Fantasy Football Today - fantasy football rankings, cheatsheets, and information
A Fantasy Football Community!




Create An Account  |  Advertise  |  Contact      






Inside the Matchup
Week 10
11/7/14

By: Sal Marcoccio | Brian Thorne | Nick Caron | Kyle Smith



CLE @ CIN | DAL @ JAX | SF @ NO | ATL @ TB

KC @ BUF | PIT @ NYJ | CAR @ PHI | DEN @ OAK

STL @ ARI | NYG @ SEA | CHI @ GB | TEN @ BAL

MIA @ DET
 Predictions - YTD
Rk Staffer W L %
1 Smith 24 8 75.0
2 Caron 24 9 72.7
3 Marcoccio 21 12 63.6
4 Thorne 22 14 61.1

Browns at Bengals - (Marcoccio)

Passing Game Thoughts: Brian Hoyer is doing just enough to keep Johnny Football at bay and should hold onto the job as long as the Browns keep winning. The Browns are 5-3, despite Hoyer’s limitations. Not only does Hoyer lack velocity on his throws, but he isn’t terribly accurate either, completing only 58 percent of his passes on the season. In his defense he does attack deep often and is averaging a more than respectable eight yards per pass attempt. He’s also a fiery leader and has been facing soft defenses. The team will stick with him as long as they remain in contention for a playoff spot. Until Josh Gordon’s suspension ends it’s not completely fair to judge Hoyer, though, as there just isn’t all that much for him to work with especially with tight end Jordan Cameron now going through concussion protocols after already missing time with other various ailments. Miles Austin has been a steady veteran, but after years of hamstring strains, he lacks the explosiveness that made him a threat in the past After that the team is loaded with small quick options like Andrew Hawkins, Travis Benjamin and rookie Taylor Gabriel, who all have big play capabilities but lack the size to truly dominate games on their own. On the road against an active Bengals defense, Cleveland could have some issues consistently moving the ball through the air.

The Bengals were looking like one the league’s most fearsome defenses during their 3-0 start to the season, were then torched by Tom Brady, Cam Newton and Andrew Luck, but came back the last two weeks to shut down lesser quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Blake Bortles. Which group do you think Hoyer fits in better with? On the season they are now allowing 255 passing yards per game with 10 touchdowns allowed against 10 interceptions.

Running Game Thoughts: Following last week’s game head coach Mike Pettine praised rookie running back Terrance West and stated that he “earned those touches [over veteran Ben Tate].” Last week West out-touched Tate 16-14. During the course of the season, it’s been very difficult to gauge this backfield as West has been everywhere from a healthy scratch behind fellow rookie Isaiah Crowell to the starting running back. West has excelled as a pass protector in recent weeks and is a solid grinder with decent power and balance running in traffic. Based on recent comments from the coaching staff, he looks like the favorite in the rotation for the time being.

The Bengals are ahead of only Green Bay and Cleveland when it comes to stopping the run, allowing 139.6 rushing yards per game while yielding nine rushing touchdowns. His should play into the Browns hands, who to look to establish the run. Since center Alex Mack has gone down, however, the Browns running game has suffered.

Projections:
Brian Hoyer: 235 pass yds 1 TD, 1 INT
Ben Tate: 35 rush yds, 20 rec yds
Terrance West: 65 rush yds, 1 TD, 45 rec yds
Miles Austin: 45 rec yds
Andrew Hawkins: 60 rec yds, 1 TD
Jim Dray: 35 rec yds

Passing Game Thoughts: A.J. Green returned to the lineup last week, and while the passing game still struggled more than expected against the Jaguars, he did manage to catch one of Andy Dalton’s two touchdown passes. Green only played on less than 60 percent of the team’s snaps and should see an increase as his toe heals more and he returns to game shape. Dalton’s success has long been dependant on Green’s athletic ability, but Mohamed Sanu stepped up while Green was out and has become an important part of the passing attack. Sanu has now recorded 628 yards and four touchdowns on the season. Tyler Eifert isn’t expected back until Week 11, but will round out what is shaping into a decent collection of skill position players when he does.

The Browns have only been a league average pass defense when many expected much more from this unit. The team is allowing 252.1 passing yards per game with 12 touchdowns allowed through eight games.

Running Game Thoughts: Giovani Bernard suffered a hip injury that forced him out of Week 8’s game in the fourth quarter and kept him out of last week’s game as well. The Bengals did not miss him much as rookie Jeremy Hill ran for 154 yards and two touchdowns as the bellcow back. Hill has shown good power and inside running ability and benefited from an increase in carries. He actually got off to a slow start in the game but looked strong after briefly exiting with a knee injury and took over the contest against Jacksonville. If Bernard is unable to go on the short week, and the prevailing thought seems to be that he will, Hill should strive once again against the Brown’s second worst run defense that has given up 140 yards per game on the season.

Projections:
Andy Dalton: 285 pass yds, 2 TDs, 5 rush yds
Jeremy Hill: 115 rush yds, 1 TD, 30 rec yds
Cedric Peerman: 35 rush yds, 15 rec yds
A.J. Green: 90 rec yds, 1 TD
Mohamed Sanu: 60 rec yds
Jermaine Gresham: 40 rec yds, 1 TD

Prediction: Bengals 27, Browns 20 ^ Top

Cowboys at Jaguars - (Smith)

Passing Game Thoughts: The biggest question for Dallas this week is, of course, the health of Tony Romo. He’s received treatment on his injured back and been limited in practice, but whether or not he plays will likely stay unknown until Sunday. Brandon Weeden would take his place, but regardless of who lines up under center for the Cowboys, fantasy owners should still count on using the team’s pass-catchers in their lineups this week. Dez Bryant has just five receptions over his past two games, but two of those went for TDs, and Jason Witten is finally heating up, with his two highest receiving yard totals taking place in the last two weeks. Against the Jaguars, both are fantasy-worthy.

After being throttled through the air early in the season, Jacksonville has become respectable defending the pass. They’re still 25th in both pass defense and yards per pass attempt allowed while ranking tied for 20th in passing scores permitted, but have given up just four TD throws over their last five games. The Jaguars are 17th in FPTs/G allowed to quarterbacks and are surrendering the 12th-most FPTs/G to both wide receivers and tight ends.

Running Game Thoughts: The 79 rushing yards amassed last week by DeMarco Murray marked his lowest output of the season, and the first time he failed to reach 100 yards. Nonetheless, he remains the highest-scoring fantasy running back, and Jacksonville will provide him an solid opportunity to once again top the century mark.

The Jaguars weren’t having a great season defending the run by any means, but up until last week, they hadn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher and were seemingly improving. But last Sunday, Cincinnati’s Jeremy Hill exploded for 154 yards and two scores against Jacksonville, and more of the same seems in store this week. For the year, the Jags are 24th in run defense, 19th in YPC allowed, and tied for 17th in rushing scores given up. They’ve surrendered the 12th-most FPTs/G in the league to running backs, and it seems likely they won’t be staying at that position after facing Murray.

Projections:
Tony Romo: 235 pass yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
DeMarco Murray: 120 rush yds, 2 TD, 15 rec yds
Dez Bryant: 80 rec yds, 1 TD
Terrance Williams: 45 rec yds
Cole Beasley: 30 rec yds
Jason Witten: 55 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: The pair of TDs thrown last week by Blake Bortles in their loss to the Bengals marked just the second time the rookie threw for more than one score in a game. Both of his scores went to Allen Hurns, one of the numerous mediocre receiving options for Jacksonville. This team has no pass-catching weapons capable of starting for fantasy owners on anything resembling a regular basis, and that doesn’t chance this week against Dallas.

On three occasions this season the Cowboys have allowed a quarterback to toss three TD passes, but they’ve also played three games in which they didn’t give up a single scoring pass. They have been inconsistent when defending the pass, and their stats reflect that. Dallas is 15th in the NFL in pass defense, tied for 15th in TD throws allowed and tied for 9th in interceptions, but just four teams have fewer sacks. The team’s inconsistency translates for fantasy owners as well, because while the Cowboys have allowed the 10th-fewest FPTs/G to quarterbacks and the 6th-fewest FPTs/G to wide receivers, only the Bears and Jets are permitting more FPTs/G to tight ends.

Running Game Thoughts: The Jaguars started the season with Toby Gerhart as their starting running back, but that didn’t work out too well. A lack of production and a Gerhart injury led to the team giving Denard Robinson a shot, and fantasy owners couldn’t be more grateful. Robinson has run for 329 yards and a pair of scores over his last three games and is creeping up the fantasy scoreboard. Fantasy owners should continue to run with the hot hand, and while the Cowboys aren’t an easy match-up, Robinson should be able to do enough to warrant a spot as a RB2.

Dallas is tied for 16th in run defense so far this season, while ranking tied for 17th in rushing TDs given up and 27th in YPC allowed. The Cowboys have also allowed the 7th-fewest receiving yards in the league to running backs, and the 12th-fewest FPTs/G. It should be noted that they seem to be trending downward in this area though, because three different running backs have picked up 14 or more fantasy points against Dallas in their last four games.

Projections:
Blake Bortles: 190 pass yds, 1 TD, 2 INT, 20 rush yds
Denard Robinson: 85 rush yds, 1 TD, 20 rec yds
Toby Gerhart: 20 rush yds, 10 rec yds
Cecil Shorts: 60 rec yds
Allen Hurns: 35 rec yds
Allen Robinson: 25 rec yds
Clay Harbor: 30 rec yds, 1 TD

Prediction: Cowboys 28, Jaguars 17 ^ Top

49ers at Saints - (Smith)

Passing Game Thoughts: Colin Kaepernick is a unique talent with a huge arm and excellent speed, but he’s like every other quarterback in one regard – without time to throw the football, none of that matters. Kaepernick was sacked eight times by the Rams last week and has been sacked 14 times in his last two contests. He also has just two games with at least 250 passing yards this season, and though he’s rushed for 274 yards, he’s failed to find the end zone, which all adds up to a quarterback just inside the top-15 in fantasy scoring. The 49ers’ top pass-catchers are also underperforming, with Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis doing little to justify their likely lofty draft positions. Only Anquan Boldin has performed for fantasy owners, and he should remain in fantasy lineups this week against a Saints team vulnerable to allowing yards to wide receivers.

