NFL Fantasy Football News 2009-2010

[HacheMan]

Cadillac driving once again?

About two weeks ago, Bucs coach Raheem Morris sent ripples through the fantasy world by announcing a 2-2-1 plan for his running backs. We detailed it here, but it's basically a value-draining system for his backfield. (The Giants did something like this last season, but at least Tom Coughlin didn't punch us in the stomach by coming out and saying it.)

Yesterday, Morris was at it again as he listed Cadillac "Frankenstein knees" Williams first on his depth chart at running back. Yes, that's the same Carnell Williams that came back from a vicious knee injury for six games last year only to rip up his other knee in Week 17. Oh, and in between Morris managed to find time to can his offensive coordinator, Jeff Jagodzinski.

First of all, if you drafted Derrick Ward, you have my condolences. But it's not all bad. I'm not yet convinced that Williams is truly the No. 1. As of Monday night, Morris hasn't commented on the decision to list Williams first. But I'm guessing it has a lot to do with how much Caddy is respected in the locker room. Wouldn't you want to go run through a wall after seeing what Cadillac did to get back on the field twice? It should, at the very least, give the team an emotional boost on Sunday, something Morris knows.

Second of all, Ward left the Giants to get paid ($17 million over four years). But he also left at least partly because he wanted a chance to be "the man." It's ironic now that he's listed as a backup once again. I doubt he's happy about it, but whining publicly would only make him the most heartless man in the NFL, and that's no easy feat. I think Morris is going to make sure Ward stays happy privately also.

And finally, I'm fairly certain Ward is still the team's best back. Williams played in one preseason game, carrying the ball eight times for 54 yards but not looking quite as explosive as he did as a rookie. Even in those six games last year, before the Week 17 injury, he averaged just 3.7 yards per carry. And to say Caddy is injury prone is like saying Pacman Jones likes strip clubs. We know. So come back from the ledge if you drafted Ward and wait this thing out.

For what it's worth (and it's not worth very much), here are the three's preseason stats:

Carnell Williams: 8 carries for 54 yards
Derrick Ward: 13 carries for 52 yards
Earnest Graham: 9 carries for 40 yards

Bottom line: Add Williams in all leagues where he's available because you don't find starting backs on waivers often. Bench Williams, Ward and Earnest Graham for this week against Dallas. Wait and see if Morris sticks to his 2-2-1 plan. My gut says that like any coach, he'll give the most carries to whoever is playing the best. At the end of the day, I think that man will be Ward, which would give him decent RB3 status somewhere down the line.

Editor's Note: For early rankings, complete projections, and a host of other exclusive material for Week 1, head to Rotoworld's Season Pass.</B>

NEWS OF THE DAY #2
The Lions finally ended their quarterback derby, announcing that rookie Matthew Stafford will start in Week 1. From a pure football standpoint, I always think that if you're going to be terrible anyway, why not let your rookie quarterback get in there and go down with the ship.

But from a fantasy standpoint, I'll never own a rookie quarterback. Yeah, I know about Matt Ryan's season a year ago and Ben Roethlisberger in 2004. But just about every other rookie QB over the last 10 years has been a complete non-factor in fantasy.

Perhaps more importantly, it seems Calvin Johnson is better off with Stafford than Daunte Culpepper. Stafford and Megatron have good chemistry already and the rookie can get the ball deep down the field in a hurry.

RELATED TRIVIA QUESTION: Before Matt Ryan did it a year ago, name the last rookie quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards? (answer below)

NEWS OF THE DAY #3
Jamal Lewis wasn't released this weekend. This may seem obvious, but there were rumors the Browns would cut their losses on the former 2,000 yard back. Even though he's still on the team, we think it will be the James Davis show before too long. Read Evan Silva's full breakdown on the situation here.

NEWS OF THE DAY #4
Pierre Thomas (knee) isn't looking like he'll be able to go on Sunday. That's a tough break for his owners considering the matchup against the Lions at home was going to be one of the best all year. Mike Bell is shaping up to be a very, very nice start for Week 1.

RELATED TRIVIA ANSWER: Peyton Manning, 1998. Manning threw for 3,739 yards that year, but was picked off 28 times.

STREAMING SPOT STARTS
Changing your defense and kicker every week based on matchups is an effective strategy.
Each week in this space, I'll be giving three defenses and kickers to consider that are probably on your waiver wire:

Defense
1. Saints – It's not going to get much easier than a home game against the Lions. If Matthew Stafford doesn't throw two interceptions, it's a bad beat for the Saints.

2. Bengals – Few teams have worse vibes heading into the season than the Broncos, who travel to Cincinnati Sunday. Kyle Orton has enough problems without having to play with stitches in his right (throwing) index finger.

3. Texans – Dunta Robinson says he's ready to play, which is good. But taking advantage of Mark Sanchez's first start is the angle here.

Kicker
1. John Carney – Even at age 45, he's getting a look while Garrett Hartley is suspended. At the very least he'll get five extra points against the Lions.
2. Josh Brown – In the two games against the Seahawks last season, Brown didn't miss on his way to 15 total points. He also obviously knows how to kick in Seattle, having played there for five seasons.
3. Neil Rackers – His inconsistency from week to week always makes for a risky play, but you might as well use him while Kurt Warner is healthy.

QUICK SLANTS
It's just my gut, but I think Greg Camarillo is going to emerge as the Dolphins' most valuable fantasy wideout. ... Greg Jennings (concussion) is all set for Sunday night and will be facing a banged up Bears secondary. … The Panthers keep saying Jonathan Stewart is fine, but I'm not buying it. Something feels wrong about practicing eight times in an entire offseason program. … Brandon Marshall's suspension was lifted and he practiced with the team Sunday. Check back later in the week to see if he should be in your lineup against the Bengals. ... Nate Washington is recovering faster than expected, but he's unlikely to go on Thursday. … Matt Cassel is reportedly 50/50 to face the Ravens on Sunday. He's probably better off sitting it out considering the state of his offensive line. … Willie Parker's value has gotten a nice boost in the last few days. First, Mike Tomlin said he doesn't plan on rotating his backs too much. Then, Bruce Arians basically said Parker will get goal-line carries

 

[HacheMan]

More Bell-Cow!

Labor Day 2008's last-minute gems brought us an instant waiver wire star in Kurt Warner and several breakout performers such as Eddie Royal, Pierre Thomas, and Steve Slaton. This year's "Waiver Wired" debut features a possible Week 1 bell-cow in New Orleans, a pair of wildcard stashes under center, several candidates to step in as immediate assets at receiver, and a handful of underrated tight ends.

***

This is the first Waiver Wired of the season, so let's review the rules:

Every Tuesday, I'll go over the best available pickups at every fantasy position except kicker. Every league setup is different, so I'll try to include players who may be available in shallow leagues, and lesser-known players that are worth trying in deep leagues. I give a recommendation for each player, such as "Should be owned in 12-team leagues." This doesn't mean you should own him, just that he's good enough to improve one of the rosters in your league. If I write, "Must be owned," or "Should be owned in all leagues," I'm recommending doing what you can to find a spot.

Most of my leagues have moved to sites which allow owners to place interesting free agents on a "watch list" for future consideration. As such, each week I will throw in a few names that should be placed on watch lists for easy access when a quick decision is needed.

On to the players.

***

[SIZE=+1]QUARTERBACKS[/SIZE]

Shaun Hill, 49ers – Hill has an attractive Week 1 matchup against Arizona in what promises to be a high-scoring contest. Also on the docket in the first half of the season are the Seahawks, Rams, Texans and Colts. For all the talk of Hill competing against a tougher schedule this year, that's hardly a murderer's row. After finishing in the Top-10 in points per game last season, Hill deserves to be rostered in more than 47 percent of all leagues.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Matthew Stafford, Lions – Mark Sanchez had better preseason numbers and enjoys the protection a fine offensive line, so why Stafford instead? The Lions defense, while greatly improved, is still among the worst in the NFL, which means Stafford is going to be padding his stats in comeback attempts on a regular basis. His biggest edge, however, comes in the form of the most explosive receiver in the game, Calvin Johnson. Stafford's arm isn't just first-round caliber -- it's in the rare air with Jay Cutler and the younger version of Brett Favre. With an uncoverable Johnson streaking down the sidelines, look for a lot of drives like the opening set against the Bills last week. Stafford will make plenty of rookie mistakes, but he'll also move the offense aggressively down the field and into scoring territory.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Matt Leinart, Cardinals – We covered this one in a late-round fliers article last week. Why draft a mediocre QB2 who will never get off your bench when you could be stashing a potential asset? If the 38-year-old Kurt Warner -- still recovering from hip surgery -- misses time, Leinart immediately becomes a weekly difference-maker.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Chad Pennington, Dolphins – The Dolphins have a much tougher schedule this season, but Week 2 at home against a banged up Colts secondary and Week 3 at San Diego offer promise. Pennington finished last year as a high-end QB2, but he remains unowned in 45 percent of all fantasy leagues. You could do worse for a bye-week fill-in.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Kerry Collins, Titans – It will be interesting to see how the Titans, a team that yearns to take the air out of the ball, cope with the loss of Albert Haynesworth. They won't be able control tempo without the most disruptive defensive lineman in the game, so look for Mike Heimerdinger to open the offense more than expected. Collins has a tough Week 1 matchup against the Steelers, but his schedule loosens up starting the following week against the Texans.

Recommendation: Should be owned in deep leagues

Watch List - Byron Leftwich, Mark Sanchez, Brady Quinn, Chris Simms

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[SIZE=+1]RUNNING BACKS[/SIZE]

Mike Bell, Saints – Starter Pierre Thomas (MCL sprain) is still walking with a noticeable limp, and his chances of playing in the opener are looking bleaker by the day. P.T. owners don't have to look far for a potential lead back. Thomas' backup could be carrying a heavy workload in a juicy matchup against the Lions in Week 1, yet Bell is owned in less than 10 percent of all leagues. Reggie Bush, struggling through swelling in his knee and a preseason calf injury, will play at less than 100 percent, which means leaves plenty of touches and short-yardage opportunities for Bell. The Saints' No. 3 back makes for a fine RB2/flex play against Detroit barring a miraculous late-week recovery by Thomas.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

James Davis, Browns – Sure, the Browns kept Jamal Lewis on the final roster, but it's not like they found a magic elixir to take him back to 2003. This offense is going to struggle early and often, with Lewis coming under fire as he flirts with 3.0 YPC. Last year's "We want Brady" chants will morph into this year's "We want Davis" pleas as fans wonder why a rookie back boasting 7.8 YPC in preseason action is being wasted behind an aging plodder. Expect Davis to eat into Lewis' production in September before taking the reins in October.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Glen Coffee, 49ers – Frank Gore owners should move him to the top of the list. After Coffee's preseason coming-out party, he's officially a must handcuff for a back who gets banged up as much as Gore does. Even non-Gore owners would do well to snag Coffee as an end of the roster stash. How many backups have the potential for RB1 production if the starter goes down? If it helps, think of Coffee as a West coast version of Chester Taylor.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Cadillac Williams, Buccaneers – For all that he's been through the past few seasons, every one of us should be pulling for Caddy. That's why it stings a bit to be the one throwing cold water on his late preseason hype. While he's worth a roster spot in many leagues, Cadillac's ceiling is capped by the "2-2-1" running back rotation and his own injury history. The Bucs didn't sign Derrick Ward to waste away on the bench, and they're certainly not going to ride Caddy until his wheels fall off once again. Pick him up, sure, but reel in expectations.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Michael Bush, Raiders – Listed by the Oakland coaches as one of seven playmakers on the roster, Bush is a lottery ticket that can be cashed in for megabucks if Darren McFadden goes down. The 27/177/2 line from his Week 17 start against the Bucs is a useful reminder of his monster upside.

Recommendation: Should be owned in deeper leagues

Watch List - Shonn Greene, Edgerrin James, Ladell Betts, Bernard Scott, Rashad Jennings

[SIZE=+1]WIDE RECEIVERS[/SIZE]

Josh Morgan, 49ers – Owned in just 49 percent of all CBSSports.com leagues, Morgan fits squarely between bigger-named veterans Laveranues Coles and Derrick Mason in our projections. The second-year playmaker is the odds-on favorite to lead the 49ers in receiving as an exciting, high-ceiling WR4. A starting receiver with Morgan's explosiveness, speed and physicality should top the priority list for any league where he remains available.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Justin Gage, Titans – Among players being drafted as late-round fliers, Gage may have the best chance of producing WR3 numbers from Week 1 on. Still owned in just half of all leagues, the Titans No. 1 receiver averaged six receptions for 105 yards in three games to close out last season. During offseason and exhibition action, he has continued to emerge as Kerry Collins' favorite target. We have Gage ranked among the Top-40 receivers going into the season.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Earl Bennett, Bears – Somebody has to catch passes at wide receiver in this offense, and the cupboard is practically bare behind Bennett and deep threat Devin Hester. Jay Cutler's former Vanderbilt teammate has been the recipient of high praise from coaches and beat writers all offseason, so it's time to put up or shut up. Here's your chance, kid.

Recommendation: Should be owned in deep leagues

Laurent Robinson, Rams – After a 2008 season lost to an assortment of injuries, Robinson is once again flashing the promise shown late in his rookie season. The former third-rounder has the size and the 4.3 speed to flourish opposite Donnie Avery.

Recommendation: Should be owned in deep leagues

Chaz Schilens, Raiders – Stash! Schilens had emerged as the only Raiders receiver worth drafting in training camp, but a broken fifth metatarsal in his foot landed him on quite a few "do not draft" lists. He's aiming for a Week 2 return, which makes Schilens a better use of a roster spot than your typical late-round flotsam and jetsam. If he's unavailable, the Jags' Mike Sims-Walker is a nice substitute stash.

Recommendation: Should be owned in deep leagues

Davone Bess, Dolphins – Brian Hartline's preseason hype is beginning to fade, and Greg Camarillo is clearly not 100 percent recovered from ACL surgery. Bess is listed as the current starter, but Camarillo ran with the ones in Monday's practice. My hunch is that Bess opens the season opposite Ted Ginn. Regardless of whether he starts or not, Bess is worthy of a roster spot in PPR leagues.

Recommendation: Should be owned in deep leagues and PPR leagues

Nate Washington, Titans – This is just a reminder that Washington is unowned in 40 percent of all leagues, and he'll likely return from his hamstring injury in Week 2. If you have the roster space, he makes for a fine stash. Washington could be worth consideration as a fantasy starter in October.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Watch List - Mike Sims-Walker, Troy Williamson, Kenny Britt, Nate Burleson, Deon Butler

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[SIZE=+1]TIGHT ENDS[/SIZE]

Brent Celek, Eagles – I've done my best to hype Celek since the offseason began, but he's still owned in just half of all leagues. Are you looking for consistency? L.J. Smith is out of the picture, hot-shot rookie Cornelius Ingram is out for the season, and No. 2 receiver Kevin Curtis is gimpy. Celek will be a favorite target of Donovan McNabb early and often. Are you looking for upside? In a Week 8 spot-start for Smith last season, Celek reeled in six catches for an Eagles record 131 yards. In the NFC championship game he caught 10 passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. If you want TE1 production at the low, low cost of a waiver pickup, grab Celek.

Recommendation: Should be owned 12-team leagues

Vernon Davis, 49ers – With the exit of Mike Martz comes Jimmy Raye's tight-end friendly system and constant Rotoworld reminders to put last season's stats out of your mind. Davis, still unowned in over half of all leagues, is primed for a career year and has an outside chance to lead the 49ers in receptions. The early-season absences of Michael Crabtree and Brandon Jones will only lead to more looks for the tight end. Expect borderline TE1 production out of Davis this year.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Anthony Fasano, Dolphins – Fasano was an inconsistent, low-end TE2 for much of last season while splitting production with David Martin. The two combined for 65 receptions, 904 yards, and 10 touchdowns. With Martin out of the picture, Fasano will add more receptions and yardage while remaining a red zone threat. A season total of 45/600/8 is easily within reach.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Tony Scheffler, Broncos – We've recommended staying away from Schefter at his current ADP due to his uncertain role in Josh McDaniels' offense. The truth is nobody knows just how involved Scheffler will be. There have been enough reports about McDaniels' plans to feature him that he's worth the price of a waiver pickup. Schefter is too talented to be pushed aside, and the Broncos have too many question marks at wide receiver right now. He's a TE2 with TE1 upside.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Jermichael Finley, Packers – This offense is firing on all cylinders, and Finley has emerged as a major weapon. While his upside is limited by the presence of Donald Lee, Finley is kind of promising young talent that smart owners stash in hopes of an early-season breakout.

