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Football - EFS
San Diego @ Buffalo
San Diego Offense (JG)
The Chargers should try and establish the run attack early in this contest with the Bills. The Bolts and Phillip Rivers
have been very good with their passing game and get Chris Chambers back this week but that plays right into the
strength of the Buffalo defense. The Bills have been #1 on third downs and have only 9 passes completed against
them of over 20 yards. The run defense has been a lot more yielding. I would look for the Tomlinson to get more
touches this week and create a lot more success for the Chargers running game. The Bolts have many weapons
they can use and getting the run established will go a long way towards loosening up that Bills pass D. Rivers has
the pass game clicking, ranking 1st in yards per pass attempt(9.0), 1st in touchdown passes(14) and 1st in plays
of over 40 yards(9). They present a quality on offense that the Bills have not yet seen this season.
San Diego Defense (JG)
A drop in the overall play of this unit was to be expected with the loss of Merriman but know one could have seen
an almost total melt down of this unit. They played a bit better against the Pats but that score was a bit lopsided
early and made the Pats one dimensional, allowing the pass rush to just pin their ears back and attack Cassel.
Trent Edwards returns this week from a concussion and he has all of his offensive mates available. Edwards had
played well in the first four games but hasn't really played a quality team as of yet. He was decked early in the
contest with the Cards. The Charger secondary has been a joke, ranking 31st in the league and allowing 4.4 yards
per carry isn't much better. The shining light has been the +/-, they are a +4 and they get a Bills team that is -3.
They will have to force Edwards into a couple of mistakes if they hope to keep the Bills out of the endzone.
SD Special Teams (JG)
Their kicking game is in great hands with Kaeding and Scifres, both top performers at their perspective positions.
Darren Sproles in a dynamo on returns, can really change the fortunes of the Chargers in a heartbeat. Their punt
coverage has been very good and their kick coverage has been less than the league average. The will be put to the
test this week against a notoriously good Buffalo special teams group.
SD Fantasy Spin (JG)
Tomlinson returns to form this week and Antonio Gates has one of his dominant performances of the young season.
Mr. Rivers is an automatic at this point. Sproles is a sleeper in this game. I see a +15 performance. If you have a
Chargers linebacker, he should be played especially Tucker and Phillips. I see a +20 from Jammer. Corners have
faired well against the Bills this year.
Prediction (JG)
This will be a wild one!!!
San Diego - 38
Buffalo - 28
Buffalo Bills (TC)
Buffalo Offense
QB Trent Edwards returns this week after Bye week to recover from a concussion. The Bills short passing game should be successful against the Chargers since the Bolts have had trouble defending those passes this season. RB Marshawn Lynch is the main man for Buffalo although Fred Jackson will spell him intermittently. Jackson is especially dangerous on passes. WR Hardy has joined Lee Evans in the starting lineup. WR R Parrish is probably stil out of this game. The Bills are still searching for a TE who can dominate. Their OL is unsung, improving each game.
Bills Special Teams
PK Rian Lindell has always been a very good PK from distance and is getting more opportunities this season.
Bills Defense
DE A Schobel is battling injuries and probably won't play this weekend. DE R Denney will take his place. The LB corps is a plus for this team-with Posluszny in the middle. The defensive backfield is rapidly becoming an asset as the DB's mature-especially Whitner at Safety.
Buffalo Fantasy Spin
To win this game the Bills must pressure Rivers and stop Tomlinson. With their injuries on Defense that will be difficult. On offense, start QB T Edwards if you need him to cover this BYE week. RB Lynch is a very good RB2. WR Evans is a must start, and the Bills OL is a good choice at OL5. On Defense, start LB Posluszny and DB Whitner.
Prediction:
SanDiego 27
Buffalo 24
New Orleans @ Carolina
New Orleans Offense (JG)
Reggie Bush is questionable but the Saints get Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey back in the lineup. The loss of Bush would be more of a loss to the pass attack than it would be to the running game. The Saints are already a one dimensional team and that will not suddenly change this week. Carolina currently has the 3rd ranked defense and have been outstanding against the pass, ranking 2nd in the NFL. The Brees lead Saints present matchup nightmares all over the field with their combination of speed and size. The last time the Panthers faced a quality passing attack was against the Chargers in week #1 and Rivers threw for 217 yards and 3 touchdowns. Brees will dwarf those numbers this week and stay on pace to defeat the all time season yardage record.
New Orleans Defense (JG)
Considering how many passes have been attempted against them(36.5 per game), I would have to say that the Saints
secondary has played very well this year. They have given up the most pass plays of over twenty yards(21) in the league and Carolina has been able to produce 18 such plays themselves. Carolina has more than enough weapons with Smith
and Muhammad to keep breaking off those big plays against the Saints. The defensive line has brought quite a bit of
pressure with 13 sacks so they figure to keep Delhomme uncomfortable in the pocket. Delhomme has been protected
well and will have to rely on a consistent run game to help buy him time and keep Will Smith and Charles Grant honest.
The linebackers will have to be stout because the run defense has been a weakness. They should get a big dose of
rookie Johnathan Stewart.
New Orleans Special Teams (JG)
Saints kickers are questionable at their best. Punter Steve Weatherford and newcomer, kicker Taylor Melhaff are one of
the weakest kicker combos in the league. Pierre Thomas is a reliable kick returner but with Reggie Bush questionable
their punt return squad takes a big hit. Aaron Stecker is a good player but he is not Bush. Their coverage units will have to be average because that is exactly what the Panther returner are, average.
