This article is part of our NFL Game Previews series.
Green Bay (+5.5) at Seattle, Thursday
Comments: This one could serve as a barometer for how the referees will officiate the defensive holding emphasis in the regular season, with the league's best secondary squaring off against one of the best passing attacks in football. Russell Wilson was unbelievable (10.4 YPA, 133.8 passer rating, six total touchdowns with no interceptions) in preseason, and Seahawks fans are hoping he will continue that stellar play against Green Bay. The Packers bolstered their pass rush by adding Julius Peppers to go with Clay Matthews coming off the edge. Unfortunately, they will be without B.J. Raji (torn biceps) for the year - something Marshawn Lynch should take advantage of. Lynch hasn't seen much action in the preseason but, then again, he didn't last year either. Many are labeling Lynch a likely bust based on recent usage, but he's the key cog in Darrell Bevelle's offense and will see plenty of touches Thursday night. Percy Harvin looks like he is back to his old self, explosive as ever. He is the fastest player on the field just about any time he laces up the cleats; defenders just cannot tackle the guy one-on-one. Aaron Rodgers has a tough test right out of the gate, facing the Legion of Boom and 2013's best defense. Seattle lead the league in points, total yards and passing yards allowed last season. When these teams last played in 2012 in the "Fail Mary" game on Monday Night Football in Seattle, Rodgers was sacked more times than he would care to remember (eight). Eddie Lacy should be started regardless of the matchup. Start your studs; there's a reason he was a first-round pick in your draft. The Seattle run D was also nowhere near as dominant as the pass D, ranking seventh in the NFL a year ago. The Packers pair of stud receivers will have their hands full; but should produce nonetheless. We all know Richard Sherman usually doesn't follow around opposing No. 1 WR all game, so look for Jordy Nelson to beat up on first-year opening-day starter Byron Maxwell when matched up together. Randall Cobb works primarily out of the slot, so he will be unaffected by Seattle's physical corners on the outside.
Predictions:Aaron Rodgers passes for 262 yards and touchdowns to both Cobb and Nelson. Eddie Lacy pounds one in at the goal line. The Seahawks use Percy Harvin creatively all night by getting the football into his hands in a variety of ways, enabling the speedster to roast the Pack for 143 all-purpose yards. Wilson gets Harvin into the endzone early and leads a drive in the final minutes that results in Stephen Hauschka's game-winning 43-yard FG. Marshawn Lynch goes Beast Mode and carries the team on his back, churning out 108 yards and two scores against a B.J. Raji-less defensive front. Seattle, 27-24.
New Orleans (-3) at Atlanta
Comments: Schedulers didn't waste any time giving us a key NFC South matchup as this matchup opens the regular season for the second consecutive year. Drew Brees missed a large chunk of preseason, but don't waste a moment worrying about it. He's in for a big year, and this game will be the jumping off point. Jimmy Graham is one of the two best tight ends in football; and, like Rob Gronkowski, is a touchdown machine. Marques Colston is getting no love in drafts, but is still the top WR in an elite offense. The expectation is for Sean Payton to play running back roulette all year. Because of that, it's hard to trust anyone other than Pierre Thomas in that backfield; he's a safe bet because of receiving. Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson should be stashed on your bench as they split the early-down work. If one happens to emerge, you could have the winning lottery ticket a la Knowshon Moreno in Denver a season ago. For Atlanta, this will be Julio Jones' first game in 11 months; odds are he picks up right where he left off (which was leading the league in receiving through five games in 2013). Jones' athleticism is astounding, making him a matchup nightmare for even the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Unfortunately for Atlanta, it has marginal corners at best and is in for a long day. Matt Ryan will look to rebound from a poor 2013 season where he was sacked a career-high 44 times (never more than 28 in any other season). Steven Jackson missed 27 days in August with a hamstring pull, the same injury that caused the former Ram to miss more than a month last season. Once he returned to the field, Jackson was fantasy-relevant thanks in large part to six touchdowns in the final six games. If he can stay healthy, the 31-year old will almost out-produce his ADP because of that consistent touchdown potential. Roddy White also will be looking to rebound from a poor 2013 campaign. Now that the high-ankle sprain is well in the review mirror, a bounce-back should be expected.
Predictions: In an offensive battle, Drew Brees will eclipse 350 yards and throw for three touchdowns. Jimmy Graham will have two of the three, with rookie Brandin Cooks scoring his first as a pro. Mark Ingram will punch in an early goal-line carry for six. Matt Ryan will keep his team in it, connecting with Julio Jones for 147 yards and two scores among his 299 pass yards. Steven Jackson will rush for a respectable 78 yards and, perhaps most important, avoid aggravating that hamstring injury. Atlanta will bounce back from a dreadful 4-12 season, but not today. New Orleans, 31-28.
