1:00pm
Cincinnati at Baltimore
The Ravens come into this after losing at New England in a game they felt they were robbed in. That’s not good news for the Bengals or for a general temperament. The Ravens are already the most overtly enraged be begin with and I don’t see that being the most thrilling news for the upstart Bungels. Think the Ravens lay a beat down at home and try to embarrass Cincinnati to show they should be 5-0 following the loss to the Pats. If you have Joe Flacco, Derrick Mason, Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, or the Ravens’ Defense get them in the lineup unless you have a terrific team. It’s possible that you may have a better match up at quarterback but the others need to be in there. The Bengals have appeared to playing good defense having only relinquished 19 points a game, 9th in the NFL, but they rank 16th in total defense and have squared off against the kind of offense the Ravens are playing right now, 3rd in football. But the number one reason this game is a blow out is because of one reason: The Ravens are always going to have the ball. When Cincinnati has been effective on offense this year it’s been when they been able to pound Cedric Benson. The Bengals rank only 21st in the NFL in total offense but are the 10th best rushing team; if there’s one thing the Ravens defense does, it’s stopping the run. Baltimore is number one against the run and will force Carson Palmer to make bad decisions all day long. I hate almost all Bengals in this one: Palmer, Benson, Coles and Henry should be riding the pine for your team. Ochocinco doesn’t have the plague, PLAGUED!!, like the rest of the Bengals but he’s not a top tier option. Mark Clayton may be a nice sleeper if you need some help, he’s only has eight career 100 yard games and four have come against the Bengals.
Picks:
Mayo: Baltimore (-8.5)
Anderson: Cincinnati (+8.5)
Cleveland at Buffalo
The Browns travel to Ralph Wilson this week as they have won the right to face the Bills in the Denny’s© Medicority Bowl. Both teams rank in the bottom third on both sides of the ball and generally just look pretty terrible. Luckily for fantasy players, it doesn’t matter. The Browns looked like they had a bit of life on offense last week as Derek Anderson took over at quarterback and seemed to have a 2nd team connection with rookie and new number one wideout Muhammad Massaquoi, 8 catches for 148 yards. Anderson could be a nice sleeper this week if you really need a QB, ditto for Massaquoi. It now looks like Jamal Lewis will be playing but I still like Jerome Harrison to have a big day, much like he did against the Bills in 2008, 4 touches 101 yards and TD. Jamal Lewis is a sit, as is the newly acquired Chanci Stuckey. If you have TO should you start him? You should have better options but if you have him, you wasted the a high pick on him, so you’ll want to play him. He has a great match up but this can really be a breaking point for Owens’ owners everywhere. I have a feeling that Owens is going to have a vintage Joey Galloway season, three or four huge games and the rest with one catch. Play him at your own risk. Trent Edwards should have a game of ebbs and flows. He’ll throw enough picks to keep Cleveland in the game. If the Bills want to win they’ll need to pound Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch, both who could be decent plays if you need them. As crazy as it sounds the defenses could be effective here; they’ll both give up points but could just as easily grab some picks or punts and take them back to the house. This game is coming down to the wire and so I’m taking the points.
Picks:
Mayo: Cleveland (+6)
Anderson: Buffalo (-6)
Washington at Carolina
Coming out the bye at 0-3 shouldn’t sit well for the Panthers especially when they see the horrendous Redskins sitting at 2-2. The Redskins have been very fortunate this year; their opponents have been a combined 0-9 at the time of the game, 0-0 Giants, 0-1 Rams, 0-2 Lions, 0-3 Bucs. Panthers 0-3. Carolina needs to make a statement in this one and I think they do it. This should be their rebound week as they expose the turnover happy Redskins. Smith and Williams are must starts this week while Jonathan Stewart needs to regain our trust a little, so bench him until that happens. I have their defense as a sleeper although they are last in fantasy in points with 13 through three games. Why you may ask? Well, the Redskins have been pretty awful, plain and simple. Don’t start Jason Campbell, not even in Jason only leagues. I don’t trust Portis at all right now and I think we’ll start to see more and more of Ledell Betts each week. Santana Moss has been good the last two weeks and could keep it going, he’s always prone to not show up from time to time. Chris Cooley is a top 5 option at tight end this year so there’s really never a time to sit him.
