Week One (UPDATED)
September 06, 2007
Quarterbacks
Plus Play:
Tony Romo, DAL – With the news that Terry Glenn out for Week One (and maybe the season), making Tony Romo the top Plus Play is a bit of a risky call. However, with Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd moving up the ranks, the Cowboys should still be in good shape. It is quite helpful that Dallas will be facing the Giants – a squad that ranked 28th against the pass last season (228 ypg) and finished in the bottom third in sacks.
Matt Hasselbeck, SEA – A healthy Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander, as well as a set of WRs that are more surehanded, should get the Seahawks off to a good start to begin the season. To help matters, the team faces an aging Tampa Bay squad that ranked 19th against the pass last season and ranked 30th in sacks. They also allowed 264 passing yards and three TDs by Miami in Week Three of preseason. Expect some heavy-legged Bucs to get picked on by Hasselbeck and crew.
Steve McNair, BAL – Now is time for Steve McNair to step up to prove that the full off-season of work with the Ravens has paid off. He should find Todd Heap and Mark Clayton early and often against a Bengal squad that allowed a league-worst 239 ypg passing on 24 TDs last season. Cincy also gave up 223 yards passing and two TDs to Atlanta in Week Three of preseason. But if you are counting on McNair as your No. 1 QB this season, you will be in a good bit of trouble this season.
Negative Play:
Philip Rivers, SD – Philip Rivers is a very good QB against easy and moderate level defenses, but he has played very poorly in his brief tenure as a starter against top defenses. This is his first go against the Bears, who averaged one TD passing allowed per game last season.
J.P. Losman, BUF – J.P. Losman was climbing the charts in the preseason, nearly approaching starter status. But the jury is still out on how quickly the running game will solidify and take the pressure off of Losman. Denver was barely in the middle-of-the-pack in passing defense, but made some upgrades in the off-season. Hold off on Losman for a while to see how the offense develops.
Jason Campbell, WAS – Jason Campbell missed some very valuable time in preseason with a knee injury, but he appears to be healthy now. However, he will be facing a very solid blitzing defense in that of the Dolphins. Miami was third in the league in sacks and finished fifth in the league against the pass (188 ypg). Campbell will have his moments to shine this season, but they will be very hard to come by this week.
Injury Status per Friday's Injury Report
P = Probable
Q = Questionable
1 Peyton Manning, IND
2 Tom Brady, NE P
3 Tony Romo, DAL
4 Carson Palmer, CIN
5 Drew Brees, NO
6 Marc Bulger, STL
7 Matt Hasselbeck, SEA
8 Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
9 Donovan McNabb, PHI
10 Jon Kitna, DET
11 Jay Cutler, DEN
12 Matt Leinart, ARI
13 Brett Favre, GB
14 Alex Smith, SF
15 Vince Young, TEN
16 Philip Rivers, SD
17 Eli Manning, NYG
18 Matt Schaub, HOU
19 Steve McNair, BAL
20 Jake Delhomme, CAR
21 Jake Delhomme, CAR
22 Jeff Garcia, TB
23 J.P. Losman, BUF
24 Jason Campbell, WAS
25 Chad Pennington, NYJ P
26 Joey Harrington, ATL
27 Rex Grossman, CHI
28 Trent Green, MIA
29 Josh McCown, OAK
30 Charlie Frye, CLE
31 Damon Huard, KC
32 Tarvaris Jackson, MIN
Running Backs
Plus Play:
Ahman Green, HOU – This is a great week to get Ahman Green into your lineup. He has played solidly in preseason, is healthy and has a good history of starting off the season strong. On Opening Day the last four years, Green has rushed for 340 yards (4.3 YPC) and 4 TDs. This week, the Texans face the Chiefs that allowed 121 ypg and 14 rushing TDs last season.
Brandon Jacobs, NYG – We finally get to see how Brandon Jacobs handles the full load for the Giants. It’s a decent match-up this week as they face an average Cowboy rushing defense that allowed 142 yards on the ground to Houston in Week Three of preseason.
Lamont Jordan, OAK – With Dominic Rhodes serving a four-game suspension, and the Raiders’ QB situation in flux, this is Lamont Jordan’s chance to prove that he’s still a viable RB in this league. This week, Oakland faces a Detroit squad that allowed 126 ypg and 18 rushing TDs last season.
Negative Play:
Rudi Johnson, CIN – The Bengals are left with Kenny Watson to spell Rudi Johnson this season, so this will be an even more trying season for Johnson. And the season couldn’t start any tougher than going against the Ravens’ run D – one that was first in TDs allowed (five) and second in yardage allowed (76 ypg). Johnson only totaled 144 yards and one TD in two games against Baltimore last season.
