1ST LOOK: Fantasy Football Brothers 124 Burning Questions

The NFL kicks off for real Thursday night as the Saints are crowned champions at home in front of their loyal fans. No city deserved a title more than New Orleans, nor a fan base that needed their team to shock the world.

Here at the Brotherhood we will be watching some of the matchups very closely in week one. What we are looking for is potential. New players on new teams, new offenses, rookies, and changes in assignments for some players.

Who will actually start? Who was targeted where? Who received touches where? Even more importantly is who is on the field during crunch time and who is on the bench when teams enter the red-zone. All of these things are important for fantasy reasons and I will explain why. Actions always speak louder than words. There is a reason for coach speak. It is used to motivate players, it is used to confuse opposing teams and for our purposes in fantasy land. Make us nuts. I’m convinced that Redskins only brought Mike Shanahan back to the NFL was to make fantasy owners nuts each week when deciding between Portis or Larry Johnson, or some back he found in the scrap heap. I’m not paranoid. For fantasy purposes it gives us a good idea if someone was undervalued in drafts. A player was just coasting during the pre-season or his injury was made a big deal by the media.

New Orleans  Vs. Minnesota Thursday Night

Vikings Questions

He Might Not Be A Polished WR But Speed Is A Great Equalizer

Can Harvin adjust to life on the outside?

Harvin made a name for himself destroying the middle of the field picking on slower linebackers and safeties while lining up in the slot. He was a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Now this year with WR Sidney Rice out that means Harvin will be pushed to the outside and face opposing teams top corner backs. Harvin has blazing speed and great agility though he needs to work on his route running since he has always been used as a jack of all trades type of runner, even at the University of Florida. The Vikings are wise enough to put him in motion and expose coverages, his touchdowns might be on the lower side but his catches and yardage should go up.

How does Favre look?

Like him or not, how Favre goes so does the Vikings. As will your fantasy team. He already is playing on an injured ankle. This offense will suffer tremendously if Favre goes down, with the exception of Adrian Peterson of course.  The loss of Sidney Rice will have a trickle down effect as Harvin gets moved to the outside, and his slot spot will be filled by new addition Greg Camarillo.

Who will step up for the Vikes at WR?

The forgotten man in the Vikings receiving corp is Bernard Berrian or B twice as my girlfriend informed me after recently watching the Ochocinco show. Yeah thanks for making my life fuller. Berrian had huge expectations when he signed with the Vikings but instead an injury hampered his deep speed and Sidney Rice emerged as the deep threat. The rest is history. Now healthy B twice has the potential to not only fill a huge void in the Vikes passing game, but also could become a waiver wire wonder. Yes that is a good thing.

We know it’s the AP show but who’s next?

Gerhart was drafted as Chester Taylors replacement but he has hardly set the world on fire during the preseason. Gerhart has the size and speed. He passes the eyeball test. The problem seems to be the game has yet to slow down for him in the NFL. Albert Young on the other hand hasn’t looked much better. Young was stuffed so often that he could be mistaken for a turkey. We will take Gerhart for now.

Saints  Questions?

Simple Math: More Carries = More Touchdowns

Which RB was on the field in the Red Zone?

Trying to figure out the Saints backfield rotation is as easy as figuring out their WR rotation. We know Thomas is going to carry the load while Bush gets the obvious passing downs and gives Thomas a breather. Both offer different skill sets that they can be used in unique packages once in the red zone. Bush tied a career high with 8 touchdowns despite playing in only 14 games and receiving only 127 touches.  That’s not too shabby considering he only had 70 rushing attempts. Thomas also had 8 TD’s in the same amount of games. With the anticipated increase in touches for Thomas, we think he could score 14 total touchdowns this year.  He’ll could be that explosive in this offense.

Who was on the field for each situation?

A very frustrating reality when you own a Saints offensive player. You can watch three red zone plays and never have the same combination of players on the field. The constants are Brees,Colston and Shockey if healthy, otherwise you have to make a sacrifice to play Saints roulette.

Did Sean Payton call a more equal amount of run to pass plays?

Ideally any coach would want a 50-50 split of running plays to passing plays. The Saints can move the ball effectively either way, the problem is they have to limit the amount of carries their backs get since they are both so brittle.

