Fantasy Football

Post Week Two Waiver Wire

Monday, 19 September, 2011

By Zack Cimini
notjustagame23@gmail.com

Alert, alert. The Carolina Panthers have a wide receiver worth picking up off the waiver wire? Yes someone besides Steve Smith has fantasy relevancy. It might be the first time since Mushin Muhammed teamed with Smith that you could say that. Week one went rather unscaved as far as injuries to top players. Week two did not fare so well. Waiver wire pursuits will be hot this week, as there are plenty of solid athletes to consider. I hope you all enjoyed some of the highly rated start players and sleeper starters that proceeded to have great weeks, Jeremy Maclin, Brandon LaFell, and Nate Washington.

Here’s a look at who you should be reacting to their week two’s success by adding them to your fantasy football roster.

Quarterback

Ryan Fitzpatrick- It isn’t often to include a player on the waiver wire in back to back weeks. I will in the case of Fitzpatrick. Buffalo is probably the least marketable sports city franchise in the NFL. Seven touchdowns in two weeks and he is doing it with extreme efficiency. Neither game has he thrown for over 300 yards, but he makes big plays when needed. People were laughing when the Bills decided they had no reason to pursue a quarterback in the draft or via free agency. How’s a 2-0 start look?

Andy Dalton- How rookies are faring so well with no extended reps via training camp is mind boggling. Maybe there is some truth to over training mentally. These guys are out there just gunning and playing on instinct and it’s working. Dalton delivered the ball timely, and has found the Bengals new and improved investment at wide receiver in rookie AJ Green.

Matt Hasselbeck- I for one do not believe in Hasselbeck at all at this stage in his career. The back issues he has had, and the overall tendency of the Titans to play hot and cold. This week the team was hot, and you just can’t discount the top talent around Hasselbeck. Chris Johnson’s only going to motor back up once he gets himself back into shape. At receiver, Kenny Britt is legitimately now a top five fantasy worthy receiver.

Jason Campbell- With Washington Campbell showcased adequate capabilities. He just never could muster the proper backing from the front office. Campbell has new life, and in his second year as a Raider may be able to build this team up to new heights. True speed with every receiver will play to Campbell’s strengths, and having the backfield he does will open up the plays down the field to hit those fast targets.

Mike Kafka- I just wrote an article on Mike Vick’s chances of playing all sixteen games. It’s hard for any starting quarterback to make it through the year, let alone a guy that scrambles and moves around like Vick. For all Vick owners that drafted him highly, you’re likely extremely weak with your current fantasy backup quarterback. Depending on the diagnosis of Vick, Mike Kafka may have to be your starter for a few weeks. The Eagles are loaded, and Kafka looked rather comfortable in it. Vince Young shouldn’t be ready and even if he is, Kafka may be appointed anyway.

Running Back

Daniel Thomas- Looks like Miami was all talk in the way they stated they would run Bush as a work horse back. Miami hardly ran the ball vs. New England with Thomas injured. Week two with Thomas healthy the Dolphins tried to get the ground game going, and did so by utilizing Thomas to a much more proportioned work load than Bush. Thomas tallied over one hundred yards rushing but did cough the football up twice.

Mike Bush- There is three reasons to pick up Bush and retain him. Darren McFadden’s injury history. Darren McFadden’s inconsistency. Jason Campbell’s rollercoaster starts that causes the Raiders to run the ball as high as any team in the NFL.

DeMarco Murray- Look for the diagnosis on Felix Jones seperated shoulder. The extent of time out shouldn’t be long at all. Even if Jones is limited, things will bode well for Tashard Choice and rookie DeMarco Murray

Dexter McCluster- He has Jamaal Charles characteristics, but is a tad bit more undersized. With Thomas Jones on the down side of his career, it’ll be interesting to see how this split works out. Le’Ron McClain could also factor into the mix. Kansas City’s offense looks like it is in a world of hurting. Cassel has had these woes before and dug himself out. He better wake up quick.

Wide Receiver

Brandon LaFell- No one imagined Cam Newton throwing for nearly 1,000 yards in his first two starts. The exponential raise of every Panther offensively has sky rocketed. He is turning Steve Smith back into a top fifteen fantasy wide receiver. LaFell seems to be playing his role solidly, and is a great depth filler to add to your fantasy roster.

DeNario Alexander- With the Rams changing the offensive system, it has opened it up more for stretching pass plays down the field. Alexander torched the Giants broken down secondary, and seems to be Bradford’s new found favorite target.We will have to see how Mike Sims-Walker typical scattered play affects Alexander for when Walker shows up.

