Fbkid's 2008 NFL Mock Draft #1

It's finally time again. The combine is coming up and the draft is fastly approaching. This is the first of many mock drafts for this year that I will have. This time around though I will not have analysis after every pick due to the fact that teams haven't started signing free agents as that will have a big factor in what teams will draft. So without further explanation here is my first mock draft.

*= pick will be determined by coin flip

1.Miami Dolphins: Chris Long DE Virginia
2.St.Louis Rams:Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
3*.Atlanta Falcons:Matt Ryan QB Boston College
4*.Oakland Raiders:Sedrick Ellis DT USC
5*.Kansas City Chiefs:Jake Long T Michigan
6.New York Jets:Darren McFadden RB Arkansas
7.New England Patriots:Aquib Talib CB Kansas
8.Baltimore Ravens:Mike Jenkins CB South Florida
9.Cincinnati Bengals:Vernon Gholston DE Ohio State
10.New Orleans Saints:Leodis McKelvin CB Troy
11.Buffalo Bills:Keith Rivers LB USC
12.Denver Broncos:Kenny Phillips S Miami(Fl)
13.Carolina Panthers:Jeff Otah T Pittsburgh
14.Chicago Bears:Ryan Clady T Boise State
15.Detroit Lions:Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State
16.Arizona Cardinals:Derrick Harvey DE Florida
17.Minnesota Vikings:Phillip Merling DE Clemson
18.Houston Texans:Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois
19.Philadelphia Eagles:DeSean Jackson WR California
20.Tampa Bay Buccaneers:Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina
21.Washington Redskins:Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma
22.Dallas Cowboys:Felix Jones RB Arkansas
23.Pittsburgh Steelers:Branden Albert G Virginia
24.Tennessee Titans:Mario Manningham WR Michigan
25.Seattle Seahawks: Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon
26.Jacksonville Jaguars:Reggie Smith CB Oklahoma
27.San Diego Chargers:Calais Campbell DE Miami(Fl)
28.Dallas Cowboys:Early Doucet WR LSU
29.San Francisco 49ers:Brian Brohm QB Louisville
30.Green Bay Packers:Tracy Porter CB Indiana
31.New England Patriots:Forfited due to "Spygate"
32.New York Giants:Dan Conner LB Penn State

Fbkid's Super Bowl Predictions

It is finally here. The game we have all been waiting for,the Super Bowl. Lots of things have happened in the NFL since the season has started. For instance with the two teams in the big game. I'm sure every player on the Patriots would say the first 18 wins were worthless without a Super Bowl ring. The Giants stunned everyone this season. Not only did most experts think the would finish in the cellar of the NFC East, they won an incredible 10 road games. Here is my Super Bowl prediction along with the key to victory and X-Factor for each team.


Giants

Key to Victory: Eli Manning QB: For the Giants to win, Manning has to keep playing the way he has all postseason. If he avoids costly mistakes, the Giants have a great chance of winning the game.

X-Factor: Ahmad Bradshaw RB: Most people don't realize that when the game is on the line and the Giants are running out clock, Brandon Jacobs isn't getting the ball. Instead it is Bradshaw as a surprise rookie out of Marshall doing the damage. Bradshaw has 163 yards rushing this postseason and is a home run threat to score. If he gets 12 to 17 carries the Giants are in good shape.


Patriots

Key to Victory: Laurence Maroney RB: Maroney has played very well this postseason and has had 2 100 yard games. If he can run the ball, that will be keep the Giants dominant front four from getting to Tom Brady.

X-Factor: Kevin Faulk RB: Faulk has been a key component of all of the Patriots Super Bowl wins and is one of the most underrated players on the team. Faulk has the versatility to run and catch passes out of the back field. If Faulk gets around 70 total yards the Patriots are in good shape.


Prediction: The Giants had a great run to get this far but all in all I think the Patriots just have too much fire power. My prediction is Giants 21 Patriots 27.

Has Chad Henne moved into the 1st round of the draft?

Going into the start of his senior season Chad Henne was said by many draft experts to be the 6th best quarterback in the draft behind the likes of Matt Ryan, Brian Brohm, Andre Woodson,Colt Brennan and John David Booty. Well after the last month Henne has had scouts aren't saying that anymore.


Henne's 2008 started off with a great performance against Florida in the Capital One Bowl. In that game Henne went 25 of 39 for 373 yards along with 3 touchdowns. Not to mention while Henne did that, Woodson didn't look sharp against a short handed FSU defense and Colt Brennan did terrible in his game as well against Georgia as he took more hits than Bob Marley.


Now it's a few weeks later at the Senior Bowl and Henne shines again. Henne went 5 of 9 for 64 yards and 2 touchdowns and was the North MVP. Woodson on the other hand took a safety and fumbled but he did throw a touchdown. Brennan's bad luck continues though as he went 2 of 6 for 29 yards and a pick. He was also sick leading up to the game and only weighed in at 185.

So if you are stunned when Roger Goddell walks up to the podium on a Saturday in late April and announces Henne's name, don't be. Henne can make many NFL calibar throws and should be making an impact on Sundays for years to come.

Fbkid's championship weekend picks

It is finally here. The weekend that determines who will be making the most important game of the year. Last week was great to watch but hard to pick as I went 2-2. Lets hope I get back into my wildcard form this week. Here are my championship weekend predictions.


Chargers vs Patriots: The Chargers stunned everyone last weekend beating the Colts in Indianapolis. But on offense the Chargers big play threats are all banged up. Antonio Gates still has a bad toe but played last week. Philip Rivers might play this week but experience wise the Chargers might be better off just going with Billy Volek. Most importantly,LaDanian Tomlinson is hurt and will probably play. Tomlinson has to step up though as he has played poorly the last few games. The Patriots were pretty much perfect last week. Tom Brady only had 2 incompletions which is outstanding but you have to consider that Randy Moss only caught one pass. Moss has had some legal issues leading up to this game and that could affect him. Look for Wes Welker to step up and have a big game. As long as the Patriots defense stops the run,it could be a long day for the Chargers. My prediction is the Chargers 17 Patriots 35.

Giants vs Packers: The Giants also surprised lots of people going into Dallas and winning. Considering everyone said that Eli Manning was inconsistent in the regular season,he doesn't look like that now. Manning isn't making mistakes which is the main reason why his team is winning games. Brandon Jacobs is doing a good job running the ball and Ahmad Bradshaw has been a good change of pace back. Plaxico Burress needs to step up if the Giants want to win. The Packers played great last week and if Brett Favre keeps playing like he has the Pack could win it all. Ryan Grant won't get 200 yards every game but needs a big game. Considering the poor conditions both teams will run most of the time. The Packers receivers should have big games as the Giants secondary is banged up. So with all of this considered my prediction is the Giants 20 Packers 27.

Is Reggie Bush the second coming of Peter Warrick?

Coming into the NFL,Reggie Bush was one of the most hyped rookies in recent history. Bush came into the league from Southern California and a heisman trophy so he was a marketing dream for most companies. Most rookies coming in don't have endorsements with Subway are challenge the diet pepsi machine at the combine. But looking at Bush's career so far it is very similar to another player who had come out in the last decade. That player is Peter Warrick.

If you remember Peter Warrick was just like Reggie Bush coming out of Florida State. Warrick could line up any place on the field and was a threat to score every time he touched the ball. In 2000 Warrick was drafted by the Bengals with the 5th pick overall and was expected to change the franchise. Well lets just when your quarterback is Akili Smith not to many positive things will happen. When Smith left Warrick had a string of a few good seasons but with the development of Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmanzadeh, Warrick is now watching the playoffs at his house. For his career Warrick caught 275 passes for 2,991 yards along with 22 career touchdowns.

Bush coming into the league was also expected to change the franchise. Well that's a little easier when the quarterback is Drew Brees. Through 2 seasons Bush has 15 career touchdowns along with 161 receptions while averaging 3.7 yards a carry. He along with Warrick is enjoying the playoffs from home. Here are some more things the players have in common.


Scandal: In the last few years it has come out that Bush's family was getting housing from an agent hoping to land Bush as a client. That is against NCAA rules and could possibly cost Bush his heisman trophy.

Warrick in college got suspended for receiving gifts at a Dillard's from someone he knew that worked there.

Playing in someones shadow: At USC, Bush was the one who got all of the highlights but he wasn't even the best back on his team. LenDale White had more yards this season than Bush has for his career and his proven he can be a solid NFL back.

Warrick got all of the attention from defenses in college but his teammate Laveranues Coles has become the better pro player as has over 550 career catches for 7000 yards and almost 40 touchdowns.

So with everything that they have in common and the way there careers have been similar up to this point, don't be surprised if 5 years from now,Bush is watching football in his house and not playing.

Fbkid's divisional weekend predictions

It was a great wild card weekend as I went a perfect 4-0 on my picks last week.Lets hope the trend continues this week. Here are my divisional playoff predictions.

Jaguars vs Patriots: If the weather in Foxboro is 20 degrees and snowing the Jaguars have a great chance of winning this game. The problem is that it is expected to be in the low 40's with light winds. That means Tom Brady will be in full force continuing his record breaking season with 50 touchdown passes. Jaguars defensive tackle John Henderson got hurt against the Steelers but will be coming back for the game and safety Reggie Nelson is also banged up. The Jags need to get the running game going from the start with Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. But David Garrard does 9 of 21 again it could be a long night. My prediction putting all of this into play is the Jaguars 17 Patriots 31.


