Blitz Packages - Week 8
October 25th, 2002

Bye teams: Chargers, Dolphins, Packers, Rams

Cowboys @ Seahawks
Cowboys: The Seahawks are still doing a good job protecting the QB, so don't look for many sacks here from the DL. Still, Greg Elliss is talented and deserves a start. Dexter Coakley has been rock solid, but after him it's dicey. Given how much I expect Seattle to run (since I expect them to get ahead and protect a lead), Kevin Hardy should be a nice play here at 6-3-0. Markus Steele should have about that, too. At DB, with Darren Woodson back, he's a solid DB play at 5-2-0 1 PD. Roy Williams will be slightly better at 5-3-0 2 PDs and maybe a sack. Seahawks: With five year rookie Chad Hutchinson in at QB, this will probably be the best opportunity to start your Seahawk DL all year. The Cowboy OL was already not protecting well (giving up well over three sacks/game), but now it could be downright dreadful. Speaking of sacks, LB Chad Brown is looking to continue his streak of sacks in a game, with what would be six. Figure he will against the extremely rusty QB. Dallas will try to run Emmitt a load, both to get him Sweetness' record and to protect Hutchinson. Give Brown 7-3-1 and Bell 6-2-1. DB Reggie Tongue should also benefit, having a great day with 5-3-0 2 PD 1 INT. Give Ken Lucas 3-1-0 2 PD and 1 INT.

Lions @ Bills
Lions: The Bills have been giving up a lot of sacks lately, but we'll see if Detroit can bring enough heat. Start Porcher along with a more proven DL if you must. LB Claiborne should be productive against RB Henry and the Bill running attack. Figure 6-9 tackles. QB Bledsoe will be going after the Lion secondary, so the DBs will be active. DBs Cash and Harris have been the most consistent scorers. They should be around 4-2-0 2 PDs, and one Detroit DB will get an interception. Bills: Detroit hasn't been giving up many sacks, but the Bills DL is better than most faced by the Lions lately. That and RB James Stewart will provide nice tackle numbers for them, so Pat Williams and Aaron Schobel are the best plays. Give Williams 6-8 and Schobel 4-6 and a sack. Also thanks to Stewart, give LB Robinson 3-3-0 and LB Fletcher 3-3-0. DBs Wire and Prioleau will get 7-9 tackles and 1-2 PDs.

Bears @ Vikings
Bears: The Bears got DL Robinson back, only to lose him right away for a DUI arrest. Alex Brown is his backup. However, the best pass rush of the Bears is still their tandem of LBs Urlacher and Colvin. Urlacher should be around 8-3-0 and Colvin 4-3-1. When the Bears played the Vikings in week 1, both DBs Brown and Green were active. Green will be around 5-3-0 1 PD and Brown will get 4-2-0 1 PD. Vikings: The Vikings haven't been generating much pressure on opposing QBs either, so don't expect much from the Vikings DL. OLB Crockett will probably get a sack and wind up with 4-3-1. Biekert makes a nice play this weekend at 6-3-0. Corey Chavous and DB Bradford are probably only plays in big leagues. They will have 3-5 tackles and 1-2 PDs.

Falcons @ Saints
Falcons: Patrick Kerney has been the most consistent play, but after him there isn't much. Kerney should get a sack again this week (3-2-1). Surprisingly, the TOP favors the Falcons by a solid three minutes. LB Brooking is still the man here, but again there isn't much behind him. Chris Draft will have 2-4 tackles and Rogers 3-5. DB Buchanan had a nice return, getting 2-0-0 2PD 1INT. He'll be better this week at 4-6 and 1-2 PDs. Points will be hard to find after him, since I don't expect any other DB to have more than 3-4 tackles. Saints: DL Darren Howard should get a sack and finish at 3-1-1. Grady Jackson will be busy and have 5-2-0. LB Cox filled in for Clemons, but he managed a paltry 3 tackles. Figure that Darrin Smith will again get the bulk of the action with 5-7 tackles and a PD. Hodge will have bit less at 4-6 and 1 PD. DB Knight should be big this week, with 6-3-0 1 PD.

Bucs @ Panthers
Bucs: I was liking this match up a lot better with Peete in at QB. However, Fasani should give the Bucs a couple of sacks. Sapp will get 3-1-1 and Rice 2-0-1. The Panthers generated nice tackle numbers for the Falcons last week, so look for Brooks to be fine and for Quarles to get 5-7 tackles and a PD. I think it is likely that Brooks will get a sack too. DB Barber should get 1 pick and wind up with 3-2-0 1 PD 1 INT. DB Lynch should be a nice play at 4-2-0 1 PD. DB Jackson should be close to that as well (3-2-0 2PDs). Panthers: DL Rucker and Peppers are hot right now, so keep riding the hot hand until it cools off. Just keep an eye on Ruckers' injury situation. He became questionable a day or so before the game and then went on to have one tackle all game. If he's healthy, he is a no-brainer start. Peppers was inconsistent early but is going on to have the type of season I thought he would when I rated him as the most talented rookie in this years' draft. Give them both 3-0-1.5. It was interesting to see how the LBs responded to having Morgan out of the lineup. So far it seems that, rather than one good player, both Witherspoon and Navies had good game (7-1-0 and 7-0-0 respectively). I think that LB Allen and Witherspoon will pick up for Morgan and get 5-3-0 and maybe a PD. Navies could get a sack as well. DB Deon Grant was benched during the game, and Damien Richardson came in and played well in his absence, getting 4 tackles. Richardson should get about 4-2-0 this week, with the other DBs not getting more than 4. Rob Johnson hangs on to the ball too much, and will probably get sacked and throw at least one pick. Richardson or Cousin are the likely suspects to pull it in.