Picks:
Mayo: Panthers (-3.5)
Anderson: Panthers (-3.5)
Pittsburgh at Detroit
Calvin Johnson is now questionable with a bad hamstring so check his availability before the game. Megatron is probably too much of a stud to bench but I really don’t like this one for him, especially if Culpepper is throwing to him, which looks more likely everyday. Kevin Smith could be effective because he seems to get 100% of the goal line touches but how often are the Lions going to be on the goal line in this one? Smith would be better served in a PPR league where he could be relied on to catch passes all day. Willie Parker is looking like he’ll sit again which is great news for those of you who snapped up Rashard Mendenhall from the waiver wire. Mendenhall could receive the bulk of the carries against the pitiful Detroit defense and turn that into big yards and a score. Start the rest of your Steelers: The Berg, Ward, and Holmes. If you need some bye week fillers, take a chance on Mewelde Moore or Heath Miller as everyone is bound to get in on the action.
Picks:
Mayo: Steelers (-10.5)
Anderson: Steelers (10.5)
Dallas at Kansas City
The Cowboys hit the road for their second consecutive AFC West road game in a row. I have a gut feeling that Chiefs show up and make this one close, which is troubling because it just doesn’t seem right. The Cowboys haven’t impressed anyone and limp into this match up at 2-2. They will be without Roy Williams, which is debatable if that’s a bad thing or not, and Felix Jones. Marian the Barbarian will play, he is still gimped up. You start MB3 and hope for the best as the match up is too good to pass up. Romo should be ok here, as should Witten. It’s pretty hard to trust the any of the receivers for Dallas, it’s far too hard to figure out from week to week. On the other side of the ball I actually like Matt Cassel to be reasonable effective, same with Bowe. Sean Ryan has two TDs this year and could get into the action a bit. Larry Johnson is the usual sit. He’ll get his red zone carries but by God he won’t make it across that goal line, sit him. I like the Chiefs to stay in this one and 8.5 points is too much to get at home, I’m rolling with the Chiefs to cover.
Picks:
Mayo: Chiefs (+8.5)
Anderson: Dallas (-8.5)
Oakland at New York
You’re going to need some beverages full of drinkability because this game is going to lack watchability. Who knew spell check doesn’t recognize those as real words. I’m stunned. You have a better chance of getting productive results from a pyramid scheme than starting any of Tom the Cable guy’s Raiders at this point, they can’t seem to GITTER DONE. Fuck I hate that guy. Don’t even consider it, the more you think about the more prone you are to analysis paralysis, I dare you to read it. Eli looks more and more like he’ll play but there’s a enough decent options this week to stay away form him, I really don’t seeing him playing the whole game. What would be the point to play Manning when the Giants are up by 25 in the 3rd. Keep rolling with Steve Smith until he cools off. Jacobs needs to have a good day or it’s time to get worried. Bradshaw is a decent flex option if you’re stuck. With Stevie Nicks’ son Hakeem back in action it’s tough to tell if he or Super Mario Manningham will be the recipient of a deep touchdown. I’ll take a stab and say Manningham, only because Nicks got one last week. You probably have better options than either so start your other guys instead. Giants in a rout.
Picks:
Mayo: Giants (-15)
Anderson: Giants (-15)
Tampa Bay at Philadelphia
Doesn’t this week just seem to have a lot of crappy games? Just saying. McNabb and Westbrook are BIA and you’ll want to get the in the line up. I hope people haven’t forgot about how good DeSean Jackson and Brent Celek have been because you’ll want both of them in too. Treat all Bucs as if they have SARS, no free concert just a quarantine on the bench. The Eagles defense should be a high percentage play as them Bucs ain’t no good.
Picks:
Mayo: Eagles: ( -15)
Anderson: Eagles (-15)
Minnesota at St. Louis
I hope there’s no post Monday night hangover for the Vikings because I’m recommending them all against the Rams. The logic behind this you ask? The Rams fucking suck! They’re brutal, God awful, Nancy Grace bad. The casts of must starts include: Favre, Perterson, Berrian and Harvin. Hell, if you need him, take your chances with Sidney Rice, Taylor or Shiancoe if you really need to. Minnesota will stack the box and make Kyle Boller beat them, which he won’t, but it will kill Steven Jackson’s value in the process, hopefully he can get yards on receptions.
Picks:
Mayo: Vikings (-10)
Anderson: Vikings (-10)
4:15pm
Atlanta at San Francisco
This may be the best game of the day. Two teams who are going to show their true colors in a battle of two 2nd tier NFC teams. The 49ers are seven seconds away from being 4-0 and the Falcons have beat Miami and Carolina, a combined 1-6 and lost at Foxborough rather decisively. We find out this week which one of these teams is playoff bound. After coming out of the gate a laughing stock, Mike Singletary has found a way to take his player and WIN WITH ’EM. YOU WANT WINNERS? Get Glen Coffee and the red hot Vernon Davis in your line up but also consider Josh Morgan and Shaun Hill, Atlanta ranks 30th in the NFL in total defense. You need to roll out your Falcons’ studs coming off a bye. Ryan, White, Turner and Gonzalez are all starts but lower expectations as San Fran’s defense has been quite formidable so far.
