I've dwelled so much on the San Diego injuries with the intro lately. I think instead I should stop and be thankful for all the players on my fantasy teams who did NOT get hurt. I'm sure glad I have Eddie Lacy and LeSean McCoy in my big money league. They're really helping to withstand the loss of Keenan Allen back in Week 1. Wait...
Let's get to the picks...!
Week 7 Picks
Green Bay (-9.5) vs. Chicago
It's getting pretty annoying seeing the Packers still get looked at as some sort of elite team after all the crappy garbage they've done this year. And Thursday night games are completely unpredictable. No thanks.
Pick: Bears
New York Giants (-2.5) at Los Angeles
Aside from Giants fans, we're all kind of hoping that this comes down to a missed game-winning field goal attempt by the Giants, right?
Pick: Rams
Buffalo (-2.5) at Miami
It's tough for the Bills to win in the heat of Miami, just as it's tough for the Dolphins to win in the cold of Buffalo. I have no basis for these stats and I kind of made them up, but it sounds good. Plus possibly no LeSean McCoy? I don't like the sound of that. That being said, the Dolphins played over their heads to the hundredth power last week, and likely are keeping this line a bit closer than it should be.
Pick: Bills
Detroit (-1.5) vs. Washington
I don't care how many times I see it, I'm not going to believe that the Lions are any good unless they are hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. I just can't get on-board that a team loses Calvin Johnson and then gets better. It just makes no sense to my tiny brain.
Pick: Redskins
Jacksonville (-1.5) vs. Oakland
Ummm. What?
Pick: Raiders
Kansas City (-6.5) vs. New Orleans
This feels like a couple of points too many for a Chiefs team that doesn't really knock your socks off. Granted the Saints are not very good. But they can throw crooked numbers up on the board with the best of em, and the Chiefs aren't typically a team that hangs with the big offensive producers. I can see a 24-21 or 20-17 type of game.
Pick: Saints
Minnesota (-2.5) at Philadelphia
Given a week off to prepare for a rookie quarterback who has faced some adversity the last two weeks? Yeah, the Vikings are licking their chops for this one.
Pick: Vikings
New York Jets (-1.5) vs. Baltimore
Before he had his jaw broken, Geno Smith was being lauded by Ron Jaworski as one of the most improved passers he had seen in minicamp that season. I know everyone has already decided that he completely stinks, but the sample size is still really really small. I like him.
Pick: Jets
Tennessee (-2.5) vs. Indianapolis
The Colts are putrid, that much is certain. But they have a big offensive day in them this week, and I don't see the Titans hanging with them. Plus laying points with a bad Titans team against Luck just feels wrong.
Pick: Colts
Cincinnati (-9.5) vs. Cleveland
Sure, it's a lot of points to lay for a team that's just 2-4. But the Bengals have been bitten by injuries, done in a bit by the schedule, and haven't had the good fortune of playing a potentially Pryor-less Browns squad. Blowout city.
Pick: Bengals
Atlanta (-6.5) vs. San Diego
I was all set to take the Chargers and the points, but the way Atlanta blew that game against Seattle last week went and changed all of those plans. Now they're going to take out their aggressions on my poor Chargers. Good lord, Julio Jones is gonna FEAST this weekend.
Pick: Falcons
Tampa Bay (-1.5) at San Francisco
Why are the Bucs favored on the road against, well, anybody?
Pick: Niners
New England (-7.5) at Pittsburgh
Tough game to call, because NO IT'S NOT! BIG BEN IS THE WHOLE TEAM!
Pick: Patriots
Arizona (-2.5) vs. Seattle
Couple of teams who appear to be getting ready to hit their stride, but the spread isn't too big and the game is in Arizona, so I'm defaulting there. But this could certainly go either way.
Pick: Cardinals
Denver (-7.5) vs. Houston
Denver isn't really a team that blows you out of the water. The Texans appear to be a team that's at least very capable of keeping a game close (or making it close after getting blown out for awhile). I like that hook here to push Houston over the top.
Pick: Texans
BEST BETS: Redskins, Raiders, Vikings, Falcons
LOCK: Minnesota Vikings
LAST WEEK
Overall: 10-5
Best Bets: 2-2
Lock of the Week: 0-1
YEAR TO DATE
Overall: 57-35 (61%)
Best Bets: 12-12 (50%)
Lock of the Week: 2-4 (33%)
POWER RANKINGS
Team Name W/L (Prv)
1. Vikings 5-0 (1)
2. Patriots 5-1 (2)
3. Cowboys 5-1 (7)
4. Seahawks 4-1 (10)
5. Falcons 4-2 (3)
6. Broncos 4-2 (6)
7. Texans 4-2 (11)
8. Steelers 4-2 (5)
9. Chiefs 3-2 (9)
10. Packers 3-2 (4)
11. Redskins 4-2 (14)
12. Cardinals 3-3 (15)
13. Raiders 4-2 (8)
14. Eagles 3-2 (12)
15. Bills 4-2 (17)
16. Bengals 2-4 (13)
17. Giants 3-3 (20)
18. Ravens 3-3 (16)
19. Saints 2-3 (23)
20. Chargers 2-4 (24)
21. Lions 3-3 (28)
22. Rams 3-3 (18)
23. Panthers 1-5 (19)
24. Jaguars 2-3 (25)
25. Titans 3-3 (26)
26. Colts 2-4 (22)
27. Bucs 2-3 (27)
28. Dolphins 2-4 (30)
29. Jets 1-5 (21)
30. Bears 1-5 (29)
31. 49ers 1-5 (31)
32. Browns 0-6 (32)
