Week 1 Sleeper Report

This article is a weekly look at players generally ranked around the edge of those considered "startable". Each position is covered in descending order beginning with the players who have the most prime matchups to those with more risk and less upside to those who are complete reaches. Your mileage may vary, but the idea is to discuss these players and provide you with some analysis that might help you make those difficult lineup decisions a bit easier. I hope that your expertise as an owner has filled your team with enough players that you don't need to consider players outside of the prime cuts discussed here. Good luck and always keep in mind that your feedback and comments are welcome.

Quarterback

Matt Hasselbeck - SEA - Matt Hasselbeck has to be one of the happier quarterbacks around the league. After struggling with a bad back that forced him to miss about half of the season last year, Hasselbeck is healthy once again. Last year, the Seahawks lost Nate Burleson in the season opener and Deion Branch was coming off knee surgery. He was forced to work with a group of inexperienced, overmatched receivers. No wonder the wheels fell off and Hasselbeck's fantasy stock plummeted. The team signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh. They drafted Deon Butler and Nate Burleson is back, too. All of a sudden, Hasselbeck is looking like an undervalued fantasy quarterback. The Rams aren't a tough matchup by any means. Last year, they allowed 229 yds, 1.2 TDs and 0.8 INTs to opposing quarterbacks. If anything, Hasselbeck may not throw the ball as much as in previous years and that could limit his upside (Jones ran for 140 yards against the Seahawks last year).

Carson Palmer - CIN - The Bengals were cautious with Palmer during the preseason and allowed him to rest his arm after he suffered a sprained ankle early in August. All indications are that Palmer is good to go and so is his arsenal of receivers, too. Chris Henry appears to be following the law so far and he caught a TD pass in every preseason that he played. The main detractor for Palmer as a fantasy QB will be how well the offensive line can protect him. The Broncos switched over to a 3-4 defensive alignment in the offseason and their pass rush looked better during the preseason, but it remains to be seen how effective it will be when the games matter. The Broncos also have a rebuilt secondary around Champ Bailey, but all of their replacements are over 30 years old. If the Broncos don't muster more of a pass rush, they'll struggle to cover Chad Ochocinco, Chris Henry and Laveranues Coles. Look for Palmer to start the 2009 season with a solid game. The game is in Cincinnati and the Broncos go into the season opener with numerous injuries, question marks and distractions. Oddly, the Bengals haven't had any problems despite being the focus of HBO's Hard Knocks.

Worth a Gamble (Good matchup, solid sleeper)

Matt Schaub - HOU - A healthy Schaub is usually a productive fantasy quarterback. Last year, Schaub finished as the 21st ranked fantasy QB despite only starting 11 games. Combine Schaub with Sage Rosenfels' stats and you would have had the equivalent of eighth best fantasy QB. Schaub threw for 200+ yards in nine of his 11 starts and ran or threw for 2+ TDs in seven of them. The Jets defense, as good as it is, allowed an average of 250 yds and 1.4 TDs per game to opposing QBs last year. They've made some upgrades defensively, so this isn't the prime matchup one would hope for, but the Texans are also a very good offensive team with multiple weapons for Schaub, too. It also doesn't hurt that two of their best pass rushers (Calvin Pace and Shaun Ellis) are suspended for the season opener, so Schaub may have a little extra time to find Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels and even Steve Slaton for big plays.

David Garrard - JAX - Garrard has produced mixed results over the past couple of years against their divisional rival Colts. Last year, Garrard had his worst game of the year in week 3 -- 16-of-22 for 167 yards, no TDs and one interception. On the flipside, he had his best game against them in week 16 -- 28-of-41 for 329 yards with 1 TD, 1 INT and a rushing TD. Similar storylines occurred in the previous two seasons. Keep in mind that Garrard played behind an injury-ravaged offensive line last year and he had no serious threats at WR. The Jags addressed the offensive line during the draft and free agency, and did the same with their WR corps. Garrard is no slam-dunk against a perennially tough passing matchup, but he is definitely worth a gamble, as the Jags seem to be willing to open up their offense more this year around RB Maurice Jones-Drew.

