QB Drew Brees, NO - Brees is looking very much like a top 5 QB after passing for 343 yards and 3 TDs on opening day against the division rival Buccaneers. He has a new target this year in TE Jeremy Shockey, not to mention Marques Colston and Reggie Bush.

QB Matt Cassel, NE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Matt Cassel gets a huge bump as Tom Brady is out for the season. Upon entering the game Sunday, Cassel played well, completing 13 of 18 passes for 152 yards and a score. He also added 13 rushing yards on four rushes. The upcoming schedule is fairly soft so put Matt Cassel on the radar. The next three games are against the Jets, Dolphins and 49ers.

QB Kerry Collins, TEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Upgrade Collins simply because Vince Young will miss some time with a sprained left knee he suffered with less than 5:00 to go in the game. Collins came into the game to the tune of 2 for 2 passing for 65 yards. Collins is a better down field passer than Young and should put up better passing stats.

QB Jay Cutler, DEN - Cutler looked like he could do whatever he wanted against Oakland. Of course, it was the Raiders, but you also have to remember that Brandon Marshall was sitting out his one-game suspension as well, so the Denver passing game was handicapped a bit. At times, it looked like Cutler and Eddie Royal were playing catch in the front yard. With Marshall back in the fold going forward, Cutler should have enormous numbers.

QB Jake Delhomme, CAR - We were pretty sure he was over the Tommy John surgery, but after a Week 1 performance that included 41 pass attempts, we're now positive. While his overall numbers weren't particularly amazing, he performed well against a very good Chargers defense and showed good command of the entire field (finding seven receivers) despite missing Steve Smith.

QB Trent Edwards, BUF - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Trent Edwards completed 19 of 30 passes for 215 yards and a scoring toss to tight end Robert Royal. The Bills were in control of the game and Edwards still attempted 30 passes which is an increase over many expectations. There were five Bill receivers with at least three receptions.

QB Brett Favre, NYJ - Brett Favre played very well in his first game for the Jets. The former Packer completed 15 of 22 passes for 194 yards, two scores and no picks. He also fumbled twice, losing one. The veteran quarterback had six receivers with at least two catches. He spread the ball around against a scrappy Dolphin defense. If he can keep up this pace, Favre could creep up into the fantasy QB1 range.

QB Joe Flacco, BAL - Flacco started his first NFL game on Sunday, posting decent numbers (15-29-129-0-0, 4-37-1 rushing) but more importantly not committing any major mistakes. Flacco even took off and scrambled for a 38-yard touchdown run to help the Ravens win, 17-10 over the Bengals. It will be a few weeks before Troy Smith is ready, so Flacco should continue to start for a while.

QB Damon Huard, KC - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Huard was 8 of 12 for 118 yards and a touchdown (along with an interception) on Sunday, and will likely get a few starts while Brodie Croyle recovers from a shoulder injury. Huard is worth picking up if you've got room on your roster just in case he plays as well as he did in 2006 while subbing in for Trent Green.

QB Peyton Manning, IND - Manning was 30 for 49 for 257 yards. Apparently his knee injury is not anything to be worried about. He may have been a bit rusty - some passes were low or off the mark, but for the most part, Manning looked the part. The fact that the knee didn't appear to bother him is an upgrade by itself. Manning faces off against last year's 32nd ranked Vikings pass defense in week two. He should be able to put up solid numbers and shake off any remaining rust.

QB Donovan McNabb, PHI - Rumors of degraded play from Donovan McNabb were greatly exaggerated. Anyone who saw this game against St. Louis in Week 1 would say that he was back to his prior Pro Bowl caliber of play. The Eagles decimated the Rams with surgical precision all game long as McNabb racked up 297 yards passing in the first half alone. Long pass after long pass, McNabb wound up with three touchdowns and 361 yards to lead all Week 1 quarterbacks. The Eagles are a pass-happy team for certain, so when McNabb is on top of his game very few quarterbacks are better from a fantasy perspective.

QB Chad Pennington, MIA - Chad Pennington got the opportunity to play against his old team in his first game away from New York. The former Marshall star aired it out much more than many thought he would. Pennington attempted 43 passes, completing 25 for 251 yards and two touchdowns. He did have one interception that came on a desperation toss to the end zone on the last play of the game. Even without viable receivers, Chad Pennington was able to accumulate better stats than many higher rated passers.

QB Philip Rivers, SD - The Chargers opened up the offense in the second half on Sunday, and Philip Rivers ended up going 17 of 27 for 217 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions. Most importantly, he moved well in the pocket, threw well on the run, and showed no signs of being hindered by the ACL injury he suffered in January. Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson, and Chris Chambers all made plays, and Rivers should have a productive slew of receivers to throw to all season.

QB Aaron Rodgers, GB - Rodgers has to be sighing big-time this morning as the Week 1 contest against a hated rival was an enormous game. A bad performance (or even a good performance in a losing effort) would have immediately fueled the we-should-have-kept-Favre crowd. Instead, Rodgers was almost flawless (once the offense settled down and stopped penalizing itself). Rodgers threw and ran for a TD and only missed on four passes all game long. Considering the level of defense, this was an excellent first game for the Rodgers-era.

Downgrade

QB Derek Anderson, CLE - Anderson looked rusty in Week 1, which should not come as much of a surprise considering that he was coming off of a concussion. Sure he practiced fine, but that was against his own defense -- which as you might be able to tell from the drubbing from the Cowboys is only slightly more difficult than practicing against air. Anderson lost a long TD pass to a rusty Braylon Edwards who dropped a 50+ yard score, but even with that near miss Anderson was not effective overall. Once Edwards sharpens up and Cleveland gets Donte Stallworth back, the offense should return.

QB Tom Brady, NE - Tom Brady was having a decent game before an ugly-looking injury to his knee. He has a torn ACL and MCL and is done for the season.

QB Marc Bulger, STL - Heavens, that was terrible. The Rams' offensive line simply can't give Bulger enough time to be a viable fantasy option. We'll be very surprised if he makes it the entire season.

QB Jason Campbell, WAS - Campbell looked terrible in Week 1, showing very little grasp of head coach Jim Zorn's version of the West Coast Offense. He had a lot of difficulty in choosing a receiver and also looking off the defense, and his numbers showed it by the end of the game. Campbell finished with subpar numbers (15-27-133-1-0), saved only by a touchdown throw to Santana Moss. The game was actually much uglier than his numbers, so choose another QB if possible for Week 2.

QB Brodie Croyle, KC - Croyle was just 11 of 19 for 88 yards (4.6 YPA) before leaving the game in the third quarter with a separated shoulder. Damon Huard replaced Croyle and was much more effective running the Chiefs' offense. Croyle could miss a few weeks, and if Huard plays well in relief, Croyle could have a hard time getting his job back.

