Fantasy Report: Week One

In what will become a weekly segment before game day, “Fantasy Report” is designed to give you a better understanding of the Eagles’ fantasy values leading up to the game. Before you lock your roster in your fantasy league, be sure to check out Bleed Green’s Fantasy Report. The segment will consist of a Start’Em-Sit Em’, and a Sleeper Watch.

The first week of football is what I like to call the beginning of fantasy season. Once the drafts ended for fantasy owners, everyone had their sights set on Week One. In what is the first real look at your fantasy team, no one wants to be on the losing end, and thus leads to our “Fantasy Report: Week One”, where I will unveil my insights on to who to build your roster around in Week One.  

Start ‘Em  

QB Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks  

As much as I refuse to ever draft him, Hasselbeck has a favorable matchup in Week One going up against the St. Louis Rams’ defense. The Rams’ defense is inexperienced and has struggled to contain opposing offenses. Besides the poor defense that Hasselbeck goes up against, he will have a new weapon to target, former Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadah.  

RB Ray Rice, Ravens  

My biggest surprise for 2009 has to be second year man Ray Rice. Last season, he was stuck behind Wills McGahee and Le’Ron McClain, but with McClain moving to a “true” fullback position, Rice has moved up on the depth chart, all the way up to the starting spot. Add to this the fact that the offense is a ground first team, due to the coaches not wanting to force young QB Joe Flacco to force any throws, and Ray Rice is a legit fantasy starter in Week One against a weak defensive team in Kansas City .  

WR Vincent Jackson, Chargers  

A reliable option in past seasons, Jackson has blossomed into Phillip Rivers’ go-to-guy. With Jackson matched up against the secondary of the Oakland Raiders, you have to give him a start if you have him. Phillip Rivers has been an unheralded top fantasy producer in his career, despite the fact that he has never had a “big named” receiver. I can almost guarantee at least one touchdown by Jackson , and seeing how effective he is in the redzone, two touchdowns may be a reasonable prediction.  

Sit ‘Em  

QB Jake Delhomme, Panthers  

 I’m sure almost everyone here at Bleed Greenloves that Delhomme is on the “Sit ‘Em” list as he will be up against the Eagles’ defense on Sunday. Delhomme has never been a solid fantasy QB, and I still have confidence in the Eagles’ defense, despite the weak showing in the preseason. Even though he may throw a touchdown or two, Delhomme is known for throwing picks ( just ask the Arizona Cardinals defense ).  

RB Jamal Lewis, Browns  

Simply put, he goes up against the top defense in the NFC, the Minnesota Vikings. Combine the Vikings’ strong defense with the rise of rookie RB James Davis (who is waiting to overtake Lewis), and you should have no reason to even consider starting Lewis.  

WR Donald Driver, Packers   A tough choice for me to put Driver here, but I don’t see the Bears-Packers game as a shootout, let alone an offensive game. I expect this to be a typical smash mouth NFC North game. QB Aaron Rodgers has grown comfortable with WR Greg Jennings, putting Driver second to him. If you absolutely have no other option but Driver, then you should just take a shot with him, but if you can avoid starting him, I highly recommend it.  

 Sleeper of the Week   WR Jason Avant, Eagles  

 Of course I would have gone with an Eagle as my Sleeper to begin with, but Avant truly is a high risk- high reward guy not just in Week One, but throughout the whole season. I decided to look at the past two Week One’s for Jason Avant, just to see if he is a good option. Oddly enough, Avant has been solid during the last two Week One’s. In 2008 against St. Louis , he had 3 receptions for 45 yards, and in 2007 against Green Bay he had 54 yards and 1 touchdown.