Fantasy football season finally is
here. You’re excited. You can’t wait to see your players rack up huge
numbers like you knew they would.
Then comes Week 1. Your quarterback,
No. 1 running back and No. 1 wide receiver turn in stinkers and cost you
an opening-week loss.
Now you’re having second thoughts
about your star players. Don’t.
Experienced fantasy football players
know not to panic if a few of their players struggle in Week 1. It’s
just one week, not an entire season.
Inexperienced fantasy football
owners panic when their players don’t meet their preseason expectations
in the opening weeks.
Owners who traded Buffalo wide
receiver Lee Evans when he stumbled during the first two weeks
last season with 44 yards and no TDs against the tough defenses of New
England and Miami regretted it after he finished the season strong.
Owners who dropped Tampa Bay wide
receiver Joey Galloway when he opened last season without
recording a single catch in the opening week against Baltimore’s tough
defense were kicking themselves after he busted out for 161 yards in
Week 2.
The lesson? Don’t make any drastic
moves after Week 1 or the first couple weeks.
Here are a few players that could
start the season cold because they face a tough schedule:
Quarterback J.P. Losman and
Evans of Buffalo (Denver in Week 1, Pittsburgh in Week 2, New England in
Week 3), Chicago running back Cedric Benson (San Diego, Kansas
City, Dallas), running back Thomas Jones and wide receiver
Laveranues Coles of the New York Jets (New England, Baltimore,
Miami) and San Diego quarterback Phillip Rivers (Chicago, New
England).
If you notice one of the star
players listed above or another star player start slow on another
owner’s team, offer a sub-par player who’s off to a hot start for that
slumping star in a trade.
Then, watch your team pile up
victories.
HOT READ
James Jones, WR, Green Bay:
The rookie tied for the preseason lead with 21 catches and ranked third
with 233 receiving yards. He’ll start the season as the Packers’ No. 3
receiver. With Green Bay looking like it could struggle to run the ball,
it should be airing it out often, giving Jones a chance to shine. He’s
worth picking up and stashing on your bench.
BROKEN PLAY(ER)
DeAngelo Williams, RB,
Carolina: The Panthers named DeShaun Foster
their starting running back to open the season. This kills Williams’
fantasy value – for now. With Foster’s injury history, Williams could be
a Foster broken wheel away from having a breakout season.
OFF THE BENCH
David Garrard, QB, Jacksonville:
The Jaguars’ new starting quarterback will want to prove that
Jacksonville made the right move by cutting Byron Leftwich. He faces
Tennessee and its pass defense that ranked 27th last season. Garrard
threw for 410 yards and four touchdowns in two games against the Titans
last season.
SAFE BET
Vince Young, QB, Tennessee:
Young’s owners should bench him this week if they have a strong backup
quarterback. The second-year pro faces Jacksonville, who held him to one
touchdown, 248 passing yards and 18 rushing yards in two meetings last
season.
EXTRA POINT
Don’t be shy to take chances on
players who have breakout weeks early in the season. Don’t overdo it and
drop starters or your top bench players, because oftentimes the players
won’t be successful the rest of the season. However, owners who took a
chance and picked up New Orleans’ Marques Colston after he scored a
touchdown in the first two weeks got themselves a top-10 wide receiver
off the waiver wire.
