Starts:
Oakland D/ST: at home to Caleb Hanie and the Bears? Yes thank you, I think I will take some of that.
Beanie Wells, RB, Arizona Cardinals: Opponents run on the Rams. A lot (32nd against the run).
Ben Tate, RB, Houston Texans: You don't really think they're going to let the Leinart throw, do you?
Kevin Boss, TE, Oakland Raiders: The Bears give up a whopping 100 receiving yards per game to TE's.
DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles: Even Vince Young is good enough to torch these Patriot no-names (32nd against WR's).
Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers: This is the weekend Rivers bounces back folks. Must-win game, and he should find his targets against this Broncos secondary.
Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons: Even if Julio Jones doesn't play, I can't see Ryan not feasting on this Vikings D.
Brandon Lloyd, WR, St Louis Rams: The Cardinals give up the 8th most fantasy points against WR's.
Cedric Benson, RB, Cincinnati Bengals: The Browns give up nearly 18 points per game against opposing RB's.
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A busy week so we'll get straight into it. Here we are with The Fantasy Dudes starts for week 12 of the NFL season - Part 1, which covers the 3 games scheduled for thanksgiving day:
Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys: Starting to step it up at the right time (8 touchdowns, no interceptions over past 3 games)... let's hope spotlight doesn't turn him back into the Romo-coaster. We like him to continue his recent streak against Miami.
Reggie Bush, RB, Miami Dolphins: Since the Kardashian/Humphries split, Bush has been on an absolute tear. It was Daniel Thomas early in the season, but injuries have really hurt him. Bush has stepped it up, especially in PPR leagues. 4 touchdowns over his past 3 games, with a minimum of 15 carries over his last 4 games. Importantly, he has been utilized with goalline carries.
Kevin Smith, RB, Detroit Lions: He won't match his performance last week, but he should again see the bulk of the carries out of the backfield. Certainly available in a lot of fantasy leagues. Packers have let in a rushing touchdown in 4 consecutive games.
Nate Burleson, WR, Detroit Lions: Most teams are forced to pass against the Packers. Lions fortunately do like the pass. Burleson has 15 catches for close to 150 yards over past 2 games (including a TD).
Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers: How can you sit this guy? He's absolutely money right now. We predicted this at the start of the season. He has 5 touchdowns over his past 3 games alone.
Anquan Boldin & Torrey Smith, WR, Baltimore Ravens: Despite having Ray Rice in the backfield, Flacco has averaged 43 attempted passes a game over his past 5 games. Boldin has been quiet over the past 2 games, but against tough matchups this season, has performed well. Torrey on the other hand is coming off a strong 165 yard performance against the Bengals, and has 2 touchdowns over past 3 games, so confidence will be high.
Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys: See Romo, Tony. He is coming off a strong performance last week, he remains a key target for Romo. The Dolphins have been pretty fantasy friendly to tight ends so far this season, so we expect the same this week.
Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Detroit Lions: Stafford sure is moving the ball around, but Pettigrew has been one of the key beneficiaries. Much like Witten above, the Packers have allowed tight ends to perform well against them, both in terms of catches allowed, and yards given up.
Baltimore Ravens DST: Has disappointed lately, and faces a strong matchup this week in the 'Harbaughbowl'. What better way to make a statement than to shutdown the Niners at home.
To all of our readers, have a safe and happy thanksgiving!
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Much hype has surrounded Tim Tebow ever since he was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round last year's draft. Regular readers of The Fantasy Dudes will know for our keen admiration for him, well before 'Tebowing' even took off. Is he the quarterback of the future for the Denver Broncos? Probably not, but it won't be Quinn or Orton either. What is for certain is that Tebow is a winner (4-1 as starter), and this season he has build a reputation for being "the closer"... you know its coming, but there isn't much you can do about it, especially when he has "help" from up above. So why no enjoy the ride.
How does he stack up from a fantasy perspective? Well, if it weren't for those 4th quarter heroics, pretty badly. We should also remind you that these wins have come against Miami, Oakland, Kansas City and now the Jets. Yes, the Jets game was an impressive win, but that was more about the D! He only completed 9 passes. His passing game has been dreadful, missing key open looks. However, he does have the ability to run with the ball, which is why he is so valuable from a fantasy perspective. Over the past 5 games, he has scored in double digit fantasy points in every game.
