Well, let’s see how we do on the new OMNI picks this week. For the regulars, pick 5 games you think will cover and pick your one SURE winner (straight up). On your straight up pick, you can only use a team once, so when everyone picks the Rams this week, they can’t use them again.
Fantasy Notes-
-Studs at this point - never sit 'em:
QB - Warner, Favre, Manning, Garcia, Culpepper
RB - CMartin, Faulk, AGreen
WR - Owens, Bruce, Holt, Harrison
-Bad news on the Edge front. Not only is he being held out of practice because of a swollen calf, the Colts also dropped WR Tony Simmons (a position they don’t have a lot of depth at with Pathon and Wilkins nursing injuries) in order to sign RB Shyrone Stith. There’s something going on here.
The picks:
Dolphins 23 at Colts 16 (OFF)
See above. The Colts are banged up all over the place on the offense. Miami’s running game has kind of stalled, but the Indy defense is so crappy they can work with it.
START: Mare, Vanderjagt, Travis Minor, Fiedler.
Bills 17 at Patriots 23 (NE by 6)
Count on it - by the end of the season the Bills will be starting VanPelt at QB and the Pats will be begging for the Texans to draft Bledsoe.
START: ASmith, Troy Brown. AVOID: Moulds (always sucks against NE)
Panthers 10 at Rams 41 (Rams by 17 1/2) OMNI
It’s a huge spread, but Faulk is back, the Rams don’t stop pounding on a team (see the Jets game) and the Panthers may be starting a QB with an injured wing (Wienke), a 3rd stringer (Lytle), or a guy they just signed (Harbaugh). Interesting note - Carolina won both games last year. But…we’re talking about two different teams now. And the Rams are coming off a bye after getting beat.
START: All Rams, including the defense.
Cowboys at Atlanta (OFF)
No score given because it depends on the Falcon QB. If Chandler’s OK and good to go, take ATL. If Vick starts, expect a fun game to watch but a DAL win.
START: Wait and see,
Bucs 17 at Lions 20 (TB by 5) OMNI
Take the points and talk it up. On Monday you’ll look like a football god. I’m that sure of the Lions against a TB team that has no offense a defense that’s fading.
START: Alstott on a hunch
Packers 27 at Bears 24 (OT) (GB by 2 1/2)
Tough defenses on both sides. They know each other though, and it will bounce back and forth, Lucky Bears lose in OT this time.
START: AThomas, Favre, Freeman, Booker.
Chiefs 27 at Jets 16 (NYJ by 4 1/2) OMNI
Another game where you take the points and laugh all the way to the bank. Look, the Jets DEs are pass rushers, quick around the end. They can help out on power runners (Ricky W) but they get their asses kick on speed guys (Canidate).
START: John Hall, Priest Holmes.
Steelers 17 at Browns 10 (PIT by 3)
The Browns have to be reeling after the loss to the Bears, and it doesn’t get easier this week.
START: Plaxico, both defenses.
Bengals 20 at Jaguars 17 (JAX by 4)
The wheels are falling off three teams. The Jags are one of them.
START: Dillon, DScott.
Chargers 17 at Broncos 31 (DEN by 6) OMNI
Look, I love an underdog (just look at my OMNI picks), but we’re looking at the other two teams where the wheels are falling off. Take the home team against a soft SD pass defense.
START: RSmith, Greise, FJones.
Vikings 17 at Eagles 24 (PHI by 4)
I can’t believe the league is going to dissolve the Minnesota team…oh wait, that’s baseball. There will be a lot of long balls from Culpepper to Moss from here on out. That happens when both the coach and the owner predict he’ll still get 17+ TDs.
START: Moss, Culpepper, McNabb, Pinkston AVOID: Thrash (I finally figured him out – start him in away games, bench him at home. Chack the stats.)
Saints 24 at 49ers 21 (SF by 3)
Someone please tell me why Turley is getting a bigger fine than DRobinson. Damien should be suspended for the YEAR! Granted that Turley’s actions after the fracas were out of line, but Robinson was basically trying to maim Brooks. I still say Brooks is being Kordelled, but I think he’ll just say, “screw it” and win this one.
START: Brooks, RWilliams.
Giants 27 at Cards 13 (NYG by 5 1/2)
Like Fassell, I will guarantee that my 2-6 fantasy team will make the playoffs. Of course. I have maybe 5 out of 18 players drafted still on my team after trades and the waiver wire.
START: Boston, Jurevicious, Collins.
Raiders 30 at Seahawks 13 (OAK by 6 1/2) OMNI
I don’t give a rip if Holmgren goes with Dilfer and his winning streak. The Raiders are the most balanced and best team in the NFL right now. And I hate the Raiders.
START: Janikowski, Gannon, Garner.
Ravens 30 at Titans 13 (BAL by 1 1/2)
The Titans are giving up miles in the air this year and Grbac comes back this week. Don’t worry, Eddie George will be back. Just not this week.
START: Grbac, QIsmail, Sharpe.
OK, to sum it up:
OMNI picks:
OAK, STL, DET, KC, DEN
One winner straight up: Rams