Okay kids, it’s prediction time. As I wrote earlier this week, I love these match ups. I love the idea of one side of the bracket featuring the two teams with the most title game appearances (Robio/Griff) going against two teams that have both struggled to turn regular season success into a mug-worthy season.
Let’s get started.
#1 BUTT FUMBLES VS. #5 WELCOME 2 FLA, ASSHOLES
K. Moreno (Robio) > A. Brown (Griff)
Brown has been a God-send, but Moreno has three straight 200+ games.
L. Fitzgerald (Griff) = K. Allen (Robio)
We’ll call this one a tie. Fitzgerald is the better pair of hands, but he’s got a tougher match up. Allen can be inconsistent, but the Broncos D gives up a lot of fantasy points to receivers.
A. Brown (Griff) > H. Douglas (Robio)
Brown has been one of the best receivers over the last month. Douglas has not.
J. Graham (Robio) = V. Davis (Griff)
I have the advantage over everyone in this league at TE, except this week against Griff.
S. Hauschka (Griff) > R. Succop (Robio)
The Giants give up the 12th most points to kickers, the Raiders 21st, advantage Seattle kicker.
Bills DST (Robio) > Buccaneers (Griff)
In reality, the Jaguars offense is not much of a pushover anymore (Bills opponent), but it’s still better than Tampa against the 49ers.
DEEP THOUGHTS:
A while ago, this was the exact time of match up I feared. One against a elite quarterback and they get no more elite than Peyton Manning. I shipped off Demaryius Thomas for Tom Brady. Now Brady has been brilliant for me, yet I’m actually benching him this week as he faces the Dolphins without Gronkowski. I don’t like benching, but I just can’t ignore Ryan’s match up against the Redskins pass defense.
#2 THE DICK-TATERS VS #3 WET BREES
This is the one spot where Masterson really has the advantage.
L. McCoy (Rich) > S. Vereen (Rob)
Against the Vikings, I could see McCoy getting 150 yards and 2 TDs. Verneen could match it (through receptions), but he can also score 50 fantasy points.
D. Murray (Rich) > B. Tate (Rob)
I will give the Cowboys some create, they’ve tried to run the ball lately. Good news for DeMarco owners.
J. Gordon (Rob) > R. White (Rich)
I suspect Roddy White has his best game of the year, but it’s still won’t be better than Josh Gordon, i.e. the best receiver in football over the last month.
V. Jackson (Rob) = R. Cooper (Rich)
Normally, I’d be all about Vincent Jackson, but he’s facing a stout 49ers D, while Cooper gets to run wild through a Vikings secondary.
J. Cameron (Rob) = J. Thomas (Rich)
Cameron finally broke out of a mini-slump, but was it a fluke or was it a sign of the times? Thomas on the other hand has been mister steady all season long.
M. Prater (Rob) > P. Dawson (Rich)
Prater should probably produce about six extra points and two field goals. Dawson, about half that.
Panthers DST (Rich) > Bengals (Rob)
Huge advantage for Calderon. Yes, the Jets scored 37 last week, but they’ll find life a lot tougher on the road against one of the league’s best D’s.