So, let's look at the numbers:
Over the 8 games so far this season, 5 of which he has started he has:
Passing:
44.8% completion record - 56/125
709 yards throw at an average of 5.67 yards
7 touchdowns
1 intercept, 2 fumbles
78.4% QB rating
Rushing:
56 attempts for 388 yards, at a 6.9 yard average
3 touchdowns
2 fumbles
So how does this compared to what he has done in the 4th quarter (money time)? Well this is the reason for his fantasy success:
Passing:
56% completion record - 28/50
399 yards thrown
5 touchdowns
1 intercept
107.0 QB rating
Rushing:
23 rushing attempts
172 yards
2 touchdowns
With the rate at which the quarterbacks have been going down in the league lately, they have become a much more valuable commodity. If he's on your bench, trade him, and if he's your starter, well. we suggest trading him also... the passing statistics are a worry, and he won't be able to complete 95 yards drives including a game winning touchdown every game. He'll still contribute, but why not see what you can get for him for trade value. For those who missed it, here is a quick look at some highlights of the final drive... enjoy:
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Another week, another quarterback down... Cutler is out indefinitely (most likely the season), and it has just been announced that Cassel is done for the season, and the merry-go-round continues. Enter Hanie, and Palko. Oh, and don't forget Leinart. While these guys may not be great options, there certainly are some diamonds in the rough to be found on the waiver wire in any given week. It is extremely important, assuming you want to be successful, to get in early on the waiver wire, not only to get potential scoops yourself, but to stop others from getting them. Remember, its thanksgiving week, meaning games kick off early again this week, so be sure to update your line-up accordingly. Here are The Fantasy Dudes waiver wire selections for week 12 of the NFL:
Matt Moore, QB, Miami Dolphins: 14-20, 160 yards and 3 touchdowns sound good to you? Sure does, especially when you are playing for Miami. The Dolphins face the Cowboys, a team that just let Rex Grossman run all over them. 6 touchdowns over past 3 games is fairly decent going. He could be a suitable Cutler replacement. Owned in less than 3% of fantasy leagues.
Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals: Even without AJ Green, and up against the Ravens (minus Ray Lewis), he still performed... to the tune of a career high 373 yards. Sure, he had 3 intercepts, but let's not forget, this guy is a rookie. He has only failed once all season to throw a touchdown in a game, and that came against San Francisco in week 3. He is owned in just over 24% of fantasy leagues.
Caleb Hanie, QB, Chicago Bears: Just jokes, he is not worth owning... period!
Kevin Smith, RB, Detroit Lions: Remember him? He was only signed a few weeks back. Bham, he explodes for 140 yards on the ground, 61 yards through the air, and 3 touchdowns. Ok, it was against the Panthers, but still impressive. He has a decent run (excuse the pun) home too, and is a must add for all leagues. He will be the hottest pickup off waivers this week. He is owned is less than 1% of leagues.
Toby Gerhart, RB, Minnesota Vikings: Uh oh... just what you needed heading into fantasy playoffs, and injury to Adrian 'all day' Peterson. Unfortunately AP has a high-ankle sprain (see Jones, Felix), and his status for Wk 12 is now in question. The Vikings are out of the playoff hunt, so why risk bringing him back? Enter Toby Gerhart. A nice addition, at least in the short-term. He is owned in fewer than 2% of leagues.
Chris Ogbonnaya: RB, Cleveland Browns: Hillis remains out, and Chris is coming off a career high 115 yards and a touchdown against the troublesome Jaguars. It is hard to see a repeat performance, but still worth a look in deeper leagues. He is just 16% owned in fantasy leagues.
Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: We love him, and Big Ben does too. If he is available in your league (someone may have slept on him given he was on a bye last week), go and pick him up now... hurry! He has caught 26 passes over the past 4 games, including 250 yards receiving, yet rather surprisingly, he is owned in only 53% of leagues.
Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers: Listed in a previous waiver wire article, Michael has really caught on lately. 27 catches over his past 5 games, including over 325 yards gained. His touchdowns have been lacking lately, but those can't be too far away, especially with St Louis and Arizona coming up on his schedule. He is owned in just over 64% of leagues.
Jabar Gaffney, WR, Washington Redskins: Some owners may have given up on him recently, and with good reason. However, in week 11 he went off for 115 yards on 7 catches and a touchdown (he was targeted 11 times). That has been his best production of the season. He now has 2 touchdown passes over his past 3 games. Jabar is owned in fewer than 26% of leagues.
Nate Burleson, WR, Detroit Lions: With all attention on Megatron, passes had to go to someone else. Nate started off strongly, but tapered off mid-season. His form is now back following the bye in week 9, and he now has 15 catches for almost 150 yards and a touchdown over his past 2 games alone. He will be needed to keep up that form. Owned in only 16% of leagues.
Brent Celek, TE, Philadelphia Eagles: Production has really increased of late, not only with Vick at the helm, but also Vince Young. Caught 6 passes for 60 yards against the Giants in week 11. That makes 24 catches over his past 4 games. Need a TE? Pick up Celek. Owned in just over 18% of leagues.
Mike Nugent, K, Cincinnati Bengals: FG's have been a little scarce of late, but he's been on the money with extra points. We like him to hit a couple of three pointers this week against the Browns. Mike has been a top 10 kicker for the season in terms of fantasy points, yet he is owned in only 39% of leagues.
Denver Broncos D/ST: Not sure if Tebow has influenced their recent play, but they have been pretty good since getting touched up against the Lions in week 8. The Broncos have 4 intercepts over the past 3 games, including a substantial effort against Sanchize and the Jets last week. League leading intercept king, Philip Rivers up next. This unit is owned in less than 4% of leagues.
Happy thanksgiving everyone!!!
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Week 11 of the NFL is upon us, and The Fantasy Dudes have a plethora of fantasy football starting options for you, so let's get straight into it:
Ryan Fitzpatrick: After a hot start to the season, Ryan and the Bills have cooled right off... no surprise really given they have faced the Cowboys and Jets over the past 2 games. What better way to get back on track than to face the Miami Dolphins, a team that allows the 4th most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Tony Romo: Love him or hate him, he's currently healthy, and is a must start in all fantasy formats right now. He did struggle against the Redskins in week 3, but he has thrown for 5 touchdowns over his past 2 games, and has only failed to find the end zone just once this season.
Steven Jackson: Talking about slow starts, he was very quiet to start the season, but he has turned it on of late. Jackson has rushed for over 125 yards in 3 straight games now.
Marshawn Lynch: BEAST, BEAST, BEAST! Beast mode has well and truly been turned on as he has rushed for close to 250 yards and 2 touchdowns over his past 2 games. Faces the Rams this week who have been dreadful against the run (remember DeMarco Murray a few weeks ago?).
James Starks: The Bucs have been flat-out awful of late, and have been turnstiles in defense in recent games. Starks is clearly the one to start in the Packers backfield, and with Rodgers being, well, Rodgers, James should be on course to find the pay dirt this week.
Brandon Marshall: Carved the Bills up last time he faced them with over 100 yards receiving, and the Buffalo secondary just can't stop the pass right now. Matt Moore has done a reasonable job lately, and that has been because of Marshall... over 200 yards receiving in his last 2 games
Damian Williams: He is likely sitting on waivers, or has just been picked up over the past week. Damian has quickly moved up the depth chart, and has become one of Hasselbeck's (who is also a reasonable play this week if your starter is on a bye) favorite targets lately. 2 touchdowns in as many weeks, and he'll be needed again this week against Falcons away from home.
Laurent Robinson & Dez Bryant: The Cowboys have found their mojo, and this week should be no exception. Laurent has been the touchdown king over the past few games (although his catches could improve). These guys should be money this week.
Brandon Lloyd: What a great pickup for the Rams. Over the past 4 games he has 21 catches, 2 touchdowns and a staggering 49 targets come his way. We expect the trend to continue against the Seahawks.
