Fantasy Football Week 1: Could Jay Cutler Surprise on NFL's Opening Weekend?

After last season’s finish, which saw Jay Cutler’s toughness come into question, 2011 comes with a sack full of questions.

Cutler’s yardage dropped, but considering the weapons he had at his disposal, that shouldn’t come as a shock. Along with the yardage drop, Cutler saw his interceptions drop and his TD-to-INT ratio improve.

His passer rating improved to 86.3, which is more in line with his career numbers than his forgettable 2009 season. His completion percentage remained about 60 percent and he ran for a career-high 232 yards.

Of course, he was sacked 52 times after being sacked 86 times in his first four seasons in the league. See how tough you are after taking that kind of beating.

Martz is still his coordinator, so expect the sacks to continue. That’s just how things go in his offense. He puts a lot of pressure on the Bears offensive line.

Without quality receivers, Cutler could see more drops and “excusable” interceptions. Gone are the days of considering Cutler a QB1.

However, he will have his moments. Cutler was much better at home last year than away, averaging 251.9 yard and 1.75 touchdowns. On the road, he averaged 179.9 yards and 1.29 touchdowns.

That is where he’s facing Atlanta.

The Falcons ranked 22nd against the pass last year with a 226.6 YPG average. They were middle-of-the road with 23 passing touchdowns allowed.

With their desire to open the playbook this year and convert to a more pass-oriented team, they do open their defense up to fatigue. They won’t grind the ball out as much to control the clock.

I’m not saying this is an ideal matchup for Cutler this week, but if you are in a Peyton Manning bind, there are worse alternatives this week.

Also check out

• Week 1 Fantasy QB Rankings
• Week 1 Fantasy RB Rankings
• Week 1 Fantasy WR Rankings
• Week 1 Fantasy TE Ranking
• Week 1 Start/Sit