SR NFL Week 9: Preview and Predictions

SR NFL Week 9: Preview and Predictions

Featured

 

 

9:30 AM EST

Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (London)

 

In a game where both teams need a win to maintain their playoff hopes, this should be a slobber knocker in London. Deshaun Watson’s coming into this game a little banged up but he’s been playing lights out. The team will be without Will Fuller again which means that Watson will be targeting his main receiver, DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins has been soaking up all the targets and expects to get into the end zone in London against a Jags team that doesn’t have Jalen Ramsey anymore. The Texans defense took a big step back as they lost JJ Watt for the season last weekend and will have their hands full trying to stop Leonard Fournette in London. We all know the offense moves the way Leonard does and with Gardner Minshew slinging that football any and every way look for him to get DJ Chark involved as quickly as possible. This should be a great shootout in London and this game will be huge moving forward for playoff implications.

Score Prediction: Houston Texans Win (38-28)

 

 

1:00 PM EST

Chicago Bears @ Philidelphia Eagles

 

The Chicago Bears have been struggling on the offensive end and will need to figure things out fast. The NFC North Division is stronger than ever and the Bears are being left behind. They will need to continue to use David Montgomery in the running game like they did last week in order to beat the Eagles. Mitch Trubisky hasn’t got the job done throwing the ball this season and he may need to showcase some of that speed with his legs against that Eagles defense. If he can find Allen Robinson and get past that Eagles secondary they could be in good shape. The Eagles have had some locker room issues as of late but will be looking to get back in that winning column ASAP as they need to find a way to get their playmakers the ball in open space. Carson Wentz will need to find Ertz and Jeffrey in the passing game against that Bears defense as it could be tough on the ground for Jordan Howard. Both teams need a win badly and will need to use all three phases of the game to get the win in a matchup that should be rugged and hard-hitting.

Score Prediction: Chicago Bears Win (20-17)

 

Indianapolis Colts @ Pittsburgh Steelers

 

The Colts will be on the road going against the Pittsburgh Steelers who will be without their starting RB James Conner. Conner has an AC Joint Sprain and that will leave the running duties to Jaylen Samuels. The Colts haven’t been able to stop the run but they will try and make Mason Rudolph work hard by trying to beat them in the air. The Colts will be without TY Hilton against the Steelers and this will mean that Jacoby Brissett will depend on his tight ends Ebron and Doyle to come through. The good thing for the Colts is that they will have a healthy Marlon Mack in the backfield. Both defenses have been a little shaky this season and will try to slow down the opposing offenses. This could be the big Juju game that everyone has been waiting on including the Steelers. Without Conner look for the Pittsburgh to rely on the arm of Rudolph if they’re going to get the job done. The Colts are trying to get to 6 wins on the season and the Steelers are trying to stay in the mix in their division so this should be a close one.

Score Prediction: Indianapolis Colts (24-17)

 

Minnesota Vikings @ Kansas City Chiefs

 

Patrick Mahomes has been ruled as questionable for this matchup against the red hot Vikings. With that being said Mahomes has been taking snaps with the 2nd unit and should be ready to go for Week 10. The Chiefs will be going with Matt Moore against the Vikings defense that has come alive in the last couple of weeks. In order for the Chiefs to get a win at home, they will need to get Tyreek Hill involved quickly and in any way they can. Hill should be lined up in the slot and the backfield against Minnesota because they need the ball in their playmaker’s hands. If Moore can find Travis Kelce in the secondary they should have a good outing like last week. This is the Vikings team that we expected especially after last year as they’re playing lights out. The Vikings star wide receiver Adam Thielen will be a game-time but the way they’re playing they might not need him. This Vikings offense has been driven all season by the play of Dalvin Cook. Cook has been able to score anytime he wants and has been a beast in the backfield running/catching. With his play and the addition of Stefon Diggs playing like a pro bowler, it should be a good afternoon for Minnesota fans.