Solid Reach (backup / situational player with upside)

Joe Flacco - BAL - The Chiefs had one of the worst pass rushes in the history of the league last year. Flacco looked good in the preseason and he should have the support of a strong running game and solid offensive line play to keep whatever pass rush the Chiefs have in check. Flacco has one of the strongest arms in the league and the Ravens will take their chances. This looks like a classic situation where Flacco may not have more than 25 or 30 pass attempts, but good play calling and some timely play-action passing could result in some big plays for Flacco and make him a consideration for leagues heavily geared towards TDs (long TDs in particular) or those utilizing 2-QB lineups.

Shaun Hill - SF - Last year, the Cardinals allowed the most passing TDs (35) and also the most fantasy points to opposing QBs. J.T. "The Human Turnover" O'Sullivan opened the 2008 season against Cardinals completing 14-of-20 for 195 yards. Shaun Hill started against Arizona when they met again in week 10, and he fared a little better -- 19-of-40 for 217 with 2 TDs, 2 INTs and 12 yards rushing. Look for the 49ers to test Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie early. He had a strong finish last year, but he looked vulnerable during the preseason giving up two TDs in one game. Hill won't have as many opportunities to throw the ball as he did under Mike Martz. New Head Coach Mike Singletary will run the ball much more often, but that could open the door for big plays via play-action and the Cardinals should be able to put some points on the board, too. Hill is worth a gamble in deeper leagues, otherwise you probably have a better and safer option on your roster to start this week.

If you're desperate (worth a look in deeper leagues)

Mark Sanchez - NYJ - To consider starting Mark Sanchez in the season opener as a rookie, you either had to draft horribly, have injuries (Orton or Cassel) or need to start two quarterbacks. It's risky business rolling with a rookie quarterback. The Matt Ryans of the world are the exceptions, certainly not the rule. That said, the Texans pass defense is vulnerable. They were without projected starters Dunta Robinson and Jacques Reeves in the preseason. Robinson returned following a holdout and he's expected to start immediately. Fred Bennett will start opposite him. The Texans allowed 225 yds, 1.5 TDs and 0.8 INTs per game last season (6th most fantasy points allowed to QBs). Sanchez has a solid group of playmakers with Jerricho Cotchery, Dustin Keller and Leon Washington. If you're looking for that QB2 to start, then Sanchez may end up being a serious value. Then again, if he's like most rookie quarterbacks you may want to keep him on the bench to see if he passes the eyeball test in Week 1.

Running Back

Ray Rice - BAL - The Ravens pegged Rice as their top back following a strong offseason and they face a Chiefs run defense that allowed 142 yards and 1.4 TDs per game rushing to opposing RBs last year. The Chiefs switched to a 3-4 alignment during the offseason, but didn't significantly add to their talent (save for 3rd overall pick DE Tyson Jackson and veteran LB Mike Vrabel). The Ravens have one of the league's strongest running games. They're playing at home and Rice can play all three downs and indications are that he may stay in the game at the goal line. This may be the only time Rice appears in this column if he plays as well as we think he may play. That said, it wouldn't surprise anyone to see plenty of Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain in the second half as the Ravens salt away the game, protect a healthy lead and save Rice for another Sunday.

Cedric Benson - CIN - The Broncos struggled defensive a year ago. Like Kansas City, they have switched to a 3-4 scheme, and while they added new players, it remains to be seen just how effective the new alignment and players will be early in the season. Benson, meanwhile, was one of the more pleasant surprises at the RB position in the second half of 2008. He looked great in the preseason and his coaches and teammates have been singing his praise. To help Benson even further, the Bengals have Carson Palmer back behind center, so the Broncos will have to respect the passing game or Chad Ochocinco, Laveranues Coles or Chris Henry will make them pay. All signs point to a productive start for Benson.

