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While keeping the tradition of the winning Superbowl Champ hosting the NFL kickoff for the next season, the Colts will host week 1 on Thursday Night Football...and Indianapolis, Indiana will be rocking! In a homecoming of sorts, former Purdue standout Drew Brees will be back home again in Indiana and should have no problem picking apart the Colts D in the few places where free agency left it untouched. Look for WRs Marques Colston / Devery Henderson and RB Reggie Bush to have a big night as Brees finds them almost at will. When Bush isn't catching the ball, he'll team up with primary RB Deuce McAllister to pound it down field on the ground. Well...if Peyton Manning, WRs Marvin Harrison/Reggie Wayne, and RB Joseph Addai are on your fantasy team, then you likely drafted them in the first two rounds and you'll be playing them here (and probably every week of the season). All should perform well in a possible 60-point shootout of two top 5 NFL offenses. This one should be fun to watch!
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| This game will be about the two QBs...Philly's Donovan McNabb and GB's senior leader Brett Favre. Many forget McNabb's 2006 pace to start the season with monster stats prior to being injured in mid-season. IFF he can perform to that same level, he'll be huge this year. I like McNabb with WR Reggie Brown this week against the Pack. RB Brian Westbrook (who is basically a RB/WR) will match rushing and receiving yardage in this game and should reach a combined 125 or more with at least one TD. For the Packers, Favre begins his 16th (SIXTEENTH) season as the starter...wow! Brett's a little slower, but hasn't lost his gun and will look for favorite target Donald Driver along the way. Rookie WR James Jones will start to settle in as opportunities present themselves. At running back, the Pack will likely split between Vernand Morency and rookie Brandon Jackson...so be advised of the RBBC early in the season. Expect Jackson to eventually get the starts and bulk of the carries by week 5 (if not sooner). |
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| Count the many references by commentators in this one to Michael Vick and you'll run out of fingers and toes. Bottom line is that Vick is no longer a Falcon and the team is reeling back to a more traditional offense. Ex-Lion QB Joey Harrington is taking the reigns and performed surprisingly well in preseason, but he's nowhere on any fantasy radar. At running back, it's old-man Warrick Dunn (he's 32 with a recent back surgery) who has been named as the starter...but Jerious Norwood may push him for his job shortly. Fantasywise for Atlanta, I think you sit this one out. The Vikings are not a great team...at least on offense. Sophomore WR Troy Williamson hasn't really panned out and QB Tavaris Jackson isn't exactly a household name. But, the Vikings did make some major backfield noise in the 2007 draft. Superstar Adrian Peterson is a Viking and has all the makings of an NFL stud. However, AD's still a rookie and his carries will be somewhat controlled...at least for now. Wait until Minnesota waives their RBBC approach before starting Peterson confidently. |
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| Still no Ricky Williams. Maybe that's what took so long for head coach Cam Cameron to finally name the starting running back on Wednesday (Ronnie Brown over Jesse Chatman). Regardless of the scare, Brown is still a top 15 back and will do okay here. Overrated WR Chris Chambers is still with the team (despite Miami's attempt to shop him) and does have some talent, but anyone who watched Trent Green (Miami's new QB from KC) in KC last season knows it will take time before playing anyone involved with Miami's passing game. Washington's passing game isn't any better. Santana Moss is totally feast or famine and Chris Cooley is a 6TD per season tight end (although very capable at his position). RB Clinton Portis has lingered a bit with injuries, but should be okay for game 1. Portis is a decent play at home against the Dolphins. |
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| I like the Pats here...a lot. If the AFC Championship Game halftime score isn't taped on the lockers of every New England player, it should be. As a result, I think the Patriots score big in every game they can and don't think the Jets have enough to stop them this week. As a fantasy player, QB Tom Brady has finished in the top 5 for the past few years...but hasn't been huge. That all changes this season, especially will the addition of WRs Donte Stallworth and Randy Moss. Previously, the primary complaint with playing a fantasy NE WR was that the ball was spread too thin amongst several, but that was before the Pats landed their best wide receiving corps in history. I also like sophomore RB Laurence Maroney and believe he'll take full advantage of Patriot leads and clean up in games with huge yardage totals. For the Jets, they'll be facing a tough NE defense. RB Thomas Jones will play, but will his totals will be moderate. QB Chad Pennington is solid with WRs Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery (both WRs are nearly identical fantasy players), but nothing special enough from the passing game this week to play confidently. |
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| QB Vince Young will pick up where he left off last year. He'll be a running threat every time he touches the ball (so...every down on offense) and his mediocre passing game will improve as he becomes more accurate. That said, I don't like him much this week against a solid Jax D. The Titans lost their top WR from last season (Drew Bennett) and don't really have anyone worth playing at this point of the season. For the Jags, they ditched Byron Leftwich and are going with David Garrard. He may do okay this week, but doubt he's on too many fantasy rosters. The WR corps for the Jags is always a fantasy nightmare, so good advice is to stay away from them until/if Garrard starts to find a favorite sometime during the season. Diminutive RB Maurice Jones-Drew had a sensational rookie season and will look to build upon last season. He should be good for a combined yardage total of 100+ against Tennessee. |
