Blitz Packages - Week 12
November 22nd, 2002
Chargers @ Dolphins
Chargers: The Chargers pass rush has been
pretty invisible lately, and I don't expect it to get better against a good 'Fin OL. So
give DL Johnson 2-0-0, and Wiley 1-0-1. RB Williams will make sure that LB Edwards gets at
least 10 tackles. He should play since his concussion doesn't look that serious. Seau will
get 6-8 tackles. DB Jammer will get 5-1-0 1 PD, Molden 6-0-0 and Harrison 5-7 tackles (and
it's weird having him lag behind like that. Hopefully he rebounds soon). Dolphins: The Chargers OL is solid but DL Taylor
is a stud. He should still produce well, so give him 3-1-1. Chester has been on a roll,
and he will continue at 1-1-1. LB Thomas is a stud and a virtual lock for 10 tackles, if
not more. The DBs have been spotty plays, but could make decent starts if you are in a big
league. Give Freeman 5 tackles, Surtain and Marion 3. Marion should also get a pick since
I expect Miami to pressure Brees into one.
Rams @ Redskins
Rams: The Redskins OL is doing a better job, but is not world class by any means. So Wistrom should be a good start with 3-0-1. I don't expect the Redskin running game to generate many tackles for the LBs, so Polley will be lucky to hit 6. But with the running they will do, plus the passes, Archuleta should easily get 6-2-1. DB Bly should get a pick as well as three tackles. Redskins: The Redskins should use the LBs to pass rush more since the DL is so limp. Give Arrington 4-3-1, Trotter 2-4-0 and Armstead 3-1-0. DB Bailey has been an OK fantasy play lately, so go with then hot hand at 5-0-0 2 PDs. DB Ohalete should get 3-1-0 1 PD 1 INT.
Falcons @ Panthers
Falcons: Kerney was a dud Sunday but should rebound this week with 4-6 tackles and at least one sack. He is facing Rodney Peete, after all. LB Brooking will have 6-3-0. All of the other ATL LBs are too iffy to recommend. They will get about 4-6 tackles. The DBs have been disappointing. Given that they are facing QB Peete, one of them will get a pick and make you feel like a lottery winner for starting the right horse, but really the whole ATL secondary is best avoided. Panthers: For one more week, at least, stud DL Peppers will be in. Mike Vick is tough to bring down, but not impossible. Just ask Dwight Freeney. Peppers will have 4-1-2, Rucker 3-1-1 and Jenkins 2-1-0. Rucker's and Jenkins' stock goes up when/if Peppers starts serving that suspension. LB Morgan is supposed tor eturn this week, so I'll give him seven while he knocks the rust off. Hopefully he'll rebound this week and be fine. Groin injuries are notorious for hanging around.
Lions @ Bears
Lions: The Lions are playing the Bears in Champaign, oh my! The Bears had the crap knocked out of them by the Rams. The Lions don't have the horses to bring that kind of heat, especially with Porcher questionable and Rogers playing with a cast on his arm. So the Bears losing streak should end. Yeah, I'm a homer. With Porcher questionable, and Rogers and Elliss wounded, avoid the Detroit DL. The LBs will have to bring the pressure. LB Claiborne will get 7-4-1, and Curry 5-2-1. DB Cash should get plenty of tackles (8) and probably a sack as well. Lyght is getting picked on a lot, and should have 4-2-0 1 PD this week as well. Bears: Rookie DL Brown continues to be the only light on the front four for da Bearssss. That won't change anytime soon (3-1-1). Traylor had a big game last week, but he usually comes back to earth for a while afterward. Don't look for much there. After Urlacher, Colvin is still the most reliable option (3-3-1). DB Brown has been a stud since the offense headed so far south that Penguins are ball boys. Give Brown 3-3-0 1 PD. His colorful teammate Green will be busy and I'm going to gamble and give him two picks (3-2-0 1 PD 2 INT).
Bills @ Jets
Bills: The Jets OL will have their hands full with Schobel (3-0-1). C-Mart will be productive enough to give LB Fletcher a decent 4-3-0. After a good start, LB Robinson has fallen way off (3-1-0). DB Wire makes a nice reach here at 3-1-0, with potential for more. Jets: You know the Bills are going to run Henry at them, which makes Ferguson (2-2-0) and Abraham (2-1-0) OK plays. LB Cowart should make a nice appearance here for you with 4-3-1. Jones will get 4-6 tackles as well. DB Garnes will again be active and have 4-6 tackles, with the other DBs 1-2 less than that.