After Colston who was the highest targeted WR?

Personally, I think this is the year that Meachem makes his breakthrough. He has more talent than any other WR on the Saints. He actually had a better ypc (yards per catch) than there supposed deep threat, Devery Henderson. His 9 TD receptions tied Colston for the team lead.  The great thing about Meachem is, he was able to accomplish this while having 25 less receptions.  His improved numbers and high touchdown totals show us that he has become a legit target when they enter the redzone. He has prototypical  size (6’2″ 210) to go along with his blazing speed. He has come along way since being selected in the 1st round of the 07 draft.

Dolphins Vs. Bills 1 p.m.

Bills

Spiller Gets The Starting Nod Week One, But How Many Carries Will He Get?

Will Spiller only get 10-15 touches?

Spiller is a very talented back, who is best used sparingly. The rookie is super talented and is a legit home run hitter every time he touches the ball from anywhere on the field. The problem is the more he touches the ball the more his numbers start to decline. His body is not built to take a beaten between the tackles something a starter needs to do. He is best used as a change of pace back and thrown out of the slot. The Bills are beyond desperate at WR, and will try and get him in the slot and in the flats. In Spiller’s case less is really more.

Has the Bills Offensive line improved?

How can they not? The Bills grabbed rookies early last year as they began the rebuilding process of the Offensive line. The line is very young but has shown enough promise to at least give the Bills a potential run game. Even more important is keeping Trent Edwards uniform clean.

Is QB Trent Edwards the answer at QB?

Is he a long term answer? Probably not, but for this year he will have to do. Should I pick him up off of waivers. No, and shame on you for making me answer that. He is a talented guy and has some decent tools, but he would be better served playing on a team that had some talent at other positions. Like umm… I don’t know say maybe any team with a WR or TE. It would also help if his defense could stop anyone, speaking of defenses.

Is the Bills Defense transitioning to a 3-4 a good thing?

It depends, do you like linebackers? Seriously, the Bills will continue to struggle stopping the run though their linebackers rack up the stats for IDP purposes. The transition to a 3-4 defense will not be pretty as the team learns a new system.  Factor in all the missing pieces that the 3-4 defense really needs to be effective and you’ll see why we’re pessimistic.

Dolphins

Brown Returns From Injury.....Again

How does Ronnie Brown look?

Brown is a very talented guy who is obviously very tough as he rebounds from injury after injury. It is scary to see what kind of numbers he can put up if he could stay healthy. I just hope that owners get their 10 games out of him before inevitable ends up on the scrap heap.

What kind of coverage did Brandon Marshall face?

I think Marshall will do most of his damage this year in run downs since defenses have to account for the dual threat of Brown and Ricky Williams. I do think he will be double teamed every time there is an obvious passing down. Let’s just hope for everyone’s sake that he gets moved around like he was in Denver to keep the defense guessing.

How many passing attempts will Henne have?

As long as Brown and Williams are healthy, Henne will be asked to do a lot less than you think. The Dolphins will be a run first team as long as they can be, it’s the Tuna way. Henne’s stats will improve but he is nothing more than a QB2.

More or less Wildcat?

It has to be less. The Phins ran this because when pop gun Pennington was playing QB, it became painfully clear that he was not the answer in the big play department. Now that Henne has a full year under his belt as the starter, the need for it will be less this year. Using it less will actually make it more effective when they unleash it on unsuspecting defenses.

Lions Vs Bears 1 P.M.

Lions

An Improved Offense Will Open Things Up For Megatron

Has the Lions offensive line improved?

For the Lions to be successful anywhere else on the field, and I hate to do it to you but to throw out this cliche it all starts up front. It really does in this case. They have added depth and upgraded the guard spot but come game time will they be able to keep Stafford upright? They have to if they want to get the ball to all of their new offensive toys.

Can Jahvid Best stand up to the rigors of the NFL?

The short answer. No. Like Spiller he is best used in small doses. As fragile as Spiller is Best is even more fragile. Best only played in 30 games during his career and averaged 14 touches a game. Doesn’t sound like much for a first rounder does it? Best owners should invest in fantasy insurance if you have this guy. The NFL is a copycat league and everyone is looking for the next Chris Johnson.  I don’t blame teams for wanting one of their own Chris Johnson clones. The thing is Johnson played a lot more in college than Best while also possessing a bigger frame.

