By: David
Bachman
Fantasy Football
Editor For WagerOnFootball.com
The Fantasy Football Matchups is our weekly in depth
look at every NFL game and their effect on fantasy football
lineup decisions. Our Sportsbook Review Experts will brake
down all the weekly action right here for you. Need to
know the fine details of all the NFL fantasy football
matchups. Look no further!!! WagerOnFootball.com
has you covered. Apply what you learn here to an NFL Wager
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NFL
SPORTSBOOKS FANTASY FOOTBALL MATCHUP OF THE WEEK
Titans running back Chris Brown should have a nice performance
against linebacker Zach Thomas and the Dolphins defense,
and is a good No. 2 option in leagues with 12-plus teams.
Quarterback Steve McNair will continue his consistent
level of production and will look to wide receiver Derrick
Mason often in the pass attack. The Dolphins will start
quarterback Jay Fielder, who will get little support from
running back Travis Minor and be forced to lean on wide
receivers Chris Chambers and Marty Booker and tight end
Randy McMichael. Tennessee has a questionable defensive
backfield, so expect Chambers to post a good stat line.
Hindered by preseason injuries to running back Marcel
Shipp and wide receiver Anquan Boldin, the Cardinals could
be a deer in the headlights against the powerful Rams.
Cardinals quarterback Josh McCown will have to run for
his life as St. Louis sends several blitz packages to
pressure and confuse him. Emmitt Smith won't find much
success on the ground, so expect coach Dennis Green to
utilize Larry Fitzgerald when possible. The rookie appears
set to start after a preseason ankle problem and should
be used as a No. 3 receiver. Bulger should find countless
seams in the Cardinals defense, so look for wide receiver
Isaac Bruce to haul in at least one long reception. Running
back Marshall Faulk rushed for 100 yards and one score
in his last regular-season game against the Cardinals,
so expect him to open the season with a solid performance.
This might be a statement game for the Texans, a franchise
that appears set to turn the corner. Texans quarterback
David Carr will look to wide receivers Andre Johnson,
Corey Bradford and Jabar Gaffney often and should find
success against San Diego's suspect defensive backfield.
Carr, a potential sleeper, is a good option for owners
who lack a true No. 1 quarterback. Running back Domanick
Davis should thrive against a Chargers defense that allowed
138.6 yards on the ground last season, so be sure to activate
him. San Diego's offense begins and ends with running
back LaDainian Tomlinson, who should produce a stellar
stat line. Chargers quarterback Drew Brees should have
time in the pocket and will look to Eric Parker, who is
a great sleeper option as a No. 3 receiver or flex player
in Week 1.
The remnants of Hurricane Frances will have passed in
time for this game to be played under good conditions.
Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer will make the first
regular-season start and should look to wide receiver
Chad Johnson on a regular basis against cornerback Donnie
Abraham. Running back Rudi Johnson should have a solid
game despite the presence of linebacker Sam Cowart, who
won't keep Johnson from finding the end zone. Jets quarterback
Chad Pennington should produce good numbers and will find
wide receiver Santana Moss often, but running back Curtis
Martin could be the star. The Bengals were one of the
worst teams in the league against the run last season,
so look for C-Mart to receive 20-25 carries.
Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is a great start
against the Saints and should connect with wide receivers
Koren Robinson and Darrell Jackson all afternoon. Running
back Shaun Alexander will also thrive and should find
the end zone at least once in what should be a high-scoring
affair. Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks will start despite
a leg ailment and is also a solid start in leagues with
12-plus teams. Wide receivers Joe Horn and Donté
Stallworth should find some open seams in the defensive
backfield, so expect Brooks to connect for a few big hits
downfield. Running back Deuce McAllister has his work
cut out against a formidable Seattle defensive line, but
he's still a great start in all leagues. Kickers Josh
Brown and John Carney are also recommended starters.
Falcons quarterback Michael Vick still has a troublesome
hamstring but will start, so he appears a safe bet for
owners. Barring setbacks, he should compile 250 combined
passing and rushing yards with at least one touchdown.
Running backs Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett will play
a prominent role, and both are good flex options in most
leagues. Wide receiver Peerless Price should also start
against the 49ers defense, which allowed 25 receiving
touchdowns last season. Niners quarterback Tim Rattay
didn't get much work in the preseason because of injuries,
so don't expect him to have a productive game. Running
back Kevan Barlow will shoulder much of the load on offense
and is a solid start, while wide receiver Brandon Lloyd
should also receive consideration against a vulnerable
Falcons pass defense.
The story of this game is the matchup between quarterbacks
Joey Harrington and Rex Grossman, who will look to gain
confidence against an NFC North opponent. With weapons
like wide receivers Charles Rogers and Roy Williams on
offense, Harrington should throw for 180-200 yards and
one score against a Bears defense that still needs time
to jell into a cohesive unit. Rogers should have a solid
game and is a good No. 2 option. Rookie running back Kevin
Jones could be limited by a sore foot and will split carries
with Artose Pinner, so use him only as a No. 3 or flex
player. Grossman will look to running back Thomas Jones
for support, which will open up the pass and create balance
on offense. Wide receivers David Terrell and Justin Gage
are good sleeper picks and warrant consideration as No.
3 options in leagues with 12-plus teams.
The Jaguars appear to be a team on the rise after a 3-1
preseason. Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich will be
given free reign in the pass attack, so expect him to
hook up with veteran wide receiver Jimmy Smith for a score.
Running back Fred Taylor is expected to start and is a
good No. 2 option, but he might be limited by a Bills
defense that surrendered a mere 11 rushing touchdowns
last season. Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe hopes to resurrect
his career after an awful 2003, but he isn't worth using
against a Jags defense that allowed an average of 7.2
points in four exhibition games. Running back Travis Henry
will start despite sore ribs and should be a bright spot
for Buffalo. Owners should watch the role of Willis McGahee,
who isn't worth starting in most leagues. Veteran wide
receiver Eric Moulds will be a good No. 2 or 3 for owners,
but Josh Reed and Lee Evans could find it difficult to
produce.
