NFL

Week 8 Roundtable: the numberFire Experts' NFL Predictions

Brees vs. Manning, A Week of Upsets, and more: find out what the people behind numberFire predict for week 7 in the NFL.

Each week, the great minds behind numberFire will give you some answers to the big questions of the weekend. Can Sean continue his hot streak? And will anyone have the guts to pick the Saints' defense? It's time to find out.

Game of the Week Pick: New Orleans at Denver. Can Brees pull out the W?

Keith Goldner, Chief Analyst: Denver in a ridiculously high-scoring affair.

Nik Bonaddio, CEO: I think so. Denver is a very good team and it's hard to pick against Peyton at home, but the Saints have been playing good ball and I think they'll take it in a shootout.

Michael Worthington, CTO: Brees can barely beat Tampa Bay without pushing receivers out of bounds. Denver off the bye week will get the W at home.

Sean Weinstock, COO: Denver. Peyton looking like Peyton.

Zach Warren, Editor: Nope, I'm giving it to Denver. Peyton Manning's going to have a field day against that Saints D.

GotW Records: Sean: 4-2, Keith and Nik: 4-3, Zach: 3-4, Michael: 1-4

Which game this week is your upset special?

Keith: Tons of 1 point spreads this week, and under my contract, I'm not allowed to pick the Falcons over the Eagles. I'm taking Miami over the Jets this week in an AFC East suckoff.

Nik: Browns at home against the Chargers. West Coast team traveling east for a 1 pm game. Love it.

Michael: Atlanta is somehow underdogs against Philly? Ha! I'll take 'em.

Sean: So many that I like this week. Seattle over Detroit, Oakland over KC, Atlanta over Philly, Indianapolis over Tennessee, and Miami over the Jets. If I had to take one, I'm rolling with Luck and Indianapolis.

Zach: How 'bout them Cowboys?!? Not too often that I get to pick my favorite team for something, and I'm taking advantage in a bounce back game.

Upset Special Records: Sean: 3-3, Keith and Zach: 3-4, Michael: 2-3, Nik: 2-5

Who is more likely to win again: the Raiders (@KC) or the Titans (vs. IND)?

Keith: Titans are more likely to win at home. It's tough (or at least it used to be tough) to play in Arrowhead.

Nik: Titans. The Chiefs stink but the Raiders are worse. CJ1K is finally playing decently so it makes the Titans a solid pick.

Michael: Titans are heating up. If Chris Johnson can go all Shonn Greene on Indy (did I really say that?), then they'll have a solid shot at three in a row.

Sean: Raiders. Black and Silver!!! ARRRGGGHHH... Sorry.

Zach: I just don't think the Chiefs are that good at all, and Andrew Luck scares me. I'm going with the Fighting Carson Palmers, and McFadden for a huge day.

Who are you picking for a survivor pool this week?

Keith: Green Bay (not sure if I picked them already).

Nik: Green Bay is by far the most obvious. No way they lose.

Michael: I missed two weeks of the Roundtable, which in turn has afforded me the option to pick Green Bay this week. But I'm not going the easy route, that would be too .. easy. Nay, I'm taking the GMen over the Cowgirls. Division game. In Dallas. Boom!

Sean: Chicago. Carolina has been nothing short of awful, and that defense is a monster. Thank you fantasy draft.

Zach: It has to be Green Bay. No other matchup this week is as big of a disparity between the two teams, especially with MJD out.

Survivor Records: Zach: 5-2, Keith and Nik: 4-3, Michael: 3-2, Sean: 3-3. It's nice when we pick five different teams in Week 7 and all five win.

Who will be the best currently under-the-radar fantasy player this week?

Keith: Going with Jay Cutler against Carolina, y'heard?

Nik: Greg Little. I've been harping the Browns up and down in this space but I really do think they've got the atoms of something good going on there.

Michael: Does such a player exist at Week 8? T.Y. Hilton might be worth a look this week going up against Tennesse. A solid game here might help him advance up the depth chart for the remainder of the season.

Sean: Hannah Montana. (Editor's Note: Don't worry, I'm confused too.) But really, the Miami Dolphins defense. Sanchez is not good. The end.

Zach: I wouldn't be surprised in the least if Coby Fleener is among the top five tight ends this week against that Titans D.

Last week's top under-the-radar pick: Chris Johnson did indeed go off against the Bills, so Keith gets the props. It's the last time we'll consider CJ1K "under the radar" this year, though.