Last week’s record: 3-2 Season to date: 6-4 Although we wanted to stay away from the NFC East given their total ineptitude this season, we find ourselves with one selection from that putrid division. It’s our first Best Bet this week and we’re hopeful it will begin a winning trend this weekend.
Home team in CAPS
1. Giants over the PANTHERS- This is almost a deja vous game given that the G-Men went into Charlotte after a so-so 1-1 beginning to last season and completely overwhelmed Carolina 36-7. Fearing that they could conceivably be 0-3 after this meeting, we expect more of the same this Sunday. Several of the Panthers defensive backs are playing with some sort of handicap which will allow Eli to have his prototypical kind of game. If Ramses Barden can have a career day against Carolina last year, then imagine what a healthy Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, and Reuben Randle can do. Expect the Giants to play a bit harder hoping to grab a win for their coach who lost his 63 year old brother John earlier this week in a freak accident while stepping out of a cab.
2. Chargers over the TITANS- San Diego, our second underdog selection in as many picks, has shown little defense over the first two weeks but Philip Rivers has been off to one of his best starts in years throwing for seven touchdowns against just one lone interception. The Chargers have put up 61 total points in the first two games which were decided by 3 points each week. In his career Rivers has a 5-0 record against the Titans and we look for his sixth win on Sunday.
#17 Philip Rivers will need his offensive line to keep the Titans, and their 7 sacks on the young season, from disrupting his game. John R. McCutchen/San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images:
3. VIKINGS over the Browns- The Vikes, looking for their first win of the season as they faced and lost to two of their division rivals on the road in Weeks 1 and 2, will have a much easier time of it in their home opener on Sunday against the “rebuilding” Cleveland Browns. The debut of newly acquired Willis McGahee will be overshadowed by what we think will be Adrian Peterson’s best game of the season to date. The Vikings need this game because they play their next contest across the pond in London vs the Steelers and then will have to play 12 consecutive games after their week 5 bye to end the season.
4. SAINTS over the Cardinals- Although the Saints have opened the season at 2-0, they haven’t shown the offensive explosiveness that they are accustomed to. Over their first two games this season they are averaging a pedestrian 19.5 points per game while last year, by the time game three rolled around, they were averaging 29.5 PPG. The Cardinals have two key players that have minor injuries going into this game in Larry Fitzgerald (hamstring) and Rashard Mendenhall (toe). The Saints who missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2008, will have Sean Payton on the sidelines and their home crowd in the stands plus a healthy Drew Brees, which is all they’ll need to put away the Cards.
5. Bears over the STEELERS- All signs point to the Steelers winning this game. They have the home crowd, they’re hungry after losing their first two games, and Ben Roethlisberger is 15-1 straight up at home against the NFC in his career. However, we are sticking with the visiting Bears and sacks are one of the reasons why. For starters, the Steelers have only one sack so far this season while last year they averaged almost 3 per game. Jay Cutler on the other hand, a quarterback that usually ends up on his posterior, has only been sacked once in his two home games as the offensive line has been shored up and are protecting Cutler who has been effective and efficient with wins over the Bengals and the Vikings. If he can keep his interceptions down (he has 3 over his first 2 games and had 14 last season), then we think the Steelers can be had with a less than potent running game, the loss of Heath Miller, and a quarterback that’s been sacked 7 times in two games.
The Titans sacking Big Ben in one of their 5 sacks in Week #1. Photo: Scott Boehm/Getty Images North America
FANTASY FURNACE 
Reblogged this on UnSportsMenMic and commented:
Another week of awesome picks, I think i’m taking the Cards over the Saints though (feel like NFC WEST id BEST), and I feel its time to see old Jay Cutler creep up now especially with the Steelers backs agains the wall. I like the Giants, but when is Cam going to do something amazing for the Panthers? If any week it should be this week.
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Cards have the D to match the Saints………….that could be a good one
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They could, I just think the Saints are overdue for a breakout game.
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What do you think of this fantasy lineup for week 3?
A.Smith
Charles
J.Bell
Cobb
Nelson
Julius Thomas
Eddie Royal(or Edelman or J.Gordon)
Hartley
Chiefs D
Jaquizz Rodgers
Tom Brady
Josh Gordon
Julian Edelman
David Wilson
DeAngelo Williams
(Bench)
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I wouldn’t change a thing except I would play Edelman over Royal & Gordon
Charles and the Chiefs DST has probably got you out in front this week…nicely done!!
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Yep. Up 59-0, 23 came for KC. What if Revis is on Julian?
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Well, in the Bucs 1st 2 games Revis had no INTs while the Jets had 256 receiving yards and 1 TD. In the Saints game in week 2, N.O. had 322 receiving yards and 1 TD. Revis, had 0 interceptions and 5 tackles combined in the 2 games.
I will say this, if you are tentative about starting Edelman, I would insert Royal as our next choice. He had 2 TDs in wk. 1 and 3 in wk. 2. Time to see if he’s for real or if he’ll be covered like a winter blanket in the secondary.
Good luck!! Can’t see you losing this week no matter which one you choose..
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The way your winning with these picks, I’m going to have to start putting the coin up to win me some money. keep doing your thing as always. -Big J
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Thanks Big J! Hope we do well again this week!
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Thanks for the RB!
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Am I the only one siding with the Browns trade of Richardson? They weren’t going anywhere as it was, so why keep a kid who was only gonna get more beat up in a losing campaign? It’s a passing league, so the Browns collect chips to find their passer in the draft. I think it’s simple as that. Of course, it becomes less simple once the Browns PICK their QB. That hasn’t worked out so well.
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I thought the deal made sense as well. I mean there will be a plethora of fine quarterbacks in which to choose from next years draft so it would be hard not to pick up a quality one. And besides, what did Richardson run for, 100 yards in 2 games? No TDs? Cut the cord, I say. Start fresh next year, a year in which so far, the Browns have 10 picks in the draft!
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Well said. I actually hope they use them wisely this time. Cleveland fans deserve something better than they’ve gotten thus far.
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Found you via the oh so charming Cayman Thorn… Have two leagues going on right now–one with Richardson on it–so I’ll be following along.
You feeling Atlanta DST against Miami, or Dallas DST against St.Louis? I’m thinking Dallas has the edge, but not by much?
-Christy
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Welcome Christy! Any friend of Caymans….He’s probably the best non-sports blogger out there!
Anyway, yes I agree with Dallas being the go-to DST this week instead of Atlanta. Neither one has a top ten defense but the edge goes to the Cowboys this week.
You can always feel free to voice any questions/concerns to me directly at fantasyfurnace@yahoo.com
Thanks for checking in…
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I appreciate the warm welcome! Thanks for the email too–I’m in two standard leagues, so I’m sure I’ll probably hit you up sometime.
Have a great night, Christy
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