All our week 2 content

Week 2 Upgrades, Downgrades, and Waiver Wire Wonders

Quarterback

1. QB Tony Romo, DAL
2. QB Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
3. QB Joe Flacco, BAL
4. QB Matt Hasselbeck, SEA
5. QB Mark Sanchez, NYJ
6. QB Kevin Kolb, PHI *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
7. QB Michael Vick, PHI *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
8. QB Matt Leinart, HOU *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
9. QB Trent Edwards, BUF

Downgrade

1. QB Donovan McNabb, WAS
2. QB Jake Delhomme, CLE
3. QB Chad Pennington, MIA
4. QB Matt Schaub, HOU
5. QB Kurt Warner, FA
6. QB Brady Quinn, DEN
7. QB David Garrard, JAX

Holding steady

1. QB Kerry Collins, TEN
2. QB Matt Ryan, ATL
3. QB Byron Leftwich, PIT
4. QB Marc Bulger, BAL
5. QB Carson Palmer, CIN
6. QB Kyle Orton, DEN
7. QB Drew Brees, NO
8. QB Matthew Stafford, DET
9. QB Brett Favre, MIN
10. QB JaMarcus Russell, FA
11. QB Tom Brady, NE

Running Back

1. RB Brian Westbrook, SF
2. RB Cadillac Williams, TB *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
3. RB Michael Bush, OAK *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
4. RB Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG
5. RB Mike Bell, PHI
6. RB Fred Jackson, BUF
7. RB Julius Jones, SEA
8. RB Derrick Ward, HOU
9. RB Chris Wells, ARI
10. RB Jonathan Stewart, CAR
11. RB Willis McGahee, BAL
12. RB Jerious Norwood, ATL
13. RB LeRon McClain, BAL
14. RB Correll Buckhalter, DEN

Downgrade

1. RB Earnest Graham, TB
2. RB Steve Slaton, HOU
3. RB James Davis, CLE
4. RB Felix Jones, DAL
5. RB Willie Parker, FA
6. RB Kevin Smith, DET
7. RB Tim Hightower, ARI
8. RB Sammy Morris, NE
9. RB Ronnie Brown, MIA
10. RB Bernard Scott, CIN
11. RB Frank Gore, SF
12. RB DeAngelo Williams, CAR

Holding steady

1. RB Mewelde Moore, PIT
2. RB Rashard Mendenhall, PIT
3. RB Chris Johnson, TEN
4. RB LenDale White, DEN
5. RB Michael Turner, ATL
6. RB Ricky Williams, MIA
7. RB Marion Barber, DAL
8. RB Tashard Choice, DAL
9. RB Thomas Jones, KC
10. RB Leon Washington, SEA
11. RB Chris Brown, FA
12. RB Steven Jackson, STL
13. RB Edgerrin James, FA
14. RB Cedric Benson, CIN
15. RB Brian Leonard, CIN
16. RB Knowshon Moreno, DEN
17. RB Peyton Hillis, CLE
18. RB LaMont Jordan, FA
19. RB Reggie Bush, NO
20. RB Adrian Peterson, MIN
21. RB Chester Taylor, CHI
22. RB Jamal Lewis, FA
23. RB Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX
24. RB LaDainian Tomlinson, NYJ
25. RB Darren Sproles, SD
26. RB Fred Taylor, NE
27. RB Kevin Faulk, NE

Wide Receiver

1. WR Laurent Robinson, STL *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
2. WR Nate Burleson, DET
3. WR Steve Smith, NYG
4. WR Percy Harvin, MIN
5. WR Jerheme Urban, KC *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
6. WR Santonio Holmes, NYJ
7. WR Earl Bennett, CHI
8. WR Isaac Bruce, FA
9. WR Reggie Wayne, IND
10. WR Louis Murphy, OAK *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
11. WR Michael Clayton, FA
12. WR Legedu Naanee, SD
13. WR Mario Manningham, NYG
14. WR Austin Collie, IND *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
15. WR Pierre Garcon, IND *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
16. WR Devery Henderson, NO *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
17. WR Mike Wallace, PIT *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
18. WR Kenny Britt, TEN
19. WR Kevin Curtis, FA
20. WR Antwaan Randle El, PIT *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
21. WR Johnny Knox, CHI *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
22. WR Davone Bess, MIA
23. WR Patrick Crayton, SD
24. WR Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ
25. WR Chansi Stuckey, CLE *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
26. WR Andre Caldwell, CIN *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
27. WR Sidney Rice, MIN

Downgrade

1. WR Eddie Royal, DEN
2. WR Anthony Gonzalez, IND
3. WR Lance Moore, NO
4. WR Domenik Hixon, NYG
5. WR Laveranues Coles, FA
6. WR Braylon Edwards, NYJ
7. WR Chris Chambers, KC
8. WR Bernard Berrian, MIN
9. WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, OAK
10. WR Joey Galloway, WAS
11. WR Antonio Bryant, FA
12. WR Chaz Schilens, OAK
13. WR Steve Smith, CAR
14. WR Chris Henry, CIN
15. WR Steve Breaston, ARI
16. WR Santana Moss, WAS
17. WR Hakeem Nicks, NYG
18. WR James Jones, GB
19. WR Michael Jenkins, ATL
20. WR Ted Ginn, SF
21. WR Greg Camarillo, MIN
22. WR Bernard Berrian, MIN
23. WR Terrell Owens, CIN
24. WR Lee Evans, BUF

Holding steady

1. WR Hines Ward, PIT
2. WR Limas Sweed, PIT
3. WR Justin Gage, TEN
4. WR Nate Washington, TEN
5. WR Calvin Johnson, DET
6. WR Roddy White, ATL
7. WR Brian Hartline, MIA
8. WR Roy Williams, DAL
9. WR Miles Austin, DAL
10. WR Josh Cribbs, CLE
11. WR Andre Johnson, HOU
12. WR Andre Davis, HOU
13. WR Donnie Avery, STL
14. WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, BAL
15. WR Deon Butler, SEA
16. WR Chad Ochocinco, CIN
17. WR Brandon Marshall, MIA
18. WR Jabar Gaffney, DEN
19. WR Brandon Stokley, FA
20. WR Marques Colston, NO
21. WR Robert Meachem, NO
22. WR Bryant Johnson, DET
23. WR Dennis Northcutt, FA
24. WR Josh Cribbs, CLE
25. WR Mike Furrey, FA
26. WR Randy Moss, NE
27. WR Wes Welker, NE

Tight End

1. TE Todd Heap, BAL *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
2. TE Dustin Keller, NYJ
3. TE Jeremy Shockey, NO
4. TE Ben Watson, CLE *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
5. TE John Carlson, SEA
6. TE Brent Celek, PHI
7. TE Vernon Davis, SF
8. TE Dallas Clark, IND
9. TE Randy McMichael, SD
10. TE Chris Cooley, WAS
11. TE Shawn Nelson, BUF *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
12. TE Jared Cook, TEN *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
13. TE Daniel Graham, DEN *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
14. TE Robert Royal, CLE *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***

Downgrade

1. TE Bo Scaife, TEN
2. TE Jermichael Finley, GB
3. TE Greg Olsen, CHI
4. TE Chase Coffman, FA
5. TE Chris Baker, SEA

Holding steady

1. TE Heath Miller, PIT
2. TE Alge Crumpler, NE
3. TE Tony Gonzalez, ATL
4. TE Anthony Fasano, MIA
5. TE Jason Witten, DAL
6. TE Martellus Bennett, DAL
7. TE Kellen Winslow, TB
8. TE Owen Daniels, HOU
9. TE Dan Coats, CIN
10. TE Tony Scheffler, DET
11. TE Brandon Pettigrew, DET
12. TE Visanthe Shiancoe, MIN

Kicker

1. PK Jeff Reed, PIT
2. PK John Carney, FA

Downgrade

1. PK Mike Nugent, CIN

Holding steady

1. PK Rob Bironas, TEN
2. PK Jason Elam, FA

Team Defense

1. TD Philadelphia Eagles, PHI
2. TD New York Jets, NYJ
3. TD Green Bay Packers, GB
4. TD Tennessee Titans, TEN
5. TD San Francisco 49ers, SF
6. TD Atlanta Falcons, ATL

Downgrade

1. TD Tampa Bay Buccaneers, TB
2. TD Dallas Cowboys, DAL
3. TD Miami Dolphins, MIA
4. TD Chicago Bears, CHI

Holding steady

1. TD Pittsburgh Steelers, PIT
2. TD Minnesota Vikings, MIN
3. TD Cleveland Browns, CLE

Quarterback

QB Trent Edwards, BUF - Once the Terrell Owens signing news broke, Edwards became one of the year’s favorite sleepers at QB. His value plummeted during the past few weeks of the preseason, however, as the Bills first string offense failed to score a single TD and the team wound up firing their offensive coordinator and cutting their starting left tackle as a result. The offensive line took too many penalties and gave up 4 sacks, but they did a better job than most expected and consistently gave Edwards a clean pocket and enough time to look through his first few progressions. The playcalling under Alex Van Pelt was still somewhat conservative, but that was likely due to the opponent here as much as anything else as the Bills did not want to give the Patriots any added opportunities. Edwards was accurate, decisive, and showed good mobility on plays when he had to run out of the pocket or scramble for a first down. He will need to make better use of the great WRs he has at his disposal, but Edwards looks like he could be a reliable QB2 this season with borderline No. 1 potential if he continues to keep turnovers to a minimum.

QB Joe Flacco, BAL - Flacco had his biggest day in his young career, throwing three touchdowns and earning his first 300-yard game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Flacco used seven different receiver options, connecting with all of them at least twice for the afternoon. Flacco looked as calm and poised as ever in the pocket, feeling his way around and moving well behind the line to buy himself more time whenever it took longer for his options to get open. While the Chiefs did not put up a big challenge, Flacco looked very good and much more polished than he did a mere 12 months ago as a rookie. Flacco also added 18 yards rushing on five carries, further boosting his fantasy value. San Diego will be a tougher challenge come Week 2, but Cleveland is in Week 3 and makes for a nice spot start.

QB Matt Hasselbeck, SEA - Hasselbeck rebounded nicely from two early interceptions en route to a convincing home opening win against the Rams, a team they are expected to beat. He started with quick, short passes in the early going, but he opened up the passing game in the second half connecting with TE John Carlson on two consecutive plays resulting in a TD. The 33-yard TD pass to Carlson was a result of TJ Houshmandzadeh drawing the safety towards him, thus opening a nice seam for Carlson to run in. Hasselbeck routinely found Carlson on seam routes throughout the game. The presence of TJ Houshmandzadeh and Hasselbeck's ability to recognize coverage schemes will result in plenty of good games in what could be a very nice season for Hasselbeck and the Seahawks.

QB Kevin Kolb, PHI - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Kolb entered the game after Donovan McNabb was injured in the third quarter. The Eagles had a 28 point lead, but Philadelphia still wanted to get him in the mix and move the offense. Kolb threw 11 times in relief of McNabb, but only amassed 23 yards passing despite seven completions. He did not look down field much at all, settling for short targets to TE Brent Celek or RB LeSean McCoy on several of his attempts. Only once did he look beyond 20 yards (to WR DeSean Jackson) but it was well off target. Should Kolb have to go in as a spot starter for Week 2 it could be a challenge for the Eagles to look for deeper throws, but if Andy Reid continues to use a West Coast Offense style of offense then Kolb only needs to be accurate and hit his receivers in stride for yards after the catch. Kolb looked to be serviceable as a backup and spot starter, but not one many fantasy owners would enjoy going to for a big statistical game. With ESPN reporting that Jeff Garcia is signing with the team, his term as the substitute teacher might not last more than a week, at best.

QB Matt Leinart, HOU - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - With Kurt Warner not 100 percent and under constant pressure against the 49ers, he looks like a prime candidate to miss time early in the year. With the Cardinals skill players, Matt Leinart is a viable waiver wire option.

QB Ben Roethlisberger, PIT - The Steelers QB played his typical football game. He held onto the ball until he could find the open man, gaining 363 yards passing against a Titans defense playing zone coverage. Roethlisberger was able to pump fake and manipulate the safeties in the first half, especially during the 2-minute drill. In the second half he took advantage of a tired Titan defensive line and used his pump fakes to manipulate the LBs when the DBs made a good second-half adjustment not to bite on them. Pittsburgh’s base offensive formation was a two-TE set and they were generally ineffective through the air when they went four-wide, because the Titans blitzed that formation every time, and forced Roethlisberger to lose his timing with his receivers. His first interception was a late throw on a route to Holmes at the sideline and the second INT occurred at the end of the first half on a “Big Ben” play. When the defense tired out in the fourth quarter, he completed 12 straight passes against 4-man pass rushes with the Titans playing zone. Against strong blitzing teams, Roethlisberger will struggle at times, but he’s a good match up against defenses with a poor pass rush and it appears Pittsburgh will need to throw more this year.

QB Tony Romo, DAL - Romo was able to take advantage of a struggling Buccaneers secondary that clearly missed Tanard Jackson. Romo had good accuracy when it counted, especially on each of his three TD passes, which accounted for 188 of his 353 yards passing. Tampa's secondary made some critical mistakes and Romo capitalized on them. When he was pressured he didn't fare too well, often misfiring on his targets. Romo could struggle against a team with a strong relentless pass rush. Next week's Sunday night game against the Giants may not yield the same results.

QB Mark Sanchez, NYJ - The rookie looked very comfortable and smooth is his pro debut, especially on third down plays where at one point he was 10 of 12 for 145 yards with 1 TD just on third downs. He demonstrated a lot of mobility in his game and he has a unique way of moving around the pocket to evade the pass rush, yet still throw an accurate pass. He has shown the ability to throw well out of the pocket and he was highly effective on roll outs. He had good protection from his OL and when he needed to come through with a clutch pass on third down, he didn't disappoint. If he continues to play as well as he did in his first game, he will move up the rankings. At this point, it may be too early to get excited about Sanchez being a possible fantasy starter for your team, but he did look very good in his first game, and on the road, no less.

QB Michael Vick, PHI - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - With Donovan McNabb injured, and the fact the Eagles showed a lack confidence in Kevin Kolb by signing Jeff Garcia should tell you that Vick is a player worth considering once his suspension is lifted. The Garcia signing should also indicate that McNabb's injury is going to take a while to heal and the Eagles want to have as many options as possibe.

