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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! –
,
Leon
Williams
Hellno! –
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!
