FANTASY FURNACE

Not a bad week #8 as we went 4-1. Our only loss coming at the hands of the New York Jets. Credit the Dolphins for playing hard and wanting this game much more than their opponents. If the Jets couldn’t get up for a game vs their division rivals and thus trying to avoid going 3-5 then I’m not sure they can get up for much else. We enter the second half of the NFL season with a pretty respectable 26-14 record and, of course, will continue to look to improve this week…

*Home team in CAPS

Lions over the JAGS- It looks like Calvin Johnson (knee) who is currently questionable, will be a game time decision and even though the Jags could be without their two starting cornerbacks, Derek Cox and Rashean Mathis, there just is not enough offense for the Jags to overcome Matthew Stafford who has finally come on of late. Stafford will still have WR Titus Young who we touted in this week’s waiver wire pickups, and the duo of Mike Leshoure and Joique Bell at RB (Bell will get more passes than rushing opportunities). The Jags will still be without MJD but Rashad Jennings is more than adequate and will help those in PPR leagues. In the end however, it will be the Lions defense that will help win this game and so we expect sacks & INT’s from Blaine Gabbert. Suh should shine in this one. (say that 3 times fast..)

#9 QB Matthew Stafford has been coming on like the Stafford of old and should have no problem hooking up with Young & Pettigrew this week. Photo: thepigskinreport.com

GIANTS over the Steelers-They helped us gain our fist win last week so we’re opting to stay with a good thing. The G-Men are now 6-2 and can really pull away from the rest of their division with a win here at home. The Steelers still will be without several of their defensive starters for yet another week and now will have issues with their RB’s. Rashard Mendenhall (Achilles) will miss this week’s action but will probably return in week 10. Jonathan Dwyer (Doubtful) is also expected to miss Sunday’s game, however Isaac Redman will start. Pittsburgh has the weapons to pull off an upset but if the Giants D continues it’s onslaught, they might just end up keeping Big Ben off balance and susceptible to throwing a pick or two. The Giants need to limit TE Heath Miller’s production and avoid a disaster like the 18 receptions they allowed Cowboys TE Jason Witten to amass last week.

BROWNS over the Ravens- This is our “Upset Special” this week. With the exception of their week one shellacking of the Bengals, the Ravens haven’t blown anyone out this season. In fact four of their games were decided by a total of seven points! Cleveland has played some great defense and we give them a chance at this upset by virtue of the their last meeting vs the Ravens AT Baltimore and WITH Ray Lewis in which they lost by a touchdown but succeeded in holding Ray Rice to just 49 yards rushing. We know that Brandon Weeden can pass against the Ravens because he threw for 320 yards in that game. And in last week’s game, the Brownies held the Chargers, who scored 31 on Thursday night, to just 6 points. Going with the underdog here.

#3 QB Brandon Weeden and RB Trent Richardson should have enough to upset the visiting Ravens this Sunday. Photo: speakingonsports.com

PACKERS over the Cardinals- Yes the Pack are prohibitive favorites over ‘Zona but they should have no problem matching the 11 point spread and even winning by a few more in this one at Lambeau Field where the temps are falling as as quickly as a Matt Cassel interception! By game time expect the balmy Cards to experience a drop of 50-55 degrees from what they’re use to. Then there are the two quarterbacks; Aaron Rodgers vs John Skelton. The difference in the amount of touchdowns thrown by these two QBs is 20!  The Cardinals, who started off the season as virtual sleepers, have lost their last four games in a row and we see no reason to believe that they’ll right their ship against the Packers on the road, not after losing by 21 to S.F. last week and by 14 to St. Louis in week 5 scoring just 3 points in both games!

TEXANS over the Bills- This is another game with a large spread that we think the Texans can win by 10 more. The Bills give up way too many points to stay in this one. In fact in four of their seven games this season they have yielded 35 or more points. On the other hand Houston, probably one of the best teams on both sides of the ball are ranked third in offense in the league. On the plus side, Buffalo is a decent 2-2 on the road and Fitzpatrick has thrown 15 touchdowns so far this season. It could be a high scoring affair but we think the Texans will keep the Bills at bay and win pulling away.