Minnesota (+4) at St. Louis
Comments:Adrian Peterson has his work cut out for him playing St. Louis and the ninth-ranked run defense from last season. No team allowed fewer than the Rams' 3.7 YPC. Oh, and they got better with the addition of DT Aaron Donald in the first round of the draft. Peterson likely couldn't care less as he is itching to carry the ball after not being on the field for a single snap in preseason. Remember, he took his first carry 78 yards to the house last year after limited work in August 2013. He's ready to reclaim his crown as the best back in fantasy football. Cordarelle Patterson is a love-him or hate-him player in the fantasy community. He's raw but incredibly talented, and Minnesota will try to get the football to him in myriad ways. Patterson finished last season strong with six touchdowns in the Vikings' final five games (double digit fantasy points in four). It will be interesting to see if Patterson can live up to the hype and apply that freakish athleticism toward being a No. 1 receiver. With Matt Cassel, or Teddy Bridgewater should Cassel struggle early on, he will have a much better QB throwing to him than last year with Christian Ponder. Greg Jennings will be excited to hear that as well, given that his best games came with Cassel under center. Kyle Rudolph is highly touchdown dependent, but should be a TE1 regardless. Zac Stacy is the Rams' most valuable fantasy asset, but even his stock seems to be dropping with Benny Cunningham outplaying him in camp and pushing for playing time. Sam Bradford tore the same ACL he injured last season, leaving Shaun Hill to start for the Rams. This shouldn't negatively impact St. Louis skill players too much, but it doesn't help. Although Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt can't be trusted in fantasy lineups, each has high upside and should be rostered in 12-team leagues. Despite huge expectations last year after signing with the team in free agency, Jared Cook is just too inconsistent to count on week to week, though he could be a monster if he ever figures it out.
Predictions: Minnesota will ride on Adrian Peterson's back All Day. AP grinds out one of the toughest 100-yard games you'll see this season, hitting pay dirt twice in the process against arguably the best D-line in football. Patterson will score on a quick screen from Matt Cassel. St. Louis will have a hard time adjusting to new quarterback Shaun Hill, struggling against even the poor Vikings defense. Zac Stacy will be highly ineffective but finish with 78 total yards and a touchdown. Tavon Austin will be a pleasant surprise, tallying 101 all-purpose yards with 42 coming on a crossing route. His efforts won't be enough, though, as the Vikings pull off an upset. Minnesota, 24-20.
Cleveland (+6) at Pittsburgh
Comments:Brian Hoyer beat out enigmatic rookie Johnny Manziel and will lead the Browns into Pittsburgh. With Josh Gordon's one-year suspension upheld, he doesn't have a wealth of weapons with which to work. Jordan Cameron more than likely will be the primary target in the passing game, with Miles Austin (at least until he pulls his hammy again) and free-agent addition Andrew Hawkins starting outside. Cleveland will lean on Ben Tate and the running game due to a lack of playmakers at the receiver position. The Steelers were below average versus the run in 2013, finishing an out-of-character 21st in rush yards allowed. They drafted OLB Ryan Shazier out of Ohio State in the first round to fix that. Ben Roethlisberger will face a borderline-elite Browns secondary featuring Joe Haden, eighth overall pick Justin Gilbert and recent addition Donte Whitner. Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount avoided suspensions -- for now -- but could have their hands full against an underrated Cleveland front seven (3.9 YPC allowed, top-10 against the run on a per carry basis). Antonio Brown likely will be shadowed by Joe Haden throughout but had success against him twice last year with at least 87 yards receiving in each contest. Something to watch for is who emerges as the Steelers' No. 2 target opposite Brown. Markus Wheaton, Darrius Heyward-Bey and rookie Martavis Bryant could see time at the spot with Lance Moore working out of the slot. Heath Miller could be a sleeper at tight end.
Predictions:Ben Tate totes the rock 25 times in a solid debut in his new uniform with 92 yards. Brian Hoyer struggles but does find Jordan Cameron in the endzone for his lone touchdown. Ben Roethlisberger has a tough time against a significantly underrated Browns defense. Martavis Bryant catches a goal-line fade for his first score and Big Ben's only touchdown pass. Joe Haden will make things difficult for Antonio Brown all afternoon, limiting him to six catches for 48 yards. Le'Veon Bell will grind out the clock in the second half and have a useful fantasy day with 91 total yards. However, backfield mate LeGarrette Blount vultures a TD. Pittsburgh, 23-13.
Jacksonville (+10) at Philadelphia
Comments: Despite the stellar play of Blake Bortles in preseason (10.2 YPA, 110.0 passer rating), coach Gus Bradley hasn't wavered on his choice of Chad Henne as his staring quarterback. It would appear Cecil Shorts and Marqise Lee will be his primary targets outside with TE Marcedes Lewis roaming underneath. Shorts has declared himself ready for this game after injuring his hamstring on the first day of training camp and seeing limited action since. Toby Gerhart will be the feature back for the first time in his career after backing up Adrian Peterson in Minnesota prior to signing with the Jags in free agency. While the natural ability isn't eye-popping, by sheer volume alone he deserves a place in fantasy lineups. Defined roles are hard to come by at running back, and Gerhart has one. The Eagles were the 29th-ranked defense in total yards allowed a season ago, so Jaguars skill players could be sneaky plays this week. Nick Foles has to come back to earth on some level after a 27:2 TD:INT ratio in 2013, how much so is up for debate. Although the Jacksonville defense figures to be much improved, this is a juicy matchup for many experts' top-ranked running back LeSean McCoy. Last year's leading rusher could be the top scorer at his position not only this week, but for the year as well. Don't worry about the addition of PPR dynamo Darren Sproles; his touches will not be at the expense of their workhorse. Sproles is probably only viable week to week in PPR leagues -- you know the drill by now. Jeremy Maclin fills the void created by DeSean Jackson's release this spring and could break out if he can stay healthy. Recovering from a torn ACL is cause for concern, but being the No. 1 receiver in that offense proved fruitful a season ago. Riley Cooper and rookie Jordan Matthews are names to watch as well. Zach Ertz is primed for a big year in his second season. Many owners will be counting on him for TE1 production, and rightly so.
