D/ST with mid-tier ESPN FFL rankings that will outperform

Indianapolis Colts (ranked 17) vs. Ten – The Colts D hasn’t been the issue through two weeks. They’ll make Mariota look like a rookie this week and end a top 10 D/ST.

New York Giants (ranked 18) vs. Was – It’s a short week and on the road for Washington.

Cleveland Browns (ranked 14) vs. Oak – Expect the Browns to finish a top 10 unit this week. The Raiders are a different unit away vs. playing at home.

Minnesota Vikings (ranked 13) vs. SD – Minnesota is a vastly different team at home apparently. Well, this one is at home and you can safely expect a solid performance.

Green Bay Packers (ranked 11) vs. KC – Opposing D/ST have been feasting on Alex Smith.

Top 10 D/ST unit that will underperform

St. Louis Rams (ranked 9) vs. Pit – The Steelers get LeVeon Bell back and the offense is hitting on all cylinders.

Buffalo Bills (ranked 4) vs. Mia – Ryan Tannehill has had success against the Bills at home and Buffalo is not as sound in coverage as was expected.

Our top three picks this week are:

1. New Orleans vs. TB – We all knew QB Jameis Winston would start slow but none of us thought the defense would be so bad. The Bucs are a bad football team right now. This is a great week to use the Saints (who are a so-so team themselves) to advance to Week 3 of your suicide pool. New Orleans will roll Tampa at home.

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2. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. SF – Both teams will be 1-1 after Sunday. The Steelers have issues on defense but are significantly better at home, especially QB Ben Roethlisberger. We’re banking on the 49ers not looking nearly as good as they did in their Monday Night opener.

3. St. Louis Rams vs. Was – The Rams D will smother Kirk Cousins and Co. just like a year ago. If Washington puts up 10 points offensively that will be an accomplishment.

D/ST units that will outperform their ESPN Fantasy rankings in Week 1

Minnesota Vikings vs. SF (ranked 13): There are a bunch of new pieces to the 49ers offense yet Colin Kaepernick remains. That’s a welcome sight for Mike Zimmer’s aggressive squad. They are a nice sleeper in Week 1.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Ten (ranked 13): Marcus Mariota makes his debut without much help from the skill position. The Bucs D is quick and good enough to post a solid fantasy stat line in Week 1.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Hou (ranked 11): Look for the Chiefs to put up a solid fantasy showing opening day. Houston is without its top back and is starting a new QB.

Cleveland Browns vs. NYJ (ranked 18): Ryan Fitzpatrick is always good for a few turnovers. The Jets will be better than most people think but Cleveland has some playmakers on this side of the ball and could surprise.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atl (ranked 21): The Falcons feature extensive firepower at the skill position but are breaking in a new RB and still have a shaky defense. The Eagles are an aggressive unit that will force a few turnovers and top double digit on the fantasy tote board.

Top 10 D/ST units that will underperform

Buffalo Bills vs. Ind (ranked 6): Facing Andrew Luck is always scary. Now he comes in equipped with better weapons than ever before. The Bills D will be stout, but Week 1 is a tough fantasy matchup.

St. Louis Rams vs. Sea (ranked 9): The Seahawks could be a dangerous offensive unit this year with the addition of TE Jimmy Graham. Regardless, Wilson’s scrambling ability and throws on the run should scare any owner of the Rams D to start off the season.

Each week we will give you three options to choose from.

Top Pick

1. Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jax – The Eagles have a dream match-up here. The lowly Jags enter the Linc and bring a lot of inexperience with them. The high flying Eagles, led by LeSean McCoy, will run roughshod over this defense. They are our top suicide pool pick this week and look for an easy win.

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2. New York Jets vs. Oak – The Jets have a number of question marks in their secondary, but that is Ok when you face a QB making his first professional start. We expect the Raiders to take steps forward but it won’t happen until midway through the season.

3. Chicago Bears vs. Buf – Buffalo will be a sneaky team this year and pack a lot of firepower offensively, but the Bears do as well and have the decided edge playing at home. Expect Cutler and Co. to put up big numbers through the air.

]]> https://profootball101.com/2014/09/04/2014-nfl-suicide-pool-pick-week-1/feed/ 0 https://profootball101.com/2014/09/03/2014-fantasy-football-dst-rankings-week-1/ https://profootball101.com/2014/09/03/2014-fantasy-football-dst-rankings-week-1/#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2014 16:36:35 +0000 admin https://profootball101.com/?p=12119 Must Start

Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers

Tier 1

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Ten – Even without CB Brandon Flowers this is a good D and a good spot for them.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jax – The Eagles should feast on the Jags O.