The New Orleans pass defense had their best game of the season last week, holding Cam Newton to 151 yards on 10-of-28 passing with no TDs and an interception. Yet that accomplishment is not representative of the team’s season-long performance, as they rank 27th in pass defense and 28th in yards per pass attempt allowed. And while the Saints are tied for the 4th-fewest TD throws surrendered, the amount of yards they’re giving up is translating to fantasy success for their opponents. Well, opponents who don’t play TE, anyway, as New Orleans is tied with Philly for least FPTs/G allowed to players at that position. On the other side, the Saints have allowed the 9th-most FPTs/G to quarterbacks and the 6th-most FPTs/G to wide receivers.

Running Game Thoughts: Frank Gore remains a solid NFL running back, but his fantasy prospects are trending downward. The veteran does have a pair of games with 100+ rushing yards this season, but he’s no longer much of a receiving threat and – more importantly – has only a single rushing score this season. Gore will eventually find the end zone again, and this week presents as good an opportunity as any versus a New Orleans team that is among the least effective in the league at stopping runners from scoring.

The Saints are 10th in the NFL in run defense and are 14th in YPC allowed, but are tied for 22nd in rushing scores yielded and have given up the 6th-most receiving yards in the league to running backs. The TDs and receiving yards mask how well New Orleans has done against opposing backs trying to run the ball, because only one player (DeMarco Murray in Week 4) has gained at least 70 yards against them. Still, everything adds up, so instead of a team that stops running backs from scoring fantasy points, the Saints are a team that is firmly in the middle – 17th – in FPTs/G allowed to running backs.

Projections:
Colin Kaepernick: 215 pass yds, 2 TD, 1 INT, 35 rush yds
Frank Gore: 65 rush yds, 1 TD
Carlos Hyde: 20 rush yds, 10 rec yds
Anquan Boldin: 85 rec yds, 1 TD
Michael Crabtree: 60 rec yds, 1 TD
Steve Johnson: 30 rec yds
Vernon Davis: 20 rec yds

Passing Game Thoughts: Drew Brees threw for 297 yards last week against Carolina, and that was actually his third-lowest total of the season. So needless to say, passing yards aren’t an issue. But he also had only one TD pass, and the 15 he has this season puts him in a tie for 10th in scoring throws, which is unusual for him. Still, he remains a QB1 in every way. The more difficult thing for fantasy owners to figure out is who he’s throwing to. Jimmy Graham is a given, of course, and a must-start, but as for Marques Colston, Kenny Stills, and Brandin Cooks, well, it’s impossible on a week-to-week basis to figure out which one will be the most productive, and it’s hard to consider any of them more than a WR3 this week against San Francisco.

The 49ers may be scuffling right now, but it’s hard to blame their play against the pass. They’re tied for 15th in passing scores yielded, but are third in pass defense and yards per pass attempt allowed. The memory of Peyton Manning throwing for 300+ yards and four TDs against them two weeks ago may stick out in people’s minds, but that game is really not indicative of the team’s play on the season. San Francisco has held opposing quarterbacks to fewer than 200 passing yards in four of their seven other contests this year while allowing multiple scoring throws in just two other games. And while the 49ers are 13th in FPTs/G surrendered to wide receivers, they’re tied for 9th-fewest FPTs/G given up to tight ends and are tied with Miami for 4th-fewest FPTs/G allowed to quarterbacks.

Running Game Thoughts: The Saints are highly banged-up in the backfield, with each of their main running backs suffering from some type of malady that has caused them to miss all or at least part of practice this week. However, the best bet remains Mark Ingram taking the majority of carries, like he did last week against the Panthers when he ran the ball 30 times for 100 yards and a pair of scores. Consider him a RB2 this week due to his tough match-up with the 49ers.

San Francisco remains very good against the run, ranking 5th in the league in run defense and in the top-10 in both rushing scores permitted and YPC allowed. They’ve allowed just a single running back to break 80 yards against them (DeMarco Murray in Week 1), have given up the 2nd-fewest receiving yards to running backs, and as such have surrendered the 5th-fewest FPTs/G in the league to players at the position.

Projections:
Drew Brees: 270 pass yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Mark Ingram: 55 rush yds, 1 TD
Travaris Cadet: 10 rush yds, 30 rec yds
Marques Colston: 60 rec yds, 1 TD
Kenny Stills: 55 rec yds
Brandin Cooks: 45 rec yds
Jimmy Graham: 70 rec yds, 1 TD

Prediction: Saints 27, 49ers 21 ^ Top

Falcons at Buccaneers - (Smith)

Passing Game Thoughts: Very little has gone right for the Falcons this season, and that includes less than stellar performances in the team’s passing game. Matt Ryan hasn’t been bad, but has only five TDs in his last four games and has thrown for less than 230 yards in each of his last two contests. Roddy White has also been just okay, with only a single 100-yard game and three scores on the year. On the other hand, Julio Jones has kept up his end of the bargain, and despite some average performances of late, is 14th in fantasy scoring at WR. But none of that matters this week, and for one reason – their opponent. The Bucs represent a prime match-up that each of the aforementioned should be able to take advantage of.

It is with confidence that one can make the argument that the Tampa pass defense is the worst in the NFL. They are, after all, 31st in the league in pass defense, tied for 31st in passing scores surrendered, and 28th in yards per pass attempt allowed. Last week, Brian Hoyer had his first 300-yard game of the season against the Bucs, and every quarterback the team has faced has passed for at least 230 yards. The guys who catch the passes have had similar success against Tampa, with eight different tight ends or wide receivers having games with 80 or more yards. And while the Bucs are 15th in FPTs/G given up to tight ends, they have surrendered the 5th-most FPTs/G to quarterbacks, and no team has given up more FPTs/G to wide receivers.

Running Game Thoughts: There isn’t much of a running game to speak of for the Falcons, which may be a part of the team’s problem. Here’s all fantasy owners really need to know about that – Steven Jackson had his best outing of the season in Atlanta’s last game, rushing for 60 yards and a score. He’s merely a flex option every week, including this week against Tampa.

The Bucs are 18th in the NFL against run, are tied for 17th in rushing scores surrendered, but rank 9th in YPC allowed. Tampa hasn’t allowed any monster games by opposing running backs this season, but has allowed five different backs to gain at least 70 yards while giving up three receiving scores to players at the position. Those TDs make a difference, and are one reason why the Bucs have allowed the 9th-most FPTs/G to running backs this season.

Projections:
Matt Ryan: 280 pass yds, 3 TD
Steven Jackson: 45 rush yds, 1 TD, 15 rec yds
Julio Jones: 110 rec yds, 2 TD
Roddy White: 85 rec yds, 1 TD
Harry Douglas: 40 rec yds
Levine Toilolo: 20 rec yds

Passing Game Thoughts: Mike Glennon wasn’t playing particularly poorly for Tampa, but he wasn’t wowing anybody either, so the team made the decision to replace him in the starting lineup with Josh McCown this week. The biggest question is what that does to the team’s top wide receivers, Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, who each had success with Glennon. Even without Glennon, both players need to be in fantasy lineups this week against Atlanta, whose pass defense is the opposite of stingy.

The Falcons are tied for the 2nd-fewest TD passes allowed this season, but don’t be fooled, fantasy owners – that’s because teams prefer to pound the ball in the end zone against them via the run. For the year, Atlanta is 30th in the NFL against the pass, and dead last in both yards per pass attempt allowed and sacks. Still, the fact that teams aren’t throwing into the end zone against them means fantasy points allowed will be lacking somewhere. And that somewhere is tight ends, as the Falcons have given up the 3rd-fewest FPTs/G in the league to players at that position, but on the other hand have allowed the 9th-most FPTs/G to wide receivers. Atlanta has also allowed the 12th-fewest FPTs/G to quarterbacks, but has given up multiple scoring passes in three of their last four games after not allowing any in their first four games.

Running Game Thoughts: Doug Martin suffered an injury that kept him out last week, and he may not play this week, either. It shouldn’t matter, because the Bobby Rainey should get the majority of the carries this week against Atlanta. And when a fantasy owner has a running back that is playing the Falcons, he should start, because they allow rushing scores by the truckload.

Though Atlanta is 12th in the NFL in YPC allowed, they are also 25th in rush defense, and no team has given up as many scores on the ground as they have. But it’s not just on the ground that the Falcons are having trouble against running backs, because only the Colts have allowed more receiving yards to backs. The ineptitude against running backs has led to plenty of fantasy points this season, with no team allowing more FPTs/G to running backs than Atlanta.

