Week 5 NFL Predictions

Ahhh, bye weeks. The gift that keeps on giving. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is that most wonderful time of year where every week 1/3 of your team will have the week off, and you will have to scour your bench or the waiver wire for a replacement. This week starts that magical time when you have to start your Matt Cassel's and your Donovan McNabb's, when all you really want to do is to keep Drew Brees as your starter. That oh so magical time when you truly actually consider picking up that fullback because Adrian Peterson is on a bye week. NFL bye weeks are like christmas with the in-laws, or that hideous old wool sweater your grandma made for you, or that marathon of Three's Company that seems to be the only thing on TV. Bye weeks are fantasy karma's way of jeopardizing your win streak, or guaranteeing you won't be seeing the playoffs this season.

Don't worry, my friend. You are in good hands. Later on in this column, I'll give you some advice on who to pick up this week to make it through the bye week. We will get through this together. And then again next week. And the week after that. See how awful these things are?


Week 5 Game Predictions

Alrighty, well last week I made my predictions, and listed ESPN's predictions as well for comparison. It seems I predicted pretty well, as I went 13-3, compared to 10-6 for ESPN. That brings me to 40-24 on the year, just slightly behind ESPN at 41-23. Our week 5 game prediction are as follows:


Tampa Bay vs. San Francisco
ESPN Pick: Tampa Bay 20 San Francisco 19
Committed Fan Pick: San Francisco 21 Tampa Bay 17

San Francisco is a 3-1 team that absolutely no one is talking about right now. They come into Raymond James Stadium riding a two game win streak and looking for more. They have a decent QB, a dominant tight end and, with a healthy Frank Gore, a reason to run the ball. If it is a close game in the 4th quarter, however, you can't sleep on this Bucs team, whose quarterback excels in comeback and 4th quarter wins.


Philadelphia vs. Buffalo
ESPN Pick: Philadelphia 28 Buffalo 27
Committed Fan Pick: Philadelphia 27 Buffalo 24

In a battle of two pretty bad defenses, this high scoring game will ironically be won by the Philadelphia defense and a pivotal stop. Philly needs a win desperately after shredding the "Dream Team" moniker earlier this week. Buffalo, also needing a win, should be primed and ready for the upset.


Kansas City vs. Indianapolis
ESPN Pick: Indianapolis 20 Kansas City 17
Committed Fan Pick: Indianapolis 24 Kansas City 20

Both of these teams have had their share of injury woes and are not fielding the team we thought they would this season. Curtis Painter makes his second NFL start against one of the NFL's most suspect defenses right now, and if he can stay out of the clutches of Tamba Hali, he should be able to get the job done for Indy.

Minnesota vs. Arizona
ESPN Pick: Minnesota 20 Arizona 17
Committed Fan Pick: Arizona 20 Minnesota 17

Kevin Kolb has struggled to find his rhythm in this Arizona offense, but he hasn't been awful. Perhaps this week he can spread the ball out more and exploit the Minnesota secondary. He'll need to get Arizona points early and often to neutralize Adrian Peterson's game changing ability on the other side.


New York Giants vs. Seattle
ESPN Pick: New York 28 Seattle 10
Committed Fan Pick: New York 31 Seattle 13

Despite a huge rash of injuries, the Giants have started off 3-1 and are looking to be a lot better than people had predicted. Eli Manning is playing some of his best football right now, which is something we cannot say about Seattle.


Pittsburgh vs. Tennessee
ESPN Pick: Pittsburgh 21 Tennessee 20 
Committed Fan Pick: Tennessee 24 Pittsburgh 21

Upset pick of the week is once again in the Steeler's game, as I think they have a good chance of losing this game. The Titans are red hot this year, led by the resurgent Matt Hasselbeck and good defensive play. The Steeler's, on the other hand, are stumbling around aimlessly, losing 2 games already and not seeming to be bothered by it. Even Troy Polamalu, the vaunted playmaker of this defense, has been missing tackles left and right. The Titans get all of their weapons going and get the job done against the Steeler's.