QB David Garrard, JAX - Garrard played valiantly against the Titans, but he people in his face all game long. He gets the downgrade here due to their massive losses along the offensive line: C Brad Meester was already hurt, and top backup Richard Collier was shot last week. To make matters dire, both starting guards (Vince Manuwai and Maurice Williams) will miss significant action (maybe season-ending for each).

QB Matt Hasselbeck, SEA - Hasselbeck is left with fewer targets to throw to each week, it seems. With Bobby Engram, Deion Branch, and Ben Obomanu already out, Nate Burleson was the team's top receiver heading into week one, but he tore an ACL and it gone for the year. It may be a good idea to bench Hasselbeck for a few weeks until he gets Engram and Branch back.

QB Carson Palmer, CIN - Palmer struggled to get much of anything going in Week 1 against a formidable Ravens defense. Palmer had terrible numbers (10-25-99-0-1), putting up his worst game of his career. The interception was a tipped pass, but that hardly explains away the other 14 incompletions. His throws were erratic as he missed many receivers in the season opener. Week 2 does not get much easier as Palmer and the Bengals host the Titans in Cincinnati, plus the offensive line was terrible. We hate to think how this team will react when the losses start piling up.

QB Troy Smith, BAL - Simply put, he wasn't on the field and Flacco was, and based on Flacco's debut he may not get another shot this season to start.

QB Vince Young, TEN - Young left the game with 4:14 left due to a leg injury, which they are now calling a possible MCL tear of his left knee that would sideline him for two to four weeks. Young is expected to undergo an MRI on Monday that would confirm the initial diagnosis. Two to four weeks is not that bad, but that's only the early diagnosis. Kerry Collins would take over the QB duties while Young is out.

Holding steady

QB Jon Kitna, DET - Jon Kitna had a good fantasy game, even though much came in garbage time against a bad defense. Kitna completed 24 of 33 passes for 262 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. He is a fantasy passer that may surprise if his defense allows him to play from behind every game.

QB JaMarcus Russell, OAK - Wow. There were times that Russell and the Raiders' offense looked downright putrid (the ball hoping out of Russell's hand on an attempted redzone screen comes to mind). However, he will get plenty of garbage times as Oakland should be way behind often, so there will be decent production. After all, he did toss a pair of TDs despite last night's debacle of a first half (47 passing yards at the break).

Running Back

Upgrade

RB Marion Barber III, DAL - Barber came out in Week 1 against Cleveland and ran like a bull in a China shop once again, bowling over Browns to pick up 80 yards and two touchdowns. He left the game in the second half after racking up 101 total yards due to bruised ribs, but his MRI came back negative. He should be fine for Week 2.

RB Reggie Bush, NO - Bush had 51 yards rushing on 14 carries, but more importantly, he had 8 receptions for 112 yards, including a 42-yard TD catch and run. Bush is like having two players on your roster, a RB and a WR. If he keeps this up, he will most definitely outperform his ADP. The problem is Bush has been inconsistent in the past, so be pleased with this performance, but don't count on him doing that every week.

RB Jamaal Charles, KC - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - He has surpassed Kolby Smith as Larry Johnson's primary backup. Smith wasn't even active in Week 1.

RB Warrick Dunn, TB - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - It is pretty clear that there is a RBBC in Tampa Bay. Dunn had nine carries (compared to ten for Earnest Graham). With Dunn's pass-catching ability, he will have a nice season and could be used in a pinch.

RB Matt Forte, CHI - Matt Forte had a huge game against the Colts. The 50-yard touchdown run in the first half helped the former Tulane star to get a good start. The rookie ended the game with 123 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. He added 18 yards on three receptions. Matt Forte looked strong and quick in his debut.

RB Frank Gore, SF - Gore got 18 touches for 151 total yards and a touchdown Sunday, indicating (if there were any doubt) that he will be the focal point of the 49ers offense this season. Mike Martz has been known to abandon the run in certain games, but the fact that Gore led the team with 4 receptions today suggests that Gore will remain involved no matter what San Francisco's run-pass ratio is.

RB Andre Hall, DEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - This guy looks like Denver's most impressive runner. While he's definitely still in a three-headed committee with Selvin Young and Michael Pittman, there is definitely a role for Hall.

RB Tim Hightower, ARI - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Despite a low YPC average in Week 1, Hightower clearly has a role in Arizona. J.J. Arrington was inactive, and Hightower was used at the goalline.

RB Brandon Jacobs, NYG - Jacobs was highly effective in Week 1 against Washington, running with power and forcing his way to 116 yards on just 21 carries. He is not without flaws, though, as he came out on several occasions for rest that an elite back would not need, and he was also underutilized in short yardage situations. He also struggled to catch the ball out of the backfield, but all things considered he is a solid RB2 for fantasy purposes.

RB Chris Johnson, TEN - Chris Johnson was the primary Titans RB until late in the game where LenDale White caught up to him in carries. Each back finished with 15 carries, but it was Johnson that led the way with 93 yards rushing compared to White's 40 yards. Johnson also added 34 more yards receiving on three catches, including a 7-yard TD reception. The Titans effectively used both Johnson and White, but it's clear that Tennessee wants to utilize Johnson as much as they can.

RB Rudi Johnson, DET - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Despite being in Detroit only a week (and losing his shaving kit on day one), Johnson played and had three carries. With Kevin Smith looking decidedly mediocre, look for Johnson to slowly increase his role with the Lions.

RB Felix Jones, DAL - Jones entered the game in the second half and immediately ripped off an 11-yard touchdown run straight down the middle of the field. He remained in the game for most of the work in the second half, but word came out that it wasn't just the big lead that had Jones getting extra carries. Starter Marion Barber apparently hurt his ribs, which provided time for Jones to show why he was worth a first round pick. Jones should see more playing time over the next few weeks due to both his effective play and also because Barber may not be 100% healthy.

RB Julius Jones, SEA - We aren't a big fan of Jones, but he definitely merits an upgrade due to Maurice Morris' knee injury. Morris will miss at least a couple of weeks with a sprained knee. While Morris is out, Jones will at least be a decent fantasy option.

RB Thomas Jones, NYJ - Thomas Jones had a good 2007 season, totaling big yardage numbers, but only one score. He equaled that touchdown total in week one of 2008. Jones rushed 22 times for 104 yards the score. He added two yards on three catches. The good news for Jones was that there was no committee with the veteran runner getting 22 of the 28 running back carries. Leon Washington does not look to be a threat for touches.

