NFL Week Three Preview
By Brett Malamud
-Buccaneers (0-2) at Falcons (1-1), Thursday @ 8:25 PM EST
The Buccaneers travel one state over to the confines of the Georgia Dome. The Falcons come in after their offense was virtually shut down by Cincinnati last week. I think that coming home will heal the woes and that Matt Ryan will come back strong tonight. Verdict: Falcons
-Chargers (1-1) at Bills (2-0), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
I watched the Bills game last week and there wasn’t much excitement, other than the Sammy Watkins touchdown play and the C.J. Spiller kickoff return for a touchdown. I think that after taking down Seattle last week, the Chargers should roll through the Bills. Verdict: Chargers
-Cowboys (1-1) at Rams (1-1), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
The Cowboys beat the Titans last week and DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant looked great. The Rams third-string quarterback Austin Davis went 22/29 for 235 yards and no interceptions, as St. Louis slightly edged out Tampa Bay. If Davis continues at that pace this week, it could make for a close game, but I’m still going with the Cowboys. Verdict: Cowboys
-Redskins (1-1) at Eagles (2-0), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
Kirk Cousins is now at the helm for the Redskins and it’ll definitely be noticeable. Cousins went 22/33 and completed his first 12 passes. Not bad for a guy coming in cold off of the bench. I don’t think they’ll get past the Eagles though, after they’ve rolled as of late. The duel back combo of LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles continues to be the story and should be it again this week. Verdict: Eagles
-Texans (2-0) at Giants (0-2), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
The Giants stink. They took a loss to the Drew Stanton led Arizona Cardinals after quarterback Carson Palmer was announced as inactive for the game. The G-Men turned the ball over the ball four times, much to the disappointment of head coach Tom Coughlin. The Texans, on the other hand, won in Oakland last week. I’m gonna take the Texans here because the defense will be too strong for the Giants. Verdict: Texans
-Vikings (1-1) at Saints (0-2), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
The Saints are 0-2. Seriously? They’re so great but have had some not so great moments. A last second field goal decided their fate last week in Cleveland. I’ve got to take them here, especially after the beat down that the Patriots gave Minnesota. Verdict: Saints
-Titans (1-1) at Bengals (2-0), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
The Titans couldn’t find a way to beat the Cowboys. Jake Locker showed some promise, throwing for 234 yards with a touchdown. The Bengals come in fresh off a win at home against the Falcons, and my belief is that they’ll stay undefeated after this week. Verdict: Bengals
-Ravens (1-1) at Browns (1-1), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
The Browns shocked the Saints last week, winning on a field goal in the final seconds. Baltimore came together after losing Ray Rice and didn’t allow a touchdown to the Steelers last week on Thursday Night Football. Still, Joe Flacco only threw for 166 yards. I think the Browns continue to shock and take this game in another close one. Verdict: Browns
-Packers (1-1) at Lions (1-1), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
The Packers were down 21-3 to the New York Jets. They came all the way back, beating the Jets 31-24. Aaron Rodgers looked pretty invisible in the first quarter and a bit of the second quarter, but powered back in the second half and finished the day off with 346 passing yards and three touchdowns. The Lions showed that Megatron was human, as Calvin Johnson could not be found in the end zone last week. Instead, the lone Lions touchdown went to Fullback Jed Collins. I think the Packers stay hot and win this one. Verdict: Packers
Calvin Johnson looks to get back in the end zone this week vs. the Packers (Via Getty)
-Colts (0-2) at Jaguars (0-2), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
The Colts lost…to the Eagles. And I say it that way because the Eagles looked fantastic. But the Colts looked good too. They were edged out at the last second and so the loss might sting a bit, but I know they’ll come back strong this week against the Jaguars, who were slaughtered by Washington last week. Verdict: Colts
-Raiders (0-2) at Patriots (1-1), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
There shouldn’t be much debate here. The Patriots woke up last week, and beat down the Vikings by a score of 30-7. They’ll take on the Raiders in what could be an ugly result. Verdict: Patriots
-49ers (1-1) at Cardinals (2-0), Sunday @ 4:05 PM EST
I have been and am still pushing hard on this Cardinals defense. I’ve said it all along, I really like their defense. They forced four Giants turnovers last week at MetLife Stadium. This will be their toughest test yet, as they take on the 49ers. The Niners, however, didn’t look right at home in the second half of the inaugural game of their new stadium. Instead, quarterback Colin Kaepernick forced passes throughout and the Bears rallied to beat them. I think that the woes will stop and that Kaepernick will lead his team to the victory. Verdict: 49ers
-Broncos (2-0) at Seahawks (1-1), Sunday @ 4:25 PM EST
This is my matchup of the week. A rematch of last season’s Super Bowl sees the Broncos headed to Seattle to face the Seahawks. The Seahawks took a loss last week to the Chargers. Marshawn Lynch was not much of a factor, only rushing for 36 yards. Wes Welker is back this week after the NFL and NFLPA agreed on a new drug policy, freeing him from the remaining four games on his previous suspension. I think that the attention on Welker should free up Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas. I like the Broncos this week to quiet the 12th man. Verdict: Broncos
-Chiefs (0-2) at Dolphins (1-1), Sunday @ 4:25 PM EST
The Chiefs almost took down Peyton Manning and the rest of the Denver Broncos last week, but they didn’t. Instead they dropped to 0-2 and their defense has allowed 50 points through only two games. On the other side of the field will be the Miami Dolphins, who shocked everyone back in week one, when they took down the New England Patriots. Last week was a different story and they couldn’t get anything going, taking the loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Chiefs are desperate for a win in the competitive AFC West, and I think they’ll get their first of the year here. Verdict: Chiefs
-Steelers (1-1) at Panthers (2-0), Sunday @ 8:30 PM EST
The return of Cam Newton brought a great performance by the Carolina Panthers offense. Newton was 22/34 for 281 yards and a touchdown as he defeated “Donkey Kong Suh and [his] fellow Auburn teammate Nick Fairley.” The Panthers look ahead now to this week’s matchup at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football. Simply put, the Steelers couldn’t score a touchdown last week on Thursday Night Football. This week they’ll play their second game in a row in a primetime slot. I think that they’ll lose this one as well, and the nation will see the flaws of this struggling team. Verdict: Panthers
-Bears (1-1) at Jets (1-1), Monday @ 8:30 PM EST
Ah, the Jets. Many of you know how much I love the Jets, and how I continue to root for them, even in the darkest of times. Well, last week was one of those times. The Jets went up 14-0 within the first seven minutes of the game. Then, the Jets were up 21-3 in the middle of the second quarter when things started to unfold. Capped off by an 80 yard laser to Jordy Nelson for a touchdown, the Jets collapsed and lost 31-24. As far as bright spots, there were not many. Eric Decker looked good, but how long until defenses double team him on every play? Chris Johnson played an awful game, and finished the day with 21 yards on 12 carries. Instead, the running back who looked the best was Chris Ivory, who had just 43 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. I’m not sure they’ll bounce back this week though, facing the Chicago Bears. The Bears had three fourth-quarter touchdowns to take down the 49ers. I don’t think that the Jets secondary can handle Brandon Marshall, who scored three touchdowns last week. Jay Cutler is 8-4 on Monday Night Football with 20 touchdowns in only 12 games. The trend of touchdowns for him should continue this week, and you can bet that Jets head coach Rex Ryan will be upset with that. Verdict: Bears
NFL Week 2 Preview
By Brett Malamud
Week one proved to be a great week of football that was full of crazy catches and games coming down to the wire. Let’s hope week two can bring the same level of excitement. Here’s my picks for this week:
