NFL Week 1 Prognostications:

Lines as seen Tuesday on http://www.footballlocks.com

The first few weeks are always challenging to prognosticate.  Not for The King tho...I got this nailed.  Week 1 there will be 12 road team victories...ain't gonna happen Thursday night.

 

Thursday 8:30 PM Eastern Time

Minny @ New Orleans (New Orleans -5.5, Over/Under 48.5)

FFL King Prediction -- New Orleans 28  Minny 21

Run with New Orleans; avoid the O/U (too close to call)

Here's why...No Sid the Kid in this one...plus Favre's bell is still ringing from last year's playoff beat down.  This cat is going to have happy feet all night long and the Saints are gonna bring it all night long.  Turnovers will be the key to this game and the Vikings lose this battle with Favre's interceptions and Peterson's likely fumble.  The Saints put up big points at home and with the best QB in the game, they will surely outscore the Vikes.     

Fantasy Take:  For Minny, I avoid WR in this one oustide of Percy Harvin and potentially Berrian as a flex.  Hard to tell who is going to step up without Sid outside of Harvin...might be All Day out of the backfield catching those balls.  If Shiancoe is your TE you are fine to play him.  All Day Peterson is a must play.  Look for 2 scores from All Day and one from either Harvin or Shiancoe.  No way I play Favre in this one.  For New Orleans I am running with both PT Bruise (Pierre Thomas) and Reggie Bush.  Of course you have to start Brees if you have him.  With Colston having kidney issues, I avoid the WR situation alltogether...too risky who it is going to be to score....could be a TE or Colston or Meachem or Henderson or Lance Moore...start them at your own risk!  Both PT and Reggie score in this one...in fact they might just hog trough all the touchdowns on Thursday.   

 

Sunday 1:00 PM Eastern Time

Miami @ Buffalo (Miami -3, Over/Under 38.5)

FFL King Prediction -- Miami 24  Buffalo 17

Run with Miami and the Over

What’s gonna happen...Henne’s got a Marshall plan.  It’s simple, use him and use him often.  Buffalo’s running game will be solid, that is all they got.  Problem is Miami’s running game is better. 

 

Fantasy Take:  Run with Marshall and take a shot on Spiller.  As for the rest of ‘em, I really don’t care for them much.  I would search for better options if I had Brown and Williams but if you need to fill a spot then you could do worse…but do not expect too much. 

 

Sunday 1:00 PM Eastern Time

Indy @ Houston (Indy -2, Over/Under 47)

FFL King Prediction – Indy 28  Houston 24

Run with Indy and the Over

Easy call...Peyton owns the Texans and this does not change on game day.  Houston is not ready to take over…not yet.  Expect Matt, Andre, Jacoby and Arian to put up a good fight though.

Fantasy Take:  If you got ‘em start ‘em…all of them. (Manning, Addai, Brown, Garcon, Wayne, Clark, Schaub, Andre, Jacoby, Arian).  I would see Daniels do something before slinging him in a game and I would wait on Collie and Gonzalez until I know who is going to see more balls.  I think it is pretty risky to start Walter with the emergence of Jacoby Jones.  Jacoby Jones looks like a bbbbaaaaddddd man this year so play him if you can and watch him plow someone over for a score!

 

Sunday 1:00 PM Eastern Time

Detroit @ Chicago (Chicago -6.5, Over/Under 44)

FFL King Prediction – Detroit 24  Chicago 20

Run with Detroit on the Money Line; avoid the O/U (too close to call) 

Really?...Yes it is true…Stafford carries his high completion percentage of the pre-season into week 1 and Dan Marino comparisons are all over the net.  The Lions won’t win 10 games, but they win this one as Suh pancakes Cutler right out of the game.  Tell me you can’t see that happening? 

Fantasy Take:  Start Stafford, Calvin, Best and sit on the rest of the Lions for a bit.  Run with Cutler, Knox, Forte and Hester.  The rest can rest.

 

Sunday 1:00 PM Eastern Time

Atlanta @ Pittsburgh (Atlanta -2, Over/Under 38)

FFL King Prediction – Atlanta 27  Pittsburgh 17

Run with Atlanta and the over

Pitts in the Pitts...With no Big Ben it is going to be hard for the Steelers to close out the game.  With a healthy Ryan and Turner, Atlanta will close the deal!  The Steelers play it conservative with Dixon at the helm and cannot stay in the game versus the talented Offense of the Falcons.

Fantasy Take:  Ryan, Roddy, Turner and Gonzo are solid plays.  Wallace is the only one playing for me from Pittsburgh in this one.  Redman running short yardage and Atlanta tempting Dixon to pass renders Mendenhall ineffective in this one.

 

Sunday 1:00 PM Eastern Time

Cleveland @ Tampa Bay (Tampa Bay -3, Over/Under 37)

FFL King Prediction – Cleveland 17  Tampa Bay 14

Run with Cleveland and the Under

Cleveland, What?...Well Cleveland finished pretty strong last year and Harrison is going to keep on rolling where he left off last year.  Look for DelHomme to provide just enough leadership they were lacking to win on opening day.  Not the way to start the year for the Buccs (losing to Cleveland).

Fantasy Take:  Start Mike & Caddy Williams and Winslow, roll with Harrison and bench the rest of ‘em.

