The Fantasy Football Playoffs are here! Hopefully you made it. If you thought the season was stressful wait until you get a load of this Sunday. Every game, every point, every play, and every yard matters. Who to start, who to sit, the risk/reward versus the safe/solid, going with your high draft picks, or try your waiver wire pick ups, what will you do?
Breathe football fans, don't over think it, go with your gut, your initial instinct, and don't second guess yourself - instead insert your line up sit back and relax. Just remember it's fantasy football and in the end most of it comes down to sheer luck, injuries, and things that are ultimately out of your control. Instead of checking your phones, tablets, or computers all Sunday long, check out our Week 15 Preview and learn which games you should have your TV set on during the course of Sunday's NFL action. This weeks highlighted games include: Bills at Jaguars, Bears at Browns, and the Ravens at Lions on Monday Night Football.
Breathe football fans, don't over think it, go with your gut, your initial instinct, and don't second guess yourself - instead insert your line up sit back and relax. Just remember it's fantasy football and in the end most of it comes down to sheer luck, injuries, and things that are ultimately out of your control. Instead of checking your phones, tablets, or computers all Sunday long, check out our Week 15 Preview and learn which games you should have your TV set on during the course of Sunday's NFL action. This weeks highlighted games include: Bills at Jaguars, Bears at Browns, and the Ravens at Lions on Monday Night Football.
Demoralized: Buffalo's play of late hasn't been much to smile about - is it April yet? BILLS @ JAGUARS
- What a major step in the wrong direction the Bills made last week in Tampa. EJ Manuel was terribly inaccurate and couldn't do anything positive for the Buffalo offense whatsoever. Questions about Manuel's potential as a starting QB are beginning to circle around the organization, and although it was only one week - it certainly did not leave fans much to be excited about moving forward this season. After what was the teams worst showing of the season, captains Fred Jackson, Kyle Williams, and Eric Wood addressed the team in a players only meeting. Hopefully their leadership produces enough of a spark for the Bills to get some of their swagger back this week in Jacksonville. CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson are healthy enough to take over this game if EJ can find a way to keep the opposing defense honest. During the week Coach Marrone did mention the need to get play-makers TJ Graham and Marquis Goodwin more involved in the offense. The Bills have nothing to lose and plenty of young players that need to gain game experience - look for a bounce back performance from Bills ground game this week and for the defense to get back to pressuring the quarterback.
- Is it April yet? That's what most Jags fans are thinking right now, that is if there are any fans left in the first place. Talk about being talent deprived - this Jags team needs help all over the field, especially at their skill positions. The Jaguars certainly don't scare anybody with their offense but Chad Henne is willing to manage the game, protect the ball, and keep the game close until the fourth quarter - where anything can happen. Cecil Shorts would probably be an ideal slot WR for any playoff team yet he is forced to be the go to guy for the poor ol Jags. But wait, this team has won some games lately. Maurice Jones Drew was just back grinding out first downs and moving those chains but now he's hurt and will sit this week. Speedsters Ace Sanders and Denard Robinson are two rookies worth watching for Jags offense as their play time increases each week. The team has bought into Coach Bradley's system and they are beginning to show results. Look for the Jags to be solid but unspectacular in this game however remain in position to win all game.
- Does this scenario ever seem familiar for the Bills. Coming off a very tough loss last week heading back to Florida to take on a surging Jaguars team. In a similar situation last week the Bills were easy targets however thanks to the veteran leadership of the Buffalo Captains look for them to battle much harder this week. This match up will likely come down to which team makes the fewest mistakes rather than the most big players. This means Jacksonville HC Gus Bradley should be able to utilize his game plan of good defense, field position, and ball control to take this game down to the wire and win it late at home, but who really will be watching this game? :)
- Players to watch: EJ Manuel, TJ Graham, Ace Sanders
Can't touch this! Josh Gordon is a super star on a super average team. BEARS @ BROWNS
- Aside from the robbery the NFL and the Patriots pulled off versus Cleveland last week there is only one thing to talk about in terms of Browns football. Josh Gordon. Keep it simple, shut up, and give him the ball. Browns fans can't remember having a talent like this on their offense since ... since... a really long time that's for sure. It doesn't matter the opponent, Gordon continues to prove week after week he is among the best offensive weapons in the league - just get him the damn ball. Aside from him the Browns can't seem to generate much offense. Jordan Cameron's production has slowed since the first half of the season and without him moving the chains it won't matter how many yards Gordon puts up. Jason Campbell isn't afraid to let it rip which can be good and bad for the Browns - usually good when he tosses it in #12's direction and usually bad in most other situations. As expected the Browns defense is among the best in the league and remains as solid as they come. They should be excited to welcome Jay Cutler back to action for his first game in over a month. Hosting a rusty QB at home could be the perfect remedy for a team looking to recover after suffering an extra painful loss in their prior contest.