Projections:
Josh McCown: 225 pass yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Bobby Rainey: 70 rush yds, 1 TD, 10 rec yds
Charles Sims: 30 rush yds, 20 rec yds
Vincent Jackson: 75 rec yds, 1 TD
Mike Evans: 70 rec yds
Louis Murphy: 25 rec yds
Austin Seferian-Jenkins: 15 rec yds

Prediction: Falcons 31, Buccaneers 20 ^ Top

Chiefs at Bills - (Thorne)

Passing Game Thoughts: With a new rump -related scoring play occurring this weekend, the football world has finally come full-circle after that strange Chiefs reception. The previous “butt fumble” from 2012 led to a defensive touchdown, and the beneficiary of the entertaining error was S Steve Gregory, who was with Kansas City this off-season before he retired. The quarterback who committed the original fumble was now-backup Mark Sanchez, who was thrust into action last weekend due to an injury to the starter. At the time of the butt fumble, Sanchez played for the Jets, who is the same team victimized by the football gods in the 2014 “scoot and score.” Beyond this fun series of oddly-related events, there is nothing entertaining about the Kansas City passing attack. They have the fourth-worst yardage average, with 201 receiving yards per game, and the Chiefs are the only team in NFL without touchdown scored by a wide receiver. Two of the top three pass catchers on the team are tight ends, where Travis Kelce is used roughly twice as frequently as Anthony Fasano and has approximately twice as much to show for it. Fantasy owners of WR Dwayne Bowe have subsisted on 57 receiving yards per game, though he was purportedly the target of the aforementioned butt-down touchdown before it landed in the hands of Fasano who then rolled across the goal line. QB Alex Smith is one of the more efficient signal callers in the league, as the Chiefs are one of only six teams with a completion percentage above 67%, but with the second fewest attempts in the league Kansas City doesn’t throw enough to take advantage.

In the lead up to Week 10, Chiefs Coach Andy Reid said that Buffalo arguably “is one of the best, if not the best, defenses in the NFL” and even behind all of the coach-speak he is probably on to something. Against the pass the Bills are the most opportunistic team in the league, tied for the lead with 12 interceptions even after their bye week. They’re tied for fourth fewest touchdowns allowed, and are one of only two teams to have not allowed more touchdowns than interceptions. On top of that, they have the second most sacks in the league. No other team can boast a similar combination of statistics, and it is that formidability to which Reid is undoubtedly referring. The Bills are coming off of their bye week and have had extra time to prepare for the uninspired Kansas City passing attack, hardly a necessity considering that Smith has only surpassed 225 passing yards on two occasions this season. With just one interception in the past seven contests, the Chiefs may be conservative enough to avoid the Buffalo ball hawks, but if Smith is forced to throw then Kansas City likely doesn’t have enough receiving weapons to be able to challenge the Bills secondary.

Running Game Thoughts: After shaking off the early season injury bug RB Jamaal Charles has returned to form, scoring five rushing touchdowns in as many games, while breaking 65 yards in each contest and surpassing 90 twice. As the primary ball carrier, Kansas City tends to go as he does; the only game they’ve lost in the last five was the same one in which Charles didn’t find the endzone. The star running back has caught two or more passes in each of the team’s wins, and the two games where he has scored more than one touchdown are the two games where the Chiefs recorded their most points. While Charles was hobbled, RB Knile Davis filled in admirably, and now that both are healthy he has provided a quality replacement whenever the starter needs a break. In each of the last four contests Davis has recorded fewer than 50 total yards from scrimmage, and in half of those her failed to reach double digits. His utility in fantasy is inversely related to the availability of Charles, but he still remains perhaps the most valuable handcuff in the game because of how heavily Kansas City leans on their rushing attack. Even with the injuries and losses at the beginning of the season, the Chiefs are still the sixth best rushing team in the NFL, averaging 137 yards per game. Their 11 ground scores are only one behind the league leaders, and on a per-attempt basis they’re comfortably inside the top ten.

The line of scrimmage may be more highly contested than usual as the Bills and their top ten run defense host this Sunday contest. The team allows an average of 92 rushing yards per game, though in their two most recent contests they surrendered over 155 in each. Both of those matchups resulted in a victory for Buffalo, so while it wasn’t their best day on the ground they still managed to win where it mattered most. Through eight games they’ve conceded just three rushing touchdowns, tied for second best in the league. The Bills defense gives up only 3.6 yards per rush and no ball carrier has been able to break a run of 30 or more yards against them. The run defense prides themselves on being physical and making running backs fight for every single yard they gain, so while Charles may not be able to find the edge and run away from tacklers, the combination of him and Davis may be enough to wear down the Bills front seven and lead to success on the ground. For Buffalo the biggest aspect working in their favor is the utter lack of a receiving threat, which will allow them to stack the box and key on the run, leaving their opportunistic secondary to defend through the air. The only home losses that the Bills have suffered came at the hands of two talented quarterbacks, not teams who were dedicated to the run.

Projections:
Alex Smith: 190 pass yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 15 rush yds
Jamaal Charles: 80 rush yds, 10 rec yds
Knile Davis: 35 rush yds
Dwayne Bowe: 40 rec yds
Donnie Avery: 35 rec yds
Travis Kelce: 45 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: Two weeks ago QB Kyle Orton turned in one of the stranger stat lines of the season, with four touchdowns from only ten completions, a 59% completion rate, and taking four sacks in a blowout victory on the road against a divisional opponent. No receiver caught more than three passes, but rookie Sammy Watkins (groin) played through a minor injury and still managed to gain over 150 yards on his three receptions, including an 84-yard pass that was celebrated too early as he was pulled down just outside the endzone. Four different players caught a pass for a touchdown, though for the first time all season a running back did not record a reception whereas in most contests at least two different backs caught passes. The Bills gained 238 yards through the air, the lowest total for Orton since he became the starter, and in those four games this was the first one where he didn’t throw an interception. On the season the leading receiver has been Watkins, but his status for Week 10 is less than certain after he left practice early on Wednesday after aggravating his groin injury. He is expected to play on Sunday, but it will be worth confirming his availability before kickoff just in case Watkins is held out of the contest. Behind him a collection of pass catchers have contributed to the team’s success though none truly stand out. Nine different players have caught a touchdown pass, and other than Watkins (5) and WR Robert Woods (2) none have more than one.

The Kansas City pass defense excels at two things, and is approximately ho-hum everywhere else. For touchdowns allowed they’re outside the top ten. For interceptions forced they’re in the bottom quarter of the league. For both of yards per attempt and completion percentage the Chiefs fall into the second quartile. However, in the area of sacks recorded they’re third overall, and for yardage allowed per game there is no one better. If teams can find their way into the redzone then the Kansas City defense isn’t likely going to keep them from scoring, but the chances of advancing the ball downfield through the air are rather slim. With only four interceptions from eight contests opposing quarterbacks haven’t been forced into many bad decisions, which is odd considering the pressure they must be under constantly due to all of the sacks that have been recorded. Rather than a “bend but don’t break” sort of defense, the Chiefs are more of a “no middle ground” sort of a unit; they’re either stopping the passing attack early and limiting yardage, or they’re allowing scores and not creating turnovers. From a fantasy perspective that means Orton is probably not going to have a great day like he did last week, but also that it’s not terribly likely that he lays an egg and tosses picks all over the place; low risk, low reward.

Running Game Thoughts: Across the NFL there may not be a single aspect of a game this weekend that has fewer certainties in it than the Bills rushing attack. Already without their leading rusher for the year, their close number two RB Fred Jackson (groin) is recovering from injury, though with no original timetable for his return and no substantive comment on his Sunday availability, his status is at best up in the air. Prior to their bye week RB Anthony “Boobie” Dixon was the starting ball carrier, but after gaining 95 yards on 25 carries in two weeks, averaging 3.8 per attempt, Buffalo may look to Bryce Brown to try to invigorate the running game. Brown was unexpectedly acquired this off-season, presumably because of his abilities as a playmaker, so with injuries and ineffectiveness reigning in the backfield this may now be his time to shine. Regardless of who has been the ball carrier, Buffalo has struggled in the rushing attack, averaging just 99 yards per game on the ground and recording more rushing touchdowns than just one other team. Despite winning three of their last four games, the Bills have gained 70 or more rushing yards only once during that span, so they’ve demonstrated they can win without a strong running game. With a passing attack that is below average and a ground game which is statistically even worse than that, if it weren’t for their incredible defense Buffalo would certainly not be above .500.

Even when the yardage isn’t there, most starting running backs are able to salvage their fantasy days by stealing a meaningless touchdown somewhere along the way; against the Chiefs however that has yet to happen. They’re the only team in the league to have not given up a rushing touchdown, and considering Buffalo has struggled mightily finding the endzone on the ground, it’s hard to foresee Kansas City stumbling in Week 10 and conceding a score to a Bills ball carrier. Though significantly ahead of the rest of the NFL in not surrendering touchdowns, the Chiefs are in the middle of the pack when it comes to yardage, allowing 116 yards per game. They also have the fifth worst mark for yards per attempt, with opponents picking up 4.7 yards per carry. The saving grace for the Kansas City run defense has been their own rushing attack, which keeps the opponent off the field and prevents them from picking up yards or points. With game flow being so important and Buffalo not having a powerful offense of their own which can dictate the tempo, the Chiefs are probably in line for another solid showing against the run one again, which could lead to a very low scoring afternoon for both teams.

Projections:
Kyle Orton: 220 pass yds, 1 TD
Anthony Dixon: 40 rush yds
Bryce Brown: 65 rush yds, 20 rec yds
Sammy Watkins: 70 rec yds
Robert Woods: 40 rec yds, 1 TD
Scott Chandler: 35 rec yds

Prediction: Bills 13, Chiefs 10 ^ Top

Steelers at Jets - (Thorne)

Passing Game Thoughts: The best he can, QB Ben Roethlisberger has been trying to play down the record he set recently, throwing 12 touchdown passes over the span of back to back games. With a pair of six score contests, Roethlisberger has vaulted himself into third place for touchdowns thrown, and second place for both of passing yards and completion percentage. Top pass catcher WR Antonio Brown has three scores during those two games, is now fourth in receiving touchdowns, and now leads the league in receiving yards. Earlier in the season Brown also threw for a touchdown on a trick play, reviving the days of WR Antwaan Randle El and the numerous ways the offense looks to involve their most dynamic play makers. Other than Brown three pass catchers have recorded more than 390 yards, including RB Le’Veon Bell, TE Heath Miller, and WR Markus Wheaton, who are separated by fewer than 40 receiving yards. The wildcard of the passing attack is rookie WR Martavis Bryant, who made his NFL debut in Week 7 and has since scored five touchdowns in three games. His snap counts have increased in each game and he is becoming more integral to the offense compared to Wheaton. While he hasn’t officially supplanted the number two receiver, the rookie clearly has the more explosive potential and is worth a flyer in most fantasy formats. As defenses continue to shade to Brown, whoever his counterpart is will be given more opportunities in the passing game, and Bryant has already demonstrated his ability to take advantage.