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| QB Jay Cutler takes the reigns in full for the Broncos after performing admirably at the end of his rookie season. Cutler still needs to find his way before being a weekly fantasy starter, but will have some success this week with talented WR Javon Walker. RB Travis Henry (9 children by 9 different mothers) looks to roll as the primary back...and Mike Shannahan coached running backs usually perform well in Denver's system. Play Henry this week and as long as he stays healthy. Buffalo QB J.P. Losman looked good in preseason and may be a touch underrated...expecially with talented Lee Evans as the top Bills WR. I'm not saying to play Losman over Peyton Manning, but he'll surprise from week to week and needs to be watched early for potential fantasy consideration. At running back, rookie Marshawn Lynch was basically handed the job out of school. Preseason showed nothing, but Lynch should put up some nice stats all season as he adjusts to the speed of the NFL. If Buffalo's line can hold, Lynch may be a top 10 RB by year's end. |
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| Just because the Steelers have been tough of late, don't count out the rebuilding Browns in this rival match. "Big Ben" Roethlisberger has never been a fantasy stud QB, but he's adequate and should do well in this game with strikes to veterean WR Hines Ward in the red zone. RB "Fast Willie" Parker may be a bit overrated by some, but he'll put up huge all-purpose yards in Pittsburgh's run-first offense against Cleveland. For the Browns, Brady Quinn played well enough in preseason to start and is the solid franchise QB of the future...but he's still a rookie and held out way too long to expect the week 1 start. Regardless of the progressing dynamic QB situation in Cleveland, WR Braylon Edwards and TE Kellen Winslow Jr. will be focus of the offensive attack and should have solid improved seasons from 2006. Don't know if KW can top his 89 receptions from a year ago, but he should find the endzone a few more times than last year. Jamal Lewis joined the Browns at RB and had a remarkable preseason, but time will tell if he can again find his form from 3 years ago. |
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So did Jake Delhomme disappear? The answer is probably not. Many whom think Delhomme is only now a top 20-25 quarterback must wonder how they can still have WR Steve Smith ranked so high!? Bottom line is that Delhomme will have to prove this season where he belongs and where the Carolina franchise belongs in the NFL standings. RB DeShaun Foster has been named the starter in St. Louis, but sophomore DeAngelo Williams is the better of the two. It is okay to have both on your roster, but playing either until Williams takes over is a risk...even in a dome with a beatable defense. For the Rams, you have to play QB Marc Bulger, RB Steven Jackson (whose ability I continue to praise), and WR Torry Holt. Holt is practicing and healthy enough to start this week...so he'll be fine for the game. Prior to WR Drew Bennett's injury, I had him as a nice sleeper...but wait until he recovers until putting him in your lineup. For now, WR Isaac Bruce keeps plugging at stats and isn't fading much...esp. with Holt on the other side and SJax in the backfield.
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| Larry Johnson isn't exactly ready for the season, but he'll still play and do well against Houston. Maybe Larry wanted to rest his body a little from the 416 touches last season!? Coach Herm Edwards is a stubborn coach and won't back off much from rushing LJ this year either...which is nice for Johnson owners but going to be tough again on LJ's body. Chiefs fans, however, wish Edwards would have backed off of Trent Green at some point last season...Green ultimately ended up in Miami. As for KC's current passing game,...it may be okay, but not yet worth a fantasy play even against the Texans. Houston may have found its QB in Matt Schaub (who has looked very sharp this preseason). WR Andre Johnson is one of the most talented WRs in the league and may have finally found a quarterback that can send him the rock. Rookie Jacoby Jones has shown promise and will start oppostite Johnson. If Houston's line can support Schaub, Johnson (and possibly Jones) will be solid fantasy plays all season long as the Texans work often from behind on the scoreboard. |
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After a lousy 2006 , the Bucs are hoping they've improved. Fortunately, they have addressed some needs on offense...but not enough to warrant any huge fantasy plays. Cadillac Williams had a huge rookie season two years ago before falling off last year. Many fantasy owners are "what have you done for me lately" thinkers...making Williams quite the value pick in many leagues. Caddy's worth starting here in week 1. For Seattle, the same thing applies to Shaun Alexander (at least to a point). After a 2005 record setting season with 28 TDs, "Alex the Great" suffered a broken foot in 2006...leaving fantasy owners pondering with Alexander draft selections falling as low as 10th in some cases. But again, Alexander will more likely be back to form than not. Matt Hasselbeck suffered a similar fate in 2006, but he too will recover in 2007 and put up some nice numbers. Hbeck lost top wide receiver Darrell Jackson to the 49ers, but that may only make WR Deion Branch more of a player as the number one in Seattle. D.J. Hackett could do well this year opposite Branch and is worth watching in this game.