Predictions:Toby Gerhart will be corralled by Philly's front 7 but manages a workmanlike 81 total yards and a scoring plunge from in close. Because of the Jags playing catch-up, Henne puts up decent numbers despite not playing well. Shorts and Lee each exceed 75 yards but Marcedes Lewis steals the TD. LeSean McCoy dominates behind that terrific O-line to the tune of 151 yards and two touchdowns. Nick Foles finds his buddy Riley Cooper on one scoring strike, and Zach Ertz on the other. Chip Kelly's fast-paced offense performs, Eagles cover. Philadelphia, 31-20.
Oakland (+5) at New York Jets
Comments: This matchup will feature arguably the fewest fantasy-relevant players of any game in week 1. Dennis Allen finally came to his senses and named Derek Carr the starter earlier this week. Oakland figures to lean heavily on the running game this season out of necessity more so than anything else. The Raiders are below average at both quarterback and receiver by NFL standards. Fortunately, by virtue of finally realizing Matt Schaub is done, they aren't as far below average at QB as they would've been. Unfortunately, they will be trailing in many games this year, so they may be forced to pass more often than they would probably like. Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden form a solid 1-2 punch in the backfield. This matchup, however, is far from favorable for the duo. Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Quinton Coples headline one of the best run-stuffing defensive lines in football. The Jets were third against the run a year ago with just 88.2 ypg allowed and were best on a per-carry basis (3.4 YPC). Based on what we've seen so far, MJD will start as long as he remains healthy and McFadden will receive goal-line looks. James Jones and Rod Streater are really the only relevant Raider receivers. They also happen to be listed as the two starters on the latest depth chart. Denarius Moore is talented, but it might be time to give up on him for fantasy purposes. Andre Holmes should only be owned in the deepest leagues. If the Oakland wide receivers were ever going to play well, it would be this game against a depleted Jets secondary. Despite being signed as a free agent to compete for the starting job, Michael Vick didn't get much of a chance to beat out Geno Smith this offseason. Smith was a rollercoaster ride that featured more lows than highs in 2013. The front office signed Eric Decker to get him at least one viable option to throw to, something he didn't have the luxury of last season. Jeremy Kerley is nothing special but will be starting alongside Decker. Chris Johnson was also brought in as a shot in the arm to a less-than-explosive running game. Chris Ivory and Johnson will split touches in that backfield to begin the season. Ivory needs to prove he can stay off the injury report before fantasy owners can consider him a viable fantasy play on any sort of consistent basis. The Raiders were better than many remember on defense a year ago and added OLB Khalil Mack in the draft, but the Jets' RB duo should control the game behind a solid offensive line.
Predictions: Watch out for the west coast team starting slow in a 10 a.m. Pacific start. Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden are stifled by New York's massive defensive front, forcing Oakland to lean on Derek Carr. The pair finish with just 67 rushing yards combined. Carr has little success sustaining drives as he's pressured constantly throughout the day. DMC has the lone Raider touchdown, capping off a drive from the 4-yard line. Geno Smith won't fare much better, held to less than 200 yards. On the plus side, the second year pro only turns the ball over once. Chris Johnson busts loose for a 64-yard scamper en route to his first 100-yard game as a Jet. Eric Decker collects seven of nine targets for 74 yards and a score. Jets win the ugliest game of the weekend, making the NYJ D/ST a great streaming option. New York, 17-13.
Cincinnati (+2.5) at Baltimore
Comments: The Bengals feature one of the best defenses in football. Oh, and they get All-Pro DT Geno Atkins back. Add Atkins and first-round corner Darqueze Dennard to a defense that was top 5 in total yards, rushing yards and passing yards allowed last year: a scary sight for opposing offenses. Cincinnati is coming off three straight playoff appearances for the first time in team history. Andy Dalton, the quarterback leading the charge for each, was handsomely rewarded recently with a six-year $115 million extension. The 26-year old improved in yards, TD and YPA in each of his three years in the league. However, the interception total has gone up every season as well. He'll have his hands full in this contest with Terrell Suggs coming after him. Hue Jackson takes over as offensive coordinator for pass-happy Jay Gruden, who is now the head coach in Washington. Jackson is more run-oriented than his predecessor, which should excite RB Giovani Bernard. Bernard no longer has heavy-footed Benjarvus Green-Ellis to split carries with (cut last week) and is expected to be a consistent fantasy starter this year. LSU product Jeremy Hill serves as a nice handcuff and will see carries, but isn't a real threat to eat too heavily into Bernard's workload. Haloti Ngata doesn't allow many big holes, so the pair will have to earn every yard they get in this one. A.J. Green is about as reliable as they come, finishing fourth among receivers in fantasy points each of the last two years. The third-year man has increased his yards and receptions every season of his career. Barring injury, Green is a top-5 lock at the position and will be in fantasy lineups every week, including this one against a mediocre Baltimore secondary. With Marvin Jones (broken foot) missing the first month, Mohamed Sanu will start on the other side. Tight end Tyler Eifert, similarly to Philadelphia's Zach Ertz, is ready to step up in his sophomore season and prove he was worth a first-round pick. Last season only one man threw more picks than Joe Flacco's 22: Eli Manning. His total QBR (25th in NFL with 46.7), passer rating (73.1) and yards per attempt (6.37) numbers weren't much better. After getting a monster contract some thought he didn't deserve, Flacco failed to lead the Ravens to the playoffs for the first time in his career. With Ray Rice suspended the first two games, the expectation was for Bernard Pierce to carry the mail in his stead. With Pierce suffering a concussion, it now seems more likely Baltimore uses a three-man rotation in his absence; with Lorenzo Taliaferro and Justin Forsett the other two. Torrey Smith is coming off a career-high 1,128 yards and will again be the go-to guy in the passing game. Steve Smith comes over from Carolina after being released to hopefully inject some life in that aerial attack. Dennis Pitta is fully recovered from the hip surgery a year ago. His presence is invaluable for that offense.