Eric Decker- He did it as a special teams threat in week one with a return touchdown. Week two he got the start to fill in for injured receiver Brandon Lloyd and made the most of it. Denver is going to have to find a way to get Decker on the field after the way he lit up the Bengals secondary. A high impact involvement will not just happen for one week for Decker.

David Nelson- Extra motivation after being undrafted in a lockout made Nelson even hungrier. Roster moves happen all the time, and Nelson has made the most of it. Nelson has been targeted a ton the first two games. His start should not be a fluke since he has caught the ball fourteen times in the first two games.

Titus Young- Here is a guy that just makes an impact wherever he goes. The Boise State alum, jumped on board for the Lions and made a great contribution week two. Catching five balls for nearly ninety yards. Being that this was during an onslaught blowout, chances are Young(as the Lions third receiver) won’t get near this amount of yards for quite awhile. It is intriguing though to see that Young can step in and contribute.

Preston Parker- It looks as if Parker is gaining some ground ahead of some of the mediocre young receivers behind Mike Williams. Parker led all Buccaneers and was really the only factor at wideout, as Mike Williams was shut down. One thing with Josh Freeman is if you’ve got his trust, he will find you consistently.

Nate Washington- Kind of a forgotten veteran. Washington pops up here and there but never grabs your attention fully. Firmly as the Titans second option at receiver he has re-blossomed with a slight fantasy pulse. After two solid games now, you can pick him up as your fifth receiver and at worse start your waiver wire carousel at wideout.

Jerome Simpson- In extreme deep leagues Simpson is worth scooping up. It’s not likely Andy Dalton will have too many games where he has a field day from a yardage stand point. In standard leagues, just keep you eye on him.

Fourth Quarter Killer Combo Threats

Saturday, 17 September, 2011

By Zack Cimini
notjustagame23@gmail.com

Fist pump and a loud boooya to your fantasy buddies at halftime and halfway through the third. Celebratory because you’re up forty to fifty points. At ease because you’ve dominated your match up and you look like you’ve wrapped up a W. Only to see that lead trickle and trickle away. Like a college basketball team up twenty and poof it’s gone in the final seconds. It happens weekly too drive fantasy owners nuts.

One of the areas teams can pick up tallying points is in the fourth quarter of sloppy blown out games. Just because a team doesn’t look good for Vegas lines, doesn’t mean individual athletes don’t have upside in fantasy value. Especially at receiver, where defenses will give up chunks of yards in quick fashion down the field with a big lead. Here are some highlighted quarterback to receiver athletes this week that have a solid chance at piling up numbers late in the third and fourth quarters.

Of course this hurts the value of a fantasy running back on these teams, as teams will not be running the football trying to play catch up.

Duos:

Kevin Kolb-Earl Doucet
I expect the Cardinals to struggle vs. the Redskins. They may hang around for a few quarters but it’ll be a tough outing for the defense. Things just do not get corrected in a span of a week with how woeful they were against Cam Newton. Tim Hightower will establish the ground game, and take the Cardinals game plan away from them. That means airing it out like they typically do. Look for Kolb to have a big day through the air and Doucet to have a second straight solid week.

Philip Rivers-Malcolm Floyd
San Diego’s rush offense may not break the top twenty this year. That means Philip Rivers should easily stay afloat as a top five fantasy quarterback. Average receivers such as Malcolm Floyd then balloon to legitimate second options at fantasy receiver. This will be a shootout. Floyd received plenty of balls his way week one, and should see that surpassed week two. With the way the Patriots are piling up points, a big hole could be foreseeable. Floyd could have a multiple touchdown game.

Chad Henne-Davone Bess
Even when the Dolphins are blown out, their offense moves at a snails pace. There is no hurry up to the Dolphins attack. They’re fine with having Henne check the ball down to his favorite safe target in Davone Bess. Bess is becoming a PPR dynamite player, and with Brandon Marshall looking sharper, Bess could be a weekly double digit average fantasy point receiver.

Cam Newton-Brandon LaFell
The Saints were able to pick on right corner Tramon Williams quite a bit week one. After the blitzing and turnovers turn this game into a rookie lesson for Newton, the fourth quarter should offer at least two to three drives of garbage fantasy numbers. Steve Smith got the big plays week one, but Brandon LaFell quietly had a decent game with seventy yards receiving.

