It's a new day in the NFL for several teams as new QBs are taking over in several places — and some are hanging on for dear life.Christian Ponder, Jon Beck and Tim Tebow will make their first starts of the season, as will A.J. Feeley because of an injury.
And then there's either Kyle Boller or Carson Palmer. No matter who starts, I imagine Palmer will see some snaps either way.
Jawz Attack was able to snag Palmer off the waiver wire in what could be a big move for him, as Josh Freeman has been so-so thus far this season. Freeman had a lot of hype — and even I was buying into it — so much so that I was about to draft him to back up Matt Ryan when I saw they had the same bye week, so I went with the No. 2 QB on my personal draft board, Matthew Stafford.
Well, that worked out for me and it hasn't for Jawz.
Points galore for the Attack, and had Josh Freeman been 10, 15 points better each week, we could be talking about a 4-2 Jawz Attack.
Instead, he's 1-5 and trying to make the long trek back into playoff contention.
We officially pass the midway point this week, and this could be a big separation week with teams with better records playing teams with worse records in all matchups but one — the Jammers (4-2) vs. Fear and Loathing (4-2).
That's our matchup of the week and its first up on the docket for LIVE UPDATE SUNDAY, here on Jimmy's Jargon. Keep refreshing.
Jimmy Jammers (4-2) at Fear and Loathing (4-2)
Series History: Jammers lead 6-1.
Fear was written off weeks ago when he lost Jamaal Charles, but he's done a great job at patching up his squad and winning games.
Three straight wins have placed him in position to take the Liberty Conference lead this week with a win.
Meanwhile, the Jammers have lost two in a row and the tough stretch is just beginning. These next couple weeks will really tell us if the Jammers is for real. Falling to 4-2 Real Houserville last week, the Jammers has 4-2 Fear this week, 2-4 Organ Thieves next week and then three straight matchups against Boyer, Generals and Slackers who are all 4-2. There are five other teams in the JFL that are 4-2 right now, and the Jammers plays all five in a span of six weeks. Already at 0-1 during this stretch, the Jammers have to go 3-3 during this stitch to put himself in line to win the division.
So, to say today's matchup is big for both teams is an understatement.
And remember when I said "patching up his squad?" — if you don't, just scroll up and read again — Fear certainly has done that again this week.
At the beginning of the season, only three of these players could conceivably been considered fantasy starters — Rashard Mendenhall, Jason Witten and maybe Pierre Garcon.
The rest of the Week 7 Fear roster has Tim Tebow, Jackie Battle, DeMarco Murray and Doug Baldwin; the latter three names being players that would have sent my Aunt Stacy scrambling to find to cross off for my Uncle Jason as he drafted.
That's right, the 1-5 Jawz needs draft help — among other things.
But Fear can't be written off just because of the unknowns on his roster. We were introduced to Battle two weeks ago as he score 14.4 points, and Doug Baldwin had a WR party last week with 21.2 points. DeMarco Murray hasn't really done anything this season, but he's in line to start for Felix Jones, and during the preseason, he was one of the NFL's more interesting story lines.
Against St. Louis, he should have a decent party, going for more than 100 yards.
This will certainly make this matchup close, but what will win this matchup is the play of Tim Tebow.
Can the Bow go home to Florida and beat the horrid Dolphins?
My answer is no on that one. I have the Dolphins winning this one and this will be the matchup to watch in this one: Tebow vs. Daniel Thomas and Brandon Marshall. The points out of this game should decide this matchup.
Marshall will finally hold onto a TD pass today and stay in bounds when he catches it, and Thomas will rush for more than 100 and a TD. Tebow will throw three picks, one returned for a score, and Denver fans will finally get what they wished for. Their savior. The savior who has no NFL skills.
Jammers' Prediction: Jammers 134, Fear and Loathing 118
Chinese Organ Thieves (2-4) at Team Boyer (4-2)
Series History: Thieves lead 5-3.
I could sit down and call every matchup an important one, so it's kind of old hat when I do say it, but I have to label this one as an "Important Matchup."
The Organ Thieves have won two straight and a third straight would announce to the JFL world that the Thieves are back.
For Boyer, a win with Tom Brady on the bye would be huge and could kick-start a division title run.
Boyer turns to Christian Ponder against Green Bay, an interesting choice to say the least. He also has to turn to Marshawn Lynch with LeGarrette Blount still sidelined with an injury. Lynch has had double digits in back-to-back weeks, and another week like last week could be just want the Boyer ordered.
But again, Boyer will hang his hat on Michael Turner. A few weeks ago, the Lions defense would have created a little anxiety for RB owners, but they've struggled against the run lately and Turner should only further those troubles. After a big two-TD game last week and 139 yards, Turner should have a decent week again with more than 100 yards and a score.
The Thieves get Philip Rivers off the bye, but loses a few WRs and a RB, leaving some patchwork for this week with Tashard Choise, Devin Hester and Mohamed Massaquoi.
I think Rivers and the Chargers defense are going to score enough points to put the Thieves in a good position to win the game, so it will be up to one of the patches to come up with a double-digit week. Choice should score on the goal line and Massaquoi should get some looks against a really bad Seattle secondary, so I'm going to lean toward the Thieves in this one because I cannot fathom Christian Ponder scoring enough points to make equal the Rivers is going to have.
The Jets are awful. Mark Sanchez is awful. And today should be a disappointing day for the fans in green. I expect at least 35 fantasy points for Rivers and another 25-30 points for the defense.