Recommendation: Should be owned in deep leagues

Watch List - Martellus Bennett, Todd Heap, Randy McMichael, Chris Baker

[SIZE=+1]DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS[/SIZE]

Bengals - Their impressive finish down the stretch last season has been well documented. To that unit they've added last year's first-rounder Keith Rivers, veterans Tank Johnson and Roy Williams, plus rookies Rey Maualuga and Michael Johnson. Better still, they get to face Kyle Orton's mangled finger in Week 1. Orton has been throwing interceptions at an alarming rate this preseason, and the finger injury only makes his life more difficult.

Recommendation: Worth picking up as a matchup play

Seahawks - Another team facing a quarterback with an injury to his throwing hand, the Seahawks get Marc Bulger and the Rams this week. The return of Patrick Kerney and the additions of Aaron Curry and Cory Redding will bolster the pass rush. Opening in the always-imposing Qwest Field, the Seahawks are a nice Week 1 matchup play.

Recommendation: Worth picking up as a matchup play

Saints - Greg Williams' new defense has been impressive in preseason action, and they open against a rookie quarterback making his first start. Though Matthew Stafford has played better than his numbers indicate, he did turn the ball over far too easily.

Recommendation: Worth picking up as a matchup play

 

[HacheMan]

Splitting hairs in Dallas?


According to the Dallas Morning News, Cowboys coach Wade Phillips expects the "heavy lifting evenly split in the backfield between Marion Barber and Felix Jones." The problem is those are beat writer Eddie Sefko's words, not the head coach's. The Morning News quotes Phillips as saying only: "Hopefully we'll get a lot of carries with him [Jones] and Marion. I wouldn't be surprised if they were back there together some." Now that's not quite the same sentiment, is it?

I went dumpster diving all over the internet looking for a full quote from Phillips on the matter, but an extensive search through the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, San Antonio Express-News, Cowboys official team site, and several blogs turned up nothing.

There's no question that the Cowboys have big plans for a "Felix Package" of runs, passes and changes to base packages to highlight Jones' talent in space. We're not ready, however, to dramatically change projections in the Dallas backfield until we see that golden quote from Phillips himself signaling an "even split." While I've soured on Barber in Dynasty leagues, his 2009 value should survive intact as long as he stays healthy.

Brandon Marshall isn't speaking to the media, so getting a good read on his current mental state remains a challenge. According to coach Josh McDaniels, Marshall's attitude since his return from suspension has been "great." Considering the bar set by Marshall this summer, that could simply mean that he hasn't malingered, sabotaged practice, or staged a public fuss about the team.

On a positive note, though, McDaniels did say that Marshall "absolutely" could make a significant contribution in Week 1 against the Bengals. "Look, he's a good football player," McDaniels added. "If he's ready to go and we go through this week of practice and feel that's the direction we want to play on Sunday, certainly we all know what he can do as a football player."

When I represented Rotoworld in the "Buffalo Wild Wings Fantasy Football All-Star Bloggers League" Tuesday night, Marshall went off the board in Round 5 as the 21st receiver selected. I considered him a round earlier as my WR2, and I'm sure several others also came close to pulling the trigger before ultimately passing. McDaniels' positive outlook on Marshall's expected role should help the disgruntled receiver regain some value in last-minute drafts.

The NFL revealed Tuesday that the players involved in the StarCaps case would be eligible to play in Week 1. The Vikings' Williams Wall will key the defensive attack against the Browns on Sunday, which means Jamal Lewis and James Davis should stay on fantasy benches. Defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant will remain in the lineup against rookie Matthew Stafford and the Lions, making the Saints D/ST an attractive matchup option this week.

Flying well under the radar, Kevin Walter hasn't practiced since injuring his hamstring in the third preseason game and is "uncertain" to play Sunday. There's not much separating the mid-round WR3 candidates, so last-minute drafters will want to keep Walter's injury in mind when considering other options such as Santana Moss, Hines Ward, Jerricho Cotchery, and Donnie Avery.

Two-Minute Drill: The Jets and Chiefs chatted about a deal for Dwayne Bowe, but talks went nowhere and are now considered "100 percent dead." … There is reportedly a "sense" among Browns players that Brady Quinn will be the starting QB on Sunday. … Dolphins coach Tony Sparano suggested he will use a rotation at No. 2 receiver, most likely between Davone Bess and Greg Camarillo. … Limas Sweed and rookie Mike Wallace are expected to split the Steelers No. 3 receiver role depending on game situation. … Eagles signed free agent TE Alex Smith, improving the depth behind Brent Celek. … Omar Gaither has beaten out Joe Mays for the Eagles' MLB job, putting him in a good position for IDP stats. Rookie Macho Harris has surprisingly won the starting free safety job over Quintin Demps and Sean Jones. … Chansi Stuckey has officially won the Jets No. 2 job, but he's better left undrafted. … Rookie Sammie Stroughter has locked up the Bucs' No. 3 receiver job. … Anthony Fasano is expected to see an increased role in the Dolphins passing attack with David Martin out of the picture. … The Bills released starting left tackle Langston Walker six days before the opener and replaced him with 2008 seventh-rounder Demetrius Bell. … Rex Grossman has leapfrogged Dan Orlovsky for the Texans' No. 2 QB job.

Red Zone: Kyle Orton practiced with a glove Tuesday and threw without issue. Coach Josh McDaniels stopped short of declaring him healthy for Sunday, but all signs point to Orton starting. … Knowshon Moreno (MCL sprain) pronounced himself ready for the season opener, though we expect him to split carries with Correll Buckhalter and Peyton Hillis this week. … NFL.com's Jason La Canfora believes Matt Cassel will start the season opener at Baltimore, which means he should be riding the pine for fantasy leaguers this week. … Matt Shaub (ankle) returned to practice Tuesday and should be ready for the Jets on Sunday. ... The Titans are still holding out hope that Nate Washington (hamstring) will play against his former team Thursday, but he's not over the hump quite yet. Look for a game-time decision. … Justin Fargas (hamstring) is still not practicing and has almost certainly fallen behind both Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. … Steelers ILB Lawrence Timmons (ankle) is aiming for a Week 2 debut. … Shayne Graham (groin) will kick for the Bengals in Week 1, but he's on a "kick count." … Jason Hanson attempted field goals for the first time since mid-August knee surgery, but the Lions won't make a decision on his status until later in the week. Pass.

 

[HacheMan]

The Iceman Cometh? Fred Taylor heats up when temperature drops



Our stat-crunching buddies from the Sports Data Hub have dug up a fascinating tidbit on Fred Taylor, check it out:

We all know that Bill Belichick loves to employ a running back by committee, but that doesn't mean that you can't use one of those backs as a spot-starter or bye-week replacement. Last year, Patriot running backs combined for nine games with at least 15 fantasy points using a standard scoring system, so they can be useful.

Fred Taylor's stats indicate that he might become a much more attractive option for the Patriots and for his fantasy owners in November and December, when the weather is cold in Foxboro. For his career in Jacksonville, Taylor averaged 108.9 yards/game when the temperature was below 40 degrees and averaged 75.1 yards/game when the temperature was above 40 degrees. His yards per carry also increased in cold weather as he averaged nearly a yard more per carry in games in cold weather (5.3) than games in warm weather (4.5).

Maybe this warm blooded Florida running back really enjoys the cold weather and we just didn't get a chance to see it in Florida….or perhaps all the time spent in the training room ice bath helped him learn to appreciate the cold. There is no doubt that Taylor has been a risky fantasy pick throughout his career due to his injuries and isn't getting any younger. Splitting carries for the last few years in Jacksonville, however, has helped Taylor reduce games missed due to injury and stay on the field. The New England running back-by-committee approach will help Taylor avoid injury. The Patriots schedule is favorable this year, with cold weather games in Weeks 14, 15, and 16, which line up well with the fantasy playoff season and the natural Patriot tendency to rack up more rushing yards near the end of the season.
​

 

[HacheMan]

Rookies rarely delight in Week 1


Got high hopes for Knowshon Moreno, Beanie Wells, Darrius Heyward-Bey or any other highly-touted rookie for Week 1? One thing to keep in mind, the success of Matt Forte, Eddie Royal and DeSean Jackson in their 2008 debuts was way out of the norm. As Pro-Football-Reference points out, only five rookie running backs in the last 10 years have topped 100 yards in the opener <TABLE border=0 width=420 align=center><TBODY><TR><TD>Rushing</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Player</TD><TD>Year</TD><TD>Opp</TD><TD>Result</TD><TD>Att</TD><TD>Yds</TD><TD>TD</TD></TR><TR><TD>Matt Forte, Chi.

</TD><TD>2008</TD><TD>IND</TD><TD>W 29-13</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>123</TD><TD>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Adrian Peterson, Min.

</TD><TD>2007

</TD><TD>ATL</TD><TD>W 24-3</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>103</TD><TD>0</TD></TR><TR><TD>Cadillac Williams, T.B.

</TD><TD>2005</TD><TD>MIN</TD><TD>W 24-13</TD><TD>27</TD><TD>148</TD><TD>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.

</TD><TD>2001</TD><TD>WAS</TD><TD>W 30-3</TD><TD>36</TD><TD>113</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Edgerrin James, Ind.

</TD><TD>1999</TD><TD>BUF</TD><TD>W 31-14</TD><TD>26</TD><TD>112</TD><TD>1</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Receivers have had it much harder as only five newbies have hit the century mark in the last 25 years.
<TABLE border=0 width=420 align=center><TBODY><TR><TD>Receiving</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Player</TD><TD>Year</TD><TD>Opp</TD><TD>Result</TD><TD>Rec</TD><TD>Yds</TD><TD>TD</TD></TR><TR><TD>Eddie Royal, Den

</TD><TD>2008</TD><TD>OAK</TD><TD>W 41-14</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>146</TD><TD>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>DeSean Jackson, Phi

</TD><TD>2008</TD><TD>STL</TD><TD>W 38-3</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>106</TD><TD>0</TD></TR><TR><TD>Anquan Boldin, Ari.

</TD><TD>2003</TD><TD>DET</TD><TD>L 24-42</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>217</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Bobby L. Johnson, NYG

</TD><TD>1984</TD><TD>PHI</TD><TD>W 28-27</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>137</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Louis Lipps, Pit.

</TD><TD>1984</TD><TD>KAN</TD><TD>L 27-37</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>183</TD><TD>2</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
At quarterback, only Peyton Manning has notched a 300-yard passing game as a Week 1 rookies since the merger. Moral of the story? Play your veterans early.

 

[HacheMan]

Week 1 Rankings

Week 1 is my favorite week of the NFL season because the long, dark winter of the NFL offseason is as far away from starting as possible.

This is also a week where we begin to unlearn so many of the assumptions of the offseason. You never know how a season will shape up, but here are four teams we are particularly interested in watching this Sunday to see how they start.

1. Bengals: Even without T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the receiving weapons in Cincinnati are deeper than ever. Ocho Cinco looks revitalized at receiver, and backups Chris Henry and Andre Caldwell are better than most team's starters. (Including this team's starter: Laveranues Coles.) Ocho Cinco will reportedly be shadowed by Champ Bailey, so this game will test his offseason hype.

Ocho's biggest concern is his quarterback. Carson Palmer missed three preseason games after missing 12 games last year, and the offensive line could be a mess. This team could be a great source of fantasy value, including in the running game, but it all hinges on Palmer staying upright. They get an inviting first matchup against Denver.

2. Broncos: Lot of questions here, but a lot of potential. How soon will Knowshon Moreno be a 20-touch difference-maker? (Could take some time.) When do owners just play Brandon Marshall? (We'd take the risk this week if the Broncos do. And they wil.) Can Josh McDaniels create fantasy magic out of Kyle Orton? (Chances are better than people think.)

3. Cardinals: Don't panic that a Super Bowl hangover seemed to slow this offense in the preseason. Be more concerned if Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and the boys don't get their mojo back against an improved 49ers defense on opening day.

Also: we'll be watching closely to see how long it takes for Tim Hightower's bubble to be burst. He needs to solidify his offseason gains in a game that matters, and we'd still start Beanie Wells over him in fantasy leagues.

4. Falcons: Atlanta will be different this year, but we're not sure how different. Things to watch for in Week 1: Jerious Norwood's involvement in the offense, and how aggressive they are throwing the ball against Miami. With a little run-pass ratio adjustment, Matt Ryan can make a Peyton Manning-like second year leap. (We suspect Atlanta won't be that aggressive.)

And without any more foreplay, here are your Week 1 rankings for the best time on the football calendar.

[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Tom Brady</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Aaron Rodgers</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Kurt Warner</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Matt Ryan</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Matt Schaub</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Joe Flacco</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Kyle Orton</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>Fully expected to start</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Shaun Hill</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Trent Edwards</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Jason Campbell</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Matt Cassel</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>Status Uncertain (knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Chad Pennington</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Jake Delhomme</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Brady Quinn</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Marc Bulger</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>Probable(finger)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Byron Leftwich</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Kerry Collins</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>JaMarcus Russell</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Matthew Stafford</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Mark Sanchez</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Notes: Regular Goal-Line stand readers know the player comments go here. But with the Thursday game, we wanted to get the rankings to you as soon as possible. More content will be added during the week, but it may be a little different for the opening week.

Editor's Note: For projections for every player listed above, check out Rotoworld's Season pass package. The Rotoworld Oracle takes your scoring system and tells you who to start. Plus you get access to countless other features including tons of stat tools, columns, Top-200 rankings for trades, early weekly rankings, Evan Silva's running back report, Monday morning recaps, IDP help, and picks of the week.
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[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Running Backs[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Matt Forte</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Steven Jackson</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Michael Turner</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Steve Slaton</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Chris Johnson</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Ray Rice</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Kevin Smith</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Reggie Bush</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Brian Westbrook</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Ronnie Brown</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Clinton Portis</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Darren McFadden</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Cedric Benson</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Knowshon Moreno</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Donald Brown</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Willie Parker</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Felix Jones</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Chris Wells</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>LeSean McCoy</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Mike Bell</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>No Pierre Thomas </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>33</TD><TD>Derrick Ward</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>34</TD><TD>Ahmad Bradshaw</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>35</TD><TD>Carnell Williams</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>36</TD><TD>Larry Johnson</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>37</TD><TD>Darren Sproles</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>38</TD><TD>Tim Hightower</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Jonathan Stewart</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>Should play </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Jamal Lewis</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Leon Washington</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>LenDale White</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>James Davis</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Rashard Mendenhall</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Glen Coffee</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Correll Buckhalter</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Ladell Betts</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Bernard Scott</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Peyton Hillis</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Jamaal Charles</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Michael Bush</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>LeRon McClain</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Chris Brown</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Fred Taylor</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Earnest Graham</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>DeShawn Wynn</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>61</TD><TD>Shonn Greene</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>62</TD><TD>Justin Fargas</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>Questionable(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>63</TD><TD>Ricky Williams</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>64</TD><TD>Edgerrin James</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>65</TD><TD>Samkon Gado</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Marques Colston</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Chad Ochocinco</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>Keep eye on practice reports</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Eddie Royal</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Terrell Owens</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Vincent Jackson</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Anthony Gonzalez</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Antonio Bryant</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>DeSean Jackson</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>Not that worried about him. </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Roy Williams</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Devin Hester</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>Keep eye on hamstring injury </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>Keep eye on hamstring injury </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Lance Moore</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Donnie Avery</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Josh Morgan</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Patrick Crayton</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Laveranues Coles</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Torry Holt</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Justin Gage</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Ted Ginn Jr.</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Domenik Hixon</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Percy Harvin</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Kevin Curtis</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Davone Bess</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Mark Clayton</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>Could be limited</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Earl Bennett</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Chris Henry</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Kenny Britt</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Miles Austin</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>Probable(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>James Jones</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Steve Breaston</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Troy Williamson</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Laurent Robinson</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Tight Ends[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Owen Daniels</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Chris Cooley</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Jeremy Shockey</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Dustin Keller</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>John Carlson</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Brent Celek</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Visanthe Shiancoe</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Jermichael Finley</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Tony Scheffler</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Kevin Boss</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Todd Heap</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Bo Scaife</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Randy McMichael</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Anthony Fasano</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Martellus Bennett</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Brandon Pettigrew</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Chris Baker</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Ben Watson</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Donald Lee</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

If you've made it this far, you might be the type of person that wants to check out Gregg's Twitter account.

