LaDainian Tomlinson Injury Update: Injured Ankle, Status Uncertain for Week Two

LaDainian Tomlinson was one of the more controversial running backs heading into 2009 fantasy football drafts, as his history of consistent production and his advancing age collided to form a maelstrom of differing opinions on his potential for 2009.

In the end, despite his age (30) and 2008 struggles, most drafts saw L.T. get plucked at some point in the mid-to-late first round.

Still, there is no doubt that anyone drafting L.T. had to be more than a little nervous about investing their first round pick in a player who is fighting against the stacked history of running backs struggling once they reach 30 years old.

After one week, the L.T. results for 2009 can only be described one way…mixed.

If you did not stay up for the second Monday night game last night between San Diego and Oakland, you missed a thrilling fourth quarter in which Oakland took the lead late on a 4th-and-15 TD pass by JaMarcus Russell, only to see Philip Rivers and San Diego march right down the field and score a TD of their own to capture a 24-20 victory.

You also missed LaDainian Tomlinson having to spend most of the second half on the bench with an ankle injury.

Follow the links to StubHub for great deals on San Diego Chargers tickets and all 2009 NFL tickets.

The game was not a complete loss, however, as Tomlinson scored a touchdown in the first half and averaged 4.2 yards per carry on 13 rushes, generating 55 yards. He also had one reception.

The early Monday injury update on Tomlinson is that there really isn’t one, except that he was “limping badly after the game” according to the San Diego Union-Tribune (via PFT’s LT injury update). Tomlinson says that the ankle injury was not bad enough to keep him from playing, but said that it did tighten up on him in the second half.

In Tomlinson’s absence, Darren Sproles ran for only 23 yards on nine carries, but did show his usual giddy-up while gathering 43 yards on five receptions.

We likely won’t know more about Tomlinson’s ankle injury until later in the week, and even then surely Norv Turner and the Chargers will milk the uncertainty over LT’s status as much as they can.

With a tough game coming up against the usually ruthless Ravens’ defense, I would expect to hear very little substantive about LT until late in the week, if at all.

I’ll update this post as more information becomes available about Tomlinson’s injury. I’d make sure you have a backup plan ready, and then be pleasantly surprised if and when you don’t have to use it.

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* LaDainian Tomlinson injury update: Bleacher Report

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NFL Week 2 Preview: TV Schedule, Announcers, Point Spreads, and Picks

So, let’s quickly take note of what we learned during the first week of the 2009 NFL football season:

• Adrian Peterson is an absolute beast.

• Tom Brady is still, well, Tom Brady.

• Jake Delhomme is still, unfortunately for Carolina, the same Jake Delhomme that we saw last year in the playoffs.

• The Ravens and Falcons, at least for one week, appear that they will pick up right where their turnaround 2008 seasons left off.

• Miami might not be in the same boat.

• Drew Brees and the Saints might have the most explosive offense we’ve seen in a loooong time. (You know, since the 2007 Patriots.)

• Jay Cutler is still the same reckless “gunslinger” that he was in Denver. He’ll have to cut down on the INTs and increase the TDs now that Brian Urlacher is out for the rest of the season.

There is more, as we always learn plenty from the first week of the NFL season.

But do we…really?

It often seems like the greatest disparity from week-to-week for individual teams comes between weeks one and two. In contrast to the preseason, now that each team has seen its starting lineup play an entire regular season game, legitimate and meaningful adjustments can be made.

In cities like Houston, Washington, and Arizona, among others, teams that fancy themselves as playoff threats will need to make adjustments before week two to avoid falling to 0-2.

In cities like San Francisco, Green Bay, and Dallas, the hope is that the positives from last week were not a mirage and that an auspicious 2-0 record is on the horizon.

We shall see.

As you get ready for another week of NFL action, we bring you our handy, dandy NFL TV Schedule and Point Spread post like we do every week. Each game is listed below with the date, kickoff time, TV network, announcers, point spread, over-under, and even a spread pick.

(Note: No, I do not keep track of how I do against the spread each week; honestly, I don’t care. Each pick below is just based on my gut instinct as I type up this post early in the week. I was 14-for-16 picking straight up last week though.)

A couple of quick things to keep in mind:

• All times are ET.

• Some games do not have all of the information filled in (i.e. a few games don’t have spreads yet and the announcer assignments have not yet been announced). I’ll update this post as soon as the information is available at the506.com.

• Point spread and over-under listings are as of Monday night, and obviously subject to change throughout the week. If you want updated point spread info, or some expert advice as you make your weekly picks, below are a few helpful links.

• DocSports: NFL Odds

• DocSports: NFL Picks

And with all that said, here is your mood music and the Week 2 TV schedule, point spreads, announcers, and picks.

 

NFL Week 2 Preview

TV Schedule – Announcers – Kickoff Times

Point Spreads – Over-Unders – Spread Picks

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Houston Texans (0-1) at Tennessee Titans (0-1)

• Texans-Titans Date: Sunday, September 20
• Texans-Titans Time: 1:00
• Texans-Titans TV Network: CBS
• Texans-Titans Announcers:
• Texans-Titans Point Spread: Titans -7.5
• Texans-Titans Over-Under: 40.5
• Texans-Titans Pick: Houston may not win, but I see no way the Texans go down without a tooth-and-nail fight. This is a team under enormous pressure to win, and the Titans do not have an offense that will put up an extraordinary amount of points. 
• Texans-Titans spread pick: Texans +7.5

 

Arizona Cardinals (0-1) at Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1)

• Cardinals-Jaguars Date: Sunday, September 20
• Cardinals-Jaguars Time: 1:00
• Cardinals-Jaguars TV Network: FOX
• Cardinals-Jaguars Announcers:
• Cardinals-Jaguars Point Spread: Jaguars -3.5
• Cardinals-Jaguars Over-Under: 42.5
• Cardinals-Jaguars Pick: This is a tough one. I am not a big fan of either one of these teams this season. Because the Cardinals have the best player on the field (Larry Fitzgerald) I’m picking them to cover. As to who will win, I say it’s a toss-up. 
• Cardinals-Jaguars spread pick: Cardinals +3.

