September 25th, 2011 Sunday
Fantasy owners have had two exciting weekends of football action and plenty to cheer about with record setting passing numbers being set in consecutive weeks. With such prospects week three is promising to be every bit as exciting as its predecessors. Cam Newton at home today against Jacksonville, a showdown between Tom Brady (Patriots) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (Bills), and Matt Schaub (Texans) squaring off with Drew Brees (Saints) highlight today’s ledger of games.
Perhaps the biggest game on the schedule today is not the rematch of the Eagles and the Giants, with the G-men looking for revenge after last season’s collapse in week 15 (although this will be a good one), but the divisional matchup between the Bears and Packers. Last season these two met in the NFC championship with the Packers moving on to the Big Dance and again this season these two meet with two teams heading in apparent opposite directions. The Packers are off to a 2-0 start and looking strong to defend their Super Bowl title, while the Bears are still reeling from their debacle last week at the hands of the Saints.
It’s just one loss (to the Saints) for the defending NFC North champs, but with quarterback Jay Cutler having already hit the turf 11 times this season (most sacks in the league) he could be facing a very long day against the Packers defense (7 sacks this season). After their impressive win over the Falcons in week one, back to back losses now would soon put a halt to their momentum and really have the Bears scrambling to right what would become a slowly sinking ship. If the Bears are going to get back on track in a hurry, they will need to protect Cutler and may have to call on Matt Forte to grind out some yardage on the ground to do so.
Last season against the Packers in their first meeting, Forte only ran for 29 yards (at home) and was limited to just 13 touches. He was much more effective in the second much rushing for 91 yards on 15 carries and catching 8 balls for another 60 yards. Expect to see the Bears try and get Forte involved early and often on the ground and in the short passing game; he could be very productive today, but will have to earn his keep.
Watch-list
With the likelihood of running back Arian Foster sitting, it looks like Ben Tate will not only get the start, but see a hefty work load today against the Saints. Tate has run well in two weeks this season and should see his success continue on the ground today against a Saints run defense that is allowing over four yards per carry. The key will be for the Texans to keep this one close, so they can be patient on the ground and feed Tate.
Keep your eye on the Jaguars ground attack led by running back Maurice Jones-Drew. The Jags travel to Carolina today and will face a run defense that is getting chewed up at nearly five yards per clip. Jones-Drew has yet to hit the century mark in a game this season, but today could be his first against the Panthers.
The Steelers will get the Colts in the Sunday night capper and expect the men of steel to get back to basics and back to the ground and pound. The Colts are really struggling on offense, so Big Ben and company will get plenty of opportunities and possessions to move the ball with running back Rashard Mendenhall. I would expect Mendenhall to tote the rock at least 20 times today and facing the Colts 29th ranked run defense he should easily improve his 3.6 yards per carry average.
After last week’s flub at the hands of the Titans, expect the Ravens to return to their old bully selves and get back to some smash mouth today against the Rams. Running back Ray Rice only carried the ball 13 times last week in the loss, but could see nearly double today against the league’s worst run defense (Rams). The Rams have allowed 355 yards on the ground in two games and could be in for a long day trying to slow down Rice and company.
Today’s Fantasy notes:
Today’s 20 Fantasy Running Backs (Week 3)
1. Ray Rice (Ravens)
2. Michael Turner (Falcons)
3. Rashard Mendenhall (Steelers)
4. Maurice Jones-Drew (Jaguars)
5. Adrian Peterson (Vikings)
6. Chris Johnson (Titans)
7. LeSean McCoy (Eagles)
8. Fred Jackson (Bills)
9. Matt Forte (Bears)
10. Peyton Hillis (Browns)
11. Ben Tate (Texans)
12. Jahvid Best (Lions)
13. Shonn Greene (Jets)
14. Frank Gore (49ers)
15. Darren McFadden (Raiders)
16. Daniel Thomas (Dolphins)
17. LeGarrette Blount (Buccaneers)
18. Ryan Matthews (Chargers)
19. Ahmad Bradshaw (Giants)
20. Thomas Jones (Chiefs)
My Picks Today
Perhaps the biggest game on the schedule today is not the rematch of the Eagles and the Giants, with the G-men looking for revenge after last season’s collapse in week 15 (although this will be a good one), but the divisional matchup between the Bears and Packers. Last season these two met in the NFC championship with the Packers moving on to the Big Dance and again this season these two meet with two teams heading in apparent opposite directions. The Packers are off to a 2-0 start and looking strong to defend their Super Bowl title, while the Bears are still reeling from their debacle last week at the hands of the Saints.
