Deja Vu?

Glendale, Arizona is the site of Super Bowl forty-nine.

Crucial match ups will decide the outcome of the 2014 season finale. Turnovers and special teams play usually play a major role in such big games but certain match ups will prove to be a huge component beginning in twenty-four hours.

The New England Patriots began the 2014 season with a 3-2 record including a 33-20 loss at Miami in the opener and a 41-14 pounding at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. They obviously finished 12-4 with a first-round bye in the AFC.

The Patriots offense was fourth-best in scoring as tight end Rob Gronkowski contributed abundantly. Gronk scored four touchdowns in New England's first five games, posting his first 100-yard performance in week five against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The defending champion Seahawks also began the 2014 campaign 3-2, losing at San Diego 30-21 and to Dallas 30-23 at home. By week six experts wondered what was wrong with Seattle, writing them off as pretenders. By mid-season, it looked as though Arizona and Dallas were the class of the NFC. Seattle was officially under the radar especially after getting rid of wide receiver Percy Harvin. They finished with a 12-4 record and a first-round bye as well.

The Seahawks possessed the stingiest defensive unit the NFL, allowing under 16 points per contest.

The most crucial match up tomorrow will be between Rob Gronkowski and Seattle safety Kam Chancellor even though last year's Super Bowl MVP injured his left knee toward the end of practice Friday. New England did not go through a walk-through practice Saturday, claiming to be "as ready as we're going to be", according to head coach Bill Belichick.


New England 17
Seattle          27 Final
Maybe.

Little Giant

In the image above, New York Giants (5-9) receiver Odell Beckham drops a touchdown pass. He later redeemed himself, pulling down 12 receptions for 143 yards and scoring three touchdowns by the game's end, defeating the Washington Redskins (3-11) 24-13. The 5' 11" LSU product has recorded at least six catches each of the last seven games.

Beckham has 972 receiving yards and nine scores despite missing the first month of his rookie campaign, due to injury. 'ODB' and the Giants will go on the road to test the tough St. Louis Rams (6-8) defense on Sunday.

As many Fantasy leagues are in their championship week, most experts would advise owners to start the players who got them to the promised land, regardless of defensive match up. We know better. Proceed with caution in week sixteen, going forward.


Byes: none

QB

Aaron Rodgers (GB @ TB)

Matthew Stafford (Det @ Chi)

Tom Brady (NE @ NYJ)

RB

Le'Veon Bell (Pit vs KC)

Eddie Lacy (GB @ TB)

C.J. Anderson (Den @ Cin)

WR

Odell Beckham (NYG @ StL)

Calvin Johnson (Det @ Chi)

Anquan Boldin (SF vs SD)

Roddy White (Atl @ NO)

TE

Rob Gronkowski (NE @ NYJ)

Heath Miller (Pit vs KC)

Martellus Bennett (Chi vs Det)

DEF

Buffalo @ Oak

New England @ NYJ

Miami vs Min

QB

Philip Rivers (SD @ SF)

Russell Wilson (Sea @ Ari)

RB

Arian Foster (Hou vs Bal)

Marshawn Lynch (Sea @ Ari)

WR

T.Y. Hilton (Ind @ Dal)

Julio Jones (Atl @ NO)

TE

Coby Fleener (Ind @ Dal)

Jason Witten (Dal vs Ind)

DEF

San Francisco vs SD

Houston vs Bal

Nuk Goes Off

DeAndre Hopkins' career game stood as the 191 yard two touchdown, 25-24 victory over LSU in the 2012 Chick fil-A Bowl. Then he played against the Tennessee Titans (2-10) Sunday afternoon.

The Clemson product owned week thirteen, grabbing nine catches for 238 yards with two touchdowns, as the Texans (6-6) throttle the playoff-trifled Titans 45-21. Hopkins will test the Jaguars secondary as they travel to Jacksonville (2-10) in their second of three consecutive division match ups. Go "Nuk", go.


Byes: none

QB

Kyle Orton (Buf @ Den)

Mark Sanchez (Phi  vs Sea)

Ryan Fitzpatrick (Hou @ Jac)

RB

C. J. Anderson (Den vs Buf) Anderson was the number one-ranked running back in total Fantasy points in November. The second-year California alumnus has rushed for 454 yards and has pulled down 18 receptions during this period. RB1.

