bunch of total mismatches, this week appears to have some very competitive games. Here's a few things I'll be watching for this weekend...
Game of the year
Can't wait for this one. The Giants and Saints are, in my humble opinion, the two best teams in the NFL right now (sorry Colts and Vikings fans). Both teams are playing complete football in all 3 phases, and neither team has really been significantly challenged this year. Someone's taking a tough first loss right here, and whoever wins will have the inside track for homefield advantage in the NFC. With a gun to my head, I think the Giants eventually grind down the Saints D and win a close one - maybe 27-24 - but I surely wouldn't bet on it.
OK, not quite the game of the year...but still not bad
Another key NFC battle will be waged Sunday night, when the Bears travel to Atlanta to take on Matt Ryan and the Falcons. While nothing is set in stone after 5 weeks in the NFL, this one actually might have bigger stakes then the NYG/NO game, because it looks like both of these teams will probably have to fight it out for a wild card spot to make the playoffs. A head-to-head win is going to give one of these teams a nice little advantage should it come down to tie-breakers at the end of the year.
Does anyone want to win the NFC West?
The 49ers looked like they were the class of the division - until they were soundly thrashed by the Falcons and fell back to 3-2. Now, the winner of this week's Cards/Seahawks showdown will be tied with SF for the lead in the division. The 'Hawks have to like what they saw out of Matt Hasselbeck last week - he returned from his broken rib and torched the Jags for 4 TDs. If he plays well again this week, the Cards will need a big effort from Kurt Warner and Co. to keep up in one of the toughest places to play in the NFL.
The Color Purple
The undefeated Vikings might face their toughest test of the season when the 3-2 Ravens roll into the Metrodome on Sunday. The Ravens could easily be 5-0, if not for a late drop by Mark Clayton vs. NE and a last minute TD by the Bengals last week. Defense should probably rule the day here, both teams can stuff the run and also put heat on opposing QBs - the difference could be which team can hit on a few big pass plays to break open this defensive struggle.
Our amps go to ELEVEN!
The Steelers have beaten the Browns 11 times in a row, including a 31-0 drubbing the last time they met. I see no reason why they won't make it a dirty dozen on Sunday, the more interesting subplot in this game is who will be the Steelers main RB? Rashard Mendenhall filled in admirably for Willie Parker the last 2 weeks, running for 242 yards and 3 TDs. Will they stay with the hot hand, or give "Fast Willie" back the starting gig. Whoever gets the majority of the carries should have a big day - in my league, through the first 5 weeks, only 4 teams have given up more fantasy points to RBs than the Browns.
California dreaming
The magical undefeated run of the Broncos has got to be the most surprising story in the NFL so far this year, but are they headed for an ambush in San Diego? The oddsmakers sure think so, installing the 2-2 Chargers as 3.5 point favorites vs. the 5-0 Broncos. If the Broncos want this dream season to continue, they'll have to find a way to shut down the efficient and dangerous passing game of the Chargers - something they couldn't do when they were blasted 52-21 by San Diego to lose the AFC West in last year's regular season finale.
...
Can't wait for this one. The Giants and Saints are, in my humble opinion, the two best teams in the NFL right now (sorry Colts and Vikings fans). Both teams are playing complete football in all 3 phases, and neither team has really been significantly challenged this year. Someone's taking a tough first loss right here, and whoever wins will have the inside track for homefield advantage in the NFC. With a gun to my head, I think the Giants eventually grind down the Saints D and win a close one - maybe 27-24 - but I surely wouldn't bet on it.
Another key NFC battle will be waged Sunday night, when the Bears travel to Atlanta to take on Matt Ryan and the Falcons. While nothing is set in stone after 5 weeks in the NFL, this one actually might have bigger stakes then the NYG/NO game, because it looks like both of these teams will probably have to fight it out for a wild card spot to make the playoffs. A head-to-head win is going to give one of these teams a nice little advantage should it come down to tie-breakers at the end of the year.
The 49ers looked like they were the class of the division - until they were soundly thrashed by the Falcons and fell back to 3-2. Now, the winner of this week's Cards/Seahawks showdown will be tied with SF for the lead in the division. The 'Hawks have to like what they saw out of Matt Hasselbeck last week - he returned from his broken rib and torched the Jags for 4 TDs. If he plays well again this week, the Cards will need a big effort from Kurt Warner and Co. to keep up in one of the toughest places to play in the NFL.
The undefeated Vikings might face their toughest test of the season when the 3-2 Ravens roll into the Metrodome on Sunday. The Ravens could easily be 5-0, if not for a late drop by Mark Clayton vs. NE and a last minute TD by the Bengals last week. Defense should probably rule the day here, both teams can stuff the run and also put heat on opposing QBs - the difference could be which team can hit on a few big pass plays to break open this defensive struggle.
