WEEK 6: We’re bringing you the WEEK 6 installment of “FAR BEYOND FOOTBALL” from the California leg of the CRUSH EM’ ALL TOUR. We have to mention, that this tour has been amazing so far and would like to thank everyone who has been fortunate enough to come out to any of the shows. If your WEEK 5 was any bit as frustrating for us as it was for you, you’ll hopefully be feeling optimistic about WEEK 6. There were quite a few curveballs last week, but we feel we can help your team bounce back to get a W in WEEK 6. Here is our run-down of who we feel can give your team the most competitive edge this week.
-Justin Lowe of After The Burial
Brandon Butler of Veil of Maya
QB’s START:
–Tony Romo(DAL) @ NE – Tony Romo has a lot to prove after lasts weeks bye. He’s had some much needed time for his rib to heal, and he really needs to step it up to play at a high level for all 4 quarters. We’re sure the meltdown against the Lions is something he never wants to be a part of again. This week we’ll see both Dez Bryant and Miles Austin looking to provide plenty of targets out there for Romo versus the Patriots, who have given up an average a league worst 29 points to opposing wide receivers. The Patriots have also given up a whopping average of 24 points to opposing quarterbacks all season long.
–Andy Dalton(CIN) vs. IND – After an impressive come from behind victory last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, we can’t help but shift our attention to rookie quarterback Andy Dalton’s favorable matchup against the enormously struggling Indianapolis Colts. While the Colts have given up an average of about 20 points to opposing fantasy quarterbacks this season, we see Andy Dalton having the opportunity to have a very successful game this Sunday and he is definitely a suitable staring option.
–Colt McCoy (CLE) @ OAK– McCoy threw for an impressive 350yds last week and has been slowly increasing his QB rating game by game. McCoy is a solid QB who hasn’t put up much of a failing fantasy game yet, so if you need a bye week replacement for someone like Phillip Rivers then McCoy is your man.
QB’s SIT:
–Matt Schaub(HOU) @ BAL – Matt Schaub has a very unfavorable matchup coming up this week. When we take into consideration Andre Johnson’s absence, and the lack of play ability in Jacoby Jones, we think he is almost a must-sit this week. The Ravens have allowed the league lowest average of around 7 points to opposing quarterbacks this season, making it pretty clear that other QB options should be taken this week.
–Matt Moore(MIA) @ NYJ – Matt Moore probably had to some time to reflect on his dismal debut performance against the San Diego Chargers, where he completed 17 of 26 attempts for 167 yards and 1 interception. However we don’t think that will be enough time for him to make you consider him a legitimate fantasy option at QB. He is entering this week against the New York Jets who have allowed a measly average of 8 points to opposing quarterbacks this season, so clearly he is not an option this week.
–Blaine Gabbert(JAC) @ PIT – We just don’t see rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert having any sort of chance at all for success agains the Pittsburgh Steelers this week. Old as they may be, the Steelers have been giving up a very low average of 12 points to opposing quarterbacks this season. The Jaguars have been 0-3 since Gabbert has become a starter, he has only passed for 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Let’s be honest this guy has a long way to go before we would even think about a situation we’d be starting him in.
–Josh Freeman(BUC) @ (NO)– Josh Freeman played like Rex Grossman in the 2006 Superbowl last week against the 49ers they ended up putting up a whopping total of 3pts. LeGarrette Blount is also out which will hurt the Buccaneers running game and allow the Saints defense to go hard in the paint against Freeman and his set of un-preforming receivers.
RB’s START:
–Peyton Hillis(CLE) @ OAK Peyton Hillis should have great numbers this week, although he has been struggling in the past few games and not turning out to be the fantasy stud some thought he would be. He is going up against an Oakland defense who is 31st in the league against the run. Cleveland also announced this week it will be a focus to have Hillis get more carries and get the ground game back to what it was last year.
–Michael Turner(ATL) vs. CAR Back to the basics of football with this pick, you have to get the ground game going to get the pass game going, the Falcons who are missing Julio Jones this week and have an ailing Roddy White will need to look to Turner to pound the ball against the 3rd to last ranked defense against the run.
CHANCE: Daniel Thomas (MIA) @ (NYJ) Thomas is a rookie and hasn’t shown much of what he can do outside of a game or 2 when he has been healthy to play. With the failing QB options in Miami and the underperformance of Reggie Bush, Thomas should get many carries and give us a chance to see what he can do against a stoic Jets defense.
