All in Sports - Fantasy Football

Week 1, 2010 - Advice and Rankings

You’ve been waiting for twenty minutes now, and you just left a fifth voicemail message on your friend’s phone. You text him again, that makes about ten you’ve sent, and you finally realize that he’s just not coming. Whether it’s to a party, movie, double-date, or whatever plan you had, he’s a no-show. Now you’re frustrated, possibly others involved are as well, and you are certainly going to let him hear about it.

Are you going to end your friendship with him? Of course not. He’s your friend, and people make mistakes. No one is perfect, and he is your friend for a reason. He has shown qualities in the past that made him your friend in the first place. One minor, “Oh man, I completely forgot,” is not going to wipe away the years of good times you have shared.

So goes the same for fantasy sports.

One unproductive week from your players does not mean you should trade or drop them. If anything, people make too many knee-jerk decisions based off a single game’s performance. This is one of the more valuable lessons you can learn that will help you in the long run.

There is a reason you drafted a player. He has a history of performances that made you like him. Whether it’s Ryan Grant and his consistency, or Ryan Mathews with good college numbers coming into a great situation in San Diego, there was a reason behind your pick. You don’t pick a player to help your fantasy team just because his name sounds cool…or if you do, can I join you league?

Does anyone remember Andre Johnson’s first game last year? He had a measly four catches and 35 yards without a touchdown. Now to answer the question, of course no one remembers that. Why? Because he went on to be the number one wide receiver in all of fantasy. Does anyone know how many times I saw Andre Johnson on the trading block after that first week? Too many, as more than zero was too much!

Let this point sink in before this first week kicks off. Just like your friends, fantasy players are part of your life because they have shown their worth to you. No player is going to put up an amazing performance week to week. Just like friends, every once in a while they might let you down. You don’t look to replace Andre Johnson with Nate Burleson just like you don’t dump your friend for some new guy with a beach house. Well, unless he lets you use that beach house whenever you like…

What's the Deal?

Top Pair (player(s) who guarantee a good week)

Larry Fitzgerarld

Everyone is concerned with the quarterback situation in Arizona. I'm here to tell you that I could suit up for the Cardinals, and Fitzgerald would still have a good week. I might end up in the hospital, but Fitzgerald will get his and is a redzone monster. To make the situation even better, the Rams secondary is rather inexperienced. Expect a good week right from the start for Fitzgerald.

Steven Jackson

On the opposite side of the field from Fitzgerald, Steven Jackson will also be relied upon heavily in week one. The Rams are starting Bradford right out of the gate. Add to that the fact Rams' wide receivers are nothing of note, and Jackson will see a full load and a good amount of check-downs.

Gut Shot (player who will surprise you with a good week)

Knowshon Moreno

Owners are forgetting the talent that Moreno has. He's missed a good portion of the preseason but looks to be finally healthy. Plus, the Broncos play the Jaguars who have one of the worst defenses in the league. He should put up top 20 RB numbers this week.

The Flop (player who will let you down)

Anquan Boldin

Don't bench Boldin, but also, don't expect top 10 numbers from him. Remember Houshmandzadeh, who just became Boldin's teammate? Remember how when he left the Bengals, his production went downhill. Well, Boldin is not a top end No. 1 WR. He just does not have that level of talent. Now, he will still put up top 20 numbers for a WR, but people are expecting to see him in the top 10. That is why he will disappoint, especially since he will get lost on Revis Island this week.

