Week 8 Predictions

My first prediction for week 8 in the NFL schedule is the Carolina Panthers over the Minnesota Vikings.  Carolina just came off of a big win over the Washington Redskins last week and Cam Newton and the Panthers are looking to keep this win streak alive.  Cam Newton has been the best rookie quarterback that the NFL has ever seen and when you throw in the sure handed Steve Smith, it can become a deadly combo.  Look for the rookie Christian Ponder to lose this matchup, as the Vikings defense will try to make up for his mistakes. Putting Newton under pressure will be the only thing to stop their offense, but containing Cam is no easy task.  The other matchup that I think you could throw all of your eggs in one basket would be the following; Buffalo, New Orleans, and San Francisco.  Buffalo is facing the slacking Redskins and should easily be able to outscore them.   New Orleans on the other hand, is facing an even worse team, the St. Louis Rams.  The Rams have been struggling all season but do have a little hope with Brandon Lloyd getting traded their and Sam Bradford finally being able to play.  The last for sure game would be the Niner’s over the Cleveland Browns.  This matchup I don’t see being a close game either with the Niner’s having their stud tight end, Fred Davis, and wide receiver, Michael Crabtree, finally healthy.  I see these previous games all being blowouts just because the track record of the teams thus far this season. 

Kansas City Rolling

            Finally the Kansas City Chiefs are starting to look like conference contenders after winning three straight.  They started off the season with three consecutive losses.  These losses on the other hand were against high-powered offensives including Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and the San Diego Chargers.  Even though the Chiefs got their first wins over the winless Minnesota Vikings and the Indianapolis Colts, their third win was against the decent Oakland Raiders team.  Their success could be credited to the great play of Matt Cassell and their number one wide out Dwayne Bowe who had a total of three touchdowns in those three games.  Cassell’s early slip-ups could be directly related to a rib injury he had suffered early in the season but ever since he over came that he has been red hot.  If everyone can stay healthy they might make a run to make the playoffs this year.  The chiefs are facing the San Diego Chargers who they previously lost to in the third game of the season but only by three points.  Expect Kansas City to be looking for revenge at their place this upcoming week.  Many teams who play at Kansas City in Arrow Head stadium tend to struggle because it is arguably the loudest stadium in the National Football League.  It also doesn’t help that Phillip Rivers has been struggling and with the noise being an issue, it can’t help his situation.  Be prepared for this to be a scrappy game with the Chiefs winning despite what the analysts are predicting.  

Three Qbies

It’s a new beginning for a few teams who are bringing in different looks at the quarterback position.  Christian Ponder, Tim Tebow, and Carson Palmer are all getting their first starts in this football season.  Ponder is a rookie quarterback who was drafted from Florida State and is looking forward to his first career start for the Minnesota Vikings.  He is a solid athlete with keen awareness on the field and could potentially turn the struggling Vikings season around.  The only downside is that his first start will be against the undefeated Green Bay Packers.  Another quarterback itching to shine is the fan favorite Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos.  He is expected to get his first start this season despite having played in a couple games already this year.  Tebow will be a great fantasy quarterback because of his ability to run the football.  Despite Denver loosing their most valuable receiver, Brandon Lloyd, look for this team to get their first win over the winless Dolphins.  The last quarterback that is expected to get his first start is veteran Carson Palmer.  Coming out of retirement, Palmer could potentially start this upcoming week.  The head coach of the Oakland Raiders has not revealed if he was going to start but Carson should be getting some playing time.  Being an experienced player, I would imagine him to pick up the offense quickly and fit right into the system.  All of these players could potentially be a great fantasy pick up so grab them early before someone else does.

Week 7 Predictions

For this week’s match-ups I expect the Kansas City Chiefs and company to keep the win streak alive.  The way that Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe have been starting to connect if the Raiders secondary can’t keep up, expect the Chiefs to be very pass happy due to the injuries in the running back position.  Another match-up that is almost a given every week is taking the Green Bay Packers and their high-powered offense.  No one has yet to be able to stop the multiple receivers and the accurate arm of Aaron Rodgers.  The only light at the end of the tunnel is the Minnesota Vikings new quarterback Christian Ponder.  He could possibly be able to bring something to the Vikings that could bring the whole team together and get their first win.  The other team that I expect their player to put up huge numbers would be the New Orleans Saints.  Since they are playing the Indianapolis Colts who are arguably the worst team in the NFL I don’t see them having a chance.  Drew Brees should be able to pass all over the Colts secondary and expect multiple Saints receivers to benefit from it.  Especially look for the double threat play of their tight-end Jimmy Graham who has been one of the most reliable tight ends thus far this season.  The last match-up I would pick the Detroit Lions to fall against the Atlanta Falcons.  Due to the fact that it is very rare for a team to go undefeated, I see Matt Ryan and the Falcons the ones to give them their first loss. 