-Steelers (1-0) at Ravens (0-1), Thursday @ 8:25 PM EST
The Steelers escaped a major comeback at the hands of the Cleveland Browns. Now they’ll face their rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, who were narrowly defeated at home against the Bengals, under the bright lights of M&T Bank Stadium in primetime. Crowd noise will be a factor, but I’ll take the Steelers here in a close one. Verdict: Steelers
-Dolphins (1-0) at Bills (1-0), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
Pretty even matchup here as these AFC East foes duke it out. The Dolphins are coming in red hot after defeating the almighty New England Patriots. Buffalo is also coming in with some momentum as well, after shocking the Chicago Bears in overtime. The addition of Knowshon Moreno has proven to be great for Miami thus far, especially after he ran for 134 yards on 24 attempts with a touchdown. I’m going to take the Dolphins here. Verdict: Dolphins
-Jaguars (0-1) at Redskins (0-1), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
I’m going to be brutally honest, I will not tune in to this one. After watching the Texans dispose of the Redskins offense last week, I can regretfully say that I am not interested in the team, with the exception of Alfred Morris, DeSean Jackson, and Jordan Reed (who has been a major disappointment to my fantasy team), as they are amongst the players on my three fantasy football teams (thankfully, each is on a different team). I’m taking the Jaguars, who took a 17-0 lead into halftime last week against the Eagles. Verdict: Jaguars
-Cowboys (0-1) at Titans (1-0), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
Now we come to the Cowboys, who were manhandled last week when they faced the San Francisco 49ers, and at one point were down 28-3. The game included two fumbles from the Cowboys offense, one of which was taken all the way back by the 49ers defense for a touchdown. The Titans had a great showing out of quarterback Jake Locker, who threw for 266 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. I’m going with the safe bet of picking the Titans to win this one. Verdict: Titans
-Cardinals (1-0) at Giants (0-1), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
Both of these teams played in the Monday Night Football doubleheader in week one and each of those games was a polar opposite of the other. The Cardinals rallied late, scoring two touchdowns in the final quarter. Carson Palmer looked phenomenal, and his night was highlighted by a 63 yard bomb to Michael Floyd, who also had an impact on the game (although he didn’t score a touchdown). The other game was rather one-sided and the Giants were done from the opening whistle. Eli Manning was intercepted twice and there wasn’t much room for Rashad Jennings to run. The Giants should struggle this week against a tough defense. Verdict: Cardinals
-Patriots (0-1) at Vikings (1-0), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
The Patriots were shocked last week, taking a tough loss to the Miami Dolphins. They’ll travel to Minnesota to face the Vikings, who had an excellent game last week by shutting down the Rams in St. Louis. My gut tells me that the Patriots will come back strong and win the game. Verdict: Patriots
-Saints (0-1) at Browns (0-1), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
The Saints lost a heartbreaker in Atlanta after fumbling the football in overtime. Drew Brees tried out his new toy in Brandin Cooks and liked what he saw. Cooks has one less catch than Jimmy Graham, hauling in seven receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown. The Browns rallied against the Steelers from a 24-point deficit but ultimately lost on a field goal as time expired. The Browns may give the Saints a run for their money at the beginning of this game, but I think the Saints pull away in the second half. Verdict: Saints
-Falcons (1-0) at Bengals (1-0), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
On the other end of the Saints’ heartbreaking loss was the Atlanta Falcons. Didn’t Matty Ice look great? I mean, seriously! 448 yards. FOUR HUNDRED AND FOURTY EIGHT YARDS! A Falcons franchise record for him with that, and he even threw three touchdowns. I do like the Falcons’ addition of Devin Hester, who was targeted six times and caught five of those for 99 yards. The Bengals blew a 15 point lead but scored a touchdown with just over five minutes left against the Ravens. I don’t see it shaping up that way this week, because instead I see the Falcons going up early and not looking back. Verdict: Falcons
Matt Ryan ran through the Saints defense last week and hopes to do the same this week vs. the Bengals (Via AP)
-Lions (1-0) at Panthers (1-0), Sunday @ 1:00 PM EST
The Lions looked fantastic last week, but after all, they were playing the Giants, who blew coverage after coverage. It seems that nobody could stop Calvin Johnson, who made the most ridiculous catches. The Panthers will get Cam Newton back but I don’t see much changing. The Lions are just too good right now. Verdict: Lions
-Rams (0-1) at Buccaneers (0-1), Sunday @ 4:05 PM EST
Another boring matchup on the week two slate sees the Sam Bradford-less, touchdown-less St. Louis Rams, squaring off with the team that had the worst ranked defense in the NFL last season. The Rams might have lost their backup as well, with Shaun Hill going down last week with a strained quad. Doug Martin did nothing last week, piling up a whopping nine yards on nine carries. I’m pulling for them this week though, and this could be the week that Doug Martin comes back to form. Verdict: Buccaneers
-Seahawks (1-0) at Chargers (0-1), Sunday @ 4:05 PM EST
This seems to be one of the more intriguing battles this week. The Chargers took a loss, but looked good against the Arizona Cardinals. The Seahawks also looked good in their game, taking down the Packers. I’m going to take the Seahawks here, but I’m sure that San Diego will compete throughout. Verdict: Seahawks
-Texans (1-0) at Raiders (0-1), Sunday @ 4:25 PM EST
The Texans defense is electric. They were great against the Redskins. The Raiders were not, and took a loss to the Jets. I see the Texans defense as too much of a threat to the Oakland offense. Verdict: Texans
-Jets (1-0) at Packers (0-1), Sunday @ 4:25 PM EST
This could be a really close game, but it could also turn ugly and end up as a blowout for Green Bay. The Packers look to bounce back against the Jets after being defeated by the Seahawks last Thursday. The Jets have assembled a bit of a new offense, with Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory as duel threats in the backfield. Johnson caught five passes and one touchdown out of the backfield in addition to his 68 rushing yards. Eric Decker also played nicely, racking up 74 yards on five receptions. Ultimately, I see the Packers taking this one, but not by much. Verdict: Packers
-Chiefs (0-1) at Broncos (1-0), Sunday @ 4:25 PM EST
The Chiefs weren’t themselves on defense last week. They were picked apart by Jake Locker and allowed him to drive down the field, resulting in two touchdowns. This week they’ll face an even tougher task: Peyton Manning. The 38 year old took down his former team, the Indianapolis Colts, in a showdown with Andrew Luck. Peyton found Julius Thomas in the end zone three times and utilized the acquisition of Emmanuel Sanders. The Chiefs are no match for the top team in the AFC. Verdict: Broncos
-Bears (0-1) at 49ers (1-0), Sunday @ 8:30 PM EST
The Niners dominated the Cowboys throughout. Rookie Carlos Hyde scored a touchdown and Vernon Davis caught two. The Bears lost that shocker to the Buffalo Bills last week and I’m not sure their defense can keep up with the Niners’ fast west coast offense in the inaugural game for Levi’s Stadium. Verdict: 49ers
-Eagles (1-0) at Colts (0-1), Monday @ 8:30 PM EST
Interesting matchup here as the Eagles face the Colts on Monday Night Football. Andrew Luck threw for 370 yards against the Broncos. Darren Sproles and LeSean McCoy are a deadly combo for Philadelphia. Should be a great offensive duel but I’m taking the Colts at home. Verdict: Colts
Brett Malamud is a Computer Science Major at Binghamton University. He is the co-founder of dabuzzza.com. His favorite athletes are Derek Jeter and Todd Bertuzzi. You can follow him on twitter at @brettnyy
NFL Season Outlook
By Brett Malamud
Football Fans, the waiting is finally over. Today marks the the start of the NFL season. For many teams comes a fresh start, a clean slate. For others, comes a window of opportunity. As is tradition, the opening day of any of the big four sports leagues means that it is time for me to unveil my season outlook. Here’s my division and playoff picks for this year.