Predictions:Joe Flacco might be better this year, but not today. The Bengals D is loaded, deep at every position. The defensive line harasses Flacco all day, allowing the talented secondary to capitalize on numerous mistakes. Torrey Smith scores on a post to give himself a jumpstart on improving his four-TD total from last season. Dennis Pitta reels in the Ravens' other touchdown on a play-action pass down near the goal line. A.J. Green hauls in seven of 10 targets for 122 yards and a score. Giovani Bernard adds 117 total yards and accounts for Dalton's second TD pass on a screen. Takeaways are the story in this AFC North slugfest as Baltimore turns the ball over four times. Play the Bengals D/ST. Cincinnati, 23-20.
Buffalo (+7) at Chicago
Comments: If Buffalo is to improve its 6-10 record, quarterback EJ Manuel must step up in his second season. Accuracy issues plagued him at times as a rookie as well as relying too heavily on checkdowns. The team traded up in the draft to get him an elite weapon to throw to in Sammy Watkins. It also added Mike Williams from Tampa Bay via trade and expect Robert Woods to be more consistent in his sophomore season. While they may be inconsistent from game to game, the receiver group is talented. Twelve months ago C.J. Spiller was the second overall pick in many drafts, whereas he is now more than likely the second back on your team. Considering he is a risk-reward play, that is probably a better fit. Relying on the big play for production is not an issue, but it makes Spiller difficult to count on as the foundation of a fantasy team. Facing off against the worst run defense in the league from a season ago gives the former Clemson Tiger a chance to get off to a hot start. Fred Jackson shocked the world by producing a top-10 season in 2013 despite being the oldest running back in football and slower than molasses. With his role as the goal-line/short-yardage back, the 33-year old will continue to cling to fantasy relevance. Should one of those two runners go down with an injury, Bryce Brown will step in. Chicago's defense gave up 410 more rush yards than any team in the NFL last season. Injuries played a part and the Bears addressed the issue in the offseason, but that has to improve drastically if they want to make the playoffs. Jay Cutler has some unbelievable talent to throw to. Between Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Santonio Holmes, Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett, you can't go wrong. With skill players like that and playing in Marc Trestman's quarterback-friendly offense, Cutler is out of excuses for not putting up monster numbers. Marshall is coming off his league-leading seventh consecutive 1,000-yard season (next closest is three). Jeffery broke out for 1,421 yards last year, essentially giving Cutler a second No. 1 on the outside. Forte quietly finished third at the position behind only Jamaal Charles and LeSean McCoy in fantasy points and is arguably the best receiving back in football. Buffalo is a much tougher defense than it gets credit for (fourth against the pass, 10th in total defense in 2013), though Kiko Alonso is out for the season. The Bills were second in the league with 57 sacks as well, so keeping Jay Cutler upright will be of the utmost importance.
Predictions: In a battle of strengths, last year's second-ranked offense comes out on top. Buffalo is able to pressure Jay Cutler into some errant throws, but Matt Forte has his way in this one. Brandon Marshall collects both of Cutler's two touchdowns, and Forte caps off his 134 total yards with a score. C.J. Spiller looks fully recovered from the high-ankle sprain that plagued him last season. He exploits this favorable matchup against a leaky Bears run defense, getting loose for a 67-yard scamper for six to highlight a 123-yard day. A late Fred Jackson score makes the game look closer than it was. Chicago, 27-17.