Seahawks vs Packers: Most people are talking about Brett Favre being in the playoffs again but in the process they are overlooking the Seahawks. The Seahawks showed great postseason composure when the Redskins took a lead in the 3rd quarter by not getting frustrated. The Seahawks ended up blowing them out. The key for the Seahawks is to get constant pressure on Favre with Julian Peterson and Patrick Kerney as they combine for almost 30 sacks. Favre has had a great season but without a stable running back in Ryan Grant, the Packers might not have gotten a first round bye. Grant had over 800 yards in the last half of the season and along with Greg Jennings and Donald Driver make great weapons for Favre. Plus the Packers have 2 all pro corners in Charles Woodson and Al Harris which will make it hard for Matt Hasselbeck and the Seahawks passing game. My prediction is the Seahawks 21 Packers 27.

Giants vs Cowboys: The Giants played very well last week against the Bucs and if Eli Manning plays like that, they can beat anyone on any given Sunday. The Cowboys have one of the most explosive offenses in the league being led by Tony Romo. Romo was 2nd in the league with 36. Terrell Owens says he is going to play with an ankle injury and that will hurt the Giants secondary even more. Sam Madison and Kevin Dockery will most likely both missing the game. The Giants need to get Brandon Jacobs running early as he has been playing very well lately. They also need to get the ball in the hands of Plaxico Burress and Ahmad Bradshaw more. Both are threats to score everytime they touch the ball. For the Cowboys Marion Barber should get the majority of carries this week as it could end up being a battle of defenses. This is no doubt going to be a great game. So in the words of Terrell Owens,"Get your popcorn ready" because it's going to be a close game. My prediction is the Giants 20 Cowboys 24.

Chargers vs Colts: The Colts have been under the radar the whole season. But now they are starting to get healthy and people are taking notice. Marvin Harrison should be playing for the first time in a few months. That will take pressure away from Reggie Wayne and rookie Anthony Gonzalez. Peyton Manning had another solid season with over 30 touchdown passes. Joseph Addai also proved he could carry the load of a feature back. On defense it is all about safety Bob Sanders as he won defensive player of the year. If Sanders isn't on the field the Colts are a total different team. Philip Rivers did a good job of spreading the ball around last week. But to beat the Colts you will need more than 13 points. LaDanian Tomlinson also has to average more than 2 yards a carry and prove to be the MVP player that he is. With Antonio Gates gone Vincent Jackson and Chris Chambers both need to step up at receiver. The defense has proven they can get pressure on Peyton Manning as he threw 6 picks the last time they played. Sean Phillips and Shawne Merriman both need to get lots of pressure on Manning for that to happen. My prediction is Chargers 20 Colts 35.

Fbkid's NFL College Football playoff

This is the start of my new mini series and trust me it won't be as bad as "Who's Now". Jessica Biel and the guy from King of Queens won't be choosing this one. Many people have been talking about a college playoff instead of the BCS bowl system. Now I have created my own playoff with 16 colleges. The twist is the rosters are filled with the best players that each school has produced that are currently in the NFL.
Here are the seedings for the bracket.

1.Miami(FL)
2.USC
3.Florida State
4.Michigan
5.Ohio State
6.Texas
7.Tennessee
8.Notre Dame
9.Oklahoma
10.LSU
11.Virginia Tech
12.California
13.Georgia
14.Florida
15.UCF
16.Georgia Tech

Fbkid's 2007-2008 NFL season all underrated team offense

It has been a great year so far in the NFL and the playoffs are only making it better but not all is well for everyone on this list. These are all players who put up big numbers and are productive but they don't get there due. Here is the offense of my all underrated team.

QB: Matt Hasselbeck Seahawks: Hasselbeck always is consistent and puts up big numbers but for some reason never gets publicity. Hasselbeck's rating was over 90 this season with 28 touchdowns and had 3,966 yards. Trust me if you have him on your fantasy team you won't forget who he is.


RB: Justin Fargas Raiders: I bet coming into the season more people knew that Fargas'dad played Huggy Bear on "Starsky and Hutch" than the fact that his son is on the Raiders. Fargas came into his own this year though with 1000 yards on less than 225 carries. You may not know him know but Fargas is going to get some major money this offseason.

WR:Marques Colston Saints: Colston was one of the most talked about players in football last year but now he's considered underrated? That's because the myth of the Sophomore slump. As most people thought Colston would have a poor 2nd season,he did even better with 98 catches 1200 yards and 11 touchdowns. Wow that's some slump.

WR:Brandon Marshall Broncos: Heading into the season Marshall was overlooked as Javon Walker was supposed to be the no.1 receiver in Denver. A few weeks later Walker went down and Marshall had a great year. Marshall had 102 catches for 1325 yards and 7 touchdowns. He might also be the best receiver after the catch in the league.

WR:Jerricho Cotchery Jets: Cotchery this season as the new go to guy. The problem was the team was so bad nobody noticed. Cotchery had 82 catches for 1130 yards and 2 touchdowns. Imagine what that would be with a full time quarterback.

TE: Chris Cooley Redskins: Cooley was one of the most productive tight ends in the league but hardly gets the credit of the Antonio Gates and Kellen Winslow's of the league. Cooley was 4th among all tight ends in receptions with 66 and had more touchdowns than Winslow and Tony Gonzalez with 8. That kind of year is why Cooley will be enjoying Hawaii in February.

T:Jason Peters Bills:Peters went from an undrafted free agent to a quality tackle and is getting rewarded going to Hawaii. He is the major reason why Marshawn Lynch had over 1100 yards in his rookie season.

G: Steve Hutchinson Vikings: For what Hutchinson does he doesn't get enough credit. There is a reason why Sean Alexander looks like an average back when he leaves. Just look at Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor now.

C.Jeff Saturday Colts: To read the defense and make constant changes at the line is something Saturday excels at. Without it the Colts might be a totally different team. He compliments Peyton Manning perfectly.

G:Vince Manuwai Jaguars: Manuwai has improved in every season and is opening holes for one of the best running attacks in all of football. Don't be surprised if he gets to Hawaii soon.

T: Michael Roos Titans: Roos has established himself as one of the best young tackles in the league but hasn't got he credit he deserves. In the next few years he will be in Hawaii.

KR: Josh Cribbs Browns: Cribbs is a do it all player as he averaged over 30 yards per return and took 2 back for touchdowns. He also added 1 punt return score. Cribbs averages 9 yards more per kick return for Devin Hester and what one gets all of the hype? Plus Cribbs is a gunner on special teams and had 20 special teams tackles.

Can the Jaguars beat the Patriots?

Many people thought going into the day that the Jaguars will be playing the Patriots in the 2nd round of the playoffs. That has now been confirmed as the Chargers defeated the Titans 17-6. But with the Patriots pursuit of perfection and a lights out offense,do the Jaguars have a chance?

If it is a windy and snowy day in Foxboro the Jaguars have a great chance of pulling off an enormous upset. The Jaguars are great at running the ball in bad weather conditions as they proved in a week 15 win in Pittsburgh against the Steelers. The main problem is if David Garrard can control the game. Garrard went only 9 for 21 for 140 yards a touchdown and 2 interceptions against the Steelers on Saturday. Fred Taylor will also need 20 plus carries so he can get the Patriots older defense tired. Then the Jags can bring in Maurice Jones-Drew who is a home run threat.

The Patriots on offense have a huge advantage. The Jaguars strength on defense is stopping the run and well the Patriots hardly run. The Patriots offensive line also doesn't have the injuries that the Steelers had to deal with. The Jaguars need to knock around Tom Brady if they even want to stay in the game. Another problem is that the Jaguars don't have the secondary to cover the Patriots speed at receiver. Wes Welker should have a huge game as Terry Cousin isn't as quick as he used to be. Look for Tom Brady to try and find Randy Moss deep often as Reggie Nelson is inexperienced and Sammy Knight doesn't have the speed to keep up.

So the game on saturday night should be a great one. As long as the Jags stick to running the ball it should go down to the wire. As of now my predicted score is Jaguars 17 Patriots 35. But my predictions will be coming out later this week so stay tuned.

The real MVP of the Jaguars Steelers game

After the game when people are discussing what player was the most valuable player in the Jaguars Steelers game most people would pick the obvious and go with Maurice Jones-Drew. Don't get me wrong Jones-Drew had a great game but the real MVP was his former high school teammate. Derek Landri coming into the game was a 4th round pick out of Notre Dame and had 11 tackles in his first season and played with Jones-Drew at De La Salle in California. But when John Henderson went down in the games first series Landri came in and decided to shine. Landri brought lots of energy to the Jags front 7. He only had 1 tackle which was a sack but his impact was much bigger than that. Late in the 2nd quarter Landri read a screen and picked off a Ben Roethlisberger pass to stop a Pittsburgh scoring drive. But most importantly Landri recovered a Roethlisberger fumble with 29 seconds to seel the victory for the Jaguars. This could be the best game of Landri's career or the start of something big but either way it will be a game that he will never forget.

Fbkid's wild card weekend predictions

It was a great regular season as I went 172-84 on the season with my predictions. Lets hope the momentum carries over to the playoffs. Here are my Wild Card weekend predictions.