[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Team Defense[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Ravens Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Vikings Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Giants Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Steelers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Cowboys Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Eagles Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Chargers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Patriots Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Titans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Bears Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Dolphins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Colts Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Saints Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Bengals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Packers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Seahawks Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Cardinals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Texans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Jets Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Falcons Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Buccaneers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Panthers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Redskins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Fortyniners Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Jaguars Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Browns Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Broncos Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Bills Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Rams Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Raiders Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Chiefs Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Lions Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Kickers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Nate Kaeding</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Jason Elam</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Kris Brown</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Nick Folk</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Robbie Gould</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>John Kasay</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Neil Rackers</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Mason Crosby</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Adam Vinatieri</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>David Akers</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Shayne Graham</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>John Carney</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Jason Hanson</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Rian Lindell</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Jeff Reed</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Lawrence Tynes</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Joe Nedney</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Matt Prater</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Olindo Mare</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Dan Carpenter</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Mike Nugent</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Sebastian Janikowski</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Shaun Suisham</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Jay Feely</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Steven Hauschka</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Ryan Succop</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[HacheMan]

Doctor's orders for Stewart

Maybe the Panthers actually knew what they were doing with Jonathan Stewart all along. The doctors prescribed rest for his sore Achilles, so that's exactly what Stewart got.

He barely participated at OTAs. He was merely an observer for just about all of training camp. Mike Goodson was touted as a camp darling. Then, yesterday, just four days before the season opener, Stewart practiced for the first time since Aug. 11 (and the ninth time all offseason). One media member said the second-year back looked "real good," and he's expected to play Sunday against the Eagles. Stewart isn't even listed on the team's injury report.

If this storyline sounds familiar, it's because Stewart was hampered by a toe injury and then this heel problem during his rookie year. He didn't practice too much then, either, but still played in all 16 games, racking up 10 touchdowns and 833 yards. So we know Stewart, the Panthers and Allen Iverson share the same philosophy about practice: Who needs it?

Now the question becomes how Stewart will fit in with DeAngelo Williams. Last year, Williams got the call 274 times while Stewart had 183 carries. As good as Williams is, a healthy Stewart is probably the better running back. But Williams is now established as a premier NFL back. Anything less than 250 carries for Williams this season will be a surprise. Stewart will continue to be in and out of practice and not be at 100 percent, but yesterday's news is obviously nothing but good for his owners.

Bottom line: Stewart should have already been owned in all leagues. Keep him on your bench for this week. Drop Mike Goodson in all leagues.

Editor's Note: For early rankings, complete projections, and a host of other exclusive material for Week 1, head to Rotoworld's Season Pass.

NEWS OF THE DAY #2
The Brady Quinn era is officially underway, even if Eric Mangini won't admit it. Quinn is more of a dink-and-dunker than Derek Anderson, so this isn't the best news for Braylon Edwards' value. Still, the Browns don't look like they're capable of running the ball too effectively, so Quinn will be asked to put it up plenty. He could be worth an add if you need a QB2.

Here are Quinn's numbers from his three starts last season:

Week 10 vs. Broncos: 23-of-35, 239 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
Week 11 at Bills: 14-of-36, 185 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
Week 12 vs. Texans: 8-of-18, 94 yards, 0 touchdowns, 2 interceptions (was pulled in the second half)

NEWS OF THE DAY #3
Brandon Marshall and the Broncos are reportedly talking about an extension. Wow. The Broncos are going to throw a ton of money at the guy who went Pele at practice and just got off suspension? It appears Marshall has convinced the team he's going to be a good guy. Or maybe he's just such a good player they want him in the fold at any cost.

Either way, the mere notion that the Broncos want Marshall around long-term means he'll be a factor early and often this season. Congratulations if you plucked him at a reduced cost during his suspension.

NEWS OF THE DAY #4
As expected, Malcolm Kelly was officially named the Redskins' No. 2 receiver, ahead of Devin Thomas and Antwaan Randle El. Jason Campbell has been gushing about how much he loves Kelly's size, something the Skins' receiving corps has sorely been missing. But as the third or fourth option in a conservative offense, Kelly is a waiver wire prospect for now.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS
Kevin Walter (hamstring) didn't practice Wednesday and there's some real concern he won't play against the Jets. … Pierre Thomas (sprained MCL) didn't practice again and is unlikely to play Sunday. He also revealed that he scratched up his knee chasing "Chill," his Doberman. Sigh. … Maurice Jones-Drew (shin) practiced fully and is ready to go. … Marc Bulger (finger) took snaps under center for the first time since his injury and will play Sunday against the Seahawks' banged up secondary … Knowshon Moreno (knee) said he isn't 100 percent but feels real good and will play Sunday. Expect the rookie to be part of a committee. … Kyle Orton (finger) said there's "no question" he'll start against the Bengals after practicing with a glove on his throwing hand. … Matt Cassel (knee) was limited in practice Wednesday and will be listed as questionable for Sunday. He'll almost certainly start though. … Anquan Boldin (hamstring) is doing his usual thing where he has an injury and then toughs it out. He practiced on a limited basis and should be fine for a matchup with the 49ers.

DEPTH CHART QUICK SLANTS
Ray Rice was officially named the Ravens' starting running back, something everyone saw coming a long time ago. He's in line for a big game Sunday against the Chiefs. … Jim Caldwell announced that Austin Collie beat out Pierre Garcon for the Colts' No. 3 receiver job. … Hakeem Nicks is generating some buzz and could be pushing Mario Manningham for the Giants' No. 3 receiver before long.

 

[HacheMan]

The Morning Of


[SIZE=+1]Players to be surprisingly optimistic about[/SIZE]

1. Matt Hasselbeck: There were a lot of reasons not to like Hasselbeck heading into camp. Here's a few: 34 years old, back injury, questionable receiving corps, back injury, new run-first offensive attack without Mike Holmgren, back injury.

But Hasselbeck has looked impressive in training camp and appears fully healthy. In a sea of mediocre QB2 options, Hasselbeck looks inviting when he gets a tasty NFC West matchup like this week against the Rams. At least until his back flares up.

2. Leon Washington. The kid is hitting his prime, the Jets offensive line is strong, and I actually believe Rex Ryan when he says Leon will touch the ball more this year. Mark Sanchez dumping off to Washington may be the best play the Jets have.

3. Marion Barber: He evolved into the de facto guy that fell too far and ended up on my team. (Chad Johnson was this guy all summer – yes! – but his average draft position started to catch up with our rankings.

Barber still the best player on a very good offense that will catch passes and score touchdowns. There isn't that much of a difference between him and Maurice Jones-Drew. (Whom I also have.)

4. James Davis: So many times, we overrate players because they have a great opportunity for touches, but they prove not to be very good football players. (Eric Shelton, anyone?) Davis was only a sixth-round pick, but it was clear from the day he was drafted that he had the chance to make a big impact right away. He's taking advantage.

5. Patrick Crayton: A Rotoworld favorite from a few years back, he's emerged over Miles Austin. It wouldn't remotely surprise us if he puts up similar WR3 numbers to Roy Williams at a fraction of the practice.

6. Todd Heap and Jermichael Finley: There are tight end sleepers by the bushel this year. Finley is a dark horse to lead the Packers in receiving touchdowns, while Heap is showing some rejuvenation potential. An injury seems inevitable, but the man is only 29. He should be a factor until he gets hurt.

Editor's Note: For projections for every player listed above, check out Rotoworld's Season pass package. The Rotoworld Oracle takes your scoring system and tells you who to start. Plus you get access to countless other features including tons of stat tools, columns, Top-200 rankings for trades, early weekly rankings, Evan Silva's running back report, Monday morning recaps, IDP help, and picks of the week.

[SIZE=+1]Nothing to see here, folks[/SIZE]
Or: Players who got unnecessarily caught in the preseason weeds, but escaped.

1. Dwayne Bowe: Yeah, about that third team designation … just kidding!

2. Mark Bradley: See above. Bradley still might not be a huge fantasy factor, but he has the same relatively high ceiling for a flier pick that we thought he was to start camp. He's worth a pickup in most 12-team leagues.

3. Brandon Marshall: His totally useless offseason would be more surprising if this didn't happen twice before in his career. After all the drama, though, it would be surprising if he's not playing starter-worthy snaps in Week 1. It would be even more surprising if Marshall didn't produce. Maybe he won't catch 100 passes for the third straight year, but he'll come close enough.

4. Jonathan Stewart was back fully practicing Wednesday after resting for nearly a month with a sore Achilles. The lack of injury information in Carolina was part of the problem here; this was apparently the plan all along. The Carolina schedule gets much tougher this season, but Stewart has the same explosive talent he did last year.

(For everyone hammering me for ranking DeAngelo Williams so low: we'll see. He's still ranked as a top-15 player, and his schedule is infinitely harder and Stewart remains the most talented backup in football. The bet here is that Williams is closer to the player he was for the first half of last season.)

5. Chris "Beanie" Wells is still the most talented back in the Arizona backfield, and we expect him to be the most valuable in fantasy leagues starting Sunday.

6. Antonio Bryant and Donnie Avery shook off preseason surgeries and will be fully ready for Week 1. Nate Washington will be ready soon enough.

7. The Baltimore passing attack should be better than people think, and they have no one to reliably catch the ball except Derrick Mason. In PPR leagues, he should be a safe weekly play, same as he ever was.
<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]Something to see here, folks[/SIZE]
Or: I'm more concerned than I expected to be

1. Matt Cassel. A lot of early reminders that this transition won't be easy for Cassel: A ghastly offensive line got him hurt, and there were early signs that he was struggling to adapt to new offense while playing with a bunch of scrubs at wide receiver. Cassel fans should hope he sits out against the Ravens. Or he might be sitting out Week 2.

2. Trent Edwards has a lot of pressure to make a brand-new offense work, while integrating Terrell Owens into the system. I thought the Bills would be further along, but they appear to be at square one.

3. The smart money is on Michael Crabtree signing with the 49ers sooner than later, but there is a legitimate chance he'll have a lost rookie year.

4. The whispers about Kevin Curtis' explosiveness have convinced me he's just going to be another guy in a huge receiver rotation in Philadelphia, not someone you will consider starting except for emergencies.

[SIZE=+1]Overrated Storylines[/SIZE]

1. Chris Brown as a short-yardage back: Sure, he may swipe some touchdowns. But the fact that Gary Kubiak uses words that fantasy leaguers like and other coaches stay quiet isn't a reason to stay away from Steve Slaton. Let's see if Brown can stay healthy for more than a few games, and whether he really gets the ball when the game is on the line.

2. Willie Parker to get goal line carries: Again, how often has a coach given out useful usage and strategy talk before a season or game. Whenever a coach throws a number of carries he hopes a running back gets in a game or a season, it usually amounts to nothing. Parker has lost short-yardage duties before.

3. Pierre Thomas may not play in Week One, but he's still going to be a monster when he returns. He was slipping way too far in drafts held last weekend.

4. LaDainian Tomlinson is talking tough, but what would you expect? Career arcs don't lie, and there isn't much of a chance he bounces back to the "Old L.T."

5. Devin Hester may not have done much in the preseason, but he's the only explosive receiver on the Bears. He can get free for vertical routes and Jay Cutler will find him.

[SIZE=+1]Stories rated appropriately [/SIZE]

1. The firing of offensive coordinators in Tampa Bay and Buffalo says, "Hey, things are going so bad, we're willing to admit publicly that we have totally screwed up this entire offseason. Can we press reset?"

Both teams were looking to transform their offenses this year, and the learning curve for everyone involved could be steep.

2. No one saw the Cadillac Williams story coming. He probably won't start the whole season, much less stay healthy and useful in fantasy leagues, but Cadillac matters again. Which is saying something. (Although Derrick Ward is already a nice buy-low.)

[SIZE=+1]Storylines deserving more attention[/SIZE]

1. Everyone assumes Tom Brady and the Patriots will turn back the clock to something resembling 2007, but how disappointed will owners be if it looks a lot more like 2004?

2. The Colts backfield, provider of top-ten value at running back for nearly the entire decade until 2008, could have two backs that are undervalued. Donald Brown remains a Rotoworld favorite, and a fine trade target in redraft leagues.

3. Brian Westbrook's return for offseason surgeries has slipped under the radar. Since he didn't play in the preseason, we have no idea how he will look. But we love LeSean McCoy to get more than 125-150 touches this year, no matter how healthy Westbrook. (McCoy is a nice sneaky play against a meager Carolina rush defense this week.)

 

[HacheMan]

Studs and duds: Romo, Jackson will deliver while Cadillac stalls



Matt Pitzer's look at Week 1's fantasy football landscape:

Projected studs
RB Fred Jackson, Bills. He ran for 136 yards against the Patriots in last year's season finale. This time New England's defense is smarting over the loss of DE Richard Seymour.
QB Tony Romo, Cowboys. Who knows how the Dallas receivers will pan out over the entire season, but they should be just fine against a young Buccaneers defense. Romo will pass the Cowboys to a fairly easy victory to start the season.
RB LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers. What could be better: He is healthy, and he is playing the Raiders. L.T. has averaged 135.5 yards a game and has 22 total touchdowns in 16 appearances vs. Oakland. This should be a cakewalk.
WR Reggie Wayne, Colts. The Jaguars defense used to give the Colts trouble regularly, but that has not been the case for a few years. In their last five meetings, Wayne has averaged 116.2 yards receiving and has found the end zone twice.
WR Roddy White, Falcons. Atlanta is in good position to open quarterback Matt Ryan's sophomore season, with White getting a chance to work early against the Dolphins' rebuilt, inexperienced secondary. Two of Miami's top three cornerbacks might be rookies.
Projected duds
WR Donnie Avery, Rams. He should be able to play, but why bother? Avery is coming off a foot injury and hasn't practiced much with QB Marc Bulger, who was out with a broken pinkie. Don't count on St. Louis having a quick start through the air.
QB Matt Cassel, Chiefs. Kansas City's new franchise QB will get off to a rough start, battling a knee injury and facing the Ravens defense on the road behind a sketchy offensive line.
WR Jerricho Cotchery, Jets. The preseason was one thing for rookie sensation QB Mark Sanchez, but the regular season is another. Are you ready to believe he can get the ball to Cotchery in his first start, especially now that CB Dunta Robinson is in the fold for the Texans?
RB Steve Slaton, Texans. Facing the Jets' improved defense under Rex Ryan will not be easy, plus Slaton might be losing goal-line carries to Chris Brown. And if QB Matt Schaub is limited, New York will pay even more attention to stopping the run.
RB Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, Buccaneers. Williams' comeback from a second major knee injury is a nice story, but it won't have nice results. He has lost his explosiveness, and the Bucs will have a tough time keeping up with the Cowboys.
Sleepers
RB Mike Bell, Saints. Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush are fighting injuries, which could push Bell into significant time. Plus, New Orleans faces Detroit, which hasn't won in 21 months.
QB Joe Flacco, Ravens. Don't be surprised when Baltimore comes out throwing more than expected. And Kansas City should provide plenty of holes for Derrick Mason and friends.
WR Chris Henry, Bengals. Henry tore it up in the preseason with an NFL-high four TDs, and facing the Broncos defense really should just be an extension of the preseason for the Bengals.
TE Visanthe Shiancoe, Vikings. Brett Favre knows all about the beauty of throwing to the tight end in the red zone in the West Coast offense. Shiancoe ought to capitalize against a bad Browns defense.
WR Brandon Stokley, Broncos. Think of him as a one-week possibility until Brandon Marshall is up to full speed. With Jabar Gaffney mending a broken thumb, Stokley will be on the field a ton and remains one of the game's best slot receivers.

