Here's a more compact version of the injury report, with some of the less high-profile names that got banged up this weekend.
Nate Burleson
The Seahawks Receiver is done for the season after tearing his ACL on Sunday against the Bills. It's a huge blow both for Burleson and the Seahawks, with No.1 Receiver Deion Branch and no.2 Booby Engram both currently struggling to get fit for week two, leaving the Sehawks depth chart bereft of established receivers. Interestingly, we tipped Burleson for big things this season, and he was actually turning out a solid performance, with 5 catches for 60yds and a TD.
It will be interesting to see who - if anyone the Seahwaks bring in for a visit this week. One option is Chad Jackson, who - in true slapstick style - we also predicted would have a breakout year, the day before he was cut by the Patriots.
Vince Manuwai and Maurice Williams
The Jags O-line is down to the bare bones after losing two more starters on Sunday. Manuwai has torn both his ACL and his MCL, and is headed to Injured Reserve. It's likely that fellow starting Guard Williams will join him after tearing his biceps. A torn biceps or triceps is usually the end of a Lineman's season, and we can't imagine there is much chance of Williams even coming back for the playoffs.
It's bad news for the team and it's running game, which is one of the strongest in the league. Both Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew could struggle to match their big numbers from last year, and QB David Garrard could also feel the heat. For all the investment in the Defensive Line in the offseason, it's a reminder of the fickle nature of this game that the team could see it's playoff hopes dashed by a series of injuries to the Offensive Line.
Mike Nugent
The Jets kicker looks unlikely to play again this season after injuring his thigh during the victory in Miami. It goes without saying that an injury to a kicker's leg is... pretty bad. The Jets signed Jay Feely, who was released by the Dolphins earlier this season. Feely has experience of kicking in Giants Stadium/The Meadowlands from his time with the Giants, so it's hard to imagine a huge issue with kicking in NYC.
Jeff Garcia
Garcia looked off colour during the Bucs loss to New Orleans on Sunday, and it was no surprise to see him listed as questionable for week two. The apparent cause of the problem is an ankle injury, though to what degree it is likely to affect Garcia's performance should he play is another matter. Garcia regularly plays banged up, and there is even more need for him to get some solid time under centre now, after missing all of the preseason in a contract holdout.
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
Monday, 8 September 2008
Week One Injury Update
Well, Peyton Manning made it through last night's encounter with the Bears with his body - if not his dignity - intact, so it's time to give a brief rundown of the key injuries suffered around the league, and their impact on their teams:
Tom Brady
The New England QB was placed on IR this morning, officially ending his 2008 season. The extent of Brady's injury is still unknown, exept that it requires surgery and is clearly a tear of some kind of knee ligament. It's easy to say that it's his ACL, but until the Pats confirm it, specualtion as to Brady's status next season is useless. On the other hand, we'll attempt it anyway, because that's how we roll.
Someone asked me earlier today if Brady could return and play at his pre-injury level. The simple answer, for any pocket QB of Brady's ilk, is yes. Unlike Daunte Culpepper - who's knee injury completely undermined his style of play - Brady does not rely on his mobility a great deal. It's not an ideal situation, but his athleticism has never been his strong point, so in essence, his main obstacle to overcome will be regaining trust in the knee.
The Pats will stick with Matt Cassel this week. If he struggles, expect the team to intensify efforts to bring in a veteran backup. Further to our report on the matter last night, Former Buc Chris Simms has indeed been brought in for a workout, along with career backup Tim Rattay. Simms's addition would signify genuine competition at the position, and as a proven commodity, it's unlikely that the fans in Boston would be enamoured with the idea of Simms merely being Cassel's backup.
Vince Young
There is some debate in the media today as to whether Young's 'injury' was somehow a result of his reluctance to take the field during the Titans win against Jacksonville on Sunday. From a neutral perspective, it certainly did not seem that Young was eager to get back into the game following his second interception in the game, and the fact that coach Jeff Fisher clearly was unaware of Young's 'injury' is extroadinary. Young claims to have felt tightness from his hamstring, just minutes before Jags linebacker Daryl Smith caught Young accidentally on the knee, at which point he was replaced by Kerry Collins. The team has since called the injury a 'sprained MCL', and said that Young will miss 2-4 weeks.
Could the Titans be covering for Young's clear psychological issues, by using a 'sham' injury to give him a few weeks to sort out his head? It's a possibility. Fisher could not have done a worse job covering up the sideline spat after the game, and his assertion that it was a simple 'communication issue' is laughable. The coach of an NFL franchise was unaware that his Star Quarterback was injured, even slightly? That's straight out of the 'Mike Nolan School of Quarterback Health'.
Whatever happens regarding Young, it seems that Collins is now back as starter for the next few weeks. He's been a relatibvely reliable backup when replacing Young over the last few years, and it wouldn't surprise us if a few veterans (Kevin Mawae, for one) are secretly relieved to play with a Quarterback who has already famously beaten his personal demons.
