Vikings vs Bears SINCE 1967
THURSDAY | OCTOBER 27, 2016
Thumbs
Way We Hear It
up
CHARGERS STAYING HOME AFTER ALL?
Fantasy
WILL JAY CUTLER’S RETURN TO THE LINEUP MONDAY NIGHT AGAINST THE VIKINGS HELP IGNITE THE BEARS’ OFFENSE?
TIME IS RIGHT FOR SEAHAWKS’ OFFENSE
Take 2
DEBATING HOW TO IMPROVE THE BEARS’ SECONDARY
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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
1 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 2 DENVER BRONCOS 3 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 4 DALLAS COWBOYS 5 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 6 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 7 GREEN BAY PACKERS 8 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 9 ARIZONA CARDINALS 10 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 11 OAKLAND RAIDERS 12 CINCINNATI BENGALS 13 NEW YORK GIANTS 14 HOUSTON TEXANS 15 BUFFALO BILLS 16 ATLANTA FALCONS 17 DETROIT LIONS 18 WASHINGTON 19 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 20 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 21 BALTIMORE RAVENS 22 MIAMI DOLPHINS 23 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 24 LOS ANGELES RAMS 25 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 26 NEW YORK JETS 27 CAROLINA PANTHERS 28 TENNESSEE TITANS 29 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 30 CHICAGO BEARS 31 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 32 CLEVELAND BROWNS Clearly the cream of the crop now Defense may still be Super
They’ve had their mulligan; any offense coming? Can’t drop them lower, ‘D’ still hard to trust Very good but missing an ingredient for great Have to find offense MIA in Arizona
Solid offense second half versus Bears
Jim Schwartz’s ‘D’ bounced back big vs. Vikes Back in race but still missing several parts Can they hang on until Big Ben returns? Masters of the mediocre win
Looked more themselves vs. Browns
Back-to-back wins set up Eagles showdown Struggle when facing big boys like the Broncos
Power Rankings Welcome to our ProFootballWeekly.com NFL Week 8 Power Rankings
Please keep in mind as you read them they have nothing to do with who we think will be in the playoffs and Super Bowl, nor do they necessarily indicate who we think the best teams in the league are. These rankings are based on each team’s performance in the first seven weeks of the season, players lost to injury and players expected to return soon. AP PHOTO
Just when Rex had us tempted to believe, an ugly loss in Miami OT home loss to Chargers brings back all the doubts Surprising 3-game win streak gets them to 4-3, in the hunt Still looking for signature win, battling weak losses Another bad team battles back to .500
Denver, Atlanta back-to-back 2 impressive wins Was three-game win streak to open season a fluke? Jay Ajayi forces Arian Foster into retirement Gutsy win over Titans keeps Colts in AFC South race Fish, please tell us again why Jared Goff isn’t playing? Sad to see a team with Drew Brees so defenseless Four must-wins next make bounce back possible. Bye turns season around? How does Newton respond? Mariota not yet a difference-maker These guys may be getting worse
Bad News Bears lose Hoyer and Long
With the Vikings loss to the Eagles Sunday, Rob Gronkowski and the Patriots take over the top spot in the PFW rankings this week
Even starting Kaepernick still just a sideshow Don’t see how they climb out of this spot?
I
f the Chicago Bears were 6-1 rather than 1-6, it would still be difficult to take our eyes off the Chicago Cubs right now. It’s the simple truth, people, so why try and pretend otherwise? Perhaps we should be looking for signs of where the Bears are now and comps from the Cubs experience to see if there are any signals of similar success for the local 11 down the road. The Ricketts family purchased the Cubs in January 2009 following back-toback National League Central titles and 0-3 sweeps in the NLDS. With reasons to believe general manager Jim Hendry had a plan, he was retained, but after a difficult 83-78 2009 campaign, the Cubs fell to 75-87 in 2010 and 71-91 in 2011. Chairman Tom Ricketts decided it was time for a change and went big bringing in Theo Epstein. Epstein immediately declared a complete rebuild was necessary and the Cubs would get worse before they got better. They did, stringing together 61101, 66-96 and 73-89 seasons while stockpiling young talent in the draft. In 2015, Joe Maddon became available to manage the club, those draft choices
started arriving at the reasons, John Fox bemajor league level and the came available and he team went 97-65, encourwas hired as the Bears new head coach. aging it to go big in free While baseball and agency to seal the deal. football are two very Now we have the 103-58 different sports and reNational League champion Cubs in the World building comes more Series. quickly in the latter, In 2012, the McCaskey Pace was pretty clear family decided to pull the early on his roster needplug on GM Jerry Angelo ed a complete facelift and and hire Phil Emery. he would do it through In spite of a 10-6 2012 the draft. season, Emery axed longSo here is where our HUB ARKUSH time coach Lovie Smith two local favorites will for Marc Trestman and harkush@ProFootballWeekly.com either begin to mirror @Hub_Arkush things really went south. each other or possibly The Bears dropped to 8-8 diverge for the foreseein 2013 and 5-11 in 2014. able future. To his credit, George McCaskey Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Kyle quickly acknowledged his mistake, canSchwarber, Addison Russell, Javier Baez, Wilson Contreras, John Lester and ning Emery and Trestman and, perhaps Kyle Hendricks are the nucleus of potentrying to emulate the Epstein hiring, went out and found Ryan Pace, one of the tial Cubs contenders for the next five-to bright young minds in the game, to beseven years. come the NFL’s youngest general manBryant, Schwarber and Baez are firstround draft choices, Contreras a rookie ager – albeit without Epstein’s résumé. free agent, Rizzo and Hendricks came in Much like the Joe Maddon hiring two trades and Lester as a free agent. months earlier, but for very different
Perhaps more importantly, Epstein and company have also identified Jake Arrietta, Ben Zobrist, Jason Heyward, Pedro Strop and others. They missed almost nowhere in player acquisition. To start his rebuild, Pace has drafted Kevin White, Eddie Goldman, Hroniss Grasu, Jeremy Langford, Adrian Amos, Leonard Floyd, Cody Whitehair, Johnathan Bullard, Nick Kwiatkoski, Deiondre’ Hall, Deon Bush and Jordan Howard, added rookie free agents Bryce Callahan and Cameron Meredith and veteran free agents Pernell McPhee, Eddie Royal, Danny Trevathan, Jerrell Freeman and Bobby Massie. Now we have arrived at the moment of reckoning. Clearly the Bears’ youngsters need another season or two to be fairly evaluated – some have shown real promise – and John Fox is no Joe Maddon. But is there a single player among the Bears’ additions that appears likely to match the star power and game-changing abilities of Epstein’s Cubs nucleus? Sadly, it appears the Bears are a bit behind the Cubs’ curve. Without a home run in the 2017 draft and free agency, a Bears NFC title may be a long way off.
