Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 09:09 PM EST [General]
'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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