Brodie Croyle
Croyle is likely to miss at least two weeks after suffering a shoulder injury during the same Chiefs-Patriots matchup that caused so much uproar around the league. Unfortunately for Croyle, this latest injury could spell the end of his tenure as starter in Kansas City. Despite the lack of serious competition from within the Chiefs' current roster, Croyle's durability is so suspect that it is inevitable that the team will look to go in another direction now that the decision has been taken ouut of their hands.
Damon Huard should start, and if he can have a solid two weeks, it's hard to see Croyle regaining the starting gig this season. For all that Croyle has in that rocket arm, his inability to stay healthy will likely mean his days as a Starter in the NFL are over.
Marion Barber
Barber left the game in Cleveland with 'bruised ribs', and will likely start next week's Monday Night game against the Eagles. His loss would be a sore blow to the Cowboys, but as it is working out, this could simply make it easier to get rookie Felix Jones more involved after his explosive performance on Sunday.
It's unlikely that Barber will miss any time with the injury, though he will likely be in some discomfort for a few days. Don't be shocked if he misses practice at least once this week, but all sources - including the man himself - say that he will start week two.
Dallas Clark
The Colts TE left the game against the Bears last night with a knee injury and did not return in pads. An MRI on Monday indicated that Clark will be 'ok' according to coach Tony Dungy, but we've seen this before with a guy who rarely goes a full season without some kind of injury. It would be no surprise to see Clark sit out week two, and if he does, the Colts will revert back to the 3 WR formations that had mixed results last night.
On another note, Peyton Manning's injury has affected him, regardless of what John Madden and Al Michaels say. He looked stiff when throwing, and seemed lacking in confidence where his mechanics were concerned. The conservative playcalling of Tom Moore seemed to frustrate Manning, but even when given the chance to cut loose, he looked far from the Quarterback that has dominated the league for so long. No matter what spin the team have put on recent events, it is clear that Manning needs at least 2-3 more weeks of rehab before he returns to his old self.
Tom Brady
The New England QB was placed on IR this morning, officially ending his 2008 season. The extent of Brady's injury is still unknown, exept that it requires surgery and is clearly a tear of some kind of knee ligament. It's easy to say that it's his ACL, but until the Pats confirm it, specualtion as to Brady's status next season is useless. On the other hand, we'll attempt it anyway, because that's how we roll.
Someone asked me earlier today if Brady could return and play at his pre-injury level. The simple answer, for any pocket QB of Brady's ilk, is yes. Unlike Daunte Culpepper - who's knee injury completely undermined his style of play - Brady does not rely on his mobility a great deal. It's not an ideal situation, but his athleticism has never been his strong point, so in essence, his main obstacle to overcome will be regaining trust in the knee.
The Pats will stick with Matt Cassel this week. If he struggles, expect the team to intensify efforts to bring in a veteran backup. Further to our report on the matter last night, Former Buc Chris Simms has indeed been brought in for a workout, along with career backup Tim Rattay. Simms's addition would signify genuine competition at the position, and as a proven commodity, it's unlikely that the fans in Boston would be enamoured with the idea of Simms merely being Cassel's backup.
Vince Young
There is some debate in the media today as to whether Young's 'injury' was somehow a result of his reluctance to take the field during the Titans win against Jacksonville on Sunday. From a neutral perspective, it certainly did not seem that Young was eager to get back into the game following his second interception in the game, and the fact that coach Jeff Fisher clearly was unaware of Young's 'injury' is extroadinary. Young claims to have felt tightness from his hamstring, just minutes before Jags linebacker Daryl Smith caught Young accidentally on the knee, at which point he was replaced by Kerry Collins. The team has since called the injury a 'sprained MCL', and said that Young will miss 2-4 weeks.
Could the Titans be covering for Young's clear psychological issues, by using a 'sham' injury to give him a few weeks to sort out his head? It's a possibility. Fisher could not have done a worse job covering up the sideline spat after the game, and his assertion that it was a simple 'communication issue' is laughable. The coach of an NFL franchise was unaware that his Star Quarterback was injured, even slightly? That's straight out of the 'Mike Nolan School of Quarterback Health'.
Whatever happens regarding Young, it seems that Collins is now back as starter for the next few weeks. He's been a relatibvely reliable backup when replacing Young over the last few years, and it wouldn't surprise us if a few veterans (Kevin Mawae, for one) are secretly relieved to play with a Quarterback who has already famously beaten his personal demons.
Brodie Croyle
Croyle is likely to miss at least two weeks after suffering a shoulder injury during the same Chiefs-Patriots matchup that caused so much uproar around the league. Unfortunately for Croyle, this latest injury could spell the end of his tenure as starter in Kansas City. Despite the lack of serious competition from within the Chiefs' current roster, Croyle's durability is so suspect that it is inevitable that the team will look to go in another direction now that the decision has been taken ouut of their hands.
