Analysis: Today I was listening to "The Herd" on AM 1500 this morning driving to work and Colin was talking about how Big Ben has statistics that compare to Tom Brady when it comes to big games. The argument was also made that Big Ben would be picked ahead of Peyton Manning if you needed a quarterback to get you one win. There was even an argument that statistically Ben Roethlisberger would be a better pick than any quarterback for that matter in a must-win situation. The stats he read off prove it.. playing against rivals, playing outdoors, playing Monday night, etc. It was pretty eye-opening. Slim Roethlisberger. But I can really see it. Big Ben is 8-2 in the post-season and has won two Super Bowls with two different coaching staffs. And then you have the Ravens, puffing up their chest with t-shirts that show cartoon birds flipping the bird. Like that purple logo you have screen printed on a black XL is going to scare Mendenhall. Please. The Ravens are overrated. Look for Pittsburgh to win by 9-14 points. I have the score as Steelers 23, Baltimore 13 (O/U in Vegas is 37, spread is PIT -3). Draftstreet: Your best values with Pittsburgh are Hines Ward, Heath Miller and maybe Big Ben. Although Ben is priced at $17,150, it's possible he will go off and be the highest scoring QB -- then again, its the Ravens D. The reason why I have Ward and not Mike Wallace is because there is a $4,000 difference if you take Ward over Wallace. It looks like all of the Ravens players are priced right, no standout picks or locks on the Baltimore side, maybe TJ Houshmandzadeh. Another player I might have to consider is Ray Rice. Rice is $14,306 and could be one of the best fantasy RB's left. Rice has averaged 15.3 ppg this season, which ranks as No. 1 amongst remaining running backs left in the playoffs.
Green Bay at Atlanta -
Analysis: I like Atlanta, but I'm nervous to pick them considering how well Green Bay has played in recent weeks. Rodgers is just nasty. Atlanta's home field advantage might actually be the only reason I take the Falcons. Perhaps Green Bay is a little burnt out after having to beat the Bears to make the playoffs in week 17 and then having to outlast Michael Vick last weekend. I could see the Falcons winning big if the Packers get behind early. But I'll predict the score to be Atlanta 30, Green Bay 24 (GB is -3, O/U is 44).Draftstreet: Aaron Rodgers is the highest priced QB at $20,838 and has the highest PPG average at 21.1, but I don't see the value in taking Rodgers. Matt Ryan, however, priced at $14,808 might be a steal. Roddy White ranks as the highest priced WR, $1,500 more than the 2nd highest priced guy (Rodgers's main target, Greg Jennings). So, I might take Matt Ryan and Greg Jennings as a way to maximize my money and get value at both positions and hedge my bets with each team. Another player that I would really like to pick is Packers RB James Starks, but it appears that Draftstreet has figured him out, and has priced him accordingly, $9,634 -- so maybe I'll avoid him. Maybe I'll go with the ATL RB Jason Snelling for a cheap price of $5,177 (or maybe go with John Kuhn at $5,862).
Seattle at Chicago -
Analysis: I was listening to KFAN last night and I heard them talking about the impact that Devin Hester has on the Bears record and success. It never really hit me until I realized that the Bears really don't have any stars: Cutler, eh. Forte, eh. Knox, eh. O-line, eh. One of the main reasons (other than the linebackers) they ended up with a good record is because they are always starting with amazing field position. What Barrario was saying was either Hester has returned the ball to the other teams side of the field, or he has scored. Or what happens is that the other team is so scared to punt to Hester that they punt it weirdly out of bounds just over the 50 yard line. Cutler is rarely in a position where he has to drive 95 yards or where Chicago has a quick 3 and out because the play calling needed to be so conservative to avoid a turnover or safety, etc. Hester had a punt return against Seattle in week 6, maybe he will have two this week. We knew that Hester was going to be sweet when he was ripping it up at Miami (pictured), but I never thought that he would be this good. The Bears are going to beat Seattle, no question, I have the score as Bears 27, Seattle 13. (CHI is -10, O/U is 41)
Draftstreet: Hester doesn't get the love on Draftstreet since he doesn't make that much of an impact receiving, but he still might be worth a look at $6,551. And just look at his whip. What the hell, that shits serious. Anyone who picked Hasselbeck last week probably did pretty well, if not won, he was valued so low since it was uncertain that he would start. This week, Hasselbeck is priced at $13,337, which is a little more realistic. I wouldn't put that much money into Hasselbeck, but I might throw $7,736 at Brandon Stokley or maybe $6,879 at Ben Obomanu. One thing is for sure, I'm taking the Bears D.New York Jets at New England -
Analysis: I am excited to see how Tom Brady responds to the trash talk by the Jets. I wouldn't be surprised if he torches Cromartie all day. It's hard to believe that the Jets thought it was a good idea to call out the NFL MVP. Or to even engage in that degree of trash talk. What happened to being focused? Rex Ryan is a clown with little control on the choas, it's over after this week. And I bet his philosophy changes next year, he start acting more like William Belichick, you wait and see. It's also hard for me to believe that New York really thinks they can beat New England, wouldn't you play up the underdog angle? Wasn't it like less than 2 months ago that the Patriots de-pants the Jets with a 45-3 win? Well, I don't see it going any differently Sunday afternoon. I have the score as New England 37, New York Jets 17 (NE -9, O/U 44).Draftstreet: Who isn't taking Tom Brady? Even if he was priced at $25,000 I would probably spend 25% of my total salary on Brady. I also like seeing Deion Branch at $9,113. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, aka the law firm, is also looking nice to me at $11,767 -- he seems to have the most value for RB's considering LT is just below him at $11,530. Wait, LT at $11,530 and Shonn Greene at $8,275? I'll add Greene to my team. I'm going to look to this match-up for my TE position as well. The Jets have Dustin Keller and the Patriots have Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, but also have Alge Crumpler for half the price of Gronkowski. I'm going to go with Crumpler.
I think my Draftstreet team for this weekend will be:
QB: Tom Brady - $17,852
QB: Matt Ryan - $14,808
RB: BenJarvus Green-Ellis - $11,767
RB: Ray Rice - $14,303
WR: Greg Jennings - $12,616
WR: T.J Houshmandzadeh - $4,918
Flex: John Kuhn - $5,862
Flex: Brandon Stokley - $7,736
TE: Alge Crumpler - $5,477
D: Bears - $4,548
Total: $99,890.
Good luck this weekend!!! And remember to sign up for Draftstreet.com using my recruiting code: CHESPN .
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