QB Derek Anderson, CLE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Do not take this as a ringing endorsement whatsoever, but Anderson did come in off of the bench for an ineffective Charlie Frye in the second quarter and finished the game against the Steelers. If you really need a spot QB, Anderson could be that guy in a deep league as he could be running the show until Quinn is ready (which could be sooner rather than later if the QB play doesn't improve).

QB Kellen Clemens, NYJ - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Chad Pennington limped off of the field in Sunday's game versus the New England Patriots and was sacked four times on Sunday. He came back after injury, but Kellen Clemens is a guy to upgrade due to Pennington's injury. In the preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, Pennington threw three interceptions that were run back for scores, so he has struggled mightily lately. Many in the Big Apple will soon be calling for the youngster to start. With the two solid starting receivers, Coles and Cotchery, Clemens could be a viable fantasy quarterback.

QB Jake Delhomme, CAR - It looks like the Panthers new offensive zone blocking scheme has paid early dividends so far. Jake Delhomme has quieted his critics so far with a three-TD performance to open the season. Don't forget this is a QB that averages 3400 yards and 24 TDs a year.

QB David Garrard, JAX - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - With the release of Byron Leftwich, many people were anxious to see what David Garrard would bring to the table. Although Garrard didn't lead the team to victory, he displayed great poise and leadership in an decent outing (204 yards and a TD pass). He's someone to watch in the coming weeks, but he may have some difficulty with Champ Bailey and the Broncos on the road in week three.

QB Jon Kitna, DET - Kitna had just another day at the office versus the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. He had 36 pass attempts but was accurate, completing 27 (75%) for 289 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. The Lions lined up in a four-receiver set for much of the game and Kitna was able to find his targets.

QB Jared Lorenzen, NYG - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Jared Lorenzen is not an exciting option, but he merits an upgrade based on the injured throwing shoulder of Eli Manning. There are conflicting reports regarding the severity of the injury, but it appears that Lorenzen will get at least a start or two in the coming weeks.

QB Peyton Manning, IND - If you can upgrade Manning any more, do it thanks to a stunning second half against the Saints that gave him an opening week stat line of 18 completions on 30 attempts for 288 yards and three TDs. Strength of schedule doesn't really affect Manning, play him with total confidence.

QB Josh McCown, OAK - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Josh McCown came almost from nowhere and turned in one of the quietest big games in recent memory. He completed 75% of his passes, tossed two TDs, and finished with 313 yards through the air, but you don't hear anyone talking about him. Of course he was facing the Lions, so the numbers don't look too spectacular. However, the Browns will come to town in week three, so he has the potential to post another quality fantasy outing (assuming his sprained index finger is fine of course).

QB Brady Quinn, CLE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Yes, the Browns played two QBs and neither was named Brady Quinn. Still, he merits the upgrade due to the play of the other signal callers on the roster. The QB play for Cleveland was absolutely horrible in week one. While the Browns have given no indication of making the switch to Quinn, it's pretty obvious that the rookie will get on the field in the fairly near future.

QB Ben Roethlisberger, PIT - Roethlisberger threw for four touchdowns for the first time in his career, and he needed only 23 pass attempts to get there. He completed 12 of his throws (note that 33% were for touchdowns) and amassed just 161 yards against the lowly Cleveland Browns, so while you have to upgrade him and acknowledge the great Week 1, the low yardage total is a bit of a concern. The Steelers' schedule does remain rather friendly (Buffalo, San Francisco, Atlanta and Seattle take Pittsburgh to their Week 6 bye).

QB Tony Romo, DAL - Just when you thought that Romo's ceiling could not go higher, he forces it to do just that. After throwing for four TDs and running in another (to go with 345 passing yards) against the Giants on Sunday Night Football, Romo will likely finish week one as the top NFL QB in the league. Given that there are names like "Peyton Manning" and "Carson Palmer" at the top of most lists, you have to give Romo an uptick here.

QB Matt Schaub, HOU - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - While Schaub did not dazzle the eye in week one (16 completions on 22 attempts for 225 yards and a TD), he did show a few flashes that have us excited. He obviously is working well with the ultra talented Andre Johnson, and we expect him to develop a good rapport with TE Owen Daniels and rookie WR Jacoby Jones. The most important note to remember on Schaub is that week one was only the third start of his career. He is very much a work in progress and should improve as the season wears on.

Downgrade

QB Drew Brees, NO - Let's be honest, Drew Brees did not have a very good game (192 yards, zero TDs, and two INTs on 41 attempts) against the Colts on Thursday night. However, we don't think this is a situation to worry about. The Colts did not give up anything deep, which forced Brees into short-range passes and changed the whole approach to his game plan. That said, if his slow start continues next week on the road at Tampa Bay, then there may be cause for concern. At the moment, we are only backing off a bit.

QB Daunte Culpepper, OAK - We figured to see Culpepper take the reigns quickly this season in Oakland, but he might have missed his chance. With Josh McCown playing well and JaMarcus Russell very close to signing, there may be no room for Culpepper to get on the field. He can't mind the store until Russell is ready because McCown is doing that. And he can't build for the future after the season is lost because that is Russell's role. Sadly, it appears Culpepper has no role now. Of course, if McCown's sprained index finger turns into a serious injury, Culpepper will get on the field.

