Fantasy Fodder

Quick thoughts from Week 1

Wow. The orgy of sloth and pigskin that is Opening Weekend is over. A few quick thoughts...

- I've heard of teams getting flat tires, running out of gas, even hitting the wall but I think the Packers wheels just fell off with the possible ACL tear of Javon Walker. It is going to be a long, hard winter for Brett Favre and the Pack. Plus the revamped O-Line is just not getting it done for the run game, with only 46 yards combied rushing versus Detroit, hardly a defensive juggernaut.

- It's always a morbid thought in the back of my head about who is going to be the first major fantasy player who goes down for the season. Last year it was Steve Smith, which lead to the immergance of Mushin Muhammed (who had a career year). Will Brett find a new guy to key on? Is Donald Driver ready to step back into the spotlight as a Number 1 WR? To quote Kent Brockman 'Only time will tell.'

- Didn't I call it. The Cardinals defense is young and prone to defensive lapses. In short most likely they are going to suck...Allowing 42 points to a Giants squad that hardly puts fear into opponents is not a good way to start the season. On the bright side Larry Fitzgerald reaped the benefits of the pass since the Cardinals were well behind most of the game, thus forcing the pass. Enjoy it while it lasts. When Warner goes down the wheels will once again fall off.

- Of all the games I was able to watch today (Bills vs. Texans, Cowboys vs. San Diego and Colts vs. Ravens) I was most impressed by the first half of the Bills/Texans game. The Buffalo Bills defense was at mid-season form, wreaking havoc with the blitz and winning the turn-over battle with ball-hawking INTS and multiple forced fumbles. I look for them to be ranked the best defense this year, barring injury of course.

- I'm not hear to praise the Bills or crown them Super Bowl champs but J.P. Losman showed real poise in the first quarter going 6 for 6 and leading 3 sucessful drives (minus the TDs) all through the air, without much help from Willis McGahee and the run game. I had my first get-up-and-scream at the TV moment of the season when Losman hooked up with Lee Evans on a 40 yard bomb in the first series. A definite upgrade from the lead footed Drew Bledsoe. Many plays and drives continued when in the past they would have been stalled. This may not be important in fantasy as Losman is still a borderline backup (possible starter in 2 QB leagues) on most fantasy teams, but it is very important in the real world.

- Willie Parker broke out in a big way but I don't think it was a coronation. The passing of the torch is not happening like it did last year with Big Ben. With Staley and the Bus waiting to return I don't see a career college back up taking their shine...unless he actually performs at this level for a couple weeks against teams better than a salary-cap gutted Titans D.

- Is the Caddilac good to go? The big test comes nex week at home against the run-stuffing Bills D which held the Texans to 120 yards total offense.

- Isn't 'Feel Good Inc' by The Gorillaz the greatest song since Thriller. I kid you not. No, I am not high. Okay, maybe I am because all I see are those cartoon bastards runing through my head like Larry Johnson. He's running his way right out of Kansas City. When his time comes to become the best running back in the league it definetly going to be somewhere else...Enjoy it while it lasts because when he leaves Preist Holmes is going to be the one wearing diapers.

- St. Louis isn't going to be this bad for long. Everyone has bad weeks. San Fran is still going to have no more than 4 wins by the end of the year.

- Is it just me or does CBS not have the best announce teams for its smaller market teams and a greatly improved pre-game while Fox has the worst announcers outside of it top 3 teams and a tired pre-game that hasn't changed in 5 years?

- Cleveland gave a valiant effort against a far more talented Bengals squad considering what they have to work with. Trent Dilfer isn't going to wow anyone but if he stays healthy at the very least he should be able to keep the team close and mould rookie reciever Braylon Edwards and former-malcontent Antonio Bryant into players for the future.

- A horrible day for the Minnesota pass offense. Throughout the off-season the entire organization down played the loss of the best reciever of our generation (excuse me Jerry Rice). Everyone outside of the general manager knew that was a lie to cover their collective asses. One game does not make a season but when the end product becomes far worse than the expected, reason for concern only grows. So you mean Nate Burleson isn't a Pro Bowler...I'm shocked. Absolutely shocked. Excuse me while I go jump out of the window.

- I feel all the sorrow in the world for people displaced by the hurricane but leave it up to sports commentators and the omni-present media coverage to make me want to puke my guts out over the coverage of the Saints. They act like some higher power guided the leg of John Carney to send some devine guidance to all those poor soles who want nothing more than to see one group of millionaires beat another group of millionaires. I mean its a hell of a lot better than, you know, getting out of the Astrodome...

- The less said about T.O. and McNabb the better. You'll only hear about it five million times tomorrow during Monday Night Football. If you play a drinking game (which I don't advocate unless you have hot chicks around) where they mention T.O.every time I guarantee you'll die of alcohol poisoning by 10 o'clock.

- Enjoy the first week because it's all downhill from here. The eternal optimism for the season is either already starting to falter if you are a Rams, Texans or Packers fan or you are going to start building your team up a bit to much if you are a Dolphins, Panthers or Niners fan. For everyone else keep it even...no one gets crowned champ in the first week. Not even the Patriots.

As always if you have any opinions/comments send an email to seanwd11@yahoo.com or cneault23@yahoo.com for the best of both worlds...