Blitz Packages - Week 9
November 1st, 2002

Bye teams: Broncos, Chiefs, Panthers, Saints

Eagles @ Bears
Eagles: With the Bears averaging 4 sacks allowed per week, it's easy to recommend Eagle DL. Hugh Douglas of course should do well (2-2-2), but also Darwin Walker (2-0-1) and Corey Simon (4-6 tackles, 1 sack). With the Bears' struggling run game, not a lot of tackles at LB are to be had. Shawn Barber will be at 4-3-0, Emmons at 4-1-0 and Gardner/Kirkland at seven. Brian Dawkins has been starting for a lot of teams this year, but keep in mind that he is still questionable this week with a neck injury due to the hit he put on WR Hilliard. Should he play, five tackles and a PD would be about right. Bobby Taylor would be the next best producer, getting 5-1-0 2 PDs. Bears: The Eagles have a huge TOP advantage over the Bears. So it's likely that the other Bear LBs will produce nicely. Urlacher should have 10+ tackles, with Colvin around 7-9 and Caldwell 5-8. One LB should get a sack. McNabb has been getting sacked a lot, but the Bears pass rush is still hurting so that's a bit of a wash. Give Philip Daniels 1-1-1. Since he will be on the field a lot, Mike Brown should do very well, another 7-2-0 outing. DB Green will again be right behind at 5-3-0

Ravens @ Falcons
Ravens: Normally, the LBs facing the Falcons do pretty average, getting 5-8 tackles per game. I think they'll do slightly better this week since the Falcons will be keen on running at a Ray Lewis-less squad. The best producers will be Hartwell and Boulware. Give Hartwell 8-10 and Boulware 2-2-1 2 PDs. LB Harris will stay steady with 4-4-0. DL Adalius Thomas will probably get a sack but not do a whole lot (1-2-1). DBs Ed Reed and Baxter will continue to do well. Both will get around 6-8 tackles. Falcons: DL Kerney is a top talent and should always be started, but against the good OL the Ravens have he will probably struggle. 2-4 tackles and possibly a sack should be about right for him. The solid running of Jamal Lewis is good news for Brooking owners though. He should be able to hit 10 tackles. Holecek will be behind him at 7. DB Buchanan should be back in the groove now after posting 6-0-0 1 PD last week, and will be there this week too.

Cowboys @ Lions
Cowboys: With the Lions having re-discovered RB Stewart, good things should be in store for some Cowboy IDP's. DL Greg Ellis will get 3-2-1, and Glover 1-2-1. LB Coakley will get 10 and Hardy should be a good spot play at 5-3-0. DB Williams will score almost like a LB at 4-3-1. Lions: I bet the network execs are crying that they gambled on the wrong week for Emmit to break Payton's record, since this game will be televised and last weeks wasn't. It helps that I live in the Lions market too. Anyway, look for Porcher to get 1-0-1. I don't believe that DL Rogers isn't fully healed and is a risky play. No matter who totes the rock, Claiborne is a decent play and will get 8-10. After him it's a low-talent crapshoot at Lion LB, so there isn't much to recommend. DB Lyght gets picked on a lot and will get 4-6 tackles and 1-2 PDs. Cash should have 4-6 and 1 PD.

Vikings @ Bucs
Vikings: The Bucs have been giving up a lot of sacks lately, so DL Lance Johnstone (3-2-1) is a are good play and Kenny Mixon (2-1-1) is an average one. LB Biekert got a pick last week that inflated his numbers, but he's still inconsistent. DB Corey Chavous should get 1-2-0 2 PD 1 INT but he's a weak play and there are no other DBs to recommend after him on the team. Bucs: The Viking OL is pretty average, and so DL Sapp and Rice (2-3 tackles and a sack) will be able to take advantage of it. With the way the Vikings are feeding the ball to their backs, the Buc LBs will be decent. After Brooks, LB Quarles will get 6-8 and maybe a sack. QB Culpepper seems to be pressing a bit lately, and should be good for at least one pick against a D squad that is sure to frustrate him. Give one to DB Barber (3-2-0 2 PD 1 INT) and maybe one to Kelly.