Matt Hasselbeck-Nate Washington
Statement games usually last one game, not in the Ravens case. They’re going to come out and look to stomp over the Titans just like they did week one against the Steelers. The Ravens a year ago had countless let down games against weaker opponents, such as the Browns and Buffalo Bills. They’ll halt Chris Johnson and keep the Titans scoring to a minimum in their second straight blowout victory. On the bright side of week one, Hasselbeck connected with his top two receivers at a good rate. Washington was a main target and had six catches week one.

Over/Under on Games Mike Vick Plays In?

Friday, 16 September, 2011

By Zack Cimini
notjustagame23@gmail.com

The mega contract and all world 2010 season is what intrigued many fantasy owners to draft Vick highly. He admitted that he never worked on the little things or diving into his playbooks while an Atlanta Falcon. Throughout his entire time there he made plays based on his raw abilities. After being a wildcat down player in 2009, it was unclear whether Vick could or would be able to get back to the level of his pre-jail days.

Once Vick stepped in and electrified during Kevin Kolb’s absence, it was apparent he still had his legs left. The work ethic and drive to finally attack and fine tune his pocket presence and proper reads started to show dividends. He always had a cannon of an arm but laser throws would sail wide, high, or inaccurately to the ground. Those type of mistakes pop up now and again but not anywhere near the extremes they use to be.

With his demeanor and his play on the field, Vick has completed a 360 in life and in his profession. How that carries over during the tenure of his contact, will either create a lasting legacy or an end to a promising talent. Vick’s health will likely be the main issue if Vick can get it done or not.

Lets point out the facts. Mike Vick is 31 and has always never been a big bulky quarterback like most in the NFL. He is only 6’0 and is listed at 215, which I find questionable. His style of play has advanced but hasn’t changed over his career. His speed, nimbleness, and shiftiness is still there. That has resulted in some, “how did he do that” type of runs, and also some crushing blows upon impact from defenders.

He has got a lot better at recognizing when to slide and avoid unnecessary hits upon getting adequate yards with his legs. If it isn’t one issue with getting hit, it’s the other. Teams know the glaring weakness with the Eagles is their front line, and they aren’t afraid to send attacking blitzes to disrupt Vick. Ignoring his speed, they’re coming from all angles to cut the lanes of Vick’s scrambling away.

In week one alone, Vick was hit and hurried numerous times vs. the St. Louis Rams. Way too many for a signal caller that you want to lead you to a championship. With the hits piling up, it is going to affect in other areas of his passing game. Completions will decline. In week one he threw for less than fifty percent. Often balls were just rushed because he could not get that extra half second to step into his throw.

One of his strengths is the deep ball, and he has two great receivers to stretch the field. That requires an extra few seconds to let the play develop. Will Vick get flustered when plays don’t go according to plan on a consistent basis because of the offensive line constantly breaking down? We all saw in preseason that he made some poor reads just to get read of the ball.

Most importantly out of all of this, is the fact that Vick has been injury prone throughout his career. Last year it was his ribs, and in prior years it was a plethora of things. Keep in mind that this will be the first season Mike Vick tries to play a full sixteen games since the year 2006. That was a 26 year old Mike Vick.

Fantasy owners should not be laughing too hard at buddies that drafted Peyton Manning or were trapped in their dynasty leagues. More than likely at some point this year, you’re going to have to start your backup fantasy quarterback. Hopefully it’s not for an extended amount of games, but even one game could derail you from getting a playoff seed. Just like head coaches have to prepare for the worst, my advice is to do the same with Vick. Ensure you get a quality insurance quarterback for a just in case scenario.

Week Two: Automatic Starters/Don’t Do It

Thursday, 15 September, 2011

By Zack Cimini
notjustagame23@gmail.com

It’s time to ponder your fantasy lineups. There is always a position or two that drives you crazy on who to insert and who to sit. Don’t over analyze week ones statistics and make an improper bench move. Here are some borderline depth athletes, that you may want to insert for this week and also sit.

Quarterbacks

Rex Grossman- The veteran may have finally found his home in Washington. He ended last season impressively with a couple of 300 yard outings. Those were thought to be over rated due to it was toward the end of the season, in non-meaningful games. In week one though he produced yet another 300 yard outing. You can state that Grossman continues to get fortunate situations as he faced a decimated Giants secondary. Well he gets another favorable match up facing a Cardinals secondary that allowed a rookie to throw for 400 yards.

