Fantasy football strategy, rankings, and podcasts

This is where the confidence pools get good.

This week, six teams are on bye. That means that we will only have 13 games this weekend…only 13 chances for points. If you are towards the top of your pools, that means less chances for others to gain ground. If you’re behind, it means that every game is critical – let’s not blow it this time!

Week 8 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

13 – PHILADELPHIA over San Francisco – A team that looks like a Super Bowl favorite is hosting a winless team that will be traveling across the country. Nothing really to think about here.

12 – NEW ENGLAND over Los Angeles Chargers – The Chargers have been looking better as of late. But just like the 49ers, they are traveling across the country to take on the team that always seems to be in the Super Bowl conversation.

11 – Minnesota over CLEVELAND (game played in London) – As a promotion, apology to the London fans for giving them the Browns to look at, I believe the 20,000 person that enters the stadium will spend the 3^rd quarter playing quarterback for the Browns.

10 – CINCINNATI over Indianapolis – The Bengals are always a hard team to figure out, but it’s pretty easy to see them get past the lowly Colts. My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK, THE COLTS WILL BE SHUTOUT.

9 – KANSAS CITY over Denver – After the hottest start in the league, the Chiefs have lost their last two games. Lucky for them this Monday Night matchup sees them hosting a lost and confused division rival.

8 – BALTIMORE over Miami – The week starts on Thursday with two teams that are just mediocre at best. The Dolphins lost starting quarterback Jay Cutler last week…so that should at least give them a chance.

7 – NEW ORLEANS over Chicago – Simply put, you’re going to have to complete more than four passes to beat Drew Brees, Mitchell.

6 – SEATTLE over Houston – DeShaun Watson will find out what it means to be in a low scoring game – something I don’t think he can overcome…yet.

5 – TAMPA BAY over Carolina – Did the real Cam Newton stand up last week in Chicago? No, but I don’t think that MVP Cam will be back this week either.

4 – Oakland over BUFFALO – The Raiders incredible 2016 season was based on winning close games…like they did last week. I think the 2016 Raiders have finally joined 2017.

3 – Atlanta over NEW YORK JETS – Who would have thought that this would actually look like a good game on paper?

2 – DETROIT over Pittsburgh – This should be a shootout to say the least. Big Ben’s road woes will find their way to Sunday Night Football though.

1 – WASHINGTON over Dallas – Just like the Raiders looked like their successful team from a year ago, the Cowboys finally dominated last week. Only difference is that it was against the 49ers.

The NFL…it is a fickle league!

But let’s be honest, its unpredictability is a big part of what keeps us entertained. Any Given Sunday isn’t just a notch on Al Pacino’s belt. (pause for awkward groan)

It’s been a rough couple weeks but we keep fighting strong. It’s time to get back on the right path!

Week 7 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

15 – PITTSBURGH over Cincinnati – The Steelers’ reward for taking down the last undefeated team is a home game against a team seemingly in shambles. Should be an easy one.

14 – PHILADELPHIA over Washington – Haven’t said this since McNabb…the Eagles are a legitimate Super Bowl threat! A home game against Washington shouldn’t be a worry for them.

13 – NEW ENGLAND over Atlanta – So last week against Miami, the Falcons had a big lead toward the end of the game…the Dolphins came back to win…now Atlanta heads to Foxboro to play the Patriots… … … do you see where I’m going with this?

12 – MINNESOTA over Baltimore – Anytime you lose a home game to the Bears, you’re probably going to lose the next week on the road as well.

11 – Dallas over SAN FRANCISCO – It seems like Ezekiel Elliot’s status for this game changes by the hour. Don’t really think it matters though – 9ers won’t be able to stop him, Alfred Morris, Darren McFadden or whoever they have behind Dak.

10 – LOS ANGELES RAMS over Arizona – Honestly, there are a lot of games that are almost too close to call. The way the Rams have been looking lately put them as what I like to refer to as the best of several evils.

9 – Carolina over CHICAGO – The Bears were good enough to come home from Baltimore last week. But, well, basic match – Cam >>>> Flacco.

8 – Tennessee over CLEVELAND – Remember when it looked like the Browns might be taking a step in the right direction as a franchise? Well, then the season started.

7 – GREEN BAY over New Orleans – I really don’t think that (another) Aaron Rodgers injury is necessarily a death sentence for Green Bay thisseason. My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that EVEN WITH THE RODGERS INJURY, THE PACKERS WILL STILL WIN THE NFC NORTH.

6 – Denver over LOS ANGELES CHARGERS – Denver needs to shake off the images of the nightmare that was last week. A road game in a soccer stadium full of people who MIGHT know the Chargers are the home team is a good way to help that out.

5 – Seattle over NEW YORK GIANTS – Safe bet is that the Giants put all of their eggs in the basket last week.

4 – OAKLAND over Kansas City – A couple of years ago, the Chiefs went to Oakland for a Thursday Night matchup. The Raiders came in to the game with an unintimidating 0-10 record. I picked the Raiders to win that night … and they did. It can happen again, right?

3 – MIAMI over New York Jets – I know that the Jets are one horrible call away from a 4-2 record but I just can’t get on the bandwagon just yet.  

2 – BUFFALO over Tampa Bay – Tampa would be the pick here if Jameis was 100%.

1 – INDIANAPOLIS over Jacksonville – Eh, someone has to win this game, right?

OK, last week was just bad. I would like to offer my apologies…and so should the Steelers!