 

[HacheMan]

No Passing Fancy in Pittsburgh


As the Pittsburgh-Tennessee NFL season opener creeped along toward overtime Thursday night, it became obvious that these aren't your Franco Harris / Rocky Bleier / French Fuqua grind-it-out Steelers. Under offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and comeback-minded Ben Roethlisberger, the most effective offense has been the no-huddle. Despite head coach Mike Tomlin's protestations to the contrary, Arians is ushering in a sea change in philosophy from run-first to run-later.

The artist formerly known as "Fast Willie" Parker led an impotent rushing "attack" that combined for just 33 yards on 22 carries. Over the past two seasons, Parker's laundry list of leg maladies have sapped his explosion. The Steelers better hope he's still getting up to speed after a preseason hamstring injury because he showed no ability to exploit an opening in Thursday's game. Tomlin obviously has no faith in 2008 first-rounder Rashard Mendenhall, so the Steelers will keep putting more and more weight on Big Ben's shoulders.

With Santonio Holmes emerging as a bonafide No. 1 receiver, Hines Ward as the old reliable possession receiver, Heath Miller showing All-Pro skills at tight end, and exciting rookie Mike Wallace taking over No. 3 receiver duties, this team has to hang its hat on the aerial attack. Once they spread the field and opened up the offense with a no-huddle approach, Big Ben moved the team at will against a tiring Titans defense.

Can the Steelers keep winning with a dominant defense, no running game, tons of licks on Roethlisberger, and no chance of converting in short-yardage situations? As long as they keep the ball in Big Ben's hands for the "fast-break" offense, they can survive even with a fatally flawed ground game. After Thursday's opener, Big Ben is on pace for 45 come-from-behind fourth-quarter victories which would shatter the marks held by John Elway and Dan Marino. As Movethestick.com's Daniel Jeremiah tweeted after the opening-night victory, if you played Big Ben in horse, he would give himself H-O-R-S and then beat you. He did it for the 15th time in just over five seasons Thursday night.

Editor's Note: For early rankings, complete projections, and a host of other exclusive material for Week 1, head to Rotoworld's Season Pass.

Despite "tweeting" that he is waiting for the thumbs up from the Saints for Sunday's game, Pierre Thomas (knee) still appears unlikely to play. Thomas participated in individual drills Thursday, but he was unable to put in a full practice. Coach Sean Payton expressed disappointment in Thomas' status and suggested he would not only have to practice but also prove that he can be more effective than Mike Bell on Friday.

Beat writer Jeff Duncan believes "he ain't playing Sunday" while fellow beat writer Mike Triplett writes that Thomas "almost certainly" will miss the opener. Keep an eye on his status Friday, but at this point it looks like Bell will get most of the snaps earmarked for Thomas against the Lions. If so, Bell makes for a fine flex play this week.

Brian Westbrook was a late addition to the injury report Thursday with a knee issue as opposed to an ankle problem. Though the Eagles acknowledged that Westbrook's touches will be monitored on Sunday, it sounds like they are just trying to keep him fresh. Westbrook put in a full practice on Thursday, and there are indications that the knee injury is even remotely serious.

Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said Westbrook is "pretty healthy right now," and that he would be spelled by LeSean McCoy only to keep him from getting winded. "I have great confidence in Brian to play the whole game," said Mornhinweg. "If you get into a situation there and he's gassed just a little bit, then LeSean will play a little bit more." We fully expect Westbrook to get 20 touches, which makes him a must-start Sunday against a beat-up Panthers run defense.

Two-Minute Drill: Texans beat writer John McClain expects Steve Slaton to lose 10-12 touches per game to Chris Brown, in which case Slaton's 2009 ceiling is limited. … Coach Josh McDaniels confirmed that Brandon Marshall has had a good week of practice and will play Sunday at Cincinnati. It's safe to plug him back into fantasy lineups. … Rams released LB Chris Draft when the versatile veteran refused to take a paycut. Mr. Irrevelvant 2008, David Vobora, will start the opener. … Shawne Merriman (knee) is only expected to play about 40 plays – 2/3 of his normal snapcount -- on Sunday. … Vikings released WR Bobby Wade and replaced him with special teamer Greg Lewis. … Adrian Peterson expects to see more time in third-down and two-minute drill passing situations this year. … The Raiders sent a "five-day" letter warning Richard Seymour to report soon or face the roster/suspended list. The Patriots are now out of the picture.

Red Zone: Anquan Boldin was limited in Thursday's practice and didn't push his hamstring. Coaches are cautiously optimistic about his availability for the opener. Steve Breaston (knee) is less than 100 percent but practiced for the second straight day. … Matt Cassel (knee) is still gimpy and will likely be a game-time decision for Sunday's game at Baltimore. Stay far away from the Chiefs QB situation. … Knowshon Moreno (knee) ditched his orange non-contact jersey Wednesday and practiced again on Thursday. We'd still look elsewhere for Week 1 if better options are available. … Jonathan Stewart practiced for the second straight day while coach John Fox shrugged off any concern about his absence throughout the preseason. … Kevin Walter (hamstring) missed practice again and will be a game-time decision. Matt Schaub (ankle) will play. … Reggie Bush is said to be healthier now than he's been since Week 7 of last season. … Wes Welker (knee) returned to a limited practice and seems likely to play Monday night. … Bernard Berrian (hamstring) was limited in practice. Check his status on Friday. … Ravens WR Mark Clayton (hamstring) is expected to start against the Chiefs Sunday. … Panthers SS Chris Harris' status is in doubt after missing Thursday's practice with a knee injury. … At the very least, Jason Hanson (knee) is expected to be available for field goals Sunday. … Adam Vinatieri (hip, knee) is not 100 percent, but says he's "good enough to get out there and do my job on the field." Find another kicker.

 

[HacheMan]

Week 1 Game Matchups

Ten new head coaches. Nineteen offensive coordinator changes. The Stimulus Plan. 2009 has been a year of change, shakeup, and attempted upgrades, and Rotoworld is following suit. In addition to Gregg Rosenthal's indispensible Goal Line Stand weekly rankings, we're now breaking down the NFL weekend on a game-by-game basis.

Note: The opinions here may differ from those expressed in Gregg's rankings, but we believe some disagreement is healthy. Ultimately, it's on you to pick your fantasy starters. Having the most opinions and background will prepare you best</I>.

Heading into my fourth regular season at Rotoworld, I've accumulated a foundation of player knowledge through game study, beat reports, knowledge of depth charts, and an understanding of likely player-on-player matchups. Hopefully, passing this information on to you will increase your odds of domination. Let's get at it.

[SIZE=+1]1:00PM ET Games[/SIZE]

Miami @ Atlanta

The Dolphins had to revamp their secondary after giving up the eighth most passing yards in the league last year, but the newcomers figure to experience growing pains. Rookie RCB Sean Smith looked lost at times this preseason, and new FS Gibril Wilson has always been a better run stopper than cover man. Matt Ryan is a must-start in this matchup...Michael Turner stands to benefit greatly from the addition of Tony Gonzalez, who will keep at least one safety (likely SS Yeremiah Bell) out of the box and command intermittent double teams. The Fins' run defense was sturdy in '08, but Turner remains a solid bet for 90 yards and a score...LCB Will Allen is Miami's top cover corner, but Bill Parcells indicated that he believes the 31-year-old is declining by giving him a fairly below-market new contract this offseason, then drafting corners with his top two picks. Roddy White's holdout lasted just a week and he was explosive in the preseason. He'll give the 31-year-old Allen fits on Sunday. Expect 28+ points from Atlanta's offense.

Split end Ted Ginn Jr. will likely face Falcons RCB Chris Houston in primary coverage. Houston's first two years have been up and down, but he excels in press-man, and Ginn struggled to beat the jam in August, finishing the preseason with three catches. He's a borderline WR3...Miami never formally named a No. 2 receiver, but Davone Bess is first on the depth chart and plays in the slot. He's a better bet than Ginn for a high catch total facing weak LCB Brent Grimes and/or athletically limited nickel back Chevis Jackson...The Fins' best approach in this road game would be to use Ronnie Brown relentlessly on the Georgia Dome turf and keep Ryan on the sidelines. Brown should finish with 25 touches even if Miami is playing catch-up. He'll rarely come off field.

Kansas City @ Baltimore

Looking for a safe bet to lead all Week 1 receivers in targets? Dwayne Bowe is your man. The Chiefs have no hope of a ground game against a Ravens club that ranked third in '08 run defense and returns NT Kelly Gregg after he missed last season. Play Bowe with confidence, no matter who starts at QB...Bench the rest of your Chiefs, literally. We don't know if Mark Bradley will start despite his first-team flanker listing, and Jamaal Charles may end up with double the touches of Larry Johnson. Kansas City figures to fall behind early, and Charles is the passing-down back.

Ray Rice is a must-start RB2 against a Chiefs defense that implements the 3-4 despite lacking ideal personnel. Rookies Michael Oher (Ravens RT) and Tyson Jackson (Chiefs LE) may play to a draw on the strong side, but C Matt Birk and LG Ben Grubbs should dominate Chiefs NT Ron Edwards up the gut. Rice is also a demon on check downs and K.C. doesn't have the speed at outside 'backer or safety to stop him. Look for 150 all-purpose yards...Mark Clayton is a must-sit considering his balky hamstring, lost camp, and likely matchup with Chiefs top corner Brandon Flowers, but flanker/slot man Derrick Mason's route running will be a handful for LCB Brandon Carr. Carr was almost strictly a zone corner in 2008 and is just now learning to play man...Despite positive camp reports about Todd Heap, stay away until he shows something in a real game.

Philadelphia @ Carolina

It's natural to worry about Brian Westbrook at 30 coming off dual leg surgeries, but few matchups would give him a better chance to start hot. Carolina won't replace massive NT Maake Kemoeatu (torn Achilles) and already wasn't potent against the run. With MLB Jon Beason (knee) still banged up, Westbrook is a threat for 100 total yards and a TD even on 15-17 touches...Donovan McNabb should be in fantasy lineups, but the Eagles would be smart to go run heavy, also using LeSean McCoy early and often...If there's one flaw in Birds flanker DeSean Jackson's game, it's that he isn't overly physical. He'll be shadowed by Carolina LCB Chris Gamble, another speedster with better size than Jackson. D-Jax is more of a WR3 than a WR2 in this matchup...Bench TE Brent Celek. He'll be a better bet when Philly plays teams it will have to pass on to beat.

Jonathan Stewart's return from an Achilles injury won't hurt DeAngelo Williams yet. Stewart isn't ready for his usual carry-sharing role, and Williams faces an Eagles defense that will sorely miss MLB Stewart Bradley (ACL tear). Quick fix Omar Gaither isn't half the run defender...Eagles RCB Sheldon Brown is coming off a great year, but turned 30 this spring and was pushed by former Patriot Ellis Hobbs for a starting job in August. Susceptible to the deep pass, he's unlikely to stop Steve Smith with late-round rookie Macho Harris as Brown's "help" along the sideline...Muhsin Muhammad is an obvious "sit" against LCB Asante Samuel. No Panthers tight ends are worth consideration.

Denver @ Cincinnati

The Denver backfield is to be avoided until we see clarity, assuming it ever comes. 31-year-old Correll Buckhalter will start, eventual lead back Knowshon Moreno (knee) wasn't cleared for contact until Thursday, and Peyton Hillis was the Broncos' best option this preseason. Cincy's run defense will surprise this year, and this is a three-headed monster until further notice...Use Brandon Marshall as a WR3, but limit expectations. He'll often square off with underrated Bengals RCB Leon Hall, may rotate with Jabar Gaffney, and his quarterback is less than 100 percent...Kyle Orton figures to have accuracy problems in the vertical game, but Eddie Royal is a strong bet for 8-10 catches. Royal and Orton showed an incredible rapport throughout August and Orton's lacerated finger shouldn't affect his throws as much underneath, where Royal is an unrivaled route runner.

Carson Palmer has a favorable matchup against the NFL's oldest secondary. Speed merchants Chad Ochocinco and Chris Henry, and quick possession wideout Laveranues Coles will keep CBs Champ Bailey (31) and Andre' Goodman (31) on their heels, with 36-year-old S Brian Dawkins as their help. Dawkins looked several steps too slow in August...Henry isn't a recommended play yet, but keep an eye on how he is employed. Henry earned a playing-time bump after an awesome preseason, but we need to know that he'll play over Andre Caldwell in three-wideout sets before using him...The Broncos' pass rush showed improvement as one of only 13 teams to generate double-digit preseason sacks, but their run defense remains a work in progress moving to a 3-4. Cedric Benson won't catch any passes, but won't see any eight-man fronts either.

Minnesota @ Cleveland

Week 7 is our educated guess as to when James Davis will unseat Jamal Lewis. Lewis is certain to struggle Sunday with Vikings DTs Kevin and Pat Williams' suspensions on hold, and also gets Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the first six games...Davis isn't playable yet, but he's already the Browns' third-down specialist and rotates in on early downs...Brady Quinn will probably have to throw 35-39 times to offset either 1) Lewis' ineffectiveness against 2008's No. 1 run defense, or 2) an early lead for Minnesota. He's a fine two-QB league start and figures to target Braylon Edwards heavily, although Edwards will be shadowed by Vikings Pro Bowl CB Antoine Winfield.

We can confidently say that Adrian Peterson will gash the Browns (28th in run defense last year). The only notable upgrade to their starting front seven was DE Kenyon Coleman, who may have missed the Jets' final cut had Eric Mangini not traded for him. Expect a decidedly run-heavy mindset from Minnesota...Brett Favre admits he isn't 100 percent "mentally or physically," and Bernard Berrian (hamstring) was limited in practice all week. Short-route targets Percy Harvin and Visanthe Shiancoe are better bets to lead Minnesota in catches...Sidney Rice will remain a key red-zone guy for the Vikes, but his week-to-week production will be highly inconsistent.

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NY Jets @ Houston

New Jets RCB Lito Sheppard hasn't overcome the coverage woes that plagued him late in his Eagles career. He was a liability throughout August and will be picked on by Matt Schaub. The absence of DE Shaun Ellis and OLB Calvin Pace -- two of New York's top three pass rushers -- due to suspension won't hurt Schaub's cause...Ellis' loss creates a void at left end, which will be "filled" by lackluster reserves Mike DeVito (hamstring) and Sione Pouha (one start in five years). It's setup to be a big day for the Texans' offense, Steve Slaton included...The Jets used shutdown LCB Darrelle Revis as a "shadow" corner last year, but it's unclear if Rex Ryan will keep that plan in place. Either way, Andre Johnson is an obvious must play. Avoid Kevin Walter (hamstring).

The Texans' front four got heavier this offseason. LE Antonio Smith (6'4/285) and NT Shaun Cody (6'4/310) are the new starters. All four down linemen are at least 285 pounds. A make-you-miss back like Leon Washington has a better chance of success than Thomas Jones, a grinding runner, or power option Shonn Greene...Texans RCB Dunta Robinson will square off with split end Jerricho Cotchery for much of the day. It's a good matchup for Jerricho because Robinson is rusty after ending his holdout just days ago...However, camp star Dustin Keller may still lead the Jets in receiving yardage, as he'll see a lot of SS Dominique Barber in coverage. Barber can hit, but Keller's speed (4.5-flat forty) gives him a significant edge over Marion's brother (4.64).

Jacksonville @ Indianapolis

The Colts won't ease Donald Brown into the lineup. He'll immediately be used in a series-by-series rotation with Joseph Addai, giving him a shot at 13-17 touches. Still, it's a good week to "wait and see" on this backfield. Jags rookie DT Terrance Knighton (6'3/321) had a standout camp and may finally be the Marcus Stroud successor Jacksonville's been desperate for so long...LCB Rashean Mathis is sure to follow Colts split end Reggie Wayne all over the field. The starter opposite Mathis, third-round pick Derek Cox, missed much of camp due to injury and played college ball at William & Mary, leaving him without experience against anyone remotely resembling NFL wideouts. First-year starter Anthony Gonzalez's breakout game is at hand.

The Colts won't have SS Bob Sanders (knee), so former undrafted free agent Melvin Bullitt will start. Further secondary issues lie at right cornerback, where either diminutive Tim Jennings or raw underclassman rookie Jerraud Powers will stand in. With LCB Kelvin Hayden likely to keep Torry Holt in check, Troy Williamson has a good shot to build on his stellar preseason in Week 1. Then sell high...DT Ed Johnson is serving a one-game suspension, the Colts are moving smallish DE Robert Mathis back into a full-time role, and second-round pick Fili Moala failed to distinguish himself in camp. Add in Sanders' absence and Maurice Jones-Drew should start piping hot.