Downgrade

QB Jake Delhomme, CLE - Delhomme picked up right where he finished the 2008 postseason, which is not a good thing for Carolina. Delhomme completed 11 throws, but four of them went to Philadelphia. The Eagles had constant pressure on Delhomme and several of his attempts were 50-50 balls at best, including his fourth and final interception that was intended for Steve Smith deep. CB Asante Samuel leaped and snared the final ball from Delhomme. The best news for Delhomme was that his backups did not fare any better, so odds are that he will be back under center for better or worse next week.

QB David Garrard, JAX - The Jaguars' offensive line did not offer Garrard consistent protection, and Garrard struggled to make good decisions when he was pressured. He did show some elusiveness in evading several close sacks, but he will struggle to complete passes unless the offensive line can keep the pocket from collapsing. The Jaguars started a pair of rookies at the tackle positions; and although they gave up only one sack between them, defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis were pressuring Garrard constantly. The rookie tackles should improve with experience, but Garrard may have a difficult start to the season until that happens.

QB Donovan McNabb, WAS - McNabb had a great fantasy game, right up until the point where he was injured in the third quarter. Working behind three-fifths of his projected starting offensive line, the Eagles gave McNabb enough time in the pocket to look up to 15-20 yards down field and get the passes of with little pressure in his face. McNabb completed just over half of his 18 attempts, but nothing very deep at all. He he did try to hit DeSean Jackson for a big play, but was unsuccessful. McNabb showed excellent mobility both in the pocket and in shuffling around behind the line to buy him more time. He was also willing to tuck it and run when nothing else was available, which is exactly what happened when he was injured. Not to fault McNabb, since running the ball is part of the game (and he was hit after he was already in the end zone), but injuries are more prone to quarterbacks who are willing to escape the pocket to make plays. It remains to be seen if McNabb's broken rib injury will keep him out of Week 2 against the Saints. Fantasy owners should know that the Eagles have an early bye week (Week 4) so if McNabb takes the next two games off he will get almost a month to recover for Philadelphia's fourth game. With Jeff Garcia signed this afternoon, it might indicate the Eagles are preparing to miss McNabb on the longer end of the recovery spectrum.

QB Chad Pennington, MIA - It was a frustrating day for Pennington because his wide receivers could not get open down field and second-year “stud” LT Jake Long got abused by John Abraham and Kroy Biermann for three sacks. This pressure forced Pennington out of the pocket multiple times. His longest completion came off a trick play where he pitched the ball to Ronnie Brown, who threw it back to Pennington and the QB then completed the ball to No. 2 TE Joey Haynos for a 21-yard catch and run. He sealed the Dolphins’ fate in this game with an interception thrown to LB Mike Peterson who read the QB staring down Anthony Fasano from the time his TE released from the slot. Pennington’s one score was a play action pass to Ricky Williams who sold the run fake so well that he slipped into the flat uncovered for a nine-yard score when the game was effectively over. With Jake Long struggling and the receivers unable to get open on routes more than 10 yards down field, Pennington is a QB to downgrade even as a reserve.

QB Brady Quinn, DEN - Brady Quinn was able to move the ball against the Minnesota defense, some areas of his play are cause for concern. Though the Vikings’ Cover-2 scheme is designed to force opposing offenses to checkdown rather than throw downfield, Quinn seemed unwilling to consider the downfield zones on most snaps. A tendency to checkdown has been an issue for Quinn in the past and he’ll need to show more aggressiveness to take full advantage of his offensive weapons. Quinn was inaccurate on the few down field passes he did attempt, either due to miscommunication on fade/post choice routes with Braylon Edwards or sideline go routes with Josh Cribbs. On the bright side, he did show some elusiveness in the pocket and a strong arm when throwing on the run. It’s only Week 1, but another couple of weeks of check-downs and inaccuracies and Quinn may bring Derek Anderson back into the conversation.

QB Matt Schaub, HOU - Perhaps it was the Jets relentless pass rush and stifling run defense, but Matt Schaub was not able to get into any rhythm all game long. The only score the Texans had was on an INT and fumble. In other words, Schaub was shut down. The Texans OL had a very difficult time containing the constant pass rush and smothering blitz packages. In order for Schaub to be effective, he will have to get better protection. It is pretty clear that he and the team will struggle against teams with a strong pass rush. The fact that the running game was stopped too, doesn't bode well for Schaub or the Texans offense in general.

QB Kurt Warner, FA - It was only one game, but Warner did not look like the quarterback he was a season ago. He did face frequent pressure from the 49ers' pass rush, but even when he had time to throw he made some poor decisions and poor throws. On his first interception, the pocket remained stable, but Warner made a bad read followed by an inaccurate pass landing in the defender's waiting arms. On the bright side, the Cardinals appear as committed to the passing game as they were last season. (Balance? Who needs balance?) But both the Cardinals' offensive line and Warner himself must improve their play for Warner to live up to his draft position.

Holding steady

QB Tom Brady, NE - Although Brady wasn't completely happy with his performance, the overall night was a success for him and the Patriots. Although Brady lacked pin-point accuracy for much of the first half and he wasn't as nimble around the trash of the pocket as he was pre-ACL tear, he exhibited all the skills of a great field general, including patience with his reads, discipline not to force the ball, and the ability to make the big play with the game in the balance. The Bills were able to pressure Brady more successfully than many anticipated and they closed off the rushing lanes well enough that the deep play action pass was not and option. Nonetheless, 378 yards and two scores on a "bad" night makes Brady an elite fantasy option.

QB Drew Brees, NO - Drew Brees had no trouble carving up the Lions’ defense, spreading the ball around and taking advantages of mismatches in man coverage and holes in the Detroit zones to great success. Rarely flushed from the pocket, Brees had time to go through his progessions and wait for routes to develop down field. Brees did try to force balls into coverage and missed a timing route or two, but his performance was nearly flawless. His lone interception came on an under thrown deep pass on a flea flicker in the first half.

QB Marc Bulger, BAL - Seattle was able to get good pressure on Bulger, which forced him to resort to short, quick throws. His deeper pass attempts weren't accurate and often were overthrown. Bulger's two favorite targets were Laurent Robinson and Donnie Avery. He tended to favor Robinson more on deeper patterns, especially in the second half. The Rams were never able to find any rhythm on offense and penalties didn't help their chances to sustain drives. The Rams could only convert two of twelve third downs on the day, which was a big reason behind their inability to put any points on the board.

QB Kerry Collins, TEN - Collins did an excellent job sidestepping the outside pass rush and finding the open receivers in the flat, deep outs at the sideline, or with accurate bullets over the middle. However when blitzed up the middle, he lost the zip on his throws or the pressure forced him break the pocket to the outside and throw the ball away. He had a lot of time against the top-ranked Steelers defense because the Titans used two-TE sets with Alge Crumpler helping the left tackle on the outside linebackers. His touchdown pass culminated a three-play, 34-second drive to end the first half by repeatedly crossing up the Steelers defense after Troy Polamalu got hurt. His interception was a characteristically late, deep throw to rookie WR Kenny Britt that was intercepted on an incredible play by Troy Polamalu prior to his injury. Tennessee will continue to employ a controlled, short passing game as its base offense from a two-TE set, but don’t be surprised if they begin going deep when Nate Washington and Jared Cook are fully healthy.

QB Brett Favre, MIN - The Vikings ran the ball effectively and often against Cleveland, but Favre dropped back enough times to answer key questions about his arm strength and NFL readiness after a season of unretirement controversy. Favre’s arm strength, a major concern after a torn biceps muscle last season and a more recent rotator cuff problem this offseason, looked to be in good form. He showed good touch and accuracy on deep fade routes to Sidney Rice and had enough arm strength to fit the ball into small windows underneath to Visanthe Shiancoe and Percy Harvin. While there was some miscommunication around the goal line on a timing route to Rice and a few hot routes underneath, Favre generally looked comfortable in the pocket. He also seems content to take sacks rather than forcing the ball into bad spots. Whether the extra hits catch up with him later in the season remains to be seen, but Favre looks like he’s healthy enough to connect with his weapons and remain a viable QB2 this year.

QB Byron Leftwich, PIT - While he wasn't sacked, Leftwich was pressured all game long and it often resulted in passes that were hurried. When he did have time to throw, he was very accurate on his mid-range and deep throws, including a nice 47-yard sideline pass to Michael Clayton at the end of the half. The majority of his passes and yards came in the second half when Tampa Bay was fighting to get back in the game, so don't necessarily expect him to have big yardage every game. Leftwich has a long wind up in his throwing motion and he is most accurate when he has time to plant and follow through. The Cowboys were able to pressure him on occasion and alter his motion, thus resulting in hurried passes that were either inaccurate or overthrown. He used all areas of the field and completed passes to ten different receivers, despite facing pressure on most passing plays. His main targets were Michael Clayton and Kellen Winslow who each had a team high five catches.

QB Kyle Orton, DEN - Orton made no major mistakes, but wasn’t particularly impressive in any phase. Frequently working out of the shotgun in spread sets and given plenty of time to throw, Orton had trouble hitting windows on both short and down field routes. His arm strength remains below average on deep passes and long timing routes, allowing defenders back into the play. Though it didn’t hurt him much in Cincinnati, his arm strength, inaccuracies and indecisiveness will likely keep his team from stringing together long drives regularly without improvement.

QB Carson Palmer, CIN - Palmer had some difficulty shaking off the rust after missing most of last season with an elbow injury and the bulk of the preseason with a high ankle sprain. While generally accurate and showing good arm strength, Palmer was inconsistent in the pocket. His footwork was off at times and he seemed reluctant to step into throws while pressured. He looked much more comfortable during the team’s lone touchdown drive, showing improved accuracy and a strong arm to fit his passes into tight windows. Palmer’s arm strength was again reassuring that he’s over his elbow issues and his ankle looked healthy on a rollout and strong throw on the run late in the game. Clearly on the same page with Chad Ochocinco and Andre Caldwell, expect better numbers once the remaining rust is knocked off.

QB JaMarcus Russell, FA - Russell appeared wildly inaccurate for much of the night against the Chargers, but part of that was that he had two rookie WRs learning on the job, and it took a while to find any rapport with them. Russell did end up hooking up with Louis Murphy on a beautifully thrown 57-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to go ahead with about two and a half minutes remaining. He found Murphy earlier in the game for another apparent touchdown that was overturned when the replay official concluded that Murphy failed to control the ball all the way to the ground. As Russell continues to get on the same page with Murphy and Darrius Heyward-Bey, he will continue to make a few big plays here and there. It is also worth noting that the Raiders' pass protection was generally excellent against the Chargers. We still don't view him as a solid fantasy QB2, but we are not downgrading him from strong QB3 status based on his generally errant throws on Monday night.

QB Matt Ryan, ATL - Ryan spread the ball among his receivers very well in this game. Although Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White got their share of looks, Michael Jenkins was often his first option and he checked down frequently to Jerious Norwood. Even FB Ovie Mughelli was used in key situations. That said, Ryan was inaccurate on down field throws all day. He under threw a wide-open Roddy White in the first quarter, who had turned around Dolphins’ rookie CB Sean Smith on a deep post. He under threw Jenkins in the second quarter and then overthrew a wide-open Jerious Norwood on a wheel route in the closing seconds of the half. Combine these with another under-thrown bomb to Roddy White who beat bracketed coverage down the left hash in the third quarter, and three of these four routes should have been touchdowns and all four were throws to the left side of the field more than 15 yards past the line of scrimmage. Despite his issues down field, he made only one ill advised throw all game and managed the offense like a veteran. He remains a quality No.1 fantasy QB with upside once he gets better timing on his deep throws.

QB Matthew Stafford, DET - Stafford was down two touchdowns after only three snaps from center, a tall order against a veteran defense led by an aggressive coordinator. Stafford did show a strong arm and good accuracy early, hitting Calvin Johnson in stride on a quick hitter then showing good balance and touch on a screen to Kevin Smith. Things began to come apart as the Saints turned up the pressure, however, and Stafford began to throw off his back foot and rush throws on timing patterns during the second quarter. Stafford’s footwork and mechanics completely came apart in the second half. His accuracy suffered as a result, overthowing sideline passes and leaving deep passes short of their mark or behind their intended receivers. The result was three interceptions and a number of other passes that could have been picked off. Considering coach Jim Schwartz's statement that Stafford has a long leash, don't expect to see Daunte Culpepper unless the rookie gets hurt or loses his composure.

Running Back

RB Mike Bell, PHI - Bell, filling in for an injured Pierre Thomas, ran hard between the tackles early, attacked holes as they opened, cut decisively and moved the pile in short yardage. Early in the game, Bell was mostly a change of pace back, splitting carries with Reggie Bush and leaving the field in spread sets. Bell quickly began to assert himself on the ground, however, and saw most of the Saints’ carries in the second quarter before having even more success against a worn out Detroit defense in the second half. With Bell's solid play, it is possible the Saints allow Pierre Thomas to rest a little longer.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG - Bradshaw posted good numbers in Week 1 with 12 carries for 60 yards versus the Redskins, but the more telling item was that he was not used exclusively on passing downs. Bradshaw was used almost as a tandem or committee back for the Giants, posting 12 rushes in comparison to Brandon Jacobs' 16 carries. Despite the minor disparity, Bradshaw had more receptions than Jacobs and displayed a higher gear and a more explosive burst once he cleared the first hole. The Giants will be smart to use Bradshaw more often in their attack going forward and with Danny Ware dislocating his elbow on the opening kick off, Bradshaw should get ample opportunity to make good on his chances.

RB Correll Buckhalter, DEN - Buckhalter started and saw extensive playing time on all downs while rotating in on every third series with Knowshon Moreno. Buckhalter was effective between the tackles and was elusive at times in the open field. He appears to be first in line if Moreno is injured or falters, with Peyton Hillis being used primarily as a blocking back.

RB Michael Bush, OAK - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - RB Michael Bush. Bush got 40% of the Raiders' hand-offs on Monday night, and averaged 4.6 yards per carry. He showed excellent power, running over would-be tacklers and gaining yards after contact. Although Darren McFadden looked fast, his YAC skills came when he was in the secondary. Bush was able to rough up the big guys in the front seven. Importantly, he also got all three of the Raiders' rushing attempts inside the opponents' ten yard-line. The Raiders appear to have a strong running game this season. If Bush continues to get nearly half the carries, as well as a large majority of the goal line carries, he will have no problem exceeding his average fantasy draft position.

