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14
October

Week 6 NFL Confidence Pool Picks & Strategy

Borough just around the corner1

Welcome back!

We had another strong week in week 5. This week will be a lot more difficult. We have several evenly matched games including a few instances in which an undefeated team could taste defeat for the first time. No time to waste, the new week is just around the corner!

Week 6 – HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN ALL CAPS)

14 – GREEN BAY over San Diego – Apparently Aaron Rodgers is human! I can very easily see him doing what he can this week to make us all remember that he is indeed not human.

13 – New England over INDIANAPOLIS – The Pats are playing like they are mad at the world and now they are playing the team that was the cause of it all…and they’re struggling. Bill Belichick could make this turn out to be as ugly as…well…Bill Belichick.

12 – MINNESOTA over Kansas City – It has been a rough start to the season for the Chiefs, and it just got a whole lot worse with another Jamaal Charles injury. It won’t get any easier against a well-rested Adrian Peterson.

11 – NEW YORK JETS over Washington – Kirk Cousins will have to win this game with his arm since the running game is non-existent. That won’t work too well against the Jets secondary.

10 – TENNESSEE over Miami – This game will be hard to watch. Miami is in the middle of an overhaul…not something that should be happening in the middle of the season.

9 – SEATTLE over Carolina – The rough schedule continues for the two-time defending NFC champs as they get another undefeated team. They should be able to hand the Panthers their first loss at home this week.

8 – Denver over CLEVELAND – Call it fantasy football stubbornness, but I think this is the week that Peyton comes out of his funk. That could be bad news for the Browns.

7 – Atlanta over NEW ORLEANS – The week starts off on Thursday in the SuperDome. Devonta Freeman has taken the league by storm and should be able to continue his dominance against the now lowly Saints.

6 – PHILADELPHIA over New York Giants – The battle for the top of the NFC Lease comes to Monday Night. The Eagles might have things figured out on offense. Now they get the national stage to confirm it.

5 – DETROIT over Chicago – Everything seems to be going downhill for the Lions. In order to avoid the cellar of the league, they NEED this game.

4 – Houston over JACKSONVILLE – Blake Bortles had an amazing week last Sunday in Tampa…but that was against Tampa. Arian Foster should have his official return game against the Jags defense. Jacksonville allowed Doug Martin to have a monster game last week, which leads me to this week’s BOLD PREDICTION that ARIAN FOSTER WILL HAVE OVER 250 TOTAL YARDS.

3 – Arizona over Pittsburgh – Welcome back to dominance, Arizona! Big Ben could be back soon, but another week of Michael Vick won’t be enough to beat the Cards.

2 – SAN FRANCISCO over Baltimore – If Jim Harbaugh was still in San Francisco, the Harbaugh Bowl matchup would make this game interesting. But he’s not…so it’s not. The 9ers are at home so there you go.

1 – BUFFALO over Cincinnati – Potentially the game of the week. The Bengals are undefeated for a reason but a trip to Buffalo could very well end that.

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15
October

2015 Rookie Report: Week 6 Sits & Starts

Published in Fantasy Football / NFL

Welcome back to the Rookie Report! Week 5 was another exciting one, with a breakout game from Thomas Rawls, the first career touchdown for TJ Yeldon, and Melvin Gordon actually being targeted in the passing game. Jaelen Strong and David Johnson each scored 2 TDs and Ty Montgomery found paydirt as well. All in all, it was a solid week from the rookies, not exactly a banner week, but you can really see the emergence of some of these young guys as they get more comfortable with the NFL grind. Let’s dive into what to expect in week 6…

Rookies to Start:

tj yeldon wk4

RB TJ Yeldon, JAX (Wk. 6: vs. Hou.): Yeldon has to play to be startable obviously, but he continues to see enough volume that his weekly floor is a low RB2. He’s had at least 63 yards from scrimmage in 4-of-5 games, and the Texans just got done letting Frank Gore get loose for the second time all year last Thursday. The Texans have given up 7 RB touchdowns in 5 games, and Yeldon has seen the vast majority of the Jaguars RB touches. If TJ sits, Denard Robinson might have some flex appeal as he looks about ready to return from injury.

RB Javorious Allen, BAL (Wk. 6: @SF): With Lorenzo Taliaferro on injured reserve and Justin Forsett still questionable for this week, Buck Allen might be in line for lead back work against a 49ers defense that has allowed 730 scrimmage yards and 7 TDs to RBs in just 5 games. If Forsett sits out, Allen would be a great flex option and probably a decent RB2 as well this week. He did look impressive on a couple carries last week against a bad run defense, and could do so again this week.

RB Charcandrick West, KC (Wk. 6: @Min.): This is the only week West will be listed here. He’s technically not a rookie, but I wanted to touch on the opportunity in front of him. This week will tell us a lot about West’s fantasy value going forward. He’s a boom or bust RB2 this week, but he undoubtedly has a more similar skillset to the injured Jamaal Charles than does Knile Davis. If the Chiefs don’t intend to revamp their offense to be more power run-oriented, they’re going to have to treat West as the number one guy and Davis as the backup. West won’t get the same volume as Charles was seeing, but he’ll get enough touches to be playable on a weekly basis, and have big upside in the right matchups. The Vikings are a solid run defense, but not invincible.

