2008 Fantasy Football Week 1 Recommendations
Quarterbacks
- Brett Favre (Jets)
- Tony Romo (Cowboys)
- Tom Brady (Pats)
- Ben Roethlesberger (Steelers)
- Jon Kitna (Lions)
- Drew Brees (Saints)
- Peyton Manning (Colts)
- Matt Hasselback (Seahawks)
- Kurt Warner (Cards)
- Donovan McNabb (Eagles)
- Jeff Garcia (Bucs)
- Carson Palmer (Bengals)
- Phillip Rivers (Chargers)
- Derek Anderson (Browns)
- Matt Schaub (Texans)
- Marc Bulger (Rams)
- David Garrard (Jaguars)
- Jay Cutler (Broncos)
- Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
- JT O’Sullivan (49ers)
- Chad Pennington (Dolphins)
- JaMarcus Russell (Raiders)
- Jake Delhomme (Panthers)
- Trent Edwards (Bills)
Picking whom to play is not just about the player, but is also about the match-up. This first week of the NFL season has added another element to that mix, who is healthy? Tom Brady is clearly the top QB, except we are unsure how hurt he really is thanks to New England’s injury history. Peyton Manning seems to be healed, but he is playing a tougher opponent with very few pre-season reps and breaking in a new center. All that said I am sure that I will get tons of hate for the ranking, but I am just not a huge fan of Manning this week. It comes down to risk, I hate risk in fantasy football, and he carries a ton of it this week. Brett Favre I love this week. He has the best match up on the board and he has something to prove. I expect a big week this week; do not know about a big season, but a big week. Romo gets the nod over Brady simply because of Brady’s health question, but I expect both to be excellent. The sleeper for this week is Jeff Garcia who has a great match up and also something to prove within his own organization.
Running Backs
- Ladainian Tomlinson (Chargers)
- Brian Westbrook (Eagles)
- Marshawn Lynch (Bills)
- Joseph Addai (Colts)
- Adrian Peterson (Vikings)
- Marion Barber (Cowboys)
- Edgerrin James (Cardinals)
- Frank Gore (49ers)
- Laurence Maroney (Patriots)
- Stephen Jackson (Rams)
- Michael Turner (Falcons)
- Thomas Jones (Jets)
- Darren McFadden (Raiders)
- Ryan Grant (Packers)
- Willie Parker (Steelers)
- Kevin Smith (Lions)
- Earnest Graham (Bucs)
- Larry Johnson (Chiefs)
- Maurice Jones-Drew (Jaguars)
- Willis McGahee (Ravens)
- Reggie Bush (Saints)
- Jamal Lewis (Browns)
- Chris Perry (Bengals)
- Jonathan Stewart (Panthers)
- DeAngelo Williams (Panthers)
- Matt Forte (Bears)
- Ricky Williams (Dolphins)
- Deuce McCallister (Saints)
- Ahman Green (Texans)
- Selvin Young (Broncos)
- Justin Fargas (Raiders)
- Julius Jones (Seahawks)
- Maurice Morris (Seahawks)
- Fred Taylor (Jaguars)
The top RB should all do quite well in week one. Look for Marshawn Lynch, Michael Turner, and Laurence Maroney to have above average weeks for themselves. Also, keep an eye on what transpires in Carolina, Denver, and Detroit in their ongoing RB battles, it could shape your RB pickups and starters for the rest of the season.
Wide Receivers
- Randy Moss (Patriots)
- Terrell Owens (Cowboys)
- Marques Colston (Saints)
- Santonio Holmes (Steelers)
- Roy Williams (Lions)
- Chad Johnson (Bengals)
- Larry Fitzgerald (Cards)
- TJ Houshmanzedah (Bengals)
- Anquan Boldin (Cards)
- Reggie Wayne (Colts)
- Greg Jennings (Packers)
- Patrick Crayton (Cowboys)
- Braylon Edwards (Browns)
- Chris Chambers (Chargers)
- Calvin Johnson (Lions)
- Roddy White (Falcons)
- Wes Welker (Patriots)
- Donald Driver (Packers)
- Hines Ward (Steelers)
- Jerricho Cotchery (Jets)
- Torry Holt (Rams)
- Andre Johnson (Texans)
- Joey Galloway (Bucs)
- Marvin Harrison (Colts)
- Anthony Gonzalez (Colts)
- Reggie Brown (Eagles)
- Dwayne Bowe (Chiefs)
- Reggie Williams (Jags)
- Nate Burleson (Seahawks)
- Laverneous Coles (Jets)
- Lee Evans (Bills)
- Isaac Bruce (49ers)
- Tedd Ginn Jr (Dolphins)
- DeSean Jackson (Eagles)
- Derrick Mason (Ravens)
- Vincent Jackson (Chargers)
- Deion Branch (Seahawks)
- Ronald Curry (Raiders)
- Bernard Berrian (Vikings)
- Bobby Engram (Seahawks)
- Sidney Rice (Vikings)
- Drew Bennett (Rams)
- Devin Hester (Bears)
- DJ Hackett (Panthers)
- Javon Walker (Raiders)
- Bryant Johnson (49ers)
- Darrell Jackson (Broncos)
- Justin McCareins (Titans)
- Jabar Gaffney (Pats)
- Justin Gage (Titans)
This week look for the top receivers to be the clear top receivers. TO and Moss have great matches, along with being the best players. Santonio Holmes and Patrick Crayton should have great weeks as a benefit of excellent matches this week.