QB Charlie Frye, CLE - Frye started week one but was yanked out of the lineup before halftime. His numbers were not good and included an interception, and he may not get the start in week two. With both Derek Anderson and rookie Brady Quinn looming, you should stay far away from Frye.

QB Joey Harrington, ATL - Harrington was pressured all game from the Minnesota defense and he made some poor decisions as a result, including two INTs that were both returned for TDs. We also aren't very impressed that he couldn't even reach the 200-yard mark despite tossing 32 passes. Perhaps against a weaker defense he'll be able to move the ball better. However, he gets a slight downgrade this week, until he shows more of what he did in the preseason.

QB J.P. Losman, BUF - The Bills had a tough match up for their passing game Sunday against the Denver Broncos, but few would have expected J.P. Losman to have less than 100 yards passing and zero touchdowns. Losman finished with 14 completions in 21 attempts for 97 yards and an interception. That is ugly no matter who you are playing.

QB Eli Manning, NYG - Despite Eli Manning's stellar performance, he cannot be elevated to "Upgrade" status due to a shoulder injury that could keep him out for some time. Information is conflicted right now, but he was seen on the sidelines getting his right (throwing) shoulder worked on in the second half. Manning did throw a TD after the injury but failed to finish the game. One report has him with a sprained throwing shoulder, while another claims it is separated. Either way, it looks like Manning will miss some time.

QB Chad Pennington, NYJ - Pennington has turned in a pitiful preseason but didn't look too bad against the Patriots. However, he turned an ankle and could miss some time. To add insult to his injury, Jets fans gave their biggest cheer of the day as Pennington hobbled to the sidelines.

Holding steady

QB Donovan McNabb, PHI - Despite completing fewer than 50% of his attempts in week one, now is not the time to panic. McNabb was mobile within the pocket and moved around in attempts to make more happen downfield, always looking at his receivers to make a big play as he managed to buy that extra second. The timing of the offense will come, and even better news is that there is no sign of his 2006 knee injury.

Running Back

Upgrade

RB Joseph Addai, IND - Joseph Addai was a workhorse in week one with 23 carries for 118 yards and a TD to go with three catches on four targets for 25 yards. Of course he was taken out of the game a tad early due to the blowout against New Orleans, but you have to love 140+ total yards. Just a note of caution though, Addai plays the Titans next week, who held a very potent Jaguars running game to 48 rushing yards from Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor.

RB Chris Brown, TEN - Potentially a waiver wire pick here in smaller leagues that drafted very early in the offseason. If Chris Brown is available, grab him. He averaged 9.2 YPC in week one (175 yards on only 19 carries) against what was considered to be a great Jaguars run defense. The only negative is that he's still sharing carries with LenDale White. Brown is the faster, stronger and more disciplined back. If week one is any indication of the season, then Brown is the Titans RB to have this year. Provided he stays healthy.

RB Jesse Chatman, MIA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Most fantasy owners prematurely dismissed Jesse Chatman as ever getting a chance to prove his worth with the Miami Dolphins. But, his previous coach, Cam Cameron, brought him to the Dolphins. He is a versatile back and finished with eight receiving targets. Chatman only had seven carries for 15 rushing yards but made up for it with six receptions for 48 receiving yards. Chatman looks to be a big part of the Dolphins offense going forward as he will be splitting time with Ronnie Brown in the backfield.

RB Najeh Davenport, PIT - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Davenport saw lots of work in the third down role in week one, racking up four first downs on his eight carries. With a 17 yard catch, Davenport finished with nine touches and 60 total yards and established himself as the secondary RB option for Pittsburgh. He also saw time late in the game as the Steelers utilized Davenport to run out the clock in the fourth quarter.

RB Reuben Droughns, NYG - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Droughns was used exclusively as the fullback for the Giants, but that could change now that starter Brandon Jacobs will miss three to five weeks with a sprained MCL. Derrick Ward is the #2 tailback and Droughns was working well at FB so he stayed there Sunday night after Jacobs was injured. But with a week to prepare, Droughns could get some looks at tailback.

RB Warrick Dunn, ATL - Dunn was clearly the primary ball carrier for Atlanta this week as he had 22 carries (for 55 yards against the tough Vikings defense) compared to Jerious Norwood's five rushes. Dunn was also targeted five times in the passing game. At this time it doesn't look like there will be a changing of the guard at RB. Slight upgrade for Dunn as a result.

RB DeShaun Foster, CAR - Although Foster had a good game (17 carries for 94 yards), so did DeAngelo Williams. That said, Foster continues to be the starting RB, so he has more value than the spot where most people drafted him at this year. However, the RBBC with Williams will keep both from being nice fantasy options.

RB Travis Henry, DEN - Henry erased any concerns over the knee injury that limited his work during the preseason. Henry ran hard, carrying the ball 23 times for 139 yards and adding another 44 yards on three receptions (six targets). The Broncos' offensive line opened holes in the running game the way we've all come to expect in the Broncos' running game, and Henry looks like he'll easily be a top ten RB this year.