Damon Huard should start, and if he can have a solid two weeks, it's hard to see Croyle regaining the starting gig this season. For all that Croyle has in that rocket arm, his inability to stay healthy will likely mean his days as a Starter in the NFL are over.
Marion Barber
Barber left the game in Cleveland with 'bruised ribs', and will likely start next week's Monday Night game against the Eagles. His loss would be a sore blow to the Cowboys, but as it is working out, this could simply make it easier to get rookie Felix Jones more involved after his explosive performance on Sunday.
It's unlikely that Barber will miss any time with the injury, though he will likely be in some discomfort for a few days. Don't be shocked if he misses practice at least once this week, but all sources - including the man himself - say that he will start week two.
Dallas Clark
The Colts TE left the game against the Bears last night with a knee injury and did not return in pads. An MRI on Monday indicated that Clark will be 'ok' according to coach Tony Dungy, but we've seen this before with a guy who rarely goes a full season without some kind of injury. It would be no surprise to see Clark sit out week two, and if he does, the Colts will revert back to the 3 WR formations that had mixed results last night.
On another note, Peyton Manning's injury has affected him, regardless of what John Madden and Al Michaels say. He looked stiff when throwing, and seemed lacking in confidence where his mechanics were concerned. The conservative playcalling of Tom Moore seemed to frustrate Manning, but even when given the chance to cut loose, he looked far from the Quarterback that has dominated the league for so long. No matter what spin the team have put on recent events, it is clear that Manning needs at least 2-3 more weeks of rehab before he returns to his old self.
Peyton Manning's Injury
Call it a hunch - and it really is nothing more than that - but after watching Peyton Manning for the first quarter against Chicago tonight, we'd not be surprised if he didn't finish this game without aggravating his knee injury.
Manning doesn't look comfortable at all, and even Al Michaels and John Madden commented that in the ninety minuted before kickoff, he seemed unsure of himself.
As we say, just a hunch, and it would hardly be a shock of epic proportions, but it would complete a wild day for the favourites in the AFC, with Tom Brady injured, and the Chargers and Jaguars losing against opposition they would hope to beat.
Manning doesn't look comfortable at all, and even Al Michaels and John Madden commented that in the ninety minuted before kickoff, he seemed unsure of himself.
As we say, just a hunch, and it would hardly be a shock of epic proportions, but it would complete a wild day for the favourites in the AFC, with Tom Brady injured, and the Chargers and Jaguars losing against opposition they would hope to beat.
Tom Brady Out For Season With Torn ACL
If you're a Patriots fan, you may want to look away now.
Tom Brady is expected to miss the entire 2008 Season following an ACL tear to his left knee, according to Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports. The report is not a huge surprise given Brady's inability to even return to the sidelines following his departure from the field during the team's 10-17 victory over the Chiefs on Sunday.
Any injury to Brady has to be considered the worst case scenario for the Pats, though they will be cheered by backup Matt Cassel's performance in leading the team to victory over the Chiefs after a mediocre preseason in which he was lucky to hold onto the backup job. It remains to be seen if the team will bring in an experienced backup. Would Daunte Culpepper consider 'un-retiring' for the Pats? Is Chris Simms an upgrade over Cassel?
One person who may look on with some chagrin will be Jets QB Brett Favre, who turned down the option that the Packers offered him of waiting until the beginning of the season for just such an eventuality. The Packers preferred that option, but Favre wanted to end the media circus that regarded his future.
Of course, he couldn't have known that it would come to arguably the league's best player, on a team that could easily fulfil his ambitions of playing in the superbowl and with WR Randy Moss, but even so, we imagine that at some point, Favre will be asked the question by someone in the media of whether he regrets not waiting. We'll be waiting with interest for his answer.
In the meantime, the AFC title race just blew wide open. The Jets and Bills must feel better about their own playoff chances, but realistically, the Colts and Chargers will hope to capitalise on any downturn in results that the Patriots have. Of course, one thing that strikes us is this: If Cassel can get the job done to a reasonable level, the Patriots are still at the very least playoff contenders, by virtue of having a better overall team than their divisional rivals. On the other hand if Cassel shows an inability to take care of the football, it won't matter how good the rest of the team is.
The whole issue has so many permeatations that anything written is just pure speculation at this point. Realistically, our first indication of how the Patriots feel about Cassel will likely be who they bring in as a backup. If Culpepper or another veteran who can still play is brought in, then it's an indication that they'd like a competition of sorts. If they brought in Vinny Testaverde however, you'd have to feel that they were simply insuring themselves against an injury to Cassel.
