Fantasy Football Week 1: Matchups to Exploit

Here’s a look at four fantasy football match-ups that just might help you and your fantasy team come away with a victory in Week 1.

1.  New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning vs. Washington Redskins secondary

When Eli Manning crosses paths with the Washington Redskins on Sunday, there are reasons to believe the “other Manning” will jump start his 2011 campaign with a bang. Coming off the most trying of his post-Super Bowl seasons, Manning had a forgettable preseason showing. He’ll also have to deal with a reshuffling of the deck when it comes to his receiving corps. Still, the perennially undervalued Manning has been a solid opening day contributor throughout his career (.579 completion percentage, 12 touchdowns to nine interceptions and 244 yards per game average). Manning should have a field day in a match up with the ripe-for-the-picking Redskins defense that ranked 30th against the pass in 2010.

2.  Miami Dolphins wide receiver Davone Bess vs. New England Patriots defense

Davone Bess has improved steadily over his three-year NFL career, with his finest season to date coming in 2010 when the undrafted former Hawaii Warrior caught 79 balls for 820 yards and five touchdowns. While it remains to be seen whether or not last year’s numbers were his ceiling, Bess draws a beatable New England Patriots defense in the Miami Dolphins’ season opener. He’s one of the best slot receivers in the game and has given the Patriots fits over the years. Bess torched New England with 27 catches for 304 yards and three touchdowns in four games over two seasons.

3.  Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden vs. Denver Broncos defense

Although Darren McFadden’s 2010 season qualified as a breakout year, he was nevertheless maddeningly inconsistent at times, coupling 100-plus yard performances with baffling stinkers. McFadden’s Week 1 opponent, the Denver Broncos, was the one team that didn’t bear witness to his Jekyll and Hyde tendencies. McFadden lit up the Broncos for a whopping 354 total yards and four touchdowns over two games last season. Denver allowed 154.6 rushing yards per game along with 26 rushing touchdowns in 2010. They’ll be without the services of star linebacker D.J. Williams, making an already favorable match-up for McFadden even more so.

4.  Arizona Cardinals Defense vs. Carolina Panthers offense

The Cardinals defense performed admirably in 2010, finishing top 10 in fantasy points despite a sputtering offense that constantly left the team in poor field position. While Arizona lacks star power on the defensive side of the ball—save for the dynamic safety duo of Adrian Wilson and Kerry Rhodes)—head coach Ken Whisenhunt and his staff get the most out of this scrapheap of relatively unknown veteran and unproven youngsters. The Carolina Panthers newest franchise quarterback Cam Newton will make his regular season debut on Sunday. It’s safe to say that Newton’s rise to stardom hits a roadblock or two in Week 1. If you’re a fantasy owner whose regular defense has a tough match-up or you prefer to play weekly defensive match-ups, then Arizona could be the defensive ticket to ride.

Also Consider Reading:

Week 1 Start Ems

Week 1 Sit Ems

Week 1 Quarterback Rankings

Week 1 Running Back Rankings