Redskins vs Seahawks: The Redskins have come into the playoffs on a roll playing behind quarterback Todd Collins who has played great mistake-free football. Clinton Portis is also playing well with over 1200 yards and 11 touchdowns. Santana Moss is getting healthy as he has 2 touchdowns in his last 3 games. Chris Cooley is a very good option for Collins as he has over 775 yards along with 8 touchdowns.The defense is playing very well rallying around the death of safety Sean Taylor. Andre Carter leads the defense with 10 sacks and London Fletcher has 128 tackles on the season.

The Seahawks must be loving the fact that nobody is talking about them in the NFC. Matt Hasselbeck is playing very well with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Sean Alexander needs to get healthy though as he is only averaging 3.5 yards a carry. If Alexander can't go Maurice Morris has proved himself as a very good backup. Bobby Engram had a breakout season at receiver with over 90 catches and 1100 yards. DJ Hackett and Deion Branch are also very good options if healthy. Patrick Kearney is playing well with 14 sacks on the season along with Julian Peterson who has 10 sacks. The Redskins won't be passing much on Marcus Trufant as he has 7 interceptions on the season.

Prediction: The Redskins have come very far to get to this point but considering that Seattle is an experienced team playing in a hostile environment I don't think that the Redskins can pull it off. My predicted score is Redskins 17 Seahawks 21.

Jaguars vs Steelers: The Jaguars might be the only team in the league that would want to go to Pittsburgh for a playoff game. The Jaguars play the style of football that wins games in January as they have a great running game and a very physical defense. David Garrard has had a great season as he has 18 touchdowns with only 3 interceptions. Fred Taylor has finally made the Pro Bowl and deserves it after getting more than 1200 rushing yards and averaging 5.4 yards a carry. Maurice Jones-Drew is also a great runner for this weather as he gets most of his yards after contact and is a force near the goal line. Jones-Drew has more than 2000 all purpose yards along with 9 rushing touchdowns. Reggie Williams has stepped up the last few weeks and has become a serious threat with 10 touchdowns and 629 yards. The defense is very strong on the front 4 but without Marcus Stroud Rob Meier is filling in and is one of the most underrated defensive tackles in the league and mid season pickup Grady Jackson is a force in the middle. Rookie Justin Durant has also done a good job at outside linebacker while Daryl Smith moved to the middle to replace the injured Mike Peterson. The Jaguars have problems at safety as Reggie Nelson as a rookie can't read defenses that well yet and Sammy Knight is getting older.

The Steelers faded at the end of the season but still have the players and experience to be serious contenders in the AFC. Ben Roethlisberger had a career season with 32 touchdowns. He was bothered by an ankle injury last time these teams played and hasn't fully healed. With Willie Parker out with a broken leg,Najeh Davenport is the replacement and has done well so far. Davenport has 500 yards on the season along with 5 touchdowns. Hines Ward has played well as a posession receiver averaging 10 yards a catch with 7 touchdowns. Santonio Holmes has become the team's big play threat averaging 18 yards a catch with 8 touchdowns. The defense was one of the best in the regular season as James Harrison had 8 sacks and forced 7 fumbles.Ike Taylor leads the team with 3 interceptions but the real key is if safety Troy Polamalu plays as he is the leader of the defense.

Prediction: Pittsburgh is a hard place to play but the Jags have proven that it can be done with a power running game. My prediction is the Jaguars 24 Steelers 20.

Giants vs Bucs: The Giants have been inconsistent this season but if the offense clicks like last week they are in good shape. If Eli Manning does a good job of managing the game and avoiding turnovers the Giants could win. Manning threw 23 touchdowns this season but came with 20 interceptions. Brandon Jacobs had some injury issues but when he gets going he is hard to stop. Jacobs had over 1000 yards and 4 touchdowns. Plaxico Burress is still an elite red zone threat as he had 12 touchdowns. The defense is led by Antonio Pierce who had 103 tackles on the season. Osi Umenyiora played very well getting 13 sacks on the season and Justin Tuck had 10 sacks with Michael Strahan adding 9, so this team can get to the quarterback. Sam Madison is getting older but led the team in interceptions with 4.

The Bucs have greatly improved from last year as they went from picking in the top 5 to winning the division. Some of that is due to the fact that they finally have stability at quarterback with Jeff Garcia's 13 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Ernest Graham is playing well as he almost had 900 yards and added in 10 touchdowns. Joey Galloway can still play but the Bucs don't know what they will get out of him each game. Galloway will either get you 140 yards and a touchdown or 1 catch for 18 yards. Derrick Brooks is the leader of the defense with over 100 tackles and provides great veteran leadership. Greg White leads the team with 8 sacks and rookie Gaines Adams came on late in the season with 6 sacks.Jermaine Phillips leads the team with 4 interceptions and Ronde Barber had 2 more. Barber has been a great player but his quality of play has been slipping.

Prediction: The problem with predicting this game is what Giants team will show up? But with the veteran presence in the locker room I think they will. My predicted score is Giants 20 Bucs 14.

Titans vs Chargers: The Titans have exceeded expectations this season as many experts didn't think they could make the next step. Vince Young hasn't turned into a elite quarterback yet as he only threw for 9 touchdowns. The 17 interceptions won't help either. Young might not play as he has a quad injury but Kerry Collins might be the better option as he has more big game experience. The running game has improved as LenDale White has proved that he can carry the load with over 1100 yards and 7 touchdowns. Justin Gage has emerged as one of Young's favorite targets and has 750 yards and 2 touchdowns on the season. The team is in trouble with both Roydell Williams and Bo Scaife missing the rest of the playoffs. David Thornton leads the team with 122 tackles while Keith Bulluck had 88 tackles along with 5 interceptions and provides great veteran leadership. Kyle Vanden Bosh has had a Pro Bowl campaign as he has 12 sacks. Albert Haynesworth is also a force in the middle and when he doesn't play teams run all over the Titans
.
The Chargers have won the last 6 games they have played and might be the hottest team in the league.Philip Rivers threw for 21 touchdowns but is very inconsistent as he also threw 15 interceptions. The Chargers still have one player that keeps them in every game and that's LaDainian Tomlinson.Tomlinson led the league in rushing once again and had over 1800 total yards and 18 touchdowns. Antonio Gates also played very well as he almost had 1000 yards along with 9 touchdowns. Chris Chambers has been a good addition to the team as he has gotten over 550 yards and 4 touchdowns. The defense is one of the fastest in the league as Shawne Merriman leads the way with 12 sacks. Sean Phillips is also playing well with 8 sacks.Antonio Cromartie led the league in interceptions with 10.

Prediction: The Chargers have struggled in the playoffs the last few years but with the lack of quarterback play for the Titans this one should be an easy win.My prediction is Titans 16 Chargers 28.

Fbkid's regular season awards

This regular season was one of the best in recent memory as it had lots of surprises and controversy. But it wouldn't be complete without the awards handed out for the best performances in the league. Here are my regular season awards.


MVP: Tom Brady QB Patriots: When you throw for 50 touchdowns and lead your team to a perfect regular season you are probably going to get this award. That's exactly what Brady did as hopes to continue his success in the playoffs.

Runner-up: Brett Favre QB Packers


Defensive Player of the year: Bob Sanders S Colts: Sanders is always all over the field and from previous years it has been shown that when he is gone the Colts can't stop the run. No defensive player is as important to his team.

Runner-up:Jared Allen DE Chiefs


Offensive Rookie of the year: Adrian Peterson RB Vikings: Peterson had one of the best seasons for a running back in recent history and considering he was a rookie it was even better. Peterson didn't even have 250 carries but had over 1,340 yards and 13 total touchdowns.

Runner-up:Marshawn Lynch RB Bills


Defensive Rookie of the year: Patrick Willis LB 49ers: Willis was one of the 49ers only bright spots this season and should be a force for the next decade. Willis had 174 tackles beating the closest guy by 30. Yeah he's going to be real good.

Runner-up:Jon Beason LB Panthers

Fbkid's week 17 predictions

It has been a great 2007 regular season as many incredible things have happened. Not to many people thought that a rookie would brake the single game rushing record,a team would still be undefeated and the Bucs are going to the playoffs. Here are my week 17 picks.


Game of the weak: Chiefs vs Jets: This one is a battle for a higher top 5 pick and not much else.

Game of the week: Titans vs Colts: Yes the Patriots are 15-0 but the Titans are fighting to get in the playoffs. If they win against Jim Sorgi and the Colts they are in.

Last week:9-7
Season:160-80

Patriots 31 Giants 20
Seahawks 24 Falcons 13
Saints 20 Bears 23
Bengals 28 Dolphins 20
Lions 17 Packers 24
Jaguars 16 Texans 24
Panthers 10 Bucs 21
Bills 20 Eagles 31
49ers 13 Browns 35
Steelers 24 Ravens 14
Chargers 35 Raiders 7
Cowboys 16 Redskins 28
Rams 20 Cardinals 35
Vikings 20 Broncos 17
Chiefs 13 Jets 16
Titans 28 Colts 14

Fbkid's 2008 NFL Draft Big Board #1

With the NFL season rapidly coming to a close it will be time for the 20 teams that don't make the playoffs to start preparing for the draft. The teams have been preparing and scouting players since the season has started. So here is my first big board which will be updated after the completion of all bowl games.