The debut (or re-debut) of Redskins coach Joe Gibbs dominates
the headlines in this game. He sends his troops out against
a Buccaneers team that is looking to regain respect after
a 7-9 2003. Buccaneers quarterback Brad Johnson has a
patchwork group of wide receivers this week and will lean
on Joey Galloway, Tim Brown and Michael Clayton through
theair. The rookie has obvious sleeper appeal this week,
and is worth starting as a No. 3 or 4 in deeper leagues.
Running back Charlie Garner didn't get much work in the
preseason, but he's still a decent No. 2, 3 or flex player.
The 'Skins will look to establish running back Clinton
Portis, who has a tough matchup against linebacker Derrick
Brooks and the Bucs but remains a must-start. Redskins
quarterback Mark Brunell should have time to make his
reads and throw downfield to Laveranues Coles and Rod
Gardner, both of whom should be active.
This game will become the Jamal Lewis Show, as the big
running back takes aim at his seasonal punching bag, the
Cleveland Browns. He posted a single-game record 295 rushing
yards against them last season, and averages 173.8 yards
with six touchdowns during his career. With Lewis running
mad, Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller won't have to shoulder
much of the load and should be reserved. Wide receiver
Kevin Johnson will have something to prove against the
team that abandoned him, so consider him as a No. 3 or
4 in leagues with 12-plus teams. Linebacker Ray Lewis
will haunt Browns quarterback Jeff Garcia all afternoon
and should put the clamps on running back William Green
in the ground game. Wide receivers Quincy Morgan and Andre
Davis are decent No. 3 options, but cornerbacks Chris
McAlister and Deion Sanders will be difficult matchups.
The return of Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon highlights
this battle of old school foes. Gannon is 100 percent
recovered from an injured shoulder and looked good in
four preseason games. Gannon, who threw for 403 yards
in his last regular-season game at Pittsburgh, is a good
sleeper start in leagues with 12-plus teams. Wide receivers
Jerry Porter and Jerry Rice will be his favorite targets
and should both be active. Running back Tyrone Wheatley
won't explode against a formidable Steelers defensive
line, but he is worth using as a No. 3 or flex option.
Pittsburgh will look to run with Duce Staley, but the
presence of nose tackle Ted Washington could limit his
production. Quarterback Tommy Maddox will look to wide
receivers Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress, who are both
solid starts despite tough matchups against cornerbacks
Charles Woodson and Phillip Buchanon.
The debut of two-time MVP Kurt Warner as the Giants No.
1 quarterback won't be a memorable one. New York has questions
about its offensive line, which will be put to the test
by Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson with several
blitz packages. Running back Tiki Barber, who averaged
95 rushing yards in two games against Philadelphia last
season, could be the most productive option on the roster.
When Warner does have time in the pocket, he'll look to
wide receiver Amani Toomer and tight end Jeremy Shockey,
who is expected to start. Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb
should thrive against a questionable Giants defense, and
will hook up with wide receiver Terrell Owens for at least
one touchdowns. Running back Brian Westbrook will also
have several chances to produce and is a good No. 2 option
in leagues with 12-plus teams.
Cowboys quarterback Vinny Testaverde will look to wide
receiver Keyshawn Johnson often in the intermediate passing
game, so expect the former Southern California star to
post six to eight receptions. Running back Eddie George
won't find much success on the ground, so look for coach
Bill Parcells to utilize both Richie Anderson and rookie
Julius Jones in certain sets. The Tuna will also look
to soften the defense with a few downfield strikes to
wide receiver Terry Glenn, who should find open seams
against cornerback Brian Williams. Vikings quarterback
Daunte Culpepper will look to wide receiver Randy Moss
downfield on a regular basis, so expect the duo to hook
up for at least one score. Running backs Onterrio Smith
and Moe Williams will see most of the backfield load and
warrant consideration as flex options. Wide receiver Nate
Burleson is a decent sleeper start as a No. 3 in deeper
formats.
These two teams combined for 119 points in two games last
season, so owners can expect the scoreboard at Invesco
Field to light up. Chiefs quarterback Trent Green, who
threw for 397 yards and one touchdown in his last regular-season
game at Denver, is a solid start in all leagues. Running
back Priest Holmes should dominate the Broncos on the
ground, and tight end Tony Gonzalez will have another
productive game vs. his AFC West foe. Broncos quarterback
Jake Plummer won't have a monster game, but he will produce
enough to warrant a start for owners without a solid No.
1 quarterback. He will have the support of a solid running
attack led by Quentin Griffin, who is a great start against
a Chiefs defense that was awful against the run last season.
Wide receivers Rod Smith and Ashley Lelie should be active
in leagues that require three starters at the position.
This game will be won or lost on the ground, so expect
Packers running back Ahman Green to see 20-25 carries
against the defending NFC champions. Quarterback Brett
Favre will use play action to open the pass for wide receiver
Javon Walker, who will use his athleticism to beat rookie
cornerback Chris Gamble downfield. Favre will set his
sights on tight end Bubba Franks in the red zone and will
look to get wide receiver Donald Driver involved. Panthers
quarterback Jake Delhomme looked great in the preseason
and is a nice sleeper start. Running back Stephen Davis
should find holes in the line and post several big runs,
and DeShaun Foster will also see his share of carries.
Wide receiver Steve Smith should have a big game against
cornerback Al Harris, who can't keep up with his quicker
opponent. Kickers John Kasay and Ryan Longwell are also
recommended starters.
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