RB LaMont Jordan, OAK - Jordon was heavily involved in the Raiders' offense in week one, getting 15 carries and 9 receptions for 159 total yards from scrimmage. The Raiders' offensive line looked much improved over last year's group, and Jordan may have some decent running room this year. He was also featured in the passing game, like he was in 2005. Plus he's got three more weeks before Dominic Rhodes is back.

RB Kenton Keith, IND - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Kenton Keith gained 32 yards on five carries and looks to be a very serviceable handcuff to Addai, if he's not on your radar, he should be. He's worth picking up for you Addai owners.

RB Marshawn Lynch, BUF - A rookie back who looked good in week one was Marshawn Lynch. He had 19 carries for 90 yards and added two receptions for nine yards. There were concerns he might be eased into the offense slowly sharing time early on with Anthony Thomas. That wasn't the case as Thomas only saw three carries for minus 1 yards. Lynch look to be the focal point of the offense against a stout Bronco defense and played very well for his first game in the NFL regular season.

RB Sammy Morris, NE - Morris played much more than Maroney owners would have liked. The reserve from Texas Tech had 11 carries for 54 rushing yards and added 2 catches for 11 more yards. Morris also has the added value of being the feature back if anything happens to the young Maroney. Morris is a valuable back to stash on your bench.

RB Adrian Peterson, MIN - Peterson had a HUGE first game. The rookie from Oklahoma had 19 carries for 103 yards and added one pass reception for a 60-yard score. He looked big, strong, and electrifying. With the injury to Chester Taylor, Peterson was able to carry the full load and look awesome. On his touchdown reception, Peterson showed good elusiveness and tremendous speed.

RB Adrian Peterson, CHI - The "other" Adrian Peterson is a guy that might get more opportunities in 2007 than many realize. In Sunday's game against the Chargers, Peterson had 7 carries for 38 yards. That is not bad at all against such a tough defense. Cedric Benson looked decent, but nothing spectacular at all.

RB Michael Pittman, TB - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Upgrade Michael Pittman due to the injury to Cadillac Williams. If Williams will miss any time, Michael Pittman and potentially Earnest Graham will benefit. Pittman had five receptions on eight targets, and if called upon to be the main ball carrier, he might even garner a fantasy start. He has a nice schedule coming up against New Orleans and then St. Louis. Watch the Cadillac Williams injury situation closely as Pittman could be a nice play if he'll get any starts with Cadillac Williams missing time.

RB Derrick Ward, NYG - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Ward became the tailback option for the Giants after Brandon Jacobs left the game with a knee injury. Ward finished with 89 yards on 13 carries. Jacobs will miss three to five weeks with a sprained MCL, so it could be Ward's big chance to shine. Ward could battle FB Reuben Droughns for playing time if the team feels Droughns would be better suited at the tailback spot. But expect Ward to get first shot to produce.

Downgrade

RB Reggie Bush, NO - Bush's 45 total yards on only 16 touches warrants a slight downgrade, especially for those of you in non-PPR leagues. The Colts defense played extremely well and likely would have hog tied any RB they faced last Thursday night. That said, Bush was likely drafted as your RB1 and another less than stellar performance, combined with the fact that he is in a RBBC with Deuce McAllister and we're souring slightly. Also, this disappointing performance reminds us that Bush is prone to these type of games.

RB T.J. Duckett, DET - Duckett was playing pretty well before leaving Sunday's game with a sprained ankle injury. In the absence of Kevin Jones, Duckett had a role for short yardage and goal line. His window of opportunity is slowly closing as Jones nears his comeback.

RB Steven Jackson, STL - Jackson played somewhat poorly this weekend, fumbling twice and catching only one of the seven passes thrown his way -- but that is not the reason for the downgrade. The reason for the downgrade is the injury to left tackle Orlando Pace. More news will be forthcoming, but early reports indicate that Pace could miss substantial time, possibly the rest of the season. Jackson finished with 58 yards on 18 carries, and added another three yards on his only reception. He's still an elite player, but the loss of Pace hurts.

RB Brandon Jacobs, NYG - Jacobs got hit on his right knee in an awkward fashion (struck from the outside, and the knee buckled inwards), and he will miss three to five weeks with a sprained MCL. Jacobs was replaced by the even less experienced Derrick Ward in the backfield as Reuben Droughns remained in the fullback role. Droughns may work himself into the starting lineup if Jacobs is out for an extended period.

RB Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX - Jones-Drew averaged 4.5 YPC, but he didn't get many attempts (seven carries for 32 yards to go with three catches for 28 yards on four targets). That fact alone, leads to a downgrade for him this week. Expectations for a similar season to 2006 might have to be tempered. Like Reggie Bush, Jones-Drew is still very much a part of a RBBC, which is not good for your RB1 or RB2.

RB Jamal Lewis, CLE - Lewis had just 11 carries and failed to score with two of them from inside the Steelers' five-yard line. Adding insult to injury, he fumbled with the score just 10-0 Pittsburgh. Lewis only added two catches to his paltry totals, logging just 11 receiving and 35 rushing. He did nothing to revitalize the Cleveland ground game and the anemic passing attack did little to open up lanes for him. With games against Baltimore, New England and Miami on the horizon in Weeks 4-6, Lewis has little upside.

