Fantasy football strategy, rankings, and podcasts

Welcome back!

We had another strong week in week 5. This week will be a lot more difficult. We have several evenly matched games including a few instances in which an undefeated team could taste defeat for the first time. No time to waste, the new week is just around the corner!

Week 6 – HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN ALL CAPS)

14 – GREEN BAY over San Diego – Apparently Aaron Rodgers is human! I can very easily see him doing what he can this week to make us all remember that he is indeed not human.

13 – New England over INDIANAPOLIS – The Pats are playing like they are mad at the world and now they are playing the team that was the cause of it all…and they’re struggling. Bill Belichick could make this turn out to be as ugly as…well…Bill Belichick.

12 – MINNESOTA over Kansas City – It has been a rough start to the season for the Chiefs, and it just got a whole lot worse with another Jamaal Charles injury. It won’t get any easier against a well-rested Adrian Peterson.

11 – NEW YORK JETS over Washington – Kirk Cousins will have to win this game with his arm since the running game is non-existent. That won’t work too well against the Jets secondary.

10 – TENNESSEE over Miami – This game will be hard to watch. Miami is in the middle of an overhaul…not something that should be happening in the middle of the season.

9 – SEATTLE over Carolina – The rough schedule continues for the two-time defending NFC champs as they get another undefeated team. They should be able to hand the Panthers their first loss at home this week.

8 – Denver over CLEVELAND – Call it fantasy football stubbornness, but I think this is the week that Peyton comes out of his funk. That could be bad news for the Browns.

7 – Atlanta over NEW ORLEANS – The week starts off on Thursday in the SuperDome. Devonta Freeman has taken the league by storm and should be able to continue his dominance against the now lowly Saints.

6 – PHILADELPHIA over New York Giants – The battle for the top of the NFC Lease comes to Monday Night. The Eagles might have things figured out on offense. Now they get the national stage to confirm it.

5 – DETROIT over Chicago – Everything seems to be going downhill for the Lions. In order to avoid the cellar of the league, they NEED this game.

4 – Houston over JACKSONVILLE – Blake Bortles had an amazing week last Sunday in Tampa…but that was against Tampa. Arian Foster should have his official return game against the Jags defense. Jacksonville allowed Doug Martin to have a monster game last week, which leads me to this week’s BOLD PREDICTION that ARIAN FOSTER WILL HAVE OVER 250 TOTAL YARDS.

3 – Arizona over Pittsburgh – Welcome back to dominance, Arizona! Big Ben could be back soon, but another week of Michael Vick won’t be enough to beat the Cards.

2 – SAN FRANCISCO over Baltimore – If Jim Harbaugh was still in San Francisco, the Harbaugh Bowl matchup would make this game interesting. But he’s not…so it’s not. The 9ers are at home so there you go.

1 – BUFFALO over Cincinnati – Potentially the game of the week. The Bengals are undefeated for a reason but a trip to Buffalo could very well end that.

Another solid week as we draw closer to the midway point of the season.

If you’re like me, your fantasy season is pretty much shot, but at least we still have our confidence pool to give us…well…confidence for the rest of the season! (see what I did there?) No time to waste, another week is so close to kicking off!

Week 7 – HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN ALL CAPS)

14 – NEW ENGLAND over New York Jets – The Pats have been running roughshod over the entire league to this point. Add in the fact that they love beating up on the Jets and this could get ugly.

13 – ARIZONA over Baltimore – The Cardinals have hit a bit of a slow spot on their way to the playoffs but apparently a game against the Ravens is something that every team in the league looks forward to – just ask the 49ers.

12 – INDIANAPOLIS over New Orleans – It seems like Andrew Luck may have just needed a little time off to heal his shoulder. I am back on the bandwagon…until viciously thrown off again like I was last time.

11 – SAN DIEGO over Oakland – Phillip Rivers threw for over 500 yards last week in Green Bay. Against the Raiders secondary, there is a legit chance that Rivers might reach 800 yards…ish.

10 – CAROLINA over Philadelphia – The Panthers showed last week that they are no fluke with a win in Seattle. Look for them to continue their momentum to roll over another division leader.

9 – NEW YORK GIANTS over Dallas – No Romo and possibly still no Dez for the Cowboys means no chance of winning in Jersey.

8 – Seattle over SAN FRANCISCO – The week starts with what was one of the hottest rivalries in the league just a few years ago. Now, while the rivalry is still there, its to try and stay out of the basement of the division.

7 – ST LOUIS over Cleveland – Todd Gurley is legit and has shown that he was worth the top 10 pick the Rams used on him. Look for Gurley to continue running over the league this week.

6 – Atlanta over TENNESSEE – Speaking of running over the league, his name is Devonta Freeman.

5 – Buffalo over JACKSONVILLE (in London) – The league continues to shove the Jaguars down the throats of Europeans. This year it is the Bills that try to make Jacksonville stay across the pond.

4 – WASHINGTON over Tampa Bay – Bringing back an old gem for this one – the Skins will pull this out simply because they are the home team.

3 – KANSAS CITY over Pittsburgh – If Ben Roethlisberger returns for this game then flip this one around – the Steelers will win. But without him, the Chiefs will need to win this game and establish a new running game without Jamaal Charles. This week’s BOLD PREDICTION is that CHARCANDRICK WEST WILL HAVE THE FIRST 100 YARDS RUSHING GAME OF HIS CAREER. (even if it doesn’t happen, at least I still successfully typed Charcandrick)

2 – DETROIT over Minnesota – The Lions are off the schnide! No 0-16 season this year! One division win could provide the momentum needed to get another one.