Tight End
- Jason Witten (Cowboys)
- Antonio Gates (Chargers)
- Dallas Clark (Colts)
- Tony Gonzalez (Chiefs)
- Kellen Winslow (Browns)
- Jeremy Shockey (Saints)
- Ben Watson (Pats)
- Donald Lee (Packers)
- Heath Miller (Steelers)
- Vernon Davis (49ers)
- Owen Daniels (Texans)
- Todd Heap (Ravens)
- Chris Cooley (Redskins)
- Alge Crumpler (Titans)
- Tony Scheffler (Broncos)
- Dustin Keller (Jets)
- L.J. Smith (Eagles)
- Ben Utech (Bengals)
- Zach Miller (Raiders)
- Greg Olsen (Bears)
- Randy McMichael (Rams)
- Kevin Boss (Giants)
- Leonard Pope (Cards)
- Mercedes Lewis (Jags)
TE has as big a gap as any position from the elite level to the next levels down. This makes it very hard to predict which weeks a TE will jump into that upper level. I think that you will see Ben Watson have a good week this week as the Chiefs will focus what little defense they haves attention on the WR for New England. I also think that Tony Gonzalez will have a good week against a week LB core and S core for New England. He also has to be the safety blanket for Brody Croyle, who will need one, a lot.
Kicker
- Nick Folk (Cowboys)
- Stephen Gostkowski (Pats)
- Shayne Graham (Bengals)
- Nate Kaeding (Chargers)
- Mason Crosby (Packers)
- Jeff Reed (Steelers)
- Adam Vinatieri (Colts)
- Mike Nugent (Jets)
- Neil Rackers (Cards)
- David Akers (Eagles)
- Jason Hanson (Lions)
- Robbie Gould (Bears)
- Josh Brown (Rams)
- Phil Dawson (Browns)
- Josh Scobee (Jags)
- Rian Lindell (Bills)
- Rob Bironas (Titans)
- Shaun Suisham (Redskins)
- Kris Brown (Texans)
- Joe Nedney (49ers)
- Martin Gramatica (Saints)
- Ryan Longwell (Vikings)
- Sebastian Janikowski (Raiders)
- Matt Bryant (Bucs)
- Jason Elam (Falcons)
- Olindo Mare (Seahawks)
- John Kasay (Panthers)
- John Carney (Giants)
Kickers are all about the same at the end of the year, so it comes down to a week-by-week match up question. My favorite kicker to jump up this week is Mike Nugent. This week I also like David Akers, Jason Hanson, and Rian Lindell to have above average weeks for themselves.
Defense/Special Teams
- SD Chargers
- NE Patriots
- IND Colts
- MN Vikings
- GB Packers
- PHI Eagles
- JAX Jaguars
- SEA Seahawks
- PITT Steelers
- DAL Cowboys
- NY Jets
- OAK Raiders
- TEN Titans
- CHI Bears
- ARI Cardinals
- SF 49ers
- BAL Ravens
- TB Bucs
- CIN Bengals
- BUF Bills
- DET Lions
- STL Rams
- NO Saints
- HOU Texans
- CLE Browns
- ATL Falcons
- CAR Panthers
- STL Rams
This weeks Team Defenses and ST are pretty much chalk. However, I like the Jets a whole lot this week and think the Bears could be a big surprise. They both will be even better if their main return men, Leon Washington and Devin Hester can get their hands on the ball enough in the return game.
By Brian Chmielewski
ProFootball-fans.com Fantasy Football Director of Content
Fans can contact Brian via email at bchmfantasybaseball @ yahoo.com