Football this Week

Fantasy Football This Week

Bob Gross

Welcome back for another year of my fantasy prognostications. It was good to hear from all you that emailed about your drafts. Let's get busy...

The Chargers have a bye this week.

Cardinals at Eagles - Well, six weeks ago everyone was talking about what a potent offense the Cards would have this season. The offensive line has since been decimated, Jake Plummer is playing with an injured thumb, and Rob Moore just signed this week. Look for the Cards to try to run the ball a little more, especially with Adrian Murrell's history against the Eagles. Murrell will rush for 110 yards and a score, while Plummer will manage to throw for 260 yards and two touchdowns, one each to Moore and rookie David Boston. Frank Sanders should play, but is listed as questionable. Stay away from the Arizona kicking game. They still have two kickers on their roster, Joe Nedney and Chris Jacke. Doug Pederson will get the start at quarterback for the Eagles, but won't be able to hold off rookie Donovan McNabb for long. Duce Staley will rush for 90 yards and a score, while the passing game will likely get shutout.

Ravens at Rams - Baltimore is one big, huge question mark on offense this season. Brian Billick has brougt his offense over from the Vikings, but can Scott Mitchell, Priest Holmes and Jermaine Lewis execute it? The Ravens managed to go 4-0 in the preseason, but only scored 21 points a game. Look for Mitchell to throw for 200 yards and a touchdown to Jermaine Lewis, but also throw a couple of interceptions. Priest Holmes will manage about 60 yards, while Matt Stover could be good for up
to three field goals. The Rams looked ready to roll on offense, until Trent Green was lost for the season. They still have a lot of tools, but must rely on Kurt Warner at quarterback. Marshall Faulk should be able to get a combined 120 yards and a couple of touchdowns, while a healthy Isaac Bruce will catch a single touchdown from Warner.

Bills at Colts - This is a big matchup for week one. Both teams expect to be fighting for a playoff spot. Buffalo will have to rely on Doug Flutie's arm, if the preseason was any indication. Antowain Smith was not impressive running the ball, and you might want to keep an eye out for any emerging runners if he continues to falter. Look for Flutie to throw for 300 yards and three touchdowns, two to Eric Moulds and one to Jay Riesmersma. Indy will counter with two touchdowns from Peyton Manning to Marvin Harrison, plus 90 yards rushing and two touchdowns from Edgerrin James.

Panthers at Saints - The George Seifert era begins for Carolina, with Steve Beurelein at QB. I have serious concerns about how well Carolina can move the ball against the Saints. Look for Tim Biakabatuka to rush for about 60 yards, and for William Floyd to get a rushing touchdown. Beurelien will throw a single touchdown to Mushin Muhammad. The Saints are obviously going to try to rush the ball with Ricky Williams. Look for the Panthers defense to key on Williams, holding him to 70 yards and a single score, while Billy Joe Hobert throws a singles touchdown to Keith Poole.

Bengals at Titans - Also known as Coslet's Last Stand. The Bengals have been even more pitiful on offense during the preseason than they were on offense or defense last year. Carl Pickens held out until Thursday, and Jeff Blake is not reminding anyone of an NFL quarterback, or even a Big 10 quarterback. Look for Cincy to try to run the ball, with Corey Dillon getting 80 yards and a score, but for Blake to be sporadic, throwing a single touchdown to Darnay Scott, but passing for less than 200
yards and a couple of picks. The Tennessee Titans hope to counter with a healthy Steve McNair. Mcnair did not get a lot of playing time in the preseason and may have timing problems with his receivers. However, against Cincinnati's inexperienced defensive backfield, I look for McNair to easily throw for 260yards and three touchdowns, 2 to Yancy Thigpen and one to Frank Wychek. Eddie George will add 65 yards and another touchdown.

Cowboys at Redskins - Time marches on for everyone except the Cowboys. If they are to have any chance at success this season, it going to have to come from Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. Emmitt proved last year that he could still play, but how much of the workload can he take before he collapses? Look for Smith to rush for 110 yards and two scores, while Aikman throws for 200 yards, but no touchdowns. The Brad Johnson era opens in Washington, but he has to stay healthy (for the first time) in order for the Norv Turner era not to come to an end. Stephen Davis beat out Skip Hicks to be the feature back, and he should rush for 80 yards and a score, while Johnson will throw for 250 yards and touchdowns to Michael Westbrook and Irving Fryar. Keep an eye on Champ Bailey, he could make the Redskin defense very valuable in any fantasy league.

Chiefs at Bears - Kansas City gets ready to open the season with Kimble Anders as the feature back? How long can it be before Bam Morris replaces Anders in the starting lineup? Or before Warren Moon replaces Elvis Grbac? Look for Grbac to have a decent day against the remodeled Bears, anyway. He'll pass for about 200 yards and touchdowns to Derrick Alexander and Andre Rison. Anders will have a difficult time holding up to the abuse an every down back receives. Don't be surprised if
Morris gets in and scores a touchdown. The Bears will start Shane Matthews, but expect to see Cade McNown at some point in the second half. McNown will throw for scores to Bobby Engram and Curtis Conway, while Curtis Enis will rush for 65 yards and a single touchdown.