Cedric Benson, CHI – Cedric Benson performed in preseason as his normal uninspired self (19 carries, 33 yards). The Chargers were seventh against the run last season, but underwent a lot of transition in the off-season. Expect San Diego to be tough enough to handle a mediocre performance.
Clinton Portis, WAS – Even if Clinton Portis was going to get the majority of the carries, this would be a tough match-up – the Dolphins were eighth against the run last season and finished second in rushing TDs allowed (seven). But Portis will be splitting the carries, so do not expect a lot out of him this week.
Injury Status per Friday's Injury Report
P = Probable
Q = Questionable
RBs that are DOUBTFUL: Kevin Jones, DET
1 LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
2 Steven Jackson, STL
3 Joseph Addai, IND
4 Willie Parker, PIT
5 Frank Gore, SF
6 Larry Johnson, KC
7 Brian Westbrook, PHI
8 Shaun Alexander, SEA
9 Travis Henry, DEN
10 Reggie Bush, NO
11 Laurence Maroney, NE
12 Willis McGahee, BAL
13 Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX
14 Rudi Johnson, CIN
15 Edgerrin James, ARI
16 Deuce McAllister, NO
17 Ahman Green, HOU
18 Brandon Jacobs, NYG
19 LaMont Jordan, OAK
20 Clinton Portis, WAS P
21 Cedric Benson, CHI
22 Ronnie Brown, MIA
23 Cadillac Williams, TB
24 Thomas Jones, NYJ Q
25 Marion Barber III, DAL
26 Tatum Bell, DET
27 Fred Taylor, JAX
28 Jamal Lewis, CLE
29 Adrian Peterson, MIN
30 Chester Taylor, MIN
31 DeShaun Foster, CAR
32 Marshawn Lynch, BUF
33 Brandon Jackson, GB P
34 Julius Jones, DAL
35 DeAngelo Williams, CAR
36 LenDale White, TEN
37 Ladell Betts, WAS
38 Jerious Norwood, ATL
39 Warrick Dunn, ATL
40 Leon Washington, NYJ
41 Chris Brown, TEN
42 Michael Pittman, TB
43 Anthony Thomas, BUF
44 Vernand Morency, GB Q
45 Jesse Chatman, MIA
46 Sammy Morris, NE
47 Ron Dayne, HOU
48 Kevin Faulk, NE
49 Correll Buckhalter, PHI
50 Michael Bennett, KC
51 T.J. Duckett, DET
52 Brian Leonard, STL
53 Najah Davenport, PIT
54 Adrian Peterson, CHI
55 Marcel Shipp, ARI
56 Reuben Droughns, NYG
57 Maurice Morris, SEA
58 Michael Robinson, SF
59 Mike Anderson, BAL
60 Mack Strong, SEA
Wide Receivers
Plus Play:
Anquan Boldin, ARI – Matt Leinart has already teamed up with Anquan Boldin to post a big game total – 143 yards receiving and a TD in Week Three of preseason against San Diego. That should continue this week against last-season’s 27th-ranked 49er pass defense that allowed the most points in the league.
Santonio Holmes, PIT – With better news coming out regarding the health of Hines Ward, this is great news for Santonio Holmes. He won’t be depended upon to provide Ward’s leadership off the bat, against a squad (the Browns) that he accumulated 156 yards and a TD in two games last season. Cleveland has a mediocre pass defense that will be focusing hard to stop the Steeler ground game, setting up Holmes with a good day.
Reggie Brown, PHI – With L.J. Smith hobbling, Reggie Brown becomes a more important target in the Eagles offense. And with the return of Donovan McNabb, a healthy McNabb should lead to a more productive Brown. The Packers were fourth in the league in sacks, but as long as the Eagles’ OL can keep McNabb upright, he should be able to find Brown against a mediocre Green Bay defense.
Negative Play:
Santana Moss, WAS – While Jason Campbell was nursing a bruised knee in the preseason, Santana Moss had flare-ups of injuries of his own (hip, groin). Don’t expect a big game from him, either, this week.
Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ – While Chad Pennington proved that he can do an admirable job when healthy, Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery will be left wondering how productive they will be – especially this week. In addition with the arrival of RB Thomas Jones to the offense, the Jets will fact last season’s 12th-best pass defense that allowed the fewest passing TDs in the league – a stat that the Jets don’t accumulate a lot of themselves.
