Fantasy Sports Shack

Sleepers of the Week: Week 1

Posted: September 10, 2009

Each week during the NFL season, I will predict my sleepers for the upcoming games, reaching into the bag to find the gems that could help you on your way to a W.  Here are the sleepers for week 1:

QUARTERBACK

• Carson Palmer Projection: 25-39, 315 yards, 3 TD, 1 Int

Palmer faces a Denver D who ranked 26th against the pass in 2008 (without the services of All-Pro DB Champ Bailey for much of the year).  Even with Bailey, Denver is shaky.  Palmer is healthy, his receivers are capable and Cinci’s running game is meager, so this should become an aerial show.

• Matt Hasselbeck Projection: 21-31, 275 yards, 2 TD

Despite a questionable O-line, the Seattle offense is my prediction to surprise in week 1.  Against a poor St. Louis D (28th in total yards allowed in ’08), Hasselbeck should return to the form that made him a top QB option as recently as 2007.

RUNNING BACK

• Ray Rice Projection: 21 carries, 114 yards, 4 receptions, 30 yards, 1 total TD

Rice has been given the lead role for Baltimore, a team that averaged 37 carries/gm in 2008.  McGahee and McClain will get there touches, but against an awful KC defense (30th against the run in ’08) Rice should easily eclipse 100 yards.

• Fred Jackson Projection: 26 carries, 106 yards, 3 receptions, 22 yards, 1 total TD

With Marshawn Lynch suspended for the first 3 games of ’09, Jackson is the man.  Against New England in week 17 last year, Jackson went for 27-136.  I don’t expect quite the yardage production, but 100+ and a score is very realistic.

• Julius Jones Projection: 19 carries, 94 yards, 2 receptions, 15 yards, 1 total TD

Reminder: Seattle’s offense is a week 1 sleeper.  The Rams ranked 29th against the run in ’08.  Edgerrin James is slated for “at least 5 carries”, but Jones will get the bulk of the work.  If he can get into the 22-25 carry range, it’s an easy 100 yards.

WIDE RECEIVER

• Anthony Gonzalez Projection: 7 catches, 103 yards, 1 TD

Everyone knows Gonzalez is now the #2 receiver in Indy.  Big things are expected.  Manning will look his way (a lot) out of the gates against a Jacksonville D that ranked 24th against the pass last year.

• Kevin Walter Projection: 6 catches, 95 yards, 1 TD

Like Gonzalez, Walter is the #2 in a high-powered passing attack.  Also like Gonzalez, his match-up would dictate potential success: Jets 29th vs. pass in 2008.  Despite the hamstring injury, Walter expects to play.  Andre Johnson is the man, but Walter will be leaned on in single-coverage.

• Chris Henry (Cin) Projection: 5 catches, 93 yards, 1 TD

Palmer is going to go off against Denver.  Coles and Ochocinco – despite being matched-up with Bailey – will get their catches, but Henry is going to make a statement.  Count on it.

TIGHT END

• John Carlson Projection: 5 catches, 70 yards, 1 TD

I continue to jock the Seahawks.  Now watch them get shut out.  But seriously, Hasselbeck will be solid, and the running game will open things up for the passing attack.  Carlson is as solid a week 1 play as there is at the position.

KICKER

• Josh Brown Projection: 3 FG (1 40+ yard, 1 50+ yard), 1 PAT
  

Seattle’s defense will not be one of the top units in the NFL in 2009, and aside from Steven Jackson, the Rams’ offense is as dismal as they come.  The combination of the two should mean a fair amount of work for Brown.

DEFENSE

• Houston Texans Projection: 13 points allowed, 2 sacks, 1 Int, 1 forced fumble

Their 2008 numbers wouldn’t dictate success, but against a moderate, conservative Jets offense, and with some key additions to an underrated unit, the Texans have a favorable match-up.

Extras: 2008 Offensive Rankings, 2008 Defensive Rankings, 2009 Depth Charts

September 10, 2009 - Posted by joshf28 | Sleepers | 2008 defensive rankings, 2008 offensive rankings, 2009 depth charts, Anthony Gonzalez, Baltimore Ravens, Bengals running backs, best defenses, carson palmer, Champ Bailey, Chiefs defense, Chris Henry, Cincinatti Bengals, defense predictions, defense projections, denver broncos, Denver defense, depth charts, Edgerrin James, Fred Jackson, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jaguars defense, Jets defense, John Carlson, Josh Brown, Julius Jones, Kansas City Chiefs, Kevin Walter, kicker predictions, kicker projections, Laveranues Coles, Le'Ron McClain, Marshawn Lynch, Matt Hasselbeck, New England Patriots, new york jets, O-line, Ochocinco, offensive line, peyton manning, qb predictions, qb projections, quarterback predictions, quarterback projections, Rams defense, Rams offense, Ray Rice, rb predictions, rb projections, running back prediction, running back projections, Seattle Seahawks, Sleepers, St. Louis Rams, Steven Jackson, te predictions, te projections, Texans defense, tight end predictions, tight end projections, top defense, top kicker, top QB, top RB, top TE, top WR, week 1, week 1 predictions, week 1 projections, week 1 sleepers, week one, week one predictions, week one projections, week one sleepers, wide receiver predictions, wide receiver projections, Willis McGahee, worst defenses, wr predictions, wr projections