AFC
AFC East
| Team | Record |
| New England Patriots | 12-4* |
| New York Jets | 9-7* |
| Miami Dolphins | 8-8 |
| Buffalo Bills | 6-10 |
NE- They’ve got Tom Brady and he still knows how to win. Not the coach (who I still believe would have been fired long ago had he spent more than one day as head coach of the Jets back in 1999), but Tom Brady. No further comment.
NYJ- While I am a known lifelong Jets fan, this is not an example of me being bias. The addition of Eric Decker should prove to be a huge step for a team that had no WR’s last year. Chris Johnson should really help in the backfield and will take pressure off QB Geno Smith. I may be crazy but I believe that the Jets will start the season at 1-7 before driving to win the final eight games to take themselves back to the playoffs, but ultimately fall during Wild Card weekend.
MIA- They’ll struggle at times on offense due to a weak offensive line.
BUF- Sammy Watkins could be a great addition but it doesn’t mean anything if he doesn’t have a strong QB.
AFC North
| Team | Record |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 10-6* |
| Baltimore Ravens | 8-8 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 8-8 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5-11 |
CIN- Andy Dalton and AJ Green will carry the team into the playoffs.
BAL- I feel like the Ravens will get into a groove in the final four weeks of the season, but will fall just short of the playoffs.
PIT- No major improvement from last year.
CLE- Predicting Week 5 for when Johnny Manziel sees the QB position fall into his lap. Still, they’ll miss Josh Gordon. Look for Jordan Cameron to have a great year though
AFC South
| Team | Record |
| Indianapolis Colts | 11-5* |
| Tennessee Titans | 7-9 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 5-11 |
| Houston Texans | 4-12 |
IND- Andrew Luck will lead one of the top offenses in the league on a journey that could go deep into the playoffs.
TEN- Jake Locker will be good, but not good enough.
JAX- Won’t be much better than last season.
HOU- Still have a lot of work to do on offense. Will have a fun defense to watch though.
AFC West
| Team | Record |
| Denver Broncos | 12-4* |
| San Diego Chargers | 9-7* |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 8-8 |
| Oakland Raiders | 4-12 |
DEN- The absence of Wes Welker looks like it could lead to the downfall of the Broncos but Peyton always finds a way.
SD- I think that Philip Rivers will be a top 4 NFL passer.
KC- A tougher schedule than last year means that the win total will go down. Unfortunately, they play the 49ers, Patriots, and Seahawks, in addition to their normal divisional schedule that includes the Broncos and Chargers for two games each. Still like the talent on this team and think that Jamaal Charles will have a big year.
OAK- Rough schedule for a weak team.
NFC
NFC East
| Team | Record |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 11-5* |
| Washington Redskins | 9-7* |
| Dallas Cowboys | 8-8 |
| New York Giants | 6-10 |
PHI- I really like the Eagles this year. Adding Sproles could make for some good dual RB packages with a lot of screens.
WAS- Another intriguing team. Reed, Garçon and Jackson can’t all be tightly covered, can they?
DAL- Distractions will lead to another season of an upset Jerry Jones and missing the playoffs.
NYG- A lot of people are overrating them, more specifically the New York media. They’re not going anywhere except for the basement of the NFC East. (*Eli-Face*)
NFC North
| Team | Record |
| Green Bay Packers | 11-5* |
| Chicago Bears | 8-8 |
| Detroit Lions | 6-10 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 5-11 |
GB- Aaron Rogers MUST stay healthy for this team to compete but I believe that he will.
CHI- Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall highlight a veteran team in a “win-now” mode. Will be tough to get to the playoffs unless the Packers stumble through the final stretch of the regular season.
DET- I think that their RB’s won’t be as strong as last year, and with a tough schedule down the stretch, the team will suffer.
MIN- They’re not ready to compete with the big boys of the NFL yet, but they’ll get there fairly soon.
NFC South
| Team | Record |
| New Orleans Saints | 12-4* |
| Carolina Panthers | 8-8 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 8-8 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6-10 |
NO- The clear favorite. Another Championship could be on it’s way to NOLA.
CAR- Steve Smith will be missed but we’ll see if Kelvin Benjamin can fill that role
ATL- I believe they’ll scratch their way to .500
TB- I don’t see the offense in them that other people see. Their QB isn’t really that good and they don’t have a lot of options other than Doug Martin, who’s coming off a major injury, and Vincent Jackson, who will probably be doubled. Also the loss of Revis should prove to hurt them.
NFC West
| Team | Record |
| Seattle Seahawks | 13-3* |
| San Francisco 49ers | 11-5* |
| Arizona Cardinals | 8-8 |
| St. Louis Rams | 3-13 |
SEA- Nobody will be stopping them. Clear Super Bowl favorite coming in to this season
SF- A major Super Bowl contender. Think they’ll get taken down though by the Saints in the Superdome in the Divisional round.
ARI- Their defense will carry them to a .500 record.
STL- You can’t win without your QB. A hurt Bradford leaves the Rams with nowhere to hide.
