FANTASY FURNACE

This should be the week that trends begin to take shape, separating the future contenders from the pretenders. Did you know that five teams remain undefeated while six are winless? And that one team has given just 17 points in their two games while another holds the league high at 79?

We went a disappointing 3-2 last week bringing our season total to 7-3. Here’s this weeks picks:

*Home team in CAPS

COWBOYS over the Buccaneers- Notwithstanding Dallas’ loss to the Seahawks last week, (a lot of teams have a difficult time in Seattle with that crowd noise), we believe that the ‘Boys home opener will result in their second win of the season. The Bucs exposed their weak defense last week when they gave up over 600 yards to the N.Y. Giants. Tampa Bay simply does not have the firepower to keep up with Dallas who would like to dispose of the Bucs before welcoming the Bears next Monday Night.

BROWNS over the Bills- Cleveland is one of the best or at least the most unluckiest 0-2 teams in the league losing both their games by a total of 8 points. If you remember thanks to some late heroics, the Eagles pulled out a one point victory over the Browns who showed they can play some D. Last week, QB Brandon Weeden and #1 pick RB Trent Richardson started to exhibit their talent and we got a taste of what they are capable of doing. Still not impressed with Buffalo although Cleveland will see plenty of C.J. Spiller this Sunday. If he can be contained the way LeSean McCoy was, then Cleveland should garner their first win of the season.

#33 Trent Richardson ran for 109 yrars last week vs the Bengals and will need another solid week vs the Bills. Photo: therepublic.com

COLTS over the Jaguars- QB Andrew Luck led the Colts to their first win 23-20 over the Vikings at Lucas Oil Stadium last week. He’ll be home again and will bring his 533 season passing yards with him. He does need to lower his INTs but he showed great poise in the victory. WR Reggie Wayne, TE Colby Fleener and RB Donald Brown will take care of the Jaguars anemic offense who has averaged a mere 236 yards a game while their defense has given up 400 per game. The Jags, we think, will go to 0-3 after this week.

Steelers over the RAIDERS-Oakland is averaging just under 2 touchdowns per game in their two losses; their last one a 35-13 blowout to the Miami Dolphins. They just cannot seem to get a balanced attack going while RB Darren McFadden continues to struggle. He’s rushed for 54 total yards which equates to a 2.2 YPC average, while QB Carson Palmer has aired it out for 570 passing yards over the first two games. If you can’t rush the ball successfully then you just won’t beat a finesse team like the Steelers.

#20 Darren McFadden is off to rough start with his 2.2 YPC average and will need to revert back to his usual form for his Raiders to overcome the Steelers. Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Packers over the SEAHAWKS-  In what figures to be a close contest as Seattle has only given up 13.5 points per game, there is no way that the ‘Hawks are in the same league as the Packers. QB Aaron Rodgers won’t be intimidated the way Tony Romo was last week and (has been in the past) even with the raucous crowd. The Seahawks only scored 16 points vs the Cardinals in week one. They’ll need more than to beat the Packers who are still one of the NFL’s elite teams.