2011-12 NFL Pro Bowl Ballot

By: Christian Hardy

Quarterbacks - NFC

Aaron Rodgers, Packers - Clearly ahead of everyone else in the MVP race, and will most likely break Dan Marino's record of most passing yards in a single season.

Drew Brees, Saints - Like Aaron Rodgers, this one doesn't need much explaining, really.

Eli Manning, Giants - It was a tough choice between Eli and Romo for me, but I decided to go with Manning. More yards, and the same amount of touchdowns. My argument for Romo is that he has a better TD-INT ratio as well as a better passer rating. Eli has been more clutch than Romo this year, and he has led his team to victory more than Romo, so I went with Manning.

Runner Up = Tony Romo, Cowboys

Future: Cam Newton, Panthers

Quarterbacks - AFC

Tom Brady, Patriots - Easy one here. Easily the best quarterback in the AFC.

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers - Ben hasn't had all that great of a year, but there really isn't anyone better in the AFC.

Tim Tebow, Broncos - That's right. Timmy Tebow over Rivers, Sanchez, or Flacco. Tebow wins football games and he takes care of the football, which copes well with his defense. Rivers isn't having a  Pro Bowl season until these last couple of weeks, and Flacco and Sanchez turn the ball over too much to be in the Pro Bowl. My vote goes to Tebow.

Runner Up = Philip Rivers, Chargers

Future: Andy Dalton, Bengals

Running Backs - NFC

Michael Turner, Falcons - His second consecutive year over 1,000 rushing yards, as well as his third in the last four years, and he has done it with just 273 carries. Hr has been a little bit more involved in the pass game this year, all though that did not affect my voting of Turner. He has been there for this team week in and week out. A consistent option for the likes of Matt Ryan and this Falcons' offense.

Lesean McCoy, Eagles - Best running back in the NFL this year, easy. His 17 touchdowns lead the NFL, and you can't argue putting this guy in the Pro Bowl. Then again, when you have an offensive line like the Eagles, it couldn't be too hard. Then again, saying McCoy is just "good" is a understatement. This guy is something special and he is going to be in the Pro Bowl for many years to come.

Frank Gore, 49ers - Already over 1,000 yards rushing, it's hard to dispute Gore in this spot. Without Gore, the 49ers have little-to-no offense, in my opinion. Huge weapon that deserves this spot.

Runner Up: Adrian Peterson, Matt Forte, Marshawyn Lynch - It's crazy to think that these guys won't be in the Pro Bowl, especially Peterson. Forte got hurt at the end of the year, so that practically eliminated him for me. Peterson was out for a couple weeks, and has had some up and down games this year. Lynch was tough, but statistically, the three guys that I put in the Pro Bowl were better. NFC has some amazing talent at running back, that's for sure.

Future: Roy Helu

Running Backs - AFC

Arian Foster, Texans - When healthy, Foster is an elite running back in the NFL, and he proved it this year. Even with Andre Johnson's hamstring(s) injury, a sticky quarterback situation and an injury problem of his own, Foster has been amazing. 10 touchdowns on the season in just 10 full games is amazing with the issues that he had to deal with. Definitely a worthy candidate for this spot.

Ray Rice, Ravens - Rice has become a much better runner this year, while keeping his "receiver" status very viable. His 12 touchdowns (and 10 on the ground) are a career-high for Rice. I think it is safe to say that Rice is going to be here for a while.

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars - MJD should be at the top of this list. Although the Jaguars have won just four games on the season, Jones-Drew is the leader of each and every one of those wins. He performs each and every week, and is the bright spot of this Jaguars football team/

Runner Up: Willis McGahee

Wide Receivers - AFC

Mike Wallace, Steelers

Wes Welker, Patriots

AJ Green, Bengals

Brandon Marshall, Dolphins

Runner Up: Vincent Jackson, Chargers

Future: Antonio Brown, Steelers and Denarius Moore, Raiders

Wide Receivers - NFC

Calvin Johnson, Lions

Steve Smith, Panthers

Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals

Jordy Nelson, Packers 

Runner Up: Greg Jennings, Packers

Future: Doug Baldwin, Seahawks and Julio Jones, 

Fullback - AFC

Vonta Leach, Ravens

Future: Marcel Reece, Raiders

Fullback - NFC

Tony Fiammetta, Cowboys

Runner Up: John Kuhn, Packers

Future: Tony Fiametta

Tight End - AFC

Rob Gronkowski, Patriots

Owen Daniels, Texans

Runner Up: Antonio Gates, Chargers

Future: Rob Gronkowski

Tight End - NFC

Jimmy Graham, Saints

Tony Gonzalez, Falcons

Runner Up: Jason Witten, Cowboys

Future: Jake Ballard, Giants

Offensive Tackle - AFC

RT - Eric Winston, Houston 

LT - Duane Brown, Houston

Swing - Andrew Whitworth, Bengals

Offensive Taackle - NFC

RT - Jason Peters, Eagles

LT - Tyron Smith, Cowbohs

Swing - Jordan Gross, Panthers

Guard - AFC

R - Brian Waters, Patriots

L - Marshal Yanda, Ravens

Swing - Brandon Moore, Jets

Guard - NFC

R - Jahri Evans, Saints -  If Sitton was healthy all year, then he would be in this spot.