RB’s SIT:
–Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis(NE) @ (DAL)– Green-Ellis is coming off of a toe injury and as shown 2 weeks ago against Oakland the youngsters Steven Ridley and Danny Woodhead should see some looks, as well letting recovering Green-Ellis ease his way back into a stacked Patriots offense. Dallas also ranks 3rd best in the NFL at stopping running backs this year, New England should look to use their leader in Tom Brady to pick apart a crumbling Dallas secondary.
–Tim Hightower (WAS) @ (PHI)– Yes, we know it is hard to sit a running back against the Eagles this year with the way they have performed on defense and the massive void they have at the linebacker position, but Hightower is coming off and injury and a bye week in which he didn’t practice much. Also taking into consideration the way Ryan Torain played last week (19 carries, 135yds, 1TD), you should see the Redskins giving him a chance to shine again leaving Hightower left fighting for his starting position.
–Javhid Best (DET) vs. 49ers The 49ers are the best in the NFL at stopping the run. Look for them to completely shut down Javhid Best this week. They’ve allowed a league lowest average of holding opposing RB’s to a low low 8 points per game. If you have another RB option beside Best this week, you may want to look into it.
WR’s START:
–A.J. Green(CIN) vs. IND- A.J. Green is proving that he is worth the first round pick Cincinnati used on him, the Bengals receiver core is banged up and will remain so for the year unless a trade happens by Tuesday. The Colts are allowing an average of 187 yards a game to wide receivers, and most of it should be going Greens way. Green should find the end zone at least once and put up great yardage regardless.
–Victor Cruz(NYG) vs. BUF– Victor Who? The Giants have seem to have found their outside man to lead receiver Hakeem Nicks, and that unexpected man is Cruz. He has broken 100yds receiving (one 98yd game) and has scored 3 TD’s in the last 3 games, if somehow he is available in your league grab him now and if he is on your team start him and let him shine.
–Darrius Heyward-Bey(OAK) vs. CLE– Cleveland ranks 26th in the league against the pass, and the Raiders need a receiver to step up and take the heat off of Darren McFadden. Heyward-Bey has had 100+ yards his last 2 games and should continue to prove his worth against the Browns.
–Santonio Holmes (NYJ) @ (MIA) Miami has been miserable against the pass this season coming in 29th against wide receivers and in the bottom 5 in every other passing category. Holmes has had some terrible weeks so far this year, but last week he had 80yds receiving and a TD to go with it, he is a veteran player and seems to be back into his groove.
–Dez Bryant (DAL) @ (NE)– Dez Bryant is coming off injury, yet he has a great matchup against the Patriots who are dead last against the pass in the NFL, Bryant coming off a bye week could be explosive against the Patriots secondary as long as Miles Austin doesn’t steal his sunshine.
WR’s SIT:
–Mike Thomas(JAC) @ PIT The Jaguars offense has been a joke through the air, they can’t seem to move the ball to either Mike Thomas or Marcedes Lewis and we don’t see it happening this week against the steel curtain.
-Nate Burleson (Det) @ (SF) Although San Francisco is not the best in the league, they also are not the worst coming in at a 3 way tie for 16th place (Saints and Raiders join them) Burleson has blown multiple passes thrown to him and is slowly losing his spot on the depth chart to the rookie receiver Titus Young who is rapidly becoming the slot receiver the Lions are looking for to counter Calvin Johnson.
-Percy Harvin (MIN) @ (CHI) Harvin is coming off of an injury and is sitting with a Vikings team who have straight havoc in whom they are playing for QB. There are 3 QB options and this will throw off the receiving game for Minnesota.
TE’s START:
-Aaron Hernandez (NE) @ (DAL) We know Brady can spread the ball across the field to almost any one as he has shown over and over, but he does love his two tight ends in the end zone with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. Hernandez had 54yds last week and against the Dallas Defense he should excel and see some red zone action.
–Owen Daniels (HOU) @ BAL We know that we benched Matt Schaub this week, but with pretty good reason. Houston is banged up right now, but we feel they can still march down to get in the red zone, and Owen Daniels might be his best passing option. Look for Daniels to be a target throughout the game.
-Dustin Keller(NYJ) vs. MIA Keller has been unproductive this year, but a struggling Miami secondary should allow some shots thrown Keller’s way.