Worth a Gamble (Good matchup, solid sleeper)

Fred Jackson - BUF - In week 17 last year, Jackson got a start against the Patriots (who were playing for a potential playoff spot) and he produced an impressive 27 carries for 136 yards. The Patriots were one of the tougher run defenses in the league. A week before the season starts, the Patriots dealt Richard Seymour to the Raiders as they continue rebuilding their aging defense around youth. Whether or not that move results in a better matchup remains to be seen, but Jackson has shown that he can produce when given the opportunity. Jackson sprained his wrist a few weeks ago in the preseason, but he has been held out of action to make sure he'll be ready for this week. The team's decision to cut Dominic Rhodes indicates they feel comfortable with where Jackson is at physically (as well as a nod to Xavier Omon's improvement).

Willie Parker - PIT - Contrary to popular opinion during the offseason, Parker returns as not just the team's starting RB for 2009, but it looks as though the Steelers will go back to featuring Parker and allowing him to tote the rock at the goal line. Parker didn't light up the Titans last year in week 16 -- he ran for only 29 yards on 18 carries. Now that the Titans defense lost Albert Haynesworth to free agency they are still formidable and have plenty to prove. Parker has plenty to prove himself as he enters a contract year after working harder than ever in the offseason to regain the featured back role he held a few years ago. Perhaps Fast Willie Parker is back. At the very least, he's worth a gamble this week as a RB2. His ceiling is probably more limited than other backs on this list since Mewelde Moore will likely still handle third down duties and the Titans defense may still prove to be a very tough matchup.

Julius Jones - SEA - I'm tempted to place Jones under the "If you're desperate" options. Let's call Jones what he is -- arguably the league's worst starting running back. Edgerrin James may have been signed to compliment Jones, but I don't see it playing out that way. That said, Seahawks offensive coordinator Greg Knapp has produced a solid running game everywhere he has coached. Going into Week 1, Jones is their guy and he faces a Rams defense that was among the worst at stopping the run last year. Plus, the Rams lost one of their best d-lineman (Adam Carriker) for the year already. You could probably do much worse than Jones as your RB2 or flex option this week. He's on shaky ground for fantasy owners, which makes this matchup an easier litmus test. Keep in mind that Jones ran roughshod over the Rams in Week 3 last season (22-140-1).

Solid Reach (backup / situational player with upside)

Leon Washington - NYJ - Nearly everyone expects Washington's role to expand this season as the team moves to a similar approached used by the Ravens last year to wear down opposing defenses. In preseason action, Washington carried 19 times for 119 yards and caught seven passes for 42 yards including a 19-yard TD. While it's easy to dismiss his preseason numbers as just the preseason, keep in mind, he played against the starting defenses for Baltimore, Philadelphia and the NY Giants in those games. If Washington can be effective against them, surely, he can produce fantasy worthy numbers against the Texans. To be fair, the Texans defense should be improved with the addition of Antonio Smith, Connor Barwin and Brian Cushing to the front seven. Moreover, it's difficult to project how many touches Washington will get in the game. He rarely broke double digits in touches last year. We think that will change, so play Washington if you agree and feel confident that he will get 10 to 15 touches despite the presence of Thomas Jones and rookie Shonn Greene. The Jets will do well to protect their rookie QB, like the Ravens did with Joe Flacco, and Head Coach Rex Ryan has made it clear all preseason that he plans to use all three of his backs. Washington looks like a good flex option for most leagues and possibly even as a RB2 in deeper/PPR leagues.

Felix Jones - DAL - The Cowboys want to get all of their backs into the offensive flow this season to reduce the need for Tony Romo to win games throwing the ball and to give their offense more balance. They also want Felix Jones to get the ball more because he can score from anywhere on the field. In six games last year, Jones averaged a sick 8.9 ypc and he scored three times. The Bucs were one of the league's worst run defenses in the second half of last year -- allowing 27-142-1 to opposing RBs. It's hard to predict how many times Jones will touch the rock, but there's a decent chance he gets into the end zone and/or produces around 50 to 70 yards. There is also a decent chance that he outperforms those expectations. The Dallas Morning News alluded to Jones and Marion Barber possibly splitting carries evenly, or having both on the field at the same time in some instance for the so-called Felix Package. The only thing we know for sure is that Jones is a playmaker and a threat to score any time he touches the ball. The Cowboys would be wise to utilize both he and Barber extensively to make Tony Romo's job that much easier.