L - Evan Mathis, Eagles

Swing - Mike Iupati, 49ers

Runner Up: Josh Sitton, Packers and Carl Nicks, Saints

Center - AFC

Alex Mack, Browns

Nick Mangold, Jets

Runner up: Chris Myers, Texans

Center - NFC

Ryan Kalil, Panthers

Max Unger, Seahawks

Runner up: Scott Wells, Packers

Defensive End - AFC

Andre Carter, Patriots

JJ Watt, Texans

Jabaal Sheard, Browns

Defensive End - NFC

Jared Allen, Vikings

Jason Babin, Eagles

Chris Long, Rams

Defensive Tackle - AFC

Geno Atkins, Bengals

Haloti Ngata, Ravens

Richard Seymour, Raiders

Runner Up: Sione Pouha, Jets

Defensive Tackle - NFC

Justin Smith, 49ers

Cullen Jenkins, Eagles

Darnell Dockett, Cardinals

Runner Up: Henry Melton, Bears - Leads in sacks in the defensive tackle category. Very underrated year. This kid is only going to get better

Inside Linebacker - AFC

D'Qwell Jackson, Browns

Derrick Johnson, Chiefs

Runner Up: Pat Angerer, Colts and Brian Cushing, Texans

Inside Linebacker - NFC

London Fletcher, Redskins

Desmond Bishop, Packers

Runner Up: Sean Lee, Cowboys and Patrick Willis, 49ers - Both of these guys have had tremendous seasons, but Flecher and Bishop have just been better. I could definitely see either--or both--of these guys end up in Honalulu

Outside Linebacker - AFC

Terrell Suggs, Baltimore

Connor Barwin, Texans

Von Miller, Broncos

Runner Up: Tamba Hali, Chiefs

Outside Linebacker - NFC

DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys

Clay Matthews, Packers

James Anderson, Panthers

Runner Up: Sean Weatherspoon, Falcons

Future: Michael Boley, Giants

Cornerback - AFC

Darrelle Revis, Jets

Kyle Arrington, Patriots

Johnathan Joseph, Texans

Runner Up: Brandon Flowers, Chiefs

Cornerback - NFC

Charles Tillman, Bears

Carlos Rodgers, 49ers
Brandon Browner, Seahawks

Runner up: Tramon Williams, Packers 

Free Safety - AFC

Eric Weddle, Chargers

Free Safety - NFC

Earl Thomas, Seahawks

Runner Up: Deshon Goldson, 49ers

Future: Malcom Jenkins, Saints

Strong Safety - AFC

George Wilson, Bills

Runner Up: Troy Polamalu, Steelers - He just hasn't made as many plays this year as he has in years past. Not as many as Wilson, at least.

Strong Safety - NFC

Roman Harper, Saints

Kicker -AFC

Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders

Kicker - NFC

Dan Bailey, Cowboys

Punter - AFC

Shane Lechler, Raiders

Punter - NFC

Andy Lee, 49ers

Kick Returner - AFC

Antonio Brown, Steelers

Kick Returner - NFC

Patrick Peterson, Cardinals

Special Teamer

Rock Cartwright, Oakland

Corey Graham, Bears

Team by Team Breakdown

AFC East

New England Patriots - Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Brian Waters, Andre Carter, Kyle Arrington

New York Jets - Brandon Moore, Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis

Miami Dolphins - Brandon Marshall

Buffalo Bills - George Wilson

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers - Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Wallace

Baltimore Ravens - Ray Rice, Vonta Leach, Marshal Yanda, Haloti Ngata, Terrell Suggs

Cincinnati Bengals - Andrew Whitworth, Geno Atkins

Cleveland Browns - Alex Mack, Jabaal Sheard, D'Qwell Jackson

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts - NONE

Jacksonville Jaguars - Maurice Jones-Drew

Tennessee Titans - NONE

Houston Texans - Arian Foster, Owen Daniels, Eric Winston, Duane Brown, JJ Watt, Connor Barwin. Johnathan Joseph

AFC West

Kansas City Chiefs - Derrick Johnson

Denver Broncos - Tim Tebow, Von Miller

San Diego Chargers - Eric Weddle

Oakland Raiders - Richard Seymour, Sebastian Janikowski, Shane Lechler, Rock Cartwright

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys - Tony Fiametta, Tyron Smith, Demarcus Ware, Dan Bailey

New York Giants - Eli Manning

Philadelphia Eagles - Lesean McCoy, Jason Peters, Evan Mathis, Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins

Washington Redskins - London Fletcher

NFC North

Green Bay Packers - Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Desmond Bishop, Clay Matthews

Detroit Lions - Calvin Johnson

Minnesota Vikings - Jared Allen

Chicago Bears - Charles Tillman, Corey Graham

NFC South

New Orleans Saints - Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, Jahri Evans, Roman Harper

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - NONE

Carolina Panthers - Steve Smith, Jordan Gross, Ryan Kalil, James Anderson

Atlanta Falcons - Michael Turner, Tony Gonzalez

NFC West

San Francisco 49ers - Frank Gore, Mike Iupati, Justin Smith, Carlos Rodgers, Andy Lee

St.Louis Rams - Chris Long

Seattle Seahawks - Matt Unger, Brandon Browner, Earl Thomas

Arizona Cardinals - Larry Fitzgerald, Darnell Dockett, Patrick Peterson

December 14th Injury Report

Quarterbacks
- Chiefs quarterback Kyle Orton will start for the Chiefs if he is active for this weeks game. Orton has been dealing with a dislocated index finger on his throwing hand for the last two weeks. Roookie quarterback Ricky Stanzi will be the backup while Tyler Palko will be the third string.
- Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore (concussion) missed practice on Wednesday, but is still expected to play in week 15.
- Vikings rookie quarterback Christian Ponder (hip) was limited in practice.
- Titans quarterback Matthew Hasselbeck (calf) did not practice on Wednesday.
- Although Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb has passed all of the NFL's concussion tests, the Cardinals are being cautious with him, and limited him in practice on Wednesday.
- Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (ankle) did not practice.
- Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman (shoulder) was a full participant in practice on Wednesday.




Running Backs
- Titans running back Javon Ringer underwent successful hand surgery, but he is expected to miss the season.
- Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (ankle) was limited in practice on Wednesday and is expected to play in week 15.
- Raiders running backl Darren McFadden (lisfranc) did not practice on Wednesday and his status for the rest of this year is very up in the air. One thing that we do know is that McFadden will not need surgery on his lisfranc injury.
- Bengals running back Cedric Benson (foot) did not practice on Wednesday.
- Saints rookie running back Mark Ingram (turf toe) did not practice on Wednesday.
- Lions running back Kevin Smith (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday, despite early reports.
- Falcons running back Michael Turner (groin) was limited in practice.
- Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) did not practice on Wednesday.