Detroit Lions vs. NYG – The preseason showed that it could take some time for Eli Manning to get comfortable.

St. Louis Rams vs. Min – The Rams have a tremendously talented D which will get after Matt Cassel.

New England Patriots vs. Mia – Their D could end up being dominant. Will start out well in Mia.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cle – Got to love the Steelers against this Browns offense. The passing game is impotent without Josh Gordon.

New Orleans Saints vs. Atl – The Falcons troubles are still along the offensive line.

Tier 2

New York Jets vs. Oak – The interior of this D is stout.

San Diego Chargers vs. Arz – SD will force Palmer into a few turnovers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Car – It’s tough to trust the Panthers after revamping its entire receiving corps. Lovie Smith’s defensive style will be felt immediately.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Cin – The Ravens at home are always tough.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Bal – DT Geno Atkins return will be well received.

Oakland Raiders vs. NYJ – It is Geno Smith after all that they’re facing.

Miami Dolphins vs. NE – They always play Tom Brady well at home.

Cleveland Browns vs. Pit – The Browns have a talented D but the offense’s inability to move the ball puts them in tier 2.

Sleeper

Tennessee Titans vs. KC – The Chiefs will be without WR Dwayne Bowe and have new faces along the offensive line.

Bust

Arizona Cardinals vs. SD – Arizona will face a Chargers offense with many options while being down a few key members of on D.

Top pick

1. Cleveland Browns vs. Jax – Aside from now being the 2nd worst team in the league,  the warm weather Florida team does not like traveling to the cold. The Browns have a decided advantage this week and look for them to easily cover the point spread and win by double digits.

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2. Arizona Cardinals vs. Phi – The Eagles were on a long losing streak at home until the hapless Redskins came to town two weeks ago. However, while people are feeling good Philadelphia, this is a sterner test than they’ve faced over their three game winning streak. The Cardinals have won four in a row and look for that to move to five this week.

3. New York Jets vs. Mia –  The bad QB Geno Smith which has appeared the past two weeks will disappear vs. the Dolphins. This one is at home. Look for the Jets front seven to overpower the Fins beleaguered O-Line and pull out the close divisional win.

1. Carolina Panthers vs. Mia – The Panthers will destroy the Fins O Line and top 20 fantasy points.

2. Kansas City Chiefs vs. SD – The Chiefs will have less issues getting to Rivers than Manning.

3. Baltimore Ravens vs. NYJ – Geno Smith is going to find Baltimore a very difficult place to play.

4. San Francisco 49ers vs. Was – RGIII and Co. are very error prone. That plays right into the 49ers hands.

Not far behind

New Orleans Saints vs. Atl – Rob Ryan’s pressure packed D will pose trouble for the struggling Falcons.

New York Giants vs. Dal – The Giants resurgent defense is more about talent and getting healthy than QBs they’ve faced.

New York Jets vs. Bal – The Ravens horrendous offense makes the Jets a good start at D/ST.

Rounding things out

Oakland Raiders vs. Ten – Look for the Raiders to show better at home this week than vs. the Eagles.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Ind – Facing Luck is a difficult task but the Cardinals will score 8-11 points this week.

Tennessee Titans vs. Oak – The Titans are a fantasy sleeper coming off their flop vs. the Jags.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cle – Dick Lebeau will dial up aggressive blitzes in this one.

Cleveland Browns vs. Pit – The front 7 will force QB Ben Roethlisberger into a few turnovers.

Potential Bust – Beware

Dallas Cowboys vs. NYG – The Giants offense has been horrendous but is slowly improving.

1. Oakland Raiders (-3) vs. Phi – While the Eagles D has stepped up recently, its innovative offense is struggling mightily the past few weeks. That will continue in Oakland. Look for the improving Raiders to cover the point spread and win by at least a TD.

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2. Carolina Panthers (-8) vs. Atl – The Panthers are hot, coming off a 10-day rest and Cam Newton is playing the best ball of his career. The same cannot be said of the Falcons who have been injury plagued the entire season. Carolina will win this one going away…

3. St. Louis Rams (+3) vs. Ten – See money line bet.

4. Buffalo Bills (+4) vs. KC – The Chiefs are 8-0 but their level of play has tapered off in recent weeks. They’re ripe for an upset this week against a Bills team that has played very well at home and nearly beaten the likes of New England and Cincinnati.

