Lou's Week 5 Pro Picks

I have gained my swagger back after going 12 of 14 last week, moving up to a respectable 86% overall for the season and beating my new nemesis Mike Maciejewski in ALL 4 head to head match-ups. Who said it couldn’t be done!?

Cleveland over Buffalo
Easily the most exciting match-up this Sunday will feature two teams not really good at anything, proved by the sum of one win between them. The Browns, still needing their first win, have their best chance to get one against Buffalo. Despite popular opinion, the Browns do have weapons. QB Derek Anderson had a great game against Cinci last week and is hungry to solidify his role as the Brown’s starting quarterback this week. With Jamal Lewis likely to sit out Sunday, Jerome Harrison will start again this weekend. Harrison has looked good so far and had a great game against the Bills last year. Not to mention talented return-man Joshua Cribbs and the recent acquisition of rising start, Chansi Stuckey. The trade of overly hyped Braylon Edwards has only helped C- Town. If the Browns are able to contain Buffalo’s lead rusher and receiver Fred Jackson, they will finally get the win this week.

Denver over New England
Denver has beaten all of its opponents so far by a stiff defense and a relentless running game; this match-up against the Patriots won't be any different. Bronco’s QB Kyle Orton has yet to throw an interception. Starting running back Correll Buckhalter is out, but back-up running back Knowshon Moreno will play and has had a stellar rookie season up to this point. Even if the Pats had a run game (which they don’t since Fred Taylor is out from ankle surgery), Denver would dominate it as they are ranked 5th against the run and 2nd overall, giving up an average of just 240 total yards per game. Denver takes this one at home and continues on undefeated.

Atlanta over San Francisco
Atlanta RB Michael Turner has almost as many total rushing yards as San Fran’s Frank Gore, except Mike’s played one less game. This really doesn’t say much for either of them because both have yet to live up to their pre-draft Top 10 fantasy projections. With Frank Gore out with an ankle injury, Glen Coffee will get the start this week. Coffee may be eager to prove himself against a tough rushing defense, but he won’t get a chance against an Atlanta team ranked 25th against the rush. In the end, the Falcons should be refreshed coming off a BYE week and be able to handle a 49er’s team ranked 28th in yards per game. This could get ugly, but Atlanta should come out on top.

The Rest
Baltimore over Cincinnati
Pittsburgh over Detroit
Dallas over Kansas City
Minnesota over St. Louis
NYG over Oakland
Philadelphia over Tampa Bay
Indianapolis over Tennessee
Jacksonville over Seattle
Houston over Arizona
NYJ over Miami
Washington over Carolina