Predictions Summary Projections by Position Projection Team Boxes

table td.bg-light-yellow {
background: #ffffcc; }

Prediction: TB 14, PIT 31 (Line: PIT by 7.5)

Update: Doug Martin is probable to play after full practices each day and I am changing the projections to more favor Martin. He is safe to start. Rainey should see a significant decrease in work. Austin Sefarian-Jenkins is also schedule to play after missing two weeks and he will cut into Brandon Myers stats.

The 0-3 Buccaneers have evolved from losing close games at home to just being blown out in a laugher in road games. The 2-1 Steelers come off their impressive win over the Panthers and are back at home where they are 1-0 so far. The Steelers could have a let down this week but that still would not be enough for the Jags to win.

The Buccaneers only missed being in the NFL record books because of the mercy of the Falcons who led 56-0 last week. The offense has moments of credibility but the defense away from home took a huge step backwards. With a trip to New Orleans after this week, the hurting is not nearly over.

Making matters even worse is that OC Jeff Tedford now is on an indefinite leave of absence for his heart condition and the Jags won’t have a true offensive coordinator any time soon.

QUARTERBACK : Josh McCown suffered a severe sprain to his throwing thumb and is expected to miss at least several weeks. That installs Mike Glennon back into the starting role. Glennon never passed for more than 256 yards in a road game last year and the new scheme being installed has taken the entire offense backwards a step. The positive with Glennon – at least last season – was that he threw for two touchdowns in eight of his last 12 starts though the yardage was rarely much. He takes the reins right when the Bucs start a three game road stretch.

RUNNING BACK : Bobby Rainey has been very effective in the last two games with Doug Martin out. After rolling up 174 total yards versus the Rams he still managed 105 total yards in Atlanta. But he’s already lost three fumbles this year and Martin is expected to return as the starter after missing two weeks with a sprained knee. This will be a split backfield again and faces a good defense on the road.

WIDE RECEIVER : Mike Evans is slowly learning the new offense but he’s topped out so far with only 52 yards in any game and hasn’t scored. Vincent Jackson has been no better with only ten catches for 102 yards over the first three weeks but at least he scored one touchdown. Jackson was reported to have a small fracture in his wrist but will play through it as he did last week. He recorded his first touchdown of the year but was held to only two receptions for 15 yards in Atlanta. The move to Glennon won’t hurt these wideouts who have all lost fantasy value.

TIGHT END : Austin Seferian-Jenkins remains out with an ankle injury and in his place Brandon Myers produces around the same 30 yards per game each week. No fantasy value here.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Buccaneers have not scored more than 17 points in any game so all they can hope for is the Steelers to be down after their big win last week. Three of the five passing scores allowed were to tight ends but Myers is too inconsistent to rely on. Rainey would be worth a start against a defense that allowed over 160 rush yards to both the Browns and Ravens but Martin’s return will make that much less reliable and certainly less productive. Jackson is playing with a fractured bone in his wrist and has been a nonfactor so far this year. There are no attractive starts in this bunch but if you are pressed because of bye weeks, Myers, Rainey and Martin at least have minor upside.

The Steelers looked better busting up the Panthers than they have in years. Not only did everything work, but the rushing effort exploded for 265 yards against a team that had not allowed more than 62 yards. This next month has the Steelers going against the Buccaneers, Jaguars, Browns and Texans. Get your Steelers now before they are more expensive.

QUARTERBACK : Despite the recent success of the team, Ben Roethlisberger remains the same mediocre fantasy quarterback that he has always been. He’ll throw for more yardage in most home games but still averages a neat one score per game. The rushing game is doing so well that it limits Big Ben. He’s never more than a bye week filler anyway.

RUNNING BACK : Last week the rushing effort was punishing with Le’Veon Bell running for 147 yards and LeGarrette Blount turning in 118 yards and a score on just ten runs. Bell is breaking 100 total yards each week but Blount remains just a relief player. His involvement last week was because the Steelers had such a big lead. That could happen again this week but figure in the only other home game. Bell ran 21 times for 109 yards and a score while Blount was only given four runs to gain six yards.

WIDE RECEIVER : The nice part of the Steelers offense is that there is only one wideout of any note and he’s really good. Antonio Brown has yet to fall below 90 yards in any game and scored three times this season. Brown gets at least double the targets of any other wideout. Lance Moore is back but hasn’t caught a pass while Markus Wheaton ends up with around five catches per week for a handful of yardage and no scores. Brown is elite but so far alone in fantasy value.

TIGHT END : Still no fantasy value with Heath Miller though he logged a season high 54 yards on four catches in Carolina.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: This should be a good chance for Roethlisberger to throw for two scores not unlike what Derek Anderson and Matt Ryan recently did. The Buccaneers rushing defense has been their strength with no runner gaining more than 72 yards on them but they already allowed three rushing scores and the Steelers like to pound the ball when they can. Brown and Bell are strong starts this week and Roethlisberger is a mediocre start if you are covering a bye week.

table td.bg-light-yellow {
background: #ffffcc; }