Finally, one point: The AFC East has seen so much Quarterback upheaval over the last year, that it's amazing we didn't see this coming. The Bills replaced J.P. Losman with Trent Edwards, the Jets shipped Chad Pennington to Miami to make room for Favre, and now Tom Brady will miss his first substantial time with injury since his first season as starter in 2001.
Yeah, it's going to be an interesting year, no doubt...
Tom Brady is expected to miss the entire 2008 Season following an ACL tear to his left knee, according to Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports. The report is not a huge surprise given Brady's inability to even return to the sidelines following his departure from the field during the team's 10-17 victory over the Chiefs on Sunday.
Any injury to Brady has to be considered the worst case scenario for the Pats, though they will be cheered by backup Matt Cassel's performance in leading the team to victory over the Chiefs after a mediocre preseason in which he was lucky to hold onto the backup job. It remains to be seen if the team will bring in an experienced backup. Would Daunte Culpepper consider 'un-retiring' for the Pats? Is Chris Simms an upgrade over Cassel?
One person who may look on with some chagrin will be Jets QB Brett Favre, who turned down the option that the Packers offered him of waiting until the beginning of the season for just such an eventuality. The Packers preferred that option, but Favre wanted to end the media circus that regarded his future.
Of course, he couldn't have known that it would come to arguably the league's best player, on a team that could easily fulfil his ambitions of playing in the superbowl and with WR Randy Moss, but even so, we imagine that at some point, Favre will be asked the question by someone in the media of whether he regrets not waiting. We'll be waiting with interest for his answer.
In the meantime, the AFC title race just blew wide open. The Jets and Bills must feel better about their own playoff chances, but realistically, the Colts and Chargers will hope to capitalise on any downturn in results that the Patriots have. Of course, one thing that strikes us is this: If Cassel can get the job done to a reasonable level, the Patriots are still at the very least playoff contenders, by virtue of having a better overall team than their divisional rivals. On the other hand if Cassel shows an inability to take care of the football, it won't matter how good the rest of the team is.
The whole issue has so many permeatations that anything written is just pure speculation at this point. Realistically, our first indication of how the Patriots feel about Cassel will likely be who they bring in as a backup. If Culpepper or another veteran who can still play is brought in, then it's an indication that they'd like a competition of sorts. If they brought in Vinny Testaverde however, you'd have to feel that they were simply insuring themselves against an injury to Cassel.
Finally, one point: The AFC East has seen so much Quarterback upheaval over the last year, that it's amazing we didn't see this coming. The Bills replaced J.P. Losman with Trent Edwards, the Jets shipped Chad Pennington to Miami to make room for Favre, and now Tom Brady will miss his first substantial time with injury since his first season as starter in 2001.
Yeah, it's going to be an interesting year, no doubt...
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Brady leaves Kansas City game with knee injury
Patriots QB Tom Brady has left his team's opener against the Chiefs with a knee injury that our observer described very simply as: 'his knee went the wrong way'
The Chiefs currently have the ball, so we don't know if it's bad enough that Matt Cassel will need to go in the next series. If it's bad, it is the one thing that could seriously scupper the Pats' season.
We'll have more as and when we can give you the full information as regards the extent of the injury.
UPDATE
As we type, Matt Cassel is 5/6 for 73yds and a TD to Randy Moss. That's pretty good for someone who was considered a liability by some fans as the Patriots Quarterback.
UPDATE 2
Brady is reported to be out for the season with a torn ACL of the left knee.
A MRI of the knee is expected to be taken on Monday morning.
The Chiefs currently have the ball, so we don't know if it's bad enough that Matt Cassel will need to go in the next series. If it's bad, it is the one thing that could seriously scupper the Pats' season.
We'll have more as and when we can give you the full information as regards the extent of the injury.
UPDATE
As we type, Matt Cassel is 5/6 for 73yds and a TD to Randy Moss. That's pretty good for someone who was considered a liability by some fans as the Patriots Quarterback.
UPDATE 2
Brady is reported to be out for the season with a torn ACL of the left knee.
A MRI of the knee is expected to be taken on Monday morning.
