LB Brandon Chillar brings down Matt Forte
The Carolina Defense is supposed to be better than the 38 points the Eagles laid on them last week. Their biggest flaw against the opposition last season was surrendering points to opposing tight end. Look for a good game from Tony Gonzalez for the second consecutive week. Philly is a solid team, but the Falcons are no slouch offensively. Michael Turner looked like crap in week 1 against Miami, but last season he laid a 117 yard, 4 TD game on the Panthers in November. Turner won't do that against their defense this week, but until they show they can stop a decent team, I'd bench them. The way QB Jake Delhomme is handling the offense, the Falcons defense should be able to focus primarily on stopping the run. I don't expect much offense from Carolina this week. That said, the 2008 Falcons defense was among the top 10 worst teams in allowing fantasy points to opposing QBs, RBs, and TEs. Carolina has a lousy QB and TE situation, so DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart could be in for big games.
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Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions |
24-19
Say it ain't so, Ocho. Number 85 is already proclaiming he will score against the new 3-4 Green Bay defense. I think he'll have 8 receptions and 92 yards, but it will be Laveranues Coles who find the endzone and makes up for his 3 drops in week 1. Last week the Bengals defense looked great against the Denver Broncos. It will take much more to slow down young gun Packer QB Aaron Rodgers this week, so I would not recommend them. Green Bay's defense looks great under Dom Caper's renovation. They were the 6th best fantasy defense in week 1 and I think they'll be top 3 this week. I think they will do a good job of limiting the Bengals all day, nipping the cats for a win.
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Arizona Cardinals at Jacksonville Jaguars |
24-17
The only thing for certain about this game is that neither defense is worth playing. The raiders showed they can play better than expected on offense and so did Kansas City. The downside is both their defenses suck. Oakland's defense is however improved with Greg Ellis and Richard Seymour up front. Both looked great in Week 1. I think this could be a shoot out, and once again the Chiefs will be on the losing end.
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New England Patriots at New York Jets |
27-23
The Eagles were the top scoring fantasy defense in week one, but there is simply too much firepower on the saints to expect that this week. DeSean Jackson is not likely to run for a special teams TD. Unless an eagles defender picks off Drew Brees, there's not much hope for serious points this week. On the flipside, if the Saints couldn't hold down the Lions offense, what chance do they have to stymie the Eagles, even without Donovan McNabb? I think they'll go in the red on defense in week 2.
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Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans |
17-10
The Rams went into Seattle and got their horns cut. The only highlight of the game was rookie linebacker James Laurinaitis. He looks like this season's Jerod Mayo. Meanwhile the Redskins played the Giant's tough all game. I expect St. Louis to actually score this week but they won't be able to get past the improved Washington defense with Albert Haynesworth upfront.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills |
27-23
After a slow and shaky start in Week one, the Seahawks shut down the St. Louis Rams. I'm not sure that's saying very much, but they were the only defense to force a goose-egg on their opponent. One might think the 49ers are similar enough to the Rams to going quietly too, but we saw what their defense did to another high flying big pass team in the Arizona Cardinals. I don't think the 49ers will steal a win this week, but they won't lay down like the Rams did.
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Pittsburgh Steelers at Chicago Bears |
16-10
Who would have expected last week's defensive showdown in between the broncos defense and that of the Bengals? This week could very well be almost identical. Of course that's when both team's will break out and combine for 80 points. I think both offenses will get back on track this week, and I think the Browns defense is a marginal play, and despite last week's success, I would pass on the Denver D this week.
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Baltimore Ravens at San Diego Chargers |
27-18
The Cowboys and the Giants always make for interesting games. They split their two meetings last season, and 2007's season opener was a shoot out. The Giant's defense is a terror in 2009, while the Dallas defense is still shaping up. I think this could be another high-scoring game, so the Giant's D is a marginal play this week, and I'd pass on using the Cowboys.
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Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins |
The Miami Dolphins had four turnovers against the Atlanta Falcons last week, which did not help their cause. I certainly expected them to put up more of a fight, but in the end they couldn’t FINish. (I couldn’t resist). This week they get to face the Indianapolis Colts for their first Monday Night Football game in Miami since Christmas day, 2006. The Dolphins managed to shut down RB Michael Turner, so I don't expect much in the Colts running game, which means Peyton Manning will have to air it out, and he'll be having fish for dinner. The Indianapolis defense is better than it seems and I think they'll keep the Dolphins from doing much offensively.