RB Deuce McAllister, NO - Like Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister was stuffed by the Colts defense and mustered only 38 yards on ten carries. Seeing as how the Indianapolis defense looked like it did during their Super Bowl run, we're almost willing to give McAllister a pass here, but we must downgrade a bit based on the overall pitiful performance by the New Orleans offense.

RB Jerious Norwood, ATL - Although Norwood produced when called upon (6.6 YPC and 57 total yards), he wasn't a big factor in the offense at all (only five carries and a two receptions). It is still Warrick Dunn's role as the Falcons primary ball carrier.

RB Willie Parker, PIT - There's nothing wrong with Parker, but Najeh Davenport saw more work than expected replacing Parker on third downs. This could cut into the playing time some had projected for Parker. Davenport also was used in the fourth quarter as the Steelers wanted to control the clock with the lead in hand. Definitely don't panic, but it's a slight downgrade for Parker.

RB Chester Taylor, MIN - Taylor left the game against the Atlanta Falcons with a hip injury. This, combined with the productive game by Adrian Peterson, gives Taylor a downgrade.

RB Fred Taylor, JAX - The Jaguars ground game really struggled. Taylor and Jones-Drew only managed 48 rushing yards combined, but Taylor was hardly used (six rushes for 16 yards). If this continues, you will have no choice but to change your expectations for the Jaguars rushing game this year. Hopefully this is just a bad game. If they can't produce above average numbers against Atlanta next week, there is reason for concern.

RB LenDale White, TEN - White had a decent day as his rushed 18 times for 66 yards (while catching both of his targets). However, the big game from Chris Brown decreases the value of White. White should still get short yardage and goal line carries, but if Brown can bust the long run consistently, you'll see less and less of LenDale White.

RB Cadillac Williams, TB - Williams had a strong first half, rushing for 56 yards on 11 carries, but a hit to the ribs forced him to leave the game and he did not return. Until we know more about the severity of the injury and how long (if at all) he might be out, Williams deserves a cautious downgrade.

RB DeAngelo Williams, CAR - With DeShaun Foster still ahead of him as the starting RB, keep your expectations at bay. The Panthers as a whole rushed for 182 yards (Williams gained 62 of them on 15 carries), and that should not go unnoticed. However, Williams will still have to share time with Foster as coach John Fox is slow to get away from the veterans.

Holding steady

RB Brandon Jackson, GB - Jackson had a decent, balanced game for the Green Bay Packers. He ended the game against the tough Eagle defense with 15 carries for 40 yards and 4 catches for 35 yards. However, he was far from spectacular and does not appear to be a special player. It is too soon to tell if the starting job will be Jackson's or the injured Vernand Morency. It feels like a healthy Morency will get a shot.

RB Larry Johnson, KC - Johnson's workload was limited, as he carried the ball only ten times in week one. He ran hard, however, and showed no ill effects from his extended holdout. He gained 43 yards on his ten carries, and added another 44 yards on seven receptions (eight targets). The Chiefs are going to have to get Johnson the ball more often to stay competitive in games, and with additional opportunities will come additional fantasy points.

RB Clinton Portis, WAS - Portis started for the Redskins and finished just two yards shy of 100 yards rushing. He had 17 carries and a nice looking touchdown, averaging well over five yards a carry. If he can put together another solid performance, then we'll upgrade him to a solid RB starter.

Wide Receiver

Upgrade

WR Jason Avant, PHI - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Avant secured his role as the third receiver option for the Eagles, catching three balls on four targets including a nice touchdown reception where he had to lunge across the goal line. Once Philadelphia starts to throw more, Avant should be a beneficiary of the increased action.

WR Bernard Berrian, CHI - Berrian seemed to be the only receiver Rex Grossman looked to for a big play. Berrian will be a free agent in 2008 and seems to have something he wants to prove. Against a stiff Charger defense, Berrian had five receptions for 83 yards on ten targets. He easily was Grossman's favorite target and not Muhsin Muhammad, who only had one catch for eight yards. The torch has been passed.

WR Dwayne Bowe, KC - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Bowe's stat line doesn't look all that impressive -- he caught only three passes for 42 yards and no touchdowns. The reason for the upgrade is that Bowe was featured fairly heavily in the offense after Eddie Kennison left the game, having injured his right hamstring on the Chiefs' first offensive play. If Kennison misses a few games, Bowe will fill in for him and have a chance to become a big part of the Chiefs' offense. He had seven targets against the Texans and could see similar opportunities in the weeks ahead.

WR Plaxico Burress, NYG - Burress had a career night, scoring three touchdowns for the first time in his career. Burress smashed through the 100-yard mark with eight catches on 12 targets for 144 yards. The only downside to his night could be the injury to QB Eli Manning. Manning was zoned in on Burress all evening, so if Manning loses any playing time the targets may go down.