Saturday, 6 September 2008
Week One Predictions in a nutshell:
Here's the condensed Wide-Right predictions for Week One:
Detroit at Atlanta
Seattle at Buffalo
Jacksonville at Tennessee
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
Kansas City at New England
Tampa Bay at New Orleans
St. Louis at Philadelphia
Houston at Pittsburgh
Cincinnati at Baltimore
Carolina at San Diego
Arizona at San Francisco
Dallas at Cleveland
Chicago at Indianapolis
Minnesota at Green Bay
Denver at Oakland
Fantasy Picks:
QB:
Brett Favre NYJ
Drew Brees NOS
Ben Roethlisberger PIT
Kurt Warner ARI
Matt Schaub HOU
Carson Palmer CIN
Tony Romo DAL
Peyton Manning IND
RB:
Brian Westbrook PHI
Jerious Norwood ATL
DeAngelo Williams CAR
Jamal Lewis CLE
Adrian Peterson MIN
Chester Taylor MIN
Justin Fargas OAK
Darren McFadden OAK
WR:
Roy Williams DET
Calvin Johnson DET
Matt Jones JAX
Ted Ginn Jnr. MIA
Laveraneus Coles NYJ
Jerricho Cotchery NYJ
Dexter Jackson TBB
DeSean Jackson PHI
Santonio Holmes PIT
Hines Ward PIT
Andre Johnson HOU
Kevin WalterHOU
Chad Ochocinco CIN
T.J. Houshmanzadeh CIN
Vincent Jackson SDC
Braylon Edwards CLE
Josh Cribbs CLE
Donte Stallworth CLE
Terrell Owens DAL
Reggie Wayne IND
Devin Hester CHI
Greg Jennings GBP
Donald Driver GBP
TE:
Tony Gonzalez KCC
L.J. Smith PHI
Donald Lee GBP
Dallas Clark IND
Antonio Gates SDC
Team D/ST:
Buccaneers Defence
Tennnessee Defence
Seattle Defence
Baltimore Defence
Bears Defence
Oakland Defence
K:
Robbie Gould CHI
IDP's:
Patrick Willis SFO
Manny Lawson SFO
Justin Smith SFO
Drops:
QB:
Jake Delhomme CAR
Joe Flacco BAL
Jeff Garcia TBB
Marc Bulger STL
Kyle Orton CHI
Jay Cutler DEN
Aaron Rodgers GBP
Tarvaris Jackson MIN
J.T. O'Sullivan SFO
RB:
Julius Jones SEA
T.J. Duckett SEA
Maurice Morris SEA
Fred Taylor JAX
Maurice Jones-Drew JAX
Ricky Williams MIA
Ronnie Brown MIA
Laurence Maroney NEP
Earnest Graham TBB
Reggie Bush NOS
Steven Jackson STL
Steve Slaton HOU
Ahman Green HOU
Rashard Mendenhall PIT
Willis McGahee BAL
Chris Perry CIN
Edgerrin James ARI
Kevin Jones CHI
Matt Forte CHI
Ryan Grant GBP
WR:
Joey Galloway TBB
Sidney Rice MIN
Bernard Berrian MIN
Team D/ST:
Lions Defence
New York Jets Defence
Cowboys Defence
Denver Defence
K:
Adam Vinateri IND
Each week we'll assess each game and how our predictions stacked up against what happened as we progress through the week. For now though, keep an eye on injury reports, and good luck in your fantasy games.
Detroit at Atlanta
Seattle at Buffalo
Jacksonville at Tennessee
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
Kansas City at New England
Tampa Bay at New Orleans
St. Louis at Philadelphia
Houston at Pittsburgh
Cincinnati at Baltimore
Carolina at San Diego
Arizona at San Francisco
Dallas at Cleveland
Chicago at Indianapolis
Minnesota at Green Bay
Denver at Oakland
Fantasy Picks:
QB:
Brett Favre NYJ
Drew Brees NOS
Ben Roethlisberger PIT
Kurt Warner ARI
Matt Schaub HOU
Carson Palmer CIN
Tony Romo DAL
Peyton Manning IND
RB:
Brian Westbrook PHI
Jerious Norwood ATL
DeAngelo Williams CAR
Jamal Lewis CLE
Adrian Peterson MIN
Chester Taylor MIN
Justin Fargas OAK
Darren McFadden OAK
WR:
Roy Williams DET
Calvin Johnson DET
Matt Jones JAX
Ted Ginn Jnr. MIA
Laveraneus Coles NYJ
Jerricho Cotchery NYJ
Dexter Jackson TBB
DeSean Jackson PHI
Santonio Holmes PIT
Hines Ward PIT
Andre Johnson HOU
Kevin WalterHOU
Chad Ochocinco CIN
T.J. Houshmanzadeh CIN
Vincent Jackson SDC
Braylon Edwards CLE
Josh Cribbs CLE
Donte Stallworth CLE
Terrell Owens DAL
Reggie Wayne IND
Devin Hester CHI
Greg Jennings GBP
Donald Driver GBP
TE:
Tony Gonzalez KCC
L.J. Smith PHI
Donald Lee GBP
Dallas Clark IND
Antonio Gates SDC
Team D/ST:
Buccaneers Defence
Tennnessee Defence
Seattle Defence
Baltimore Defence
Bears Defence
Oakland Defence
K:
Robbie Gould CHI
IDP's:
Patrick Willis SFO
Manny Lawson SFO
Justin Smith SFO
Drops:
QB:
Jake Delhomme CAR
Joe Flacco BAL
Jeff Garcia TBB
Marc Bulger STL
Kyle Orton CHI
Jay Cutler DEN
Aaron Rodgers GBP
Tarvaris Jackson MIN
J.T. O'Sullivan SFO
RB:
Julius Jones SEA
T.J. Duckett SEA
Maurice Morris SEA
Fred Taylor JAX
Maurice Jones-Drew JAX
Ricky Williams MIA
Ronnie Brown MIA
Laurence Maroney NEP
Earnest Graham TBB
Reggie Bush NOS
Steven Jackson STL
Steve Slaton HOU
Ahman Green HOU
Rashard Mendenhall PIT
Willis McGahee BAL
Chris Perry CIN
Edgerrin James ARI
Kevin Jones CHI
Matt Forte CHI
Ryan Grant GBP
WR:
Joey Galloway TBB
Sidney Rice MIN
Bernard Berrian MIN
Team D/ST:
Lions Defence
New York Jets Defence
Cowboys Defence
Denver Defence
K:
Adam Vinateri IND
Each week we'll assess each game and how our predictions stacked up against what happened as we progress through the week. For now though, keep an eye on injury reports, and good luck in your fantasy games.