Chad Henne- Miami has something going with their offense. With Brandon Marshall in shape and looking like his 2009 form, things are going to be much better for Henne. The continued flash route chunk yardage pickups have continued with Davone Bess. The out of the backfield yardage Henne will get on a weekly basis with Bush, shoots Henne up to a legitimate number two fantasy quarterback.

Running Backs

Peyton Hillis- Hillis came out of nowhere last year. Is the Madden hex abound to hit him in 2011? Maybe so. Week two will be a high indicator of that, as he gets to face a Colts defense that notoriously gives up plenty of rushing yards.

Cedric Benson- Benson continues to do the most with his carries. Cincinnati never cuts back his work load. With a downgrade at quarterback, they’ll look to increase Benson’s work load. When the Bengals do score this season, there is a good chance it’s going to be Benson barreling in the end zone. Facing Denver makes Benson a sure number two fantasy running back starter.

James Starks- In deep leagues, Starks can be considered as a flex starter and possibly number two running back. He outdid Ryan Grant convincingly, stealing more and more carries from him as the game went on. Look for the Packers to feed Starks earlier in this game, and keep the rate higher in his hands.

Willis McGahee- With Knowshown Moreno status in jeopardy, the veteran may get all carries and at the very least the upper hand in a split status. Not bad for a game going up against the Bengals. If Moreno is out, McGahee can be considered as a strong flex option.

Wide Receivers

Malcolm Floyd- When Vincent Jackson held out last season, Floyd stepped up. Rivers is comfortable with Floyd now and is being targeted aplenty by Rivers. In an aerial assault projected game, Floyd will be a strong fantasy starting receiver this weekend.

Jeremy Maclin- It’s been a slow process for Maclin to get back into the offense. This should be the week that he finally gets back to adding that element to the Eagles prolific offense. The Falcons are not going to let DeSean Jackson beat them solely. Look for Maclin to stretch the field and come up with a few big plays.

Jacoby Jones- Miami’s secondary tends to be ripped apart by Tom Brady and the Patriots. That tune has been sung many a times over the last five years. Now they get to face the Texans who could give the Patriots a run for their money on who has the best offense. Jones finally supplanted Kevin Walter and is the number two receiver for Houston. Look for him to shine this week, and be one of the top receivers looked at off the waiver wire come Tuesday and Wednesday.

Santonio Holmes- Look for Holmes to be a true number one fantasy wide out this week. Explosive numbers and top five results. He faces a Jaguars team that loves to get burnt for big plays. Rex Ryan will attack that early with speedster Holmes, and throughout the game.

Johnny Knox
With Roy Williams groin injury, Knox will be able to retain his old starting spot. He’ll be out to prove he is a better asset than Williams, to battle for more reps even when Williams reenters the lineup.

Sit

Quarterbacks

Eli Manning- Manning is struggling with turnovers yet again. He is also trying to adjust to new positional starters on offense. Replacing Kevin Boss and Steve Smith is easier said then done. To add to that, Hakeem Nicks status is in question.

Cam Newton- There will be some owners out there that believe Newton is the real deal already. Don’t be, he’ll take his bumps just like any rookie. I also advise against those of you anticipating a blowout, and then huge padded stats from Newton. You can get away with that with receivers, but quarterbacks are going to hurt you more with their high amount of interceptions.

Running Backs

Beanie Wells- Washington did a heck of a job shutting down one of the better running back duos in the NFL week one. Wells had a great week one but has never been able to pair consecutive outings together in his young career. Look for that pattern to continue against the Redskins.

Marshawn Lynch- As a starting running back Lynch may not even be worthy of a fourth running back spot in fantasy leagues. The Seahawks just do not have anything sustainable on offense to consider ever thinking about inserting Lynch. Cut your ties now and see if there is a better option out there.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis- Green-Ellis’s value each week is always shaky. At the end of the day though, he produces fantasy starter numbers about sixty percent of his starts. This won’t be one of those weeks, as the Patriots will utilize their short passing game to generate yards vs. a tough Chargers defense.

Wide Receivers

Pierre Garcon- The offense is of a different element without their starter since 1997. That was expected. Based upon where the yards went week one, it doesn’t look like Collins has developed yet with Garcon. Garcon never was a consistent target even with Manning. He is a big play threat that needs a ground game, to benefit from play action.

Antonio Brown- Falling in love with targets is good in some ways. Brown was a hot option week one for Roethlisberger just like in the preseason. The connection for completion though didn’t happen like you would want to see. Brown deserves a bench spot on fantasy rosters, and by mid-season could be a fantasy worthy number three or flex option.