Wide Receivers
- Raiders wide receivers update: Jacoby Ford (foot) did not practice, while Denarius Moore (foot/ankle) did return to practice in limited fashion.
- Jaguars wide receiver Cecil Shorts (hamstring) and Mike Thomas (concussion) have both been ruled out to play against Atlanta on Thursday Night Football. I ranked Jason Hill, as he will be just about the only healthy receiver for this team.
- Titans wide receiver Nate Washington (ankle) did not practice.
- Patriots wide receivers Deion Branch (groin) and Wes Welker (knee) were both limited in practice.
- Broncos wide receiver Eddie Royal (concussion) was at practice on Wednesday.
- Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday.
- Falcons rookie wide receiver Julio Jones (back) is listed as probable for Thursday night.
- Cowboys wide receivers Laurent Robinson (shoulder) was limited in practice, and Miles Austin was not on the official injury report.
- Mario Manningham was not on the Giants official injury report.




Tight Ends
- Colts tight end Dallas Clark did not practice on Wednesday with a burner.




Defense/Others
- Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis (turf toe) returned to practice today.

Week 13 NFL Power Rankings

By Anh Vo

1)      Green Bay Packers (12-0)[Last Week: 1] – The Packers’ defense again gave up some big plays which led to big points, but their offense came through in the clutch. The perfect season is now one game closer.

2)      New England Patriots (9-3) [Last Week: 2]  – The Patriots offense showed up as usual and did their thing, but surprisingly the defense gave up a lot of points to the Colts. The Patriots are still experimenting with their backup players on defense, but time is running out as the playoffs are only a couple of weeks away. It’s concerning when Dan Orlovsky was able to burn the defensive backs the way he did.

3)      Baltimore Ravens (9-3) [Last Week: 3] – Just another game for the Ravens. They were successful with the running game as Ray Rice went off on the Browns, but their passing game was unimpressive yet again as Joe Flacco was only 10/23 for 158 yards.

4)      New Orleans Saints (9-3) [Last Week: 4] – Another week, another high scoring game for the Saints as they carved up the Lions’ defense both in the air and on the ground.

5)      Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) [Last Week: 5] – The Steelers’ offense showed up the last game after a disappointing performance two weeks ago against the Chiefs. Balanced offensive attack as their top players all scored this game (Ben Roethlisberger, Rashard Mendenhall, and Mike Wallace). They should put up similar numbers this week against the Browns.

6)      Dallas Cowboys (7-5) [Last Week: 6] – Good defensively against the Cardinals throughout the game…except for the last drive in overtime. Where was the offense in this game against a poor Cardinals defense?! The Cardinals are just playing spoilers at this point and they did just that to a Cowboys team vying for the top spot in the division. The good news is that Miles Austin is ready to suit up in the showdown with the Giants.

7)      Houston Texans (9-3) [Last Week: 7] – The Falcons’ defense was able to slow down the Texans, but the Texans’ defense did a better job of shutting down the Falcons’ offense for the win. Bad news for the Texans as Andre Johnson strained his other hamstring and will miss some time, so now they will have to rely on their running game even more. The Bengals’ stout run defense is a good test this week.

8)      San Francisco 49ers (10-2) [Last Week: 8] – The good news: The 49ers aired it out last week and were successful. The bad news: It was the Rams’ defense. I would like for them to throw more going forward before I’m a real believer in their offense heading into the playoffs.

9)      Atlanta Falcons (7-5) [Last Week: 10] – The Falcons’ defense was impressive against the Texans’ number one ranked run offense, but their offense didn’t do enough to win the game.

10)   New York Giants (6-6) [Last Week: 11] – Which Giants defense will show up this week? After getting blown out by the Saints two weeks ago, they bounced back and pressured Aaron Rodgers and played tight coverage on the Packers’ receivers despite giving up a lot of points. With Ahmad Bradshaw back (albeit not 100%) and their running game restored, will they make a run for the playoffs?

11)   Detroit Lions (7-5) [Last Week: 9] – The Lions are self-destructing right before our eyes. Their players are hurting their team’s chances of winning games by committing stupid penalties. They have also been playing too conservative, as if they don’t believe in their offense anymore, and I blame that on both the offensive coordinator and head coach. Too many screen passes and short slant passes that are easy to pick off and not enough shots downfield. The coaches have also been doing a bad job of getting Calvin Johnson open as he has been shut down for the past few weeks.

12)   Denver Broncos (7-5) [Last Week: 15] – A couple of missed tackles and blown coverage by the secondary allowed the Vikings to score, but the defense as a whole pressured Christian Ponder (without Von Miller) and picked him off twice (one for a score and one that set up the game-winning field goal) at critical times in the game. While Tim Tebow wasn’t able to run against the tough Vikings’ run defense, he displayed great accuracy in his throws and racked up 202 yards on 10/15 passes for two touchdowns. He is improving by the week.

13)   Cincinnati Bengals (7-5) [Last Week: 12] – The Bengals were shut down last week against the Steelers as they only scored seven points with Andy Dalton throwing for 135 yards and one touchdown. Meanwhile, their defense gave up 35 points both through the air and on the ground. They have another tough matchup this week against the Texans.

14)   New York Jets (7-5) [Last Week: Unranked] – Ever since they lost to the Broncos a few weeks ago, Rex Ryan said that they will be playing hard for the remainder of the season and they have done just that. With their backs against the wall, they have been playing at a much higher level on offense, something they weren’t able to do in the first half of the season.

15)   Oakland Raiders (7-5) [Last Week: 13] – The Raiders have been pretty consistent on offense when it comes to running and throwing the ball. Whether they win or lose depends on how well their defense plays. 

Editor's Note: You can follow Anh (@PrototypeDemo) on Twitter. He loves a good football discussion, or any sports discussion for that matter. So check Anh out on Twitter.

Week 10 Let Them Preach

By: Christian Hardy

Week 10 showed us exactly what the NFL is all about: Absolute tomfoolery.