2008 Week One Preview - Part Three
The final part of our
Sunday, 4:15pm EST (cont)
Arizona at San Francisco
The easy-to-mock NFC West throws up yet another classic matchup. Sarcasm aside, this could be an interesting litmus test for two veteran Quarterbacks who have beaten out high first round draft picks during Training Camp. Arizona's Kurt Warner holds the advantage in terms of experience, and it will likely be that and the weapons at his disposal (Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin) which makes the difference. Neither Defence is particularly good in coverage, so expect a shootout if the Mike Martz offence takes off as it has done in St. Louis and Detroit.
Fantasy Pick:Warner is the kind of guy who can throw for 400yds, 5 TD's, 6 INT's and lose four fumbles after being sacked. We think that adds up to positive totals in most leagues, and he could even get away with some of his more rubbish throws tommorow against the 49ers hit-and-miss secondary. We also like the 49ers Defence for IDP leagues. Patrick Willis, Manny Lawson, Justin Smith et al should bring the heat and rack up an impressive number of tackles.
Fantasy Drop: For similar reasons, we can't see Edgerrin James having too big a day against a decent front-seven. If Rookie Tim Hightower is getting goal line carries too, Edge's fantasy value plummets. O'Sullivan is a risky play, though if he gets going, he could put up good numbers in the Martz offence. We'd give it a few weeks before making that call though, and we will, because the idiot writing this has O'Sullivan as his backup QB in his 16 team dynasty league.
Dallas at Cleveland
A horrendous matchup that we'd really avoid if you're into the old gambling. On the one hand, the Cowboys have a great all-round roster, and a Defence that is amongst the top five in the league. What makes us pick the Browns? Playmakers. Sure T.O is great, and so is Jason Witten, but past that, what proven playmakers do the Cowboys have? The Browns have Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow jnr., Donte Stallworth, and Josh Cribbs. All four are viable receiving targets that can open up rushing lanes for Jamal Lewis and a highly talented O-line.
Fantasy Pick: Lewis is a safe fantasy pick, as neither Jason Wright or Jerome Harrison is a threat to carry much. Any Cleveland receiver should be played, especially Edwards, who we predict could lead the league in receiving yards this season. For the Cowboys, Owens is the only obvious play, though QB Tony Romo could have a good day if another receiver steps up to the plate.
Fantasy Drop: We'll be bold here: Don't pick the Cowboys Defence this week. If any team has the chance to surprise the Cowboys early, it's Cleveland, and they have a well rounded offence that can really put up huge numbers, even if they lose. We'll wager the 'boys D counts for less than 10pts in most fantasy formats this weekend.
Sunday, 8:15pm EST
Chicago at Indianapolis
Here's what we think: The Bears Offence should be demoted to the Arena Football League until they learn how to play properly. Let's be honest though, if there was a Defence that Peyton Manning wouldn't want to face in his first game back from injury, it'd be the Bears. In the end the scoreline will be less relevant than whether Manning escapes without any after effects following the inevitable sacks he will take. Despite that pressure, the Bears Offence is honestly just too bad to take advantage of anything it is given.
Fantasy Pick: If you're lucky enough to own them, Peyton Manning, Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne are obvious starters, and if you needed us to tell you that, it's best that you give up now, because you will not win your league this year. Actually that's not true, you probably will, but it will be a hollow victory built on luck. Think of us with J.T O'Sullivan when you nonchalantly select Manning every week. For the Bears, apart from the Defence, Devin Hester is worth a look, as any points will likely be generated through him, and of course, Kicker Robbie Gould will finish off most drives after they stall.