Borderline Rookies:

QB Marcus Mariota, TEN (Wk. 6: vs. Mia.): Mariota had easily his worst game as a pro last week in a loss to Buffalo, but he should have a great shot at a bounce back this week. The Dolphins are fresh off of firing their defensive coordinator during their bye week, and they weren’t exactly playing well before that. There’s always a chance that they get some extra juice from the coaching upheaval this week and play with a different attitude than we’ve seen, but there’s also a chance that they struggle even more adjusting to a new defensive scheme on the fly. If you believe the Dolphins coaching change helps them turn it around, you should probably avoid Mariota in this one. If you think the dumpster fire in Miami keeps burning, fire him up. He has low end QB1 upside against a defense that is giving up 19 QB points per game over its past 3 contests.

RB Melvin Gordon, SD (Wk. 6: @GB): Gordon is still ceding too much work to Danny Woodhead, and he’s still yet to score a touchdown, but there were positive signs that his role is increasing last week. He had more targets and catches (9 and 7) in week 5 than he had in the first 4 weeks combined (7 and 6). He also out-touched Woodhead 22-to-9 in week 5, and has had 2 red zone carries to Woodhead’s zero in the last 2 games. It’s not a full-fledged shift to Gordon as the bell cow, but it’s at least a start. The Packers are slightly above average vs. fantasy RBs, and SD could fall in a hole and abandon the run early, but Gordon has definite upside if the Chargers can hang around. Hopefully for his owners, his role continues to grow as the season progresses.

RB Duke Johnson, CLE (Wk. 6: vs. Den.): The Broncos’ defense is a fearsome unit this season, but they have been susceptible to receiving running backs, allowing the second-most RB catches (43) in the league behind only the Falcons (49). Duke had an impact against a plus defense a week ago in the Ravens, and I expect that to continue this week. Without a true number 1 WR, the Browns have had to rely on Duke and Gary Barnidge to sustain their passing attack, and I expect it to continue this week. In standard leagues, Duke is more of a dicey borderline option, but he has great upside in PPR as usual.

WR Ty Montgomery, GB (Wk. 6: vs. SD): Montgomery has been a tough guy for me to peg. I liked him two weeks ago against the 49ers, and he did next to nothing. I didn’t like his matchup with the Rams, and he puts up a 4-59-1 line. This week he draws San Diego, who has allowed the 2^nd fewest WR fantasy points in the league. I don’t love the matchup, but his role in the offense seems secure with Davante Adams likely out again, which puts him right back on the WR3 cusp this week.

WR Nelson Agholor, PHI (Wk. 6: vs. NYG): I was hopeful that Agholor was in line for more touches after his semi-breakout performance in week 4, but an injury knocked him out of a very favorable matchup with the Saints last Sunday. He’s said all week that he’ll be playing when the Giants visit, but as of Thursday he’s yet to practice this week. If he does get the start, he’ll be right back into that WR3/WR4 no man’s land where you have no idea what to do with him. For what it’s worth, when healthy, the snaps have been consistent. He just needs to start converting more targets into production.

WR Keith Mumphery, HOU (Wk. 6: @Jax.): Mumphery didn’t get the headlines after fellow rookie Jaelen Strong scored 2 TDs on just 2 catches last week, but he was targeted 8 times and caught 4 passes. If Nate Washington and Cecil Shorts can’t give it a go this week, I’d expect similar volume to the 8 targets from a week ago, which should get him on the WR3 radar, even against a Jacksonville secondary that has been better than you’d think vs. WRs.

WR Jamison Crowder, WAS (Wk. 6: @NYJ): Crowder has emerged as a PPR monster in the absence of DeSean Jackson, and Jackson reportedly pulled himself out of practice Thursday after feeling a twinge in his injured hamstring. He appeared to be on target to play this week, but may again be sidelined. The Jets boast a fantastic secondary, but they also are likely to shut down the run as well. For Washington to move the ball, I think it will take a lot of the short passing game with Crowder and RB Chris Thompson to do it. I’d feel pretty good about firing him up as a PPR WR3 if Jackson doesn’t play.

Rookies to Sit:

ameer abdullah rookie report week 2

RB Ameer Abdullah, DET (Wk. 6: vs. Chi.): The Lions simply can’t run the ball. You would think the Bears would be the perfect tonic for what ails the Detroit run game, but the Bears’ run D has been better this year than it was the past two. Abdullah scored a 24-yard TD on his first pro carry. He’s tallied just 19 points since in almost 5 full games. Is that someone you want in the lineup?

RB Tevin Coleman, ATL (Wk. 6: @NO): It looks like Coleman’s injury has cost him his role in the offense. Devonta Freeman is running like a man possessed, easily tallying the most RB fantasy points in the league over the last 3 weeks, and I see no reason why the Falcons should suddenly give Coleman a big share of the workload. This is Devonta’s job for now. Coleman is fighting for leftovers.

RB Karlos Williams, BUF (Wk. 6: vs. Cin.): It’s looking like Williams will be out again this week, but even if he plays, it looks like LeSean McCoy will play as well. The Bills will want to lean on the run game if Tyrod Taylor misses this game, but the Bengals boast an above average run defense and trotting ‘Los out there in your lineup is a desperate move.

RB Matt Jones, WAS (Wk. 6: @NYJ): Jones is dealing with a toe injury, and more than that he’s dealing with a muddy backfield situation. The Jets’ defensive front gets offseason knucklehead Sheldon Richardson back this week, so the sledding will be brutal for both Jones and Alfred Morris. The Jets were already 3^rd in the league at limiting RB fantasy points without Richardson. This shapes up as more of a Chris Thompson week for the Washington backfield.

RB David Johnson, ARI (Wk. 6: @Pit.): His production is simply not sustainable on the touches that he’s getting. It’s ridiculous really. He has offensive touch totals of 1, 6, 10, 7, and 3, and point totals of 11, 16, 3, 11 and 12. Odd that the only game that he touched the ball 10 times was the only one he didn’t score 10 fantasy points. Like I said…ridiculous. To play him means you’re banking on him finding the end-zone again on 5 or fewer touches. Good luck!