Aaron Hernandez- There won’t be many weeks where a teams tight ends total almost 200 yards receiving. It was a career day for Brady and the tight ends of the Patriots were main contributors of that. Hernandez will be high on the Chargers game plans, as he is one of the few players that can stretch the field for the Patriots. Look for Rob Gronkowski to have the better game.

Week Two: Running Back Rankings

Thursday, 15 September, 2011

By Zack Cimini
notjustagame23@gmail.com

Thin or deep at running back, you’ll still need to make key moves each week on the right guys. Having depth is always a good thing, to be able to maneuver around the constant injury bug that plagues every owner at some point during the season. Don’t get to cute with who you start though. Plug in the guys you drafted highly. Don’t over react and bench a sure starter just because of a poor week one. If you’re in a catastrophic situation at running back, swapping guys constantly isn’t going to help. Reach out and seek a trade.

Here’s a look at week two fantasy running back rankings.

1. Adrian Peterson
The Vikings offense barely managed 30 plays. Everyone knows how poorly Donovan McNabb was in week one. I’ll need to see another abysmal outing from McNabb before Peterson shifts down any spots. Look for Peterson to be fueled to pickup his veteran quarterback, and get the offense cranked up via his shoulders.

2. Ray Rice
It was never a question for Ray Rice if the yardage would be there. It was if he can/would be the go to guy to get Ravens touchdowns. Rice annihilated the Steelers defense tallying monster yards via the ground and pass catching. Expect things to continue vs. the Tennessee Titans.

3. Matt Forte
Forte might have the highest use per play of any high caliber fantasy back in the NFL. He is used so much out of the backfield. Unlike a few years ago, the Bears have figured out how to break him loose almost every game. They just know when to call the appropriate play in their simplistic offense. Look for the Saints to get caught a few times, when they try to blitz Cutler.

4. Rashard Mendenhall
It’s only week two, but Seattle is so hopeless that this game is going to look like a team in week seventeen playing with no effort. With how shaky Roethlisberger was in week one, the Steelers will tone back his throws. Mendenhall should get twenty plus carries and well over a hundred and twenty yards.

5. Darren McFadden
Give McFadden credit. He was being tabbed with the injury prone label, but thwarted that last season. Now if he can keep his Denver Bronco type numbers going against other teams, he will shoot up officially as a top seven fantasy back.

6. LeSean McCoy
Vick has been being put on his back and pressured relentlessly throughout the preseason and week one. Just a few years ago that was a welcomed occurrence by Andy Reid. The Eagles still are one of the best screen and short dump teams in the NFL. Look for McCoy to put up equal numbers receiving as he does rushing, with around sixty to seventy yards in both categories.

7. Cedric Benson
He just continues to bull over defenses and produce numbers. One of the few backs that gets near all the carries for his team, and still gets overlooked when fantasy drafts are being conducted. If you grabbed him as your second back, you’ll reap the rewards once again. A favorable matchup for Benson this week shoots him up into the top ten for week two.

8. Tim Hightower
Washington seems to have found a proper balance with their offense. Hightower didn’t break a long gainer week one like he did in preseason, but still managed a touchdown. They’ll feed him the ball plenty of times against his ex-teammates. Rocket Hightower up not just for this week, but for the season. This will easily be his most productive season, now that he is getting the bulk of the carries. Another revengeful thing Hightower will have on his mind this week.

9. Maurice Jones-Drew
The bowling ball finds a way to get it done. He faces the toughest matchup of top fantasy backs, but do not let that stray you from inserting him in your lineup. If you drafted solidly, your running back two option should be able to pick up an extra five to eight points to make up for Jones-Drew’s slight dip this week.

10. Jahvid Best
Crank out the oldies. Best is humming and voicing, “Kansas City, Kansas City here comes a monster day”. Detroit’s offense is going to soar weekly just like their defense is coming together. Best is the type of guy that when he has an impressive game, it comes in the range of multiple touchdowns and tons of yards. Don’t forget Best played the majority of the season last year with an injury, but to start of the 2010 season he was a beast.

