Gridiron Challenge: Week 3 previewBy Tristan H. Cockcroft Each week, Tristan H. Cockcroft offers his strategies for the Gridiron Challenge game. Look for his best and worst matchups every Thursday.
Matchups I Like
Bernard Berrian, WR, Bears (vs. DAL, 5.1 price tag): In the Cowboys' first two games, look at what their opponents' No. 1 receivers did: Plaxico Burress and Chris Chambers had a combined 17 catches for 253 yards and three TDs. It doesn't help that CB Terence Newman (heel) might be limited or out. QB Rex Grossman might be erratic, but against a defense like this, he should be able to deliver the ball to Berrian fairly easily. Chris Cooley, TE, Redskins (vs. NYG, 4.7): With Mathias Kiwanuka still not particularly comfortable as the Giants' strongside linebacker, and with the team's secondary dealing with all sorts of problems of its own, opposing tight ends have had an easy time breaking free over the middle. Jason Witten, Bubba Franks and Donald Lee have combined for 171 receiving yards and three TDs against the Giants the past two weeks. Ronald Curry, WR, Raiders (vs. CLE, 5.0): He followed up a 10-catch, 133-yard, one-TD breakout performance in Week 1 with a terrible two-catch, 12-yard effort in Week 2, but let's give him the benefit of the doubt; CB Champ Bailey clamped down on him all day. Against the Browns, who have allowed a whopping 10 TDs through the air in two games, Curry should bounce back with another standout game for fantasy. Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seahawks (vs. CIN, 6.1): Two factors work in Hasselbeck's favor here. One, the Bengals don't apply much pressure to opposing quarterbacks; they made Derek Anderson look like a superstar in Week 2 and have managed only two sacks total in two games. Two, the Bengals have the kind of offense that should pile on the points, forcing Hasselbeck into many passing situations to keep pace on the scoreboard. LaMont Jordan, RB, Raiders (vs. CLE, 5.5): Usually it's either the running game or the passing game that's going to succeed for a team in any given week, but in this case the Browns boast the kind of shoddy defense that makes an entire offense look good. I'm of the mind that QB Josh McCown can hit Curry with a few key early strikes, but Jordan should get a fair share of the mid-to-late work controlling the clock. Laurence Maroney, RB, Patriots (vs. BUF, 5.8): I admit, the Sammy Morris factor scares me a tad, because he could easily snatch away all the goal-line work. Still, if there's a game in which Maroney could break out, it's this one, against a Bills team that has allowed back-to-back 100-yard rushing efforts. The Bills have allowed 355 rushing yards total in two games; that's more than enough to go around for Maroney to shine. Vince Young, QB, Titans (@NO, 6.2): Saints CB Jason David -- and to a lesser extent Mike McKenzie -- has been schooled in back-to-back games to begin the season, and their front four isn't putting any pressure on opposing QBs, with no sacks thus far. That bodes well for Young -- and makes Brandon Jones fantasy-worthy in deeper leagues for the first time -- since he'll face a passing-friendly matchup for the first time this year.
Sleepers
Jason Campbell, QB, Redskins (vs. NYG, 5.8 price tag): The aforementioned Giants pass defense shouldn't be any problem for Campbell, who was an effective game manager even if the stats weren't there for fantasy in Week 2. He has enough weapons to be a cheap yet respectable No. 2 option, and note that in his last game against the Giants (Week 17 of last season) he managed 220 passing yards, two TDs and one interception. Not bad! Carolina Panthers defense (@ATL, 4.5): I'm notoriously rough on bad teams, constantly tabbing their opponents as must-starts while picking on their inadequacies (perhaps an understatement?). Well, I'm sorry, but that's how fantasy success is bred, and when I look at the Falcons, I can't help but think "bad team" (again, understatement?). Expect a big bounce-back effort from the Panthers, who are better than they looked in Week 2. Owen Daniels, TE, Texans (vs. IND, 4.1): With WR Andre Johnson (knee) out for Week 3, everyone's attention will shift to preseason sensation Jacoby Jones. Not that I dislike Jones, not at all, but I have a feeling that Daniels, who has more catches and yards than Jones and Kevin Walter combined, will benefit more initially. Interesting: The Colts did surrender eight catches and 57 yards to Saints TE Eric Johnson in Week 1.
