Fantasy football strategy, rankings, and podcasts

Now it gets interesting.

For the first time this season (excluding the Bucs/Dolphins situation in week 1) some teams in the league will be on bye.

What that means for us is that there will be less games to pick…and less points to get! Every pick is critical, you need to make sure to get as many points as you can during this time. You may have made selections based on a hunch you may have had previously, but the hunch level needs to take a significant hit. We don’t have a lot of wiggle room to work with.

Week 5 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

14 – PITTSBURGH over Jacksonville – The "Coming Back Down to Earth" party for the Jags will definitely continue against the high-powered Steelers offense. No temper tantrum for Antonio Brown this week!

13 – PHILADELPHIA over Arizona – Pennsylvania is apparently the best place to be this week as the two Keystone State representatives should easily bring home a pair of wins.

12 – NEW YORK GIANTS over Los Angeles Chargers – I know what you’re thinking "YOU JUST TOLD US NOT TO RELY ON HUNCH’S!" And yes, seeing the Giants this high would be considered a "hunch" if it weren’t against a winless Chargers team that has to travel across the country.

11 – LOS ANGELES RAMS over Seattle – Just a month ago you would expect to see this game on this line, but with the opposite result. But having an offense that’s deservingly been compared to the "Bob N’ Weave" team a decade and a half ago makes the Rams legit.

10 – OAKLAND over Baltimore – Yes, Derek Carr is out of this one – but EJ Manuel didn’t look too shabby in relief in Denver last week. He should be able to do enough to keep more points on the board than the Ravens.

9 – Minnesota over CHICAGO – I’m not going to say that the Mitchell Trubiski era will start with a 5 INT game or anything like that, but against that Viking defense it won’t end with a win.

8 – CINCINNATI over Buffalo – The Bills did get a big win in Atlanta last week and are sitting at the top of the division, but the Bengals offense finally showed signs of life last week. Not good news for opposing defenses.

7 – Green Bay over DALLAS – In a rematch of their amazing playoff matchup, there is no reason to think the same outcome won’t happen – especially with how Cowboys are looking lately.

6 – TAMPA BAY over New England – Thanks to their dreadful defense, Tom and the boys are going to start the season 2-3…that just makes me happy!

5 – DETROIT over Carolina – The Panthers showed signs of life last week. Unfortunately they won’t be able to play the previously mentioned Patriots defense every week.

4 – Tennessee over MIAMI – Tennessee may seem a little lost if Mariota isn’t able to play. But, as we have seen this season so far, any team quarterbacked by Jay Cutler is in a perpetual state of confusion.

3 – HOUSTON over Kansas City – Sunday Night Football could give us the game of the week with this AFC matchup. The biggest reason I fell the Texans will win is because my BOLD PREDICTION for the week is that DESHAUN WATSON WILL HAVE ANOTHER FOUR TOUCHDOWN GAME.

2 – INDIANAPOLIS over San Francisco – In a week where we already have less than a full schedule, we get two "have to play it because it is on the schedule" games. This is one …

1 – CLEVELAND over New York Jets – … and this is the other.

Every year I like to take some time to remind everyone of a little clause that is in almost all season-long confidence pools.

That exception is that the lowest score of the season is removed from your total points in a last-ditch effort to give you a little boost. I usually write about this when we have a bad week.

Didn’t really think I would be writing about it in the first quarter of the season though! Is what it is though, and luckily, for the most part, everyone had a bad week.

That’s why they play the game, and that’s why the game is great!

Week 4 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

16 – SEATTLE over Indianapolis – The Colts looked impressive for the first time this season last week … … … against the Browns … … … against the Browns.

15 – GREEN BAY over Chicago – The week kicks off with the biggest rivalry in the game. The Bears looked good last week, but they don’t have the defense to contain an Aaron Rodgers air assault.

14 – NEW ENGLAND over Carolina – How big of a nose dive have the Panthers and Cam Newton taken? A game in Foxboro isn’t exactly the best way to fix their problems.

13 – ATLANTA over Buffalo – The Falcons look primed to make a return to the Super Bowl this year. A home game against Buffalo won’t slow them down a bit.