Patriots at Jets - Another key divisional matchup in week one. Kevin Faulk needs to make the best of the opportunity he will get early in the season, before Terry Allen get used to the offense. Expect the Jets to make it tough on him however, holding him to 60 yards and no touchdowns. Drew Bledsoe will throw for 275 yards and two touchdowns, one to Ben Coates and one to Terry Glenn. Expect the Jets to run the ball, especially with the Pats weakened at middle linebacker. Look for Curtis Martin to rush for 90 yards and a touchdown, while Vinny Testaverde duels it out with Bledsoe, throwing for 290 yards, and touchdowns to Keyshawn Johnson, Dedrick Ward and Leon Johnson.

Raiders at Packers - Rich Gannon takes over at QB for the Raiders, who have also added Tyrone Wheatley as a short yardage back. Look for Wheatley to steal some touchdowns from Napolean Kaufman, but for Kaufman to still make some game-breaking touchdown runs. With the Packers getting the early lead, look for Gannon to throw for 220 yards and
touchdowns to Tim Brown and Rickey Dudley, while Kaufman and rushes for 70 yards and another score. The Raiders defense (and special teams) should be very strong this season, but Green Bay just has too many weapons now that Dorsey Levens is healthy again. Look for Levens to rush for over 100 yards and two touchdowns, while Brett Favre throws for 270 yards and touchdowns to Antonio Freeman, Bill Schroeder, and Tyrone Davis. Desmond Howard has also returned to Green Bay, so the kick return game is sure to get a boost.

Giants at Buccaneers - Kent Graham actually solidified his position as starting QB during the preseason and should manage to throw for 180 yards and a single touchdown to Amani Toomer. Sean Bennett takes over for the injured Gary Brown at running back, and should rush for 70 yards and a score. The pressure is on Trent Dilfer to produce early this year, as Eric Zeier is waiting in the wings. Expect Dilfer to pass for less than 200 yards, but throw two touchdown passes to Bert Emanuel. Warrick Dunn will rush for 80 yards, but Mike Alstott will rush for the touchdown. Keep an eye on Bucs kicker Martin Grammatica.

Lions at Seahawks - How long before Greg Hill cracks the starting lineup? How much longer before he gets hurt? Look for the return of Herman Moore this year, after a very disappointing fantasy year in '98. Charlie Batch will hook up with Moore for one score, and Germane Crowell for another. Don't be surprised if Greg Hill shows enough this weekend to work his way into the starting lineup. The Mike Holmgren era begins for the Seahawks, and we can expect to see alot of Ricky Watters. Look for Watters to run for over 100 yards and get two touchdowns, while Jon Kitna will throw for about 200 yards with a score to Sean Dawkins.

Vikings at Falcons - A rematch of the NFC Championship game in week one should tell us if the Falcons are going to be able to challenge the Vikings for the NFC title this season. Look for the Vikings to get off to a quick start, with Randall Cunningham tosses two touchdowns to Randy Moss and one to Cris Carter. Look for Robert Smith to struggle a little against the Falcons' defense, but still manage to break off a 30+ yard touchdown run. Jamal Anderson will rush for 115 yards and a score for the Falcons, while Chris Chandler will connect with Terance Mathis and Chris Calloway for touchdowns.

49ers at Jaguars - Look for a lot of points in what should be a very entertaining game. While I'm not convinced the Niners will have a running game at all until Garrison Hearst returns, Charlie Garner should give them more than Lawrence Phillips. Look for Garner to rush for about 50 yards, but not get into the endzone. Steve Young will throw for 250 yards and three touchdowns, one to Jerry Rice and two to Terrell Owens. Fred Taylor will lead the Jaguars with 120 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Mark Brunell will scramble for one score, and throw another one to Keenan McCardell.

Steelers at Browns - Pittsburg travels to Cleveland to open the "new" Browns new stadium. Jerome Bettis should play, but likely will not be the workhorse he normally is. That puts more of the load on Kordell Stewart, but he could have a big game against the Browns defense. Look for him to pass for 180 yards and a touchdown to Courtney Hawkins, while rushing for 70 more yards and another score. Expect Cleveland to struggle offensively, with Terry Kirby rushing for 65 yards, while Marc Edwards rushes for a touchdown. Ty Detmer will manage a single touchdown pass to Leslie Sheperd.

Dolphins at Broncos - The addition of Tony Martin gives the Dolphins their best duo of receivers in years. Look for Dan Marino to take advantge this season, although this week against the defending champs will be rough. Look for Marino to pass for 210 yards and a score to OJ McDuffie, while Karim Abdul-Jabbar and Cecil Collins combine for 100 yards and a
touchdown (Abdul-Jabbar). Stay away from starting these backs until one of them is clearly named the man. Terrell Davis is obviously the man for the Broncos (and the league). Look for him to pound out 100 yards against the tough Miami defense. Davis will also get two touchdowns, while Brian Griese throws for 170 yards and a touchdown to Shannon Sharpe.

Bob has been participating in fantasy football leaques for nine seasons, presiding over the Midwest United Fantasy Football League for the past eight seasons. This is Bob's fourth season writing for Fantasy Insights. Bob writes a weekly prognosis entitled Fantasy Football This Week. He has also been published in both regional and national computer and computer gaming publications, but is currently unavailable to do parties...

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