*= Junior and may not declare


1.Darren McFadden RB Arkansas*: McFadden had another great year in his junior campaign as he has had 20 total touchdowns. It is also impressive that he has put up these great numbers while sharing time with another first round talent Felix Jones. Now as teams are already paying for letting Adrian Peterson fall down to 7 last year don't think McFadden will fall that far.

Player Comparison:Adrian Peterson

2. Glenn Dorsey DT LSU: Dorsey has been a monster this season clogging up holes for the LSU defense. The only problem is he had some nagging injuries during the season. Dorsey could end up being the first overall pick and could develop into a pro bowl talent.

Player Comparison: Tommie Harris

3. Chris Long DE Virginia: Long has emerged out of his fathers shadow and has become an elite prospect. He has 14 sacks on the season but is also very good at playing the run.

Player Comparison: Kyle Vanden Bosh

4. Jake Long T Michigan: Long was one of the only people who played well for Michigan this year as he consistently opened huge holes for Mike Hart. He might have to switch sides in the pros but should be a quality player either way.

Player Comparison: Walter Jones

5. Matt Ryan QB Boston College: Ryan had a great senior season and did very well considering the talent around him. He has great field vision and the physical tools to be a star in the league. Ryan also has great poise when the game is down to the wire sort of like another quarterback that plays in Boston.

Player Comparison: Drew Brees

6. Vernon Gholston DE Ohio State*: Gholston is having a great year and has the prototypical build NFL scouts look for in a defensive end. He is 6'4 and 264 pounds with 4.6 speed. Tell me the Raiders won't be interested? He could also fit well in a 3-4 scheme as a outside linebacker.

Player Comparison: DeMarcus Ware

7. Mike Jenkins CB South Florida: Jenkins could be the best corner in the draft as he has good speed and has the potential to be a pro bowl player. He has some character issues that might drive some teams away. But could have an immediate impact on a team.

Player Comparison: Nate Clements

8. Brian Brohm QB Louisville: Brohm had a dissapointing senior season but scouts are still very high of him. He could end up being a solid player in a few years if he winds up in a good situation.

Player Comparison: Derek Anderson

9. Sedrick Ellis DT USC: Ellis could be a very good player as he has a quick first step and is a great pass rusher along with stopping the run. He is also a hard worker but has some durability issues.

Player Comparison: Pat Williams

10. Keith Rivers LB USC: Rivers has the talent to help a team right away. He has lots of potential and is one of the leaders of the USC defense. Rivers also has great size and speed and could be a pro bowl calibar player.

Player Comparison: Kirk Morrison

11.Kenny Phillips S Miami(FL)*: Phillips has already said he will most likely go pro and he has the talent to do so. Phillips could be the next great safety from the "U" as he is always around the ball with great size.

Player Comparison: Ed Reed

12.James Laurinaitis LB Ohio State*: Laurinaitis could be a very solid pro as he has all of the physical tools to do so. He could end up being a pro bowl caliber player and has great characteristics that can help a team.

Player Comparison: Patrick Willis

13.Andre Woodson QB Kentucky: Woodson has all of the physical tools to be a good quarterback in the pros as he has lots of upside. The only problem is that Brohm and Ryan are safer picks if team are looking for a quarterback.

Player Comparison: Donovan McNabb

14.Malcolm Jenkins CB Ohio State*: Jenkins has the prototypical frame of a cornerback in the NFL. He could come in and start right away and has pro bowl potential.

Player Comparison: Marcus Trufant

15. Ryan Clady T Boise State*: Clady has the size to be a solid starter in the NFL and could wow scouts with his quickness at the combine. It might take him a while to adjust to the NFL coming from an offense like Boise State.

Player Comparison: Chris Samuels

16.Calais Campbell DE Miami(FL)*: Campbell is a freakish athlete as he is 6'8 and runs a 4.8. He could be a dominant player but disappeared from games at times.

Player Comparison: Jason Taylor

17. Felix Jones RB Arkansas*: Jones might be the first back taken if he didn't have to share time with McFadden. He has great speed and is a good receiver out of the backefield.

Player comparison: Brian Westbrook

18. Desean Jackson WR California*: Jackson had a disappointing junior season but it won't hurt his draft stock much. Jackson is a great athlete and is a great kick returner who is a more polished receiver than Ted Ginn Jr who was picked 9th overall last year.

Player comparison: Steve Smith

19. Sam Baker T USC: Baker is a great prospect as he has great size and quick feet. He could be a pro bowl caliber player when he plays. He could be a good value in the middle to late 1st round.

Player Comparison: Matt Light

20. Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma: Kelly is a playmaker who can win many jump ball situations. He coule become a good no.1 receiver in the right system.

Player Comparison: Braylon Edwards

21.Dan Connor LB Penn State: Connor is a tackling machine who is a better prospect than Paul Posluzny was coming out last year. He could be a solid starter after a few years.

Player Comparison:AJ Hawk

22.Aqib Talib CB Kansas*: Talib has great size and could be one of the best corners to come out of this draft. He also has great size and could end up being a rare "shutdown corner".

Player Comparison: Charles Woodson

23.Jeff Otah T Pittsburgh: Otah has great size at 6'6 340 and the best part for scouts is that he hasn't reached his full potential. He could end up being a cornerstone player for a franchise for years to come.

Player Comparison: Jason Peters

24.Leodis McKelvin CB Troy: McKelvin has shot up most teams boards after a great senior season and his consistency. He also has solid size and with a solid showing at the combine could move into the mid 1st round.

Player Comparison: Asante Samuel

25. Chris Johnson RB East Carolina: Johnson's draft stock has rapidly improved after a fantastic senior season. His career went out with a bang with over 400 total yards against Boise State in the Hawaii Bowl. Johnson is a solid back who can run over defenders and out run them. Plus he is a good receiver out of the backfield and is a threat as a kick returner as well. With a solid showing at the combine. Don't be surprised if Johnson slips into the first round.

Player Comparison: Maurice Jones-Drew

Fbkid's week 16 predictions

It was an average week last week as I went 10-6 on my picks. I was spot on with my prediction of the Jaguars getting a huge win against the Steelers. My biggest miss was the Seahawks as they lost against the struggling Panthers. The fantasy studs were also good picks as Drew Brees got over 300 yards and 2 touchdowns and Ernest Graham had over 120 all purpose yards and a touchdown. Here are my week 16 picks.

Game of the weak: Falcons vs Cardinals: Any game which involves the Falcons is set to be a bad one. Well at least Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner will help your fantasy teams in the playoffs this week.

Game of the week: Browns vs Bengals: Last time these teams played they combined for over 100 points. Now the Browns are playing to get in the playoffs.


Last week:10-6
Season:151-73

Steelers 24 Rams 16
Cowboys 27 Panthers 20
Browns 31 Bengals 26
Chiefs 14 Lions 24
Texans 24 Colts 20
Packers 31 Bears 16
Giants 17 Bills 21
Raiders 13 Jaguars 27
Eagles 20 Saints 24
Bucs 24 49ers 13
Falcons 14 Cardinals 31
Dolphins 14 Patriots 35
Ravens 16 Seahawks 27
Jets 13 Titans 20
Redskins 17 Vikings 24
Broncos 20 Chargers 35

Fantasy studs:
QB: Matt Hasselbeck vs Ravens: The Ravens have had a hard time covering anyone now and Hasselbeck is looking to rebound after a poor performance. Expect around 240 yards and 3 touchdowns.

RB: Fred Taylor vs Raiders: Taylor has been on a roll lately but after getting snubbed for the pro bowl (yet again) look for him to run with a big chip on his shoulder. Expect around 140 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Braylon Edwards vs Bengals: Edwards has been having a huge season and look for it to go out with a bang against a poor Bengals pass defense. Expect around 130 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Heath Miller vs Rams: The Rams have had a hard time stopping the pass and Miller has been having a career season. Expect around 60 yards and a touchdown.

K: Kris Brown vs Colts: Brown has had a solid season and in a big game against the Colts look for that to continue. Expect around 2 extra points and 3 field goals.

Def: Lions vs Chiefs: The Lions have really struggled of late but could be a good plug and play matchup against a struggling Chiefs offense. Expect around 4 sacks and 3 interceptions.

Fbkid's week 15 predictions

It was another huge week as I went 13-3. I was right on with the Redskins getting a big win at home against the Bears to keep them in playoff contention. The fantasy stud selections of Ryan Grant and the Seahawks defense were also spot on. Grant had 150 yards rushing and a touchdown while the Seahawks had 5 picks and a defensive touchdown. Here are my week 15 picks.

Game of the weak: Ravens vs Dolphins: If you are a fan of offense, this game isn't for you.

Game of the week: Bills vs Browns: Who would have thought in the preseason that this would end up being a huge game? The winner is most likely the 2nd wild card in the AFC.

Last week:13-3
Season:141-67

Broncos 24 Texans 17
Bengals 31 49ers 16
Jets 13 Patriots 42
Ravens 17 Dolphins 7
Bills 21 Browns 27
Titans 20 Chiefs 13
Falcons 14 Bucs 24
Packers 35 Rams 17
Jaguars 23 Steelers 20
Cardinals 20 Saints 31
Seahawks 35 Panthers 13
Colts 31 Raiders 16
Lions 20 Chargers 35
Eagles 14 Cowboys 38
Redskins 16 Giants 21
Bears 10 Vikings 27

Fantasy studs:
QB: Drew Brees vs Cardinals: Now that Reggie Bush is done for the season it seems like the Saints are focusing on what they do best. Passing the ball. Expect a big day out of Brees with 320 yards and 3 touchdowns.