The Steelers have beaten the Browns 11 times in a row, including a 31-0 drubbing the last time they met. I see no reason why they won't make it a dirty dozen on Sunday, the more interesting subplot in this game is who will be the Steelers main RB? Rashard Mendenhall filled in admirably for Willie Parker the last 2 weeks, running for 242 yards and 3 TDs. Will they stay with the hot hand, or give "Fast Willie" back the starting gig. Whoever gets the majority of the carries should have a big day - in my league, through the first 5 weeks, only 4 teams have given up more fantasy points to RBs than the Browns.
The magical undefeated run of the Broncos has got to be the most surprising story in the NFL so far this year, but are they headed for an ambush in San Diego? The oddsmakers sure think so, installing the 2-2 Chargers as 3.5 point favorites vs. the 5-0 Broncos. If the Broncos want this dream season to continue, they'll have to find a way to shut down the efficient and dangerous passing game of the Chargers - something they couldn't do when they were blasted 52-21 by San Diego to lose the AFC West in last year's regular season finale.
...
Friday, October 16, 2009
Flex Choice: Jeremy Maclin or Darren Sproles?
PROS: The "Mac Daddy" broke out big-time in week #5, catching six passes for 142 yards and 2 TDs vs. TB. He looks as if he's secured the #2 WR position with this performance - the Eagles would be crazy at this point to take him out of the lineup with his explosiveness. The Birds are heavy favorites (-14) this week against a Raider team that looks completely hopeless, so they should have no problem whatsoever putting up points - expect at least a 30 spot - so he could have multiple oppotunities to get in the end zone.
CONS: Could this be a case of a matchup being too good? If the Eagles get up big, they may just abandon the pass, which could actually limit his chances at a big day. The Eagles are also famous for spreading the ball around to their various offensive weapons - so even if they have a big day, any one of their skill players could be lost in the shuffle and somewhat shut down - see Desean Jackson's stat line from last week and you'll see what I'm talking about.
PROS: San Diego's "Lightning Bug" is a home-run hitter every time he gets his hands on the rock. Sproles has ankle-breaking elusiveness and speed to burn that few RBs in the game possess. While he doesn't get the work of a true #1 RB, the Chargers mix him in enough on third downs and passing situations to give him plenty of opportunities to do damage. He's a legitimate threat to catch a TD or score a long TD every week, so if your league awards bonus points for these types of plays he can easily have a "one big play good fantasy day".
CONS: As long as he's healthy, LaDainian Tomlinson will get the large majority of work at RB for San Diego - and LT will never be replaced at the goal-line for Sproles. Before the season, this probably looked like an incredibly tasty matchup: home against DEN - but to the surprise of many (inluding this blogger), the Broncos have been playing incredibly good defense this year and are riding high at 5-0.
VERDICT: Usually in these flex decisions between a WR and a RB, I tend to favor the RB - but in this case I can't ignore the positives going for Maclin. The matchup is great and his recent dominant performance tilts the scale in his favor.
...
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Know It All Five Pack: Week #6
CIN -5 vs. HOU
As I stated in the previous post, the Bengals have convinced me that they're a very solid team and will be in this thing for the long haul. The Texans, on the other hand, haven't proven anything to me. Two wins over the Raiders and Titans does not a powerhouse make, and their defense has consistently been shredded by every half decent team they've played. The Bengals should get Cedric Benson rolling early, have Leon Hall blanketing Andre Johnson all afternoon long, and wear down the Texans in the end. I like the Bengals right here by about 27-17, safely covering this 5 point number.
STL at JAX OVER 42
The Rams continue to play incredibly bad football, but with Marc Bulger returning from injury, I do think they're capable of scoring 14-17 points against a weak Jags D. At the same time, I don't think there's any way the Jags don't score at least 30 points - they'll be looking to lay the wood on the Rams after an embarassing loss to Seattle. I'm thinking we'll end up 31-14 or 30-17 Jags to go well over the total.
DET +13 1/2 at GB
That's right, boys, hold your nose right here and take the points with the Lions. Why? Well, the Lions have basically been competitive in every game this year and the Packers still have major OL problems. Do I think the Motown Pussycats will spring the upset? No, but I don't really think they'll get blown out either. I think Detroit keeps in fairly close before losing by about 27-17 or 31-20 - so don't be surprised if the Lions waltz in the backdoor and cover this one with a garbage TD late.