It’s just one loss (to the Saints) for the defending NFC North champs, but with quarterback Jay Cutler having already hit the turf 11 times this season (most sacks in the league) he could be facing a very long day against the Packers defense (7 sacks this season). After their impressive win over the Falcons in week one, back to back losses now would soon put a halt to their momentum and really have the Bears scrambling to right what would become a slowly sinking ship. If the Bears are going to get back on track in a hurry, they will need to protect Cutler and may have to call on Matt Forte to grind out some yardage on the ground to do so.
Last season against the Packers in their first meeting, Forte only ran for 29 yards (at home) and was limited to just 13 touches. He was much more effective in the second much rushing for 91 yards on 15 carries and catching 8 balls for another 60 yards. Expect to see the Bears try and get Forte involved early and often on the ground and in the short passing game; he could be very productive today, but will have to earn his keep.
Watch-list
With the likelihood of running back Arian Foster sitting, it looks like Ben Tate will not only get the start, but see a hefty work load today against the Saints. Tate has run well in two weeks this season and should see his success continue on the ground today against a Saints run defense that is allowing over four yards per carry. The key will be for the Texans to keep this one close, so they can be patient on the ground and feed Tate.
Keep your eye on the Jaguars ground attack led by running back Maurice Jones-Drew. The Jags travel to Carolina today and will face a run defense that is getting chewed up at nearly five yards per clip. Jones-Drew has yet to hit the century mark in a game this season, but today could be his first against the Panthers.
The Steelers will get the Colts in the Sunday night capper and expect the men of steel to get back to basics and back to the ground and pound. The Colts are really struggling on offense, so Big Ben and company will get plenty of opportunities and possessions to move the ball with running back Rashard Mendenhall. I would expect Mendenhall to tote the rock at least 20 times today and facing the Colts 29th ranked run defense he should easily improve his 3.6 yards per carry average.
After last week’s flub at the hands of the Titans, expect the Ravens to return to their old bully selves and get back to some smash mouth today against the Rams. Running back Ray Rice only carried the ball 13 times last week in the loss, but could see nearly double today against the league’s worst run defense (Rams). The Rams have allowed 355 yards on the ground in two games and could be in for a long day trying to slow down Rice and company.
Today’s Fantasy notes:
Today’s 20 Fantasy Running Backs (Week 3)
1. Ray Rice (Ravens)
2. Michael Turner (Falcons)
3. Rashard Mendenhall (Steelers)
4. Maurice Jones-Drew (Jaguars)
5. Adrian Peterson (Vikings)
6. Chris Johnson (Titans)
7. LeSean McCoy (Eagles)
8. Fred Jackson (Bills)
9. Matt Forte (Bears)
10. Peyton Hillis (Browns)
11. Ben Tate (Texans)
12. Jahvid Best (Lions)
13. Shonn Greene (Jets)
14. Frank Gore (49ers)
15. Darren McFadden (Raiders)
16. Daniel Thomas (Dolphins)
17. LeGarrette Blount (Buccaneers)
18. Ryan Matthews (Chargers)
19. Ahmad Bradshaw (Giants)
20. Thomas Jones (Chiefs)
My Picks Today
My “Four Horsemen”
Philip Rivers; The Chiefs are down and it could be time for Rivers to put them out. Rivers is facing a defense that has allowed 89 points in two games, including 8 passing touchdowns; expect a big game from this Charger today.
Michael Turner; The Falcons running back averaged 24 carries in both games last season and scored three times in the two meetings. I look for similar numbers today.
DeSean Jackson; Last week it was the Maclin show, this week it will be Jackson’s turn to torch the opposing secondary. Today’s foe, the Giants secondary has been burned for 11 pass plays of 20 yards or more. I am expecting Jackson to add to that total.
Dustin Keller; He is the team’s leading receiver with 11 catches and should be targeted plenty today against the Raiders (ranked 21st against the pass). Keller also has two touchdowns this season and should add number three today.
Michael Turner; The Falcons running back averaged 24 carries in both games last season and scored three times in the two meetings. I look for similar numbers today.
DeSean Jackson; Last week it was the Maclin show, this week it will be Jackson’s turn to torch the opposing secondary. Today’s foe, the Giants secondary has been burned for 11 pass plays of 20 yards or more. I am expecting Jackson to add to that total.
Dustin Keller; He is the team’s leading receiver with 11 catches and should be targeted plenty today against the Raiders (ranked 21st against the pass). Keller also has two touchdowns this season and should add number three today.
By David Ortega
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