Fantasy Football

2011 NFL Monday Night Football Preview, Week 4: Buccaneers vs. Colts

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Josh Freeman (Credits Below)

A tale of two teams/organizations heading in opposite directions.  The Bucs are a team on the rise; young, talented and hungry.  That being said, the Bucs have been a bit disappointing as far as fantasy is concerned.  The Colts, even if they can hold on and not completely implode this year, are a team slowly swirling down the toilet bowl.  Once Manning went down for an extended period of time, nobody expect a bright fantasy season from the Colts aging stable of stars.  

Through three games Josh Freeman only has two passing TD's, Mike Williams did not even have a catch last week and Earnest Graham is leading the team in receptions.  The question, is this the game they turn things around?  The Colts' defense is built to play from ahead and rush the passer.  The Colts have been surprisingly good against the pass this year as they are giving up the 6th fewest fantasy points, that list includes Big Ben and Matt Schaub, so they have done that against solid competition.  If you are hoping for a Josh Freeman breakout game, this might not be it.  Sadly, as Freeman goes, so goes Williams and Kellen Winslow.  That being said, the Colts are middle of the road against wide receivers and tight ends and it just feels like Tampa is due for a breakout game and to start playing like an elite team.

The Colts will be looking to right the ship, it will be difficult as Peyton Manning will not be walking through the door anytime soon.  Further complicating matters is the man who IS walking through that door…Curtis Painter.  That name does not inspire confidence.  But, it makes sense for the Colts to finally turn to Painter; Kerry Collins, was a borderline corpse.  Plus, the Colts need to see if they have anything in Painter.  If they do, great, if he turns out to be a zero and they win zero games, the colts could end up with Andrew Luck or at least the value that draft pick would provide.  I was worried about all the Colts heading into the season and they have not disappointed.  True, heading into the year, big things were not expected, but many still thought Reggie Wayne was a front end receiver and Dallas Clark was the second best tight end in the league, needless to say, that has not been the case.

It is hard to imagine that Painter leads the Colts to a victory under the bright Monday lights against a young team that is going to be jacked up to be playing a Monday night game at home.  Plus, it is time for Tampa to announce themselves as an elite team, no better place to do it than on Monday night.  

Written by Chris Summers exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com

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Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football Advice, 2011 Fantasy Football, Monday Night Football Preview, Week 4, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, Josh Freeman, Mike Williams, Peyton Manning, 

(September 24, 2011 – Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images North America)


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