Pro Football Weekly is produced by Shaw Media, the Daily Herald Media Group and the Chicago Sun-Times in partnership with other Illinois daily newspapers.
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Bears’ rebuilding plan doesn’t have stars like the Cubs
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
Bears rushing offense vs Vikings run defense
remains out, even tougher sledding awaits.
EDGE u VIKINGS
For the second game in a row, the Bears are going to have a hard time getting the run game going, as they face one of the best front sevens in the NFL. The Vikings have allowed more than 100 yards rushing twice this season and are seventh in the NFL allowing 3.7 yards per carry. They boast a duo of fast-flowing linebackers, Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks, who will fly to the football. That’s assuming a ball-carrier gets past a D-line that’s stout in the middle with Linval Joseph and Shamar Stephen. Jordan Howard has not been productive since his back-to-back 100-
Bears passing offense vs Vikings pass defense yard games. He had 34 yards against Jacksonville and 22 vs. Green Bay. Ka’Deem Carey had more success in the past two games, but the Bears didn’t run it very much. Jeremy Langford could return from an ankle injury, giving the Bears another element in the run game. If Kyle Long is limited by his arm injury and if Josh Sitton
Jay Cutler under center certainly gives the Bears a significantly better chance than Matt Barkley. However, no matter the signal-caller, this is a matchup the Bears lose on paper. Opposing quarterbacks have a league-low 63.7 passer rating against Minnesota, completing 55.7 percent of passes. The Vikings have nine interceptions and have only allowed five touchdowns. Cutler
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7:30 p.m. Thursday, NBC
The primetime ratings shot in the arm will apparently have to wait at least another week.
WASHINGTON AT BENGALS 8:30 a.m. (LONDON) Sunday, NFL NETWORK
Finally, London gets a game featuring a pair of postseason-caliber teams ... from 2015
PACKERS AT FALCONS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX
Green Bay takes its new dink-and-dunk offense to Atlanta, where Falcons’ 2015-like meltdown might be underway if the defense doesn’t give Ryan and Julio some help.
PATRIOTS AT BILLS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS
Perhaps they took the Landry Jones-led Steelers lightly, but the Pats, with a red-hot Brady, remember well being shut out in Foxborough in Week 4.
JETS AT BROWNS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS
All roads apparently lead back to Ryan Fitzpatrick for Jets; when will the Browns’ lead to elusive win No. 1? AP PHOTO
Sam Bradford
AP PHOTO
Leonard Floyd
LIONS AT TEXANS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX
can open things up, and he and Alshon Jeffery have had success against the Vikings in the past, but not since 2014. Minnesota’s edge rushers Brian Robison, Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter have four sacks apiece. Tom Johnson has 14 QB hits. The Vikings are so good on the D-line that their cornerbacks can be extra physical in the secondary. Xavier Rhodes will likely line up opposite Jeffery, and he has the size and physicality to make it one of the better matchups to watch. Cutler’s ability to go deep and move the pocket better than Hoyer should give Dowell Loggains more options, but the Vikings have too good of a combination of pass rush and coverage.
EDGE u VIKINGS
Vikings rushing offense vs Bears run defense Looking for that glimmer of hope? It could be in this matchup, where the Bears have the personnel to deal with an Adrian Peterson-less Vikings run game, which is averaging a league-low 2.6 yards per carry. Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon complement each other well, and McKinnon has given the Bears fits as a receiver in the past, but neither is Peterson. The Bears shut down the Jaguars’ run game in Week 6 and had a strong first half vs. the Packers before things got out of hand. With Danny Trevathan getting healthier and maybe Eddie Goldman on the mend, there is enough talent in the front seven to handle Asiata and McKinnon, especially behind a shaky offensive line and with McKinnon potentially slowed by an ankle injury. Minnesota has gone over 100 yards rushing only one time this season. Minnesota runs most often over left guard, where the Bears are stout, allowing only 2.4 yards per carry on such plays.
