Week 5 Preview

Week 5 Notes
The final week of the first wave of divisional matchups brings us several interesting games that could possibly decide who is on their way to winning the division, while who is going to be scrambling for a Wild Card spot.

Two of the divisional matchups involve 4-0 teams going up against 2-2 teams, which could lead to three-game leads if the undefeated teams win again. A three-game lead at this point can really create a tough road for the rest of the division. Plus, technically, since the undefeated teams hold the tie-breaker at this point, it’s more like a four-game lead.

The other two divisional matchups are teams separated by one game and could bring about two-game separations.


T-Money (2-2) at Dottsville Toasters (4-0)
Series Record: Tied at 3-3.
Last Meeting: T-Money won 122-118, Week 12 (2008).
Matchup Notes: This could be the week. This might be the end of the Toasters’ run.

Without wideouts Greg Jennings and Vincent Jackson, the Toasters will look to Michael Jenkins and Muhsin Muhammad to lead the charge.

While they do have favorable matchups, I’m not quite sure how much success they will have.

The Carolina Panthers will, and I mean WILL, pick up their first win of the season, but it’s going to come from the ground attack. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart will rush for 175 yards and two or three scores to down the Redskins. Muhammad may catch four or five passes, but the Toasters will have to hope for one or two of them to come in the red zone.

The Toasters will look to counteract their weakened WR corps with Matt Schaub, Chris Johnson, Ray Rice and Tim Hightower.

Schaub is predicted to throw three TDs and I do think this is possible. Hightower, who has been a receiving threat, also should get some points as this game should be a crazy shootout. Without a doubt, I expect this game to be 38-34 or something like that.

Why?

Easy. The Texans defense is merely a revolving door for opposing offenses and the Cardinals pass rush is nothing to worry about, which means Schaub should spend most of the day standing up.

When he has time, he’s a top five QB. When he’s being knocked down and pushed around, he’s Rex Grossman.

T-Money has Anquan Boldin, finally healthy, who will benefit from the aforementioned matchup.

Money also has Tony Romo against the Chiefs, which should be an easy 25-30 fantasy points. If it isn’t, it means it’s going to be another sad day in Dallas on Monday.

T-Money’s backfield also is in interesting situations, especially Thomas Jones, who should have some more room to run now that the Jets added a big receiving threat in Braylon Edwards.

I love Pierre Garcon and Chad Johnson this week as Carson Palmer has had a lot of success against the Ravens, while Peyton Manning will absolutely tear apart the Tennessee defense — or what’s left of it. The Titans haven’t played much defense this year. In fact, I don’t think they even call it a defense. I believe it is their “special” teams — emphasis on SPECIAL.

The big key here is that T-Money has the Vikings defense, which is going to be stopping the Rams. The 49ers went for 37 fantasy points last week against the Rams. The Vikings should get 30 as well.
Key Player: T-Money’s Knowshon Moreno. I didn’t mention him, but he’s the only weak link this week and that’s because he’s playing the Patriots. I think he should be able to have a great week and that will be key for the Money.
Jammers’ Prediction: T-Money wins 137-103.


Sunday Slackers (4-0) at Jimmy Jammers (2-2)
Series Record: Tied at 1-1.
Last Meeting: Slackers won 112-101.
Matchup Notes: The last time these two teams met, the Slackers pulled off a huge comeback on Monday night with Drew Brees scoring 40 fantasy points.

This time around, Drew Brees in on the bye, which means no Monday Night comeback.

Well, at least for the Slackers.

It’s likely that the Slackers will lead heading into Monday night’s festivities, but the Jammers will have Leon Washington and newly acquired Braylon Edwards ready to go and spark the comeback.

Now, obviously the Jammers were in the minority in believing that Edwards would find new life in New York.

But there’s no reason why he can not. He’s on a team that has a quarterback who has shown that he can get the ball to his wideouts. He’s got a coach who will not put up with the BS and will turn this wideout around.

Also, Edwards was on a losing team and has been for a while. This jolt of new life and excitement from a winning team should account for something.

In a conversation with the Sunday Slackers, he seemed to agree. But he’s hoping I’m wrong this week.

Or, it might not matter by Monday.

The Jammers, for once, are set up to have a good Sunday. Three players are going up against the Lions — Big Ben, Santonio Holmes and Heath Miller. Ben will benefit from what Cutler did last week — the great completion percentage that the Lions are allowing.