Score Prediction: Minnesota Vikings Win (31-17)

 

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins

 

 

Both the Jets and Dolphins are struggling this season and it’s been tough to watch as a fan of either team. Combined the two teams have 1 win on the season and they’re in a division dominated by the New England Patriots. The Jets will have the upper advantage in this game as they have the better defense. The Jets were listening to calls on their two best players this past week (Adams & Bell) and they will probably come out pissed off while taking it out on the Dolphins. This should be a huge game for Leveon Bell as he has been asking for more touches and this should be the game the Jets offense does just that. Sam Darnold will have all of his weapons on full display and with the lack of effort on Miami’s side, it should be easy pickings. The Dolphins have been struggling all season and this game should no different on the road or at home, it doesn’t matter. It seems like everyone that leaves Miami gets better just ask Kenyan Drake who looks happy in Arizona. The Dolphins need to hope that they have a lot of Fitz-Magic going on at home in this one because they will need it and they will need a huge game from Mark Walton as well.

Score Prediction: New York Jets Win (28-10)

 

Washington Redskins @ Buffalo Bills

 

The Buffalo Bills are looking to bounce back in this game against the Redskins at home. Buffalo has the running game going and they came up just short last week. The Bills will look to use Josh Allen, Devin Singletary, and Frank Gore in this game a lot if they want to succeed against the Redskins. Josh Allen has evolved into an amazing young quarterback and he will be looking for his number one target John Brown in the passing game. This Bills team is very complete and they have a defense that can get it done in the passing game and running. The Redskins have benched Case Keenum and went with Dwayne Haskins for this week in Buffalo. This will be a tough task for a rookie to go into Buffalo to get a win but if it’s going to happen he will need to lean on Adrian Peterson and Terry McLaurin to get through the game. The Redskins still haven’t been able to get Trent Williams on the field yet and that will hurt them against a team hungry for a win to stay in the playoff hunt.

Score Prediction: Buffalo Bills Win (24-7)

 

Tennesee Titans @ Carolina Panthers

 

Kyle Allen has led this Carolina team to 4 wins on the season and if he wants to make it 5 wins he will need to keep feeding Christian McCaffrey. Allen has made some great throws off the weeks but got rocked by the undefeated 49ers last week. He will look to bounce back and get his guy Run CMC back in the mix as they play against a Titans team that is trying to get back into the win column. The Panthers have a lot of playmakers on the offense and will need to try to get Moore & Samuels involved early to get things going in the right direction. A lot of teams game plan for CMC and they need to have an alternate route especially if the Titans defense is on their game early. Christian can easily be in the MVP discussion because he means that much to this team and the way he plays dictates their fate. On the flip side, the Titans are still trying to find their identity with Ryan Tannehill at quarterback now. He’s been able to get the job done but they need a complete game on both sides of the ball as a team and that has yet to happen. They need to get the ball into Derrick Henry’s hands and make sure that they ride his hot hand throughout the game. The Titans have a young receiving core but they have emerged while Ryan has been under center. Both teams are scrappy and will try to get this win any way possible.

Score Prediction: Carolina Panthers Win (30-20)

 

4:05 PM EST

Detriot Lions @ Oakland Raiders 

 

This game has shootout written all over it as both teams like to throw the ball. The Lions have been throwing the ball a lot more because of the injury to Kerryon Johnson. Once he went to the IR it seemed like Matthew Stafford was like it’s time to put on the cape and start throwing like 30+ times per game. The Lions have some great receivers in Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. they will be using them to try to throw off the Raiders secondary. The Lions have some playmakers but they need to be able to have them on the field a lot if they want to win. That being said the defense needs to get to Derek Carr and make sure he doesn’t have time to pick them apart. Carr has Williams, Waller, and Jacobs on the offensive end. The Raiders have shown some glimpses of being a team that can have a lot of potential for the future but being 3-4 on the season they will try to outscore the Lions to win. Both defenses have a lot of injuries and they will try to stop these offenses but it will be a tough task as both teams like to throw a lot.