But again, your lowest score is removed so let’s also remove it from our memory – still plenty of season to play!

Week 6 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

14 – DENVER over New York Giants – The Denver defense is already referred to as the “No Fly Zone.” Should be a pretty easy day when Eli Manning will basically be throwing to waterboy level wideouts.

13 – ATLANTA over Miami – The Dolphins have officially been “Jay Cutler’d” It will be a rough rest of the season in South Beach.

12 – HOUSTON over Cleveland – Houston took two major blows to their defense last week…but they’re playing the Browns…sooooo….you know.

11 – BALTIMORE over Chicago – The Mitch Trubisky show hits the road for the first time. Pretty easy to see that the outcome won’t change with the time zone.

10 – TENNESSEE over Indianapolis – To say that the Titans 2017 have been disappointing so far would be an understatement. Lucky for them Andrew Luck isn’t back just yet.

9 – New England over NEW YORK JETS – Can’t say that I expected to see two teams over .500 in this game. What will be expected is the outcome though.

8 – WASHINGTON over San Francisco – Traveling across the country in search for your first win this season isn’t exactly the best way to go about it.

7 – KANSAS CITY over Pittsburgh – The Chiefs are clearly the best team in the league so far. But the fact that the Steelers ended the Chiefs season last year drops them down a few points in this game.

6 – JACKSONVILLE over Los Angeles Rams – Sooooooooo with how the first quarter of the season played out, this could be considered a possible Super Bowl matchup…just gonna let that sink in for a bit.

5 – OAKLAND over Los Angeles Chargers – The Raiders are just a different team with Derek Carr under center. If Carr plays, you can bump them up a few spots.

4 – CAROLINA over Philadelphia – Thursday Night gives us what should be the most exciting game of the week. My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that EVEN AFTER THEIR SLOW START, THE PANTHERS WILL WIN THE NFC SOUTH.

3 – Green Bay over MINNESOTA – What is it about the Packers and Aaron Rodgers that makes you think they won’t have a chance to win every game they play?

2 – NEW ORLEANS over Detroit – I wouldn’t be surprised if the Adrian Peterson trade is very beneficial for the Saints. Peterson’s attitude may have been a bit of a distraction. At least it would be enough to win this week.

1 – ARIZONA over Tampa Bay – Obviously the trade was beneficial for the Cardinals. Finally they have someone after the David Johnson injury that will allow Carson Palmer not throw the ball 83 times a game.

Now it gets interesting.

For the first time this season (excluding the Bucs/Dolphins situation in week 1) some teams in the league will be on bye.

What that means for us is that there will be less games to pick…and less points to get! Every pick is critical, you need to make sure to get as many points as you can during this time. You may have made selections based on a hunch you may have had previously, but the hunch level needs to take a significant hit. We don’t have a lot of wiggle room to work with.

Week 5 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

14 – PITTSBURGH over Jacksonville – The "Coming Back Down to Earth" party for the Jags will definitely continue against the high-powered Steelers offense. No temper tantrum for Antonio Brown this week!

13 – PHILADELPHIA over Arizona – Pennsylvania is apparently the best place to be this week as the two Keystone State representatives should easily bring home a pair of wins.

12 – NEW YORK GIANTS over Los Angeles Chargers – I know what you’re thinking "YOU JUST TOLD US NOT TO RELY ON HUNCH’S!" And yes, seeing the Giants this high would be considered a "hunch" if it weren’t against a winless Chargers team that has to travel across the country.

11 – LOS ANGELES RAMS over Seattle – Just a month ago you would expect to see this game on this line, but with the opposite result. But having an offense that’s deservingly been compared to the "Bob N’ Weave" team a decade and a half ago makes the Rams legit.

10 – OAKLAND over Baltimore – Yes, Derek Carr is out of this one – but EJ Manuel didn’t look too shabby in relief in Denver last week. He should be able to do enough to keep more points on the board than the Ravens.

9 – Minnesota over CHICAGO – I’m not going to say that the Mitchell Trubiski era will start with a 5 INT game or anything like that, but against that Viking defense it won’t end with a win.

8 – CINCINNATI over Buffalo – The Bills did get a big win in Atlanta last week and are sitting at the top of the division, but the Bengals offense finally showed signs of life last week. Not good news for opposing defenses.

7 – Green Bay over DALLAS – In a rematch of their amazing playoff matchup, there is no reason to think the same outcome won’t happen – especially with how Cowboys are looking lately.

6 – TAMPA BAY over New England – Thanks to their dreadful defense, Tom and the boys are going to start the season 2-3…that just makes me happy!

5 – DETROIT over Carolina – The Panthers showed signs of life last week. Unfortunately they won’t be able to play the previously mentioned Patriots defense every week.

4 – Tennessee over MIAMI – Tennessee may seem a little lost if Mariota isn’t able to play. But, as we have seen this season so far, any team quarterbacked by Jay Cutler is in a perpetual state of confusion.

3 – HOUSTON over Kansas City – Sunday Night Football could give us the game of the week with this AFC matchup. The biggest reason I fell the Texans will win is because my BOLD PREDICTION for the week is that DESHAUN WATSON WILL HAVE ANOTHER FOUR TOUCHDOWN GAME.

2 – INDIANAPOLIS over San Francisco – In a week where we already have less than a full schedule, we get two "have to play it because it is on the schedule" games. This is one …

1 – CLEVELAND over New York Jets – … and this is the other.