The over/under in this game is 52, the biggest of Week 9 in the National Football League. The New Orleans Saints are allowing nearly 31 points and 475 yards to opposing offenses, while the Philadelphia Eagles are yielding 340 total yards and 22 points.
Philadelphia boasts five solid fantasy performers, while the likes of Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham and Marques Colston have been starter caliber players this season.
Yes, this is going to be one of those games that are usually reserved for drunken Madden battles between frat boys. Let's take a gander at what tonight's Monday Night Football Game has to offer around the world of fantasy football.
Drew Brees, Quarterback, New Orleans Saints
Don't look now, but Brees is just the sixth ranked fantasy quarterback in the NFL heading into tonight's game. That isn't where we are used to seeing the future Hall of Fame quarterback. Brees had his worst game of the 2012 seasaon last week against the Denver Broncos. He threw for just over 200 yards and was intercepted once. In total, the Saints' quarterback compiled less than 15 fantasy points.
Expect him to bounce back big time tonight against Philadelphia. Brees is playing at home where he is averaging 23 fantasy points and have racked up 10 touchdowns in three games.
Michael Vick, Quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles
I normally don't advocate starting Vick, but the New Orleans Saints' defense is an exception to that rule. As I have indicated numerous times in the past, any quarterback is a must start against one of the worst defenses in the modern history of the NFL. The Saints have given up over 400 total yards in all seven games and over 500 yards three different times. Opposing quarterbacks have a 5-to-1 TD/INT ratio and possess a 110.3 quarterback rating against this unit in 2012.
Despite being the 20th ranked fantasy quarterback in the league, Vick has been decent in this category in his last two games. He is averaging nearly 20 fantasy points during that span. There is some thought that Andy Reid will go to Nick Foles if Vick struggles early tonight. I just don't see that happening against the worst overall defense in the league.
Pierre Thomas, Running Back, New Orleans Saints
With Darren Sproles out, it appears that Thomas will get more touches tonight against a Philadelphia Eagles rush defense that is giving up over 110 yards per game this season. His best fantasy performance of the season came against the Carolina Panthers in Week 2 when Thomas put up 143 total yards and 14 fantasy points. However, he has failed to make much of an impact in the last three games, going for just 151 total yards.
LeSean McCoy, Running Back, Philadelphia Eagles
Surprisingly, McCoy is just the 19th ranked fantasy running back thus far this season. That pales in comparison to preseason projections that had him among the top three in the position. While some of that has to do with a lack of carries, just 18 per game this season, McCoy just isn't getting it done on the ground. He has tallied just 120 rushing yards in the last three games combined.
That being said, "Shady" is going up against a disastrous Saints' rush defense that has yielded over 200 rushing yards three different times this season and ranks dead last, giving up 170 per game. Expect McCoy to get back on track today.
Jimmy Graham, Tight End, New Orleans Saints
Graham has struggled with both injuries and productivity in 2012 after a breakout 2011 campaign. He has yet to record a 100-yard receiving game and ranks ninth among tight ends in fantasy points this season. Heck, Graham is averaging less than 10 fantasy points per outing.
The talented young tight end is still a must start this week. He does have four touchdowns in six games, which is a solid ratio. The bad news is that Philadelphia has given up a total of just 11 receptions to the likes of Tony Gonzalez, Brandon Pettigrew, Heath Miller and Martellus Bennett over the course of the last four weeks. Not a good sign for Graham and company.
Brent Celek, Tight End, Philadelphia Eagles
Celek just hasn't been a viable fantasy tight end this season. He is averaging less than five points over the course of the last five games. This is surprising considering how much Vick liked to utilize the tight end in the past. I am expecting better than average production from Celek, but wouldn't rely on him to be a TE1 performer tonight.
Marques Colston, Wide Receiver, New Orleans Saints
Colston is being targeted about 10 times per game this season and has come down with the ball nearly 60 percent of the time the ball is thrown in his direction. He will most likely be going up against a struggling Nnamdi Asomugha tonight when the Saints host Philadelphia. I would take Colston nine times out of 10 considering the way the former Pro Bowl cornerback is playing this season.
All said, Colston is the sixth ranked fantasy receiver at this point in the season and should receive a tremendous amount of targets. Look for him to break the 100-yard plateau and score a touchdown.
Lance Moore, Wide Receiver, New Orleans Saints
Moore has been the Saints most consistent wide receiver this season. The major issues with his production is the fact that he has scored just two touchdowns in seven games. As we all know, getting six on the board is huge for a receivers fantasy production. I don't see this changing anytime soon either. Brees loves to go to Graham and the running backs out of the backfield in the red zone. Don't expect much production from Moore in terms of this tonight. What he will give you is a solid number in PPR leads and some good yardage numbers.
DeSean Jackson, Wide Receiver, Philadelphia Eagles
I warned against buying too high on Jackson during draft season and he has answered that by putting up FLEX numbers instead of the WR2 production that many had him pegged for entering the season. Jackson ranks 41st in fantasy points among wide receivers and has failed to score a touchdown in seven games. That really isn't going to get it done.
That being said, New Orleans is known for giving up a ton of fantasy points to wide receivers, over 30 on average this season. You can definitely expect Jackson to have one of his most productive games of the season. I am looking for at least one long play and a possible touchdown tonight.
Jeremy Maclin, Wide Receiver, Philadelphia Eagles
Yet another unproductive Eagles' wide receiver. Maclin has struggled with injuries and has failed to make a fantasy impact thus far in 2012. He is averaging under nine fantasy points per outing and has failed to put up double-digit point totals four times this season. Maclin is coming off a six reception (good for PPR) 33 yard (bad for standard) performance against the Atlanta Falcons. He did, however, accumulate 10 targets, which is a great sign heading into tonight. I expect Maclin to have a big game against a weak New Orleans' secondary.