The Hive Week 1 Edition Sep 4, 2008 | More

The Hive – Week 1 edition

Welcome back to The Hive everyone! 2008 looks to be an exciting season in the world of IDP’s. There are some exciting rookies coming into the league and we are already dealing with a rash of big name injuries. Before we take a closer look at week one, I’d like to remind you of the following acronym: K.I.S.S = Keep It Simple Stupid. Week one is not the week to get cute with your lineup, or start the sleeper you were stoked to get at the end of your draft. Start the starters you drafted to start, bottom line. Unless one of your starting DE’s is Jason Taylor and you have Ed Reed at DB, you really should stick to this rule for week one. You drafted these guys for a reason, right? Without further ado, lets look at week one!

How we rank `em!

Giddyup! – YEEEHAW!!

SINS! – solid if not spectacular

Hellno! – Get it? Got it? Good.

Washington @ New York Giants Thurs 4pm PT

Wash

Giddyup! – London Fletcher, Andre Carter

SINS! – Carlos Rogers, LaRon Landry, Rocky McIntosh

Hellno! – Jason Taylor

NYG

Giddyup! – Justin Tuck, Antonio Pierce, Matthias Kiwanuka

SINS! – Aaron Ross

Hellno! – Kenny Phillips

Game notes: Taylor will play on a limited basis, if at all, so bench him for week one. For the Champs soon-to-be-stud rookie DB Kenny Phillips is not starting yet, so be patient with him. We will see how the defense as a whole reacts to losing super stud Osi Umenyiora for the season. I think Tuck and Kiwanuka will do just fine.

Seattle @ Buffalo Sun 10am PT

Sea

Giddyup! – Lofa Tatupu, Pat Kerney

SINS! –  Julian Peterson, Leroy Hill, Seattle DB’s

Hellno! – Darryl Tapp

Buf

Giddyup! – Terrence McGee, Paul Posluzny, Angelo Crowell, Aaron Schobel

SINS! – Whitner/Simpson, Jabari Greer

Hellno! – Marcus Stroud

Game notes: Lofa Tatupu looks to be good to go after his knee injury in week 3 of the preseason turned out to be just a bruise. I would not start Darryl Tapp until further notice. No one knows how the time share between Tapp and rookie beast Laurence Jackson will shake out. As a Tapp dynasty owner, it doesn’t look good. Buffalo looks to be an IDP hotbed this season, watch out for current #2 CB Jabari Greer, who could rack up the tackles playing opposite McGee.

*9/4 update!! Bills LB Angelo Crowell had his knee scoped today and is at least out for week one. Adjust your lineup accordingly!

**9/4 update #2!! The Bills have now placed Crowell on IR, ending his 2008 season. This is a huge blow to his IDP owners. Keith Ellison will replace him, and is worth monitoring over the next couple weeks.

Houston @ Pittsburgh Sun 10am PT

Hou

Giddyup! –  Demeco Ryans, Mario Williams

SINS! –  Morlon Greenwood, Jacques Reeves, Amobi Okoye

Hellno! – Xavier Adibi

Pitt

Giddyup! – James Farrior, Ike Taylor, Troy Polamalu, James Harrison

SINS! –  Ryan Clark

Hellno! – Lawrence Timmons

Game notes: For the Texans watch Jacques Reeves do his best Jason David impersonation, and watch him put up CB2 numbers this season. Reeves will be picked on repeatedly, and with Dunta Robinson on the PUP and little behind him, Reeves has good job security. Rookie LB Xavier Adibi has reportedly not impressed thus far, so for now Morlon Greenwood’s job is safe. For Pittsburgh despite all the glowing reviews LB Lawrence Timmons is not starting yet. He should be soon, and is still worth rostering in deep IDP leagues.

Tampa Bay @ New Orleans Sun 10am PT

TB

Giddyup! –  Barrett Ruud, Jermaine Phillips

SINS! – Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber, Gaines Adams, Greg White

Hellno! – Cato June

NO

Giddyup! – Jonathan Vilma, Roman Harper, Will Smith

SINS! –  Charles Grant

Hellno! – Sedrick Ellis

Game notes: For Tampa Bay , look for Ruud and Phillips to be busy against the high octane Saints offense. Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber are both terribly underrated this year, and should put up good enough stats to at least be bye week fillers. For New Orleans it’s the exciting return of Jonathan Vilma, who gets out of his 3-4 hell in New York and moves to the Saints. Big rookie DT Sed Ellis wont be an IDP performer, but he will occupy enough blockers to make him the Vilma IDP owners best friend.