RB Fred Jackson, BUF - Despite missing some time in the preseason with a wrist injury, Jackson filled in for the suspended Marshawn Lynch and did an excellent job. The Bills offensive line did not create a ton of space for him in the running game, but he ran hard between the tackles and broke some plays outside with his quickness. Jackson was most effective working as a receiver out of the backfield, finishing the game with 5 catches on 7 targets for 83 yards and a huge TD late in the game that gave the Bills an 11-point lead. Jackson was clearly the Bills best player in this game and will likely be a key part of the Bills offense even after Lynch returns in week 4.

RB Julius Jones, SEA - If there was any question who the Seattle RB would be, Julius Jones answered the bell with an impressive performance against the Rams. He was often the only RB in the backfield, and he was able to gain good yardage by simply following his blockers in front of him. The Seahawks OL got good push all game long against the Rams that helped Jones easily move the ball forward. Despite rushing for 6.2 YPC, he only had two first downs all game and one of them came on a reception. Also noteworthy, he was not used at all on third downs and failed to score on a 1st and goal at the two yard-line earlier in the game. His long run was a result of a great lead block by FB Justin Griffith that opened the lane for Jones to run to the end zone virtually untouched. Jones is a good fantasy RB to have due to his schedule, but his performance today really solidified his presence in your lineup as a RB2 or flex option. Since his goal line and third down opportunities are questionable, he's a better flex option if you have the luxury.

RB LeRon McClain, BAL - McClain is technically a fullback and the third rushing option for Baltimore, but when you are third on one of the best running teams in the NFL, you are far from irrelevant. McClain vultured a touchdown from Ray Rice as he got the all-important final yard at the goal line in the fourth quarter. He also added 23 yards as a receiver, looking good on a few short screen passes including a 15-yarder that was lost due to a penalty. Deciding which Baltimore back to go with may be tough each week, but for a cheap backup who can punch the ball into the end zone, McClain should be a nice waiver wire target in touchdown heavy leagues.

RB Willis McGahee, BAL - Rumors of McGahee’s demise are apparently exaggerated. His main workload came in the red zone, reaching pay-dirt twice. His touchdown catch was far from designed (it looked like a goal line pass play to Todd Heap) but with Flacco scrambling, McGahee found open spaces in the left flat and caught an easy touchdown. McGahee finished the game with a goal line plunge late to cap a two-TD afternoon. He will not get many touches behind Ray Rice, but if he gets goal line work his value should skyrocket.

RB Jerious Norwood, ATL - The Falcons found a good role for Norwood as Matt Ryan’s check-down option and the No. 2 RB made good on his opportunities with five catches for 49 yards including three, third down conversions on two circle routes and a pass to the flat. Although he didn’t break any big plays, his patented burst helped him get the necessary yardage when the Falcons needed it most. He was wide open on a deep wheel route down the left sideline, but he had to lay out for the overthrown pass just to get his hands within inches of the ball. I believe Norwood is worth an upgrade because they used him in the same backfield with Turner in shotgun sets and he clearly had the trust of Matt Ryan as a receiver out of the backfield. He had a poor man’s Kevin Faulk role in this game and I think it’s likely to continue.

RB Jonathan Stewart, CAR - Stewart was a question mark entering Week 1 with health concerns, but he looked very good as both a runner and a receiver. Stewart spelled DeAngelo Williams early in the first half, even getting a few carries inside the Eagles' 10 yard- line. Stewart showed good speed and power, but Philadelphia's defense was too formidable to give up much on this occasion. Stewart had several shots from inside the five yard-line, but the Eagles held strong inside and forced the Panthers to make several tries before picking up a first down inside the one. After a penalty pushed them back, Williams took over and scored the touchdown. It remains to be seen if Stewart will assume his role from last season as the Panthers' goal line back.

RB Derrick Ward, HOU - Ward filled in for Cadillac Williams after Williams was banged up on a hard tackle near the goal line. He played most of the second half, while Williams rested on the sideline. He ran with good power and speed and showed why the Buccaneers decided to sign him in the off season. Ward appears to be the next in line behind Cadillac Williams. Earnest Graham was not used much at all in the game and should not be a big concern for Ward owners. As of right now, it appears the running game will go mainly through Cadillac and Ward. Based on Williams' injury history, Ward could see a lot of action in 2009.

RB Chris Wells, ARI - Wells began the game on the sideline, and touched the ball just once in the first half as Tim Hightower got most of the work early. Once Wells got his chance in the second half, however, he ran with power and balance, giving life to the Cardinals' running game. Wells got most of the team's second-half rushes, including the final six carries of the day, and he was effective -- averaging 4.1 yards per carry. Wells is the team's most talented rusher, and should become the Cardinals' primary ballcarrier in short order (though he may give way to Hightower in passing situations).

RB Brian Westbrook, SF - Westbrook missed nearly all of the preseason workouts and games, yet when he took the field against the Panthers he looked like he never missed a step. Westbrook darted and dashed like a Pro Bowl caliber running back, catching short passes, running between the tackles, and doing damage in space. The Eagles got Westbrook 16 total touches with three catches out of the backfield and he made sharp cuts one after another, often making the first man miss. Philadelphia had only three of their normal front five on the offensive line starting but they controlled the line of scrimmage, affording Westbrook room to get to the hole and gain a few yards before first contact. All of Westbrook's fantasy owners should be encouraged by this performance as he put up over 70 total yards in just three quarters before the Eagles pulled most starters in the second half with the game well in hand.

RB Cadillac Williams, TB - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Williams looked great early on. He made good cuts and showed great burst, moving the pile forward and gaining the extra yardage on tough runs with good power. He did everything right, including good a blitz pick up on play that featured Winslow over the middle. His big run of 35 yards forced him out of the game after a hard tackle on his twice injured knee, but he came back two plays later to score a goal line TD. Williams was barely used after that hard tackle that forced him out of the game. Derrick Ward replaced him for the most part in the second half. Williams definitely looked strong, but his knee injury history and propensity for missing time could haunt those who decide to lean on him as a weekly fantasy starter. Play him while he is hot, but don't be surprised if a hard tackle like the one he had on Sunday will force him to the bench or limit him in future games.

Downgrade

RB Ronnie Brown, MIA - Brown wasn’t bad, but Miami's play-calling and receiving play was poor enough that the ground game never got going. The Falcons defense was stout up the middle, and despite some success on a pitch to left end early in the second quarter, the Dolphins didn’t try to run to the left again until well into the second half and the only effective run up the middle came when the game was out of hand: a 22-yard gain on delay. Brown also contributed to the Falcons’ first sack on Pennington when he went too low on a cut block and Kroy Biermann sidestepped Brown for a sack and forced fumble. I expect the Dolphins ground game to have more success against the Colts defense, but they will have to get off to a faster start than Peyton Manning and I’m skeptical they will.

RB James Davis, CLE - Davis was involved in a car accident earlier in the weekend and he didn’t look anything like the back who tore up second team defenses throughout the preseason in his first regular season snaps against the Vikings solid defense. Davis had trouble getting out of the backfield on delayed handoffs from the shotgun and was unable to gain the corner when he tried to bounce plays outside. Before taking a shot in the second half, Davis got the call as the Browns’ primary third down back and complementary backfield option to Josh Cribbs in the nickel. It’s unfair to judge him after a tough weekend on and off the field, but Davis will have to improve to have a shot at stealing more carries from Lewis moving forward.

RB Frank Gore, SF - Gore's two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) gave him a respectable fantasy performance on Sunday, but the 49ers' offensive line was unable to open any holes. Gore's six-yard TD run was the lone exception. Aside from that, the Cardinals' defensive line completely owned the line of scrimmage. As a team, the 49ers rushed 25 times for 21 yards. It was not a matter of Gore missing holes -- there simply weren't any holes to miss. In addition, with the offensive line struggling to protect QB Shaun Hill, Frank Gore was kept in to help block more often than his fantasy owners would like. The 49ers' offensive line will have to improve quite a bit for Gore to be a consistent fantasy producer this season.

RB Earnest Graham, TB - Graham was hardly used in the season opener. It clearly looks like the Bucs will roll with Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward for the time being. Earnest is the odd man out, but he does have value if an injury provides an opportunity for him to see more action.

RB Tim Hightower, ARI - Hightower was very productive as a receiver out of the backfield, catching 12 passes for 121 yards. And he split carries with Chris Wells pretty evenly. That's the good news. The bad news, however, is that Hightower was completely ineffective running the ball. He rushed just twice in the second half, and was caught at or behind the line of scrimmage both times. After that, Hightower got no more rushing attempts, as Chris Wells got the final six carries -- and he looked much more powerful and explosive than Hightower. While Hightower may still get the call on passing downs, we expect Wells to take over as the team's primary rusher. That bodes poorly for Hightower's fantasy value.

RB Felix Jones, DAL - Jones was held in check throughout the game. He had one big 19-yard gain early and then was an afterthought, finishing with only 22 yards on six carries. He wasn't a big factor in the offense like some expected. He did get the first crack at a first and goal carry in the first quarter, but Barber then came in on second down while Jones watched from the sidelines. Jones may have good games here and there, but unless there's an injury in the running game, he likely won't be an every week strong fantasy play.

RB Sammy Morris, NE - The Patriots entered the game with a group of four RBs who could all be considered important pieces of the offense. While the other three all played key roles in this game, Morris was the one who seemed to be left out. Fred Taylor looks like he may get most of the goal line carries this year, Kevin Faulk looks like he’ll get almost all of the work in passing situations, and Laurence Maroney looks like he could become the lead back in this committee approach. Morris, meanwhile, finished the game with zero carries and zero catches on one target, and occasionally was lined up as a blocking fullback. Unless there is an injury to one of the other backs in front of him, it looks like Morris won’t be a part of the RBBC in New England this year.

RB Willie Parker, FA - Parker had 13 carries for 19 yards, and a big reason was the Titans defense getting great penetration up the middle and showing tremendous discipline with gap control to string out runs designed to go between the tackles. Parker’s best run was a 7-yard counter play to begin the second half, but he struggled on third down, unable to gain a yard on two, third and one situations. One of those plays occurred in the red zone and the Steelers had to settle for a field goal. He did not play the entire fourth quarter because the Steelers used Mewelde Moore in their shotgun offense and threw 90 percent of the time. I expect Parker to have better games, because Tennessee is a top-notch run defense. However, after seeing the Steelers line get dominated off the ball, I’m skeptical Parker will be a consistent fantasy No. 2 RB, especially against defenses like the Bears and Ravens.

RB Bernard Scott, CIN - Scott saw only one snap against the Broncos and was thrown for a six yard loss on a lateral swing pass from Carson Palmer. Scott saw no time on third downs and had no rushing attempts. He remains the most likely player to get snaps if Benson is injured, but for now, it appears that Scott isn’t in the Bengals’ immediate plans on Sundays.

RB Steve Slaton, HOU - Slaton and the Texans offense never managed to get into any rhythm or in sync against the Jets strong defense. As a result, Slaton was shut down on the ground. He tried to find holes instead of lowering his shoulder creating them and he just couldn't gain much positive yards as a result. The Texans OL struggled to get a push off the line that would create holes to run through and it really hurt Slaton's game. When he was able to get some separation, he fumbled away a play that would've put Houston in the red zone when the game was still close. The Rex Ryan-coached Jets run defense kept the entire team in check, holding the team to just 38 yards rushing. Slaton was involved in the short passing game, but the failure to sustain drives didn't provide any scoring opportunities.

RB Kevin Smith, DET - Smith had difficulty finding running room between the tackles and had to make a move in the backfield on nearly every play. Other than a successful misdirection play on a fourth down touchdown run in the second quarter, Smith wasn’t much more effective when the Lions tried to get him outside on pitch plays and sweeps. He caught the ball well on a variety of screen passes and underneath routes, showing good elusiveness after getting the ball in open field. Until teams can't force Matthew Stafford to throw the ball without consistently paying for it, Smith is not going to have the opportunity to be the fantasy player that matches his ability. The fact that Schwartz stuck with the ground game enough for Smith to get at least 15 carries means Smith is still a low-end No. 2 fantasy RB, but not a favorable option in the short-term.

RB DeAngelo Williams, CAR - Williams gets a downgrade after Week 1 simply because Carolina’s passing game was terrible. If they continue to be this bad a passing team, look for the opposition to stack the box. Williams capped the only touchdown drive for the Panthers, showing excellent cutting ability, vision, and agility to break quickly to open spaces. On the touchdown, Williams noticed that the Eagles lost containment around the end, and Williams broke wide to the corner in a heartbeat, easily scoring his first six points of the young year. However, the Eagles adjusted after that score and kept Williams in check for the remainder of the game. He did add four catches for 42 yards, leading all Panthers in receiving yardage. Williams likely would have had over 100 combined yards easily if not for the game getting out of hand in the second half.

Holding steady

RB Marion Barber, DAL - Barber ran well showing power and burst that we've become accustomed to. As a result, he received the bulk of the Cowboys carries. What's a bit concerning is that he failed to catch a single pass. In fact, Romo only tossed two balls to RBs - both went to Tashard Choice. Barber did manage to score on a late six-yard run, but his scoring opportunities were limited due to Romo's three long TD passes that ended drives early.

RB Cedric Benson, CIN - The Bengals frequently used power running sets in the first half. After a slow start, Benson was able to find good running room, especially when bouncing plays outside and turning the corner. Benson did struggle at times to make players miss at the point of attack, but was generally effective on short yardage, including on his goal line carry for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He also showed good hands as a frequent target of Palmer’s on swing passes and dump offs underneath. Benson usually left the field on passing downs in favor of Brian Leonard, a situation that’s unlikely to change after Benson whiffed on a blitz pickup and allowed a sack from Palmer’s blindside.

RB Chris Brown, FA - The Houston OL struggled all game to create holes for their RBs to run through. Brown's game is more of a "full steam ahead" approach where he simply runs as hard as he can and simply bull rushes his way to positive yards. That worked a few times, but that's not the style of rushing that Houston wants to use. Once the running game was stymied, Brown was hardly used. It's clear that Houston will turn to Brown in short yardage and goal line plays, but if the team can't generate a rushing game, his contributions will be few and far between.

RB Reggie Bush, NO - Reggie Bush looked healthy against the Lions. The Saints continue to motion him out of the backfield to force the defense to show their hand and generate mismatches. Bush quickly took advantage of one such man coverage mismatch against a linebacker on a long sideline route for a long gain early in the first quarter. When Bush wasn’t in the backfield, the Saints often aligned him behind a WR to keep the Lions from jamming him on the line of scrimmage and threw him quick passes to get him in space. Bush struggled between the tackles as a ball carrier, however, and wasn’t nearly as effective as Mike Bell, who got the bulk of the carries in the second half. Bush also struggled as a punt returner, fumbling twice while returning punts and losing one. The fumbles are an anomaly, but the paltry output between the tackles is not.