In the early games, arch rivals Saints and Falcons faced off in Georgia with the division lead on the line, and boy was it a good one. It tailed all the way into overtime, which including a scrutinized decision from Falcons' head coach Mike Smith. Then the Cowboys won their second straight game, and this game against the Bills was never close. We saw another division game in the early games, and this one was a great one too. It was the Bengals against the Steelers, and if the Bengals could win this one then they would finish the weekend two games ahead of the division. Who would of thought that the Bengals would be in the discussion to win the division. Then last, and probably least, the Eagles collapsed against John Skelton and the Cardinals.

The late games were an even bigger shock thought. The Seahawks (huh?) defeated the unpredictable Ravens, in the same stadium where they upset the Saints in last year's playoffs. Then, the Bears clobbered the skidding Lions at Soldier Field. Two out of three games unpredictable? That ruined a lot of people's picks this Sunday.

It was a great weekend for football, and now I'm here to wrap it all up. As you can see, I summarized the picks from all of our contributors. Taylor's picks have no score because, well, he gave me no score. The record before the predicted score is the record of that person on this week, including the game that it is under. I decided not to talk about the games that do not matter, because, honestly, it is the same stuff every week with those couple of teams. With all of that said, let's move on to the games.

Oakland Raiders @  San Diego Chargers

1. Michael Bush could start to get more carries, even when Darren McFadden returns. While gurus were voyaging for a sleeper running back name, such as Taiwan Jones, the guy who really shined was the guy right in front of Jones, Michael Bush. Bush, subbing in for Darren McFadden, went completely berserk with 242 total yards and a touchdown. Bush has now averaged over five yards per carry in three straight games, including 5.2 yards per carry in this game on 30 (!) carries. If McFadden is out in the future, then Bush is a must start.

2. Vincent Jackson is the biggest "Whack-A-Mole" in the history of whack-a-moles. One week, the Chargers roll and Jackson puts up 32 fantasy points in a standard league, and the next week he has one catch for 22 years. I don't know what to think of this guy, but in my eye, he isn't even a top 15 wide receiver. Philip Rivers has too many targets that he can throw the ball to, and while that might help some receivers, it is hurting Jackson, and hurting him badly. Next time you get the chance, I would sell high on Vincent Jackson.

3. At this point, if you have a decent backup, it's time to let Philip Rivers ride the pine for your fantasy team. In eight of his nine games this year, Rivers has finished outside of the top ten fantasy quarterbacks. If you think you have a starter in him, then you are dead wrong. He now has just one game over 20 points, three games over 300 yards, and one game with less than two turnovers. He is an absolute turnover machine, and I don't see it getting better in the near future. His upcoming schedule is; at Chicago, who just forced six turnovers against the Lions; then he is against Denver, who has been getting better, and at Jacksonville where he could finally break out. If you are looking for Rivers to be a top 10 quarterback for you, chances are it isn't going to happen. Not this year at least.

(0-1) Christian's Pick: Chargers
(0-1) Gabe's Pick: Chargers
(0-1) Zach's Pick: Chargers
(0-1) Taylor's Pick: Chargers
Final Score: Raiders 24, Chargers 17

New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons
1. There isn't any Saints' running back that is getting the carries to be in your lineup on a week to week basis.  For Darren Sproles, you have to solely depend that he is going to be involved in the pass game, or he can break a big gain from the flat. In this game, the Falcons had Sproles' number all day. For Mark Ingram, you are depending on a touchdown, and it's not even a sure thing that he is going to be in the backfield in a certain goal line package. Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory are both just long shots for me; Ivory is still fighting an injury, and Thomas isn't getting the type of workload that is going to produce. For now, I think it is safe to keep all of these guys on your bench, except for the the possibility of Sproles in a flex spot.

2. Harry Douglas!? Seriously? Eight catches and over 100 yards?! I mean, I know that Julio Jones left with an injury, but who would of thought that Douglas would be the one who took over. In truth, and all seriousness, Matt Ryan played a great game. He finished the game with over 350 yards and two touchdowns (one to Gonzalez and one to Snelling), although he did not show up when it mattered most. I wouldn't be surprised if, after a game like that, Douglas gets a little bit more work in this offense.

3. This is one of the best games to watch every time these teams play. The two quarterbacks are some of the best in the game, and they are very fun to watch. Each of the last six games have been decided by 10 points or less, and the last four have been decided by just a field goal, two of which went to overtime. Drew Brees versus Matt Ryan is always going to be great, and I'm looking forward to seeing them face off again in week 16 on Monday Night Football.

(1-1) Christian's Pick: Saints 27, Falcons 24 (OT)
(0-2) Gabe's Pick: Falcons 27, Saints 24
(0-2) Zach's Pick: Falcons 35, Saints 31
(1-1)Taylor's Pick: Saints
Final Score: Saints 26, Falcons 23 (OT)

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
1. The Steelers are a perfect example of why fantasy football is a major product of luck. Rashard Mendenhall had 16 chances to run the ball in this game. He finished the game with a 2.8 yards per carry average, but luck(ily), Mendy found the end zone twice, and it paid off for fantasy owners. Then, in the passing game, the one passing touchdown goes to Jerricho Cotchery who is the fourth receiver (with Sanders out) on this team. I'm not saying it is unpredictable, I am just saying that at times fantasy football is very lucky and some of the most unlikely things can happen. Maybe that is the fun of things though, because if someone could predict everything, every Sunday, then there would be no fun in the game. That's what makes fantasy football so great; the guess and luck factors and the chance that a winless team can win on any given weekend (unless you are the Colts, of course).

2. Even if he did only have one catch, AJ Green is an every week start (when healthy, obviously). He now has six touchdowns and double digit fantasy points in every game but one. This game he has a stunning touchdown catch in triple coverage. Andy Dalton loves a guy that can go and get the ball, and AJ Green does just that. I sat him this week (in favor of Jeremy Maclin, I know.) in my main league and it could easily cost me the game. Trust me, I will never sit him again, and neither should you.