RB Jamal Lewis, CLE - Lewis was suspected to be a possibly inactive in Week 1, but through aggressive treatment on his leg he was able to go against Dallas. He proved to be quite effective, gaining 62 yards on just 13 carries, but Cleveland was down on the scoreboard quickly and had to become one-dimensional with the passing attack. Lewis looked perfectly fine but faces another tough opponent next week with the Steelers.

RB LeRon McClain, BAL - Sure, he had 19 carries and 86 yards for the game, but 40 of those yards came on the final drive as the Ravens tried to eat up the clock. McClain served two purposes -- spelling Ray Rice and also chewing up clock on that final drive. Going forward it is unlikely that he has anywhere near this type of performance again as Willis McGahee should be a go next week against Houston while the fullback McClain will go back to being the #3 option. However, if McGahee doesn't come back (or has another injury), McClain has to be on your radar.

RB Sammy Morris, NE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Sammy Morris was the obvious backup to Maroney in week one. LaMont Jordan is not a concern. The former Raider only carried the ball twice, of the team's 24 running back carries. Morris, on the other hand, carried the ball 10 times, which was equal to the starter. On those rushes, the former Dolphin was the team's high rusher, tallying 53 yards and a score. He added 34 more yards through the air. The veteran rusher looks to get a good amount of touches every game.

RB Jerious Norwood, ATL - Norwood has always had a great YPC average, and he kept it up on Sunday with 93 yards (and a TD) on only 14 carries. While Michael Turner is clearly the top back, Norwood has a role and can help a roster that needs a spot starter.

RB Willie Parker, PIT - Menden-who? Just when you thought it was going to be a full-blown committee ground game, Willie Parker goes and busts out in Week 1. With 25 carries for 138 yards and three scores, Parker re-established himself as an elite RB1 for fantasy purposes and pushed Rashard Mendenhall further down on the Pittsburgh priority list.

RB Michael Pittman, DEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Pittman definitely has a place in the offense as the team's goalline back. He scored two of Denver's three rushing TDs (and got the vast majority of the carries inside the five-yard line). While a TD-only guy can be hit-or-miss, the Broncos' offense looks mighty potent this year. Pittman should have tons of scoring opportunities.

RB Ray Rice, BAL - Rice started for the Ravens in Week 1 and had 83 total yards on 25 touches (22 carries) against Cincinnati. He did split some time with fullback Le'Ron McClain, which could foreshadow how he will partner with Willis McGahee once he returns to full health. Rice still has solid value and proved that he could be an effective NFL starter in his professional debut.

RB Steve Slaton, HOU - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Slaton led the Texans with 13 carries, compared to Ahman Green's five carries. It appears as if HC Gary Kubiak is leaning towards Slaton as his primary back. Late word on Monday gives us the news that Green suffered a sprained ankle in Week 1. Green is clearly not a player that can be relied upon, and that leaves a big opening for Slaton.

RB Jonathan Stewart, CAR - The toe looked pretty healthy in Week 1 as Stewart ran hard and showed nice skills against a very good San Diego defense. As the season wears on, he will garner more touches in the Carolina offense.

RB Pierre Thomas, NO - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - It was Pierre Thomas, not Deuce McAllister getting the carries for the Saints when Reggie Bush was not running the ball. Thomas had 52 yards rushing on 10 carries (5.2 YPC). The Saints did not have many red zone chances, because all of their scores were passes of 39 yards or more. We believe that Thomas will receive the majority of the Saints red zone carries, not Bush. The Saints have a very potent offense which elevates Thomas' value, provided he continues to be the preferred back behind Reggie Bush.

RB Michael Turner, ATL - Michael Turner rushed for 220 yards on 22 carries with 2 TDs in his Falcons debut against the Lions. He averaged an impressive 10.0 yards per carry and looked very good behind a surprisingly effective offensive line. Was this performance just a one-week fluke? We don't believe so, simply because he flashed periods of greatness as LaDainian Tomlinson's understudy in San Diego. If this was the first time he had a big game, we may think otherwise, but as of right now, play Turner with confidence but don't necessarily expect this to happen every week.

RB Derrick Ward, NYG - Derrick Ward carried nine times for 38 yards in Week 1 against the Redskins and he would be the primary back if Jacobs were to suffer an injury. Grab him off the waiver wire if you can and have room on your bench, especially if you have Jacobs.

RB Kenny Watson, CIN - Watson only accumulated 13 yards on two carries, but he gets the upgrade due to Chris Perry's ineffectiveness. The Bengals will likely go with a committee here, so look for the well-rounded Watson to have a nice role.

RB DeAngelo Williams, CAR - Slight upgrade to Williams. He is the early leader for carries in Carolina with 18 carries for 86 yards (4.7 YPC) compared to Jonathan Stewart's 10 carries for 53 yards (5.3 YPC). While both RBs were effective, Williams had his number called more than Stewart. Neither RB scored a TD against San Diego.

Downgrade

RB Joseph Addai, IND - Only a slight downgrade here. Addai was held to 44 yards on 12 carries in the Colts surprising loss to the Bears Sunday night. Addai left the game in the fourth quarter with a head injury and did not return. We don't think the poor play or the head injury is anything to be too concerned about. He looked sharp on his cuts and ran the ball well when he had his chances. If the Colts can't get their offense figured out, Addai's value could decrease. It's early and we don't want to jump to conclusions, but if you're looking ahead, Addai and the Colts play at the run-stuffing Vikings next week and then home against the Jaguars in week three. We're also concerned about the absence of center Jeff Saturday. That is not exactly a clear road to success.

RB Lorenzo Booker, PHI - Booker is clearly the backup, but we already knew that. He gets a downgrade for gaining only nine yards on a mere five carries despite the Eagles blowing out St. Louis. If Booker can't find solid stats in a game like that, he'll never be worth a look while Westbrook is healthy.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG - Derrick Ward came in for Brandon Jacobs most of the time, leaving very little for Bradshaw to do aside from special teams duties. Speculation that Bradshaw, not Ward, was the backup for Jacobs seems to be misguided. Bradshaw should only be rostered in very deep leagues.

RB DeDe Dorsey, CIN - The Bengals look horrible, but at least you can't blame Dorsey as he plays no part in the gameplan.

RB Earnest Graham, TB - He played well, but this is not the same situation Graham enjoyed in 2007. With Warrick Dunn around, Graham will not get enough carries to match last year's production.

RB Ahman Green, HOU - Green had only five carries in the loss to the Steelers and has a sprained ankle for his troubles. Rookie RB Steve Slaton led the Texans with 13 carries for 43 yards. Considering Green has played in one preseason game (and was injured) and one regular season game (and was injured), it would be folly to rely on him.