RB Tashard Choice, DAL - Choice had only four touches all game and was used mainly on third down plays. He did have the only two completions to Dallas RBs, but he likely won't have a big role in the offense unless an injury occurs to either Barber or Felix Jones.

RB Kevin Faulk, NE - Although Faulk is not a great fantasy option in standard scoring leagues, in PPR leagues he remains a very underrated option. He appeared to be the exclusive 3rd down back in the game, playing in almost all passing situations, and with defenses focusing most of their attention on Moss and Welker on the outside, that left Faulk wide open to keep moving the chains and screens and short passes. He finished 2008 with a career-high 58 receptions and may be able to improve on that number this year after finishing with six receptions in the opener.

RB Peyton Hillis, CLE - Hillis was used as a blocking back against Cincinnati. He had no rushing attempts until the Broncos expanded their rotation after a minor injury to Knowshon Moreno kept him out of some rotational snaps in the second half.

RB Steven Jackson, STL - Jackson was neither effective on the ground nor through the air against Seattle. The two targets he had for receptions on screen passes, Bulger was hurried and the pass was inaccurate. Jackson did show great speed getting around the corner on one play, but those plays were few and far between. The Rams struggled to sustain drives and were often off the field before they could find any kind of rhythm on offense. Jackson should rebound at home and chalk this sub par performance up due to a strong Seattle defense and deafening crowd.

RB Edgerrin James, FA - Edgerrin James had a few carries in first half, but the majority of his presence on the field was in the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach. Right now, the primary RB role is occupied by Julius Jones, but James does have some value if Jones were to suffer an injury.

RB Chris Johnson, TEN - Although it wasn’t a great game for Johnson statistically, he demonstrated the skills that make him a No. 1 RB for most fantasy rosters. Despite an eight-man front on the second drive, Johnson was able to show patience, find a cutback lane, and then reverse his field to get around the backside corner for a 32-yard gain. This was also due to Tennessee’s line holding their blocks extremely well against an excellent defense. He had another cutback run for 17 yards early in the second half. He also showed excellent balance as a receiver a flat pass to make a move on LB Lamar Woodley, and then stay inbounds to get a first down, nearly breaking it for more. Although his missed a block to set up a screen pass that could have resulted in a big gain if he held up the LB with a hit, Johnson showed he was a fearless blocker, giving Collins time on blitzes up the middle. Although most of his yards came on two carries this week, he looks primed for another top-12 season because Pittsburgh might be his toughest opponent of the year.

RB Thomas Jones, KC - Early on Thomas Jones was not getting much help from his OL. There was very little forward push on rushing plays in the early going. Jones at one point had just 16 yards on 14 tough carries. The fact that he finished with 107 yards on 20 carries clearly says that he received most of his yards at the end of the game when the Jets needed to preserve the lead. He was great with blitz pickups throughout, most notably on an incomplete pass to Jerricho Cotchery in the end zone that would've been a sack if not for his pick up. The Jets look like a team that will use their power running game to wear opponents down, but he is clearly in a RBBC with Leon Washington. Don't expect 100 yards and 2 TDs every week.

RB Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX - We can't give Jones-Drew an upgrade since he was already number two on our Top 250 Forward list, and he won't pass Adrian Peterson. But Jones-Drew lived up to our lofty expectations on Sunday, showing that he can handle the larger workload he'll get this season. With Fred Taylor in New England, Maurice Jones-Drew has the Jaguars' backfield essentially to himself. He took 21 of the team's 22 hand-offs on Sunday, and was the lone bright spot on offense. Jones-Drew displayed his characteristic elusiveness against the Colts, dodging tacklers in the backfield on several occasions in order to gain positive yards. The run-blocking was inconsistent, but generally good enough, considering that Jones-Drew needs only a small crease to get through. Jones-Drew was also featured prominently in the passing game, leading the team in targets and receptions.

RB LaMont Jordan, FA - Jordan had two carries in the second half, joining the running back rotation briefly after a minor injury to Knowshon Moreno. He didn’t show anything that would force the Denver coaches into giving him more than spotty playing time.

RB Brian Leonard, CIN - Though his box score numbers aren’t too impressive, Leonard saw extensive time on passing downs against the Broncos. Leonard made himself available as an outlet receiver on a long catch and run during the Bengals’ fourth quarter scoring drive. He also held his own in pass protection, which should keep him in this role for the near future.

RB Jamal Lewis, FA - It was a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde performance for Lewis against Minnesota. On a number of occasions, Lewis showed a decent burst through the hole and some elusiveness before contact, picking up solid gains on the ground against a stout Viking front. On others, Lewis wasn’t explosive at all on taking the handoff and struggled to get to top speed quickly. Early in the game, James Davis was on the field in spread sets, though Lewis did see time as the game progressed. Lewis still shouldn’t be considered more than a flex RB at best.

RB Rashard Mendenhall, PIT - He ran hard, but only had four carries for six yards. His first attempt was a mistimed exchange with Roethlisberger and he had to fight through the backfield to prevent a big loss. He still seems to run a bit too high, but with just four carries you can’t really evaluate him enough either way. The offensive line will need to get better for any Steelers runner to be productive.

RB Mewelde Moore, PIT - Pittsburgh’s offense was at its best when Moore was in the lineup and used as a check-down option in the two-minute offense. He didn’t accumulate relevant fantasy stats, but he was targeted on key plays in the game, such an eight-yard gain on a circle route for a first down with 1:10 left. Moore was no more effective as a runner than Parker, but it appears Pittsburgh will need to throw to win the game, and he’s their most savvy third-down back. Keep an eye on Moore in coming weeks. He’s not an upgrade, but that could change.

RB Knowshon Moreno, DEN - Moreno didn’t start, but played nearly two series to Correll Buckhalter’s one series in rotation during the first three quarters before a tough hit kept him out of many second half snaps. Moreno looked quick on some carries, but had trouble working through trash between the tackles on others, struggling to stay up on first contact. While he stayed on the field on passing downs during his series, his blitz pickup and pass protection were inconsistent and might cost him snaps if he doesn’t improve. Expect improvement in all phases as he gets his game legs under him.

RB Adrian Peterson, MIN - If it were possible to upgrade the consensus top overall fantasy player in the NFL, we would do it. As Peterson is already the top overall player in our Top 250 forward, we’ll mark him as a “hold steady” and heap plenty of praise on him. Peterson started slowly, as the Browns were able to generate some push during the first quarter, but gradually wore the Cleveland defense down. He was effective between the tackles and bouncing runs outside, and showed his usual power running style with a number of broken tackles and strong stiff arms, particularly on a 68-yard touchdown run in which he had multiple Cleveland defenders on their heels and grasping at his jersey as he cruised past them. Peterson came off the field as expected on many passing downs, but did show good hands on a short route that he turned into a 18-yard gain. The only potential area for concern was some inconsistency in short yardage situations. Peterson needed multiple attempts to convert around the goal line and sometimes gave way to other options in short yardage. That’s nitpicking at best, though, as the Vikings gave Peterson the ball three straight times inside the three on one series and there’s no indication he won’t see the majority of their short yardage and goal line calls.

RB Darren Sproles, SD - Sproles and Tomlinson split the workload pretty evenly on Monday night, each getting 14 touches. Sproles was on the field for most of the second half, including the Chargers' final game-winning drive (which he capped with a five-yard touchdown run on a draw play). But don't jump to the conclusion that Sproles and Tomlinson will continue in a full-fledged RBBC. The reason for Sproles' increased playing time was a high ankle sprain suffered by Tomlinson in the first quarter, which tightened up on him in the second half. A healthy Tomlinson will still get the bulk of the carries, while Sproles will add the occasional spark on offense while handling return duties in the kicking game. If Tomlinson is injured and misses one or more games this season, Michael Bennett may get the starting nod while Sproles' role as the change-of-pace back may not change significantly. (Bennett was inactive on Monday night since Tomlinson entered the game healthy.)

RB Chester Taylor, CHI - Taylor wasn’t nearly as effective as Peterson against Cleveland, especially in a fourth quarter series after the Vikings had worn down the Browns’ defense. He was stuffed at the point of attack between the tackles and showed only average elusiveness as an outlet receiver for Brett Favre. Taylor continued in his usual role as a change of pace back to Adrian Peterson and third down receiving option. His seven targets are enough to keep him from a clear downgrade this week, but he’ll need to be more effective in his rush attempts and more productive with his targets to hold any potential flex option value alongside Peterson this year.

RB Fred Taylor, NE - Taylor scored from the goal line in the first quarter and opened the game as the starter. He seemed to be pressing to find openings and not as decisive as he was in Jackonsville and he ceded substantial time to Laurence Maroney. Fortunately for Taylor, Maroney was even less decisive despite having a little more experience running behind this unit. I expect Taylor to continue to see goal line work and be more effective as he gains rapport with the offensive line.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson, NYJ - Is the glass half-empty or half-full? After the Monday night game against the Raiders, there are two primary reasons to be pessimistic about Tomlinson's fantasy prospects this season. First, the poor run-blocking by the Chargers on Monday night could get worse rather than better since the team lost two starting offensive linemen against the Raiders. No timetable is currently set for the return of center Nick Hardwick or right guard Luis Vasquez. And second, Tomlinson suffered a high ankle sprain that limited his playing time during the rest of the game and could linger for several weeks. If Tomlinson is at less than full strength, the Chargers will not hesitate to give Darren Sproles more touches at Tomlinson's expense (as they did on the game-winning drive Monday night). On the other hand, there are two primary reasons for optimism as well. Tomlinson himself looked pretty good on Monday night when he was in the game. Despite the aforementioned poor run-blocking, he averaged 4.2 yards per carry and made a number of cuts he couldn't make last season on his injured toe. In addition, Tomlinson got the call on the team's only goal-line play of the night, and he converted it into a touchdown. Tomlinson will continue to get the ball at the goal line, and with the Chargers facing what appears to be a relatively easy schedule this season, Tomlinson should have plenty of scoring opportunities. We will monitor the situation with the ankle sprain, but if Tomlinson is good to go against the Ravens this week, we do not think he merits a downgrade.

RB Michael Turner, ATL - Despite his stats, Turner didn’t look bad at all. The problem was the play-calling tendencies and the Dolphins front seven. Atlanta stubbornly tested the A gaps between center and guard despite the fact Turner didn’t gain more than three yards on any of those runs. The ground game looked much more like its old self on runs off guard or off tackle where he got yardage after contact and broke tackles. His longest run of the day was a 12-yard gain with 2:30 left in the game when the contest was clearly in hand. I anticipate the Falcons will see their inability to make the adjustment that would have set Turner loose against the Dolphins, and Turner should get back on track in future weeks.

RB Leon Washington, SEA - The Jets are poised to use both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington in their power running game. Thomas Jones got all of the accolades with two scores, but Washington played his part as well. In fact, Washington had better numbers for most of the game, until Jones broke out with two strong runs in the fourth quarter. Washington nearly scored on a play from the Wildcat formation, but he was tackled just short of the goal line. Washington should continue to be a threat in the passing game, which elevates his standing in PPR leagues.

RB LenDale White, DEN - White ran hard, keeping his legs moving when initially hit. As the game wore on, he looked a little quicker than he did last year, getting that extra yard he didn’t the past. He nearly averaged four yards per carry (28 yards) on eight attempts. Against lesser defenses, he should see opportunities in the red zone and be an adequate situational RB. He’s a good bye-week or flex option in non-ppr leagues.

RB Ricky Williams, MIA - Williams looked pretty good, showing some burst on a 14-yard gain off RG with Ronnie Brown making a great lead block to undercut LB Curtis Lofton and demonstrating finishing power on an 11-yard gain off a pitch to the left side with 5:20 in the 3rd QTR. He also broke a tackle on a swing pass for a first down in the 4th QTR and finished off a drive with a nine-yard score after sneaking into the flat with a great execution of a play fake. Unfortunately, the Dolphins passing game was so inept downfield that the ground game isn’t likely to remain a mediocre unit.

Wide Receiver

WR Earl Bennett, CHI - There were many reports during the preseason about the great chemistry that exists between Bennett and Cutler. Those reports were confirmed in the opener as Bennett was clearly Cutler's favorite target with an impressive 13 looks in the game with most of them on shorter routes. Unfortunately, he only managed to convert 7 of those 13 targets into catches, but bad throws from Cutler were primarily to blame. Devin Hester performed well in his role as the big-play threat, but Bennett looks like he will be the receiver that Culter relies on to consistently move the chains. He made an impressive diving catch near the sideline on a ball lofted between two defenders in the third quarter and demonstrated a decent first step after the catch that could earn him some big YAC numbers in games with lesser DBs as opponents. He has a chance to emerge as an every-week starter in PPR leagues.

WR Davone Bess, MIA - Bess was the best receiver on the Dolphins roster this weekend because he routinely worked to get open when Chad Pennington was under pressure. He was used frequently as the slot receiver and targeted a lot on short passes like screens and comebacks. He bailed out Pennington for first-down receptions on five of his seven catches. He demonstrated good quickness out of his breaks and made two diving receptions on short passes. Although the slot receiver in this offense, Bess looks poised to potentially lead this team in receptions when the season ends.

WR Kenny Britt, TEN - The Titans rookie had an up and down performance despite a promising stat line of four catches for 85 yards. The Troy Polamalu interception was the result of Britt not working his way back on a deep throw. Although the interception was a great play, Britt had an opportunity to cut in front of the safety. The fact that they put a safety on Britt in the first place should tell you the opposition had little confidence that the rookie could consistently hurt them. However, Britt did hold his own better than expected. He flashed his skills on a deep out, catching the ball with his hands and tight-roped the sideline for a first down and a 15-yard gain. However, he didn’t come back to the ball out of his break on a similar deep out later in the game, and this allowed the defender break up a pass he should have easily caught. Just when you thought he he might disappear, Britt followed up his poor play with a nice run after the catch against busted coverage on sideline pattern for a 57-yard play with less than two minutes in the half. He still trapped the ball against his body on most receptions, but he made enough good plays to gain a little more confidence from his QB. He’s worthwhile depth to consider off the waiver wire in case one of your receivers is hurt.