RB: Ernest Graham vs Falcons: Graham has done a good job so far filling in for Cadillac Williams this season. Expect more good numbers against a poor Falcons rush defense with 150 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Greg Jennings vs Rams: Jennings has been a touchdown machine this year and that trend should continue against the injured Rams secondary. Expect around 130 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Jeremy Shockey vs Redskins: Shockey hasn't been as involved in the Giants offense as his owners would have liked. They will be rewarded for the wait against the 27th rated Redskins pass defense. Expect around 80 yards and a touchdown.

K: Nate Kaeding vs Lions: The Chargers should put up lots of points against the Lions so it could be a huge week for Kaeding. Expect around 4 extra points and 3 field goals.

Def: Colts vs Raiders: The Colts defense has really stepped up this year and against a bad Raiders offense they should keep it up. Expect around 5 sacks and 3 interceptions.

Fbkid's week 14 predictions part 2

I'm on pace for another big week as I was spot on with my prediction of the Redskins winning. The fantasy studs were posted the other day so here are the rest of my week 14 predictions.

Game of the weak: Saints vs Falcons: Boy ESPN got some bad breaks with the monday night games haven't they?

Game of the week: Steelers vs Patriots: This game should go down to the wire and if the Patriots win,it's smooth sailing the rest of the way.

Last week:9-7
Season:128-64

Rams 17 Bengals 35
Cowboys 42 Lions 24
Raiders 16 Packers 31
Dolphins 13 Bills 20
Bucs 24 Texans 20
Chargers 21 Titans 24
Panthers 14 Jaguars 27
Giants 17 Eagles 21
Cardinals 16 Seahawks 28
Vikings 31 49ers 13
Steelers 21 Patriots 27
Browns 35 Jets 20
Chiefs 14 Broncos 21
Colts 35 Ravens 24
Saints 26 Falcons 17

Fbkid's week 14 predictions part 1

Last week was an average week of 9-7. My hit was the Giants going into Chicago and getting a big win against the Bears. My pick of the Broncos beating the Raiders was way off as the Raiders dominated on both sides of the ball. Due to the game tomorrow I will only be giving my preview of the Bears Redskins game and my fantasy studs.

Bears:The main reason the Bears went from a preseason Super Bowl pick to the cellar of the NFC North is because of poor quarterback play. On the season Rex Grossman and Brian Griese have combined for 13 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. That won't win too many games in the NFL. Adrian Peterson has played well replacing Cedric Benson so far. Peterson has 250 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns along with 40 receptions. Bernard Berrian is also having a solid season as he has 800 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Bears need to get Mushin Muhammed more involved in the offense as he only has 500 yards and 3 touchdowns. Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark are both playing well at tight end as they combine for 800 yards and 5 touchdowns. Devin Hester is the Bears most consistent form of offense as he has 5 return touchdowns. Unless the Bears put Hester at receiver more the offense will be missing lots of explosiveness. On defense the Bears are led by Brian Urlacher who has having a good all around season with 96 tackles 3 sacks and 2 interceptions. Lance Briggs is also playing well as he has 83 tackles. Adewale Ogunleye is having a very good season as he leads the team with 9 sacks. Mark Anderson has been a bit of a disappointment as he only has 5 sacks after getting 12 in his rookie year. Nathan Vasher has also been bothered with injuries this season and look for the Bears defense to get stronger when he gets back to full speed.

Redskins: The Redskins are going through a very tough time as they are playing their second game in 10 days. This one coming 3 days after they attend the funeral of their teammate Sean Taylor. Last week the Redskins lost in a heartbreaker on a last second field goal made easier by a costly mistake by hall of fame coach Joe Gibbs. Jason Campbell is playing solid but not spectacular football on the season as he has 2600 yards 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Clinton Portis is having another good season as he has 920 yards and 7 touchdowns. Chris Cooley is standing out as Campbell's favorite target as he has 584 yards and 7 touchdowns on the season. Santana Moss has been bothered by injuries and it shows as he only has one touchdown on the year. Antwaan Randle El is playing well also as he has 600 yards on the season. The defense is led by London Fletcher as he has 100 tackles and 3 interceptions on the season. Andre Carter is putting pressure on the quarterback as he leads the team with 8 sacks. The Redskins problem is the turnover ratio as it is -9 for the season. But one half against Rex Grossman could change that.

This game is a must win for both teams if they want to stay alive for wild card contention. The game should be very emotional and go down to the wire. My predicton is the Bears 17 Redskins 21.

Fantasy Studs:
QB: Carson Palmer vs Rams: When Chris Redman throws for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns in a half against you something is wrong. Now it's Palmer's turn. Expect around 300 yards and 3 touchdowns.

RB: Ryan Grant vs Raiders: The Raiders have had a problem stopping the run all year and with Brett Favre being injured the Packers might rely on Grant to carry the load. Expect around 140 total yards and 1 touchdown.

WR: Patrick Crayton vs Lions: The Lions have really struggled recently and especially in pass coverage. I would have picked Terrell Owens this week but T.O. in this case stands for Too Obvious. Expect Crayton to have around 90 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Kellen Winslow vs Jets: This is a dream matchup for Winslow as nobody on the Jets defense can keep up with him. Expect a huge game this week that includes 120 yards and a touchdown.

K: Ryan Lindell vs Dolphins: This game could end up being a battle between the 20's which makes a big day for most kickers. Expect Lindell to get around 3 field goals and a couple extra points.

Def: Seahawks vs Cardinals: The Seahawks biggest question going into this week was probably how to stop the Cardinals all pro receivers. Well they don't have to worry about that as both Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald will miss this week. Expect around 4 sacks and 2 interceptions.

Fbkid's week 13 predictions part 2

I'm on pace for a big week as I am 1-0 after the Cowboys Packers game. The fantasy studs were posted a few days ago so this post should be shorter than usual. Here are the rest of my week 13 picks.

Game of the weak: Jets vs Dolphins: Did I have a choice?

Game of the week: Jaguars vs Colts: When these two teams matchup it is always exciting. This one should be no different. Expect a very tough game that goes down to the wire.

Last week:11-5
Season:120-57

49ers 16 Panthers 21
Bills 13 Redskins 24
Texans 21 Titans 24
Falcons 14 Rams 20
Seahawks 23 Eagles 26
Lions 28 Vikings 35
Jaguars 20 Colts 17
Chargers 27 Chiefs 17
Jets 13 Dolphins 16
Broncos 28 Raiders 16
Browns 35 Cardinals 24
Bucs 17 Saints 30
Giants 24 Bears 20
Bengals 21 Steelers 35
Patriots 42 Ravens 16

Fbkid's week 13 predictions part 1

Last week was another big week going 11-5. But due to the game tomorrow I will just be posting my fantasy studs and my prediction for the Cowboys vs Packers game. The rest of my picks will be posted later this week. So here is my Packers Cowboys preview and my fantasy studs.

Cowboys: It isn't sure if Wade Phillips is that good a coach or just inherited a good team but either way it's working. Tony Romo has played more consistent so far this season and has 29 touchdowns to prove it. Julius Jones is getting the starts at running back but when the game is on the line Marion Barber gets the ball. Barber has 5 more touchdowns and is averaging 5 yards a carry compared to Jones with 4. Terrell Owens is also on pace for a career year as he already has 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns. Jason Witten has also rebounded from a bad 2006 season as he already has 750 yards and 6 touchdowns which is a good season for a tight end. Patrick Crayton when healthy is also playing well as he has 500 yards and 5 touchdowns. On defense the Cowboys have lots of talent. DeMarcus Ware leads the team with 9 sacks and Greg Ellis has 8 on the season. Bradie James is also playing well as he has 70 tackles on the year. The secondary is playing pretty well as Anthony Henry has 5 interceptions and Terence Newman is playing like a shutdown corner as he has 3 interceptions even though teams rarely throw on him. Roy Williams was one of the strengths of the defense but he is having a hard time covering the deep routes. Don't be surprised if the Packers pick on him Thursday night.

Packers: Brett Favre is this years biggest surprise as many analysts didn't know how much he had left in the tank. Favre is proving them wrong as he has over 3,300 yards and 22 touchdown passes. The running game has been inconsistent but they seem to have found somebody reliable in rookie Ryan Grant. In the 4 games Grant has started he has 619 total yards and 2 touchdowns. One of the teams strengths is the receiver position. Donald Driver has only 2 touchdowns but has over 60 catches and 800 yards receiving. Greg Jennings is proving that he will be the teams future go to guy as he has 625 yards and 9 touchdowns. Rookie James Jones is a darkhorse for rookie of the year and isn't getting much credit. Jones has 600 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns. Donald Lee is also playing well at tight end with 470 yards and 4 touchdowns. The defense is led by Aaron Kampman who leads the league with 11 sacks. His teammate Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila is right behind him with 10 sacks. Nick Barnett leads the linebackers with 91 tackles and 2 interceptions. AJ Hawk is also playing well with 72 tackles and an interception. The corners Al Harris and Charles Woodson are playing very well and are great at bump and run coverage. Woodson has an injured toe and if he misses the game it will be a big hit for the Packers.