If the Jets were to rank all of their problems it may be difficult to identify their greatest area of need, but considering red-hot Pittsburgh is coming to town, it would be hard to imagine a Swiss-cheese-like secondary wouldn’t be at the top of that list. New York has given up an astonishing 24 passing touchdowns this season and has recorded only one interception; no other team has less than three picks or more than 18 scores allowed. By those metrics alone they’re quantifiably 33% more terrible than the second worst passing defense. The only team that the Jets have beaten, who were led by a rookie quarterback in week one making his NFL debut on the road, have surrendered half has many touchdowns and have three times as many interceptions. If moral victories counted for anything New York may be proud that their defense ranks fifth (tied) for sacks recorded, but considering their eight game losing streak and the turmoil surrounding the futures of the coach and general manager, it’s arguably more impressive that the defense even continues to show up on gameday. Unless Roethlisberger tears something in his shoulder from throwing so many touchdowns, or backup QB Bruce Gradkowski gets on the field because the defense has thrown in the towel, Sunday could be a proverbial bloodbath for the Pittsburgh passing attack as they ravage the Jets secondary.

Running Game Thoughts: Before a Week 9 clash with their arch rival, the Steelers were a top ten rushing team; after 25 carries yielded only 55 yards it’s no surprise that they’ve slipped some, but they still average 119 rushing yards per game and are better than the majority of the league. The star of the Pittsburgh backfield is the explosive Le’Veon Bell, who has five runs of over 20 yards already this season, including one for 81 yards. The only thing lacking in his game has been touchdowns, where he has only one all season and has seen the majority of goal line carries go to RB LeGarrette Blount. Even as the more powerful back Blount still has only two rushing touchdowns, but that represents the remainder of all Steelers scores on the ground. Unlike years past the Black and Yellow are a passing team that runs well, as opposed to a running team that finds success through the air. Through nine games Pittsburgh has passed 91 more times than they have rushed, giving them the fourth greatest differential in the league. Even though he hasn’t crossed the goal line on the ground, Bell has scored twice through the air, so between that and his 79-yard rushing average he’s been one of the best fantasy producers this year.

In many ways the Jets compare fairly well to the team Pittsburgh played in Week 9, and although they eventually would lose the game, the opponent was able to limit the Steelers on the ground and force them to be a one dimensional offense. The bad news is Roethlisberger was up to the challenge and scorched the secondary for his second consecutive game with six touchdown passes. In that contest Pittsburgh had better success on the ground when Blount was the ball carrier, as his bigger size and more physical play were able to chip away at the formidable front seven of the defense. Using the same strategy against New York would be advisable, though results may not be any different. On the season Gang Green has allowed only four rushing touchdowns and surrendered only 3.5 yards per carry, giving up just 88 yards per game. Between the Jets dominance of the line of scrimmage and the secondary behind them doing next to nothing to slow down pass catchers, opponents have found success against New York by shying away from the physicality of the running game and instead relying on their quarterback to exploit the deficiencies present in the defense.

Projections:
Ben Roethlisberger: 360 pass yds, 5 TDs
Le’Veon Bell: 30 rush yds, 65 rec yds, 1 TD
LeGarrette Blount: 45 rush yds, 10 rec yds
Antonio Brown: 145 rec yds, 2 TDs
Martavis Bryant: 80 rec yds, 1 TD
Heath Miller: 55 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: Because of their geography the Jets are usually close to the public eye, but their recent futility on the field has led to even more media attention and scrutiny than usual. Taking the brunt of the criticism, as usual, is Head Coach Rex Ryan, but the spotlight has slowly shifted from him to General Manager John Idzik in recent weeks. The core dysfunction of the team stems from an ineffective offense, spearheaded by the worst passing attack in the league. Since his arrival in 2013, then-rookie QB Geno Smith was given the opportunity to lead the franchise, and rumors have stirred ever since suggesting that the charismatic coach wasn’t fond of this mandate. Fast forward to 2014, after a sham of a quarterback competition in the off-season Smith was declared the starter. They beat a terrible team in Week One, and Smith appeared to regress beginning at halftime of Week 2, eventually leading to multiple benchings and subsequently losing his starting role to veteran QB Michael Vick. Media outlets have suggested the faux-competition between Smith and Vick was perhaps the precipitating event which began the downhill tumble to a 1-8 record. With Vick under center the team has been somewhat less dreadful but has yet to secure a victory. Had he been given an opportunity to lead the team, or at least an honest shot at fighting to be the starter, New York may be in a different position. At least the team may have put forth competitive efforts in more than a third of their games this year. As it stands Vick is charged with salvaging the season, potentially saving the jobs of his coach and the general manager, and trying to lead an offense to more than 184 passing yards per contest, or improving on their current mark of 0.89 touchdowns and 1.22 interceptions per game.

In a dramatic shift from the days of the Steel Curtain, Pittsburgh has largely been winning game due to their offense and not their defense. In six of eight games this season they have allowed 23 or more points; in half of their games they’ve given up 27 or more. In the only games they’ve lost this year the offense has failed to score more than 10 points, so while the defense hasn’t been a liability it is no longer the strength of the team. During their recent three game home stand, all victories, Pittsburgh is averaging 41.3 points for and just 26.7 points against. Their just-below average pass defense normally yields 252 yards per game, but in the most recent trio of contests they’re conceding 70 yards more than that on average, including games of 400 and over 300 passing yards. New York doesn’t have the firepower to reliably challenge the Steelers through the air, but without S Troy Polamalu (knee) available Pittsburgh will be without their most dynamic defender. Considering the Jets give up the fourth most sacks in the league, Pittsburgh should be able to absorb his absence by harassing the only reliable receiver on the roster and bringing extra pressure from the front seven. If the Steelers can find a way to contain the league’s passing leader, keeping New York in check shouldn’t be much of a hassle.

Running Game Thoughts: In a lopsided Week 9 New York gave their leading running back only four carries after the first quarter. Arguably to protect him, RB Chris Ivory received his fewest touches of the season and his second lowest rushing total, seeing backup RB Chris Johnson have his best game of the year with 101 total yards from scrimmage and a 6.3 yards per carry average; neither scored a touchdown. Ivory has been the workhorse of the backfield for the vast majority of the year, and compared the inconsistencies which have plagued the offense, he has nearly been a beacon of reliability. With five touchdowns in nine games he isn’t lighting up the fantasy world, but despite the team’s eight game losing streak he has found the endzone or recorded 95 or more yards from scrimmage in five of those contests, and in nine total games he has thrice surpassed 16 fantasy points. New York is the third most prolific rushing team, averaging 140 yards per contest and 4.7 per carry. Prior to seeing extended rest last week Ivory was averaging more than 12 touches per game, so even if Johnson again sees an expanded role there is a strong chance that the starter will lead the team in rushing yards and attempts, and he’s far more likely to find the endzone.

In addition to shouldering most of the workload, the continued involvement of Harvin in the offense should lead to greater opportunities for Ivory. Already without Polamalu, the Steelers will also miss LB Ryan Shazier (ankle) this weekend as both rest lingering injuries. The growing attention being paid to Harvin will help loosen up the defense somewhat, at least forcing Pittsburg to respect two receivers and occasionally a tight end. Currently they are allowing only 103 rushing yards per game, falling just outside the top ten, but losing two run stoppers from the defense will not do Pittsburgh any favors against the Jets power running game. Only eight teams have faced fewer rushing attempts than the Steelers, as most offenses feel compelled to try to throw the ball to keep up with the high scoring Black and Yellow offense, and that has helped masked their relative weakness against the run. On the season they’ve allowed 4.4 yards per carry, putting them in the bottom quarter of the league, so if the Jets can commit to the run they may be able to find success on the ground, and additionally keep the Pittsburgh offense off the field. Both of which might help keep the game close, but recent history suggests it won’t matter.

Projections:
Michael Vick: 205 pass yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 25 rush yds
Chris Ivory: 65 rush yds, 10 rec yds, 1 TD
Chris Johnson: 35 rush yds
Percy Harvin: 70 rec yds
Eric Decker: 60 rec yds, 1 TD
Jace Amaro: 35 rec yds

Prediction: Steelers 38, Jets 17 ^ Top

Panthers at Eagles - (Thorne)

Passing Game Thoughts: After a combination of non-Sunday games, the Panthers will go 11 days without playing a football despite not having their bye week during that span. The team last competed on Thursday, the final game played in October, and before Monday night kickoff they’ll be the only team who hasn’t played in November. The extended rest certainly can’t hurt, as Carolina is in the midst of a 1-5-1 stretch since opening the season with consecutive victories. Week 10 will see the return of three offensive linemen who were held out previously due to injury, though none are currently listed as the starter at their position so their impact won’t be immediate. Some backups were still working with the first team offense during practice this week, so the offensive line depth chart may be in flux. No one has been immune from struggles this last seven games. The prime example may be QB Cam Newton, who has tossed an interception in five straight contests and not thrown for a score in the last two. Yardage leader WR Kelvin Benjamin is still battling rookie mistakes, but recorded his second most yards of the season despite the struggles from Newton. Veteran TE Greg Olsen has seen his two lowest totals of the year in these latest two games, and after catching five touchdowns in the first six games he hasn’t found the endzone in the last three. With additional time to prepare for this primetime matchup it’s possible that the Panthers find a way to end their recent struggles, but until they prove they can that optimism is unfounded.