Raiders @ Chiefs
Raiders: The Chiefs give up sacks as often as Democrats stop spending - hardly ever. In this case it's just over 1 sack per game, so pickings will be slim for the DL. This week The LBs will probably get a sack, most likely LB Barton (4-3-1). LB Harris will be a nice start at 6-9 tackles. The Raider secondary has been ravaged by injuries. Charles Woodson and Rod Woodson are questionable this week. Tory James will be the best play at a solid 5-3-0 2 PDs. Chiefs: The Chief DL has still been underperforming sack wise, but DL Hicks and Clemons should provide enough pressure for one of them to get a sack. Give it to Hicks (3-0-1). Clemons will be at 2-1-0. The last three weeks, the MLB or OLB facing the Raiders has gotten between 8-10 tackles (wk 5 BUF MLB Fletcher 7-3-0; wk 6 STL MLB Polley 8-0-0, wk 7 SD OLB Edwards 8-2-0). So MLB Maslowski is again a super play at 8-3-0. Scott Fujita will probably get 4-3-0. The Chief secondary is as banged up as the Raiders, with three players on the injury report. Only DB Wesley is unlikely to play as of right now. So give DB Bartee 5-3-0 2 PDs, DB Belser 6-2-0 and DB Harts 4-3-0 2 PDs.

Steelers @ Ravens
Steelers: Both teams have been brining the heat to enemy QBs, and even though the Ravens are protecting the QB well I think that if any Steeler DL is going to get a sack it will be Aaron Smith (2-0-1). LBs Joey Porter (6-3-1) and Bell (5-4-0 1 PD) also have a good chance to get one, but I'll give it to Porter. DB Alexander should have 5-7 tackles, and I have a hunch that Pennington will throw up a pick. Let's give it to DB Scott (4-2-0 1 PD 1 INT). Ravens: With DL McCrary doubtful to play, the Raven DL is pretty barren of fantasy starters. The LBs will be counted on to provide pressure. LB Lewis may play, but the team is likely to keep his condition as the dreaded "game time decision". If he doesn't go, LB Boulware should again get a sack (5-2-1). LB Hartwell is still solid at 6-4-0. DB Baxter has been very productive. He (3-1-0 1 PD) and Reed (5-2-0 1 PD) will be the most productive. DB McAlister has been a nice auxiliary play, getting around 5 tackles per week.

Browns @ Jets
Browns: Hopefully the coaches will put in Mark Word as a full-time starter sometime soon. He has out done Courtney Brown every time he's been on the field. I am an optimist by nature, but I think it's finally time to call Brown what he really is - a bust. Kenard Lang is your best bet, but that's not saying much (2-2-1). The Browns are trying to scrape together as many healthy bodies as they can to get a full starting secondary. DB Little had a good outing last week, and should this week too (3-1-0 2 PDs). Jets: The Browns OL has been giving good protection, and the Jets have been bringing little pressure. I think Jason Ferguson has the best chance to get a sack (3-3-1). John Abraham might be the other DL to get a sack (2-1-0). DB Abraham tore it up last week, but I think he'll come back down to earth this week (2-0-0). DB Robinson should do better than he has and get 4-2-0 2 PDs. DB Beasley will get 3-1-0 1 PD.

Titans @ Bengals
Titans: The Titans could be beaten this week since their team is hurting on both sides of the ball, but given how disastrous the Bengals are that's unlikely. DL Carter has a decent match up, but nothing special (2-0-1). LB Bulluck remains a top starter with Godfrey unable to come back 100%, so give him 8-3-0 1 PD. DB Schulters is still the best start here (5-1-0), and Andre Dyson is only a play in big leagues with 3-0-0. Bengals: DL Justin Smith has completely disappeared, and with no other help likely until Vaughn Booker recovers, he is unlikely to reappear. LBs Spikes (5-3-1) and Simmons (6-1-0) are the best plays. DB Hawkins will get 4-2-0 2 PDs. With the way they are playing and platooning their DBs, no other single DB is worth recommending.