WR Dorial Green-Beckham, TEN (Wk. 6: vs. Mia.): There was optimism that the Titans would get Green-Beckham more involved after the bye week, but those hopes were dashed last week. He played a season high snap total, but wasn’t targeted even once. Ken Whisenhunt has complained to the media that his receivers aren’t doing a good enough job of winning contested catches, meanwhile he keeps a weapon who specializes in this standing on the sideline. It’s time for coach Whiz to understand what’s wrong with this picture.

WR Devin Funchess, CAR (Wk. 6: @Sea.): Same as Green-Beckham. He’s just not getting the snaps and targets needed to be a worthwhile option right now. The Titans didn’t use their bye week to get DGB more involved…let’s see if the Panthers did with Funchess.

WR Tyler Lockett, SEA (Wk. 6: vs. Car.): Lockett remains a return yardage league-only option for the moment. He even posted his lowest return yardage total of the year in week 5 to go along with just 2 catches. The passing offense volume just isn’t consistent enough to trust Lockett in season-long leagues right now.

WR Jaelen Strong, HOU (Wk. 6: @Jax.): Don’t be fooled by the 2 TDs last week for Strong. He was on the field for just a handful of plays and was targeted just those two times. I’m not sure what the FIVE Colts DBs standing next to Strong were doing on the hail mary to end the first half, and another blown coverage opened him up for the second TD. He’s got a lot of talent, but until his playing time increases it’s hard to trust him to continue to produce even if Shorts and Nate Washington are out again. This isn’t going to be a repeat of Martavis Bryant in 2014, who broke out after not being active for the first 6 weeks.

WR Phillip Dorsett, IND (Wk. 6: vs. NE): Dorsett is always a big play threat, but it’s obvious at this point that he’s the number 4 receiver, and they like to use 2 TEs a bit as well. It wouldn’t shock me to see the Colts use Dorsett in some gadget plays this week trying to catch the Pats off guard, but he’s unlikely to see much volume at all. He’s just too buried on the depth chart.

TE Maxx Williams, BAL (Wk. 6: @SF): He’s still not producing enough in the opportunities he’s getting to warrant getting more of them. Crockett Gillmore looks likely to play this week, further hurting Maxx’s value.

Deep League Sleepers and Cheap DFS Options:

WR Stefon Diggs, MIN (Wk. 6: vs. KC): Most people are excited about Mike Wallace’s week 6 outlook as he had his best game of the season right before the team’s week 5 bye, and this week gets to face the league’s worst defense against WRs by far. The Chiefs allow almost 6 full points more to WRs than the next team (Baltimore) per game. While Wallace was good in week 4, Diggs was equally impressive with 6 catches for 87 yards. Charles Johnson is still battling a rib injury, and if he’s unable to go, Diggs would make a nice WR3 this week in 12-team leagues and deeper. If Johnson does play, I like CJ to have his best game of the season.

WR Devin Smith, NYJ (Wk. 6: vs. Was.): Smith hasn’t been particularly efficient since getting on the field for the first time two weeks ago, catching just 5 of his 16 targets, but the fact he’s been targeted so much is promising. The Redskins are stout up front against the run, but can be beaten on the back end. I like Smith’s chances of getting behind the defense at least once in this game.

WR Cameron Meredith, CHI (Wk. 6: @Det.): Converted Illinois State QB Meredith flashed in the preseason, and he made the most of his opportunities in week 5, catching all 4 of his targets for 52 yards. The Lions haven’t exactly been bleeding points to WRs like the Chiefs have, but they haven’t been good either. Both Eddie Royal and Alshon Jeffery practiced on Thursday, so it looks like both have a solid shot to play, but we’ve said this for a couple weeks about Alshon, and we all remember how coy they played it with Kevin White’s injury in training camp. If Royal and Alshon are out, I like Meredith to exceed his output from week 5.

WR DeVante Parker, MIA (Wk. 6: @Ten.): Parker is one of the most talented WRs on the Dolphins, and with Joe Philbin out, interim HC Dan Campbell might try something different to jumpstart the offense. Getting Parker involved would be something different. It’s likely not enough for you to want to play him in your lineup, but he’s worth some consideration as a punt option in DFS tournaments.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully it helps you make some of the tougher lineup decisions. Feel free to hit me up on twitter if you have a complaint or question (@shawn_foss). As always… good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It’s just a game.

