Rogers’ Report
Coming to you LIVE from Hermosa Beach, the Rogers’ Report will feature fantasy football information ranging from ‘starts’ and ‘sits’ to player rankings. Here’s how we’re breaking it down for Week 1:
Part 1 – Starts and Sits – Obviously if you have the Drew Brees’ and Larry Fitzgerald’s of the world, you’d have to be a fool to bench those guys. The insight below highlights players who you may not start some weeks but are a solid play in others based on match-up, injuries and/or weather.
Part 2 – Free Agent Play of the Week – There’s always that guy on the free agent wire that blows up and you think to yourself “Damn, I wish I knew to pick him up.” Well, look no further than the Rogers’ Report. We’ll give you that guy!
NOTE: Week 1 of a new season is where we found 2008’s stars such as Eddie Royal. Be careful though – for every Royal there’s a Dante Rosario (Week 1 of 2008: 7 catches, 96 yards and a TD, but finished the season with only 18 total catches). Do your research before wasting that top waiver pick.
Part 3 – Big Balla Bust of the Week– Imagine if Tom Brady threw for 300 yards and 3 TD’s every week – hmm, that pretty much happened in 2007 but I digress. For those who aren’t married to Gisele and have multiple Super Bowl rings, there is the rest of the league. The Big Balla Bust of the week will bring you that one guy who just won’t live up to the hype.
Part 4 – Player Rankings
Got it? Good. Let’s get into it:
Starts:
Tim Hightower (RB) – With Beanie Wells out most of the preseason with an injury, Tim Hightower has a firm grip on the starting gig – for now. Although this guy couldn’t beat out the aging Edgerrin James last season, preseason reports have been positive and Hightower hasn’t been dancing at the line like last season. He’ll take on an average San Francisco run defense that allowed 14 rushing TD’s in 2008. With goal line carries a strength of TIMMY, expect him to punch in a score.
Julius Jones (RB) – So you’re looking at the team you just drafted and as you roll through your starters and hit your bench, you eye Julius Jones. You start to feel a little queasy. But fear not! In the fantasy world of RBBC’s, this guy’s on par to get 200+ carries as long as Edgerrin James is just held to goal line duties. This week Jones has the Rams in Seattle. With the fact that 1) the Rams are a poor run D team 2) Seattle is at home and 3) Edge is still learning the playbook, when the heck else would you play him? This is the week – give him some work.
Marques Colston (WR)– Remember in 2006 when Marques Colston had TE eligibility in Yahoo leagues? How awesome was that if you had him and how pissed off were you if you didn’t. Anyways, this week he’ll take on a Lions defense that last season that gave up a whopping 244 yards a game, 24 TD’s only 4 INTs. Yikes. Colston should lead the attack with 100+ and a score or 2. Start him with confidence.
Sits:
Jonathan Stewart (RB) – For us non-professional athletes, imagine trying to take a test without studying 20 days beforehand. How do you think you’d do? Well, John Stewart is trying to suit-up for Week 1 after not practicing for 20+ days. How do you think he’ll do? Probably about as well as Brick did in Anchorman attempting to court Veronica Corningstone. Yeah, leave him on your bench this week vs. Philly.
Knowshon Moreno (RB) – The Broncos take on the Bungles and it may be one of the few games that they could actually win. But if you start Knowshon Moreno this week, you probably won’t be winning anything. The rookie from Georgia is admitting he’s not at full speed, so look for a time share between him, Correll Buckhalter and Peyton Hillis. It’s a tasty match-up against Cincy, but there’s too many cooks in the kitchen this week – let the rook heal up a bit.
Roy E. Williams (WR) – Wondering what the “E” stands for? Me too, so I looked it up. It’s Eugene. Anyways, Williams takes on the Bucs in Tampa this week. The “Tampa 2″ only allowed 199 yards through the air last season and Roy is coming off a close call with his collar bone during the preseason. Look for him to put up a dud in Week 1.
Free Agent Play of the Week:
Mike Bell (RB2 or Flex)– If you’re in a situation where you already need to pick up a free agent in Week 1, get the dues check to your league GM, then pack your bags and go home. Ironically though, I just drafted a team with MJD, Knowshon Moreno, James Davis, Jamal Charles, and Fred Jackson. You can see I’m playing for Davis and Charles to overtake Jamal Lewis and Larry Johnson respectively – it’s just not in the cards for Week 1. So who do I play? Mike Bell – he’s playing the woeful Lions at home and Pierre Thomas doesn’t look like he’s going to give it a go-skee. Reggie Bush is still banged up, but will play. Expect 15-20 carries from Bell as the Saints pour it on. I’m taking my own advice and picking up Bell. You should too.
Big Balla’ Bust of the Week:
Andre Johnson – As a current owner of Johnson, this one is hard to swallow – although nothing could be as bad as his performance in last season’s fantasy playoffs (Week 16 – 2 catches for 19 yards vs. the Raiders, thank you AJ). Anyone else have him then? It felt real good when he put up 10 catches, 148 yards, and 2 TD’s in Week 17 when it didn’t count. This week, he faces my Jets and Darrelle Revis, one of the top corners in the league. Our new mastermind Rex Ryan will find ways to double with Kerry Rhodes and Jim Leonhard patrolling the secondary. While AJ may get his catches, don’t expect the Week 17 numbers from last season. After Week 1, please return to stud status….
Top 10 QB’s:
- Drew Brees vs. Detroit
- Tom Brady vs. Buffalo
- Kurt Warner vs. San Francisco
- Matt Hasselbeck vs. St. Louis
- Peyton Manning vs. Jacksonville
- Aaron Rodgers vs. Chicago
- Phil Rivers vs. Oakland
- Donovan McNabb vs. Carolina
- Carson Palmer vs. Denver
- Matt Schaub vs. NY Jets
Top 10 RB’s (PPR):
- Maurice Jones-Drew vs. Indianapolis
- Adrian Peterson vs. Cleveland
- Matt Forte vs. Green Bay
- Steven Jackson vs. Seattle
- Kevin Smith vs. New Orleans
- DeAngelo Williams vs. Philadelphia
- Frank Gore vs. Arizona
- Ronnie Brown vs. Atlanta
- Michael Turner vs. Miami
- Brian Westbrook vs. Carolina
Top 10 WR’s (PPR):
- Larry Fitzgerald vs. San Francisco
- Randy Moss vs. Buffalo
- Steve Smith vs. Philadelphia
- Calvin Johnson vs. New Orleans
- Greg Jennings vs. Chicago
- Reggie Wayne vs. Jacksonville
- Andre Johnson vs. NY Jets
- Roddy White vs. Miami
- Marques Colston vs. Detroit
- Chad Ochocinco vs. Denver
Top 10 TE’s (PPR):
- Jason Witten vs. Tampa Bay
- Dallas Clark vs. Jacksonville
- Antonio Gates vs. Oakland
- Zach Miller vs. San Diego
- Greg Olsen vs. Green Bay
- Tony Gonzalez vs. Miami
- Dustin Keller vs. Houston
- Owen Daniels vs. NY Jets
- John Carlson vs. St. Louis
- Jeremy Shockey vs. Detroit
Top 10 Defenses
- Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City
- Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland
- San Diego Chargers vs. Oakland
- New York Giants vs. Redskins
- New England Patriots vs. Buffalo
- Seattle Seahawks vs. St. Louis
- Philadelphia Eagles vs. Carolina
- Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay
- Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco
- New York Jets vs. Houston
