FanEx NFL Week 3 - EasyScore Pick'em Tips

Week 3 of the NFL season is upon us!  For this column I’m going to look at the QB Throwdown, RB Rushing Roulette and WR Downfield Threat. Each EasyScore Pick’em game focuses on one position and gives you three groupings from each position to choose from. So in the end you’ll have three players on your team, either QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs or even Kickers!

Here are my three teams for this week.

QB Throwdown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QB1: Peyton Manning: The Raiders on paper look alright, after shutting down the Henne-led Jaguars and holding Andrew Luck to 178 yards passing. But Henne and the Jaguars are beyond bad while Luck was a great 18-of-23 with 2 touchdowns and another rushing touchdown. Even Henne had a 66% completion rate. Now the Raiders go to Denver and well, I wouldn't be surprised to see another seven-touchdown game from Peyton.

QB2: Colin Kaepernick: The Colts go into San Francisco after the 49ers were humiliated by their rivals. They’ll be out to get back on track to recover their eyebrow and dignity. I think Kaepernick probably has the highest ceiling this week for quarterbacks. Andrew Luck is no slouch and should be able to move the ball some on the 49ers to keep them from running the clock out late in the game.

QB3: Alex Smith: This was a tough one between Alex Smith and Carson Palmer, but I went with Smith because I feel better about his matchup. I think Palmer is a better quarterback, but Rob Ryan may be doing something down there in New Orleans that could be smoke and mirrors, but he’s getting results. But the Eagles are just horrid. Only Washington has been worse, but they’ve faced better offenses. Andy Reid makes his homecoming and will do his best to kick the crud out of his old team.

RB Rushing Roulette

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RB1: Adrian Peterson: I was going to take Jamaal Charles here because I love his match-up, but since this contest is about rushing yards instead of receiving yards, I’m going with Peterson. All Day doesn't work all that much in the passing game, so most of his yards come via the ground. The Browns are a stout run defense, but their offense is going to be reeling with the loss of Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden. This won’t be a high scoring affair, but Peterson will get plenty of carries.

RB2: Marshawn Lynch: Marshawn Lynch scored three touchdowns against the 49ers. They only gave up seven all of last season. This week Lynch gets to be in Seattle once again and face off with the reeling Jaguars. Jacksonville ranks 28th in fantasy points and 30th in total yards given up to running backs. It could be a bloodbath.

RB3: Frank Gore: So far this season Gore has been stopped by Green Bay and Seattle. Green Bay’s game plan was to stop the running game, which led to Kaepernick throwing for 400+ yards. Their plan didn't quite work out. And Seattle, well, Seattle destroyed the whole 49er's team. The Colts run defense is a middling group that can be run on. San Francisco will  try to get Gore going after two tough weeks.

 

WR Downfield Threat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WR1:  Calvin Johnson: Washington has given up 34 receptions, 503 yards, and four touchdowns to wide receivers in just two games. DeAngelo Hall couldn’t cover Megatron in his best dreams. This is the obvious choice and for good reason.

WR2: Julio Jones: This was somewhat difficult because I really like Dwayne Bowe’s matchup with the Eagles, but Roddy White isn’t practicing yet this week and I could see Julio Jones being the primary target once again. Miami’s pass defense against wide receivers hasn't been bad statistically, but they faced the Browns week one, whose leading wide receiver was Davone Bess. The next week T.Y. Hilton put up 124 yards on them. Jones is too explosive to be held down by the Dolphins.

WR3: Mike Wallace: Since this game counts receiving yards solely, I am going with Wallace.  I think Wes Welker could grab a touchdown and a good amount of receptions, but Wallace is the big play threat and big play threats have been hurting Atlanta this season. In week one, Kenny Stills caught two passes for 86 yards and in week two Chris Givens caught five for 105. Both of those guys are fast and make big chunks of yardage at a time, like Wallace.