WR Drew Carter, CAR - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - With a stat line of three receptions for 19 yards and a pair of TDs, Carter appears to be the WR2 (he at least is a redzone target) for the Panthers. He's worth a pickup as a WR4, despite the relatively low receiving yards thanks to those two scores.

WR Chris Chambers, MIA - Chambers is a guy that gets tons of looks. He had 13 targets against the Redskins and converted them into six grabs for 92 yards. Chambers did drop his share of passes, but that is the norm for him. He is a playmaker. One of the few the Dolphins have on offense. Trent Green looked for Chambers often. This looks like a trend in the making.

WR Laveranues Coles, NYJ - Coles and Jerricho Cotchery each had good games against a stingy Patriot defense. Coles had seven catches for 59 yards and a pair of scores while Cotchery had six receptions for 57 yards. Both Jet receivers benefit from the injury and lack of success of Thomas Jones. Keep a close watch on the Chad Pennington injury situation.

WR Patrick Crayton, DAL - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Crayton started over the injured Terry Glenn, but he did not get nearly as much attention as TE Jason Witten or WR Terrell Owens. Crayton also returned punts for the Cowboys in addition to collecting 51 yards on three receptions. His lone other target was a deep ball, where he made a valiant catch attempt but fell out of bounds before gaining full possession. Crayton should continue to be looked at by Tony Romo as he starts opposite of Owens going forward for the foreseeable future.

WR Ronald Curry, OAK - There was a question in some people's minds about whether Ron Curry or Jerry Porter would be the Raiders' featured wide receiver this year. Based on the game against the Lions, the answer appears to be Ron Curry. Curry had 11 targets (to Porter's three), and finished with ten receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown. Moreover, Curry appeared to be completely healthy, showing no ill effects from his previous Achilles injuries.

WR Donald Driver, GB - Driver has been nicked up for several weeks. But, he played and played well versus the Philadelphia Eagles. He was getting open, despite being double-teamed, for much of the day. Driver finished with six receptions for 66 yards on 13 targets. His chemistry with Brett Favre is obvious to those watching. It is time to treat Driver as though he is healthy again.

WR Ike Hilliard, TB - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Hilliard appeared to be the Bucs WR2 not Maurice Stovall on Sunday. Stovall wasn't even targeted, while Hilliard took advantage of his six targets, converting two of them for first downs and finishing the day with four receptions for 49 yards. He is a potential wavier wire pick up with a good schedule coming up in the next two weeks against New Orleans and St. Louis (both home games).

WR Torry Holt, STL - Holt did not appear to suffer any ill effects from his offseason knee surgery that was making headlines over the last few weeks. He was targeted 10 times, and converted those targets into 8 catches for 73 yards and a touchdown.

WR Sam Hurd, DAL - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Hurd is the beneficiary of the injury to Terry Glenn as he moves from fourth to third on the WR depth chart. Hurd scored a touchdown of 51 yards on his second of two targets in the shootout against the Giants. He appears to be the main deep threat for the Cowboys. In deep leagues he should be considered as a free agent pickup, but there could be better options out there.

WR Andre Johnson, HOU - Johnson had a strong day on what hopes to be a top-ten season - something he hasn't accomplished before. His week one performance (seven catches for 142 yards and a big 77-yard TD) is a good start to reaching that level. The only thing keeping Johnson from reaching elite WR status is his TD production. Having Matt Schaub behind center might be what Johnson needs to find the endzone with regularity. The emergence of rookie Jacoby Jones will also help Johnson's numbers as defenses will need to give some focus to Jones stretching the field.

WR Calvin Johnson, DET - Many questioned how good Calvin Johnson could be. On Sunday, Johnson showed many why he was so coveted. He had only six targets. But, he made the most of them. Johnson ended with four receptions for 70 yards and a score. Everything looked natural for the rookie, and he seems to have a great future.

WR Brandon Marshall, DEN - Marshall is finally showing his potential. He beat the Bills defense for 52 yards and a nice looking TD on five catches. No, those aren't superlative numbers, but Marshall is clearly a player on the rise.

WR Shaun McDonald, DET - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - McDonald is a name most football fans do not recognize. He followed Mike Martz to the Detroit Lions to be the Lions fourth wide receiver. On Sunday, McDonald had six catches for 90 yards and a score on seven pass targets. If there is an injury to one of the top three receivers, McDonald becomes instantly startable in larger leagues.

WR Randy Moss, NE - Randy Moss played like the old Randy Moss. He had nine catches for 183 yards, and one score. He was the playmaker of old on Sunday. Of his nine grabs, eight went for a first down. In addition, three catches went for over 20 yards. His rapport with Tom Brady looked very good. He was getting open often. With the great passing weapons at Brady's disposal, the defense could not solely focus on Moss.

WR Dennis Northcutt, JAX - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The Jaguars are absolutely desperate for a viable wide receiver, and Northcutt was David Garrard's favorite option against the Titans. Dennis Northcutt finished the game with a final stat line of four receptions for 57 yards. He had nine targets this week and the next closest receiver was TE Marcedes Lewis with 7 targets. If this is a sign of things to come, Northcutt could be a nice addition as a WR4 in the deeper leagues out there.