*Denotes that the team will clinch a playoff spot
AFC Championship
I’m going to take the Colts over the Broncos
I’m being a bit risky here with my pick, but hey, it’s not like a team hasn’t made a run in the playoffs (like this guy)
NFC Championship
Saints over Seahawks in an upset
I really do like this Saints team and think that they’ve got what it takes to take down the top dog in the NFL.
SUPER BOWL XLIX
Saints over Colts
I believe that Drew Brees will deliver the title after leading his team through the 49ers and Seahawks. I also think that he’ll winning the Super Bowl MVP in addition to the NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Can Drew Brees bring another title to NOLA? (Via AP)
I hope that everyone enjoys this NFL season. Stay tuned in to Dabuzzza this season as we bring you weekly analysis and fantasy football picks.
Brett Malamud is a Computer Science Major at Binghamton University. He is the co-founder of dabuzzza.com. His favorite athletes are Derek Jeter and Todd Bertuzzi. You can follow him on twitter at @brettnyy
AFC West Preview
Khalil Mack will begin his NFL journey in Oakland as a member of the Raiders (Via Sports Kings)
2014 NFL DRAFT
The NFL Draft starts at 8:00 PM EST tonight. You can follow the draft coverage here
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | Houston Texans | Jadeveon Clowney | DE | South Carolina |
| 2 | St. Louis Rams (From WSH) | Greg Robinson | OT | Auburn |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Blake Bortles | QB | Central Florida |
| 4 | Buffalo Bills (From CLE) | Sammy Watkins | WR | Clemson |
| 5 | Oakland Raiders | Khalil Mack | OLB | Buffalo |
| 6 | Atlanta Falcons | Jake Matthews | OT | Texas A&M |
| 7 | Tampa Bay Buccanners | Mike Evans | WR | Texas A&M |
| 8 | Cleveland Browns (From MIN) | Justin Gilbert | CB | Oklahoma State |
| 9 | Minnesota Vikings (From CLE) (Via BUF) | Anthony Barr | OLB | UCLA |
| 10 | Detroit Lions | Eric Ebron | TE | UNC |
| 11 | Tennessee Titans | Taylor Lewan | OT | Michigan |
| 12 | New York Giants | Odell Beckham Jr. | WR | LSU |
| 13 | St. Louis Rams | Aaron Donald | DT | Pittsburgh |
| 14 | Chicago Bears | Kyle Fuller | CB | VA. Tech |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Ryan Shazier | LB | Ohio State |
| 16 | Dallas Cowboys | Zack Martin | OT | Notre Dame |
| 17 | Baltimore Ravens | CJ Mosley | LB | Alabama |
| 18 | New York Jets | Calvin Pryor | S | Louisville |
| 19 | Miami Dolphins | Ja’wuan James | OT | Tennessee |
| 20 | New Orleans Saints (From ARI) | Brandin Cooks | WR | Oregon State |
| 21 | Green Bay Packers | Ha-Ha Clinton Dix | S | Alabama |
| 22 | Cleveland Browns (From PHI) | Johnny Manziel | QB | Texas A&M |
| 23 | Kansas City Chiefs | Dee Ford | DE | Auburn |
| 24 | Cincinnati Bengals | Darqueze Dennard | CB | Michigan State |
| 25 | San Diego Chargers | Jason Verrett | CB | TCU |
| 26 | Philadelphia Eagles (Via CLE) (From IND) | Marcus Smith | DE | Louisville |
| 27 | Arizona Cardinals (From NO) | Deone Bucannon | S | Washington St. |
| 28 | Carolina Panthers | Kelvin Benjamin | WR | FSU |
| 29 | New England Patriots | Dominique Easley | DT | Florida |
| 30 | San Francisco 49ers | Jimmie Ward | S | Northern Illinois |
| 31 | Denver Broncos | Brandon Roby | CB | Ohio State |
| 32 | Minnesota Vikings (Via SEA) | Teddy Bridgewater | QB | Louisville |
Draft Day Trades:
- Bills acquire No. 4 Pick (Sammy Watkins) from Browns for No. 9 pick (Anthony Barr), plus 2015 1st & 4th round picks
- Browns acquire 8th pick (Justin Gilbert) from Minnesota for 9th pick (Anthony Barr)
- The Cardinals traded No. 20 (Brandin Cooks) to New Orleans for No. 27 (Deone Bucannon) and their third-rounder, Pick No. 91.
- The Browns traded Pick No. 26 (Marcus Smith), and their third-rounder, Pick No. 83, to move up to No. 22 (Johnny Manziel)
- Vikings acquire the 32th pick (Teddy Bridgewater) for the 40th pick and 108th pick
Amid all of the hype for other players this season, expect Clowney’s name to be called first at the NFL Draft (Via Jeff Blake/US Presswire)
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Brett Malamud is a Computer Science Major at Binghamton University. He is the co-founder of dabuzzza.com. His favorite athletes are Derek Jeter and Todd Bertuzzi. You can follow him on twitter at @brettnyy
2014 Mock Draft 2.0
By Ryan Crawford
My mock draft 1.0 was devoid of the early QB run that was expected and mock draft 2.0 follows the same pattern. I think that now that the QB situation has gotten murkier and that there will be a lot of moves both up and down that do not involve the QBs. Houston at 1 and St. Louis at 2 are both candidates to move down. With St Louis having 2 and 13 I believe there is no doubt that Rams GM Les Snead will be moving all over the place. We heard rumors for months that every pick from 3 to 7 could also be in play. Here’s my most recent stab at it.
1. HOUSTON TEXANS- Jadaveon Clowney-DL- South Carolina
Clowney is still the best player in the draft. I don’t think it’s a question at this point that he goes number one. I think the question is who makes the pick. Probably will be the Texans but the Falcons are interested and there are a couple of rumors about the unknown suitors as well.
2. ST. LOUIS RAMS- Greg Robinson- Tackle- Auburn
I do not think the Rams make this pick but if they do it will be the manchild Robinson or WR Sammy Watkins. Could Cleveland move up a couple picks?
3. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS- Khalil Mack-OLB- Buffalo
This is what I wrote in Mock 1.0 and I’m sticking with it. “The Jags need a QB bad and if they jump it would probably be Bortles but I think they wait till later rounds to grab the QB and keep building their defense”
Khalil Mack will be one of the first few selected in this year’s NFL Draft (Via AP)
4. CLEVELAND BROWNS- Sammy Watkins-WR-Clemson
I’m convinced the Browns will not pick a QB with this pick and word is they are so intrigued with Watkins that they may move to 2 to get him.
5. OAKLAND RAIDERS- Mike Evans- Wide Receiver- Texas A & M
To me this is the toughest pick of the draft. If one of the elite 4 drop it becomes a no brainer but if not, hmmmm… I’m gonna slot big receiver Mike Evans in here as it is imperative that the Raiders get a receiver, so why not one of the best?
