Who To Start This Week in Fantasy Football: Week 1
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I'll try to do this every week...
My co-workers over the summer at WNST are love drunk over fantasy football. That's all we talked about in the production booth during commercials and guest interviews. With that said, I will give you all one player at each position that you MUST start this week. I will also give you the ultimate salary cap line up (my lineup) for this week.
Oh, and I will never tell you to start LT, LJ, Peyton, etc. because that would be a waste of time...anyway, here we go.
QB: Matt Leinart vs. SF
This game could turn into a shootout because of the less-than-average defenses. Although the 49ers made some strides in beefing up that defensive backfield by adding Nate Clements, Leinart will look to spread the ball all over the field and baisically throw to the side that Clements isn't covering.
RB: Willie Parker @ CLE
Willie Parker ran all over the Browns last year, amassing 269 yards on 48 carries and two touchdowns (he also caught a touchdown pass). With the Browns doing virtually nothing to tighten up that run defense in the offseason, this seems like a no-brainer.
WR: Fitzgerald/Boldin vs. SF
Mainly for the reasons mentioned above. Whoever Clements isn't covering is going to get the ball, and with Ken Whisenhunt's new exotic offensive scheme, look for Larry and Anquan to continue their past success against the 49ers. Fitzgerald is avering 99.7 yards per game with 3 touchdowns in six games, while Boldin is averaging 94.1 yards per game and has 4 touchdowns in seven career games against San Francisco.
TE: Randy McMichael vs. CAR
I'm expecting Steven Jackson, Issac Bruce, and Torry Holt to get the ball into the redzone quite often, but not necessarily score on those long plays as much as they would like to, mainly because the Panthers have been a very good tackling team ever since John Fox took over. Since the Carolina defense will undoubtedly be gunning to limit Jackson and Holt, a nice play action touchdown pass over the middle to the big tight end is looking like a near certainty.
DEF/ST: Baltimore Ravens
One thing is for sure: the Bengals will throw the football...a lot, especially if they get behind early. With that Raven's pass rush and Ed Reed, Chris McAlister, and Dawan Landry patrolling the defensive backfield, a few interceptions should be expected. With Tackle Willie Anderson nursing a foot injury, he may not even play in the Monday Night Opener. If that's the case, Terrell Suggs could have a field day forcing turnovers and gathering sacks.
Sleeper: Brandon Jackson, RB, Green Bay
My Salary Cap Roster This Week: (keeping it under $100 million)
Marc Bulger, Jay Cutler, LaMont Jordan, Willie Parker, Braylon Edwards, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Nate Kaeding, Baltimore
See you next week...
