1. Marion Barber vs. Cincinnati. This is a no-brainer because Dallas is mad. They were beaten last weekend by the Washington Redskins and want to pulverize their next opponent to show the NFL world that they’re still the best… at least in their eyes. I think Dallas gets up early in this game and their big O-line, leading the way for Barber, wears Cincy down in a blowout. Barber hits the century mark and puts it into the end zone at least twice.
2. Adrian Peterson vs. New Orleans. Do you think someone is salivating at the prospects of taking on a soft New Orleans D? The only way Peterson doesn’t go off in this game is if Brees and Co. get off to a big lead early and force the Vikings into pass mode, otherwise, I see daylight for AP. I think he easily get to 100 yards, possibly 125 or more, and puts it into the end zone at least once.
3. Joseph Addai vs. Houston. While the score in this contest should be relatively close, I like Addai to have a big game because teams can run on Houston’s front 7 (see Willie Parker week 1), and facing a passing threat like Peyton, the Texans will have to leave their safetys back in coverage. The Colts also had a chance to get their O-lineman healthy during the bye so look for Addai to put up solid yardage and get a score.
Sleeper:
1. Jonathan Stewart vs. Kansas City. The Chiefs victory last week vs. Denver was an aberration. Teams have been known to raise their level of play when it comes to division rivalries, and so it was the case for the Chiefs. This week they travel to Carolina and face a very efficient offense. The only reason Stewart is a sleeper is because he splits carries with DeAngelo Williams, otherwise he’d be a sure start. Look for him to put the ball in the end zone once or twice and pile on yards in garbage time.
2. Matt Forte vs. Detroit. While Chicago’s offense has its challenges, Detroit’s defense is the worst in the league. This translates into a nice day for Forte, who never really got untracked against the Eagles last Sunday night. He has a chance to match his best day as a pro – 100+ yards and 1 TD.
