Post by Gooba on Sept 16, 2016 6:08:47 GMT -5
New Orleans Saints at New York Giants (-4.5, 52.5)
Giants’ elite receivers vs. Saints’ dreadful secondary
This game has the highest Vegas total of the week, and with good reason: when these two teams met at the Mercedes Benz Superdome last season, they combined for 101 points. Drew Brees and Eli Manning combined to throw an absurd 13 touchdown passes - and while it would be unreasonable to expect a carbon copy this weekend, don’t be surprised if the two gunslingers come close to combining for double-digit passing scores yet again.
The focus in this one will be on the Saints’ unproven secondary, which is expected to include a pair of undrafted free-agent cornerbacks in Ken Crawley and De’Vante Harris. None of New Orleans’ three CBs had played an NFL snap prior to last weekend’s 35-34 loss to visiting Oakland; Crawley, who replaced Delvin Breaux after the veteran suffered a broken leg, posted the lowest ProFootballFocus score of any defensive back in Week 1 after getting roasted for six catches and a score on seven targets.
This game should see a boatload of points, given the potency of both offenses and that New Orleans will likely find themselves in catch-up mode for the entire game. Look for Eli Manning to punish the Saints' secondary, with all of his receiving options healthy and set to contribute. Odell Beckham posted an 8-150-3 line in their previous meeting, and that was with Breaux on the field. It’s going to be ugly for fans of defense - and heaven on earth for fans who love scoring.
Daily fantasy watch: Odell Beckham Jr.
San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers (-13.5, 45.5)
Panthers’ clock control vs. 49ers’ possession struggles
There’s a lot to like about Carolina this week, even though the Panthers are giving away nearly two touchdowns to visiting San Franciso. The 49ers are facing a short week in which they’ll cross the country to play a 10 am PT game against a defending Super Bowl finalist playing on nine days’ rest. And if that isn’t enough to convince you, consider that the two teams couldn’t be further apart when it comes to ball control.
The Panthers are coming off a sensational season buoyed at least in part by terrific possession metrics. Carolina led the league in time of possession in 2015 at 32:12 per game - one second better than the runner-up and division rival Atlanta Falcons. By comparison, San Francisco ranked 31st out of 32 teams at 26:23. “But Monty!” you say. “They run a Chip Kelly offense now!” That’s true - and the Kelly-led Eagles were the only team to have the ball less (25:51). Kelly finished last in TOP in each of his three seasons in Philadelphia.
Look for the Panthers to use a stout ground game and a dynamic-enough passing approach to keep the offense on the field and wear down the 49ers defense. And despite losing Josh Norman in the offseason, the Carolina defense should be plenty good enough to choke San Francisco’s meager offense into submission. It’s difficult to score points if you don’t have the ball - and the 49ers should find that out in a big way this weekend against a team that controlled the clock like no other last season.
Daily fantasy watch: Carolina D/ST
Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos (-6, 45)
Broncos’ impressive offense vs. Colts’ dreadful D
Much has been made about how this year’s incarnation of the Broncos can’t hope to compete for the Super Bowl title with an unproven QB at the helm. And while it remains to be seen whether Trevor Siemian can lead Denver back to the title game, fans and bettors alike have to love what they saw out of the Broncos in a Week 1 win over Carolina. And the best part is, things should get a whole lot better in Week 2 against an Indianapolis defense that looked putrid in its opener.
Let’s start with the Denver base three-wide offense, which featured seven players that posted PFF grades above 75 in Week 1. Center Matt Paradis (89.6) was particularly effective, creating plenty of room for running back C.J. Anderson to roam. Contrast that to what we saw from Indianapolis against visiting Detroit - eight members of the Colts’ base defense posted PFF ratings below 50, which is difficult for a professional football team to do in any given week.
The Broncos should easily carve up the Indianapolis defense on all levels. Siemian is in for a big game here, as are Demaryius Thomas - if he plays - and Emmanuel Sanders. The star of this one, however, should be Anderson, whose offensive line has a major advantage over the Colts’ offensive unit - particularly on the right side, where he’ll encounter three players who graded lower than 41.
Daily fantasy watch: C.J. Anderson
Atlanta Falcons at Oakland Raiders (-4.5, 49.5)
Raiders’ undisciplined play vs. Falcons’ measured approach
“Moxie” is an under-utilized word these days, but it’s hard to find a better term to describe Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio’s decision to go for two with his Raiders trailing by a single point late in New Orleans. Yet, while the decision proved to be the right one, it masked what was an otherwise mediocre performance from a Raiders team that had better figure out how to be more disciplined. Hope for a turnaround begins at home in Week 2 against a relatively measured Falcons team.
Oakland was one of the most undisciplined units in football last season, ranking third in the league in accepted penalties (138) and sixth in accepted yards (1,102). That pattern continued with emphasis in the Raiders’ Week 1 triumph over the Saints, as they incurred 14 penalties for a whopping 141 yards - including five offensive holding calls on five different players. D.J. Hayden was the worst offender on the defense, picking up two pass interference penalties and a holding call.
The Raiders might get away with it against weaker defensive teams like New Orleans, but a continued rash of penalties could torpedo what is set up to be a solid season. The Falcons were the fifth-least penalized team in the league in 2015 (100), and that disparity could result in major field position shifts Sunday afternoon. Oakland has a shot at a playoff berth this season, but if it can’t keep the flags in the referees’ pockets, it could be in for a rude awakening.