 

New Orleans Saints (1-0) at Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)

• Saints-Eagles Date: Sunday, September 20
• Saints-Eagles Time: 1:00
• Saints-Eagles TV Network: FOX
• Saints-Eagles Announcers:
• Saints-Eagles Point Spread:
• Saints-Eagles Over-Under:
• Saints-Eagles Spread Pick:

Oakland Raiders (0-1) at Kansas City Chiefs (0-1)

• Raiders-Chiefs Date: Sunday, September 20
• Raiders-Chiefs Time: 1:00
• Raiders-Chiefs TV Network: CBS
• Raiders-Chiefs Announcers:
• Raiders-Chiefs Point Spread:
• Raiders-Chiefs Over-Under:
• Raiders-Chiefs Spread Pick:

 

New England Patriots (1-0) at New York Jets (1-0)

• Patriots-Jets Date: Sunday, September 20
• Patriots-Jets Time: 1:00
• Patriots-Jets TV Network: CBS
• Patriots-Jets Announcers:
• Patriots-Jets Point Spread:
• Patriots-Jets Over-Under:
• Patriots-Jets Spread Pick:

Minnesota Vikings (1-0) at Detroit Lions (0-1)

• Vikings-Lions Date: Sunday, September 20
• Vikings-Lions Time: 1:00
• Vikings-Lions TV Network: FOX
• Vikings-Lions Announcers:
• Vikings-Lions Point Spread: Vikings -10.5
• Vikings-Lions Over-Under: 47
• Vikings-Lions Pick: Detroit is going to win a few games this year, but it’s not going to be this one. Adrian Peterson is just too good, and I expect Brett Favre to attempt a few more passes down the field than he did against Cleveland. Detroit may stay close in the first half, but like last week Peterson wears ‘em down in the end. 
• Vikings-Lions spread pick: Vikings -10.5.

 

Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) at Green Bay Packers (1-0)

• Bengals-Packers Date: Sunday, September 20
• Bengals-Packers Time: 1:00
• Bengals-Packers TV Network: CBS
• Bengals-Packers Announcers:
• Bengals-Packers Point Spread: Packers -9.5
• Bengals-Packers Over-Under: 42
• Bengals-Packers Pick: The Packers are the better team and I think they will win, but the Bengals’ offense is good enough to cover. Especially after how they lost last week to Denver, I expect the Bengals to come out with some fire. 
• Bengals-Packers spread pick: Bengals +9.5.

 

St. Louis Rams (0-1) at Washington Redskins (0-1)

• Rams-Redskins Date: Sunday, September 20
• Rams-Redskins Time: 1:00
• Rams-Redskins TV Network: FOX
• Rams-Redskins Announcers:
• Rams-Redskins Point Spread: Redskins -10.5
• Rams-Redskins Over-Under: 36.5
• Rams-Redskins Pick: The Rams just are not very good, and showed it last week against Seattle. Washington is another team, like Carolina, that is already desperate after only one week. In front of their home fans I think the Redskins win this one going away, carried by their defense. 
• Rams-Redskins spread pick: Redskins -10.5.

 

Carolina Panthers (0-1) at Atlanta Falcons (1-0)

• Panthers-Falcons Date: Sunday, September 20
• Panthers-Falcons Time: 1:00
• Panthers-Falcons TV Network: FOX
• Panthers-Falcons Announcers:
• Panthers-Falcons Point Spread: Falcons -6.5
• Panthers-Falcons Over-Under: 43
• Panthers-Falcons Pick: The Panthers are in some big trouble with Jake Delhomme, and desperately need him to have a good game. He is a proud veteran and has a great running game to lean on. I would not be surprised to see the Panthers, with their backs already against the wall, win this game. Either way, I think they cover. 
• Panthers-Falcons spread pick: Panthers +6.5.

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1) at Buffalo Bills (0-1)

• Buccaneers-Bills Date: Sunday, September 20
• Buccaneers-Bills Time: 4:05
• Buccaneers-Bills TV Network: FOX
• Buccaneers-Bills Announcers:
• Buccaneers-Bills Point Spread:
• Buccaneers-Bills Over-Under:
• Buccaneers-Bills Spread Pick:

Seattle Seahawks (1-0) at San Francisco 49ers (1-0)

• Seahawks-49ers Date: Sunday, September 20
• Seahawks-49ers Time: 4:05
• Seahawks-49ers TV Network: FOX
• Seahawks-49ers Announcers:
• Seahawks-49ers Point Spread: 49ers -1.5
• Seahawks-49ers Over-Under: 39.5
• Seahawks-49ers Pick: I am a huge fan of the 49ers this season, and their opening week road victory over the Cardinals was a perfect example of why. The Seahawks will be better this year, but the Rams made them look a lot better than they are last week. The 49ers win by at least a field goal. 
• Seahawks-49ers spread pick: 49ers -1.5.

 

Baltimore Ravens (1-0) at San Diego Chargers (1-0)

• Ravens-Chargers Date: Sunday, September 20
• Ravens-Chargers Time: 4:15
• Ravens-Chargers TV Network: CBS
• Ravens-Chargers Announcers:
• Ravens-Chargers Point Spread:
• Ravens-Chargers Over-Under:
• Ravens-Chargers Spread Pick:

 

Cleveland Browns (0-1) at Denver Broncos (1-0)

• Browns-Broncos Date: Sunday, September 20
• Browns-Broncos Time: 4:15
• Browns-Broncos TV Network: CBS
• Browns-Broncos Announcers:
• Browns-Broncos Point Spread: Broncos -3.5
• Browns-Broncos Over-Under: 37.5
• Browns-Broncos Pick: I hate to say it, but this will probably be the ugliest game of the week. The Broncos stole one in  Cleveland last year, and I think the Browns do the same thing this year. The Broncos were lucky last week, and the Browns stood toe-to-toe with Minnesota for a half. I say we see more of the first half Browns on Sunday. 
• Browns-Broncos spread pick: Browns +3.5.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) at Chicago Bears (0-1)

• Steelers-Bears Date: Sunday, September 20
• Steelers-Bears Time: 4:15
• Steelers-Bears TV Network: CBS
• Steelers-Bears Announcers:
• Steelers-Bears Point Spread: Steelers -3.5
• Steelers-Bears Over-Under: 37.5
• Steelers-Bears Pick: Jay Cutler threw 4 INTs on Sunday in the loss to the Packers. And on Monday we found out that Brian Urlacher is out for the year. But Pittsburgh is a 3.5 favorite in Soldier Field? The Steelers may win, but not by more than a field goal. I think Cutler has a solid rebound game and the Bears win outright. 
• Steelers-Bears spread pick: Bears +3.5.