Injury Status per Friday's Injury Report
P = Probable
Q = Questionable
WRs that are OUT: Terry Glenn, DAL; Eric Parker, SD
1 Terrell Owens, DAL
2 Steve Smith, CAR
3 Marvin Harrison, IND
4 Reggie Wayne, IND
5 Larry Fitzgerald, ARI
6 Chad Johnson, CIN
7 Roy Williams, DET
8 Javon Walker, DEN
9 Anquan Boldin, ARI
10 T.J. Houshmandzadeh, CIN P
11 Lee Evans, BUF
12 Andre Johnson, HOU
13 Donald Driver, GB P
14 Marques Colston, NO
15 Torry Holt, STL
16 Braylon Edwards, CLE
17 Hines Ward, PIT
18 Joey Galloway, TB
19 Deion Branch, SEA
20 Plaxico Burress, NYG
21 Bernard Berrian, CHI
22 Santonio Holmes, PIT
23 Santana Moss, WAS
24 Reggie Brown, PHI
25 Mark Clayton, BAL P
26 Laveranues Coles, NYJ
27 Chris Chambers, MIA
28 Darrell Jackson, SF
29 Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ
30 Randy Moss, NE
31 Ronald Curry, OAK
32 Patrick Crayton, DAL
33 Vincent Jackson, SD
34 D.J. Hackett, SEA
35 Kevin Curtis, PHI
36 Isaac Bruce, STL
37 Donte Stallworth, NE
38 Joe Horn, ATL
39 Jerry Porter, OAK
40 Greg Jennings, GB Q
41 Devery Henderson, NO
42 Mike Furrey, DET
43 Muhsin Muhammad, CHI P
44 Brandon Marshall, DEN
45 Eddie Kennison, KC
46 Calvin Johnson, DET
47 Brandon Jones, TEN
48 Derrick Mason, BAL
49 Arnaz Battle, SF
50 Wes Welker, NE
51 Bobby Wade, MIN P
52 Troy Williamson, MIN
53 Ernest Wilford, JAX
54 James Jones, GB
55 Roddy White, ATL
56 Michael Jenkins, ATL
57 Jacoby Jones, HOU
58 Dennis Nortrhcutt, JAX
59 Marty Booker, MIA
60 Demetrius Williams, BAL
Tight Ends
Injury Status per Friday's Injury Report
P = Probable
Q = Questionable
TEs that are DOUBTFUL: Greg Olsen, CHI
1 Antonio Gates, SD
2 Todd Heap, BAL
3 Jeremy Shockey, NYG
4 Chris Cooley, WAS
5 Tony Gonzalez, KC
6 Vernon Davis, SF
7 Kellen Winslow Jr, CLE
8 Jason Witten, DAL
9 Ben Watson, NE
10 Randy McMichael, STL
11 Owen Daniels, HOU
12 Alge Crumpler, ATL
13 Dallas Clark, IND
14 Desmond Clark, CHI
15 Heath Miller, PIT
16 Bo Scaife, TEN
17 Eric Johnson, NO
18 Daniel Graham, DEN
19 L.J. Smith, PHI P
20 Zach Miller, OAK
21 Marcus Pollard, SEA
22 Alex Smith, TB
23 Marcedes Lewis, JAX
24 David Martin, MIA
25 Tony Scheffler, DEN
Kickers
Injury Status per Friday's Injury Report
P = Probable
Q = Questionable
1 Adam Vinatieri, IND
2 Josh Brown, SEA
3 David Akers, PHI
4 Josh Scobee, JAX
5 Nate Kaeding, SD
6 Olindo Mare, NO
7 Jason Elam, DEN
8 Joe Nedney, SF
9 Jeff Wilkins, STL
10 John Kasay, CAR
11 Neil Rackers, ARI
12 Matt Stover, BAL
13 Robbie Gould, CHI
14 Stephen Gostkowski, NE
15 Jason Hanson, DET
16 Shayne Graham, CIN P
17 Jeff Reed, PIT
18 Kris Brown, HOU
19 Mike Nugent, NYJ
20 Ryan Longwell, MIN
21 Nick Folk, DAL
22 Rian Lindell, BUF
23 Jay Feely, MIA
24 Mason Crosby, GB
25 Rob Bironas, TEN
26 Sebastian Janikowski, OAK
27 Phil Dawson, CLE
28 Lawrence Tynes, NYG
29 Shaun Suisham, WAS
30 Matt Bryant, TB
31 Justin Medlock, KC
32 Matt Prater, ATL
Team Defenses
1 Chicago Bears
2 Baltimore Ravens
3 San Diego Chargers
4 Miami Dolphins
5 New England Patriots
6 Pittsburgh Steelers
7 Philadelphia Eagles
8 Denver Broncos
9 Minnesota Vikings
10 Dallas Cowboys
11 Buffalo Bills
12 Seattle Seahawks
13 Green Bay Packers
14 Carolina Panthers