Brent Celek: Maclin is injured, Jackson is MIA (discipline), and now the other Steve Smith has been called upon to produce. Regardless of who starts for the Eagles, be it Vick or Young (loves the TE position), we see Celek's production increasing this week. He has 22 catches over his past 4 games, including 2 touchdowns.
Josh Brown: 25 points over the past 3 games. With the Seahawks on deck, and Captain Jack running the ball like it was going out of fashion, Brown should be able to match his recent production.
Dallas Cowboys D/ST: Who knows what is going on at the Redskins. The Dallas defense has been a solid play lately, allowing only 20 points against them in total over the past 2 games, and it should be much of the same against Grossman and company.
New England Patriots D/ST: Tyler Palko at quarterback for the Chiefs... who??? Exactly!!! Pats are coming off a strong performance against the Jets, and should have no problems putting the Chiefs to the sword.
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Here we are again with The Fantasy Dudes NFL waiver wire selections for Week 11 of Fantasy Football. We should state that should you need assistance with anything regarding your fantasy teams, be it trade advice, start/sits, or waiver wire selections outside of the below, we'd be more than happy to help. Ownership based on ESPN standard leagues:
Matt Leinart: Remember him? Heisman trophy winner??? Well, it has been announced by the Texans that Matt Schaub faces a lengthy period on the sidelines with a significant foot injury, and Kubiak has already anointed Leinart as the starter for week 11. 0.0% owned (surprised???)
Matt Hasselbeck: The seasoned veteran has strung together a few nice games in a row from a fantasy perspective, and well worth a shot if in need of a quarterback for week 11. 52.8% owned.
Lance Ball: Willis McGahee is dinged up, Knowshon Moreno has been ruled out for the season, enter Lance Ball. 96 yards rushing on the weekend was an impressive start. 0.3% owned.
Kendall Hunter: Ok, news out of the Niners camp points to Frank Gore being all good to go for week 11. However, the alarm bells should be ringing following his injury scare on the weekend... expect his workload to decrease somewhat (their record allows it), hence it opens the door for Kendall to see some extra carries. If Gore were to miss anytime, Hunter would be a very nice flex play. 5.4% owned.
Laurent Robinson: Two touchdowns on the weekend, making it four in only three games. With DeMarco moving the ball for the Cowboys, and with Austin still out, Laurent should be given a look, especially in deeper leagues. 13.0% owned.
Antonio Brown: See our previous articles. This guy needs to be picked up NOW!!! Don't believe us... check out how many targets he has seen come his way lately, not to mention his conversion rate. Note, he is on a bye week. 53.7% owned.
Vincent Brown: The other Vincent. So long as Malcom Floyd remains out, Brown should be considered in your fantasy line-up, especially with the way that Rivers has been airing it out (intercepts aside). 0.2% owned.
Ed Dickson: Sure, he has burnt a few owners this season with some disappointing performances, but 10 catches, 80 yards and two touchdowns does stand out. Whilst you can't expect this type of production this week, at least he's on Flacco's radar. Might be a decent pickup for someone like Jimmy Graham or Owen Daniels. 5.7% owned.
Giants D/ST: Vick is playing with broken ribs... Giants await the Eagles in week 11. That can't be good for Vick. The Giants did a pretty decent job against the Eagles in Philly earlier this season, and have quietly been performing from a fantasy perspective with a number of takeaways. 53% owned.
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No doubt you know about the "fashion" craze that is Tebowing. One of our favourite athletes here at The Fantasy Dudes, who we have revered from the very beginning, Tim Tebow (Denver Broncos) is somewhat of a phenomenon for his popularity and his recent success on the NFL field.
In fact, he has been getting enough attention for the crazy Taiwanese animators at Next Media Animation to immortalise him in animated form. Check out the video!
Not sure who to start and sit this week? Well, here are The Fantasy Dudes selections for Week 10 of the NFL:
Start ‘em:
Owen Daniels, TE, Texans: Bucs average 6th most fantasy appoints against TE’s.
Santonio Holmes, WR, Jets: perfect time for Holmes to step up against the beleaguered Patriots defenders.