EDGE u BEARS
Vikings passing offense vs Bears pass defense Sam Bradford heads to Soldier Field coming
off his worst game as a Viking, when he completed only 58.5 percent of his passes and threw his first interception of 2016 in a loss to the Eagles. Bradford was under fire all afternoon long, as a Vikings O-line without tackles Matt Kalil and Andre Smith allowed six sacks and an absurd 12 QB hits. Bradford also lost two fumbles, as the Vikings did an awful job protecting the Eagles’ edge rushers. Lucky for Minnesota, the Bears’ pass rush isn’t going to intimidate anyone. Leonard Floyd had his first big splash play against Green Bay and Pernell McPhee should continue to ascend, but this group does not hit the QB consistently enough. What should help the Bears’ secondary is the lack of playmakers Bradford has at receiver. Stefon Diggs is the star, but he hasn’t gone over 50 yards receiving since Week 2. Chicago could have issues with Kyle Rudolph, a very skilled tight end, two weeks after Dwayne Allen had his way with the Bears’ defense. If Floyd, McPhee and Willie Young take advantage of the Vikings’ biggest weakness, that would greatly help a young secondary that is 25th in interception rate. Slight advantage to Minnesota.
EDGE u VIKINGS
If Detroit struggles to stop Osweiler’s offense, it’s time to worry about the defense. If Osweiler struggles to score on the Lions, Houston has a big problem.
CHIEFS AT COLTS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS
Andrew Luck has heated up entering replay of his best-ever comeback and a posteason classic; will eventual reinforcements, Houston and Charles, be enough for K.C.’s next step?
SEAHAWKS AT SAINTS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX
Seattle ‘D’ has to feel a lot like Saints ‘O,’ wondering if complementary football is at all attainable this season.
RAIDERS AT BUCCANEERS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS
It’s ugly, but Oakland just winning, baby. Buccaneers seem to be figuring some things out with Winston and the run game.
CHARGERS AT BRONCOS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS
If nothing else, McCoy and Telesco clearly still energizing roster with good young talent. Trevor Siemian is 5-1 and hasn’t given ball away since Week 2.
CARDINALS AT PANTHERS 3:25 p.m. Sunday, FOX
Sunday’s overall edge The Bears get their quarterback back and should be healthier across the board with the extra rest on this mini-bye. They get a Vikings team that isn’t very explosive on offense, and one that, like the Bears, struggles in the red zone. However, it’s a Vikings team that brings the league’s best defense to Soldier Field. Mike Zimmer lit a fire under his team after last week’s loss to the Eagles, so motivation shouldn’t be an issue on Halloween. The on-paper matchup isn’t as lopsided as the records would suggest, but when you factor in the Vikings’ edge in the return game, too, it would be quite the upset if the Bears pulled off a victory.
EDGE u VIKINGS
Has a tie ever felt more like a loss, Bruce Arians? Cards keep letting teams hang in. Another loss for Panthers on Sunday and they’re both down and out.
EAGLES AT COWBOYS 7:30 p.m. Sunday, NBC
Wentz doesn’t have Prescott’s resources, and Dak doesn’t have Carson’s prototype skill set, but does anyone doubt these teams have bright QB future?
VIKINGS AT BEARS 7:30 p.m. Monday, ESPN
This one has a chance to be the kind of horror show a primetime Halloween meeting between first- and lastplace teams deserves.
TEAMS ON BYE
Ravens, Rams, Dolphins, Giants, Steelers, 49ers
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
JAGUARS AT TITANS
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
(+6) Hub
Kevin
Arthur
Bob
Adam
Pro Football Weekly
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ARKUSH
FISHBAIN
ARKUSH
LEGERE
JAHNS
BEARS 9 VIKINGS 16
BEARS 13 VIKINGS 15
BEARS 15 VIKINGS 20
BEARS 13 VIKINGS 23
BEARS 24 VIKINGS 20
Bears defense is getting better and will give Vikings a go. Cutler is an upgrade over Hoyer, but he’ll take a beating.
Ugly one on Halloween. Cutler, Jeffery, McPhee, Floyd keep it close, but Vikings ‘D’ is way too good.
Trick: Believing Bears ready to mount consistent pass rush vs. Bradford’s reeling O-line. Treat: A Bears-free Week 9 to follow.
The return of Jay Cutler helps, but is not nearly enough.
The Vikings looked average against the Eagles. The best guess here is that Jay Cutler’s return is the difference.
SEASON RECORD: 5-2 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 4-3
SEASON RECORD: 5-2 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 2-5
SEASON RECORD: 5-2 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 4-2-1
SEASON RECORD: 4-3 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 4-3
SEASON RECORD: 3-4 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 1-5-1
Jon
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Eric
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BEARS 10 VIKINGS 28
BEARS 18 VIKINGS 26
BEARS 20 VIKINGS 24
BEARS 13 VIKINGS 20
BEARS 14 VIKINGS 27
Minnesota’s defense is too good to lose this one. Even in Chicago, the spread should be larger.
Can you hear the rally cry from Jay Cutler? Me neither. The offense has no continuity, and that’s just one of many problems.
Look for a couple of Bears TDs with Cutler back. Bye week can’t come soon enough.
Jay Cutler is going to wish he never returned to game action after the Vikings’ front seven get done with him.
Jay Cutler’s return won’t save an anemic Bears offense against this terrific defense.