Mike Bell - NO - Pierre Thomas is a question mark going into the season opener against one of the worst overall defenses in NFL history a year ago. The Lions have retooled their defense with several new players (Julian Peterson, Larry Foote, Philip Buchanon and Anthony Henry), but if Thomas doesn't play then Bell has a chance to begin the season with a big game. Bell turned in one of the best preseasons amongst NFL running backs, so he's a nice plug-n-play option off the waiver wire for many owners to consider.

If you're desperate (worth a look in deeper leagues)

Tim Hightower & Chris Wells - ARI - Last year in the Cardinal season opener against the 49ers, Edgerrin James ran for 100 yards and Tim Hightower combined for 34 yards on 11 touches with 1 TD. Wells has more juice than Edge did and Hightower appears to be hitting the hole quicker and ready to improve upon his dismal finish to his rookie season. Either one of the Cardinals backs, perhaps both, might be useful as a RB3/Flex option or for those in deeper leagues. Wells demonstrated his explosiveness by scoring two TDs in his first preseason game after missing a couple of weeks with a sprained ankle. The 49ers defense won't be able to stack the box to stop the run due to the imminent threats the Cardinals have in the passing game. The only problem is forecasting the split between these two backs. Will Hightower retain goal-line duties? Will Jason Wright take away meaningful third down plays from Hightower? If so, that would drastically reduce his effectiveness in PPR leagues. Wells won't catch many balls, but he has the ability to rack up rushing yards and break long TDs.

Darren Sproles - SD - Like Leon Washington and Felix Jones, Sproles is a home run threat every time he touches the ball and he is poised for an expanded role this season. In two games against the Raiders last year, Sproles caught a pair of TDs while combining for 64 yards on twelve touches in week 14, but in week four he barely touched the ball only seven times for 17 yards and no TDs. LaDainian Tomlinson featured prominently in both games (91 yds, 1 TD and 115 yds, 2 TDs respectively), so there is room for Sproles to get some love, too. The Raiders defense was among the worst in the league against the run last year (opposing RBs averaged 31 carries, 150 yards and 1.2 TDs per game in the second half) and they didn't look any better in the preseason. If that's not enticing enough, there is also a chance that newly acquired DE Richard Seymour may not suit up for their Monday Night game.

Wide Receiver

Chris Henry - CIN - Henry scored in all four preseason games and he finished with 14 catches for 224 yards. Most of that was without Carson Palmer and much of it came against the second string defenses. Henry stayed out of trouble during the offseason and perhaps he has finally turned the corner. If so, that spells trouble for a rebuilt Broncos secondary. Henry scored 15 TDs in his first two seasons despite only playing in 27 games. Last year was a wash once Palmer was hurt since Ryan Fitzpatrick couldn't get the ball to Henry or Chad Ochocinco on deeper routes. Don't be surprised if Henry comes up big this week.

Nate Burleson - SEA - Burleson looked sharp during training camp and the preseason. He is running full speed, making sharp cuts and seemingly back to 100% following a torn ACL in last year's season opener. When healthy, Burleson has been productive and a decent target in the red zone. In 2007, Burleson caught 9 TDs while starting 12 games for the Seahawks. T.J. Houshmandzadeh will draw more attention from the Rams defense as will TE John Carlson. If you own Burleson, don't be shy about playing him as your third WR or even as a flex option.

Josh Morgan - SF - If the 49ers watch some preseason film on the Cardinals defense, they may be looking to exploit their young, but talented Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. He was burned for two long touchdowns in one game during the preseason and Morgan is just the type of receiver that has the ability to beat him for a long touchdown in this week's game (assuming he covers him and not Isaac Bruce). The 49ers will undoubtedly run the ball more than last year under the leadership of Head Coach Mike Singletary, but Morgan will still have opportunities to make plays. Don't be shocked if he breaks a long one in the season opener.