CHANCE: Heath Miller (PIT) @ (JAC) Heath Miller is a veteran TE who has drastically underperformed this year, but last week he showed a shimmer of light putting up 46 yards and a TD with 3 receptions. Although Big Ben threw 5 touchdowns last week, he should be looking for a big target to hit on goal line runs and Miller is the best option to jump up and make a play on the ball.The Jaguars also rank 30th in the league at points against TE’s.
TE’s SIT:
-Scott Chandler (BUF) @ NYG Giants are ranked 6th in the league against TE’s getting yards and TD’s this year, as much as Fitzpatrick likes to target Chandler in the end zone, the Giants should stay glued to Chandler. Bills will be looking to utilize their receivers in Steve Johnson and David Nelson.
-Kevin Boss (OAK) vs. CLE We get that you probably wouldn’t want to play this guy anyways, but just in case you noticed he put up 10 or so points two weeks ago and were thinking about using him as a bye replacement don’t let that fool you, Boss is not a part of the offensive plan and is mainly used in a blocking roll.
–Kellen Winslow (TB) vs. NO It’s starting to become pretty clear to us that most of the Buccaneers offense have not been reliable fantasy options all season long. This holds true to Kellen Winslow, who has yet to produce one TD in 2011.
K’s START:
–Sebastian Janikowski(OAK) vs. CLE Let’s see…..longest kick of NFL history, scored 3 50 yard field goals, and 2 40 yard field goals…Let’s be honest, if you don’t start him then stop playing Fantasy Football.
–Nick Folk(NYJ) vs. MIA The Jets are destined to score on their rivals in Miami as they may be the worst looking team in the league, Folk is available in most leagues and if you need a buy replacement then he should be a good play.
–Olindo Mare(CAR) @ ATL– Even though Mare is not the best kicker and last week blew it (At least for Brandon’s team) by missing a field goal and just putting up a few miniscule points, Carolina and Atlanta should both be gunning downfield which should give Mare some opportunity to score some points.
–Robbie Gould (CHI) @ (MIN)– The Bears have struggled with their offense all year moving the ball downfield, Gould is one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history and has proven he can hit 50 yard + with extreme accuracy, so he should put some through the horns for your team this week.
K’s SIT:
–Neil Rackers(HOU) @ BAL Houstons Offense is banged up and missing Andre Johnson which is a huge key to their team. Baltimore will not allow much to the Houston offense leaving Rackers a risky play against the Ravens.
–Josh Scobee(JAC) @ PIT Pittsburgh has allowed some of the least points to kickers this season and with the way the Jags have looked this year there won’t be many chances for Scobee to put up shots.
–Shaun Suisam(PIT) @ (JAC)– Go look at his picture and statistics and tell us you want this guy on your fantasy team.
DEF’s START:
–GREEN BAY PACKERS vs. ST. LOUIS RAMS Packers have one of the best run defenses in the league and should put a stop to Steven Jackson on the ground. The Packers have put a hurt on almost all defenses they have played in fantasy.
–CINCINNATI BENGALS vs. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Cincinnati is one of the most underated defenses in the NFL right now and with a destroyed Colts offense the Bengals should have a good shot against making some defensive plays on them.
CHANCE- CHICAGO BEARS VS. MINNESOTA VIKINGS– The Vikings are in a questionable QB situation, with Percy Harvin hurt and Bernard Berrian benched to a lower positions the Bears should bring the heat and create defensive plays against the young QB’s in Minnesota.
DEF’s SIT:
–NEW YORK GIANTS vs. BUFFALO BILLS The Giants have a banged up defensive line which is gonna open up the run for Fred Jackson and slow the blitz which should allow a smart QB in Fitzpatrick (Went to Harvard by the way….only one ever) to find holes in the Giants defense with his speedy receiver core.
–CLEVELAND BROWNS @ OAKLAND RAIDERS The Browns have one of the worst run defenses and the Raiders have one of the best RB’s in the league in Darren Mcfadden, look for this game to be a shootout with not to much action from the Browns defenese
–ST. LOUIS RAMS @ GB I don’t think we need to explain ourselves here 3 words. RAMS! AARON! RODGERS!
BRANDON “TRUST YOUR GUT” PICK– JAY CUTLER (QB)CHI vs. MIN
JUSTIN “TRUST YOUR GUT” PICK– EARNEST GRAHAM (RB)TB vs. NO