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12
October

Week 5 Overview: It Ain't Looking Pretty

Published in Fantasy Football / NFL

TNF: 10/8/15 Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans

AARP member Matt Hasselbeck saves the day for the Colts. He teamed up with 34 year old Andre Johnson and hit him for 2 TDs. They tried to give it away but Matt & Andre had taken an extra swig of Geritol and were ready to go. Johnson's 2yd score in the 4th Qtr put them ahead to stay. A. Johnson was released by the Texans in March after 12 seasons with them, he tallied up 6 catches for 77yds & 2 TDs. Hey, it's 25yr old guys who can't do that on a daily basis. Sure it might be he his last year, but he looks like he's going out with a bang. They won 27-20. With 2:08 left in the 2nd Qtr, Nick Novak hit a 36yd FG to finally put the Texan on the score board. The Texans would get the ball one more time in the 2nd QTR with maybe 1 min left. Hoyer kept moving it down the field, no sooner than I said it, it happened. Hoyer threw a pretty Hail Mary pass into the end zone with 0 seconds left on the clock and Jaelen Strong caught it. He was as open as a convict giving testimony to get time off his sentence, LOL. There were 3-4 Colts around him but they were busy knocking each other around while Strong caught the pass and after the 1pt kick, we had a game 13-10 going into the half. I kept telling Indy that Hoyer was going to throw it. Ryan Mallett wasn't cutting the mustard so they sat him down, early. Oh yeah-Hasselbeck was so ill he couldn’t even speak at meetings Wednesday night, so the injured Andrew Luck spoke for him. Luck was saying that Matt said, "this is your team man, I'm just happy I could help." Yeah right. Luck better be glad Matt is 40 or he would give him a run for the money, just my thoughts. He went to the emergency room on Monday and was discovered to have a really bad bacterial infection. Hasselbeck is 40 and prior to this season, he hadn’t started and won a game in the NFL since 2012. Yet here he is, taking over for Andrew Luck amid a disappointing 0-2 start, leading the Colts to consecutive victories in the division. Same ole story with the Texans, though they tried, they could not win. Mallett, who started for the Texans had the wind knocked out of him on an illegal hit midway through the 2nd Qtr & was replaced by Hoyer. Nuff said about this one. M. Hasselbeck threw for 213yds & 2 TDs. F. Gore had 22 carries for 98yds & 1 TD. T. Hilton, who, 2 years ago that he would be the best receiver to every play in the NFL, had 5 receptions for 88yds. You got a long way to go man. B. Hoyer, threw for 312yds, 2 TDs & 1 int. He received a game ball along with A. Johnson of the Colts for their work today. No rushing yds worth writing, where you at A. Foster? 41yds, that's ridiculous. D. Hopkins had 11 receptions for 169yds. Could you please help out Hilton.

MNF: 10/12/15: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. S. D. Chargers.

I can't believe the Chargers let this one get away, it was a good game. But the Chargers would bow to the Steelers 24-20 when all was said and done. They seem to have forgotten that Vick is a running QB, he don't sit still unless they tell him to. It was a sweet pass to Le'Veon Bell from Michael Vick for a 1yd, game winning TD as time expired. Vick was having a bad game for the most part but redeemed himself by the time the clock was done, he said, "It's not how you start, it's how you finish." Of course, they had to review it and I'll be darn, they let it stand. I saw a TD but not sure if the refs would agree. They were down by 3pts with the ball inside the 1 with 5 seconds left. Bell said it was the most meaningful TD of his 3yr career. He said he dreamed about "being the one that catches the game winner on the last play of the game." Besides, Tomlin was not putting his kicker out there, he still salty about that last game. Vick also hooked up with Markus Wheaton on a 72yd TD on a stop and go route to tie it at 17 with 7:42 left. The Chargers battery had run down, Lambo, who kicked a 34yder as time expired for a 30-27 win over Cleavland, was short & left on a 60yd attempt just before halftime. Antonio Gates returned from a 4 game PED suspension. He had 2 TDs to contribute. Gates has 101 career TDs, joining Tony Gonzalez (111) as the only tight ends to reach that milestone. Rivers have thrown 74 TD passes to Gates, the most from a QB to a TE in NFL history. Antwone Gates of the Steelers intercepted a River's pass & return it 70yds for a TD. Rivers 3rd pick-six of the season. M. Vick threw for 203yds, 1 TD & 1 interception. L. Bell had a good day at work with 21 carries for 111yds & 1 TD. M. Wheaton had 1 reception for 72yds & 1 TD. P. Rivers threw for 365yds, 2 TDs & 1 interception. M. Gordon had 15 carries for 42yds & 1 fumble. Not worth writing but somebody might want to know. A. Gates had 9 receptions for 92yds & 2 TDs.

NFC NORTH:

Green Bay Packers: 5-0

You know what really grinds my gears? The fact that green, is my favorite color and when I wear it, with my green gym shoes & cap, I get these insults like, "hey, you a Packers fan?" I just walk away shaking my head. lol. A girl can't have a favorite color anymore. As far as this pack of green people, they did it again, this time to the Rams, 24-10. Aaron Rodgers remarkable run of mistake-free football at home is over, even though they are the Kings of the NFC North. The defense did their job in this one with 3 sacks & 4 interceptions to hold off the Rams. But Rodger NFL record streak of 587 pass attempts & 49 TD passes at home without an interception ended in the 1st Qtr on LB James Laurinaitis diving pick of a tipped ball for the Rams. Then he threw another one in the 2nd Qtr before losing a fumble in the 3rd on a sack. Rough day at the office. When the press asked him which one bothered him the most, he said all of them. Nick Foles said of his 4 interceptions, I've got to make better decisions. Here's a tip, learn how to play. You wasn't all that with the Eagles either. You had your wonder season already, it's over. A. Rodgers threw for 241yds, 2 TDs & 2 ints. A. Rodgers had 8 carries for 39yds & 1 fumble. J. Jones had 2 receptions for 77yds & 1 TD. N Foles threw for 141yds, 1 TD & 4 ints. T. Gurley had 30 carries for 159yds & S. Bailey had 3 receptions for 73yds.

Minnesota Vikings: 2-2

They did not play in WK 5, so therefore, they did not lose. A. Peterson just proclaimed himself to be the Michael Jordan of football. Get over yourself already.

