Week 1 Fantasy Football Matchups / Start'em Sit'em

Site: Ralph Wilson Stadium (73,967) -- Orchard Park, New York

The Broncos and the Bills will both be trying to pick up a season-opening win on Sunday when they battle at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Oddsmakers currently have the Broncos listed as 3-point favorites versus the Bills, while the game's total is sitting at 37. Losman will have a rookie back behind him and will be facing a very tough secondary on Sunday. Denver, meanwhile, will just be thankful to get back on the field after its rough offseason, and Henry will be at his best against a former club. The Bills' young offense will have trouble getting going versus Denver, while the Broncos should be able to handle Buffalo's rebuilt defense.

Start'em: Walker, Henry, Graham, Broncos D

Sit'em: Evans, Losman, Lynch, Scheffler, Cutler, Bills D

Cleveland Browns Stadium (73,300) -- Cleveland, Ohio

It doesn't get any better than having two old rivals duke it out in Week 1 of the NFL season. Pittsburgh will win the game simply because Cleveland's defense is terrible. Crennel has a lot to prove this season and could be on the way out by mid-year if Cleveland starts out slow. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns will be battling on the gridiron at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sunday in season-opening action. Oddsmakers currently have the Steelers listed as 5½-point favorites versus the Browns, while the game's total is sitting at 36½.

Start'em: Roethlisberger, Parker, Ward, Holmes, Steelers D, Edwards, Winslow

Sit'em: Frye, Lewis, N. Washington, Miller

Site: Edward Jones Dome (66,000) -- St. Louis, Missouri

The Carolina Panthers and the St. Louis Rams will both be trying to pick up a Week 1 win on Sunday when they battle at Edward Jones Dome. Oddsmakers currently have the Rams listed as 1½-point favorites versus the Panthers, while the game's total is sitting at 42½. In a game between two seemingly evenly-matched teams like these two, turnovers could very well be the determining factor in the final outcome. Look for Bulger and St. Louis' high-quality group of receivers to find some soft spots in the back end of the Carolina defensive backfield, and Delhomme to make one costly mistake that winds up being the difference in a tight game.

Start'em: S. Smith, Bulger, Jackson, Holt, McMichael

Sit'em: Delhomme, Williams, Foster, Colbert, Panthers D, Bruce, Bennett, Rams D

Site: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (64,121) -- Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings will both be trying to pick up a season-opening win on Sunday when they battle at The Metrodome. Oddsmakers currently have the Vikings listed as 3-point favorites versus the Falcons, while the game's total is sitting at 35�. All eyes will be on Harrington and the Atlanta offense, which faces a major obstacle with its running game against a stingy Minnesota front seven. Conversely, Jackson is no Randall Cunningham throwback just yet, but his running ability combined with the presence of Peterson and Taylor should allow the Vikings to control the clock and win

Start'em: Crumpler, A. Peterson, DST Vikings, Falcons DST

Sit'em: Harrington, Dunn, Norwood, Horn, Jackson, Taylor, Williamson, Ferguson

Site: Meadowlands (80,062) -- East Rutherford, New Jersey

The New England Patriots and the New York Jets will both be looking to go 1-0 on the season when they meet at Giants Stadium on Sunday. Oddsmakers currently have the Patriots listed as 6½-point favorites versus the Jets, while the game's total is sitting at 41. Brady is a no-brainer, can't-go-wrong choice for those who have him, and his stats should only improve with the additions of Moss and Stallworth, who've often been among league leaders in yards per catch. Throw in Chad Pennington's average arm, and the Patriots will probably blitz heavy and lean on their DBs. The Jets, meanwhile, will have their hands full. Defensively, Samuel makes New England attractive with big plays, probably more so than the Jets' unit.

Start'em: Brady, Maroney, Moss, Watson, Patriots DST, T. Jones, Coles

Sit'em: Stallworth, Welker, Pennington, Washington, Cotchery, Baker, Jets DST

Site: FedExField (91,704) -- Landover, Maryland

The Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at FedExField in the season opener for both teams. Oddsmakers currently have the Redskins listed as 3-point favorites versus the Dolphins, while the game's total is sitting at 34½. Don't expect either "D" to get you an abundance of turnovers, but they should both keep the opposing offense in check. Miami has an edge defensively thanks to Taylor and Thomas, but with a new quarterback, new scheme, and uncertain situation in the backfield, the Dolphins are a notch below the Redskins offensively. Skins win.

Start'em: R. Brown, Chambers, Dolphins DST, Portis, Cooley

Sit'em: Green, Ginn Jr, Martin, Betts, Moss, El, Redskins DST

Site: Reliant Stadium (71,054) -- Houston, Texas

The Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans will both be looking to go 1-0 on the season when they meet at Reliant Stadium on Sunday. Oddsmakers currently have the Texans listed as 3-point favorites versus the Chiefs, while the game's total is sitting at 37½. One usually shouldn't put too much stock in preseason results, but the Chiefs' lousy play during the exhibition season could be a telling sign of impending trouble. Add in the fact that Herm Edwards teams have notoriously been slow starters during his six-year coaching tenure, and combine that trend with rookie kicker Justin Medlock's shaky preseason performances, and it's hard to expect a sudden turnaround. Houston has been eagerly anticipating this opportunity to build on last year's encouraging finish and will do just enough to get an important season off to a good start.

Start'em: Johnson, Gonzalez, A. Green, A. Johnson, O. Daniels

Sit'em: Huard, Kennison, Chiefs D, Schaub, Jacoby Jones, Dayne, Texans D

Site: Lambeau Field (72,928) -- Green Bay, Wisconsin

The Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers will both be trying to pick up a Week 1 victory on Sunday when they battle at Lambeau Field. Oddsmakers currently have the Eagles listed as 3-point favorites versus the Packers, while the game's total is sitting at 43. Every quality opponent that entered Green Bay last season came out with a win, and there is little reason to expect Philadelphia to fare any differently. Even with questions about the health of McNabb and Kearse lingering, the Eagles are still a stronger and more veteran team on both sides of the football.