WR Antwaan Randle El, WAS - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Randle El also had a career game in Week 1, racking up 162 yards on five receptions. Keep in mind the luck factor for his final catch -- 54 yards on a Hail Mary deflection at the end of regulation -- but he still had over 100 yards on his other four catches.

WR Laurent Robinson, ATL - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Keep an eye on rookie Laurent Robinson. Although he wasn't targeted until the third quarter, his first reception was on a first down making the catch on the sideline. Later on the same drive, Robinson picked up another first down making a catch getting just deep enough for the first. Harrington looked to Robinson on the very next third down, making a twelve yard reception on a third and seven. On the downside, he also had a false start penalty.

WR Amani Toomer, NYG - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Toomer seemed to be just fine after losing most of 2006 to a torn knee. He finished with nine catches and 91 yards on 11 targets, which would be the leading receiver for many teams on an average night. Toomer is the clear second receiver for the Giants and was a solid possession receiver, and that doesn't appear to be likely to change any time soon. In point per reception leagues, he is a must grab off of the waiver wire.

WR Javon Walker, DEN - Walker got fewer targets per game with Jay Cutler at QB last year than he did with Jake Plummer at QB, so there was some doubt as to whether Cutler would look in his direction often enough this year to make Walker a legitimate fantasy stud. Those doubts were put to rest on Sunday as Walker was targeted 15 times. He finished with 9 receptions for 119 yards, and should be a huge part of the Broncos' offense all year.

WR Wes Welker, NE - Welker is a great possession receiver who finally gets a top-notch quarterback. Welker finished the game versus the Jets with six receptions for 61 yards and a TD. He is a better option in leagues that give a point per reception. He will catch a few balls every week and will get open. Welker looked to already have chemistry with Brady.

Downgrade

WR Reggie Brown, PHI - Brown felt like the primary receiver for the Eagles coming into week one, but that was not the net result from the game against Green Bay. He did get six targets but converted just one into a 14 yard catch. Philadelphia is well known for spreading the ball around to whomever gets open, but there is cause for concern here.

WR Marques Colston, NO - Drew Brees had 41 passes in the game and only 7 of them went towards Colston (17% target rate). Why should this be a concern? The emergence of Eric Johnson into the offense is taking away short-range targets to Colston. He's not an afterthought by any stretch, but the addition of Johnson will eat into his production.

WR Craig Davis, SD - Davis started but got only two targets against the Bears. Rivers looked mostly to Gates and Tomlinson in the passing game, and when he looked outside it was mostly to Vincent Jackson. Davis is no better than the fourth receiving option on a team that very heavily favors its top two or three, so Davis may not see enough targets to make a fantasy impact this year.

WR Terry Glenn, DAL - Glenn is out with a knee injury for at least two weeks with a knee injury, and the likelihood that it is both season and career threatening rises with each passing day. Grab Patrick Crayton if you still can or consider Sam Hurd, the new third receiver for the Cowboys.

WR Brandon Jones, TEN - We could have downgraded any Tennessee receiver, but Jones gets the mark as he was the guy with the most potential here. There is nothing good to report about the Titans' week-one receiving game, due mostly to the strong running game (those 282 yards rushing will do that to a receiving game). Next week against Indianapolis should change things a bit as the Titans will need to have a viable aerial attack, but you should keep your expectations to a minimum.

WR Santana Moss, WAS - Moss had just three catches despite leading the Redskins in targets with seven. His efforts were plagued by drops and also some inaccurate throws, but 28 yards hardly sounds like a viable primary wide receiver.

WR Muhsin Muhammad, CHI - Muhammad had only one reception for eight yards while his teammate, Bernard Berrian, had five catches and generally looked to be the guy Grossman look to for a big play. Muhammad had only four targets for the game.

WR Jerry Porter, OAK - Porter had only two catches for 26 yards (three targets). McCown seemed to look for Curry first and TE Zach Miller second, with Porter largely an afterthought.

WR Donte Stallworth, NE - Stallworth had just one catch for 19 yards on the day. If Sunday is any indication, Randy Moss and Wes Welker are the receivers to own in New England. With Moss playing like the Moss of old, there simply aren't enough balls to go around making Stallworth an inconsistent threat.

WR Maurice Stovall, TB - Temper your expectations for Stovall (if you had any). He played in the game but wasn't targeted at all. The person to watch is Ike Hilliard right now. Don't give up on Stovall, but his week one performance didn't include him at all.

WR Reggie Williams, JAX - Despite the fact that Jacksonville is woeful at WR, Williams was a healthy inactive for week one. That tells you all you need to know about his value right now.

Holding steady

WR Deion Branch, SEA - Deion Branch was shut out against Tampa Bay, getting just three balls thrown to him with no receptions - what a horrible season debut. Seattle may not have a true WR1 this year, with Branch, Engram, Hackett, and Burleson all in the mix. Meanwhile, TE Marcus Pollard, FB Mack Strong, and RB Shaun Alexander will all be involved in the passing game as well.

WR Braylon Edwards, CLE - Edwards had nine targets, but without a viable (and consistent) option throwing him the ball his value is minimized. He did collect three balls for 49 yards, but he is definitely capable of much more. That said, he had a solid 2006 campaign with terrible QBs on the roster, so there will be some good outings this season.