RB Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX - As has been the case in the past, the Titans defense showed up Sunday and proverbially "smacked Jacksonville in the mouth". However, Jones-Drew gets the downgrade here due to their massive losses along the offensive line: C Brad Meester was already hurt, and top backup Richard Collier was shot last week. To make matters dire, both starting guards (Vince Manuwai and Maurice Williams) will miss significant action (maybe season-ending for each).

RB LaMont Jordan, NE - LaMont Jordan only carried the ball twice, even with the suspension of Kevin Faulk. After the strong preseason performance, many fantasy owners had high hopes for the former Raider. Those two carries netted a mere six yards. Sammy Morris appears to be entrenched as the complement to Maroney.

RB Deuce McAllister, NO - Deuce was deemed healthy to play, but the Saints went with Pierre Thomas as the RB of choice behind Reggie Bush. McAllister had zero carries in week one. This is obviously not great news for those who thought Deuce might have some value. As of now, that doesn't seem to be the case.

RB Willis McGahee, BAL - McGahee was active Week 1, but the Ravens chose to be smart about using him against Cincinnati. Even though it was a divisional contest, Baltimore went with Ray Rice and Le'Ron McClain as their 1-2 punch on the ground. As long as that plan worked, they could keep McGahee off the field and let him rest up for next week and be far more effective. The downside for McGahee of course is that both backs performed well this week, which could eat into his playing time in Week 2 and beyond.

RB Rashard Mendenhall, PIT - With the performance of Willie Parker, Mendenhall is now just a handcuff to an elite RB once again. Any thoughts of a RBBC or TD vulture situation is pretty much on the back burner as Parker dominated in Week 1 with three touchdowns and a 100-yard game. Mendenhall did get 10 carries but was very ineffective, gaining only 28 yards.

RB Mewelde Moore, PIT - He has no role.

RB Maurice Morris, SEA - We like Morris and the team prefers him to Julius Jones, but Morris left Sunday's game with a knee injury. He will reportedly miss at least two weeks with a sprained knee.

RB Chris Perry, CIN - It might a bit early to judge Perry completely as there are pluses and minuses. He did receive the bulk of the work in Week 1 vs. Baltimore. Once (or maybe if) the passing attack gets back on track he could prove to be valuable, but the weak numbers against the Ravens (18-37, 1-5 receiving) are cause for concern. Also worrisome is the rumored addition of Shaun Alexander. With the former Seahawk and Kenny Watson around, Perry will be embroiled in a full-blown RBBC.

RB Adrian Peterson, CHI - With Matt Forte playing all three downs, Peterson has been regulated to merely a special teams player.

RB Kevin Smith, DET - Sure, Smith scored a TD in his debut, but his 3.0 yards per carry is particularly worrisome as he really did nothing to hold off Rudi Johnson. Once Johnson is up to speed, this will be a RBBC.

RB Kolby Smith, KC - Smith was put on the inactive list after he missed practice during the week with a sore back. Meanwhile, Jamaal Charles followed up an impressive preseason with some nifty runs in his NFL debut. Charles finished with 5 carries for 28 yards, and probably established himself as the Chiefs' number two RB behind Larry Johnson. That leaves Kolby Smith with very little value.

RB Fred Taylor, JAX - Taylor's stock drops for the same reason we cited in Maurice Jones-Drew's write-up. The massive losses along the offensive line will dampen Taylor's potential this season.

RB Leon Washington, NYJ - While Thomas Jones looked great, Washington slogged to nine yards on six carries against the Dolphins. Washington is clearly the backup here, so don't expect much on a consistent basis.

RB Ricky Williams, MIA - Ricky Williams was not able to assert himself against the Jets in week one. He ran the ball 10 times for 24 yards, with a long of six yards. That means the rest of his carries averaged two yards each. Williams added four catches for 15 yards. The veteran back also put the ball on the ground twice, with the Dolphins able to get both back.

RB Garrett Wolfe, CHI - Wolfe doesn't have a role here as Matt Forte is clearly a three-down player. With Kevin Jones around to clean up the leftovers, Wolfe has zero value.

RB Selvin Young, DEN - For those keeping track at home, that's 36 down and 1964 yards to go for Selvin Young. Yes, he's a tad off his pace for his self-proclaimed target of 2000 yards. We didn't buy into that of course (hopefully no one outside the Young family did), but he is still getting a downgrade here. Despite scoring a TD, it could easily be argued that Young is the weakest link in the Broncos' three-man RBBC. Andre Hall looked better between the 20s (6.1 YPC compared to 5.1 for Young), and Michael Pittman saw more goalline action (two TDs compared to one for Young). However, Young is still a decent option as he will break off some long runs this season and will continue to get the occasional TD. That said, he isn't a guy you can start with confidence.

Holding steady

RB Ronnie Brown, MIA - Ronnie Brown was able to play in week one even though many doubted. Brown carried the ball six times for 23 yards, with a long of seven yards. The former Auburn star caught three balls for 28 yards. Brown is definitely a player to watch, especially if Ricky Williams continues to struggle.

RB Ryan Grant, GB - Grant played well despite missing the preseason with his hold-out and subsequent hamstring issue. Still, we are a little concerned about him getting stone-walled on four carries inside the five-yard line. Rodgers got the call on the next trip down, so that's definitely something to watch in the coming weeks.

RB Laurence Maroney, NE - Laurence Maroney only carried the ball ten times, same as Sammy Morris. Maroney gained 51 rushing yards and had no receptions. The Chiefs are not a formidable defense so the lack of carries is a concern. That would merit a downgrade for Maroney, but the loss of Tom Brady should lead to more touches for the RBs. We'll hold Maroney steady for now.

RB Darren McFadden, OAK - He showed a few flashes but is still playing 2nd fiddle to Justin Fargas (as expected early in the season). He did suffer a shoulder stinger and missed much of the fourth quarter. It also didn't help that the Raiders often looked like a bumbling farm team. All-in-all, this was a very inauspicious debut for the rookie.

RB Clinton Portis, WAS - Despite a rough start on the season for Washington, Portis had an average performance. He was able to get 84 yards on 23 carries, which is below a 4.0 average but considering how bad the passing game was it has to be something of a good sign. Expect more from Portis if and when the Redskins get a better balance to their offense.

Wide Receiver

Upgrade

WR Deion Branch, SEA - Branch isn't fully healthy, but the Seahawks need him badly with Engram out for a few more weeks and Burleson now gone for the year with a torn ACL.

WR Steve Breaston, ARI - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Breaston worked as the Cardinals' WR3 out of the slot, and was targeted six times. He finished with 3 catches for 54 yards, including a 40-yard reception down to the one yard line, which set up the Cardinals' first touchdown. He also converted a third-and-seven play into a 15-yard gain in the second half. Breaston may be worth stashing on your roster in case he continues to play a significant role in the Arizona passing game.