Score Prediction: Oakland Raiders Win (34-31)

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Seattle Seahawks

 

The last time we saw Jameis Winston he threw 2 touchdowns but also had 2 interceptions. If he’s going to lead his team in Seattle he will need to cut down those interceptions and fumbles. Jameis has shown a lot of growth this season but he will need to trust in his line to give him enough time to get the ball to Godwin and Evans. The Bucs have one of the best WR duos in the NFL and will need them both to step up big time in Seattle. The Bucs running game is hit or miss that’s why Jameis forces a lot of throws but they will need to execute almost perfect going into the land of the 12th man. The Seahawks defense has got better over the weeks with Clowney and Wagner being on the same page so it looks like Jameis could be on the run a lot. On the other side of the Seahawks, you have Russell Wilson who has been playing lights out as one of the MVP candidates. The Bucs defense hasn’t been consistent and Wilson will make it tough on them with every run or throw. Wilson has his own talent but he also has some playmakers in Carson & Lockett. Both of them can beat anyone on the defense at any moment and this team will be even scarier when they get Josh Gordon out there in the next couple weeks.

Score Prediction: Seattle Seahawks Win (31-17)

 

4:25 PM EST

Green Bay Packers @ LA Chargers

 

The Chargers are struggling and playing some of their worst football that we can remember in Phillip Rivers era as the quarterback. It’s crazy that the Chargers are 3-5 but they have one of the most stacked teams on both ends of the ball. The Chargers will need to get the running game going against the Packers. Since Melvin Gordon has come back they haven’t run the ball as much and they’ve been behind so much they needed to pass. It’s nice passing the ball to Keenan Allen and Mike Williams but they need to get back to using their running backs properly. The Chargers defense has been banged up and this isn’t the best spot for them going against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers with the run they were on. The Packers are 7-1 and playing the best ball of the season right now. The dynamic duo of the Aaron’s have been on a tear and it hasn’t been fair on defenses. The Chargers will have to try to stop Aaron Jones and they will need to try and stop Adams if he suits up. This is a tough matchup for a Chargers team that needs a win badly but they will need to earn this one and prove they’re still the same team from last year. This game could go either way but it depends on which Chargers team we see on the field and judging by the past couple of weeks it will be tough to watch if you’re a Chargers fan as it will be tough slowing down Mr. Discount Double Check.

Score Prediction: Green Bay Packers (38-24)

 

Cleveland Browns @ Denver Broncos

 

The Cleveland Browns are in need of a serious win and that may happen on Sunday. It all depends on the Denver Broncos Defense because if they can get to Baker Mayfield before he can get the ball to OBJ or Landry it could be a long day. The bright spot for the Cleveland Browns this season has been Nick Chubb and even though he had a tough outing in New England last week look for him to bounce back. This offense is wrapped around Chubb and when he’s running and catching everything the Browns look really good. The Broncos will need Von Miller to get in the face of Baker all day to make anything happen. The Broncos announced earlier this week that Joe Flacco will be on IR and they will start Brandon Allen. The Browns defense should be licking their chops at the new quarterback and they should be able to make it tough on him. Look for the new quarterback to try and get the ball in his running backs hands as much as possible. The Browns should be in full control of this game and they will need it to get back in the mix in their division if they want to catch the Ravens.

Score Prediction: Cleveland Browns Win (24-13)

 

 

Nov 3, 2019 No Comments
SR Fantasy Football Week 9: Start/Sit & Love/Hate

SR Fantasy Football Week 9: Start/Sit & Love/Hate

Featured

Start:

  • Jonnu Smith, TE, Tennessee Titans

Tennessee looks to be without starting TE Delanie Walker once again, which opens the door for another strong performance from Jonnu Smith. With 9 receptions, 142 yards and one score over the last two weeks, Jonnu Smith is a very viable starter this week. His match up against the Panthers isn’t ideal, but new starting QB Ryan Tannehill has shown that Smith is one of his go-to targets. If you roster Delanie Walker or any TE on a BYE, look no further than Jonnu Smith. 