Michael Turner, RB, Falcons: you think Turner and the Falcons staff didn’t see what Steven Jackson did 2 weeks ago?
Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Lions: The Bears are woeful against the Ends (allow most points in League). With Best out, and Megatron demanding attention, expect Pettigrew to come up big.
Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars: MJD could run riot this week.
Roy Helu: RB, Redskins: There’s not much I like about anyone else on the Redskins offense. That leaves Helu to see plenty of flex plays.
Willis McGahee, RB, Broncos: Tebow actually opens up more room for his RB’s, not less. And the Chiefs run D doesn’t stop much.
Ben Tate, RB, Texans: Replace ‘Chiefs D’ with ‘Bucs D’. Same story.
Tim Tebow, QB, Broncos: His throws may not look nice, but his fantasy points sure as heck do. Attractive matchup on paper, and is starting to find his feet running the show for the Broncos. Impressive performance last week against Raiders, particularly on the ground for Florida, I mean Denver.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB: Reeling after a tough loss to the Ravens last week. Look for big ben to go deep to Wallace, and most recently, his favorite target Antonio Brown. All three are solid starts.
Dallas Cowboys, D/ST: See Fitzpatrick, Ryan.
Dan Carpenter, K: Should get plenty of opportunities against the Redskins, especially with Thomas and Bush both in the backfield.
Sit ‘em:
Rashad Mendanhall, RB, Steelers: Bengals average 8th least points against RB’s, and Mendenhall has struggled of late.
Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers: The Giants are pretty stingy against TE’s, and Davis hasn’t done much to excite in recent weeks.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Bills: Cowboys are solid against the pass, and Fitzpatrick didn’t inspire much confidence last week, albeit against a charged-up Jets D.
Nate Washington, WR, Titans: The Panthers have limited their last 3 opponents WR’s to low yards – not a single Viking, Redskin or Falcon receiver had more than 60 yards.
Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks: The Ravens run D seemed to find their mojo last week, and I don’t expect them to let up this week either.
Missed anyone? Let us know in the comments section. Follow us on twitter and facebook to keep informed
We are starting to get towards the business end of the fantasy season, as teams fight it out to secure playoff spots. As a result, the waiver wire becomes incredibly important, not just for you, but your rivals too... make sure you get in early and choose wisely to avoid your rivals cashing in. Remember, week 10 kicks off early this week (Thur), so be sure to update your line-up accordingly. So, here are The Fantasy Dudes waiver wire selections for this week:
Tim Tebow: You may be thinking we are a little late on Tebow, but in fact he appeared on our last weeks ago. The reason he appears here is because some owners may have dropped him following his sub-par performances. If he is available, pick him up, especially in deeper leagues. 67% ownership.
Colt McCoy: Touchdowns have been lacking, interceptions haven't. However, he faces the Rams this week. If you are in a bind, and given ownership levels of quarterbacks this season, he is worth a look. 22% ownership.
Roy Helu: Probably one of the hottest additions off the waiver wire this week. The magic (or misfortune for some fantasy owners) of Shanahan has worked again. Helu rushed for only 41 yards, but he hauled in an amazing 14 catches for over 100 yards receiving. He is the flavor of the week at the moment. 16% ownership.
Chris Ogbonnaya: A difficult first up start, but things should get better for Chris, especially as he faces the Rams this week (remember what DeMarco Murray did to them a few weeks back). Hillis and Hardesty remain banged up. 16% ownership.
Antonio Brown: He's on fire (regular readers will know what we are talking about)!!! Likely the last time he'll appear in this article. If anyone has watched the Steelers lately, you will know that he has been the man for them. 35 targets over the past 3 games alone put him up there with the best of them. 34% ownership.
Michael Crabtree: Niners have been rolling and Michael has been too... 19 catches over the past 3 games. Shaking off a poor early start to the season, and a nice target for Alex Smith. 67% ownership.
Jacoby Ford: The potential has always been there, the problem is, which receiver will do well on any given week for the Raiders. Right now, it looks like Ford, and Palmer has looked to him often. 5 catches and 105 yards in week 9 were very handy, and he will be needed through the air this week. 36% ownership.