WR Plaxico Burress, NYG - Burress was a machine in Week 1, catching ball after ball against a Redskin defense that had no answers for him. He finished with well 133 yards on 10 catches as the Giants continued to take advantage of his big frame and great hands. Burress celebrated his new contract against Washington by starting off the season with a great game with only a touchdown missing from his stat line, but as long as he plays like he did in Week 1 the scores will certainly come his way.

WR Greg Camarillo, MIA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - He is clearly ahead of Derek Hagan in Miami. On a team that is desperate for solid WR play, Camarillo could turn in a decent season.

WR Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ - Jerricho Cotchery caught three passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. Favre found the budding star deep on a play-action fake early in the game. Cotchery looks to be Favre's favorite target and could be in for a huge season.

WR Patrick Crayton, DAL - Patrick Crayton came into the game as the WR2 for Dallas, and his performance cemented his role in the offense. Crayton hauled in six balls for 82 yards and looked confident throughout the Cleveland game. As teams focus on Terrell Owens and Jason Witten, Tony Romo will need alternative targets, and that starts with Crayton.

WR Lee Evans, BUF - Lee Evans displayed his playmaking ways many remember. He caught only four balls, but totaled 102 yards, including a 41-yard catch. With the increased pass attempts by Trent Edwards, Evans could see increased production in 2008.

WR Marvin Harrison, IND - Slight upgrade for Harrison, because he did have eight catches for 76 yards. However, he did not look like he had the same separation that he has exhibited before the knee injury. Harrison also fumbled a ball that led to a Lance Briggs return for a TD for the Bears. While he had eight catches, he did not look like his normal self in the process. Regardless though, eight catches is still eight catches, which means he still has some fantasy value - for now. Let's see what happens in week two at Minnesota, but for now, upgrade Harrison knowing he at least has some value, especially in PPR leagues.

WR Ike Hilliard, TB - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - It was Hilliard, not Antonio Bryant that stepped up as the Bucs WR2 behind Joey Galloway. Hilliard, who was a nice waiver wire find last year, appears that he may have another good year of production in him. Hilliard had six catches for only 45 yards, but it included a 2-yard TD reception. He was effective last year, so there's no reason to think he won't be just as good this year. Hilliard is a possible waiver claim, especially in PPR leagues.

WR DeSean Jackson, PHI - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Philadelphia was playing without Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis, so the rookie pick from California got his first NFL start. Jackson built on his superb preseason performances and posted a six catch, 106 yards receiving day in his professional debut. The kid looks like the real deal, and even contributed on special teams with 96 yards on punt returns including a 60-yard effort that almost went for a score.

WR Andre Johnson, HOU - Johnson had 10 catches for 112 yards in the loss to Pittsburgh. Kevin Walter had the lone Texans receiving TD, but Johnson clearly was the number one option in the passing game. If he keeps this up for an entire season, he will easily reach 100 receptions. If the receptions continue to come at this rate, he'll likely reach 10+ TDs.

WR Bryant Johnson, SF - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - With everyone other than Arnaz Battle completely invisible, Johnson was easily San Francisco's top WR in Week 1. He has enough talent to hold the position all season long.

WR Calvin Johnson, DET - Calvin Johnson had a coming out party against Atlanta. He caught seven passes for 107 yards, with a long of 38 yards. Johnson looks every bit the part of a top tier receiver in the league. He is Kitna's top weapon. With the porous Lion defense, Johnson could have a huge sophomore season with many games over early on.

WR Matt Jones, JAX - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Surprisingly the Jaguars rushed the ball only 17 times in the game. As a result the passing game flourished, to an extent. Matt Jones was the main recipient of David Garrard's 35 pass attempts. Jones finished with six catches for 80 yards. The next closest receiving option was TE Marcedes Lewis with 3 catches for 29 yards. We believe that Reggie Williams and Jerry Porter will be the main receiving options for Jacksonville this year, but both are banged up - Porter didn't even play this week. Until those two are healthy again, Matt Jones should be the one who benefits.

WR Muhsin Muhammad, CAR - Muhammad had six catches for 56 yards and next to TE Dante Rosario, he was Delhomme's favorite target down field and in situations that required a big catch. Muhammad was thought to be a good roster start while Steve Smith served his two-game suspension. He didn't disappoint, but he wasn't a world beater either. Next week the Bears come to Carolina and if you can be sure Muhsin will want to show his former team, Chicago what he's capable of. Upgrade Muhammad for week two for sure.

WR Antwaan Randle El, WAS - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - In a game that most Redskins would like to forget, Randle El was a small ray of sunshine. He had a very quiet 7-73 game in Week 1, catching several short passes to move the chains and do what he could to help Washington's struggling offense. Should the Redskins get a better grasp of head coach Jim Zorn's offense, Randle El could be a solid contributor, especially in PPR leagues.

WR Eddie Royal, DEN - We knew the Broncos liked their rookie WR, but this was an amazing debut for Eddie Royal. There were times that he made DeAngelo Hall look completely lost and frustrated (Hall had a pair of unsportsmanlike penalties on Royal). Royal saw 13 targets and was easily the star of the passing game. Even more impressive was Royal throwing the ball away on a busted reverse. You don't often see such a heady play from a rookie.

WR Courtney Taylor, SEA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Taylor wasn't overly impressive in Week 1, but with Deion Branch and Bobby Engram already out and Nate Burleson now gone with a torn ACL, Taylor is suddenly the top WR in Seattle.

WR Hines Ward, PIT - Remember Hines Ward? Ben Roethlisberger does, and he went to him in the red zone twice against Houston for two touchdowns. Ward finished Week 1 as the most-productive receiver for the Steelers with 76 yards on six catches and staked his claim as the top wideout for Pittsburgh.

WR Reggie Wayne, IND - Wayne had 10 catches for 86 yards, including a 6-yard TD reception. Peyton Manning attempted 49 passes in week one and that usually means a Colts loss, which is exactly what happened. Granted this is only week one, but if the Colts are a team on the decline, Wayne should be heavily relied upon as a receiver, especially if TE Dallas Clark misses time due to his knee injury.

Downgrade

WR Drew Bennett, STL - Bennett suffered a broken foot in Week 1 and will miss four to six weeks. The Rams currently say they will not place him on IR, but if roster spots become scarce their plans could change by necessity. There is no word yet on who will take Bennett's starting job.

WR Isaac Bruce, SF - Bruce was invisible in his debut for the 49ers. He was not targeted during the game, and had zero impact.

