Week 7 - Matchup of the Week

Wes’ Matchups of the Week

QB

Tim Tebow – He finally gets a crack at the starting job this year, and it couldn’t come too soon for fantasy owners. Listen, he’s not Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers. But he does have the ability to be a top 10 QB for fantasy purposes. Any QB that can score with his legs consistently is a threat, and he has shown the ability to do that. I have him listed at 6th this week, which means I’d start him over guys like Roethlisberger, Schaub, and Rivers. Projection – 175 yards passing, 1 TD, 1 INT, 50 yards rushing, 1 TD –22 fantasy points

RB

Ryan Matthews – The Jets are not super fantastic against the run. I don’t like Rivers in this game, and I think Matthews gets the bulk of the carries and some receptions as well. A top 10 play for me this week. Projection – 80 yards rushing, 50 yards receiving, 2 TD – 25 fantasy points.

WR

Brandon Marshall – After watching a majority of the Monday Night Football game, I came away with two impressions. One, Marshall is a really, really good WR. Two, he only really plays about half the game. Ken Daube of ESPN put up a column this week about red zone targets, and Marshall, if I remember correctly, is the ONLY one who hasn’t had a TD with 10+ red zone targets since week 1. That is a trend that cannot continue. Half a game against Denver is a pretty good game. Projection – 120 yards receiving, 1 TD – 18 fantasy points.

TE

Brandon Pettigrew – My co-blogger Monty wrote about him in week 5, and he got in the end zone that week. Stafford has started looking for him more and more, especially as team roll safties CJ’s way. That means Pettigrew should be open a lot. With Jahvid Best questionable with his concussion issues, I’d look for a heavy dose of Pettigrew in this game. Projection – 130 yards,1 TD – 19 fantasy points.

D/ST

Dallas Cowboys – Playing against the Rams is one thing. Easily makes you a top 10 defense. However, combine that with only giving up 20 points to the Pats last week, and the fact that Demarcus Ware is the best pass rusher in the league, and you’ve got a lot of trouble. Combine THAT with Bradford either not playing, or playing with a bad ankle, and then combine THAT with the secondary of the Cowboys finally getting healthy. See where I’m going with this? Projection – 10 points allowed, 5 sacks, 2 INT, 1 TD – 19 fantasy points.



Monty's Matchups of the Week

QB

Colt McCoy - McCoy has quietly put together a decent year thus far.  I don't know if he'll ever be a must start, #1 QB in his career, but for week seven, he could definitely be considered for a bye week replacement.  The Browns are hosting the Seahawks, and looking to exploit their banged up pass defense.  The Seahawks have been very good at defending the run this year (allowing 97.8 yards/game), so the Browns might be forced to attack them through the air. When you consider the injuries their secondary has suffered, it could be a big day for McCoy.  Through the first six weeks, the Seahawks are ranked 23rd against the pass, allowing 268.2 yards/game via the pass.  Projection - 265 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT; 22 points.

RB

Beanie Wells - Again, another solid season being put up by Beanie Wells this year.  They are hosting the Steelers, and don't freak out, because I think Wells will put together a solid day this week.  The Steelers started off the year, being terrible against the run, but have been much better as of late.  For the year, they give up an average of 112.8 yards per game to opposing teams on the ground.  With Harrison still out, Polamalu a little banged up this week, look for the Cardinals to pound that ball on the ground.  Projection - 85 rush yards, 25 rec yards, 1 TD; 16 points.

WR

Reggie Wayne - If you are like me, and originally drafted Reggie Wayne thinking Peyton would only be out a couple of weeks, you are probably getting tired of his lack of production so far.  Trust me, I'm with you!  This week, the Colts head down to New Orleans, and will go up against a Saints defense that can be had through the air.  Everybody knows the Colts will probably be playing from behind, and looking to throw the ball.  A lot of people think that Painter has only been looking for Garcon, but Wayne has been getting roughly the same amount of targets.  For whatever reason, Garcon has been able to catch his passes and make big plays with them.  I think this is going to be Wayne's week to break off some big plays.  Projection - 8 receptions, 120 rec yards, 1 TD; 18 points.

TE

Fred Davis - Davis got a lot of attention early this season, then quickly cooled off.  I'm thinking he's going to be heating up again this week.  With Chris Cooley out with a hand injury, he will be the main TE going for Washington.  The Redskins have also named John Beck as the starting QB this week.  Davis might get a lot of looks with short yardage passes in this game.  Look for him to be heavily involved in the passing game this week. Projection - 7 receptions, 85 rec yards, 1 TD; 14 points.

DST

Oakland - The Oakland defense has actually been pretty decent this year.  When you add in the fact that they will play against Kansas City, and Denver twice each, that makes 1/4 of their schedule look great, on paper.  This week, they are hosting the Chiefs.  Oakland really only need to focus on doing two things; Stop the running game, and stop Dwayne Bowe.  If they can do that, they will hold the Chiefs to a very low score.  It is evident that the Chiefs have a hard time adapting to play without their big play makers.  Since the loss of Jamal Charles, the Chiefs have struggled to run the ball with consistent success.  I can see the Oakland defense forcing the Chiefs to put the ball in the air, which could lead to some turnovers.  13 points allowed, 4 sacks, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery; 12 points.