Week 1 Rushing Matchups

PLEASE NOTE: This does NOT replace the Cheatsheet ranking. The Cheatsheet rankings are the final say on where we see a player for that week. The Matchup Breakdowns are simply one more tool in the box when it comes to helping choose your lineup.

Also note, just because a player has a "bad" matchup, it does NOT mean he's not a starter in your league. If Peyton Manning is playing the toughest pass defense in the league, that just means he's got a tough matchup that week. He's also your starter unless you're loaded at QB. In the same way, if the worst QB on your roster has a "great" matchup that week, it doesn't necessarily mean he's your starter. It means we think he'll fare better than normal that week.

Bottom line is that the cheatsheets are the final say.

Cincinnati Bengals Rushing Offense at Cleveland Browns Rushing Defense (Great Matchup)

Cincinnati cruises into week 1 with Rudi Johnson ready go. We expect Chris Perry to spell Johnson some as Perry's looked very strong this Summer. Still though, we think Johnson is the man. He gained 17/72/0 rushing against the Eagles during the key preseason week 3 tune up, and is ready to build on his 14th ranked fantasy performance of last year (14.13 fantasy points per game due to 362/1457/12 rushing and 15/84/0 receiving).

Cleveland fielded the worst rush defense in the nation last year, allowing an average of 144.6 rushing yards per game and a league-worst total of 22 rushing TDs. After a major retooling during the off-season, there is nowhere to go but up. During the week 3 pre-season game, the Panther's DeShaun Foster gashed the Browns for 9/56/0 on the ground, and Carolina threw down 31/143/0 in the course of the game. You could say the Browns are still a work in progress in this phase of the game...

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

Brown's Stadium expects near-perfect weather on Sunday - 80F for a high, 64F for a low, with a 0% chance of rain. Weather shouldn't be a factor in this contest.

Cincinnati's Johnson and Perry have a clear advantage in this matchup - the Browns will have a hard time containing them.

Denver Broncos Rushing Offense at Miami Dolphins Rushing Defense (Great Matchup)

Mike Anderson has earned his starting spot. With his 13/159/2 rushing (2/22/0 receiving) effort vs. division rival Indianapolis, he cemented his hold on the coveted "Bronco Back" job. He looks ready to roll but understand that Tatum Bell is hovering should something happen to Anderson.

Miami's run D was porous during 2004, giving up an average of 143.9 rushing yards per game (31st in the NFL) and 12 rushing TDs over 16 games. During the week 3 preseason game, Tampa's Cadillac Williams slashed them for 5/28/0 in a short appearance, and the Bucs totaled 29/125/1 during the game -- clearly, Miami still has a long way to go in this phase of the game.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

The forecast for Dolphin's Stadium calls for a high of 91F and low of 79F with a 30% chance of precipitation. That forecast translates into "hot and muggy, with possibly poor field conditions". Weather could adversely affect both squads, especially if the rain comes down hard around game time. Keep an eye on the weather if you are planning on starting a Bronco or Dolphin.

Anderson will grind out the tough yards regardless of field conditions - start him if you've got him. The Dolphins aren't very scary in this phase of the game.

St. Louis Rams Rushing Offense at San Francisco 49ers Rushing Defense (Great Matchup)

Steven Jackson is arriving in the NFL. After bursting on the scene as a part time player across from Marshall Faulk (134/673/4 rushing and 19/189/0 receiving) last year, Jackson is now in the drivers' seat at RB in St. Louis. His 174/108/1 rushing and 1/12/0 receiving effort against the hapless Lions on Aug. 29th set the stage for a strong regular season effort. He looks fantastic and appears to be champing at the bit.

The 49ers gave up the most rushing TDs in the land last year - 22 - and ranked 20th in the league allowing an average of 124.7 rushing yards per game. They did manage to hold the youthful Titans to 30/107/0 during their preseason week 3 contest, but nobody calls the Titans a "powerhouse" club this year.