Fantasy Drop: Kyle Orton is not a viable starter until he shakes the 'game manager' tag. We expect him to be slightly looser than when he started in 2005, but still very much a backup in both real life and fantasy football. Similarly, Matt Forte and Kevin Jones both have issues that will need addressing before we find out how valuable they'll be this year. For now, assume them to be projects until one or the other breaks out. One player who could make this list every week is Colts kicker Adam Vinateri, who's main jobs in life are 'kicking extra points' and 'missing field goals'.
Monday, 7pm EST
Minnesota at Green Bay
We've gone for Green Bay on Monday, despite Aaron Rodgers making his first regular season start for the Packers. Put simply, there are still more question marks over Tarvaris Jackson than Rodgers, and the Packers Defence is one of the most under-appreciated units in the league. Of course, Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor are still rushing threats for the Vikings, but when your offence is that one-dimensional, its hard to establish a running game.
Fantasy Pick: Greg Jennings will likely overtake Donald Driver as the Pack's best receiving threat, but both are good plays this week. Also likely to see extensive work is TE Donald Lee, as Rodgers adjusts to his starting role and leans on his Tight End slightly more than usual. For the Vikings, either Peterson or Taylor is a decent option in most leagues. It will be interesting to see how that dynamic develops over the course of the season, however.
Fantasy Drop: Neither Aaron Rodgers or Tarvaris Jackson can be considered safe QB plays. Rodgers should be slightly better, but both could easily throw as many picks as Touchdowns. We also don't like either Sidney Rice or Bernard Berrian until Jackson shows what he's made of. Ryan Grant is a slight injury worry for the Pack, so keep an eye out for his status come game time. Packers coach Mike McCarthy did a lot of shuffling in the backfield last year, so Grant isn't that great an option even when healthy.
Monday, 10:15pm EST
Denver at Oakland
The final game of the week, and it's on at a particularly stupid hour. If this game is deciding your fantasy matchup, then we feel sorry for you, mainly because it means you must be tied to one of these terrible teams in some way. The Raiders have a decent enough rushing attack, however, and the porous Broncos run defence should give ample opportunity for them to put up big numbers on the ground. Denver are without Receiver Brandon Marshall, who is suspended, and Rookie Running Back Ryan Torain, who is injured. Overall, that just adds up to a big handicap to overcome.
Fantasy Pick: Any Oakland Running Back. Justin Fargas will start, but Darren McFadden will likely see extended playing time, so both are relatively safe picks. The Oakland Defence will likely never have an easier day than Sunday, so if they're available in your league, consider them if you're facing an unfavourable matchup.
Fantasy Drop: If you own the Denver Broncos Defence, you seriously need to have a quiet word with yourself and ask 'is fantasy football the game for me?', because they are an atrocious unit in all facets of the game. Also on dicey territory this week is Broncos QB Jay Cutler, who quite simply has nobody to throw to. We like Cutler long term, and feel like he is alreayd the best QB of the '06 class, ahead of Matt Leinart and Vince Young, but he is not a fantasy stud yet, and needs a stable running game to keep defences honest.
That's our full preview of week one. To help you make your picks, we'll condense all the pertinent information into one handy list for you. Don't say we never do anything for you.
Sunday, 4:15pm EST (cont)
Arizona at San Francisco
The easy-to-mock NFC West throws up yet another classic matchup. Sarcasm aside, this could be an interesting litmus test for two veteran Quarterbacks who have beaten out high first round draft picks during Training Camp. Arizona's Kurt Warner holds the advantage in terms of experience, and it will likely be that and the weapons at his disposal (Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin) which makes the difference. Neither Defence is particularly good in coverage, so expect a shootout if the Mike Martz offence takes off as it has done in St. Louis and Detroit.
Fantasy Pick:Warner is the kind of guy who can throw for 400yds, 5 TD's, 6 INT's and lose four fumbles after being sacked. We think that adds up to positive totals in most leagues, and he could even get away with some of his more rubbish throws tommorow against the 49ers hit-and-miss secondary. We also like the 49ers Defence for IDP leagues. Patrick Willis, Manny Lawson, Justin Smith et al should bring the heat and rack up an impressive number of tackles.
Fantasy Drop: For similar reasons, we can't see Edgerrin James having too big a day against a decent front-seven. If Rookie Tim Hightower is getting goal line carries too, Edge's fantasy value plummets. O'Sullivan is a risky play, though if he gets going, he could put up good numbers in the Martz offence. We'd give it a few weeks before making that call though, and we will, because the idiot writing this has O'Sullivan as his backup QB in his 16 team dynasty league.
Dallas at Cleveland
A horrendous matchup that we'd really avoid if you're into the old gambling. On the one hand, the Cowboys have a great all-round roster, and a Defence that is amongst the top five in the league. What makes us pick the Browns? Playmakers. Sure T.O is great, and so is Jason Witten, but past that, what proven playmakers do the Cowboys have? The Browns have Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow jnr., Donte Stallworth, and Josh Cribbs. All four are viable receiving targets that can open up rushing lanes for Jamal Lewis and a highly talented O-line.