Chicago Bears: 2-3
You made me sooooo very happy, I'm so glad youuuu, won another game. LOL. Yeah, my Bears won their 2nd game, 18-17. So naturally, I'm getting the "they only won by one point" So, what y'all trying to say? If you ever read my blog, one thing you should have heard a bunch of times is that, "a win is a win." So get off my back people, you can't break me. Now, I'm not going to lie, the Bears had me shaking in my boots, this is definitely one of those games where you don't want to turn your head or you are going to miss something. What it boiled down to was this, Cutler led the Bears to 2 TDs in the closing minutes Sunday. An alert toss to Matt Forte with 18 seconds remaining, putting us in the lead for good. Mind you he dropped the snap, picked it up and look straight down the field and hit Forte in the end zone and there were Chiefs literally grabbing at his fee. After Robbie Gould's 2nd FG got them going, Cutler led an 88yd drive that he capped off with a 22yd pass to Marquess Wilson. The 2pt conversion came up short, but the Bears defense responded by forcing a quick 3 and out. Sadly, the Chiefs paid for this loss in more ways than one. Star RB Jamaal Charles with a torn ACL & I do believe a torn MCL as well, either way, he is done for the season. It was a freak accident, no hit was involved, he just made this cut and you can see the weird way his knee turned. That's sucks, for anyone. Well, I guess I'll have some wine and check out a few more games, yeahhh meeee. Cutler threw for 252yds & 2 TDs. M. Forte had 18 carries for 71yds & M. Wilson had 6 receptions for 85yds & 1 TD. A. Smith threw for 181yds & 1 TD. J. Charles had 12 carries for 58yds before leaving the game with an injury. J. Maclin had 8 receptions for 85yds.

Detroit Lions: 0-5

Man, I can't even imagine being a Lions fan right now. This has to suck for the fans especially. Lions slain by Cardinals, check out that update. I really don't want to play them, win less teams are the hardest to beat. Ughhhh.

NFC SOUTH:

Atlanta Falcons: 5-0

Next I'll be losing 25lbs. I mean it when I say, I could guarantee you that nobody saw Atlanta coming out the gate, 5-0. Maybe there is hope for me yet. They stayed in the "y'all can't take us down club" with the 25-19 win over the Redskins, which was really no surprise. Atlanta trailed 16-12 before D. Freeman's 6yd scoring run with 24 seconds remaining in regulation. Redskins kicker, Dustin Hopkins 52yd FG on the final play of regulation forced OT. I see the studying that Robert Alfred did of Kirk Cousins, 3-step drops, paid off in OT. Alfred returned an interception 59yds for a TD in over time that kept the Falcons undefeated. The Redskins had 1st possession in OT and Cousins moved the team to midfield. On 2nd & 8 from the 50, Ryan Grant slipped while trying to adjust to Cousin's pass. Alford was in perfect position for the pick six and eased on down the sideline for 59yds for the winning TD. He said he trusted his instincts and the film study. Lesson 101 guys, study your opponents. M. Ryan threw for 254yds & 2 ints. D. Freeman had 27 carries for 153yds & 1 TD. J. Freeman is the 1st NFL player with 7 rushing TDs in his first 3 starts. J. Tamme had 8 receptions for 94yds. K. Cousins threw for 219yds, 1 TD & 2 ints. M. Jones had 11 carries for 20yds and 1 TD, which is what even got him a mention, 20yds, really, that's like 1.82 yds per carry. J. Crowder had 8 receptions for 87yds.

Carolina Panthers: 4-0

They did not play this week, thus they are still undefeated.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2-3

First they came out with the iPhone, now the Bucs are 2-3, what other miracle will happen next? Well, here it is, they beat the Jaguars, 38-31 and they both put some points up. If you play a pool, I would always put this match down for only 3pts, you can never be sure how it turns out with these 2. With this win the Bucs end an 11-game home losing streak. The Bucs ran the ball with authority, young QB J. Winston didn't make any costly mistakes and an improving defense did it's part too. Add all that up and it = victory. Winston said, "This was just smash-mouth football. We lined up in two-TE formations, two-RB formations and pounded that football. When you are able to force your will upon somebody else, and you've got a RB that's just getting 4 & 5 yds and then popping one for 20, that's great football." Well, nothing else to say here, he said it all. It was a bad day for B. Bortles, he threw 4 TDs but was sacked 6x, that's going to leave a bruise. He also threw an interception that led to a Bucs TD. The Bucs won for the 1st time at home since beating Buffalo 27-6 on Dec. 8, 2013, one week after Jacksonville last won on the road, 32-28 at Cleveland. J. Winston threw for 209yds & 1 TD. D. Marting had 24 carries for 123yds & 2 TDs. C. Sims had 4 receptions for 85yds. B. Bortles threw for 303yds, 4 TDs & 1 costly interception. No rushing yds worth mentioning. A. Hurns had 5 receptions for 116yds & 1 TD.

New Orleans: 1-4

Ain't no sunshine when they gone, only darkness everyday. I'm sure that's the saints theme song since Sproles and Graham have both left. And, the buzz is getting louder & louder that Graham is not happy with Seattle. Seattle is also not happy, they said he is not fitting into their system the way they thought he would. They lost to the Eagles 39-17, check that update for the 411.

NFC EAST:

New York Giants: 3-2

Bingooo, Giants win their 3rd straight game. They beat the already broken 49er's 30-27. Larry Donnell's spectacular catch over two 49ers with 21 seconds remaining lifted the N.Y. Giants over the hump and capped off Manning's sensational clutch performance. His perfect throw to Donnell finished off an 82yd drive with a 12yd TD. The two time Super Bowl winner passed for 441yds and became the winningest QB in team history with 102. They now lead the NFC East. S.F. has lost 4 in a row and let this one slip away after an impressive comeback. Carlos Hyde's 2yd run with 1:45 left gave the 49ers the lead. But on a night of huge plays & lengthy drives, Manning and Donnell had the topper. Beckhams speed & moves were too much for the 49ers. He set up the 1st TD by using his elusiveness for a 31yd reception down the middle. His 15yd catch led to a 17yd score on which he neatly spun & sped down the left sideline. The TD was his last reception, he left with a hamstring injury, something that has plagued his short pro career. He returned only briefly on the winning series. E. Manning threw for 441yds, 3 TDs & 1 int. No rushing yds worth writing about. O. Beckham had 7 receptions for 121yds & 1 TD. C. Kaepernick threw for 262yds & 2 TDs. C. Hyde had 21 carries for 93yds & 1 TD. A. Bolding had 8 receptions for 107yds & 1 TD.

