Thoughts from the Champs – Ian 
 
We spent a lot of time last week on our weekly SiriusXM radio show (that’s 11am-12pm est on Sirius 210, XM 87 every Saturday) and on our Sunday Gameday Live show right here at FFChamps, discussing Commandment #10.  I am sure you are all familiar with the Ten Commandments but let me refresh your memory.  
   
It is not going to always work out but I couldn’t believe how many people were calling in and trying to put their studs on the bench.  I am talking about first round picks, second round picks, etc.  Here is a list of the most talked about players, in terms of people trying to bench them, and their stats this week.
 
Ray Rice – 19 carries – 107 yds 1 TD, 4 rec – 42yds 1 TD
Rashard Mendenhall – 12 carries – 45 yards
Miles Austin – 5 rec – 90 yds,1 TD
Dez Bryant – 3 rec – 71 yds, 1 TD
Tony Romo – 342 yds passing and 2 TD’s
 
I am sure I left some guys out but just check out those numbers.  Of the 5 guys I listed the only stud that had a bad game was Mendenhall and that was more of a product of the score, the Steelers were getting the tar kicked out of them and didn’t run the ball. We are going to get these questions every week and the answer is going to be “Start your Studs.”  If you want to bench Mike Thomas next week because they are playing the Jets, go for it, not that you should really be starting him anyway, but you get what I mean.
 
Here’s what I saw…..
 
It was an exciting start to the season but I don’t have to tell you fanatics that.  If you’re like me you have been watching 705 and 706 with every game one after the other with only the plays, how freaking awesome is that!
 
I wasn’t high on Mark Ingram to begin with but he won’t be this bad every week.  The Saints are going to play more games than not with a lead and he will get more opportunities in those games.  It doesn’t look like he will be involved in the passing game though so he is a Flex at best and maybe only in non PPR leagues.
 
Devery Henderson does this every year, he flashes a big game early and then disappears.  With the injuries to Colston and Lance Moore, this may be the year he breaks the trend.  Pick him or Robert Meachem up if they are available.
Like I said, James Starks not Ryan Grant.
 
Pittsburgh, especially Ben Roethlisberger, won’t turn it over 7 times a game.  Big Ben will be fine.
Not enough balls for Lee Evans, he will be a deep threat and that’s it, that’s why he was so low on our cheatsheets.
 
Tony Gonzalez is still going to be effective; I still can’t believe how low he went in drafts.
 
I actually don’t think the Cleveland offense is that bad, the Bengals defense was much better than expected.  Both Evan Moore and Ben Watson are going to get red zone opportunities; they are good backups at TE.  Massaquoi looks like the #1, he is a good waiver wire stash, and Hillis will get his although Hardesty is going to get some touches too.
 
Ben Tate looked good in place of Arian Foster, if he is available on waivers bring him in.  Foster (hamstring) may not play in Week 2 and Ward (knee) is banged up.  A few things could happen here. Tate could be the third Houston back in 4 years to go crazy.  He could do nothing, or more likely, he cuts into Foster’s carries. At this point, I want him on my bench because there is also a fourth scenario, that Foster reinjures himself when he comes back and it reverts back to scenario one.
 
Reggie Wayne is good enough to get his and not derail your Championship hopes but if the Colts can’t figure how to protect Collins everyone else gets a major downgrade.
 
The Titans definitely were easing Chris Johnson in, the coach has already come out and said so, don’t hit the panic button just yet.
 
Part of me wants to say trade Kenny Britt before he goes to jail or gets suspended, or both.  The other part of me wants to say trade for him because he could be the next best thing.  I am really on the fence on that one.
 
I am worried about the Chiefs big boys, Bowe and Charles, they have all these weapons and managed to put up 7 points and Cassel averaged 3.3 yards an attempt, he may be the problem by the way.
 
Where did Scott Chandler come from?  I feel like he will be one of the most added players this week and most dropped player in two weeks.
 
Caddy Williams looked pretty good.  If you had Steven Jackson he really should have been handcuffed. Williams will be the most popular pick up this week, rightfully so.
 
LaGarrette Blount won’t be that bad all year, they were behind and the Lions front is really good but he won’t be used on passing downs, evidenced by Earnest Graham’s 8 catches.
 
Early Doucet is the clear cut #2 in Arizona and worth a pick up.
 
Both Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert are startable.
 
Don’t get crazy and jump on the Doug Baldwin bandwagon.  Sidney Rice will be back and Mike Williams is still the No. 2.
 
The Giants’ offense was awful in the preseason and was awful in Week 1.  Hakeem Nicks will be fine, although he has knee issues right now.  I think they will be fine but I’m getting nervous.
 
I am amazed the Jets threw it as much as they did.  My gut tells me Shonn Greene owners - and I wasn’t high on him to begin with - are going to be disappointed for the second year in a row. 
 
I could write a lot about the Pats but let’s just say it looks like they can do whatever they want and all of those guys over there are good fantasy options.  The only guy that worries me is BJGE, he will score TD’s but I am not sure that’s going to be enough in a majority of leagues.
 
It doesn’t look like Miami will get anything done on the ground but they may not be half bad with their pass attack.  I was way down on Marshall and it looks like I may have been wrong.
 
I was disappointed in Knowshon Moreno’s production but I have to believe that they will run it more and Moreno was in and out of the game with leg issues, which hopefully are not serious or lingering.
 
Run DMC looked awesome; he is a top 5 back.  As I am sure you know he just missed a long TD.
 

Follow Ian Millman on Twitter: @FFChamps_Ian


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