6. ATLANTA FALCONS- Taylor Lewan- Tackle- Michigan
The Falcons need linemen to protect Matty Ice and Lewan is rising up the board. I still think they have a realistic shot at going to number 1 for Clowney.
7. TAMPA BAY BUCS- Odell Beckham Jr- WR- LSU
I think the Bucs will trade down for multiple picks but if not they grab the third wide receiver in seven picks. Don’t sleep on Beckham Jr. One of my favorites in the draft.
8. MINNESOTA VIKINGS- Aaron Donald-DT-Pittsburgh
Vikings need to rebuild the defensive line and this guy is a great place to start. Maybe a QB in round 2?
9. BUFFALO BILLS- Jake Mathews- Tackle- Texas A&M
I had Eric Ebron in Mock 1.0 but that was before I realized Jake Mathews might be available. A no brainer as the Bills need a tackle badly.
10. DETROIT LIONS- Darquez Dennard- Cornerback- Michigan State
The Lions should go for a corner or a receiver here but with the run on receivers, they can get the top rated corner.
11. TENNESSEE TITANS- Justin Gilbert- CB- Oklahoma State
Johnny Manziel? Not yet…. Defense wins championships and a corner is a priority.
12. NEW YORK GIANTS- Eric Ebron- TE- North Carolina
It’s no secret the Giants are in dire need of a top flight tight end. Best tight end in the draft drops into the Giants lap at 12.
13. ST LOUIS RAMS- . Johnny Manziel-QB-Texas A&M
No way the Rams pick at 13. Maybe up or maybe down but not 13. My hunch from Mock #1 had the Cowboys getting Johnny Manziel at 16. It seems my hunch from a month ago has gained a little traction in the media but I’m not sure he gets that far because word is the Rams love him. Could you imagine if the Rams didn’t have to trade a boatload of picks for a running QB with a rocket arm and he turned out better than RGIII?? Is that Daniel Snyder we hear sniffling? Wow.
14. CHICAGO BEARS- Ra’Shede Hageman- DT- Minnesota
Bears need defensive line help. Hageman is a rock on the line and will help.
15. PITTSBURGH STEELERS- Zach Martin –T-Notre Dame
Looking for another Tackle, Martin is being described by pundits as one of the safest picks in the draft.
16. DALLAS COWBOYS- Dee Ford- DE- Auburn
Cowboys are looking for defensive help and Ford will help offset the loss of DeMarcus Ware. I expect the Cowboys to be another team that tries to trade down.
17 BALTIMORE RAVENS- Brandin Cooks- WR- Oregon State
Ravens rumored to be trading down as well but can really use another weapon for Joe Flacco and Cooks is Tavon Austin redux.
18 NEW YORK JETS- Calvin Pryor- S- Louisville
Another quote from Mock 1.0: “Yes I know the Jets need another receiver badly but this guy is a hammer and Rex is drooling at the thought of a young Ed Reed. The Wide Receiver class is very deep and they will get a couple in later rounds”. We will stay with this pick for Mock 2.0.
19. MIAMI DOLPHINS- Morgan Moses-Tackle- Virginia
It’s no secret that the Dolphins need some serious help on the offensive line and this guy should slot in at one of the tackles.
20. ARIZONA CARDINALS- Kony Ealy- DE/LB- Missouri
Could this be a QB landing spot? My guess is there are enough QB prospects for the Cards to look in round 2 or 3. Ealy fills big defensive needs for the Cardinals.
21. GREEN BAY PACKERS – CJ Mosley- ILB- Alabama
The Packers need a lot of help on defense and Mosley makes a lot of sense in this spot.
22. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES- Anthony Barr- OLB- UCLA
A PAC-12 Linebacker for Chip Kelly to help keep Romo, RGIII and Eli in check.
23. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS- HaHa Clinton-Dix- S- Alabama
Chiefs are absolutely thrilled that Dix drops down this far and quickly gobble him up.
24. CINCINNATI BENGALS- Teddy Bridgewater- QB- Louisville
We will see if all the rumors about Bridgewater landing here are true. My gut is no but I’m gonna take a shot anyway.
25. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS- Louis Nix- NT- Notre Dame
It seems that everyone who did a mock draft has Nix going to the Chargers. Can you say Perfect Fit? A strong nose tackle prospect.
26. CLEVELAND BROWNS- Blake Bortles-QB-UCF
In my first mock I had Bridgewater dropping down this far. Now I have Bortles dropping to the Browns. Either way it’s a good spot for the Browns to pick their QB of the future.
27. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS- Ryan Shazier-OLB- Ohio State
Staying with my choice from Mock 1.0: “The Saints need to improve their defense and Shazier is a good step in that direction. He can play inside or move outside if needed at the linebacker spot”. Kony Ealy is now an option here as well.
28. CAROLINA PANTHERS- Kelvin Benjamin- WR- Florida State
Clearly one of the biggest needs on this team is a big go-to target for Cam Newton.
29. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS- Kyle Fuller- CB- Virginia Tech
Too good a player to pass up and of course Revis will be a Free Agent at the end of the year anyway (sound familiar??)
30. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS- Marqise Lee- WR- USC
My first Mock choice for the Niners stays in play. “In need of another young receiver, 49ers are thrilled to get Lee at 30”.
31. DENVER BRONCOS- Kony Ealy- LB/DE- Missouri
Can you ever have enough pass rushers and defenders? I think not.
32. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS- Austin Seferian-Jenkins TE- Washington
They probably trade down a few and pick up a couple of picks from a team looking to jump the top teams in round two for a QB. Think Derek Carr, Jimmy Garoppolo, Zach Mettenberger or AJ McCarron??
Other Potential 1st Round Picks (besides the QBs)
DeMarcus Lawrence DE Boise St
Joel Bitonio G Nevada
Jason Verrett CB TCU
Timmy Jernigan DT Florida State
Bradley Roby CB Ohio State
Davante Adams WR Fresno State
2014 Mock Draft 1.0
By Ryan Crawford
Let me start off by saying this is a very interesting draft. While there are multiple Quarterbacks that everyone talks about, I don’t think they are on a level with many of the QB’s that have been top ten picks in the past. Of course the teams that generally need Quarterbacks reside in the top ten. You would expect some of those teams to trade down for some additional value but I don’t anticipate the teams looking to move up paying a steep price to move. Teams generally overpay for franchise QB’s and these guys don’t fit that description. Don’t expect teams to jump up for the strength of this draft, which are Wide Receivers, Tackles and a couple of Defensive studs at the top. The result will be a cat and mouse game and alot of picks that people will be shocked at, both high and low. It will be one of the hardest drafts in years to predict. Good luck to the experts on this one. Should be a lot of fun…
1. HOUSTON TEXANS- Jadaveon Clowney-DL- South Carolina
Texans need a QB but not at #1. Clowney is still the best player in the draft.