That will do it for the Thieves.
Jammers' Prediction: Chinese Organ Thieves 111, Boyer 98
Real Houserville (4-2) at Jawz Attack (1-5)
Series History: Houserville leads 1-0
Coming off a big win, Houserville has to be worried about a letdown, especially when traveling on the road to face the 1-5 Jawz Attack.
Well, maybe in the NFL he would.
Not in the JFL.
There will be no letdown this week.
Cam Newton should have plenty opportunities to score this week because Jon Beck is going to be producing a lot of three-and-outs and turnovers. Newton will turn those possessions into a big day.
Also in for a big day are Darren McFadden against Kansas City and Mike Wallace at Arizona. I easily can see 90 combined points from those three players, and the rest will be elementary.
For Jawz, it will be another week where he scores 120 points and loses.
I like Josh Freeman at home against the Bears, and when I say at home, I mean in London. The Bears flew in late on Thursday to play today, whereas the Bucs have been there all week. Freeman will throw for 250 and three scores, as Mike Williams will finally get in and be a part of this offense — which will be upsetting for Fear since he benched him this week. (I hope he doesn't read all the previews or at least waits until after 1 p.m. to read this one.)
I also, believe it or not, like Knowshon Moreno this week. I honestly thought about crafting a trade for him. I think the Broncos will rely on him to help an inaccurate Tebow. Darius Heyward-Bey could be a decent start too, depending on how much time Carson Palmer sees this week.
But it won't be enough.
There isn't much he could do about this week with Fred Jackson, Wes Welker and DeSean Jackson all on the bye.
And that's a shame, because it looked like Houserville's reactionary trade of Wes Welker to get Big Ben was a bad move, and it still does in many ways, but it won't hurt him this week.
Houserville takes advantage of that.
Jammers' Prediction: Houserville 141, Jawz 121
Dottsville Toasters (3-3) at Graybill's Generals (4-2)
Series History: Generals leads 4-1.
The projection has a lop-sided battle favoring the Toasters, but I have to say that this will be a lot closer than ESPN has it. Still, the Toasters should come out on top as a few matchups favor him.
I like Chris Johnson to have a big day — a day that reminds of the man that led the Toasters to the Super Bowl in 2009. Matt Schaub should also be his normal 25-30 points and Calvin Johnson will find the end zone again after being kept out of it last week.
In fact, dare I make a bold prediction and say he gets there three times.
Did I just blow your mind? I guess not. It isn't that big of a bold prediction.
But if it doesn't happen, the Generals will have a chance because the rest of the Toasters' lineup is shaky.
James Starks has steadily gotten 11-14 carries a week, but the Vikings have been tough against the run, so the Packers will go to Rodgers and the ariel attack, leaving Starks' touches to less than 10 this week.
Jacoby Ford is an unknown with Boller and Palmer; although, I think he has the potential to have a good week against KC.
Erin Decker also is an unknown this week since Tim Tebow is now trying to throw the ball for the Broncos.
In order to take advantage of this, the Generals will need one of his five WRs (Dexter McCluser, Sideny Rice, Johnny Knox, Donald Driver or Steve Breaston) to have a big week — that or, have all five go for low double-digits which would equate to one having a big week.
Another key will be having Steven Jackson go for double-digits again, which he has done in all five starts this season.
This matchup will come down to Monday night, too, when the Generals Joe Flacco goes up against the Toasters' Ravens defense.
Against Jacksonville, that should be a fun back and forth battle to watch on Monday. The Toasters will get the initial 17 points to start and the two will watch each other get closer together. If rookie QB Blaine Gabbert turns it over and the Ravens defense scores, the Generals will be in trouble.
I'm betting on trouble.
Jammers' Prediction: Toasters 122, Generals 111
T-Money (3-3) at Channel 4 News Team (2-4)
Series History: Series tied at 5-5.
T-Money has some great matchups for Tony Romo, Mark Ingram, Steve Smith and Dwayne Bowe, but unfortunately, it's not going to be enough against the News Team.
The News Team has Miles Austin so he can steal some Romo points there, and of course Aaron Rodgers will outscore Romo by himself, so there's an advantage for the News Team.
Also, whereas the Money man has two backs who get carries on the goal line, the News Team has three volume backs who can all rush for 100 yards this week. I expect Montario Hardesty to run hard against Seattle and get to double-digits, as will Arian Foster and Beanie Wells.
But the key will be Vincent Jackson. If he's healthy, Rivers is going to find him early and often to shut Rex Ryan up. Two scores are very possible for Jackson this week — especially with Antonio Gates back in the lineup — and that would seal this matchup for the News Team — if Rodgers doesn't do that himself.
Jammers' Prediction: News Team 145, T-Money 120
World of Noise (1-5) at Sunday Slackers (4-2)
Series History: Noise leads series 3-1
The Slackers have an awful history against the Noise, so that has to be scary. It also has to be scary that the Slackers are projected to score nearly 80 more points than the Noise.
Still, the Noise hasn't been much of a matchup for many teams this season, and the Slackers should score enough with Drew Brees, Ray Rice, Matt Forte and Earnest Graham in the lineup. Who cares what the receivers do, but he has a good chance to get double digits with either Jordy Nelson or Jermichael Finley — or both — because of Aaron Rodgers.
So, with that, it's time for the prediction.
That's right, why should I waste my time for a Noisy team that scores 80 points if he's lucky.
Jammers' Prediction: Slackers 125, Noise 90
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