Titans @ Colts
Titans: The Colts OL still isn't surrendering many sacks, but look for the usual suspects, Carter (4-0-1) and Hall (3-2-1) to get them. Keith Bulluck has been very solid and I see no reason to think he won't be again this week. 8-10 tackles sounds right for him, and maybe even a coverage sack. None of the other Titan LBs are consistent about to bother with. DB Schulters had a huge week with 10 tackles, and he should be right close to that again. Figure 8 at least. DBs Rolle and Williams will get about half that at 4-6 tackles. Colts: There isn't much to recommend the Colt DL this week. The Titans are protecting McNair well enough, and so the outlook is pretty average. DL Freeney will see extensive action if Bratzke can't go (2-0-1). Scioli is the other DL who should produce but don't expect much (1-0-1). LB Peterson isn't tearing it up like he did last year, and should be good for 6-2-0 1 PD. LB Morris is plugging along at 4-3-0 and should stay there this week too. The Colt DBs have been pretty worthless. Expect them all to get 3-5 tackles. It seems like two of them get that, and the other two get a couple of tackles, but Punxatawny Phil has better luck predicting weather than I do figuring who will be the productive one each week.

Patriots @ Bills
Patriots: The Bills' OL is stout, so only expect 1-2 sacks at best. Bobby Hamilton should get a sack as well as 4-6 tackles thanks to Travis Henry. LB Phifer should get 10 tackles, and Bruschi 6-8. I don't expect Bledsoe to throw much at Law (2-3-0 1PD), but he should throw a pick. I think that DB Green will get it (3-3-0-1 INT). Bills: DL Schobel will be putting a lot of heat on Brady, and will get 2-2-2. Pat Williams has been tearing it up, and while he's too good to sit, he may have a down week since NE hasn't been running well (2-2-0). That also means the LBs are pretty average too. Give Fletcher 5-3-0 and Robinson 3-2-0. I like DB Prioleau this week. He should be in on the run as well as any errant Brady throws (2-2-0 2 PD 1 INT).

Bengals @ Texans
Bengals: Even though Lebeau guaranteed a victory, I'm not betting my 401k against a Texan team that will have plenty of motivation to beat them now. Besides, the Texan mascot is a better QB than anyone on the Bengals roster. Still, Houston is bleeding sacks at a rate of six per. Justin Smith make a great start this week (3-2-2). The other CIN DE Wilson should also be a decent start (2-1-1) for the same reason. LB Spikes will get the bulk of what tackles there are, and a sack to boot (7-2-1). LB Simmons will probably not do much then at 4-3-0. DB Hawkins should again be a good play since he'll be in on both run and pass (6-2-0 1 PD). Texans: At DL, Payne and Walker remain the best plays. Give them both 4-6 tackles and thank Corey Dillon. Walker should get a sack as well. LB Sharper has been hot, and after him LB Foreman will get 7-4-0. SS Brown makes a good play then too (6-3-0).

Steelers @ Browns
Steelers: This game could get really out of hand for the Browns since the Steelers are playing so much better now. The Brown OL has been erratic and DL Smith will be the best play at 2-0-1. Porter has been quiet, so who better to bust out against than Cleveland (8 tackles and a sack). LB Bell seems to be back (5-2-0). DB Scott should get a pick but not much else (1-2-0 1 pd 1 INT). Browns: Sure, DL Brown can block a field goal on special teams, but can he get a sack in the game? NoooOOOooo!. DL Lang should be solid 2-2-1. Word is the next best play but that's not saying much 1-0-1. With RB Zeroue in, LB Holmes will be a good fill in with 4-6 tackles even though he is playing his old team. DB Henry will again be good at 5-3-0. Earl Little will also have a nice 4-2-0.

Jets @ Chargers
Jets: Neither team is giving up a lot of sacks, but the Chargers definitely have the better OL. So the tackle numbers will be nice for the DL (figure 5-7 each, easy), but only one or two sacks at most from them. Give one to Abraham. DL Ferguson will also be solid, IF he plays - he's questionable this week. Gee, the TOP favors the Chargers by a whopping six minutes, what is a poor fantasy owner to do. Start your Jet LBs, of course! Cowart should be huge at 8-3-1. Marvin Jones was benched for a James Darling last week, but hopefully this mess will sort itself out. Whoever plays will get 10 tackles too. Mo Lewis should be the other decent Jet LB at 6-2-0. DBs Robinson should be huge too (6-3-0 2 PDs) and Abraham will be solid (3-3-0). Chargers: The Jet OL hasn't given up many sacks, but they should be on the field a ton which will reverse that trend. DL Wiley is back after the bye and will haunt QB Pennington (3-0-1). That's good news for the owners of DL Johnson (1-2-1). The clock will work against the SD LBs. One should get a bunch of tackles and the rest will be pretty average, say 6-7 tackles. I think Edwards is the guy this week who gets 8-10 tackles. The DBs will be busy since the Jets are likely going to be passing a lot. DB Molden (3-3-0 2 PD) and DB Jammer (3-2-0 2 PD) will get the brunt of the action with DB Harrison out.

