Fantasy owners like to pick on the Colts run defense, and for good reason -- the unit allows 144.0 yards per game. But Indianapolis' pass defense is just as vulnerable. No secondary has permitted more touchdowns (15), and the Colts have allowed opposing passers to post a QB Rating of 111.2 (also worst in the league).
Sounds like an opportunity for Atlanta's offense to work out a few kinks.
Matt Ryan has yet to reach the 10-touchdown mark, and he ranks 26th in the league in yards per attempt (6.68). But thanks to the team's bye week, Ryan should finally have his receiving corps intact, with rookie deep threat Julio Jones expected back from a nagging hamstring injury.
This could also be a breakout game for Roddy White, who has logged just one 100-yard game and three touchdowns in seven contests this season. But against the Colts, White may be singing "Me and Julio down by the end zone" all day long.
The Bills give up 4.9 yards per carry (sixth most among NFL defenses) and have allowed eight rushing scores. And excluding last week's win over the Redskins, the Bills have been run over by opposing backs this past month. Cedric Benson had 104 yards at the start of October, and in Week 6 the Giants' Ahmad Bradshaw matched that total and found the end zone three times.
Who hasn't burned Arizona's secondary this year? Sidney Rice, Hakeem Nicks and Anquan Boldin all had season-best performances against the Cardinals, and Carolina's Steve Smith (178 yards) was three yards shy of his season best. Arizona ranks 30th in passing yards allowed per game and 26th in opponent passer rating.
New Orleans has failed to stop the run for much of the year, and ranks 24th in the league in yards allowed per game (124.1). A scarier stat is the number of yards the Saints allow per carry -- a league-worst 5.5. Last week St. Louis' Steven Jackson averaged 6.4 yards per carry and scored twice.
Chris Johnson blew his opportunity for redemption last week when he failed to find yards against Indianapolis. This week's opponent is far less tolerable. Cincinnati ranks second in both fewest yards allowed per game (85.4) and per carry (3.3). And the Bengals are the only team to have held Buffalo's Fred Jackson to fewer than 100 yards from scrimmage.
On paper, the Packers' 31st-ranked pass defense looks like an easy target. But yards do not tell the entire story. Green Bay ranks among the top 10 in opponent passer rating (79.3) and is tied for second in interceptions (13).
The Seahawks have controlled the line of scrimmage, allowing a league-low 3.2 yards per carry to opposing ball carriers. And it's not as if Seattle has beaten up on a series of stiffs: Frank Gore (22 carries, 59 yards), Rashard Mendenhall (19 for 66), Michael Turner (26 for 70) and Ahmad Bradshaw (17 for 58).