Holmes has had a few quiet weeks since his Week 1 explosion. That should end this week.

Miller had a huge week last Sunday, scoring two touchdowns on Sunday night and will probably make minimal contributions this week.

For the Slackers, he has his normal lineup going at wideout, with Reggie Wayne and Steve Smith (NY). While Wayne should have a great Sunday night against the Titans, Smith should finally have his first down week.

There are two reasons for this: (1) The Giants will likely run the ball a lot with Eli hurt (and especially if David Carr plays); which will benefit Slackers running back Ahmad Bradshaw; (2) Teams will start to treat Smith like No. 1. Double coverage defenses are on their way and that should limit his success. The only way to counter act that is for the rest of the offense to find great success, which will then force the defense to get out of the double coverage schemes.

Key Player: Joseph Addai. He’s questionable right now, but the Jammers are light on RBs and if he doesn’t go Sunday night, or if he has a limited impact, it could ruin any chance of cutting the division lead to one game.
Jammers’ Prediction: Wideouts Gone Wild. Jammers wins 123-108.


Fear and Loathing (2-2) at World of Noise (3-1)
Series Record: Fear leads 5-1.
Last Meeting: Fear won 113-46, Week 12 (2008).
Matchup Notes: Ouch. Isn’t that painful to read. World has lost five out of six matchups and lost last season’s matchup 113-46.

And four of those five losses for Noise have been by 30 or more points.

Fear has his number.

This could be another blowout for Fear.

For reasons mentioned in prior matchups, Kurt Warner is going to have a big day. So will Mewelde Moore, one of the better passing-down backs in the league. Fred Jackson is going up against Cleveland which has not been good against the run.

Fear also has the Steelers defense against the Lions and TE Brent Celek, who will account for a lot of McNabb’s points.

Noise also has a lot of questionable players in his lineup, specifically McNabb and Westbrook.

Noise might be asking, “Well, wait? My quarterback and running back are playing the hapless Bucs. Shouldn’t that be worth a lot of points?”

Yes, it should be, but it won’t, because this isn’t a normal situation. The Eagles should get up early and run away with this game — which will be good for Noise’s defense — but that will mean McNabb and Westbrook, who are still nursing injuries and are not 100 percent, will make way for the stud backups — Kevin Kolb and LeSean McCoy by the middle-late third quarter.

Also reason to worry is Ronnie Brown and Ricky Willams, who are a great tandem, but they are playing the Jets defense — still one of the best in the League in my mind. Yeah, according to the stats, they gave up 24 points last week to the Saints, but they weren’t on the field for 14 of those points.

That will change this week because Mark Sanchez will learn from those mistakes — Rex Ryan has been drilling him all week about them — and not make them again.

Also injured is WR Jerricho Cotchery, who is questionable and who’s status may not be known until Monday night, which could equal a big zero. That’s a scary move.

Key Player: Mewelde Moore. I think he could have a big receiving day, which will in turn equal a 30-point win for Fear.
Jammers’ Prediction: Didn’t I just say it? Fear 120-90.


Graybill’s Generals (1-3) at Channel 4 News Team (2-2)
Series Record: Generals lead 4-1.
Last Meeting: Generals won 100-88 in Conference Finals 2008.
Matchup Notes: The Generals have a chance to continue their domination over the News Team all while potentially moving into a tie for first place — depending on if the Organ Thieves win or lose in their game.

Against the News Team, it will be tough.

The News Team is replacing normal starter Aaron Rodgers (BYE) for Brett Favre, who will be playing the Rams. Nice. Can you say perfect timing?

Although, coming off a game where Brett Favre threw more-than-his-usual amount of passes, the Vikings may look to use their run game more this week, especially against a team like the Rams — if you can call them a team.

This also will hurt the Generals Percy Harvin in the passing game. Harvin will still get points on special teams.

I’ve already said that I like DeAngelo Williams this week and the Generals will use him along with Kevin Faulk, an interesting move, but a good one. Denver’s defense is pretty strong and I imagine there will be a lot of third downs for the Pats — and who comes alive on third downs? Faulk.

The News Team is without Matt Forte and in turn, will use Glen Coffee and Kevin Smith. Both will get their carries, but points should be limited. Coffee is going up against a decent defense and he isn’t anything special, otherwise, he’d be playing instead of Gore when he is healthy.

