Welcome to Super Bowl week folks! I’m doing a full week of “No Huddle” to get you ready for the big game on Sunday. Shooting the Moon will have you covered from every angle with matchups, x-factors, and even prop bets. As always there is a ton of glitz and glamour in the lead-up to the game, but here I’ll be focusing on the actual game itself.

We’ll start today by ranking the players who will be offensive x-factors in Super Bowl LI. Obviously we all think that Matt Ryan, Tom Brady, Julio Jones, and Julian Edelman will factor greatly into the outcome on Super Sunday so this will be a list of guys you should keep an eye on because they will likely be the unsung heroes of the big game.

(1) Dion Lewis, RB, New England

Of all the running backs for the Patriots, I believe that Dion Lewis could have the greatest impact on Sunday. Atlanta’s defense is young and flies around the field. The Falcons have linebackers that can cover the field sideline-to-sideline, but I don’t think there is anyone that can cover Lewis in open space. He is a dynamic threat in this offense, and in the return game, which puts him at the top of the list of potential x-factors. Lewis’ three-touchdown performance against Houston is evidence of the just what he can do when he maximizes his impact on the game.

(2) Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta

Many people who play fantasy football know his name, but after Sunday, everyone should recognize the name Devonta Freeman. He has quickly become one of the top dual-threat backs in the NFL in two seasons as the starter in Atlanta. Freeman is the only player in the last two seasons to gain 1,500+ yards from scrimmage and score 10+ touchdowns. His ability to make defenders miss is only bested by Dion Lewis, but Freeman is no slouch in the open field. Even when his rushing numbers are down, Matt Ryan can still get him going in the passing game (54 catches for 462 yards and two touchdowns during the regular season; eight catches for 122 yards and one touchdown this postseason). If New England decides to take Julio Jones away defensively, look for a heavy dose of Freeman and the next guy on this list.

(3) Tevin Coleman, RB, Atlanta

With Freeman, Tevin Coleman is part of arguably the best duo of running backs in the NFL. Freeman is the thunder to Coleman’s lightning. While Coleman doesn’t get a ton of opportunities in this offense, mostly due to the effectiveness of Freeman, he is a threat to score any time he touches the football. Ideally, he should do his best work catching the ball out of the backfield or lined up at wide receiver. Coleman could potentially be a matchup nightmare for New England since there isn’t a linebacker on that roster who can match his speed, and putting a defensive back on him could open up one of the three receivers downfield. Keep an eye on where Coleman lines up and how New England defends him, that alone could have a profound impact on this game.

(4) Chris Hogan, WR, New England

This isn’t an overreaction to his big game in the AFC Championship game. Chris Hogan is the definition of an x-factor for this New England offense. Hogan is the third option in this passing game at best, but he always seems to find a way to get open deep down the field. I doubt he will put up the type of numbers he had in that game against Pittsburgh, mostly due to the fact that Atlanta will actually try to cover him (seriously, Hogan didn’t have a defender within five yards of him against Pittsburgh). Tom Brady is always looking for that soft spot in a defense, and when defenses treat Hogan like the forgotten man, TB12 makes you pay.

(5) Mohamed Sanu, WR, Atlanta

Before everyone starts calling me a homer for putting a Rutgers guy on this list, let me explain why he should be here. Sanu is going to have a big role to play in this game since New England does a great job at taking away an offense’s best weapons. That mean Julio Jones will see a lot of defenders, and there will be a plan to slow down Atlanta’s running back duo. That means Sanu will be tasked with making some big plays for the Falcons on Sunday. He has scored touchdowns in both playoff games, and his ability to play physical in the redzone will be a huge advantage for him. I also love the matchup against fellow Scarlet Knight, Logan Ryan.

 

That’s it for me today. I’ll be back tomorrow with another installment of the “No Huddle” Super Bowl preview, where I’ll look at the top individual matchups to watch. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.