  • David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears

Coming off of a monster performance last week in the loss vs the Chargers, David Montgomery looks to continue his strong play against the Eagles this week. The Eagles rank 6th in the league against opposing running backs, but Montgomery just logged his most snaps yet in any game. Matt Nagy knows he needs Montgomery on the field, especially if they want to establish any presence on the ground. Tarik Cohen will still be a factor in the passing game, but as long as the Bears aren’t down big early, Montgomery will be the Bears RB you want. 

Sit:

  • LeSean McCoy, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

With four straight games of less than 10 Fantasy Points (.5 PPR), there is no way you can trust McCoy in fantasy. It seems as though Matt Moore will remain the starter in week 9 against the Vikings, which doesn’t help McCoy’s value whatsoever. The Vikings defense has been sturdy against the run, ranking 5th in the league against opposing RB’s, but their secondary has struggled heavily. WIth this in mind, McCoy should remain on your bench in week 9. 

  • Peyton Barber/Ronald Jones II, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With a match up against the Seahawks in Seattle, the Bucs will be leaning on the passing game to produce points. Tampa Bay holds the 5th highest pass percentage when on the road, which shows how their play calling has been this year. Expect the Seahawks to jump out to an early lead, with Jameis having to air it out to make it close in the second half. 

Love:

  • Josh Jacobs, RB, Oakland Raiders

With four straight games with over 15 carries, Josh Jacobs has a solidified floor each and every week. His week 9 matchup offers enticing fantasy value, as the Lions rank 31st against RB’s. His current fantasy projection is 16.5 points (.5 PPR) which is already high, but expect to see a lot of Jacobs this week. Expect Jacobs to total over 100 yards and at least one touchdown here against the struggling Lions defense. 

  • Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys

In a primetime match up against the reeling Giants, I love Cooper against the 3rd worst defense against opposing WR’s. Cooper has totaled over 12.4 points in all but two performances this year, one of which he got hurt early in the game. Expect Cooper to exceed his projection at 12.6, with around 100 total yards and a touchdown. 

Hate:

  • Mark Ingram, RB, Baltimore Ravens

It’s tough to have faith starting anyone against the Patriots, as their defense has been historic so far this season. Mark Ingram has been great so far this year for the Ravens, but his snap and touch count per game has been on the decline the last four weeks. With a lower projection of 10.8, I still can’t see Ingram getting to double digits unless he falls into the end zone. If anyone will score on the ground this week, it will be Lamar Jackson.

  • Dwayne Haskins, QB, Washington Redskins

With Haskins being named the week 9 starter and a match up against the Bills in Buffalo, the question of Haskins fantasy value becomes relevant. Although he definitely has the skills to produce, this week won’t be it. The Bills have one of the best defensive units in the league, ranking 5th against QB’s. Stay away from Haskins for now, as there are many better QB options on the waiver wire. 

 

Nov 2, 2019 No Comments
BREAKING NEWS: Seattle Seahawks Claim Josh Gordon

BREAKING NEWS: Seattle Seahawks Claim Josh Gordon

Featured

Josh Gordon suffered a bone bruise to his knee chasing after a New York Giant defensive lineman in what would ultimately become his final game with the New England Patriots. His former team traded for Mohamed Sanu and designated rookie wide receiver N’Keal Harry to return from IR and that made Gordon expendable.

New England released him now that he was healthy enough to get back on the field. Since he was released after the trade deadline, he was subjected to waivers which means that the worse the record the higher they were in the pecking order to potentially claim Gordon.

The Seattle Seahawks are currently 6-2, tied for the fifth-best record in the league. That means many teams passed on the chance to add him.

Russell Wilson has been carrying the franchise on offense and even though the team drafted DK Metcalf in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Gordon represents the most talented target that Wilson has had in his time in the NFL.

With his acquisition coming at the tail-end of this week of practice before Sunday’s game it is unlikely that Gordon takes the field this weekend. However, Seattle doesn’t play until Monday in Week 10 and if all goes right then the newly acquired Gordon could play then.