Rounding things out

New England Patriots (-7.5) vs. Pit – The Steelers looked to be building momentum, but then two missed FGs ended their bid for a three-game winning streak. The Patriots are almost fully healthy on D outside of the players already on IR and will harass Roethlisberger all day. Look for Brady and Co. to get back on track too here.

Green Bay Packers (-11.5) vs. Chi –  Due to injury, the Packers have been forced to rely on the run more and have done an excellent job. That will come in handy when the Bears come to town on Monday Night. They’re devastated along the defensive front 7 and the Packers will blow them out.

New York Jets (+7) vs. NO – The Jets play well one week, then horrible another. Although they were embarrassed by 40 in week 8, this is their week to play well, and playing at home will be enough to keep things competitive.

Money Line Bet

St. Louis Rams (+130) vs. Ten – Although the Rams are relegated to a back-up QB, head coaches that face their former teams typically do well. There’s still a lot of players on the Titans roster that Fisher drafted, and the Rams D is playing at a high level. Look for a low scoring game which the Rams win by a FG.

Cream of the crop

1. Seattle Seahawks vs. Jags – Seattle should shutout the Jags and force 4+ turnovers.

2. Denver Broncos vs. Oak – The Broncos are a close 1a. They’ll smother the Raiders and force multiple turnovers on Monday Night.

3. San Francisco 49ers vs. Ind – Tough job for Luck and Co. on the road.

4. NY Jets vs. Buf –The Jets will be coming off 10 days rest and confuse QB Manuel at home.

Not far behind

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Chi – Expect the Steelers to force Cutler and Co. into a few turnovers.

New England Patriots vs. TB – The Bucs are self destructing and are not a disciplined team.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Cle – This unit is a lot more attractive with QB Brandon Weeden out. It was attractive with him in. RB Trent Richardson is out now too.

Rounding things out

Cleveland Browns vs. Min – QB Christian Ponder has been good for one pick six each week.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Hou  - It’s night and day for Baltimore’s D at home.

Chicago Bears vs. Pit – The Steelers offense is really struggling especially on the O Line.

Houston Texans vs Bal – The unit has under performed thus far, but Baltimore’s offense is awful and they could be sans RB Ray Rice.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. GB – This is a low No. 1 D this week vs. a potent Packers D.

New York Giants vs. Car – NYG is a fantasy sleeper in Week 3. QB Cam Newton is pressing and New York played him well a year ago.

Miami Dolphins vs. Atl – They’re still a low No. 1 here. The Falcons are without RB Steven Jackson and WR Roddy White is limited.

Potential Bust – Beware

Dallas Cowboys vs. Stl – The Cowboys are improved but so are the Rams. Look for St. Louis to put up 27 points.

1. New England Patriots vs. Buf – The Bills will be starting a rookie QB in this one.

2. Seattle Seahawks vs. Car – The Panthers will be improved this year but Week 1 is a tough match-up.

3. San Francisco 49ers vs. GB – The Packers have OL issues which is the one thing you can’t afford to have when facing the 49ers.

4. Houston Texans vs. SD – JJ Watt and Co. will prove too much for these Chargers.

Not far behind

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. NYJ – It’s Geno Smith time, which means it’s a good time to start the Bucs.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Oak – The Raiders will be bad. Very bad.

St. Louis Rams vs. Arz – The Rams are a defense that could take a huge leap this year. Active at each level of the defense will be all over QB Carson Palmer and how beleaguered offensive line.

Rounding out the rest

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Ten – Look for Dick LeBeau to dial up some blitzes that force QB Jake Locker into mistakes.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Chi – This is not the most favorable match-up, but the Bengals will fare well vs. Cutler.

Cleveland Browns vs. Mia – This D/ST is on the upswing and get a favorable match-up week 1.

Chicago Bears vs. Cin –The Bears still have a lot of pieces intact and always play tough at Soldier Field.

New York Jets vs. TB – The Jets D is still pretty good and QB Josh Freeman is good for two turnovers per game.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Den – The Ravens D will be better than a year ago, however, they’re only a mid pack D in this one.

Dallas Cowboys vs. NYG – The Cowboys D is talented and could catch the Giants with an ailing O-Line.

Potential Bust – Beware

Denver Broncos vs. Bal – They’re missing Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil (on Bal) and that’s a lot. CB Champ Bailey might sit this one out too.