Detroit @ New Orleans

The Saints know they don't need to risk Pierre Thomas aggravating his MCL sprain to beat Detroit at home and will almost certainly hold him out. That sets up Mike Bell for 16-19 carries and all goal-line chances, where Sean Payton is confident in the former Bronco. Meet your next Frisman Jackson/Dante Rosario Week 1 superhero...All Saints starting skill players should be in lineups against a Lions defense that is near certain to be porous again. Detroit lacks a shutdown corner between Phillip Buchanon and Anthony Henry, and starts a rookie (Louis Delmas) and career special teamer (Kalvin Pearson) at safety. It's a severe mismatch favoring the NFL's top passing team.

We highly recommend the Saints' fantasy defense in Matthew Stafford's debut. Stafford showed poise and the ability to make all the throws in August, but was pick prone and New Orleans has upgraded its secondary immensely. That DEs Will Smith and Charles Grant will avoid suspension is the clincher...Stafford is a candidate for 33-37 attempts, as the Lions figure to be playing catch-up after the Saints' first or second drive. Keep your Detroit skill players going. Throwing often won't hurt Kevin Smith, who stays on the field in passing situations. He's an every-down back.

Dallas @ Tampa Bay

The Bucs' late-preseason shakeup at safety (Jermaine Phillips moved back to DB after gaining weight all offseason to play linebacker) bodes well for tight ends to start hot against them. Jason Witten, who will see increased red-zone targets with Terrell Owens out of Big D, is first to benefit...One beat writer talked up a 50:50 split between Marion Barber and Felix Jones, but that's highly unlikely. Jones is a pace-change back with kick return ability and soft hands, but Barber is extremely difficult to pull off the field because of his power, sound blitz pickups, and receiving skills. He'll be a much better bet for touchdowns than Jones all year...Look for 34-year-old RCB Ronde Barber to cover Roy Williams while Aqib Talib squares off against the Miles Austin-Patrick Crayton combo at strong-side wideout. We like Williams to silence the doubters in Week 1.

If you can believe it, Dallas' front seven got bigger with the change from Chris Canty to Igor Olshansky at right defensive end. New strong outside linebacker Anthony Spencer is also a major run-stopping upgrade over castoff Greg Ellis. The Bucs' 2-2-1 rotation already caps any of their backs' upsides. It's very difficult to imagine starting one...Antonio Bryant (knee) caught no passes this preseason from Byron Leftwich. Leftwich (5.25 YPA, 48.8 completion rate) was downright awful. Let's wait a week before plugging in any Bucs pass catchers besides TE Kellen Winslow.

[SIZE=+1]4:15PM ET Games[/SIZE]

San Francisco @ Arizona

The Cards' 0-4 preseason is of no concern for the offense. Arizona led the NFL in passing yards despite not game planning for one of its opponents. Kurt Warner will start hot against a Niners secondary that trots out Dashon Goldson (two career starts) and coverage liability Michael Lewis at safety, and brittle Shawntae Spencer (one start since '06) at right corner. Larry Fitzgerald will likely see Spencer in primary coverage, while Nate Clements shadows Anquan Boldin...Arizona will use fewer three-wide sets this year; avoid Steve Breaston...With a good shot at 20 touches, Tim Hightower is a safer play than Chris Wells. Wells may be the lead back by midseason, but Hightower's 4.8 preseason YPC and passing-down skills locked him into the Week 1 starting job.

The 49ers will go run heavy all year, but particularly on Sunday. Only three teams gave up more rushing touchdowns than Arizona this preseason. Look for 25 carries and a TD from Frank Gore, with Glen Coffee also active...Leave Shaun Hill and the 49ers' receivers on your bench. Josh Morgan was surprisingly quiet in August (three catches, 20 yards), and Hill seemed to show more rapport with slow slot guy Arnaz Battle...You shouldn't need a last-minute tight end in Week 1, but Vernon Davis is a good bet if you do. The Cards will use SS Adrian Wilson as a linebacker/safety, with FS Antrel Rolle on Davis. Rolle has been oft-burned since entering the league.

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Washington @ NY Giants

Brandon Jacobs is a must-start every time he suits up, but Ahmad Bradshaw may give the hefty Redskins defensive line more problems. Bradshaw's shake-and-bake style, surprising pop, and elusiveness in space will be a handful for oversized and aging DLs Phillip Daniels and Cornelius Griffin. Albert Haynesworth is quick off the snap, but does little in pursuit, while RE Andre Carter is mostly a one-trick pass-rushing pony. Use Bradshaw in a flex spot if you're searching for options...The Giants' passing game is to be avoided until a wideout steps up. A Domenik Hixon-Mario Manningham-Hakeem Nicks committee at split end is possible, and Steve Smith is a possession target with weak red-zone skills.

The Giants changed defensive coordinators this offseason, promoting LBs coach Bill Sheridan from within. The player moves, however, strongly indicate that there will be no shortage of fire-zone blitzes and pressure from all angles. That's a major concern for a Redskins line that returns its two best players (LT Chris Samuels and RG Randy Thomas) at age 32+ and coming off surgery. It'll be a long day for Jim Zorn's passing offense...The Skins' running game is unlikely to fare much better. Clinton Portis is a candidate to start slow after averaging 3.1 YPC on just 11 preseason carries and 2.87 yards-per in his last five "real" games. Having lost his third-down job to Ladell Betts, it's not only Portis' production that threatens to be down. His role is declining.

St. Louis @ Seattle

New Seahawks offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, one of the run-heaviest minds of our generation, will be able to execute his game plan to the fullest against a Rams defense that already lost DT Adam Carriker for the season and is juggling bodies at outside linebacker. St. Louis will start 2008 Mr. Irrelevant David Vobora on the strong side, and career practice body Gary Gibson on the interior. Expect reduced pass attempts from Matt Hasselbeck and a surprisingly strong game from Jim Mora-alleged feature back Julius Jones...We're not in love with T.J. Houshmandzadeh this year, and while he needs to be started his matchup isn't that great on paper. The Rams will likely shadow Housh with physical LCB Ronald Bartell, who is a good enough tackler to prevent Houshmandzadeh from racking up yards after the catch. Housh could catch 6-9 balls and still not top 100 yards.

New split end Laurent Robinson showed the best rapport with Rams quarterbacks this preseason, hauling in a team-high 10 passes for 137 yards to secure a starting job. Donnie Avery is a slightly better talent, but Robinson's matchup is better this time around. With Marcus Trufant (back) out, the 6'2/194-pound speedster will likely see a lot of 30-year-old RCB Ken Lucas in coverage. Robinson is a better Week 1 play than Avery, who missed the entire preseason with a stress fracture...Steven Jackson is another must-play that we'd limit expectations for. Seattle returns high-motor DE Patrick Kerney, added 300-pound DE Cory Redding via free agency, and drafted new strong-side linebacker Aaron Curry. The Rams will need to pass to win. Jackson can still be a major factor as a receiver out of the backfield, but his rushing total may be unimpressive.

[SIZE=+1]Sunday Night Football[/SIZE]

Chicago @ Green Bay

Aaron Rodgers couldn't have had a better preseason (77.4% completions, 11.7 YPA, 5:0 TDs to INTs) and it'll carry over to Sunday night. Chicago is bound to have communication problems in the backend, as FS Danieal Manning, LCB Charles Tillman, and RCB Zackary Bowman all sat out most or all of camp with injuries. Greg Jennings, cleared from his preseason concussion, has explosion potential...new assistant Rod Marinelli will help Chicago's defensive line, but Ryan Grant remains a must-start RB2. He averaged a solid 4.4 YPC in August and the Bears are unsettled at nose tackle after losing Dusty Dvoracek for the year. DEs Adewale Ogunleye, 32, and Alex Brown, 30, are also getting "up there" in age...Wait and see how Packers TE Jermichael Finley fares early on before considering him. Green Bay's loaded receiver corps is likely to hog targets.

Rather than test the Packers' dynamic Charles Woodson-Al Harris corner duo, look for Bears coordinator Ron Turner to run a ball-control offense in the opener. Turner was aggressive this preseason -- Chicago ranked sixth in the NFL with a 7.6 YPA -- but it'd be much smarter to utilize Matt Forte heavily against Green Bay's transitioning front seven...If any non-Forte pass catcher on the Bears is poised for a big game, it's Greg Olsen. Woodson and Harris will give raw receivers Devin Hester and Earl Bennett fits. Olsen will see a combination of tackle-first, cover-later SS Atari Bigby and ILB Nick Barnett (knee) in coverage over the middle. Olsen is an every-week starter.

[SIZE=+1]Monday Night Football[/SIZE]

Buffalo @ New England

Whether Tom Brady is "all the way" back from knee surgery is the subject of some debate among nitpicky analysts. We deal in facts and numbers. Brady posted a 7.7 YPA, threw two touchdowns to no interceptions, and demonstrated the ability to take hits this preseason. He'll light up a Bills secondary that trots out new starting SS Bryan Scott and is unlikely to generate consistent pass rush...Fred Taylor will probably get the start, but the Pats will continue to use all their backs as rotating role players. Laurence Maroney will eat into early-down carries, BenJarvus Green-Ellis is a candidate for goal-line work, and Kevin Faulk will catch the passes. It's still a situation to avoid...Randy Moss (6'4/210) has an unfair size advantage on Bills LCB Terrence McGee (5'9/198) and RCB Leodis McKelvin (5'10/184). It's also hard to imagine Buffalo having answers for Wes Welker in three-receiver sets. Second-year player Reggie Corner will cover the slot, and likely struggle with Welker's precision routes. By the way, Welker (undisclosed) is going to play.

Buffalo has an ugly situation brewing in front of Trent Edwards. New blind-side tackle Demetrius Bell is athletic, but has played zero career snaps and will square off with Pats RE Ty Warren's devastating bull rush in Monday night's affair. On the strong side, New England LE Derrick Burgess is a mismatch for immobile Bills RT Brad Butler. Inside, Vince Wilfork is likely to manhandle light-in-the-pants LG Andy Levitre, who couldn't even stop Titans journeyman Kevin Vickerson in the preseason. Completely avoid Edwards...If the Patriots dominate the trenches as we anticipate, Buffalo may resort to frequent Fred Jackson dumpoffs. Jackson is a solid RB2 play in PPR leagues.

San Diego @ Oakland

No team was worse than San Diego at defending tight ends in '08, and that may not change. Rookie Kevin Ellison didn't step up to grab the strong safety job, so burnable starter Clinton Hart returns. Expect a big night for Zach Miller...The Bolts will use a rotation of Shawne Merriman and rookie Larry English against Raiders LT Mario Henderson. Expect a sack or two between them and a pair of picks from JaMarcus Russell with Bolts RCB Antonio Cromartie back healthy...Justin Fargas (hamstring) hasn't practiced in nearly three weeks and is unlikely to play a substantial role in Week 1. This game should re-energize the Darren McFadden hype train. He's a threat for 25 touches even if Oakland falls behind early because McFadden is an outstanding receiver.

It's easy to imagine LaDainian Tomlinson looking like his old self against the Richard Seymour-less Raiders. Oakland felt desperate to deal for Seymour because undersized RE Trevor Scott was getting blown off the ball all preseason. Scott will start Monday, and the front seven will remain among the league's leakiest. While the rest of the onlookers are saying "he's baaack," Tomlinson owners should sell high before Week 2...Vincent Jackson is always subject to being shut down when the Bolts play Oakland because he typically lines up across from Nnamdi Asomugha. It could be different this time around, as Asomugha has a club on his hand after suffering a "chip" fracture in August. The All Pro may struggle to knock V-Jax off his routes in press coverage.

 

[HacheMan]

Last Minute Decisions

Now that we've expanded our free week-by-week coverage with in-depth game by game breakdowns in addition to Gregg Rosenthal's dominant Goal Line Stand rankings, the new Last Minute Decisions column has changed. We'll now focus strictly on the injuries. Good luck to everyone this week.

Game-Time Decisions for Week 1

Arms
Matt Schaub - Certain to start against Jets defense that is down two starters.
Marc Bulger - Cleared to start and take snaps from center after broken finger.
Matt Cassel - Likely will start, but not remotely a fantasy consideration @ BAL.
Kyle Orton/Chris Simms - Orton is fully scheduled to start against Cincinnati.

Backs
Brian Westbrook - Probable and must be in fantasy lineups against the Panthers.
Knowshon Moreno - Expected to play, but hasn't passed Correll Buckhalter yet.
Jerome Harrison - James Davis will have a much bigger role early in the season.
Brandon Jackson - Won't play; DeShawn Wynn will handle third downs on SNF.
Justin Fargas - Hamstring woes cost Fargas his job to Darren McFadden.
Sammy Morris - Fifth on the depth chart now, even behind BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Wideouts
Anquan Boldin - Status won't be known until pre-game warmups in a late game.
Wes Welker - Knee injury unlikely to sideline Welker for Monday night vs. BUF.
Kevin Walter - Expect Andre' Davis to start and Owen Daniels to have big day.
Bernard Berrian - a full-blown game-time call, so check Rotoworld on Sunday.
Antonio Bryant/Michael Clayton - Both are probable and will start at Cowboys.
Chris Henry - Situational deep threat is all systems go for Sunday against DEN.
Steve Breaston - His offensive role is declining and he isn't 100 percent (knee).
Jabar Gaffney - Look for Brandon Marshall to regain his starting job on Sunday.
Deion Branch - Didn't practice all week and swiftly falling down the depth chart.
Devin Aromashodu - Bears third wide receiver's status completely up in the air.
Terrance Copper - Listed as starter, but Dwayne Bowe will get the nod at BAL.

Ends
Jeremy Shockey - Had Friday off; Shockey will be in starting lineup vs. Detroit.
L.J. Smith - Listed as "doubtful," but he is sure to be among Ravens inactives.

Legs
Jason Hanson - He may not kick off, but Hanson will kick field goals vs. Saints.

Already Ruled Out for Week 1

Arms
None of significance.

Backs
Pierre Thomas - Thomas' return is uncertain; Mike Bell to get goal-line carries.
Marshawn Lynch - Suspension goes through Week 3; Fred Jackson starting.
Kevin Jones - Landed on I.R. already; Garrett Wolfe now Matt Forte's backup.
Andre Brown - Done for year with Achilles' tear; Danny wear now Giants' No. 3.

Wideouts
Brandon Jones - Micheal Spurlock, Arnaz Battle are sharing third receiver duty.
Chaz Schilens - Raiders will start two rookie receivers for Monday night game.

Ends
David Martin - Anthony Fasano will see increased targets with Martin on I.R.

Legs
Garrett Hartley - Four-game suspension means John Carney will be the starter.

 

[HacheMan]

Last Minute Decisions

Now that we've expanded our free week-by-week coverage with in-depth game by game breakdowns in addition to Gregg Rosenthal's dominant Goal Line Stand rankings, the new Last Minute Decisions column has changed. We'll now focus strictly on the injuries. Good luck to everyone this week.

Game-Time Decisions for Week 1

Arms
Matt Schaub - Certain to start against Jets defense that is down two starters.
Marc Bulger - Cleared to start and take snaps from center after broken finger.
Matt Cassel - Likely will start, but not remotely a fantasy consideration @ BAL.
Kyle Orton/Chris Simms - Orton is fully scheduled to start against Cincinnati.

Backs
Brian Westbrook - Probable and must be in fantasy lineups against the Panthers.
Knowshon Moreno - Expected to play, but hasn't passed Correll Buckhalter yet.
Jerome Harrison - James Davis will have a much bigger role early in the season.
Brandon Jackson - Won't play; DeShawn Wynn will handle third downs on SNF.
Justin Fargas - Hamstring woes cost Fargas his job to Darren McFadden.
Sammy Morris - Fifth on the depth chart now, even behind BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Wideouts
Anquan Boldin - Status won't be known until pre-game warmups in a late game.
Wes Welker - Knee injury unlikely to sideline Welker for Monday night vs. BUF.
Kevin Walter - Expect Andre' Davis to start and Owen Daniels to have big day.
Bernard Berrian - a full-blown game-time call, so check Rotoworld on Sunday.
Antonio Bryant/Michael Clayton - Both are probable and will start at Cowboys.
Chris Henry - Situational deep threat is all systems go for Sunday against DEN.
Steve Breaston - His offensive role is declining and he isn't 100 percent (knee).
Jabar Gaffney - Look for Brandon Marshall to regain his starting job on Sunday.
Deion Branch - Didn't practice all week and swiftly falling down the depth chart.
Devin Aromashodu - Bears third wide receiver's status completely up in the air.
Terrance Copper - Listed as starter, but Dwayne Bowe will get the nod at BAL.