 

New York Giants (1-0) at Dallas Cowboys (1-0)

• Giants-Cowboys Date: Sunday, September 20
• Giants-Cowboys Time: 8:20
• Giants-Cowboys TV Network: NBC
• Giants-Cowboys Announcers: Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth
• Giants-Cowboys Point Spread: Cowboys -2.5
• Giants-Cowboys Over-Under: 44
• Giants-Cowboys Pick: I’m high on the Cowboys this year, and think that the loss of T.O. has been wildly overestimated. Dallas has a running game that rivals the Giants’, and a better corps of receivers than Eli Manning has. If Dallas can give Tony Romo time, they’ll be okay. I think they will, and that the Cowboys win by a field goal. 
• Giants-Cowboys spread pick: Cowboys -2.5.

 

Indianapolis Colts (1-0) at Miami Dolphins (0-1)

• Colts-Dolphins Date: Monday, September 21
• Colts-Dolphins Time: 8:30
• Colts-Dolphins TV Network: ESPN
• Colts-Dolphins Announcers: Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, Jon Gruden
• Colts-Dolphins Point Spread: Colts -3.5
• Colts-Dolphins Over-Under: 42
• Colts-Dolphins Pick: The Colts will be without a proven No. 2 WR and have no running game to speak of. With the Dolphins coming off of a terrible loss, I think the Parcells-Sparano combo has them ready to play. I think the Dolphins actually win this game outright in front of their home fans on Monday night. They’ll certainly cover 3.5 points. 
• Colts-Dolphins spread pick: Dolphins +3.5.

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Breaking News: Brian Urlacher Out for the Season with Dislocated Wrist

Updating our previous post this morning that Brian Urlacher would have to have surgery on his dislocated wrist, the latest report out of Chicago is even more ominous.

Brian Urlacher is reportedly out for the season, according to Vaughn McClure of The Chicago Tribune:

Brian Urlacher appears to be out for the season after dislocating his right wrist, the linebacker said Monday. The team has not given the official word, but Lovie Smith is expected to address the issue during his afternoon press conference.

This is obviously terrible news for the Bears and their fans and comes on the heels of a heart-breaking loss in Green Bay during which new quarterback Jay Cutler threw four interceptions.

Urlacher, to describe him in completely cliched term, is the heart and soul of the Bears’ defense. And even though the primary weakness in the current Bears defense appears to be in the secondary (and specifically cornerback Nathan Vasher), Urlacher’s athleticism and experience often helped to compensate for issues elsewhere.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Monday Night Football: Patriots-Bills Preview and Prediction

Editor’s Note: AJ Kaufman’s weekly MNF coverage on MSF is sponsored by Sadler’s Smokehouse, a producer of premium pit smoked meats that are best described by Sadler’s slogan: Legendary since 1948.

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And now, on with the preview of this week’s Bills-Patriots matchup on Monday Night Football.

 

 

Monday Night Football Week 1 Preview

Buffalo Bills (0-0) at New England Patriots (0-0)

 

Before we dive into analyzing the details of the first Monday Night Football game of 2009, here are the particulars to get you ready for kickoff:

• Bills-Patriots Date: Monday, September 14th
• Bills-Patriots TV & Kickoff Time: 7:00 ET on ESPN
• Bills-Patriots Location: Gillette Stadium in Foxboro
• Bills-Patriots Announcers: Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Jon Gruden
• Bills-Patriots Point Spread: NE -10.5
• Bills-Patriots Over-Under: 47.5
• StubHub: Patriots-Bills MNF tickets as low as $95
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• StubHub: all 2009 Buffalo Bills tickets
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Patriots-Bills Analysis

 

Trent Edwards and the Bills offense is the big question mark on the shores of Lake Ontario. Last year, people said that Edwards didn’t have the right personnel around him, but now that they’ve added Terell Owens, does Edwards still have any excuses?

Unfortunately, he probably does, as the new receiver does not solve the Bills’ offensive line issues.

Therefore, Buffalo’s potential season-long question might be—along with the usual questions of T.O. co-existing with his quarterback—will Edwards prosper even with Owens when he still has very little time to throw?

And will Owens “accept” a team that can’t produce consistently on offense?

Oh, and mixed into all this uncertaintly, how will budding star Lee Evans accept being relegated to a secondary role?

To compound that, the team has other self-inflicted hurdles: their offensive coordinator Turk Schoenert was fired during the preseason; Owens’ toe is nicked up; and, 1,000-yard running back Marshawn Lynch is suspended through the end of September.

So, while the Bills may prove decent as the season moves along, a prime-time game versus Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker and a Patriot team juiced up after a playoff-less season is not the ideal opener.

Something that could help out the Bills would be the Patriots missing a key ingredient in their impressive aerial assault. Tom Brady may be back, but he could be without his most reliable possession receiver Wes Welker. The 100-catch man is dealing with a knee injury that is threatening his availability for Monday. 

Obviously the loss of Welker would hurt the Patriots, but did I mention that Tom Brady is back?

Despite its dynastic success this decade led by the Belichick-Brady duo, New England is like any other team at this early stage of the season and has unknowns just like the Bills do. For example, though it’s believed that the very recent loss of Richard Seymour is mitigated by the Pats’ great depth on the defensive line, it surely is not a given that a 2011 first round pick was worth losing a five-time Pro Bowler who is not yet 30.

Of course, Tom Brady’s knee is another major issue, especially in his first real test on Monday night. He looked good in the preseason, but generally quarterbacks coming off knee injuries start slowly (see Palmer, Carson; Manning, Peyton).

Laurence Maroney, injured nearly all of 2008, needs to return to his 2006-2007 form in order to be the top back. If he’s not, however, New England has capable backups in veterans Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris, as well as second-year man BenJarvus Green-Ellis (likely as a goal-line back).

Patriots-Bills Prediction

 

The Bills only scored 10 points combined in their two meetings with New England last season (both losses). It might be semi-tight in the first half, but the talent level between the two teams, plus the home atmosphere on opening night with the national TV audience, will give the Pats a fairly comfortable triumph and cover.

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* – Terrell Owens photo credit: Football Nation Blogs

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NFL Week 1 WR Injury Updates: Boldin, Bryant, Welker, Walter, Berrian

Gazing through the Thursday edition of the official NFL Injury Report, it’s clear that one fantasy-relevant position will be affected by injury more than any other: wide receiver.

A plethora of No. 2 and No. 3 WRs are listed on the Thursday injury reports and could impact your lineup decisions. Here’s a quick rundown of the latest injury updates on each of the dinged up pass catchers.

 

Anquan Boldin Injury Update

Boldin has been battling a hamstring issue and was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice.

The Cardinals coaches are obviously hoping that Boldin will be ready to go, as are his fantasy owners, but this is an injury to watch as the games approach on Sunday. You will probably have to make your decision before pre-game warmups though, as the Cardinals play in their typical 4 p.m. slot on Sunday.