Is the passing game better on paper or turf?

You have to love this teams potential on paper. Megatron and Burleson on the outside with Scheffler and Pettigrew in the middle. All the while having Best in the backfield taking advantage of any double coverage. In reality like previously mentioned the o-line needs to protect Stafford, and Stafford needs to stay healthy.

Will Megatron less single coverage?

Calvin Johnson will continue to get doubled over the top until the Lions can make opposing defense pay for putting single coverage on Burleson,Scheffler and Pettigrew.

Bears

Knox Is The Brotherhoods Not So Secret Sleeper

What are Forte’s and Taylors role in the offense?

Taylor was cut loose by divisional rival Minnesota. Chester, sorry I just love saying that name. Chester was considered an instant upgrade for the Bears run game. Forte took the brunt of last years woes but was only one part of a huge disaster for the Bears last season. If something went wrong last year it probably happened in Chicago.  Forte is actually the perfect fit for a Mike Martz offense.  He possess great hands and is a tough runner. The line has got to do a better job or it won’t matter who is running the rock. I’ll go with Forte getting 70% of the carries as long as he is healthy with Taylor getting the other 30%.

Can the Bears offensive line open better holes than last year?

I don’t want to prove my own point but every teams success hinges on a decent offensive line. Someone should do a study on this just in case.

Can Martz save Cutler’s career?

Aside from Cutler being a first class jerk, he does have talent. A ton of it. The problem might be he is just a jerk. He has all the tools he needs to be successful and the Bears offense is actually built perfectly for a huge improvement in production for the offense but more importantly for fantasy purposes Cutler’s numbers. We expect him to throw the ball a ton again this year. The difference will be a better run game to take some pressure off of this first class head case signal caller. Expect his INTs to drop down to the 15ish area.

Which WR will thrive in this offense?

I never fell for the Devin Aromashadu kool-aid. I have loved Johnny Knox since last year. He was already a potential star in the making even before installing the new offense. It has become clear that Hester will never be a polished WR but has shown enough flashes of promise to hold on to a starting WR spot. If Aromashadu can’t beat out Hester there is now way he will be able to beat out Knox.

Raiders Vs Titans 1 P.M.

Raiders

Run DMC Is Not For Me

We know Miller will see a ton of action but then who?

Let’s start out with who won’t. Darrius Heywood-Bey. Even with the starting role he still hasn’t performed. Schilens is a favorite here with his size and speed. He just needs to stay healthy for a full season and put it all together. But Louis Murphy is the WR that was targeted 96 times last season but only caught 34 balls. A huge indication of how badly the Raiders tried to force the ball down Murphy’s throat. It is also a pretty good indicator of Captain Codeine’s erratic passes. Murphy is a gamer that leaves it all on the field, if he can convert his targets to say 66% or better he becomes a legit fantasy waiver guy.

How good can Bush be?

For those who follow college football know that Bush absolutely tore it apart his junior season scoring 23 touchdowns as a junior only to tear up his knee in the first game of his senior season. Bush tries to run nimble despite his 6’2″ 245 pound frame, something that makes the coaches nuts in Oakland. He averaged a solid 4.8 yards per carry easily outperforming Justin Fargas and Busty McFadden(more on him below). This year it appears that Oakland wants to win and will play the best back regardless of draft position. (Ok maybe that doesn’t go for WR) The Raider love to pound the rock and if Bush gets 250 carries he becomes a must start at RB.

Is it time to give up on McFadden?

As a fantasy player? Yeah I have passed on him in every single draft since his rookie season. I play in a ton of leagues and I will not touch him.  He is more toxic that a gulf shrimp

Should I still be thrilled to have my RB face the Radiers DEF?

I have to give the Raiders credit they have improved their front seven with drafting stud middle backer Rolando McClain and DE Lamaar Houston. Also adding depth along with the defensive line with the addition of John Henderson and picking up Kamerion Wimbley. On paper they appear to be much improved, but so has everyone of the AFC West teams run games have improved as well with Charles and Jones in K.C. Mathews in San Diego, and a full year under Moreno’s belt.

