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| Ronald Martinez/Getty Images |
| Marion Barber should find the end zone at least once against the Cleveland Browns. |
Start of the Week
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Dallas Cowboys |  Marion Barber Running back | There might not be a more underrated running back in fantasy football than Barber. He's scored more touchdowns than every other back aside from LaDainian Tomlinson over the past two seasons, and that was as a reserve behind Julius Jones. Now he's the unquestioned starter in Dallas and faces a Cleveland defense that was 27th in run defense last season, so Barber should make some noise. |
Quarterbacks -- Start 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Arizona Cardinals |  Kurt Warner | Warner went from undrafted to a top-10 fantasy quarterback when he beat out Matt Leinart for the top spot in Arizona. Now he's almost a must-start against San Francisco. He and has averaged 380 passing yards and thrown six touchdowns in his past three starts against them. It's time for owners to crank up the Warner Machine. |
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Detroit Lions |  Jon Kitna | Kitna had a tremendous preseason for the Lions, finishing all three of his starts with a passer rating of at least 103.8. While that pace will be almost impossible to retain all season, he should have a fast start in Week 1 against Atlanta. The Falcons finished last season 23rd in pass defense, and that was with CB DeAngelo Hall on the roster. |
| More quarterbacks with favorable matchups |
| Donovan McNabb vs. St. Louis, Matt Hasselbeck at Buffalo, Aaron Rodgers vs. Minnesota (Mon.), Ben Roethlisberger vs. Houston, Tony Romo at Cleveland. Sleeper alert: J.T. O'Sullivan vs. Arizona. |
Quarterbacks -- Sit 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Denver Broncos |  Jay Cutler | I am a huge fan of Cutler, but I'd sit him if I had a quarterback with a more favorable matchup. The strong-armed gunslinger faces an Oakland defense that ranked eighth vs. the pass last season, and that was before the additions of Hall and SS Gibril Wilson. Cutler will also be without Brandon Marshall, who is suspended for the opener. |
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Tennessee Titans |  Vince Young | Young should rebound from a poor sophomore season, but it won't start against Jacksonville. The Jaguars have been difficult for Young to conquer, as he's averaged 146 passing yards with two touchdowns and six interceptions in four career games against them. I'd keep him on the pine until next week, when he faces a weak Cincinnati defense. |
| More quarterbacks with unfavorable matchups |
| Marc Bulger at Philadelphia, Brett Favre at Miami, David Garrard at Tennessee, JaMarcus Russell vs. Denver (Mon.), Matt Schaub at Pittsburgh. Owners beware: Derek Anderson vs. Dallas. |
Running backs -- Start 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 New York Jets |  Thomas Jones | Jones might be a little long in the tooth (he turned 30 last month), but he's still a solid option in fantasy land. With four first-round picks on the Jets' offensive line and a date against Miami on the slate, Jones should post solid numbers. The 'Fins did make wholesale changes on defense, but this unit was dead last vs. the run last season. |
| More running backs with favorable matchups |
| Earnest Graham at New Orleans, Darren McFadden vs. Denver (Mon.), Kevin Smith at Atlanta, Michael Turner vs. Detroit, Selvin Young at Oakland (Mon.). Sleeper alert: Ricky Williams vs. N.Y. Jets. |
Running backs -- Sit 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Green Bay Packers |  Ryan Grant | Grant was a first- or second-round selection in most drafts, so most owners almost have to start him. But last season's sleeper extraordinaire missed much of the preseason with an injured hamstring and could be limited in Week 1. Furthermore, he's facing a Minnesota defense that finished last season first vs. the run. |
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Seattle Seahawks |  Julius Jones | Jones was so unimpressive during the preseason that coach Mike Holmgren has decided to start Maurice Morris ahead of him in Week 1. The former Golden Domer will still see his share of carries, but it's hard to envision a scenario where he'll produce against a Buffalo defense that should be better vs. the run with DT Marcus Stroud. |
| More running backs with unfavorable matchups |
| Ahman Green at Pittsburgh, Jamal Lewis vs. Dallas, Chris Perry at Baltimore, Fred Taylor at Tennessee, LenDale White vs. Jacksonville. Owners beware: Willis McGahee vs. Cincinnati. |
Wide receivers -- Start 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Cincinnati Bengals |  T.J. Houshmandzadeh | Houshmandzadeh didn't do much work in the preseason due to an injured hamstring, but it looks like he's safe to start this week against a Baltimore defense that could be without SS Ed Reed (neck). Houshmandzadeh also wrecks the Ravens -- he's averaged seven receptions and scored four times in his last six games against them. |
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Pittsburgh Steelers |  Santonio Holmes | Holmes is primed for a breakout season, and this week's matchup against Houston could mean a fast start for the Ohio State speedster. The Texans were 26th in receiving defense last season and will be without CB Dunta Robinson (PUP list) for the contest. Holmes should wrangle the Texans' defensive back and is a solid fantasy choice. |
| More wide receivers with favorable matchups |
| Larry Fitzgerald at San Francisco, Joey Galloway at New Orleans, Greg Jennings vs. Minnesota (Mon.), Calvin Johnson at Atlanta, Roddy White vs. Detroit. Sleeper alert: Patrick Crayton at Cleveland. |