Boldin’s teammate Steve Breaston was a full participant in practice and would be a good option should Boldin not be able to go.

 

Antonio Bryant Injury Update

Bryant is battling a knee injury and was limited in Thursday’s practice. According to RotoTimes’ latest injury update on Bryant, Bucs head coach Raheem Morris said that Bryant and teammate Michael Clayton are okay and the team is just being careful leading up to Sunday’s game against Dallas.

The Cowboys are susceptible to big plays in the passing game, so Bryant appears to be a solid start this weekend.

 

Wes Welker Injury Update

The Patriots’ diminutive dynamo has been battling a knee injury that has him listed as a limited practice participant on the injury report.

Of course this is New England, so injury updates on Welker are hard to come by. What you see in that link to the Boston Globe is about as much as you’ll get out of the tight-lipped Pats.

Monitor this one because it appears relatively serious and could keep Welker sidelined. The Patriots play Monday night, so you’ll probably have to make your decision Sunday. If you have a solid option ready, think seriously about using it. But if any positive reports about Welker come out over the next 48 hours, keep him in your lineup as the Patriots should be able to throw the ball effectively against the Bills.

 

Kevin Walter Injury Update

Walter is listed on the Texans’ injury report with a hamstring issue and did not participate in Thursday’s practice.

According to the Texans’ official website, the latest injury update on Walter is that he will be a game-time decision for the team’s 1 p.m. matchup against the Jets on Sunday. If he’s healthy he will play, but there is no telling if the hamstring issue will linger. I’d have another option ready to go and be checking the pregame reports if you are intent on using Walter.

 

Bernard Berrian Injury Update

Berrian has a hamstring injury and was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice. The latest injury update on Berrian from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune is not all that optimistic about his prospects for Sunday, as they cite the fact that this is the first time Berrian has battled hamstring issues in his career.

For a straight speed receiver, this type of injury can be especially troublesome. The Vikings want to make sure he is totally healthy before green-lighting him, so check on this one up until kickoff Sunday.

 

Other WRs Of Note Battling Injury Issues:

• Kevin Curtis is listed on the Eagles’ injury report with a knee issue, but was a full participant in Thursday’s practice. He should be good to go Sunday.
• Chris Henry has a thigh injury and did not participate in Thursday’s practice.
• Deion Branch has a hamstring injury and did not participate in Thursday’s practice.

I will update this post with any new reports on the availability of these WRs.

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* – Anquan Boldin photo credit: The Cards

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Troy Polamalu Out 3-6 Weeks With MCL Sprain

The Pittsburgh Steelers successfully began their defense of the franchise’s sixth Super Bowl last night against Tennessee, winning 13-10 in overtime.

The victory was not without its downsides, however.

Troy Polamalu, the Steelers’ defensive backfield dynamo, sprained his MCL when a Titans player fell on his leg during the scrum that occurred after Steelers’ DE Aaron Smith blocked a Rob Bironas field goal attempt.

Prior to the injury, Polamalu had already registered six first half tackles and an interception.

Pro Football Talk reports that Mike Tomlin speculated during his post game press conference that Polamalu will likely have to miss 3-6 weeks. Tomlin was not certain, and we should know more today after Polamalu has been more fully examined; but 3-6 weeks is the typical recovery time for MCL sprains.

I will update this post if we learn anything new later this afternoon.

Follow the links to StubHub for great deals on Pittsburgh Steelers tickets and all 2009 NFL tickets.

For the Steelers, any extended time lost for Polamalu would obviously be troublesome.

While Pittsburgh seems to be able to replace linebackers with relative ease from one season to the next, Polamalu is the one truly irreplaceable player on their defense because of his peerless instincts and superb athleticism. He is one of a handful of defensive players in the NFL who is truly capable of making a game-changing play on every snap.

If you have the Steelers’ D in fantasy, losing Polamalu clearly hurts their value from the standpoint of being a weekly TD threat. Still, the Steelers have Dick LeBeau and enough other solid veteran players to remain a top-3 defense with or without Polamalu.

In leagues that use individual defensive players, Polamalu owners will have to adjust for what looks like at least a month. Typically, IDP’s are relatively interchangeable, but Polamalu is one of the few guys I’d actually consider stashing on my bench if I could afford to do so. Luckily, there are no byes to deal with over the next three weeks.

If you can find a way to keep Polamalu and still field a full, healthy roster of players, do it. Obviously if you need a QB, RB, or WR to complete your lineup, Polamalu might have to to go. Hopefully he’ll slip through the cracks for you and can be re-claimed down the line.

* – Troy Polamalu photo credit: Sportsocracy.org

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Herman Edwards Might Like a Few Words With Urban Meyer

The New York Times has an interesting article today about the evolution of offenses in the NFL. Specifically, the article deals with the proliferation of more spread-out offensive schemes and the infiltration of college-style sets like the Wildcat into NFL gameplans. It’s a good read.

What stuck out to me in the article was a quote from the Grand Poobah of the Spread Offense and Football Itself (just ask him): Urban Meyer. Meyer apparently believes that the offense he “perfected” at Utah and now Florida is quite obviously the answer to what ails all struggling offenses in the NFL:

“I think it would have worked years ago,” Meyer said. “No one has had enough—I don’t want to say courage—no one has wanted to step across that line. Everyone runs the same offense in the N.F.L. A lot of those coaches are retreads. They get fired in Minnesota, they go to St. Louis. They get fired in St. Louis and go to San Diego. I guess what gets lost in the shuffle is your objective is to go win the game. If it’s going to help you win the game, then you should run the spread.”

So, to paraphrase Urban Meyer: NFL coaches all run the same offenses as eachother, they hop around from job to job—basically just switching places – continuing to run the same offenses, yet because they lack courage and forget that their job is to win, they refuse to give the spread a try despite it’s obvious ability to lead to NFL victories.

Does that make any sense to you?  Me either.

Here is what does make sense: Urban Meyer’s ego is getting waaaay to big and he has clearly lost any sense of perspective.

In fact, a certain former New York Jets coach might like to have a few words with Urban Meyer regarding the latter’s insinuation that a lack of courage to try to the spread is indicative of the objective for winning getting “lost in the shuffle.” Go ahead Herm, tell Urban what you think about that:

Hmm…sounds like Herman Edwards didn’t have a problem with the objective for winning getting lost in the shuffle. Sounds like he is quite clear what the goal is, as I would assume most coaches are. And Herm did happen to be one of those “retread” coaches that Urban Meyer so deferentially (not) refers to in his quote.

