I have yet to talk to the Browns fan in my family after last week’s lost. Holy cow, they looked bad! Like really bad, and not just for fantasy football! I was wrong on two things:
- I underestimated Mac Jones
- I overestimated the Browns
The Patriots just dominated the game on all sides. 20 rushing attempts for 99 yards by the Browns compared to 34 rushing attempts for 184 yards and two touchdowns by the Pats. How about the passing game you ask? Baker Mayfield put up a disappointing 57.6% completion rate for 154 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Mac Jones played like the next G.O.A.T. QB for the Pats, putting up 84.6% completion for 283 yards and four touchdowns! My pick of the Browns has been my absolute worst pick so far. Let’s look at the picks from last week.
- Titans: 5pts – SUCCESS
- Browns: -6pts – BUST
- Honorable Mention Colts: 14pts – SUCCESS
- Eagles: 14pts – SUCCESS
- Week 9: 3 Successes – 1 Busts
- Overall: 27 Successes – 19 Busts
Each week is another story of wins and losses, successes and busts, highs and lows. It’s important to learn from our past, but to look towards the future while living in the here and now. A wise turtle once said “Today is a gift; that’s why it’s called the present” (Master Oogway, 2008). Time for what’s next!
Number 3: Cincinnati Bengals 15.0%
Any guesses at what was the highest score from a Bengals’ opponent through the first seven weeks? If you guessed 25, you would be right. How many teams scored more than 17 points on them in the first seven weeks? Only three: Vikings (24) in Week 1, Jaguars (21) in Week 4, and the Packers (25) in Week 5. Since Week 7 though, the Bengals have let their opponents score 34 and 35 points on them. I expect them to have worked on returning to the team that let an average of 2 touchdowns per week coming off their Bye Week.
Number 2: Miami Dolphins 57.3%
The Dolphins out-played the Ravens last week. 21 sacks, 7 fumble recoveries, 8 interceptions, and 2 defensive touchdowns shows that this team is better than their record says. Not to mention they play the Jets this week, who will be starting Joe Flacco. Going back to 2019, Flacco has a record of 2-10 and has thrown 13 TDs to 7 INTs. He has 2700 yards over 12 games for an average of 225 passing yards per game. That makes Flacco an easy target for a defense with a cornerback room of Byron Jones, Xavien Howard, and young up-and-comer Noah Igbinoghene. I expect and great performance by the Dolphins defense this week.
Honorable Mention: Cleveland Browns (69.2%)
Look, the Browns did not play well last week. Let’s not forget why I liked them in the first place. The Browns have an offense that can move the ball and a defense that can stop opposing offenses. We saw this two weeks ago when they held Joe Burrow to 16 points on the Bengals home field. Don’t forget, the Browns have 29 sacks and 5 interceptions through 10 games this year.
Number 1: Carolina Panthers 63.5%
A D/ST with six different games with fantasy football points in the double digits. They also now have one of the greatest CBs in the league in Stephon Gilmore. On top of that, a young defensive core with players like Jeremy Chinn and Derrick Brown. All of these players get to host the Washington Football Team in their first reunion of a starting QB Cam Newton. This is a game I will be paying attention to for the return of the “Defensive Game of the Week.” Of all four teams on this list, this is the team that has the biggest chance at a week winner in fantasy football.
Good luck and may the streams flow your way!
Hunter Greene
Hunter started writing for The League Winners in the summer of 2021. Hunter has been playing fantasy football for about a decade, starting in middle school. Now he’s a professional landscaper and avid Colts and Purdue fan.