Amid all of the hype for other players this season, expect Clowney’s name to be called first at the NFL Draft (Via US Presswire)
2. ST. LOUIS RAMS- Greg Robinson- Tackle- Auburn
This guy is a mountain with huge upside. I expected Rams to try to trade down but the price might not be worth it if someone is not coming up to get a QB or Clowney.
3. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS- Khalil Mack-OLB- Buffalo
The Jags need a QB bad and if they jump it would probably be Bortles but I think they wait till later rounds to grab the QB and keep building their defense.
4. CLEVELAND BROWNS- Sammy Watkins-WR-Clemson
Another QB needy team that will wait till later. Any QB coming in to a situation with Josh Gordon and this stud receiver will look better anyway.
5. OAKLAND RAIDERS- Jake Matthews- Tackle- Texas A & M
If Al Davis were alive, this pick would have Johnny Manziel written all over it. Does anyone ever really know what the Raiders will do? Matthews is the smart pick for a team in need of protection up front.
6. ATLANTA FALCONS- Taylor Lewan- Tackle- Michigan
The Falcons need linemen to protect Matty Ice and Lewan is the third tackle off the board early.
7. TAMPA BAY BUCS- Darqueze Dennard- CB- Michigan State
Defense, Defense, Defense for new coach Lovie Smith as the Bucs secure one of the top corners in the draft.
8. MINNESOTA VIKINGS- Blake Bortles-QB-UCF
Vikings sit tight and grab the only QB they really wanted for new coach Mike Zimmer.
9. BUFFALO BILLS- Eric Ebron- TE- North Carolina
Bills snag a big time weapon for second year QB EJ Manuel.
10. DETROIT LIONS- Mike Evans- WR- Texas A&M
Could go corner here but teaming Evans with Megatron makes too much sense and scares the heck out of opposing secondarys.
11. TENNESSEE TITANS- Justin Gilbert- CB- Oklahoma State
With the secondary defections in free agency, a big need for Titans is filled with this pick.
12. NEW YORK GIANTS- Anthony Barr- OLB- UCLA
Giants are in need of strong defenders and haven’t had a linebacker with this much potential in years.
13. ST LOUIS RAMS- Ha Ha Clinton Dix- S- Alabama
If the Rams can’t trade down off the 2nd pick, look for them to trade down here to add more picks later on. If they use the pick, a good safety is a big need and Dix is one of the top two. Calvin Pryor also a strong possibility
14. CHICAGO BEARS- Timmy Jernigan- DT- Florida State
The Bears need to beef up the defensive line and Jernigan brings the beef in a big way
15. PITTSBURGH STEELERS- Aaron Donald-DT-Pittsburgh
The Steelers stay in town to pick the speedy, strong Donald. Another team that needs to rebuild its defense and this is a good start.
16. DALLAS COWBOYS- Johnny Manziel-QB-Texas A&M
Nothing more than a hunch on my part, but imagine this guy playing for America’s team. Jerry Jones is never one to miss a good marketing opportunity and Tony Romo is 33 and not exactly Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. Makes sense from so many vantage points.
17. BALTIMORE RAVENS- Odell Beckham Jr-WR-LSU
Ravens can really use another weapon for Joe Flacco and Beckham Jr is one of the best. Brandin Cooks could go here as well.
18. NEW YORK JETS- Calvin Pryor- S- Louisville
Yes I know the Jets need another receiver badly but this guy is a hammer and Rex is drooling at the thought of a young Ed Reed. The Wide Receiver class is very deep and they will get a couple in later rounds.
19. MIAMI DOLPHINS- Morgan Moses- OT- Virginia
It’s no secret that the Dolphins need some serious help on the offensive line and this guy should slot in at one of the tackles.
20. ARIZONA CARDINALS- Bradley Roby- CB- Ohio State
Even with the addition of Antonio Cromartie, the Cards could use a young corner and this guy has all the talent in the world
21. GREEN BAY PACKERS – Kony Ealy- DE/LB- Missouri
The Packers need a lot of help on this side of the ball and the versatile Ealy can play multiple spots. CJ Mosley is a possibility here as well.
22. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES- Brandin Cooks-WR-Oregon State
Doesn’t take the Eagles long to replace Desean Jackson with this speedster whom Chip Kelly knows well from his Oregon days.
23. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS- Kelvin Benjamin-WR-Florida State
Chiefs need more weapons for Alex Smith and Benjamin is a big target.
24. CINCINNATI BENGALS- Jason Verrett- CB- TCU
Marvin Lewis is concerned about his secondary and the corners are starting to run so he grabs a very good prospect in Verrett
25. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS- Louis Nix- NT- Notre Dame
A strong nose tackle prospect, Nix is a great fit for the Chargers D.
26. CLEVELAND BROWNS- Teddy Bridgewater- QB- Louisville
How many times have we seen this one. The guy a team was considering at 4 drops to their next pick at 26. The last time we saw this was with Geno Smith and the Jets last year. The Browns can’t believe their good fortune and the shouts of joy are heard all the way from Cleveland.
27. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS- Ryan Shazier-OLB- Ohio State
The Saints need to improve their defense and Shazier is a good step in that direction. He can play inside or move outside if needed at the linebacker spot.
28. CAROLINA PANTHERS- Zach Martin –T-Notre Dame
Looking for another Tackle, Martin falls right into the Panthers lap.
29. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS- CJ Mosley- ILB- Alabama
Another defender for the Patriots. A wide receiver is a possibility here or trading down as the Pats like to do.
30. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS- Marqise Lee- WR- USC
In need of another young receiver, 49ers are thrilled to get Lee at 30.
31. DENVER BRONCOS- Dee Ford- DE- Auburn
Think the Broncos need more defense? Me too. Another guy to rush the passer
32. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS- Ra’Shede Hageman- DT- Minnesota
What do you get the team that has everything? Another weapon for Russell Wilson? Another defender for a team full of stud defenders? Some protection for the offense? Just get the best guy available and at this point that is Hageman.
NFL Week 12 Predictions
By Matthew Wieselthier
Sunday:
1:00 PM ET
Lions 27, Buccaneers 21
Tampa Bay has hit its first hot streak of the year. Two straight wins and almost stealing a win against Seattle, it would only make sense to go with the hot streak. However, they have beaten the Dolphins and Falcons, both of which are not great teams with not much upside for the season. They have also only showed up in the first half, having to fight through the second half to grind out their wins. The Lions are not a team you can do that against. Even if you beat them in the first half, the offensive weapons in Detroit’s pocket are too great to just play one half against. The marquee matchup will be WR Calvin Johnson vs. CB Darrelle Revis, but with the rest of the Lions weapons, they should be able to take the second half and win at home.
