Fantasy Football: Torchin' the Tennessee Titans

I’m sure if everyone is aware of the success that shutdown corners Darrelle Revis, Nnamdi Asomugha, and Champ Bailey have had this year.  Well, in Tennessee, they have the opposite thing going on, which is surprising considering how strong the Titans defense was last year.

However, this year has been a different story.  They enter the week ranked 31st in the league in both passing yards and passing TDs allowed per game at 288 and 13, respectively.  I know that Andre Johnson helped skew that number in the wrong direction with his 10 catch, 149 yard, two TD performance in Week Two, but there is more to the story.

Tennessee has allowed TDs from the opposing team’s No. 1 WR in every game so far this year—seven total.  Here’s a look at the damage:

—Week One:    Santonio Holmes—nine catches for 131 yards, TD
—Week Two:     Andre Johnson—10 catches for 149 yards, two TDs
—Week Three:  Jerricho Cotchery—eight catches for 108 yards, TD
—Week Four:    Mike-Sims Walker—seven catches for 91 yards, two TDs
—Week Five:     Reggie Wayne*—six catches for 60 yards, TD

*also dropped an easy second TD

When you consider this trend, it’s easy to assume that Randy Moss will torch the Titans this weekend.  However, Tom Brady just hasn’t been the same so far this year.  He seems timid when taking deep shots.  His longest completion thus far is 36 yards.

Looking at the QBs in the top 10 in passing yards, he has the lowest long completion.  Other than Kurt Warner, whose long is 40 yards, everyone else's is 51 and higher.  Peyton Manning, Matt Schaub, Tony Romo, Joe Flacco, Philip Rivers, and even Kyle Orton have had 72+ yard plays.

Randy Moss is averaging a career low 12.2 yards per catch.  Moss is being used in short, quick routes.  That’s the reason I picked Wes Welker to outperform Randy in this week’s Out on a Limb picks.

While this is a prime time for the Brady-Moss combo to bust out, I’m not sure they are ready for it.  Getting the confidence to step up into pressure and throw a deep strike isn’t an easy task.  Aside from the obvious knee injury, I’m sure somewhere in the back of his mind is the “stomp you out” approach that the Giants executed to perfection in the Super Bowl.

Like I said, this is the perfect week for the Pats to break out the deep ball.  I just am not confident they can.  That said, Brady, Moss, and Welker all make excellent plays this weekend.

Originally published at LestersLegends.com.