Both teams come into this game in decent shape, injury wise - nothing catastrophic to note. The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

The forecast for San Francisco boils down to: perfect football weather. 69 F for a high, 56 F for a low, with a 10% chance for rain on Sunday.

Steven Jackson should run wild against the 49ers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rushing Offense at Minnesota Vikings Rushing Defense (Great Matchup)

Cadillac Williams. That's the name of the running game in Tampa this year. Will he be an upgrade over Pittman/Garner? Time will tell, but the early returns (5/28/0 rushing during week 3 of the preseason, for example) look encouraging. He's an instinctive runner who hits the hole hard. This week, we'll see how getting into a rhythm with 20+ carries helps out Williams' game.

Minnesota was not impressive in this phase of the game last year, allowing 125.4 rushing yards per game (21st in the NFL) with 15 rushing scores allowed in 16 games. However, they did manage to limit San Diego to 16/82/0 rushing during week 3 of the preseason - this could be a sign of good things to come.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

This game will be played in the Metrodome, so weather won't be a factor.

Williams faces a sub-par rush D in this matchup. He should get off to a great start against the Vikings.

Atlanta Falcons Rushing Offense vs Philadelphia Eagles Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Atlanta deploys a lethal rush offense that led the league last year in both yards per carry (5.1) and total yards (2672). Warrick Dunn produced 265/1106/9 rushing and 29/293/0 receiving to headline the three headed monster of Vick/Dunn/Duckett. Whatever you may think of the Falcons' prospects in the passing game, there is no doubt that they will try to jam the ball down their opponent's throats in this phase of the game.

Philadelphia ran in the middle of the NFL pack last year, averaging 118.9 rushing yards allowed per game (16th in the NFL), with a total of 13 rushing scores allowed last year. During the week 3 tune up game, Cincinnati managed 25/96/0 -- the Eagles are looking pretty good in this department to begin the season.

DE Jerome McDougle will miss the beginning of the season as he continues to recover from abdominal gunshot wounds suffered during the off-season. The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

The weather inside the Georgia Dome is expected to be perfect. No weather concerns during this matchup, folks.

Atlanta was the top rushing attack a year ago, and they bring much of the same mix to the table in this game - Philadelphia was merely average, and they are the visitors this week. Advantage, Atlanta.

Baltimore Ravens Rushing Offense vs Indianapolis Colts Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

It has become apparent during the preseason that Baltimore will have to lean on Jamal Lewis more than ever this year, as Kyle Boller continues to struggle. Lewis was the 19th best fantasy back last year in points per game (averaging 12.85) - it wouldn't be a shock to see him move into the top ten among RBs this season if he can stay healthy.

The Colts weren't a great rush D last season, allowing an average of 127.3 rushing yards per game (24th in the NFL) and coughing up 12 rushing scores during the year. They've made some improvements for 2005, with MLB Gary Brackett ascending into Rob Morris' starting MLB spot and adding DT Corey Simon. Denver absolutely trampled this unit during their week 3 preseason game - 25/203/2 (starter Mike Anderson garnered 13/159/2).

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

This game will be played in near-perfect conditions: the forecast calls for a high of 84F and a low of 72F -- this is the Sunday night game, so the temperature will be in the low 70's -- with a 0% chance for rain. Weather won't be a factor in this matchup unless things change quickly.

Lewis is motivated, he is the focus of the Baltimore offense, and he faces a weak defense in this matchup. Baltimore has a lot going for them on Sunday night in this phase of the game.

Buffalo Bills Rushing Offense vs Houston Texans Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Buffalo brings Willis McGahee to the game this weekend. This guy threw down 284/1128/13 rushing and 22/169/0 receiving during 3/4 of a season last year. The Bills have a new, inexperienced QB in starter J.P. Losman - it looks like McGahee will carry the load, at least in the initial weeks this year. Start him if you've got him.