Dallas Cowboys: 2-3

There's going to be some heartache tonight. This can't be good for the Cowboys ego. They were walking in rhythm last season. Dez gets hurt then the very next week, their fearless leader Romo gets hurt. I'm sorry Cowboy fans, but I think you might have to chalk this season up and regroup for next year. And Terrell Owens, said Dallas should give him another shot. It's about at that point T.O., hang around the phone for a bit. They just might do that. There might be a bright side, Dez Bryant was seen doing some light running as rehab continues. Read about their expected loss to the Patriots, 30-6 in N.E. update.

Philadelphia Eagles: 2-3

I gotta say, watching the Eagles play is like watching paint dry on a wall, just not the least bit interested in watching either one. But they won so I'll give them their props. They put the Saints away easily 39-17. All those "playmakers" Chip Kelly acquired made plays in the same game. Sam Bradford overcame 2 red-zone interceptions & threw for 333yds & 2 TDs, Ryan Mathews & DeMarco Murray each rushed for TDs and all that team work made for an easy win over the Saints. Fletcher Cox forced 2 fumbles on sacks to help the Eagles snap a 3 game losing streak at home that dated to last season. Drew Brees had 3 turnovers leading to 17pts for the Eagles. The Saints fell to 1-4 a week after an OT win against Dallas. S. Bradford threw for 333yds, 2 TDS & 2 ints. D. Murray had 20 carries for 83yds & 1 TD. J. Huff had 4 receptions for 78yds & 1 TD. D. Brees threw for 335yds, 2 TDs & 1 int. M. Ingram had 12 carries for 57yds & W. Snead had 6 receptions for 141yds.

Washington Redskins: 2-3

They lost this one in OT to the still undefeated Falcons, read that update for details. I just read that DeSean Jackson suffers injury setback in practice. You have to go read that one for yourself.

NFC WEST:

Arizona Cardinal: 4-1

It took exactly 7 days for the Cardinals to get over their surprising loss to the St. Louis Rams. They slayed the king of the jungle, the Lions, 42-17. Palmer threw 3 TDs and Stafford was benched after throwing a 3rd interception. Palmer had a 154.2 passer rating which was the second highest of his career that started when Cincinnati drafted him No. 1 overall in 2003. Palmer was poised & efficient as he threw a 14yd pass to Darren Fells, an 18yd connection to John Brown and a 2yd strike to Larry Fitzgerald for scores. Even though they won, they only have a 2 game lead in the NFC West and Larry Fitzgerald said that no one on the team will be celebrating on the flight home. He said it's far too early. The Lions 0-5 have the dubious distinction of being the NFL's only win less team for a 2nd straight week, and are off to their worst start since becoming the league's only 0-16 team in 2008. Cory Redding who was part of that infamous team 7 years ago said that he hopes the Lions win 1 game. He said he wouldn't wish a 0-16 season on his worst enemy. Stafford will start against the Bears next week. Mannnn, I hate playing teams that haven't won yet, they usually get their 1st win on us, I'm just keeping it real. C. Palmer threw for 161yds & 3 TDs. C. Johnson had 11 carries for 103yds & J. Brown had 4 receptions for 73yds & 1 TD. D. Orlovsky threw for 191yds, 1 TD & 1 int. G. Tate had 8 receps for 74yds & 1 fumble.

St. Louis Rams: 2-3

The Rams were gobbled up by the green goblins, 24-10. They did break Rodgers "no ints @ Lambeau". Read about that in the Packers update.

Seattle Seahawks: 2-3

See what happens when the refs cheat for you, your bad karma comes back on you. Y'all know that was a bogus non-call in the Detroit game. So, good for y'all. Oh, they lost to the Bengals, 27-24 in OT. Read Cincinnati's update for details.

San Francisco 49ers: 1-4

Where's the love 49er fans, I heard you guys been walking out on your team lately, man up and take the beat downs. Read about their 30-27 loss in the N.Y. Giants update.

AFC NORTH:

Cincinnati Bengals: 5-0

Whoops upside ya head, I said whoops upside ya head. Yeah, the Bengals can pretty much talk all the smack they want to right now. They are flying high, staying undefeated going into WK6. Playing like an elite QB, Dalton led the Bengals from a 17pt deficit to a legacy victory over the Seahawks. Mike Nugent's 42yd FG in OT bounced off the left upright, but went through for a 27-24 win over Seattle. I thought for sure Seattle had this one. Dalton's looks like a totally different QB this season. He didn't look too bad last year, but he is looking great right now. This just wasn't a good come back win, it matched the 2nd biggest comeback in team history and came against the 2 time defending NFC champions, a signature moment for the unbeaten Bengals. Here's the deal, they were trailing 24-7 heading into the 4th Qtr. Dalton threw for a TD, ran for another and led the Bengals on a 69yd drive with no timeouts to get Nugent's 31yd FG on the final play of regulation. Dalton said, "For us to come back against a really, really good team is huge." The 17pt collapse matched the biggest in Seattle history. The Seahawks also blew such games in 2003 against Baltimore and 2004 against St. Louis, losing in overtime as well. Well, they ain't look all that good right about now, lol. That's all I got for this one. A. Dalton threw for 331yds, 2 TDs & 1 int. G. Bernard had 15 carries for 80yds. T. Eifert had 8 receptions for 90yds & 2 TDs. R. Wilson threw for 213yds, 1 TD & 1 int. T. Rawls had 23 carries for 169yds & 1 TD. D. Baldwin had 3 receptions for 70yds.

