Moreno, Breaston, & More: Looking at Five Week One Fantasy Questions

Tomorrow marks that start of the NFL season for the majority of the league, so let’s take a look at a few last minute decisions you may be agonizing over.  Is Steve Breaston worth using?  How about Mike Bell?  Will Matt Cassel’s injury affect the status of Larry Johnson?  Let’s take a look at these questions and a few others for Week One:

1) Larry Johnson/Jamal Charles - I’ve talked about Johnson in the past, hailing him as a player that you shouldn’t overlook (click here to view the article).  Unfortunately, the duo is placed in a difficult situation in Week One.  Matt Cassel is questionable, and even if he suits up it’s going to be tough to imagine him producing huge numbers. 

As if allowing the opposing defense to focus on the run more isn’t enough, the fact that it’s the Baltimore Ravens defense just makes things 100 percent worse.  They may have lost a few key players and their defensive coordinator, but make no mistake, this is a defense that is going to be among the leagues best (they were the third best against the run last season).

If you have usable alternatives, I’d avoid the Chiefs running back duo this week.

2) Knowshon Moreno - The first round draft choice is a hip pick for many, who has the potential to have a huge rookie campaign.  He’s currently listed as questionable, and while he should be able to take the field, you really aren’t sure of the size of his role given the fact that he was limited in practice.

Correll Buckhalter will see plenty of time, which is going to hurt Moreno’s value this week.  If you have a safer alternative on your bench, you may want to go with him for this week.

3) Steve Breaston - I know, I’ve said I would’ve drafted Devin Hester before him (click here for the article), but injury concerns for Anquan Boldin changes ones prospective for Week One. 

When Boldin is quoted as saying, “It’s a long season. It’s only week one. I’d rather sit out game one as opposed to sitting out four or five other games. You just have to use your discretion.” in the Arizona Republic (click here for the post), you get the impression that he’s leaning towards missing the season’s opening game. 

That would slide Breaston into a starter’s role, making him a player worth considering this week.  It is not like he has no value on a normal week, so it just makes playing him an easier decision.

4) Mike Bell - Pierre Thomas is out, meaning that the Saints are going to have to turn to the third-string back to share carries with Reggie Bush.  Bell burst onto the scene his rookie year, getting 157 carries for 677 yards for the Broncos after going undrafted, but has done nothing to speak of the last two seasons (19 carries for 45 yards). 

He’s certainly a big risk, though taking on the Detroit Lions should help to ease a few fears.  He wouldn’t be my top choice as a fill-in, but if you are in need he could prove to be a worthy gamble.  I’d probably leave him for the extremely desperate, however.

5) Giants Wide Receivers - Like there wasn’t enough doubt here to begin with, now Mike Garafolo of the Newark Star-Ledger (click here for the article) is reporting that the team will see Hakeem Nicks, Domenick Hixon, Steve Smith and Mario Manningham “play an important role in the team’s offense during Sunday’s game.” 

They couldn’t just pick two?  Smith is probably the most likely to see consistent time as a possession receiver, but until this shakes itself out it’s not worth gambling on any of these players in your starting line-up.  Leave them on your bench.

What are your thoughts?  Which of these players would you use?  Which would you bench?

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