Checking Down:
-Seattle is not a good team. I am not sure who the RB is, and Carroll should just punt this season and put in Whitehurst to see if he can do this. However, he won’t because the NFC West is so bad, and they could win it at 7-9.
-New England cannot run or stop the pass. Neither is a death mark for a team with Super aspirations, not in the NO, ARI, and IND were in the last two Super Bowls era, but it is troubling. I still say they come out of the East, but there are problems there, and I think they are a first round exit.
-Houston may be the most complete team in the league. Most of their best players are spread across both skill and line positions, and in their primes, under contract. Just saying, it may ACTUALLY be their year to jump the Colts. Bet the Colts get them in the playoffs though.
-There’s Peyton Manning! Fantasy note: Reggie Wayne caught 3 catches for 56 yards and a TD on a drive in the 4th quarter when they were up multiple TDs. This is why we invest heavily in Colts. Just remember to trade them around week 10.
-Don’t look now, but Denver has a cream puff week 12-15 schedule (STL, KC, ARI, OAK). Try to trade for Orton, Moreno, Royal, and Demaryius Thomas (yes, Thomas is viable as flex/3WR in that time, especially in deeper leagues).
-David Garrad is done. He had his time being a game manager, and that didn’t really work anyway. They need a QB, and, I can’t believe the words are coming out of my mouth, maybe should have selected Tim Tebow. You can now light me on fire.
-Oakland invents dysfunctional. When you are clamoring for a guy who reminds people of a “shorter, slower” Jeff Garcia, things are BAD.
-Dallas will be okay, but needs to pick a running back and run it more. Felix gained some muscle, gaining a little strength and losing a lot of explosiveness.
-The Eagles will regret the Mike Vick appointment. When he throws for 3 picks and rushes for under 20 in some game in two weeks, we’ll see Kolb again.
-I feel so bad for Detroit. However, I’ll tell you, they will have a surprising 2011, they just need a few more linemen and some luck with health. Best is clearly the real deal, and could have a Chris Johnson-like season next year with a decent team around him.
-The Vikings are done, put a fork in them. With their lack of corners and passing, they can’t come back in a game. That’s a problem when you play 4 games versus Green Bay and Chicago.
-Well, at least Carolina is embracing the youth movement with Clausen. Sorry, Steve Smith owners. Carolina should look at trading DeAngelo, he’s gone at the end of year anyways.
-Pierre Thomas looks AWESOME for fantasy right now. Because of the wealth in NO, he still can’t be considered elite. However, he was a useful starter before, and now the back getting his TDs is in PHI and the guy who gets his catches has a broken leg for at least 6 weeks. Just saying, 100 total yards, 3 catches, .5 TDs a week is not out of the question.
-Frank Gore may miss time and have some bad games due to play calling, but in real life, he’s a top 5 back, and I’d love to have him on a real time.
-Clinton Portis has lost a lot of shine in fantasy and real life, but he is a warrior. He works hard in between the tackles (not his strong suit), pass blocks extraordinarily well, and if you saw his down-the-field block versus Houston, you can see his effort.
Going Long:
All of my larger topics this week deal with the QB position. Nothing is more important than that position and the play you get from it. Ask Minnesota right now.
Chicago – So, you give the QB a coordinator that will tailor the game plan to his strengths and teach him, and he succeeds? What a new concept. Oh wait, that is what Brady, Manning, and Brees have had for years? Right, they did, and they win. Will Chicago maintain the hot start? Probably not. Will the cold weather in Chicago eventually make the passing suffer? Probably yes. However, they will be at least competitive, and at or above .500. Imagine if the line blocked…..
Baltimore - Joe Flacco is the key to Baltimore. If he’s good, they are a 10 win at least second round playoff team. If he’s great, they are the class of the AFC. If he stinks, they are a 2 win team. It is that simple. This team has good receivers and tight ends, but they are all possession receivers. They require the QB to read the coverages and put the ball on target to WRs running routes. Flacco needs to be decisive and accurate. Last week he was neither. They will not win unless he is competent. And, if he is great, I stand by my Super Bowl prediction for the Ravens
Green Bay – Aaron Rodgers hasn’t been outstanding, just good. And, he is adjusting a new running game (slash no running game). Yet, the team still looks great. Unlike my Baltimore pick, I am feeling good about my Packers-for-the-Super Bowl pick. Rodgers will get there, and the results will be awesome. We are talking about a potential 13-14 win team, with Rodgers absolutely lighting it up.
Cleveland - Here is what your options are if you don’t have a clear QB set in stone for now and the next few years. If your team is contending, start a good QB who can make a few plays when needed and manage otherwise. If you are going to stink anyways, start a young QB with promise who needs on the job training time to learn the system and get experience. For the Browns, the first QB is Seneca Wallace. The second is Colt McCoy. Notice Jake Delhomme shouldn’t be involved here. Can someone tell Mangini this?
My picks column will come tomorrow.
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