NO Fantasy Spin (JG)
Drew Brees is on fire and Colston returns, both should be played. Shockey will not have as much impact his 1st week
back. As always, start your Saints offensive line. Deuce McAllister will get many more touches this week and would
be a nice 2nd option. Defensively I would play Roman Harper, Randal Gay and Scott Fujita. Safeties have made a ton
of tackles against the Panthers this year. Grant and Smith will only get into the action if the Saints have a big lead.
Prediction (JG)
New Orleans - 27
Carolina - 26
Carolina Panthers (TC)
Carolina Offense
QB Jake Delhomme has not been impressive the past few weeks. For this team to make the Playoffs he has to improve and quickly. The RBBC of D Williams and J Stewart is usually successful but this week will be a good opportunity. Delhomme needs to find his WR more often-particularly Steve Smith. TE Rosario had a big Week 1 but has been very quiet ever since. OC Kalil is injured and not likely to play, that may hinder the run game.
Carolina Special Teams
PK John Kasay is again proving to be a very good PK, even at his age.
Carolina Defense
This defense used to be know for putting pressure on the QB but the demise of DE J Peppers has led to the entire pass rush floundering. That will have to change in this game against D Brees or the Saints will run away with this game. LB J Beason is already a Top 10 LB; he is off to a great start. The defensive backfield has underperformed, especially when it comes to generating turnovers. So key to this game is pressure on Brees and generating turnovers.
Panthers Fantasy Slant
Either one of the Panther RB's are probably worthy of RB2 this week. WR S Smith is a must start, WR Muhammad may be a WR3 if needed. The OL is also a good start. On defense, MLB Beason is a LB1, DB C Harris has disappointed but this may be a breakout opportunity for him. Peppers is a DL3-4 at best.
Prediction:
NewOrleand 33
Carolina 21
Indianapolis @ Green Bay
Indianapolis Offense (JG)
These teams are carbon copies to this point of the year. Indy is 17th in total offense, Packers are 14th. They both
average 5.4 yards per play and come into this game at +4 in turnovers. There are many other areas where they
mirror each other. The both should get excellent output on the opponents defense this week. Green Bay is high
scoring(26.7) so the Colts will have to improve on their 31st rank of time of possession and tune up their run game
against a terrible Packers run defense. This will probably have to achieved with Dominic Rhodes with Joseph Addai
currently nursing a hamstring injury. Regardless of who plays they will have to improve upon the 69.4 yards they have
been averaging. The Colts will have a full arsenal at receiver and will be looking to shred a shorthanded Green Bay
secondary. Atari Bigbt may return and that would definitely be a boost but he doesn't change this game very much.
Indianapolis Defense (JG)
Like I said earlier, carbon copies. Total defense has Indy at 334.4 and Green Bay at 332.2. Passing yardage allowed
Indy(173.4) and GB(178.8) but the Colts have only allowed 1 passing touchdown and will make things extremely
difficult for Aaron Rodgers in the redzone. The Colts will have to be great on 3rd downs and that may be difficult
because Green Bay converts at a rate of 43% and their opponents are completing 67% of their passes. Having
to cover Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and a semi healthy James Jones will be an assignment that the Colts are
not quite ready for yet. The real key to this game will be Ryan Grant and if he can go off against the horrid run
defense that Indy trots out their every week. If Grant looks good on Sunday the Colts will go home with a 3-3
record.
Indianapolis Special Teams (JG)
Vinatieri has missed a couple of kicks this year but he is still the best clutch kicker in the history of the game
and Hunter Smith is an outstanding punter. Most weeks the Colts have a upper hand in the kicking game.
Their returners are serviceable at best unless Dominic Rhodes gets in on the action but they probably will stay
away from him with Addai questionable. Justin Forsett and Pierre Garcon are listed as their returners. WHO?
Indy Fantasy Spin (JG)
Dallas Clark will be a great play this week. Packers have surrendered touchdowns to TE's in the last three games.
Gary Brackett will continue racking up the tackles and linebacking mate Keiaho should be locating the football
frequently on Sunday. I like CB Marlin Jackson in this matchup, possible 20 point week. Freeney may be limited
but will still play. He returns to form this week with at least one sack.
Prediction (JG)
Indianapolis - 24
Green Bay - 31
Green Bay Packers (TC)
Green Bay Offense
QB A Rodgers is fighting through a shoulder injury, trying to get to the Bye week next week without aggravating it. So far his season has been better than predicted. But he needs the running game, especially RB R Grant, to begin to be productive. This game is a good matchup for Grant. WR's G Jennings and D Driver have good matchups against the Colts too. TE D Lee has been quiet so far this year, this may not be a good game for him. The OL will have its hands full with Freeney and Mathis- Rodgers needs to unload early and not hold onto the ball.
Packers Special Teams
PK Crosby has quickly established himself as an excellent PK. PN Frost has started slowly and is lucky to have a job.
Packers Defense
Injuries have hit this group hard, especially the DL- C Jenkins is on IR, R Pickett is out this game and they have multiple injuries at LB and CB/S. So this does not bode well for stopping the Colts.
Packers Fantasy Slant
On Offense start any of these: QB Rodgers, RB Grant, WR Jennings and D Driver (WR3-4). The OL is also a good start. On Defense, start DE Kampman, CB T Williams and S Collins.
Prediction:
Indianapolis 30
GreenBay 28
EFSports Fantasy Football
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