SEASON RECORD: 7-0 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 6-1
SEASON RECORD: 3-4 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 3-4
SEASON RECORD: 3-4 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 2-5
SEASON RECORD: 5-2 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 5-2
SEASON RECORD: 6-1 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 4-3
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Bears get the spark they needed from Leonard Floyd
W
ith the Bears in need of an extra positive or two, rookie outside linebacker Leonard Floyd played a starring role in prime-time. Floyd was a thorn in Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ behind. He made two sacks and forced a fumble by Rodgers that he recovered in the end zone for the Bears’ lone touchdown. The question now is whether Floyd can keep it up. He didn’t do that after sacking Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler in the season opener. He doesn’t have to have two-sack games every week, but he can’t be rendered ineffective for another multi-game stretch. Floyd said he felt more confident as a player after sacking Rodgers. Coach John Fox thought so, too. That confidence, though, needs to turn into more consistency. “It’s huge,” Fox said. “It’s hard to have confidence when good things don’t happen, so obviously when good things happen, your confidence gets a little higher. “With a guy like Leonard, who’s as young as he is and has been in and out
as much as he has, that it’s as a spy rusher or just a guy that can track was a huge boost.” a good athlete down. He Floyd’s breakout game also was a result has that ability.” of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s better understanding of him. General managFangio often talks er Ryan Pace needed about having to learn Floyd’s big game, too. what his players do With receiver Kevin best, and Floyd’s spate White sidelined by anof minor injuries since other serious surgery, training camp made all eyes are on Floyd’s that difficult. He just development. ADAM JAHNS missed two games with ajahns@ww.com Pace will be patient @ajahns a strained calf. with his two first-round Against the Packers, picks, but Floyd’s perFloyd was featured in formance silenced some twists and stunts. On his sack-strip, outside criticism, even though much Floyd lined up over the right guard beof it was – and is – unwarranted at this fore racing around outside linebacker point. Willie Young, who was over the right But even Fox acknowledged how tackle. important it was for one of the franFloyd’s handwork and power moves chise’s first-round picks to do somehave improved, but his speed still is thing. There are only four of them on what makes him valuable. Fangio the roster: Floyd, White, cornerback tapped into that in Green Bay against Kyle Fuller and right guard Kyle Rodgers, who can be very elusive. Long. “Obviously you’re trying to build White (surgery for broken left fibuyour team speed,” Fox said. “Your la) and Fuller (arthroscopic knee surteam speed is critical, really, in all gery in the preseason) are on injured reserve. Long was removed in the secthree phases. With Leonard, that was ond quarter against the Packers bea big part of the evaluation, whether
•••
Leonard Floyd
AP PHOTO
cause of a strained triceps. “We don’t have a lot of first-round picks on our roster right now,” Fox said. “A few of them are missing.”
•••
The Bears’ competition at running back will be in full swing this week with Jeremy Langford returning from his high-ankle sprain. In Langford’s absence, rookie Jordan Howard took off, but recently his struggles have opened the door for Ka’Deem Carey. The Bears don’t mind taking a hothand approach, but they would still like one to emerge as the lead back.
Cutler is back, future with Bears remains uncertain
J
ay Cutler is back as the Bears’ starting quarterback, but probably not for long. Cutler’s future with the team will be revisited in the days immediately after the end of the season. He is not owed any more guaranteed money on the seven-year, $126.7 million contract he signed before the 2014 season. His base salary for 2017 is $12.5 million, and his cap hit would be $16 million, figures that the Bears would be unwilling to squeeze under the salary cap. But, according to Cutler, that’s a situation that will be worked out in January. For now, he’s concerned with Monday night’s clash with the Vikings, who have the NFL’s top-rated defense. “Those are conversations for the end of the year,” he said of his future. “Right now I’m working with [offensive coordinator] Dowell [Loggains] and [quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone], and we’re just trying to find first downs and get our third-down conversion rate back up and score
ous national stories more points. That’s predicting that Cutler’s where all my focus is. time with the Bears is “Whatever happens nearly at an end, Fox is at the end of the year, confident the quarterit’s supposed to happen, back won’t be fazed. and we’ll go accordingly. But right now, it’s “All that, for everybody, is tough,” Fox not something that I said of the speculation worry about. It’s my regarding Cutler’s fu11th year, my eighth ture. “[But] I think evyear here. I’ve seen a erybody realizes what lot of ups and downs, they signed up for. Oband it’s how it goes. At viously as a coach and a the end of the year, we BOB LeGERE staff you’re always trycan have those converrlegere@dailyherald.com @BobLeGere sations. Whatever haping to help your playpens, happens.” ers through stuff like Cutler is in only his that. But one thing I’ve second year with head coach John found in Jay, in the time I’ve been Fox. The coach seemed to waver in here, is that he’s very tough-minded his commitment to Cutler after the and resilient. starter was injured in Week 2, es“Obviously he went through a pecially after backup Brian Hoyer stretch where it’s tough not being posted back-to-back passer ratings of able to play; and watching somebody 120 or better in Weeks 4-5. But, with else play your position is never easy Hoyer likely lost for the remainder for any competitor at any position. of the season with a fractured arm, But I think he’s handled it great, and Fox is confident that Cutler can I think he’ll handle it great moving step back in, starting Monday night forward.” against the Vikings. Despite numerSome of that uncertainty about
Cutler’s future was the result of Fox’s implication that the job wasn’t guaranteed to Cutler, even after he was cleared medically. That happened last weekend, just days after Hoyer suffered a fractured arm in the loss to the Packers. Cutler said he was never told that. “My discussions with everybody that I have relationships with in here [at Halas Hall] were positive, and [that] whenever I was ready to go, I’d be ready to go,” he said. “There was never any discussion regarding that with me.” Now it’s moot. In his first media session since he was injured in Week 2, Cutler was asked if he felt he still had Fox’s support. “He doesn’t have a choice, I guess, at this point,” Cutler said. “Brian is out, so I’ve got to go. I’ve had good conversations with ‘Foxy’ this week, last week, the week before. There’s never been any strain in our relationship. We’re both very open and honest, and we’re on the same page. We just want to win football games.”
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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY |
Is this the week Seattle’s slumbering ‘O’ wakes up? By J.C.
