'SKINS vs. G-MEN

Well the the first regular season game is almost upon us. The Thursday night match-up should provide a new twist to this old rivalry as The Big Blue Wrecking Crew look to continue their momentum from last year's uncanny Super Bowl championship run. Here's the rundown on the fantasy plays from the Big News Posse:

IN IT TO WIN IT-start 'em

NYG- WR Burress, RB Jacobs

WAS- RB Portis, TE Cooley

COIN FLIP- think about 'em

NYG- QB Manning

WAS- WR Moss, WR Randle El

DELAY OF GAME- sit 'em

NYG- TE Boss, WR Toomer

WAS- QB Campbell

From guest contributor The Commish:

DARREN MCFADDEN-RB-OAKLAND RAIDERS

Run DMC, he's tricky! This pick is actually the opposite of 
tricky; it's really easy. McFadden is a Raider and fits in 
perfectly with the mystique of the franchise: flashy and soon 
to be mouthy. The team emphasizes the run and should find 
plenty of carries and touches to showcase Dmac's skills. 
McFadden may split carries with Huggy bear or at least until
he breaks off a 90 yarder and Al Davis dusts his corpse off 
in the owners box and gets on the bat phone to Lane Kiffin, 
so look to him to produce asap. His hands will also be 
utilized and you may even see him put on his Devin Hester 
outfit on special teams. Bottom line, the #4 pick will get 
plenty of opportunity to shine like one so because of that 
he is the most coveted piece of franchise in the draft.

JONATHAN STEWART-RB-CAROLINA PANTHERS
 

Amazing what a few months can do in a kid's popularity. Injury
kept him from beign a top 10 pick in the NFL rookie draft 
and most people either didn't know who he was or were scared away.
Now, Stewart is projected to be a beast. The kid is a physical specimen 
with the measurables to hold up in the NFL. 4.4 speed, 235 lb
frame to take a pounding, and 5'11 which is the 
prototypical height for backs in the NFL. Only concerns is 
that he goes to the Panthers who couldn't muster up much of 
a running game last season and is hoping Delhomme comes back
healthy enough to move the ball again. Stewart will split 
time with DeAngelo Williams who ironically was getting the 
same words typed about him 4 years ago. In a keeper league 
though, rooks should reign supreme, so get your high rise 
duckies out and proceed with caution.

From guest contributor The Commish:

RASHARD MENDENHALL-RB-PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Pittsburgh got the steal of the draft when they landed 
Rashard Mendenhall from Illnois. Mendehall has drawn 
comparisons to Edge and TD in their younger days which means
he's got potential to be the real deal. I think he's the 
best back of the 2008 rooks and if he landed anywhere else as the
sure fire starter would be the consensus #1 RB. Mendenhall
heads for a run first offense and with Fast Willie possibly 
 in need of split time, The Mend in the Hall should be good to go  in year 1 
by seeing goal- 
line carries and at least 12 touches a game.

MATT FORTE-RB-CHICAGO BEARS
 

Rapping Forte is one of the most popular sleepers of the draft amongst owners. 
Forte will hopefully have his knack for racking up big games 
for the Bears who desperately need help at RB. Forte should 
be stud as a rook and seal the #1 job in camp but there will
be risks involved if you draft him. The Bears brought in 
Kevin Jones, they still have no QB, no true #1 WR with Devin Hester still learning 
the position, and a suspect O-Line. In other words, Forte will not only have 
to run down hill and 
take a pounding but uphill too in order make an impact.

From guest contributor The Commish:

FELIX JONES-RB-DALLAS COWBOYS

Felix the Cat is quick and the red headed step child from 
Arkansas. His role won't change in BIG D behind Barber but 
is another rook worth grabbing early. Jones was great in 
college but was overshadowed by DMac. Most people don't know
that most of the big plays came from Jones who lead the NCAA
in 50+ yard  scores. That speed should hold true in the NFL as he 
is only an injury away from being a fantasy darling. 

KEVIN SMITH-RB-DETROIT LIONS

 

Kevin Smith has retired from directing blockbuster hits like 
Mallrats and Clerks to start training camp as the Lions' 
featured back. Tatum Bell will be in his way in the 
beginning of the year in a split carries situation but most 
seem to think that won't last. Smith should have plenty of 
chances to win that job outright and be a decent long term 
project in the middle rounds. Martz is gone and the coaching staff is 
preaching the run so let's see if Smith can produce.

From guest contributor The Commish:

STEVE SLATON-RB-HOUSTON TEXANS

Slaton is one of many rookie runners that have league wide 
owners deploying their top scouts to his preseason
workouts. Slaton appears to be a guy who could be overlooked
on draft day because of his Texans uni but with 2 injury 
prone vets competing with him could make him an attractive 
pick. Ahman Green is coming back from injury and is climbing
up the age scale while Chris Brown has proven he can run for
100 yards on 9 carries then check out after getting his 
skull rocked. Slaton is a workhorse back who has speed and 
under the young Texans offense could prove to be a 
difference maker. Defenses will look to double up on Andre 
Johnson and stop Schaub's check down target Owen Daniels, so 
Slaton should have opportunities. If the Dayne Train could 
do last year and some hackweed from Notre Dame, why not 
Slaton?

CHRIS JOHNSON-RB-TENNESSEE TITANS

 

Chris Johnson was drafted by the Titans to spell 
the robust Lendale White on 3rd downs. Johnson has great 
hands and quickness and many think he can be a gamebreaker 
right away. LenWhale will be as unstable as it gets and with 
the other Chris Henry not proving much last year, Johnson could find 
himself in the fold. I think Johnson has alot of skill to 
turn into one of the surprise players this season and could 
be starting by week 4.