Houston was hard to score on last year, allowing a miniscule 4 rushing TDs during the entire season (they were 13th in the league with an average of 115.2 rushing yards allowed per game). However, they aren't too impressive entering the 2005 season, having coughed up 37/158/2 to the Cowboys during their week 3 pre-season game.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

The forecast for Ralph Wilson Stadium is ideal - 78F for a high, 60F for a low on Sunday, with a 0% chance for rain. Weather shouldn't be a factor in this matchup.

McGahee is a fine, talented back - the Texans field a stubborn rush D. Home field advantage helps to tip the scales in McGahee's favor this week.

Carolina Panthers Rushing Offense vs New Orleans Saints Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

The biggest question coming into week 1 about the Panthers is this: which running back will see the most carries/be most productive? As Eric Shelton is out of the picture (IR, broken foot), we're down to selecting between Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster. Foster has said that Davis is the starter - but we haven't seen much of Davis on the field. He has all of 5 carries for 17 yards and 0 TDs during preseason. Which guy will carry the load for Carolina? Right now, we think Davis will see the majority of the work but it's far from certain. This could easily be a running back by committee situation, with neither player gathering enough carries to make a big difference.

The Saints are in a tough situation - they've been evacuated from their home town, and will understandably struggle to keep up intensity in the face of the disaster that has devastated their home town and fans. On the flip side, players like Joe Horn have stated the disaster has sparked the team with a desire to give the affected people something positive to hold onto.

The Saints sport one of the worst rush defenses in the NFL (they averaged 140.8 rushing yards allowed per game last year, 30th in the league, while coughing up 16 rushing TDs during 2004). Baltimore's backups and reserves shoved the ball down the Saints' throat to the tune of 26/181/1 during the week 3 preseason game - obviously, the Saints are still vulnerable to their opponents' rushing game.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

The forecast for Bank of America Stadium calls for a high of 86F and a low of 69F with a 0% chance of rain - it should be a great day to play some football.

Whoever carries the ball the most on Sunday should rip up the Saints soft rush D -- we think it'll be Davis but expect Foster to see significant action as well.

Dallas Cowboys Rushing Offense at San Diego Chargers Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Julius Jones is the Man in Dallas. He threw down 10/50/1 rushing and 1/-2/0 receiving for the Cowboys vs. Houston during week 3 of the preseason. After piling up 197/819/7 rushing and 17/109/0 receiving during half of the 2004 season, he looks ready to headline for the Cowboys all year long. Anthony Thomas is an ideal #2 back/compliment to Jones. Between the 2 players, the Cowboys' rushing attack will be feared.

San Diego ranked third in the league last year, allowing a mere 81.7 rushing yards per contest (they did cough up 15 rushing scores - their goal-line D wasn't among the strongest in the league). 2004 statistics were skewed by the fact that the Chargers fielded one of the worst secondaries in the league. The high octane Vikings totaled 31/122/1 vs. this unit during their preseason game week 3. The Chargers look like a mediocre unit heading into the 2005 regular season.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

San Diego is noted for it's great weather, and this Sunday is no different. Qualcomm Stadium should have a high of 78F and a low of 62F with a 10% chance of rain. Both teams will benefit from playing in such mild conditions.

Dallas has a top-notch running game, while the Chargers seem to be in neutral entering 2005. Advantage, Dallas.

Detroit Lions Rushing Offense vs Green Bay Packers Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Kevin Jones has been a bright spot for the Lions. He hits the hole decisively and looks like the back we expected him to be after last year's late charge. He ground out 9/38/0 (1/9/0 receiving) against the Rams despite the passing games' struggles. Jones is the real deal, folks. Start him if you've got him.

Green Bay was in the middle of the NFL pack last season in this phase of the game, giving up an average of 117.4 rushing yards per contest (14th in the NFL) and a total of 12 rushing scores during the year. New England ripped them for 34/155/2 during the week 3 preseason game - the Packers look pretty suspect in this phase of the game.

Green Bay’s starting OLB Na'il Diggs has a partially torn MCL in his left knee and will miss at least 2 weeks. The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

This game will be played in Ford Field's dome, so weather won't be a factor.