1 – Houston over MIAMI – Two teams that have disappointed this year. Don’t let Miami’s big win last week fool you, it was against the Titans.

Boy do I love this league!

Every week seems to leave you with a fresh set of questions that you just cant wait those seven days until the next set of games to answer. “Any Given Sunday” isn’t just for Willie Beaman! Still, with all of these questions, we are still managing to come out with positive weeks. If you are following my picks this season, you should be looking good in the quest for a season title. Let’s keep it going!

WEEK 8 – HERE WE GO!!

(HOME TEAM IN ALL CAPS)

14 – NEW ENGLAND over Miami – The Dolphins have hit a bit of a surge after their coaching change. But that surge was against the Texans and Titans…not the Patriots.

13 – CAROLINA over Indianapolis – At the beginning of the season this would be a big game for the Panthers to prove their worth. In the middle of the season its just another home game against a mediocre team.

12 – ATLANTA over Tampa Bay – Tampa Bay already has a divisional road win on their resume this year. It’s hard to see them getting another one though.

11 – ST LOUIS over San Francisco – The reported locker room turmoil with the 49ers is just more reason to have less and less confidence in them this season.

10 – Arizona over CLEVELAND – The Cardinals need a win like this. I think they will have the needed motivation to get it.

9 – Minnesota over CHICAGO – With a win last week in Detroit, the young Vikings confirmed that they have what it takes to get a divisional road win. Why not get another?

8 – KANSAS CITY over Detroit – The Lions just seem out of it. A team like the Chiefs should welcome the chance to host them for a week.

7 – Seattle – over DALLAS – Even if Dez Bryant returns for the Cowboys, it won’t be enough. Though I will say that my BOLD PREDICTION is that if Bryant plays, he will have over 100 yards receiving.

6 – NEW ORLEANS over New York Giants – The Saints showed signs of life last week on the road. I can see them carrying that momentum through another week.

5 – OAKLAND over New York Jets – What to think of the Raiders? Maybe it’s a fan’s bias, but I don’t think another team has created more intrigue in the league this season. If they want to hold on to playoff hope, they need to win this game.

4 – BALTIMORE over San Diego – A week after taking the Packers to the limit in Green Bay, the Chargers give up 30 first half points to the aforementioned Raiders. Another hard to figure out team.

3 – PITTSBURGH over Cincinnati – Big Ben coming back should be enough to knock one team from the ranks of the unbeaten.

2 – DENVER over Green Bay – But if the Steelers don’t, we are guaranteed to lose one undefeated team here as two undefeateds go head-to-head. Regardless of who you think will win, there is no reason to have one team or the other higher than this on your sheet.

1 – HOUSTON over Tennessee – We go from Broncos/Packers to Texans/Titans…minus Arian Foster. Not worth talking about.

The weeks in the middle of the season that include the bye weeks are always crucial in a confidence pool. There aren’t as many points to get during the week so every game and every point are crucial.

Lucky for you, you are following my picks! After a week that saw 12 of 14 games picked correctly you should be close to if not on top of your league.

Let’s keep it going!

WEEK 9 – HERE WE GO!!

(HOME TEAM IN ALL CAPS)

13 – NEW ENGLAND over Washington – Ho-hum, what do you know? The Patriots are at the top of our list again. Probably something you should just get used to.

12 – CINCINNATI over Cleveland – The Bengals are undefeated…and are playing at home…against the Browns…who will have Johnny Manziel starting…need anything else?

11 – NEW ORLEANS over Tennessee – Drew Brees tied the NFL record last week with seven touchdown passes. His reward? A game against the Titans.

10 – NEW YORK JETS over Jacksonville – The Jets were completely shut down last week in Oakland. They need a game against the Jaguars to get some confidence back.

9 – MINNESOTA over St. Louis – Minnesota is really solidifying their spot as a playoff contender in the NFC. They may have what it takes to slow down the unstoppable tank known as Todd Gurley.

8 – Atlanta over SAN FRANCISCO – Blaine Gabbert is under center for the Niners and Pierre Thomas is now in the backfield after spending the first eight weeks of the season without a team…best of luck with all that.

7 – BUFFALO over Miami – A healthier Bills’ team gets a home game against a team that they blew out on the road just a few weeks ago.

6 – SAN DIEGO over Chicago – After this game, ESPN will be working feverishly on a logistical way to move the flexing ability from Sunday night games to Monday night.

5 – Denver over INDIANAPOLIS – Peyton Manning came as close to the old Peyton as he has this season last week against the Packers. I expect more of the same as he heads back to his old stomping grounds.

4 – Green Bay over CAROLINA – Speaking of the Packers, after reaching their low point of the season last week (by far!) they have a lot of aggression to take out on the unbeaten Panthers. No more unbeatens in the NFC.

3 – Philadelphia over DALLAS – Dez Bryant should have more balls thrown his way this week – unfortunately those balls will still be thrown by not Tony Romo.

2 – Oakland over PITTSBURGH – Another HUGE game for the Raiders after a big win last week. My BOLD PREDICTION this week is NOT ONLY WILL THE RAIDERS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS, BUT THEY WILL WIN A PLAYOFF GAME.

1 – New York Giants over TAMPA BAY – Tampa seems to play their best only when they’re on the road against the division…this game is neither of those.