Fantasy football championships… still in? I truly hope so.
But this isn’t about which players you have on your team;
it’s coming down to the wire with maybe 1-10 people left
in your original large survival pool. If you are torn, and still
need to choose between the Giants and Jets like below, I feel
for you. If you can, I’d highly recommend choice #3 –
I think you’ll understand.
The Battle for Los Angeles this year has a ho hum feel to it.
The world champion Rams have been eliminated from playoff contention
and have Baker Mayfield under center with a bunch of second stringers
catching passes, while last year’s first stringers (Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp) are on IR, or gone (Odell Beckham Jr.,
Robert Woods). The question is, do the Rams have enough talent
to be competitive?
The displaced Chargers find themselves a lock for the playoffs
but would like to improve their record so they could host a wild
card game. To do so, they need to take advantage of their home
game against their crosstown rivals (who share the stadium).
If we remove the emotion behind this game and just focus on statistics,
the Chargers 9th ranked rushing defense should stifle Cam Akers
and force Mayfield to pass. While the Bolts are only middle of
the pack on turnovers, interceptions are expected against a team
that has given up the 5th most turnovers this season. From an
offensive side of the ball, the 3rd ranked Chargers offense will
shred a Rams defense that sorely lacks in pass coverage at 22nd
in the NFL.
Yes, there will be emotions in this city battle. But make no mistake,
the Chargers will be the victors, and if you haven’t used
them, now is the time.
#2: NY Giants over Indianapolis (10-5: NO, BUF, kc, det, PHL, sf, DAL, MN, MIA, chi, CIN,
WAS, SEA, ten, BAL)
New head Coach Jeff Saturday brings his Colts to MetLife Stadium
with the Giants knowing that if they win, they are in the playoffs
(with a little help). It’s in their best interest to close
it out this week versus going into Philadelphia next week needing
a win.
Brian Daboll wants to eliminate prior mistakes and execute the
gameplan effectively. And regardless if it is a win by 1 point
or 20, he expects them to finish out the season this week, at
home, with huge support from his fans.
But make no mistake. Both of these teams haven’t played
well over the last six weeks. In that time, these two teams are
a combined 1-9-1, so this isn’t your ideal lock of the week.
Forget seasonal statistics. This is about the desire to punch
your ticket to the post season. And when you get down to the last
two weeks of a survival pool, you will have to risk it. Why not
take a chance on the team needing to get into the playoffs?
#1: Jets over Seattle (10-3: den, lac, GB, BUF, LAR, tb, PHL, KC, NYG, BAL, MIA,
CLE, DAL, CIN)
Sometimes you get boxed into a corner late in the season with
bad options to choose from. This is one of those weeks.
The NY Jets and the Seattle Seahawks have both backed themselves
into the corner for the remainder of the season. Basically, win
out and you might get in. That makes this game the most volatile
you could pick this week.
So why highlight this game when maybe there were better options?
Because of the intrigue.
Geno Smith, 2nd round draft pick for the NY Jets in 2013, will
play his first game as an established starter against his former
team. After taking over for Russell Wilson this year, Geno has
put up top ten numbers with a 70% completion ratio, 3 to 1 TD/INT
ratio, and a 107 QB rating with almost 3900 yards. But he has
struggled against shut down corners like Ahmad Gardner, and you
can bet, the Jets will blitz more this week than usual, thanks
to tape from the 49ers game.
Meanwhile on the opposite sideline, Mike
White (ribs) has been cleared to be back under center, which
should be an improvement over Zach
Wilson (again). When facing a similar defense (Chicago) in
his first game this season, he came out and threw for over 370
yards and three touchdowns. The Seahawks defense is just as bad,
if not worse and is ranked 29th in two key categories (Total Yards
and Points Allowed). If the Jets can find a running attack, White
should be able manage the game enough to keep the Jets playoff
hopes alive on a day that the Seahawks chances flame out.