- An inspired Bears team showed up in the cold weather and pulled off the big win for special half time honoree Mike Ditka last week versus the Cowboys. Making up for holes on defense Marc Trestman's ingenuity on the offensive side of the ball worked wonders in the win. Alshonn Jeffrey has blossomed into the perfect compliment to Brandon Marshall and what's scary is he could be better than Marshall by next season. Of course one main story line to follow for Bears fans will be the return of Jay Cutler to the starting line up. Back up Josh McCown has performed well, if not great, in relief duty. He may in fact be a better fit for HC Trestmans scheme - yet the big money QB and endorsement diva Jay Cutler will get the nod under center for Chicago. Let's give Cutler a little credit, as there are certainly much more questionable QB decisions being made by certain coaches around the league at the moment (*cough* Redskins! Shanahan! *cough*). Cutler could be a little shaky early but he needs to trust his receivers and the Bears system instead of trying to force things himself.
- This should be a really good game if the Browns show up after what could be too demoralizing of a loss to overcome. If the Browns play up to their potential they could and should be able to take this game versus the Bears. An intimidating Cleveland defense should contain Matt Forte and force Cutler into some shaky situations. As long as the Browns offense is able to muster up enough offense, hello Josh Gordon, they should beat the Bears and perhaps have Chicago folk calling for the return of Josh McCown.
- Players to watch: Jay Cutler, Alshonn Jeffrey, Josh Gordon
Joe 'Cool' Flacco feeling the love in Baltimore after inspiring win versus Vikings RAVENS @ LIONS
Thanks for reading - Happy Sunday Football Fans!
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Twitter: @DampMoney
- Calvin Johnson is not "old" despite the comments Ravens safety Matt Elam made this week. In fact Calvin Johnson hasn't aged, hasn't slowed, he's gotten better, bigger, stronger, and now he's angrier. Nice going Matt. LaDarius Webb surely can't be happy either as he is the one that will be forced to cover Calvin most of the game not Elam. Way to give the games best WR, who is playing like the best EVER at the moment, more motivation heading into a home game while fighting for a playoff spot. At least NFL fans will enjoy the Monday night game that much more as reputations are on the line as well as playoff bids. Reggie Bush injured his calf, or perhaps decided he didn't want to play in the snow last week prior to the game so you have to expect he will have some extra juice for this prime time match up. The only question is how durable can Reggie be versus a very strong Baltimore defense. Lions sure know how to keep games interesting and they need this win as bad as the Ravens - look for Reggie Bush to carry them early while Stafford and MegaTron hog the ball in the late 3rd and 4th quarter. Detroit's defense needs to contain an average Ravens ground game and limit Baltimore to FG's rather than TD's in order to win this game
- Cool Joe Flacco earned some of that major paycheck he received during the off season with his brilliant comeback drive and game winning TD toss last week against Minnesota. The Ravens season sure has been full of adversity yet they are still right in the mix for an AFC Wildcard spot. Baltimore is battle tested and has a knack for making the big plays late this season - will it continue this week in Detroit? Dennis Pitta says "Yes!". With the return of Pitta, Joe Flacco has his favourite target back in the passing game which essentially opens up the entire offense. Much like Gronkowski's importance to the Patriots - Pitta makes everyone in the Ravens offense better. Ray Rice is a shadow of his former self but there is a feeling like he has just enough left in his gas tank to make enough plays for the Ravens to stteal a win on the road this week. Matt Elam may not enjoy all the extra camera attention he receives this week as Calvin Johnson should have no problem catching passes over top of him all day.
- This has all the makings for a great Monday Nighter as both teams desperatley need a win to stay within playoff contention. The Ravens seem to have got some of their champion swagger back, especially Joe Flacco, while the Lions remain inconsistent as any team in the league. Reggie Bush's speed as well as the explosiveness of the Lions offense should scare Baltimore, however Coach Harbaugh's team likely will make more of the clutch plays down the stretch and win what should be the best game of the week.
- Players to watch: Joe Flacco, Dennis Pitta, Reggie Bush
Thanks for reading - Happy Sunday Football Fans!
- DM
Twitter: @DampMoney
