Week 6 matchup predictions - NFL2K10

JL vs. DJ
Yahoo projected score - JL 133.79, DJ 114.86
Prediction - JL, primarily because Drew Brees should have a bigger day against Tampa than Shaun Hill will have against the Giants. DJ also may not get much production from his running backs, Mike Tolbert and Deji Karim. His receivers (Andre Johnson, Hakeem Nicks and Malcolm Floyd) and top tight end (Antonio Gates) are excellent and I think he has a good chance to make the playoffs, but this is not his week.

SS vs. WC
Yahoo projected score - SS 133.28, WC 127.6
Prediction - SS. Tony Romo and Miles Austin will put up decent numbers even though Dallas will have a hard time beating the Vikings. Kansas City will be tempted to throw a little more than usual against Houston, which could benefit Dwayne Bowe. Heath Miller should have his best game of the season with Ben Roethlisberger back in action for the Steelers. Calvin Johnson is also a big question mark for WC.

Roe vs. KF
Yahoo projected score - CR 140.56, 112.51
Prediction - Roe. I thought last week was the week he would bounce back and get a victory. Didn't happen because his opponent scored 40 more than its season average and dropped 150 on him. Roe's opponents have scored big all season. Looking at KF's lineup I can see how it could happen again, but I don't think it will. Roe should benefit this week from Jay Cutler's return. Chris Johnson should have a big game against Jacksonville. The 49ers have made a commitment to getting Michael Crabtree the ball more. The Packers have done the same with Greg Jennings.

ML vs. DB
Yahoo projected score - ML 131.49, DB 113.15
Prediction - DB. ML can count on Adrian Peterson, but Tom Brady and Wes Welker will have trouble against the Ravens. DB will pick up the win in a close contest behind Frank Gore and Vernon Davis, who will help the 49ers win their first game of the season. Matt Schaub should also have more success against Kansas City than Peyton Manning did a week ago.

TS vs. RG
Yahoo projected score - TS 125.66, RG 123.91
Prediction - RG. Tough one to call. TS has three players, Rivers, Marshall and Jones-Drew, who could each go off for 30 points in any given week. The least likely is Jones-Drew and I think Tennessee will be able to limit him this week. Look for a down defensive week from the Jets, so RG could see 300-plus yards from Kyle Orton. Randy Moss, after another week of practice with Minnesota, will score 1-2 TDs against the Cowboys and have 20-plus fantasy points.

-BG

Week 5 matchup predictions - NFL2K10

After a bye week in week 4 to rest and regroup, I have resumed my weekly picks.

DJ vs. MS
Yahoo projected score - DJ 126.91, MS 117.30
Prediction - DJ, behind big games from Andre Johnson, Hakeem Nicks and Antonio Gates. MS won't have it again this week for the second time in a row - Expect very little from Lee Evans, Stephen Williams and Carnell Williams.

JL vs. WC
Yahoo projected score - JL 139.41, WC 122.78
Prediction - WC in a close one. JL is cruising this season, averaging 150-plus points per game, but I see a letdown coming this week. Austin Collie is banged up, as is Joseph Addai. WC should be able to count on big-time production from Anquan Boldin, Calvin Johnson and Dustin Keller.

Roe vs. SS
Yahoo projected score - Roe 145.82, SS 123.52
Prediction - Roe. SS is in 5th place despite the 10th highest points total in the league. Roe has the highest points against by 20 per game. These trends will not continue and this is the week they begin to correct themselves. SS shouldn't expect much from Greg Olsen and Matt Forte and Fred Jackson is a backup running back thrust into a starting role on a terrible team.

ML vs. RG
Yahoo projected score - ML 105.74, RG 104.40
Prediction - ML. He has a bunch of byes this week, including Tom Brady, Wes Welker and Hines Ward, but still has more than serviceable players in nearly all positions. RG has Kyle Orton and Eddie Royal going against the Ravens, Shonn Greene is lagging behind LT on the depth chart in NY and Desean Jackson and Lesean McCoy are on a Kevin Kolb-led offense. This should be a low-scoring match, but ML will prevail.

TS vs. KF
Yahoo projected score - TS 118.41, KF 102.40
Prediction - TS behind Philip Rivers and Maurice Jones-Drew, who should put up very big numbers against Buffalo. KF will be limited because Jahvid Best and Ryan Mathews are still recovering from injuries.

-BG

Week 3 fantasy football matchup predictions - NFL2K10

Here are my week 3 matchup predictions.

