Chicago at Green Bay
| Big Game for Brandon |
This Thursday night matchup is making fantasy owners salivate. Finally, it appears that Chicago can put some plays together in the passing game, disposing of the speed smurf approach at wide receiver. Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, if that suspect O-line gives Cutler time, are going to give the Packers secondary problems. These are big dudes that present a size disadvantage for Green Bay. I like all three and not feeling the running game as much. Forte and Bush won’t be able to get the running game going against the Packers front seven which was embarrassed last week (186 yards surrendered to the 49ers). Bush may be able to vulture a goal line TD. Of course, the flip side to this matchup is that Chicago isn’t very good on defense, especially the secondary (perhaps without Charles Tillman), which Andrew Luck was able to throw for 300+.
| GB vs. Chicago = Finley Shine Time |
The Packers strength is spreading you out and letting Aaron Rodgers go to work. He’ll be missing Greg Jennings and that is disconcerting for the Pack—Jennings runs exceptional routes and now they’ll slide James Jones into that position, keep Jordy at split end and work Cobb in the slot. The loss of Jennings means more targets for Finley who was a steal in most drafts this year. He was targeted 11 times against the 49ers and loves playing against the Monsters of the Mid-dlingdefense-Way. All said, that’s plenty of talent for Rodgers who can run by himself or try to get the running game involved. It won't work; I didn’t refer to Cedric Benson because he will not gather over sixty yards in this game. Rodgers is going to have to be on point for the Pack to get to 1 and 1. The Bears have the guns to get in a shoot-out and have a special teams advantage.
Adore: Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler, Jordy Nelson, Brandon Marshall, Jermichael Finley
Meh: Randall Cobb, Alshon Jeffery, Cedric Benson, Michael Bush, James Jones, Bears D
Avoid: Matt Forte, Packers D
New Orleans at Carolina
| Don't Forget DeAngelo |
Superman Cam wasn’t even Clark Kent in Week 1 against a rejuvenated Buccaneers defense. He gets New Orleans on the road next with Daily Show in the lineup (hopefully). But I’d avoid Stewart and bet on a healthy dose of De Angelo Williams. The Panthers need to get Newton under center and get the power running game going with Stewart or Tolbert but Williams will be the benefactor. He’s the back making the bucks in the 704 and offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski needs to get him going. Drew Brees who is more pissed than anyone this week will need to balance the attack against a decent Panthers secondary but a pretty mediocre run defense.
| Sproles and Graham: An Unfair Advantage |
Brees will still gather major points by not turning the ball over, something he has yet to do without Sean Payton on the sideline. Given a reduced margin for error he will look to Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles to create mismatches in space and headaches for the Panthers defense. This will be a wild one. Expect some screens and draws to get the Saints backs going and a concerted effort to get DeAngelo Williams involved. I suspect Marques Colston won't be as involved as Lance Moore (aka Pauly D) but the Saints are going to go with Sproles and Graham, its bread and butter time (not peanut butter and jelly time). Unfortunately there are so many Saints running backs that can do damage against a shaky run D for Carolina that it is hard to recommend one (except for the hybrid Sproles). I really like Lance Moore to work on Josh Norman, the Panthers young CB2. Neither defense is going to be fantasy viable all year, honestly.
Adore: Cam Newton, Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, Darren Sproles, De Angelo Williams, Lance Moore
Meh: Jonathan Stewart, Marques Colston, Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram
Avoid: Greg Olsen, Brandon LaFell, New Orleans D, Carolina D
Kansas City at Buffalo
| Charles is Always in Charge |
Although Buffalo has revamped their defensive line, Charles-N-Charge had no problems scooting for 87 against the Atlanta Falcons (not too shabby coming off an ACL injury). The Buffalo secondary is tempting for Cassel-to-Bowe and newfound slot menace Dexter McCluster and Charles will make big plays in the receiving game as well. He’s a RB1 in this matchup. Buffalo’s C.J Spiller was even added in Kazakh fantasy leagues- meaning he’s got universal appeal in this matchup. The Chiefs play decent run defense and features a banged-up secondary. Unfortunately, the Bills WR Stevie Johnson is banged up and their WR2 David Nelson is out for the year.
| Stevie Is Serious This Time |
I’d bet Stevie Johnson shakes the groin injury off and gets a score with 90 yards or so. Other than that Donald Jones, Brad Smith and T.J Graham don’t scare anyone. Expect Spiller to get involved in the passing game as well. These teams will turn the ball over in this game which is why Cassel or Fitzpatrick are better left unused. Kansas City will air it out more so than Buffalo and have a few more weapons when they do. Dwayne Bowe isn’t a must-start but he’s got to be salivating at the chance to face a Buffalo secondary that made the Jets look like the 1999 Rams. Dexter McCluster who I’m sold on, will work the underneath and Cassel will look to him plenty. There may even be a Tony Moeaki or Jon Baldwin sighting.
Adore: C.J Spiller, Jamaal Charles, Stevie Johnson,
Kansas City D
Meh: Dexter McCluster, Dwayne Bowe, Shaun Draughn, Matt Cassel, Buffalo D
Avoid: Peyton Hills, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Donald Jones
No comments:
Post a Comment