12 – DALLAS over Los Angeles Rams – Dak Prescott won the game for the ‘Boys last week, now it’s Zeke’s turn. My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that EZEKIAL ELLIOT WILL HAVE HIS BREAKOUT GAME WITH OVER 150 YARDS RUSHING.

11 – ARIZONA over San Francisco – The 49ers looked impressive last week. But even with how impressive they looked they could beat the Rams. Good luck on the road against the Cardinals.

10 – KANSAS CITY over Washington – Boy the Chiefs are good!

9 – TAMPA BAY over New York Giants – Why would you have confidence in the Giants? Put 11 guys on Beckham and let the rest of the Giants’ offense beat you and your gold.

8 – MINNESOTA over Detroit – The NFC North is going to be a bit of a barn-burner this year. A win here will go a long way for these two teams. Lucky for the Vikings they are the home team this week.

7 – HOUSTON over Tennessee – DeShaun Watson is for real. He showed that he could maintain himself and almost beat Tom Brady on the road. It was a perfect warmup for a big early season divisional matchup this week.

6 – MIAMI over New Orleans – It feels weird to put a team that was just dominated by the Jets to win this week. Call it the “because they’re the home team” win of the week.

5 – BALTIMORE over Pittsburgh – Big Ben is hard to stop when the Steelers have a home game. On the road…eh…not so much.

4 – DENVER over Oakland – This hurts me to say, but after their performance last Sunday night, it’s hard to have confidence in the Raiders in such a pivotal road game.

3 – Philadelphia over LOS ANGELES CHARGERS – Carson Wentz is on the verge of being a perennial Pro Bowl quarterback. Going across the country to get a big win will help persuade voters (I hate fan voting!)

2 – CLEVELAND over Cincinnati – When you think the Browns are going to win a game, they should ALWAYS be on the one point line. That is unless…

1 – NEW YORK JETS over Jacksonville – …you also think that the Jets are going to win in the same week.

Welcome back!

If you have been following along and using my picks, there’s a good chance you may have won your week! So congrats on listening to me!

We are looking to keep that momentum going. This looks to be a week that can separate the pack a bit. A lot of games should go down to the wire. DRAMA!

Week 3 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

16 – NEW ENGLAND over Houston – Did anyone really think that a week 1 loss would mean the immediate demise of the Patriots dynasty? Unfortunately, that’s obviously not the case as the Texans will see firsthand this Sunday.

15 – GREEN BAY over Cincinnati – If not for severe backup offensive linemen issues, the Packers could have won in Atlanta last week. Instead, they get to take out their aggression on a Bengals team that looks like they are just aimlessly wandering through the desert.

14 – PHILADELPHIA over New York Giants – I can’t be the only one amazed at how much of a difference there seems to be between these two teams. Carson Wentz is making the Eagles look smart for trading up to get him and the Giants…well…they’ve shown up BOTH weeks so far!

13 – Pittsburgh over CHICAGO – After an apparently unexpected 0-2, Bears fans are clamoring for the reigns to be handed over to Mitchell Trubiski. My BOLD PREDICTION for the week is that TRUBISKI WILL NOT PLAY THIS SEASON.

12 – CAROLINA over New Orleans – The Panthers may be the most underwhelming 2-0 in recent history. A game against the joke that is the Saints is just what Cam and the boys need.

11 – Miami over NEW YORK JETS – The Jets put up a fight for a bit in Oakland last week. But then they remembered they were the Jets. They’re just not a good football team. If they win a game this year, this won’t be it.

10 – Denver over BUFFALO – Did you see what the Broncos defense against Dallas? What chance do you think a group led by Tyrod Taylor have?

9 – Oakland over WASHINGTON – This could be the biggest shootout of the week. Just like week 1, the Raiders need to show that they can handle a tough road game, this time with the entire country looking in. Nothing has made it seem like they can’t handle it yet.

8 – TENNESSEE over Seattle – Last week’s blowout in Jacksonville was just a start to getting the Titans back on the contender radar. A win against a solid team like Seattle will go a long way for them.

7 – Dallas over ARIZONA – The Cowboys have a lot of spare offense to use seeing as though they didn’t really use any last week. Lucky for them the Cardinals have been hit hard with the injury bug which won’t allow them to keep up.

6 – Baltimore over JACKSONVILLE – The Sunday slate starts early with the first game across the pond this season. This would have been closer if it were an ACTUAL home game for the Jags.