Nov 1, 2019 No Comments
BREAKING NEWS: Kwon Alexander Out for the Season

BREAKING NEWS: Kwon Alexander Out for the Season

Featured

The San Francisco 49ers held on against the Arizona Cardinals in their 28-25 Thursday Night Football victory that moved them to 8-0. While their record may still be unblemished, their vaunted defense just took a big hit as an MRI revealed that linebacker Kwon Alexander suffered a torn pectoral muscle.

Alexander was a big-money offseason addition to the team that was coming off a knee injury. However, San Francisco was proven right during the first half of the 2019 NFL season as he was a huge reason for the defense’s performance to date.

Last night, the Cardinals scored an 88-yard touchdown after Alexander exited, which made it a one possession game late.

Without Alexander it will be interesting to see if anyone else can step into his cleats. He is all over the field for defensive coordinator, Robert Salah and made the big plays when needed. He injured himself stopping Kenyan Drake one-yard short of a first down on a 3rd and 17 play in the third quarter.

Nov 1, 2019 No Comments
BREAKING NEWS: Washington Redskins Name Dwayne Haskins as Starter for Week 9

BREAKING NEWS: Washington Redskins Name Dwayne Haskins as Starter for Week 9

Featured

The news that all Washington Redskins fans have been awaiting was announced today, rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins has been named the team’s starting quarterback for Week 9.

After a couple of games worth of mop-up duty, Haskins will get his first opportunity as a starter. However, it might not be THE move as Colt McCoy is being named the backup and Case Keenum remains in the concussion protocol. It could just be that the lack of availability has forced interim head coach, Bill Callahan’s hand.

Awaiting Haskins will be the Buffalo Bills defense. Though they were just torn apart at home by the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bills defense has been very strong under Sean McDermott. This is a big test for the rookie and if he can keep his head above water during this game it could lead to him becoming the full-time starter regardless of the health of the other quarterbacks on the roster.

Nov 1, 2019 No Comments
Primetime Preview: San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals (TNF Week 9)

Primetime Preview: San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals (TNF Week 9)

Featured

The surprise of the NFL season has been the undefeated San Francisco 49ers who enter Week 9 with a record of 7-0. Jimmy Garoppolo is back and healthy this year and it seems like he was the missing piece to unlocking this team’s potential. Things don’t rest only on the right arm of the quarterback, the offense has been one of the most dominant run teams this season. On Sunday, they completely embarrassed the Carolina Panthers by scoring 50 points and looked like the clear class of the NFC. They now have a short week and they get to go on the road for a divisional game against the Arizona Cardinals. Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray are the two calling the shots now and the results to date have been mixed to date. Things didn’t start off great but in their last four games, they have gone 3-1. Murray isn’t exactly taking the league by storm but he is playing exceptionally well for a rookie quarterback. The new offense brought in by Kingsbury hasn’t exactly turned the NFL upside-down but it has allowed them to get the most out of Murray. A win tonight could really cement them as one of the top young head coach and quarterback duos.

QB Matchup: Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Kyler Murray

Image result for jimmy garoppolo"

Image result for kyler murray cardinals"

Ever since being traded from the New England Patriots to the Niners, Garoppolo has shown that above all else, he is a winner. In San Francisco, he’s amassed a 13-2 record as a starter. Regardless of what numbers he puts in the box scores, the only thing people will judge him on is the wins and losses that get accredited to him when he calls it quits. With Kyle Shanahan as his head coach, they have created one of the best offenses in the NFL this season. As was the case in his other stops, a strong running game complemented with play-action passing has helped to spark the resurgence of the 49ers this season. The young quarterback is still prone to bad throws and turnovers occasionally but when he’s clicking he looks really good. Murray, on the other hand, hasn’t really strayed too much from his norm. Unlike his time with Lincoln Riley and the Oklahoma Sooners, he hasn’t been destroying opponents with record-setting aerial displays. However, he’s been consistent, completing 20-plus passes in each of his first six games. The potential is there for him to live up to the hype that helped lead him to become the number one pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