Matchups I'd Avoid
Tatum Bell, RB, Lions (@PHI, 4.6 price tag): With RB Kevin Jones (foot) due back this week, even for a reported 15-20 snaps (Note: snaps, not carries/touches), Bell's workload is bound to decrease. Considering he'll be facing an Eagles defense holding opponents to a 3.5 yards-per-carry average, sixth-best in the league, his steep value decline should begin here. By Week 9, I won't be at all shocked if this is Jones' job outright. Lee Evans, WR, Bills (@NE, 5.0): This one is actually more about the Bills' conservative game plan than anything, because I do see them falling behind on the scoreboard early and then airing it out, which on the surface might seem good for Evans. That's true to a point, but the matchup certainly doesn't do him any favors, as the Patriots have CBs Ellis Hobbs and Asante Samuel ready to lock him down. Darrell Jackson, WR, 49ers (@PIT, 5.2): The Steelers' pass defense has looked exceptional in two games, with 10 sacks, two interceptions and a 5.9 yards per attempt average allowed. Sure, that they faced the Browns' Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson and Bills' J.P. Losman has a lot to do with it. Still, Alex Smith hasn't looked much better thus far, and Jackson's back has been acting up a bit of late. Jacksonville Jaguars defense (@DEN, 5.3): The Jaguars defense hasn't performed poorly at all in two home games, but now the true test comes, in the team's first road game of 2007. Turn back the clock to 2006, and note that the Jaguars allowed 12.3 points per game more on the road than at home. Even the Bills, Redskins and Texans lit them up, and this year's Broncos, they're a bit more potent on offense than those teams were. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Bills (@NE, 5.2): If Evans' matchup was bad, what does that say about Lynch's? The Patriots have made Thomas Jones and LaDainian Tomlinson, two solid starting RBs, look ordinary in back-to-back weeks, and they now rank No. 1 against the run (56.0 ypg). Plus, I've already noted my concern about the Bills falling behind early. Dick Jauron is capable of anything, but he might have to abandon the run late.
The "Big Sixes" to Avoid
Players priced at 6.0 or higher this week in the Gridiron Challenge. Jay Cutler, QB, Broncos (vs. JAC, 6.1 price tag): The aforementioned Jaguars do worry me on defense in a road game, but one aspect in which it should remain successful is defending the pass. Note that in two games, the Jags have allowed only 234 passing yards and 0 TDs while recording nine sacks. Cutler shouldn't be the primary focus of the Broncos' offensive attack this week, so call this a better week to leave him on the sidelines. Frank Gore, RB, 49ers (@PIT, 6.7): At that price, Gore is more expensive than anyone not named Manning (Peyton, that is), Palmer or Brady, which isn't good for a guy going up against the Steelers. LB James Farrior leads a stingy rush defense allowing 3.9 yards per carry and 0 TDs, and note that Gore was somewhat limited in Week 2 with a leg injury. You'd want a completely healthy guy battling a defense like this. Larry Johnson, RB, Chiefs (vs. MIN, 6.1): I hate this matchup. Hate it. Here's the problem: No one in their right mind -- as far as traditional fantasy leagues are concerned -- would consider sitting Johnson, a top-5 pick in the preseason. In the Gridiron Challenge game, though, it's a prime spot to sit him, with him not up to full speed, the Chiefs' O-line not what it once was and the Vikings allowing only 3.1 yards per carry. Matt Leinart, QB, Cardinals (@BAL, 6.0): He's probably going to enjoy a fine career, a lengthy one with many Pro Bowl appearances, but right now, Leinart is still too erratic to be trusted facing better defenses. Consider that in 13 career starts, he has more interceptions (14) than TD passes (13). Now consider that the Ravens, strong as they are on defense, have 22 interceptions to 17 TDs allowed during the same time span.
Have No Fear
Their matchups might not look good, but you shouldn't be worried. Travis Henry, RB, Broncos (vs. JAC, 5.9 price tag): Part of the reason I'm not a believer in Cutler this week is because Henry is the Broncos offensive player with the friendliest matchup. Note that when the Jaguars have struggled on defense this season, it has been defending the run; Chris Brown tore them up in Week 1 and the aging Warrick Dunn scored off them in Week 2. Henry is more talented than both; I expect big things. Terrell Owens, WR, Cowboys (@CHI, 6.3): Come on, he's T.O.! The Bears might have a reputation as a brutal matchup for opposing receivers, and their first two games back up that notion, but it's really not fair to compare Owens to Vincent Jackson or Samie Parker. He's a game-changing force, one tough for CBs Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher to contain. Important stat: T.O. has 15 TDs in his past 14 regular-season contests.
Tristan's Gridiron Challenge Lineup: Week 2
Week 2 Recap: Brett Favre and Joey Galloway combined for 48 points, the Jaguars defense was money (16) and all but Steven Jackson (9) managed double digits. How Jackson didn't run all over the 49ers, against whom he had two 100-yard rushing efforts in 2006, is beyond me. I'm still a believer; the Rams offense simply needs to get going. Score: 150 points in Week 2, 222 points for the season. QB1: Matt Hasselbeck, SEA (vs. CIN), 6.1 price tag Tristan H. Cockcroft covers fantasy sports for ESPN.com. You can e-mail him here. |
Overall Leaderboard
| RNK | ENTRY, OWNER | PTS |
| 1 | fol299 , fol299 | 1529 |
| 2 | jcviking81 1, jcviking81 | 1528 |
| 3 | Shark Attack, annadrew1004 | 1517 |
| 4 | deasonlovescowboys, dwpowell08 | 1516 |
| 5 | E-ville Dynasty, the_educated_opinion | 1513 |
| 6 | MichaelMini2, TheBangers2 | 1501 |
| 7 | Go49ers265, Gogiants7687 | 1492 |
| 8 | Nanny Repeat, Nanny720 | 1486 |
| 9 | Lone Rhino..., skiing | 1484 |
| 10 | Featured Attraction, CGarner96 | 1483 |
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Prizes
Play Gridiron Challenge for your chance to win a $1,100 Best Buy Gift Card and the Ultimate Fan Pack.
Total ARV is $2,500