Pittsburgh Steelers: 2-2

The road is long, with many a winding turn. Seems like the Steelers going down every one of them, finding a win along the way. They beat the Chargers, 24-20. Read about that in MNF update.

Cleveland Browns: 2-3

Well, I can't talk about them to bad, my Bears have the same record. After being down 21-9 in the 4th Qtr, they did manage to pull this one out off against the Ravens, 33-30 in OT. Seems to be the theme for WK 5. One thing I can say, you should go and read the FULL recap on this one, it was something. I'll just add my two cents and keep it moving. Josh McCown bucked recent history and put his name in the Cleveland record book with a marvelous performance that went into OT. Travis Coons kicked a 32yd FG, which turns out to be the winner in OT. This was the Ravens 2nd straight OT game and they went 3 and out on their 1st possession. McCown then used more than 7 minutes to move the Browns 51yds before Coons kicked his 4th FG of the game with 6:43 left in OT. Justin Tuck did his part in kicking a 23yd FG with 25 seconds left in regulation to get the Raves an extra session. But, OT belonged to the Browns after a wild 4th Qtr. Cleveland had lost 13 of it's last 14 meetings with their AFC North foes, but the Brown rallied from 12pt deficit to leave the Ravens 1-4 alone in the division cellar. Baltimore has never been 1-4 and this marks the 1st time they lost their first 2 games at home. J. McCown threw for 457yds, that's almost 500, dangggg and 2 TDs. No rushing yds worth mentioning. G. Barnridge had 8 receptions for 139yds & 1 TD. J. Flacco threw for 210yds & 1 TD. J. Forsett had 21 carries for 121yds & 1 TD. K. Aiken had 4 receptions for 78yds.

Baltimore Ravens: 1-4

Who knew? I know I didn't, did you? The Ravens got it bad and that ain't good. Read about the comeback for the Browns to beat them, 33-30, in OT, in that update.

AFC SOUTH:

Indianapolis Colts: 3-2

Read about how the Geritol Boys won this one, 27-20 over the worried Texans. Check out the TNF update.

Tennessee Titans: 1-3

They lost by 1pt. I am sure they would have loved to win by 1pt, see what I mean when I say 1pt does make a difference. Read the details in the Bill update.

Jacksonville Jaguars: 1-4

Looking better than you did last year at this time. Read about their spanking from the Buccaneers in that update.

Houston Texans: 1-4

The big ole state of TEXAS must be feeling pretty small right about now. Neither Houston or Dallas is bringing nothing home this season as far as football. Read about their loss to the Colts in the MNF update.

AFC EAST:

New England Patriots: 4-0

Like my dad used to say, "ain't no fun when the rabbit got the gun." Say what you will about the Patriots, all you are doing is fueling the fire. I mean come on, the Cowboys can barely beat the Patriots when everyone is healthy. You got two of your star player out and one left? Come on man, this was like sending a sheep into a lions den, the sheep is done for. So were the Cowboys with the 30-6 loss to the Patriots. To add insult to injury, they whipped them in their new $1.2 billion showplace of a stadium. Brady threw a pair of TD passes in the 2nd half after surviving 5 sacks in the 1st half. The Super Bowl champion Patriots won their 7th straight game going back to the playoffs last year. Brady's sneak to put N.E. ahead for good in the 2nd Qtr was his first rushing TD since Dec., 16, 2012, when he had the last of his career high four that season. The Cowboys lost their 3rd in a row without Romo & Bryant, both out with injuries. They have at least 4 more before the two come back, maybe. Weeden, he has lost his 11th straight game a a starter going back to his time as a 1st found draft pick in Cleveland. The buzz is that he has been replaced this week by Matt Cassel when they come off their bye week. T. Brady threw for 275yds & 2 TDs. L. Blount had 13 carries for 74yds & J. Edelman had 4 receptions for 120yds & 1 TD. B. Weeden thew for 188yds & 1 interception. J. Randle had 15 carries for 60yds. D. McFadden had 9 receptions for 62yds.

New York Jets: 3-1
Well now, look whose right on the Patriots heels. The Jets are doing well for the start of the season, wonder how long this is going to last. They had a bye this week so they are home chilling. They have the Redskins Sunday, should make them 4-1.

Buffalo Bills: 3-2

The Bills were determined not to lose this one. They beat the Titans 14-13, 1pt. I'm just curious why everyone at work ragging me about our 1pt win. Anyway, the Titans had a 10pt lead and gave it up. They said that QB Tyrod Taylor came through by doing a little bit of everything, even catching a pass. Taylor threw a TD pass and ran for another in rallying the Bills over the Titans, saving the day. Rex Ryan said that "Taylor has the biggest heart, it was tough sledding, but he's got guts, he's got heart. He wasn't playing great but at the end of the day, he's the reason we won the game." Taylor rand for 76yds as the Bills snapped a 5 game skid against Tennessee. The Titans blew a 2nd straight double digit lead at home, this by 10pts. They have lost 2 straight by a total of 3pts. All I can say is, move over Cam, there's a new super man in town. T. Taylor threw for 109yds & 1 TD. T. Taylor had 8 carries for 76yds & 1 TD. C. Hogan had 3 receptions for 52yds & 1 TD. M. Mariota threw for 187yds & 1 int. M. Mariota also had 5 carries for 47yds. No receiving yds worth writing.