Perhaps if Urban Meyer stopped polishing his Purple Heart—awarded in this case, of course, for outstanding feats of coaching courage—and stopped sniffing (and enjoying) his own spread-offense-flatulence, he would realize that there are legitimate reasons why NFL teams have been averse to using a full-fledged spread offense. Here are just a few I can come up with off the top of my head:

1. QBs are the marquee players in the NFL and typically among the highest paid players on NFL rosters. The spread offense exposes QBs to more contact and thus a greater risk of injury.
2. Defenses in the NFL are far more sophisticated and athletic than those in college football.  One great player can make a spread offense wicked in college, but doesn’t work in the NFL. Having the right personnel to run the spread against NFL defenses is difficult to come by. 
3. What becomes of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer, etc., etc., if their coaches suddenly develop “courage” and straighten out the shuffle in which their desire to win was lost? Perhaps Meyer is alluding more to crappy teams without QBs moving to the spread…but I’m fairly that non-spread compatible QBs have dominated the NFL. If a team wants to win, isn’t that a more likely blueprint than moving to the spread?

At the end of the day, many NFL teams have incorporated elements of the spread into their offense precisely because they know they have to evolve to survive and because they wake up every day understanding that the objective is to win. 

The Patriots, as the article explains, set NFL records all over the place in 2007 by spreading out and throwing the ball all over the place. The Miami Dolphins introduced the spread-like Wildcat into their offense last year and used it along the way to a surprising 11-5 season. The Dolphins then “courageously” selected Pat White early in the most recent draft to move their Wildcat capabilities along even more.

So, getting to my primary point, what the hell is Urban Meyer talking about? Ah yes, what Urban Meyer is always talking about: Urban Meyer.

(Note: Click here to see Kevin Spacey channeling his inner Urban Meyer.)

You see, his statement is exactly like all other Urban Meyer statements, which are either explicitly or implicitly meant to serve his ubiquitous objective of self-aggrandizement. Talk about something that never gets lost in the shuffle.

Thanks for your input Urban on why more NFL teams don’t use the spread offense. Perhaps one day everyone will have as much courage and will to win (and one of the greatest players in history who just happens to be perfect for your perfect system) as you do.

Until then, I guess NFL coaches across the league will just keep trading places, content in their cowardice and confused about whether winning or losing is their goal.

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* – Urban Meyer photo credit: Gator Bytes

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Fantasy Football Week One Sleeper Picks

It’s only Week one, so the reality is that you shouldn’t be scouring for weekly matchup sleepers yet.  With few exceptions, owners should simply be filling out their lineups with their top picks at each position and then waiting for Sunday.  And if you’re not doing this, you may want to check your draft strategy next time.

However, as we move through the 2009 fantasy and NFL football seasons, identifying available and potentially valuable sleepers — especially those who have favorable matchups — can be an important component in effectively navigating the bye weeks and dealing with injuries and ineffectiveness from your starters.

Note: The percentage owned numbers I am citing are from Yahoo.  And remember, these are deep sleepers.  There is no sense in me telling you that Wes Welker is a good play against Buffalo.  He’s probably owned in 100% of your leagues.  I am only going to look at guys who are owned in 50% or less of Yahoo leagues, because you might actually have a chance to pick them up.

Let’s get right to it:

Week 1 Sleeper Pick: Quarterbacks

Brady Quinn, Cleveland (vs Minnesota)

Don’t laugh.

If you are trolling for a sleeper QB in Week 1, I hope it’s because you are in a league that starts three of them.  Most leagues only start one, but even owners in leagues that start two should have their horses ready.

That said, if you do need a QB, I think newly minted starter Brady Quinn could put up sneaky good numbers this week against Minnesota, and he’s only owned in 25% of leagues.  The primary reason why I foresee a decent fantasy day from Quinn is that I see the matchup against Minnesota as being absolutely awful from a team perspective of actually wining the game.  

The Vikings have perhaps the best run / stop the run combo in the NFL, and both are severe weaknesses of the Browns.  Plus, with all of the offseason drama, Minnesota will be extra amped to play and to send a message that all is right in the Twin Cities.  Add it all up and I see a game that is a 10-14 point deficit at halftime, and then the Vikings cruise to victory in the second half.

Why does this matter?

If Cleveland gets behind, smashing Jamal Lewis into the line for three-yard carries isn’t going to bring them back.  Brady Quinn will be forced to throw, and the Browns’ one true offensive playmaker is on the outside in Braylon “Hands” Edwards.  It may not be pretty, and Quinn may not have a great completion percentage in his first start, but he should have the opportunity to rack up yards, and possibly even a fourth quarter TD or two against the Vikings’ backups.

For comparison’s sake, I actually like Quinn better from a Week one fantasy standpoint than both of the QBs playing tonight: Ben Roethlisberger and Kerry Collins.

Week 1 Sleeper Pick: Running Backs

Mike Bell, New Orleans (vs Detroit)

As we updated yesterday, Saints starting RB Pierre Thomas is most likely out for Week 1 with a sprained MCL.  That means that Reggie Bush will probably get a few more touches, but I think the Saints have wised up to the fact that Bush is not an every down back. 

Insert: Mike Bell.

The former Broncos phenom has bounced around the past few years, but has a pretty cushy gig as the backup in New Orleans.  And the truth is if Tony Siragusa was the backup for the Saints, he’d be a sleeper playing against Detroit.

New Orleans will score tons of points and probably have at least a few goalline carries to dole out in the midst of their 450-500 yard day.  When they do, Bell is the most likely beneficiary.  For a guy owned in only 20 percent of Yahoo leagues, he offers tremendous TD upside.  If you own Thomas and don’t have much depth at RB, you could do a lot worse than inserting Bell into your flex spot and then hanging onto him as a handcuff.  Even if you don’t have Thomas, I’d play Bell over guys like Darren Sproles or Fred Taylor in Week 1.

Week 1 Sleeper Pick: Wide Receivers

Isaac Bruce, San Francisco 49ers (@ Arizona)

There are actually a lot of WRs owned in less than 50 percent of leagues that I like.  A few of the names and matchups: Steve Smith, Giants (vs Washington); Mark Clayton, Ravens (vs Chiefs); Devery Henderson, Saints (vs Lions); Josh Cribbs, Browns (vs Minnesota).

The name I like the best, however, is an oldie but sometimes a goodie: Isacc Bruce, who is owned in 49 percent of Yahoo leagues.

The main reason I like Bruce is I love the matchup.  The 49ers are playing the Cardinals, who are ripe to fall victim to the Super Bowl hangover.  And considering all of the negative reports coming out of Cardinals preseason camp from the Cards players themselves, I am even more convinced that this could be another season of horrors in Arizona.

