Cedric Benson: Early last..... I would likely roll with Benson week 1 as he seems safe to get about 20+ touches in this game unless things go hideously wrong for Cinci and they regress into a David Shula squad.
As a Pats homer, I hate to say this, but I can't see Benson having a bad day. Pats fans are really excited/scared to see what the Pats have defensively this year. After Seymour was traded last season, I don't think there was enough talk about how soft that front D-line became. Ty Warren is out for the year, and G Warren is not a run stopper, so you're left with Wilfork and Wright on the line. Is anyone scared of that D Line? Then the LB corps will be frightening, at least to someone, maybe me. Mayo(soph), Spikes(rook, sleeper for tackles if you're IDP), Murrell(who I guess is Adrian's brother), and Banta-Cain(stepped up last year, but someone had to). Then it gets scary, good or bad, not sure.. Darius Butler(1 yr exp, Go Uconn!), D Mccorty(0), Merriweather(3, but not all starting), and Chung(1) in the secondary. So you see, we have very little to go on except the fact that we know that it is a very inexperienced defense. ( Very Belichekian, eh?)What this means for Benson Week 1... Cincy should be able move the ball and if all is well, they'll give it to Cedric often. What Benson owners need to worry about is what if......... Spikes is the real deal(not like on youtube), and Chung lines up in the box like he's been doing pre-season, and Mccorty is the next DRevis, and Wilfork still weighs 350 lbs, and Mayo was not a fluke, and Merriweather suddenly "gets it", yadda yadda... But that's a lot of "ifs". Sorry if this sounds more like a Pats D post, but Benson is going to set the bar for all running backs going up vs the Pats this season, and it would be wise to see how this shakes out. I'm just hoping this D gels fast, if Benson has a bad/mediocre day, you either have to credit the defense, or the knock's on Benson. I am not sold on the Palmer/85/TO trio, which could bode well for Bensons touches as well.TWA