WR Isaac Bruce, FA - Bruce still runs sharp routes and catches everything thrown near him. He even showed some deep speed on Sunday, getting behind the defense on a deep post pattern. With the 49ers' top draft pick Michael Crabtree possibly destined to sit out the season, Bruce may be the team's top receiver this season. And with what may be an ineffective running game (at least based on Sunday's performance), the 49ers will depend on Bruce's consistency to move the chains.

WR Nate Burleson, DET - If there was any question on how Burleson would respond after missing nearly the entire 2008 season due to a knee injury, he quieted his critics with a fine performance in his first game back. Burleson was used in short and mid-ranged passes, mostly while lined up on the right side of the field. Six of Burleson's seven receptions and 10 of his 11 targets came in the first half. His TD catch in the second quarter was a great route where he froze his defender thinking he was going to run a fade pattern, but he cut in for a leaping catch in the end zone. Burleson showed great chemistry with Hasselbeck and was the target on several third down plays, which is something to look for when making lineup decisions for your WR. Burleson deserves a start as your WR3 or flex option going forward.

WR Andre Caldwell, CIN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Caldwell emerged as a trustworthy underneath option in the mold of T.J. Houshmandzadeh against the Broncos. Caldwell led the team with eight targets and six receptions. He was effective on a variety of short routes, including bubble screens, shallow crosses and curl routes. He showed good hands and came back for the ball aggressively, allowing Palmer to confidently fit the ball into tight windows. He’s entrenched as the slot WR in the three wide receiver package the Bengals frequently use and may be blossoming into a solid flex WR.

WR Michael Clayton, FA - Ten different Buccaneers caught passes on Sunday, but Clayton led the way with five catches, including a nice 47-yard grab at the end of the half. He was targeted eight times in the game and all eight attempts happened to be in Dallas territory. He made good use of his size against smaller defenders and was a force on sideline patterns as well as being a rock over the middle. He rarely had difficulties against press coverage and simply found openings where Leftwich found him for three first down plays on the day. He may have an opportunity to see even more action if Antonio Bryant's knee injury affects his play or causes him to sit for a game or two.

WR Austin Collie, IND - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Collie or Pierre Garcon will vie for opportunities to replace Anthony Gonzalez in the staring lineup. Collie is a player Manning raves about because of his hands and short range acceleration - which reminds some of a rich man's Kevin Curtis, but Garcon has more experience. Neither are great upgrades until it becomes clearer who will earn Manning's trust.

WR Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ - Cotchery routinely bailed out Sanchez by making clutch third down grabs, which helped move the chains and maintain drives. There was some concern how often Cotchery's number would be called with Sanchez at QB, but it looks clear that Sanchez has made him his go-to receiver when he needs a first down. If the passing game continues to produce, Cotchery should be on pace for over 100 targets with multiple TDs this season.

WR Patrick Crayton, SD - Crayton had two big gains, one of which was an 80-yard TD where the Bucs blew the coverage, mostly in part to the corner biting on an out pattern by Jason Witten. Crayton has been known to have nice games like this every once in a while, but now that he is the team's WR2, this performance holds a bit more weight than previous big games. He did struggle at times to get separation and sometimes didn't run out his routes that made it look like some passes were overthrown. Crayton is someone to consider as a WR4 or flex option, but don't be surprised to see him come back to earth and provide little fantasy production in future games.

WR Kevin Curtis, FA - Curtis had a quiet day with just five balls heading in his direction, he is not as healthy as he could be. Curtis never attempted to truly stretch the field and even dropped an easy 15-20 yard pass from McNabb early in the contest. Curtis was on the field as the second starting wide out opposite of DeSean Jackson, but the timing between him and McNabb was either a little off, or Curtis was not quite up to the caliber that usually makes him a deep threat and explosive receiver after the catch. Although he didn't perform to the best of his ability, Curtis is the Eagles' second starter, and they are a great passing team as long as McNabb is healthy. Getting a starting wide out on that team is a great fantasy move even if you have to wait a few weeks for McNabb to recover for Curtis' down field skills to be maximized in this offense.

WR Pierre Garcon, IND - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Garcon had three catches for 24 yards in the Colts victory, and he will rotate with rookie Austin Collie at the No. 2 spot while Anthony Gonzalez recovers from a knee injury. Garcon probably is the favorite to take the No. 2 spot, but don't be surprised if Collie is targeted more from the slot. It's a cloudy situation this week that will need more time to become clearer.

WR Percy Harvin, MIN - Harvin did not look like a rookie in his first NFL game. He was able to gain separation by beating jams from linebackers in the slot, then easily find the holes in the Cleveland zone coverage. Brett Favre clearly grew more comfortable with him as the game progressed and Harvin finished with three catches on four targets on the night. He converted the second of two consecutive red zone targets into a touchdown in the second half. Harvin was also motioned into the backfield on two rushing attempts, both of which went for 11-yard runs around left end. Harvin could potentially be another DeSean Jackson in the making.

WR Devery Henderson, NO - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Henderson drew the start opposite Marques Colston and was targeted frequently by Drew Brees. Henderson alternated with Robert Meachem as the second wide receiver in some sets, but Henderson got the majority of the snaps and seems to have a clear hold on the WR2 job for now with eight targets to the five combined of Meachem and Lance Moore. Henderson split the corner and safety on a post route for a long touchdown pass late in the game, but was also successful on shorter routes. The only thing holding him back from being a hot waiver wire option is the fact that Meachem and Moore are good enough receivers to produce in his place and Brees spreads the ball around so well that next week the situation could look very different.

WR Santonio Holmes, NYJ - Holmes made a variety of nice catches where he had to adjust to the pass and catch the ball away from his body. One was an 18-yard grab in traffic, another was a diving catch at the sideline for a first down at the two-minute warning, and then he was wide open on a post route for a 34-yard score. He was easily the most reliable receiver in the first half. Fantasy owners should be able to rely on him to be targeted on short, intermediate and deep routes. Holmes is no longer option 1B to Hines Ward's option 1A, he's the clear-cut, primary guy and a on his way to becoming a fantasy No.1 WR even if the running game rebounds.

WR Johnny Knox, CHI - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Despite entering the league as a little-known 5th round pick back in April, it looks like Knox may have already emerged as the #3 WR in Chicago. Two of the players he was competing with for that spot, veteran Devin Aromashodu and fellow rookie Juaqin Iglesias, were left on the inactive list this week. Knox only had 4 targets in the game but he made one of the biggest plays of the night when he burned by Charles Woodson and hauled in a deep pass for a 68-yard gain. Woodson clearly thought Knox was running a shorter route, and when the rookie turned on the jets Woodson ran for his life to just to make a diving clip of Knox to force him out of bounds after the catch. As one of the fastest players in the league, Knox has already shown that he doesn't need a lot of targets or catches to have a fantasy impact but he probably won't sneak up on defenses after what he did to Woodson and he'll need to show better skills on shorter routes for opposing defenders not to play him with a lot of cushion. Knox will have to improve his route skills to be more than a one-dimensional threat, because his lack of timing with Cutler on the Bears' final offensive play of the game allowed Al Harris to undercut him and make the game-sealing interception.

WR Mario Manningham, NYG - Mario Manningham made all the highlight reels in Week 1 with his 30-yard touchdown catch and run down the sideline against the Redskins. Manningham looked very quick and explosive after the catch, a trait that Domenik Hixon failed to display in the game. His two other catches were both in the first half, highlighted by a 25-yard grab deep over the middle. Manningham will contend for bigger role in the Giants' passing attack if he demonstrates consistency in future weeks.

WR Louis Murphy, OAK - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Murphy started alongside fellow rookie Darrius Heyward-Bey on Monday night, but it was Murphy who came through with the superior performance. Murphy got behind the Chargers' defense and caught a 57-yard bomb for a touchdown that put the Raiders up with about two and a half minutes left. Earlier in the game, he caught what appeared to be a touchdown pass until the play was overturned by the replay official. (On the replay, Murphy appeared to lose control of the ball when he landed in the end zone.) Meanwhile, Heyward-Bey was shut out. When Chaz Schilenz returns, possibly in week three, Murphy appears to be the favorite to retain his starting position, while Heyward-Bey may slip down to third on the Raiders' depth chart at WR.

WR Legedu Naanee, SD - While he already held some value in dynasty leagues, it appears after week one that Naanee may be worth a spot at the bottom of the roster in deep redraft leagues as well. Naanee was targeted six times on Monday night, finishing with five catches for 49 yards. He made some clutch plays, including two catches on the final, game-winning drive, and showed excellent hands and run-after-the-catch ability in the process. Many people close to the Chargers organization expected Naanee to emerge in 2010 after Chris Chambers' contract had expired, but he could move that timetable up by a year

WR Antwaan Randle El, PIT - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - With the Giants swarming Santana Moss and no other wide out stepping up, the second wide receiver role fell to veteran Antwaan Randle El and he delivered with seven receptions for 98 yards as he worked the middle of the field to try and help Washington stay in the game. Despite the solid numbers, it remains a difficult call to put Randle El into a fantasy lineup since Chris Cooley and Santana Moss are far and away Washington's best targets and the organization's desire to give Malcolm Kelly opportunities to succeed.

WR Sidney Rice, MIN - Rice had only four targets on the night, but was targeted twice as often as Bernard Berrian. Brett Favre targeted Rice on his only red zone pass attempt, then threw two long sideline fades in Rice’s direction on one drive in the first half. Rice narrowly missed getting his feet inbounds on one sideline route and drew a pass interference call on the other. If he becomes Favre’s preferred outside threat, he may be on the verge of a breakout season.

WR Laurent Robinson, STL - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Take note of Laurent Robinson. He has the size and speed to be a big down field target for Marc Bulger and the Rams passing game. He was Bulger's favorite target in the second half against Seattle (7 targets in the second half, 10 total). Robinson hauled in a 45-yard pass from Bulger in the fourth quarter that he caught in double coverage. The pass was perfect, and Robinson made a nice catch sandwiched between Jordan Babineaux and Ken Lucas. Robinson is someone to target as a waiver wire pick up. He looks to be a big part of the Rams passing game going forward, including a dependable target in the red zone.

WR Steve Smith, NYG - Smith stepped up his game against the Redskins, leading all Giants receivers in catches and yardage. QB Eli Manning leaned on Smith after the half and the third-year receiver rose to the occasion with several tough catches over the middle of the field including a skinny post between two defenders where he had to leap and turn back to the QB for the high throw with the safety bearing down on him. With both Domenik Hixon and Hakeem Nicks falling off the fantasy radar due to lackluster play and injury, respectively, the biggest benefactor should be Steve Smith. Expect him to be on Eli Manning's top target.

WR Chansi Stuckey, CLE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Stuckey made his presence known with a 30-yard TD catch that was the result of blown coverage by the Texans. Stuckey was rewarded the WR2 position heading into week one, and he did nothing to lose that spot. Stuckey is someone who may be on your waiver wire. He is a possible WR4 or flex option, especially if Mark Sanchez continues to play smart and is effective.

WR Jerheme Urban, KC - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - In an offense that had three, 1000-yard receivers in 2008, Urban is a solid waiver wire option with Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston nursing injuries. Urban played well this weekend, including a big-play, 40-yard grab and four more receptions for 34 yards. He edged Larry Fitzgerald in yardage in the game and is a proven veteran along the lines of Mike Furrey during his tenure in Detroit.

WR Mike Wallace, PIT - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Wallace and Sweed got looks in four-WR sets, and it was Wallace who made the most of his opportunities in this hard-hitting game. He got open on a deep cross during the first drive, but Roethlisberger’s throw was late after a pump fake. The result was an under-thrown ball placed behind the WR. Wallace’s second target was a bubble screen off a play-fake, end-around that didn’t catch the Titans off-guard. He gained three yards as the check-down option on the play. Wallace came up big in overtime to find the opening behind the LBs in zone coverage and made a key catch inside the Titans 20-yard line, which put the Steelers in range to kick the winning field goal on the next play. Although not a significant upgrade, Wallace did enough to gain more trust from Roethilsberger and have an edge to win the No.3 WR job heading into week two.

WR Reggie Wayne, IND - Wayne was Manning's favorite target on Sunday by a wide margin, and came through with a terrific game. He showed great awareness, catching a ball that was initially tipped by Dallas Clark. He showed excellent footwork on the sideline. He ran sharp patterns and was quick out of his cuts. He made a great adjustment to the ball and out-jumped CB Derek Cox to haul in a 39-yard pass down the sideline. And he displayed terrific concentration on his touchdown catch, taking a hit by the safety at about the same time that the ball arrived. If Anthony Gonzalez misses extended time, Wayne will be featured even more heavily, and he has proven that he can succeed in the face of being double-teamed.

Downgrade

WR Bernard Berrian, MIN - Berrian was all but invisible against Cleveland. He was targeted twice, including on a well-defensed sideline pattern that fell incomplete. Brett Favre elected to target Sidney Rice more frequently outside and often checked down to Percy Harvin and Visanthe Shiancoe, leaving few opportunities for Berrian. Expect even more inconsistent numbers for Berrian if this week’s target ratio continues.

WR Steve Breaston, ARI - Even though Breaston (knee injury) was able to participate fully in practices last week and was listed as probable to play on Friday's injury report, he was a surprise inactive on Sunday. 'It was a tough situation,' coach Ken Whisenhunt said. 'Steve came in (Sunday), and his knee was really bothering him. When I knew Steve was going to be down, which was a surprise, then I was faced with a tough decision at receiver.'

WR Antonio Bryant, FA - Bryant suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter and missed the rest of the game. It is the same knee he had surgery on in the off season, so this news is not particularly good, but is expected to play next week. Before the injury, Bryant was seldom used, catching only two passes for 29 yards, one of which went for 30 yards. Michael Clayton would likely replace him on the field if he has to miss time. Although Bryant is able to play, his knee may hamper him for at least a few weeks.

WR Greg Camarillo, MIN - He made an incredible diving catch late in the half on a fade stop that bounced off the CB that he managed to trap between his legs as he was falling to the ground. However, other than that catch and a swing pass for a short gain from the slot in the 4th quarter Camarillo was not much of a factor, as the Dolphins also experimented with Brian Hartline on short passes that would have normally gone to Camirillo.

WR Chris Chambers, KC - While Vincent Jackson is the Chargers' clear WR1, the team may not have a clear WR2. Chris Chambers, Malcom Floyd, and Legedu Naanee will all get playing time, and if anyone emerges from the pack it seems more likely to be Naanee than anyone else. Naanee was targeted six times on Monday night while Chambers and Floyd were targeted just once each. Moreover, Naanee has better size and speed than Chambers, is a better runner after the catch, and appears to be at least Chambers' equal in the hands department. Floyd and Naanee are both likely to get more playing time in 2009 than they did in 2008, and it will likely come at Chambers' expense. We do not view Chambers as a worthwhile fantasy WR4 at this point.