The up an coming Jones should have a good game at home against the luke-warm Packers.

Green Bay Packers Rushing Offense at Detroit Lions Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Is Ahman Green back, or not? After a disappointing 2004 campaign (259/1163/7 rushing with 40/275/1 receiving), most fantasy owners are wondering if Green has lost that crucial half step that divides fantasy stars from fantasy scrubs. Putting up 11/23/0 vs. New England during week 3 of the preseason didn't make anyone feel more comfortable about Green (he did snag 3 receptions for 26 yards and 0 TDs during the game, though).

Detroit's rush D was middling last year, averaging 117.9 yards allowed per game (15th in the NFL) with 10 rushing scores allowed during 16 games. Not too shabby. However, the team looked horrible vs. the Rams during week 3 of the preseason, giving away 39/183/2 in this phase of the game - they enter regular season back on their heels, at the very least.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

This game will be played in Ford Field's dome, so weather won't be a factor.

Green is looking to make a statement, while the Lions are just looking to be respectable. Advantage, Green Bay.

Kansas City Chiefs Rushing Offense vs New York Jets Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Kansas City has Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson in their arsenal at RB. Holmes has averaged 4.4 yards per carry since landing in K.C., while Johnson averaged 4.8 yards per carry in limited work last year. Holmes has scored 66 TDs over the past 3 years, while Johnson has punched in 10 TDs in his few chances.

Kansas City fields one of the very best rushing attacks in the NFL, folks.

The Jets were one of the best rush defenses last year, allowing only 97.9 rushing yards per game and 8 rushing scores over a 16 game slate. That's pretty tough, folks. They held Tiki Barber to 13/47/0 during week 3 of the preseason, and allowed an average of 3.4 yards per carry (0 TDs) during the game. The Jets look ready to rumble in this phase of the game.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

The forecast for Arrowhead Stadium calls for a high of 87F and a low of 64F with a 0% chance of precipitation. You couldn't ask for better weather on opening day.

At home, the Chiefs have a slight edge over the Jets' fine defense. Expect Holmes to see the lion's share of work but he will yield some carries to Johnson.

Minnesota Vikings Rushing Offense vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

The Vikings are likely to run by committee to start week 1, which probably means some sort of shared workload between Mewelde Moore and Moe Williams. During week 3 of the preseason, Moore (6/21/10 and 1/11/10) and Williams (2/18/0 and 1/3/0) shared the work with several other players. Understand that both are a little risky, as their playing time is going to be unpredictable.

Tampa Bay was substandard in this phase of the game last year, allowing an average of 123.3 rushing yards per game (19th in the NFL). However, they only coughed up 8 rushing scores all year -- the Bucs were no pushovers at the goal-line last year. Ricky Williams tore them up during week 3 of the preseason, though, with 10/59/1 in the early going. The Buccaneers are not feared in this phase of the game entering regular season.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

This game will be played in the Metrodome, so weather won't be a factor.

Whoever carries the ball for the Vikings will have a good shot at a decent outing vs. the Bucs. It's just tough to count on one guy getting most of the carries.

New England Patriots Rushing Offense vs Oakland Raiders Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Corey Dillon is the main man for this offense. He rushed for 345/1635/12 last season, with 15/103/1 receiving - he is the workhorse of the Patriots' RB stable. The team has played him sparingly during preseason, but he had time to rip up Green Bay for 14/70/2 on the ground during week 3 of preseason. It looks like Dillon is ready to rumble for a lot of yardage again this year.

Oakland's rushing defense was sub-par last year, averaging 125.8 rushing yards allowed per contest, 22nd in the league (they also allowed the second-worst total of rushing TDs surrendered in the league, giving up 21 rushing scores during 2004). However, the Raiders did hold J.J. Arrington to 10/31/0 during his preseason week 3 appearance for the Cardinals. Things might be looking up for the Raiders as they roll towards this week's Thursday opener.