3. The Steelers are going to continue to increase the amount of snaps that Antonio Brown gets, and it is well deserved. Although he is not a big red zone target, he is going to become a great fantasy play as a wide receiver two on a team that has a very balanced offense. With Emmanuel Sanders now out for a couple weeks, and Hines Ward being benched for Jerricho Cotchery, Brown is going to become the number two wide out for this team with no competition, and with the talent he has, the possibilities are endless. He is going to become the possession receiver that plays opposite of Mike Wallace, and Big Ben is going to throw to him, a lot.

(1-2) Christian's Pick: Bengals 24, Steelers 20
(0-3) Gabe's Pick: Bengals 20, Steelers 17
(1-2) Zach's Pick: Steelers 17, Sengals 13
(1-2) Taylor's Pick: Bengals
Final Score: Steelers 24, Bengals 17

Buffalo Bills @ Dallas Cowboys
1. Tony Romo is at the peak of his game right now, and he is hitting it right at the right time. With DeMarco Murray in the backfield, Romo looks much more comfortable. To go along with the run game, his offensive line is giving him a nice pocket and he isn't getting hit: He has been hit only three times and has been sacked zero times in the last two games. Tony Romo is taking care of the ball and making smart decisions. As long as the defense and DeMarco Murray hold up, they could go a long ways.

2. Laurent Robinson is the Cowboys wide receiver that I would rather have right now. In his last three games these are his numbers: 13 receptions, 208 yards, and four touchdowns, including two against the Bills on Sunday. What about Dez Bryant? Well, while Dez sees tougher coverage, his numbers have not even compared to those of Robinson's. Dez has the same amount of receptions as Robinson (13), but 30 less yards, and only one touchdown in his last three games. Dez Bryant is always going to be a must start, but believe it or not, I think that Robinson is the guy who is going to score more fantasy points, as long as Miles Austin is gone.

(2-2) Christian's Pick: Cowboys 31, Bills 27
(1-3) Gabe's Pick: Cowboys 34, Bills 31
(2-2) Zach's Pick: Cowboys 24, Bills 21
(1-3) Taylor's Pick: Bills
Final Score: Cowboys 44, Bills 7

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts
(2-3) Christian's Pick: Colts 20, Jaguars 14
(2-3) Gabe's Pick: Jaguars 13, Colts 10
(3-2) Zach's Pick: Jaguars 14, Colts 10
(2-3) Taylor's Pick: Jaguars
Final Score: Jaguars 17, Colts 3

Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs
(2-4) Christian's Pick: Chiefs 24, Broncos 21
(3-3) Gabe's Pick: Broncos 24, Chiefs 23
(4-2) Zach's Pick: Broncos 20, Chiefs 14
(2-4) Taylor's Pick: Chiefs
Final Score: Broncos 17, Chiefs 10

Washington Redskins @ Miami Dolphins
(3-4) Christian's Pick: Dolphins 17, Redskins 13
(4-3) Gabe's Pick: Dolphins 21, Redskins 14
(5-2) Zach's Pick: Dolphins 13, Redskins 13
(3-4) Taylor's Pick: Dolphins
Final Score: Dolphins 20, Redskins 9

Arizona Cardinals @ Philadelphia Eagles
1. The Eagles are one of the most over-hyped teams that I remember in the history of sports. That's all I really have to talk about for this game. John Skelton had a great game, but who doesn't against this Eagles' defense? It is terrible. The Eagles are terrible, and nothing is going the right way for them right now. Michael Vick has injured ribs, Jeremy Maclin has a sore shoulder and hamstring, Desean Jackson doesn't have any money, and therefore has an attitude problem, and on the defense, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is fighting through ankle injuries. This team is bad, and I don't see it turning around any time soon. Their next two games are against the Giants in the Meadowlands and then against the Giants.


(3-5) Christian's Pick: Eagles 31, Cardinals 13
(4-4) Gabe's Pick: Eagles 31, Cardinals 20
(5-3) Zach's Pick: Eagles 35, Cardinals 17
(4-4) Taylor's Pick: Eagles
Final Score: Cardinals 21, Eagles 17

Houston Texans @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1. Right when the Texans were on the brink of their first AFC South championship, everything went terribly wrong. Their quarterback Matt Schaub hurt his Lisfranc joint in his foot, and it will require surgery. The surgery will cause him to miss the remainder of the season. It's a huge blow for the Texans, and might even give the Titans a chance to win this division, who are now at a 5-4 record. I expect Arian Foster and Ben Tate to take a huge load after the bye week, so both of their stocks will rise. I would drop Andre Johnson to the bottom half of number one receivers, but he is still one of the most athletic receivers in the NFL and Matt Leinart should have no problem finding him.

2. Preston Parker proved why is the only receiver worth owning on the Bucs. He scores points. Only seventeen yards in this one, but he found a way to get into the end zone. That's what counts, and that is something that Mike Williams has done only once all year. Parker isn't startable (none of them are), but he is certainly worth a roster spot, unlike Arrelious Benn or Mike Williams.

(4-5) Christian's Pick: Texans 20, Buccaneers 16
(5-4) Gabe's Pick: Texans 27, Buccaneers 17
(6-3) Zach's Pick: Texans 27, Buccaneers 21
(5-4) Taylor's Pick: Texans
Final Score: Texans 27, Buccaneers 9

Tennessee Titans @ Carolina Panthers
(4-6) Christian's Pick: Panthers 27, Titans 13
(5-5) Gabe's Pick: Panthers 24, Titans 21
(6-4) Zach's Pick: Panthers 24, Titans 17
(5-5) Taylor's Pick: Panthers
Final Score: Titans 30, Panthers 3

Baltimore Ravens @ Seattle Seahawks
(4-7) Christian's Pick: Ravens 27, Seahawks 13
(5-6) Gabe's Pick: Ravens 24, Seahawks 10
(6-5) Zach's Pick: Ravens 31, Seahawks 10
(5-6) Taylor's Pick: Ravens
Final Score: Seahawks 22, Ravens 17

Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears
1. This is probably very apparent, but the Lions are not what they were when the season started. Their defense is crumbling up front, and their safety play is very soft, and we all know how one on one works. Not to mention the offense, which seems to rely on the production of Calvin Johnson. Without Jahvid Best and the run game to rely on, their entire offense, including Matthew Stafford, has fallen apart. Their receivers, other than Megatron, are not made to play 40+ snaps a game, so if a defense can find a way to double cover Calvin Johnson then it is game over. Stafford has become inaccurate, and he is making bogus throws and decisions. I really hope this Lions team can turn it around, I really do; it has been a great story. But if they don't start becoming more disciplined real soon, then it could get ugly, real soon.