NYJ -9 1/2 vs. BUF
To put it bluntly, Rex Ryan was triple pissed about how his defense played on Monday Night. He'll have the boys fired up and blitzing like crazy - and I don't see Trent Edwards and a Buffalo team that frankly looks shot putting up much of a fight in this one. The Jets should basically shut down the Bills O, and grind away a win behind the running of Thomas Jones and Leon Washington. I'm thinking something along the lines of 24-6 or 27-10 - no trouble at all covering the big number.
NE -9 1/2 vs. TEN
The Patriots haven't lost back-to-back games in 43 consecutive weeks, and I like Belichick's boys to bounce back off the Broncos loss in a BIG way right here. I hate to say it, but the Titans have the look of a team that has basically thrown in the towel, and even if the effort is there, Foxboro is not exactly the ideal spot to resurrect a season. The Patriots came off the Jets loss earlier this year and destroyed a pretty good Falcons team by 19, so I don't see any reason why they wouldn't win this game by at least 2 TDs. Let's say 34-13 or 31-14 Pats in a walkover.
GOOD LUCK!!
…
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Week #5 Observations
Big time fantasy action in week #5, and a few players posted some dominant performances. Roddy White, Miles Austin, Michael Turner and Ahmad Bradshaw were all studs, and some other normally reliable fantasy producers, including Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Mason, and Calvin Johnson, were duds. Here what I took away from Week #5...
The Bengals are not going away
With a rock solid defense and a healthy Carson Palmer, the Cardiac Cats just continue to find a way to get it done. Four wins in a row, including 3 divisional opponents, have put them in the driver's seat in the AFC North. The Ravens and Steelers will probably still be heard from before the end of the year, but the Bengals have proven to me that they're for real and are a legitimate playoff team.
Say what??!!
Derek Anderson had a historically bad day in Buffalo on Sunday, completing just TWO of 17 passes for 23 yards...BUT THE BROWNS WON??!! Yep, the Bills somehow threw this game away by being almost equally inept on offense and coughing up a late fumble to give the Browns a 6-3 win. It's amazing that this is the same Bills team that took the Pats to the wall in Week #1 - if this continues, Dick Jauron should start updating his resume, because he is toast.
Speaking of hot seats...
Jim Zorn's backside is officially on fire, as the Redskins lost to the previously winless Panthers. The Redskins are 2-3, but they may have played 4 of the worst 8 teams in football already. Amazingly, they still get creampuffs KC and OAK later this year, but they'll most likely be underdogs in their other 9 remaining games. Zorn surely won't be coming back if they post a 4-12 or 5-11 season, and right now it's doubtful he even finishes the year unless the 'Skins pull a complete 180.
Beatdown Town
SEA, MIN, NYG, ATL and IND all flexed their muscles and destroyed their collective opponents to the tune of a combined 199-36. The Falcons were especially impressive - simply annihilating the Niners in SF 45-10. The 49ers had looked so competitive to this point that it was hard to see this one coming, but it's pretty obvious Mike Singletary's squad is simply not on the level of the NFL's best quite yet.
I'm a believer
Yes, the Broncos got a gift win in CIN and also beat up on the Browns and Raiders, but now that they've beaten the Cowboys and Patriots in successive weeks, there can no longer be any doubt: This is one of the better teams in football. How Mike Nolan and Josh McDaniels turned this group around I'll never know, but their 5-0 start cannot be called a fluke - they might run away with the AFC West and will be a tough out for anyone in the playoffs.
Where eagles dare...
The Eagles came off the bye strong, easily handling the Bucs 33-14. Their defense hounded Josh Johnson all day, and Donovan McNabb was very sharp returning from broken ribs. The Eagles are an interesting team - they've blown out 3 terrible teams, and got blown out by the Saints without McNabb. It's really hard to say exactly how good they are, and it's doubtful we'll get any more answers this week as they play a ridiculously bad Raider team. Are the Eagles merely a good team or are they a legit Super Bowl contender? We might not know until Nov. 1st, when they host NYG in a huge NFC East battle.
...
With a rock solid defense and a healthy Carson Palmer, the Cardiac Cats just continue to find a way to get it done. Four wins in a row, including 3 divisional opponents, have put them in the driver's seat in the AFC North. The Ravens and Steelers will probably still be heard from before the end of the year, but the Bengals have proven to me that they're for real and are a legitimate playoff team.
Derek Anderson had a historically bad day in Buffalo on Sunday, completing just TWO of 17 passes for 23 yards...BUT THE BROWNS WON??!! Yep, the Bills somehow threw this game away by being almost equally inept on offense and coughing up a late fumble to give the Browns a 6-3 win. It's amazing that this is the same Bills team that took the Pats to the wall in Week #1 - if this continues, Dick Jauron should start updating his resume, because he is toast.
