Fantasy football strategy, rankings, and podcasts

I know what you’re thinking – “Wait a minute…there’s football this weekend?”

Yes, for some odd reason, the NFL has decided to go ahead with a full slate of games even though the Raiders are on their bye week. My assumption is that ratings would take a huge hit, but we shall see.

So, since games will be played…let’s have some confidence!

Week 10 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

14 – DETROIT over Cleveland – Oh we’re getting bold right out of the gate! No, not because I’m picking the Lions to beat the Browns, obviously, but my BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that THE BROWNS WILL BE THE SECOND TEAM IN HISTORY TO FINSIH 0-16.

13 – LOS ANGELES RAMS over Houston – It’s still a little weird to put the Rams up this high, but they have definitely earned it. One of the only things that would seem weirder would be if …

12 – JACKSONVILLE over Los Angeles Chargers – …the Jaguars were also up this high! Sign of the times my friends! Especially with Leonard Fournette back, there is no way the Chargers can stop the Jags.

11 – CAROLINA over Miami –Somehow the Panthers always seem to squeak out wins at home like they did last week against the Falcons. This week should be easier though.

10 – CHICAGO over Green Bay – This may not be that exciting of a game seeing as though Mitchell Trubisky recently completed four passes in a game and Brett Hundley has an issue throwing a pass past the line of scrimmage, but Soldier Field would still treat this like a Super Bowl win.

9 – Pittsburgh over INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts pulled off a bit of an upset in Houston last week and have some momentum. Not nearly enough to stop the Steelers offense though.

8 – New York Jets over TAMPA BAY – Simply put – no Jameis, no Evans, no win!

7 – TENNESSEE over Cincinnati – I see this game as the Bengals passing the torch to the Titans as the team that will be in the playoffs for years to come…but won’t have a chance to make it deep.

6 – ATLANTA over Dallas – One of the most advertised games of the week loses a bit of its edge if Zeke doesn’t play … so do the Cowboys.

5 – New England over DENVER – This would be the game of the year a couple years or two, not so much now though. I would have this higher but something about the Broncos at home on Sunday Night Football has me thinking twice a bit.

4 – ARIZONA over Seattle – The week starts with a battle of NFC West teams trying to keep pace with the Rams (again, still weird). AP seems to be the offensive spark needed for the Cards after losing Carson Palmer.

3 – BUFFALO over New Orleans – Who knew that THIS would be a big game!  Buffalo gets the nod here as they seem to be a tough team to play in Orchard Park.

2 – WASHINGTON over Minnesota – The Skins looked good on the other side of the country last week. But they’re still the Skins, which means they are always hit or miss.

1 – SAN FRANCISCO over New York Giants – How many playoff classics has this matchup given us? Now, it’s the game most likely to end in a 3-3 tie.

I want to start this week out by taking a look at the top 10 of NFL.com’s Power Rankings this week…

1 – Philadelphia

2 – LA Rams

3 – Pittsburgh

4 – Kansas City

5 – New England

6 – Seattle

7 – Minnesota

8 – New Orleans

9 – Buffalo

10 – Jacksonville

Now let’s go back to the pre-season. Raise your hand if you thought that more than half of the top 10 would consist of the Eagles, Rams, Vikings, Saints, Bills and Jaguars…I’ll wait…still waiting…so…not you then?

This just sums up how topsy-turvy this season has been. By now, we should have a pretty good idea of what the 2017 version of the 32 franchises are. And, if anything, we will always know that “the Browns are gonna Brown!”

Week 9 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

13 – PHILADELPHIA over Denver – It’s scary to think that the best just got better with Philly’s acquisition of Jay Ajayi. Not even that Broncos defense will be able to stop that offense.

12 – HOUSTON over Indianapolis – Folks, DeShaun Watson is for real. If you don’t know by now, you need to know.

11 – JACKSONVILLE over Cincinnati –  The Jags are used to being this high on our sheet…just not on the winning side.

10 – SEATTLE over Washington – Seattle has quietly found their way back towards the top of the league. It’s hard to see the ‘Skins stopping their momentum.

9 – NEW ORLEANS over Tampa Bay – Speaking of quietly becoming a force again, the Saints have found a bit of a defense to back up the Drew Brees led offense that never really seemed to miss a step.

8 – TENNESSEE over Baltimore – Baltimore looked dominant last week against Miami…key words being “against Miami.”

7 – DALLAS over Kansas City – Ezekial Elliot’s suspension is set to begin this week. But Alfred Morris isn’t exactly a slouch. My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that ALFRED MORRIS WILL HAVE 100 YARDS THIS WEEK.

6 – GREEN BAY over Detroit – Hopefully the Packers used their bye week to realize that Aaron Rodgers is no longer under center and put together an offense more fitting for Brett Hundley.

5 – Atlanta over CAROLINA – I still don’t understand why the Panthers traded away Kelvin Benjamin.

4 – Oakland over MIAMI – Good news for the Dolphins is that their starting QB should be back this week. Good news for the Raiders is that the aforementioned QB is Jay Cutler.

3 – Buffalo over NEW YORK JETS – Keeping with the theme of a surprising first half of the NFL season, THIS game has implications for the top of the NFC East!

2 – NEW YORK GIANTS over Los Angeles Rams – The Giants have quickly been a team that if you think they will win, they should be on the #1 line. Unless of course you think…

1 – SAN FRANCISCO over Arizona – …the 9ers will also win this week. No David Johnson, no Carson Palmer, the Cardinals that are left standing will help the Jimmy Garoppolo era get off to a solid start.

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?