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Zach Greubel

Gridiron Experts

Featured Pros: Bounce-back Candidates
Thu, Jun 14
Featured Pros: Bounce-back Candidates
Name one WR you expect to bounce back strong from a disappointing 2017 campaign.
There was no shortage of disappointing wide receivers in 2017, but Mike Evans is my answer here. The former Aggie proved to be quite the quandary a year ago, finishing 20 spots behind his 2016 standing of WR2. Look for him to improve in every statistical category - primarily touchdowns - as he gets back on track with Jameis Winston and re-enters the realm of the top-10 fantasy receivers.

Name one RB you expect to bounce back strong from a disappointing 2017 campaign.
I could take the easy way out with Joe Mixon, but Marlon Mack is primed for a bounce-back sophomore season as well. He was given too few opportunities in his rookie campaign behind a plodding Frank Gore, but now possesses the starting job in Indy's backfield. Mack owns big-play potential but will be hard pressed for touches by rookies Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins. Even so, if he stays healthy and runs more efficiently he's in line for a low-end RB2 to high-end RB3 campaign.

Name one QB you expect to bounce back strong from a disappointing 2017 campaign.
Marcus Mariota was one of two starting quarterbacks who played in at least 15 games to throw more interceptions (15) than touchdowns (13). It was otherwise one of the most successful seasons in the history of the Tennessee Titans and Mariota still managed a QB17 outcome. New head coach Mike Vrabel and company figure to breathe new life into what was a relatively unimaginative offense. The fourth-year quarterback's dual-threat ability designates him as a low-end QB1 to high-end QB2 threat.

Against the Spread: Super Bowl Picks
Thu, Feb 1
Against the Spread: Super Bowl Picks
Game: Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots (-4.5)
Pick: Philadelphia Eagles (+4.5)
I personally can't stand that the Patriots "came back" in last year's Super Bowl when they were down 28-3. This choice is as much emotional and preferential as it is strategic and analytic. That being said, I do believe the Eagles defense is good enough to keep Philadelphia in range of New England throughout the contest. If Philly wins, it seems like the MVP would have to be someone like Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry or Derek Barnett.

Game: Will the combined score be over or under 48 points?
Pick: Under

Game: What will the total combined points be at the end of the game?
Pick: 45

Against the Spread: Conference Round Picks
Thu, Jan 18
Against the Spread: Conference Round Picks
Game: Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots (-9)
Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars (+9)
The key to beating the Patriots is to keep Tom Brady and company off the field. One of the best ways to eat up time and stay on the field is with a workhorse running back. If Fournette runs with purpose and power, if Blake Bortles can play error-free and if the Jacksonville defense can play at the elite level they're capable of then the AFC can very well have a new champion.

Game: Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles (+3)
Pick: Minnesota Vikings (-3)

Which game pick are you most confident with?
Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles (+3)

Against the Spread: Divisional Round Picks
Thu, Jan 11
Against the Spread: Divisional Round Picks
Game: Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles (+3)
Pick: Atlanta Falcons (-3)

Game: Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots (-13.5)
Pick: New England Patriots (-13.5)

Game: Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers (-7)
Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers (-7)
It's tough to take the spread with the Steelers considering how poorly they played in Week 5 against this same Jaguars squad. There are several factors in Pittsburgh's favor, though, including home-field advantage, Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell and Blake Bortles. Jacksonville's offense will have a much tougher time scoring against Pittsburgh's defense than vice versa.

Game: New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings (-4.5)
Pick: New Orleans Saints (+4.5)
It was a long time ago, but the Saints lost their first game of the 2017 regular season to the Vikings in Minnesota on September 11. Of course, Sam Bradford and Dalvin Cook were on fire that game and both will be on the sideline this game. Even with Case Keenum's consistent play, I think the New Orleans defense does enough in this one to keep the Saints within striking distance and to cover the spread.

Which game pick are you most confident with?
Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots (-13.5)

Against the Spread: Wild Card Picks
Thu, Jan 4
Against the Spread: Wild Card Picks
Game: Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs (-8)
Pick: Kansas City Chiefs (-8)
First off, Kansas City has one of the best home-field advantages in the NFL and the home crowd will be extra rowdy in a playoff atmosphere. As was the case throughout the 2017 season, the Titans will have to lean heavily on their defense to stop a top-five total offense in the Chiefs. It was an offense that committed a staggeringly low 11 turnovers all year. On top of the home-field advantage and play-making offense, Kansas City boasts one of the best-kept secrets in the league in kicker Harrison Butker, not to mention the postseason experience. The Chiefs are heavy favorites for a reason -- several reasons.

Game: Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Rams (-5)
Pick: Los Angeles Rams (-5)
The Rams were the feel-good story of the year. First-year head coach Sean McVay breathed new life into the Rams, specifically into the offense. If Trumaine Johnson and the defense can keep Julio Jones from taking the game over then the Rams should be able to win this one easily and continue their fairy tale Cinderella story.

Game: Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars (-8.5)
Pick: Buffalo Bills (+8.5)
We've heard the old adage plenty in the realm of sports: defense wins championships. There was no better defense in all the land this year than the Jaguars. If Jacksonville's defense can play the way it did throughout the regular season and if Blake Bortles can continue to minimize his mistakes then the Jaguars should be victorious. That being said, the Bills match up well enough with the Jaguars and their defense will make enough plays to keep Jacksonville from covering the spread.

Game: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints (-6)
Pick: New Orleans Saints (-6)
This may be the most entertaining matchup of wild-card weekend. The Saints and Panthers obviously know each other well since they play each other twice each year. This game will simply come down to execution and will. I'll give the advantage to Drew Brees and a much improved Saints defense. They bested the Panthers in both matchups this season by scores of 34-13 and 31-21. A balanced passing and rushing attack, a solid defense, veteran leadership and playoff experience make the Saints a legitimate Super Bowl threat.

Which game pick are you most confident with?
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints (-6)

Fantasy Playoffs: Bold Predictions
Thu, Dec 7
Fantasy Playoffs: Bold Predictions
Please give one bold prediction (player related) for the fantasy playoffs
My bold prediction for the fantasy playoffs is that Blake Bortles will be a QB1. He has a tough matchup on his plate this week against the Seattle Seahawks, but they haven't been as solid defensively this year with Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas both sidelined for much of the season. In Weeks 15 and 16 Bortles draws extremely tasty matchups in the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers, respectively. Both squads have been putrid defending the pass this year. It won't feel right starting Bortles in the playoffs, but the recipe for success is there.

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