Brady’s four-game suspension. The Patriots are 14th in yards allowed, but are giving up just 15.3 points per game. LeSean McCoy came into last week with a sore hamstring and had to exit the game in the third quarter. Monitor his status, but one has to think the Bills will play it safe with him. Marquise Goodwin is in the league’s concussion protocol. MUST START: none SOLID PLAY: McCoy (if active) WORTH A LOOK: Tyrod Taylor, Mike Gillislee (if no McCoy) LAST RESORT: Brandon Tate, Charles Clay STAY AWAY: Dan Carpenter, Bills D/ST
TALON
W
Fantasy writer | ProFootballWeekly.com
ith six teams on a bye and the injuries mounting, fantasy owners might find themselves scrambling to put together a lineup in Week 8. The good news is that four of the six teams (Ravens, Rams, Dolphins, 49ers) are largely fantasy irrelevant. Things will be even tougher in Week 9 when the Cardinals, Bengals and Patriots are among the six teams with a week off. Four teams are off during Weeks 10 and 11. There are no more byes starting in Week 12. On to Week 8 …
Philadelphia Eagles
MATCHUPS TO EXPLOIT Seattle Seahawks
OPPONENT: AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, SUNDAY, NOON Seattle’s 29th-ranked offense has frustrated fantasy owners to this point. Only four teams score fewer than the 18.5 per game posted by the Seahawks. However, facing the Saints and their 29th ranked D’, the Hawks should be able to right the ship. Other than Week 2, when the Giants beat them 16-13, New Orleans has given up a minimum of 27 points to each opponent. The Saints are especially susceptible to the pass, giving Russell Wilson a chance to get things going. If it doesn’t happen this week, you have to wonder if it ever will. His lack of mobility stemming from multiple leg injuries is the only thing keeping Wilson from must-start status. MUST START: Christine Michael SOLID PLAY: Wilson, Doug Baldwin, Jimmy Graham, Stephen Hauschka WORTH A LOOK: Seahawks D/ST LAST RESORT: Jermaine Kearse, Tyler Lockett
Houston Texans
OPPONENT: VS DETROIT LIONS, SUNDAY, NOON Brock Osweiler is not living up to his massive contract and the Texans have not been putting up much in terms of offensive numbers. They have an excellent opportunity this week for above-average production against a well-below-average Detroit defense. Don’t look now, but C.J. Fiedorowicz has caught 19 balls for 229 yards and two scores over the past four games. MUST START: Lamar Miller, DeAndre Hopkins SOLID PLAY: Will Fuller WORTH A LOOK: Fiedorowicz, Nick Novak, Texans D/ST LAST RESORT: Brock Osweiler, Ryan Griffin
Cincinnati Bengals
OPPONENT: VS WASHINGTON (LONDON), SUNDAY, 8:30 a.m. Cincy rolled up 559 yards of offense in Week 7. Sure, it was against Cleveland, but it was still an NFL opponent … well, kind of. They’ll face a stiffer test this week, but Washington has a below-average defense. The Bengals’ backfield remains a conundrum – both Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill are viable fantasy options. The committee approach, however, is cutting into the fantasy value of both backs. Because Washington gives up 5.0 yards per carry, one of the two – maybe both – should have a good day. Due to the number of touches, we think
AP PHOTO
Fantasy players should start the Seahawks’ Christine Michael against a weak Saints defense Bernard has slightly more value, but it could go either way. MUST START: A.J. Green SOLID PLAY: Andy Dalton, Bernard, Hill WORTH A LOOK: Brandon LaFell, Tyler Eifert, Bengals D/ST, Mike Nugent
Arizona Cardinals
OPPONENT: AT CAROLINA PANTHERS, SUNDAY, NOON Fresh off their six-point “explosion” on Sunday night, the Cardinals will roll into Carolina looking to get back on track offensively. Surprisingly, the Panthers’ 24th-ranked defense is giving up 29.3 points and 372 yards per game. We’re assuming John Brown will miss his second consecutive game, but monitor his status. MUST START: David Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald SOLID PLAY: Carson Palmer, Chandler Catanzaro WORTH A LOOK: Michael Floyd, Cardinals D/ST
ALSO CONSIDER Kansas City Chiefs
OPPONENT: AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, SUNDAY, NOON Another big day for Spencer Ware is a strong possibility. Jamaal Charles is dealing with swelling in his surgically repaired knee. If he does play, he’ll likely be limited.
Oakland Raiders
OPPONENT: AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, SUNDAY, NOON Points should be plentiful in this matchup of defensive lightweights. The over/under is pushing 50.
MATCHUPS TO AVOID Buffalo Bills
OPPONENT: VS NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, SUNDAY, NOON Rex Ryan teams generally give the Patriots a hard time, but we’re thinking that New England will be geared up for this game. Buffalo won an earlier matchup this season, but that was during Tom
OPPONENT: AT DALLAS COWBOYS, SUNDAY, 7:30 This game features one of the week’s lowest over/ under numbers (43.5). The Cowboys are favored by 4.5, meaning the odds makers expect Philly to score something around 19 points. The Eagles average 26 points per game, but a lot of those points stem from defense and special teams. In terms of yards, only the Texans, Rams, Vikings and 49ers produce fewer than the Eagles. Last week, their leading receiver (Josh Huff) had just four receptions for 39 yards and Carson Wentz threw for just 138 yards and was picked twice. The Cowboys defense is ranked 17th, but has been steadily improving. MUST START: none SOLID PLAY: Eagles D/ST WORTH A LOOK: Ryan Mathews, Jordan Matthews LAST RESORT: Wentz, Darren Sproles, Zach Ertz, Caleb Sturgis
Chicago Bears
OPPONENT: VS MINNESOTA VIKINGS, SUNDAY, 7:30 This isn’t rocket science: The Bears are the league’s lowest-scoring team and the Vikings are tied with Seattle for fewest points allowed. Jay Cutler returns for the Bears and that could provide a boost for Alshon Jeffery owners. Jeremy Langford is nearing a return, which will just further muddy the RB waters in Chicago. MUST START: none SOLID PLAY: Jeffery WORTH A LOOK: Jordan Howard, Zach Miller LAST RESORT: Cameron Meredith, Eddie Royal*, Ka’Deem Carey, Bears D/ST STAY AWAY: Connor Barth
ALSO BEWARE
Jacksonville Jaguars
OPPONENT: AT TENNESSEE TITANS, THURSDAY, 7:25 Two sputtering offenses facing better-than-average defenses on a short week is a recipe for a low-scoring game.
