NFL Gamebreakers: Pick'em Week 1

[Superman=#54]

Everyone knows what the NFL is about, its about who makes the big plays on Sunday. A gamebreaker can have a career day while leading his team to victory.

Simple Rules:
1. I don't want any Priest Holmes or Marshall Faulk picks. Try to take some risks.

2. I will pick the top 5 gamebreakers from the ones posted in this thread based on stats and post them up in next week's thread and whoever picked that person.

3. More than one person can have the same player.

4. You must explain why you picked that person to be your gambreaker.

5. Only players that are on offense or special teams. You can even pick kickers if you want to.

6. Only one player each week.

Well its time to test how much you know (or don't) about football. To lead things off I will give my game breaker.

This is the format that I want it in.

Week 1
Game: Arizona @ Detroit
Player: QB - Joey Harrington
Why?: The Arizona secondary has no playmakers and they will not get much pressure on Harrington. With James Stewart hurt and Olandis Gary just getting into town, I think Coach Mariucci will be throwing early and often. The lack of pass rush and cover ability should allow Joey Harrinton to spread the ball around, and go deep a few times.

[The_herd]

Baltimore @ Pittsburg
Player: Amos Zereoue
Why? He always runs well against the Baltimore defense and he is playing his 1st game as a real starter for Pittsburg. Zereoue will be out to prove the Bus belongs on the bench.

[Noble_Platypus]

Indy @ Cleveland
Player: Edgerrin James
Why? He shows he is finally back from the knee injuries and that he is once again among the elite RBs in the game.

[Superman=#54]

The Zereoue pick is very risky. Some "experts are this years Ravens Defense better than the Superbowl defense. I agree Amos has a lot to prove and if he can do it against the Ravens then he should have a great year.

Edge looked very tentative last year. He didn't have that great vision or amazing cut back skill that he had when he was leading the NFL in rushing. The Cleveland defense is decent, but not the best in the league. It also looks like they got worse this year especially in the run stopping department.

[FBPro]

Atlanta @ Dallas

T.J. Duckett, with the Falcons needing to play a more all-around balanced game TJ is going to breakout against Dallas and pound the D-line for not only a decent amount of yardage but also get into the endzone a time or two.

[TLK]

Indy @ Cleveland

Kelly Holcomb- Call it a hunch, but the guy I'm playing next week has Holcomb as his starting QB (due to injury with Pennington). Also, I'm not sold on Indy's D.

[YoSoySean]

Well, you said to make a risk, so I went for the WR instead of the QB in this one...

San Diego @ Kansas City

Marc Boerigter - San Diego has a very young and unproven secondary which, I believe, Kansas City's high powered offense will test often. Neither defense is any good so this game is projected to be a high scoring affair. Boerigter is only the #3 WR but Trent Green seems to like him because he's a big target. He also led the team with 8 TD catches last season. Boerigter's two best games last season were against the Chargers (4 catches for 85 yards and 2 TDs in week 6 and 5 catches for 144 yards and 2 TDs in week 16).

[tucker rocky]

Jax @ Carolina
Player:J.J. Stokes
Why? With Carolina having no threat in their secondary, Stokes could have a big day receiving. Fred Taylor's running should open the passing game for Jax.

[tucker rocky]

Originally posted by The_herd
Baltimore @ Pittsburg
Player: Amos Zereoue
Why? He always runs well against the Baltimore defense and he is playing his 1st game as a real starter for Pittsburg. Zereoue will be out to prove the Bus belongs on the bench. The Bus needs to be shipped to a scrapyard, he just seams useless to anybody. One reason: injuries, can't seam to stay healthy. This coming from a Jag fan (Dolphins, when not playing Jags), so what do I care. Just my opinion though.

[Noble_Platypus]

Originally posted by Superman=#54
[
Edge looked very tentative last year. He didn't have that great vision or amazing cut back skill that he had when he was leading the NFL in rushing. The Cleveland defense is decent, but not the best in the league. It also looks like they got worse this year especially in the run stopping department. [/B]

Thats why this is a risk pick. That IS the premise of this thread isnt it? The fact that he couldnt do any of the things you mentioned the last 2 years are why I picked him, because I believe he will be back to his old self.

