| Here are the guys to play every
week regardless of match-up: Andre
Johnson, Reggie
Wayne, Randy
Moss, Larry
Fitzgerald, Miles
Austin, Roddy
White, and Brandon
Marshall.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Start 'Em:
Wide Receivers Worthy of Starting Week
1
As mentioned during my Jay Cutler recommendation the Lions were
the worst pass defense in the league last year. Not much is likely
to change and Knox should emerge as Cutler's favorite target.
Expect him to be the main beneficiary in the Bears' receiving
corps this week.
Crabtree only played 11 games last year, but if his stats were
extrapolated over the course of a 16 game schedule he would have
finished with 70 catches for 910 yards and 3 TDs. While the TD
total is weak his other stats are impressive for a rookie WR.
This should be a banner year for the second-year pro and you'll
want to start collecting his many fantasy points beginning this
week at Seattle.
Evans took an unfamiliar backseat to Terrell Owens in Buffalo
last year and still produced respectable numbers (44-612-7) for
a #2 WR on an anemic offense. This year he'll be “the guy” in
Buffalo again and should come close to doubling his stats from
2010 (except for TDs). Expect him to get a good jump-start on
his comeback season this week against the 23rd ranked pass defense
in 2010.
In the battle of Steve Smith's, the Carolina, or original, Steve
Smith is the one to watch this week. Expect a big bounce-back
season with his new QB Matt Moore and his health. The Giants gave
up more passing TD than anyone in the league except for the Detroit
Lions last year, and they allowed the 2nd worst QB rating (95.1)
of all teams in 2010. Expect Smith to test the revamped Giants
secondary all day long and to be successful getting behind them
for big plays and big FPts.
Bench 'Em:
Receivers Who Will Under Perform Relative
To Their Draft Position And Recent Hype
The Saints gave up the 7th most passing yards in the league last
year, but only allowed 15 passing TDs. Harvin has a larger role
to take on this year with the absence of Sidney Rice and although
his migraines seem controlled for now, there are too many questions
with the Vikings receiving corps and their QB to take a risk with
Harvin this week; let's see how he and Favre mesh in Week 1 and
go forward from there.
While the Carolina Steve Smith should be huge in this game, the
opposite is predicted for the Giants' Steve Smith. The Panthers
finished last year as the #4 passing defense in the league, giving
up just 191 yards per game. Even more impressive they were #2
in the league in allowing passing TDs, giving up just 14 TDs in
16 games. In addition, they were the 5th best team at limiting
big pass plays of 20+ yards. Add all this up and last year's surprise
Smith should struggle in week 1.
A major off-season free-agent addition to the Ravens, Boldin will
have his work cut out for him against the best CB in the league
and the best pass/overall defense in the league. Boldin is a stud
that should have a very good year in Baltimore but it won't start
off with a bang. Leave him on your bench for this Week 1 defensive
battle in New York.
You would think Branch would be poised to have a big game with
the loss of the top two wideouts from last year coupled with facing
just the 21st ranked pass defense from 2010. But there are a ton
of question marks on Seattle – the new coaching staff, Hasselbeck,
an unproven WR starting on the opposite side – and the 49ers
were stingy in last year ranking second in the league in allowing
passing TDs. Until we see how the Seahawks are going to perform
it's best to leave their fantasy players on your bench.
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