The NFL released an early injury report for Oakland/New England. T Brandon Gorin is questionable for New England; Oakland reports a clean bill of health on defense.

The forecast for Gillette stadium calls for a high of 85F and a low of 59F with a 20% chance of precipitation. It should be a great evening to play some football.

Dillon is a top player on an elite offense - the Raiders are still putting all the pieces of the puzzle together. Advantage, New England.

New York Giants Rushing Offense vs Arizona Cardinals Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Tiki Barber has been joined by bruiser Brandon Jacobs in the Giant's backfield this year, and Jacobs has some Barber owners worried. It appears that the team intends to utilize Jacobs as the short yardage/goal-line back, which may eat into Barber's statistics - especially his TDs. However, the team intended to do the same thing last year with Ron Dayne, and Barber's numbers didn't suffer a bit. Time will tell how the workload gets shared, but right now we think Barber will do just fine (especially in leagues that award a point per reception to RBs). Barber threw down 13/47/0 rushing and 1/15/0 receiving vs. the Jets during week 3 of the preseason (Jacobs had a mere 7/13/0 rushing).

Arizona was a bottom feeder in this phase of the game last year, averaging 131.6 rushing yards allowed per game (27th in the league), with 12 rushing scores surrendered during the year. The team hopes to improve on that performance this year, and they held the Raiders to 23/76/0 during their week 3 game in preseason - not a bad way to conclude the preseason action for the starters. Now we'll see if they can carry the momentum forward into the regular season.

Arizona’s starting MLB, Gerald Hayes, has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his knee. He’ll be out for at least 6-8 weeks. James Darling will replace Hayes as the starting MLB. The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

Giants' Stadium is forecast to be a great place to play a football game on Sunday -- 85F for a high, 70F for a low, with a 0% chance for rain.

The Giants are blessed with 2 gifted running backs, and the Cardinals have a lot to prove - advantage, Giants.

New York Jets Rushing Offense at Kansas City Chiefs Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Curtis Martin won the NFL rushing title last year after 9 seasons in the NFL (last year was his tenth). He has never rushed for less than 1,000 yards in any season, and has put up 245 receiving yards or more in each year he has played in the league. The man is amazing. You're supposed to slow down when you have 10 years of experience playing RB in the NFL. With 13/59/0 rushing and 2/10/0 receiving vs. cross town rival Giants during week 3 of the preseason, we don't see any evidence of Martin slowing down just yet.

Kansas City lurked in the middle of the NFL pack last year, ranking 12th while allowing 114.6 rushing yards per game and a total of 18 rushing TDs during the 16 games. Not too good, folks. Seattle's Shaun Alexander only managed 12/23/0 vs the Chiefs during the third week of preseason, and the team rushed for 28/69/0 during the entire game -- the Chiefs may have improved their rush defense (but be aware the Seahawks ripped K.C. for 30/45 for 358 yards, 2 TDs and 0 interceptions through the air).

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

The forecast for Arrowhead Stadium calls for a high of 87F and a low of 64F with a 0% chance of precipitation. You couldn't ask for better weather on opening day.

K.C. is soft in this phase, and Curtis Martin is an elite back - advantage, Jets.

Pittsburgh Steelers Rushing Offense vs Tennessee Titans Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Hello Footballguy favorite "Fast" Willie Parker! With both Duce Staley and Jerome Bettis ailing, Willie Parker is set to start in the season opener for the Steelers. He has averaged 5.8 yards per rush during his very brief career -- but 5.8 yards per carry is quite notable at this level. The Steelers averaged 4.0 yards per carry last year.

Tennessee is playing with a very youthful and very inexperienced defense. Forget what happened last year -- the team is so completely altered that our only guidepost is the week 3 preseason contest vs. another young team, the San Francisco 49ers. Tennessee lost, 13-16. The Niners threw down 37/148/1 rushing during the game. Early indications are that it could be a long season if you are a Titan fan.