2. Brandon Pettigrew? 77 yards in his last three games? Please, feel free to hit that "drop" button.

3. Bennett is definitely the top guy for Jay Cutler as of now (and that could change at any time, hence the "now"). Of the 19 times that Jay Cutler threw the ball on Sunday, nearly a third of them (six) were flying Bennett's way. Of the 123 passing yards that Cutler threw for, nearly two-thirds (81) of them were to Bennett. His nine completions? Six of them to Bennett. Bennett is definitely a great flex play from here on out, or until this stops. The Bears have the third weakest strength of schedule, in terms of fantasy points allowed to wide receivers with only Atlanta and Tampa Bay allowing less than 20 fantasy points to wide receivers. Bennett should definitely be on a roster, and maybe even in your lineup.


(4-8) Christian's Pick: Lions 24, Bears 20
(5-7) Gabe's Pick: Loins 27, Bears 24
(6-6) Zach's Pick: Lions 27, Bears 24
(5-7) Taylor's Pick: Lions
Final Score: Bears 37, Lions 13

New York Giants @ San Francisco 49ers
1. Before we start the actual review of this game, I just wanted to say that both of these teams are very good, there is no doubt about that/ Yeah, the Giants didn't pull out the win, but they are still right on top of the division, and the 49ers have the second best record in the NFL. Does that tell you anything? Both teams have solid defenses, but the edge goes to the 49ers in this one. The offense battle could of been much more interesting had both teams' starting running backs been able to play in this game (and in Frank Gore's case, play the whole game). Look for either of these teams to make a long run into the playoffs if they keep this up.

2. No 49ers wide receiver really stands out to me, and I think you can drop all of them. Michael Crabtree was exciting for a while, but with Braylon Edwards back in these last three games, the only bright spot has been his touchdown in week eight. In the pas two weeks, he has just 72 yards and no touchdown. If Edwards is stealing looks, then you figure he is faring well, right? Wrong. He has just 119 yards in his last three games back from his knee injury. Neither of these guys is worth a roster spot right now, I would rather have someone with more upside.

3. We are more than halfway through the NFL season and the 49ers have still not allowed a rushing touchdown. Let's keep this real simple. If you have a running back that is going up against the 49ers (unless they are elite), then you have to sit them. Stats through nine weeks don't lie. If they don't let up touchdowns then they are not going to let up touchdowns. Simple as that.

(5-8) Christian's Pick: 49ers 20, Giants 17
(6-7) Gabe's Pick: 49ers 20, Giants 17
(7-6) Zach's Pick: 49ers 14, Giants 10
(5-8) Taylor's Pick: Giants
Final Score: 49ers 27, Giants 20

St.Louis Rams @ Cleveland Browns
(6-8) Christian's Pick: Rams 20, Browns 13
(7-7) Gabe's Pick: Rams 24, Browns 17
(7-7) Zach's Pick: Browns 23, Rams 13
(6-8) Taylor's Pick: Rams
Final Score: Rams 13, Browns 12

New England Patriots @ New York Jets
1. Doesn't this game just get better and better every time Rex Ryan opens his mouth? It seems like every time Rex opens his mouth, he loses! This one at home against a Patriots team that has been ailing as of late. It's great to watch this Jets team season after season, and even better when you have Rex Ryan as your head coach!

2. Mark Sanchez can not perform under pressure. It's Sunday Night Football. Huge divisional game..no, not that kind of pressure. I mean, when his pocket collapses he makes bad decisions, sometimes he make the worst decision: To take a sack. Sanchez has shown some great signs of life this year, but that is one thing he needs to get better at, and it is one of the hardest things to teach an NFL quarterback. He has to know when to escape the pocket, when to get rid of the ball, and when to his his receiver. It's a split second decision, and some quarterbacks just don't have that. See: Tebow, Tim for all of your failing at pocket presence needs.

3. Plaxico Burress is now a must start until otherwise notified. He now has four touchdowns in three games, and an average of four receptions in each of those games. He is surely worth a flex spot every week because of the upside, but he is starting to slip into the starting wide receiver category. Keep and eye on Plaxico as he has some real juicy matchups coming up soon.

(6-9) Christian's Pick: Jets 24, Patriots 10
(8-7) Gabe's Pick: Patriots 28, Jets 24
(7-8) Zach's Pick: Jets 24, Patriots 20
(6-9) Taylor's Pick: Jets
Final Score: Patriots 37, Jets 16

Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers
(7-9) Christian's Pick: Packers 38, Vikings 24
(9-7) Gabe's Pick: Packers 38, Vikings 27
(8-8) Zach's Pick: Packers 41, Vikings 20
(7-9) Taylor's Pick: Packers
Final Score: Packers 45, Vikings 7

Thanks for reading. Tomorrow my week 11 rankings will come out, with four teams on bye coming into the week. Thursday or Friday will bring my Bank/Tank. Until then, you can check me out on Twitter for all your fantasy news and questions, or you can email me your longer questions.

Week 10 Game Picks

By: Christian Hardy


In week nine, Gabe and I led the way, each with a nine win, five loss record. However, we both took much different paths to get to 9-5. In the early games, I was a near perfect with my only loss coming in the Chiefs-Dolphins game. Gabe, however, struggled: He picked only four of the seven early games right. In the late games, it was much different. Gabe picked all five afternoon games right, while I limped to 3-2, and we were all locked up at 9-3. The primetime games derailed both of us; we both picked Steelers and Eagles to win, and as you know, they both lost.