Watch List

With Felix Jones out due to a high ankle sprain and Tashard Choice also sidelined, Demarco Murray is next inline to carry the football.  This explosive rookie could potentially put up decent fantasy numbers considering he will be carrying most of the Cowboys workload.  If he shines this week against the weak defensive St. Louis Rams, he could lock in that starting position.  Another young player who has been on the verge of greatness is Darrius Heyward-Bey.  DHB, as he goes by, has been targeted the most out of any receiver on the Raiders roster.  Oakland picking up quarterback Carson Palmer will only increase the production of this wide receiver.  If he has flown under the radar in your fantasy league, it would be wise to pick this one up or even take a risk and make a trade for him.  I wouldn’t give up a top receiver on your team but if you can work a deal in your favorite I would make it happen.  The last on my watch list for this week is Antonio Brown for the Pittsburg Steelers.  This wide receiver has been steadily been seeing the ball and as the season has continued expect Big Ben to respect this young player more and more.  Brown could also be a great pick up especially because of the strength of the Steelers team.  Another positive for this player is the weakness of the Steelers schedule come playoff time.  They are hosting two of the three playoff games, depending on your leagues schedule, against the Cleveland Browns and the struggling St. Louis Rams.  

Week 6 Predictions

Sticking with the trend of the “Dream Team” Philadelphia Eagles, I’m expecting a huge win from this team.  They are playing the Washington Redskins who do have a deadly one two combo of Rex Grossman to Santana Moss which doesn’t match up against the multiple combos the Eagles have.  If there is one thing I’m sure about, it that the Eagles players are coming out in week 6 with vengeance and to shut the mouths of the critics.  The next prediction I have is that Cam Newton will continue to produce and upset the Atlanta Falcons.  Both of these teams have proved they can play, but I guarantee that the Panthers are watching the tape of when the Packers just exposed the Falcons’ weaknesses just in last week’s game.  One other prediction is that the Buffalo Bills will also continue their hot steak they have going.  Facing a vulnerable New York Giants defense expect the Bills to take advantage.  Also with one of the Bills receivers out, look for Fred Jackson to have a huge game on the ground.  My last prediction for week 6 is that the New England Patriots will host a blow out, as Tom Brady will scorch the Dallas defense on their home field.  The Patriots still cringing over that loss against the Buffalo Bills and they are going to leave everything out on the field despite how good or bad their opponents are.  Also with so many offensive weapons for Brady to choose from, I don’t see Dallas even coming close in this one.

Dream Team?

The Philadelphia Eagles definitely are not the team that we were expecting at the beginning of the 2011 season.  They were projected to be amongst the best teams in the NFL with weapons like, Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, and Jeremy Maclin.  These players along with their solid defense were said to be the “Dream Team.”  Obviously not playing up to their nickname, are they as bad as what their record states?  When watching the electric Vick play, he seems to show glimpses of greatness then is struck with a string of unfortunate events.  His four interceptions last week were not all that bad on his part but more of the receiver tipping the ball into the hands of the defense.  Also LeSean McCoy has been producing from week to week despite whom he is playing.  Sure, the Eagles only win was against the St. Louis Rams who are arguable the worst team in the NFL; I expect them to gel together sometime soon.  When you have that many good players on one team together, who have a track record of winning games together, its only a matter of time before they start winning games.  Remember this is an even better team than the one last year that made it to the playoffs because Michael Vick came in and did what he did best, and that was make plays.  They eventually lost in the first round to the future Super Bowl champions and are hungry to make it back again.  

Trading for the Future

Many team owners trade while looking for the immediate improvement of their team but most of the time it is not always the best option.  Besides making sure you have the upper hand in any trade or at least you are making an even trade there are some important things to know.  One, just because a player hasn’t been performing the way that you expected, never short suite yourself and count him out early.  If you trade a star player too early you are likely to be hurting in the long run because often times the player or players that you will get for them will be far less what your player was actually worth.  Players often go through slumps or down weeks, which can depend on their matchups, but will often times come out of it and produce when you need them most.  My second point is offering what seems to be a lopsided in your opponents favor.  Most of your opponents will be too greedy to take advantage of what certain players might produce during your leagues playoffs.  If you can offer a trade to an opponent where you give up a player that has been playing unexpectedly good for one that has been underplaying their potential and has an easy road during the playoffs I highly recommend doing it.  The sooner that you can do this the better off you will be.  Sure you may lose a game or two more during the regular season, but if you can make it to the playoffs you will reap the benefits.

By Weeks Coming Up

This upcoming week is the first week that teams have an off week.  This means it is crucial to check your team from week to week to make sure you get your team set up correctly.  The mid-season by weeks can throw many people off guard and in a panic when deciding whom to play.  The best way to prepare for when your players have an off week, is do put in the research in advance.  Some things to look at include what by weeks each player has and make sure you have a backup for every starter on your team.  Make sure your backup players don’t also have the same off week as your starters.  Another thing to make sure is if any possible trades or acquisitions from other teams in your league didn’t require them to drop a potentially good player.  This happens more often than you think because most people when drafting their teams don’t necessarily pay attention to these key details.  Not properly setting up your team can also upset some people in your league depending on how competitive your fantasy league is.  For instance, if your fantasy team has a lot of players on by weeks and you forget to set your team, you basically give your opponent a free win.  This could be huge if he needs that one extra win later on in the season just to make the play-off, which prevents another team from entering it.  Long story short, make sure to set your team properly because it not only benefits you but the entire competitiveness of the league.  