Also, consider this, courtesy of Yahoo Sports:

WR Isaac Bruce had 14 receptions of 20 or more yards last season, as the 49ers ranked fifth in the league with 64 plays of more than 20 yards.  Bruce enters this season as the team’s No. 1 receiver.

Mike Singletary made the decision to go with Shaun Hill as his starting QB, and I think it was a great decision.  Hill is not flashy, nor is he an every-week fantasy starter by any means.  He does, however, have a 90.5 career QB rating and an 18-9 TD-INT ratio in 12 career starts.

Since he averages more than a touchdown per start, and considering Bruce is his No. 1 target, chances are solid that these two will form a nice Week one combo against an Arizona defense that became overrated last year because of a nice run in the playoffs.

From Week 12 on last year, Bruce had only one game in which he caught fewer than five passes.  Bruce is a very good option as a third WR or flex play this week, especially if you’re in a PPR league.

Week 1 Sleeper Pick: Tight Ends

Martellus Bennett, Dallas Cowboys (vs Tampa Bay)

My No. 1 choice as a sleeper pick at the tight end position is actually Vernon Davis.  But since I discussed him yesterday in my Start/Sit column, and just talked about why the 49ers’ passing game has a solid matchup, I’ll go in another direction.

Straight to MartyB, Mr. Cap’N Crunch himself.

I wrote earlier this preseason about why I think Martellus Bennett is a great sleeper pick for the season at the tight end position.  Considering the onus that the Cowboys have placed on getting both of their tight ends involved in the offense this year (with 2-TE sets rumored to be on the menu perhaps as much as 50 percent of the time), I think Jason Garrett and Tony Romo will give Bennett some opportunities to get involved in Week one.

Don’t forget, the freakishly athletic Bennett turned four of his 20 catches into touchdowns last year.  His ability to go up and get the football makes him a very inviting target in the red zone.  While Jason Witten will obviously be more valuable and catch many more passes, don’t be shocked if Bennett ends up the season with more touchdowns, making him the Cowboys’ No. 1 red zone threat.

Tampa Bay is rebuilding its defense, and I expect the Cowboys to have a good showing on Sunday.  If you’re not satisfied with your tight end, Bennett is a great name to consider.  He’s clearly not as valuable in a PPR league, but in scoring leagues he offers nice upside for a guy owned in just seven percent of Yahoo leagues.

Week 1 Sleeper Pick: Defenses

New Orleans Saints (vs Detroit)

I’m really not a big fan of any of the defenses owned in less than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues, but they are facing two rookie QBs making their first NFL starts in the first month: Detroit and the Jets.

Matthew Stafford has looked pretty bad this preseason, yet he will no doubt be asked to throw the ball a lot in Week one, as the Lions try to keep pace with Drew Brees and the Saints’ O.  New Orleans does not have a great D by any means, and Detroit will most likely get some yards and even some points with Kevin Smith and Calvin Johnson. However, Stafford is too young and inexperienced not to throw a few ill-advised picks.  I would not be shocked in the least to see the Saints take one or two of them to the house and pick up a few sacks while they’re at it.

And finally, to hell with kickers.  They’re all a crapshoot anyway. 

That concludes our proceedings here this morning.  As always, feel free to chime in with your comments below and I’ll respond as soon as I’m able.

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* – Brady Quinn photo credit: Avoiding the Muse

* – Martellus Bennett photo credit: AP Photo via DayLife.com

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Pierre Thomas Injury Update: Status Questionable for Week 1 With MCL Sprain

Pierre Thomas has been a trendy pick during fantasy football draft season as a potential first-round value that can often be had in rounds two-four, depending on your league.

Thomas played well last year over the final six weeks of the season and benefits from playing in the most explosive offense in the NFL.

He also, of course, benefits from the fact that Reggie Bush runs between the tackles about as well as Chad Pennington throws the deep out.

Yet, despite all of these positives, the latest injury updates on Thomas indicate that you may need to sit him in Week One.

A few days ago, Thomas listed himself as questionable for Week 1 because of an MCL sprain (via Fanhouse) that has hampered him throughout the preseason. He also recently sustained a laceration “from a fence” (via the Times-Picayune) that required him to get stitches, but should not hamper him moving forward.

Follow the links to StubHub for great deals on New Orleans Saints tickets and all 2009 NFL tickets.

The official Week One injury report is not out yet, but the news about Thomas is pessimistic enough that I would begin making alternate plans for your running back slots this week. He did not practice on Monday, and I’ve seen no reports yet that indicate he we will be ready to take advantage of the porous Lions’ D on Sunday.

The fact of the matter is that if you gave Sean Payton truth serum, he would probably admit that he doesn’t think he’ll need Thomas to score on and beat Detroit. Thus, if their No. 1 backfield horse isn’t ready to go, there is no reason for them to rush him back.

This is a huge season for Payton and the Saints, and Thomas is the guy they are counting on to provide the Deuce-like thunder opposite Reggie Bush’s lightning.

That said, I wouldn’t panic yet if you are a Thomas owner (as I am).

Hopefully you have a decent option on your bench for Week One and his absence won’t kill you. If you own Reggie Bush, he obviously becomes a must-start, pending the reports out of Saints practice this week.

Mike Bell should also see increased carries, especially around the goalline, if Thomas is out. In fact, Bell might not be a bad guy to stash on your bench as a semi-handcuff for Thomas as a hedge in case Thomas’ injuries linger.

Just be sure to keep track of the latest injury updates on \Thomas throughout the week, but I’d get him out of your lineup right now—just in case you forget to check before Sunday—and then make a last minute switch on Saturday or Sunday if the news about his knee changes.

I’ll update this post if I see that anything changes.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football: Week 1 Start ‘Em – Sit ‘Em Lineup Advice

Welcome to the first edition of what will be a weekly post here at Midwest Sports Fans throughout the NFL season: start ‘em–sit ‘em lineup advice for your fantasy football rosters.

We all know how important overall position rankings are for valuing players on draft day. Typically there are pretty clear tiers of players at each position. Making sure that you get players in certain tiers at appropriate draft positions is a key to maximizing value.

But—and it’s an important but—as you go through the season, weekly values can fluctuate based on a player’s injury, a teammate’s injury, and the opponent for that week.

For a guy like Drew Brees, or most guys picked in the first two or three rounds, it will rarely matter. You lock these guys into your starting lineups and count on them to anchor your team.

For mid- and late-round guys, however, the players who may fill out your No. 2 RB / WR positions or your flex spot, keeping an eye on fluctuations in expected value on a week-by-week basis is important.