WR Laveranues Coles, FA - Coles had a tough day against Denver. Though he started alongside Chad Ochocinco and was targeted five times by Carson Palmer, Coles dropped three passes and wasn’t where Palmer expected him to be at times. After a drop on third down in the second half, Coles wasn’t on the field during the Bengals’ late scoring drive. Coles could rebound and may not yet be in danger of losing targets, but the emergence of Andre Caldwell as an underneath threat and the likely increased role of Chris Henry are cause for concern.

WR Braylon Edwards, NYJ - Downgrading Edwards is a little harsh, but warranted. Brady Quinn did target Edwards five times against Minnesota, but if Quinn’s strong preference for checking down to underneath receivers continues in future weeks, Edwards’ targets will be limited. Quinn and Edwards were out of sync on three of the five targets, leading to an interception on a sideline route misread, an incompletion on a hot route and another narrowly missed long completion on a fade route. Edwards was able to adjust nicely to a deep route after being interfered with, but the long touchdown catch was nullified because he was unable to re-establish himself inbounds before catching the ball. Edwards’ upside will be limited until he and Quinn get on the same page.

WR Lee Evans, BUF - With Terrell Owens drawing the majority of the double teams in this game, Edwards often shifted his attention to Evans. He finished the game with six targets, but was only able to bring in three of them for 25 yards. Trent Edwards got good protection from his offensive line for most of the game, but the Bills had a conservative game plan and did not take many chances on deep throws. If this trend continues, it looks like the Bills WRs may not be as productive as many expected them to be. Stay patient for another week or two because the line was promising enough in this effort that the offense could become more productive, but they definitely aren't storming out of the gate.

WR Joey Galloway, WAS - The Patriots opened the game in a two-WR set with Galloway and Randy Moss as the starters. He was not a factor in the game, however, as he finished with zero catches on two targets. Galloway is a 38-year-old player who no longer seems to have the game-breaking ability that he had just a couple years ago. He should still make some plays when defenses focus their attention on all the other weapons in New England, but he doesn’t look like he will be a reliable fantasy option this year.

WR Ted Ginn, SF - Ginn could not get open down field other than on a play fake Pat White executed from the Wildcat formation that was overthrown by a mile. He made some decent catches in the short range of the field including a short out for a first down on the second series for the game for a 10-yard gain. He also made a leaping play to bat down a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage in the 4th quarter to prevent a second interception. Ginn is simply not primary receiver material and until he can be a complementary player, the Dolphins passing game will struggle with inconsistency. Ginn will remain an up and down option and a low-end No.3 fantasy option, especially if Pennington can’t get time to throw the ball.

WR Anthony Gonzalez, IND - Gonzalez will miss 2-6 weeks with a knee ligament injury. Gonzalez left the game in the first quarter with an injury to his right knee. He was injured on a running play. He came off the line and fell to the ground without anybody touching him. He was helped into the locker room, unable to put any weight on his right leg.

WR Chris Henry, CIN - Henry was fighting through a thigh injury suffered in practice this week, but was active for the game against Denver. He was on the field in four wide receiver sets, but only rarely targeted. Most notably, Henry had no deep targets despite reasonably good pass protection from the offensive line. Henry deserves the downgrade after what appeared to be well-deserved preseason hype, but if the thigh injury is what slowed him down, a rebound may be on the horizon soon.

WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, OAK - Heyward-Bey had two drops early on Monday night, and then was nearly invisible during the rest of the game. When Chaz Schilens returns to the line-up, Louis Murphy may be the one who stays in the starting line-up while Heyward-Bey is used as a situational deep-threat. That would kill any semblance of fantasy value held by Heward-Bey in redraft leagues.

WR Domenik Hixon, NYG - Hixon did not produce much in Week 1, catching only one ball for 10 yards. He trailed Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith in targets. He did not look explosive and he was unable to make catches of passes where he needed ot adjust to the football in coverage. Hixon is a borderline player for your roster at this point, and you should strongly consider cutting him if you can find a better waiver wire pickup this week.

WR Michael Jenkins, ATL - Jenkins made some good catches in this game, including a grab between the cornerback and safety on a well-placed skinny post, and a 10-yard reception on a slant to get the Falcons into the red zone. He’s still a bye-week option at best, but with Tony Gonzalez and Jerious Norwood looking like options two and three, respectively, there are better choices than Jenkins.

WR James Jones, GB - Jones had a strong rookie season in 2007, but injuries limited his effectiveness in 2008. He held off Jordy Nelson for the No.3 WR job, but finished the opener with zero catches on 1 target. His sole target came on a 3rd and 5 play from the Packers 16 yard-line late in the 1st half. Jones has high upside, but like many of the other secondary targets in Green Bay, he may not get enough opportunities to become a reliable fantasy option this year. Right now, Jones, and TEs Jermichael Finley and Donald Lee are two close together to determine who will be the best third or fourth option for the Packers as the season progresses.

WR Lance Moore, NO - Moore saw relatively little playing time in the first half, getting snaps in a minority of the Saints’ three and four wide receiver sets. Moore wasn’t targeted until late in the first half on a skinny post and he made a twisting leaping catch for a long gain. Brees and Moore connected on a nearly identical route a few plays later. Moore had another sensational catch on a long play near the end of the first half but couldn’t get his feet in bounds before being forced out. Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem have more athletic pedigrees, and the fact that they are healthy and making good on their opportunities make it too difficult to determine who will come out the clear-cut No. 2 or No. 3 WR at this time. So far, Henderson has the edge, but it is only week one.

WR Santana Moss, WAS - Moss is the clear No.1 option at wide out for the Redskins, but the problem with that designation is that the other teams got that memo too. The Giants either put their best cover corner or rolled double coverage to Moss all game, limiting him to just two catches for six scant yards. Giants CB Corey Webster clearly frustrated him throughout the first half with physical play. Webster also cut in front of Moss on a sideline pattern for an acrobatic interception when Moss didn't make a sharp break back to the ball on the route. Until other options start to step up with some consistency to warrant better coverage from the opposition, expect Santana Moss to struggle against above average defenses.

WR Hakeem Nicks, NYG - Rookie Hakeem Nicks had just two catches in Week 1, but just when he began to show some promise, a Redskin defender rolled up awkwardly on his foot after his second catch in the fourth quarter. The injury at first appeared rather bad noticeably limping to the sideline and getting carted off the field for X-rays. Nicks returned to the sideline with crutches, but the good news is the injury is no more than a foot sprain. Nicks will likely be out for a few weeks which will put him back at square-one on his assault on the depth chart.

WR Terrell Owens, CIN - The Bills signing of Terrell Owens was one of the biggest stories of the offseason, but he missed almost the entire preseason with a toe injury and failed to make much of an impact in the opener. Owens had a drop in the first half and went a full 40 minutes before pulling in his first reception. The Bills offensive line seemed to give Trent Edwards enough time to throw, but he often chose to take the safer option rather than forcing the ball down field. The Patriots also did a great job in coverage of taking Owens out of the game, something the Bills defense was not able to do with Randy Moss. Owens and Edwards may simply need more time working together, but the lack of targets for Owens in the opener and the lack of down field passing was not a great sign for his fantasy prospects this season. He's a slight downgrade for this reason, but the fact that Owens and Edwards were in sync on throws Owens simply dropped was the difference in his stat line and you should be patient for another week.

WR Eddie Royal, DEN - Royal was expected to be a significant PPR threat, but his four targets fell short of expectation against Cincinnati. Royal did show his usual good hands and elusiveness, but could only convert two of his targets into catches and was wrapped up quickly before he could get into the open field on both receptions. Until Brandon Marshall can improve his focus and Kyle Orton can click with him down field, Royal won't be more than a very poor man's Wes Welker with the opposition anticipating these short patterns without having to pay for it.

WR Chaz Schilens, OAK - Schilens is still expected to be the Raiders' top WR once he is healthy. But while he was initially targeting week two for his return, it now appears that he won't make his 2009 season debut until at least week three, and may not be at full strength until mid-October.

WR Steve Smith, CAR - Smith had only two catches against the Eagles until late in the game. This had to do with the Eagles defense and Delhomme's decision-making and accuracy. Carolina also installed their version of the Wildcat and used Smith in the backfield where he carried the ball for a modest gain to the left. Smith did have a few balls bounce off of his hands that he should have caught and he appeared frustrated with the game getting out of hand. Smith is an excellent player, but when all three of your quarterbacks turn the ball over with regularity it can be a long day at the office.

Holding steady

WR Miles Austin, DAL - Austin had only one catch that happened to go for a 42-yard TD. He made a nice catch, turned his defender around, and juked his way past a defender down the sideline en route to the end zone. Don't be fooled by his stat line, he was hardly a contributor on offense with the exception of the one scoring play.

WR Donnie Avery, STL - Avery started off with four touches in the first quarter, but his presence in the offense decreased as the game went on. He was often used in short routes and only twice had first down catches in the game. None of this targets exceeded 16 yards. Laurent Robinson was the preferred target of choice in the second half, and it's clear that Robinson will be a big part of the Rams passing game this year. Avery is still considered to be the Rams WR1 and primary down field option, but Robinson is someone who could take away targets and red zone chances due to his larger size.

WR Deon Butler, SEA - Butler was often in the game on three or four WR sets and he almost scored on his first catch as a pro, but he was tackled at the two yard-line. Butler got the nod ahead of Deion Branch who was suffering from a hamstring injury. He is someone to keep an eye on as the year progresses. He runs great routes, has very good hands and has excellent speed.

WR Marques Colston, NO - Colston showed no ill-effects from offseason microfracture surgery and looked in sync with Drew Brees during the opening drive, when he slipped behind the Lion secondary on a defensive miscommunication for an easy touchdown catch. Colston and Brees missed on some timing patterns later in the game, but Colston was able to play every down while the game was close.

WR Josh Cribbs, CLE - Cribbs started this week and took all of the snaps opposite Braylon Edwards. He also saw three snaps in the Wildcat package at quarterback, running the ball on all three snaps. Two of those snaps came near the goal line, but Cribbs was unable to score. Brady Quinn targeted him only three times, preferring to check down to his underneath receivers. Cribbs again showed his electrifying kick return talent, returning a punt 68 yards for a score. With only two catches on the day though, he's not a desirable upgrade.

WR Josh Cribbs, CLE - Cribbs started this week and took all of the snaps opposite Braylon Edwards. He also saw three snaps in the Wildcat package at quarterback, running the ball on all three snaps. Two of those snaps came near the goal line, but Cribbs was unable to score. Brady Quinn targeted him only three times, preferring to check down to his underneath receivers. Cribbs again showed his electrifying kick return talent, returning a punt 68 yards for a score.

WR Andre Davis, HOU - Like most Texans receivers, Davis struggled to do much of anything against the Jets. He got the start start due to Kevin Walter's hamstring injury and wasn't a factor at all. He had an early drop on a pass that would've been a first down that went right through his hands. He wound up leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a concussion and did not return. If Kevin Walter misses another game, Davis will likely get the start once again, but next week the Texans face another tough defense on the road at Tennessee. He is not someone to consider as a potential waiver wire pick up at this time.

WR Mike Furrey, FA - Furrey was a beneficiary of the Quinn’s preference to check-down frequently against the Vikings’ Cover-2, catching four passes on seven targets. Furrey worked out of the slot on most plays, working underneath routes between the hash marks. He often found the soft spots in the zone, but saw no high leverage red zone or downfield targets.

WR Jabar Gaffney, DEN - Gaffney saw plenty of playing time in the first half and caught three passes from Orton before Brandon Marshall began working back into the base offensive packages in the second half. Gaffney may have some value as a complementary receiver, but isn’t likely to get more than a couple of spare targets a game.

WR Justin Gage, TEN - Gage dropped a potential touchdown pass that bounced off his helmet in the end zone in the first half. However, he did score on the final drive of the half for the Titans on an out and up that confused the Steelers secondary sans Troy Polamalu. He also dropped a ball thrown slightly behind him in the second half. Despite these miscues, Gage still made catches in tight coverage over the middle and at the sideline when Collins was under pressure, which illustrates the QB’s confidence in him. Although his stats this week makes him look like a potential starter, his play wasn’t consistent enough to feel confident in him as more than slight upgrade for a couple more weeks until Nate Washington is completely healthy. There is potential for Gage to be an ascending fantasy performer, but his inability to make the big play when needed holds him back.

WR Brian Hartline, MIA - His first catch with 2:12 in the 3rd QTR was called for pass interference on a short sideline curl. He was an outlet receiver at the sideline for a seven-yard gain in the fourth quarter and he made a nice catch between DBs as an outlet on a roll out. He had 2 catches for 13 yards in this game, did not look explosive or route savvy. He was never even the first option on his three targets. He’s not a player to consider despite the fact he took targets away from the other Dolphins receivers.

WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, BAL - Houshmandzadeh was used on short quick pass patterns often in a three or four WR sets. He did not register a single catch over 9 yards, but his presence kept defenders from focusing on TE John Carlson, who routinely burned them for positive yardage and several big gains. Houshmandzadeh should be a big contributor on offense this year, especially in the red zone, so don't necessarily think his lack of a big play against the Rams will be the norm. Continue to start him with confidence.

WR Andre Johnson, HOU - Johnson was blanketed by Jets CB Darrelle Revis all game long. The relentless pass rush kept Matt Schaub from establishing any connection with him. When Schaub was able to find him it was for short gains here and there. Johnson did not have a first down catch until the fourth quarter. Despite the poor game, Johnson remains a solid fantasy WR. He is one of the better WRs in the league in creating separation, but if the OL woes continue for the Texans, be wary that there may be similar games when they face an opponent with a strong pass rush and adequate secondary.

WR Bryant Johnson, DET - Johnson was targeted eight times by Matthew Stafford, primarily on short sideline and slant routes. He had one red zone target in the corner of the end zone that was thrown too far outside to catch. Johnson is not a starting-quality fantasy receiver at this time, but worth monitoring his progress for a few more weeks to see how Stafford's development impacts his fantasy value.