Time to get All In the Rankings

Quarterback
Rank - Player - Team ( Opp )
1 - Drew Brees - NO ( MIN )
2 - Aaron Rodgers - GB ( @ PHI )
3 - Peyton Manning - IND ( @ HOU )
4 - Tom Brady - NE ( CIN )
5 - Matt Schaub - HOU ( IND )
6 - Philip Rivers - SD ( @ KC )
7 - Tony Romo - DAL ( @ WAS )
8 - Jay Cutler - CHI ( DET )
9 - Brett Favre - MIN ( @ NO )
10 - Kevin Kolb - PHI ( GB )
11 - Eli Manning - NYG ( CAR )
12 - Joe Flacco - BAL ( @ NYJ )
13 - Matt Ryan - ATL ( @ PIT )
14 - Matthew Stafford - DET ( @ CHI )
15 - Carson Palmer - CIN ( @ NE )
16 - Donovan McNabb - WAS ( DAL )
17 - Kyle Orton - DEN ( @ JAC )
18 - Alex Smith - SF ( @ SEA )
19 - Vince Young - TEN ( OAK )
20 - Matt Cassel - KC ( SD )
21 - Chad Henne - MIA ( @ BUF )
22 - David Garrard - JAC ( DEN )
23 - Mark Sanchez - NYJ ( BAL )
24 - Jason Campbell - OAK ( @ TEN )
25 - Josh Freeman - TB ( CLE )
26 - Matt Moore - CAR ( @ NYG )
27 - Derek Anderson - ARZ ( @ STL )
28 - Dennis Dixon - PIT ( ATL )
29 - Matt Hasselbeck - SEA ( SF )
30 - Sam Bradford - STL ( ARZ )
31 - Jake Delhomme - CLE ( @ TB )
32 - Trent Edwards - BUF ( MIA )

Runningback
Rank - Player - Team ( Opp )
1 - Chris Johnson - TEN ( OAK )
2 - Adrian Peterson - MIN ( @ NO )
3 - Maurice Jones-Drew - JAC ( DEN )
4 - Frank Gore - SF ( @ SEA )
5 - Ray Rice - BAL ( @ NYJ )
6 - Michael Turner - ATL ( @ PIT )
7 - Steven Jackson - STL ( ARZ )
8 - Rashard Mendenhall - PIT ( ATL )
9 - DeAngelo Williams - CAR ( @ NYG )
10 - Ryan Mathews - SD ( @ KC )
11 - Cedric Benson - CIN ( @ NE )
12 - Jamaal Charles - KC ( SD )
13 - Ryan Grant - GB ( @ PHI )
14 - Shonn Greene - NYJ ( BAL )
15 - Arian Foster - HOU ( IND )
16 - Jahvid Best - DET ( @ CHI )
17 - Pierre Thomas - NO ( MIN )
18 - Joseph Addai - IND ( @ HOU )
19 - Knowshon Moreno - DEN ( @ JAC )
20 - Matt Forte - CHI ( DET )
21 - LeSean McCoy - PHI ( GB )
22 - Ahmad Bradshaw - NYG ( CAR )
23 - Jerome Harrison - CLE ( @ TB )
24 - Cadillac Williams - TB ( CLE )
25 - C.J. Spiller - BUF ( MIA )
26 - Beanie Wells - ARZ ( @ STL )
27 - Ronnie Brown - MIA ( @ BUF )
28 - Jonathan Stewart - CAR ( @ NYG )
29 - Marion Barber - DAL ( @ WAS )
30 - Reggie Bush - NO ( MIN )
31 - Brandon Jacobs - NYG ( CAR )
32 - Felix Jones - DAL ( @ WAS )
33 - Clinton Portis - WAS ( DAL )
34 - Tim Hightower - ARZ ( @ STL )
35 - Darren McFadden - OAK ( @ TEN )
36 - Justin Forsett - SEA ( SF )
37 - LaDainian Tomlinson - NYJ ( BAL )
38 - Ricky Williams - MIA ( @ BUF )
39 - Correll Buckhalter - DEN ( @ JAC )
40 - Michael Bush - OAK ( @ TEN )
41 - Thomas Jones - KC ( SD )
42 - Donald Brown - IND ( @ HOU )
43 - Chester Taylor - CHI ( DET )
44 - Darren Sproles - SD ( @ KC )
45 - Leon Washington - SEA ( SF )
46 - Peyton Hillis - CLE ( @ TB )
47 - Willis McGahee - BAL ( @ NYJ )
48 - Fred Jackson - BUF ( MIA )
49 - Fred Taylor - NE ( CIN )
50 - Marshawn Lynch - BUF ( MIA )
51 - Kareem Huggins - TB ( CLE )
52 - Steve Slaton - HOU ( IND )
53 - Laurence Maroney - NE ( CIN )
54 - Larry Johnson - WAS ( DAL )
55 - Tashard Choice - DAL ( @ WAS )
56 - Brian Westbrook - SF ( @ SEA )
57 - Mike Bell - PHI ( GB )
58 - Brandon Jackson - GB ( @ PHI )