Taylor and Zach both finished two games behind Gabe and I at 7-7. Gabe and I finished at 9-5. This week there are no byes which means we will pick all 16 games.

On Thursday, all of us weasels picked the Chargers to beat the Raiders, so we all start out the week on a losing streak. Remember, for each game, the title of the game will take you to ProFootballFocus' preview for that particular game. The lines come from footballlocks.com on Saturday evening, and they are subject to change. If you aren't familiar with the staff: Gabe writes the pickups article on Mondays, Zach writes the injury report for us (when he can), and Taylor is my editor. With all of the house keeping taken care of, let's move on to those picks I've been speaking of.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
1:00 PM EST - CBS
Line: Steelers by 4
Over/Under:  41

Christian's Pick: Bengals 24, Steelers 20
Gabe's Pick: Bengals 20, Steelers 17
Zach's Pick: Steelers 17, Bengals 13

New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons
1:00 PM EST - FOX
Line: Even
Over/Under: 50

Christian's Pick: Saints 27, Falcons 24
Gabe's Pick: Faclons 27, Saints 24
Zach's Pick: Falcons 35, Saints 31

Washington Redskins @ Miami Dolphins
1:00 PM EST - FOX
Line: Dolphins by 4
Over/Under: 37.5

Christian's Pick: Dolphins 17, Redskins 13
Gabe's Pick: Dolphins 21, Redskins 14
Zach's Pick: Dolphins 13, Redskins 9

Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs
1:00 PM EST - CBS
Line: Chiefs by 3
Over/Under: 41.5

Christian's Pick: Chiefs 24, Broncos 21
Gabe's Pick: Broncos 24, Chiefs 23
Zach's Pick: Broncos 20, Chiefs 14

Houston Texans @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1:00 PM EST - CBS
Line: Texans by 3.5
Over/Under: 45.5

Christian's Pick: Texans 20, Buccaneers 16
Gabe's Pick: Texans 27, Buccaneers 17
Zach's Pick: Texans 27, Buccaneers 21

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts
1:00 PM EST - CBS
Line: Jaguars by 3
Over/Under: 37.5

Christian's Pick: Colts 20, Jaguars 14
Gabe's Pick: Jaguars 13, Colts 10
Zach's Pick: Jaguars 14, Colts 10

Arizona Cardinals @ Philadelphia Eagles
1:00 PM EST - FOX
Line: Eagles by 14
Over/Under: 46.5

Christian's Pick: Eagles 31, Cardinals 13
Gabe's Pick: Eagles 31, Cardinals 20
Zach's Pick: Eagles 35, Cardinals 17


St.Louis Rams @ Cleveland Browns
1:00 PM EST - FOX
Line: Browns by 2.5
Over/Under: 37

Christian's Pick: Rams 20, Browns 13
Gabe's Pick: Rams 24, Browns 17
Zach's Pick: Browns 23, Rams 13

Buffalo Bills @ Dallas Cowboys
1:00 PM EST - CBS
Line: Dallas by 5.5
Over/Under: 48

Christian's Pick: Cowboys 31, Bills 30
Gabe's Pick: Cowboys 34, Bills 31
Zach's Pick: Cowboys 24, Bills 21

Tennessee Titans @ Carolina Panthers
1:00 PM EST - CBS
Line: Panthers by 3.5
Over/Under: 46.5

Christian's Pick: Panthers 27, Titans 13
Gabe's Pick: Panthers 24, Titans 21
Zach's Pick: Panthers 24, Titans 17

Baltimore Ravens @ Seattle Seahawks
4:05 PM EST - CBS
Line: Ravens by 6.5
Over/Under: 41

Christian's Pick: Ravens 27, Seahawks 13
Gabe's Pick: Ravens 24, Seahawks 10
Zach's Pick: Ravens 31, Seahawks 10

Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears
4:15 PM EST - FOX
Line: Bears by 2.5
Over/Under: 43.5

Christian's Pick: Lions 24, Bears 20
Gabe's Pick: Lions 27, Bears 24
Zach's Pick: Lions 27, Bears 24

New York Giants @ San Francisco 49ers
4:15 PM EST - FOX
Line: 49ers by 3.5
Over/Under: 42.5

Christian's Pick: 49ers 20, Giants 17
Gabe's Pick: 49ers 20, Giants 17
Zach's Pick: 49ers 14, Giants 10


New England Patriots @ New York Jets
8:27 PM EST - NBC
Line: Jets by 2
Over/Under: 47

Christian's Pick: Jets 24, Patriots 20
Gabe's Pick: Patriots 28, Jets 24
Zach's Pick: Jets 24, Patriots 20

Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers
Monday, 8:37 PM EST - ESPN
Line: Packers by 13
Over/Under: 51

Christian's Pick: Packers 38, Vikings 24
Gabe's Pick: Packers 38, Vikings 27
Zach's Pick: Packers 41, Vikings 20



Thanks for reading. From now on there will be updates on each of our picks in the Let Them Peach. If you were wondering where my other articles went this week, I didn't get to them this week. I have had some family duties and have been really busy. Next week I will try to get back to my original schedule. On Sunday, be sure to check out my fantasy football rankings as well as all of the injury updates in the injury report. Good luck to you and all of your teams this weekend! If you have any lineup questions then check out my twitter or you can email me with your longer questions. Also Check out our experts: Gabe, Taylor, and Zach on Twitter.

Crazy Gabey's Week Eight Pick Ups

By: Gabriel Harber

What’s going on here?

The Saints beat the Colts by 437 points, then lost to the Rams by a bruised ego.  The Cowboys beat the Rams handily the week before, then got shellacked by the Eagles, who were supposed to be in disarray.  The Colts took the Steelers to the wire a few weeks back, and the Steelers beat the Patriots, who had to come from behind to beat the Cowboys.  Oh, and I forgot to mention that the Steelers edged out the Jaguars, who grinded out the Ravens, who hobblestomped the Steelers week 1.

