Jacksonville Jaguars

Fantasy Football News: Leftwich Is Blowin’ Up

READ MORE: Byron Leftwich, Fantasy Football News, Jacksonville Jaguars

We have Jacksonville Jaguars’ quarterback Byron Leftwich in one of our fantasy leagues. (We’re only in two, so we’re not that nerdy.) And we haven’t paid much attention to him at all. He was our number two quarterback—behind the Buffalo Bills’ Kelly Holcomb. Well, according to ESPN Insider’s Tristan Cockroft, our ignorance may have well paid off for the remainder of the season as the Jags face so many weak secondaries:

“The Jaguars’ remaining opponents are a combined 21-43 (.328), by far the worst record in this study, and they combined for the second most points (24.3) and yards (336.9) allowed per game. It helps that five of their remaining games come against teams that rank among the five worst defenses in the league: Cleveland (Week 13), Houston (9 and 16), St. Louis (8) and San Francisco (15). Byron Leftwich should benefit, as he’ll face the three worst defenses in terms of passing touchdowns allowed, St. Louis, San Francisco and Tennessee (Weeks 11 and 17). Arizona’s (Week 12) a nice matchup, too.”

Cockroft isn’t the only one fellating Leftwich right now—St. Petersburg Times’ fantasy wookie Greg Auman loves him as does hitman-for-hire Ladd K. Biro.

Fantasy Football ‘05: San Francisco Treat [Pittsburgh Post Gazette]
Colts Red Hot For You? Deal Them Now[St. Petersburg Times]
Out of the Box: Easy Rides [ESPN Insider (sub. req.]

Chopping Lines: Jag the Dog

READ MORE: A.J. Benza, Chopping Lines, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL Pre-Season Betting

8 p.m.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1)

Dallas Cowboys (2-1)

Best Line: JAC +5, DALLAS -3.5.

The encouraging news is that the Jacksonville Jaguars have defeated the Indianapolis Colts in two of their last three meetings, including a 2004 victory at the RCA Dome. The real shitty news is that the Jaguars also dropped two games to the hapless Texans in that same span. So the question looms: Are these guys Jaguars or Jag-offs? I say they’re Jaguars, dammit. And the Dallas Cowboys are about to learn that the hard way.

Coach Jack Del Rio cited inconsistency as the young team’s biggest headache, and his team has good things to help eliminate that as we enter the regular season and they know they have to play hard every week - even when the opposition doesn’t have a horse-shoe on its helmets. The most important change has been seeing Byron Leftwich emerge as a star as the Jags have been emphasizing more vertical passing. After four games the Jags sit atop the AFC South standings and have allowed the fewest points with 54. There is simply no way the Dallas Cowboys’ feeble offense - led by the frightened feet of Drew Bledsoe - will be able to muster enough points to beat the Jags. As far as I’m concerned, all the Jags’ offensive line need do is keep the Cowboys’ lone star in DE DeMarcus Wade off Leftwich’s ass. If they can do that, Lord Byron oughta be able to pick apart the secondary for more than enough points. TAKE the 5 points and watch that mean bastard Bill Parcells blow a gasket.

BENZAPICK!: JAGS + 5
(YTD 7-3)

Chopping Lines: Expecting a Slow Night In Jacksonville

READ MORE: Atlanta Falcons, Benza Pick, Chopping Lines, Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL Betting

Atlanta Falcons (2-1-0)

AT

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-0-0)

Thursday, August 25th - 8PM

Best Line: Atlanta -3

If the Atlanta Falcons don’t host the NFC title game this season, coach Jim Mora Jr.’s hair might go from gray to gone. And my insiders tell me his assistants are currently scrambling to get him an appointment at The Bosley Hair Institute as we speak. What do they know that you don’t know?

For one thing, that Michael Vick sure is a dynamic quarterback to watch. There are very few things the kid needs, outside of more weapons, more experience, better accuracy and a little more finesse. For another thing, management sat on their asses during the offseason and watched as some experienced veteran free agents were nabbed by other (smarter, less chintzy) teams. And sadly, the Falcons did squat in terms of getting Vick more downfield targets. And that’s flat-out stupid when your highly-touted West Coast offense rang in a shitty 30th in passing yards. Guess management is keeping with that time-honored fact that the Falcons have NEVER had two winning seasons in a row.

On the flip side, call me Byron Leftwich’s bitch. The Jaguars rocket-armed QB now has 27 games under his belt and is poised to bust out. But the team’s paltry offensive output last season (last in the AFC) and coach Jack Del Rio’s desire to run the ball up teams’ asses, will make this game almost as boring as Monday’s Dallas/Seattle affair. Vick and Leftwich probably coming out before halftime will make this game about as thrilling as your wife’s Pocket Rocket without one of its batteries. The play (and BENZAPick!) here is the total and I like UNDER 39.