Wide Receiver
Rank - Player - Team ( Opp )
1 - Andre Johnson - HOU ( IND )
2 - Randy Moss - NE ( CIN )
3 - Calvin Johnson - DET ( @ CHI )
4 - Reggie Wayne - IND ( @ HOU )
5 - Larry Fitzgerald - ARZ ( @ STL )
6 - Roddy White - ATL ( @ PIT )
7 - Miles Austin - DAL ( @ WAS )
8 - Brandon Marshall - MIA ( @ BUF )
9 - Marques Colston - NO ( MIN )
10 - Greg Jennings - GB ( @ PHI )
11 - Steve Smith - CAR ( @ NYG )
12 - DeSean Jackson - PHI ( GB )
13 - Steve Smith - NYG ( CAR )
14 - Chad Ochocinco - CIN ( @ NE )
15 - Dwayne Bowe - KC ( SD )
16 - Percy Harvin - MIN ( @ NO )
17 - Michael Crabtree - SF ( @ SEA )
18 - Anquan Boldin - BAL ( @ NYJ )
19 - Hines Ward - PIT ( ATL )
20 - Mike Sims-Walker - JAC ( DEN )
21 - Wes Welker - NE ( CIN )
22 - Hakeem Nicks - NYG ( CAR )
23 - Mike Wallace - PIT ( ATL )
24 - Malcom Floyd - SD ( @ KC )
25 - Donald Driver - GB ( @ PHI )
26 - Pierre Garcon - IND ( @ HOU )
27 - Terrell Owens - CIN ( @ NE )
28 - Santana Moss - WAS ( DAL )
29 - Johnny Knox - CHI ( DET )
30 - Jeremy Maclin - PHI ( GB )
31 - Bernard Berrian - MIN ( @ NO )
32 - Jabar Gaffney - DEN ( @ JAC )
33 - Lee Evans - BUF ( MIA )
34 - Derrick Mason - BAL ( @ NYJ )
35 - Robert Meachem - NO ( MIN )
36 - Braylon Edwards - NYJ ( BAL )
37 - Steve Breaston - ARZ ( @ STL )
38 - Mike Williams - TB ( CLE )
39 - Devin Aromashodu - CHI ( DET )
40 - Jerricho Cotchery - NYJ ( BAL )
41 - Devin Hester - CHI ( DET )
42 - TJ Houshmandzadeh - BAL ( @ NYJ )
43 - Dez Bryant - DAL ( @ WAS )
44 - Jacoby Jones - HOU ( IND )
45 - Mohammed Massaquoi - CLE ( @ TB )
46 - Nate Burleson - DET ( @ CHI )
47 - Louis Murphy - OAK ( @ TEN )
48 - Eddie Royal - DEN ( @ JAC )
49 - Chris Chambers - KC ( SD )
50 - Laurent Robinson - STL ( ARZ )
51 - Mike Williams - SEA ( SF )
52 - Austin Collie - IND ( @ HOU )
53 - Roy Williams - DAL ( @ WAS )
54 - Danny Amendola - STL ( ARZ )
55 - Legedu Naanee - SD ( @ KC )
56 - Nate Washington - TEN ( OAK )
57 - Devery Henderson - NO ( MIN )
58 - Kevin Walter - HOU ( IND )
59 - Deion Branch - SEA ( SF )
60 - Kenny Britt - TEN ( OAK )
61 - Josh Crayton - SD ( @ KC )
62 - Mike Thomas - JAC ( DEN )
63 - Mario Manningham - NYG ( CAR )
64 - Josh Morgan - SF ( @ SEA )
65 - Justin Gage - TEN ( OAK )
66 - Anthony Gonzalez - IND ( @ HOU )
67 - Davone Bess - MIA ( @ BUF )
68 - James Jones - GB ( @ PHI )
69 - Greg Camarillo - MIN ( @ NO )
70 - Deon Butler - SEA ( SF )

