B/R Pro Football Challenge Week 5: Jaguars’ Jones-Drew Could Be Top Scorer
The more I play it, the more I find that the Pro Football Challengeย here on B/R is a great way for fantasy players of all types to come together and prove their fantasy prowess.
It's free to enter, and the grand prize is two tickets to this yearโs Super Bowl.
Miss a week? No problemโyouโre still eligible to win the weekly prize, which is a jersey of your choice.
Sounds like a no-brainer to me.
But as Iโve recommended this contest to friends and some family members, Iโve heard quite a few people saying โI donโt understand the rules,โ or โI donโt know enough about fantasy football.โ
Iโm here to help, friends. Maybe it'll cost me a jersey one week, but I like a challenge.
Letโs start with the rules. Each week, players will choose a lineup that includes one of each of the following:
- Quarterback
- Running Back
- Wide Receiver
- Tight End
- A Team That Will Win Its Game
The catch is that players only get to choose the player once throughout the seasonโso picking the right matchup for each player is of significant importance.
The NFL is a somewhat of a crapshoot from week-to-week, but understanding matchups and opportunities is an area that can be used to help make informed decisions throughout the Quick Picks contest here at Bleacher Report.
One major thing to keep in mind with this contest is that the perceived top players may not be the best players to put in your lineup early in the year.
Because we only get to use them once throughout the season, players should consider that there may be better opportunities for the top players as the season goes along.
Although strictly copying my picks will likely not lead you to win this contest, these picks may be a good guideline for visitors who might be wondering what to do at a position or two.
On to the picks!
QUARTERBACKSโPlay: Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints (at Arizona Cardinals)
1 of 10
It goes without saying, but Drew Brees is a fantasy football stud. With Pierre Thomas ruled out for this weekโs contest, the Saints will rely even more heavily this week on the passing game led by Brees.
Though he hasnโt had the hot start he had in 2009, Brees has remained an elite quarterback even in defeat. His lowest game so far this season saw him accumulate 13 points, but donโt look for another game like thatโthe Cardinals are notoriously bad at stopping the pass, even if they know itโs coming.
The last time Brees had an opportunity to face this defense, in last seasonโs playoffs, he lit them up for 247 yards and three touchdowns. Look for more of the same this week.
Other Good Options
Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons (at Cleveland Browns)
Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams (at Detroit Lions)
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Buffalo Bills (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)
QUARTERBACKSโAvoid: Brett Favre, QB, Minnesota Vikings
2 of 10
Excitement is in the air with Randy Moss joining the team, but this simply isnโt the time to use him in this contest. Favre hasnโt shown us the ability to be a competent fantasy quarterback in 2010 and even with Moss on the team, he is facing a Jets defense that has made better quarterbackโMossโs previous partner Tom Brady includedโlook pedestrian.
With upcoming games against the Patriots and Cardinals, there will be better opportunities to use Favre this seasonโhe may even have Sidney Rice back by that time.ย
RUNNING BACKSโPlay: Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (at BUF Bills)
3 of 10
Everything in this matchup is looking great for Maurice Jones-Drew and the Jacksonville Jaguarsโ rushing attack.
One week after finally getting into the end zone and breaking 100 yards for the first time this season, Jones-Drew faces a Buffalo Bills defense that just got done surrendering nearly 300 total yards to the Jetsโ running backs.
The Jaguars have struggled offensively so far this season, but if there is a time to use an elite back like Maurice Jones-Drew, itโs now while heโs healthy against a terrible defense.
Other Good Options
Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams (at Detroit Lions)
Jahvid Best, RB, Detroit Lions (vs. St. Louis Rams)
Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers (at Oakland Raiders)
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RUNNING BACKSโAvoid: Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta Falcons (at Cleveland Browns)
4 of 10
On the surface this seems like an excellent play, but we have to examine the situation a bit more thoroughly than that.
In 2009, the Browns allowed a disappointing 21.8 points per game to opposing running backs, fifth worst in the NFL. But in 2010, the Browns have cut that nearly in half, down to just 11.8 points per game.
Not only that, but these numbers have come while stopping some of the better running backs in the leagueโRay Rice, Cedric Benson, and even one of the top running duos in the game in Kansas Cityโs Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles. Despite this excellent competition, the Browns havenโt even allowed a rushing touchdown yet this season.
With Turner and the Falcons running game still trying to get on their feet this season, this just isnโt a good matchup.
WIDE RECEIVERSโPlay: Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts (vs. KC Chiefs)
5 of 10
So much for the belief that Reggie Wayneโs value is dropping in 2010. Through four weeks, the veteran Colts wide receiver now leads the entire league in receptions and yardsโif thatโs โdeclining,โ we all need to be looking for some declining players!