Miami Dolphins: 1-3

Good thing there is a great night life and beautiful beaches in Miami or you guys just would not get over the sucky season the big fish are having. But, the good news, they didn't play Sunday, so they are still 1-3 instead of 1-4. Just my opinion.

AFC WEST:

Denver Broncos: 5-0,
You guys know I love me some Peyton Manning. But, keeping it real, he is playing OK right now, not the usual I expect to see whenever he takes the field. His crew got his back right now, he is just along for the ride and to throw a few balls. I think he has lost a step and he is giving up way too many interceptions, like the two that Charles Woodson had in this game. He said he has waited 18yrs to pick off one of Manning's passes, he did one better and got 2. The man that saved the day, Chris Harris Jr., he returned a 4th Qtr interception for 74yds for a TD and the Broncos overcame a shaky day from Manning to Beat the Raiders, 16-10. Harris said, "You never know who it's going to be, but we've got a team full of play makers on defense, if we got to win on D, we feel we can do it. They've done it so far with 22 sacks, 14 turnovers and 3 defensive TDs as Manning and the offense have struggled for long stretches. Manning has more interceptions, (7) than TD passes (6) through 5 games for the 1st time since his rookie season. He was intercepted twice by 1998 draft classmate Woodson and failed to lead the Broncos to an offensive TD for the 2nd time in 5 games. The Raiders were done in by an interception midway through the 4th Qtr with Oakland in position for a possible go ahead FG. Carr's 3rd down pass over the middle was off target & Harris picked it off like a fresh peach off a tree and returned it for the score & the win. Silencing what had been a loud crowd in Oakland. The Raiders added a late 50yd FG by Sebastian Janikowski but Denver recovered the onside kick to seal it. P. Manning threw for 266yds and 2 ints. No rushing yards worth writing. E. Sanders had 9 receptions for 111yds. D. Carr threw for 249yds, 1 TD & 1 int. No rushing yard worth writing. M. Crabtree had 4 receptions for 54yds, barely worth writing.

San Diego Chargers: 2-2

I thought for sure the the Chargers would win this one. Good thing I didn't ask anybody to bet. They lost to the Steelers. Check out the MNF update for all details.

Oakland Raiders: 2-3

They were thisssss close and let it slip away. Read about it in Denver's update.

Kansas City Chiefs: 1-4

Read about not only the loss of the game to the Bears, 18-17 but also the loss of Jamaal Charles, he's gone for the season. Check out the Bears update.

Read full article

21
October

Week 7 NFL Confidence Pool Picks & Strategy

Published in Fantasy Football / NFL

Another solid week as we draw closer to the midway point of the season.

If you’re like me, your fantasy season is pretty much shot, but at least we still have our confidence pool to give us…well…confidence for the rest of the season! (see what I did there?) No time to waste, another week is so close to kicking off!

Week 7 – HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN ALL CAPS)

confidence pool picks week 7 nfl

14 – NEW ENGLAND over New York Jets – The Pats have been running roughshod over the entire league to this point. Add in the fact that they love beating up on the Jets and this could get ugly.

13 – ARIZONA over Baltimore – The Cardinals have hit a bit of a slow spot on their way to the playoffs but apparently a game against the Ravens is something that every team in the league looks forward to – just ask the 49ers.

12 – INDIANAPOLIS over New Orleans – It seems like Andrew Luck may have just needed a little time off to heal his shoulder. I am back on the bandwagon…until viciously thrown off again like I was last time.

11 – SAN DIEGO over Oakland – Phillip Rivers threw for over 500 yards last week in Green Bay. Against the Raiders secondary, there is a legit chance that Rivers might reach 800 yards…ish.

10 – CAROLINA over Philadelphia – The Panthers showed last week that they are no fluke with a win in Seattle. Look for them to continue their momentum to roll over another division leader.

9 – NEW YORK GIANTS over Dallas – No Romo and possibly still no Dez for the Cowboys means no chance of winning in Jersey.

8 – Seattle over SAN FRANCISCO – The week starts with what was one of the hottest rivalries in the league just a few years ago. Now, while the rivalry is still there, its to try and stay out of the basement of the division.

7 – ST LOUIS over Cleveland – Todd Gurley is legit and has shown that he was worth the top 10 pick the Rams used on him. Look for Gurley to continue running over the league this week.

6 – Atlanta over TENNESSEE – Speaking of running over the league, his name is Devonta Freeman.

5 – Buffalo over JACKSONVILLE (in London) – The league continues to shove the Jaguars down the throats of Europeans. This year it is the Bills that try to make Jacksonville stay across the pond.

4 – WASHINGTON over Tampa Bay – Bringing back an old gem for this one – the Skins will pull this out simply because they are the home team.

3 – KANSAS CITY over Pittsburgh – If Ben Roethlisberger returns for this game then flip this one around – the Steelers will win. But without him, the Chiefs will need to win this game and establish a new running game without Jamaal Charles. This week’s BOLD PREDICTION is that CHARCANDRICK WEST WILL HAVE THE FIRST 100 YARDS RUSHING GAME OF HIS CAREER. (even if it doesn’t happen, at least I still successfully typed Charcandrick)

2 – DETROIT over Minnesota – The Lions are off the schnide! No 0-16 season this year! One division win could provide the momentum needed to get another one.

1 – Houston over MIAMI – Two teams that have disappointed this year. Don’t let Miami’s big win last week fool you, it was against the Titans.