Bengals @ Steelers
Bengals: The Bengals catch a break here since Kordell has to start. Maybe Batch will come in too and we could have Interceptalooza 2002. DL Smith will be pretty average with 2-3 tackles and maybe a sack. LB Spikes must be pretty depressed about the state he finds himself in on this team, since his production is way off from last year (3-4-1). Simmons will be decent at 4-2-0. DB Hawkins should turn in another solid day with an interception and 3-2-0. Steelers: The Bengal OL has been good lately, so DL Smith should only have 2-4 tackles. Give LBs Porter 5-3-1 and Bell 3-3-1since they'll be the ones relied on to bring the pressure. DB Scott will be an OK start at 3-2-0. The other DBs will be in that area or less.
Vikings @ Patriots
Vikings: DL Mixon fell off last week because he was hurt. He should rebound here and have 4-2-1. Hovan will get 3-1-0. LB Biekert has been pretty hot, and will get 5-3-0. LB Crockett will wind up with 3-2-0. DB Chavous' tackle numbers were lower than I thought they would be - looks like it's going to be more of an effort for him to switch positions than I thought. Give him 4-6 this week. Patriots: McGinest keeps chugging along. Give the little DL that could 4-1-0. Bruschi had a mammoth game last week, but will come back down and get his normal 4-2-0 here. LBs Johnson and Phifer will be in that area too. DB Law is streaky, but I think he'll be hot this week and get a pick as well as 3-1-0 2 PDs. Milloy will get 4-2-0.
Titans @ Ravens
Titans: One of these weeks the lack of a pass rush from the front four is going to catch up with the Titans. Just not this week. Given how badly DL Carter has fallen off the face of the earth, they need Kearse to come back quick (3-1-0). That's been good for LB Bulluck, who has apparently been playing out of position all these years. He's an animal (11 tackles). LB Sirmon hasn't been bad, but he's just not been in the same class as Bulluck (3-3-0). DB Dyson is getting picked on again, so his tackles have jumped (4-3-0). Schulters have DB Williams will have 3-5 tackles, and Rolle 4-0-0. Ravens: The Ravens haven't gotten much of a push since McCrary went down…not that they had much of one before. Keep an eye on Kelly Gregg though to see if his performance last week was a fluke. LB Lewis is "A game time decision" with his calf injury…ugh. At least Hartwell will be useful one more week (8-10 tackles). If Lewis doesn't go give LB Harris 6-3-0. The Ravens have to be pleased with rookie Reed. He will be solid again at 5-1-0 1 PD. The other DBs will chime in with 3-5 tackles and 1-2 PDs.
Jags @ Cowboys
Jaguars: Rookie Henderson is REALLY coming on. I think he'll cave in QB Carter's skull (or at least try hard) and get 3-2-2. Tony Brackens who? And Dalls' OL gave up five sacks last week. Stroud is a good play as well at 4-2-1. Give Ayodele 2-1-1. LB Rainer will be his steady self at 6-3-0 and Slaughter will come back and hit 7-9 tackles. DB Darius should be really good though and get 6-4-0 1 PD. DB McCree will get 1-2-0 2 PDs. Cowboys: DL Ellis will have his work cut out for him against a decent Jag OL. 3-5 tackles and a sack are about right. LB Nguyen had a nice return with 7 tackles. Thankfully so did Coakley. But if Nguyen keeps playing like he did pre-injury, Coakley's numbers are due for a recession. With SS Woodson out for the year, DB Dixon takes his place. He should get at least 6 tackles, and lets hope for more.
Browns @ Saints
Browns: DL Brown went back to his normal putrid form last week. I don't expect much different from him this week either (3-2-0). Word got a sack last week, but he's been nearly invisible most of the season. Give Roye 2-1-0. The LBs should get a sack, and I think it will be Hambrick (2-2-1). Holmes has been steady at about 5-4-0 and he should do it here too. The only possible fly in the ointment is how well NO will be able to run with a two-headed monster if Deuce can't go. DB Henry will get 5-0-0 and the erratic McCutcheon should have 3-1-0. Given his past performance, he's just as likely to post a donut. Saints: DL Kenny Smith gets his first start. I'm going to play a hunch and give him 2-1-2. DL Jackson will also get a sack and three tackles. The lack of a running game by the Browns will hurt the NO LB production. Give Smith 3-3-0, Clemons 2-3-1 and Hodge 1-1-0. DB Knight will be all over as usual and should get 3-4-0. DB Carter returned as a starter and got 5-0-0. He will be active again, and should get an interception as well as 2-2-0 1PD.
Raiders @ Cardinals
Raiders: The Cards haven't surrendered many sacks, but DL Coleman has been rolling along, so he should get one (3-0-1). The other Raider DL will be good for about three tackles. LB Barton is still playing well, but the Card RBs don't exactly inspire fear. Give Barton 7-3-0. Give Harris 4-4-1 and Romanowski 2-1-0. Since the DBs are getting QB Plummer, they should get at least one interception. Give one to James (2-1-0 1 PD 1 INT) and one to Rod Woodson (3-3-0 1 INT). Cardinals: Oakland has been stingy allowing sacks, so the Card DL will struggle. Figure them all for at least three tackles. The LBs will do well, say 6-8 tackles. DB Wilson will probably not get a pick against the laser-like Gannon, but he'll be productive (3-2-0 1 PD).