The Chiefs have allowed a touchdown every week to opposing receivers and this doesnโt look like a likely time for that to stop. Peyton Manning and the Coltsโ offense are on an absolute tearโnow if they could only stop someone on defenseโฆ
Other Good Options
Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons (at Cleveland Browns)
Hakeem Nicks, WR, New York Giants (at Houston Texans)
Mark Clayton, WR, St. Louis Rams (at Detroit Lions)
WIDE RECEIVERSโAvoid: Anquan Boldin, WR, Baltimore Ravens (vs. Denver Broncos)
6 of 10
Currently the third-ranked wide receiver, Anquan Boldin seems to be fitting in very nicely with his new team in Baltimore. Boldin has caught five or more passes in every game this season including a three touchdown performance against the Browns in week three.
Though he seems to be everything that the Ravens hoped heโd be, a matchup with the Broncos is a lot more difficult than it seems on the surface. Denver tends to use All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey as a shadow to the opposing teamโs top receiver and he has done an excellent job of shutting them down in 2010 and really over his entire career.
Boldin is a stud this year, but itโd be wise to wait until he faces the Patriots next week to insert him into your Pro Football Challenge lineup.
TIGHT ENDSโPlay: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Detroit Lions (vs. St. Louis Rams)
7 of 10
Who?
You heard meโDetroit Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew has quietly been a very productive fantasy tight end in 2010.
He was very quiet in Week 1 with Matt Stafford behind center, but he has caught 21 passes for 243 yards in three games with Shaun Hill at the helm. Though he has failed to get into the end zone during that time, with as many catches as he is making, itโs only a matter of time before he gets into the touchdown column.
The Rams have done well stopping opposing tight ends this season, but Shaun Hill has targeted his tight ends more than any quarterback in the league.ย
Other Good Options
Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego Chargers (at Oakland Raiders)
Brent Celek, TE, Philadelphia Eagles (at San Francisco 49ers)
Jermichael Finley, TE, Green Bay Packers (at Washington Redskins)
TIGHT ENDSโAvoid: Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco 49ers (vs Philadelphia Eagles)
8 of 10
Itโs hard to justify not playing one of the most physically talented tight ends in the league, but Vernon Davis is one of just two players (Frank Gore being the other) in this offense who the Eagles could possibly be worried about stopping.
Opposing defenses have done an excellent job stopping Davis so far this season, keeping him to single digit points in every game. After leading the entire league in receiving touchdowns in 2009, he has caught just one in 2010. That number can certainly go up with a nice game or two, but until this offense starts moving the ball more efficiently, Davisโ opportunities will be limited.
TEAM TO WINโPlay: Indianapolis Colts (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)
9 of 10
Thatโs rightโa 2-2 team beating the only undefeated team in the league.
The Colts are a seven point favorite to be the first team to notch an โLโ on the Chiefsโ record this Sunday, and for good reasonโPeyton Manning is going to pick this defense apart for big yardage all day.
Though the Chiefs have one of the top running games in the league and the Colts have struggled mightily to stop the run, this week could be a bit different. Not only do the Colts have a chip on their shoulder after their second loss of the season, but they also know that the run is comingโMatt Cassel and the Chiefsโ passing game simply isnโt up to par.
The Colts have stumbled a bit out of the gate this year, but does anyone really believe that theyโre going to fall below .500?
Other Good Options
Baltimore Ravens (vs. Denver Broncos)
Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
New Orleans Saints (at Arizona Cardinals)
TEAM TO WINโAvoid: Philadelphia Eagles (at San Francisco 49ers)
10 of 10
San Francisco stayed competitive in games against the Saints and Falcons so they canโt be this bad, can they?
After another disappointing loss brought them to 0-4 in 2010, the 49ers fanbase has to be asking, โWhat went wrong?โ
The preseason favorites to win the NFC West, the 49ers are now simply trying to get into the win column. Itโs hard to believe that a team anchored by Frank Gore on offense and Patrick Willis on defense could struggle this much, but thatโs the reality.
This week, they get a Philadelphia Eagles team without Mike Vick and with an injured LeSean McCoy. McCoy is set to play, but his ribs are certainly a concern and the Eagles canโt afford to have him aggravate the injuryโthereโs a good chance that he sees a limited number of touches in this weekโs game.
With that information, we know that the Eagles are likely to lean heavily on Kevin Kolb. While San Francisco has been mediocre at stopping opposing quarterbacks this season, this is their chance to make a quarterback pay when they know that the pass is coming early and often.
The 49ers have been terrible this seasonโwe all know that. But Mike Singletary and his team simply cannot afford to fall to 0-5. If they do, Singletaryโs head could very well be on the chopping block, even as early as next week.ย
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.jpg?w=480 "Saints Patriots Camp Football")
