Fantasy football strategy, rankings, and podcasts

Things are starting to take shape.

Teams are starting to show who they are and thoughts of just being a “fluke win” or a “fluke loss” are flying out the window. Now that we have seen a few games, we have a pretty good idea what the league really looks like for this season.

Plus, if you have been following these picks for your pool, you’re doing pretty good! So let’s keep the momentum going!

Week 3 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

16 – MINNESOTA over Buffalo – I’m setting the line for this game at 2.5 for this game…not for how much the Vikings will win by, but for how many points will score … I’ll take the under.

15 – JACKSONVILLE over Tennessee – I’m setting the line for…oh wait, already did that one. Titans won’t score much if any, that’s what I’m getting at here as well.

14 – BALTIMORE over Denver – I’m setting…yeah, you get it!

13 – PHILADELPHIA over Indianapolis – Hey, thanks for the whole Super Bowl thing, Nick. Carson’s back now so, I don’t know, maybe we’ll send you to Miami or something.

12 – KANSAS CITY over San Francisco – Can’t say that too many expected Patrick Mahomes to get off to such an historic start. Looks like the Chiefs will still have their AFC West stranglehold held tight.

11 – HOUSTON over New York Giants – DeShaun Watson made a statement last week – one that the Giants won’t be able to contain this week.

10 – ATLANTA over New Orleans – The Saints brought out the Fitzmagic to the world…then almost lost to the Browns. It looks like it may be a hard season in the Big Easy.

9 – TAMPA BAY over Pittsburgh – Speaking of the MVP front-runner, this is the final chance for Ryan Fitzpatrick to show the Bucs that Jameis should stay on the bench after his suspension is up. After giving up to Patrick Mahomes, it seems like Fitzmagic will run longer than we thought a month ago. 

8 – Chicago over ARIZONA – It was a primetime matchup between these two teams where Dennis Green let us know that the Bears are who we THOUGHT they were. Between the Bears D and the Cardinals offense so far, we should see more of the defensive dominance that we saw that night.

7 – New England over DETROIT – Patriots lose a game…Patriots add Josh Gordon. Don’t make Tom and Bill mad!

6 – MIAMI over Oakland – Jon Gruden told reporter this week that “a good pass-rusher is hard to find.” … … … so will wins this year apparently. 

5 – CAROLINA over Cincinnati – This could be the low-key game of the week candidate. I think Cam and the Panthers will be a little too much for the Bengals to take.

4 – LOS ANGELES RAMS over Los Angeles Chargers – So what LA matchup do you think the locals are more interested in – Rams/Chargers or USC/UCLA?

3 – Green Bay over WASHINGTON – This game would be a lot higher on the list if I had more confidence in the durability of Aaron Rodgers’ knee.

2 – SEATTLE over Dallas – This once-potential NFC Championship Game is now nothing more than a game the Seahawks win because they are the home team.

1 – CLEVELAND over New York Jets – For over two years, it doesn’t get any bolder than this. My BOLD PREDICITON for this week is that THE BROWNS WILL WIN THIS WEEK!

Just when you think you have things figured out, you get a big WEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLL!

That pretty much sums up the first week of every NFL season. We have an off-season full of time to put together our expectations on what we will see. Then the curveballs…

“A game in New Orleans when Jameis Winston is suspended and Ryan Fitzpatrick is under center? The Bucs don’t have a chance!”

WEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLL!

“Oh the Lions lucked out getting their first game against the youngest quarterback in NFL history. The secondary will have a field day! SEE! First pass=pick 6! This will be a breeze!”

WEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLL!

It doesn’t look like things will get any easier as we have a strong slate of even matchups this week. But, someone has to make the predictions!

Week 2 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

16 – LOS ANGELES RAMS over Arizona – Yes the Raiders looked bad against the Rams last week, but a lot of that had to do with how good their defense is!

15 – NEW ORLEANS over Cleveland – A home game against the Browns is the best cure for a dose of Fitzmagic.

14 – PITTSBURGH over Kansas City – I can see Ben Roethlisberger having a big game against a now not-as-scary KC secondary.

13 – TENNESSEE over Houston – In this era of mobile quarterbacks you can either be a Cam Newton or an RGIII…last week’s performance has me a little worried about DeShaun Watson. 

12 – ATLANTA over Carolina – The Panthers may have been the least impressive winning team of Week 1.

11 – SAN FRANCISCO over Detroit – After a big first defensive play of the season, the Lions really made it seem like it is going to be a long fall/winter in Detroit.

10 – Los Angeles Chargers over BUFFALO – Speaking of long fall/winter seasons – My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that WHEN THE SEASON ENDS, THE BILLS WILL BE “ON THE CLOCK.”

9 – DENVER over Oakland – So so many long fall’s and winter’s…

8 – CINCINNATI over Baltimore – Sorry Baltimore, you can’t play the Bills every week.

7 – CHICAGO over Seattle – Who are the Bears? (cue the Dennis Green references) Are they the first half Bears or the second half Bears? I feel that we’ll find out they are real this Monday.

6 – GREEN BAY over Minnesota – This pick is based on the uncertainty of Aaron Rodger’s status. If he plays, raise the Pack up the lines. In he doesn’t then move him down. 

5 – JACKSONVILLE over New England – The Jags will be ready to go for their home opener/AFC Championship rematch…that they should have won.

4 – Philadelphia over TAMPA BAY – This is probably the most exciting matchup of backup quarterbacks in league history!

3 – WASHINGTON over Indianapolis – So this game will happen… 

2 – NEW YORK JETS over Miami – I said that Sam Darnold was going to be the best quarterback of this class. He’s off to a good start of proving me right!