[Superman=#54]

Well yes taking risks is the premise of this thread. I really like the pick. I also think he will get back to form this year and should have another amazing year.

I like the WR picks. Trying to guess when a WR will have a big day is really hard. Except for the big three, consistency at WR is very hard to find.

Stokes has a lot to prove after being exiled form San Franscisco and Marc Boerigter is a rising star. Keep the picks coming guys.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Week 1
Game: Atlanta @ Dallas

Player: QB - Quincy Carter

Why?: The Atlanta secondary struggled late in the pre-season & the loss of S Cory Hall leaves them thinner still. And I have no confidence that the Falcon offense will move the ball consistently, leaving the defense even more exposed with regularity. That leaves the man I usually refer to as "Quitsy" to have a big day, 280 yds passing, 2 TD's in his best (and perhaps only good) game of the season.

[Abe Sargent]

How come no picking of the defense?

-Anxiety

[General Mike]

Jacksonville @ Carolina
Player: Steven Davis

I don't trust Rodney Peete, so you know Davis is gonna get a ton of carries. If the Carolina OLine gets a good push up front, I could see 200 yards on the ground as a good possibility.

[Franklinnoble]

New York @ Washington
Player: Patrick Ramsey

More wishful thinking than anything... I'm praying that after a year under Spurrier's tutelage and having the benefit of a full pre-season of drills (he held out last year), Ramsey will unleash an air assault behind a reinforced Redskins offensive line with the help of a new and improved corps of wide receivers.

[Superman=#54]

If you really want to pick a defense go ahead. I just thought that not many people would be interested in defenses.

[Abe Sargent]

Then I chose CB Champ Bailey.

A lot of people will be looking at the Jets-Redskins game for a variety of reasons. But most especially because of the players that justed ship from the Jets to the Skins like Coles and Morton.

The first game of the season is notoriously bad for offenses that have yet to get on the same page. Vinny is no Chad. He sprays balls around like a garden hose with a thumb over it. Plus, they have lost Coles as a target man. And Vinny hasn't had first team work all pre-season long. And some think Martin has diminished skills running these days.

All of that leads me to conclude that Champ Bailey and Fred Smoot are going to have good days.

-Anxiety

[YoSoySean]

Originally posted by Anxiety
Then I chose CB Champ Bailey.

I think you were influenced by the ad with Britney Spears wearing a Champ jersey :P

[CAsterling]

Originally posted by TheLionKing
Indy @ Cleveland

Kelly Holcomb- Call it a hunch, but the guy I'm playing next week has Holcomb as his starting QB (due to injury with Pennington). Also, I'm not sold on Indy's D.

I agree with this one - it would be my choice.

With Kelly Holcomb Cleveland will be throwing the ball over the defenders rather than underneath as Couch was doing, he should put up some great numbers, especially against the Indy defence. Maybe not a 429 yard game, but definitely should be an impressive performance.

[DeToxRox]

Atlanta @ Detroit

My choice: Oddly enough, this is more of a hype pick, but Charles Rogers. The Cardinals are bad, very, very bad, and I think this is the best team for Rogers to get his first taste of NFL experience against.

[Superman=#54]

If you do go to the defensive side of the ball do what Anxiety did which is give me one specific player.

So far this is what I got.

QB Joey Harrington - Arizona @ Detroit - Superman=#54
QB Kelley Holcomb - Indianapolis at Cleveland - TheLionKing, CAsterling
QB Patrick Ramsey - NY Jets at Washington - Franklinnoble
QB Quincy Carter - Atlanta at Dallas - JonInMiddleGA
RB Amos Zereoue - Baltimore at Pittsburgh - The_herd
RB Edge James - Indianapolis at Cleveland - Noble_Platypus
RB T.J. Duckett - Atlanta at Dallas - FBPro
RB Stephen Davis - Jacksonville at Carolina - General Mike
WR Marc Boerigter - San Diego at Kansas City - YoSoySean
WR J.J. Stokes - Jacksonville at Carolina - tucker rocky
WR Charles Rogers - Arizona at Detroit - DeToxRoxDVHStyle
CB Champ Bailey - NY Jets at Washington - Anxiety

Still have pleny of time before Week 1 begins. If I missed anyone please tell me before Week 1 begins.