11. Frank Gore
12. Jamaal Charles
13. Ahmad Bradshaw
14. Michael Turner
15. Arian Foster
16. Fred Jackson
17. Chris Johnson
18. Peyton Hillis
19. Beanie Wells
20. Reggie Bush
21. Felix Jones
22. Shonn Greene
23. LeGarrette Blount
24. Mike Tolbert
25. Darren Sproles
26. James Starks
27. DeAngelo Williams
28. Willis McGahee
29. Ben Tate
30. Mark Ingram
31. Danny Woodhead
32. Cadillac Williams
33. Ryan Matthews
34. Joseph Addai
35. BenJarvus Green-Ellis
36. MarShawn Lynch
37. Jonathan Stewart
38. Ricky Williams
39. DeLone Carter
40. Brandon Jacobs
41. LT
42. Ryan Grant
43. Pierre Thomas
44. Mike Bush
45. Knowshown Moreno (Likely Out or Limited)
46. Thomas Jones
47. Jerome Harrison
48. DejI Karim
49. Marion Barber
50. CJ Spiller

Defense Rankings Week Two

Thursday, 15 September, 2011

By Zack Cimini
notjustagame23@gmail.com

Special teams ignited for eight touchdowns in week one. You better believe the yelling from head coach to the special teams coaches trickled down to the practice fields this week. With the way quarterbacks lit up opposing units week one, it might be a turn around affect week two. Especially with some of the young quarterbacks such as Cam Newton and Chad Henne who played at career day levels.

** Potential Available Defenses on Waivers Worth Picking Up For Week Two
– Tampa Bay- Things are not looking like they are going to bode well for McNabb. The chemistry just isn’t there and the lack of offensive weapons could mean a second straight poor outing for McNabb.

– Denver- They don’t get to face rookie Andy Dalton but they do get journeyman Bruce Gradkowski. The Broncos gave up the most yards Monday night but that’s been a perpetual issue when they face Darren McFadden. Look for them to fluster Gradkowski and force some turnovers. Their special teams has already been a force with a returned touchdown by Eric Decker.

1. Baltimore
The cohesiveness this team has throughout their entire defense is unheard of. The past couple of years the weakness was in the secondary. It looks like with Ed Reed healthy and some of the youngsters matured and more experienced that has been fixed. Forcing five turnovers against the supreme of the AFC over the last few years was a huge opening weekend statement. They get to face the Titans and Matt Hasselbeck this week.

2. Green Bay
The welcoming Cam Newton was supposed to get week one will be delivered a week late. Green Bay has flustered some of the best quarterbacks over the last year. It’ll be a wake up call and a turnover prone game for Newton.

3. New York Jets
Romo had his way with the Jets through the air, but the defense was stout versus the run. Jacksonville’s only chance to stay in this game is through clock management. If the Jets are able to ground the rushing attack, it’ll force them to throw the ball more than they would want. I anticipate that happening and for McCown to show that he should only be a backup quarterback.

4. Detroit
They forced a team that lived off the ground attack a year ago, to abandon the run with their primary ball carrier only getting five attempts. Now they get Matt Cassel who seems to have blinders on overlooking down the field beyond seven yards. You can bank on a pick six from a tipped pass in this one.

5. Pittsburgh
After a proud team gets bullied, it is never good for the next weeks opponent. Sorry Seattle.

6. Atlanta
Mike Vick was drilled twenty one times by the Rams defense. He may be facing his former team but don’t expect Vick to have one of those high caliber performances. Atlanta will contain him with their defensive speed and expose the Eagles putrid offensive line.

7. Houston
Henne was in a groove week one, but it’s obvious that is not his comfort behind center. Houston moved the ball efficiently week one and facing Miami’s bottom tier defense should continue that. You can’t expect Henne to perform at that type of high rate, meaning that there should be more turnovers in week two.

8. Chicago
This is a true team unit. If with or without Brian Urlacher they’ll have even extra motivation to form together Sunday.

9. Denver
Noted in above possible defenses available on waiver wire.

10. Philadelphia
Matt Ryan just didn’t seem 100% in rhythm week one. Drives were stagnant against the Bears and he only found comfort delivering to Tony Gonzalez. The slow start could be attributed to his history of faring far better on his home turf. He’ll be tested even at home this weekend, going against the Eagles All-Pro secondary.

11. Tampa Bay
12. Dallas
13. San Francisco
14. New Orleans
15. Buffalo
16. Cleveland
17. Oakland
18. Washington
19. San Diego
20. Minnesota
21. New York Giants
22. New England
23. Indianapolis
24. Seattle
25. Kansas City
26. Miami
27. Jacksonville
28. Tennessee
29. Arizona
30. St. Louis
31. Cincinnati
32. Carolina