Daily fantasy watch: Julio Jones
Giants’ elite receivers vs. Saints’ dreadful secondary
This game has the highest Vegas total of the week, and with good reason: when these two teams met at the Mercedes Benz Superdome last season, they combined for 101 points. Drew Brees and Eli Manning combined to throw an absurd 13 touchdown passes - and while it would be unreasonable to expect a carbon copy this weekend, don’t be surprised if the two gunslingers come close to combining for double-digit passing scores yet again.
The focus in this one will be on the Saints’ unproven secondary, which is expected to include a pair of undrafted free-agent cornerbacks in Ken Crawley and De’Vante Harris. None of New Orleans’ three CBs had played an NFL snap prior to last weekend’s 35-34 loss to visiting Oakland; Crawley, who replaced Delvin Breaux after the veteran suffered a broken leg, posted the lowest ProFootballFocus score of any defensive back in Week 1 after getting roasted for six catches and a score on seven targets.
This game should see a boatload of points, given the potency of both offenses and that New Orleans will likely find themselves in catch-up mode for the entire game. Look for Eli Manning to punish the Saints' secondary, with all of his receiving options healthy and set to contribute. Odell Beckham posted an 8-150-3 line in their previous meeting, and that was with Breaux on the field. It’s going to be ugly for fans of defense - and heaven on earth for fans who love scoring.
Daily fantasy watch: Odell Beckham Jr.
San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers (-13.5, 45.5)
Panthers’ clock control vs. 49ers’ possession struggles
There’s a lot to like about Carolina this week, even though the Panthers are giving away nearly two touchdowns to visiting San Franciso. The 49ers are facing a short week in which they’ll cross the country to play a 10 am PT game against a defending Super Bowl finalist playing on nine days’ rest. And if that isn’t enough to convince you, consider that the two teams couldn’t be further apart when it comes to ball control.
The Panthers are coming off a sensational season buoyed at least in part by terrific possession metrics. Carolina led the league in time of possession in 2015 at 32:12 per game - one second better than the runner-up and division rival Atlanta Falcons. By comparison, San Francisco ranked 31st out of 32 teams at 26:23. “But Monty!” you say. “They run a Chip Kelly offense now!” That’s true - and the Kelly-led Eagles were the only team to have the ball less (25:51). Kelly finished last in TOP in each of his three seasons in Philadelphia.
Look for the Panthers to use a stout ground game and a dynamic-enough passing approach to keep the offense on the field and wear down the 49ers defense. And despite losing Josh Norman in the offseason, the Carolina defense should be plenty good enough to choke San Francisco’s meager offense into submission. It’s difficult to score points if you don’t have the ball - and the 49ers should find that out in a big way this weekend against a team that controlled the clock like no other last season.
Daily fantasy watch: Carolina D/ST
Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos (-6, 45)
Broncos’ impressive offense vs. Colts’ dreadful D
Much has been made about how this year’s incarnation of the Broncos can’t hope to compete for the Super Bowl title with an unproven QB at the helm. And while it remains to be seen whether Trevor Siemian can lead Denver back to the title game, fans and bettors alike have to love what they saw out of the Broncos in a Week 1 win over Carolina. And the best part is, things should get a whole lot better in Week 2 against an Indianapolis defense that looked putrid in its opener.
Let’s start with the Denver base three-wide offense, which featured seven players that posted PFF grades above 75 in Week 1. Center Matt Paradis (89.6) was particularly effective, creating plenty of room for running back C.J. Anderson to roam. Contrast that to what we saw from Indianapolis against visiting Detroit - eight members of the Colts’ base defense posted PFF ratings below 50, which is difficult for a professional football team to do in any given week.
The Broncos should easily carve up the Indianapolis defense on all levels. Siemian is in for a big game here, as are Demaryius Thomas - if he plays - and Emmanuel Sanders. The star of this one, however, should be Anderson, whose offensive line has a major advantage over the Colts’ offensive unit - particularly on the right side, where he’ll encounter three players who graded lower than 41.
Daily fantasy watch: C.J. Anderson
Atlanta Falcons at Oakland Raiders (-4.5, 49.5)
Raiders’ undisciplined play vs. Falcons’ measured approach
“Moxie” is an under-utilized word these days, but it’s hard to find a better term to describe Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio’s decision to go for two with his Raiders trailing by a single point late in New Orleans. Yet, while the decision proved to be the right one, it masked what was an otherwise mediocre performance from a Raiders team that had better figure out how to be more disciplined. Hope for a turnaround begins at home in Week 2 against a relatively measured Falcons team.
Oakland was one of the most undisciplined units in football last season, ranking third in the league in accepted penalties (138) and sixth in accepted yards (1,102). That pattern continued with emphasis in the Raiders’ Week 1 triumph over the Saints, as they incurred 14 penalties for a whopping 141 yards - including five offensive holding calls on five different players. D.J. Hayden was the worst offender on the defense, picking up two pass interference penalties and a holding call.
The Raiders might get away with it against weaker defensive teams like New Orleans, but a continued rash of penalties could torpedo what is set up to be a solid season. The Falcons were the fifth-least penalized team in the league in 2015 (100), and that disparity could result in major field position shifts Sunday afternoon. Oakland has a shot at a playoff berth this season, but if it can’t keep the flags in the referees’ pockets, it could be in for a rude awakening.
Daily fantasy watch: Julio Jones