Recently, I became a fantasy football expert. How, you ask? Quite simply, just self appointed myself an expert. I generally feel this is the route most fantasy experts go to get the title of expert. Now that we have a fantasy expert here at No Fair Weather Fans, everyone should come here to get their fantasy info.
The important thing to remember is that you should always go with your own gut instincts when it comes to picking your starters or sitting your scrubs. We all have those moments when our gut doesn’t know what to do. Don’t you worry, I have plenty of gut. This means I have plenty of gut feelings. If you can’t make a decision on who to start or sit, you can come to my belly for EXPERT advice.
Here are some of my gut feelings for Week 1:
The Positive Players
Buccaneers will have best defensive week – My guess is that Tampa Bay didn’t even get drafted in your league. They added the second best corner in the NFL in Darrelle Revis and one of the better safeties in the league in Dashon Goldson during the offseason. These are both great players, but the best thing is they play the Jets and rookie Geno Smith with no receivers.
Big game from T.Y. Hilton – Shhhhhh, this dude is really good. If you were lucky enough to get this dude, you most likely got him as your 6th or 7th round pick. The Colts aren’t deep at WR, unless you count DHB as a legit receiver. Hilton had five 100 yard games during last year’s rookie season and will only get better. Oh yeah, Colts are playing the Raiders.
Pierre Garcon will go HAM – Can you name anyone in the Eagles secondary? Me either and I am a fantasy expert. RGIII won’t be running around much the first week and Garcon will be his go to man. Look for the Redskins to get the ball out quickly in the passing game. If you are in a PPR league, the French Firework (new nickname for him, I swear it will catch on) will be an pot d’or (French for pot of gold).
MJD is back – Maurice Jones-Drew sat out, basically, all of last season with the dreaded Lisfranc injury. With Justin Blackmon out the first four weeks, the Jaguars are going to be riding Jones-Drew. You can expect a heavy dose of the squatty running back. Ball control will help keep that suspect Jags’ defense off the field.
The Negative Players
Arian Foster not full strength - Remember this is just for the first week. Foster will get eased into the season after spending the preseason on the PUP list. Don’t expect the normal workload he has gotten the last few seasons for this week. Ben Tate will be taking some to a good portion of his touches. Don’t worry, Foster will be back to is old-self sooner than later.
Colin Kaepernick in the rematch – Last time the 49ers played the Packers it was the Kaepernick show. He rushed for 181 yards and led S.F. to a 45-31 victory. Green Bay was also missing Nick Perry and had a limited Clay Matthews. This time Green Bay will be more than prepared for the read option. Don’t forget Kaepernick relied heavily on Michael Crabree (9 rec. 119 yard and 2 TD) in that game. Crab won’t be around to help this time around.
Tavon Austin still getting situated – There has been a lot of hype on the 8th overall pick. I am just not seeing it. He finished the preseason with 8 receptions for only 66 yards. There should be more production from a top 10 pick. I know players are limited in the preseason, but the Rams made and effort to get him involved. He has upside, but the first week isn’t going to be his week.
Not the same Ravens defense – Baltimore has been a staple in the top 5 defenses for the last 10+ years. They aren’t falling all the way to the bottom with the loses of Ed Reed and Ray Lewis, but that is a lot of leadership to lose. The first test you don’t want to take as a gelling defense is Peyton Manning. In the playoff game last year, Manning put up 290 and 3 TDs. Yes, he threw two picks, but one was a total fluke. He would have racked up more, if it weren’t for the two huge returns by Trindon Holliday. A defense with a few new players, on the road, is not who you want in your starting lineup.
Get on the spot fantasy advice from myself on Twitter @BenKelleyNFWF
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