WR Nate Burleson, SEA - Burleson was Hasselbeck's favorite and most productive target on Sunday, but he tore his left ACL and will be lost for the season.

WR Michael Clayton, TB - Clayton was a healthy scratch for week one. Clayton has fallen a long way since his impressive rookie season. In order for him to have any value, he'll have to get on the field first. As of right now, Clayton doesn't appear to be a major cog in the Buccaneers' offensive plans.

WR Keary Colbert, DEN - He was active but did not play. With Brandon Marshall returning in Week 2, Colbert will likely be inactive each week. This guy is done.

WR Laveranues Coles, NYJ - Laveranues Coles only caught one pass for five yards in his debut with Brett Favre under center. He was targeted a few other times, and even got a pass interference call on one pass. But, Coles is not near as involved as he was with Chad Pennington under center. The veteran receiver had been battling an injury through much of preseason so his down game could be the aftereffect.

WR Jabar Gaffney, NE - Here is the big loser in Tom Brady's injury. Gaffney was not targeted often and was held without a catch. His value revolved around Tom Brady's ability to spread the ball around. With Brady sidelined going forward, Gaffney's appeal is minimized. The offense will look much different with Matt Cassel under center.

WR Ted Ginn, MIA - Ted Ginn only caught two passes for 17 yards in week one. He got a huge upgrade at quarterback and Pennington completed 26 passes, so the low number of receptions is concerning. He ran the wrong pass route at times in the game and was pulled from the game. Ginn added a two-yard run to his total. But, the game was very disappointing for the former Buckeye.

WR Devin Hester, CHI - It takes more than speed and agility to be a great WR. Hester is clearly still no better than third in the WR pecking order, and Orton also likes to use both TEs and Forte out of the backfield. While Hester will probably have a couple of games where he takes a short pass to the house, his role is far too small to be a viable fantasy option.

WR Torry Holt, STL - Through no fault of his own, Holt will likely be very disappointing this season. The reason is simply due to the offensive line. That unit gave Marc Bulger zero opportunity to excel on Sunday, and it showed in Holt's pitiful numbers (one catch for nine yards).

WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, CIN - The Bengals could not get much of anything going on offense against Baltimore in Week 1. Houshmandzadeh did lead all Bengals with three catches and 44 yards, but that is hardly a claim to fame. Cincinnati returns home in Week 2 to host the Titans, so look for the Bengals to kick start the passing game at home.

WR Darrell Jackson, DEN - For most of the game, it would have been understandable if you had through Jackson was serving a suspension with Brandon Marshall. Jackson was completely invisible for most of the night and saw only a single target. Of course he turned that pass into a 48-yard TD, but the point is that he was pretty much an afterthought despite starting in place of the aforementioned Marshall. When Marshall returns this week, Jackson will move down to the WR4 spot (look for Brandon Stokley to remain as the slot receiver).

WR Chad Johnson, CIN - The artist formerly known as Chad Johnson had but uno catch for dos dos yards in Week 1 against the Ravens. Until there is some steak to go with all of this sizzle, consider benching Johnson / Ocho Cinco on your fantasy team.

WR Robert Meachem, NO - Meachem was a healthy scratch for week one. This is not good news if you rostered Meachem hoping he'd make an impact. So far that impact has been nothing. Right now it's looking like the Saints are going with Devery Henderson over Meachem. They also apparently have Lance Moore ahead of him on the depth chart. We don't recommend jumping ship on Meachem just yet, but this is obviously not good news.

WR Josh Morgan, SF - There had been some debate about whether Josh Morgan or Bryant Johnson would be the more valuable fantasy WR this season. Based on their respective roles in the offense in week one, Bryant Johnson looks like the correct answer here. Josh Morgan was held without a catch.

WR Jerry Porter, JAX - Jerry Porter was a scratch for week one due to a hamstring injury that has kept him from practicing as much as he needed in order to play. Said HC Jack Del Rio "Porter needed two weeks of practice before he'd be ready to play. "I feel the same way I felt before he started [practicing]," Del Rio said. "I think he needs two weeks. I think you need to work conditioning-wise, rapport with the quarterback ... he just needed to work." If he practices this week, according to Del Rio, he should be good to go for the upcoming game against Buffalo.

WR Laurent Robinson, ATL - It looks like this sleeper pick will snooze for the entire year. Being the third WR on a running team just isn't going to cut it.

WR Donte Stallworth, CLE - The more things change, the more things stay the same. Death, taxes, and Stallworth on the injury report are fixtures of life. He missed Week 1 against Dallas with another leg issue (groin) which did not help Cleveland's struggling offense. Check injury reports to see if Stallworth makes it into the Week 2 contest against Pittsburgh.

WR Limas Sweed, PIT - Sweed was a mild surprise as inactive in Week 1. He has a long way to go to be a viable fantasy WR this season.

WR Wes Welker, NE - Wes Welker was Tom Brady's "go to" guy for the clutch catch. With the Brady injury, Welker's upside is limited. In addition, the injury should hinder Welker's ability to accumulate 100 receptions once again. In this game, he caught six balls for 51 yards. He also lost a fumble. Cassel will not target the shifty receiver as much as Brady.

WR Ernest Wilford, MIA - Ernest Wilford was a healthy inactive this week against the New York Jets. Given that the Dolphins have few good wide receivers, this move is very indicative of what the team thinks of the former Jaguar. He had been rumored to be falling down the depth chart all through preseason. This shows that the depth charts were true. He has little value left.

WR Reggie Williams, JAX - Williams, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury had only two catches for 17 yards. He did however have an end zone target that was slightly overthrown. Williams and Jerry Porter figure to be the Jaguars main receiving threats, but until he's fully healthy, it looks like the Jaguars are looking more towards Matt Jones. Porter is expected to be back next week and Williams should be healthier as well. Week two may be a complete opposite of week one, but for now it's difficult to consider starting Williams.

Holding steady

WR Hank Baskett, PHI - Unless he can catch 90-yard TDs in blown coverage every week, he's not a viable starter in most fantasy leagues. That said, if you happen to have the guy, try to unload him as "The Eagles' Deep Threat WR".

WR Braylon Edwards, CLE - Edwards was rusty, as anyone could see by his dropped touchdown. Edwards beat coverage and was open deep down the middle for a touchdown but failed to reel it in for the score on a pass that would have been a quick six points last year. Once Edwards snaps out of it he should be back to elite WR form.

WR Devery Henderson, NO - Long TDs are what Henderson does, so seeing his 84-yard score wasn't a surprise. If the guy could just catch more than one pass a game, we'd be more excited.