Ends
Jeremy Shockey - Had Friday off; Shockey will be in starting lineup vs. Detroit.
L.J. Smith - Listed as "doubtful," but he is sure to be among Ravens inactives.

Legs
Jason Hanson - He may not kick off, but Hanson will kick field goals vs. Saints.

Already Ruled Out for Week 1

Arms
None of significance.

Backs
Pierre Thomas - Thomas' return is uncertain; Mike Bell to get goal-line carries.
Marshawn Lynch - Suspension goes through Week 3; Fred Jackson starting.
Kevin Jones - Landed on I.R. already; Garrett Wolfe now Matt Forte's backup.
Andre Brown - Done for year with Achilles' tear; Danny wear now Giants' No. 3.

Wideouts
Brandon Jones - Micheal Spurlock, Arnaz Battle are sharing third receiver duty.
Chaz Schilens - Raiders will start two rookie receivers for Monday night game.

Ends
David Martin - Anthony Fasano will see increased targets with Martin on I.R.

Legs
Garrett Hartley - Four-game suspension means John Carney will be the starter.

 

[HacheMan]

Kolb finally gets a good chance

Funny how the Eagles never go long without drama at quarterback. Anyhow, here we go again with Donovan McNabb's rib injury overshadowing a dominating opening win against the Panthers.
Here's the short answer: Pick up Kevin Kolb. In Week 2, the Eagles host the Saints, who just gave up 27 points to the Lions. The Eagles could get blown out and still score 31; if you drafted Jake Delhomme, think of Kolb as an instant upgrade.

Here's the long(-term) answer:
Don't pick up Kolb. First, McNabb might not miss much time. More important, Michael Vick gets on the field in Week 3. And if McNabb is still out, surely the Eagles will rush together a package to get Vick a significant amount of playing time. A worst-case scenario would be Kolb and Vick splitting snaps, but we are a long way from that.
Kolb's first two extended stretches of playing time -- last year against the Ravens and Sunday against the Panthers -- have been very unimpressive. None of his 45 total passes have gone for a touchdown. But he gets a full week of practice with the first team to get ready for the Saints, who -- did I mention? -- just allowed 27 points to the Lions.
Any boost wide receivers DeSean Jackson, Kevin Curtis, Jeremy Maclin or Jason Avant might get from playing the Saints is balanced out by the uncertainty of Kolb. You might also get an extra bit of Brian Westbrook or LeSean McCoy.
If you get one good game out of Kolb, do not be fooled into thinking he would do it regularly should McNabb be sidelined

 

[HacheMan]

McNabb among walking wounded


With the majority of Week 1 schedule completed, it is time to take a look at some of the key injuries.

Just like last year's Week 1 injury of Tom Brady, all eyes are on a franchise quarterback, the Philadelphia Eagles' Donovan McNabb. However there is a lot more uncertainty surrounding McNabb's injury than there was for Brady's injury. According to Eagles coach Andy Reid, McNabb's status is still up in the air for next week's matchup against New Orleans despite having a fractured rib.
FOXSports' Jay Glazer is reporting however that McNabb will miss next week's game and it is unclear as to when he will return. If this is true, look for Kevin Kolb to be the starter but that doesn't mean that you should play him. McNabb owners should check for updates on his health this week as Andy Reid would love to avoid starting Kolb.

If McNabb is not able to make it back for Week 3, it will be interesting to see Michael Vick make his Eagles debut as a potential starter. But recent reports are saying that the Eagles are not necessarily viewing Vick as an upgrade to Kolb which is why they are reported to be pursuing free agent A.J. Feeley as another arm behind Kolb. The Eagles play the Kansas City Chiefs that week which would be a favorable matchup for whoever is taking the snaps.

There are some additional key players who have injuries that have fantasy implications. Continuing in the NFC East, the Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo hurt his right ankle in the third quarter of their 34-21 win against the Buccaneers. The injury doesn't appear to be serious since Romo played the remainder of the game, although he admitted after the game that it hurts to put pressure on it. As of now he should be starting in all formats but Romo owners should continue to monitor his status throughout the week.

The Indianapolis Colts wide weceiver Anthony Gonzalez was lifted with a knee injury in the first quarter of their game against the Jaguars. Gonzalez is expected to miss 2-6 weeks with Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon the candidates to fill in. Collie beat out Garcon in the preseason for the third Wide Receiver job so look for him to get the most targets.

Going back to the NFC East, the New York Giants rookie Wide Receiver Hakeem Nicks was carted off the field and will miss at least 2-3 weeks due to a foot sprain. Nicks came into the season as the Giants fourth receiver with Ramses Barden, one of Manning's pre-season favorites, lurking behind, so there isn't much value remaining for Nicks as a fantasy bench player.

 

[HacheMan]

Beyond the Box Score




[SIZE=+1]Broncos 12, Bengals 7[/SIZE]

Beyond the Box Score

* The Broncos started in a three-receiver set with Eddie Royal at split end, Brandon Stokley in the slot, and Jabar Gaffney at flanker. Brandon Marshall entered on the second snap and led Denver in targets, but dropped multiple passes. He isn't a reliable fantasy option yet.

* Chris Henry saw just two targets and is only a fourth receiver, despite his awesome preseason. He was not involved in three-wideout sets most of the time. They usually consisted of Chad Ochocinco and Laveranues Coles outside, with impressive Andre Caldwell in the slot.

* Correll Buckhalter started at tailback and severely outplayed Knowshon Moreno from the first snap. However, the Broncos used a four-man running back committee, also involving LaMont Jordan and Peyton Hillis. It's a major drain on any fantasy value.

* Coles dropped four passes and was the worst receiver on the field Sunday. Caldwell is clearly a superior option. Coles' starting job may not be in danger because of his mega-million-dollar contract, but he needs to be on fantasy benches.

Going Forward

* Chalk up Royal's 2-for-18 effort as a fluke. He'll likely end up with the most catches on the Broncos, or at least come close to Brandon Marshall. Royal is an excellent buy-low target and should stay in fantasy lineups in Week 2 against Cleveland.

* Caldwell isn't a fantasy option, despite his excellent Week 1. He dominated late in the game, but the Bengals will likely use a rotation at the No. 3 receiver position with Chris Henry. If Caldwell overtakes Coles at flanker, however, he'd be an immediate pickup in all settings.

* Kyle Orton's stitches have been removed and he'll play Week 2 without a glove on his previously lacerated throwing hand. It should help his accuracy. Orton will be a quality option in two-quarterback leagues against the Browns.

* Carson Palmer was healthy and played better than his numbers indicated Sunday. We'd sit him against Green Bay's awesome secondary in Week 2, but he'll be a fantasy starter in upcoming matchups @ Cleveland (Week 4), @ Baltimore (Week 5), and vs. Houston (Week 6).


[SIZE=+1]Panthers 10 Eagles 38[/SIZE]

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

* Eight of LeSean McCoy's nine carries came in garbage time. There is no committee in Philadelphia, Brian Westbrook is the man.

* Westbrook's ankle and knee problems of the offseason were a non-issue. He was cutting and moving just like he always has.

* When the Panthers got to the goal-line in the first quarter, Jonathan Stewart got three straight chances to punch it in. He failed on all three.

* The carry split between Williams (9) and Stewart (8) was virtually even in the first half.

* Stewart's Achilles gave him no problems. He ran hard and showed good hands in the passing game as well.

* Donovan McNabb was not staring down DeSean Jackson, who had four targets before McNabb got hurt. He was spreading the ball around evenly as he has done in all years except the T.O. season.

GOING FORWARD

* Andy Reid wouldn't say it yet, but Donovan McNabb (fractured rib) is very unlikely to play against the Saints next week. All of the Eagles receivers should be downgraded if Kevin Kolb starts.

* Jake Delhomme will start next week after getting pulled, but he has to be getting gun shy. He's thrown nine interceptions in his last 51 passing attempts.

* Jonathan Stewart's role should continue to grow. He will be a solid flex spot play as soon as next week.


[SIZE=+1]Ravens 38 Chiefs 24[/SIZE]

Beyond the Box Score

*The Ravens obviously have more confidence in Joe Flacco this season, as they called 49 pass plays to only 36 run calls. Last season, the Ravens were a run-heavy offense, but the 43 pass attempts and 307 passing yards were both career highs for Flacco. Don't expect offensive coordinator Cam Cameron to call this many pass plays but look for them to put the game in Flacco's hands more.

*Ray Rice is going to be a special player this year. He is quick and strong for his 5'8'' frame. Rice turned the corner well and can make plays in space. He has good hands and Flacco targeted him at least four times on pass plays. Expect more than 19 carries from him on a week-to-week basis, but don't expect too many touchdowns.

*Willis McGahee is obviously the team's goal-line back. McGahee had a last minute 1-yard touchdown run to seal the deal and also caught a 3-yard score from a scrambling Flacco in the first quarter. He ran the ball ten times for 44 yards and caught four passes for 31 yards.

*Maurice Leggett is not a good bet to start many more games for the Chiefs at cornerback. Flacco and the Ravens targeted Leggett nearly every time they threw the ball. He was beat by Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton on a regular basis.

*Larry Johnson looks like he has lost a step. Maybe it's the offensive line, but he couldn't get anything going against a Ravens defense that wasn't itself either. L.J., the last running back to run for 100 yards on the Ravens back in 2006, only generated 20 yards on 11 carries. Maybe he can get it going against Oakland in Week 2.

Going Forward

*Mark Bradley looks very much improved. He was Brodie Croyle's favorite target on the day, catching four passes for 73 yards but was thrown to seven times. His 50-yard catch on Fabian Washington set up a 53-yard field goal for rookie Ryan Succop. Wait until next week and see if Matt Cassel favors Bradley as well, but he is clearly the team's No. 2 receiver.

*Dwayne Bowe was double-teamed early in the game and didn't see much action which allowed Bradley to get a lot of balls. Bowe should get more passes thrown his way from Cassel than the five he got from Croyle on Sunday, but don't bank on a lot of production in Week 2, as he will be blanketed by Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha.

*Todd Heap is back. Flacco got Heap the ball for four first down conversions and he was continuously open over the middle. Look for Heap to return to old form and become an integral part of the Ravens' passing game.


[SIZE=+1]Falcons 19 Dolphins 7[/SIZE]

Beyond the Box Score

*The Dolphins sold out to stop the run, which kept Michael Turner's numbers fairly low.

*Matt Ryan misfired several times on deep throws where he had an open receiver. The game would have been a blowout if he was accurate down the field Sunday.

*Pat White was used on less than a handful of plays, and he overshot a wide open Ted Ginn by at least 10 yards on his one pass attempt.

*Chad Pennington looked more like the player who couldn't muster any offense against the Ravens in the playoffs last season as opposed to the 2008 MVP runner-up.

*Ricky Williams still has plenty of life in his legs. He looked quicker than last season and can still help this team as a role player.

Going Forward

*Tony Gonzalez is great for Matt Ryan's value, not so good for Roddy White's.

*Don't count on Jerious Norwood getting extra touches this year. He's in the same role.

*Ronnie Brown still has a Ricky Williams problem.

*For fantasy purposes, Davone Bess is the Dolphins No. 2 receiver.

<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]Jets 24 Texans 7[/SIZE]

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

* Andre Johnson was shadowed by Darrelle Revis all game and it showed. Johnson simply wasn't open.

* The Texans' offensive line was overmatched. They returned all five starters on the line but maybe that wasn't a good thing.

* Thomas Jones had just one rushing yard in the first half but then broke off two long runs of 38 and 39 yards in the fourth quarter.

* The Jets got Leon Washington involved every chance they could, but Jones was still the main ball carrier on early downs.

* Mark Sanchez looked calm, completing third-down conversions at will. He showed tremendous accuracy while throwing slants and on bootlegs.

GOING FORWARD

* Matt Schaub was clearly rattled by all the pressure he was under. He won't stay upright very long without better protection.

* Dustin Keller proved he can be started every week. He lined up out wide and showed great speed running after the catch.

* Chris Brown didn't steal very many snaps from Steve Slaton, who had a bad fumble when the Texans were actually about to back in the game.


[SIZE=+1]Browns 20 Vikings 34[/SIZE]

Beyond the Box Score

* Percy Harvin was used sparingly, getting just five touches and acting as a decoy on several plays, but the Vikings showed a willingness to line him up in lots of different alignments and his workload will only rise.

* James Davis may eventually supplant Jamal Lewis as the primary ball-carrier, but Lewis looked solid despite a very difficult matchup and the rookie did absolutely nothing in limited opportunities.

* It's tough to judge Brett Favre's arm strength, as he didn't really attempt much in terms of down-field throws with Bernard Berrian at less than full strength and the offense in run-heavy mode, but he was accurate on mid-range tosses and dump-downs.

* Brady Quinn's fumble was on a Garo Yepremian-like whiff with no defender near him.

Takeaways

* Eric Mangini definitely likes Joshua Cribbs as an offensive weapon, using him unsuccessfully on back-to-back direct snaps at the goal line in addition to wide receiver and return action. Look for Cribbs to at least double last year's total of 31 touches offensively.

* They misfired on a few jump-ball attempts, but Sidney Rice looks likely to be Favre's favorite goal-line target.

* Adrian Peterson was an absolute beast, but it's worth noting that he still came out of the game during most third-down situations in favor of Chester Taylor. Peterson's only catch came on a semi-trick play that began with a fake handoff to Harvin.

* Robert Royal was targeted nine times and may put up career-best numbers by default with Quinn frequently looking to dump the ball off underneath.


[SIZE=+1]Buccaneers 21 Cowboys 34 [/SIZE]

Beyond the Box Score

* Despite preseason speculation that Felix Jones and Marion Barber would form a timeshare, the Dallas backfield belongs to MBIII. The 26-year-old's burst is back and he "closed" the game in dominating fashion. He's again a threat for 15+ touchdowns.

* Antonio Bryant's knee problems aren't going away. Bryant, who underwent arthroscopic surgery in camp, left the game with an injury to the same knee in the second half and did not return.

* The Cowboys capitalized on communication problems in the Bucs' secondary, lighting them up with touchdowns of 42 yards (Miles Austin), 66 yards (Roy Williams), and 80 (Patrick Crayton). Tony Romo was highly aggressive, despite only 27 pass attempts.

* The Bucs used Earnest Graham as a lead blocker more than a ball carrier. Coach Raheem Morris said Tampa Bay would employ a "2-2-1" running back rotation, but ultimately it was only a "2-2" committee of Carnell Williams and Derrick Ward, who shared touches evenly. Williams started and exhibited some power, but Ward is the superior all-purpose back.

Going Forward

* Keep the Bucs' safety issues (converted linebacker Jermaine Phillips is starting at free safety through Week 4 with Tanard Jackson suspended) in mind for upcoming matchups @ Buffalo, vs. NY Giants, and @ Washington.

* Stick with the Cowboys' fantasy defense despite zero sacks and interceptions in Week 1. They generated plenty of pressure and got countless QB hits on Byron Leftwich. Sacks and turnovers will come.

* Kellen Winslow is the only start-able member of Tampa Bay's passing game at this point.

* Ward and Cadillac's fantasy upsides are significantly capped by their even rotation. Neither is close to a reliable RB2.


[SIZE=+1]Saints 45 Lions 27[/SIZE]

Beyond the Box Score

*Calvin Johnson was targeted more than 10 times, but Stafford couldn't get the ball to him. Johnson would have had a touchdown added to his totals, but refs incorrectly ruled him out at the 3-yard line on a nifty catch-and-run.

*Lance Moore was the third or fourth option on the passing game. With all Saints receivers healthy, he's going to have a hard time matching last year's numbers.