Joique Bell (Det vs TB)

Jonathan Stewart (Car @ NO)

WR

Robert Woods (Buf @ Den)

Kendall Wright (Ten vs NYG)

Malcom Floyd (SD vs NE)

TE

Heath Miller (Pit @ Cin)

Delanie Walker (Ten vs NYG)

Travis Kelce (KC @ Ari)

DEF

Detroit vs TB

Arizona vs KC

Houston @ Jac

QB
Andy Dalton (Cin vs Pit)
Matt Ryan (Atl @ GB)
RB
Frank Gore (SF @ Oak)
Steven Jackson (StL @ GB)
WR
Vincent Jackson (TB @ Det)
Wes Welker (Den vs Buf)
TE
Coby Fleener (Ind vs NYG)
Zach Ertz (Phi vs Sea)
DEF
Seattle @ Phi
St. Louis @ Was

Put Me In, Coach!!

Being in a class with running backs like Trent Richardson, Doug Martin and Ronnie Hillman, Jonas Gray went undrafted out of Notre Dame in 2012. The Dolphins put Gray on their practice squad only to cut him. The Ravens followed, inviting Gray to their practice squad in 2013 then cutting him.

Now in his third season out of college, Jonas Gray made the New England Patriots (8-2) roster and is making the most of his opportunity with 37 carries, 201 yards and four touchdowns en route to a 42-20 mud-hole stomping against the Indianapolis Colts (6-4) on Sunday night.

However, one should only celebrate a victory for twenty-four hours before moving on to the next opponent. So enough about Jonas Gray's performance in week eleven. What lies ahead when the Detroit Lions (7-3) come to town in week twelve....

Byes: Carolina, Pittsburgh

QB

Brian Hoyer (Cle @ Atl) The Michigan State Spartan is facing the NFL's worst pass defense, allowing 281.2 yards through the air.

Jay Cutler (Chi vs TB) The Bucs struggle against the pass plain and simple. Opposing quarterbacks of Tampa Bay average 68.3 in completion percentage and a staggering 100.9 QB rating.

Alex Smith (KC @ Oak)

RB

Matt Asiata (Min vs GB) Asiata will get goal line looks against the fourth-worst defensive unit against the run (139.2 ypg).

Trent Richardson (Ind vs Jac)

Ryan Mathews (SD vs StL)

WR

Josh Gordon (Cle @ Atl)

Malcom Floyd (SD @ StL)

Chris Hogan (Buf vs NYJ in Detroit)

TE

Jordan Reed (Was @ SF)

Zach Ertz (Phi vs Ten)

Jacob Tamme (Den vs Mia)

DEF

Buffalo vs NYJ (in Detroit)

San Diego vs StL

Indianapolis vs Jac

QB

Michael Vick (NYJ @ Buf in Detroit)

Andy Dalton (Cin @ Hou)

RB

Mark Ingram (NO vs Bal)

Marshawn Lynch (Sea vs Ari)

WR

Mike Wallace (Mia @ Den)

Doug Baldwin (Sea vs Ari)

TE

Delanie Walker (Ten @ Phi)

Antonio Gates (SD vs StL)

DEF

Detroit @ NE

Cleveland @ Atl

BossMode

With a stat line consisting of rushing for 140 yards with four touchdown scores on the way to a 38-17 victory against the New York Giants (3-6 ), Seahawks (6-3) running back Marshawn Lynch gave every owner a boost toward victory.

Lynch has recorded exactly 21 carries in each of the last two games. This is good news going forward for owners of the eight-year veteran. Lynch has also crossed the goal line nine times through ten games. Will Arrowhead stadium and the Kansas City Chiefs (6-3) welcome the man who is 'about that action' on Sunday afternoon?

Week eleven....

Byes: Baltimore, Dallas, Jacksonville, NY Jets

QB
Cam Newton (Car vs Atl) Although Newton has struggled lately, he should do well, facing a Falcons defense that yields 280.8 passing yards per game, which is the worst in the NFL.
Andy Dalton (Cin @ NO)
Teddy Bridgewater (Min @ Chi) The Bears have given up 35 plays of 20-plus yards through the air. For this reason alone, Bridgewater is worth a look for week eleven.
RB
Frank Gore (SF @ NYG) The Giants have the worst run defense in the league (144.7 ypg), so there's no need to over think putting Gore in your starting lineup.
DeAngelo Williams (Car vs Atl)
Lamar Miller (Mia vs Buf)
WR
Pierre Garcon (Was vas TB)
Anquan Boldin (SF @ NYG)
Malcom Floyd (SD vs Oak)
TE
Larry Donnell (NYG vs SF)
Jermaine Gresham (Cin @ NO)
Mychal Rivera (Oak @ SD)
DEF

San Diego vs Oak
Washington vs TB
Pittsburgh @ Ten

QB

Matthew Stafford (Det @ Ari)

Derek Carr (Oak @ SD)

RB

Reggie Bush (Det @ Ari)

Ben Tate (Cle vs Hou)

WR

Marques Colston (NO vs Cin)

Dwayne Bowe (KC vs Sea)

TE

Vernon Davis (SF @ NYG)

Heath Miller (Pit @ Ten)

DEF

New England @ Ind
Houston @ Cleveland

Gentle Ben

It happened again.