Making sense yet?  Of course it does.

You see, by using the transitive property of fantasy football congruence, and multiplying pi times the quadratic formula we arrive at the eventual champi…………..

Nevermind, I have no clue what the hell I’m talking about.  Let’s just get to the pickups.

 
Smoke and Mirrors

Brent Celek:  Don’t buy into the hype.  What you saw Sunday night was the Eagles coming off a bye week, with a specific game plan, and attacking a specific weakness on the Dallas defense.  Vick’s wide open style has proven to rarely feature tight ends and I would be looking elsewhere if I needed help.

Laurent Robinson:  Robinson’s big day was a product of a Tony Romo shoulder shrug, not his own talent.  The Cowboys offense has 3 passing weapons atop the pecking order before Robinson, and you won’t see many games like Sunday’s too often.  You can find consistency elsewhere on the wire.

The Pick-Ups 

Roy Helu:  Shanahan went scoreless for the first time in his career, flipping the bird to all of you who thought there would finally be some predictable production in his backfield.  Torain ran like he had cement shoes on, and with the ‘Skins season quickly slipping away, they’ll have to pull out all the stops soon.  Helu is the most natural talent at running back, and with his pass catching abilities could become a force if given the touches. (Note: Redskins later went on to claim Tashard Choice from waivers)

Maurice Morris:  Morris delivered for everyone who chose to take a gamble on him, gaining 58 yards and touchdown.  What impressed me the most was his 4.5 yards per carry which is exactly what the Lions need to take the pressure off of Mathew Stafford.  Best is notorious for durability issues, and even when he comes back I could easily see Morris getting 10-15 touches a games.  That, coupled with the injury concerns for Best make him worth rostering.

Titus Young:  I know his big play had more to do with a defensive breakdown than skill, but as I mentioned above, if Detroit continues to establish some sort of running presence then Young will be worth rostering in deeper formats.  It helps that Detroit wide receivers have a great schedule the rest of the way.

Deion Branch:  You know exactly what you’re getting here, so temper your expectations.  Branch’s value is directly tied to Brady’s success, and as long as the Pats are throwing Branch should get you in between six to twelve points a game.

Javon Ringer:  No one saw this coming, but since it’s here, we might as well chat about it.  CJ(insert number here)K is bad.  I don’t just mean he’s not playing well, I mean he just looks like he’s not a good player any more.  Ringer has been a perennial waiver wire discussion piece the past few seasons, but strictly as a handcuff to Johnson.  Now I’m advocating Ringer as the primary back, and the Titans, who are hungry for a playoff berth, will go with the hot hand to make it happen.  If losing his feature back status doesn’t light a fire under Johnson’s ass, it’s safe to say this will be a time share moving forward with Ringer being the greater value.

Kyle Orton:  Remember Jake Delhomme?  I do.  Remember how much John Fox loved Jake Delhomme?  I remember that too.  As much as I believe Tebow is the guy (yes I’m a Timmy lover), I think Fox would love a return to the traditional style of Orton and Sunday’s game may have given him exactly the out he was looking for.  Just like Delhomme was kept as Carolina’s starter far longer than he should have been, I don’t believe we’ve seen the last of Orton.  Denver has an extremely soft passing schedule from here on out which helps the upside of this play.  Grab Orton if you’re weak at quarterback and you might just hit the lottery.

Tavaris Jackson:  Maybe Jackson has Jason Terry syndrome.  After sitting out the first two drives, Tavaris came in and engineered one of the best statistical games of his career (though his no touchdowns killed his fantasy day.)  I mentioned earlier in the year that I saw quite a bit of improvement in him from last season, and to play the way he did against an unforgiving Bengals unit was impressive.  I like the outlook on Jackson moving forward.

Torrey Smith:  This kid has all the talent (and speed) in the world, and as long as he continues developing

rapport with Flacco, he could become the Lee Evans the Ravens always wanted.  His big time pressure catch was what stars are made of, and in order for the Ravens to compete in the suddenly hyper-competitive AFC North they’ll need to balance Ray Rice with a passing attack; something they’ve failed to do in previous weeks.

Antonio Brown/Emmanuel Sanders:  The Steelers' new look offense has provided a fantasy boon for owners everywhere, and if you happen to need wide receiver help I like both of these guys more than anyone else this week.  If you have to choose between the two, I would go with Brown as he seems to have more big play potential, but honestly I don’t think you can go wrong either way.

Scott Chandler:  Chandler is an interesting case because he either catches touchdowns (good) or does nothing (bad.)  I wouldn’t view him as a long term solution to the tight end position as he has only 15 catches all year, but if you’re in a deeper league and need a bye week fill-in, you could certainly do much worse than to take a gamble on the high-powered Bills offense.

Johnathan Baldwin:  Baldwin finally showed us why the Chiefs used a first round pick on him tonight, manhandling the coverage assigned to him.  He actually played better than his number indicate (and his numbers are impressive), and with Bowe and Breaston lining up alongside, this looks to be an extremely potent aerial assault.  He immediately becomes a mid-range flex play and a WR3 with upside.

Curtis Brinkley:  The Chargers backfield has been a M.A.S.H. unit this season, and with Mathews legs falling off every game (hey at least he waited until the fourth quarter this time) Brinkley was thrust into a starring role.  What I saw tonight made me question why Norv Turner has been sitting quietly on this kid all year.  He cut back, darted, leapt, and burst through holes like an elite level talent.  He even caught a difficult pass late in the fourth to move the Bolts into scoring position.  Post-game reports have him being examined for a concussion so be sure to monitor his status throughout the week, but it’s tough to not advise an add when you combine Mathews’ health and Tolbert’s general ineffectiveness.  Should either running back miss significant time Brinkley would become an overnight RB2 play. (Edit: Curtis Brinkley has a concussion.)

Good luck figuring out what the next week holds and see you back here.  Until then I’ll be using my TI-84 to perfect my lineups. Check out my Twitter for all of your troubles.