Detroit @ Atlanta Sun 10am PT

Det

Giddyup! – Ernie Sims, Gerald Alexander

SINS! – Paris Lenon, DeWayne White

Hellno! – Jordan Dizon, Leigh Bodden

Atl

Giddyup! – Curtis Lofton, Michael Boley

SINS! – John Abraham, Jamaal Anderson, Erik Coleman, Keith Brooking

Hellno! – Lawyer Milloy

Game notes: For the Lions look for Gerald Alexander to emerge as an IDP factor at DB this season. Paris Lenon continues to start over rookie Jordan Dizon, and will put up serviceable numbers for the time being. For Atlanta they will field several IDP worthy players this season, as their offense should be putrid. Leading the way will be Michael Boley and rookie MLB Curtis Lofton.

St Louis @ Philadelphia Sun 10am PT

STL

Giddyup! – OJ Atogwe, Will Witherspoon

SINS! –  Leonard Little

Hellno! – Chris Long

Phi

Giddyup! – Stewart Bradley, Trent Cole

SINS! – Omar Gaither, Eagles DB’s

Hellno! – Chris Clemons

Game notes: The scare on Witherspoon’s groin seems to be a non issue, as he is not on the injury report. Start him as always. For Philly look for the emergence of MLB Stewart Bradley, who will be a 3 down player for the Eagles. Omar Gaither should also be productive in his new WILL position.

Jacksonville @ Tennessee Sun 10am PT  

Jax

Giddyup! – Mike Peterson

SINS! – Jags DB’s

Hellno! – Derrick Harvey

Ten

Giddyup! – David Thornton, Chris Hope, Keith Bulluck

SINS! – Stephen Tulloch, Kearse/VandenBosch, Cortland Finnegan

Hellno! – Ryan Fowler

Game notes: For the Jags don’t look for rookie DE Derrick Harvey to do much at the start of the season. His long holdout put him way behind the rest of the rotation, and I wouldn’t expect him to do much besides situational pass rushing for a while. For the Titans keep an eye on Tulloch, who is filling in for Ryan “Roids” Fowler while he is on suspension.

New York Jets @ Miami Sun 10am PT

NYJ

Giddyup! – David Harris, Kerry Rhodes

SINS! – Kenyon Coleman, Darrelle Revis

Hellno! – Justin Miller, Vernon Gholston

Mia

Giddyup! – Yeremiah Bell

SINS! – Channing Crowder, Akin Ayodele

Hellno! – Joey Porter

Game notes: David Harris is a beast. That is all. Don’t expect much from Vernon Gholston, who hasn’t impressed this preseason and is not starting. For the Dolphins I expect Yeremiah Bell to be another breakout IDP DB this season.

Cincy @ Baltimore Sun 10am PT

Cin

Giddyup! – Keith Rivers, Dhani Jones

SINS! –   Antwan Odom, Robert Geathers, Leon Hall

Hellno! – Nedu Ndukwe

Bal

Giddyup! – Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs

SINS! –   Bart Scott, Dawan Landry

Hellno! – Ed Reed

Game notes: For the Bengals watch out for rookie LB Keith Rivers, who will likely produce Ernie Sims-like numbers this year. Dhani Jones and his bow ties will also likely be a regular here, as he is the starting MLB with no competition whatsoever. For the Ravens steer clear of Ed Reed, who is nursing a mysterious shoulder injury.

Kansas City @ New England Sun 10am PT

KC

Giddyup! – Bernard Pollard, Donnie Edwards

SINS! – Brandon Flowers, Derrick Johnson

Hellno! – Demorrio Williams, Tamba Hali, Napoleon Harris

TEAM EPIC FAIL

Giddyup! – Ellis Hobbs

SINS! –  Jerod Mayo, Tedy Bruschi, James Sanders

Hellno! – Brandon Merriweather

Game notes: This is going to be a slaughter of mammoth proportions. Expect the Chiefs run stoppers to be busy and expect the Pats DB’s to get a ton of turnover opportunities.