Both the Carolina passing game and the opposing defense are ranked in the low 20s for yardage, are similarly ranked with regards to aerial touchdowns, and each have a yards per attempt average in the low 7s. The only areas where they truly differ are in interceptions and sacks, where each unit a low number of picks and a high number of sacks; low turnovers of course favor the offense, and increased quarterback pressure favors the defense, essentially balancing out one another. Considering the major statistical categories, the Panthers passing game will compete with their defensive equals, serving as a litmus test of sorts for both units. If Newton can kick the recent interception habit that he’s acquired then the Eagles aren’t likely to take the ball away during pass plays, regardless of the pressure which they’re expected to generate. To that point, LB DeMeco Ryans (Achilles) will be unavailable for the remainder of the year, so Philadelphia pass rush will likely suffer. On the season the Eagles have allowed 256 passing yards per game and have conceded 17 touchdowns through the air, so any improvement from Carolina is likely to pay dividends and may be enough to get them back on track in the NFC South.

Running Game Thoughts: There’s an old metaphor about a feces river, a hollowed out man-powered boat, and not having the instruments needed to adequately steer the vessel. Fantasy owners with a Carolina running back on their roster ought to be able to relate, since they likely understand the desperation those creek travelers must feel as their canoe aimlessly drifts down the metaphorical stream. Struck again with numerous injuries earlier this season, the Panthers backfield awkwardly sorted itself out through attrition. Now with the return of RB DeAngelo Williams (ankle) to full health, after RB Jonathan Stewart too finally found a healthy stretch, Carolina can once again use their desired rotation as Williams resumes the starting role and Stewart is relegated to duties as the change of pace back. The most effective runner though is Newton, whose duel threat abilities have significantly bolstered his fantasy value despite his pedestrian showings as a passer. The team’s 95 rushing yard average is spilt remarkably evenly between Newton and the two running backs, so without finding the endzone none have impressive fantasy upside. Since touchdown vulture RB Mike Tolbert still on short term Injured Reserve, most goal line carries will likely remain in the hands of the quarterback, which further limits the utility of the backfield duo.

Exacerbating the problem with Panthers running backs is that they’ll be facing a Philadelphia defense that has allowed just three touchdowns on the ground this season. Though they are ranked 20th in yards allowed the Eagles are better than average on a per touch basis, yielding right at four yards per carry and not allowing an opposing ball carrier to rush for 30 or more yards on a single attempt through eight contests. Without giving up many big plays Philadelphia forces their opponents to focus on the run in order to make appreciable gains, though for the Panthers this won’t necessarily be a problem. Because they have limited upside at the receiver positions Carolina had to build themselves as a running team, and the frequency at which Newton becomes a ball carrier makes it even more difficult for defenses to adequately prepare for the ground attack. Historically the Panthers have been best when the running game is the defense’s primary focus, which allows the quarterback to take advantage of a softer secondary, but then when they back off Newton has the opportunity to exploit them on the ground as well. Considering the Eagles don’t have a stiff run defense and their defensive leader was recently lost of the season, the timing may be perfect for Carolina to reestablish the running game.

Projections:
Cam Newton: 245 pass yds, 1 TD, 40 rush yds
DeAngelo Williams: 55 rush yds, 1 TD
Jonathan Stewart: 35 rush yds
Kelvin Benjamin: 70 rec yds
Jerricho Cotchery: 40 rec yds
Greg Olsen: 45 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: Making his first start in nearly two years, QB Mark Sanchez was called into action last week when starting QB Nick Foles (clavicle) was knocked out of the game. On his first throw Sanchez connected with WR Jeremy Maclin on a deep pass, and a few plays later he connected with WR Jordan Matthews on a touchdown strike. The hot start for Sanchez calmed the nerves of the Eagles faithful, though rumblings had begun that Foles may have been at risk of losing his starting job. Even though the surprise player of 2013 does not require surgery, he is still expected to be out six weeks, so regardless of whatever rumors were circling, Sanchez will be the signal caller until at least the final game of the season. In fantasy terms Foles is now worthless in the majority of leagues, though on the field Philadelphia is hoping to have him back for their eventual playoffs run. The team is currently third in the NFC and holds a half game lead in the East, so even if the division title comes down to the final game of the season like it usually does, the Eagles have to feel pretty good about being 6-2 overall and having an unblemished division record. Coach Chip Kelly is confident Sanchez can run the wide open offense, and with three quarters of experience to go on he seems spot on. As a top five passing attack the Eagles have averaged 285 yards through eight games, and their 11 sacks surrendered is fourth best in the league. With Maclin as a deep threat, Matthews a quality possession receiver and impressive redzone target, and a pair of dynamic pass catchers out of the backfield, Sanchez finally has the weapons he never had on his old team, and his experience may be just what the Eagles have needed to finally take control of their playoff destiny.

The formerly dominant Carolina pass defense has regressed back to the NFL mean, residing at approximately the midway point of most major statistical categories. Ranking no higher than ninth (interceptions) and as low as 25th (touchdowns), all but one of the remaining aspects put the Panthers in the middle third of league pass defense. The outlying area is completion percentage, where Carolina is the second most permissive defense, allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete over 69% of their passes. To put it all together, the type of offense which should find the most success against the Panthers is one that utilizes the short passing game and takes advantage of whatever the defense gives them, likely with multiple wide receiver sets or mismatches as linebackers are forced to cover running backs. Even to the casual observer, this description should sound very much like the style of offense Chip Kelly has implemented in Philadelphia. Now that a veteran is at the helm it is reasonable to expect fewer mistakes and quicker decisions, meaning that the Eagles may be even more potent than they’ve been up to the midpoint of the season.

Running Game Thoughts: For most of the season Philadelphia has struggled with injuries on the offensive line. Coming into Week 10 there will be another change, with G Todd Herremans (biceps) now out for the year, and G Evan Mathis (knee) returning from short term Injured Reserve and scheduled to start on the right side, opposite the vacancy created by the newest injury. Even with the unplanned ebb and flow of personnel, the Eagles have the eighth best rushing attack, averaging 125 yards per game. Compared to last year when they dominated the league on the ground, what is lacking this year is the frequency of explosive plays; Philadelphia has a good, but not great, 4.3 yards per carry average. Leading the ground game is RB LeSean McCoy, who has four straight games with at least 80 rushing yards and has broken 115 twice during that span. The only thing keeping him from fantasy superstardom has been an inability to find the endzone, with his only score all year coming in Week 2, another Monday night contest. Although the acquisition of RB Darren Sproles was expected to kick the rushing game into another gear, his use has been sporatic, and aside from some early season heroics when McCoy was limited he has been almost irrelevant in fantasy football. The Eagles continue to use him, or at least threaten to use him, in all aspects of the game, so defenses are forced to be aware of his presence, but little of what he’s done has translated into the boxscore.

With 11 days to prepare for Philadelphia it’s possible that the Panthers have devised a way to slow down the rushing attack, but it’s probably more likely that they’ve spent a week and a half studying film and shaking their heads, knowing there’s little they can to do keep the Eagles from running all over them. Off the field the legal case against DE Greg Hardy has been postponed until 2015, so the Panthers most dynamic defender will remain on Commissioner’s Exemption List and apart from the team. For that and a handful of other reasons, Carolina has the seventh worst run defense this season, surrendering 132 rushing yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry, the worst mark in the league. They’ve also given up the second most scores in the ground game, with 11 from nine contests. The Panthers are the only team in the league to have yielded a rush of longer than 71 yards, and their season worst is 18 yards worse than that. Though the NFL remains a quarterback league and the pregame coverage almost always focuses on the man under center, the Philadelphia rushing attack and the Panthers attempts to contain it should tell the tale of this matchup, and in a fantasy world where running backs are still the most valuable commodity of all, it’s hard to complain when your guy is squaring off against Carolina.

Projections:
Mark Sanchez: 270 pass yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT
LeSean McCoy: 95 rush yds, 20 rec yds, 2 TDs
Darren Sproles: 30 rush yds, 45 rec yds
Jeremy Maclin: 125 rec yds, 1 TD
Jordan Matthews: 60 rec yds, 1 TD
Zach Ertz: 35 rec yds

Prediction: Eagles 31, Panthers 23 ^ Top

Broncos @ Raiders - (Caron)

Passing Game Thoughts: While the loss on the scoreboard is still stinging for fans of the Denver Broncos, fantasy owners were treated to another productive fantasy day from their future Hall of Fame quarterback. Peyton Manning threw for 438 yards and two touchdowns in the road loss to the Patriots and while his two interceptions hurt his overall fantasy total, it was still Manning’s 10th-straight game (going back to 2013) where he reached at least 20 fantasy points in standard scoring formats. Manning remains arguably the top overall player in fantasy football and his receivers continue to put up monster numbers as well. Demaryius Thomas, who started the season slow, has now caught at least seven passes and exceeded 100 receiving yards in five straight games. Meanwhile, Emmanuel Sanders continues to put up huge numbers of his own. He has made 19 receptions for 271 yards and three touchdowns in his past two games, in addition to the hot start that he got off to at the beginning of the season. Tight end Julius Thomas has begun to fall off a bit from the absurd start, but he did get back into the end zone in Week 9 and remains one of the premiere red zone threats in all of football. The one player who has not been great that we expected a lot from to start the season has been Wes Welker. Welker has not yet exceeded 70 yards in a single game and while he has typically been a volume receiver, he has not exceeded three catches in any game since Week 5. With Sanders and the Thomas’ being so productive, it seems as if Welker is being phased out of the offense.

The Raiders have been quietly good against the pass this season, but this could be the matchup where it gets blown up. Manning and the Broncos threw for seven touchdowns in their two matchups against Oakland in 2013 and with the Denver offense putting up similar numbers to what they did a season ago, there’s little reason to think that the Raiders are suddenly going to be able to slow them down. Look for big days from the usual suspects in the Denver offense, but sit Welker this week while we further examine his role.

