Sun Tzu's Previews: Week 3

Sun Tzu went 3-4 with his predictions in week 2 and is determined to prove his foresight in a bounce-back for week 3.  The match ups are pretty divided with teams knocking off each other at top and bottom of the rankingz.  Several teams will emerge from this week's battles as season's favorites, while some will struggle to keep from sinking in the mud.  Injuries are also starting to mount, making waiver-wire and free agents to be more crucial, especially with the thinning of the talent pool due to the Pre-Socratic expansion.  Winning is: swift as the wind, silent as a forest, fierce as fire, and immovable as mountain, reminds Sun Tzu. 

*UPDATED (9/18) to reflect the trade between the Colts and the Browns involving Trent Richardson

(1) Dijonnaise All-Stars (2-0) vs (4) HomeSpunNeckBloodz (2-0)

*Headliner of the week*

Who knew Colonel Mustard was such a motivator.  I always thought Professor Plum with his psychiatric mastery to be the manipulative leader, says Sun Tzu.  Regardless, this expansion team keeps producing fantasy points.  The rankingz hopped on the bandwagon this week and ranked them at the top based on their offensive production.  Now the question is, who can keep up the b34sting longer, the colonel's troops or Eddie Royal?  A-Rodg throwing to the trio of Fitz, Marshall and Cruz can put up points in bunches week in and week out.  Gio Bernard showcased his upside in week 2.  What's scary is that the Mustards still have upside at the RB2 and IDP positions.  This week, a former champion in HSNB look to stand in the way.  The spinnerz and the Bears keep winning and there's no reason to make changes in what's working, but they do need a bit of tweaking with SJax (that's Steven Jackson right?  Am I the only one losing track of all the Jax's? asks Sun Tzu) out for week 3.  There's a counter-titration going on between Cutler and Marshall, which limits the upside in Chicago.  If Mendenhall can maintain his week 2 production and Cutler doesn't throw the ball to the wrong team or wrong direction, the spinnerz have a chance for, yes, an upset.

-DAS by 2.5

(T2) ThePelicanBrief (1-1) vs (6) Polk High Panthers (2-0)

The Grishamites experienced first-hand that the chemistry between Brady and Welker is no longer the same in their week 2 loss (probably ever since Gisele cursed Welker out during Super Bowl).  The Brief were still one Seattle-defense-shut-down away from a win over the now top-ranked Mustards.  CJ?K is back on track for at least a 1000-yard season, and Ingram is getting the goal line touches.  An expected Kap to Vernon bounce back, now that SF and Seattle are not cannibalising, should make this high-scoring page-turners to keep it up.  The Panthers can expect either Megatron or AJ (or both) to have monster games on any given week; unfortunately for them, the same can't be said about Mario Williams or their backs that are in RBBC situations. 

-PB by 7.5

(T2) GrossmanSachs (1-1) vs (7) TakingTigerMountain (2-0)

The Bankerz didn't fall much in the rankingz despite losing to the then thirteenth-ranked PhatGirlz.  What's disturbing here is that no one other than TE Witten underperformed significantly yet as a team they failed to keep it up.  The 2013 season so far has seen limited upsides to RB-heavy lineups.  The seemingly bullish WR draft market is proving to be right in its prediction and has rewarded teams that invested heavily on top-tier receivers.  The bankerz didn't follow this trend and is struggling to stay afloat.  They did keep some aerial production on the bench, but the guessing game may not be enough to compensate for the lack of upside.  The gradual and steady emergence of Ben Tate in Houston can eventually spell trouble for Arian and the bankerz.  For Daniel's squad, starz aligned correctly and seem to continue to do so as long as TE Graham stays Brees' favorite target even or especially on his off-days.  RB committee Mathews, Spiller and Bradshaw look formidable on paper, but they are all vulnerable to vulturing, fumbling and, knock on wood, injuries.  TTM also lack elite receivers that can put up big numbers, reflected on their 104.6 point average.

-GS by 4.5
*UPDATE (9/18): the shock wave of Trent Richardson trade on Wednesday was also felt through Pre-Socratic landscape, no more so than in the Mountain.   Bradshaw is now relegated to being a piece of RBBC once again.  Overall, this is a slight blow, as Bradshaw started the season in the same position while Vick Ballard was healthy (for just one week). 