WR Santonio Holmes, PIT - Holmes owners, do not panic. It was just one week and the Steelers did not throw much against Houston. With only 14 pass attempts from Roethlisberger against Houston, two catches for 19 yards may sound bad but it was more a result of a strong rushing game and a big lead that minimized most of the passing attack. Holmes should be fine for Week 2 and beyond.

WR Dwayne Jarrett, CAR - Sure, it was nice seeing Jarrett on the field and making a few plays, but he is still behind Muhsin Muhammad and D.J. Hackett. When Steve Smith returns, there won't be enough passes to go around for Jarrett.

WR Michael Jenkins, ATL - Jenkins benefited from playing the pitiful Lions defense in Week 1. With a trip to Tampa Bay up next, don't expect many fireworks from him in Week 2.

WR Santana Moss, WAS - Moss had the only touchdown for the Redskins in Week 1 on a crossing route near the end of the first half. He finished with five receptions and 37 yards as Moss was the most targeted player on the night. As soon as Washington figures out what passing attack works, Moss has good upside and potential, so hang tight.

WR Chansi Stuckey, NYJ - Chansi Stuckey caught a jump ball for a score, and only one other pass in week one. The former Clemson star had 37 receiving yards on those two catches. He is a player to monitor if the Jets start to air it out.

Tight End

Upgrade

TE John Carlson, SEA - Carlson had 4 catches for 52 yards on Sunday, and could play an even larger role in the Seahawks' passing game while the WR corps recovers from their respective injuries. Carlson is an athletic pass-catcher and could be a rare rookie TE who makes a fantasy impact immediately.

TE Anthony Fasano, MIA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Anthony Fasano was Chad Pennington's favorite target in his first game as a Dolphin. The former Cowboy looks to be a huge part of the Miami offense going forward. The former Notre Dame star caught eight balls for 84 yards and a score. He was the player Pennington seemed to look for whenever he needed a clutch reception.

TE Antonio Gates, SD - Gates ran well and caught the ball well on Sunday. In other words, he looked like himself. Check our news reports to see whether Gates reports any soreness in his toe over the next few days. If not, it looks like he's back in business.

TE David Martin, MIA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The Dolphins will use the two-TE sets often, and it looks like both of those TEs will be heavily involved in the passing game. Chad Pennington can find the open man and throw the short ball well. That makes Martin viable.

TE Randy McMichael, STL - The Rams' offensive line can't protect long enough for the WRs to get open deep, and that means Marc Bulger will often need to go to his safety value in McMichael.

TE Dante Rosario, CAR - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Rosario, along with Miami's Anthony Fasano is one of the better up and coming younger TEs that you may not know much about. Rosario looked great in the preseason and he continued his impressive rise to fame in week one. Not only did he catch seven passes for 96 yards, but he secured the game-winning grab in the end zone with no time remaining to give the Panthers an uplifting victory on the road at San Diego. He definitely has Jake Delhomme's attention and you can bet his confidence too. We think Dante Rosario is a great waiver wire pick up - if he's still available.

TE Robert Royal, BUF - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Robert Royal looks to have a more defined role as it appears as though the Bills will use the tight end position more this season. Against a tough Seattle defense, Royal caught six balls for 52 yards and a scoring grab. Without a true WR2, the Bills could look to Royal for more production.

TE Bo Scaife, TEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - It was Bo Scaife, not Alge Crumpler who led the Titans in week one from the TE position. Scaife had 105 yards on six catches, including a 44-yard gain in the second half. Crumpler had a very unimpressive one catch for 4 yards day. Scaife appears to be the TE of choice right now for Tennessee, but it's still too early to assume that will be the case. Even still, keep an eye on Scaife as a possible waiver wire claim if he keeps this up.

TE Jeremy Shockey, NO - Despite missing most of the preseason, Drew Brees and Shockey appear to be very much on the same page. Shockey should catch tons of balls this year as long as he can remain healthy.

TE L.J. Smith, PHI - The Eagles were very thin at wide receiver in Week 1, but their franchise-tagged tight end is back and healthy this season. L.J. Smith caught a touchdown in the first half for one of his five catches, as Donovan McNabb looked towards him often to move the chains. Expect Smith to be a good part of the offense for the Eagles going forward.

TE Jacob Tamme, IND - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Jacob Tamme may see more of the field than expected if Dallas Clark's injury (knee) forces him to miss time. Tamme had two TDs in the preseason and is considered a good, young receiving option for Peyton Manning and the Colts.

TE David Thomas, NE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Thomas started in place of the injured Ben Watson versus the Kansas City Chiefs. He will see more action if Watson misses any time. Against the Chiefs, the former Texas Longhorn caught two balls for 24 yards. Thomas is a good receiver, but is little known to many because he has battled foot injuries throughout his NFL career.

Downgrade

TE Kevin Boss, NYG - Boss caught zero balls in Week 1 as he was used more for blocking than in the passing game. He did get a target in the end zone but the pass was tipped away. Boss is nowhere near a drop-in replacement for Jeremy Shockey's production. Until Boss has a solid performance, leave him on your bench or -- better yet -- the waiver wire.

TE Dallas Clark, IND - Clark left the game with an apparent knee injury. He returned in street clothes and watched the game standing on the sideline. More on Clark's injury should surface in the coming days. If he misses any time, expect the Colts to go with rookie TE Jacob Tamme while he's out.

TE Chris Cooley, WAS - Until the Redskins and Jason Campbell start to click on offense, all of the Redskin receivers and tight ends will struggle. Cooley caught only one ball for seven yards as only two passes came his way in Week 1. He did lose an 18-yard catch on a penalty that was his other target on the night, but until Washington rights this ship you should choose another TE to start.

TE Alge Crumpler, TEN - Crumpler had just one catch for four yards, while his teammate Bo Scaife scampered for 105 yards on six catches. Crumpler fell from grace last year with Atlanta and was hoping for a second coming with the Titans, but right now it doesn't seem like Crumpler is part of the Titans offensive plans. Don't give up hope just yet, because Kerry Collins, who will be replacing Vince Young for two to four weeks, while he heals from a knee injury, may find that Crumpler is a better target than Scaife.

TE Todd Heap, BAL - Heap didn't seem right in Week 1 and then suffered a back bruise during the game as well. He had only one catch and dropped a big TD. He has to seize every opportunity is this weak passing game in order to be a viable fantasy option.

TE Dustin Keller, NYJ - Jets' TEs caught four passes on Sunday, but Keller didn't see any of them.

TE Jeff King, CAR - The emergence of Dante Rosario drops Jeff King down the Panthers depth chart. King was on the field for Carolina against San Diego (one catch for four yards), but it was clearly evident that Rosario was the TE of choice in passing game.