Running Game Thoughts: Now four games in as the Denver Broncos starter at running back, Ronnie Hillman has really exceeded any expectations that we could have realistically had for him from a fantasy standpoint. He has been putting up RB1 numbers since taking over for Montee Ball and it’s looking increasingly more likely that he will keep the job even when Ball does return. Hillman’s rushing stat line from a week ago looks abysmal on the surface: 10 attempts for 16 yards. But it’s worth noting that the Broncos fell behind in the game early and passed heavily throughout the contest, which never allowed Hillman to get into much of a groove. Not only that, Hillman actually was a major contributor in the passing game, despite struggling as a runner. He caught seven passes for 47 yards and a touchdown.

This week, he will be up against an Oakland run defense that has been one of the worst in the entire league. The Raiders have conceded 11 total touchdowns to the running back position and an average of 162 total yards per game to opposing running backs. After a 10 attempt day in Week 9, look for the Broncos to give Hillman at least 20 touches in this contest, which he should be able to take advantage of. Hillman is a solid RB1 choice this week and should be in all lineups.

Projections:
Peyton Manning: 280 pass yds, 3 TD
Ronnie Hillman: 90 rush yds, 2 TD, 30 rec yds
Demaryius Thomas: 100 rec yds, 1 TD
Emmanuel Sanders: 80 rec yds, 1 TD
Julius Thomas: 50 rec yds, 1 TD
Wes Welker: 30 rec yds

Passing Game Thoughts: It has admittedly been an up-and-down season Derek Carr, but the Raiders quarterback has shown signs that lead us to believe that he may be a future star in the league if he can just get some talent around him. The rookie is on pace to throw for nearly 3,500 yards and 22 touchdowns for a team that has still not won a single game. Unfortunately, the talent around him just hasn’t been able to get him to that next level of fantasy production. Third-year wideout Andre Holmes currently leads the team in fantasy points at the wide receiver position with veteran James Jones closely behind. After those two, the wide receiver with the next-most receiving yardage, Brice Butler ( 10 catches for 176 yards). The only other player in the passing game who has any real fantasy value has been tight end Mychal Rivera. Rivera, who had a bit of hype coming into the year, started off slow but has been heating up as of late. He’s made 15 catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns over his past two contests.

If the Raiders are going to make this a game, their passing game is going to have to be on point. Thankfully they’ll be up against a Broncos defense that has been terrible against the pass so far this season. Denver has conceded seven passing scores over their past two contests and two or more passing touchdowns in six of their eight contests thus far. While top cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Chris Harris certainly have shown the ability to shut down the opposing teams’ top targets, their defense as a whole has been wildly inconsistent. Don’t look for Derek Carr to be one of the top fantasy passers this week, but it could be a worse matchup. Those in two-QB leagues could consider him a low-end starter.

Running Game Thoughts: In a game where their team was competitive on the road in what is widely considered the most hostile environment in all of football, Raiders fans would have loved to have seen more from their running game and top tailback Darren McFadden. McFadden had been quietly putting up decent fantasy totals primarily due to him touching the ball at least a dozen times in every game since Week 1, but he was not able to keep up his production in Week 9 against the Seahawks. McFadden ran the ball 13 times for just 20 yards and didn’t get into the end zone. His four receptions for 47 yards saved what was otherwise an abysmal fantasy day, but it’s certainly not enough to make him an exciting option in what will be another very tough matchup.

The Broncos have not allowed an opposing team’s running backs to rush for more than 70 yards in any game since Week 3 and they have not allowed any team to exceed 100 rushing yards against them since Week 15 of 2013. Not only that, but they haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown in Week 5. Needless to say, this is about as bad of a situation as you can find for an already bad Oakland running game. McFadden will likely get his 10-plus touches again, but that doesn’t mean he should be in your fantasy lineup.

Projections:
Derek Carr: 260 pass yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Darren McFadden: 50 rush yds, 30 rec yds
James Jones: 70 rec yds, 1 TD
Andre Holmes: 50 rec yds, 1 TD
Mychal Rivera: 60 rec yds, 1 TD

Prediction: Broncos 38, Raiders 17 ^ Top

Rams @ Cardinals - (Caron)

Passing Game Thoughts: Just a few weeks after the Rams threw away a multiple-score lead against the 49ers, the two teams met again this past Sunday. This time, the Rams were able to narrowly eek out a 13-10 win. As the score indicates, this wasn’t exactly an offensive showcase. In fact, quarterback Austin Davis completed just 13-of-24 passes for only touchdown while throwing two interceptions. The loss of Brian Quick for the season has been apparent in this offense as Davis has not been nearly as productive and no other receiver has really stepped up to take his place as the top target for the young quarterback. One would assume that tight end Jared Cook would be the new primary receiving option, but he has practically fallen off the face of the planet, catching just three passes over his past two games. Former Tennessee Titans wideout Kenny Britt has been the defacto “WR1” for the Rams since Quick has been out as he has 84 yards and a touchdown over his past two games, but he has only made four total catches.

The unproductive Rams passing game does have an interesting matchup against an Arizona defense that has been mediocre against opposing quarterbacks so far this season. But while they have struggled in some games, they have actually done well against the weaker passing games they’ve played against. If you add up the games they played against Colin Kaepernick, Derek Carr and Brandon Weeden, the Cardinals only allowed a total of 601 yards passing and two touchdowns in those three contests combined. Given the Rams’ lack of success through the air as of late, no one in this passing game should be in fantasy owners’ lineups.

Running Game Thoughts: It’s easy to overlook what happened with the Rams running game in Week 9. After all, the group only compiled 75 total yards rushing and no one scored a touchdown. To say that their day was mediocre would be giving them more credit than they were due. But it’s not so much the production that is exciting here, as it is that the position finally appears to be becoming a bit more clear. Zac Stacy has now failed to touch the ball whatsoever in two of his past three games despite being healthy, meanwhile Benny Cunningham has rushed the ball just 10 total times over that stretch. Instead, it has been rookie Tre Mason who has now carried the ball 44 times over his past three contests. Cunningham certainly appears to be the change-of-pace back, but that alone won’t make him a viable fantasy option.

Mason’s workload makes him an intriguing prospect going forward, although he will have a tough matchup here in Week 10 as he goes up against an Arizona Cardinals defense that has been incredible against opposing running games this season. Not only have they not allowed a single team to rush for more than 100 yards against them, but the Cardinals have only allowed a total of four touchdowns to opposing running backs on the year thus far. They were the first team to hold Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray under the century mark in 2014 and it just doesn’t look like a great fantasy day will be on the horizon for Mason or any of the Rams running backs.

Projections:
Austin Davis: 235 pass yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Tre Mason: 60 rush yds, 10 rec yds
Benny Cunningham: 20 rush yds, 25 rec yds
Kenny Britt: 60 rec yds, 1 TD
Tavon Austin: 30 rec yds, 15 rush yds
Jared Cook: 40 rec yds

Passing Game Thoughts: The quiet reemergence of quarterback Carson Palmer continued this past week as the veteran threw for three touchdowns - his highest total of the season - in a big win over the Dallas Cowboys. With that game, Palmer has now thrown for multiple touchdowns in all five games that he has played in this season. That impressive stat line is actually more impressive when you consider that he has somehow limited his interceptions to just two on the year after a disastrous 2013 campaign where he threw 22 of them. His arm issue now appears to be a thing of the past as he is throwing the ball down the field with relative ease. The one major issue right now, at least from a fantasy standpoint, seems to be the lack of targets coming the way of the team’s young, developing receiver, Michael Floyd. Floyd was targeted just five times in Week 9, four times in Week 8 and three times in Week 7. While it’s good to see that number going up each week, it’s certainly not enough to make Floyd a viable fantasy option and he has been extraordinarily disappointing as of late.

With the Rams secondary being one of the better groups at defending the deep ball, Floyd’s upside may be limited once again this week as he gets the majority of his yardage from long passes. Instead, receivers Larry Fitzgerald and possibly even John Brown could see an uptick in value this week. Fitzgerald has been impressive as of late as he has averaged 87 yards per game and caught two touchdown passes over his past four contests. Meanwhile Brown has been very hot-and-cold, but has made some impressive deep pass plays of his own. Look for Fitzgerald to be Palmer’s primary weapon this week in what should be a good matchup for him.

Running Game Thoughts: It was yet another impressive game for the young do-it-all back for the Arizona Cardinals, Andre Ellington, in Week 9. Ellington ran the ball 21 times for 95 yards while also making four receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown. All this against a Dallas Cowboys defense that has been pretty good so far this season. Ellington’s ability to make plays not only as a runner, but also as a receiver has given him one of the highest workloads of any back in 2014. He has now touched the ball 20-plus times in six straight contests. That kind of workload is something that typically translates into plenty of fantasy points and Ellington has certainly done that. He now sits seventh among all running backs in total fantasy points for the season and he seems to be hitting a groove. Although Ellington continues to deal with a lingering foot injury from earlier in the year, he remains practically the only player who touches the ball in the Cardinals backfield and that should make him a lock to be a top 10 fantasy back so long as he stays on the field.

In Week 10, he will be up against a Rams defense that has been very good against the run for the most part this season. Aside from a big fantasy day given up to Jamaal Charles in Week 8, the Rams have held opposing running backs to just one total touchdown in their other seven games combined. Not only that, but they’ve been particularly stingy on a per-carry basis as of late, allowing just 3.1 YPC to opposing running backs over their past four contests. Ellington is a must-start right now given the number of touches he is getting, but this isn’t the best matchup he’ll have.

