NFL Week 1 Predictions
 |
| Cam Newton is poised to have a huge campaign with Kelvin Benjamin out for the year (Getty Images) |
Washington @ Miami
– 1PM - CBS
Fantasy Starters
Redskins – Alfred Morris, DeSean
Jackson
Dolphins – Ryan Tannehill, Jarvis
Landry, Lamar Miller, Defense
Prediction - 21-13
Dolphins. The Redskins may have
given Kirk Cousins the starting job, so that RGIII wouldn’t be mauled during
the 1st game of the season. If Haloti Ngata can break Griffins MCL,
imagine what Suh would do. Cousins might not make it through the entire game,
seriously.
New Orleans @ Arizona
– 4:05 – FOX
Fantasy Starters
Saints – Drew Brees, Mark Ingram,
Brandin Cooks
Cardinals – Carson Palmer, Andre
Ellington, John Brown, Defense
Prediction - 20-17
Arizona. I like the Saints but I
like the Cardinals even more. They have arguably the best head coach in the
NFL, and bring Carson Palmer back. The D will miss Todd Bowles and Antonio
Cromartie but they will still make plays. Brandin Cooks goes for 100 yard and a
TD.
Green Bay @ Chicago
– 4:05 – FOX
Fantasy Starters
Packers – Aaron Rodgers, Eddie Lacy,
Randall Cobb, Defense
Bears – Matt Forte, Alshon Jeffery
Prediction – 31-14
Green Bay. A-Rod will get the job
done without Jordy Nelson. There is no way you can get me to pick the Bears in
this game. No way at all.
Minnesota @ San
Francisco – Monday 9/14 – 10:20 – ESPN
Fantasy Starters
Vikings – Adrian Peterson, Teddy
Bridgewater, Kyle Rudolph, Defense
49ers – Carlos Hyde, Anquan Boldin
Prediction – 27-17
Minnesota. The Vikings’ defense is
better than the 49ers’. Minnesota also has the best RB in the NFL, who is ready
to take his anger out on every opponent this season. The Vikings O-line has
lost 2 starters in a month, but nothing will stop AP from making his mark.
Kansas City @
Houston – 1:00 – CBS
Fantasy Starters
Chiefs – Jamal Charles, Travis Kelce,
Jeremy Maclin
Texans – Nuke Hopkins, Defense
Prediction – 21-20
Kansas City. If the Chiefs can block
JJ Watt and Clowney for at least half the game, they have the best chance to
win. And as hard as this is to admit, Alex Smith is more clutch than Brian
Hoyer.
Detroit @ San
Diego – 4:05 – FOX
Fantasy Starters
Lions – Matthew Stafford, Calvin
Johnson, Golden Tate, Defense
Chargers – Danny Woodhead, Philip
Rivers
Prediction – 31-17 Lions. Detroit has a top 5 defense in the NFL this year. And by possessing two dominant receivers, the
Lions don’t have to play clock control. San Diego is a feisty team but they don’t
have the weapons that Detroit has.
New York @ Dallas
– 8:00 – NBC
Fantasy Starters
Giants – Odell Beckham, Eli Manning
Cowboys – Dez Bryant, Tony Romo, Jason
Witten
Prediction – 33-28
Cowboys. Analysis – The Cowboys are better in the trenches that the Giants. Everyone
is looking for this to be a high scoring game and it should be.
Cleveland @ New
York Jets – 1:00 – CBS
Fantasy Starters
Browns – Isaiah Crowell
Jets – Brandon Marshall
Prediction – 17-13
Browns. This will be a very low
scoring contest. Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Josh McCown? I don’t know who in their
right mind would watch this game intentionally. Browns and Jets fans included…
Philadelphia @ Atlanta – Monday 9/14 – 7:10 – ESPN
Fantasy Starters
Eagles – Sam Bradford, Demarco Murray,
Darren Sproles, Nelson Agholor
Falcons – Matt Ryan, Julio Jones,
Tevin Coleman
Prediction – 35-30
Eagles. Matt Ryan will not back down
from this challenge and should be ready to keep up with the Eagles. But when it
comes down to it, Philly just has too much for the Falcons to handle.
Tennessee @ Tampa
Bay – 4:25 – CBS
Fantasy Starters
Titans – Marcus Mariota, Delanie Walker,
Kendall Wright
Buccaneers – Vincent Jackson, Mike
Evans
Prediction – 28-13 Titans. The Bucs O-line will get
dominated by Tennessee’s front 7. With that said, it’s hard to see the Bucs
offense be productive without a run game. Marcus Mariota is the complete
opposite of what I thought he was coming out of college: a future superstar. If
he can improve his arm strength over the next 2 years, we are looking at the
next Aaron Rodgers.
Cincinnati @
Oakland – 4:25 – CBS
Fantasy Starters
Bengals – Jeremy Hill, AJ Green
Raiders – Amari Cooper, Marcel Reece
Prediction – 27-24 Raiders. Oakland will keep this game
closer than you think. And although I don’t trust Andy Dalton, the Bengals
shouldn’t lose their opener.
Carolina @
Jacksonville– 1:00 – FOX
Fantasy Starters
Panthers – Cam Newton, Greg Olsen, Jonathan Stewart, Defense
Jaguars – Allen Robinson
Prediction – 31-20 Panthers. I know the Jags are
expecting a fight but I seriously doubt they fully realize what they are up
against. Carolina’s D should stifle Jacksonville’s offense. And with Cam Newton
healthy for probably the only game of the year, you can expect fireworks.
Seattle @ St.
Louis – 1:00 – FOX
Fantasy Starters
Seahawks – Russell Wilson, Marshawn
Lynch, Jimmy Graham, Defense
Rams - Defense
Prediction –20-13
Seahawks. With Tre Mason not at 100%
and Todd Gurley not playing, St. Louis will find it hard to move the ball on
Seattle. The Seahawks are very motivated after losing what should have been
their 2nd Super Bowl in a row.
Indianapolis @
Buffalo – 1:00 – CBS
Fantasy Starters
Colts – Andrew Luck, Andre Johnson,
Dwayne Allen
Bills – Tyrod Taylor, Sammy Watkins
Prediction – 24-23 Bills. Tyrod Taylor passes for 200 and
runs for 100. Rex Ryan is going to throw the kitchen sink at Andrew Luck.
Baltimore @ Denver
– 4:25 – CBS
Fantasy Starters
Ravens – Steve Smith Sr., Justin
Forsett
Broncos
– Peyton Manning, Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders
Prediction – 24-16 Broncos. – I don’t think the Denver is going to run the ball as well as
they would like to. The Ravens offense doesn’t have any trustworthy receiving
option outside of Steve Smith. I’m going with Denver because it’s the logical
choice