Green Bay Packers
OPPONENT: AT ATLANTA FALCONS, SUNDAY, 3:25 The Packers manhandled a hapless Chicago team last Thursday, but that won’t mean much here. Green Bay’s offense sputtered through much of the Chicago game the same way it has misfired most of the season. It’s possible that this game is a shootout, but it’s also possible the Packers get waxed.
* — Check injury status
And some enticing FanDuel bargains to get you started By ARTHUR
A
ARKUSH
aarkush@shawmedia.com
s our backup utility lineman, I have the privilege of keeping this space warm for John Sahly the next two weeks. As such, I thought it’d be fun to consider some of the top reasons for season-long players who have endured difficult first halves of 2016 to throw their hat in the daily ring. After all, that’s the beauty of DFS – a fresh start. John Fox can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube, but Jay Cutler gets new life in Week 8 – and you can, too. You drank the Blake Bortles, Carson Palmer or Kirk Cousins Kool Aid: Fantasy’s third, fifth and eighth scorers, respectively, overall last season, none has even been decent weekly QB1 options this season. We’ve been down on all three at PFW dating back to the spring, but if you didn’t have access to our magazine or YouTube channel before your draft, well, there’s still hope, and it’s called DFS. You thought this was the year
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time to make tough roster choices, much less file waiver claims and consider trades. Fortunately, I’ll set your Week 8 FanDuel lineup for you right now... QB: Jameis Winston, $7,400, vs. OAK: A wise man recently told me not to pay up for my DFS quarterback. Winston’s ball secuity issues notwithstanding, the Raiders’ ‘D’ is expensive and exploitable. RB: Spencer Ware, $7,400, at IND: Lesser backs have a tendency to wear down the Colts. This is the one who’s made the great Jamaal Charles expendable. RB: Matt Forte, $7,300, at CLE: Forte will miss the Cubs in Cleveland by a day, but not a second consecutive chance to get back on track against a decimated AFC North defense. WR: Mike Evans, $7,900, vs. OAK: It’s stack time, says Rex Ryan (it’s also about to once again start getting late early for Ryan’s Bills). WR: Larry Fitzgerald, $7,000, at CAR: David Gettleman miscalculated his losses in the secondary, but don’t miss a chance to add a Hall of Famer who always picks up his team
Jameis Winston
AP PHOTO
when it’s down. WR: Julian Edelman: $6,500, at BUF: Edelman looks healthy, Tom Brady is hot and New England was shut out by Buffalo a few weeks ago. TE: Jimmy Graham, $6,700, at NO: The Saints could use Graham back ... to play anywhere in their secondary. New Orleans ‘D’ cures more ills, including Seattle’s offense, than penicillin. PK: Dan Bailey, $4,700 vs. PHI: Good kicker. Good offense. Opponent with some newfound turnover issues. DEF: New York Jets, $4,700, at CLE: Cody Kessler, Josh McCown, Kevin Hogan: different means to the same end.
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Doug Martin, Sammy Watkins and Jordan Reed could stay healthy: When Martin is right, he’s as good in fantasy as anyone but Adrian Peterson with two intact menisci. Alas, the Bucs spent big to retain their feature guy in free agency and he’s disappointed (note: don’t pay free-agent running backs). But don’t worry: former Bears RB Jacquizz Rodgers has gone berzerk the past two weeks. (Sidenote: Who had Rodgers, not Matt Forte, as the former Bears back balling out for a team in the playoff hunt?) As for Watkins and Reed, we can’t fault you for targeting these two 2015 homestretch MVPs, but what now? You assumed slim Eddie Lacy and disciplined Jameis Winston were here to stay: In fairness to Lacy, even at a 4-3 DE weight, he was blowing through would-be tacklers like a box of Krispy Kremes. And Winston, well, it’s not like he’s shouting obscenities on lunchroom tables or lifting crab legs – he just can’t protect the football. But there’s still time for Winston and fellow second-year passer Marcus Mariota. You welcomed your firstborn Monday afternoon and won’t have
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
Struggling in your season-long fantasy league? Give DFS a spin
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
By
ARTHUR ARKUSH OVERVIEW
The Packers held the Bears, led by Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley, to 189 total yards in a Thursday night romp to improve to 4-2. It’s a fairly safe bet Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, the NFL’s most prolific connection, are better equipped to attack a Green Bay secondary still without its top two, and possibly three, cornerbacks. All Jones did in his most recent meeting with the Pack, a 43-37, defense-optional Green Bay win in December 2014, was log 11 catches, 259 yards and a touchdown against Green Bay with Sam Shields and Tramon Williams. The Packers will face the Falcons, who squandered a 27-10 lead at home versus the Chargers on Sunday for their second consecutive defeat, without Shields and Damarious Randall – look for LaDarius Gunter to draw Jones – but with an offense that dropped a season-high 406 yards on the Bears. Though Green Bay had 10 days to get Knile Davis and Ty Montgomery assimilated in its Eddie Lacy-less backfield, chances are Mike McCarthy will again lean on a
shotgun-heavy, spread attack similar to San Diego’s with Aaron Rodgers again dropping back often – Rodgers completed a franchise record 39 attempts with Davante Adams, Randall Cobb and Montgomery becoming just the second triumverate in NFL history with 10-plus grabs each.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
The development of 2014 sixth overall pick Jake Matthews at left tackle by Atlanta has been an underrated factor in the Falcons’ high-flying offense. A move back outside from the middle this season for Jake’s cousin, Clay Matthews, has returned the six-time Pro Bowler to his best position, albeit without a huge splash in the box score, and pits the kinsmen against each other for the first time in the NFL. Jake Matthews struggled with the strength and relentlessness of Joey Bosa last week. That’s the calling card of Clay Matthews, seeking his first sack since Week 5, who will try and take heat off his undermanned secondary by heating up his cousin’s edge.