Projections:
Carson Palmer: 235 pass yds, 2 TD
Andre Ellington: 70 rush yds, 30 rec yds
Larry Fitzgerald: 90 rush yds, 1 TD
Michael Floyd: 50 rec yds
John Brown: 35 rec yds, 1 TD

Prediction: Cardinals 20, Rams 16 ^ Top

Giants @ Seahawks - (Caron)

Passing Game Thoughts: While the other three teams in the NFC East continue to go through turmoil at their quarterback positions, the one player who has been a constant for the division has been New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. Manning has rarely been an excellent fantasy quarterback over the course of his career and he has once again gone through great highs and embarrassing lows. But when he’s hot, there are few quarterbacks better. Manning, who has now thrown for over 600 yards and five total touchdowns over his past two games, has extended his interception-less streak to four games. Unfortunately the Giants defense hasn’t done Manning many favors in the win column as they have conceded nearly 100 points to opposing teams over their past three contests - all Giants losses. But while that may be bad for the team’s chances of making a playoff run this season, it has been a good thing for fantasy owners who certainly enjoy the fact that the Giants offense has to pass to keep pace on the scoreboard. Manning attempted 52 passes in Week 9, which led to a 359 yard passing day. Rookie Odell Beckham Jr. was the primary beneficiary of Manning’s big day, as he caught eight passes for 156 yards. He has now crossed into double-digit fantasy production (standard scoring) in three of his first four games as a pro, and is quickly becoming a must-own in just about every fantasy league.

In Week 10, Manning, Beckham and the Giants will have arguably their toughest task of the season as they head to Seattle to face the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks. While it’s true that this year’s Seahawks defense has not been nearly the dominant unit that it was a season ago, they are still averaging allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks on the year. They’ve been on a hot streak as of late, as well, having not allowed a 200-yard passer in three straight contests. Manning should be able to eclipse that number, but his day may be limited if the Seahawks control the clock as they are so good at doing. With Rueben Randle likely to see a lot of attention from RIchard Sherman, look for Beckham Jr. to be the player to watch in Week 10. Another player who could be in for a good day is tight end Larry Donnell. Donnell got into the end zone in Week 9 and has a good chance to do it again this week against a Seattle secondary that has conceded the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends on the year, including a two-touchdown day to the Raiders’ Mychal Rivera last week.

Running Game Thoughts: Rookie running back Andre Williams looked like he might be one of the better young backs in the league when he took the field this preseason, but that has not exactly translated onto the field in the regular season so far. Williams fell below a 3.0 yards per carry average on the year this past week with his 12 attempt, 22 yard rushing performance against the Colts. While he saved his day from a fantasy standpoint with a touchdown, he has simply not been getting the job done with Rashad Jennings on the sidelines due to an injury. Jennings has been able to practice in a limited capacity this week, but his prospects of playing still look fairly limited as he was only able to begin cutting on his injured MCL within the past week.

With the Giants up against a Seattle defense that has conceded the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs on the year, Williams doesn’t seem like a great option for fantasy purposes as we head into Week 10. Placing him into your fantasy lineup is essentially a roll of the dice that he will get a goal line carry and make it count. Other than that, it’s very unlikely that he’ll get the workload or have the production to warrant a start in anything but deep leagues.

Projections:
Eli Manning: 220 pass yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Andre Williams: 50 rush yds, 10 rec yds
Odell Beckham Jr.: 90 rec yds, 1 TD
Rueben Randle: 50 rec yds
Larry Donnell: 40 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: 2014 has been a very “Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde”-like season for the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. While they have looked dominant in some games against good competition, they have looked dreadful in games that should have been easy wins, such as their close win over the Oakland Raiders in Week 9. And honestly, despite what many want to say due to their love for the young quarterback, a lot of the blame for Seattle’s rocky start to the season has to be placed on the shoulders of Russell Wilson. Wilson went 17-of-35 for 179 yards and no touchdowns in last week’s contest against the Raiders. While he did play his usual conservative style of football and did not turn the ball over, his lack of production in the passing game has to be a concern not only for the Seahawks as a team but also for fantasy owners who are wondering if they can trust him down the stretch. Wilson has now failed to exceed 12 points (standard scoring) in three of his past four games. The only player who has had even a shred of consistency in catching the ball from Wilson has been wideout Doug Baldwin who has stepped in as the WR1 now that Percy Harvin is gone. Baldwin has made 18 receptions over his past three games and while he may not be an exciting name, he does bring a level of consistency, as least in PPR formats, that is difficult to come by.

With the Seattle passing game struggling so much, this week’s matchup against the Giants could be just what they need to get back on track. New York has conceded nine passing touchdowns over their past three games alone. Not only that, but the only “mobile” quarterback they’ve faced this season, Andrew Luck, destroyed them to the tune of 354 yards and four touchdowns in Week 9. Don’t expect that kind of a day from Wilson, but a nice bounceback game should be in order this week.

Running Game Thoughts: While he averaged just over three yards per carry in the Seahawks’ Week 9 win over the Raiders, Marshawn Lynch made fantasy owners very happy with his overall production as he took two of his carries into the end zone. Not only that, but he had his biggest day catching the football in recent memory by making five receptions for an additional 76 yards. It was Lynch’s biggest fantasy day of the year and it comes just days after rumors circulated that Lynch was potentially on the trade block. Perhaps “Beast Mode” had something to prove, but there is little question that he will remain one of the top fantasy running backs for the remainder of the season if he can stay on the field. The question, of course, is the latter part of that sentence. Lynch came out of Sunday’s game with an apparent calf injury and did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday of this week. His status for Sunday’s game is now in question and we will learn more about his chances in the coming days. Lynch is known for battling through injuries and still producing, however, so it would be a bit surprising to not see him suit up after he was able to make it through the game in Week 9. Still, it’s worth keeping an eye on and if he cannot play, Robert Turbin and Christine Michael could see an immediate rise to fantasy prominence as the Seahawks host a Giants defense that has been quite poor against opposing running backs this season.

The Giants have given up a total of seven touchdowns to running backs on the year while conceding an average of 166 total yards per game to the position. Lynch is not typically known for being much of a pass-catcher, but as evidenced by his big day in Week 9, he has really stepped up as an all-around back in 2014. Look for another nice day for him this week as he is a good bet to eclipse the 100 total yard mark and get into the end zone.

Projections:
Russell Wilson: 220 pass yds, 2 TD, 40 rush yds
Marshawn Lynch: 90 rush yds, 1 TD, 25 rec yds
Doug Baldwin: 75 rec yds, 1 TD
Jermaine Kearse: 30 rec yds, 1 TD

Prediction: Seahawks 24, Giants 17 ^ Top

Bears at Packers - (Marcoccio)

Passing Game Thoughts: If ever there was a player that needed a bye week it was Bears’ starting quarterback Jay Cutler. Cutler has all the arm talent in the world but has always been inconsistent and is far too careless with the football. Tempers were flaring after a Week 7 loss to Miami with Brandon Marshall calling out Cutler’s sloppy play, and the Bears followed that up with a blowout loss to the New England Patriots. Cutler has thrown 8 interceptions and has fumbled the ball away an additional 4 times. On a positive note, he has thrown for 2,093 yards and 17 touchdowns. He’s blessed with massive 6’4” wide-outs Alshon Jeffrey and Brandon Marshall, a duo that is among the league’s most dangerous, and 6’7” tight end Martellus Bennett, forming a trio that can cause severe mismatches especially in the red-zone. Offensive guru Marc Trestman’s system has done wonders for the passing game over his first two seasons, and hopefully he also has some expertise in family therapy as well. Just wait until crazy uncle Black Unicorn makes his opinions known.

On the season the Packers are allowing only 225.8 passing yards per game and have given up 12 touchdown passes while grabbing 10 interceptions through eight games. The team faced Cutler and the Bears in Chicago in Week 4 and forced Cutler into multiple mistakes, shutting him down completely during the game’s second half.

Running Game Thoughts: The Bears don’t run the ball nearly as much as they should. Matt Forte only averages 16 carries a game, despite averaging a healthy 4.3 yards per carry. Luckily for his owners, he is heavily involved in the passing game and very successful in that regard. Forte already has 58 receptions, a pace that would leave him with an incredible 112 receptions for the season. Rookie Ka’Deem Carey chipped in with 72 yards the last time these two teams faced each other, but a chunk of that came in garbage time with Forte being protected on the bench. Carey generally doesn’t see many chances with the football. In fact, that game against the Packers accounted for half of Carey’s 28 attempts on the season.

The Packers have been run over by opposing backs, allowing a league worst 153 yards per game and 9 rushing touchdowns. Both Forte and Carey were able to run all over the Packers last time around, so perhaps the Bears will look to exploit the matchup and take some pressure off of Cutler.

Projections:
Jay Cutler: 275 pass yds, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 15 rush yds
Matt Forte: 95 rush yds, 1 TD, 45 rec yds
Ka’Deem Carey: 35 rush yds
Santonio Holmes: 15 rec yds
Brandon Marshall: 105 rec yds
Alshon Jeffery: 90 rec yds, 1 TD
Martellus Bennett: 40 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: Aaron Rodgers tweaked his hamstring on a scramble to the sidelines in a Week 8 loss to the Saints, but the bye week came at the right time and he’s now considered “fine.” Rodgers is having an MVP- caliber season with 2,092 passing yards and 19 touchdowns versus only 3 interceptions. He’s also added 112 rushing yards with a touchdown on the ground. Jordy Nelson has been dominant this season, catching 50 balls for 737 yards and 6 touchdowns. Nelson has been the focal point of Rodgers’ looks in 2014, but it’s not like the Packers lack other weapons in the passing game. Randall Cobb isn’t far behind with 40 receptions for 578 yards and 9 touchdowns. Rookie Davante Adams has made his presence felt as the WR3, coming on strong in recent weeks. Rodgers has started trusting the rookie more and more, and he has proven to be a dangerous weapon with his size and speed combination.

Chicago shouldn’t be much more than a speed bump for the surging Packers passing game this week. The Bears allow 262.3 yards per game and have yielded 17 touchdowns through the air. Their secondary will have tremendous difficulties matching up with the superior talents lining up across from them in front of the Green Bay home crowd.

