What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Week One matchups to exploit or avoid (1 Viewer)

BustedKnuckles

Footballguy
Week One matchups to exploit or avoid

By Trent Modglin

Sept. 6, 2006

Matchups to exploit

It could be a wild season opener for the Cardinals’ offense. Make sure you have QB Kurt Warner and WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald in your Week One lineup, as they face a 49ers defense that registered a grand total of two sacks in the preseason and have a secondary that is one of the league’s worst.

Houston’s defense was atrocious in 2005, finishing dead last in rushing yards and points allowed, and the Texans didn’t exactly go crazy adding key personnel in the offseason outside of first-round pick Mario Williams. Look for Philadelphia RB Brian Westbrook and QB Donovan McNabb to have nice opening-day numbers.

Thinking about avoiding Steelers WR Hines Ward because Ben Roethlisberger is out? In one of Charlie Batch’s two starts last season, Ward went for eight catches, 124 yards and a touchdown, his second-highest output of the entire season.

Yes, Mike Shanahan is being coy about his RB depth chart leading into the opener at St. Louis, but Mike Bell will start and deserves to be in your fantasy lineup against a Rams defense that ranked 28th in the league vs. the run last season. Even Tatum Bell, on that quick surface, could be worth a look, even as a change-of-pace option.

The Bears’ defense finished first in points allowed and first in average gain per pass play. Brett Favre was picked off six times in his two meetings with Chicago last season, failing to throw a TD pass in the process. The Packers’ offense has looked discombobulated for much of the preseason as it adjusts to new players and a new scheme and coaching staff. Get the Bears’ defense some work right off the bat.

Matchups to avoid

There’s no doubting LaMont Jordan is starting fantasy material, but just don’t expect a ton of production out of him this week against a Chargers defense that ranked first in the league in terms of stopping the run last season and returns 9-of-11 starters. Also worthy of note is the fact the Raiders’ revamped offensive line didn’t exactly look sharp in the preseason and will have to deal with standout NT Jamal Williams and a quality LB corps.

Although Tennessee’s defense is hardly elite, it’s probably best to stay away from Jets RB Kevan Barlow, at least until he gets his feet wet in the new system and officially claims his stake atop the depth chart. It figures to be a mix of Barlow, Derrick Blaylock, Cedric Houston and Leon Washington until someone takes charge.

If you’re in a league in which you have to start two passers, and you’re thinking about starting Bills QB J.P. Losman against Bill Belichick’s Patriots, don’t. Think better of yourself. New England struggled, giving up a ton of passing yards, during an injury-plagued 2005, but the Patriots are sure to show Losman some looks he hasn’t seen before in this one.

Baltimore’s Jamal Lewis admits he isn’t 100 percent with his ailing hip, but he’s going to give it a go against Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers ranked sixth against the run in 2005 and held all but five opponents to fewer than 92 yards on the ground.

Atlanta’s Michael Vick has not had much in the way of success against Carolina in the past. In fact, in his last four outings against the Panthers, he has thrown for only two touchdowns and five picks. Give him a rest in Week One if you can afford to.

 
Here's two from the game I will be watching:

(1.) Larry Johnson versus the Bengals' minor league defense

(2.) Chris Henry as the third receiver, unlikely to be covered by either Ty Law or Patrick Surtain

 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top