Titans

Britt Fell In Drafts Towards The End Of The Summer After Being Called Out For Being Lazy

Will Chris Johnson see 8 man fronts?

How do you not make the Titans beat you threw the air? Teams will stack the boxes until they are punished for doing so. While Vince Young has appeared to turn the corner (See Below). Johnson faced 8 man fronts all the time last season as he was making his run at 2,000 yards. Johnson is just that good that 8 man fronts are no problem for him, but imagine the running lanes he could exploit if opposing defenses respected the passing game.

Can Vince Young turn the corner as a passer and fantasy option?

I like Vince Young as a QB, he has matured and has really grown in the last two years as a leader and a passer. I think if he is going to become a fantasy option it will likely be with his legs.  The WRs on this team are a real concern. See below. I like him for individual matchup game to game for bye week fill ins or in two QB leagues.

Who is Young going to throw to?

It just doesn’t help when Kenny Britt needs to be told he should be in shape, Nate Washington is nothing but a WR3 and Justin Gage just can’t stay healthy. Damian Williams has some talent but is more than likely a year way from making an impact at receiver. Who will step up in the WR department for the Titans should be the real question.

Are the Titans Def as good as advertised?

The Titans defense could surprise this year and have aptly been named the no-name defense. Even knowledgeable football fans would be hard pressed to name three players on the Titans Defense. The Titans struggled mightily after the departure of Albert Haynesworth the front seven suffered mightily in the first few weeks. The bigger hole on the defense was the secondary which ended up finishing 31st out of 32 teams in pass defense. The rank doesn’t show it but the secondary finished the 2009 season strong. Look for the defense to improve in total defense to improve their rank in run defense and pass defense.

Bengals Vs. Patriots 1 P.M.

Bengals

For Better Or For Worse

Now that Palmer has legit weapons at WR will his numbers improve?

Career lows people. Career lows. His stats were the fewest in every category across the board. Attempts,Completions,Yards and touchdown passes. His numbers are almost identical to his rookie year, that season he only played in 13 games. The Bengals have a top 3 run blocking offensive line last season. There was just no need to throw the ball when the Bengals could just play conservative and pound it down the oppositions throat.  Now that Palmer has someone to throw to besides you know who, he won’t be forced to lock on one WR and can have confidence knowing Quan Cosby isn’t his second option.

Can Ocho and T.O. survive together?

As long as the team is winning, and they each get between 8 and 10 targets a game all should be fine. The Bengals face a ton of good cornerbacks this season and that is something to keep an eye out for. All bets are off if both guys have VH1 cameras following them everywhere.

Will Benson carry the load?

Should he? Absolutely I don’t think enough was made about how much he meant to the team last season. He put the Bengals on his back and when healthy he dismantled teams despite playing in a tough AFC North division. Benson enters the final year of his contract and the Bengals are more than likely hoping they don’t have to pay out a big contract to a back that will be 28 at the end of this season. The Bengals will insert Bernard Scott as a back up and try and work him in more and more as the season goes on. I know you don’t have to say it, Bernard Scott will be 27 but he is also still on his rookie contract.

Patriots

A Motivated Moss? Look Out!

Which Tom Brady will we see the 2007 version or the 2009 version?

Brady is now two full years removed from his devastating knee injury. The usual time table for a full recovery from this type of injury is two years. While the Patriots run game is led by nobody, it is still a very effective weapon. I still hate the fact that the Patriots load up the line to let everyone know they are running the ball. The Pats drafted two TEs this spring and both have been pleasant surprises. Randy Moss is playing for a contract, and appears to be super motivated this year to cash in another big check. I know we have him ranked high but a motivated Randy is worth an extra 3 or four touchdowns alone. Welker might not be a 100% but the Pats will gladly take him at 70%. Brandon Tate appears ready to take the leap into fantasy relevance(Waiver Wire Alert) and then there is the poor man’s Wes Welker, Julian Edleman. Brady has the weapons and the motivation to put up better numbers than 2009. By the way his numbers were better than you think.

Who is going to tote the rock for the Patriots?