Worth a Gamble (Good matchup, solid sleeper)

Percy Harvin - MIN - Count me among those who believe the hype. The Vikings will be looking to get their super talented and versatile rookie receiver involved in the offense immediately. The Browns aren't a tough defensive matchup, but with a player like Harvin, matchups aren't as much a concern. Opportunity, and how he is utilized, are the greater concerns. So far, Head Coach Brad Childress has shown a willingness to get Harvin involved in a number of ways. Keep in mind that coaches generally don't show much during the preseason, so either Childress was toying with some ideas or just scratching the surface. If the praise coming out of Vikings training camp and practice sessions is any indication, then it wasn't just toying with ideas. The Vikings are going to deploy Harvin in the backfield, as a slot receiver, split wide and as a Wildcat quarterback. Harvin's talent is unique in that he is like a running back after the catch, so using him in the backfield is not a stretch. It makes great sense when defenses have to worry about Adrian Peterson and Bernard Berrian, too. Don't be shocked if/when Harvin puts on a show in the season opener to give offensive coordinators headaches as they game plan for the Vikings the rest of the season.

Ted Ginn - MIA - Starting Ginn is the equivalent of flipping a coin. Some games he disappears and has no impact. In other games, he looks like a player that is ready to blossom into the Dolphins No. 1 receiver. The Dolphins heavily utilize their RBs and TEs in the passing game and Ginn may not even be the most targeted WR in their stable, but he is clearly the No. 1 on their depth chart and the Falcons secondary is suspect, but not lacking in talent. There is no telling who will be the Dolphins No. 2 receiver amongst Davone Bess, Greg Camarillo or rookie Brian Hartline. The coaching staff may rotate them all opposite Ginn.

Laurent Robinson - STL - Robinson emerged during the preseason as the Rams number two receiver opposite Donnie Avery. When Avery went down with a foot injury, Robinson stepped into the team's No. 1 WR role with Keenan Burton filling the No. 2. Robinson consistently produced and he locked down the starting job. With Avery back, and a healthy Steven Jackson and Randy McMichael, Robinson should see plenty of targets in single coverage. He could be a solid possession receiver and a PPR/flex option for those looking to fill that last spot in your lineup. Give him a chance while Bulger is healthy, because it might not last long. Also, consider that the Seahawks allowed the most fantasy points in the league last year to opposing WRs.

Solid Reach (backup / situational player with upside)

Joey Galloway - NE - Wes Welker hasn't played much during the preseason and there is growing concern that he won't be ready for the Patriots come Monday night. If he isn't ready, Joey Galloway moves into the No. 2 spot while rookie Julian Edelman moves into the No. 3 spot. Both players could be productive if Welker is unable to go. Oddly enough, if Welker does go, Galloway may be an even better play since he could wind up being the player that Belichick uses to stretch and expose the Bills defense. Galloway still has wheels and in the Patriots offense, he will be regularly looking to exploit single coverage. While this isn't a waiver wire article, those of you that are forward thinking and/or dynasty league owners, don't sleep on Edelman. The Patriots decision to dump free agent signee and Belichick-favorite Greg Lewis was quite likely a vote of confidence in the Edelman, a multi-skilled rookie who could emerge at some point as a Welker-type in this offense.

Chansi Stuckey - NYJ - The Jets have settled on Stuckey as their No. 2 receiver opposite Jerricho Cotchery, although David Clowney will get some action as an occasional deep threat. The Texans secondary could be suspect given the injury to Jacques Reeves that kept him out of preseason action and the prolonged holdout of franchise designee Dunta Robinson. Assuming Robinson draws Cotchery in coverage, Stuckey may be able to exploit Fred Bennett this week. He has been relatively productive in the preseason in limited play and he's worth a gamble depending on league size and your other options, of course. To be fair, the Jets #2 receiver is perhaps the 3rd or 4th target in the Jets offense behind Cotchery, TE Dustin Keller and RB Leon Washington. The Jets may also run the ball more to protect rookie QB Mark Sanchez, which of course, is another limiting factor potentially. He's a rookie quarterback. Take all of that into consideration before pulling the trigger on Stuckey. He's a reach, but there is enough there to consider him in deeper leagues.

