Week One fantasy football

Matchups to exploit or avoid

By Jeff Agrest, Senior editor
Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2001

Matchups to exploit

Jets RB Curtis Martin has had good success against the Colts the last two years, especially from a yardage standpoint. In four games, he has a 100-yard game, a 200-yard game and two games with more than 80 yards. Martin also has scored two touchdowns.

Buccaneers RB Warrick Dunn is a must play against the Cowboys, who finished last in the league last season in rushing defense. In fact, for those RB challenged teams, it might not be bad idea to play Bucs FB Mike Alstott, who could see some action in short-yardage situations.

The sight of an AFC team (Denver) shouldn’t scare Giants WR Amani Toomer this week. In four games against non-conference foes last season, Toomer caught four TD passes and had three 100-yard games. His worst outing came vs. the Titans, who held Toomer to five catches for 81 yards and no scores.

Raiders QB Rich Gannon has had his way with the Chiefs the last two seasons, throwing 11 TD passes in four games with one 300-yard effort. In two games last season, Gannon had six touchdowns with no interceptions and a sparkling completion percentage of 75.0.

Matchups to avoid

There is not one Bear worth playing this week against a Ravens team that begins its title defense at home. Never mind that the last running back to break the 100-yard rushing mark against Baltimore was Chicago’s James Allen. That will matter little.

Though we’re high on Bills rookie RB Travis Henry, he’ll have a tough initiation into the NFL against the Saints. New Orleans ranked 10^th in run defense last season but were hurt late in the year by an injury to DT Norman Hand.

If you have a third option at running back, you might want to sit the Redskins’ Stephen Davis this week against San Diego. Last season the Chargers finished fourth in the league in run defense and second overall in rushing yards allowed per carry — and they’ve upgraded their defense.

We hate to say it, but Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith might have nowhere to run this week against the Buccaneers, whose defense could render rookie QB Quincy Carter and the Cowboys’ offense useless.

The Archives
2001 - 2002 Season