The short answer is who cares. I’m being serious, the only way fantasy nation will care is if four of the five Patriot RBs get hurt. That way you at least have a 50% chance of being right. Maroney is the best option because he has the most skills if he could ever put it all together. Taylor is a dinosaur, Morris is good for a 3 or 4 game tease before inevitably going down. Kevin Faulk is only an option in deep PPR leagues. Like I said who cares.

Will Wes Welker return to his pre-injury form this year?

A Knee tear is not an easy injury to comeback from. Welker is not built for speed, he is built to make cuts which requires a healthy knee. The good news is Welker is a stud and has come back much faster than anyone should have come back. He has already said his knee doesn’t feel good, but that won’t keep him on the field. The Pats would be wise to use him sparingly in the early part of the season limiting his snaps as he regains strength. After all Welker is no good to his team or fantasy owners if he peaks by week 6.

How many touchdowns will Randy Moss have?

I can’t remember the last time Moss participated this much during the exhibition season. He is a man on a mission to get one last pay day. Whether he gets a contract from the Patriots or another team next year, he knows he has a ton to prove despite his super solid numbers. Randy appeared to Cadillac towards the end of the season and that is something no one likes to see. Now with a fire lit under his butt, we are expecting huge things from him this year. My final guess. 15

Panthers Vs Giants 1 P.M.

Panthers

Smith Clicked With Matt Moore At The End Of Last Season

Can DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart continue to thrive in this two back system?

Smash and Dash, Thunder and Lightning I don’t care what you call them. Just know that Williams is always playing for his job, and Jonathan Stewart is playing for Williams job. Despite the time share both backs have been borderline RB1s,very solid RB2s. JStew has averaged 10 touchdowns a season in his first two years. Both backs will see 200+ carries as long as both are healthy.

Is Matt Moore the answer at QB?

I’ll tell you what he isn’t. Jake Delhomme. Moore threw the same amount of touchdown passes despite attempting almost 200 less passes. I think Paul said it best last season. I would trust Delhomme to cut my lawn. No words have rung more true. Moore looks to benefit from an improved WR corps and two healthy stud running backs. Moore also has rookie Jimmy Clausen breathing down his neck. It’s Moore’s job to lose, and the expectations can’t be too high following up Delhomme’s impersonation of an NFL QB.

Is Steve Smith still a WR1?

Even though he has now become the “other” Steve Smith. He was the original Steve Smith in the first place until the other Steve Smith on the Giants blew up last year. All the while Carolina’s Steve Smith was held hostage by Delhomme and his gang of a thousand interceptions. No this isnt meant to make you dizzy. I did have to write and re-write that part about five minutes.Hold on I need to close my eyes.  Smith was the victim of brutal QB play and his number suffered as a result. Smith did his to not criticize his QB even though his frustration was obvious. With a new starting QB and better receiving options across from him I expect his number to return to above the 1,000 yard barrier and over 10 touchdowns.

Is there a legit option at the other WR spot?

Dwayne Jarrett is not the answer that is for sure. We like Brandon LaFell who was a victim of a new QB his senior year. His numbers suffered as did his draft selection. He is 6’2″ and a solid 210 pounds that can bloom under the tutelage of Steve Smith. Smith might have a temper but he is a hard working WR. Lafell has solid hands, good route running skills and decent speed for a big man.

Giants

What Is Jacobs Role?

Are the Giants going to pass as much as they did last year?

I know people don’t want to hear it but the Giants only threw as much as the did last year because they had to. The Giants defense was awful. The run game wasn’t much better. Yes Bradshaw was a breath of fresh air but Jacobs and his 3 yards and a cloud of dust constantly put the Giants 2nd and long and 3rd and long. None of these things got exposed because the Giants had a pretty cushy schedule the first five weeks of last season. In order for the G-Men to be successful this year they have to establish the run and their defense has to improve. I think the have done enough to this off season to make this happen. Sorry Eli I hope had you fun in the 4,000 yard club, maybe next year in 2011.

Will Bradshaw be the starter all year?

I like Bradshaw I think he provides a great change of pace to Jacobs smash mouth style. What he doesn’t bring is the ability to bring physicality (going to have to look that one up)to the run game.  Will Bradshaw have more touches than Jacobs? As long as he is healthy yes. More yards? Yup. Touchdowns? Probably not.