TE Ben Utecht, CIN - Utecht was expected to have a fairly major role in Cincinnati, but it looks like that won't happen.

TE Ben Watson, NE - Ben Watson could miss extended time with a knee injury. This injury just was known this week. Since he could not practice or play this week, the injury may be serious. With the Patriots, we find out little needed information so there is a lot of risk. Also, the loss of Tom Brady cannot help Watson's value any.

Holding steady

Kicker

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PK David Akers, PHI - Akers had five extra points and a field goal (23 yards) in Week 1, but considering how effective the Eagles looked on offense his value should go up. Dallas is next on the schedule, so if Philadelphia struggles to punch the ball in for touchdowns, field goals may rack up on Monday Night in Week 2.

PK John Carney, NYG - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - John Carney may be one of the oldest players around (age 44), but he can still kick the ball effectively. Lawrence Tynes remains sidelined, and as long as Carney can convert all his kicks like he did in Week 1 he will have good value. Carney hit all three field goal attempts including a 47-yarder to go along with his extra point. He likely will be the New York Giants place kicker until at least their bye week in Week 4.

PK Robbie Gould, CHI - Gould was back to 2006 form with the improved defense. He converted all of his kicks, a pair of field goals and three extra points. With the conservative Bear offense, Robbie Gould could be a sleeper kicker in 2008.

PK John Kasay, CAR - Kicking four FGs in a game deserves an upgrade. Kasay led all kickers in fantasy points in week one.

PK Rian Lindell, BUF - Lindell made two of his three field goals tries, both from inside the 40 yard line and converted all four extra point attempts. The Bills look to have an improved offense which should lead to more scoring chances for the Buffalo kicker.

Downgrade

PK Stephen Gostkowski, NE - Tom Brady's injury knocks Gostkowski out of the top tier of fantasy kickers.

PK Mike Nugent, NYJ - Nugent left the week one game with what was original called a thigh bruise. With Favre now running the offense, Nugent was in line for more scoring opportunities than in the past. He hit both extra points, but the team had to go for two once while Nugent was sidelined. He also missed his only field goal chance. However, Monday morning reports indicate Nugent has a hamstring injury. It has been reported that the Jets will begin working out free agent kickers this week as well.

PK Lawrence Tynes, NYG - Tynes is hurt and will likely be out until at least Week 5 (after the Giants bye) due to a leg injury. Choose another kicker -- odds are that there are a few options on your waiver wire (like John Carney).

Holding steady

Team Defense

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TD Chicago Bears, CHI - The Bears defense played very well on the road against the Indianapolis Colts. The Bears were able to keep Peyton Manning in check and keep Joseph Addai from gaining much yardage on the ground. The Bear defense finally had most of their players healthy. They scored on a safety and a fumble return by Lance Briggs. With the threat of a Hester return touchdown at any time, the Chicago defense looks like a great fantasy defense once again.

TD Buffalo Bills, BUF - The Bills defense stopped the Seattle run game until late into garbage time. The Bills harassed Hasselbeck all game, giving the veteran passer little time to throw. They had five sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. In addition, Roscoe Parrish returned a punt for a touchdown. The Bills defense could be a huge surprise for fantasy owners this season.

TD Arizona Cardinals, ARI - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Sure, they were playing the 49ers, but Arizona looks like a very opportunistic defense. They turned San Francisco over five times and accumulated four sacks. Those are enormous numbers.

TD Dallas Cowboys, DAL - Cleveland was ineffective all game, and while some of it may be due to lack of WR depth (no Donte Stallworth) and rust (Derek Anderson missed time, Braylon Edwards just coming back), the bottom line is that Cleveland looked terrible on offense and the Cowboys cleaned up. The Browns had only 205 total yards and 10 points as they were unable to put much together against Dallas. The Cowboys do face a much bigger test next Monday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

TD Philadelphia Eagles, PHI - The Eagles tore apart the Rams in Week 1, shutting down Torry Holt (one catch) and Steven Jackson (40 yards rushing) en route to a big victory. St. Louis only managed 166 yards and yielded four sacks. Only turnovers were lacking in this game, but Asante Samuel alone had three interceptions on his hands that fell incomplete. Expect more of the same kind of aggressive play from Philadelphia going forward, but beware that Dallas looms in Week 2.

TD New York Jets, NYJ - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - While Miami's offense is far from a juggernaut, they do have a strong running attack. The Jets, however, held the Dolphins to just 49 rushing yards and sacked Chad Pennington four times. This defense is an underrated group.

TD Baltimore Ravens, BAL - Eight first downs, 154 total yards, two turnovers and three points - that about sums up how effective the blitzing Ravens defense was in Week 1 against Cincinnati. While the Bengals had 10 on the scoreboard, the lone touchdown came on a defensive fumble recovery. A great matchup looms next week as the Ravens face the Texans in Week 2.

TD Pittsburgh Steelers, PIT - The Steelers held Houston out of the end zone until garbage time, at one point leading 35-3 in the final quarter. Pittsburgh forced two interceptions and recovered a fumble for three Houston turnovers and controlled the game when it mattered most. They added five sacks and held the Texans to only 75 yards on the ground and just over 200 yards passing.

TD Tennessee Titans, TEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The Titans run defense, led by Albert Haynesworth and crew held the Jacksonville running game to just 17 carries for just 33 yards. They also had seven sacks and forced three turnovers.

Downgrade

TD Cleveland Browns, CLE - There's not much positive to say about the Browns -- they gave up almost 500 yards and 28 points to the Cowboys, who could have had even more if they wanted to light up the scoreboard. The Browns were ineffective and face Pittsburgh next week so get another option.

TD Detroit Lions, DET - The Lions defense played absolutely horrible against a below-average Atlanta Falcon offense. They allowed the Falcon running backs to total 313 rushing yards. Maybe, they do miss Rogers on the line. The Lions were not able to turn the ball over, even playing against a rookie passer. In addition, they were only able to sack Matt Ryan once. The Lions were a surprise fantasy defense in 2007, but no longer.

TD New England Patriots, NE - The Patriots defense only intercepted Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard once. In addition, the Patriots allowed almost 300 total yards to the less than stellar Chief defense. New England only sacked the immobile Chief passers four times with Vrabel getting two of those. Brady's injury may hinder the fantasy production of the defense. In the past, the Patriots were able to be aggressive on defense because they had the lead and a great offense.

TD St. Louis Rams, STL - Philadelphia seemed to do anything they wanted to do. The Rams allowed 522 yards (414 through the air). To make matters worse, St. Louis did not record a single sack and forced zero turnovers.

Holding steady

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Week 2 Upgrades, Downgrades, and Waiver Wire Wonders

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