Cardinals @ 49ers
Cardinals: With RB Hearst dinged, that could be good news for Cardinal LBs McKinnon and Fredrickson. Barlow's style is more suited to get the LBs tackles. Give McKinnon 6-2-0, Fredrickson 4-3-0 and hope for more. The chances for an Arizona sack are minimal from the DL with Vanden Bosch questionable. Adrian Wilson exploded last week thanks to Quincy Carter's three picks. Hopefully that signals his breakout, but expect him to get a more typical 5-2-0. Renaldo Hill will be close to that too with 4-0-0. 49ers: Surprisingly, the TOP between the teams is nearly dead even. Seems like we expected the 49ers to be better than that this year, but the Cards have been surprising. Still, until the Cards get their running game going more consistently, opposing DL won't get many tackles. Andre Carter has a bunch of talent, but will be hard pressed to break 3-0-1 this week. LB Derek Smith should also be pretty average at 6-2-0. LB Peterson will not be better but should have a good probability for a sack (5-0-1). Tony Parrish has been the most consistent play in the secondary with 6-0-0 1 PD. Jason Webster (2-1-0) and Ahmed Plummer (1-1-0 2 PDs) are barely startable.

Texans @ Jaguars
Texans: The Jags will give the Texan DL trouble, and they will be hard pressed to get a sack. Gary Walker has the best chance and should finish with 3-0-1. LB Jamie Sharper has the next best shot to get a sack (6-4-1). Jay Foreman is the next best start at 6-1-0, and Jeff Posey should get similar numbers. Aaron Glenn (3-1-0) has really cooled off, and it seems that teams are throwing away from him now and towards Marcus Coleman (5-0-0 2 PDs). Jaguars: The Texans feature the worst pass protection in the league, and so every week you have a DL playing them, you start them. They are averaging seven sacks allowed per week. John Henderson (2-2-1) and Paul Spicer (3-0-2) should be the best plays. LB Wali Rainer has come on lately, but I think that has more to do with John Henderson in front of him than his own talent. He'll be a solid play at 6-3-0. T.J. Slaughter was rusty last week but should bounce back with 5-3-0. Danny Clark will have his usual six or so tackles. DB Darius will be nice at 5-3-1. DB McCree will be busy and have 3-2-0 3 PDs.

Broncos @ Patriots
Broncos: The Broncos D is playing very well, and I think that three sacks are not out of the question. Give DL Pryce one (2-0-1). The other goes to LB Wilson who will also get 5-4-0 2PDs. LB Mobley will be a supporting play with 4-1-0. The last will go to DB O'Neal (3-1-1 3 PDs). DL Pittman will be ok at 2-2-0. The other DBs will be around 3-5 tackles and a PD. Patriots: Losing Tom Nalen is going to really hurt the Denver OL. Bobby Hamilton (3-2-1) and Richard Seymour (4-1-1) will be the best plays and best chance for sacks. Roman Phifer will have an unspectacular 5-2-0. The other LBs will be at or below that. Griese will probably throw one pick, so give it to Tebucky Jones (3-0-0 2 PDs 1 INT). Ty Law will not be tested (4-2-0) and Law Milloy will be decent (4-2-0 1 PD) as well.

Colts @ Redskins (SNF)
Colts: Sunday night the Colts DL gets to face a Redskin team that has a hurting OL and no continuity at QB. DL Bratzke will have a very good night at 4-2-1.5, and Scioli will be right behind (2-2-1.5). LB Peterson will be dependable at 5-5-0 2 PDs. Marcus Washington should also show up at 5-4-0. Give DB Harris 2-3-0 1 INT, and DB Bashir 4-2-0 1PD. Redskins: I bet Bruce Smith wishes he had stuck around a couple years longer. He could have the chance to play with another HOF QB and a potential ride into the playoffs. The odds are slim he's going to do anything this week, anyway. LB Arrington (5-3-1) has a better chance of a sack. LBs Trotter (5-2-0) and Armstead (4-3-0) round out the LBs. The Redskin DBs aren't even worth starting, so there is no need to mention them.

Giants @ Eagles (MNF)
Giants: Call it a hunch, but playing under the bright Monday night lights, DL Strahan will have a big day (3-1-3). Given the state of the Eagle front line, I don't think that's far off. LB Barrow (6-3-0 1PD) and LB Jones (3-3-1) are the best bets. DB Shaun Williams could also be really busy (4-3-0 1 PD). Omar Stoutmire will be an auxiliary play with 3-2-0 2PDs. Eagles: Speaking of playing well under the bright lights, Hugh Douglas should also play big (3-2-1). The Gardner/Kirkland mess has been solved for another week, since Gardner isn't expected to play this week. Give all the Eagle LBs 5-1-0 and hope for more. QB Collins has a tendency to throw picks when he gets shaken up. He will definitely get shaken this week. DB Dawkins is my next big DB play this week at 4-2-0 1PD 1INT/TD. The rest of the Eagle DBs will get around 4 tackles since I expect the Eagles to win and keep the Giants on the field longer

Always start your studs!
Tom Nadratowski
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