Tight End
Rank - Player - Team ( Opp )
1 - Antonio Gates - SD ( @ KC )
2 - Dallas Clark - IND ( @ HOU )
3 - Vernon Davis - SF ( @ SEA )
4 - Jermichael Finley - GB ( @ PHI )
5 - Brent Celek - PHI ( GB )
6 - Jason Witten - DAL ( @ WAS )
7 - Tony Gonzalez - ATL ( @ PIT )
8 - Zach Miller - OAK ( @ TEN )
9 - Visanthe Shiancoe - MIN ( @ NO )
10 - Chris Cooley - WAS ( DAL )
11 - Kellen Winslow - TB ( CLE )
12 - John Carlson - SEA ( SF )
13 - Heath Miller - PIT ( ATL )
14 - Owen Daniels - HOU ( IND )
15 - Dustin Keller - NYJ ( BAL )
16 - Tony Scheffler - DET ( @ CHI )
17 - Greg Olsen - CHI ( DET )
18 - Jeremy Shockey - NO ( MIN )
19 - Kevin Boss - NYG ( CAR )
20 - Jermaine Gresham - CIN ( @ NE )
21 - Todd Heap - BAL ( @ NYJ )
22 - Benjamin Watson - CLE ( @ TB )
23 - Mercedes Lewis - JAC ( DEN )
24 - Aaron Hernandez - NE ( CIN )

Kicker
Rank - Player - Team ( Opp )
1 - Garrett Hartley - NO ( MIN )
2 - Ryan Longwell - MIN ( @ NO )
3 - Stephen Gostkowski - NE ( CIN )
4 - David Akers - PHI ( GB )
5 - Nate Kaeding - SD ( @ KC )
6 - Mason Crosby - GB ( @ PHI )
7 - Rob Bironas - TEN ( OAK )
8 - Phil Dawson - CLE ( @ TB )
9 - Jason Hanson - DET ( @ CHI )
10 - Jeff Reed - PIT ( ATL )
11 - Matt Prater - DEN ( @ JAC )
12 - John Kasay - CAR ( @ NYG )
13 - Neil Rackers - HOU ( IND )
14 - Robbie Gould - CHI ( DET )
15 - Jay Feely - ARZ ( @ STL )
16 - Lawrence Tynes - NYG ( CAR )
17 - Matt Bryant - ATL ( @ PIT )
18 - Sebastian Janikowski - OAK ( @ TEN )
19 - Rian Lindell - BUF ( MIA )
20 - Mike Nugent - CIN ( @ NE )
21 - David Buehler - DAL ( @ WAS )
22 - Joe Nedney - SF ( @ SEA )
23 - Adam Vinatieri - IND ( @ HOU )
24 - Dan Carpenter - MIA ( @ BUF )

Defense
Rank - Team ( Opp )
1 - Jets DT ( BAL )
2 - Packers DT ( @ PHI )
3 - 49ers DT ( @ SEA )
4 - Cowboys DT ( @ WAS )
5 - Vikings DT ( @ NO )
6 - Eagles DT ( GB )
7 - Ravens DT ( @ NYJ )
8 - Steelers DT ( ATL )
9 - Saints DT ( MIN )
10 - Chargers DT ( @ KC )
11 - Dolphins DT ( @ BUF )
12 - Giants DT ( CAR )
13 - Bears DT ( DET )
14 - Bengals DT ( @ NE )
15 - Patriots DT ( CIN )
16 - Cardinals DT ( @ STL )
17 - Falcons DT ( @ PIT )
18 - Titans DT ( OAK )
19 - Colts DT ( @ HOU )
20 - Browns DT ( @ TB )
21 - Raiders DT ( @ TEN )
22 - Texans DT ( IND )
23 - Redskins DT ( DAL )
24 - Panthers DT ( @ NYG )
25 - Buccaneers DT ( CLE )
26 - Bills DT ( MIA )
27 - Rams DT ( ARZ )
28 - Broncos DT ( @ JAC )
29 - Lions DT ( @ CHI )
30 - Jaguars DT ( DEN )
31 - Seahawks DT ( SF )
32 - Chiefs DT ( SD )