Packers 28, Vikings 13
Even undrafted third-string QB Scott Tolzein can handle this dreadful Vikings defense. Ranked 30th in the league, the Vikings have yet to stop any team from bulldozing them. The Packers starting lineup may mostly be in the infirmary right now, but the ones on the field should be able to stop the Vikings offense, which has the 25th best passing game in the league. Very simple, the Packers will take this game easily.
Texans 27, Jaguars 10
The Texans are the best terrible team there is. They are ranked 8th in offense and tops in the league in defense. They just can’t seem to close out games. Despite being strong at basically every part of the game, the Texans are out of playoff contention and having a very disappointing season. The future should be bright however with QB Case Keenum proving to be a viable option at starting QB.
Chiefs 17, Chargers 14
Andy Reid’s bid to coach his new team to a perfect season is finally over. The Chiefs fell to the Broncos last week and now they have to restart the streak and don’t have an easy team to do it against. Division rival Sand Diego Chargers may have a losing record, but they are a fighting team and don’t lose easily. QB Philip Rivers is having a comeback season and is leading the 4th best passing offense in the NFL. However, the Chiefs defense has been one of the tops in the league all season and has 6 returning Pro-Bowlers from that side of the ball.
Panthers 34, Dolphins 17
The Panthers are the hottest team in football winning six straight games and looking good doing it. Despite being underdogs in their last two matchups, they have come out on top, controversial calls or not. And their defense can do most of the talking for them. Led by former Defensive Rookie of the Year Luke Kuechly, Carolina has the 3rd best defense in the league. That should bode well for them against the 31st best offense in the league of the Dolphins.
Browns 21, Steelers 20
The Browns are doing much better than anticipated, especially after trading RB Trent Richardson to the Colts. However, that deal seems to have helped the Browns record wise, who are .500 since trading him away after a 0-2 start. They are also impressive passing wise surprisingly, still able to go through the air despite going through so many QBs this season. Their defense is where they shine though, being 4th in the league and have been stopping even the top offenses in the league.
Bears 19, Rams 12
The Bears have been injured and that’s been a major cause of their loses this season. Even with QB Jay Cutler injured, Josh McCown has been a suitable replacement and the running game of RB Matt Forte has been quite good this year. The Rams are also injured at QB and terrible in general, having a good game here and there but not good enough to say they could win any game.
Jets 22, Ravens 17
The Jets have been on and off every other week. According to the pattern, this week they should be on. And it seems like they should be, they have the 9th best defense in the league led by their defensive line and linebackers. They also are very good in the running game, whether it be Chris Ivory or Bilal Powell taking the lead. The Ravens have also been very shaky this season, with the 3rd worst offense in the league, headlined by their lack of a running game with Ray Rice. For both teams though, this is a must win to stay in the AFC Wild Card hunt for the 6th seed.
4:00 PM ET
Raiders 20, Titans 13
The Raiders may not have a good passing game, but they have one hell of a running game. Ironically, the best rusher for them is QB Terrelle Pryor. He can make a throw when he needs, but he’s better with his legs. The Titans are trying to make a resurgence from their strong start but are not looking too hot lately. The Raiders should be able to take this one, as they are able to in odd situations.
Cardinals 24, Colts 21
The Cardinals have been strong all season, and Andre Ellington having his dreadlocks pulled out last week shouldn’t stop that. On the other hand, the Colts have been shaky the past few weeks, including last week when they squeaked out a Thursday Night win against the Titans. The Cardinals have looked really good lately, helped out by the 9th best defense in the league.
Cowboys 38, Giants 27
The Cowboys have a top QB this year in Tony Romo. They just need a healthy RB in Demarco Murray, who is continually injured. The Giants may have won four straight, but they haven’t played any great competition. The Packers would have been a quality win if they weren’t in the infirmary now. Playing a quality opponent like the Cowboys should bring the Giants back down to Earth.
8:30 PM ET
Broncos 47, Patriots 24
The Broncos are the best of the best, with both sides of the ball working together better than any other team. Now with LB Von Miller back, the defensive side has come back into action and the offense is tops in the league with QB Peyton Manning at the helm. The Patriots have been weak on both sides of the ball this year, especially defensively. That can’t help with Broncos top offense. Expect trouble for New England tonight.
Monday:
8:40 PM ET
49ers 23, Redskins 14
Robert Griffin III is probably the biggest disappointment of anyone this year. He has shown no upside and is probably the main reason for the Redskins poor record. Even going against an even worse passing offense (the worst in the NFL) in the 49ers shouldn’t help him. That being because QB Colin Kaepernick is finally getting back to where he was, piece by piece. The defense is also very strong, 9th in the league and should easily stop the Redskins offense to end off Week 12.
Fantasy Football First Half Awards and What to Expect in the Coming Weeks
By: Josh Halilej
So far this NFL season has been full of offensive firepower and high scoring games, which translates to BIG fantasy points. There have been standout individual performances (Calvin Johnson- 329 yards receiving, 1 TD or Peyton Manning- 462 yards passing, 7 TDs), and surprising seasons too (Andy Dalton ranked #6 in points among QBs, and Knowshon Moreno who has outscored every other RB/WR except Jamaal Charles.) This article is going to give you my opinion on who I think has performed the best comparative to their value so far, and who you can look out for in the future and during the playoff push. Remember, this is MY opinion, so you can take it or leave it as you wish. So here’s this season’s fantasy dream team:
Quarterback:
Best overall: Peyton Manning
Best value: Phillip Rivers
Worst value: Tom Brady
Let me explain, Peyton shouldn’t be anywhere else on the list of best fantasy QBs this season. He’s been consistent, he’s produced touchdowns and yards, and he hasn’t turned it over. He has exactly what you need to dominate a league and achieve ultimate bragging rights. Rivers has been sort of under the radar this season, because, well, that’s what happens when you’re on the Chargers. He’s quietly thrown for over 400 yards 3 times, and only has a total of 5 turnovers this year. In my league, where he went undrafted, he was the best pickup of the season so far at ANY position. Brady on the other hand, has been the opposite. He has had difficulty gaining chemistry with his new, rookie receivers Kenbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson, but he has his savior in Rob Gronkowski who is back from his surgery and adds a new threat and more receiver depth on this roster.
Philip Rivers has surprised everyone and has proved to be a fantasy steal this year (Via Opinuns)
Running Back:
Best overall: Jamaal Charles
Best Value: Knowshon Moreno
Worst Value: CJ Spiller
Jamaal, oh Jamaal. He hasn’t done anything wrong this year consistently getting at least 16 carries and gaining at least 100 total yards of offense in each game so far, PLUS 8 total TDs. Moreno has had similar consistencies to Charles with 9 total TDs, and around 15 carries a week in support of Peyton. The disappointment in the running back spot comes from none other than CJ Spiller. Before the season I thought that he was going to excel in Buffalo and help push them to the playoffs, but I couldn’t grab him in my league, and now I’m thankful.