How will Brandon Jacobs respond as the back up?

Hopefully completely ticked off. Jacobs is important to the Giants and their success. He is a load to bring down and punishes the opposing defense for just trying to take him down. Jacobs was dinged up last year, and he wasn’t running with his patented high knees which made him easier to take down. If you fix those two items and add in a pinch of pissed off, Jacobs could be a 10+ touchdown beast.

Can Nicks take the next step?

I love Nicks a ton, I thought he was a stud at UNC and I was pleasantly surprised as his progress as a rookie. He was able to fully wrest away the starting job away from Mario Manningham for opposite Steve Smith. I like him to build on his impressive rookie year but a few things will dampen his stats. One the Giants will look to pass more. Two Nicks seemed to make most of his plays when he was on the field with Smith and Manningham at the same time, which of things go well for the Giants will occur less than they did last season. Will Nicks become a better WR? No doubt. Will his number jump up? Not as high as you are expecting.

Falcons Vs. Steelers 1 P.M.

Falcons

Are the Falcons really going to limit Turner’s touches this year?

If by limit you mean 300+ touches, then yes. Turner will get 300+ touches and the Falcons would be wise to make sure that number doesn’t go over 320 for health factors alone. Turner’s numbers suffered due to injury. Injuries happen all the time especially for at the runningback spot. Before going down he was well on his way to another career year and I know there weren’t idiots out there saying the curse of 359 when he had 10 touchdowns halfway through the season. Turner slid in drafts because people bought into the hype machine.

Will Matty Ryan rebound from his sophomore slump?

Ryan’s poor year can be attributed to a few things. One the loss of Turner made Ryan see a lot less 8 man fronts. Two the Falcons defense was torched so often that it could have been arrested for arson. Three. When you have to talk your self into believing that Michael Jenkins is a solid WR, well my friends you are in trouble. With Turner gone, Tony Gonzalez effectiveness was dampened in the passing game. Will the former Boston College Eagle signal caller rebound statistically? He sure will. Does he need a some help? Of course he does what QB doesn’t need help, right Donovan McNabb?

Is there anyone opposite Roddy White to take the pressure off of him?

No there really isn’t. Harry Douglas might be able to if he can finally stay healthy but the biggest boost to the WRs is the return of Turner.

Are The Falcons defense really a sleeper Defense?

I wouldn’t go that far. Their Run defense was top 10 last season. Their secondary on the other hand was a liability which led to the free agent signing of CB Dunta Robinson from the Texans. That move alone would boost their potential pass defense rank up 5 spots.

Steelers

Can Pittsburgh keep its head above water while Big Ben is out?

The good news is the schedule is a more than manageable through the first four games with Atlanta,Tennessee,Tampa and rival Baltimore. The bad news is second year QB Dennis Dixon is hardly ready for prime time and the opposing defensive coordinators will throw everything including the kitchen sink at him.

Will Mendenhall break out this year?

I would have felt much better making this prediction if Big Ben wasn’t serving a suspension for being an idiot. Mendenhall looks primed to break out this year. The loss Roethlisberger will hurt for the first four weeks. The Steelers will want to run the ball all day to take as much pressure off of Dixon. Opposing defenses will know this and stack the box and dare Dixon to beat them. All bets are off though if Mendenhall survives all of the defensive attention that is coming his way.

How much will the Steeler receivers numbers suffer over the first four games?

As much as I like Wallace,Ward and Miller, they are almost a stay away during Ben’s suspension. I don’t have as much faith in Dixon or Batch’s ability to be effective through the air thus negating any potential the Steelers receivers have as pass catchers.

Will Mike Wallace’s numbers suffer now that he is a starting WR

For the fear of overkilling the Dixon factor I will just mention that is one of my concerns about Wallace’s potential this season. The other is the curse of the Steelers WR3.  Antwaan Randle El and Nate Washington both were the WR3s for the Steelers before parlaying their success into a new contract. With Holmes traded to the Jets that leaves Wallace to step into the vacated receiver spot opposite Hines Ward. Wallace has talent but will he able to torch the starting cornerbacks instead of the nickel and dime backs. His numbers should increase just by being on the field more. Will he meet the high expectations that are being set for him? Probably not.

To Be Continued…..