WRAP UP OF FANTASY FOOTBALL
START SIT WEEK 1
September 9, 2008
Nostradamus (a.k.a. psychic)
Start:
Michael Turner, RB, ATL – Turner showed up in Atlanta with a big bang. He rushed for 220 yards and 2 TDs. Turner also added a 6 yard reception just to pile one more thing on the list. If you saw any of this game, you saw how explosive Turner looked. This was the Lions, so don’t expect this every week. However, Turner looks like he could be in for a solid season. Turner also had a 3rd TD called back for holding, so think about that when you are looking at this great stat line.
Bills, DEF, BUF – It looked like a recipe for disaster with the Seahawks as banged up as they were. If you followed this start advice, you were well rewarded. The Bills D recorded 1 INT, 5 sacks, allowed only 253 yards of offense, only 10 points, and scored a TD on a punt return. This was one of the most impressive performances of the week. If you stuck the Bills in your lineup, you had a very good chance of winning.
Thomas Jones, RB, NYJ – After pushing this old man’s bandwagon since April, it was nice to see everything pan out the way it did week 1. The Jets looked good and the run game looked very healthy. Jones rushed for over 100 yards, had 3 receptions, and he scored a TD. Jones’ owners had to be very pleased with this performance. As we said in the preseason, Jones will blow away his TD totals from 2007. Heck, he is already halfway there after 1 week.
Jon Kitna, QB, DET – The Falcons looked like a nice morsel for the Lions to exploit. While the Lions as a team didn’t fare too well, Kitna’s fantasy stats looked great. Kitna did throw 1 INT, but he managed 262 yards passing and 2 TDs. Look for more days like this from the undervalued veteran.
Jerricho Cotchery, WR, NYJ – We always did and we still do like Cotchery more than Coles. In week 1, Cotchery didn’t let us down. Cotchery hauled in a 56 yard bomb from Brett Favre. While Cotchery only finished with 3 catches for 80 yards, you have to like the initial chemistry that appears to be there with Favre and Cotchery.
Brett Favre, QB, NYJ – Speaking of Favre, he also came through with a solid week. While Favre only had around 200 yards passing, he threw no INTs and had 2 TD passes. That long bomb to Cotchery was a nice boost in big play bonus leagues. Expect Favre to improve as the season goes on, but look for his competition to improve as well.
Joey Galloway, WR, TB – Galloway is still 800 years old, but he came through on this start prediction. In point per reception leagues, his 6 receptions for 56 yards was a solid game.
Selvin Young, RB, DEN – 36 yards is a pretty ugly effort, but Young managed to get that all important rushing TD. This was a nice game from the 2nd year player. It is funny how a TD can make all the difference.
Bench:
Marty Booker, WR, CHI – With only 1 catch for 7 yards, Booker was a great bench call. Event though the bears won, you have to think, “What a mess.”
Kyle Orton, QB, CHI – Orton played mistake free football and he got the win for his team. However, his 150 yards passing and no TDs made him a great bench call.
Justin Gage, WR, TEN – Gage is a #1 WR in the NFL, but he was not a good option even in a deep league. Gage only had 2 catches for 25 yards. Perhaps Gage can get his season started with someone other than Vince Young behind center, but don’t bet on it.
Farmer's Almanac (a.k.a. not so bad/not so good)
Start:
Kurt Warner, QB, ARZ – Warner didn’t turn the ball over in week 1, but he only had 1 TD. Warner should have better weeks, but we are concerned that he could produce more action against the 49ers. The good news is that he still gets to play the Rams twice this season.
Olindo Mare, K, SEA – Mare only had 1 PAT and 1 FG, but his field goal was a 45 yard bomb. That is just enough to make him a so-so start in most leagues that award more points for longer kicks. However, if the Seahawks are going to look as bad as they did in week 1, it would be wise to drop Mare and look elsewhere for talent.
Roddy White, WR, ATL – White only had 2 catches, but he managed 54 yards on those two catches. This helped to make White a so-so start in week 1.
Ricky Williams, RB, MIA – Williams’ rushing totals were ugly and his receiving yardage wasn’t much better. Williams’ 4 receptions helped out in a big way for those of you in PPR leagues. As of right now, it looks like the Dolphins’ run game could use some work.
Wes Welker, WR, NE – We said that Welker would be solid in a PPR league and he was with 6 receptions for 51 yards. That might have been enough to get him into the good start calls of the week, but Welker coughed up the ball for 1 fumble. As it stands now, Welker was a so-so start. With Tom Brady out for the season, it will be interesting to see if Welker fulfills our preseason bust prediction for 2008 based on his draft position.
Donald Driver, WR, GB – Driver’s yardage wasn’t all that impressive, but he was another WR that saved himself with 4 receptions. A 60+ yard TD was called back, and this would have helped Driver to have a big day. Regardless, Driver should have better days in the future because Rodgers looked promising.
Bench:
Anthony Gonzalez, WR, IND – Gonzalez had only 48 yards, but his receptions pushed him out of the good bench calls and into the so-so calls of the week.
Ahman Green, RB, HOU – Green’s run totals were sad with only 28 rushing yards, but his 4 receptions for meaningless yardage help make Green a so-so bench call in point per reception leagues. We are pretty sure that most of you that benched Green were not disappointed. However, he is a so-so call anyway.
Weather Forecast (a.k.a. oops better luck next time)
Start:
None this week
Bench:
Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB – Well, Rodgers only had 178 yards passing and his passing TD was a pretty lucky series of events, but Rodgers managed to make some points in the ground with 35 yards rushing and a rushing TD. Those rushing TDs can make a fantasy QB. This week Rodgers busted our bench call and he played much better than we expected. The Vikings have a good defense, so look for some good games down the road from Rodgers.
Ryan Grant, RB, GB – Grant didn’t do much all day … until he broke a very long run. He managed to get it down inside the 5 yard line, but he didn’t score on Monday night. Not scoring helped keep this bench call from being ridiculous, but Grant’s 92 yards rushing were enough to make him a bad bench call.
Joe Flacco, QB, BAL – Flacco’s numbers aren’t as good as Rodgers because he had less passing yards and he didn’t throw a TD, but Flacco busted this bench call when he scrambled for 38 yards and TD. That play and the fact the Flacco didn’t turn the ball over made him a busted bench call.
