RADIO
Week One in the NFL is officially in the books, and after two exciting Monday Night Football matchups, its time to focus on Week Two's Thursday night game. Hopefully you were able to win in the season's first week, but if not, DO NOT PANIC-- it's a very long season.
Before we analyze Thursday night's Jets/Patriots game, lets quickly recap what happened with our picks for Monday night.
Matchups We Loved: We loved the matchup of the top targets for the Texans and Redskins in Andre Johnson and Pierre Garcon, respectively. Garcon did not have the big game we were hoping for, but did put up a solid, if unspectacular, seven catches for 64 yards. Andre Johnson had a monster 12 receptions for 146 yards against the Chargers. Neither guy got in the end zone.
Matchups We Hated: I advised waiting on starting DeSean Jackson until we got a taste of how Chip Kelly's new offense in Philly would play out in the NFL. If you listened to my advice here, let me apologize, as the Eagles' offense looked awesome, and Jackson caught seven balls for 104 yards and a touchdown. Arian Foster, on the other hand, made me look good. Not only did Foster run for a pedestrian 57 yards on 18 carries (3.2 YPC), but his yardage was nearly matched by Ben Tate on half the amount of touches. This has all the makings of becoming much more of a timeshare than any of Foster's owners would want.
Week Two Thursday Night Matchup Advice
New York Jets @ New England Patriots, Thursday 9/12, 8:25 PM
Matchup We Love: Kellen Winslow, TE
Young quarterbacks love to use their tight ends as a "safety net", and if Week One showed us anything about the Jets, it's that Geno Smith can play, and TE Kellen Winslow is going to be his favorite target. Winslow has always been able to play, but injuries and attitude problems have hindered him in the past. He's healthy right now, the Jets receivers stink, and the Pats' defense struggled against the pass in Week One, meaning Winslow could be in for another solid week of production. Analysis: Kellen Winslow is probably still available in your league. If you need a TE, grab him ASAP, and if you own him, feel free to start him this week.
Matchup We Hate: Chris Ivory, RB
I really liked Chris Ivory as a sleeper RB3 going into this season, but there's no way I'm starting him against a a New England defense that held C.J. Spiller to 41 yards on 17 carries, especially after the stinker Ivory put up in Week 1.The Patriots' defense has some issues, but it seems to struggle much more against the pass than the run. Analysis: Ivory is a flex play right now at best, but this is not the matchup to use him. Sit, sit, sit.
Key Injuries: Rob Gronkowski TE, NE (out), Danny Amendola WR, NE (questionable, likely out), Zach Sudfeld TE, NE (questionable), Mark Sanchez QB, NYJ (inactive), Jeremy Kerley WR, NYJ (questionable), Kellen Winslow TE, NYJ (probable), Geno Smith QB, NYJ (probable)
Start 'Em: Tom Brady, Steven Ridley, Julian Edelman, Patriots DEF, Kellen Winslow
Good luck Thursday night. Check back here at RotoBaller.com for our Sunday and Monday matchups.
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Don't forget to check back at RotoBaller.com this weekend for any last minute fantasy football analysis & updates, Monday night matchups, and our suicide pool pick of the week. Good luck with your decisions in week one.
