FNN Fantasy Advice
Week 1 Fantasy Advice:
by Tony Farmer
A 'normal' person's life is filled with important decisions like choosing colleges, names for your children or which house to buy. The thoughts in the mind of a fantasy football fanatic, however, are far from normal.
Most fantasy sport outsiders can not fathom how an adult could sit in front of a monitor and compare the statistics of Brandon Stokley and Eddie Kennison for a week. Concerned parents wonder how their child can spend more time crunching NFL statistics than on algebra homework, and few will ever understand you calling in sick to attend a fantasy draft. But with egos and bragging rights on the line, every owner must contemplate the most important decision each week: who to start and who to bench.
Fantasy Advice Continued...
For four intense months, managers live and die with these decisions. Some ask for a second opinion, some flip a coin to decide while others make last-second roster moves because they 'had a feeling.'
Losing because you benched the player of the week could haunt you the rest of the season. If it doesn’t, there’s usually about 10 other owners in your league who will remind you.
No decent human being deserves to experience that pain, which is why every Thursday during the NFL season, this space will be devoted to helping you make the most informed decisions possible.
If one of your players is listed as a stud one week, it would be in your best interests to start him. If your players are listed as a dud, then avoid them like the Neverland Ranch.
Week 1 Studs
QB Marc Bulger. Bulger has more weapons to choose from than Rambo, and Sunday the 49ers defense won't hold up any better than his victims. San Francisco's secondary is thin, so St. Louis should spread the field even more than usual, giving their signal callers plenty of opportunities.
RB Rudi Johnson. With a gun to his/her head, the average NFL fan couldn't name a single player on Cleveland's defense, which ranked dead last against the rush in 2004. That defense also tied for the league lead in another dubious category, rushing touchdowns allowed. Johnson finished with two scores and a career-high 202 yards the last time he faced Cleveland (Week 12 last season).
WR Terrell Owens. Owens loves the spotlight of Monday Night Football and Giants fans should still remember how T.O. ruined their season opener last year (eight catches and three touchdowns). The 6-3 Owens has to be drooling while preparing to face Atlanta’s cornerbacks who stand no taller than 5-10.
Cincinnati's defense. Most of the top fantasy defenses are facing potentially explosive offenses this week so picking a top defense is a chore. The Bengals aren't a top defense, but something tells me Trent Dilfer and the Browns top two receivers, who combined for 71 catches last season, won’t be keeping Marvin Lewis up at night.
Sleeper of the week
WR Kevin Curtis. The Rams No. 3 receiver averaged 5.6 catches and 111 yards in his final three games last season (including postseason) and led his position with three preseason touchdowns this year. A couple Rams receivers should have big days Sunday and there's no reason Curtis can’t be one. See Bulger.
Week 1 Dud
QB Ben Roethlisburger. Defenses figured out Roethlisburger toward the end of his rookie season. Including the playoffs, Big Ben threw more interceptions than touchdowns in four out of his last five games. With Pittsburgh’s running back situation up in the air, the sophomore will have to prove there’s nothing to those numbers.
by Tony Farmer
A 'normal' person's life is filled with important decisions like choosing colleges, names for your children or which house to buy. The thoughts in the mind of a fantasy football fanatic, however, are far from normal.
Most fantasy sport outsiders can not fathom how an adult could sit in front of a monitor and compare the statistics of Brandon Stokley and Eddie Kennison for a week. Concerned parents wonder how their child can spend more time crunching NFL statistics than on algebra homework, and few will ever understand you calling in sick to attend a fantasy draft. But with egos and bragging rights on the line, every owner must contemplate the most important decision each week: who to start and who to bench.
Fantasy Advice Continued...
For four intense months, managers live and die with these decisions. Some ask for a second opinion, some flip a coin to decide while others make last-second roster moves because they 'had a feeling.'
Losing because you benched the player of the week could haunt you the rest of the season. If it doesn’t, there’s usually about 10 other owners in your league who will remind you.
No decent human being deserves to experience that pain, which is why every Thursday during the NFL season, this space will be devoted to helping you make the most informed decisions possible.
If one of your players is listed as a stud one week, it would be in your best interests to start him. If your players are listed as a dud, then avoid them like the Neverland Ranch.
Week 1 Studs
QB Marc Bulger. Bulger has more weapons to choose from than Rambo, and Sunday the 49ers defense won't hold up any better than his victims. San Francisco's secondary is thin, so St. Louis should spread the field even more than usual, giving their signal callers plenty of opportunities.
RB Rudi Johnson. With a gun to his/her head, the average NFL fan couldn't name a single player on Cleveland's defense, which ranked dead last against the rush in 2004. That defense also tied for the league lead in another dubious category, rushing touchdowns allowed. Johnson finished with two scores and a career-high 202 yards the last time he faced Cleveland (Week 12 last season).
WR Terrell Owens. Owens loves the spotlight of Monday Night Football and Giants fans should still remember how T.O. ruined their season opener last year (eight catches and three touchdowns). The 6-3 Owens has to be drooling while preparing to face Atlanta’s cornerbacks who stand no taller than 5-10.
Cincinnati's defense. Most of the top fantasy defenses are facing potentially explosive offenses this week so picking a top defense is a chore. The Bengals aren't a top defense, but something tells me Trent Dilfer and the Browns top two receivers, who combined for 71 catches last season, won’t be keeping Marvin Lewis up at night.
Sleeper of the week
WR Kevin Curtis. The Rams No. 3 receiver averaged 5.6 catches and 111 yards in his final three games last season (including postseason) and led his position with three preseason touchdowns this year. A couple Rams receivers should have big days Sunday and there's no reason Curtis can’t be one. See Bulger.
Week 1 Dud
QB Ben Roethlisburger. Defenses figured out Roethlisburger toward the end of his rookie season. Including the playoffs, Big Ben threw more interceptions than touchdowns in four out of his last five games. With Pittsburgh’s running back situation up in the air, the sophomore will have to prove there’s nothing to those numbers.
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