*Marques Colston had fewer targets than Devery Henderson. According to Football Outsiders' injury expert Will Carroll, Colston had trouble cutting and stopping and could only go forward.

*Robert Meachem looked explosive as a kickoff returner. If any of the other receivers go down with an injury, he'll have immediate fantasy value.

*The Saints clearly don't want to use Reggie Bush as the lead runner. Mike Bell did all of the heavy lifting, with Bush being used as a change of pace back and receiver.

Takeaways

* Preseason reports of Kevin Smith being the focal point of the Lions offense held true. Maurice Morris didn't receive a single carry.

*Matthew Stafford's accuracy and decision making were erratic. Unless he hooks up with Calvin Johnson a couple of deep balls each game, he's going to be useless for fantasy purposes.

*Mike Bell is a must-have for Pierre Thomas owners. He shouldn't be left available on any waiver wires.

*The Saints are relying more on Drew Brees near the end zone. Last year was his first season over 30 TDs, and he might threaten 40 this season.

*Jeremy Shockey could also threaten a career-high in TDs this season, as Brees was looking to him as a go-to guy in the red zone.


[SIZE=+1]Colts 14 Jaguars 12[/SIZE]

Beyond the Box Score

* Reggie Wayne was fantastic despite a tough on-paper matchup with Rashean Mathis, finding seams in the defense early and then burning safety Reggie Nelson on a play-action bomb down the middle late. Peyton Manning also targeted him a goal-line fade route that was picked off in the first quarter, which is ultimately good news for his scoring chances.

* It's tough to say whether losing 20 pounds during the offseason had a big impact, because David Garrard has always been great at scrambling and making plays with his legs, but he avoided tackles frequently Sunday and picked up a nice nine-yard completion to Greg Jones after shedding a pair of would-be sacks on the same play.

* Troy Williamson showed why track records count more than randomly great preseason performances.

Takeaways

* Anthony Gonzalez is expected to miss 2-6 weeks with a knee injury suffered on a play where no one was even close to touching him, as he simply collapsed coming off the line of scrimmage. Third-round pick Austin Collie becomes a nice pickup with Gonzalez out, as the BYU product led Division I in receiving yards last season, has good hands, and saw plenty of snaps Sunday.

* Joseph Addai dominated the workload early, but seemingly got himself benched with a fumble and a drop, at which point rookie Donald Brown did most of the heavy lifting in the fourth quarter. Expect the snaps to be divvied out on a week-by-week basis, but clearly Addai is on a fairly short leash in general.

* Maurice Jones-Drew's numbers weren't eye-popping, but he got a heavier workload than in every game except one last season. Barring injury he should be one of the most consistent fantasy studs on a week-to-week basis, because the Jaguars really don't have anyone else around to steal snaps even if they wanted.

<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]49ers 20 Cardinals 16[/SIZE]

Beyond the Box Score

*The Cardinals desperately missed Todd Haley's playcalling on Sunday. They were much more conservative offensively, and Warner didn't have a shotgun snap until the second half.

*Hightower's 12 receptions were the result of dumpoffs due to two factors: the 49ers defense hurried Warner 21 times, and Warner didn't have enough confidence in his arm strength to attempt down-field throws.

*Wells barely played in the first half. When he finally did enter, it was immediately obvious that he's a much more explosive runner than Hightower. Whereas Hightower wants to break everything to the outside, Wells runs north and south with authority.

*The 49ers stayed true to their ground game commitment. Even with the Cardinals defense swarming all game, Frank Gore remained the focal point. They didn't let Shaun Hill loose until an impressive 15-play, 13-pass drive in the fourth quarter.

*Isaac Bruce looked every bit of 36-years-old on an end=around that went for an eight yard loss. The 49ers need to take that page out of the playbook.

*Josh Morgan was nowhere to be found in the second half. Announcers didn't mention an injury, and the Niners didn't address the situation after the game.

Going Forward

*Kurt Warner suddenly looks very old. The hip surgery appears to be affecting both his arm strength and his accuracy.

*Anquan Boldin wasn't healthy enough to be a fantasy factor. Check to make sure he puts in a full practice this week.

*Tim Hightower will hold off Beanie Wells for the foreseeable future. Cardinals coaches don't seem to trust the rookie in passing situations.

*Glen Coffee is no threat to Frank Gore.

*Vernon Davis is being moved off the line of scrimmage in passing situations. He's in for a career year.


[SIZE=+1]Giants 23 Redskins 17[/SIZE]

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

* Malcolm Kelly started but had a ball thrown his way just once all game.

* Antwaan Randle El worked out of the slot and was Jason Campbell's favorite target.

* Ladell Betts did play on third-downs but Clinton Portis was in for a two-minute drill at the end of the first half.

* With Danny Ware dislocating his elbow on opening kickoff, Ahmad Bradshaw spelled Brandon Jacobs often.

* Jacobs had two carries from the inside the five-yard line but couldn't convert either.

* Campbell rarely looked Santana Moss' way and he had one catch for negative two yards midway through the fourth quarter.

* Hakeem Nicks sprained his foot and was on crutches at the end of the game.

GOING FORWARD

* Mario Manningham looks like he will push Domenik Hixon for the No. 2 WR job, but Eli Manning will spread the ball around.

* Ahmad Bradshaw ran impressively and the Giants won't hesitate to give him 15 touches a game.

* None of the Redskins' wide receivers can be trusted on a weekly basis.


[SIZE=+1]Seahawks 28 Rams 0[/SIZE]

Beyond the Box Score

* Marc Bulger is still afraid of the pass rush and it won't change. St. Louis may never win another game as long as he's under center.

* The Seahawks paid T.J. Houshmandzadeh No. 1 receiver money, but he is purely a possession target. He does nothing after the catch.

* John Carlson tore apart the Rams' safeties, who bit on play-action fakes badly all game. St. Louis may struggle to defend tight ends all season.

* Julius Jones was the Seahawks' featured back when the game was still remotely close. He finally showed confidence we haven't seen since his early Dallas days. Edgerrin James only got garbage-time carries.

Going Forward

* The Rams' terrible passing game limits his upside, but Laurent Robinson may be emerging as their No. 1 receiver. He should be picked up in all leagues and has the explosiveness and size to be a legitimate bye-week fantasy starter.

* Keep all the Seahawks' production in perspective; they were playing the Rams. Matt Hasselbeck is a good sell-high candidate, as is Nate Burleson.

* Don't stress about Steven Jackson's lack of involvement in the passing game. It will change when the Rams' coaching staff watches game film this week, and they'll make a concerted effort to make sure he catches more passes the rest of the way.


[SIZE=+1]Packers 21 Bears 15[/SIZE]
Beyond the Box Score

*Packers receiver Jordy Nelson got the night started with a 46-yard return of the opening kickoff. He was also solid on punt returns in the absence of usual special teams guru CB Will Blackmon.

*Bears CB Nathan Vasher was consistently burned by Green Bay's wideouts. He'll be a liability in the secondary all season.

*Packers RB Ryan Grant rattled off a lengthy run early in the second half that was negated by a questionable holding call. He showed an impressive burst on the scamper and may have grown as a running back this summer.

*Jay Cutler nearly threw two interceptions in the first quarter, but Green Bay's Tramon Williams displayed hands of stone. His career-high four picks look awful, but it could have been worse.

*Aaron Rodgers was clearly flustered by the Bears' pass rush in the game's first three quarters. He's normally a very accurate passer, but overthrew more than two deep balls and struggled in his decision-making. Of course, all was righted on the Packers' final drive.

Going Forward

*Jay Cutler had a passer rating of over 107.0 last season against the blitz, but looked far from comfortable with the Packers' pass rush Sunday night. He was able to settle in during the second half, but it was unsettling to see him so flustered. With Pittsburgh on tap for Week 2, the Bears could be in real trouble.

*The Packers' defense has quickly improved from "good" to "great" under new coordinator Dom Capers. From their creative blitz packages to shutdown corners, this Green Bay defensive group should finish among the league's elite in both turnovers and fantasy points.

 

[HacheMan]

LaDainian's Bad Night


Perhaps the most telling picture of last night was just after Darren Sproles ran in the game-winning touchdown and the cameras found LaDainian Tomlinson half-celebrating on the sideline.

His ankle injury that was revealed after the game didn't seem to be a huge factor. He just wasn't in the game for the winning drive. For that matter, Tomlinson didn't play on third-down all game and was removed during two-minute drills. Meanwhile, Darren Sproles was huge for the Chargers, making the big plays that won the game. Both backs ended up touching the ball 14 times. Tomlinson's final numbers were 13 carries for 55 yards and one touchdown, with one catch for 11 yards.

Let's not overreact to one game. Tomlinson looked shifty at times and made a couple guys miss. For the most part, Raiders defenders were in the backfield on his carries. Tomlinson got the call on a 1st-and-goal from the one-yard line and converted. So it's not all bad.

But Tomlinson certainly didn't hit the hole like he used to and lost a key fumble. He looked too slow to get around the corner and didn't run through anyone. Sproles was the hero and he showed he needs to get his touches.

Bottom line: It was a painful game to watch if you owned Tomlinson. The Raiders had one of the league's worst run-defenses last year and LaDainian never got going. The Chargers showed they're willing to go to Sproles over the veteran. If you took Tomlinson in first half of the first round, you can safely regret it already.

Chargers/Raiders quick hitters: Justin Fargas was inactive, leaving Darren McFadden to get a little more work than Michael Bush. … Zach Miller continues to be JaMarcus Russell's favorite target and caught six balls for 96 yards … Vincent Jackson was shadowed by Nnamdi Asomugha for most of the game, but still managed a decent game. Bigger ones are ahead. ... Louis Murphy was impressive and Russell looked to him more than fellow rookie Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Editor's Note: For early rankings, complete projections, and a host of other exclusive material for Week 2, head to Rotoworld's Season Pass.

BRADY SHAKES RUST OFF
The big story in the opening game last night was the return of Tom Brady. The Patriots decided to ease him back into action by putting the ball in the air 53 times. In his ridiculous 2007 campaign Brady only had more than 50 passing attempts once.

The surprising score had a lot to do with all those attempts as the Bills led for most of the game. Brady wore a brace on his surgically repaired knee but it wasn't a factor. He even scrambled up the middle for a nice nine-yard run before sliding.

His final numbers - 39-of-53, 378 yards, two touchdowns, one interception - looked like a lot of those 2007 games, when Brady finished with 50 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The biggest difference was that Brady didn't get the ball down the field at all for big plays. Virtually every one of his completions up until the final minutes were underneath to Wes Welker or Randy Moss. In 2007, Brady averaged 12.07 yards per completion. On Monday night, he averaged 9.69.

Bottom line: Brady's owners have to be really happy with what they saw. Buffalo gave him the underneath routes so he took them and he got much better as the game went on. Wes Welker looked 100 percent, New England was just as pass-happy as ever and the knee was a non-factor.

Patriots/Bills quick hitters: Wes Welker was active and his knee looked completely healthy as he caught 12 balls. … Fred Taylor got the goal-line carry and converted. … Fred Jackson ran really well. He'll get his touches even when Marshawn Lynch comes off suspension. ... Don't go overboard on Ben Watson's two touchdowns, but he gained some of Brady's trust with those big plays.
NEWS OF THE DAY #1
Andy Reid slapped Kevin Kolb directly in the face yesterday when the Eagles agreed to terms with Jeff Garcia. On his weekly radio show, the Eagles coach refused to name a starter for Sunday's game against the Saints, but did say Kolb will practice with the first-team on Wednesday. Garcia and Kolb are likely competing for the start Sunday, with Kolb having to fall flat on his face not to get the start. Donovan McNabb hasn't been ruled out, but Garcia's arrival probably means #5 will rest his fractured rib.

NEWS OF THE DAY #2
If you're grasping for some backhanded good news on Anthony Gonzalez, Colts president Bill Polian granted your wish last night. Polian said the popular preseason sleeper's knee injury will not be season-ending. Still, sources are telling the Indianapolis Star that Gonzalez could miss up to six weeks. So much for that breakout year we all predicted.

NEWS OF THE DAY #3
Antonio Bryant is not over his left knee injury. He had to pull himself out of Sunday's loss to the Cowboys and Raheem Morris said they'll be monitoring the situation. Bryant isn't someone you can depend on right now.

Editor's Note: For early rankings, complete projections, and a host of other exclusive material for Week 2, head to Rotoworld's Season Pass.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS
Tony Romo hurt has ankle in the third quarter Sunday, but didn't miss a play and will be fine. … Hakeem Nicks is out 2-3 weeks with a foot injury. … Texans coach Gary Kubiak said he fully expects Kevin Walter (hamstring) to play this week. … Maurice Jones-Drew showed up to his press conference with his right arm and hand wrapped up, but there's nothing serious to be worried about there. … Pierre Thomas (knee) said he will play this week, but that's what he said last week. There's no reason to rush back with Mike Bell playing so well. … Brian Urlacher is out for the year after undergoing wrist surgery.

DEPTH CHART QUICK SLANTS
John Fox reiterated yesterday that Jake Delhomme is still his starter, but A.J. Feely can smell the blood in the water. He chose to sign with the Panthers yesterday over the Eagles. … Laveranues Coles' drops Sunday combined with the play of Andre Caldwell could mean a timeshare going forward. … Mario Manningham is pushing Domenik Hixon and those two will likely split snaps while Hakeem Nicks is out.

DEFENSE SPOT STARTS
Here are three ideas for owners adding a new defense each week based on matchups:

FALCONS vs. Panthers - Jake Delhomme has thrown nine interceptions in his last 51 pass attempts and Atlanta forced four turnovers last week.

REDSKINS vs. Rams - St. Louis has to fly back across the country after getting embarrassed in Seattle. Tough spot when you're quarterback is struggling as bad as Marc Bulger is.

PACKERS vs. Bengals - If Cincinnati can only muster seven points at home against the Broncos, they're really going to struggle at Lambeau.

POSITIONAL SPOT STARTS
Chris Wesseling will cover this topic from head-to-toe in his Waiver Wired column, but here are three guys that are worth a quick add:

WR Austin Collie - With Anthony Gonzalez out, Collie and Pierre Garcon will be forced to pick up the slack. Collie has more upside.

TE Todd Heap - Just in case rumors of his demise were premature. Heap got seven targets Sunday, including several in the red zone.

QB Mark Sanchez - The rookie was really, really impressive Sunday as he made all the throws and handled the ball beautifully. Even though the Jets are a run-first team, Brian Schottenheimer's creativity will allow Sanchez to be a QB2 all season.

 

[HacheMan]

Receiving Line

Last week's list was headlined by a possible bell-cow running back in New Orleans. Mike Bell and Cadillac Williams will continue to garner much of the hype for the second straight week, but it's a long line of receivers taking center stage on the waiver wire after the opening weekend. Justin Gage, Laurent Robinson, and Earl Bennett are establishing themselves as WR3 candidates while Mark Clayton, Michael Clayton, and Nate Burleson are trying to recapture the magic of past success. Talented young pass-catchers such as Mario Manningham, Kenny Britt, Austin Collie, Robert Meachem, and Andre Caldwell are worth keeping on watch lists for next week and beyond.

On to the lists. Here is how I rank the top players available at each position as we head into Week 2. Full writeups of each player are below.

Editor's NoteJoin subscriber only chats, get weekly rankings before anyone else, plus exclusive weekly projections, stat tools, dynasty ranks, columns, and much more including the Rotoworld Oracle in our Season Pass.