Wide Receiver:
Best Overall: Dez Bryant
Best Value: Josh Gordon
Worst Value: Randall Cobb
Why not Megatron? Because he had one game with 36 ESPN standard fantasy points that really influenced him in terms of points. I have to give the starting position to Dez because of his consistency so far, but for the rest of the season, expect more domination from Calvin. Josh Gordon, although he missed the first 2 games of the season with a suspension, has been proven to be any Browns QB’s favorite target excelling with all Hoyer, Weeden, and Campbell throwing him the ball. Cobb can’t help his injury, but he had high expectations coming into the season, and only played 2 full games.
Tight End:
Best overall: Jimmy Graham
Best Value: Jordan Cameron
Worst Value: Rob Gronkowski
Jimmy Graham has been simply exciting this season making catches look easy, and making his good buddy Drew Brees look good. On top of that, he had a 5 game stretch to open up the season where he had 93 points total (which would still lead the league now). Cameron has been a welcome sight for most fantasy owners who thought he would have no opportunities because of the Browns, but he has grabbed 6 TDs this year and is averaging 11.5 points per game, which isn’t too shabby for a free agent find. Now, Gronkowski is interesting because reports were saying that he could have came back week 5, but made his first appearance in week 7. Since then in his 2 games of action Gronk has 13 total points and no touchdowns which isn’t exactly comforting to owners who drafted him in high/mid rounds.
D/ST:
Best overall: Chiefs
Best Value: Chiefs
Worst Value: Broncos
The Chiefs have been unstoppable on defense causing turnovers, not allowing points or yards, and just wreaking havoc in the backfield with their premier edge rushers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali. Houston is second in the NFL in sacks with 11, and Hali is tops in the league with 4 forced fumbles. The Broncos haven’t lived up to their stellar defense from last year, and have taken part in quite a few shootouts of offense vs. offense. Expect Von Miller to be the main factor on their future success.
Kicker:
Best overall: Matt Prater
Best Value: Matt Prater
Worst Value: Sebastian Janikowski
When it doubt, Matt Prater it out. He has gotten an incredible amount of points from just PATs and is not going to stop if Peyton keeps it up. I have no idea why Sea bass isn’t performing like the machine he was last year, but with a paltry 36 points through 8 weeks, he is the worst kicker in the NFL who has maintained a starting job.
Who to watch out for:
QB: Matt Stafford- He doesn’t have a tough schedule ahead of him and has many weapons.
RB: Gio Bernard- A rookie on the rise has had a few good games this season that could potentially give him the full time job over the Law Firm in Cincinatti.
WR: Calvin Johnson- need I say more?
TE: Jordan Reed- RG3 has found a liking to this guy as a main target. Watch out.
D/ST: Panthers- Despite the trading of Jon Beason to the Giants, these guys are playing solid football and just might surprise a few people with a playoff push
K: Matt Prater- He’s just going to keep on kicking these extra points until the season is over
Let me hear what you guys think about my picks in the comments and leave any of your own if you want. Just remember that there’s still a lot of football left to play.
______________________________________________________________
Josh Halilej is a die hard fan of both the Jets and the Mets, and is an avid fantasy sports player. He participates in leagues for baseball, basketball and football. You can follow him on twitter at @Mrmet2323
AFC Midseason Recap and Predictions (2 of 4)
By Dan Lagnado
In part one of the midseason recap and predictions, the AFC East was covered. Now we will move on to the AFC West:
Division winner: Denver Broncos
This prediction may seem controversial given the current standings of the division. The battle for the top spot really is a two horse race at this point. The Broncos and the Chiefs seem poised to battle it out until the end. However, I give the edge to Denver for reasons to be explained later in this article.
The Broncos have far and away the NFL’s best offense: first in points scored, first in total yards per game and first in passing yards per game all thanks to MVP candidate Peyton Manning. This is a team that made the AFC Championship last season and has come back even better, with even more weapons both offensively and defensively. In addition to Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, Manning now has Wes Welker and rookie tight end Julius Thomas. The defense gained Shaun Phillips to help the pass rush along with Von Miller, who recently returned from suspension. This has helped the defense compile 22 sacks on the year. The Broncos currently have a 7-1 record heading into their bye week.
Peyton Manning hopes to walk off as a Super Bowl champion at the end of the season. (Via US Presswire)
The Kansas City Chiefs on the other hand boast a very powerful defense. They rank first in the NFL in points allowed, fifth in total yards allowed and fourth in pass yards allowed. They are arguably the biggest surprise team of this season after coming off a two win year. With a new quarterback in Alex Smith and a new coach in Andy Reid, the Chiefs now sit in first place at 8-0. Justin Houston and Tamba Hali have 20 sacks combined along with five forced fumbles. Smith, Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe lead the offense. Smith has continued his consistent play from last season with nine touchdown passes and only four interceptions. However, despite the undefeated start, this is a team with some flaws. Their last two games, against disappointing Browns and Texans teams, were won by only a combined six points. Jason Campbell and Case Keenum nearly led their teams to giving KC their first loss. How can we expect them to keep Peyton Manning in check two times in the next four weeks if Campbell and Keenum give this defense trouble? That said, look for KC to easily lock up a Wild Card birth and a potential third matchup with Denver in the postseason.
The San Diego Chargers have comeback from a disappointing season with a very impressive first seven games. Their 4-3 record would be good enough for better than third place in almost all other divisions. Yet, because of the two powerhouses at the top, that’s where they find themselves. Quarterback Phillip Rivers is an early Comeback Player of the Year candidate and has thrown for 15 touchdowns and only five interceptions after a 2012 season that saw him account for 30 total turnovers. Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates have reestablished the connection that they have had for many years and Gates leads the team in receiving yards. The defense, though allowing yards, is still sixth in the NFL in points allowed. If the Chargers continue their strong play, they can find themselves in a position for a Wild Card position as well.
The Oakland Raiders have seen quite a bit of disappointment in the past few seasons. Though they currently sit in last place with a sub-.500 record (3-4), there are many reasons to have high hopes for the future. One of these reasons is Terrelle Pryor. In his first season starting, Pryor has shown that he is capable of being a dual threat quarterback and can lead this team to many wins as he matures. Pryor is supported by a corps of young, fast wide receivers including Denarius Moore and Rod Streater. If the Raiders can manage to get Darren McFadden running in the way that he did last year, look for them to be competitive in the second half of the season, and potentially play spoiler for other teams’ playoff chances.
The AFC West has emerged this season as potentially the best in the AFC. Both the Chiefs and Broncos seem primed for a playoff run, with the chance of being joined by the Chargers. The two upcoming matchups between Kansas City and Denver might prove to be the key to the tight race for first place and San Diego’s consistency will be key for their Wild Card push. It’s important not to count out Oakland as Terrelle Pryor continues to develop as a quarterback who can win with his arm or his legs.
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