OVERVIEW
Matthew Stafford has now played exactly one full season with Jim Bob Cooter as his coordinator. The results? They’re real, and they’re spectacular: 4,310 passing yards, 68.6 completion percentage, 35 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 7.6 yards per attempt and a passer rating of 105.4. Remember, Stafford has a career passer rating of 87.0 and interception percentage of 2.6. Perhaps most importantly, though, Stafford’s Lions are 10-6 over that span, including a 20-17 triumph Sunday over Washington, Detroit’s third consecutive victory. That Detroit rallied from a three-game losing streak with a 3-0 homestand, including two impressive NFC East wins, says a lot about the resilience of Jim Caldwell. His seat was nearly ablaze following a smoldering meltdown at Soldier Field on Oct. 2, but his players have again shown a unique ability to respond when their backs are to the wall. Stafford has strapped the Li-
ons on his back, but Teryl Austin’s defense is barely staying afloat and lost its best playmaker this season, CB Darius Slay, to a hamstring injury. If he’s sidelined for any period of time, Detroit needs more than Austin’s creativity up front; it needs Pro Bowler Ezekiel Ansah to turn it up quickly after two nondescript performances since his return from an ankle injury.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Since being benched at Soldier Field, Lions WR Golden Tate had the key catch on Detroit’s game-winning drive against Philadelphia, and a combined 14 catches for 258 yards and a touchdown the past two weeks. Houston needs its own former golden domer, first-round WR Will Fuller, to reignite after being hamstrung in recent weeks, but also corners Johnathan Joseph and Kareem Jackson to cool Tate, Marvin Jones and Anquan Boldin – a superb late-July signing with four touchdowns, including the clincher a week ago.
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Dean Spanos’ desire to reward fans could mean Chargers build new stadium in Mission Valley
O
n November 8, San Diegans will vote on Proposition C, whether or not to generate up to $1.2 billion in new tax revenue to expand convention facilities and build a new downtown stadium for the San Diego Chargers. The team has reportedly spent up to $12 million to lobby for and promote a ‘yes’ vote to allow them to stay in San Diego. According to every poll we can find, the measure is a huge long-shot to pass, leaving the Chargers with a difficult choice. A move to Los Angeles to share the new football palace being built by Rams owner Stan Kroenke for his team has already been approved for the Chargers. It’s a move that would guarantee Chargers owner Dean Spanos new riches and immediately increase the value of his club by $50 million to $100 million. Or the Chargers can stay in San Diego and play in the badly antiquated Qualcomm Stadium with no better options in site. It doesn’t take a genius to understand why the conventional wisdom has been the Chargers are already packing their bags for Tinseltown. But The Way We Hear It, the most likely outcome is a third option that no one is presently talking about. We’re told by sources close to Spanos that he hates the idea of leaving San Diego, isn’t wild about being a tenant for Kroenke and that he is presently leaning toward an option B that has largely flown under the radar. What has made this situation so contentious at times has been the city’s willingness to consider a new stadium plan in Mission Valley – where Qualcom currently sits – as opposed to downtown. Spanos has stated as recently as Sept. 29 that he is adamantly opposed to a new building in Mission Valley, but he also acknowledged at the time that would be projecting the failure of
The Chargers may stay temporarily at Qualcomm Stadium next season rather than moving to Los Angeles Proposition C, which he was not willing to do. Now faced with the likely defeat of the hotel tax plan to fund a downtown stadium, Spanos, we’re told, is focused more on other options to remain in San Diego than he is in heading north for L.A. Whether that means revisiting a Mission Valley development – which has been priced at about $600 million to $700 million less to build than the downtown stadium and already has a plan that would provide about $350 million from the city – or looking at other means of financing the downtown stadium is unclear. What is clear to us is that, unlike Kroenke and Mark Davis, who couldn’t and can’t wait to desert their loyal fans in St. Louis and Oakland, respectively, Spanos is apparently more focused on rewarding his team’s fans than how to best line his own pockets. Isn’t that an unusual and refreshing story these days?
