Garceau: NFL's Good, Bad & Ugly So Far
As the NFL schedule moves into week 7, we're starting to get a feel for where this 2015 season might be heading. The key word here is MIGHT be heading because over the next 11 weeks we'll likely have more drama then The Real Housewives. Here are some things I've noticed over the first 7.
Surprise! (Good): Jets 4-1, Panthers 5-0, Falcons 5-1.
Surprise! (Bad): Ravens 1-5, Lions 1-5, Seahawks 2-4 (all 3 playoff teams in 2014 season).
MVP Candidates: Tom Brady, Andy Dalton, Carson Palmer and Aaron Rodgers.
WR's averaging over 100 a game: DeAndre Hopkins (Hou) 121, Julio Jones (Atl) 106, Brandon Marshall (NYJ) 102.2, Steve Smith Sr. (Balt) 102, Keenan Allen (SD) 100.2
Fine Wine Department: Larry Fitzgerald in his 12th year leads the NFL with 12 catches over 20 yards. Steve Smith in his 15th year is third with 10 catches over 20 yards and is tied for third with 187 yards after catch.
Coach of the Year: Who thought the Jets would be 4-1 with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the controls? Rookie Todd Bowles gets my vote so far. Another rookie head coach Dan Quinn with the Falcons (5-1) and his NFC South division rival Ron Rivera of the Panthers (5-0) are also off to terrific starts. That's the same division that was won by the Panthers last year with a 7-8-1 record.
Not Coach of the Year: Chip Kelly; let's put the genius on hold not sure about his QB. Chuck Pagano; from Chuck Strong to Chuck Wrong with his Swinging Gate botched punt fiasco. Andy Reid; he's lost star RB Jamal Charles and 5 straight games.
Fantasy Value Winners: Blake Bortles, Philip Rivers, Devonta Freeman, Doug Martin, Chris Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins, Travis Benjamin, Allen Robinson, and Gary Barnidge.
Fantasy Flops (Most Due to Injury): Eddie Lacy, Jamal Charles, Marshawn Lynch, CJ Anderson, Jeremy Hill, Peyton Manning, Tony Romo, Andrew Luck, and Dez Bryant.
Teams That Should Improve: Seahawks, Steelers, and Cowboys
Teams That Could Slip: Jets, Bengals, and Falcons.