Symbols vs. Roe
Yahoo projected score: Symbols 130.46, Roe 129.41
Prediction - Roe: Too many weapons - Fitzgerald, Jennings, Chris Johnson, Arian Foster. No way he has two consecutive bad weeks. Symbols is averaging less than 113 points per game, which won't get it done. He'll likely have to best that average by 20-25 to have any chance to win.

The Yellow Dart vs. First Down Syndrome
Yahoo projected score: TYD 140.95, FDS 135.27
Prediction - TYD: He's been a higher scoring team the first two weeks by nearly 20 points per game. He's the second highest scoring team in the league and his players have much better matchups. FDS's projection is too high.

Roe is a Jerk vs. McKinney Maulers
Yahoo projected score: McKinney Maulers 128.25, Roe is a Jerk 126.48
Prediction - McKinney: Aaron Rodgers will have a huge game against Chicago, but that's really the only safe bet for big-time production on Roe is a Jerk's squad. McKinney has Matt Schaub and Frank Gore and a bunch of others that are consistent contributors week after week.

Lost a bet with Mike vs. Hamski
Yahoo projected score: Lost a bet with Mike 133.03, Hamski 113.65
Prediction - Lost a bet with Mike: I liked DJ's team after the draft and although I didn't like it in either of the first two weeks, it came through last week with 138 points even though he left an injured Beanie Wells in his starting lineup. Hamski has four players who could have big weeks (Randy Moss, DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and Tony Gonzalez), but after that I think points are going to be sparse.

redhypocycloid vs. Ribs-N-Whiskey
Yahoo projected score: redhypocycloid 129.13, Ribs-N-Whiskey 111.87
Prediction - redhypocycloid: Ribs-N-Whiskey put up 157 points last week, but 51 of it was from Jahvid Best. That probably won't happen again this week. He's also without Pierre Garcon and Ryan Mathews this week, so it's a bit of a make-shift lineup. I like redhypocycloid behind Brady and Welker (vs. Buffalo) and Adrian Peterson (vs. Detroit), but keep in mind redhypocycloid loses in crazy ways. He lost in week 2 by .38 when Marques Colston caught a 30-yard pass with 18 seconds left. He better blow out Ribs-N-Whiskey, because if it's close going into Monday night, history says the Green Bay defense will get enough points for Ribs-N-Whiskey to hand redhypocycloid another excruciating loss.

-BG

Week 2 fantasy football matchup predictions - NFL2K10

A bunch of symbols vs. First Down Syndrome
Yahoo projected score: Symbols 119.16, FDS 117.12
My predicted winner: FDS

The Yellow Dart vs. Ribs-n-Whiskey
Yahoo projected score: TYD 137.84, Ribs 122.5
Prediction: TYD

Roe vs. McKinney Maulers
Yahoo projected score: Roe 132.52, McKinney Maulers 131.49
Prediction: Roe

Roe is a Jerk vs. Hamski
Yahoo projected score: Jerk store 128.32, Hamski 116.4
Prediction: Jerk store

Lost a bet with Mike vs. Low Country Terps
Yahoo projected score: Terps 129.23, Mike's door mat 124.8
Prediction: Terps


-BG

Saints-Vikings tonight!

The season is finally here and what a great game to start things off. I can't see Minnesota winning this one on the road against the defending champs. I like Favre and the Vikings and I think they're being sold a bit short in preseason predictions, especially compared to two teams they dominated last year (Packers and Cowboys), but this one has New Orleans victory written all over it. I expect the Saints will be ready to go and very sharp offensively. What's everyone think? Who will win? What will be the score? Who will have the bigger game - Favre or Brees?

-BG

VINCENT JACKSON LATEST

This has all the makings of a deal for the skins. Shanahan tried to get Jackson while in Denver. They have the money to sign to a longer term deal than say the Rams and with a #1 still next season to address the running back position this could be a long term offensive solution to go with the commitment they'll make to McNabb:

Just trade Jackson - SignOnSanDiego.com

Week 1 fantasy football matchup analysis - NFL2K10 - Part 3

The highly anticipated part 3 of the week 1 analysis is below. The defending champ, two other former champions and a newcomer to the league are included. We’re two days away from the Vikings-Saints tilt, an integral game for the first of the two matchups we'll review in this segment.