15 San Francisco 49ers
16 St. Louis Rams
17 Oakland Raiders
18 Atlanta Falcons
19 Cincinnati Bengals
20 Jacksonville Jaguars
21 Tennessee Titans
22 New York Giants
23 Arizona Cardinals
24 Detroit Lions
25 Kansas City Chiefs
26 New York Jets
27 Indianapolis Colts
28 Washington Redskins
29 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30 Houston Texans
31 Cleveland Browns
32 New Orleans Saints
Defensive Backs
Injury Status per Friday's Injury Report
P = Probable
Q = Questionable
DBs that are DOUBTFUL: Aaron Rouse, GB
1 Adrian Wilson, ARI
2 Chris Hope, TEN
3 Sean Jones, CLE
4 Kerry Rhodes, NYJ
5 Troy Polamalu, PIT
6 Roy Williams, DAL
7 Antoine Winfield, MIN
8 Brian Dawkins, PHI
9 Ronde Barber, TB
10 Madieu Williams, CIN
11 Gibril Wilson, NYG
12 Champ Bailey, DEN
13 Michael Lewis, SF
14 Sean Taylor, WAS
15 Charles Tillman, CHI
16 Bob Sanders, IND
17 Roman Harper, NO
18 Nick Collins, GB
19 Oshiomogho Atogwe, STL P
20 Stuart Schweigert, OAK
21 Jermaine Phillips, TB
22 Nnamdi Asomugha, OAK
23 Adam Archuleta, CHI
24 Lito Sheppard, PHI
25 Antoine Bethea, IND
26 LaRon Landry, WAS
27 Charles Woodson, GB
28 Mike Brown, CHI
29 Bernard Pollard, KC
30 Darren Sharper, MIN
31 Ike Taylor, PIT
32 Richard Marshall, CAR
33 Renaldo Hill, MIA
34 Rashean Mathis, JAX
35 James Butler, NYG
36 Jarrad Page, KC
37 Anthony Henry, DAL
38 Tye Hill, STL
39 Marlin Jackson, IND
40 Deon Grant, SEA
41 Asante Samuel, NE
42 Will Allen, MIA
43 Sean Considine, PHI
44 Chris Gamble, CAR Q
45 Nate Clements, SF
46 Michael Huff, OAK
47 Quentin Jammer, SD
48 Chris McAlister, BAL
49 Donte Whitner, BUF
50 Carlos Rogers, WAS
51 Lawyer Milloy, ATL
52 Chris Harris CAR
53 Ed Reed, BAL
54 Eric Weddle, SD
55 Erik Coleman, NYJ
56 Dre Bly, DEN
57 Sheldon Brown, PHI
58 Nick Harper, TEN
59 Ken Hamlin, DAL
60 Johnathan Joseph, CIN Q
Linebackers
Injury Status per Friday's Injury Report
P = Probable
Q = Questionable
LBs that are OUT: Willie McGinest, CLE; Keith Ellison, BUF
1 Keith Bulluck, TEN
2 DeMeco Ryans, HOU
3 Antonio Pierce, NYG
4 London Fletcher, WAS
5 Zach Thomas, MIA
6 Brian Urlacher, CHI
7 Mike Peterson, JAX
8 Ray Lewis, BAL
9 Will Witherspoon, STL
10 Lance Briggs, CHI
11 Shawne Merriman, SD
12 Lofa Tatupu, SEA
13 Paul Posluszny, BUF
14 A.J. Hawk, GB
15 Donnie Edwards, KC
16 Ernie Sims, DET
17 Keith Brooking, ATL
18 Gary Brackett, IND
19 Kirk Morrison, OAK
20 James Farrior, PIT
21 Dan Morgan, CAR
22 Demorrio Williams, ATL
23 Chad Greenway, MIN
24 Omar Gaither, PHI
25 Demarcus Ware, DAL
26 Bart Scott, BAL
27 Karlos Dansby, ARI
28 Freddie Keiaho, IND
29 Patrick Willis, SF
30 D.J. Williams, DEN
31 Julian Peterson, SEA
32 Stephen Cooper, SD
33 Derrick Brooks, TB
34 Gerald Hayes, ARI
35 Adalius Thomas, NE
36 Kamerion Wimbley, CLE
37 Angelo Crowell, BUF
38 Jonathan Vilma, NYJ
39 Jon Beason, CAR
40 Bryan Thomas, NYJ
41 Nick Barnett, GB
42 Andra Davis, CLE P
43 Takeo Spikes, PHI
44 Barrett Ruud, TB
45 Shaun Phillips, SD
46 Thomas Howard, OAK
47 David Thornton, TEN
48 Leroy Hill, SEA
49 Roger McIntosh, WAS
50 Anthony Spencer, DAL
51 Morlon Greenwood, HOU
52 E.J. Henderson, MIN P
53 Landon Johnson, CIN
54 Rosevelt Colvin, NE
55 Bradie James, DAL