This should be one of the better games of the season and the game should go down to the wire. My prediction is the Packers 24 Cowboys 27

Fantasy Studs:
QB: Kurt Warner vs Browns: The Browns have had a hard time against the pass and Warner has been putting up huge numbers lately. Plus with the Cardinals receivers it should be a big game. Expect around 310 yards and 3 touchdowns.

RB: Selvin Young vs Raiders: Young has done a good job filling in for Travis Henry and expect the good things to continue against a poor Raiders rush defense. Expect around 150 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Calvin Johnson vs Vikings: You would think after the Vikings defense had such a big game you wouldn't play anyone against them. But with the Lions passing attack it could be a shootout. Johnson matches up well against the Vikings shorter corners so if the Lions owner tells Mike Martz to throw to Johnson more it could be a long game. Expect around 90 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Marcedes Lewis vs Colts: The Jaguars have been getting the tight end involved lately and now that George Wrightster and Greg Estandia are out for the year, Lewis will have a huge roll. Expect around 60 yards and a touchdown.

K: Ryan Longwell vs Lions: This game is going to be a shootout and the Lions have had a hard time stopping anyone let alone Adrian Peterson. Expect around 3 extra points and 2 field goals.

Def: Patriots vs Ravens: The Patriots have been playing lights out football and the Ravens can't score. This is as obvious as it gets. Expect around 4 sacks and 3 interceptions.

Fbkid's week 12 predictions

It was a very big week as I went 13-3 on my picks. My biggest hit was the Jaguars getting a big win at home against the Chargers. The return of David Garrard should only help the Jaguars as they are in a good position for a playoff birth. My biggest miss was the Steelers blowing out the Jets. Nobody thought the Jets had a chance of winning the game. Maybe the Jets could finish the season off strong and maybe ruin a teams season on the way. My fantasy studs were also good as I was spot on with Chester Taylor who had a huge game filling in for Adrian Peterson. So here are my week 12 picks and fantasy studs and I hope everyone has a great thanksgiving.

Game of the weak: 49ers vs Cardinals: Wow shows how much preseason picks mean. Everyone thought this game would be a shootout. Now if the teams combine for 40 points they will be lucky.

Game of the week: Texans vs Browns: This game should be a shootout. Especially since Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson are back on track. Plus both of these teams are in contention for the playoffs.

Last week:13-3
Season:108-52

Packers 35 Lions 24
Jets 16 Cowboys 38
Colts 27 Falcons 10
Vikings 17 Giants 21
Seahawks 31 Rams 21
Titans 24 Bengals 20
Saints 31 Panthers 14
Raiders 16 Chiefs 23
Bills 17 Jaguars 28
Texans 24 Browns 27
Redskins 17 Bucs 20
49ers 10 Cardinals 35
Ravens 13 Chargers 27
Broncos 21 Bears 14
Eagles 21 Patriots 42
Dolphins 13 Steelers 24

Fantasy Studs:
QB: David Garrard vs Bills: Garrard won't give you great numbers but he will give you a consistent performance every week. The Bills pass defense has had a hard time so it should be a pretty good week. Expect around 210 yards and 3 touchdowns.

RB: LenDale White vs Bengals: White has played pretty well this year and against a bad Bengals run defense he should have a big game. Expect around 110 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Andre Johnson vs Browns: The Browns have had a hard time on pass defense and nobody will benifit more than Johnson. Now that he is healthy expect a very good game. Expect around 140 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Donald Lee vs Lions: Lee has stepped up these last few weeks and is becoming a no.1 option at tight end. Considering how bad the Lions pass defense is the turkey won't be the only thing sitting well with his owners. Expect around 70 yards and a touchdown.

K: Jason Elam vs Bears: This game should be a battle of field position so Elam should have a big game. Expect around 3 field goals and an extra point or two.

Def: Cardinals vs 49ers: Until the 49ers get a passing game every unit playing them should be a must start. Expect around 4 sacks and 3 interceptions.

Fbkid's week 11 predictions

It was a rough week for me as I only went 5-9 on my picks. Well I was bound for a let down after getting at least 9 right the last month. My hit of the week was the Steelers getting a big win at home against the Browns. The miss had to have been the Lions who got outplayed by the Cardinals. To make it worse the Lions didn't even have positive yards running the ball. I did alright on the fantasy studs with Brett Favre having a big game and the Chiefs defense playing pretty well. Here are my week 11 picks and fantasy studs.

Game of the weak: Rams vs 49ers: Who would have thought that this game would be a battle for 3rd place in the NFC west?

Game of the week: Chargers vs Jaguars: Both teams came off big wins last week as the Chargers had an emotional game at home and the Jaguars got a big divisional win against the Titans. Even more good news for the Jaguars,David Garrard should be playing this week.

Last week:5-9
Season:95-49

Bucs 24 Falcons 13
Browns 28 Ravens 16
Giants 35 Lions 24
Dolphins 14 Eagles 28
Raiders 14 Vikings 17
Chargers 21 Jaguars 24
Chiefs 14 Colts 35
Cardinals 21 Bengals 31
Panthers 10 Packers 35
Saints 31 Texans 23
Steelers 35 Jets 7
Bears 17 Seahawks 27
Rams 27 49ers 13
Redskins 16 Cowboys 38
Patriots 35 Bills 24
Titans 16 Broncos 24

Fantasy studs:
QB: Jon Kitna vs Giants: The Giants have had a hard time stopping the pass and Kitna should get lots of opportunities as they should be playing from behind. Expect around 340 yards and 2 touchdowns.

RB: Chester Taylor vs Raiders: If it wasn't for Adrian Peterson,Taylor would probably be no.2 back in most fantasy leagues. This is the matchup his owners are dreaming of. The Raiders are 28th in the league in rushing and have allowed 13 touchdowns. It should be a good day for Taylor so expect around 140 yards and a touchdown.

WR: Plaxico Burress vs Lions: Is anyone on the Lions capable of covering Burress? When the number one cornerback is Fernando Bryant,probably not. Burress should have a very big game. Expect around 130 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Leonard Pope vs Bengals: Pope was a popular pickup this week as he had 2 touchdowns last week. His owners should expect another good game this week also. Expect around 50 yards and a touchdown.

K: Phil Dawson vs Ravens: All the sudden teams have been scoring on the Ravens with ease. Is this the beginning of the end for the star studded defense? Dawson should benefit this week as the Browns will get lots of chances. Expect around 3 field goals and 2 extra points.

Def: Vikings vs Raiders: The Vikings haven't put up great fantasy numbers since the first few weeks of the year. Now is the time to use them again against a struggling Raiders offense. Expect around 5 sacks 2 interceptions and a defensive touchdown.

Adrian Peterson highlight reel

I don't agree with people already calling him the best back in the league but if he keeps playing like this he is well on his way. Here is a mix of his highlights halfway through the season. The scary thought is this is only his first 8 games.
Everyone meet the first pick of every fantasy football draft next year.

Fbkid's week 10 predictions

It was another big week as I went 11-3 on my picks. My hit was the Browns getting a big win at home against the Seahawks. If you didn't think the Browns were for real you better start believing. They are right in the chase for getting a wild card in the tough AFC. My biggest miss was the Vikings beating the Chargers. You would have thought by the 9th week that the opposing teams know that the Vikings can't pass the ball. Until they don't Adrian Peterson will keep having big games. I was right on with my fantasy stud picks of Jason Witten and the Titans defense. Witten had around 70 yards and a touchdown while the Titans defense had 7 sacks and 2 interceptions. So here are my week 10 picks and fantasy studs.

Game of the weak: Bears vs Raiders: This one is sure to be a slugfest as neither team has any quarterback play. Don't be surprised with a 6-3 final score.

Game of the week: Cowboys vs Giants: What about the Giants? 2 games in everyone was calling for Tom Coughlin's head now he is doing a great job. Well thats New York for you just ask A-Rod. Expect this game to come down to the wire.

Last week: 11-3
Season:90-40

Falcons 14 Panthers 17
Vikings 16 Packers 24
Broncos 17 Chiefs 20
Bills 27 Dolphins 13
Rams 14 Saints 31
Browns 20 Steelers 27
Jaguars 13 Titans 17
Eagles 17 Redskins 21
Bengals 20 Ravens 24
Lions 28 Cardinals 21
Cowboys 24 Giants 27
Bears 13 Raiders 10
Colts 31 Chargers 24
49ers 14 Seahawks 28

Fantasy Studs:
QB: Brett Favre vs Vikings: Favre is having a great year as he seems like he is having lots of fun again. The Packers have way to many weapons for the Vikings to stop so look for a big day. Expect around 260 yards and 3 touchdowns.

RB: Joseph Addai vs Chargers: Addai is having a great year and look for very good numbers this week. The Chargers average 4.7 yards per carry so it should be another big day out of Addai. Expect around 150 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Lee Evans vs Dolphins: Evans has been on a roll lately and look for nothing to change. Nobody in the Dolphins secondary has the speed to catch up with him so it should be a huge day. Expect around 140 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Greg Olsen vs Raiders: The Raiders pass defense has really struggled this year and Olsen is just starting to heat up. Expect around 60 yards and a touchdown.

K: Josh Brown vs 49ers: Remember in the offseason how all the experts predicted the 49ers to make the playoffs? That seems like a long time ago. Other than a few bright spots the 49ers haven't looked that great. Look for Brown to get a lot of opportunites and expect around low double digits.

