See the player pictured above? You'll want him in your lineup this week.
Let's get to the picks!
WEEK 6 PICKS
Seattle (-6.5) at San Francisco
Here's an example of reputation superseding all logic and reason. The Seahawks are in complete turmoil right now. Nobody can do anything on either side of the ball, they're losing games to teams they should beat, we're getting to the point in the season where Super Bowl hangover talk starts picking up steam, and to top it all off, Christine Michael is about to take off as a top-5 NFL back in big D. But deep down, we all know that the Niners are pretty bad right? And so here we are. One of the more difficult games of the week to call, and if Seattle can't lay the smack down against a recent rival on primetime, it'll officially be panic time.
Pick: Seahawks
Buffalo (-4.5) at Jacksonville
I'm still on-board with Buffalo being a good team, I really am. But I'm not comfortable laying more than a field goal on the road with a team that has been this wildly inconsistent so far.
Pick: Jaguars
Indianapolis (-4.5) vs. New Orleans
Remember when Colts and Saints used to be a fantasy bonanza? You had both quarterbacks, obviously. The top running back from each team, usually. Potentially a backup if the starter was banged-up. At least two wideouts and usually a third from both teams. And obviously both tight ends and kickers. Nowadays, you're just hoping Brees can finish the game and Luck can put up enough points in garbage time so you don't regret starting him over Andy Dalton. Again.
Pick: Colts
Pittsburgh (-2.5) at Kansas City
The Chiefs have played much better than their record indicates, and the Steelers are still being led into Arrowhead by a completely green Landry Jones. I think between the run game, defense, and conservative play calling, KC finds a way to spring the upset here.
Pick: Chiefs
New England (-9.5) vs. New York Jets
The Pats are probably just as good as they were a year ago. The Jets are certainly better than they were a year ago. Well in two meetings in 2014, the Jets lost by a combined three points. In 2013, the teams split three point victories. You have to go back three years to find a blowout victory by either team (Spoiler alert: New England won the blowout game). Point being, this looks like it'll be a field goal game in either direction, as both teams are amongst the better teams in the league at this stage. Not understanding this one.
Pick: Jets
Minnesota (-2.5) at Detroit
Is that a little bit of life we see from the Lions? Probably not, but I'm also not very comfortable laying points on the road with the Vikings just yet.
Pick: Lions
Miami (-4.5) vs. Houston
The Dolphins seemed to have found something last week. Granted, they were playing one of the worst teams in the league and one of the doormats of the AFC South, but I fail to see how that's any different than this week's description.
Pick: Dolphins
Saint Louis (-4.5) vs. Cleveland
Saint Louis is well-rested coming off the bye week, while Cleveland is still reeling from yet another potential victory that they just couldn't secure in the game's final moments. Don't worry, there will be no such drama this week when Todd Gurley breaks the all-time single-game rushing record. Rams 35, Browns 6.
Pick: Rams
Atlanta (-4.5) at Tennessee
Normally, I save the hardest decision for the last write-up I do each week. This time around, I saved the most boring. The thinking here is that the Falcons, coming off their first loss, will smoke Tennessee. Uh, yeah. Obviously.
Pick: Falcons
Washington (-3.5) vs. Tampa Bay
Like when you go to a strip club and it turns out that they actually have pretty good food too, this one is great because you get to bet against one of the league's absolute worst teams and you also get 3.5 points in your back pocket!
Pick: Bucs
San Diego (-4.5) vs. Oakland
There's a whole lotta pent-up frustration in San Diego these days. That tends to happen when you keep losing games on the $&#& goal line! While acknowledging that they have literally no one in the secondary who can tackle anyone (Eric Weddle's beard is much less charming when he's whiffing tackles on a weekly basis), and Amari Cooper spends a lot of his time there, I still think the Chargers have a big blowout in them ready for Raider week. Get your bolts into your fantasy lineups this week, because it's gonna be a bonanza.
Pick: Chargers
New York Giants (-5.5) vs. Dallas
I get the logic here. Dallas has struggled mightily since losing Tony Romo and Dez Bryant. The Giants are coming off an embarassing loss to the Eagles, and will be all jacked up for their other rivals this week. Eli and company will light it up, blah blah blah. But are you forgetting what I said earlier? CHRISTINE MICHAEL??? OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD?!? Book it.
Pick: Cowboys
Carolina (-3.5) vs. Philadelphia
Since the Panthers are content to win every game 13-10, I have a feeling that's just what they'll do here. Allow the Eagles to hang around to keep it a game, but in the end the better defense pulls out a close victory.
Pick: Eagles
Arizona (-7.5) vs. Baltimore
Oh boy, the matchup we've all been waiting for. It's the battle of Anquan Boldin's two former teams! I know I can hardly contain my excitement either. One more shot Ravens. I'm giving you one more shot to show up in primetime.
Pick: Ravens
BEST BETS: Jets, Rams, Falcons, Chargers
LOCK: San Diego Chargers
LAST WEEK
Overall: 6-8
Best Bets: 1-3
Lock of the Week: 0-1
YEAR TO DATE
Overall: 42-49 (46%)
Best Bets: 10-14 (41%)
Lock of the Week: 2-4 (33%)
POWER RANKINGS
1. Patriots 5-0 (1)
2. Packers 6-0 (2)
3. Bengals 6-0 (3)
4. Panthers 5-0 (6)
5. Broncos 6-0 (5)
6. Steelers 4-2 (10)
7. Jets 4-1 (9)
8. Cardinals 4-2 (4)
9. Falcons 5-1 (7)
10. Seahawks 2-4 (8)
11. Colts 3-3 (11)
12. Cowboys 2-3 (12)
13. Eagles 3-3 (17)
14. Vikings 3-2 (16)
15. Rams 2-3 (15)
16. Bills 3-3 (14)
17. Giants 3-3 (13)
18. Saints 2-4 (19)
19. Dolphins 2-3 (20)
20. Chargers 2-4 (18)
21. Bears 2-4 (21)
22. Browns 2-4 (22)
23. 49ers 2-4 (26)
24. Ravens 1-5 (23)
25. Raiders 2-3 (25)
26. Chiefs 1-5 (24)
27. Redskins 2-4 (27)
28. Lions 1-5 (28)
29. Texans 2-4 (30)
30. Titans 1-4 (29)
31. Bucs 2-3 (31)
32. Jaguars 1-5 (32)