Picks:
Mayo: 49ers (-2.5)
Anderson: Falcons (+2.5)
Houston @ Arizona
This game is going to be fantasy gold. If I did a ranking of the best games for fantasy purposes every week, this may be the best of the year. Take the over when the Texans travel to University of Phoenix Stadium to play the Cardinals. Where did the U of P get all this money anyways? Who clicks on those internet pop ups anyways? In my rankings this week I call on Johnson, Schuab, Boldin, Fitzgerald, Daniels, Breaston, Slaton, Warner, and Walter to not only starters but top options at each position. If you feel like giving your opponent a chance you could start a defense from this one. It’s hard to tell who’s going to win this one as both teams only play offense and have problems showing up some weeks. The Texans are getting 5.5 points here and this should be a close shootout.
Picks:
Mayo: Texans (5.5)
Anderson: Cardinals (-5.5)
New England at Denver
I can’t peg the Broncos for the life of me. They don’t ever look good, mainly due to lack of good players, but they always seem to be winning. I think the vastly improved defensive unit under Mike Nolan finally gets exposed this week against the Patriots, who are riding high after besting the Ravens a week ago. You want to start Brady, Moss and Welker per usual, along with Gotsowski. From Denver I like Knowshon Moreno to make his first career start a memorable one and pile up some points as the Broncos try to keep the ball out of Brady’s hands. Brandon Marshall is the only other mile higher I’d be using. The Belichick/McDaniels angle is a good storyline and if history has proved us anything, which for the record it hasn’t, I’m going with Belichick to come out on top.
Picks:
Mayo: Patriots (-3)
Anderson: Patriots (-3)
Jacksonville at Seattle
I’m HIV positive, yes that’s how certain I am, that people care less about this game than Reggie does for Archie, EGADS! Where’s the interest? This game has the potential for a fantasy bonanza as the Jags head to the soggy Northwest. I do like this game to be somewhat high scoring, more so now with Matt Hasselbeck looking like he’ll play. Get your Hawks ready for action, The Sons, Burle and Carl, are nice plays. As is Housh and the much scorned Julius Jones. You can take your chances with Hasselbeck but watch out, he’s always an injury concern. No reason not to love Tubbs Garrard, MJD or why have one last name when two are better, Mike Sims-Walker in this game. Shit, if you’re really stuck, take a flyer on Torry Holt, he’s used to playing in Seattle. I have no idea who is going to win this one but I’ll roll the dice on the surging Jags with the help of a point.
Picks:
Mayo: Jags (+1)
Anderson: Jags (+1)
Indianapolis at Tennessee
The Colts are only a 3.5 point favorite here, what does Vegas know that the rest of us don’t? I’m guessing nothing because you’d be crazy not to take the 4-0 Colts n the road against the 0-4 Titans. Start the Colts passing game. Manning, Wayne, and Clark are all top tier options; Collie and the Frenchman, Pierre Garcon, could lend some help if you need it. The Titans still stop the run with the best of them so be tentative with Brown and Yall Gone Addai this week. From the Titans side, I love Chris Johnson. He should also be a great start for fantasy team too. Nate Washington has been on a roll and should have played himself into your starting line up by now. I have a feeling hot pick up Kenny Britt will be MIA here, just a hunch. I like the Colts to crush the Tennessee on their home turf.
Picks:
Mayo: Colts (-3.5)
Anderson: Colts (-3.5)
Monday Night
The Jets travel south to Miami to get back on track after their first loss last week. The Jets blitz packages will be too much for Chad Henne so the Dolphins’ offense will be stuck in first gear all night. I don’t even like Ronnie Brown all that much this week but you’ll probably have to start him anyways as he is going to touch the ball so much. He’s about the only Dolphin I’d consider. From the Jets end, I wouldn’t trust Braylon Edwards in his first week; he may produce but I’d be far too scared of him posting a big zero. If you have the guts, go ahead, I wouldn’t. Miami has an excellent run defense so I like Leon Washington to be more productive than Thomas Jones but I still wouldn’t count on Ponce to have a great game. Cotchery has turned into a stellar option at receiver and I would get him in there. I don’t trust Keller despite the above average match up. If the defense is available, go grab them. I think they’ll make a mockery of Miami on Monday Night.
Picks:
Mayo: Jets (-1.5)
Anderson: Jets (-1.5)
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