We’re already through four weeks of the NFL season, and if you’re a fantasy owner, you have to be especially disappointed with what you’ve seen from the likes of Brett Favre.
However, the stars could be aligning for a resurgence of the Favre we’ve seen so much over the last two decades.
What other signal callers (besides the obvious weekly must starts) are worth a start this week, and who should take a seat on your bench?
STARTBrett Favre, Minnesota (at New York Jets): Through three games, Favre hasn’t been very good, tossing only two touchdowns and getting picked off six times.
And he’s getting set to face one of the league’s toughest defenses. On the road.
But if anything, the timing couldn’t be better for a good showing from Favre.
A-D) It’s Monday night. I don’t care much for Mondays, but he sure does.
E) Favre ran on E down the stretch in his lone season with the Jets in 2008 (his detour, if you will). His play at the start of this season would seem to suggest that the tank is running low now as well. Time to prove some folks wrong.
F) How fitting it would be to celebrate his 41st birthday (it’s Sunday) by throwing his 500th touchdown pass, on the night that he’s produced so many magic moments?
G-Q) It’s Monday night.
R) Randy’s return? The Vikings are expected to finalize a trade to land Randy Moss (who could’ve imagined this five years ago?) from New England, which will provide an immediate boost for Favre. Also doesn’t hurt that Moss knows the Jets well.
S-Z) It’s Monday night.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo (vs. Jacksonville): Fitzpatrick unsurprisingly struggled last week against the Jets, and he was almost pulled late for Brian Brohm. But he has tossed four touchdowns in two games and also ran for 74 yards against New York, and knowing that he likely doesn’t have a long leash with Chan Gailey could help bring out his best this week against Jacksonville, who’s 30th in the league in passing yards allowed per game and tied for last touchdown passes allowed.
Joe Flacco, Baltimore (vs. Denver): Flacco has had put together two solid performances after not faring so well on the road against the Jets and Bengals, and I look for him to have a big day at home against the Broncos, who have seen two QBs (Peyton Manning and David Garrard) toss three scores against them in their first four games.
David Garrard, Jacksonville (at Buffalo): Both starting QBs in one game? Why yes.
Jacksonville will be able to run early and often on Buffalo’s porous run defense, which a) is a plus for a mobile QB and b) takes away the need for Garrard to win the game with his arm while c) opens it up for him to be efficient and notch a few red zone TD tosses. And it should be noted that Buffalo has allowed eight TD passes and hasn’t picked off one yet.
If you want yards, go elsewhere, but I look for a similar performance from Garrard to Week 1 vs. Seattle 16-21, 170, 3 TD, 0 INT) and Sunday vs. Indianapolis (17-22, 163, 2 TD, 0 INT, 44 rush yards, TD).
Eli Manning, New York Giants (at Houston): After throwing five touchdown passes in his first two games, Eli is touchdown-less in his last two. Then again, he didn’t need to do much on Sunday night against Chicago, what with the hurting the G-Men put on Jay Cutler.
Even if the Giants lose at Houston this Sunday, I look for Eli to put up some very good numbers against a defense that’s last in passing yards allowed per game and QB completion % against and next to last in touchdown passes allowed and QB rating against.
Big brother went for 433 with three scores and no picks in Week 1, Donovan McNabb went for 426, a score, and no picks in Week 2, Tony Romo went for 284, two scores, and no picks in Week 3, and even Oakland’s Bruce Gradkowski went for 278 and two scores last week. No excuses for Eli to not do well.
SleeperSam Bradford, St. Louis (at Detroit): The Lions have 13 sacks and 11 takeaways in four games, so this is a potentially troublesome matchup for a rookie QB.
But Bradford is getting more comfortable by the game, and he’ll come in off the heels of back to back wins, which is a big confidence booster in itself. And while the Lions have made a lot of plays defensively, they’ve given up eight passing scores in four games and also don’t rank well in passing yards allowed per game (26th), yards allowed per attempt (t-30th), completion % against (22nd), and QB rating against (28th). It’s definitely worth a shot if your other options are either on a bye or have unfavorable matchups.
SITJay Cutler, Chicago (at Carolina): Even if Cutler does start, as he likely will, I recommend sitting him. The Panthers are pretty average against the pass, but after that beating he took against the Giants, sit him this week and look forward to a very favorable Week 6 matchup at home against Seattle.
Bruce Gradkowski, Oakland (vs. San Diego): Tempted as some might be to give Gradkowski a look at home after back to back 250+ yard games, resist. The Chargers rank near the top of the league in every noteworthy pass defense category, and these games have, well, had a tendency of not going well for Oakland in recent seasons, to say the least.
Donovan McNabb, Washington (vs. Green Bay): Outside of his 426 yards and three scores in the Week 2 shooutout with the Texans, McNabb hasn’t done much to really warrant starting him against one of the league’s best pass defenses, even at home.
Kyle Orton, Denver (at Baltimore): Orton has been putting up some nice numbers, and he went for 341 and two scores on the road against a solid Tennessee defenseon Sunday. However, turn the reins over to someone else this week, as I don’t foresee him getting much done against the Ravens’ stout defense.
Alex Smith, San Francisco (vs. Philadelphia): If you’re even considering it, you have to be desperate.
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