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| The rule last season was...DON'T START FANTASY GUYS WHEN PLAYING THE BEARS D. And that rule held very true the whole season! Until/unless things change, I'm thinking that finding alternatives to players playing the Bears is wise. The only exception to the rule may be with LaDainian Tomlinson...he's just way too good to bench. For Chicago, don't get me started on Grossman. Like Herm Edwards with Green, Lovie Smith didn't seem to know when to pull Rex for the sake of the team (but few can argue with a Superbowl appearance). Regardless, Grossman is going to throw the ball no matter the situation and may have some good fantasy games thrown in with the gooseeggs. My advice, however, is to keep Grossman from your roster. At WR for da Bears, I do like Bernard Berrian and feel he'll finish top 15 or better by the end of the season. Play Cedric Benson at RB if you have him on your roster, but the verdict is still out on Benson's durability as an every down back. The Bears D and Grossman's lack of discipline should ultimately help Benson get red zone touches. |
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| Mike Martz is licking his chops with the addition of superStud rookie WR Calvin Johnson to Detroit. Johnson is the best WR to come out of college in years and graces Roy Williams in the Lion passing offense. But as much as I like Johnson, he's a conservative play this week in Oakland. For some unknown reason, C. Johnson isn't listed this week as the starter...and remember that Oakland (albeit a weak team in '06) had one of the best pass defenses in the NFL last season. Now if only QB Jon Kitna can get the ball to either Williams or Johnson, he'd be a fantasy stud based upon his receivers (rather than his arm)...and in Martz' system, he'll get his chances. At running back, the Detroit situation is a bit scary. And not because the talent or style of the apparent RBBC won't produce fantasy points, it's because of the injury (who really knows how severe) to Kevin Jones and the battle of Jones and Tatum Bell over the starting job. Advice here is to watch and learn, but Bell is probably safe this week from losing carries. Now let's talk Oakland...Daunte Culpepper is there, JaMarcus Russell (#1 draft pick) still isn't there (albeit close), and Josh McCown is starting week 1. So basically, don't play any Raiders and I doubt anyone other than Robert Curry and LaMont Jordan in the Black & Silver grace too many fantasy teams. |
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| Newsflash! Eli Manning has looked strong this preseason and seems to be throwing the ball to the properly colored jersey. This could mean big things for Manning owners who took a sensible chance on him late. Remember that Manning was ranked 5th heading into the 2006 season before his fantasy slide last year. The Giants are banged up at wide receiver, so playing Plaxico Burress is a risk this week. I do, however, like TE Jeremy Shockey alot this week...as he'll be Eli's top target with an ailing passing offense. RB Brandon Jacobs has something to prove with Tiki Barber enjoying retirement (although he certainly sounds like he's missing football to me). Jacobs could definitely be undervalued and is worth starting as NYG's primary back. For the 'Boys, QB Tony Romo appears to be the QB future and has one of the best weapons in the game in Terrell Owens. I like both here. TE Jason Witten will also be a nice start this week for leagues requiring a tight end. The running back situation in Dallas is still a bit dicey. Although Julius Jones is still listed a the every down back and may see more red zone opportunities than last season, Marion Barber's 16 (SIXTEEN) TDs in 2006 cannot be dismissed. Either RB play in Dallas will be a nervous start for their fantasy owners. |
| Baltimore Ravens (0-0) @ Cincinnati Bengals (0-0) MNF1 7:00 ESPN |
| Steve McNair continues as QB for the Ravens and somehow keeps ticking. TE Todd Heap is the best Baltimore receiving threat and is always a top fantasy play (and Cincy won't stop him). The Ravens parted ways with Jamal Lewis (to the Browns), but improved their team with Willis McGahee. WM will go off against Cincy for a least a buck-twentyfive this week with a TD or more. Get him in your starting lineup if you have not already done so. If you don't remember 2006, Baltimore had a top defense and allowed few yards and few points to opponents. On the other hand, the Bengals have one of the top offenses in the league at present. This isn't the perfect week for Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Rudi Johnson, but if they're on your team - then they need to be in your starting grid. Cincy kicker Shayne Graham is unlikely to play on Monday and should be replaced in starting lineups. |
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The Cards and the Niners are perhaps the best upcoming 2 offenses in the league. Both teams have young quarterbacks with talented supporting casts. The Cardinals will be giving collegiate QB Matt Leinart his first full year of starts in just his sophomore season after starting most of 2006. At WR, Arizona has perhaps the best receiving trio in the league with Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Bryant Johnson. Edgerrin James (now 29) is very capable at RB, but the Arizona offensive line is still shaky. For the Niners, QB Alex Smith is due for a breakout season. He has the versatility in RB Frank Gore and a stong option in newly acquired Darrell Jackson at WR. TE Vernon Davis is a burner with freakish hands...and Davis is also due for an explosive bustout season in 2007. Expect the Niners to showcase their offense right out of the gate on MNF since the Cardinal defense is absolutely decimated to start the season.
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BYE WEEKS - None
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