Troy Williamson - JAX - Williamson put on a show during the preseason by catching some long balls from David Garrard. Better late than never, Williamson won the starting job thanks to his strong performances and a high ankle sprain to teammate Mike Sims-Walker. He is a home run threat, especially if he proves to be more consistent catching the ball. If Williamson is among your considerations for that last WR spot in your lineup, why not give him a chance. He and Garrard had some chemistry going in the preseason and that may very well spill over into the regular season.

If you're desperate (worth a look in deeper leagues)

Robert Meachem - NO - The Lions defense has been bad for so long now it's hard to think of them in any other light, but they did add some decent talent during the offseason. Corners Philip Buchanon and Anthony Henry are certainly upgrades, but they will still be overmatched against Drew Brees and the Saints no matter what potentially brilliant schemes that Jim Schwartz and Gunther Cunningham dream up. The Lions pass rush will need to be much improved for Buchanon and Henry to hold up adequately in coverage, or the uber accurate Brees will make them pay, and pay often. Meachem seems to have turned the corner during the preseason, too. He won't be in the starting lineup, but he could see some extended action rotating onto the field along with their other lethal deep threat Devery Henderson. Actually, one could easily swap Henderson in this column with Meachem. Either one or both are just as likely to produce a 75-yard TD this week. Meachem has more upside as we know what Henderson can do, or better yet, what he can't do.

Bobby Engram - KC - It remains to be seen if Matt Cassel will be the quarterback for the Chiefs in Week 1, but whoever is, will need to throw to someone besides Dwayne Bowe. The Ravens will bring their usual pressure and the Chiefs will need to get rid of the ball quickly. To me, that screams for a veteran slot receiver like Bobby Engram to see plenty of targets. Someone has to be targeted besides Bowe -- why not Engram? The Chiefs will frequently lineup three or more receivers and Engram is the most reliable of them all.

Mike Sims-Walker - JAX - Sims-Walker missed most of the preseason due to a high ankle sprain. He has been plagued by injuries for most of his brief NFL career. If it weren't for his ankle, Sims-Walker would likely be in the starting lineup opposite Torry Holt for the season opener. Talent is not the problem for Sims-Walker, but staying healthy has been an insurmountable barrier to success for him. When he finally took the field in the final preseason game, he caught four balls for 63 yards and a TD. The Colts aren't an easy matchup, but if the Jags throw the ball as much as I expect them to in this game, then Sims-Walker may have still put up some decent numbers despite not starting.

Tight End

Zach Miller - OAK - It may be a new season and the Chargers have Shawn Merriman back in the fold, but let's not forget just how awful this defense was at covering tight ends last year. In four career starts against the Chargers, Miller has produced splendidly (in chronological order): 3-17-1 (5 targets), 8-84-0 (9 targets), 5-95-1 (8 targets) and 8-64-0 (9 targets). That the Raiders talent level at receiver has improved may not be as much of a detractor as it is helpful to Miller's cause. Ride this guy until he proves that he is not worthy against the Chargers.

Jeremy Shockey - NO - The Lions are another defense that has struggled over the past few years at covering opposing tight ends. I know, that's now two opportunities I've had in this column to dump on the Lions. Just because I'm from Michigan doesn't mean that I won't take the easy layup. It's the just reward for a 0-16 season. Back on track, Shockey enters the 2009 season completely healthy and with a full offseason to get better acclimated into the Saints offense. Better yet, Billy Miller won't be in the mix to steal Shockey's thunder as he did last year. Drew Brees recently stated that he believes Shockey is in for his best year as a pro. He finally appears to have built some rapport with his Pro Bowl quarterback. If Brees says something like that, then who are we to question him? Shockey's play in the preseason backs up Brees' claim, too.