New Orleans vs. Carolina
ESPN Pick: New Orleans 27 Carolina 24
Committed Fan Pick: New Orleans 30 Carolina 21

Cam Newton is good. That Drew Brees guy? He's even better. I'm not saying Newton does badly in this game, heck, i'm not saying the Panthers do badly in this game. I'm just saying, Brees won't let the Saints drop this one.


Jacksonville vs. Cincinnati
ESPN Pick: Jacksonville 24 Cincinnati 14
Committed Fan Pick: Cincinnati 24 Jacksonville 14

In a battle of rookie quarterbacks on bad teams, Andy Dalton has proven more to the world so far and I believe he gets the win in this game.


Houston vs. Oakland
ESPN Pick: Houston 27 Oakland 17
Committed Fan Pick: Houston 31 Oakland 24

This game should be an exciting one, as it features two of the best running teams in the NFL. Oakland and its two feature backs will try to outperform the Houston Stable, led by the versatile back Arian Foster, last years NFL leading rusher. Look for both teams to establish an early running game to control the clock and game.


San Diego vs. Denver
ESPN Pick: San Diego 27 Denver 17
Committed Fan Pick: San Diego 31 Denver 14

San Diego has shown both dominance and sloppiness in its 3-1 start to the year, but will look to limit the latter and rise to the top tier level this year as a team. It starts with a win here in Denver.


New England vs. New York (Jets)
ESPN Pick:New England 24 New York 20
Committed Fan Pick: New England 34 New York 21

One of the more exciting rivalries in football, this matchup normally has a fair amount of trash talking in the week leading up to the game. The biggest question every time these two teams step onto the field, is who is gonna back up the talk?


Atlanta vs. Green Bay
ESPN Pick: Green Bay 35 Atlanta 27
Committed Fan Pick: Green Bay 27 Atlanta 21

While Atlanta has the ability to be an elite team, they have struggled at times this year to play to that level in meaningful games. This is a tough game against young gun Aaron Rodgers and his dynamic offense, and I don't think Atlanta will be up to the challenge.


Detroit vs. Chicago
ESPN Pick: Detroit 24 Chicago 14
Committed Fan Pick: Detroit 24 Chicago 21

Detroit has certainly looked like the better of these two teams so far this season, but this is a division game and it always seems to be a close game. With the controversial games of last year fresh in their minds, look for Detroit to try and open this one up fast and keep it that way. Chicago will try and force the run on Detroit, which could end up backfiring and put too much pressure on Jay Cutler.




Bye Week Pickups

RB Isaac Redman, Steelers: Redman appears to be the clear option to get the carries for Pittsburgh this week, as Rashard Mendenhall appears to be quite limited with an injury.

RB Stevan Ridley: Be careful with Ridley, as Bill Belichick is known for shuffling his running backs around and rarely making one a feature back. But Ridley has upside, as he is bigger and also shiftier than Benjarvus Green-Ellis. Going forward, Ridley could see some more of the feature back carries as his trust with Belichick grows.

Michael Jenkins WR Vikings: His performance last week probably scared alot of people away, but I'm staying strong on Jenkins. He is a much bigger and taller receiver than Percy Harvin, and he has a very favorable matchup this week against the Arizona Cardinals. His value is also helped by the emergence of the Viking tight Ends as receiving threats.

DeAngelo Williams RB, Panthers: If a frustrated owner in your league dropped Williams, he might be worth a look as a bye week pickup. He has a good matchup this week, and had a good game last week. The committee system in Carolina will get annoying, but of the two backs, DeAngelo Williams is definitely the better goal line option.

RB Dexter McCluster, Chiefs: Okay, so Indy's run defense isn't as bad as it used to be. Luckily for fantasy owners, McCluster can be a weapon in various different ways, so he still has value against a defense that should have its hands full with Dwayne Bowe.

TE Jared Cook, Titans: He's there. I promise. He's in your league's free agent pool. The potential is there, the man throwing the football in Tennessee is pretty dang good this year, and Pittsburgh got destroyed by Houston's TE Owen Daniels last week.