This is the week everything goes your way. None of your players will tweak, pull, break or molest any one or any body part. Your quarterback, if up by 37 starting the 4th quarter, will not take off the gas and/or be allowed to rest. Your running back will not be taken out for some over sized goal line oaf. Your player’s coach will not care if your player pinched a loaf off in his car seat or slept during a team meeting. Your defense won’t intercept the ball and run it back just to be tackled on the one yard line; they will dive over the goal line as if powered by Zeus. MJD will not take a knee. And each of your players will go for 5 TDs and 200-500 yards, including the kicker.
Say the preceding aloud and turn around 5 times and spit. It’s just fun.
Carl’s pick this week is straight cash monies —
If you haven’t thrown your hat into the ring of our our Weekly QB/RB/WR Contest, you better get on it! And try out a team at Fanduel because all that crap I said in the first paragraph? Yeah, that’s bull.
This week has been a tough one for me. I can see a lot of possible breakout games, but at the same time many of those matchups worry me. Here are some obvious guys I like today and some injury thoughts —
Jamaal Charles: You don’t want the Chiefs trying to salt a game away if you are a JC Superstar believer. So let’s see who they are playing, hmm, the Peyton Mannings. Yeah, they won’t be salting anything away. JC is in there on passing downs and they will need to pass often in the second half (or earlier).
Zach Miller: San Diego has been covering opposing wide receivers well, but as usual they aren’t covering tight ends. Michael Bush will see plenty of work, but with no Run DMC, Gradkowski will have one less receiver to check down to and he learned (he probably already knew) that Miller is solid (5 targets/5 receptions last week) and just like Gates on the other side, we should see Miller getting targets in the red zone.
Roddy White: If Houston wasn’t giving up counties of real estate through the air, the Browns would probably be considered the worst pass defense this season. And you just can’t stop White. Against the Niners he was held down for most of the game, but then just imposed his will in the 4th quarter to finish with over 100 yards.
Frank Gore: Alex Smith is a check down czar, but that might not be a bad idea against the Eagles who are the worst at defending running backs in the pass game according to Football Outsiders. Add to that the Eagle’s poor rush D and you have a shot at a huge game.
Chris Cooley: The Packers have been sliding at defense and not in a good direction. They are really having trouble with tight ends and the last time I checked Cooley played that position.
Cedric Benson: Something ain’t right with Benson and the Bengals running game. I felt good about him last week to break out, but he wasn’t able to even with a nice matchup. Tampa Bay is another nice matchup, so you must start him, but I would hope upon hope that he has a nice game and then sell high. He was running over people last season, but he was hurt and I’m starting to wonder if he will get that power back.
Injuries:
Austin Collie: It looked like he was going to be out, but now there is a chance he will play. It’s an early game so stay on top of this one. If he goes it makes things murky with his injury. You have to throw him out there if you are hurting at WR, and you can’t feel good about Pierre Garcon. If Collie doesn’t go, it’s full go for Garcon, with a great chance at a good game.
Pierre Thomas: He’s out, but his backups get a nice matchup, but who to choose? I think it pretty much comes down to PPR vs. non-PPR. Betts in PPR, Ivory in non.
Donald Brown: He most likely won’t play and even Mike Hart is hurting, which makes Joseph Addai a very good start even against an improved Chiefs defense.
Jahvid Best: He’s got a nice matchup, but is listed as questionable. He tweeted that he is itchin to get on the field, and as long as he does, he should do well against the Rams.
Jacoby Jones: He didn’t practice and should be out, but Andre Johnson should go. This helps Kevin Walter of course, but you have to get AJ in there. He’s too good and if he goes off you may punch yourself in the face.