Sunday Six Pack: Week Nine

We’re with you every Sunday to provide the Sunday Six Pack, an article featuring six of the biggest storylines heading into each and every week of the season. Keeping tabs on these events will keep you prepared and informed throughout the season – just don’t drive within six hours of reading this. With that in mind, let’s take a look at this week’s Sunday Six Pack:

Can #1) Is It Finally Tuel Time?

With adequate replacement quarterback Thaddeus Lewis listed as doubtful for Sunday’s tilt with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Buffalo Bills are in the unenviable position of having to start rookie UDFA Jeff Tuel or career bridesmaid Matt Flynn against the Chiefs’ dominant defense.  In Tuel’s only action this year (when EJ Manuel went down week five against the Browns), he was 8-for-20 for 80 yards and one interception.  I wouldn’t expect much more from either Tuel or Flynn this weekend, who should easily supplant Kellen Clemens as the worst quarterback start this week.  Obvious downgrades for all Bills pass catchers.  The only hope for Buffalo is that the apparent return of CJ Spiller allows the running game to keep the game close and limit the number of pass attempts.  Another bonus is that Buffalo is not coached by Leslie Frazier or Bill Musgrave (see Freeman, Josh).

Can #2) Geno’s On Week

Geno Smith and the Jets have been an every other week proposition with the Jets alternating wins and losses since their week one win over the Buccaneers and Smith playing well every other week.  In fact, seven of Geno’s eight passing touchdowns and both of his rushing touchdowns have come in odd numbered weeks.  So in week nine (which is an odd number for you math challenged people out there), Geno and Jets get a New Orleans Saints’ defense that is ranked 12th in terms of total yards per game given up.  The Jets are at home and the Saints one loss is on the road, so there’s that.  On the Saints’ offensive side of the ball, two things to look for will be whether the marginalization of Darren Sproles (no carries and four receptions for no yards last week) ends considering the Jets’ number one rushing defense in terms of average yards per game, and whether rookie Kenny Stills can build on his last two big games or if he will follow the trend of boom or bust Saints’ deep threats.

Can #3) Is Chip Kelly Green With Envy?

Reports have surfaced that Chip Kelly tried to recruit Terrelle Pryor to Oregon and considering the Eagles’ current quarterback situation, you have to wonder if Chip Kelly will be able to read his play calling sheet through the drool that he may produce while watching Pryor run the Raiders’ offense.  Pryor has been a revelation for the Raiders, lifting them out of a universally predicted swamp of mediocrity and supporting the fantasy values of Denarius Moore and the healthy-for-now Darren McFadden.  Meanwhile, the Eagles will turn back to the slow footed Nick Foles against the Raiders’ no-name defense that is surprisingly ranked 10th in average total yards per game given up.  LeSean McCoy is only the 12th ranked PPR RB over the last three weeks, which is good for some running backs, but not what Shady owners expect from their stud.

Can #4) Peachy Keenum

In his first career start week seven in a hostile environment at Kansas City, UDFA quarterback Case Keenum showed fairly well completing 15 orf 25 passes for 271 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.  More importantly for fantasy purposes, he was able to effectively get the ball to his two big wide receivers in Andre Johnson (four receptions for 89 years) and DeAndre Hopkins (three receptions for 76 yards and one touchdown).  Even disappointment Garrett Graham (three receptions for 28 yards) could have had a bigger day had he not failed to adjust to a long downfield throw on which he was wide open.  Now, even with Matt Schaub ostensibly healthy enough to play, Keenum gets a home start against a Colts defense that is in the middle of the pack in terms of pass defense (13th in average passing yards per game given up).  Keenum will likely have to throw more than 25 passes this week, as the Texans may be without Arian Foster and Ben Tate, even if active, may have his carries limited due to banged up ribs.  On the other side of the ball, it will be interesting to see if the talk about figuring out better ways to get Trent Richardson the ball manifests itself, or is just more coachspeak.

Can #5) Schiano’s Last Stand?

The ship is sinking in Tampa Bay and it appears Greg Schiano is going to go down with it.  With Doug Martin out with a shoulder injury and now wide receiver Mike Williams on injured reserve with a torn hamstring, the undermanned Buccaneers held to the unfriendly confines of Centurylink Field to meet a Seattle Seahawks team coming off another underwhelming road performance.  Based on the reports out of Tampa that the locker room has turned on Schiano, it wouldn’t surprise me if the team gets blown out and then leaves him behind in Seattle, Lane Kiffin-style.  From a fantasy perspective, Vincent Jackson should continue to get peppered with targets, and breakout rookie tight end Tim Wright should see his pass-catching role increase.  On the Seahawks side, despite two missed practices with an unspecified knee injury that had Christine Michael owners salivating, Marshawn Lynch appears to be full go and should be fed steadily after being criminally underused week eight in St. Louis.

Can #6) The Washington TBDs

It appears the winds of change are once again starting to swirl in Our Nation’s Capital, and it may be a question of when and not if the Redskins name finally falls by the wayside.  Hail to the Bravehearts just doesn’t have the same ring to it and Mel Gibson makes a crappy football mascot anyway. In any event, Robert Griffin III owners that were expecting a shootout in Denver last week and were disappointed by his single digit FP performance will be looking for a rebound against the Chargers and their 26th ranked passing defense in terms of average passing yards per game given up.  Its also a great matchup for the former Gator breakout rookie tight end Jordan Reed, who should continue to see a ton targets (31 in the last three games).  On the other side of ball, this is a good matchup for both Chargers running backs Danny Woodhead (who is an every week PPR starter at this point) and contact magnet Ryan Matthews who faces the Redskins and their 30th ranked rushing defense in terms of average yards per game given up.  Rookie stud receiver Keenan Allen should continue his hot streak against the leaky Redskins’ secondary.

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