Smith should get some carries early the Steelers, but if this game gets out of hand like it should, the run game will disappear and so will the points for Smith.

I like for the real Steve Smith (Car.) to have a breakout week for the Generals against the Redskins.

But his output should be canceled out by DeSean Jackson and Terrell Owens. Jackson was on the bye last week and has been the News Team’s star for three weeks, while T.O. has been a disappointment, but if there was ever a week to break out, it’d be this one as the Bills host the Browns.
Key Player: Eli Manning. He’s questionable for Sunday at 1 p.m. which means that it’s possible that David Garrard goes at 4 p.m., who is playing across the country in Seattle.
Jammers’ Prediction: I’m going to go with the history on this one, although I feel both teams are too close this week. Generals win 109-105.


Team Boyer (0-4) at Real Houserville (1-3)
Series Record: Houserville leads 1-0.
Last Meeting: Houserville won 120-59 in Week 12 (2008).
Matchup Notes: Oh, would you look at this. The Villains are getting back into the race.

With Fear and Loathing predicted to down the Noise, this means that a win for Houserville places him one game out of first place — a long way off from his 0-3 start.

And he without a doubt in my mind will win this week. The matchups are just too good.

Peyton Manning against Tennessee, as mentioned already, will be perfect. Mark him down for 30 points. (Did you know that Manning is on pace to break Marino’s season mark for passing yards?) What a great year for him so far.

Steve Slaton in Arizona should get 100 and a score or two, while Rashard Mendenhall against the Lions should be good for a double-digit-point performance.

Interesting to note that Houserville has benched Cedric Benson and Julius Jones for Marshawn Lynch. That’s funny. Because I thought they were really good? Right Dawson? Didn’t you stand strongly for that?

Doesn’t matter. You're going to win anyway.

Mike Sims-Walker, the No. 4 WR in fantasy football, may struggle a bit this weekend, but should still come out with a double-digit performance, as well.

The Jets defense will have fun against the Dolphins and I think Jason Witten against the Chiefs will be big.

And this is why this is one of the top offenses in the JimmyJam League.
Key Players: Michael Turner and Clinton Portis. For Boyer to have any chance, he’ll need to have monster days out of his backs.
Jammers’ Prediction: Houserville easily gets back into the race, wins 145-87.


Chinese Organ Thieves (2-2) at Stanksta’s Gangstas (1-3)
Series Record: Stank leads 1-0.
Last Meeting: Stank won 80-73 in Week 12 (2008).
Matchup Notes: Are you excited for some smashmouth football?

This matchup will provide that. Three running backs on each side will decide the machup.

I believe the QBs (Carson Palmer, Thieves; Matt Ryan, Stank) and the WRs (Brandon Marshall and Calvin Johnson, Thieves; Hines Ward and Josh Cribbs, Stank) will be a wash.

It will all come down to the six RBs.

The Thieves will send out Adrian Peterson, Marion Barber and Tashard Choice.

Peterson is in Saint Louis and he should feel as comfortable as Albert Pujols in that city.

Choice and Barber will go together against Kansas City. It’s a risky move point-wise but I’m a huge advocate of the two-back system (hence why I have Sproles and Tomlinson). It means all the yards that the Cowboys gain should belong to the Thieves. This could be the future of fantasy football, and the Theives are putting it on display this week.

The Stank will be starting three backs on three different teams, the conventional way.

All three have favorable matchups with Maurice Jones-Drew in Seattle, Brandon Jacobs against Oakland and Jerome Harrison against Buffalo.

Five of the six backs go at 1 p.m. Sunday so this matchup could be easily decided by 4 p.m.

In fact, the Thieves whole team except Brandon Marshall is going at 1 p.m. The Stank has Ryan, Drew, the Broncos D and TE Tony Gonzalez going at 4 p.m.

So this matchup will be over by the time Sunday night football kicks off. So no Monday night comeback this week.

Key Player: Tony Gonzalez. He was absolutely shut down last time he was out. If he can get back on track, this could mean a big day for the Stank, and it could tighten playoff races across the board.
Jammers’ Prediction: I like the Stank in this game. I feel like his three backs added with Gonzalez and the Broncos D should be enough to get him a win, but it’s going to be close. An Adrian Peterson monster outing, however, could completely derail this prediction, so the Stank is a fan of the Rams defense. You hear that Rams? You have a fan. Let’s go with Stank 110-107.

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