56 Tedy Bruschi, NE
57 Ahmad Brooks, CIN
58 Ian Gold, DEN
59 Clark Haggans, PIT
60 Channing Crowder, MIA
Defensive Linemen
Injury Status per Friday's Injury Report
P = Probable
Q = Questionable
1 Jason Taylor, MIA
2 Aaron Kampman, GB P
3 Aaron Schobel, BUF
4 Terrell Suggs, BAL
5 Derrick Burgess, OAK
6 Kyle Vanden Bosch, TEN
7 Leonard Little, STL
8 John Abraham, ATL
9 Osi Umenyiora, NYG
10 Tamba Hali, KC
11 Julius Peppers, CAR
12 Patrick Kerney, SEA
13 Jamaal Anderson, ATL
14 Luis Castillo, SD
15 Justin Smith, CIN
16 Vonnie Holliday, MIA
17 Robert Mathis, IND
18 Bertrand Berry, ARI
19 Trent Cole, PHI
20 Tommy Kelly, OAK
21 Ty Warren, NE
22 Charles Grant, NO
23 Cullen Jenkins, GB
24 Will Smith, NO
25 Cory Redding, DET
26 James Hall, STL
27 Elvis Dumervil, DEN
28 Trevor Pryce, BAL Q
29 Darryl Tapp, SEA
30 Mark Anderson, CHI
31 Chris Kelsay, BUF
32 Andre Carter, WAS
33 Gaines Adams, TB
34 Adam Carriker, STL
35 Robert Geathers, CIN
36 Ray Edwards, MIN
37 Warren Sapp, OAK
38 Mario Williams, HOU
39 Shaun Ellis, NYJ
40 Dewayne White, DET
41 Aaron Smith, PIT
42 John Henderson, JAX P
43 Ray McDonald, SF
44 Justin Tuck, NYG
45 Domata Peko, CIN
46 Marcus Spears, DAL
47 Reggie Hayward, JAX
48 Adewale Ogunleye, CHI
49 Kevin Williams, MIN
50 Kevin Carter, TB
51 John Thornton, CIN
52 Paul Spicer, JAX
53 Kalimba Edwards, DET
54 Bobby McCray, JAX
55 Matt Roth, MIA
56 Robert Bernard, SEA
57 Dwight Freeney, IND
58 Kris Jenkins, CAR
59 Jarvis Moss, DEN
60 Darnell Dockett, ARI
Fantasy Football 
* When there are Thursday games, I will post the basic rankings without the detailed paragraphs and Plus/Negative Plays. Those will be listed with the final Friday rankings.
* The Thursday rankings are just a preliminary ranking to show where the Thursday players would generally fall in a normal week. Any movement of these players in the Friday rankings are not a reflection of their Thursday night performance -- it is only a change in position of the players that will be playing on Sunday/Monday.
* If any major fantasy players for the Thursday game are on the Wednesday injury report, they will be listed in the Thursday post.
For all other games, the latest possible injury report will be used for the Friday post. Hopefully, that would be the Friday injury report. Usually, it's out around 4 PM CT, but sometimes it's not until 6-7 PM CT -- and I like my Friday nights, too.
* Regarding the Plus/Negative Plays that will appear in the Friday report -- At the start of each week, I make a ranking of my own of how I think that all the players at a position will do for the rest of the season from that point on to establish a base ranking.
Then, after I make my final Friday rankings, I compare the current week's ranking to the base rankings and the players that have an unusual jump in a positive or negative way are the Plays for the week. This means that stars like Peyton Manning or LaDainian Tomlinson would never be Plus Plays, and guys that are expected to live at the bottom of the list like Tarvaris Jackson or J.J. Arrington would never be Negative Plays because, well, they just can't get much worse.
Hope that helps.