Predictions Summary Projections by Position Projection Team Boxes

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

Prediction: STL 23, WAS 20 (Line: STL by 2.5)

UPDATE: DeSean Jackson has not practiced and will be a game time decision because of his leg. I am lowering his projections and realize that he may not play and won’t be 100% even if he does.

The 5-7 Rams come off a monster win over the Raiders but are only 2-4 on the road. The 3-9 Redskins are on a four game losing streak while swapping out quarterbacks. This is a tough game to call since it is played in Washington

No matter how the season ends, the Rams will always have their 52-0 shutout of the Raiders to remember fondly. Tre Mason continues to be a better fit for the offense with every week and the Rams have been competitive since Shaun Hill became a starter. But this week is a good measurement since the Rams on the road have just been less formidable on both sides of the ball. The defense at home has been outstanding but on the road much less. A loss here says the same old Rams are nothing but a force at home and a farce on the road.

QUARTERBACK : Shaun Hill posted a score in all three starts but was only good for one score and low yardage in the Broncos and Chargers matchups. Facing the Raiders, he still had just 183 passing yards but ran in one score and threw for two on only 13 completions. So far the rushing game and defense have won games and Hill has been more of a manager.

RUNNING BACK : Tre Mason comes off his first monster game with 117 yards and two scores on just 14 runs and three catches for 47 yards and a third touchdown. On the road Mason has been limited to only around 65 rush yards or less and he has yet to score away from St. Louis. It is encouraging to see Mason involved more as a receiver since it will help his production

WIDE RECEIVER : Kenny Britt’s one big game against the Broncos was really just one long catch and he’s been held to only 50 total yards from the last two games combined. Stedman Bailey has been a factor for two straight games with 89 yards and a score in San Diego and then 100 yards on five catches versus the Raiders. Even Tavon Austin has shown up in the box score with a touchdown run in both of the two most recent games though his yardage remains too low to merit any fantasy consideration.

TIGHT END : No fantasy value. Huge blowout of the Raiders and Jared Cook had zero catches.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Redskins are weak against the pass and allow two touchdowns or more to every opposing quarterback. The Skins only had five interceptions on the season and this is where the Rams will need to succeed. Tre Mason faces a defense that is actually very good against the run and that has yet to allow more than 65 rushing yards to any visiting runner and just one touchdown to a rusher when at home. Mason should be back to his normal moderate stats. Relying on any Rams receiver is going to be risky but Stedman Bailey and perhaps Britt or Austin may figure in. Hill would be a moderate start, Mason is a play for some yards and Bailey is more a desperation swing for the fence.

The losses continue to mount and the change in quarterback really hasn’t done much more than take better advantage of trash time at the end of big losses. With three home games remaining on the schedule, the Skins have a chance at at least scoring better if not getting a win with the Giants, Eagles and maybe the Cowboys defenses giving up points recently. The win over the Cowboys remains the only time they were able to beat anyone with a winning record.

QUARTERBACK : Colt McCoy passed for 392 yards and three scores last week and all but around 100 yards came in the second half after the Skins trailed badly. Even the win over the Cowboys did not feature any passing touchdowns though he ran in a score. McCoy only threw one interception over those three games and none at home. This week should be his toughest defense so far.

RUNNING BACK : Alfred Morris only managed 67 yards on 17 carries at Indianapolis for his worst game in over a month. He’s been on a streak of good showings and scored four times over the last five games while being good for 100+ total yards in each. Roy Helu is being used more as a receiver in recent weeks and scored against the Bucs and Colts as a receiver but his weekly yardage remains too low to merit fantasy consideration.

WIDE RECEIVER : DeSean Jackson has been the lone wideout that mattered this year since the Skins opted to ignore Pierre Garcon despite his 113 catches last year. Jackson’s had a few bad games but leads the team with five touchdowns and five 100 yard games. Just last week he scored once on his five receptions for 84 yards. But Jackson also bruised his fibula and is not expected to practice this week to rest his leg in the hopes he can be a gametime decision. HC Jay Gruden says they should use Garcon more as if he was someone who just showed up and not a wideout who has averaged only 22 yards per game over the last five weeks with no touchdowns in that time. Andre Roberts has been even less likely to break 20 yards in a game. If Jackson cannot play, it really changes this offense as he’s been the only weapon of any note on the team.

TIGHT END : Jordan Reed exploded for nine catches and 123 yards in Indianapolis but his two previous games with McCoy ended with only 17 and 22 yards respectively. He also has not scored in 2014. Any absence of Jackson would likely help Reed’s numbers.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Rams have been great against the pass and no opposing quarterback threw for more than one touchdown in the last five games. On the road, the Rams have only allowed five passing scores over the six games played. They have been weaker against the run though only average 85 rush yards allowed per game. Morris has a nice chance at moderate to good yardage along with a touchdown here. McCoy will be hard pressed to score more than one touchdown since there will not be trash time and the Rams have only allowed two tight end scores all year. This should be another down game for Reed.

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