Washington (+3) at Houston
Comments: Everyone seems to be down on Robert Griffin III due to a poor preseason. Between learning Jay Gruden's new offensive system and breaking in new playmaker DeSean Jackson, it's understandable. The Redskins are elite at the skill positions, and Griffin should be the primary beneficiary of that. With Pierre Garcon coming off a league-leading 113 receptions, getting TE Jordan Reed back healthy and adding Jackson and Andre Roberts in free agency, RG3 will have plenty of options to target. Alfred Morris is the ultimate "steady Eddie" in the backfield. While he won't blow anyone away with speed or explosiveness, Morris is effective and reliable. Houston surprised everyone by not drafting a quarterback early in the draft and pulling the trigger on the Ryan Mallet deal three months too late, instead choosing to rely on journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick. Andre Johnson threatened to hold out because of the team failing to address the quarterback position and lost a workout bonus, but he is poised to lead the Texans in receiving nonetheless. For those down on Johnson due to age and the QB situation, remember what he had to work with last year. DeAngelo Hall and David Amerson will attempt to cover him and fellow receiver DeAndre Hopkins in this game. That matchup should be dominated by the Texans wideouts. Despite little hype entering 2014, Hopkins could be in for a breakout season coming off an 800-yard rookie season. Arian Foster dealt with a hamstring issue in training camp, which forced him to miss a large chunk of practice. Foster will again be the lead man in the Houston backfield and should have success against the Redskins front behind a solid offensive line. It remains to be seen how effective Bill O'Brien's offense will be, but the defense is scary good. Drafting Jadeveon Clowney to pair with J.J. Watt presents one of the most fearsome pass rushing tandems in football. Those two will harass Robert Griffin all afternoon. The Texans D/ST has the potential to be elite and needs to be on the fantasy radar.
Predictions: The Redskins come out guns blazing in the season opener, effectively quieting all the critics ... for one week. Robert Griffin III ends the day with 301 passing yards and three total scores, one using his legs. New deep threat DeSean Jackson burns the Texans secondary deep for a 61-yard TD in the first quarter. Pierre Garcon, RG3's favorite target, has a typical possession-receiver game collecting seven catches for 74 yards and a touch. Houston shuts down the running game, limiting Alfred Morris to just 43 yards. On the other side, Arian Foster comes up with a useful 83-yard day and sneaks into the endzone from the 3-yard line. Fitzpatrick connects with Andre Johnson on a fade in the red zone, but it's not enough. Washington, 24-20.
Tennessee (+4) at Kansas City
Comments: Watching the Titans will be drastically different in 2014 as the offense centered around departed Chris Johnson the last six years. New coach Ken Wisenhunt will try to work another miracle by turning Jake Locker into an elite quarterback. Locker has battled accuracy issues and injury since entering the league in 2010. If they are to be successful, the UW product must be more consistent and on the field for 16 games. Bishop Sankey, another UW product, was the first back selected in the draft, and many were quick to anoint him the starter. However, Shonn Greene is still listed as first string on the latest depth chart. Kendall Wright had one of the quietest 94-catch seasons in large part because of just two touchdowns. Wright is much more valuable in PPR leagues. Justin Hunter is primed for a breakout, and very well could be this year's Alshon Jeffery. A second-round pick in 2013, Hunter showed flashes of his potential a few times as a rookie and again this preseason with a 4/111/2 line against the Saints in a half of game action. Delanie Walker doesn't have the highest of ceilings, but could be adequate for those in a bind at TE. Kansas City's defense carried the team to a 9-0 start, but struggled mightily after that point. The Chiefs still boast one of the best pass rushes in the league, but corner is somewhat of a question after cutting Brandon Flowers. Quarterback guru Andy Reid was able to resurrect Alex Smith's career, with Smith setting career highs in yards (3,313) and TD passes (23) in just 15 games. The 30-year old still executed his "game manager" role perfectly with just seven picks. Last year the offense centered around Jamaal Charles and will again this season. Charles totaled a career-high 1,980 scrimmage yards and 19 scores (only 24 in his first five seasons) to lead running backs in fantasy points. Dwayne Bowe was dreadful a season ago, but came on strong late with 67 points in his last seven games. However, a suspension will force Bowe to miss this game. Charles was the team's leading receiver in 2013 and will be in this game out of necessity; A.J. Jenkins and Donnie Avery don't exactly strike fear in the hearts of opponents. TE Travis Kelce is worth keeping an eye on. After all, somebody has to catch Alex Smith's passes.
Predictions: A lot of field goals in this one. Jake Locker looks decent when given time to throw. Kendall Wright provides a nice security blanket underneath with seven receptions for 63 yards. Tennessee's very average defense does a below average job containing the dynamic Jamaal Charles as he proves why many selected him first overall. Charles runs wild for 161 yards and a score and hauls in six passes for another 41 through the air, leaving him just shy of 200 total yards. On the other side, Bishop Sankey and Shonn Greene are suffocated by the Chiefs' front seven. Linebacker Derrick Johnson scores the second K.C. touchdown on a scoop and score. Safety Eric Berry makes plays all over the field, and the pass rush constantly pressures Jake Locker. Chiefs defense and Jamaal Charles are the stars of the day. Kansas City, 23-16.