[TroyF]

Carolina:

Julius Peppers. Why? Peppers has something to prove after the suspension last year. The Jags have a poor offensive line which will not be able to establish any kind of running game against it. Brunell isn't nearly as mobile as he was and is lacking his go to WR. He'll hold the ball and take a boatload of sacks. I'll say the Carolina D has 5 sacks as a team with Peppers getting 2.5 to 3 and forcing a fumble.

TroyF

[Aesyrqwe]

Arizona @ Detroit

WR Charles Rogers

Why? Harrington needs a target and there isnt a better one on the team than Rogers. Arizona's weakness in the secondary will also free things up for Rogers and allow Harrington to hit him for big gains.

-Aes-

[tucker rocky]

Originally posted by TroyF
Carolina:

Julius Peppers. Why? Peppers has something to prove after the suspension last year. The Jags have a poor offensive line which will not be able to establish any kind of running game against it. Brunell isn't nearly as mobile as he was and is lacking his go to WR. He'll hold the ball and take a boatload of sacks. I'll say the Carolina D has 5 sacks as a team with Peppers getting 2.5 to 3 and forcing a fumble.

TroyF Who knows the Carolina D better thanDel Rio. I say Jax picks away at the weakness, have you looked at the Carolina secondary lately? Most of these players I've never heard of:
24 Manning, Jr., Ricky CB 5-8 185 R UCLA
23 Howard, Reggie CB 6-0 190 4 Memphis
21 Cousin, Terry CB 5-9 185 7 South Carolina
31 Hampton, William CB 5-10 190 2 Murray State
29 Wesley, Dante CB 6-0 211 2 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
40 Cooper, Jarrod S 6-0 215 3 Kansas State
28 Branch, Colin S 5-11 205 R Stanford
30 Minter, Mike S 5-10 195 7 Nebraska

[Superman=#54]

Had some strong performances last night.

Patrick Ramsey - 17/23 185yds. 1 TD 1 INT 1 FUMB 2 rushes 27yds.
Champ Bailey - 4 tackles Jets only passed for 105yds.

Champ may have had only 4 tackles, but he played shut down corner all night and the Jets never really attempted to throw at him. Ramsey had a great first half 11/12 around a 150yds., but the Jets defense adjusted in the second half. Ramsey did have the big play when it counted a nice 24 yard run to get the Skins in range for the game winning field goal.

Still time to get your gamebreakers in for Sunday and Monday games.

[Superman=#54]

List update and final bump for the weekend.

QB Joey Harrington - Arizona @ Detroit - Superman=#54
QB Kelley Holcomb - Indianapolis at Cleveland - TheLionKing, CAsterling
QB Patrick Ramsey - NY Jets at Washington - Franklinnoble
QB Quincy Carter - Atlanta at Dallas - JonInMiddleGA
RB Amos Zereoue - Baltimore at Pittsburgh - The_herd
RB Edge James - Indianapolis at Cleveland - Noble_Platypus
RB T.J. Duckett - Atlanta at Dallas - FBPro
RB Stephen Davis - Jacksonville at Carolina - General Mike
WR Marc Boerigter - San Diego at Kansas City - YoSoySean
WR J.J. Stokes - Jacksonville at Carolina - tucker rocky
WR Charles Rogers - Arizona at Detroit - DeToxRoxDVHStyle, Aesyrqwe
CB Champ Bailey - NY Jets at Washington - Anxiety
DE Julius Peppers - Jacksonville @ Carolina - TroyF

Still have plenty of time to get your gamebreakers in before Sunday morning.

[Superman=#54]

Any Monday Night Football gamebreakers?

[henry296]

Since I didn't make one for the rest of the games so I'll do one for tonight.

Tampa Bay @ Philadelphia

Joe Juervicious.

Big game in the NFC title game and his mind is clear from the personnel problems last season.

Todd