24 Hours 'Til Sunday — Andy Richardson
Posted Oct. 16 at 09:15 PM
The sad thing about fantasy football is how quickly it zips along each year. It seems like only yesterday we were drafting, and here we are starting to work on the week 7 Weekly. Most regular seasons end in week 13 or 14 (sooner if your team is horrible)...it just all seems too sudden.
Tomorrow I'm going to sit on the couch and watch as much football as possible. I do that anyway, of course, but this week I'll appreciate it more. Because life moves pretty fast, as young and smarmy Matthew Broderick once said. You've got to appreciate it. Today I'll play with the kids. Tomorrow I'll absorb the information that helps finance their Halloween costumes.
OK, on to the games:
Texans at Bengals: Any key injuries? Not really, unless you count Laveranues Coles' broken fantasy impact. I've dropped him in a couple of leagues for Andre Caldwell, who's behind him on the depth chart (for now). I like the other Bengals this week, Palmer Benson Ochocinco. I like the Texans passing game, Steve Slaton not as much.
Lions at Packers: Gentlemen (and ladies), start your Packers. There's not one thing the Lions defense is good at. For Detroit, it doesn't sound like Matthew Stafford will play; I think this is a plus for their offense in this situation. Daunte Culpepper will be fine, aside from all the sacks and fumbles and such. Worse, though, is that Calvin Johnson probably won't play. The dropoff from Calvin and Bryant Johnson to Bryant Johnson and Dennis Northcutt is rather steep. I guess desperate owners can consider one of those other wideouts; Detroit should be in catch-up mode beginning in the second quarter.
Rams at Jaguars: I keep hearing how the Rams are the worst team in the league and headed for 0-16. I actually think they're better than Tampa Bay and not quite as bad as people think. I give them an outside shot to win this game. Anywho, go ahead and start anyone you've got in this game; neither team is at all "tough" defensively.
Ravens at Vikings: One of the games of the week. I love the theory that the Ravens will win this game because they need it more. Huh? Seriously, how often does that affect outcomes of games? Pretty sure both teams want to win and one team needing it more doesn't necessarily make them any better. The Titans needed that game against the Colts a whole lot more than Indianapolis did and got blown off the field. I like both passing games this week. I personally would not bench Adrian Peterson, even with the very tough matchup.
Giants at Saints: The major game of the week, because these are the two best teams in the NFC right now. Tricky running back committees here. Pierre Thomas has been limited in practice, but I'm guessing he's OK unless I hear differently before Sunday. Tough matchup, though; I'd look for other options. I'm avoiding Ahmad Bradshaw -- this week -- but like him going forward. Interesting game: two teams with strong offenses and very good defenses (though New York's is a little better). Bottom line, should be a fun game to watch, and NFC Championship Game preview is not that far-fetched, even at this early point.
Browns at Steelers: If you're starting any Browns players, I can't help you. As for the Steelers, there's some uncertainty about the running back situation, but the expectation is that Rashard Mendenhall will get most of the work, because he doesn't have a turf toe injury and also because his name isn't Willie Parker.
Panthers at Buccaneers: Neither of these teams can stop the run, so you can certainly use DeAngelo and Cadillac, and consider Jonathan Stewart and I suppose Derrick Ward (though I wouldn't). Tampa Bay can't stop the pass, at all, so I'm eagerly starting Steve Smith everywhere he can. And if he lets me down this time, well, I don't know. I mean, most people's 4th receivers aren't more likely to put up big numbers than Steve Smith, so it's not easy to bench the guy. But I'll think about it.
Kansas City at Washington: Did Dan Snyder draw up Washington's schedule? I mean, it's laughably easy, loaded with home games against horrible teams. This game has ugly all over it, the kind of 16-13 yawner that probably won't be a huge thrill for fantasy owners or those of us who have to watch these things as part of our jobs. I'll call touchdowns for Dwayne Bowe and Santana Moss, and some ugly rushing numbers from ugly running backs who once were stars -- it's like a "Where are they now?" game. Nothing else to see here, beyond another possible Washington loss to a bad team and more Jim Zorn getting fired rumors. Yippee.
Eagles at Raiders: But nobody puts the U in ugly like the Raiders right now. Especially playing a good team. I don't personally know any Raiders fans. I have to wonder what it's like out there these days. Do people wear dark glasses and trenchcoats going into the stadium? Or is that what the deal is with all the face paint and spikes and stuff -- so that they won't be recognized? I'm not totally kidding here. I mean, it's just a sad franchise right now. This game could be rock bottom: the game where the offense is so horrible that JaMarcus Russell actually gets benched (call it a mercy benching), that fans leave the stadium in droves (or don't even show up), where Tom Cable is arrested during the game for assault on a coach (either a previous incident, or an in-game one)....anyway. No Raiders are rosterable in most leagues. Lots of Eagles are. Kevin Curtis may play, but probably not much -- I would (and will) start Jeremy Maclin quite happily. Running back committee for Philly, it appears, which is a mild negative, but hey: Oakland.
Cardinals at Seahawks: Good health for both teams. Good matchup for both passing offenses, not so much for the running games -- plus neither team has one right now.
Titans at Patriots: Maybe THIS will be the game the Titans put things together. It's possible. New England's run defense might not be quite as good, so maybe Chris Johnson carries the Titans to a huge win. But, probably not. As usual with the Patriots, you have to check the inactives Sunday morning, but Randy Moss is fine, Wes Welker practiced fully on Friday, and those guys and Tom Brady should tear this secondary up. Ben Watson is a guy to make sure he's active, if you need to use him.