That’s the goal of this post and will be the goal every week.

I won’t tell you to start Drew Brees; you know that. And if you don’t know that, there is a good chance that you are wasting your time doing research because your team is doomed with your Kotite-level leadership.

On the other hand, maybe you waited to get a QB and your choices are Joe Flacco and Eli Manning. Neither is a clear-cut weekly starter, but will have particular matchups throughout the year that you will want to leverage or avoid.

Please take note: Just because a guy is a “start ‘em” doesn’t mean he should necessarily start for your team. If I say that David Garrard is worthy of a start, it does not mean he should play over Tom Brady or Philip Rivers. And just because I say that Matt Schaub may struggle, it doesn’t mean you should start Shaun Hill over him. Everything is relative and dependent on your roster. 

We’re all looking for an edge that can help us on weekly basis. I have eight teams this year and obviously want to win with every one of them every single week. This post is my way of using the research I’ve done to help you out as well.

So without further adieu, let’s get right to it: a start ‘em–sit ‘em highlight at each position other than kicker. And obviously we can’t get to every player in this post, so feel free to ask follow-up questions in the comments. I’ll respond as quickly as I’m able all the way up until Sunday morning.

 

Week 1 Start ‘Em–Sit ‘Em: Quarterbacks

Start ‘em: David Garrard, Jacksonville (@ Indianapolis)

David Garrard was a major disappointment last year. He threw for only 15 TDs against 13 INTs coming off of his breakout 2007 season during which his QB rating was the third best in the NFL (102.2). I think we may have seen Garrard’s ceiling in 2007, but that does not mean he is not a capable starter in certain spots.

This week is a great matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, primarily because the most important component of the Colts’ D, Bob Sanders, will be unavailable.

I am not a big believer in the Jacksonville receivers, although I do think that Torry Holt will have sneaky good rebound season as the No. 1 option.

Still, despite the Jags’ deficiencies on the outside, Garrard completed 64 percent of his pass attempts in the preseason, and has rumbling bowling ball Maurice Jones-Drew ready to catch five or six passes out of the backfield.

I think the Colts will score a lot of points on Sunday and I think the Jags, led by Garrard, will score a bunch too. I don’t think Jacksonville goes into Indianapolis and wins the game, but I do think Garrard is capable of two TDs (rushing or passing) and 200+ passing yards. Indy’s D just isn’t that good and Garrard should be able to take advantage and get off to a good start in 2009.

Other guys I like: Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle (vs. St. Louis); Joe Flacco, Baltimore (vs Kansas City); Shaun Hill, San Francisco (@ Arizona)

 

Sit ‘em: Matt Schaub, Houston (vs New York Jets)

I really like Matt Schaub this year, if he stays healthy. (It is required by law that anyone writing about liking Matt Schaub include the health caveat.) However, I’m not a huge fan of his for this week.

Why? I think the New York Jets’ defense has a chance to be among the top handful of defenses in the NFL with Rex Ryan at the helm.

Certainly we know that the Jets’ D will attack Schaub with a variety of blitzes all game long. This will be a good test as to whether Houston’s offensive line will be up to the task of keeping Schaub upright consistently. If they can, Schaub has a strong enough rapport with Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter to make any defense pay.

I am honestly a little worried though that Schaub will get banged around by the Jets and this could turn into a lower scoring game.

I think Schaub will get a TD somewhere along the line to Andre Johnson, but that might be it. If you have an alternative, this might be a good week to do a little wait-and-see with Houston and Schaub.

Other guys I don’t like: Whoever is starting for Kansas City (@ Baltimore); Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh (vs Tennessee)

 

Week 1 Start ‘Em–Sit ‘Em: Running Backs

Start ‘em: Willie Parker, Pittsburgh (vs Tennessee)

I chronicled in my Titans-Steelers preview the success that Willie Parker has had coming off of long layoffs either due to the offseason or injury. Parker did not have a good year overall last season, but did start out strong and also played well for a few games after coming back from a midseason injury.

Tennessee has a very good defense, but the Titans are now without Albert Haynesworth.

This is a guy who dominated the middle last year while playing for a new contract and it may take the Titans a little while to shore up their front line without him. The Titans are, however, very good against the pass, forcing two INTs of Ben Roethlisberger in their meeting last year. 

I think Pittsburgh and coach Mike Tomlin will want to establish their running game early in the 2009 season and will take advantage of Parker’s fresh legs to do so. You may want to think about trading Fast Willie after Week 3 or 4, because he tends to wind down, but this is a week to take advantage of having him on your roster.

Others I like: Julius Jones, Seattle (@ St. Louis Rams); Felix Jones, Dallas (@ Tampa Bay); Beanie Wells, Arizona (@ San Francisco)

 

Sit ‘em: Chris Johnson and LenDale White, Tennessee (@ Pittsburgh)

I like both of these guys a lot for the season, just not playing at the NFL’s No. 1 run defense in their home field on the first night of their title defense.

I touched on the Steelers-Titans game yesterday and discussed the game these two teams played in Week 16 last year. Johnson actually scored a TD and the two combined for a 3.8 yard per carry average, which was 0.5 better than Pittsburgh allowed on the season. That game, however, was in Tennessee. Thursday night’s game is at Heinz Field.

Johnson was probably an early round pick for you, and if so, you may have no choice but to start him. For comparison purposes however, I would seriously consider starting a guy like Felix Jones this week because of the matchup. If you can’t stomach sitting such a high draft pick, I understand. But at least take a look at your options.

Chris Johnson and LenDale White will have 15 weeks to offer value against teams other than the Steelers. They might get a TD between them, but who will get it? There won’t be much to go around Thursday night and it will probably be split between them. Stay away if you can.

Others I don’t like: Pierre Thomas, New Orleans (vs Detroit…check his injury status leading up to the game and remember that the Saints have lots of options on offense, so they won’t force it to him if he’s not ready); Steve Slaton, Houston (vs New York Jets); All Cleveland running backs (vs Minnesota)

 

Week 1 Start ‘Em–Sit ‘Em: Wide Receivers

Start ‘em: Braylon Edwards, Cleveland (vs Minnesota)

I know that I am often harsh of Braylon on this site, mainly because he killed the Browns and numerous fantasy teams on so many occasions last year. However, while I don’t think Braylon will equal his sterling 2007 stats, I do expect him to rebound in 2009.

This week’s matchup is a good one for Braylon in particular because the Browns are going to struggle mightily to run the ball against the Vikings’ Williams Wall (both are playing) and will obviously have trouble keeping Adrian Peterson in check. The Vikings just are not a good matchup for Cleveland as a team because they are proficient in the areas where Cleveland is weak: running and stopping the run.