Def: Chiefs vs Broncos: The Chiefs are slowly building a good defensive unit and should be a good play against a banged up Broncos offense. Expect around 4 sacks and 2 interceptions.

Fbkid's week 9 predictions

Last week was another big week as I was spot on with my pick of the Saints going into San Francisco and getting a big win. The Saints are now back in the chase as they have won 3 straight games and Drew Brees has started to play well. I was very surprised when the Packers went into Denver and won on Monday night. I didn't think that the Packers would actually run the ball and they would get that many big plays passing on the Broncos corners. It was also a good week for my fantasy studs Derek Anderson and Hines Ward. Anderson threw for 250 plus yards and 3 touchdowns while Ward had 80 plus yards and 2 touchdowns. Here are my week 9 picks and fantasy studs.

Game of the weak: 49ers vs Falcons: This won't be a fun one to watch.

Game of the week: Patriots vs Colts: They have been hyping this game so much does anything else have to be said?

Last week:10-3
Season:79-37

Chargers 31 Vikings 17
Panthers 16 Titans 20
Cardinals 17 Bucs 21
Redskins 24 Jets 13
Jaguars 20 Saints 24
49ers 13 Falcons 14
Bengals 31 Bills 24
Broncos 20 Lions 21
Packers 28 Chiefs 21
Seahawks 21 Browns 24
Texans 14 Raiders 16
Patriots 35 Colts 31
Cowboys 28 Eagles 20
Ravens 14 Steelers 24

Fantasy Studs:
QB: Philip Rivers vs Vikings: The Vikings have the worst pass defense in the league and could miss the teams best corner Antoine Winfield. That means a big day for Rivers and Antonio Gates. Expect around 230 yards and 3 touchdowns.

RB: Kevin Jones vs Broncos: SInce coming back from injury Jones has played like the elite back he was projected to be coming out of Virginia Tech. Now he is up against the worst run defense in the league. Expect around 130 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Brandon Marshall vs Lions: Marshall remains one of the only healthy targets the Broncos have. That equals a big day against the 30th ranked pass defense in the league. Expect around 130 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Jason Witten vs Eagles: Witten is slowly becoming Tony Romo's favorite target and the Eagles have had some trouble against the pass. Expect around 80 yards and a touchdown.

K: Sebastian Janikowski vs Texans: The Texans have allowed lots of points lately and look for that trend to continue. Expect around mid double digits this week.

Def: Titans vs Panthers: The Titans have played very well on defense this year and the Panthers have issues at quarterback. This should be a great play. Expect around 4 sacks and 2 interceptions.

Fbkid's AFC North mid season report cards

This division is one of the most competive in the league. Three of the teams have records over .500 and the other has lots of potential if they only had a defense. If these teams keep it up it should be a wild chase for the division title. Here are my AFC North mid season report cards.

Pttsburgh Steelers: Nobody thought that Mike Tomlin's adjustment to being a head coach would be this smooth. The Steelers are 5 and 2 and haven't lost in the divison. One of those reasons is becuase the play of Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger has 1533 yards and 15 touchdowns on the year. This time last year he only had 6 touchdown passes. Running back Willie Parker is also having a great year with 726 yards and 4.4 yards a carry. If Parker finds the endzone more than twice, the Steelers should be in great shape. The receivers are also playing well as Santonio Holmes has 426 yards and 4 touchdowns. Hines Ward has played well but has been hurt as he has 3 touchdowns. The tight ends has also combined for 8 touchdowns. On defense Troy Polamalu has played very well with the defense allowing the least points in the NFL. James Farrior is also playing well with 4 sacks. The Steelers should make lots of noise the remainder of the season.

Grade:A

Baltimore Ravens: Other than some inconsistent quarterback play the Ravens have played pretty well. Steve McNair and Kyle Boller combine for 5 touchdown passes. They will have to pass more than that to make the playoffs. On the bright side, Willis McGahee is among the league leaders in rushing with 639 yards rushing. Derrick Mason has already caught 56 passes and is on pace to have way over 100. Look for big 2nd halves out of Mark Clayton,Demetrius Williams and Todd Heap if the Ravens want to make the playoffs. The defense has played well also. Ed Reed is among the league leaders with 4 interceptions and Ray Lewis is playing well with 58 tackles.Yamon Figurs returned one return touchdown so far but if the Ravens want to win he has to hold on to the ball. If the Ravens don't get going on offense don't expect the playoff run that many experts predicted in the preseason as this team isn't playing to their full potential.

Grade: B-

Cleveland Browns: The Browns are this years biggest surprise as nobody had them playing such good football. One of the main reasons is the quarterback Derek Anderson who has thrown for 1744 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Browns could be in a similar situation that the Chargers were in last year with the veteran and the younger option in Brady Quinn. The Browns running game hasn't done that well so far as Jamal Lewis got most of his yards in one game. The receivers though are playing great as Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow have combined for 1200 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. Sean Jones is slowly becoming a pro bowl safety on defense and Leigh Bodden has 4 interceptions on the year and don't be surprised if he makes the pro bowl this year. Look for Kamerion Wimbley to get back on track as he only has 3 sacks so far. Overall Romeo Crennel's job coaching his been the best so far this season. Don't be surprised if the Browns creep into the playoffs as they have a pretty easy schedule ahead of them.

Grade:A-

Cincinnati Bengals: How the mighty have fallen. The Bengals a few years back were many peoples picks to make the super bowl in the AFC. Now they could have more arrests than wins. The offense is playing fine as Carson Palmer,Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh are all playing great football. Kenny Watson is doing a good job filling in for Rudi Johnson with 401 yards and 4 touchdowns. Watson is also averaging almost 5 yards a carry. The defense is a totally different story as they are 31st in total defense. Madieu Williams is playing well now that he is healthy and Leon Hall is making strides as a rookie corner as he has 2 interceptions. The defense isn't getting enough pressure on the quarterback and that's what it comes down to . If the Bengals play like this the rest of the season,it will be a long offseason in Cincinnati.

Grade:D

Fbkid's AFC East mid season report cards

Time is flying by as the NFL season is already half over. So far many teams have surprised both good and bad. It was a great first half so lets hope the 2nd is just as good. Here are my mid season grades for the AFC East.


AFC East:

New England Patriots: So far nobody can stop this team and if the beat the Colts chances are nobody will. Tom Brady looks like he will have the best season by a quarterback in NFL history as he already has 30 touchdown passes. Randy Moss looks like he actually wants to play now as he has 779 yards and 11 touchdowns. Plus if they didn't have enough going for them, Richard Seymour is just getting healthy for the defensive line. The '72 Dolphins should be very scared.

Grade: A+

Buffalo Bills: The Bills so far have done a great job of using young talent on offense. Marshawn Lynch looks like a stud as he has 537 yards and 4 touchdowns. Quarterback Trent Edwards has looked like he could be a solid starter in a few years. Lee Evans is finally turning it around as he has 236 yards in his last 2 games. The Bills probably won't make the playoffs but come playoff time, they will be a dangerous team to play.

Grade:B-

New York Jets: Nothing else is to be said except this team benefited from a very easy schedule last year. Thomas Jones has had a few good games running the ball but that is about the only positive. The quarterback controversy isn't helping the team even though Kellen Clemens looks like the better option now. Chad Pennington isn't bad but he doesn't have the arm strength to throw the ball into tight coverage. Jerricho Cotchery and Laveraneus Coles are also playing well as they are among the league leaders in receiving. On defense, Darelle Revis at corner looks like he will be a pro bowler for years to come. Kerry Rhodes is also playing well but the rest of the defense isn't backing him up. The season ending injury to Jonathan Vilma won't make things better either. It should be a long year for the Jets.

Grade:D

Miami Dolphins: When will the John Beck era begin? This team is struggling on both sides of the ball and the season ending injury to Ronnie Brown will kill the offense. Jesse Chatman has never had to carry the bulk of carries before and might not fare well. At quarterback Cleo Lemon has made some plays but he won't win them to many games. Receiver is now an issue as Chris Chambers as gone but don't be surprised if 2nd year player Derek Hagen and rookie Ted Ginn have big second halves. One of the problems is that they haven't gotten much production from the draft. So far combined the Dolphins first 3 picks have combined for 145 yards and a touchdown of offense. On the defensive side what happened to Jason Taylor? Taylor won defensive player of the year last year and now he has 4 sacks. Zach Thomas has been battling injuries but even when healthy he hasn't been much of a factor. Don't be surprised if this team doesn't get more than 2 wins.

Grade:F

Fbkid's week 8 predictions

Last week was another solid week as I went 9-5. I was right on with my pick of the Bills getting a big win at home over the Ravens. The Ravens have really struggled and Trent Edwards keeps the Bills in every game. My miss was the Texans beating the Titans in a low scoring affair. Not only did I pick the wrong team but the game was a shootout. But honestly, who would have thought we would be talking about Sage Rosenfels having a very good performance? It was also a very good week for my fantasy studs as Jeff Garcia,Wilis McGahee,Wes Welker and the Redskins defense all had big days. Here are my week 8 picks and my fantasy studs.

Game of the weak:Bills vs Jets: Even if the Jets are losing big, fans might want to stay past halftime so they can see the teams quarterback for the next 6 years, Kellen Clemens.