Jim Zorn's backside is officially on fire, as the Redskins lost to the previously winless Panthers. The Redskins are 2-3, but they may have played 4 of the worst 8 teams in football already. Amazingly, they still get creampuffs KC and OAK later this year, but they'll most likely be underdogs in their other 9 remaining games. Zorn surely won't be coming back if they post a 4-12 or 5-11 season, and right now it's doubtful he even finishes the year unless the 'Skins pull a complete 180.
SEA, MIN, NYG, ATL and IND all flexed their muscles and destroyed their collective opponents to the tune of a combined 199-36. The Falcons were especially impressive - simply annihilating the Niners in SF 45-10. The 49ers had looked so competitive to this point that it was hard to see this one coming, but it's pretty obvious Mike Singletary's squad is simply not on the level of the NFL's best quite yet.
Yes, the Broncos got a gift win in CIN and also beat up on the Browns and Raiders, but now that they've beaten the Cowboys and Patriots in successive weeks, there can no longer be any doubt: This is one of the better teams in football. How Mike Nolan and Josh McDaniels turned this group around I'll never know, but their 5-0 start cannot be called a fluke - they might run away with the AFC West and will be a tough out for anyone in the playoffs.
The Eagles came off the bye strong, easily handling the Bucs 33-14. Their defense hounded Josh Johnson all day, and Donovan McNabb was very sharp returning from broken ribs. The Eagles are an interesting team - they've blown out 3 terrible teams, and got blown out by the Saints without McNabb. It's really hard to say exactly how good they are, and it's doubtful we'll get any more answers this week as they play a ridiculously bad Raider team. Are the Eagles merely a good team or are they a legit Super Bowl contender? We might not know until Nov. 1st, when they host NYG in a huge NFC East battle.
...
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Week #5: What I'll Be Keeping My Eye On
Week #5 in the NFL, and it looks like we have some teams going in distinctly different directions. 5 teams are still perfect with undefeated records, while 6 other teams are still searching for their first W of the year. The "haves" and the "have nots" are starting to be clearly defined - here's a few things to watch for this weekend...
Welcome back!
It appears that both Donovan McNabb and Matt Hasselbeck will make their return to the starting lineups on Sunday after recuperating from broken ribs. The Eagles weathered the storm pretty well without McNabb, but the Seahawks are in dire need of a win if they expect to keep up with the Niners and Cards in the NFC West. Can Hassy get them back on track against a Jags team that looked impressive in routing the Titans last week? We shall see...
Don't let me down
There are a number of matchups this week, including TB/PHI, OAK/NYG, KC/DAL, PIT/DET and MIN/STL, between what looks to be some of the NFL's best and some of the NFL's worst. But as a certain well known ESPN broadcaster likes to say, THAT is why they play the games. One, or more, of these apparent powerhouse squads could fall victim to the dreaded "let down" week and get tripped up by an inferior squad. You never know in this wacky league - that oblong pigskin can take some funny bounces every now and again.
Taking the next step
The Falcons and the 49ers both appear to be young up-and-coming teams, but they both still have a few question marks that keep them from being considered amongst the NFC's elite. It's pretty obvious the the Niners can get it done on the defensive side of the ball - but can Shaun Hill and the offense without Frank Gore continue to do enough to keep their winning ways going? The Falcons seem like they might have the opposite problem - plenty of talent on offense, but a shaky at best defense. Whoever wins this one will take a big step toward establishing themselves as a legit threat in the NFC.
Carolina in my mind
The Panthers are a very disappointing 0-3 so far, but they are actually favored this week at home against a Redskins team that seems completely dysfunctional on offense. It's now or never for the Panthers - falling to 0-4 would destroy any faint hopes they have of getting back into the NFC playoff mix - but unless Jake Delhomme stops throwing the ball directly to the opposition's DBs, it's going to be very tough to get back on track.
Shoot-out at the "University of Phoenix Stadium" corral?
The HOU/ARI game will feature 3 of the best WRs in the league - Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Andre Johnson - going up against very suspect secondaries. Both teams should light up the scoreboard all afternoon long - the total on this game is an almost unheard of 52 - so which defense will make enough plays to keep their team in it? Should be a fun one for all fantasy owners with Texans and Cardinals in their lineups.
Monday Night MADNESS
The Dolphins and the Jets played in arguably the wildest Monday Night football game of all-time in 2000 - a 40-37 OT thriller that featured Jets OL Jumbo Elliot catching the game-tying TD with just 42 seconds left in regulation. The key in this game should be whether or not the Dolphins can get the so-called "Miami Ground Machine", featuring Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, rolling against a stingy Jets D. Mark Sanchez looked very ordinary last week vs. the Saints, he'll need to play better to escape South Florida with a big divisional victory.