I expect the Vikings to get up early and force the Browns, who will most likely have Brady Quinn at the helm, to throw a lot. Braylon Edwards is clearly the No. 1 option in the Browns passing game, and may be the first and second option until another WR or a TE steps up.

He may not catch a high percentage of the balls thrown his way, but I think Braylon will lead the league in targets on Sunday and might even pick up a TD. Braylon will be up and down this season, but the big play capability is always there. In games where the Browns cannot run he is going to see passes early and often.

Others I like: Desean Jackson, Philadelphia (@ Carolina); Torry Holt, Jacksonville (@ Indianapolis); Derrick Mason, Baltimore (vs Kansas City); Ted Ginn Jr, Miami (@ Atlanta)

 

Sit ‘em: Roy Williams, Dallas (@ Tampa Bay)

I guess you could call this a case of wanting to see it before I believe it.

As the season goes along, I do think that Tony Romo and Roy Williams will develop a rapport and that Williams can become a decent No. 2 WR or flex play, but I see Week 1 being much more about Dallas trying to establish an identity as a running team. Plus, with all of the two-tight end sets we’ve heard talked about for this season, I think Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett get their fair share of balls.

Williams has dealt with some injuries this preseason that have hindered his ability to work with Romo. Add to that his extreme struggles last year once he got to Dallas, and I’m just not buying in until I see it. 

Williams is the Cowboys’ No. 1 option outside, so he will get targets and could have a decent to solid day. But if you have guys like Braylon Edwards, Chad Ochocinco, Hines Ward, Santana Moss, or others at or right below their class, I would start them and wait for Romo and Williams to prove that they will be the connection everyone thinks they can be.

Others I don’t like: Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City (@ Baltimore); Lee Evans, Buffalo (@ New England); Bernard Berrian, Minnesota (@ Cleveland)

 

Week 1 Start ‘Em–Sit ‘Em: Tight Ends

Start ‘em: Vernon Davis, San Francisco (@ Arizona)

I am really high on Vernon Davis this year, for a number of reasons:

1. Not unlike myself, he is freakishly athletic.
2. He seems to have bought into what Mike Singletary is selling.
3. The 49ers new offensive coordinator has pledged to get Davis more involved in the offense after Davis never saw eye-to-eye with previous OC Mike Martz, for whom he never became a prominent part of the gameplan.

Additionally, I am not a real big fan of Arizona’s defense.  Remember, the Cardinals did not have that great of a defense in the regular season last year. They are also primed to become the NFL’s annual victim of the Super Bowl-loss hangover.

I think the 49ers will run the ball a lot and try to establish a short, ball-control passing game with the underrated Shaun Hill at QB. With Michael Crabtree still being a douchy holdout, and Josh Morgan / Isaac Bruce barely being decent, I think the 49ers have to get the ball into the hands of their most talented, game-breaking receiver. That is Davis, and I would honestly not be surprised to see him sneak into the top five tight ends this year.

Others I like: Kevin Boss, New York Giants (vs Washington); Anthony Fasano, Miami (@ Atlanta); John Carlson, Seattle (vs St. Louis); Jeremy Shockey, New Orelans (vs Detroit)

 

Sit ‘em: Kellen Winslow, Tampa Bay (vs Dallas)

Call it a hunch, or even call it sour grapes after how Winslow’s tenure in Cleveland ended. Either way, I call it a bad matchup against the Cowboys on Sunday.

Byron Leftwich will be starting at QB, and he scares no one. The Buccaneers brought in Derrick Ward in the offseason, have Cadillac Williams back from injury, and still have incumbent RB Earnest Graham on the roster. I think the Bucs try to run early and often, and when they don’t run I think Leftwich looks to Antonio Bryant much more than he looks to Winslow.

The weakness in the Cowboys’ defense is at the corner spot opposite Terrence Newman and the safeties. If Leftwich is going to have success throwing, I think it will be to the outside. Bradie James leads a decent LB corps that should be able to contain Kellen.

Again, I’d make sure you have a solid replacement before benching Winslow. Just don’t be surprised if he struggles.

Others I don’t like: Zack Miller, Oakland (vs San Diego); Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota (@ Cleveland)

 

Week 1 Start ‘Em–Sit ‘Em: Defenses

Start ‘em: New England (vs Buffalo)

Much has been made about the demise of the impending Patriots defense with the losses of stalwarts Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel, Rodney Harrison, and Tedy Bruschi.

Certainly this amount of veteran leadership will be missed, but the Patriots have done a good job of bringing in young guys like Jerod Mayo and Brandon Meriweather whose time to step up is nigh.

In reality though, I don’t consider the Patriots a top 10 D anymore. They are a spot-start this season based on matchups, with a great matchup coming in Week 1. 

Buffalo is without Marshawn Lynch, T.O. has been dealing with an injured toe all preseason, and the Bills fired their offensive coordinator less than two weeks before the start of the regular season. Add all of that up, plus mix in the brilliance of Bill Belichick, and the Patriots make for a solid start on Sunday.

Others I like: Dallas (@ Tampa Bay); San Diego (@ Oakland); New Orleans (vs Detroit…because playing against rookie QBs making their first start is often a recipe for turnovers and TDs); Houston (vs New York Jets…same reason as New Orleans)

Sit ‘em: Miami Dolphins (@ Atlanta) & Atlanta Falcons (vs Miami)

Yes, I know that the Fins have Jason Taylor back, but I am worried about the Dolphins being able to stop Michael Turner and Matt Ryan at the same time. I think this game turns into a shootout on the fast track of the Georgia Dome and I would want no part of either defense.

For the record, I am also worried about the Bears D playing at Green Bay, which appears to be developing an offensive juggernaut. The only thing that kept me from listing them here is the ubiquitous threat of Devin Hester in the return game. We know that the early weeks in a football season are replete with big plays on special teams. If you aren’t confident in Hester taking one to the house though, I’d sit Chicago too.

Others I don’t like: Tampa Bay (vs Dallas)

So there you have it, the Week 1 Start ‘em-Sit ‘em. Hopefully this has assisted you with some of your lineup decisions, and remember to chime in with a question below if you have a specific decision you need help with.

Best of luck in Week 1 everybody!

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* – David Garrard photo credit: Reuters / Mark Wallheister via the San Francisco Chronicle

* – James Harrison / Chris Johnson photo credit: Getty images via ESPN.com

* – Braylon Edwards v Cincy photo credit: SortsOfSports.com

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

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