 

 

Sunday 1:00 PM Eastern Time

Cincinnati @ New England (New England -4.5, Over/Under 45)

FFL King Prediction – New England 31  Cincy 27

Run with the Over

Guilty pleasures...After getting PAID, Brady feels that he has to earn every penny…and does so in this one.  The Guns will be a swinging in Gillette Stadium.  The best game of the week for Fantasy nuts.

Fantasy Take:  Start them all (except backups and tight ends). 

 

Sunday 1:00 PM Eastern Time

Denver @ Jacksonville (Jacksonville -2.5, Over/Under 40)

FFL King Prediction – Denver 24  Jacksonville 20

Run with Denver and the Over

Close call...Tough game to judge but McDaniels’ starts off hot again and Orton performs better  than Garrard in this one.  That is the difference.  With a couple more fans at the game, maybe Jacksonville could win?

Fantasy Take:  Mike Thomas, MJD, Royal…start them.  Sleeper of the Week is Brandon Lloyd.  I would tell you to start him but you won’t listen to me anyways…and neither would I so don’t start him.

 

Sunday 1:00 PM Eastern Time

Oakland @ Tennessee (Tennessee -6.5, Over/Under 40.5)

FFL King Prediction – Tennessee 20  Oakland 16

Run with Oakland and the Under

It’s Miller time...A pretty quiet game all in all.  Look for Tennessee to win but fail to cover the spread.  If you’ve seen CJ on the commercials, and you have him on your team, you might just consider this a jinx.  The score is actually closer than the game was with a garbage time touchdown sprinkled in by Oakland.

Fantasy Take:  You have to start CJ, you should start Zach Miller, you can start McFadden.  The rest you are on your own to start without my support.

 

Sunday 1:00 PM Eastern Time

Carolina @ New York Giants (New York Giants -6.5, Over/Under 41)

FFL King Prediction – NYG 24  Carolina 17

Run with New York Giants; avoid the O/U (too close to call)

Eli’s the Guy...Giants home game and they are a better team.  Too much all around talent to lose to an inferior team. 

Fantasy Take:  Start Eli, Bradshaw, both Steve Smiths, Nicks and Deangelo.  Bench the other bums.

 

Sunday 4:15 PM Eastern Time

San Francisco @ Seattle (San Fran -3, Over/Under 37)

FFL King Prediction – San Fran 26  Seattle 17

Run with San Fran and the Over

What a treat...Not an exciting game but look for a big day from the 49’er Defense.  Talent again is the difference in this one, defensive talent that is. 

Fantasy Take:  Start Branch, Forsett, Gore (big day), Vernon and Crabtree.  That’s all folks.

 

Sunday 4:15 PM Eastern Time

Arizona @ St. Louis (Zona -4, Over/Under 39)

FFL King Prediction – Zona 16  St. Louis 10

Run with Zona and the Under

Stinky feet...this game smells of a pungent stench.  Zona defense is just a little better than the other guys’.  Enough said.

Fantasy Take:  Take a hike from this game outside of S-Jax and Hightower.  If you have Fitz, you have Anderson as your quarterback…file for a divorce and run!    

 

Sunday 4:15 PM Eastern Time

Green Bay @ Philadelphia (Green Bay -3, Over/Under 47.5)

FFL King Prediction – Green Bay 35  Philly 20

Run with Green Bay and the Over

A Dynamic Duo...Rodgers to Finley…get used to it.  These two will single handedly take care of this one on the road.  Rodgers is an elite QB and Kolb is not.  That’s the difference in this one.

Fantasy Take:  Any starter from Green Bay should start every week.  Same goes for the Eags…put ‘em in coach! 

 

Sunday 8:20 PM Eastern Time

Dallas @ Washington (Dallas -3.5, Over/Under 40.5)

FFL King Prediction – Dallas 20  Washington 17

Run with the Under

The Stars align...It won’t be like this all year long, but Dallas is still shaking the rust off of their preseason side show.  A last minute field goal is the difference. 

Fantasy Take:  Moss, Cooley, Barber, Felix, Austin, Witten all play for me.  You may be stuck with Romo, but I would look for better options until that O line is in better shape…with Jones and Barber, they might just try to keep Romo healthy. 

 

Monday 7:00 PM Eastern Time

Baltimore @ New York Jets (New York Jets -2.5, Over/Under 35.5)

FFL King Prediction – Baltimore 27  New York Jets 17

Run with Baltimore and the Over

The Real super bowl contenders step up…The J-E-T-S Reality World gets introduced to the Real World.  In the Real World, Flacco now has all the talent to post big numbers.  The result of this game should come as no shock.

Fantasy Take:  Don’t worry about Revis Island, start all your Ravens…start Shonne Green, Keller and LT. 

 

Monday 10:15 PM Eastern Time

San Diego @ Kansas City (San Diego -4.5, Over/Under 45)

FFL King Prediction – San Diego 28  Kansas City 21

Run with San Diego and the Over

Vincent who?...Leadership and talent I say wins week 1.  Rivers has more of it than Cassel does.  Look for some decent action in this one…worth staying up for and a nice game to finish the week on. 

Fantasy Take:  Rivers, Mathews, Sproles, Floyd, Gates are all in…Bowe, Charles and Thomas Jones are in.  Hold off on the rest until you see something.