(5) BldgDW3LL1NGTh1nk1ng (1-1) vs (9) PhatGirlz (1-1)

All-around good games by their receivers and defenders lifted BDT into victory in week 2, but it's hard to predict the same sort of production in week 3.  The ground game is once again suspect in Chico, as Ray Rice is injured at the hip (day-to-day) and DeAngelo is losing third-down and goal-line touches to Mike Tolbert.  Everybody expects Romo (and Phillip Rivers) to do something stupid sooner than later.  Monique won the SweepStarks contest on a perfectly laid $12 bid.  Starks will battle Hand-Cuff Tate and Mr. Unreliable Wilson for a slice of the flex pie.  Miller and Sproles are as good a RB tandem as any.  If WR Garcon can maintain the elite production, and there's no reason to suspect otherwise, the Girlz will contend each and every week.

-PG by 3
*UPDATE (9/18): Willie the Wildcat and the Chico Bandits acted swiftly as the wind in picking up RBs Chris Ogbonnaya and Willis McGahee, the presumed beneficiaries of Trent's ouster in Cleveland.  Not sure if this was the time to actually stay immoveable as mountain, as neither of these backs seem capable of overcoming a fundamental deficiency in that they are running for the Browns.

(8) Trichotillomaniacs (1-1) vs (11) AEthernauts (0-2)

This is Kap vs Cam double titration matchup, unless the General decides to go with Vick and his Thursday game against Andy Reid's Chiefs.  After a total destruction in week 2 by the hands of Seattle Seahawks, it's not completely far-fetched.  Greg Olsen figures to return to the Far East lineup as a counter-titration move.  The Trichs have consistently left points on the bench, and the General is once again pulling hairs trying to decide what to do with Vick, Julius Thomas and Eddie Royal.  Fantasy football is so much easier being done in the rearview mirror, says Sun Tzu.  At least the running backs are non-issue this week with MJD injured/facing the hawks.  Gore and Ridley are bubbling to explode.  The space travelers are in similar position in terms of waiting for the burst after their disappointing start to the season.  In fact these two teams are so similar in style of play with heavy emphasis on the ground game even from their QBs.  As mentioned above, this scheme hasn't been the most productive in 2013.  This was also supposed to be Cam's year, yet Coach Rivera and Shula Jr. hasn't been able to unleash him.  With Rivera's seat getting hotter by the week, we expect the Panthers to save the coach's job by utilizing Cam's talent to full.  Still, this is the Trichs' game to lose.

-Trix by 4.5

(10) Tusken Raiders (1-1) vs (13) Pr1m0rdi4lLyfestylez (0-2)

The Sand People boast one of the most explosive receivers with Julio Jones and DJax (this I assume is Deshawn from Cal, says Sun Tzu).  Malcolm Floyd's neck injury looked very serious, but DeAndre Hopkins of Texans can step right in with Andre Johnson also limping.  As long as Charles stay healthy, they can repeat the week 2 production each week.  We'll find out early, as their offensive stars play on Thursday in Tatooine.  B-Dawgz chose to ignore the TE issue in week 2, and Coby Fleener emerged in Indy as a legit Luck target.  This may be the time to address the tight ends.  The Dawgz have other pieces in place if they can keep their prudence. 

-TR by 5

*UPDATE (9/18):  If anything, Trent Richardson's move to Indy will benefit him, as the power-back will have more opportunities with the ball around the goal-line.  If his PSAS fantasy owner notices this is a different matter.

(12) the Goslings (0-2) vs (14) SanFranciscoFerries (0-2)

The good news is, one of these teams will get a win.  The question is, who?  Sun Tzu likes the Goslings and their upside with Shady McCoy and Jordy Nelson (where were you last year, asks Sun Tzu).  Andrew Luck has yet to break-out as a fantasy star but he has to eventually, and Jared Cook is hopeful for a bounce back in week 3.  The twinkles' ground game suffered a major blow with both Bush and Lacy injured in week 2.  At least they have fillers in Knowshown "I've-Always-Been-Here" Moreno and Robert Turbin.  With Gronk still one week away from a comeback, the Ferries can't afford to have Brent Celek keep looking in from outside of the Chip Kelley Ting. 

-Goslings by 7.5

Sun Tzu is the most influential military strategist of the east and a former head coach of the Trichotillomaniacs.  He's currently an analyst for ESPN Far East and a regular contributor to PSAS.