New England (-5) at Miami
Comments:Ryan Tannehill markedly improved from 2012 to 2013, but his inconsistent play still left a lot to be desired. Miami spent a top-10 pick on him to be an elite quarterback in this league, not for 6.7 career yards per attempt. Of course, getting sacked an NFL-high 58 times didn't help matters as the offensive line was an absolute mess last season (that's a whole other story). Lamar Miller was over-hyped entering 2013, and vastly underachieved. Again, the line played a part, but it wasn't everything. Miller's indecisive running forced the Dolphins to sign Knowshon Moreno in free agency. After a career year that saw Moreno finish among the top 5 at his position, Denver chose to let him walk. Those two are now battling for the starting spot in the 'Fins backfield. Because of Moreno's knee scope after minicamp, Miller had a leg up, but he will have to run well immediately against that New England front to keep it that way. Mike Wallace had a long, frustrating season after signing a five-year, $60 million deal in March 2013. While he should play much better in his second year in Miami, he is will have his hands full with Darrelle Revis lining up across from him this week. Brian Hartline and Charles Clay provide a couple reliable targets for Tannehill if and when Wallace fails to get open. As of this writing, Bill Belichick has not determined Rob Gronkowski's status for the game. Tom Brady and the Patriots offense suffered severely when Gronkowski wasn't in the lineup. In the first six games of 2013 without Gronk, Brady completed 56.9 percent of his passes and had a 79.5 passer rating. In the next six games (with Gronk), 64.7 percent and 96.5. The team scored 12 points and gained almost 60 yards per game more when he was in there. To say the guy makes a difference (over and above his 42 touchdowns in 50 career games) would be quite the understatement. Despite rumors of Stevan Ridley possibly not making the 53-man roster, he will be the team's primary ballcarrier until he inevitably fumbles the football and is sent to the doghouse. Shane Vereen is a matchup nightmare for linebackers across the league, and Miami's will be no different. Vereen plays the "Darren Sproles" role and is vital to the Pats' success. Brady spreads the ball as well as anybody in the game; which is great for Patriot fans, but difficult for fantasy owners as it's hard to trust one guy week to week. Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Aaaron Dobson, Kenbrell Thompkins and Brandon LaFell are all vying for playing time/Tom's attention out wide or in the slot. Not to mention New England recently traded for TE Timothy Wright from Tampa Bay, adding one more mouth to feed in the passing game. Losing Logan Mankins in that deal certainly hurts, so don't be surprised if the offensive line initially has some trouble until the unit has a chance to gel.
Predictions:Tom Brady has a ho-hum 329 yards and three touchdowns. Rob Gronkowski has two of the three in his return from injury, Shane Vereen the other. Stevan Ridley barrels his way into the endzone from short range. Ryan Tannehill is inefficient but puts up 19 fantasy points. Lamar Miller is the lone bright spot for the Dolphins, running for 86 yards on just 13 carries. Darrelle Revis, in his first game as a Pat, makes Mike Wallace regret the day he wanted to be a "No. 1" receiver. With Revis draped all over him from the get-go, Wallace manages a paltry four grabs and 31 yards in a rout. New England, 31-17.
Carolina (+1) at Tampa Bay
Comments:Cam Newton recovered just in time from his ankle surgery to injure his ribs in the team's third preseason game. Despite losing his entire receiving corps and three offensive lineman from 2013, Cam will find a way to remain a QB1 in 2014. The interesting battles will take place at the Carolina skill positions. Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams will rotate in the backfield, but with Williams 31, his days are done as a primary ball carrier. Stewart, if he can stay healthy, should emerge as the starter. Kelvin Benjamin, Jerricho Cotchery, Jason Avant and Tiquan Underwood will vie for targets outside, with none particularly fantasy options. Even as a rookie, Benjamin has the highest upside of the group. Pro Bowl CB Alterraun Verner will give the rookie Benjamin all he can handle on the outside in this matchup, welcoming the youngster to the NFL. For Tampa Bay, Josh McCown could be in for a long day facing that second-ranked Panthers D from a season ago (both in total yards and points allowed). Sack masters Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy will be in his grill all game, making it difficult to find Vincent Jackson and seventh overall pick Mike Evans. Austin Seferian-Jenkins might be a sneaky play this season, even though rookie tight ends rarely fare well for fantasy purposes. Doug Martin will have last season's Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly chasing him around all day in the first leg of his journey to regain the trust of the fantasy community. One of last season's biggest busts burned many a fantasy owner. Of course, having recently added Logan Mankins at guard will help matters.
Predictions:Doug Martin churns out 104 yards and a score against the vaunted Panthers' front seven. Josh McCown connects with rookie TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins in the red zone for a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating day. The Carolina running game is stifled for the majority of the game, with neither Williams or Stewart getting much traction. Cam Newton will be frustrated much of the day but score on a QB keeper from in close. Greg Olsen and Kelvin Benjamin have quiet days due to Lovie Smith's new Tampa Two defense. Buccaneers take this NFC South tilt in somewhat of a surprise considering last season's records. Tampa Bay 20-16.
San Francisco (-5) at Dallas
Comments: San Francisco may not have one of the league's best offenses, but it will certainly look like it this week. A pathetic Cowboys defense was depleted by injury (Sean Lee), suspension (Orlando Scandrick, Jakar Hamilton) and the salary cap (DeMarcus Ware) since we last saw it. Not a great sign for a unit that was dead last in the NFL in total defense with more than 415 YPG allowed and one of the worst in league history. Colin Kaepernick was another quarterback that was given a monster extension. He will need to take the next step forward if the 49ers are to reach their championship goals. This matchup against the historically bad Dallas D will be a great start. Frank Gore continues to defy Father Time and produce, but rookie Carlos Hyde is nipping at his heels and ready to step in should Gore be ineffective or injured. Michael Crabtree is healthy entering the year, fully recovered from the torn Achilles' from last spring. The former Red Raider figures to pick up where he left off in 2012, benefiting Kaepernick and the offense as a whole. Anquan Boldin is a sturdy possession receiver but won't likely reach the 1,000-yard plateau like he did last season. Vernon Davis is still a dynamic tight end. Trading for Stevie Johnson was another great front office move by GM Trent Balke. The Cowboys' ineptitude on defense should lead to even more opportunities for Tony Romo and the offense. Romo is a top-10 quarterback year in and year out, but could be in for a career year if that back holds up. Dez Bryant is flat-out dominant, particularly in the red zone, a lock for double-digit scores. New OC Scott Linnehan has played a part in Calvin Johnson being the best in the business the last few years. Linnehan could potentially take Bryant to those heights as well. Terrance Williams is the Z they've needed to keep defenses honest for a while now. Old Man Jason Witten still gets open somehow, some way in spite of his lack of speed. Running back DeMarco Murray is coming off a career-high 1,121 rush yards. If he can stay healthy -- as is always the case -- those numbers could easily be matched again. Fortunately for Dallas, it will not have to contend with two of San Fran's best defenders, NaVarro Bowman (PUP list) and Aldon Smith (suspension), and run-stuffing defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey (IR).
