Of course you want to win all your fantasy games this weeks (yes, I’m assuming that if you’re visiting this site, you probably have at least three teams in play today). But there’s nothing quite like bringing home the bacon from an unexpected source. Like a blow-up game from a guy most of the other guys think is that girl you used to date in college (I’m talking about you, Julian Edelman).
At the same time, there’s only one thing worse than losing. Losing with the unexpected blow-up guy on your bench. Nothing sets the league message board afire quite like the fool who has a 180 yards and three TD’s sitting on the sidelines on game day. Don’t be that guy.
Before you set your final lineups this week, make sure you’re not leaving potential sitting on the pine, while you bank on a name player who could be in for a rough ride. Here are this week’s “Mack Daddies” (guys that are probably teetering between your bench and your lineup, who are in for big days) & “Hack Jobs” (guys who end up in your lineup each week by sheer gravity, who stand to under-perform this week).
Five Surprise Mack Daddies
Correll Buckhalter/RB-Denver. With Kyle Orton and his WR’s still not on the same page and facing the best CB in football in Nnamdi Asomougha, the Broncos will need to pound the ball against the Raiders. And while they’re anxious to get Knowshon Moreno unleashed, a sore groin (god, I hate those words) may keep him on the bench. Buckhalter is going to be a nice play this week—plug him in.
Julian Edelman/WR-New England. Belichick might be playing games with the injury report this week, but Wes Welker is obviously banged up and Randy Moss sat out practice on Friday. One of them is likely going to take Sunday off and Edelman will be there to pick up the pieces.
Ray Rice/RB-Baltimore. He’s been getting most of the action in Baltimore—just not any of the red zone work. But his scoring drought is going to change this week against a bad Cleveland Browns team playing their second road game in a row and fresh off a wack locker room brawl on Friday. Look for the first true blow-up game of Rice’s career to commence at 1pm ET.
Steve Slaton/RB-Houston. Sure, you probably took him in the first round. But after two weeks of absolutely putrid production, you might be thinking about putting the little guy on your bench. Don’t do it. Houston is primed to have a better showing at home than they turned in against the Jets in week one. And while the Jags have a decent run defense, they’re getting killed in the air. And that’s where Slaton will make his bones on Sunday.
Beanie Wells/RB-Arizona. Arizona is going to struggle through the air this week against Indy, so they’ll need to rely on Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells if they’re going to win this game. And while he’s been battling a case of fumble-itis, it says here that this is the game that Wells makes a statement about who should be starting in the Valley of the Sun.
Five Surprise Hack Jobs
Tom Brady/QB-New England. No I’m not suggesting that you bench Brady if your back up is the other Brady (Quinn). But I’d consider it for someone like Carson Palmer or Matt Schaub. With their two star wideouts limping this week, and Tom showing signs of lingering injury fear, you have to figure the Pats will reign in the offense a bit. With Brady looking shaky for all but the last couple of minutes of the Buffalo win—he could use a steady diet of quick timing passes and hand-offs.
Thomas Jones/RB-NY Jets. Actually, this is more of warning against expecting too much from any NY Jets this week. Last week’s win over New England was their Super Bowl and they’re due for a letdown. They’ll be facing a red-assed Tennessee team that is going to play like their season is on the line (and that’s because it is). Look for the Titans to stack the line and force Sanchez to test their secondary. They’re may be a decent game out of one Jets running back. But it will be Leon Washington, not Thomas Jones.
Kurt Warner/QB-Arizona. On paper, a Cards-Colts matchup looks like a shoot-out just waiting to happen. But the Colts pass defense has been solid, as Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney have been supplying their usual steady dose of pressure. Warner never does well when his timing gets disrupted. It’s going to get disrupted this week.
Michael Turner/RB-Atlanta. Now that the Falcons are playing a legit schedule, the notion that Turner is a top-three fantasy RB is quickly being corrected. This week, he has to face that tough New England D-line and he’s never been a big producer on the road. If you have comparable options, think about it—he’s a flex play this week at best.
Dwayne Bowe/WR-Kansas City. He’s a top shelf talent on a team that’s still trying to pull its head out offensively. QB Matt Cassell looked terrible last week but the Chiefs have to give their big-money guy a chance to correct himself. It won’t happen this week. To make matters worse, Bowe will be dancing with Asante Samuel all day long. This is one stud that you may want sitting on the sidelines for week three.