Ben Roethlisberger is altering history again. The Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-3, coming off another historic performance by Big Ben.

Roethlisberger play host to the Baltimore Ravens (5-4) in week nine, but didn't display much hospitality as they mangled their division rival by the score of 43-23. No one expected very many points since the first meeting resulted in 29 total on the scoreboard. Roethlisberger followed up his six touchdown performance with another six touchdown performance on 340 yards passing and ninety-four points over the two week span.
Not only did he help win games for Fantasy owners, but Roethlisberger also set franchise and NFL history records as well. Will Gentle Ben put on a third consecutive six-score show in the Meadowlands against the Jets (1-8)? Don't chase the points.

Never chase the points. Week ten follows....

Byes: Houston, Indianapolis, Minnesota, New England, San Diego, Washington

QB
Josh McCown (TB vs Atl)
Alex Smith (KC @ Buf)
Austin Davis (StL@ Ari)
RB
Justin Forsett (Bal vs Ten) Tennessee allows the 5th most yards to running backs (134.8 rushing ypg). With so many RB 1-caliber players on bye, Forsett should fit perfectly.
Bobby Rainey (TB vs Atl)
Fred Jackson (Buf vs KC) 
WR
 Martavis Bryant (Pit @ NYJ)
James Jones (Oak vs Den)
Odell Beckham Jr. (NYG @ Sea) As the 'Hawks struggle, Odell has hauled in 12 receptions for 190 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games. The LSU product has stepped up in Victor Cruz's absence.
TE
Martellus Bennett (Chi @ GB)
Heath Miller (Pit @ NYJ)
Jason Witten (Dal vs Jac in London)
DEF
Dallas vs Jac in London
Den @ Oak
Philadelphia vs Car

QB
Michael Vick (NYJ vs Pit)
Eli Manning (NYG @ Sea)
RB
Lamar Miller (Mia @ Det)
Mark Ingram (NO vs SF)
WR
Percy Harvin (NYJ vs Pit)
Brandon Marshall )Chi @ GB)
TE
Delanie Walker (Ten @ Bal)
Vernon Davis (SF @ NO)
DEF
San Francisco @ NO
Miami @ Det

Ben There

Imagine Ben Roethlisberger as the third-string quarterback behind Tommy Maddox and Charlie Batch.
Now imagine the Miami (OH) graduate posting a perfect 13-0 record as a rookie starter, setting a new all-time best in NFL history.

No need to imagine any longer because Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) quarterback 'Big Ben' has accomplished all of the above plus three trips to the Super Bowl by which two championships were captured.
He achieved another historic milestone Sunday afternoon against the Indianapolis Colts (5-3), tossing six touchdown passes with 522 yards and fifty-one total points on a defensive unit that had just shut out Cincinnati (4-2-1) in the previous week by the score of 27-0.

Owners of Roethlisberger rejoiced with a performance dressed in uniform that almost resembled a bumble bee. The sleeper buzz for such a bye week-laden week nine are as follows....

Byes: Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Tennessee

QB

Andy Dalton (Cin vs Jac)

Carson Palmer (Ari @ Dal)

Brian Hoyer (Cle vs TB)

RB

Frank Gore (SF vs StL) The Rams allow 144.7 rushing yards as the 'Niners host their division rival opponents on Sunday. Gore should at least post double-figures if bye weeks ail.

Jeremy Hill (Cin vs Jac)

Jonas Gray (NE vs Den)

WR

Terrance Williams (Dal vs Ari)

Ruben Randle (NYG vs Ind)

Michael Floyd (Ari @ Dal)

TE

Dwayne Allen (Ind @ NYG)

Jordan Reed (Was @ Min)

Jace Amaro (NYJ @ KC)

DEF

Kansas City vs NYJ

Cincinnati vs Jac

Pittsburgh vs Bal

QB

Joe Flacco (Bal @ Pit)

Tony Romo (Dal vs Ari)

RB

Andre Williams (NYG vs Ind)

Justin Forsett (Bal @ Pit)

WR

Mike Wallace (Mia vs SD)

Vincent Jackson (TB @ Cle)

TE

Vernon Davis (SF @ StL)

Owen Daniels (Bal @ Pit)

DEF

Indianapolis@ NYG

Miami vs SD