Predictions: Despite not looking in sync all preseason, the 49ers put it all together in Big D. Colin Kaepernick abuses Dallas for 334 yards passing, adding another 67 on the ground. Kap throws for three scores, one each for Crabtree, Davis and Boldin, and runs for another. Frank Gore will be out-rushed by his quarterback, limited to just 51 yards. Tony Romo does his best to keep Dallas in the game, connecting with Dez Bryant for two of his three scores and 138 of his 287 yards. Crafty veteran Jason Witten grabs the other. DeMarco Murray has a productive 78-yard, day against the stiff 49ers run defense. San Francisco, 34-31.
Indianapolis (+7) at Denver
Comments:Trent Richardson is back to his usual sub-3.0 yards per carry tricks this year, finishing the preseason with 20 carries for 51 yards (2.6 YPC) and a long of eight yards. Hard to believe, but the 23-year old is a talented runner, and there is still real potential for an RB1 fantasy season given the offense. Andrew Luck didn't look great the last time we saw him (6.0 YPA in preseason overall), but should be in for a big year considering the weapons. Adding former Giant Hakeem Nicks, and getting favorite target Reggie Wayne and third-year TE Dwayne Allen back from injury, should give Luck a wealth of options. T.Y. Hilton is always a big play waiting to happen, and Coby Fleener serves as a nice safety net underneath. However, with Pro Bowler Aqib Talib and first-rounder Bradley Roby, the Broncos have a formidable secondary that will make things difficult for Indy in the passing game. Oh, and recently added T.J. Ward will be right there to lay hat any time those Colt receivers come over the middle. Not to mention the pass rush has significantly improved with the addition of DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller's return. On the offensive side of the ball for Denver, Peyton Manning is, well, Peyton Manning. A repeat of his 2013 numbers is unrealistic, but it would be hard to imagine a scenario where he isn't a top-three QB in 2014. Indy's D-line will have a tough time pressuring the least-sacked passer in football without Robert Mathis (suspended first four games). Montee Ball has an opportunity to finish as the top back in fantasy, essentially a lock as an RB1 barring injury because of the touchdown potential. Demaryius Thomas may be the best young receiver in the game (Dez Bryant, A.J. Green, Julio Jones might have something to say about that, though) and could challenge Calvin Johnson as the top wideout in the game soon. After consecutive seasons of at least 90 catches, 1,400 yards and 10 touchdowns, he's earned the contract he will get after this year. Tight end Julius Thomas is as athletic as they come at the position, settling in as a top-three option in the company of Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham. Emmanuel Sanders should see a huge spike in production after joining the scoring-machine Broncos. It would be a shock if he didn't establish career highs across the board. In light of the recent Wes Welker news (four-game suspension), Cody Latimer and Andre Caldwell will have expanded roles this first month. Latimer could be in for a big September if Peyton Manning can trust him to be in the right spot when the ball is delivered.
Predictions: Last October this was a high-scoring affair that knocked Denver from the ranks of the unbeaten, losing 33-39 in Lucas Oil Stadium. Look for Manning to exact revenge, tallying 389 yards and four scores. Demaryius Thomas will catch two, the others distributed to Julius Thomas and new target Emmanuel Sanders. Montee Ball will find the endzone and finish with 93 total yards. Trent Richardson will struggle from a yards and efficiency standpoint but finish two drives from the goal line. Luck and his crew will fight back to make it respectable, but fall well short. Luck finishes with 276 yards and a touchdown to Wayne but throws two picks, with free-agent acquisition Aqib Talib nabbing one. The fearsome edge-rushing duo of Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware combine for three sacks in Ware's team debut. Denver, 38-27.