Packers running out of options
It was just a couple of weeks ago that we wrote here the Packers were a team to keep an eye on as ther rebuilt defense picked up steam and Aaron Rodgers showed signs of regaining his old form. Since then, the Pack’s top-rated run defense absorbed an absolute beat-down from the Dallas Cowboys ground game, and injuries have devastated the club on both sides of the ball. The Way We Hear It, there is frus-
tration and a bit of desperation in America’s dairy land as injuries mount and reinforcements are scarce. In the past two weeks, Green Bay has placed No. 1 running back Eddie Lacy on injured reserve, backup James Starks has been lost indefinitely with a knee problem, and now No. 4 wide receiver Jared Abbrederis – who was the breakout star of training camp – has also been moved to IR. On defense, first No. 1 cornerback Sam Shields was placed on IR, and now their second-best corner, Damarious Randall, has been lost indefinitely with a groin surgery. No. 3 corner Quinten Rollins also has been out injured and his status is uncertain. Adding injury to insult, backup safety Chris Banjo was also just placed on IR. The Packers came back off their bye with their best offensive output of the season against the Bears, and Rodgers’ first 300-yard passing day of the season, but most of it came in the second half and it was against the Bears. The Packers will now travel to Atlanta this weekend to take on Julio Jones and Co. with LaDarius Gunter, a former undrafted rookie free agent, and Demetri Goodson, a former sixthround pick, at cornerback, as well as converted wide receiver Ty Montgomery starting at running back. The Way We Hear It, it is hard to report the Packers’ arrow is still pointing up.
AP PHOTO
Eagles out hunting wideouts
Multiple outlets have reported the Philadelphia Eagles are shopping for wide receivers before the impending Nov. 1 trade deadline, with most of the speculation centering on 49ers wideout Torrey Smith and the Chicago Bears’ Alshon Jeffery. The 49ers have denied reports that they are shopping Smith, but those denials have been worded to leave them wiggle room to pursue a deal should one exist. Our sources, however, are both telling and asking us, why would the Eagles, in the thick of the NFC race, be focusing on Smith, a career underachiever who comes with a fiveyear deal that includes $22 million in guarantees, if they can acquire a Pro Bowler in Alshon Jeffery who would cost them no more than the roughly $7 million still due on his franchise tag for this season? The Eagles have the Vikings’ firstround pick to barter with – far too high a price to pay for Smith, but perhaps a reasonable risk to invest in Jeffery, even if it’s for a half-year rental on the free-agent-to-be at the end of the season if they believe they are legitimate contenders. The Bears remain mum on any Jeffery deal, but in light of their 1-6 record and what is perceived to be their unlikely chances of signing Jeffery to a long-term deal without franchising him again, we’re hearing Jeffery is the more likely target for the Eagles should they continue to seriously shop over the next few days.
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
Chargers could still remain in San Diego without approval of downtown stadium
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
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How can the Bears improve their secondary? NATE KEVINATKINS FISHBAIN stud this year, no other Bears player ranks in the top 51, league-wide, in sacks. I look at it this way, Kev: The Bears gave cornerback Tracy Porter, who is historically oft-injured, a three-year deal this offseason and did not bother to add veteran roster depth behind him. Porter has started every game, and limped through the past few, but the Bears can’t be shocked they need reinforcements at his position. The safeties – well, at least one – are just as concerning to me. Remember when Deon Bush was supposed to start? What happened to him? Fishbain: Vic Fangio said, bluntly, that Bush wasn’t there yet from the mental
PATRICK FINLEY FINLEY PATRICK
standpoint of the game to put out there. The staff likes Harold Jones-Quartey, but didn’t like him enough in Indianapolis, hence the Chris Prosinski substitution. Fangio expected big things from Adrian Amos, and while we’ve seen some great hits, he hasn’t forced a turnover. (Granted, he hasn’t made a big mistake, either). You would think that in a lost season, we should see some of the team’s fourth-round pick at safety. Follow the money, Patrick, and the Bears spent on the OLBs. Those guys need to make it easier on the secondary, but defensive back has to be a big need heading into 2017, right? Finley: Well, this is where
it gets interesting. GM Ryan Pace wasn’t the one who drafted cornerback Kyle Fuller in the first round in 2014, and I get the vibe the new regime isn’t particularly high on him. They have a choice to make in April: to pick up his fifth-year option, force him to be a lame duck, or look for a trading partner. This was supposed to be a huge year for Fuller; instead, he’s likely to not play a snap all season. Is there anything they can learn about him, or is it a lost cause? And how hard is it to build a good defensive backfield when your first-round pick flops? I think I know the answer to that last one. Fishbain: I was looking for-
ward to seeing what Fuller could do this season. He’s always had the size and athleticism for the position, and the Bears thought highly enough of him to wait until the fourth round to add someone (while ignoring the position in free agency). In Fangio’s final two years in San Francisco, the 49ers drafted a DB in the first round, and it wouldn’t be an offseason in Chicago without discussing the annual need for a safety! Finley: Watch how I tie this up with a pretty bow, Kev: the answer at safety, perhaps, is Fuller. Fangio has said that Fuller has the size and ability to play the position; it might more closely resemble the Cover-2 tasks he was drafted to fulfill than it does the current cornerback responsibilities. There seems to be little financial motivation for the Bears to do it, though. Until they have to make that decision, the Bears should spend the second half of their lost season seeing if Bush can push Jones-Quartey at safety. Tryouts for 2017 are upon us already.
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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
I
n this week’s edition of ‘Take 2,’ Kevin Fishbain of Pro Football Weekly and Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times analyze the Bears’ secondary heading into the second half of the season. Fishbain: I know, Patrick, hindsight is 20/20. The Bears couldn’t have predicted Kyle Fuller would go on injured reserve or Deiondre’ Hall would have an ankle injury or Bryce Callahan would struggle to stay on the field. However, I couldn’t help but wonder while watching Aaron Rodgers pick apart the young secondary last Thursday night that the Bears could have spent more resources during the offseason on the secondary. We saw flashes from the group vs. Detroit, but the Bears are 25th in interception rate. Am I being too negative? Finley: Yes and no. I wouldn’t blame the Bears’ defensive backs alone for the team’s ugly pass coverage. They’re nothing without a pass rush; while Willie Young’s been a
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
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