Wide Receivers

1. Justin Gage, Titans
2. Earl Bennett, Bears
3. Laurent Robinson, Rams
4. Nate Burleson, Seahawks
5. Michael Clayton, Buccaneers
6. Mark Clayton, Ravens
7. Nate Washington, Titans

Running Backs

1. Mike Bell, Saints
2. Cadillac Williams, Buccaneers
3. Michael Bush, Raiders
4. Fred Taylor, Patriots
5. Mewelde Moore, Steelers

Quarterbacks

1. Mark Sanchez
2. Byron Leftwich
3. Kerry Collins
4. Matt Leinart

Tight Ends

1. Zach Miller, Raiders
2. Brent Celek, Eagles
3. Todd Heap, Ravens

Defenses

1. Seahawks
2. Redskins
3. Falcons


</FONT+1>WIDE RECEIVERS

Justin Gage, Titans – Kerry Collins' favorite target saw 11 passes thrown his way in the opener, and he reeled in seven for 78 yards and a touchdown. Gage remains the option of choice in the red zone while doubling as the closest thing the Titans have to a go-to receiver. He can put up WR3 numbers the rest of the way.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Earl Bennett, Bears – If Sunday night's game is any indication, Devin Hester is more of a deep threat with Bennett in the possession receiver mold. Jay Cutler's former college teammate was the recipient of 13 targets – more than Hester, Greg Olsen, and Matt Forte combined. While he won't hit paydirt often, think of Bennett as a PPR asset in the Steve Smith (Giants) vein.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Laurent Robinson, Rams – We've been recommending Robinson as a late-round flier since early August, and he didn't disappoint in Week 1. With good size and sub 4.4 forty speed, he's the real deal. In a game where the Rams offense sputtered, Robinson led the team with 87 yards and was targeted more often than Donnie Avery. It wouldn't be a surprise if Robinson leapfrogged Avery to become the No. 1 receiver.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Nate Burleson, Seahawks – T.J. Houshmandzadeh was paid big bucks to act as a No. 1 receiver for Seattle, but his inability to create yards after the leaves him as little more than a glorified possession receiver. Burleson not only appears to be the Seahawks best big-play receiver, he also led the team with 11 targets in Week 1. Keep expectations reasonable as the Rams are hardly a good opening-game barometer.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Michael Clayton, Buccaneers – I know. I'm just as surprised as you are that he's on this list. With Antonio Bryant hobbled by a knee injury, Clayton channeled his rookie-year magic against the Cowboys on Sunday. Used almost strictly as a blocker under Jon Gruden the past few seasons, Clayton re-emerged as a receiving threat, posting the highest yardage he's had in any game since his rookie season. If Bryant misses time, a rejuvenated Clayton will have more games like the 5-catch, 8-target, 93-yard performance in Week 1.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Mark Clayton, Ravens – The 31-yard touchdown proved he was finally over a preseason hamstring injury, and Clayton finished with five catches for 77 yards on nine targets. The Ravens won't get to draw the Chiefs every week, but it's worth noting the changes in offensive philosophy under John Harbaugh, Cam Cameron, and Al Saunders. These aren't your Brian Billick Ravens, and Joe Flacco is emerging as the best quarterback in franchise history. After establishing franchise records for total yards and first-downs in the opener, this offense should no longer be considered just a typical Baltimore ball-control unit.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Nate Washington, Titans – Rushing back from a hamstring injury, Washington was held to just 23 snaps in the opener. While rookie Kenny Britt was impressive as a fill-in, coach Jeff Fisher has indicated that Washington will play "the number of plays a starter would play" against the Texans this week. I'd keep him benched for one more week, though he could put up WR3/flex numbers from Week 3 on.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Watch List - Davone Bess, Mario Manningham, Mark Bradley, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Austin Collie, Andre Caldwell, Jerheme Urban, Pierre Garcon, Kenny Britt, Louis Murphy, Legedu Naanee

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</FONT+1>RUNNING BACKS

Mike Bell, Saints – Our favorite pickup last week exploded for 143 yards on 28 carries against the Lions. Beat writer Mike Triplett is now saying Bell will continue to be a "big part" of the offense when Pierre Thomas returns to the lineup this week. Coach Sean Payton confirmed as much when he said Monday that the two backs will compete for touches "over the course of a game." While it's important to keep in mind that Bell's career game did come against a still-woeful Lions defense, he's likely to remain the lead back for another week as Thomas is eased back in from an MCL sprain. Looking at the long view, Thomas is the more talented back and will likely regain feature back duties once he shows that he's reliable on a weekly basis.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Cadillac Williams, Buccaneers – I'll admit to being shocked by Caddy's power and explosion against the Cowboys. As a runner, he has never looked better – even before the two knee surgeries. His value is limited by the Bucs' running back rotation and Derrick Ward's presence, especially in the passing game. With no role as a receiver and just 12-15 carries weekly, Caddy should be considered as a flex option as opposed to a reliable RB2.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Michael Bush, Raiders – Justin Fargas has been a coaching staff favorite in Oakland, but Bush is simply a better, more explosive runner. His best value is as a stash in case Darren McFadden goes down with an injury. In the meantime, he looks like the short-yardage, goal-line option in Oakland with an opportunity for 10-12 touches per week.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Fred Taylor, Patriots – Beyond the first couple of backs on the waiver wire, it gets fairly sparse. Taylor is a committee back already owned in two-thirds of all leagues. Monday night's game, however, offered some clarity in the Patriots backfield. Taylor appears to have usurped Sammy Morris' goal-line duties in a high-scoring offense. He's worth a look as a RB4, especially in TD-heavy leagues.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Mewelde Moore, Steelers – The Steelers backfield is a blatant mess. Willie Parker has suddenly morphed into a plodder. He's either injured or running with a fork sticking out of his back. Rashard Mendenhall has shown nothing as a pro, but I think it's too early to bail on him as a handcuff. Moore showed that he's the Steelers' most reliable back in crunch-time, but the coaches prefer him in a situational role. I could see Moore's role increasing, but he's not going to take over feature back duties as long as at least one of the other two backs is healthy.

Recommendation: Should be owned in deeper leagues

Watch List - Ricky Williams, Kevin Faulk, Le'Ron McClain, Edgerrin James

</FONT+1>QUARTERBACKS

Mark Sanchez, Jets – This year's Matt Ryan? In four preseason games the poised rookie posted a 65 percent completion rate, 9.4 yards per attempt and 111.0 passer rating. In his first real game he showed impressive accuracy and third-down mojo, manhandling the Texans for 272 yards at 8.8 yards per attempt. Similar to last year's Falcons, the Jets will remain a run-first operation, but Sanchez should be picked up as a QB2 in any league where he's still available.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Byron Leftwich, Buccaneers – The Bucs have every intention of being a smash-mouth offense. If Week 1 was any indication, however, the leaky secondary will have them playing from behind at least until safety Tanard Jackson returns in Week 5. Leftwich is plenty capable of posting high yardage totals if the Bucs are forced to play catch-up. The rejuvenation of Michael Clayton is promising, but Leftwich will also need Antonio Bryant to shake his early-season knee issues. He's worth a look over Marc Bulger, Chad Pennington, and Jason Campbell as a QB2.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Kerry Collins, Titans – While Collins averaged just 167 yards per game last year, we expect the Titans to be forced to throw the ball more in 2009. Against the reigning No. 1 pass defense, he threw 35 times for 244 yards in the season opener. If you drafted Jake Delhomme as your QB2, it's time to pick up a steadier option such as Collins.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Matt Leinart, Cardinals – I know this horse is dead because I've beaten the tar out of it the past few weeks, but Sunday's game only served to strengthen my conviction that Leinart will replace Kurt Warner at some point this season. While I haven't seen this reported elsewhere, Warner's accuracy and even his arm strength were way off against the 49ers. He looks like he aged five years after offseason hip surgery. Warner owners should be handcuffing Leinart, and non-Warner owners should seriously consider taking a flier.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Watch List - Michael Vick, Jeff Garcia, A.J. Feeley

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</FONT+1>TIGHT ENDS

Zach Miller, Raiders – Miller is a legit TE1 and should be owned in more than 65 percent of all leagues. He remains the only reliable passing-game option in Oakland, as indicated by his 6-catch, 96-yard performance in Week 1. Grab Miller if yours is one of the leagues where he remains available.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Brent Celek, Eagles – Last week's No. 1 recommended tight end led the Eagles in targets, receptions, and receiving yards at Carolina. He's now scored five touchdowns in his last five games, counting last year's playoffs. Celek is a bit of a wildcard for Week 2 with the Eagles situation up in the air, but we still expect him to flirt with TE1 numbers by season's end.

Recommendation: Should be owned 12-team leagues

Todd Heap, Ravens – Formerly one of the most athletic tight ends in the league, Heap appears to have regained much of his explosiveness after a lost season in 2008. After being held down by a back injury and extra in-line blocking duties last year, he's re-emerging as Joe Flacco's primary red zone weapon. Week 1 totals of five catches, eight targets, and 74 yards suggest the possibility of a renaissance for the 29-year-old Heap.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Watch List - Vernon Davis, Ben Watson, Anthony Fasano, Jared Cook, Robert Royal

</FONT+1>DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

Seahawks - We recommended the Seachickens as a matchup play last week, and they came through with a shutout against the woebegone Rams. They travel to San Francisco this week to play a 49ers team that struggled to move the ball for three and a half quarters against the Cardinals. There may be better matchups this week (see below), but the Seahawks could be the best long-term defense available on the wire.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Redskins - They host the Rams, who, as previously mentioned, were shut out in Seattle. Expect Albert Haynesworth, Brian Orakpo, and Company to wreak havoc on a shell-shocked Marc Bulger.

Recommendation: Worth picking up as a matchup play

Falcons - On the menu for Sunday: Jake Delhomme. Now a turnover waiting to happen, Delhomme has nine interceptions and two fumbles in his last two games – going back to last year's playoffs. The Falcons defenders have to be licking their chops this week.

Recommendation: Worth picking up as a matchup play

 

[HacheMan]

Waiver pickups

Need some roster help already? The waiver wire will be humming this week with players who were virtually unknown just a week ago. Don't assume that anybody who had a big Week 1 necessarily will be a franchise savior, but some could turn into nice early season surprises.
Kenny Britt, WR, Titans. With Nate Washington's quick return to health, Britt loses a chance to start. Still, with 85 yards in the opener, he showed the ability to contribute immediately.
Louis Murphy, WR, Raiders. He lost a TD on replay but otherwise had an impressive debut. Also in his favor: Until Chaz Schilens returns, maybe in Week 3, he appears to be the only Raiders' wide receiver who catches a respectable number of passes thrown to him.
Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, WRs, Colts. The two unproven receivers will try to replace Anthony Gonzalez and it's a toss-up as to which to grab (if either). I like Garcon; the Colts seem to favor Collie slightly. Also, a longshot name is tight end Jacob Tamme, who will split out some more, ala Dallas Clark.
A.J. Feeley, QB, Panthers. Hard to believe Carolina's best quarterback was not on the roster two days ago. Anybody throwing to Steve Smith is worth a pickup, and Feeley will get his chance soon.
Johnny Knox, WR, Bears. He will need to learn to do more than run straight down the field, but QB Jay Cutler can get the ball out to him and the two likely will hit on a few big plays this season.
Legedu Naanee, WR, Chargers. Naanee is an athletic freak and if his five catches for 49 yards on Monday, both career-bests, are any indication, he could be moving up as the team's third receiver.
Michael Vick, QB, Eagles. Why not? Kevin Kolb likely will start this week and also is a good pickup against the still-defenseless Saints. But Week 1 showed that Vick will be a factor at some point this season so stash him away if you have a deep bench.
Benjamin Watson, TE, Patriots. We don't want to overreact to Watson as we did in 2007 when he had five TDs in the first five weeks and only one more during the rest of the season. If the Patriots are going to insist on dressing only four wide receivers, Watson will get plenty of chances. -- Matt Pitzer

 

[HacheMan]

Bell tolls for Thomas?


The alarm bells have been sounding for Pierre Thomas in New Orleans ever since he suffered a sprained MCL in the second preseason game. Beat writers began banging the drums for physical backup Mike Bell when coach Sean Payton indicated in late August that a three-back committee was a possibility this season.

Once it became clear that Thomas wouldn't shake the injury in time for the season opener, we recommended picking up Bell and playing him against the Lions. Bell's subsequent 143-yard performance led to the New Orleans Times-Picayune's idle speculation that he could be "the man" early in the season.

It's important to point out, however, that Bell's current momentum is mostly a byproduct of Thomas being physically unable to carry the load as the Saints entered the season. NFL coaches are obsessively compulsive. Due to the obscene amount of game-planning that goes into each game, coaches want to have control over as many factors as possible. When they can't count on a player due to injury or unreliability, the player fades into the background until he's reliable once again.

Thomas is expected to return to action this week at Philadelphia, but Payton now has a nagging concern that P.T. has never shown the ability to carry the load for long stretches of an NFL season. That's why he indicated that the game plan will be re-evaluated on a weekly basis with Thomas and Bell "competing for touches in a course of a game."

In looking at the long-view, however, Payton's most telling statement was this: "A lot of it will be dependent on if Pierre is 100 percent." Possessing a well-rounded skill set, Thomas proved late last season that he's the most effective back on the roster. Payton knows that his offense is at its peak when Thomas is featured heavily. It's now up to Thomas to prove healthy and reliable enough to regain that role from Bell. Once he does, Bell will be the one fading into the background.

LaDainian Tomlinson "could well miss" Sunday's game against the Ravens after rolling his ankle on MNF. LT had 10 carries after he suffered the injury and said "it wasn't bad enough I couldn't play," but he was limping badly afterward and will be held out of practice Wednesday. Other casualties from Monday's game include center Nick Hardwick (ankle) and rookie right guard Louis Vasquez (knee), both of whom could be game-time decisions this week. Considering his triple whammy of the ankle injury, a banged up offensive line going against the ferocious Ravens defense, and Darren Sproles earning a timeshare in the backfield, Tomlinson should be on fantasy benches in Week 2.

Michael Vick will begin practicing immediately after the Eagles activated him from the exempt list on Tuesday. Donovan McNabb is expected to miss this week's game with a fractured rib, leaving an unappealing Kevin Kolb as the likely starter. Former backup and prodigal son Jeff Garcia returned to Philly on Monday, and he could also see action in Sunday's game against the Saints. Vick won't be ready to take the reins by Week 3, but the team could be getting him prepped for starting duty in October should McNabb miss more time than expected.

According to offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, the Broncos will keep a rotation at running back for the time being. "There will be a certain rotation we're going to have, depending on the way the game is going," said McCoy. "We have a plan going in how to play each guy, and the same thing with the receiver group." McCoy did say that in-game changes will occur if one of the backs has a hot hand. Expect Knowshon Moreno's workload to increase once he feels fully recovered. For now, though, it looks like an even split with Correll Buckhalter.

Two-Minute Drill: Raiders coach Tom Cable refused to commit to a No. 2 RB on Tuesday. Darren McFadden will start, but the second back could change on a weekly basis. … Lance Moore played fewer snaps than Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem in Week 1. Keep Moore on fantasy benches until the Saints are ready to feature him as a No.2 WR. … Key Saints defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant won't be suspended "at this time." … Chargers WR Chris Chambers failed to record a catch Monday night and may lose playing time to Legedu Naanee and Malcom Floyd. … Newly acquired DL Richard Seymour made an immediate impact for the Raiders with six tackles and two sacks in Oakland's upset bid. ... Colts TE Dallas Clark is expected to pick up the slack for injured WR Anthony Gonzalez. … Jay Cutler is drawing criticism for immaturity once again after a poor performance in Sunday's game as well as the follow-up press conference. … Unable to deal him, the Eagles released WR Hank Baskett. … Philly declined an option in Brian Westbrook's contract, which means the running back will become a free agent after the 2010 season.

Red Zone: Patriots ILB Jerod Mayo reportedly suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee, but the extent is unknown. Last year's Defensive ROY may be out a month or more. … Bills MLB Paul Posluszny broke a bone in his left arm on Monday night and will likely miss "several weeks." … Tony Romo (ankle) will practice Wednesday and start Sunday night against the Giants. … Matt Cassel (knee) remains questionable for Sunday's game. … Willie Parker is reportedly playing through a "slight" hamstring problem. … Titans WR Nate Washington (hamstring) will play and see starter's snaps this week. … Justin Fargas (hamstring) will return to action as a backup RB this week. … Titans TE Bo Scaife (knee) is questionable for Week 2. … Raiders WR Chaz Schilens (foot) isn't expected to be activated until Week 4. … Bears TE Desmond Clark will likely miss a few weeks with a cracked rib. … Steelers ILB Lawrence Timmons (ankle) will try to practice this week, and the Steelers hope to have him ready for Sunday. … Eagles placed RT Shawn Andrews (back) on injured reserve, ending his season. … Seahawks LT Walter Jones (knee, back) and C Chris Spencer (quadriceps) will return to practice this week.