Sneaky D of the Week

 Bills Defense/Special Team

My sneaky defense of the week is the Buffalo Bills. The first thing that should jump out at you when looking at this match up is the trenches battle.  The Pittsburgh offensive line is a raggedy bunch that has allowed their unhappy franchise QB get acquainted to the turf 31 times in eight games.  I can do that math.  That's on a pace for 62 sacks.  Meanwhile, the Bills sport one of the most annoying pass-rushes in the league.  Tied for second with 29.  Mario Williams has found a reset button and looks like a being among lesser beings again with 11 sacks on the season.  Not to mention Big Ben's fumbling tendency, has 5 already, it will be a tough time for the Steelers today.

Also, with the nugget on the grapevine that this is possibly Roethlisberger's final year in Pittsburgh, who knows how the chemistry is there?  This is a unit that's not in sync on both ends of the field.  The Bills have just recieved only good news this past week.  C.J. Manuel is back from an injury and C.J. Spiller has seemingly just finally recovered from the ankle issue. Expect the Bills to control the clock and the game.

Sleeper Patrol

 On a weekly basis, points are being wasted and are floating around the fantasy black-hole. Why allow them to go un-utilized, especially during the bye-weeks when an extra boost is needed?  Not to mention the injury imp is feasting on first-rounders this season.  This is a new, soon to be weekly, article called Sleeper Patrol. I love to keep a keen eye for the "under the radar" players who find themselves in the most favorable of situations. Most of the guys I will mention will be available on the waiver wire.

QB

 Jake Locker Tennessee Titans

The matchup is just too sweet to not take advantage of.  I call the Jaguars the "chicken soup" of the National Football League. After a poor outing in St. Louis, Locker is salivating at the thought of coming back home to the league's worst team. The Jags saw what we all saw last week and that was CJ2K show a spark of what once was.  I bet the game-plan is to not let him go off since Jax sports the league's worst run defense. They've given up almost 1300 yards on 4.8 ypc. There will be over-compensation and "The Jake" will go over-the-top. Expect huge numbers.

 Terrelle Pryor Oakland Raiders

It is well documented that the Giants defense is a joke. As is the Raiders. I foresee a shoot-out brewing here.  Pryor has rushed for at least 50 yards in three straight games and a minimum of 90 yards in the last two. Don't be surprised if he airs it out, though, on Sunday.

Wr

 Mike Brown Jacksonville Jaguars

Brown started getting attention last week when he caught a deep bomb for a score, finishing the game with 3 recs for 43 yds and touchdown.  The coaching staff has been raving about this guy and said there is "growing confidence" in Brown.  Cecil Shorts, who has a groin issue now, may or may not play.  Groin pulls are crucial to a receiver's explosion.  Even if Shorts is healthy enough to make an impact, he will surely garner most of the attention.  Couple that with the fact that the Jags will probably be in passing mode for the entire second half and you have a sleeper on your hands.

 DeAndre Hopkins Houston Texans

Case Keenum loves him some @Nukdabomb. While Patrick Peterson is shadowing (like anyone can really hold him) Andre Johnson, Keenum will happily go through his primary progression and toss some pigskin towards the way of Hopkins.  I personally think he's just looking for an excuse.  DeAndre's huge hands would give any QB the confidence to go to him. They've built a more than decent rapport and it will show on Sunday.


 Kendall Wright Tennessee Titans

Kendall has emerged as the Titans go-to threat.  In the two games that Jake Locker made his way back from his injury, he has targeted Wright 17 times. In fact, Wright is the 26th most targeted WR in the NFL with 63.  The match-up is right, the rhythm in the offense is established and the trust in the second-year stud makes Kendall Wright primed to have a breakout game.