Chiefs @ Seahawks
Chiefs: Since the Seahawks have been struggling on offense, I expect the Chiefs to pin their ears back and really blitz Hasselbeck. That should generate at least three sacks, probably 4-5. So give DL Hicks 2-1-2, Clemons 1-1-0. LB Maslowski will get his usual 10, and a sack as well. DB Warfield will get 3-2-0. Harts will also have 4-6 tackles. Seahawks: Other than Eaton (1-1-0) the Seahawk DL has been invisible. He will have a tough time against a very good Chief OL this week too. LBs Bell (4-4-0) and Huff (3-3-0) will be busy against RB Holmes. LB Simmons is slated to return, but his playing time will be limited. Give him 5 and be grateful if he does more. DB Tongue should be a solid play in run support at 4-3-0.
Giants @ Texans
Giants: Hmm….Strahan against a Texan OL that is still offering up QB Carr like a sacrificial lamb? No brainer - start him. Ferrara and any of the other Giant OL should easily produce this week. With a stalled running attack, the Texans won't give the Giant LBs many opportunities for tackles. Barrow will get 4-3-0, and the others 4-6. The Giant secondary has been avoidable for a long while, and while Carr should offer up some ducks for them to pick, play other options if you have them. Texans: Being left on the field a lot usually means that you do well, and the Texans have done so. DL Walker (1-2-1) and Payne (2-2-0) will produce nicely for you. The same goes without saying for LB Foreman as well. Sharper showed up after being quiet for a while, and that should continue here (3-4-1). DB Coleman has come back a bit to be a starter in big leagues. He'll get 3-5 tackles.
Packers @ Bucs
Packers: The Pack may get Holliday back this week, but if they do they have already said that they are going to use him on a limited basis, so don't get too excited if for some reason you have still held on to him. Gbaja-Biamila will again be productive at 3-1-1. LB Wayne (3-3-1) and Nickerson (6-3-0) will get theirs hitting Alstott/Pittman. DB Sharper is a stud (2-2-0) even though Gruden's offense is so dull. Anderson (4-2-0) will be decent. Bucs: After Sapp (2-2-1), Rice is the next best play (3-2-1). Rice has better numbers, but I have Sapp ranked higher since he has an extra gear for these games against Favre. LB Brooks (6-4-0) and Quarles (4-2-0) are solid. DB Barber had surgery and is going to play, but I don't think he's going to be all that effective, even though he should be somewhat productive since they won't be afraid to throw at him (2-2-0 3 PDs). DB Kelly will suffer since they will be throwing at the wounded Barber (2-1-0 1 PD).
SNF
Colts @ Broncos
Colts: Freeney is finally showing his great talent, and will be a handful for the Broncos (3-2-2). Scioli will benefit from the inattention (2-1-1). The LBs will show up and play thanks to Portis/Anderson. Give Peterson 5-3-0, Morris 3-3-0. DB Gibson should produce in run support (3-2-0), and the other DBs will get 3-5 tackles. Broncos: The Colt OL is good, but they will have problems with the Broncos front four. Pryce (2-2-1) will be a decent start. LB Wilson will also get a boost from the Colt RB, no matter who it is (6-4-0). Mobley and Gold will have slightly less than that - 6-8 tackles. DB O'Neal should get a pick from the pressure I expect the Broncos to bring, as well as 2-2-0 2 PDs. Walker will be ok at 3, and the others will have about that too, which is not enough to get excited about. One of them will get an interception, and I'd say it will be Kennedy.
MNF
Eagles @ 49ers
Eagles: Until QB Detmer shows me something, I'm upgrading all the major Eagle IDPs. DL Douglas will get 3-2-1, and Walker 2-2-1. LB Kirkland should get 4-2-0, while Barber and Reese again get more tackles - 7-9 each. DB Dawkins will get 3-4-0 1 PD. Give the other DBs 5 tackles and 1-2 PDs. I have to believe that McNabb will play on that broken ankle, because they are sunk without him. Koy's bro is the guy that threw seven picks against the Lions...and those kind of genetics are hard to shake. 49ers: The 49er IDPs will have a feast against a sub-par QB like Detmer. DL Carter will have 1-2-2. Okeafor will hit 2-1-0, and the DTs will get 3-5. LB Smith will have 4-2-0, with Peterson 2-3-0 and Uhlbrich 2-2-0. DB Plummer will benefit from Detmer's giving nature and have 2-1-0 2 PD 1 INT. The tackle totals will be down since I really expect the Eagles to have an abysmal game. Give the other DBs 3-5 tackles and 1-3 PDs.
Always start your studs!
Tom Nadratowski
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