Start 'Em:
Quarterbacks Who Will Outperform Relative
To Their Draft Position And Recent Hype
Jeff Garcia @ DET
Garcia should post very good totals this week against the Lions.
Only Kurt Warner and Brett Favre are completing a higher percentage
of passes than Garcia’s 69.6%. He has 7 TD passes in 3 career
games against Detroit, including 316 yards and 2 TDs / 0 INTs
in a loss last year. This could be the first (and only) game that
Jeffrey J. Garcia throws multiple TDs this season.
Eli Manning @ ARI
Despite the Titans 10-0 start, it is Eli and the Giants who are
playing like they are the best team in the NFL. Since being shut
out by the ‘Skins in Week 1, the younger Manning has thrown
at least 1 TD pass in 9 straight games. That streak should continue
this week against a Cardinals team that has allowed 19 aerial
scores this season. Eli is looking steady and confident and is
due for a bump in stats after facing some of the NFL’s best
defenses in recent weeks.
Jay Cutler vs. OAK
Cutler did not throw an interception last week for just the third
time this season and the first since Week 5. The Raiders have
been pretty tough against the pass this season, but let’s
remember that Shanny’s disdain for former boss Al Davis
keeps him intent on scoring as many points as possible against
Oakland. With the Bronco rushing attack banged up they will have
to throw the ball. Cutler played very well against Oakland in
Week 1 (300 yards / 2 TDs / 0 INTs), and is in line for solid
totals at home this week.
Kyle Orton @ STL
Dave Grohl’s stunt double did next-to-nothing against the
Pack last week, but that was to be expected in his first game
back (ankle) against one of the top passing defenses in the league.
Lucky for him, he gets a chance at redemption this week against
the miserable Rams, who have given up 15 TDs through the air and
an average of 233.7 passing YPG. Expect Kyle Raymond Orton to
return to his early season form on Sunday.
Gus Frerotte @ JAX
Last week against a tough Bucs defense, Gus didn’t throw a pick
for the first time since Week 5. Only the Arizona Cardinals have
allowed more passing TDs (19) than Gus’s Week 13 opponent, the
Jaguars (18), against whom Kerry Collins threw three 2nd half
TDs last week. The King of all Head-butters is due for a good
game after a couple of unforgiving matchups in recent weeks.
Brady Quinn vs. HOU
I’m not going to go crazy here because despite getting a
win (which means nothing to fantasy owners) the Medicine Man had
a rough night in Buffalo, as expected. A visit from the Texans
will help B.Q. put up numbers more similar to his Week 10 performance
against Denver (239 yards / 2TDs). Houston does not bring significant
pressure (only 17 sacks) and they are 1 of only 4 NFL teams that
allow opposing QBs to a rating above 100. The only worry is a
small fracture on the index finger of his throwing hand, but I
still like him to make a little Texas Toast for fantasy owners.
Bench 'Em:
Quarterbacks Who Will Under Perform
Relative To Their Draft Position And Recent Hype
Jake Delhomme @ ATL
Could someone tell me what happened to this guy? I know that DeAngelo
Williams and Jonathan Stewart ran all over the Lions and there
wasn’t much else to go around, but it is concerning to me that
Jake hasn’t gone over 100 yards passing in either of his last
two games. I still think he is due for a bounce-back game, but
he has yet to have a 300-yard passing game this season and has
only gone over 200 yards once in his last 4 games.
Matt Ryan vs. CAR
It has been impressive for Matt Ryan to earn fantasy relevance
as a rookie, so maybe it is unfair that I expected more from him
last week against the Broncos. He did not throw a TD pass for
the first time since Week 4 – coincidentally the last time
he faced this week’s opponent - the Panthers. While his
numbers should be better this time around (158 yards / 0 TD /
0 INT on September 28), only 1 QB (Warner) has thrown for 300+
yards against Carolina, and only two others (Rivers, Brees) have
thrown for 200+ yards.
Tyler Thigpen vs. BUF
I’ll admit it - I am officially on the Thiggy bandwagon, but I
think he is going to find it tougher this week than the previous
four games that has seen him throw 8 TDs / 1 INT. The Bills have
not allowed a touchdown pass since James Chadwick Pennington found
Anthony Fasano for a 2-yard score in Week 8. QBs named Favre,
Cassel and Quinn have combined for 0 TDs and 603 passing yards
in the last 3 games against Buffalo. Greener pastures lay ahead
in Weeks 14 & 15 for this former Chanticleer.
Donovan McNabb @ BAL
McNabb threw just three interceptions in his first seven games,
but he has five picks in the last three. He has completed less
than 50% of his passes in two consecutive games; something that
is not going to give his fantasy owners the warm fuzzies. To make
matters worse, the Eagles go to Baltimore to face an angry Ravens
defense that is limiting opposing QBs to a 67.1 rating, good for
3rd best in the NFL.
Brett Favre
@ TEN
For the first time this season, Favre has gone two straight games
without throwing an interception, but he will have difficulty
continuing that streak this week against the Titans. Tennessee
has one of the great passing defenses in the NFL, boasting 15
interceptions and 28 sacks; this unit has only allowed 5 passing
TDs all season. They are holding opposing QBs to a 60.9 rating,
which is 2nd best in the league.
Running Backs
|