Pittsburgh’s RB corps is banged up heading into the regular season. Duce Staley has been out for almost a month (initial diagnosis) after surgery to repair a tear in his right knee’s lateral meniscus. Jerome Bettis injured a calf during the week 3 pre-season game and did not return to action - he's expected to miss the first two weeks of regular season. The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

Heinz Field is forecast to have a 0% chance for rain, a high of 80F and a low of 65F on Sunday -- practically perfect football weather, in our opinion.

Parker is an explosive, but raw player, while the Titans field a suspect defense. Pittsburgh has the edge in this matchup.

San Diego Chargers Rushing Offense vs Dallas Cowboys Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

LaDainian Tomlinson - need we say more? This week, Tomlinson has been publicly stating his desire to eclipse Erik Dickerson's all-time rushing yardage record (379 rushes for 2105 yards with 14 TDs) during 2005.

Dallas was a top-ten rush D last year, allowing an average of 110.3 yards per game on the ground (14 rushing scores given up over 16 games). Houston didn't find paydirt in this phase of the game during their week 3 preseason matchup (28/114/0) - it looks like the Cowboys are picking up where they left off last year.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

LaDainian Tomlinson is an outstanding back, and he has home field advantage at his back this week. The Cowboys are tough but we say advantage, San Diego.

Washington Redskins Rushing Offense vs Chicago Bears Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Clinton Portis is entering his second season with the Redskins. Will he be more productive in this go-around, or will Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright limit his upside? The answer to this question remains to be seen, as Portis hasn't scored a single TD during preseason. His most extensive work came during week 3 of the preseason (8/48/0 rushing and 1/8/0 receiving) vs. Pittsburgh. Last year, he disappointed may fantasy owners with 343/1315/5 rushing and 40/235/2 receiving (ranking 15th in fantasy points per game during the year).

Chicago's rush defense was mediocre last season, allowing an average of 128.1 rushing yards per game (25th in the NFL); however, they only coughed up 9 rushing scores during the season. These guys are tough at the goal-line. Willis McGahee averaged a mere 2.9 yards per carry against the Bears during the week 3 preseason "tune up" (he rushed for 21/61/0 in that contest). Regardless of the mess at QB, the Bears' D looks to be improving.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

Fed Ex Field expects a high of 83F and a low of 68F with a 0% chance of precipitation on Sunday -- perfect football weather appears to be on tap.

At home, vs a so-so rush defense, we expect Portis to get off to a good start. Advantage, Washington.

Arizona Cardinals Rushing Offense at New York Giants Rushing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

The Cardinals' rushing attack has been less-than-impressive during preseason, especially new starter J.J. Arrington. However, the team swears that they will do better once regular season rolls around - and the vanilla offense of training camp gives way to the full arsenal in Arizona. We'll wait and see, but Arrington's 10/31/0 performance during the week 3 preseason game vs. Oakland doesn't make us very happy. Don't panic if you are an Arrington owner, but consider your other options carefully for week 1 until we see how he responds to a "for real" game. If you own Arrington and can make room for Marcel Shipp on your roster, we'd do it though. Just for insurance. We've all been around Denny Green long enough to take his proclamations with a grain of salt.

The Giants' rush D was very soft during 2004, giving up an average of 134.8 rushing yards per game (with 13 rushing scores surrendered over the 16 game slate). They did hold their cross-town rivals to 23/77/0 during week 3 of the preseason, which is a hopeful sign for the Big Blue faithful.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

Giants' Stadium is forecast to be a great place to play a football game on Sunday -- 85F for a high, 70F for a low, with a 0% chance for rain.

The Giants are rebuilding, while the Cardinals deploy a high-potential offense. This one looks like a pretty even matchup to us, given home field advantage flowing to the defense.

