Week 1 Fantasy Picks: NFL Fantasy Football 2012

The first week of NFL Football is here, and that means the team you drafted a couple weeks ago finally gets to show up and follow up the hype. Week 1 is great – everyone thinks they have a chance at the Championship – but wait – Ryan Matthews is out and you’re not sure what to do (start Ronnie Brown)? Do I pick Jordy Nelson or Mike Wallace or Torrey Smith (good problem to have – go with Nelson, don’t over think this) – are there any last minute running backs I could pick up because my guys are out ) Alfred Morris, Ryan Williams, Brandon Jackson)? – I have a couple answers for you. First the five questions coming to me often.

Who is the one undrafted tight end you have to have?

Give me some Greg Olsen. I see he’s not even being owned in a ton of leagues. Hurry up, drop whomever you have right now (outside of the Top 6 guys) and grab Olsen if he’s available. Either that or drop your 6th receiver (assuming he’s someone like Steve Smith (StL), Nate Burleson, or Eddie Royal) and pick up Olsen. This guy is going to be a beast this year. I feel it. I also liked Martellus Bennett before his 40yd TD performance against Dallas on Wednesday. But I liked Olsen better.

I need a starter for Ryan Matthews and Ronnie Brown is already taken, who do you think will surprise?

I like Alfred Morris. I know Shanahan is a gong show and nobody really knows (not even the running backs that play for Washington) but someone has to get the majority of carries in Washington, and what would be crazier than this new kid? I know he passed the test against first string defenses in the pre-season. Royster and Helu both did good things and they’ve been their longer – for anyone with reason, they are the guys that would likely get carries – but this is Splinter Shanahan here, and I think Morris is my guy.

How about Tolbert? I like his prospects with Stewart likely out. He’s one tough son of a gun and maybe the Panthers want to hold off on sending their franchise guy head first into the pile this year (if possible)???

I’m digging deep here but maybe Michael Bush? The Colts were horrendous against the run last year, this year could be much of the same and Chicago has often liked to send in a bruiser to steal Forte’s touchdowns. Bush is a big bad man, at the very least.

Will list your 2 must starts at every position…

Cam Newton, Philip Rivers – LeSean McCoy, Matt Forte, (and I like DeAngelo if Jon Stewart is out – return to greatness, DeLo!) – Calvin Johnson (every week) and (ready for this, drum-roll) Malcom Floyd (and I also like me some Roddy White this week – because I think KC shades toward Julio Jones) –   Jimmy Graham and Gronk (please – but give me Olsen to have 70+ yards in Week 1) – Matt Prater and Shaun Suisham (Denver love…) – Vikings (here’s looking at you, Gabbert) and Seahawks (Sketlon, and then Kolb, are going to have a tough day).  Good luck!

We have an upset challenge in our fantasy league – pick any touchdown upset correct and we get +10 fantasy points. Who has the best chance?

Cincinnati has the best chance – can’t believe how little respect they get going into Baltimore. But I also think the Redskins have a very good chance to come in and snipe one from the mighty Saints. Listen, I don’t care what people think about coaching, the bottom line is the Saints lost a pretty good one for the season. Brees is a boss and that team is loaded with weapons, but when Sean is gone that means the best play caller in football is no longer calling plays. That, at the very least, makes the Saints less likely to produce up to expectations.

Any big guns going to fire blanks on Sunday? Who are three top-round guys you would shy away from if you could?

Ignoring the obvious injury question guys, I’m going with Peyton Manning (because you have to WAIT and see, and the Steelers D is a tough one to start with), Fred Jackson (because I really think the Jets are tough and Spiller will split carries close to 50/50, despite what people are saying), and Chris Johnson (you’re probably playing him if you picked him, but he looked awfully “paid” during the preseason – the Patriots will lend all their attention to the speedster – I just don’t see a big day), and AJ Green (Baltimore D’d him up last year). There’s 4. Good luck in Week 1!