5 – SAN FRANCISCO over Los Angeles Rams – Our Thursday Night game will be a barn-burner! Two division rivals battling it out to get a leg up on the chance to not finish in last place. The 9ers are at home so they get to win this one.

4 – Atlanta over DETROIT – Who knew this would look like a potential Game of the Week? Both teams have gotten off to solid starts but the experience of the Falcons should be enough to pull this one out.

3 – MINNESOTA over Tampa Bay – This game is based on Sam Bradford’s availability. If he is still out, keep this game on the 3 line, but switch it to a Bucs win.

2 – LOS ANGELES CHARGERS over Kansas City – This is nothing more than a hunch. Home field advantage doesn’t seem to be a thing for the Chargers in their new home yet. I just don’t know, I am confidently not confident about this confidence pick…think about THAT for a while!

1 – INDIANAPOLIS over Cleveland – Oh boy! Welp, if the Colts are going to win a game before Andrew Luck gets back it will be against the Browns…and shouldn’t be higher than the 1-point line.

I feel that last week I should have stressed the fact that it was the start of the season. We all need reminding that football is known for its parity and anyone can beat anyone when the slate is wiped clean.

…or any other excuse I can throw out for being incorrect on both the 16 and 15 point lines – thanks Pats and Texans!

It’s OK though, we did pretty good for the rest of the week. Plus, now that we have a week’s worth of examples (except for the Florida based teams), we should be even better this week!

Week 2 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

16 – OAKLAND over New York Jets – The Raiders defense may look like the ’85 Bears in this game! (side note – can’t tell you how happy I am to see the light at the end of the tunnel that is that damn baseball field the Raiders play on in the first quarter of the season!)

15 – SEATTLE over San Francisco – The Seattle offense was shut down against the Packers Sunday. They will be looking to make a statement against their former rival.

14 – BALTIMORE over Cleveland – The Browns looked a bit impressive in week 1, but so did Baltimore, and I am going to need to see more from Cleveland before I have any sort of road confidence in them.

13 – CAROLINA over Buffalo – It was a luck of the schedule draw for the Bills to start 1-0 this year. They won’t be undefeated after this week.

12 – New England over NEW ORLEANS – The Saints dismal defense just got lit up by Sam Bradford…SAM BRADFORD! What do you think an angry Tom Brady is going to do against them?

11 – KANSAS CITY over Philadelphia – Philly looked good in a week 1 road division win. But dear lord the Chiefs looked amazing! They would be higher if it weren’t for the Eric Berry injury. That may be what keeps them from the Super Bowl this year.

10 – Arizona over INDIANAPOLIS – Yes the Cardinals lost in Detroit. Yes the Cardinals lost David Johnson last week. But did you SEE how bad the Colts are with Scott Tolzien under center? Plus, their backup option is Jacoby Brissett? No worries for Arizona here.

9 – TAMPA BAY over Chicago – The only reason this game isn’t towards the top of the board is due to the uncertainty in the state of Florida right now.

8 – Washington over LOS ANGELES RAMS – The Rams got off to a good start, but this Redskins offense is just a bit better than the Colts.

7 – PITTSBURGH over Minnesota – Unfortunately for the Vikings they are not able to play the Saints defense every week.

6 – Houston over CINCINNATI – The Bengals were shutout in their week 1 home opener. Could this be the start of the rebuilding period on Cincy?

5 – Dallas over DENVER – I feel like this should be higher, but there is something in the back of my mind telling me that the Broncos may make this more of a game than it should be.

4 – Green Bay over ATLANTA – My BOLD PREDICTION this week is that THE PACKERS WILL REPRESENT THE NFC IN THE SUPERBOWL. In order to do so, they are going to need to win games like this one.

3 – NEW YORK GIANTS over Detroit – I really don’t think that the Giants are the team that we saw on Sunday Night…thought they could be.

2 – LOS ANGELES CHARGERS over Miami – It took less than four minutes for a ref to call them San Diego on Monday. This game will be just as forgetful. I mean, the Chargers will be playing in a soccer stadium for their first few LA years.

1 – JACKSONVILLE over Tennessee – After an impressive week 1, the Jags deserve to be picked this week. Though they still deserve to be on the one point line … for now.