Fantasy Sports Blogger

I’m really not a fan of many players this week.  I have told you in the past to pick up Tashard Choice, Brent Celek, Miles Austin, Rashard Mendenhall, Austin Collie, Burleson but the pool is a little shallow this week.  Here’s who I do like for you to pick up though…

1.  Jeremy Maclin WR PHI - Kevin Curtis’ days could be numbered in PHI if Maclin and Jackson turn into Duper and Clayton for the Eagles.

2. Matt Hasselbeck QB SEA - I know he played the helpless Jags and they are on they’re 4th left tackle, but I’m betting he’s available in some leagues as some guys couldn’t afford to keep a banged up QB on their roster.

3. Donnie Avery WR STL - He’s healing up and he plays well at home.  Guess what.  The Rams play 4 of their next 5 games at home.  Sounds good to me.

Well now, the Giants rolled the Raiders last week to being me up to 4-1.  Of course the one means I’m out of my survivor pool.  In week 6 (yes it’s week 6 already!), the good teams play the good teams and the bad teams play the bad teams for the most part.  The ones that jump out are DET @ GB, CLE @ PIT, PHI @ OAK and TEN @ NE.   So as you know I was burned by GB playing at home already so I’m throwing them out.  I’m not a fan of road teams or divisional matchups so I’m throwing out PIT and PHI although I think they should win.  I can’t believe I’m going to say this but I like NE to blow out TEN.   How does a 13-3 team go to 0-6… just watch Sunday.

7-7 last week brings my yearly total to 33-29. Locks slipped to 6-6 after 1-2 week. I overplayed the underdogs last week. DET, GB and SD really disappointed me. I should have known better with OAK. This week has some HUGE point spreads. I’m leaning towards more favorites than I typically play. My picks are the left most team of the matchup followed by the line and opponent. The locks have an *.

*DET +10.5 vs. PIT - Lesson learned…DET covers at home
NYG -16 vs. OAK - Giants will run and run some more
PHI -14 vs. TB - Let’s see if Eagles are for real vs. nemesis
CIN +8.5 @ BAL - Just changed my mind for third time
CLE +6 @ BUF - BUF is tired from NO and MIA offenses
KC +8.5 vs. DAL - And just changed my mind on this one too
WAS +3.5 @ CAR - Skins keep games close
*DEN +3 vs. NE - Brady is 1-3 against DEN
SF -2.5 vs. ATL - ATL defense troubles me
MIN -10 @ STL - MIN should stumble after big Monday night win but this is STL right
HOU +5.5 @ ARI - Zona needs to show me something
JAX -0.5 @ SEA - Toss up but I like MJD and Garrard
*IND -4 @ TEN - Titans play this close for 3 quarters I think
*NYJ -1.5 @ MIA - Another close game…don’t think MIA is that good though

All those guys over there at ESPN can tell you it’s a no brainer to start Peterson, Brees, Wayne or Gates each week. I really don’t see any of them showing you when to start a second/third tier guy from your bench over a normal starter. That’s what this weekly post looks to accomplish. I want to give you the best possible matchups to consider versus the guys you auto-start each week.

Start
QB - Cassell, S. Hill
RB - Mendenhall, Bradshaw
WR - Miles Austin, Sam Hurd
TE - Miller
K - Reed
DST - Redskins

Bench
QB - Eli Manning (heel injury question)
RB - Benson, S. Jackson
WR - Roy Williams, C. Johnson
TE - Boss, Cooley
K - Folk
DST - Titans (unless you have to start them like me)

1. Mohamed Massaquoi WR CLE - Now that Braylon is in the land of the Jet, it appears that Derek Anderson has some good chemistry with this receiver.  I don’t think he’ll catch 8 balls every week but he should be in line for 5-6 catches with the occasional break out game.
2. Rashard Mendenhall RB PIT - I didn’t see last week’s performance coming but he sure responded to the prior week’s healthy scratch.  I think Willie parker should be back in a week or two but enjoy Rashard’s week schedule the next 2 weeks (@ DET, vs. CLE).
3. Jermichael Finley TE GB - He is smoking hot right now and has Rodgers eye.  I know there have been plenty of surprises at TE this year but if you are an owner of Greg Olsen you may want to pick up his counterpart in Green Bay.
4. Sidney Rice WR MIN - I’m not 100% sold on this kid but he is getting good looks at the right time from Favre.
5. Sammy Morris RB NE - Somebody has to run the ball in Patriot land don’t they?  Good news is that Sammy can catch when necessary as well.