Running Game Thoughts: Eddie Lacy’s slow start to the season is now in the rearview mirror as he’s found his groove in the two games preceding the bye week. In his last game against the Saints, Lacy totaled 182 yards of offense and was effective in the passing game. Lacy appears to be a bit heavier than last season, making him look sluggish at times, but he still runs hard, has quick feet for a back his size and the Packers’ offense is too high- powered for the running game to struggle for an extended period of time. Veteran James Starks has averaged 4.4 yards per carry in relief of Lacy and is a capable back that would be productive if he was called upon for an extended role if Lacy went down. Starks, at 6’2”, has an upright running style that makes him look slower than he is, but he is a tough, hard-nosed runner that can find the hole and get through it quickly.

The Bears have played the run reasonably well, allowing 110.1 yards per game and 5 rushing touchdowns on the season, so it will not be a cakewalk for Lacy this week. He’ll need to take advantage of any holes that open up while the Bears look to stop Rodgers and his weapons, and his fantasy owners will be hoping for a few goal-line carries to save the day.

Projections:
Aaron Rodgers: 335 pass yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 25 rush yds
Eddie Lacy: 65 rush yds, 1 TD, 25 rec yds
James Starks: 25 rush yds, 5 rec yds
Jordy Nelson: 95 rec yds, 1 TD
Randall Cobb: 75 rec yds, 1 TD
Davante Adams: 60 rec yds, 1 TD
Andrew Quarless: 25 rec yds

Prediction: Packers 37, Bears 30 ^ Top

Titans at Ravens - (Marcoccio)

Passing Game Thoughts: All things considered, sixth- round rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger had a pretty successful NFL debut against a tough Texans defense. He struggled in the first half but finished the game 299 passing yards with 2 touchdowns and an interception. He gets another tough matchup on the road against a good Baltimore defense but has had two weeks to prepare as the starter and comes in supported by a nice group of skill position players. Among them is the high- ceilinged second- year wide-out Justin Hunter, who has earned more and more snaps as the season has progressed. He’s a good fit with the strong armed Mettenberger, as he is a very good deep- ball target with his speed, athleticism and height. Possession wide receiver Kendall Wright lines up across from Hunter and is a good complement with his sure hands and quickness. Undersized veteran tight end Delanie Walker has seen heavy targets in this offense and has been highly effective with them, gaining 475 yards with 4 touchdowns. With nothing to lose, and wanting to see what they have in the former LSU star quarterback, expect the Titans to air the ball out this week facing a team that yielded 6 touchdown passes last week.

The Ravens were embarrassed last week on national television as their biggest rival Steelers burned their pass defense for six scores through the air. On the season, they are allowing 262.3 yards per game with 13 passing touchdowns. Expect the team to circle the wagons at home against a brash rookie quarterback making his second NFL start.

Running Game Thoughts: The Titans’ running game has not been effective in 2014. It’s been mostly a RBBC featuring Shonn Greene, Dexter McCluster and rookie Bishop Sankey. The team, facing a losing season, has worked in Sankey more in recent weeks and should look to see what it has in the former Washington standout. Sankey, averaging a respectable 4 yards per carry, is the type of back that does everything well but doesn’t excel in any aspect. Still, he’s the most talented back on the roster and should start seeing some opportunities.

The Ravens’ run defense has been strong, however, so the Titans may find it tough to establish any kind of running game. The unit is allowing a meager 86.4 rushing yards per game with only 6 rushing touchdowns surrendered in nine games. The team is strong up the middle and smothering tacklers. It’s hard to imagine the Titans having much success on the ground this week.

Projections:
Zach Mettenberger: 255 pass yds, 1 TDs, 1 INT, 5 rush yds
Bishop Sankey: 55 rush yds, 10 rec yds
Dexter McCluster: 25 rush yds, 15 rec yds
Kendall Wright: 65 rec yds
Justin Hunter: 60 rec yds
Delanie Walker: 50 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: Joe Flacco threw a beautiful deep pass late in the game to Steve Smith, Sr. that would have won last week’s matchup for the Ravens, if not for an offensive pass interference call, but outside of that, he had a very poor Week 8. Flacco completed only 50percent of his passes for 195 yards and 2 interceptions. Flacco had a 5- TD effort against Tampa Bay in Week 7 but has followed that up with an average and a below- average performance. He will need to step up his game on Sunday Night Football against the Steelers to stay in the mix in the competitive AFC North. The Ravens lost tight end Dennis Pita earlier in the season to a hip fracture and lost backup Owen Daniels in Week 8 to a knee scope , but he was able to return Week 9, catching six passes for 53 yards. On the outside, Steve Smith has generally outplayed the younger incumbent Torrey Smith this season, but Torrey rebounded in Week 9 with 63 yards and a touchdown.

The Titans’ defense yielded 227 yards and 1 touchdown to Ryan Fitzpatrick in Week 9. On the season, the team is allowing 257 yards per game with 12 touchdowns through eight games. They rank 25th (good) in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks.

Running Game Thoughts: Veteran Justin Forsett has effectively replaced Ray Rice’s production in the running game after grabbing the job and keeping it when Bernard Pierce missed time with a groin injury. The veteran running back, who turned 29 this season, is averaging 5.5 yards per carry and has shown that he can handle a feature- back workload with 54 carries over the last three games. Pierce was a healthy scratch last week, and it was rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro taking over at the goal line last week and scoring twice. Taliaferro, at 226 pounds, runs hard and should handle the short- yardage carries going forward, leaving this situation a little dicey for fantasy owners but a good situation for the Ravens so they do not overwork the sub-200- pound Forsett.

The Titans represent a matchup to exploit on the ground. They are allowing 121.1 yards per game rushing and have given up 8 touchdowns in eight games. They rank 6th (bad) in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs making this a perfect week to keep Justin Forsett in your lineup.

Projections:
Joe Flacco: 285 pass yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 15 rush yds
Lorenzo Taliaferro: 35 rush yds, 1 TD 5 rec yds
Justin Forsett: 85 rush yds, 30 rec yards
Torrey Smith: 55 rec yds, 1 TD
Steve Smith: 95 rec yds
Owen Daniels: 35 rec yds, 1 TD

Prediction: Ravens 27, Titans 20 ^ Top

Dolphins at Lions - (Marcoccio)

Passing Game Thoughts: While it’s unlikely that Dolphins’ Head Coach Joe Philbin is some kind of motivational genius, Ryan Tannehill has played his best football since the Dolphins’ game in London, where his hold on the starting job was in question during the week leading up to that game. On the season, Tannehill now has 16 touchdown passes against 6 interceptions while averaging nearly 240 passing yards per game. He’s also on pace for nearly 500 yards rushing, showing off his athleticism that stems from his days as a college wide receiver. Miami has done a good job spreading the ball around between its skill position players. After Mike Wallace dominated the receiving game earlier this season, rookie Jarvis Landry and tight end Charles Clay have come on strong in recent weeks and have been major contributors to the passing game’s success. New Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor came from Chip Kelly’s staff in Philadelphia and the ‘Phins have taken to his up-tempo style.

Miami faces a difficult test this week, traveling to the Motor City to face the Lions 5th-ranked pass defense. The Lions are allowing only 216.4 passing yards per game and only 9 touchdown passes with 9 interceptions. The Lions have been able to take advantage of some of the shaky offensive lines they’ve faced by recording 23 sacks, but the Dolphins’ line has played much better.

Running Game Thoughts: Lamar Miller suffered a shoulder injury last week but has been practicing all week and is expected to play after initially having his status in doubt. The Dolphins do not seem to trust Miller with a full workload, despite his success this season. Even after Knowshon Moreno, a serious threat to his playing time, went down, the team still gives too many carries to pedestrian backs Damien Williams and Daniel Thomas.

Projections:
Ryan Tannehill: 235 pass yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT., 35 rush yds
Lamar Miller: 65 rush yds, 25 rec yds
Daniel Thomas: 25 rush yds, 5 rec yds
Mike Wallace: 65 rec yds, 1 TD
Brian Hartline: 35 rec yds
Jarvis Landry: 50 rec yds
Charles Clay: 35 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: The Lions’ passing game will finally get its most important piece, Calvin Johnson, back this week. Golden Tate has performed well in his absence but isn’t close to the physical presence that “Megatron” is and will probably appreciate no longer being the focus of opposing defenses. The biggest beneficiary will of course be quarterback Matthew Stafford. Stafford did not perform poorly without his star wide receiver, but his production took a dip. Johnson is expected to be back to 100percent following his extended rest, and it should be interesting to see if the Lions unleash the fireworks once again or continue a more conservative approach behind their top performing defense.

Miami has a top defense of its own, allowing only 201 passing yards per game and bringing the heat with 27 sacks on the season. Bookend defensive ends Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon have 11 combined sacks, allowing the team to maintain maximum coverage in the secondary and still apply pressure.

Running Game Thoughts: The Lions’ running game has been a major disappointment in 2014. Joique Bell and Reggie Bush have both struggled with injuries and have been mostly ineffective even when healthy. The Lions seem to see Bell as the better option carrying the ball, while preferring to use Bush more out in space. This worked well in 2013, and the team will need to get the run game back on track, especially with a dominating defense.

The Dolphins have also played well against the run, allowing 103.5 yards per game and only 4 rushing touchdowns on the season. Expect to see a defensive battle in Detroit this week – something many likely would not have expected before the season began.

Projections:
Matthew Stafford: 305 pass yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 15 rush yds
Joique Bell: 55 rush yds, 15 rec yds
Reggie Bush: 45 rush yds, 55 rec yds, 1 TD
Calvin Johnson: 85 rec yds, 1 TD
Golden Tate: 55 rec yds
Brandon Pettigrew: 10 rec yds
Eric Ebron: 15 rec yds

Prediction: Detroit 20, Miami 17 ^ Top