Alright, week 7 picks are submitted for our entry, healthy box.
Went with Jacksonville! Bills are really beat up. We get some line value here at +5.5 as it is below that in the current market. Bills in theory and on paper have the stout defense.... However #29 in sacks this year. Hughes and Williams openly complaining that the 3-4 isn't working compared to last year's 4-3. Jags have been to London last 2 years, obviously for those who have been on roster, a little more sense of familiarity is a plus in my book compared to any bills who are making this trip for the first time. TJ Yeldon, I'd love if he suits up,he's a gametime decision. Never been one to back the jags, but I feel the the points, the injuries to BUF, the familiarity with London... If Bortles can play a mistake free game (I know that is a lot to ask!) I am very comfortable with the pick.
Miami - 4 (hoping it's not a lookahead to NE). Houston secondary banged up. Let's see if Miami can string together a second straight solid game. Grimes on Hopkins?? Fascinating matchup when they let Grimes stay on him. I read that they will probably mix it up.
Falcons - 4.5. They had opportunities in the Thursday night game and shot themselves in the foot. It was a great spot for the Saints and I am not surprised they won. Let's see how much of a downgrade not having Mariota is for Titans. How about losing center Schwenke for the season?? Significant in my opinion. I have thought of the Falcons as a bit inflated and overrated, I went against them vs WSH and passed vs New Orleans. I see them getting in gear here. But it almost looks too easy...
Vikings -2.5 - I know it's never this easy or everyone would be doing this and making money hand over fist, but I re-watched the entire week 2 game when they played each other. Minny clearly passed the eye test for me. Got better surge on offense and defensive line throughout game. Willingness to run the ball and set up play action. Good base D that got a pass rush from the big boys, they were hitting Stafford and shutting down the run, which Detroit ranks dead last in yards per game. (DT Shariff Floyd is out however) Minnesota looks more fundamentally sound. What is Detroit's game plan on offense? Chuck it to Megatron? Ebron is gonna play this week, he's a weapon. How about the home field advantage when the home team is 1-5? I absolutely believe Minnesota can win a war of attrition, AP had 29 carries for 132 in week 2. No DeAndre Levy for Detroit, he was #2 in the league in tackles last year
Giants -3.5. Same as above, watched week 1 tape. This was an interesting game. Giants benefitted from a fumble recovery for a TD, and a pick that got them to the 1 for an eventually TD. So essentially spotted 14 points from their D. They only allowed 80 rushing yards and didn't look over matched or overwhelmed against that Dallas o-line. We all know what happened at the end with Eli mis managing the clock. He does that right, then they probably go on to win the game.
This will probably be close, these games always are, so I'm playing with fire swallowing 3.5. But Beckham and Randle should be a bit healthier with those hamstrings. Eli can get rid of it quickly to Donnell, and dump to Vereen (who runs nice routes, tough to defend as a LB). That quick release negates the Greg Hardy factor in my opinion. Bottom line, I'm expecting Giants offense (aka Eli) to click in this one. I'll take my chances betting against Matt Cassell who has only been on the roster for 1 month since being traded from Buffalo.
Looked hard @ Oakland (San Diego serious injury issues), Arizona (seemed too good to be true), and New York Jets (gosh they have the recipe to knock off NE, but Pats are a different animal. They faced Seattle's tough man to man D in super bowl and slowly got in gear. 9 points is a lot, I'd only look jets but what if Gronk has a game we all know he's capable of??)
Best of luck everyone.