Brent Celek: 7 catches for 60 yards on MNF. That makes it 18 catches, over 200 yards, and 2 touchdowns over his past 3 games. Vick is getting him more involved. 15% ownership.
Jake Ballard: Continues to impress on the back of one of the best passing teams in the league. 19 catches and 2 touchdowns over his past 5 games, and his targets are on the rise. 27% ownership.
Chargers D/ST: Raiders have struggled lately as Palmers adjusts to life back in the NFL, not to mention their injury problems. We like the Chargers to perform this week.
Nick Novak: Rivers coming off a huge passing game (intercepts aside) against the Packers, and should have no problems moving the ball. Ample opportunities are coming Nick's way!
That is it for this week. We're available on facebook and twitter anytime, so hit us up if you want advice.
With success last week, The Fantasy Dudes are back again with our starts for week 9, so let's get straight into it:
Eli Manning: He is either hit or miss for fantasy owners... this week, the writing is on the wall for a reasonable hit. The Giants face the Patriots, a team that have been dreadful at stopping the pass. Given the injury concerns in the backfield, we like him to air it out this week. Eli is coming off a 350 yard performance against the Dolphins last week.
Matt Cassel: Has slowly been finding his rhythm. Don't get us wrong, he's not an elite QB by any means, but this week against the Dolphins does pose a favourable matchup for him (see Eli above), especially given how QB's have faired against them thus far this season. A more than suitable bye week replacement for the likes of Cam Newton, we just hope he cuts down his turnovers. After this week, he'll likely be drop worthy.
Michael Turner: Up against the Colts... that really doesn't require much commentary besides that fact. However, here is one more – he has run for over 250 yards over his past 2 games, and scored 5 TD's over his past 4 games.
Shonn Greene: We have had mixed feeling about Shonn this season, and have put some of the disappointments down to bad matchups, and injuries to his o-line. He is coming off a bye, and his last game he ran for over 100 yards. Perhaps he has turned the corner.
Michael Bush (if Darren McFadden doesn't play): The Raiders face Denver this week. If history is anything to go by (both this season and last), they should have no problems running the ball this week. Run DMC is money if he starts, but given his injury cloud, if he were to miss the game, make sure you start Michael Bush.
Cedric Benson: Fresh of a 'bye' (suspension) week, Cedric should be good to go. Andy Dalton has done a great job lately at moving the ball, but the Titans have been pretty poor against the run this season (ranked 27th in league), hence they can expect a heavy dose of Benson.
Mario Manningham: An injury to Hakeem Nicks (although it appears he'll still play this week) may have opened up another door for Mario. Coming off a TD performance last week, he is working his way back after an injury caused him issues early in the season. Should do well against the Patriots through the air!
DeSean Jackson: Loves MNF. The Bears have not been the same fearsome unit we have come to expect of them in recent years, and have been susceptible to giving up some big plays... enter DeSean, who is well overdue (he only has 2 TD's on the season)!
Dwayne Bowe: We did call for the Chiefs wideouts to cause some damage against the Chargers last week, but we thought it was going to be Bowe (he still achieved 62 yards on 11 targets). Instead, it was rookie Jonathan Baldwin that stood out the most. Up on deck, the generous Dolphins! As per our advice above with Cassel, the green light should be given on Bowe to perform in week 9.
Dez Bryant: Seattle's secondary is beat up, and Tony Romo will be keen to make amends for last weeks disappointment to the Eagles. We fancy Dez to connect on a pass in the endzone.
Vernon Davis: He is coming off a disappointing effort against the Browns, but he remains a key focal point for the Niners.
Jake Ballard: See Eli above. We think he'll work it around, and Jake has been a key target for him lately, including 7 targets last week (despite a key dropped pass).
Rian Lindell: A tough matchup for the Bills against the Jets. Rian should be given a few FG opportunities.
Oakland Raiders: Have you seen the Broncos play recently? Talk about a sacked lunch! Tebow has been slow to get rid of the ball, and has missed his receivers. The Raiders therefore should have a strong game.
Think we missed someone? Disagree? We'd love to hear from you... hit us up in the comments section below!
