Jordan Love produced top-five fantasy numbers in Week 1 and that
was without his No. 1 receiver Christian Watson. Watson (hamstring)
could be back for this one which would be a good thing because
there is a chance running back Aaron Jones (hamstring) doesn’t
play. Atlanta (ranked 19th in QB points allowed last season) throttled
rookie Bryce Young over the weekend, but Love was apparently paying
attention to Aaron Rodgers the past two seasons and looked very
good in a dominating win over Chicago.
If Matthew Stafford can light up the Seahawks’ secondary for
334 passing yards without Cooper Kupp, we should expect Jared
Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown and Co. to do the same this weekend.
Goff was mistake-free against the defending Super Bowl champions
Thursday night and will have extra rest and film study coming
into Week 2. Meanwhile, a Seahawks defense likely without No.1
draft pick Devon Witherspoon and safety Jamal Adams is vulnerable.
Yes, Hurts was ugly in Week 1 along with quite a few highly-paid
quarterbacks, but there were a number of factors which should
not be present this Thursday. Hurts had not played a single down
in preseason and it showed. He was against a Bill Belichick ever-changing
defense which is pretty good and who outcoached the Eagles rookie
OC Brian Johnson. And the game was on the road in poor weather.
None of those factors will be present in Lincoln Financial Field
this week. The Eagles got up early and played far too conservatively
and that won’t happen in front of the rabid hometown fans.
Hurts returns to 2022 form.
Kenny Pickett had a tough day against the strong San Francisco
49ers defense as expected last Sunday, but it doesn’t get
a lot better this weekend. The Browns were the No. 1 defense in
QB fantasy points allowed in 2022 and started off 2023 by holding
the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL to 82 passing yards. Additionally,
Pickett will be without No.1 wideout Diontae Johnson. Stay away.
Kirk Cousins on national television on a Thursday night? We know
his record in big games isn’t good. They came into Philadelphia
for the second game last season and lost 24-7 with Cousins tossing
three interceptions and Justin Jefferson held down by Darius “Big
Play” Slay to six catches for 48 unproductive yards. Save Cousins
for next week in a shootout with Justin Herbert.
The Jets can rush the passer as well as anyone in the league
and defend the pass too with “Sauce” Gardner, DJ Reed
and Jordan Whitehead (3 INTs). They made Josh Allen look bad in
Week 1. Now is not the time for the Cowboys to start throwing
the ball all over the yard. They will keep the game plan conservative
and run behind Tony Pollard. Dak will breakout next weekend in
Arizona.