Worth a Gamble (Good matchup, solid sleeper)

Todd Heap - BAL - Let's put this as nicely as we can. Todd Heap is healthy. He's not listed as questionable or even doubtful this week. Cross our fingers that they hold him out of practice right up until game time to prevent this china doll from twisting an ankle or aggravating his back. But the truth is that Heap has looked good throughout the preseason and the Ravens plan to open up their offense more in year two for Joe Flacco. He's more comfortable throwing in the middle of the field now, which means that Heap figures to see a lot more targets potentially. The Chiefs allowed 5-52-0.4 to opposing TEs last year, so look for Heap to approach those numbers as long as he doesn't slip on a banana peel in the locker room between now and then.

Brent Celek - PHI - Brent Celek finally gets the opportunity he deserved since last year. He produced a 6-131-0 game against the Seahawks during the regular season when L.J. Smith got hurt. Later in the postseason, Celek caught 10 passes for 83 yards against the Cardinals in the NFC Championship game. Those two games highlight his fantasy upside as the starting tight end in this offense. The Panthers defense is suspect, too. Now that Celek has the starting job to himself, don't be surprised if/when, he starts the season with a bang. He gave us plenty of warning last year with those two breakout games and, hopefully, many of you snapped him up as a value pick in your drafts, too.

Solid Reach (backup / situational player with upside)

Chris Baker - NE - Bill Belichick and the Patriots coaching staff seem to be smitten with Chris Baker. Enough so that Ben Watson remains on the bench and the team parted ways just about as soon as they had signed Alex Smith in free agency it seems. Smith didn't make it out of his first training camp with the Patriots healthy and he's gone. Meanwhile, Baker caught TDs in the preseason and staked his claim to the starting job. Keep in mind that Tom Brady looks for his tight end regularly around the red zone. With Wes Welker less than 100%, Baker could get more looks when the Patriots are near the end zone.

Anthony Fasano - MIA - The Falcons allowed 4-54-0.4 per game to opposing tight ends last year and we like how the Dolphins have utilized their tight ends consistently in the red zone since the arrival of Bill Parcells and the player he drafted in Dallas -- Anthony Fasano. David Martin was a viable target as the Dolphins second tight end when they go to their double TE formations. He's gone now. Fasano is a great backup tight end to have because of his red zone opportunities. They give him a fairly high ceiling as tight ends go and we like his chances of doing some damage in this game.

If you're desperate (worth a look in deeper leagues)

Martellus Bennett - DAL - Roy Williams is banged up. Terrell Owens is long gone. As a rookie, Bennett caught four touchdowns despite only catching 20 balls. During the preseason, Bennett was a favorite target of the Cowboys QBs as he caught 12 passes for 155 yards. Team beat writers and insiders all believe his role will expand in 2009. As far as the matchup is concerned, the Bucs lost starting FS Tanard Jackson to suspension, which means that a fattened up Jermaine Phillips will move back to safety after playing at weak-side linebacker during the offseason. Such a move doesn't come without risk as Phillips gained weight for the positional change. Look for the Cowboys to exploit the Bucs secondary with both of their tight ends. We know Jason Witten will get his, but be prepared for Bennett to get his, too.

Jermichael Finley - GB - Finley was by all accounts "uncoverable" during the Packers training camp and preseason games. The only problem with Finley is that he is one of two tight ends that will play regularly (Donald Lee remains the team's starter) and the Packers have four talented receivers who will see the field, too. If you're in a deeper league though, consider Finley as a flex option. The Bears secondary is still coming together. Charles Tillman is far from 100% and their safeties lack experience working together. All of this points towards Finley possibly getting some action in the red zone or for some big plays down field. Last year, Donald Lee produced 6-33-1 against them in week 11, then later in week 16 Finley caught a 35-yard pass against them.