Game 1: Team Kanne @ Turn Down For Watt Three difference makers: Colin Kaepernick (Steve) – The Niners have an excellent chance to toast an abysmal defense in Dallas, and I think, though Kaep is streaky and mistake-prone, he also has the ability to dominate games. I see Kaep posting 22+ points. Adrian Peterson (Steve) – Though I love Peterson as much as anyone, I think he’ll fall quite a bit short of the 22.6 point projection. St. Louis boasts the league’s best defensive line, and their linebacker corps is no joke either. Peterson may get his 100 yards and a TD, but he won’t get 22 points, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him post an 80 yard, no TD game. Rob Gronkowski (Andrew) – In his first game back from injury, Gronk will need to prove that he belongs with Jimmy Graham as the only two truly elite TEs in football. On top of that motivation, he’s going against a Dolphins defense that is more than weak at defending TEs. For a guy with 42 TDs in 50 career games, Gronk is always a threat to post a multiple-TD game. ESPN projection: Steve (117) over Andrew (114) My projection: Both teams have major contributors that are going against some stiff defenses. Low scoring match with Gronkowski pushing me past Kaep’s explosion. Andrew (106) over Steve (98) Game 2: #Omaha! @ 302 Cadets Three difference makers: CJ Spiller (Hayden) – Hayden’s only chance this week is to absolutely dominate at the flex position (and RB2), as Derek’s team looks pretty solid in terms of matchups. If Spiller can go nuts against the Bears, which everyone else seemed to do last year, he could make up some huge ground compared with Derek’s Donnie Avery play. Drew Brees (Derek) – Brees is facing the Falcons, a hated rival and the 29th ranked passing defense. Though it’s in Atlanta, the Falcons are coming off a terrible season, and I think Brees has the firepower to put up some big points. The ESPN projection of 25 seems doable, at least. Jamaal Charles (Derek) – Charles has the benefit of an excellent matchup, facing off against the 29th ranked Titans. Amazingly, he’s also projected for 25 points, and though I don’t think he’ll quite get there, I think there’s little chance he dips below 20. I’d guess 2 TDs, 80 yards rushing, and 35 yards receiving. ESPN projection: 302 Cadets over #Omaha!, 138 to 112 My projection: I don’t see Avery or Ridley contributing much, but Derek will survive. Hayden’s team is good but can’t keep up. Derek (122) over Hayden (118) Game 3: The Jim Irsay Affliction Tees @ Elementary, my dear Watkins Three difference makers: Wes Welker (Dan) – The play of Welker is simply unpredictable at this time. Peyton is so adept at making his WRs valuable, but it’s tough to know the level of health that Welker is at. If he’s good to go, then he’s an easy play and will do pretty well against Indy. If not, Evan could open up a 10+ point advantage here. Frank Gore (Evan) – Evan has Frank Gore and Michael Crabtree going against Dallas this week, both of which will likely contribute well. This week is important though, as we’ll get a look at Gore’s workload. Is this the year that Gore finally slows down? Is Harbaugh going to phase him out of the offense? Doug Martin (Dan) – Martin is slotted in as Dan’s flex play this week, squaring off against Crabtree. I think Crabtree will end up with a TD, so it’s important for Dan that he has good production from Martin. Even though he’s squaring off against the vaunted Panthers defense, I think the ESPN projection of 7.8 points is weak. I don’t think he’ll keep up with Crabtree’s 14+ points, but I could see 11. If he lays an egg though, Evan will win this week, mark my words. ESPN projection: Evan (123) over Dan (114) My projection: I think Wes ends up having a big day, along with Marshawn Lynch, and those two pull off the upset for Daniel. Closest match of the week, and Andre Ellington’s 2 TDs on Monday night seal the deal. Dan (122) over Evan (120) Game 4: Littlefinger – TheEntrepreneur @ Hakuna Ngata Three difference makers: Matthew Stafford (Gentry) – Stafford has the dubious honor to face off with Chris’ Aaron Rodgers in the first fantasy matchup, but Rodgers is going against Seattle. Gentry can have a mediocre day from Stafford and possibly still stay ahead of Chris’ QB production. Unfortunately, I think Stafford is a victim of the Giant’s stellar secondary, with their new acquisitions of DRC and Walter Thurmond III. Stafford has the opportunity to give Gentry a big boost, but I don’t think he gets it done. Emmanuel Sanders (Chris) – What role is Sanders going to play in Denver? As I noted in Wes Welker’s writeup, Sanders is equally important. If Sanders is plugged in as Peyton’s #2, he’ll no doubt be fantasy relevant. I personally think Sanders gets the nod eventually, but not this week. Giovanni Bernard (Gentry) – As I extensively noted in the Draft in Review, I am not jumping on the Gio hype train. I think his carries are going to be limited, and even though he will make the most of his touches, his projection of 17 seems too high for my taste. On top of that, he’s facing the Ravens. These aren’t the Ravens of old, but they’re still stingy against the run. I see 12 points here, which will still be better than Chris’ counterpart, Trent Richardson. ESPN projection: Gentry (112) over Chris (108) My projection: After disappointing showings from the 49ers, Jordan Cameron, Chris Johnson, Gio, and Stafford, Gentry loses despite having a superior team. The matchups are not in his favor this week. Chris (106) over Gentry (99) Game 5: the mullynation @ Team Spence Three difference makers: Andrew Luck ( Allyssa) – Luck is facing Peyton Manning in week 1. That’s bad news for Luck, but excellent news for Allyssa. I think Peyton is going to put on a clinic, and Luck will be playing catch-up. I would bet handily that he beats his projection of 18, despite a pretty solid defense in Denver. Jimmy Graham ( Allyssa) – I have a feeling I’m going to be picking Graham in many weeks this season. He’s such an elite weapon, and given relatively pedestrian numbers at the TE position (like Alex’s Dennis Pitta), this gives Allyssa an enormous advantage each week. Facing off against the weak Falcons in a critical divisional matchup is just icing on the cake. I don’t think he’ll get 21, but 18 is still going to help a lot. LeSean McCoy (Alex) – How could I not pick the guy projected for 27 points? Clearly ESPN sees a somewhat-ridiculously monster day for McCoy, which skews the overall projection. While I do think McCoy gets a TD, but it’s just the one. The Jaguars have a new-look defense that has been inspired by Gus Bradley’s history in Seattle. I see the Jaguars losing a close game, with McCoy having a tidy 19 points. Not quite 27, but hey. ESPN projection: Allyssa (125) over Alex (124) My projection: I think Luck’s big day, combined with a little too much enthusiasm for Shady McCoy, will turn this into a wider gap than expected. Allyssa (118) over Alex (109)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
By: Hayden HansonMr. Hayden Hanson (Editor in Chief) is an Accountant-extraordinaire, as well as an aspiring writer. He has written several moderately-successful self-help books, the most famous of which is "What Do You Mean You Can Smell My BO?" Gustav Travers of the New York Times praised the book as "A vulnerable, courageous look into the mind of a man who has literally no sense that other people exist. And also no sense of smell. Nope, he definitely doesn't have that either. Just musk, like a hog that's gotten into the cabbage." Archives
September 2019
Categories |