RB Matchup: Kenyan Drake vs. Tevin Coleman

Image result for kenyan drake cardinals"

Image result for tevin coleman 49ers"

Running backs have been key in both offenses so far this season. The Cardinals started the year off with David Johnson and Chase Edmonds compromising their two most-used players in the backfield. Yet, Johnson missed Week 8 and Edmonds was hurt during that very game. Arizona was aggressive on the market and quickly pounced on former Miami Dolphin running back Kenyan Drake. Drake had lost his starting spot in South Beach but due to circumstances he now has to be the go-to guy on the ground for his new team and it begins with tonight’s game. San Francisco should have no such problems. They average a 181.1 yards per game on the ground, which is second-best in the NFL this season. Tevin Coleman is their main guy to turn to in the trenches but they are just as comfortable handing the ball off to Raheem Mosert or Matt Breida and expecting similar production. Look for the 49ers to try and get the ground game established first and then pick apart the Arizona defense when they load the box in an attempt to slow them down.

WR Matchup: Emmanuel Sanders vs. Larry Fitzgerald

Image result for emmanuel sanders 49ers"

Image result for larry fitzgerald"

One player (Larry Fitzgerald) has seemingly been with the same team forever and the other (Emmanuel Sanders) just was brought in via trade before the deadline. Fitzgerald has miraculously put together a certified Hall of Fame career despite a past-his-prime Kurt Warner being his best quarterback he’s shared the field with, With Murray coming in, he’s been rejuvenated and is looking like the player of old who would on routinely make the impossible catches look simple. Any rookie would want a veteran like Fitzgerald on their team as the veteran is more than qualified to show any player the in’s and out’s of what to expect on an NFL field. Sanders provides San Francisco with a top-level receiving threat that the team had yet to find as youngsters Dante Pettis and Deebo Samuel continued to grow and develop. With the Broncos, Sanders was running a system orchestrated by the Niners former quarterback’s coach so he’s been able to get up to speed rather quickly in his new surroundings. He can play any of the positions out wide making him a valuable commodity for the team.

TE Matchup: George Kittle vs. Charles Clay

Image result for george kittle"

Image result for charles clay cardinals"

No disrespect to Charles Clay but the Arizona Cardinals have been more known for their inability to defend tight ends then what their own are able to do in games. Clay had some nice seasons with the Buffalo Bills in the past and is serviceable for the Cardinals but San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Salah is unlikely to have spent much time game planning to slow him down. For the Niners, George Kittle was the team’s best receiver prior to the addition of Sanders. Kittle comes from Iowa (aka Tight End U) and has been a revelation for Shanahan’s team these last two seasons. He’s no Rob Gronkowski or Travis Kelce but he is able to combine good catching and blocking skills in one player that makes it hard for the opposing team to key in on his actions for any tip as to what the team might be trying to do in a given formation. Look for Kittle to be very active in this matchup.

DEF Matchup: Nick Bosa vs. Chandler Jones

Image result for nick bosa stats"

Image result for chandler jones"

With the second overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the 49ers took defensive end Nick Bosa out of Ohio State. Bosa comes from a family with deep roots in the league–his dad and his brother have both played in the NFL–yet he has been in a league of his own as a rookie. He is as disruptive of a presence as the NFL has had entered the league in some time. He’s a legit candidate for both Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year this season. Given San Francisco’s previous investment in its defensive line through the draft, the fact that they went after Bosa with their most recent draft pick speaks volumes to what they saw in him. He’s now showing that promise to everyone on a weekly basis. The Cardinals have a phenomenal defensive end in their own right in Chandler Jones. Jones was acquired via trade from the New England Patriots in 2017. In his time in the desert, he’s racked up 49.5 sacks compared to just 36 in four seasons with the Patriots. If he can get into the San Francisco backfield early and often tonight he could be very disruptive to what Shanahan is trying to do.

PREDICTION: 49ers 33 , Cardinals 17

Oct 31, 2019 No Comments