Wide receivers -- Sit 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Buffalo Bills |  Lee Evans | There might not have been a more disappointing wideout in fantasy land last season than Evans. He failed to post 80-plus yards in his final eight starts and scored a mere three times in that time, so his value has decreased across the board. This week he faces a Seattle defense that allowed the fewest receiving touchdowns (15) in 2007. |
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Oakland Raiders |  Javon Walker | Walker struggled in training camp (at one point he contemplated retirement) and might not even be a starter had Drew Carter (knee) not be lost for the season. The veteran is also nursing a sore hamstring and remains a risk against a Denver defense that ranked sixth vs. the pass in 2007. Consider Walker a desperation choice at best. |
| More wide receivers with unfavorable matchups |
| Bernard Berrian at Green Bay (Mon.), Dwayne Bowe at New England, Chris Chambers vs. Carolina, Laveranues Coles at Miami, Devin Hester at Indianapolis. Owners beware: Torry Holt at Philadelphia. |
Tight ends -- Start 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 San Diego Chargers |  Antonio Gates | Gates being listed as a starter is less about this week's matchup against Carolina and more about his injury status. The talented tight end missed a portion of camp as he recovered from toe surgery, but he returned to work in recent weeks and is expected to start in Week 1. Gates is still a bit of a risk, but it's hard not to start him if he's active. |
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Indianapolis Colts |  Dallas Clark | Clark led all tight ends in touchdown catches (11) last season, so his value in fantasy circles has never been higher. While duplicating that total will not be easy, Clark will remain a prominent option for Peyton Manning. This week he'll face a Chicago defense that allowed an average of close to 250 receiving yards per game last season. |
| More tight ends with favorable matchups |
| Vernon Davis vs. Arizona, Todd Heap vs. Cincinnati, Donald Lee vs. Minnesota (Mon.), Heath Miller vs. Houston, Jason Witten at Cleveland. Sleeper alert: L.J. Smith vs. St. Louis. |
Tight ends -- Sit 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 New Orleans Saints |  Jeremy Shockey | Shockey's stock did increase after a trade that sent him to New Orleans, but he didn't see a single preseason snap as he recovers from an injured leg. What's more, he hasn't been in a game since December. A matchup against a Tampa Bay unit that was tops in pass defense last season doesn't help his cause to start for owners. |
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Chicago Bears |  Greg Olsen | Olsen is a quality sleeper candidate on a Chicago team with no clear-cut No. 1 receiver on offense, but he could get off to a slow start against Indianapolis. The Colts ranked second in pass defense and surrendered a mere 16 receiving touchdowns in 2007, so opportunities to score fantasy points could be few and far between. |
| More tight ends with unfavorable matchups |
| Alge Crumpler vs. Jacksonville, Randy McMichael at Philadelphia, Zach Miller vs. Denver (Mon.), Tony Scheffler at Oakland (Mon.), Benjamin Watson vs. Kansas City. Owners beware: Owen Daniels at Pittsburgh. |
Kickers -- Start 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 New England Patriots |  Stephen Gostkowski | Gostkowski made a ridiculous 74 extra points with 21 field-goal conversions and finished as one of the better kickers in fantasy football last season. His status as an elite booter will continue in 2008, and a matchup against a Kansas City defense that surrendered the second-most field goals (34) makes Gostkowski a sound choice. |
| More kickers with favorable matchups |
| Mason Crosby vs. Minnesota (Mon.), Nick Folk at Cleveland, Shayne Graham at Baltimore, Jason Hanson at Atlanta, Jeff Reed vs. Houston. Sleeper alert: Matt Prater at Oakland (Mon.). |
Kickers -- Sit 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Houston Texans |  Kris Brown | Brown is coming off a solid season that saw him tie an NFL single-game record with three field goals of over 50 yards. However, the veteran isn't a great choice this week against Pittsburgh. Heinz Field has become notorious for being tough on kickers, and the Steelers allowed an average of just 1.1 field goals per game in 2007. |
| More kickers with unfavorable matchups |
| Rob Bironas vs. Jacksonville, Jason Elam vs. Detroit, Martin Gramatica vs. Tampa Bay, John Kasay at San Diego, Josh Scobee at Tennessee. Owners beware: Robbie Gould at Indianapolis. |
Defenses -- Start 'Em
| Team | Player |
 Philadelphia Eagles | The Eagles defense should be much improved after the addition of CB Asante Samuel, and DC Jimmie Johnson should look to blitz what is a questionable Rams offensive line in Week 1. The Rams are also not a good team outdoors, so the Eagles could post a nice total for fantasy owners. If you lack a stout defense, the Eagles are a nice option. |
| More defenses with favorable matchups |
| Colts defense vs. Chicago, Lions defense at Atlanta, Steelers defense vs. Houston, Patriots defense vs. Kansas City, Seahawks defense at Buffalo. Sleeper alert: Bengals defense at Baltimore. |
Defenses -- Sit 'Em
| Team | Player |
 Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens defense was a major disappointment in fantasy circles last season, and it's not much better heading into 2008. With Reed a question mark, a rookie quarterback under center and an explosive Cincinnati offense coming to town, this defense could be on the field a lot. Unless you're in a larger league, the Ravens should be avoided. |
| More defenses with unfavorable matchups |
| Bears defense at Indianapolis, Browns defense vs. Dallas, Chiefs defense at New England, Panthers defense at San Diego, Texans defense at Pittsburgh. Owners beware: Buccaneers defense at New Orleans. |