Fantasy Pick: Lewis is a safe fantasy pick, as neither Jason Wright or Jerome Harrison is a threat to carry much. Any Cleveland receiver should be played, especially Edwards, who we predict could lead the league in receiving yards this season. For the Cowboys, Owens is the only obvious play, though QB Tony Romo could have a good day if another receiver steps up to the plate.
Fantasy Drop: We'll be bold here: Don't pick the Cowboys Defence this week. If any team has the chance to surprise the Cowboys early, it's Cleveland, and they have a well rounded offence that can really put up huge numbers, even if they lose. We'll wager the 'boys D counts for less than 10pts in most fantasy formats this weekend.
Sunday, 8:15pm EST
Chicago at Indianapolis
Here's what we think: The Bears Offence should be demoted to the Arena Football League until they learn how to play properly. Let's be honest though, if there was a Defence that Peyton Manning wouldn't want to face in his first game back from injury, it'd be the Bears. In the end the scoreline will be less relevant than whether Manning escapes without any after effects following the inevitable sacks he will take. Despite that pressure, the Bears Offence is honestly just too bad to take advantage of anything it is given.
Fantasy Pick: If you're lucky enough to own them, Peyton Manning, Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne are obvious starters, and if you needed us to tell you that, it's best that you give up now, because you will not win your league this year. Actually that's not true, you probably will, but it will be a hollow victory built on luck. Think of us with J.T O'Sullivan when you nonchalantly select Manning every week. For the Bears, apart from the Defence, Devin Hester is worth a look, as any points will likely be generated through him, and of course, Kicker Robbie Gould will finish off most drives after they stall.
Fantasy Drop: Kyle Orton is not a viable starter until he shakes the 'game manager' tag. We expect him to be slightly looser than when he started in 2005, but still very much a backup in both real life and fantasy football. Similarly, Matt Forte and Kevin Jones both have issues that will need addressing before we find out how valuable they'll be this year. For now, assume them to be projects until one or the other breaks out. One player who could make this list every week is Colts kicker Adam Vinateri, who's main jobs in life are 'kicking extra points' and 'missing field goals'.
Monday, 7pm EST
Minnesota at Green Bay
We've gone for Green Bay on Monday, despite Aaron Rodgers making his first regular season start for the Packers. Put simply, there are still more question marks over Tarvaris Jackson than Rodgers, and the Packers Defence is one of the most under-appreciated units in the league. Of course, Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor are still rushing threats for the Vikings, but when your offence is that one-dimensional, its hard to establish a running game.
Fantasy Pick: Greg Jennings will likely overtake Donald Driver as the Pack's best receiving threat, but both are good plays this week. Also likely to see extensive work is TE Donald Lee, as Rodgers adjusts to his starting role and leans on his Tight End slightly more than usual. For the Vikings, either Peterson or Taylor is a decent option in most leagues. It will be interesting to see how that dynamic develops over the course of the season, however.
Fantasy Drop: Neither Aaron Rodgers or Tarvaris Jackson can be considered safe QB plays. Rodgers should be slightly better, but both could easily throw as many picks as Touchdowns. We also don't like either Sidney Rice or Bernard Berrian until Jackson shows what he's made of. Ryan Grant is a slight injury worry for the Pack, so keep an eye out for his status come game time. Packers coach Mike McCarthy did a lot of shuffling in the backfield last year, so Grant isn't that great an option even when healthy.
Monday, 10:15pm EST
Denver at Oakland
The final game of the week, and it's on at a particularly stupid hour. If this game is deciding your fantasy matchup, then we feel sorry for you, mainly because it means you must be tied to one of these terrible teams in some way. The Raiders have a decent enough rushing attack, however, and the porous Broncos run defence should give ample opportunity for them to put up big numbers on the ground. Denver are without Receiver Brandon Marshall, who is suspended, and Rookie Running Back Ryan Torain, who is injured. Overall, that just adds up to a big handicap to overcome.
Fantasy Pick: Any Oakland Running Back. Justin Fargas will start, but Darren McFadden will likely see extended playing time, so both are relatively safe picks. The Oakland Defence will likely never have an easier day than Sunday, so if they're available in your league, consider them if you're facing an unfavourable matchup.
Fantasy Drop: If you own the Denver Broncos Defence, you seriously need to have a quiet word with yourself and ask 'is fantasy football the game for me?', because they are an atrocious unit in all facets of the game. Also on dicey territory this week is Broncos QB Jay Cutler, who quite simply has nobody to throw to. We like Cutler long term, and feel like he is alreayd the best QB of the '06 class, ahead of Matt Leinart and Vince Young, but he is not a fantasy stud yet, and needs a stable running game to keep defences honest.
That's our full preview of week one. To help you make your picks, we'll condense all the pertinent information into one handy list for you. Don't say we never do anything for you.
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