...
It appears that both Donovan McNabb and Matt Hasselbeck will make their return to the starting lineups on Sunday after recuperating from broken ribs. The Eagles weathered the storm pretty well without McNabb, but the Seahawks are in dire need of a win if they expect to keep up with the Niners and Cards in the NFC West. Can Hassy get them back on track against a Jags team that looked impressive in routing the Titans last week? We shall see...
There are a number of matchups this week, including TB/PHI, OAK/NYG, KC/DAL, PIT/DET and MIN/STL, between what looks to be some of the NFL's best and some of the NFL's worst. But as a certain well known ESPN broadcaster likes to say, THAT is why they play the games. One, or more, of these apparent powerhouse squads could fall victim to the dreaded "let down" week and get tripped up by an inferior squad. You never know in this wacky league - that oblong pigskin can take some funny bounces every now and again.
The Falcons and the 49ers both appear to be young up-and-coming teams, but they both still have a few question marks that keep them from being considered amongst the NFC's elite. It's pretty obvious the the Niners can get it done on the defensive side of the ball - but can Shaun Hill and the offense without Frank Gore continue to do enough to keep their winning ways going? The Falcons seem like they might have the opposite problem - plenty of talent on offense, but a shaky at best defense. Whoever wins this one will take a big step toward establishing themselves as a legit threat in the NFC.
The Panthers are a very disappointing 0-3 so far, but they are actually favored this week at home against a Redskins team that seems completely dysfunctional on offense. It's now or never for the Panthers - falling to 0-4 would destroy any faint hopes they have of getting back into the NFC playoff mix - but unless Jake Delhomme stops throwing the ball directly to the opposition's DBs, it's going to be very tough to get back on track.
The HOU/ARI game will feature 3 of the best WRs in the league - Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Andre Johnson - going up against very suspect secondaries. Both teams should light up the scoreboard all afternoon long - the total on this game is an almost unheard of 52 - so which defense will make enough plays to keep their team in it? Should be a fun one for all fantasy owners with Texans and Cardinals in their lineups.
The Dolphins and the Jets played in arguably the wildest Monday Night football game of all-time in 2000 - a 40-37 OT thriller that featured Jets OL Jumbo Elliot catching the game-tying TD with just 42 seconds left in regulation. The key in this game should be whether or not the Dolphins can get the so-called "Miami Ground Machine", featuring Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, rolling against a stingy Jets D. Mark Sanchez looked very ordinary last week vs. the Saints, he'll need to play better to escape South Florida with a big divisional victory.
...
Friday, October 9, 2009
Flex Choice: LeSean McCoy or Percy Harvin?
PROS: Shady McCoy is a very talented young RB - he's a nice combination of speed, power and moves, and is very comfortable catching the ball out of the backfield as well. He's coming off a very productive game against KC - 93 total yards and a TD. While Brian Westbrook looks to be good to go this week, the Eagles are 15 point favorites against the 0-4 Bucs - if the Eagles are up big, Shady could get a lot of work in garbage time.
CONS: If Westbrook is healthy, Shady is the clear #2 RB and won't receive a ton of work, and even he seems to acknowledge that: "My job is to back Brian up, help him out and give us a little spark when I come off the bench," said McCoy. "My role is to not get a lot of carries ... Brian needs the ball to get warmed up. He needs his touches." That doesn't sound like a guy gearing up for a heavy workload this week.
PROS: Percy Harvin is quickly becoming one of the most explosive players in the NFL. He has game-breaking speed and elusiveness, and is a threat to take it the distance any time he touches the ball. If your league rewards long TDs, Percy Harvin is one of the few guys in the league that can have one big play and turn it into a productive fantasy week. The Vikings play the Rams on Sunday, and they could easily put 30+ points against a pathetic St. Louis defense.
CONS: While Percy has got a decent amount of work in the Vikings offense so far - 14 rec. for 167 yards and two TDs over the first four games - he still has to be considered at best option #4 behind Adrian Peterson, Bernard Berrian, and Sidney Rice right now. The Rams might actually be too good of a matchup for Harvin - if they get up big early, he probably won't get many opportunities because they won't need to throw the ball.
VERDICT: I think I'd go with McCoy right here. I'm not convinced Brian Westbrook is totally healthy, and I think the Eagles will get LeSean involved with enough touches, especially if they're up big, to give him a good chance of having another solid fantasy game.
...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