Week 5 Predictions

With only four weeks of football behind us, it still may be unclear of what some of the teams are made of.  My week 5 predictions will start of with the surprisingly good Buffalo Bills.  They are hosting a home game against the Philadelphia Eagles next.  Lately the Eagles have been struggling the past three weeks and just can’t seem to pull it together.  On the other hand the Bills seem to be playing with nothing to lose and in fact have only lost one game thus far.  Look for a possibly struggling Vick and company, while the Bills run over the Eagles with their veteran running back Fred Jackson.  Kansas City verse the Indianapolis Colts is pretty even match-up between the two struggling teams in the NFL.  They are not doing so well mainly because each of them lost their key pivotal player earlier this season.  With a shaky rookie quarterback, look for the Colts to struggle against Matt Cassel and their deep threat Dwayne Bowe.  The last question is will both NFC division teams remain undefeated against their tough opponents this week.  Green Bay is facing the young and talented Atlanta Falcons in the peach state but I don’t see any team stopping the high-powered offense of the Packers.  Look for another possible big week from Aaron Rodgers and his multiple weapons.  Detroit on the other hand is playing a Chicago Bears team that is hungry for a win and has a record that hasn’t shown what this team is capable of.  Expect this game to come down to home field advantage, and if the Bears have what it takes to cover the Megatron, Calvin Johnson.

Never Give Up

Are you having a slow start this year in your fantasy league?  If so, don’t get down on your self and quit.  Various reasons why some people may be struggling with their team are mainly because of injuries, lack of performance, and unlucky match-ups during the week.  Most players that become injured will often return and when they do, they can produce just has you had expected.  The most common injury this season would have to be a strained hamstring.  My reasoning for this is that it is related to the possible lockout situation in the off-season.  Many players didn’t do the optional practices and offseason workouts, which could be the reason why these injuries seem to be so common.  Luckily it is not that serious of an injury to happen and you should be able to bounce back when you get your key player back in your lineup.  Another key factor is not necessarily your win-loss ratio but the points you are putting up each week.  If you are somewhere in the middle of the pack but your record isn’t showing it, don’t panic just yet.  You may have been subject to harder matchups earlier in the season.  Your chance will come to play the weaker teams in your league to help level out your standings.  What ever you do just don’t give up because it could cause an unfair advantage for everyone else in your league.  It’s not fair to them and plus, everyone looks bad when they quit something.

Packers Repeat?

The Green Bay Packers came into this season off of a huge Super Bowl win.  Coming into the playoffs many questioned their ability to even have a chance to make the playoffs.  Not only did they beat a very good New York Giants team, but they also beat the hyped up defense of the Chicago Bears just to have a chance at the title.  So coming into the 2011 season many were still skeptical about the validity of their Super Bowl win, but after these first four weeks I think everyone has been watching just what kind of team the Packers thought they were.  It’s not the case at all that the Packers are undefeated due to a lack of competition in the first four weeks.  In fact, they have had one of the toughest schedules thus far this season.  Which is what makes what the quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, is doing that more impressive.  In his last game, he put his name at the top of NFL fantasy football performances of all time.  He recorded over 400 passing yards, 4 passing touchdowns, 2 rushing touchdowns, and recorded almost 50 fantasy points regardless of what league you are in.  Part of his success is due to the fact that he has so many weapons to throw to and a very good offensive line.  If Aaron Rodgers can continue his success throughout this season look for this very talented Green Bay Packers team to possibly repeat and bring back the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay, again.

Overrated?

As the Detroit Lions remain one of the only two undefeated teams in the NFL are they as good as their record shows?  After being down at half in their last two games for a combined total of 40-3, they have over come the deficit and came back to get the victory.  Is this a result of the competition slipping or the Detroit Lions over coming great odds because of their skill set?  Without question they have one of the best wide receivers in the game, Calvin Johnson, who has scored a NFL record 8 touchdowns in the first four weeks of the season.  It seems it doesn’t matter if he is double covered or even triple covered, Johnson finds a way to make the catch.  Some may consider it luck, but either way he is making Mathew Stafford seem like a pro-bowl quarterback. Detroit has also stepped up on the defense end of things and has the third best defense thus far, as fantasy points are concerned.  Overall they are looking like a top contender and one of the best all around teams in the league.  Despite the Lions having an awful track record in the past, they seem to be sending a message to the skeptics who doubted their talents.  With seven more home games left in the regular season, this leaves plenty of time for the Detroit Lions to prove to their home team why they are all of a sudden in the top echelon of the teams in the National Football League.