WR Lee Evans, BUF - Evans had a tough game against the Denver Broncos. However, his performance wasn't a complete shock as the Broncos do have an elite pass defense anchored by Champ Bailey and Dre Bly. Evans finished the game with just two catches for five yards - that is a horrible fantasy stat line. But Evans should not be downgraded for another week or two. He is a top receiver and will bounce back.

WR Vincent Jackson, SD - Jackson had an uninspiring stat line on Sunday, hauling in just three catches for 28 yards and no touchdowns. But his six targets could have easily produced better fantasy numbers, as he was taken down at the two yard line on one reception, and had a ball tipped away at the last second in the end zone on another target. Jackson was Rivers' third most popular target on Sunday, behind Gates and Tomlinson, and should continue to get opportunities in future weeks.

WR Greg Jennings, GB - Jennings had a great rookie campaign in 2006 outside of his injuries. He was injured in practice this week and should be given a couple weeks to get healthy before downgrading him. He should still be the starter when healthy.

Tight End

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TE Eric Johnson, NO - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Here is the only Saints player with an upgrade this week. If he's on the waiver wire, go ahead and grab him, at least for depth. Eric Johnson should continue to see looks in the offense, but we doubt we'll see many more games of eight receptions on nine targets. He was targeted often, because the Colts were giving Brees short passes all night long. In any event, the Saints now know what they have in Johnson and as long as he stays healthy, he should regularly see four to five receptions each game.

TE Jeff King, CAR - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - He's likely available on your waiver wire. If you're looking for a back up TE Jeff King is getting looks in the Carolina offense. Six targets this past week allowed him to catch five balls for 35 yards.

TE Marcedes Lewis, JAX - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - It's just week one, but Lewis was a big factor in the offense getting open often, including two targets in the end zone. He finished the day with four catches for 35 yards. With their dearth of options at WR, the Jaguars will use Lewis often. He's someone to keep an eye on and in deeper leagues; you may want to add him off the waiver wire depending on your TE needs.

TE Zach Miller, OAK - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Miller started for the Raiders and was targeted seven times. He pulled in just three receptions for 23 yards on Sunday, but he will have some nice fantasy outings if he continues to be McCown's second-favorite target.

TE Marcus Pollard, SEA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Pollard led the Seahawks with five targets. He converted all five of those targets into receptions, catching five passes for 43 yards. Pollard may be available on the waiver wire in many leagues, but he appears deserving of a roster spot. Pollard caught all five balls thrown his way for 43 yards, two resulting in first downs. He led the team in targets.

TE Robert Royal, BUF - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - With the very sad injury to Kevin Everett, Robert Royal becomes the feature tight end in Buffalo. Royal has been around the league for a long time and can produce modest numbers on a weekly basis. He had just one grab for 12 yards against the Denver Broncos, but could help a team starved at tight end.

TE Jason Witten, DAL - Witten had a great game in Week 1 against the Giants, grabbing six catches on eight targets to break both 100 yards and the goal line once. Witten appeared to be a favorite for QB Tony Romo and with the loss of WR Terry Glenn he appears to be a solid beneficiary.

Downgrade

TE Chris Cooley, WAS - Cooley had just three chances and snared just one for 10 yards, which came in overtime. Consider it an off week for him and do not panic, but if this continues other TE options have to be considered. Another cause for concern is the loss of Jon Jansen at tackle. With Jansen out, the Redskins will be shuffling their line and pass protection. Miami did a nice job of defending Cooley Sunday taking him out of the game. He's a downgrade for now but hang tight -- it is a long year.

TE Kevin Everett, BUF - Everett suffered a severe spinal injury that could leave him paralyzed. Best wishes to him and his family.

TE David Martin, MIA - Martin only had three receiving targets in Sunday's game versus the Washington Redskins. He caught one and dropped one, while the other throw was not catchable. The Miami offense as a whole looked like it will have a long year.

TE Tony Scheffler, DEN - Scheffler, although healthy, did not play against the Bills. Daniel Graham got the start. When the Broncos used a double tight-end set (mostly in the second half), it was Nate Jackson who got the nod over Scheffler. Scheffler does not appear to be a viable fantasy option at this point.

Holding steady

TE Owen Daniels, HOU - A lot is expected of Owen Daniels this year, and he should have much bigger games in the weeks ahead. Today he caught the only pass that came his way (for 14 yards). If he is not targeted more in the coming weeks, he'll see a downgrade for sure.

TE L.J. Smith, PHI - Smith started against Green Bay and showed no signs of either preseason injury (sports hernia, groin). He began the game with a target on the opening drive and had two more looks before halftime, then disappeared in the second half. With two receptions for just 14 yards, he obviously limited and not healthy enough to contribute fully. Hopefully, he will round into form soon. If not, then he'll get the downgrade.