Well, if I hadn’t have gone and got booted out in Week 2 of my survivor pool, I’d be feeling pretty good about my position.  I’m 3-1 with my picks which isn’t really that impressive when all you have to do is pick a winner each week.  Looking at week 5, a few games jump out as obvious choices; MIN @ STL, DAL @ KC, NYG vs. OAK, PHI vs. TB.

As you know I’m not really in favor of road teams no matter the spread.   For me that rules out the first two but I think MIN should be fine if you need to take a road team.  I don’t trust DAL as they might even lose to KC.  PHI should get by TB but they always have trouble against the Bucs for some reason.  So, I’m taking the 16 point favorite NY Giants who I think will win big no matter who starts at QB for them.

All those guys over there at ESPN can tell you it’s a no brainer to start Peterson, Brees, Megatron or Gates each week.  I really don’t see any of them showing you when to start a second/third tier guy from your bench over a normal starter.  That’s what this weekly post looks to accomplish.  I want to give you the best possible matchups to consider versus the guys you auto-start each week.   

Start
QB - Sanchez, Cutler, S. Hill
RB - Benson, Mewelde Moore, McFadden
WR - Cotchery, Hester, Knox
TE - Cooley, Miller
K - Nedney
DST - Colts

Bench
QB - Favre, Edwards, Garrard
RB - Barber, Kevin Smith, Portis
WR - Bryant, Harvin
TE - Winslow
K - Brown
DST - Saints

I like how 2 of the guys I told you to pick up last week were promptly knocked out for the season or benched.  That’s what makes Jerry Glanville’s comment about the NFL standing for Not For Long so poignant.  If the guy didn’t leave 2 tickets for Elvis at will call every game, he might have hadmore credibility.

1. Pierre Garcon WR IND - Most of us thought that Austin Collie would be the guy to step up after Gonzalez was injured.  Turns out this guy is winning over Peyton.  He’s a good pickup if you need somebody to fill some bye weeks.

2. Vernon Davis TE SF - I’m actually a little hesitant on this as he may have had a flash in the pan game or he might be breaking out.  If you need someone at TE, and you didn’t pick up Celek like I told you to last week, he may prove to be useful.

3. Mike Walker WR JAX - He’s gotten 20 targets and 12 catches in the first 3 weeks.  JAX figures to be behind most games so I think this guy is for real for the season.

4. Glen Coffee RB SF - He’s an obvious pickup for Gore’s spot now.  And he was much talked about before the season started.  I’m not as high as some but he’s possible starter until Gore gets back in your lineup.

5. Nate Burleson WR SEA - He shouldn’t be available in your leagues but if he is snatch him up.  SEA appears to be throwing from ahead or behind this year so he could be getting many looks.

8-8 last week brings my yearly total to 26-22.  I underestimated some AFC and NFC powers and that cost me last week.  If I would have gone with BAL, NE, NYG, PHI and DAL to cover, I would have had a fantastic week.  Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda.  I did not have time to pick locks for the week so I’m still 5-4 for those.  This week seems to have more big point spreads.  I think the Sunday and Monday night games could go either way.  My picks are to the left.  The locks have an *.

DET +10 @ CHI - Don’t trust the Bears yet
*OAK +9.5 @ HOU - Last time Texans won by more than 7?
CIN -5.5 @ CLE - Can’t believe I picked CIN but CLE is bad!
*IND -6.5 vs. SEA - Colts all the way to the SB?
NYG -9 @ KC - Not underestimating NYG anymore!
JAX +3 vs. TEN - Close game no matter who wins
TB +7 vs. WAS - Didn’t ’skins just beat STL by 2?
NE -2 vs. BAL - Real toss up…Going with home team
BUF -2 @ MIA - Has makings of real stinker game
NYJ +6.5 @ NO - This may be my worst pick this week
DEN +3 vs. DAL - I’m still not on Cowboys bandwagon
SF -10 vs. STL - I know this is against my theory!
*SD +6.5 @ PIT - Does PIT win by more than 4 anymore?
GB +3.5 @ MIN - Will be close; 3 or 4 either way

Ok, I got back on track with an easy BAL win last week.  This week seems to have many easy picks like NYG over KC or HOU over OAK or even CHI over DET.  All of those seem like danger zones to me.  The Giants always seem to lay an egg on the road at some point in the year when they shouldn’t (remember at Cleveland on Monday night a couple of years ago).  Houston can’t stop the run and that’s all OAK can do.  Chicago may be the worst 2-1 team and they play a DET that just got the monkey off their back.  I’m a big believer in the Colts this year.  If I could pick them every week I would.  This week I’m taking IND over SEA.