MS vs. JL

MS’s projected starting lineup*:

QB – Brett Favre, Min (@NO)

RB – Ray Rice, Bal (@NYJ), Cedric Benson, Cin (@NE)

WR – Roddy White, Atl (@Pit), Lee Evans, Buf (Mia), Greg Camarillo, Min (@NO)

TE – Jermichael Finley, GB (@Phi)

Flex – Carnell Williams, Tam (Cle)

K – Sebastian Janikowski, Oak (@Ten)

Def – New York Giants (Car)

JL’s projected starting lineup*:

QB – Drew Brees, NO (Min)

RB – Joseph Addai, Ind (@Hou), Marion Barber, Dal (@Wash)

WR – Reggie Wayne, Ind (@Hou), Donald Driver, GB (@Phi), Austin Collie, Ind (@Hou)

TE – Dallas Clark, Ind (@Hou)

Flex – Chris Chambers, KC (SD)

K – Jeff Reed, Pit (Atl)

Def – New York Jets (Bal)

*opponents in parentheses

Analysis:

The marquee matchup here is at QB, where Favre and Brees will square off Thursday in a rematch of January’s NFC championship game. Slight advantage to JL with Brees. Favre will be working without his top receiver, Sidney Rice, and Chester Taylor (now with Chicago), who was a very good situational back and caught 44 passes in 2009. As good as Favre is, these are two valuable offensive pieces he won’t be able to utilize. We won’t know the full impact until the games start, but I can’t imagine Minnesota’s passing game will be quite as sharp as it was last season. At running back, advantage MS. Rice is a stud. Look for him to contribute significantly even against the Jets’ stout defense. Benson should be solid, too. JL’s running backs are both potential busts. They have no upside and though they play on very good offenses, neither are top three go-to options on their respective teams. WR, advantage JL. Wayne, Driver and Collie is a better trio than White, Evans and Camarillo or anyone else MS can bring off the bench. Push at tight end. Finley should be awesome this season. I like him against the Eagles. Clark had two big games against the Texans in 2009. He is the most likely of the Colts’ offensive players to have a big game this weekend, speaking of which.... JL has four players from the Colts and although Peyton Manning can spread the wealth, putting this many fantasy eggs in one basket is a tricky proposition. All things considered, this is a close one to call. MS could have a big advantage at RB. Because of that and also because I’m not convinced all of JL’s Colts will produce this week, I have to go with Favre and Co. Pick: MS

Glacc vs. KF

Glacc’s projected starting lineup*:

QB – Peyton Manning, Ind (@Hou)

RB – Steven Jackson, StL (Ari), Reggie Bush, NO (Min)

WR – Marques Colston, NO (Min), Percy Harvin, Min (@NO), Dez Bryant, Dal (@Wash)

TE – Brent Celek, Phi (GB)

Flex – Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG (Car)

K – David Akers, Phi (GB)

Def – Dallas (@Wash)

KF’s projected starting lineup*:

QB – Eli Manning, NYG (Car)

RB – Ryan Mathews, SD (@KC), Rashard Mendenhall, Pit (Atl)

WR – Steve Smith, Car (@NYG), Mike Sims-Walker, Jac (Den), Pierre Garcon, Ind (@Hou)

TE – Kellen Winslow, Tam (Cle)

Flex – Jahvid Best, Det (@Chi)

K – Garrett Hartley, NO (Min)

Def – Green Bay (@Phi)

*opponents in parentheses

Analysis:

I enter this season having won in 2009 and I like my team. I just don’t love it, at least not yet. It’s deep and a repeat is not out of the question, but there are definitely some things that remain to be seen. Peyton Manning, Jackson, Colston, Harvin and Celek should be a strong foundation. I’m hopeful that Bush, Bryant and Bradshaw will all contribute in week 1, but each is far from a certainty. Bush is starting because I’m leery about using Knowshon Moreno, who’s been dealing with a hamstring injury. I’m leaning toward starting Bryant as my WR3, but something tells me I should go with one of the two Mike Williams instead. Bryant will be good. Will he be good in week 1? I don’t know, but I think he’ll take a few weeks to get into a rhythm and to the point where he can be counted on for solid production week in, week out. The same can probably be said about each Mike Williams, which is a dilemma that I’ll have to sort out by this weekend. KF is one of two new-comers to the league and he has a good team. Eli Manning is not an elite fantasy QB like his brother, but you could do a lot worse. He’s a Super Bowl winning QB in the prime of his career on a well-coached team with weapons at wide receiver. Not bad. In a year when RB depth seems to be at an all-time low, KF has three who could end up being in the top dozen in fantasy scoring at their positions. However, two of them, Mathews and Best, are rookies so expectations should remain realistic. Isaac Redman was named the Steelers’ short-yardage back, which hurts Mendenhall’s value a little, but I just don’t see it having a major impact on his overall production. Steve Smith (Carolina), Sims-Walker and Garcon might be the most underrated wide receiver trio in our league. Kellen Winslow is capable of being in the top handful of tight ends every week. It’s hard to find a weakness on this team. I won’t predict the winner of this one since it’s my matchup, but I welcome everyone else’s feedback.

-BG