QB
Jay Cutler vs. TB: Tampa Bay is 27th against the pass this season. Broncos are as potent an offense as you can find. Smells like a good day for Cutler since the Broncos will need to pass a lot since they won’t have a running game this week against a stout Bucs run defense.
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Phillip Rivers @ MIA: Miami is not a scary pass defense and Rivers has played phenomenally so far. They surprised against NE last game, but don’t expect that again.
Drew Brees vs. MIN: Minnesota’s pass defense has improved from last year, but it’s still bad. Brees should have another good week against a still below average run defense, yet there’s always the chance that Minnesota’s pass rush gets the better of them. Also, look for Brees to find WR Lance Moore again since their chemistry has been great without Colston in the lineup.
Tony Romo vs. CIN: Is this even a question? Cincy doesn’t really have a pass defense, or any defense at all for that matter. Jonathan Joseph will have to cover TO, which is a terrible mismatch, and Joseph won’t have much safety help either. Romo should have a field day.
Kurt Warner vs. BUF: This is not a good match-up at all. Bills have a very good defense this year and Warner might be without Anquan Boldin this week. Without Boldin, Fitzgerald may get double covered and the Bills may take away the running game early as well. Warner is in for a long day.
RB
Michael Turner @ GB: This is not a great match-up for Turner. GB has a solid run defense this year, but there are some injuries that can open up some room for Turner. He puts up solid numbers anyway and should do okay even with a tougher match-up.
Marion Barber vs. CIN: Cincinnati doesn’t have much of a defense, as I mentioned above, and Barber could be used a lot, as he will be used as a weapon running and receiving. He didn’t get any carries taken away by Felix Jones last week, but if the Cowboys get too far ahead too quickly, he may come out so be prepared to lose garbage time carries.
Adrian Peterson @ NO: Although NO’s pass defense has improved, their run defense has not. Sedrick Ellis is out 2-4 weeks, so Peterson should have a field day considering that Frerotte won’t have too much success throwing the ball anyway. He might break 200 yards this week.
LaDainian Tomlinson @ MIA: LT has bounced back nicely lately, scoring four TDs in the last two weeks. LT could make it three weeks in a row with 2 TDs and he will against a weaker defense in Miami.
Frank Gore vs. NE: Well, on paper you may think, “Oh, against New England is going to be bad.” But in fact, if you remember what happened to New England against Miami, where Ronnie Brown scored 5 TDs, I wonder what Gore can do. The answer: a lot. Look for Gore to have a big day.
WR
Santana Moss @ PHI: It’s hard to believe that Moss is a top 5 WR (he is #2 behind the injured Anquan Boldin), but he has played very well so far. This week he may be slowed down by a very impressive and talented Eagles secondary. Asante Samuel will be a handful for Moss, who will have a down week this week. He may be able to burn them once, but that’s a huge maybe.
Greg Jennings vs. ATL: This could get out of hand quickly. It is still uncertain whether Aaron Rodgers will play or not. If Rodgers does play, Jennings could have a career day against them. If Matt Flynn plays, Jennings will still produce solid numbers. Although Atlanta’s corners have played well so far, Jennings will be tough for them.
Brandon Marshall vs. TB: As I said before with Cutler, TB is 27th against the pass. Bucs could make plays defensively, but Marshall should be just fine against this secondary. Cutler should look for him a lot and should find the end zone at least once.
Larry Fitzgerald vs. BUF: Without Boldin, Fitzgerald may struggle to get open and Arizona will not have a good day against this team. If anything, though, Buffalo may jump out to a huge lead like NYJ did last week, which may force Arizona to throw a lot and that would mean plenty of looks for Fitzgerald.
Terrell Owens vs. CIN: Owens should have a field day this week. Although Jonathan Joseph is no walk in the park, he is also not a Champ Bailey in his prime either. Owens should get plenty of looks and should get open more than once against this horrendous secondary.
TE
Antonio Gates @ MIA: Gates has played exceptionally so far and Miami shouldn’t stop his play. Gates will get looks from Rivers, who has already looked for him a lot this year (especially in the red zone). I expect a TD and a good amount of yards for Gates this week.
Jason Witten vs. CIN: Witten is a little banged up but shouldn’t do too badly against the Bengals. They don’t have any good safety help for Witten and the LBs are mediocre, which means a good matchup for Witten.
Anthony Fasano vs. SD: Fasano should get a lot of looks this week since the WRs will have trouble against the Chargers’ talented corners. Fasano should find the end zone once as Miami tries desperately to keep up with SD this week.
Tony Scheffler vs. TB: Scheffler has been kind of down lately. After his amazing performance in the week 2 thriller against SD, he hasn’t done much and this week shouldn’t change much. Denver’s WRs should find ways to get open, which means less looks for Scheffler.
Tony Gonzalez @ CAR: This is a tougher match-up for Gonzalez as Carolina has been a good defense so far. Gonzalez has played well as of late and KC better hope he keeps it up if they want to make two upsets in a row.
Boom picks
QB- Brian Griese @ DEN: Griese goes up against his former team and looks to show that he is fine without them. Griese has extra motivation this week and should produce.
RB- Steve Slaton vs. IND: Slaton has had two solid weeks in a row and playing against Indy, he should keep it up. Indy is no great defense and Slaton has been used as a double weapon both rushing and receiving and will look for his third straight week of 100+ total yards.
WR- Steve Smith vs. KC: Smith should have a phenomenal week against a below-average KC defense. Smith has been nothing special since his return (166 yds and 1 TD in 2 weeks), but he will turn it around this week against KC.
TE- Dallas Clark @ HOU: Clark has been slowed by an injury this year, but now that he is back and playing a weak Houston secondary (who just lost safety CC Brown for a period of time), it should make for a breakout week for Clark.
Bust Picks
QB- Ben Roethlisberger @ JAC: Big Ben is banged up and about to face a ferocious Jaguars defense. They have a good pass rush and secondary, which can’t be good for Big Ben, who has a shoulder injury. Also, without a solid running game, the pass won’t open up too much.
RB- Maurice Jones-Drew vs. PIT: MJD has been shut down in 3 of his first 4 games. Pittsburgh is a good defense that won’t let MJD get away this week. They have an injured NT in Casey Hampton but their 3-4 defense gives them plenty of backers and safeties watching him.
WR- Andre Johnson vs. IND: Andre has struggled so far this season. Matt Schaub is not throwing him the ball and Indy has shut him down in the past. I wouldn’t say sit him, but be prepared for cruddy numbers this week for Andre.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
WR- Andre Johnson vs. IND: Andre has struggled so far this season. Matt Schaub is not throwing him the ball and Indy has shut him down in the past. I wouldn’t say sit him, but be prepared for cruddy numbers this week for Andre.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
WR- Andre Johnson vs. IND: Andre has struggled so far this season. Matt Schaub is not throwing him the ball and Indy has shut him down in the past. I wouldn’t say sit him, but be prepared for cruddy numbers this week for Andre.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.
TE- Chris Cooley @ PHI: Philly’s secondary is solid and their LBs have played surprisingly well. Cooley is off to a slow start and don’t expect him to break out this week.