TE Ben Watson, NE - With the additions of Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth and Wes Welker, many did not know how Ben Watson would be used. Moss and Welker each had huge games against the New York Jets. Watson finished with just two catches for nine yards. Time will tell if this is the start of a trend or not. Keep a close eye on Watson next week. The Footballguys.com strength of schedule has Watson with the easiest match up in week two, and he has another soft match up in week four. If Watson is going to be a viable fantast option, we'll know soon.

Kicker

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PK Mason Crosby, GB - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Crosby beat out Dave Rayner in Green Bay. Crosby had a huge day helping the Packers to the big win. He booted three field goals, with a long of 53 yards.

PK Nick Folk, DAL - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Folk was perfect Sunday night in seven attempts (one FG and six PATs). He passed his first test and should continue to get plenty of scoring opportunities with the potent Dallas offense.

PK Jason Hanson, DET - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Hanson had a good game for the Detroit Lions. Some fantasy owners like having a dome kicker, and the Lions offense should help Hanson considerably. Hanson had three field goals, with two over forty yards. The explosive Lion offense, without a strong running game, should give Jason Hanson great opportunities each week.

PK Dave Rayner, KC - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The Kansas City Chiefs have added Rayner to their roster at the expense of rookie Justin Medlock. Rayner will kick for the Chiefs, but after their showing against the Texans, we aren't too thrilled with his fantasy prospects.

Downgrade

PK Ryan Longwell, MIN - Longwell made his only field goal attempt. The issue for Longwell is that the Vikings offense struggled as a whole to give their kicker scoring opportunities. Longwell showed a long leg on his 49-yard field goal. But, the veteran kicker should get few chances each week.

PK Josh Scobee, JAX - Scobee suffered a quad injury during pregame warm-ups. Due to the injury, Scobee was not able to even attempt a kick longer than 25 yards and was also unable to kickoff. This kept Scobee from attempting a very easy 38-yard FG in the third quarter (note that the margin of victory for the Titans was three points). On Monday, Scobee said the quadriceps injury is not serious, and he expects to be able to play next week when the Jaguars play host to Atlanta. He should have a better idea about his health by the middle of the week. That said, we get worried when our kicker has an ailing leg.

Holding steady

Team Defense

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TD Indianapolis Colts, IND - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The Colts defense looked very good against a strong Saints offense that led the NFL last season. They are a different defense with Bob Sanders on the field and finished the night with a sack, two INTs, and scored a TD. If you need help at defense and this unit is available on the waiver wire, grab them quick.

TD Green Bay Packers, GB - The Packers' defense had a great game versus the Philadelphia Eagles. The Packers forced three turnovers, with one turning into a touchdown. The Packer defense held Donovan McNabb to 184 passing yards and only 283 total yards. This is against a very potent Eagle offense with McNabb, Brian Westbrook, Reggie Brown, and Kevin Curtis.

TD Pittsburgh Steelers, PIT - Pittsburgh held Cleveland to seven points and racked up six sacks and five turnovers, but you really can't gauge their performance by taking care of business against a lesser opponent. Much more will come to light as Pittsburgh starts to face better offenses over the next four weeks (Buffalo, San Francisco, Arizona and Seattle).

TD Houston Texans, HOU - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Not a bad performance this week as Houston recorded three sacks to go with two INTs and even recovered a fumble for a TD. This unit is one to keep an eye on, and they are probably sitting on almost every waiver wire in the world. Plus, with Jacoby Jones returning punts/kicks, they are a threat to score on special teams.

TD Tennessee Titans, TEN - We aren't thrilled with the Titans, but they clearly are not as bad as expected. They absolutely shutdown the potent Jaguars ground game (holding Maurice Jones-Drew to 32 yards and Fred Taylor to only 16). While we'd like to see them create more havoc (only one forced turnover and a pair of sacks), the Titans defense definitely merits an upgrade.

TD Minnesota Vikings, MIN - The Vikings had three defensive touchdowns versus the Jets in preseason. Was it a fluke? This week they took two Joey Harrington passes back for scores. The Vikings are known for great rush defense with the two Williams boys up front. Last year, the Vikings were a top ten defense in most leagues. They seem a lock to repeat. The next four games come against offenses that gave up good points to the opposing defenses. The next four games are: Detroit, Kansas City, Green Bay, and Chicago. Against Atlanta, the Vikings defense only allowed 265 total yards and very few big plays. In fact, no Falcon reception went for over 15 yards. The Viking defense is very good and causes turnovers.

Downgrade

TD Cleveland Browns, CLE - The Browns could not stop the Steelers' offense, giving up four touchdown passes to Ben Roethlisberger and over 100 yards to Willie Parker. There appears to be little hope for upside on the Browns' defensive side of the ball.

TD Dallas Cowboys, DAL - The Cowboys' secondary couldn't stop anyone, giving up 35 points to the Giants and four touchdown passes. Until they can fix the issues in their pass defense, consider another one for fantasy purposes (especially in leagues that deduct points for yards and points allowed).

TD New York Giants, NYG - It isn't easy for a team to score 35 points and lose by 10, but the Giants found a way. With injuries adding to an already suspect starting 11, the Giants could not stop the Cowboys in Week 1. With Brett Favre up next and Donovan McNabb slated for Week 4, the Giants are not a good option at all.

Holding steady