Week 6 Recap [in brackets are rankings for total fantasy points this week]: Good picks last week were the Washington Redskins [2nd], San Francisco 49ers [6th], New York Giants [7th] and the New Orleans Saints [9th]. While the teams I sat, Dallas Cowboys [17th], Kansas City Chiefs [22nd], Baltimore Ravens [16th] and Green Bay Packers [21st] were all below my “starts” last week. Overall a great week last week with my defensive picks and hopefully I can keep up the momentum for my team defense start sit week 7.
Start ‘em: Week Seven Team Defenses
Baltimore Ravens vs BUF: Coming off of a loss versus the Patriots, the Ravens defense will be ready to go when they face the Bills coming off of a bye in week 6. Another key point here is the return of safety Ed Reed to the Ravens defense; Do I think he will make a big impact on the game right away… no, but I do think his presence will increase the play of everyone around them. The Ravens have not allowed more than 20 points so far this season [New England this week], and with that formula I love this defense against the Bills this week.
New Orleans Saints vs CLE: If you take out the loss to the Falcons at home, the Saints have held teams on the road in the Superdome to an average of 12 points a game. The Saints will take care of business at home and make the Browns turnover the ball and their defense will without a doubt be in the top 10 coming next week. Whether the Browns go with McCoy, Wallace or Delhomme, the Saints will be ready for this matchup.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs STL: My formula for Sam Bradford is simple; I do not like him in back-to-back weeks. He just came out and conquered the Chargers handily. This week in Tampa, I think the Bucs defense will hurt him and show why the loss of Mark Clayton was so big for this Rams offense. I really like the Bucs D to come off of a romping by the Super Bowl champions and show up to stop the rookie quarterback. Since week two, the Bucs D has not been up to par, allowing 90 points in their last three games.
Dallas Cowboys vs NYG: This is gut check time; the Giants are one of the teams atop the NFC East, the Cowboys are at the bottom, this is the perfect situation for Dallas to step up and put a 1-4 record behind them. The Cowboys defense has been atrocious this season allowing 22.2 points a game, this week versus the Giants they may allow around that total, but I see them making Eli turnover the ball a few times and their defensive numbers will be much better than originally thought Tuesday morning.
Sit ‘em: Week Seven Team Defenses
San Diego Chargers vs NE: With Antonio Gates, Legedu Naanee and Malcolm Floyd all injured for the Chargers, their offense will not be able to hold on to the ball for enough time to not let Tom Terrific hit all the targets he will have open. San Diego’s offensive and defensive lines just got basically embarrassed by the Rams and does not bode well with the Patriots coming up in week 7. The Chargers have only allowed 23 points in home games this season, but that number is deflated because of their opponents [ARI and JAX]; The Patriots will come out with a very good gameplan and the Chargers defense will struggle.
Minnesota Vikings @ GB: It is simple, I think Favre will try to do way too much in this game, he will turnover the ball and Green Bay will put up a ton of points in this one. The Vikings defense looked pretty good at home versus the Cowboys, but that will change on Sunday Night Football in Lambeau. Since the bye week, the Vikings have given up 50 points in two games [25/a game] and I see that trend continuing when the Vikings go to Green Bay.
New York Giants @ DAL: I am starting the Cowboys defense; I am also sitting the number one defense in the NFL. The Giants are the streakiest defense in the NFL, one week they have 12 sacks against Cutler, another week they are giving up 38 points to the Colts. The Giants just played the Lions and now they will face the Cowboys in “Jerry’s World” on Monday Night Football and I promise you this, the Cowboys will put up points in this one and I am not a fan of the Giants defense this week.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ KC: Jacksonville was on Monday Night Football in week 6, they are coming off of a short week to face the Chiefs who lost to the Texans on a last second touchdown; I like the Chiefs offense to come back with vengeance in week 7. The Jaguars have allowed more than 26 points in all but one of their games this season and that will not change when Todd Haley creates a game plan to make sure he gets his Chiefs back to point scoring football. The Jags will have a lot of trouble stopping Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles in this matchup, make sure you sit the Jaguars defense in week 7.