Bills at Jets: This matchup was my son's first live football game last year! I realize no one else cares, but it occurred to me and I wanted to share. Jets won on a miracle fumble return touchdown when the Bills were running out the clock, which I believe occurred only because it was my son's first live football game. Anyway, the Jets have some wide receiver injuries: Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith, their 2 and 3 guys now that Braylon Edwards has reminded everyone how good he can be, almost certainly won't play. I picked up David Clowney and will play him in a PPR league this week, given that my other choice is Earl Bennett. I don't expect the Jets to pass a ton, but when they're not running, they should throw a bit. Maybe Terrell Owens will have a huge game to get himself traded, but probably not.
Bears at Falcons: Bears just acquired Gaines Adams from the Bucs. It's not like Jared Allen going to the Vikings, but it's similar in the sense of a terrible team dealing off a young player that they probably should have hung onto -- because now they have yet another hole. Anyway, enough picking on the Bucs. This should be a fun game with a couple of young, franchise quarterbacks. I suspect the Falcons haven't been on in primetime much the last few years. I hope NBC refrains from harping on Michael Vick stuff too much. No injuries of note, and I like the offenses better than the defenses.
Broncos at Chargers: Breakout game for Knowshon Moreno? Very possible. San Diego's formerly stout defense has fallen apart. Philip Rivers and Vincent Jackson, though, should have some success against Denver, 'cause they're on top of their game right now. And because Denver will probably score a lot of points themselves. Booth comment: Does anybody seem happier to have a booth job than Jon Gruden? I assume it's because he's wealthy and still being paid big money by the Bucs, and knows he'll be a head coach again soon if he wants to. Anyway, he spends a lot of time grinning.
Enjoy the games.
- Comments [6]
Readers' Comments
Add a Comment
Already a registered user? Please sign in to add comments.
To add comments, you must become a registered user of our site. To register, please click here.
Posted by JUSTIN ELEFF | Oct. 16 at 11:21 PM
My cent and a half on the Gaines Adams trade: Pretty sure he just can't play. Back when I was living in Tampa and rooting for the Bucs (like my whole life; now it's Ithaca and the ... don't make me say it ... the Bills), I could never find the guy on the screen. Some defensive players (even some tackles, let alone ends) seem to be all over the field - he's nowhere. Believe me, I think the Bucs have screwed a LOT of things up the last five years or so, not least of which was drafting Adams in the first place. But this trade looks very smart for once. Any chance Adams would go in the second round in 2010 if he were in that draft class but at his age and knowing what we know now? Even the third round?
Posted by ANDY RICHARDSON | Oct. 17 at 12:57 AM
After I wrote it it occurred to me I might be giving Adams too much credit. The Bucs probably did well to get a second-round pick. I just hate to see bad teams with coaches who have lost it (I'm referring to Bucs DC Jim Bates, who has lost it over the course of his last couple of stops) trading young players who maybe would be better with better coaching. But, yeah, Adams just might not be any good....although I'm hesitant to give the decision-makers in Tampa more credit than those in Chicago at this point.
Posted by JUSTIN ELEFF | Oct. 17 at 01:26 AM
The motivation goes the wrong way, though - that's why CHI makes the deal. They're 3-1 but maybe with two better teams in the same division, and with one (PHI) or perhaps two (ATL) better teams in second place in other divisions. Without a spark that team's missing the playoffs, and it wouldn't be a shock to see ownership clean house if that happens. Cutler's on board, maybe bring in offense-minded people. I dunno, I think I see why Chicago would make a dumb trade at this point. I'm guessing TB got lucky that way. Agree with you that the braintrust in Tampa appears to have more trust than brain.
Posted by ROBERT JOHNSON | Oct. 17 at 02:18 PM
Andy, my take on the Bucs is a little more benign. I had their defense all last year, and used them off and on when they were headed for the playoffs. Their offense was scoring points (I had Bryant and Graham, and they scored big the first half of the year)and the defense was stuffing opposing offenses -- all until about week 10 or so. Gruden had them positioned strongly to make the playoffs, remember? Then, it seemed their defense was like a boxer that got too old & slow all of a sudden. They suddenly were helpless against the run, things fell apart, they lost 4-5 games in a row, and missed the playoffs. I think they waited too long to transition to younger players on defense, and the few they did pick up (like Gaines) didn't measure up. This year, the defense has also become helpless against the pass, and the offense misses that Gruden magic -- a lot. Jon is probably smiling because he knows he has escaped most of the blame for what appears to be a MAJOR rebuilding project.
Posted by PETER DEBIASE | Oct. 17 at 11:35 PM
Andy: Considering the forecasted weather in Foxboro and East Rutherford today (rain/wind combo), are you downgrading the players in those games? Particularly Clowney, who is not a possession receiver. Doesn't seem like teams will be throwing down the field a lot in those conditions.
Posted by ANDY RICHARDSON | Oct. 18 at 12:38 AM
Peter - It definitely makes sense to avoid using marginal players like Clowney. I personally may switch to Earl Bennett, who's playing in a dome. But, I wouldn't sit somebody like Moss or Welker; these teams aren't going to avoid the pass entirely (especially New England, given the matchup).