WR Calvin Johnson, DET - Johnson picked up where he left off in 2008, showing his hands, quickness and physical style of wide receiver play on a pair of receptions during the Lions’ second series. Johnson turned two quick-hitting routes into solid gains by catching passes in stride and breaking tackles. Johnson gained separation on the Saints’ corners regularly, but often fell victim to Matthew Stafford’s struggles with inaccuracy as the game progressed, unable to haul in a number of overthrown and shorthopped passes. Johnson was targeted eleven times, but could manage only three catches. Johnson was able to turn an in route into a long gain and nearly a touchdown in the second half, again breaking tackles and running away from the Saints’ secondary after beating man coverage. This is just the first game and Stafford and Johnson should continue to gain rapport as they have on-field experience. There's no need to panic with Johnson, but fortifying your receiving corps with other starters is probably a good idea.

WR Brandon Marshall, MIA - Marshall played only in four wide receiver sets in the first half and struggled to get into the flow of the game early. He dropped his first target on a bubble screen, then was able to find room underneath out of the slot for a couple of catches. Marshall saw more playing time as the game went on, but was inconsistent. He was able to get separation and work his way behind the defense at times, but dropped catchable balls and struggled to stay in sync with Kyle Orton on timing routes. If Marshall can improve his mental focus, improvement should be on the way after spending time with Orton in practice.

WR Robert Meachem, NO - Meachem saw time in the Saints’ spread sets early and rotated with Devery Henderson in packages where the Saints had just two wideouts. His first quarter touchdown catch came on a deep route that Meachem and Brees adjusted after the safety rolled up in coverage, allowing an easy 38-yard pitch and catch. With Henderson, Meachem, and Moore competing for looks, this situation is too cloudy to recommend Meachem as more than a desperation play.

WR Randy Moss, NE - The Bills game plan in this game seemed to be to try and keep Randy Moss from beating them deep, but that simply allowed him to find a lot of space working on slants and crosses. Brady looked a little rusty early in the game, but by the second half it seemed he was able to find Moss whenever he wanted to. The Bills used a lot of zone coverage schemes and Moss had little difficulty finding the holes. He finished the game with an amazing 12 catches on 16 targets for 141 yards, although he finished with no touchdowns and was not targeted in the end zone.

WR Dennis Northcutt, FA - Northcutt was the slot receiver against the Saints, but was not targeted in the game. He may have value down the line, but not right now.

WR Chad Ochocinco, CIN - Ochocinco and Carson Palmer carried the good chemistry they had in the early preseason into the game against Denver. Palmer frequently targeted Ochocinco on deep outs, slants and crossing patterns. They were in sync on timing patterns and hot routes and Ochocinco rewarded Palmer’s trust with good hands and strong effort after the catch. The Bengals didn’t give themselves many red zone chances, so it remains unclear whether Ochocinco may have an expanded role around the end zone this year.

WR Brandon Stokley, FA - Stokley was targeted four times out of the slot as an underneath receiver, but drops and tight coverage kept him out of the box score until the fluke tipped ball that he grabbed and turned into the long, game-winning touchdown. Stokley remains an inconsistent flex option at best.

WR Limas Sweed, PIT - Sweed was a part of four-wide receiver sets, but the Titans were so effective blitzing Roethlisberger in this formation that the Steelers quickly abandoned this mode of attack. As a result, Sweed was nowhere to be found in this game. He was not targeted once, and rookie Mike Wallace was used as the slot receiver in three-wide packages. If this continues, Sweed will be a “downgrade” soon enough. However, Tennessee isn’t an average NFL defense, so the second-year receiver isn’t someone to write off...yet.

WR Hines Ward, PIT - Ward was most effective in the last two minutes of each half when the defense was playing zone and Ward could find the openings underneath the safeties. With less than two minutes in the half, Ward caught a deep cross after Roethilsberger moved safety Chris Hope with a pump fake that resulted in a 29-yard gain and then was on the receiving end of a deep out for 12 yards on the same drive. Although Robert Griffin stripped Ward inside the five-yard line on a catch and run late in the fourth quarter, it was a rare mistake. He’s clearly not a deep threat and whatever speed he had has diminished, but with Roethlisberger playing an NFL version of street ball he is still dangerous on deep crosses, corner routes, and in the red zone. Against teams playing more man to man he'll be used in the slot or on bubble screens. Ward is still a workmanlike No.2 WR (but a better No. 3) most weeks, and a potential PPR upgrade if the running game can’t improve.

WR Nate Washington, TEN - Still recuperating from a hamstring injury and not starting, Washington was targeted once on a six-yard drag route for an eight-yard gain and a first down in the second quarter. Until he proves he’s healthy enough to start the entire game without a relapse, he’s not starter material but he's not a downgrade because Jeff Fisher did comment that Washington had no complications from his participation in the game and is still on track for a full recovery.

WR Wes Welker, NE - Welker was questionable in the game after sitting out much of the preseason, but he looked close to his normal self with 12 catches (on 16 targets) for 93 yards. He might have had more yardage after the catch, but he did look a touch slow when trying to accelerate off the line or change direction. Welker was targeted frequently on WR screen passes and short routes, where he did a good job of taking advantage of mismatches. He also served as the team’s primary punt returner, and should be a realistic threat for his third consecutive 100 catch season, making him an excellent option in PPR leagues.

WR Roddy White, ATL - Roddy White: White should have had a huge day, because he burned the Dolphins secondary twice in this game, but his QB was off the mark. One of these balls was an under-thrown bomb where White had clearly beaten double coverage. He made a great catch tight-roping the sideline on a deep comeback with his arms extended over his head to make the catch and then another in the first half where he made a great great extension to catch the ball despite getting nailed in the back by the safety for a first down gain. Miami’s defense looked much better than its offense, so I expect White to continue to be a safe, No. 1 fantasy option.

WR Roy Williams, DAL - Williams may look nice on the stat sheet thanks to his 66-yard TD catch, but he only had three catches all day on seven targets. Two of his three catches were on the first Dallas possession. He caught his TD on a play out of the shotgun formation. Romo threw a nicely threaded mid-ranged pass between three defenders and Williams ran to daylight. Williams is not a bad option as WR2 or WR3, but he wasn't a big contributor in the game to think he will produce consistent numbers on a weekly basis

Tight End

TE John Carlson, SEA - Carlson is going to be a big part of the Seahawks' offense this year. He is a very reliable target for Matt Hasselback and it showed as evidenced by his two TD catches and numerous seam routes that split the coverage. Carlson is not only a good receiving TE, but he figures to be an important piece of the Seahawks offense going forward. He is a must-start fantasy TE who will likely see plenty of big games like this in his future.

TE Brent Celek, PHI - Brent Celek had a quietly productive game, playing the entire contest although several other starters were benched once the Eagles had the game in hand. Hey remained on the field to give Kevin Kolb a solid target over the middle for short passes and help the young QB get into a rhythm. Celek was able to get open underneath the secondary and settle 5-10 yards from the line of scrimmage as a nice check down target all game. His first touchdown came in the opening quarter with a nice run after the catch to get the tough yards after contact for the score.

TE Dallas Clark, IND - While many fantasy owners will look to pick up Austin Collie or Pierre Garcon off the waiver wire, hoping that one of them will step into Anthony Gonzalez's role in the Colts' offense, we believe that Dallas Clark will benefit the most from Gonzalez's absence. Collie and Garcon will likely rotate with each other (neither one getting enough targets to become a fantasy factor), while Clark's work over the middle of the field will be used to lighten the pressure on Reggie Wayne. The latest word is that Gonzalez will miss up to six weeks with a strained knee ligament, and during that time Clark will play a prominent role in the offense.

TE Jared Cook, TEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Cook didn't play last week, but with Bo Scaife nursing a sore knee, he could see more looks now that his ankle is ready to go. It was very clear that the Titans will use two tight end sets with the more athletic, pass-catching option split to the slot or wide of the formation. Although Scaife is a reliable player, Cook has big-play potential with possibly better hands. With a few good performances, Cook could take the job and run with it. If you have the luxury, he's worth a flier.

TE Chris Cooley, WAS - Chris Cooley had seven catches for 68 yards and a touchdown against the Giants with a lot of his bigger plays coming in the second half when the Giants rolled their coverage to take away Santana Moss. Cooley was an effective option int he middle of the field for Jason Campbell. If he continues to get numerous targets on a weekly basis he will be a strong fantasy TE option on a weekly basis.

TE Vernon Davis, SF - Davis enters the season with a new attitude and has become a team leader in the locker room. That carried over onto the field on Sunday, when Davis led all 49ers receivers with five catches. His performance on Sunday was steady and workmanlike, with no showboating. He took a big hit when he was defenseless (drawing a 15-yard penalty) but popped right back up and went back to work. With a below-average corps of wide receivers, the 49ers will count on Davis to play a bit role in the passing game this season, and he's off to a good start.

TE Daniel Graham, DEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Graham is currently outside the top 250 overall, but could force his way into a reserve TE role on fantasy rosters if Tony Scheffler were to be injured. Graham was primarily used as a blocker, but Kyle Orton was comfortable with him as a check-down option. Graham also showed that he still has some athleticism on a diving catch dow nfield. Scheffler remains likely to get the more high leverage down field and red zone targets, but Graham’s Week 1 effort is worth noting.

TE Todd Heap, BAL - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Heap looked terrific in Week 1 for Baltimore, getting open over the middle of the field and converting five of his seven targets for 74 yard. He's clearly healthy enough that his down field speed and athleticism have returned and he's a mismatch for most linebackers and safeties depending on the route. The highlight of Heap's day was a nine-yard touchdown grab from Joe Flacco in the third quarter. Heap was also the likely primary target on Willis McGahee’s touchdown catch, but the Chiefs covered him well. Incredibly, he went undrafted due to injury concerns over the years so grab Heap off of the waiver wire now if you need TE help on your roster.

TE Dustin Keller, NYJ - If Mark Sanchez is going to be this good every week, Keller could be a great fantasy starter. He was targeted on short passes as well as mid-ranged routes that turned into long plays. One critical catch was on third down catch and run when the Texans started to gain momentum in the game. The play extended the drive and set up a Thomas Jones 38-yard run on the following snap that gave the Jets a comfortable 24-7 cushion. Keller is making a good case as an every- week fantasy starter. His athletic ability, combined with Sanchez's ability to find him on both short and intermediate routes, means he should be a mainstay in the Jets offense this year. Start him if you've got him.

TE Randy McMichael, SD - People either forgot about Randy McMichael in drafts or he was a very late round pick. He showed promise thanks to his four catches on seven targets. He looks like someone the Rams will utilize in their passing game this year. He is not considered to be starting TE caliber, but he would be a great bye week filler that you may be able to find on your waiver wire.

TE Shawn Nelson, BUF - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Nelson got a surprise start in the opener as Derek Fine sat out with a hamstring injury and the Bills opened in a 2-TE set. He demonstrated his athleticism and potential by taking his first NFL catch in for a touchdown to give the Bills an early lead in the game. Nelson still has work to do as a blocker, and he was flagged for a false start in the game as well, but he has the most upside of all the Bills tight ends and likely earned himself more playing time with his performance in this game.

TE Robert Royal, CLE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Royal led the Browns in targets, as Brady Quinn often checked down to him underneath. Royal did run some deeper patterns, however, catching passes on deep crossing routes early in the game and a TD pass on a seam route late in the fourth quarter. He was often aligned just off the tackle in a two point stance, chipping a lineman before releasing into the field. Royal did drop two passes late, but Quinn seemed to favor him over his running backs and slot

TE Jeremy Shockey, NO - The Saints moved Shockey around the formation and put him in pass patterns from a traditional three-point stance and from tight bunch formations outside the tackles. Shockey’s first touchdown pass came on a play action rollout on a third down goal line play, the second after he somehow got behind the Lions’ defense in the back of the end zone during the two minute drill in the first half. He finished with four catches on four targets. This should tell you that the Saints had a very specific game plan for the TE and the executed it with great efficiency. Shockey also looks a little thinner than he did in New York, which support the notion that he is ready for a big rebound year.

TE Ben Watson, CLE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The reports of Watson’s demise from the preseason may have been greatly exaggerated. Chris Baker was expected by many observers to take over as the team’s No. 1 TE in the passing game this year, but it was Watson who delivered in the opener. He finished with six catches on seven targets for 77 yards and two TDs. When the Patriots were mounting their comeback late in the game, it was Watson that Brady looked to and he made two huge plays that allowed the Patriots to escape the game with a win. Maybe this is the year he finally breaks out now that few people were actually expecting it.

Downgrade

TE Chris Baker, SEA - Baker was a favorite sleeper candidate for many fantasy owners this year, but it looks like Watson is still the team’s No.1 pass catching TE. Baker started the game in a two-TE set but finished the game with just one reception for seven yards on his only target, while Watson was the hero at the end of the night with two huge TD catches. Baker could still wind up being the more important player at the end of the year, but it certainly looks like Watson isn’t going away easy. Given how deep the TE position is this year, you may not want to hold Baker much longer than another week or two if this trend continues.

TE Chase Coffman, FA - Coffman was inactive for the Denver game, a strong sign that the team doesn’t feel he’s NFL ready yet.

TE Jermichael Finley, GB - The Packers offense looked very impressive in the preseason and Finley looked like a prime breakout candidate. He was not a major part of the offense in the opener, finishing with just 1 catch for 8 yards on his only target of the game. Meanwhile, Donald, had three receptions. With all the weapons the Packers have on offense and the way that Rodgers likes to spread the ball around, it might be difficult for Finley to emerge as a reliable starter. At the same time, the Bears defensive line looked much-improved as pass rushers from last year, and Finley still has opportunities for good match ups against lesser defenses.

TE Greg Olsen, CHI - Olsen came into this season with very high expectations. With a talented QB under center and a questionable group of WRs, it seemed inevitable that Olsen would enjoy a breakout season and join the ranks of the fantasy elite at his position. But with one reception on six targets on short routes, Olsen didn't come through. Olsen didn't look like much of a mismatch for the Packers linebackers or safeties because he was well-covered over the middle. The Bears line was getting man-handled and they had to adjust by keeping Olsen on the line in situations where he would have been used as a receiver. The Bears have another tough match up coming against the Steelers next week, who also play an aggressive style of the 3-4 defense, which could make it difficult for Olsen to get things turned around quickly.

