Fantasy Football: GOLD and COLD
Every Friday of the NFL season I will give my picks of players that have a good match-up and you can expect a good game (GOLD) or players that are facing a bad match-up and need to lower your expectations (COLD). Here are my picks for week one. The scoring system and benchmarks are down at the bottom:
GOLD
Leon Washington, NYJ, RB
@ Houston
Forecast: 10 carries, 60 yards, 5 catches, 40 yards, 1 TD (19 points)
Houston’s defense is not exactly top notch and the Jets are breaking in a rookie QB. I see Washington getting his share of productive touches. Jets Coach Rex Ryan has already said that Leon will touch the ball more this season and with his skill all-around I see him starting the season off in a big way. This could be the start of a great season for Leon.
Josh Morgan, SF, WR
@ Arizona
Forecast: 5 catches, 65 yards, 1 TD (14 points)
Morgan is the number 1 receiving option in San Fran because of Michael Crabtree’s holdout. Even if Crab’s was there, there is talk that he would still be the top option. Last season Arizona gave up the most TD’s to wideouts and didn’t look to good in preseason. Yes, the 49ers want to run the ball but if the Cards score they will have no choice but to pass.
Robert Meacham, NO, WR
Vs. Detroit
Forecast: 3 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD (14 points)
A great offense going against a bad defense, I see some big plays being made. And If you want big plays in the Saints passing game this year, I think its going to be Meacham. He averaged almost 30 yards a catch in preseason and I see him carrying that over to game one.
Cedric Benson, CIN, RB
Vs. Denver
Forecast: 26 carries, 110 yards, 1 catch, 7 yards, 1 TD (18 points)
Benson ended the season on a high note. Can he carry it over? I think he will for at least week one. The Broncos defense was horrible against the run last year and they did little to improve it. I see Cincinnati pounding the ball with Benson for over 100 yards easy and throw in a TD and that’s a GOLD fantasy day.
Anthony Fasano, MIA, TE
@ Atlanta
Forecast: 5 catches, 56 yards, 1 TD (13 points)
Fasano is probably the top passing option in the Dolphins offense and has got some chemistry with QB Chad Pennington. Atlanta is not that good at defending TE’s so I see him having a better than average game and even getting into the end zone.
Julius Jones, SEA, RB
Vs. St. Louis
Forecast: 23 carries, 103 yards, 2 catches, 21 yards (13 points)
Yes the Rams have a new defensive minded coach and their defense should be a little improved, but Seattle will have plenty of time to run when they are ahead early. Jones is #1 on the depth chart right now so he will get his chances.
Joe Flacco, BAL, QB
Vs. Kansas City
Forecast: 205 passing yards, 17 rushing, 2 TD passes, 0 Int (17 points)
Flacco has a great match-up to start the season. A team in rebuilding on both sides of the ball, I see him having a solid game for around 200 yards and a couple TD’s.
Shaun Hill, SF, QB
@ Arizona
Forecast: 230 passing yards, 15 rushing yards, 2 TD passes, 1 Int (16 points)
Yes the 49ers want to run the ball but they might have to throw to stay in the game. Hill is capable of going over 200 yards easy against a so-so defense. I see him throwing a couple TD’s too.
COLD
Jamal Lewis, CLE, RB
Vs. Minnesota
Forecast: 23 carries, 43 yards, 1 catch, 4 yards, 0 TDs (5 points)
The Viking defense is to strong against the run for the aging Lewis to have a good game. Even worse, there was talk that he might be cut before the season, showing the lack confidence that the coaches have in him. Sit him in this one. It might be time to give up on him completely if James Davis comes to play.
Dwayne Bowe, KC, WR
@ Baltimore
Forecast: 4 catches, 43 yards 0 TDs (6 points)
KC will be down big in this one so they will throw the ball, but without Matt Cassell and Bowe being the only option in the passing game to worry about, I don’t see a good game. All the coverage’s will be geared toward Bowe so find another option at WR this week.
Terrell Owens, BUF, WR
@ New England
Forecast: 5 catches, 55 yards, 0 TDs (7 points)
T.O’s first game as a Bill will be one to forget. They already fired the OC before the season and going up against the Pats on Monday night I don’t see their offense clicking. T.O. will see better games than week one but your probably starting him anyway.
Eli Manning, NYG, QB
Vs. Washington
Forecast: 180 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 Int (9 points)
Washington already has a good secondary and now that the front 7 is upgraded a see a defensive struggle to start the season. The Giants are going to try to run the ball a ton because of the lack of experience of the receivers. That will limit Eli’s opportunities to make plays.
Clinton Portis, WAS, RB
@ New York Giants
Forecast: 20 carries, 57 yards, 2 catches, 12 yards, 0 Tds (7 points)
A good defense got better in the off-season. The Giants upgraded their front 7 also and there will be little room for Portis to run in this game. It’s going to be a close defensive battle and I don’t see many offensive players doing good this season.
SCORING BENCHMARKS
QBs: 12+ fantasy points
RBs: 12+ fantasy points
WRs: 10+ fantasy points
TEs: 8+ fantasy points
*Scoring system:
4 PTs/Pass TD
1 PT/25 pass yards
6 PTs/Rush-Rec TD
1 PT/Reception
1 PT/10 Rush yards
1 PT/20 Rec yards
-2 PT/INT or FL
Source image: AP
