Fantasy Football Week 1: 5 Games with Greatest Fantasy Impact

A great deal of what goes into fantasy football is dealing with the matchups that each week delivers.

Occasionally, your stud quarterback will go up against a defense with plenty of holes in the secondary. That's a matchup that could single-handedly win you the week. 

In a couple games a week, there will also be studs that go head-to-head. Some games will have two quarterbacks dueling it out, others a No.1 receiver against a No. 1 running back. These are the games that most fantasy owners have their eyes on.

As we head into Week 1 of the NFL regular season, these are the five most important games from a fantasy standpoint.  

Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

The quarterback play might be awful in this game, but running backs Chris Johnson and Maurice Jones-Drew should make up for it. 

Both teams figure to run the ball heavily in this game, as Matt Hasselbeck is still adjusting to playing in Tennessee and Luke McCown is scheduled to start for the Jaguars. 

That's a good thing for owners of CJ2K and MJD. They'll get plenty of opportunities in Week 1 to thank their owners for drafting them with their first-round pick, and I'd expect to both to have big performances.

100 yards and a couple of scores from both Johnson and Jones-Drew might be the only highlights we see from this AFC South matchup. 

Minnesota Vikings vs. San Diego Chargers

When the Vikings and Chargers face off Sunday, expect two very different styles of offense to be on display—with studs leading their respective offensive outputs.

The Vikings plan on featuring the running game, which appears to be a safe bet with Adrian Peterson in the backfield. Don't forget: Back in 2007, Peterson ran for an NFL record 296 yards against the Chargers in a Vikings win. He won't match that again, but you should expect a big output from AP.

The Chargers are completely the opposite on offense, as they rely heavily on quarterback Phillip Rivers to move the ball down the field. Rivers threw for over 4,700 yards last season and 30 touchdowns and will be expected to shoulder the majority of the load for San Diego's explosive offense.

He'll have fellow fantasy studs Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates to throw the ball too.  

Atlanta Falcons vs. Chicago Bears

The Falcons-Bears matchup figures to display the potential for big fantasy points from nearly all the major position groups.

Atlanta satisfies the most, with Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez as legitimate fantasy options. Turner may struggle against the Bears defense, but the Falcons' passing attack should be tough to stop.

The Bears offer Jay Cutler and Matt Forte as solid fantasy options on offense, but it's their defense and special teams that will have my eye. Chicago has one of the better defensive units in the NFL and their special teams can turn out points in a hurry. Despite the new kickoff rules, they are a must start.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. St. Louis Rams

The Eagles steal the show in this game, as most owners will be watching how the likes of Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson fare in their first showing of the 2011 season. Vick has been a high fantasy pick and both McCoy and Jackson are solid options as No. 2's at their position. 

However, don't sleep on the Rams. Sam Bradford is primed to breakout as a fantasy option this season, and Steven Jackson remains a workhorse running back. Tight end Lance Kendricks is a fantastic sleeper option who you could find late in your drafts or on the waiver wire. 

Still, most will concentrate on Vick, who leads the fastest and most explosive in the NFL. They'll be fun to watch on the turf at the Edwards Jones Dome. 

New Orleans Saints vs. Green Bay Packers

It's the crown jewel of the NFL's opening slate and far-and-away the most important fantasy football game of the week.

The Packers, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, receiver Greg Jennings and tight end Jermichael Finley, present top options at all three positions.

The Saints boast explosive fantasy options of their own. Drew Brees is an elite fantasy quarterback, and Marques Colston, Mark Ingram and Jimmy Graham are all solid plays in any week they are healthy.

Overall, there is no game with more fantasy impact in Week 1 than Packers-Saints. It's a great way to open both the NFL and fantasy football seasons.