Arizona @ San Fran Sun 1:15pm PT

AZ

Giddyup! – Adrian Wilson, Karlos Dansby

SINS! – Gerald Hayes, Rod Hood, Darnell Dockett

Hellno! – Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

SF

Giddyup! – Pat Willis, Michael Lewis, Nate Clements

SINS! – Walt Harris

Hellno! – Takeo Spikes

Game notes: Adrian Wilson looks like he is ready to make a triumphant return for the Cards. DRC isnt starting yet, but it shouldn’t be long before he overtakes either Eric Green or Rod Hood, my bet is Green. For the Niners if you are looking for production from someone other than Willis I would look to the DB crew, who should be busy against Fitz and Boldin. Recent addition Takeo Spikes is not starting next to Willis, but is expected to later in the season. Jeff Ulbrich will start for now, and is not likely to post fantasy worthy numbers.

Carolina @ San Diego Sun 1:15pm PT

Car

Giddyup! – Jon Beason, Julius Peppers

SINS! – Thomas Davis, Chris Harris

Hellno! – Tyler Brayton

SD

Giddyup! – Antonio Cromartie

SINS! – Bolts LB’s, Clinton Hart, Eric Weddle

Hellno! – Bolts DL’s, Jyles Tucker

Game notes: This could be one of the more interesting games of week one. For thr Panthers look out for the emergence (finally) of LB Thomas Davis, who moves from SAM to WILL this season. For the Chargers, though I am telling you not to start Jyles Tucker, keep one eye on him and the other on Merriman’s knee. WHEN Merriman goes down, Tucker could be waiver wire gold.

Dallas @ Cleveland Sun 1:15pm PT

Dal

Giddyup! – Demarcus Ware

SINS! – Ken Hamlin, Zach Thomas, Bradie James

Hellno! – Adam Jones, Roy Williams

Cle

Giddyup! – Sean Jones, Eric Wright, Brandon McDonald

SINS! – Andra Davis , Leon Williams

Hellno! – Kamerion Wimbley

Game notes: Another fun game on paper. For the Cowboys the days of Roy Williams being even mildly IDP relevant are likely over, as are his days as an every down player. Also don’t expect much from day one out of the artist formerly known as Pacman, as he is the slot corner as of now, and having a difficult time adjusting to the man scheme. For Cleveland you have to think Eric Wright is going to be abused in a horrific way by Terrell Owens. Should be a sight, and should be IDP magic for Wright’s owners.

*9/4 update!! It looks like T.O. will be matched up with CB Brandon McDonald, while Wright will be matched up with Crayton. I think they are both excellent starts, as both will get plenty of tackle opportunities against not only Owens and Crayton, but stud TE Jason Witten, who will line up in the slot.

Chicago @ Indy Sun 5:15pm PT

Chi

Giddyup! – Brandon McGowan, Urlacher/Briggs, Charles Tillman

SINS! – Ogunleye/Anderson, Mike Brown

Hellno! – Hunter Hillenmeyer, Alex Brown

Ind

Giddyup! – Bob Sanders, Marlin Jackson, Gary Brackett

SINS! –  Robert Mathis, Freddy Keiaho

Hellno! – Dwight Freeney

Game notes: I’m having an excessively hard time caring about this game. So I am not going to talk about it.

Minnesota @ Green Bay Mon 4pm PT

Min

Giddyup! – Jared Allen, Antoine Winfield, Cedric Griffin, EJ Henderson

SINS! – Ray Edwards, Kevin Williams, Darren Sharper

Hellno! – Chad Greenway

GB

Giddyup! – Atari Bigby, Nick Barnett, Aaron Kampman, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamilia

SINS! –   Charles Woodson

Hellno! – AJ Hawk

Game notes: For the Vikings it will be interesting to see how the addition of Jared Allen impacts the rest of the defense. I am of the opinion it will mean very good things for Kevin Williams and Ray Edwards in particular. For the Pack it will be interesting to see what KGB does to Artis Hicks, who will be starting in place of the suspended Mt. McKinnee .

Denver @ Oakland Mon 7:15pm PT

Den

Giddyup! – Champ Bailey

SINS! – DJ Williams, Nate Webster

Hellno! – Niko Koutavides

Oak

Giddyup! – Kirk Morrison, Gibril Wilson, Deangelo Hall

SINS! –   Thomas Howard, Derrick Burgess, Michael Huff

Hellno! – Nnamdi Asomugha

Game notes: This is the game I personally cant wait for. This is not the 2006 Raiders defense folks, and that is all I am going to say. We can let the rest unfold Monday night in the Black Hole. Good luck Donkeys!

That about wraps things up for week one here in The Hive! Good luck to all of you this week, and remember not to overthink your week one lineup! See you next week!