Week 1 Fantasy Strategy

It's Labor Day and that means this is the last Monday of 2007 where we all won't have a collective football hangover. May I say that's phenomenal? The NFL officially kicks off Thursday when the Saints and Colts battle it out in what I actually thought would be the Super Bowl last year. Of course thanks to the Drew Brees choke job, that didn't happen. With the coming action on the field, that means it's time to think about my Week 1 starting line up.

I'm going against Crush Force Hammer, which two years ago would've been called Juuust Arch Pummell. This will be a true test. Matt has one of the best rosters in the league thanks to him taking LDT with the #1 overall. I'll go position by position and outline who he is playing, what my options are at that position, who I'm starting and why.

QB CFH - Drew Brees / SD - Phillip Rivers or Alex Smith?

I gave the Week 1 start to Alex Smith because Rivers is going up against the Bears 'D' which looks ready to continue its dominating ways and Smith is throwing against the Cards' 'D', and I think they are the worst secondary in the NFL. I'm looking for Smith and the San Fran passing game to have a big day. CFH's Drew Brees will most likely put up good numbers, so I need to have the best match up possible to win out this position.

RB 1 & 2 CFH - LaDanian & Brandon Jacobs  / SD - Stephen Jackson, Edgerrin James, Marion Barber III, or Lawrence Maroney?

I'm starting Jackson and The Edge as my #1 & 2 running backs this week. While Jackson is going up against a solid defense in Carolina, LDT is going to try to break through Chicago's run stuffing line. Since both of our feature backs are hitting tough D's, they kind of cancel out and I want to see what the #2 overall pick can do. I decided to put Edgerrin in the #2 RB spot because he's going up against the San Francisco defense that gave up over 120 rushing yards per game last season and the Cards O-line is apparently much improved. Being that Leinart and the passing game should stretch the field, James may have a good game.

WR 1 & 2 CFH - Marvin Harrison & Randy Moss  / SD - Hines Ward, Laverneus Coles, Mike Furrey, or Donte Stallworth?

I'm going with Hines and Laverneus because they are the featured guys in a consistent passing game.
Will they put up huge numbers? Probably not, but I doubt they will disappoint. CFH has the best WR in Marvin Harrison. I don't have anyone that can touch that, so I just need guys that will give me some points and keep it close. I think Ward and Coles are the best choices to do so.

Flex WR/RB CFH - Joey Galloway  / SD - Lawrence Maroney, Marion Barber III, Mike Furrey or Donte Stallworth?

This is a matchup I need to win if I'm going to beat CFH. His flex spot is his only glaring weakness.
I'm putting in Lawrence Maroney because he is going to absolutely shred the Jets' rush defense. If he can give me at least 16 points, I'll be very happy. There's no way Galloway is giving him more than 10.

TE CFH - Kellen Winslow  / SD - Dallas Clark or Jason Witten?

Dallas Clark gets the nod just because he's playing with Peyton Manning. Those two roomed together for the first time during training camp and developed a bond. You know he will be looking for Clark over the middle, especially in the red zone. Winslow is likely to win this matchup, as he's the centerpiece of the Browns' offense, but as long as Clark can keep it close I'll be satisfied with him.

Defense CFH - New England  / SD - Seattle or San Diego?

I submitted Seattle as my Week 1 defense because they are playing a Tampa team that only averaged 13 points per game in 2006, and 270 total yards. SD is playing Chicago. Now one of two things are going to happen there.

Either SD completely rips Grossman a new one and makes him want to hide in his daddy's armpit, or they get over confident and Grossman lights them up. There is no in between. Seattle just seems like more of a sure thing so I went with them.

Kicker CFH - Jeff Wilkins  / SD - Jason Elam Well Elam is my only kicker so what choice do I have?

So there you have it... my Week 1 starting lineup. Let's hope all that research, trash talking and strategy pay off.

To post a comment, you need to login or sign up.	Fan Comments Lookin' good, Derwinism! But did I really read that you just placed the NFC Championship loss solely on Drew Brees? Hmmm...how many touches did McAllister get after running mad through end of the season? Posted at 04/09 09:14 by James Sheldon View All