TE Bo Scaife, TEN - The Titans used Scaife as a slot receiver in two-TE sets and it was successful early in the game. His teammate, and No. 2 TE, Alge Crumpler was the TE lined up next to the left tackle to help block James Harrison or Lamar Woodley, and Scaife was the primary option on several pass plays in the first half. He flashed enough speed and good hands to make a 20-yard reception from the slot. He was also use in the flat, and made catches in tight coverage such as a 3rd and 7 completion, with Troy Polamalu all over him. Scaife was also the safety blanket in the first quarter, bailing out Collins twice in the first half, including a 3rd and 7 blitz up the middle where he caught the ball three yards behind the LOS and ran through Polamalu for the first down and into Steelers territory. However Scaife when James Harrison wrapped up his leg in the second quarter, it caused a knee injury and the pain forced Scaife to fumble the ball. He sat out the rest of the game with a sprained left knee. Scaife will still be a part of the offense and rotate with Cook if healthy, but even a minor knee sprain-which it appears to be-could open the door for Jared Cook to win the job out-right with great play.

Holding steady

TE Martellus Bennett, DAL - Martellus Bennett was used mainly in third down or goal line situations. He had a third and goal target in the end zone, but the pass was rushed and resulted in a flat, low throw that he couldn't get a hand on. Bennett is considered one of the better TE2s in the league. He will definitely see plenty of red zone targets this season that will likely result in TDs. Right now, he is a risk to start until he becomes more of a consistent target in the offense. If Jason Witten suffers an injury, Bennett would most certainly step in and contribute big numbers, but for now, reserve him.

TE Dan Coats, CIN - Coats lined up in the slot and outside the tackle boxes often against Denver and was targeted twice on underneath routes.

TE Alge Crumpler, NE - No longer a dangerous receiving threat because he is used primarily as an in-line blocker, he still can make plays in the flat or over the middle in the short range of the field. He did drop his first pass on an easy route in the first half, but made up for it with a diving catch on a drag route. He looks heavier than he was in his prime, and I doubt he’ll be used as Scaife’s replacement in the slot if Scaife's turns for the worse. This opportunity will be Jared Cook’s. Crumpler was effective assisting the LT to block the Steeler’s edge rushers. He's a great addition for the Titans, but not fantasy lineups.

TE Owen Daniels, HOU - If you're looking for a TE who gets 4 catches for 50 yards or less every game, then Owen Daniels is your guy. Daniels was able to make good on four of eight targets, but the Texans offense rarely saw the opponent's side of the field. Daniels' big play of the game came on a first down target for 27 yards. He found an opening behind the LBs who were playing the run and Schaub managed to hit him in stride.

TE Anthony Fasano, MIA - It was horrible day for Fasano, who accounted for two fumbles lost on runs after the catch, and was undercut by LB Mike Peterson for an interception in the 4th quarter. His best play was a 20-yard score down the left sideline where he gained 10 yards after the catch and dove over the pylon. Unfortunately, the play was called back due to a holding penalty on RT Vernon Carey. He still has potential as a bye-week option, but he needs to hold onto the football or else the coaching staff will give him bench time.

TE Tony Gonzalez, ATL - As expected, the Falcons moved Gonzalez around in an attempt to confuse the Dolphins, splitting him wide and then motioning him to the line of scrimmage or motioning him out to the slot to get the benefit of a rub from Roddy White in the slot. He was targeted on crossing routes and drag routes, making good catches in tight, single coverage. He also ran a terrific post pattern that ended with a diving grab to get inside the five yard-line and later in the game, took a short drag route for a 20-yard score after putting stiff arm on Yeremiah Bell and cutting outside his downfield block to the sideline. His stats looked like he was option one in this offense but if not for Matt Ryan’s poor downfield throws to Roddy White he would have been option two. Nonetheless, he’s still a strong, No. 1 TE.

TE Heath Miller, PIT - As we have come to expect, Miller is a better NFL player than a fantasy force because he is used as a blocker and short-yardage check-down option more frequently than a down field target. He caught mostly drag routes, middle screens, and check-downs after initially pass blocking for his QB. His eight catches for 64 yards had a lot to do with the Titans playing deep zone much of the game, and Roethlisberger buying time to find his third or fourth option. He might get more looks in the red zone if the ground game continues to falter, but this speculation is not enough to upgrade Miller at this time.

TE Brandon Pettigrew, DET - Pettigrew saw a significant number of snaps, but he was used primarily as an extra blocker. He rarely went out in pass patterns and was not targeted against the Saints.

TE Tony Scheffler, DET - Scheffler had only two targets against Cincinnati and wasn’t on the field on every down, but his targets were high leverage, down field chances. Orton locked onto him on two deep crossing patterns, while Daniel Graham was used primarily as an underneath option. Scheffler should be a useful TE2 with upside.

TE Visanthe Shiancoe, MIN - The Vikings frequently split Shiancoe off the line, either wide or in tight formation, bringing him in motion and sending him in short routes underneath the Cleveland zone coverage. Shiancoe caught all three of his targets from Brett Favre on a mixture of flat routes and curls underneath and gained 13 yards on a well-designed TE screen. Shiancoe had no red zone targets, but looks to have the trust of Favre and should remain a viable TE2 with big game potential.

TE Kellen Winslow, TB - Winslow was used primarily as a short yardage receiver most of the game. He managed to get open quite frequently, but in at least two occasions, Leftwich scrambled the opposite way and did not have him in his view to throw him the ball. Winslow was definitely a main target for Leftwich in the red zone, including making good on a two-yard pass for a TD in the fourth quarter. Keep him in your lineup. It looks like Tampa Bay will use him often in their offense.

TE Jason Witten, DAL - Witten was often targeted on passes over the middle that featured a two or three WR formation. He didn't have a huge statistical day, but he was often utilized by Romo as his primary target on crossing routes or out patterns where he found a seam. Witten remains a must start fantasy TE, despite the loss of Terrell Owens in the off season.

Kicker

PK John Carney, FA - Yes. He missed a FG, but the Saints are in midseason form on offense. Even though they won’t play the Lions every week, New Orleans will provide Carney with loads of scoring opportunities over the next three games. Carney is an elite fantasy kicker during that time.

PK Jeff Reed, PIT - Although Jeff Reed had one field goal that was low off the line of scrimmage, he did make both of his attempts in game one. I think he’s worth upgrading because it appears Pittsburgh lacks good balance on offense, and their struggles to run the ball will result in more field goal attempts, especially against defenses below the Titans' caliber of play.

Downgrade

PK Mike Nugent, CIN - Jerramy Stevens missed a block assignment on FG protection that resulted in a blocked a FG. Nugent also shanked a FG attempt right before the half. The Bucs miss Matt Bryant and it may wind up costing them if Nugent continues to be ineffective.

Holding steady

PK Rob Bironas, TEN - It was an uncharacteristic game for Bironas, who shanked a 37-yard attempt, wide right. It appeared to be both a timing issue with his approach, and not following through well on the kick. DE Aaron Smith blocked his second kick, but Bironas did nail a 45-yarder with 7:00 to go in the game. If a reactionary fantasy owner dumps Bironas and you have a lesser kicker, capitalize on his folly.

PK Jason Elam, FA - After making 15 in a row from 40-49 yards, he was wide right on his first attempt and then bounced a 38-yarder off the right post in the second half. He did make a 36-yarder with less than a minute in the first half and he should recover, but to shank two kicks indoors isn’t a great sign, especially when the snap and hold were good both times.

Team Defense

TD San Francisco 49ers, SF - The 49ers faced the defending NFC Champions in Week 1 and fared extremely well. They harassed Kurt Warner all game long and forced a pair of INTs (to go with 10 passes defensed), while sacking him three times and hitting him on eight other plays. San Francisco looks like a decent backup fantasy unit.

TD Philadelphia Eagles, PHI - The Eagles absolutely consumed the Panthers offense. They sacked Jake Delhomme fives times, picked him off in five other instances, recovered two fumbles, and scored a TD. Carolina was stymied all game for only 169 yards (a 2.4 yards per play average). This would be a fantastic weekend against an offense like the Rams, but the Panthers were supposed to be a good offense.

TD Atlanta Falcons, ATL - Atlanta’s defense looked much quicker to the ball in open space than they did all preseason and their front four did an excellent job of plugging the gaps inside. Most impressive was their manhandling of last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Jake Long. John Abraham was able to run around and run through Long for two sacks and Kroy Biermann got another, using good hand technique to beat last year’s rookie Pro Bowl LT. Biermann also side-stepped Ronnie Brown for a sack and forced fumble in the 1st quarter. The Falcons covered the Dolphins receivers down field well enough to get good pressure on Pennington all day. The linebackers also forced two fumbles on well-timed hits to TE Anthony Fasano and Chauncey Davis made a nice read on potential screen pass and blocked out receiver Ricky Williams to force Pennington to throw the ball away. Miami isn’t a great barometer to determine Atlanta’s potential for success, but they did play well enough to upgrade them and keep an eye on them heading into Carolina to see if their ascent up the rankings should continue.

TD New York Jets, NYJ - The Jets were a popular sleeper defense this year and it looks like they will play that role quite well. They managed to completely eliminate any running game from the Texans and they pressured Matt Schaub all game long. They could've easily had a shutout if it wasn't for Sanchez's interception that was fumbled and returned for a TD. The Jets held the Texans to only 166 yards passing and 38 yards rushing. Rex Ryan's defense is coming together nicely. They have a strong front seven with excellent cover corners that will cause problems for opposing offenses this season. If they are available on the waiver wire, grab 'em and don't look back.

TD Green Bay Packers, GB - The Packers absolutely ruined the Bears debut of Jay Cutler. They harassed him consistently while accumulating a pair of sacks and four INTs to go with 11 passes defensed and four QB hits. This attacking defense will be even better as they settle into their new 3-4 alignment.

TD Tennessee Titans, TEN - The Titans looked quick in the first quarter, beating the Steelers to the punch at the point of attack in the run game and sacking Roethlisberger four times when he dropped back to pass. Defensive tackle Tony Brown got a sack and made key plays against the run on short yardage and the rest of the defensive line rotation was very good when fresh. However Roethlisberger is one of a few quarterbacks who can wear out a defensive front with his scrambling. Although defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil used a zone look that allowed Roethlisberger to wear out the defensive front and find the open man with what seemed like a pump fake on every pass, the Titans only allowed 13 points. The Titans safeties made a nice adjustment in the second half to stop biting on Roethlisberger's pump fakes that allowed a late, first-half touchdown. Tony Brown, William Hayes, and Jacob Ford routinely got pressure on the Steelers QB, and the defense played great gap control to decimate the Steelers ground game. They will need to blitz additional players against more mobile QBs this year, but they should hold their own against most pocket passers. Cortland Finnegan had a great game as a cornerback, but it was his first attempt returning punts and it showed: muffing a punt and later calling a fair catch too early for it to count and taking a hit upon receiving the ball. Combine this with a blocked field goal, a missed field goal, and a 29-yard punt late in the game, and the special teams unit was shaky. Still, the Titans are a premier defense and won’t be facing as many QBs with Roethlisberger’s mobility and are a strong play most weeks. As much as we’ll hear about Roethilsberger’s 300-yard game, it took nearly five quarters for the champs to score 13 points at home.

Downgrade

TD Chicago Bears, CHI - Although the Bears pass rush looked great and they were effective holding Ryan Grant in check for much of the game, Brian Urlacher's absence was a difference maker in the closing minutes of this game. The Packers had an easier time on the ground which set up the winning play action pass. Urlacher is both effective at pressuring the QB and dropping into coverage. There aren't that many dual threats at LB and he will be missed.

TD Tampa Bay Buccaneers, TB - We weren’t super high on the Buccaneers, but they were awful against the Cowboys. Tampa Bay made everyone forget about Terrell Owens as Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, and Miles Austin each found the endzone. Further, the Buccaneers accumulated only a single sack and forced no turnovers. Even more appalling was the 8.9 yards per play that Dallas was able to post.

TD Dallas Cowboys, DAL - Lost in the excitement of Dallas’ offensive showing is the terrible performance by the defense. Tampa Bay is far from an offensive juggernaut, but they accumulated 450 yards of offense at a nice 6.2 yards per play average. The Cowboys also failed to force a turnover and were unable to sack the statue that is Byron Leftwich. What will happen against a good offense?

TD Miami Dolphins, MIA - Miami looked pretty stout up the middle in this game, limiting Michael Turner to a pedestrian afternoon and forcing Matt Ryan to throw the ball away. They also generated two sacks and several pressures. DT Phillip Merling was especially impressive with his pressure as a pass rusher and backside pursuit in the run game. The Dolphins were fortunate on three down field pass plays that Matt Ryan didn’t make accurate throws, but they did a good enough job getting pressure up the middle during the game that the Falcons QB wasn’t completely comfortable in the pocket. If the Dolphins offense could play as well as the defense, this unit have either held steady or upgraded. However, Miami could not sustain drives or put points on the board and until they do, the defensive unit will struggle.

Holding steady

TD Cleveland Browns, CLE - The Cleveland defense held the Viking offense in check early, but wore down late. They were pushed off the line of scrimmage and missed tackles throughout the second half. The Browns look to be more aggressive on passing downs this year, bringing five or more rushers often, and were able to sack Brett Favre four times in 25 dropbacks. Despite the pass rush success and the punt return for a touchdown by Josh Cribbs, the Browns do not yet have the look of a consistently strong fantasy defense.

TD Pittsburgh Steelers, PIT - This was a typical, hard-hitting game and despite a few lapses in the secondary late in the first half after Troy Polamalu sprained his MCL trying to recover a blocked field goal, Pittsburgh's defensive unit came up big when it counted most. Although the Steelers only sacked Kerry Collins once and the outside LBs were held in check by the Titans line, they were far more effective on plays when they crossed their inside linebackers on blitzes. On the Titans’ last drive in regulation, they forced Collins to throw the ball away on consecutive downs and a blitz up the middle in the first half resulted in Collins under-thrown pass the could should have been a TD if the QB could have stepped into the throw, but the result was interception. Rookie Stefan Logan flashed excellent speed and decisiveness to the corner on kick returns and looks poised to have some big plays this season. Without Lawrence Timmons and Troy Polamalu (for the second half), Pittsburgh still looked good enough, although losing their starting safety for 3-6 weeks will make them more vulnerable to the big play against teams with quality offensive lines and strong receiving corps, or backs with speed to get outside.

TD Minnesota Vikings, MIN - The Vikings remained very aggressive on defense, frequently blitzing out of the back seven to great effect. They regularly bottled up the Cleveland running game inside and forced Brady Quinn to check down often with their zone schemes. When they didn’t blitz, the front four was able to generate pressure on most snaps. Notably, Kevin Williams collapsed the pocket when blocked one-on-one. The aggressive, keep the ball in front schemes should keep the Vikings a solid defense in turnover based and yardage based scoring systems.