Start'em or Sit'em - Week 1

Start’em

Brett Favre and Thomas Jones. The most improved unit on the Jets is the offensive line. Alan Faneca is a first ballot Hall of Famer. He brings an attitude and physical style of play. People are overestimating the Pennington / Parcells factor. Miami lost 15 games last year and lost their best defensive player. Jets should win big.

Earnest Graham. Very few people are talking about Graham, but he should be your starting line-up every week. Tampa Bay needs to keep QB Garcia healthy. That means more of a commitment to the run. Graham was very good down the stretch in 2007.

Larry Johnson, Chiefs. This guy will be back with a great year this year. He really is the only Fantasy or real life option on the Chiefs’ offense. New England’s defense feels soft. Look for 30 carries from Johnson as Herm Edwards keeps the clock running in the 2nd half. Plus, this game might be played in monsoon weather conditions.

Isaac Bruce, Niners. Wide receiver is the most volatile position in Fantasy week to week. Bruce is a good play this week, because he understands the Martz offense and how to get open. He is a step slower, but he will be the Niners’ main target against Arizona.

Roy Williams, Lions. Former Georgia Tech WR Charles Johnson has the cool nickname (Megatron) and all the hype, but QB Kitna has great rapport with Williams. Atlanta’s secondary is very, very suspect and small in stature.

Sit’em

Roddy White, Falcons. 2007 was supposed to be a breakout season for White, but it was more of a mirage of Bobby Petrino’s offense. Expect more running from the Falcons and less opportunities for White in this season’s first month.

Aaron Rodgers, Packers. Expect Rodgers to get injured in this game. National television. Jared Allen. The Packers’ O-Line was horrible in preseason. Rodgers does not have a quick release. 4 bad ingredients for Packers’ fans.

Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks. Now, Tim and Elizabeth are both on TV? I have never been a Hasselbeck fan and the wide receiver corps is decimated by injury. And, Buffalo should control time of possession and keep it a low scoring game.

My Picks

@ Giants -4 Redskins - Giants (check Thursday post)
Bengals -1.5 @ Ravens - Bengals
Lions -3 @ Falcons - Lions
Jets -3 @ Dolphins - Jets
@ Patriots -16.5 Kansas City - Kansas City
@ Pittsburgh -6.5 Houston - Pittsburgh
Jacksonville -3 @ Tennessee - Jacksonville
@ New Orleans -3.5 Tampa Bay - New Orleans
Cardinals -2.5 @ San Francisco - San Francisco
@ Buffalo -1 Seattle - Buffalo
@ Eagles -7.5 Rams - Rams
@ San Diego -9 Carolina - Carolina
Dallas -5.5 @ Cleveland - Dallas
@ Colts -9.5 Chicago - Chicago
@ Green Bay -2.5 Minnesota - Minnesota
Denver -3 @ Oakland - Oakland

Eliminator Contest. I picked New England to survive in Week I. My philosophy for the first month of the season is just to survive. Try to pick the guaranteed winners and do not use the strategy of saving teams for later in the season. Two years ago I was out after Week I. Last year, I lasted into November. My wife picked the Giants this week, so she already is safe and sound.