Week 1 Preview

Point Spreads are based on Yahoo's projected player totals (read: load of crap)

LOUD NOISES (-11) vs. Sex Panther

Week 1's premier matchup pits last year's champ against last year's tough luck team (see post below)...Two teams would likely finish in top two slots of the preaseason poll, if that had been completed...only two teams to keep and protect three running backs...projected point totals are highest two scores in the league

LOUD NOISES' biggest advantage: RBs 1-3 (LaDanian Tomlinson, Rudi Johnson, Domanick Davis)
LOUD NOISES' biggest concern: Comeback WRs Laverneus Coles and Steve Smith

Sex Panther's biggest advantage: QB (Daunte Culpepper vs. Tom Brady)
Sex Panther's biggest concern: 7 of 9 offensive starters come from 3 teams (MIN, STL, TB); if any of those teams struggle...

Matchup to Watch: Flex battle between Fred Taylor (LN) and Carnell Williams (SP)

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Fred Lane's Wife vs. Blaine Browns (-2.5)

Two playoff teams from last season serve as the league's second marquee matchup of the weekend...Both teams add RBs in the first round of the draft to add to tremendous keepers at that position already; four top 10 backs play in this game (James, Dillon, Martin, McAllister)...Very important to beat playoff competitors early, this is one of those games

Fred Lane's Wife's biggest advantage: QB (Peyton Manning, and this is unlikely to change all year)
Fred Lane's Wife's biggest concern: Second tier backs Ronnie Brown and Thomas Jones running in offenses with no passing game.

Blaine Browns biggest advantage: Monday Night thunder; Browns have 3 key players playing on Monday Night
Blaine Browns biggest concern: Drew wonders if his Drews (Brees and Bennett) were for real last season.

Matchup to Watch: WR1- Terrell Owens (BB) vs. Javon Walker (FLW)

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Father Abraham vs. The Octagon (-2)

Two teams with serious playoff aspirations jockey for position early...Last year's runner up and cinderella squad (OCT) adds a stud QB to stud receiving corps...Last year's 7th (FA) place team did some dealing at the end of last year to set up keepers well, though Muhsin Muhammed's free agency changed things up a bit; addition of Anquan Boldin should provide good insurance

Father Abraham's biggest advantage: RBs 1-2 (Priest Holmes and Jamal Lewis)
Father Abraham's biggest concern: Muhammed's effectiveness in CHI

The Octagon's biggest advantage: WRs 1-3 (Marvin Harrison, Hines Ward, Andre Johnson)
The Octagon's biggest concern: RBs 2-3 (Rookie J.J Arrington and Kevin Barlow's team getting blown out)

Matchup to Watch: Scramble for Kansas City's points between Trent Green (QB-Oct) and Holmes (RB- FA)

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Cellar Dwellers (-8) vs. Big Fat Guys

After finishing last a season ago, Cellar Dwellars adds a stud RB (LaMont Jordan) to an RB corps that is probably top 3 in the league...Big Fat Guys is an expansion team, but had done some real nice things, including the selection of Brian Westbrook in the expansion draft, and nabbing Marc Bulger and Nate Burleson in the real draft; all could be keepers...CD looks like they have the peices to make a playoff run, while BFG has peices to be competitive every week, but won't likely threaten for a playoff spot

Cellar Dwellers biggest advantage: RBs 1-3 (Shaun Alexander, Kevin Jones, Jordan)
Cellar Dwellers biggest concern: WRs effectiveness

Big Fat Guys biggest advantage: Probably has best defenders in the league
Big Fat Guys biggest concern: 3rd skill starters, WR3 Antwaan Randle El and RB3 Mewelde Moore are question marks

Matchup to Watch: QBs; Bulger (BFG) vs. Jake Delhomme (CD)

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Champeons (-25) vs. PTW

League's most active owner takes on his housemates in PTW inaugural game...PTW took Antonio Gates from Champeons in expansion draft, however Gates can do no damage to former owner in week 1 (suspended)...Champeons keepers are impressive, and adding a potentially studly QB in Kerry Collins makes them a very good sleeper playoff team...PTW went with big names at smaller positions in expansion draft (Gates, Reggie Wayne), but added a big-time QB with first pick in the dispersion draft; however will struggle mightily without a starting running back on their roster

Champeons biggest advantage: RBs 1-2 (Clinton Portis and Julius Jones)
Champeons biggest concern: A lot riding on Raider passing attack (Randy Moss and Kerry Collins)

PTW biggest advantage: Sure thing QB (Farve) vs. mysterious Collins
PTW biggest concern: How many carries will part-time RBs get?

Matchup to Watch: Washington Goal line carries, Portis (CHM) vs. LaDell Betts (PTW)



Recap coming on Tuesday morning via Eli. Midweek musings via JR and Ed to follow.