1 – DALLAS over New  York Giants –  How long ago does it seem that this was a marquee matchup? Now…not so much!

Seven months. Seven…long…months. We’ve had to go seven months without football!

No more though! Football is back! 

We are just hours away from the Super Bowl Champion Eagles kicking the seas…wait, is that right? Eagles? No, yeah, they’re telling me that’s right…weird! With the return of football comes the return of the confidence pool! Have no fear, we are back for another year of picks to help you win your pool…you’re welcome, by the way!

We’ve been waiting long enough, so let’s get to it!

Week 1 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

16 – NEW ENGLAND over Houston – Yes they lost the Super Bowl, but they’re still the Patriots.

15 – BALTIMORE over Buffalo – It seems to me that the Bills may end up being one of the worst teams in recent memory that made the playoffs last year.

14 – GREEN BAY over Chicago – Yes Khalil Mack has been added to the list of legendary Bear defenders. But the only difference it will make in Green Bay is dropping them from the 16 point line. 

13 – CAROLINA over Dallas – If Dak Prescott throws a pass and there are almost literally NO Cowboys there to catch it, did he really throw a pass? Zeke is going to have to do a lot this season. 

12 – NEW ORLEANS over Tampa Bay – The Saints would have been favored to win big here even if the Bucs had Jameis Winston playing…but they don’t…so it will be bad.

11 – MINNESOTA over San Francisco – The Vikings look ready to make a run this year. My BOLD PREDICTION for week 1 is that THE VIKINGS WILL REPRESENT THE NFC IN THE SUPER BOWL THIS SEASON. 

10 – DETROIT over New York Jets – I think that Sam Darnold will be the most successful quarterback of the 2018 draft class. But as of now, he still has these Jets around him.

9 – Pittsburgh over CLEVELAND – The apparently never ending Le’Veon Bell saga is the only reason the Steelers are not listed higher here.

8 – Seattle over DENVER – If you’re looking for points, look no further … … … than ANY other game but this one!

7 – PHILADELPHIA over Atlanta – Actually heard people say that the Falcons are lucky that they’ll play against Nick Foles instead of Carson Wentz. Yeah, ask the Patriots how well that worked out a few months back!

6 – Los Angeles Rams over OAKLAND – Loss of a franchise defensive player…city probably suing the team…off-season momentum not exactly on the side of the Raiders.

5 – LOS ANGELES CHARGERS over Kansas City – A lot of people have the Chargers getting over the hurdle and winning the AFC West. No better way to show they can do it than by taking out the defending division champions.

4 – Tennessee over MIAMI – Week 1 and we already have a strong candidate for what can be seen as the least exciting game of the year.

3 – INDIANAPOLIS over Cincinnati – Don’t sleep on the Colts this year. If the running game can stay consistent they could fight for a Wild Card spot.

2 – Washington over ARIZONA – Here we have a game with two former #1 pick quarterbacks going head-to-head. Unfortunately those quarterbacks are Sam Bradford and Alex Smith.

1 – NEW YORK GIANTS over Jacksonville – The Jaguars are the sexy Super Bowl pick this year. But I see the road getting off to a bumpy start.

It pains me to say it, but we have reached the end of another incredible football season!

While the playoffs are just around the corner, they just won’t feel the same … mainly because it is hard to find a playoffs confidence pool … and the Raiders are sitting home this year…again!

Hope you enjoyed reading my posts this season and my picks helped you make some difficult decisions! See you next year!!

Week 17 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

16 – PITTSBURGH over Cleveland – Congratulations 2008 Detroit Lions, you now have company.

15 – NEW ENGLAND over New York Jets – What d’ya know, the Patriots have the top seed in the AFC. Some things never change…why won’t THIS change??

14 – SEATTLE over Arizona – The Seahawks are still fighting for their playoff lives. They should easily be able to do their part…unfortunately they probably won’t get the help that they need.

13 – BALTIMORE over Cincinnati – Marvin Lewis ends his Bengal tenure as she spent most of it…losing.

12 – DETROIT over Chicago – Look at the difference in Carson Wentz and Jared Goff from their rookie season to this season…just hold on to that hope Bears fans.

11 – MINNESOTA over Green Bay – The Vikings are locked as the #2 seed and have nothing to play for. The Packers don’t have anything to play for either … and have non-Aaron Rodgers still at quarterback.

10 – LOS ANGELES CHARGERS over Oakland – This…this could have been such a better season in Oakland. On to looking at mock drafts.

9 – New Orleans over TAMPA BAY – Playing in Tampa is never easy, especially for the NFC South. But the Saints have just looked too good not to lock up the division crown.

8 – TENNESSEE over Jacksonville – The Jags have locked themselves into the #3 seed. Can’t move up, can’t move down. That is the only reason that the Titans should be able to pull this one out.

7 – INDIANAPOLIS over Houston – The other AFC South game won’t be nearly as exciting. That’s pretty much all you need to know about this one.

6 – DENVER over Kansas City – Patrick Mahomes gets the nod at QB as the Chiefs are set as the #4 seed. That’s good news for the Broncos defense.

5 – Buffalo over MIAMI – I seriously forgot that the Dolphins were a thing.

4 – LOS ANGELES RAMS over San Francisco – The Rams winning the NFC West is proof that this division is open for the taking in the future. My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that THE 49ERS WILL WIN THE NFC WEST NEXT SEASON.

3 – ATLANTA over Carolina – This is a “because they are the home team” win…but with good teams.

2 – NEW YORK GIANTS over Washington – Winning this game and potentially hurting their draft slot sounds like something the Giants would do.

1 – PHILADELPHIA over Dallas – Philly has clinched the top seed in the NFC and will probably be resting a lot of their players…the Cowboys will still find a way to lose.