Start'em: McNabb, Westbrook, R. Brown, B. Jackson, Driver

Sit'em: Curtis, Lewis, Favre, Jennings, Morency, Packers D

Site: McAfee Coliseum (63,132) -- Oakland, California

McAfee Coliseum has a Week 1 contest on tap for Sunday as the Detroit Lions and the Oakland Raiders play their season openers. Oddsmakers currently have the Raiders listed as 2½-point favorites versus the Lions, while the game's total is sitting at 40. Fantasy managers will be looking for big things out of the Lions offense this week, with Kitna, Bell, Roy Williams, and Furrey all looking like good players to start. Oakland's defense is a big secret right now, and the Lions will find out first-hand that it's tough to move the ball against them.Both teams should be able to move the ball with relative ease. The Lions need to start backing up that 10-win talk immediately, and a win over the Raiders is a good place to begin. Lions Win.

Start'em: Bell, R. Williams, L. Jordan, Porter, Miller, Raiders DST

Sit'em: Kitna, Duckett, C. Johnson, Lions DST, McCown, Curry

Site: Qualcomm Stadium (70,000) -- San Diego, California

Few games on the NFL docket this year will match the intensity and smash-mouth football that should be displayed Sunday afternoon. Qualcomm Stadium has a Week 1 contest on tap for Sunday as the Chicago Bears and the San Diego Chargers play their season openers. Oddsmakers currently have the Chargers listed as 6½-point favorites versus the Bears, while the game's total is sitting at 43. Defense will be king in this game. This just in: start Tomlinson at running back. Even against a defense as great as the Bears' unit, the reigning MVP is a must-play every week. San Diego's offense has the Bears' unit beaten by a far wider margin, meaning on paper the Chargers should come out on top.

Start'em: Benson, Clark, Bears DST, Rivers, LT, Gates, Chargers DST

Sit'em: Grossman, Berrian, V. Jackson, C. Davis, Turner

Site: Qwest Field (67,000) -- Seattle, Washington

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Seattle Seahawks will both be trying to pick up a season-opening win on Sunday when they battle at Qwest Field. Oddsmakers currently have the Seahawks listed as 6½-point favorites versus the Buccaneers, while the game's total is sitting at 41. Most of this game's must-start players are on the Seattle side of the field, where Alexander and Branch should be reliable fantasy players this year and Hasselbeck and kicker Josh Brown are solid as well. As for the Buccaneers, a rough preseason should bleed into this game, especially considering their less-than-healthy offensive line. Seattle has enough veteran talent and polished schemes to win this one handily on its home field.

Start'em: Galloway, Hasselbeck, Alexander, Branch, Seahawks DST

Sit'em: Garcia, Williams, Pittman, Stevens, Bucs DST, Hackett, Pollard,

Site: Texas Stadium (65,529) -- Irving, Texas

The division rival New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys are set to renew hostilities on Sunday when they meet at Texas Stadium in Week 1 action. Oddsmakers currently have the Cowboys listed as 6½-point favorites versus the Giants, while the game's total is sitting at 44. When these teams meet, the score usually ends up totaling over 40 points No. 81 should make plenty of noise when he goes up against New York's questionable secondary on Sunday. The Manning-Burress combo should also put up plenty of points in Week 1, especially considering the weakened state of Dallas' defensive backfield. look for a high-scoring and entertaining game that should get the Sunday night schedule off to an excellent start.

Start'em: Manning, Jacobs, Burress, Shockey, Romo, Barber, Jones, TO, Witten, Cowboys DST

Sit'em: Droughns, Toomer, S. Smith, Giants D, Glenn (Inj), Crayton

Site: Paul Brown Stadium (65,515) -- Cincinnati, Ohio

Paul Brown Stadium has a Week 1 contest on tap for Monday as the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals play their season openers.Oddsmakers currently have the Bengals listed as 3-point favorites versus the Ravens, while the game's total is sitting at 40½. The contest, the first of two Monday night tilts on the Week 1 NFL docket, pits the division's two most recent champions against one another. The Baltimore defense is always a good start because of its ability to force turnovers, but offensive principles McNair, McGahee, Mason, and Clayton are a riskier play. The Bengals offense is unlikely to run at an optimal level against Ray Lewis and company. McGahee should provide a strong running presence, meaning that Steve McNair won't have to do much.

Start'em: McGahee, Heap, Ravens DST, Palmer, Johnson, Houshmandzadeh, #85,

Sit'em: McNair, Mason, Clayton, Kelly, Watson, Bengals DST

Site: Monster Park (69,732) -- San Francisco, California

The Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers will be battling on the gridiron at Monster Park on Monday night in season-opening action. Oddsmakers currently have the 49ers listed as 3-point favorites versus the Cardinals, while the game's total is sitting at 45. Gore's broken hand is not going to keep him from starting Monday's contest. James figures to be a decent option as a second running back or flex player in Week 1 for the Birds. Owners of Leinart and Smith may want to take a wait-and-see approach. San Francisco has been a trendy choice as this year's surprise team, and the 49ers will do nothing to dissuade their backers in the opener. An Arizona defense going through a transition phase could have its hands full. While the 49ers' defense is much improved on paper, expect them to take some time to jell before limiting opponents.

Start'em: Leinart, James, Boldin, Fitzgerald, Gore, D-Jack, Davis

Sit'em: Shipp, Pope, Cardinals DST, Smith, Hicks, Lelie, 49ers DST