Game of the week: Lions vs Bears: Who would have thought that the Lions would be the one with the winning record? Well maybe Jon Kitna but nobody else. Don't be surprised if this game turns into a shootout.

Last week: 9-5
Season:69-34

Lions 31 Bears 28
Raiders 13 Titans 23
Browns 35 Rams 17
Eagles 21 Vikings 24
Giants 28 Dolphins 14
Steelers 35 Bengals 31
Colts 28 Panthers 16
Bills 28 Jets 14
Jaguars 13 Bucs 17
Texans 14 Chargers 35
Saints 31 49ers 17
Redskins 21 Patriots 42
Packers 24 Broncos 27


Fantasy Studs:
QB: Derek Anderson vs Rams: I was't buying into Anderson after his 5 touchdown performance against the Bengals but he is for real. Anderson has been consistent all year and expect no different with 270 yards and 3 touchdowns.

RB: Marshawn Lynch vs Jets: Lynch has been a very consistent fantasy back and expect no different against a terrible Jets run defense. Expect around 110 yards and a touchdown.

WR: Hines Ward vs Bengals: Ward looks like he is finally healthy and the Bengals pass defense can't stop anyone. Expect around 120 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Desmond Clark vs Lions: The Lions have had a hard time stopping the pass and Clark is a huge target in the offense. Expect around 70 yards and a touchdown.

K: Jeff Reed vs Bengals: This will be a high scoring affair and Reed should get lots of looks. Expect around low double digits from him this week.

Def: Giants vs Dolphins: Don't worry that they are playing in London. The 6 hour flight will give them more problems than the Dolphins will. Expect around 5 sacks and 3 interceptions.

Fbkid's week 7 predictions

It was another solid week for me as I went 9-4. My surprise of the week is how the Saints went into Seattle and beat the Seahawks. The Saints have been playing very inconsistently but if they get a few more games like that they are back in the hunt. The Seahawks have also struggled losing the last 2 games. That was my miss of the week as i had Seattle winning big at home. My hit was the Chiefs getting on track and beating the struggling Bengals. Larry Johnson got back on track with 119 yards but this is also the same team that allowed 200 plus yards to Jamal Lewis a few weeks back. Here are my week 7 picks along with my fantasy studs.

Game of the weak: Jets vs Bengals: Well on the bright side, someone has to win.

Game of the week: Colts vs Jaguars: Both teams are red hot and are battling for first place in the competitive AFC South. On the bright side for Jags fans, this game isn't even blacked out.

Last week:9-4
Season:60-29

Ravens 17 Bills 20
Falcons 16 Saints 28
49ers 13 Giants 27
Patriots 35 Dolphins 17
Titans 14 Texans 20
Bucs 24 Lions 27
Cardinals 10 Redskins 24
Chiefs 16 Raiders 21
Jets 21 Bengals 35
Vikings 16 Cowboys 28
Rams 13 Seahawks 23
Bears 17 Eagles 21
Steelers 27 Broncos 13
Colts 21 Jaguars 24

Fantasy Studs:
QB: Jeff Garcia vs Lions: Garcia heads to Detroit to play one of his many former teams. The Lions have the 30th ranked pass defense so look for Garcia to have a big day. Expect around 250 yards and 2 touchdowns.

RB: Willis McGahee vs Bills: Another revenge game as McGahee is playing his old team. Slowly McGahee is having a good season with 525 yards rushing. That's only 2 yards behind Ladanian Tomlinson who was the first pick in all fantasy drafts. After this week the only stat list he won't be first on is the fathered kids list behind Travis Henry.Look for the Ravens to run the ball most of the game and a big game out of McGahee. Expect around 130 yards and a touchdown.

WR: Wes Welker vs Dolphins: Do you notice a theme here? Welker also faces off against a former team and should do very well. Expect around 110 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Vernon Davis vs Giants: If he plays look for Davis to have a big week. He is the only target for the 49ers that has done anything this year. Plus look for lots of check downs from Trent Dilfer as Davis can show off his great speed. Expect around 60 yards and a touchdown.

K: Shayne Graham vs Jets: This game could end up being a shoot out so Graham could be in for a big game. Expect around 11 points this week.

Def: Redskins vs Cardinals: A hot defense + a journeyman quarterback = a great start. look for the Redskins to get around 3 interceptions and 5 sacks.

Fbkid's week 6 predictions

Last week I got back on track as I had an 11-3 week. My surprise of the week was how strong the Chargers looked on the road against the Broncos. I had the Broncos barely winning at home 23-20 but it ended up being a 41-3 Chargers win. Could it possibly be that the Raiders coming off a 2-14 record last year are the class of the AFC West? I highly doubt it but record wise as of now they are the only team who's winning percentage is .500 are better. Here are my week 6 picks and fantasy studs.

Game of the weak: Giants vs Falcons: I'm sure when ESPN scheduled this as a Monday night game it wasn't what they had in mind.

Game of the week: Patriots vs Cowboys: This is being talked about like it will be the game of the century. Look for it to be close at first but for the Patriots to pull away.

Last week:11-3
Season:51-25

Rams 16 Ravens 20
Vikings 14 Bears 21
Dolphins 20 Browns 28
Redskins 20 Packers 24
Texans 17 Jaguars 21
Bengals 20 Chiefs 26
Eagles 28 Jets 24
Titans 14 Bucs 10
Panthers 16 Cardinals 27
Patriots 35 Cowboys 24
Raiders 16 Chargers 31
Saints 17 Seahawks 35
Giants 27 Falcons 10

Fantasy Studs:
QB: Matt Hasselbeck vs Saints: So far every team has picked on the Saints secondary. Look for this game to be no different as Hasselbeck should be good for 230 yards and 3 touchdowns.

RB: Ronnie Brown vs Browns: The Browns have been allowing lots of big games on the ground so far and Brown is just heating up. Look for around 150 total yards and 2 touchdowns.

WR: Dwayne Bowe vs Bengals: Bowe as a rookie already looks like he will be an all pro caliber player. The Bengals now have to rely on rookie corner Leon Hall to cover him. Hall struggled with guys who were bigger and faster than him at Michigan so Bowe should be in for a big day. Expect around 130 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Owen Daniels vs Jaguars: This is the second week in a row I have picked a tight end playing the Jaguars. They both are picked for mostly the same reason. The lack of a team running game. Matt Schaub utilized Daniels a lot last week as he had almost 100 yards. Don't expect those numbers but expect around 70 yards and maybe a touchdown.

K: Robbie Gould vs Vikings: This game is going to be a battle of field position as neither team can score which means lots of field goal opportunities. Don't be surprised if Gould gets you points in the mid double digits.

Def: Giants vs Falcons: The Falcons allow the most sacks in the league and the Giants defense has been playing very well lately. Expect around 2 interceptions and 6 total sacks.

Fbkid's week 5 predictions

Last week was a very hard week to predict as many of the favorites went down. It was like what I was talking about last week as every team in the NFL can be competitive. So for instance even though they may not be in playoff contention this year the Bills could be a feared team come the end of the year. They have a very young nucleus with rookies Marshawn Lynch already with 300 plus yards and 3 touchdowns along with quarterback Trent Edwards leading the team to victory in his first start. Plus Lee Evans showed life last week and some defensive weapons are in place with defensive end Aaron Schobel and safety Donte Whitner. So again don't be worried about your team playing poorly so far this year as they can turn it around. But if you are a Bengals or Eagles fan you should be thinking a bit differently. Here are my week 5 picks and fantasy studs.

Game of the weak: Ravens vs 49ers: This should be an interesting matchup but it won't be pretty to watch. The game should be a slugfest and when Trent Dilfer is starting at quarterback for your team, you are pretty much done for.

Game of the week: Bucs vs Colts: The Bucs have looked very impressive so far and the Colts have lots of key injuries that will affect the game. Look for this to be a very close game.

Last week:6-8
Season:40-22

Dolphins 17 Texans 21
Jaguars 20 Chiefs 13
Browns 17 Patriots 42
Panthers 20 Saints 28
Jets 16 Giants 21
Seahawks 20 Steelers 24
Cardinals 28 Rams 10
Lions 21 Redskins 24
Falcons 14 Titans 21
Bucs 24 Colts 27
Chargers 20 Broncos 23
Ravens 12 49ers 9
Bears 13 Packers 35
Cowboys 35 Bills 24

Fantasy Studs
QB: Jason Campbell vs Lions: Campbell has looked impressive this season and should continue against a weak Lions secondary. Expect around 240 yards and 2 touchdowns.

RB:LenDale White vs Falcons: I have been high on White for a while and this week you should be also. The Titans run the ball more than 30 times a game and the Falcons are 23rd against the run. Plus White is the one getting the goalline carries. Whats not to like?

WR: Randy Moss vs Browns: Moss might be the fantasy MVP so far this year and he should continue this week. The Browns are terrible against the pass and Moss hasn't been stopped yet.

TE: Tony Gonzalez vs Jaguars: Larry Johnson won't have that many rushing lanes open so Damon Huard will go to his star tight end early and often. Expect Gonzalez to get around 60 yards and a touchdown.

K:Matt Stover vs 49ers: Stover should have lots of opportunities as this game won't be to high scoring. Don't be surprised if he gets double digit points this week.

Def: Cardinals vs Rams: The Cardinals defense has really improved and the Rams offense looks terrible. Did I mention Gus Frerotte is starting this week at quarterback?