Rams @ Cardinals
Rams: The Rams' DL will chase Plummer around all day, but Wistrom will get the sack (1-2-1). There are few other options here. LB Polley is playing well again, but this week he's pretty dull thanks to his opponent (4-4-0 1 PD). But DB Archuleta should be the best play on the team this week with 6-4-0 1FF. DB Bly is a solid supporting play (4-1-0 1 INT). Cardinals: The Cards DL has their work cut out for them this week. They don't have enough talent to exploit the weaknesses the Rams do have. The best play for a Card DL is Vanden Bosch, but look elsewhere (1-1-0). This could be the week that a LB breaks out, but the Card LBs have mostly specialized in breaking the hearts of their owners. McKinnon (6-2-0) and Fredrickson (5-3-0) used to be studs, but they are only frustrating now. The DBs will be chasing all over the place. Wilson (4-5-0 2 PDs) and Lassiter (remember him? - 3-3-0 1PD) are the ones to start here.

Redskins @ Seahawks
Redskins: The Redskins DL has been invisible, and against a solid Seattle OL there is no reason to think it will reappear. Most likely the sacking will come from the Redskin LBs. Arrington (4-4-1 1FF) and Armstead (5-4-0) will bring the pressure against QB Hasselbeck. He will probably toss one pick. Let's give it to DB Bailey (1-1-0 1 PD 1 INT). Ifeanyi Ohalete has replaced SS Shade, and will be the other consistent scorer at 3-3-0. Seahawks: DL Cochran will get a sack against a Redskin DL that has been porous, but he won't do much else (1-1-1). I don't trust the Redskin running attack to generate decent tackles without Davis. The Anthony Simmons watch is still on, but that's not good news for LB Kacyvenski. Holmgren has been splitting him with D.D. Lewis so that the younger player gets some reps. Give 'Ski 4-4-0. LB Bell should get 3-1-1. DB Tongue will be solid again (5-1-0). Robertson has had two good weeks in a row and should continue with 4-2-0.

49ers @ Raiders
49ers: In the last four games, DL Andre Carter has gotten three sacks. He should get one here against the Niners' hated rival (2-1-1). DL Okeafor will get 2-2-0. LB Smith will be chasing Garner around, but will be down slightly since Garner does not punch it up the gut much (5-3-0 1FF). LB Ulbrich is a fill in play with 3-3-0. DB Heard is again going to play since Bronson is out. Give him 2-0-0 1 PD 1 INT. SS Parrish will be a solid start at 5-2-0. Raiders: The 49ers don't usually give up sacks, but DL Bryant is hot and should get one (4-1-1). Coleman is an ok start at 2-2-0, but he may lose reps to Adams, who could come back this week. LB Barton has been playing good, and he'll get to chase Hearst/Barlow all day (6-3-0 1 PD 1FR). Napoleon Harris will give him helping hits in support (4-4-0). Romanowski is hit or miss, since he was a surprise hit last week he should miss here (5-1-0). DB James will be consistent with 4-2-0 1 PD, and Rod Woodson will back him up with 3-3-0.

Jaguars @ Giants (SNF)
Jaguars: John Henderson has turned it up over the past couple of weeks, and he should stay good here too (6-2-1). Ditto Marcus Stroud at 5-1-1. The Jaguar LBs have been very pedestrian, and there is no reason to think they will stop hibernating - the Giants O is sluggish and the TOP is nearly dead even. Give Slaughter 5-1-0 and Rainer 4-2-0. DB Darius will make you happy with 6-4-0 1 FR. After him there is a whole lot of inconsistency, so there isn't much to recommend. Giants: Strahan is a great play against a team that is allowing almost four sacks per game (3-3-2). LB Barrow at 5-3-0 and LB Jones at 4-3-0 are pretty unspectacular this week. Ditto for the Giant DBs, the best of whom should be DB Williams at 2-4-0.

Dolphins @ Packers (MNF)
Dolphins: Jason Taylor will have a tough time getting to Favre since the OL will be looking to protect their wounded QB, but will get him once (2-1-1). LB Taylor will post a solid if unspectacular outing at 8-3-0. The DB squad has been pretty low scoring, and it should stay that way at Lambeau. DB Freeman will do the best at 3-5 tackles, and DB Marion will get 2-4 and 1 PD. Packers: Look for the Pack to blitz QB Lucas as much as possible. DL Gbaja-Biamila makes a nice supporting play at 1-2-1 1 FF. The TOP is nearly even for these teams, so the LBs should be pretty average too. LB Nickerson will get 6-8 tackles, and LB Wayne 5-7 and a sack. DB Anderson has been hot and should post 4-3-0 3 PDs. Darren Sharper could play well if his hamstring will let him. I am cautious about those kinds of injuries, so I am giving Sharper 3-1-0 1 PD 1 INT.

Always start your studs!
Tom Nadratowski
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