New York Giants (+5) at Detroit, Monday
Comments:Matthew Stafford has a new offensive coordinator in Joe Lombardi and a couple new toys with which to work. Adding TE Eric Ebron with the 10th overall pick in the draft and WR Golden Tate via free agency gives Stafford the secondary weapons alongside superstar Calvin Johnson he hasn't had the last few years. Tate should see a fairly decent increase in volume after being limited to just 98 targets in Seattle's run-heavy offense a season ago. Calvin Johnson is, quite simply, the best. The three-time All-Pro has a three-year record 5,137 yards (1,712/season) and 33 touchdowns (11 per year) since 2011, making him the unquestioned best receiver in the game. New York bolstered their defensive backfield this offseason, adding Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from Denver and Walter Thurmond III from the defending champion Seahawks via free agency to go with 2011 first-round pick Prince Amukamara. Those additions make the Giants defense a formidable foe, but there isn't a cornerback in football that can stop Calvin Johnson. Reggie Bush and Joique Bell form one of the league's best backfields, with both finishing among the top-16 scorers among running backs in 2013. The pair will split snaps and touches almost evenly again this year in a similar rotation to the one Detroit deployed a year ago. Both should have little trouble maintaining fantasy relevance in 2014 in both PPR and standard scoring leagues. On the flip side, even the most loyal Giants fans have to be worried about what they've seen so far. It may just be preseason, but Eli Manning struggled mightily while adjusting to a new offensive system and OC. He has taken himself off the fantasy radar with his play in recent years (outside of 2-QB leagues). Rashad Jennings, who came over from Oakland via free agency and has rookie Andre Williams nipping at his heels for playing time, will have his hands full against Ndamukong Suh and a talented Lions defensive line. Detroit was sixth against the run, allowing less than 100 yards per game in 2013. Against the pass, that defense was a whole other story, ranking 23rd in the NFL. Victor Cruz, Manning's clear-cut No. 1 target with Hakeem Nicks no longer in the fold, very well could have his way with that weak secondary. Odell Beckham Jr. has struggled with a hamstring injury since training camp and is not available. Rueben Randle will play in two-receiver sets until Beckham is healthy.
Predictions:Reggie Bush dazzles the home crowd Monday night with a 49-yard TD en route to 143 total yards. Matthew Stafford is surprisingly efficient and avoids the ill-timed turnover that plagued him a season ago. New target Golden Tate burns former Seattle teammate Walter Thurmond out of the slot for one of Stafford's three scores. Calvin Johnson hauls in the other two, proving to be just too big and strong for DRC. Eric Ebron makes plays that show why he was a first-round pick, and mistakes that remind you he's a rookie. The Giants ugly play on offense carries over into the regular season as Eli Manning coughs up the ball twice and the offense can't find a rhythm. The stout Lions defensive line suffocates Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams in the running game. Victor Cruz is the lone bright spot for the G-men, delivering 100-plus yards and a score to his fantasy owners as the Lions roll. Detroit, 34-17.
San Diego (+3) at Arizona, Monday
Comments: The final game of week 1 features two of the surprise teams from 2013 with San Diego making the playoffs at 9-7 and Arizona unexpectedly finishing 10-6 by virtue of going 7-2 over the final nine games. Philip Rivers and Ryan Mathews each shocked the fantasy football community last year, Rivers by finishing fifth at his position and Mathews by staying healthy all season. Danny Woodhead complements Mathews well and is more than useful in PPR leagues. Donald Brown is ready to step in as the early-down back should Mathews go back to his brittle ways. Keenan Allen was also a pleasant surprise, to say the least. In his rookie year the wideout amassed 1,046 yards and eight touchdowns, with all but 30 yards coming in the final 13 games. Patrick Peterson will make sure Allen gets off to another slow start. Antonio Gates started strongly, but tailed off in the latter half of the season. Ladarius Green emerged late in the year and is expected to finally overtake Gates as the starting tight end in San Diego. However, the Chargers will have their hands full this week playing against one of the top defenses in football. Even without Darnell Dockett (torn ACL) and Daryl Washington (suspension) this year, Arizona is among the game's elite on that side of the ball. The running game faces an uphill climb, as the Cardinals were the top-ranked defense against the run in 2013. Carson Palmer won't be a fantasy starter in anything but the deepest leagues or two-QB formats, but could serve as a nice bye-week fill-in considering his weapons. Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd headline one of the better receiver groups in the NFL. Both fit into the WR2 tier, and Floyd might be ready to surpass Fitz as the primary. San Diego is breaking in two new cornerbacks in Brandon Flowers (free agent) and Jason Verrett (draft); those two will certainly have their hands full with the Fitz/Floyd combo. Ted Ginn Jr. and rookie John Brown from Pittsburgh State provide the speed and explosiveness the unit previously lacked. Coach Bruce Arians has said he will be building the offense around second-year tailback Andre Ellington. While there is some question as to whether he can handle 20-25 touches a game with that 5-foot-9, 210-pound frame, he certainly proved to be dynamic on the ground (5.5 ypc) and in the passing game (9.5 yards per reception) in his first season. San Diego was above average against the run in terms of yards allowed for 2013, but was bottom of the barrel on a per-carry basis giving up 4.6 yards per rush.
Predictions:Philip Rivers has a tough go of it in Glendale but manages two scores, one to old favorite Antonio Gates just inside the corner pylon. On the other, Rivers finds uber-athletic TE Ladarius Green down the seam. The league's highest paid corner, Patrick Peterson lives up to the billing by blanketing Keenan Allen. Allen is only scrapes together two receptions for 24 yards. Ryan Mathews has minimal room to run and is outgained by PPR machine Danny Woodhead. Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd have their way with the new Chargers cornerbacks, each hauling in a touchdown and gaining at least 80 yards. Andre Ellington has a solid outing with 118 total yards and a score from 24 yards out. The home team prevails. Arizona, 27-20.