Cleveland Browns Rushing Offense vs Cincinnati Bengals Rushing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Here's the big question for fantasy owners - who will carry the ball the most for the Browns? The answer to that question right now appears to be Reuben Droughns (William Green was ineffective vs Chicago (5/9/0), and Lee Suggs is dinged up again). The Browns released an unofficial depth chart Tuesday that listed Droughns as #1 but coach Romeo Crennel said it would likely be Sunday before he named a starter. It's hard to be too enthusiastic about any of the Browns' backs as 1). they are clearly in a running back by committee situation and 2). the team ranked 25th in the NFL averaging 3.8 yards per carry last year. Droughns could be a play for owners in deep leagues, but there isn't a lot of confidence in the Browns' backs right now.

Cincinnati drafted two high-profile rookies (LB's Odell Thurman and David Pollack)as part of their defensive makeover coming into 2005. Both Thurman and Pollack are starters entering the season -- but now the games are for real. During week 3 of the pre-season, the Eagles' starters scored 3 TDs and 2 FGs in a half vs. the Bengals, although the teams' running backs only managed 21/81/0. Cincinnati gave up an average of 128.9 rushing yards per game last year (26th in the NFL), so there is plenty of room for improvement.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

Brown's Stadium expects near-perfect weather on Sunday -- 80F for a high, 64F for a low, with a 0% chance of rain. Weather shouldn't be a factor in this contest.

The Browns bring a muddled backfield to this game, while the Bengals are hoping that their personnel upgrades will make a difference this year. This one looks pretty even to us.

Jacksonville Jaguars Rushing Offense vs Seattle Seahawks Rushing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Fred Taylor has carried the ball 4 times for 18 yards and 0 TDs during preseason. Is he ready for the regular season? He says he is but the reality is that he doesn't know how he'll hold up after a full load of 25-30 carries. Taylor is an intriguing and explosive player, but understand the risk there as we see if he's fully recovered from last year's knee injury/this year's knee surgery.

Seattle was not a top unit vs. the rush last year, ranking 23rd in the league while allowing an average of 126.9 rushing yards per game (with 17 total TDs surrendered during 2004). The defense is very young, with 11 of the 23 defensive players in their first seasons with the team (LB Isaiah Kacyvenski has been with the team for the longest period (6 years)). With so much inexperience and so many new players, it's no wonder that the Chiefs ripped this group for 25/215/1 on the ground during the week 3 preseason game. Defensive Coordinator Ray Rhodes was hospitalized on Monday, which won't help things any come Sunday.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

The forecast for Alltel Stadium calls for a high of 91F with a low of 77F and a 30% chance of rain. The heat and humidity may take a toll on the players, and if the rain comes down heavily at game time, the field could become treacherous.

Taylor can dominate games on his own when he's 100%. We'll get a chance to see how close he is to 100% this weekend.

Philadelphia Eagles Rushing Offense at Atlanta Falcons Rushing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Philadelphia continues to tinker with their rushing game - they added Lamar Gordon, late of Miami, this week to be their "big back" after losing Correll Buckhalter (again). But the main man on this squad will be Brian Westbrook (he of the 177/812/3 rushing and 73/703/6 receiving during 2004). Westbrook is the sparkplug that drives the Philadelphia engine. He only put up 6/20/0 and 2/7/0 during the week 3 preseason tune-up, but don't let that bother you. He's going to get his hands on the ball a lot now that the games count. Even with all the Owens and McNabb drama, many feel (as do we) that Westbrook is the key to this offense.

Atlanta's rush D was a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde unit last year -- they ranked in the top ten in rushing yards allowed per game (8th with 105.1 rushing yards given up per game), but were 29th in the NFL with 20 rushing scores surrendered. The team hopes the addition of Edgerton Hartwell at MLB will curtail the scoring around the goal line. During week 3 of the preseason, Jacksonville's stable only managed 27/88/1 (4/18/0 for Fred Taylor) - it appears that Atlanta may be on the right path to open 2005.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

The weather inside the Georgia Dome is expected to be perfect. No weather concerns during this matchup, folks.

Westbrook is a dual threat back, while Atlanta's defense is maturing into a solid unit. With home field at the defense's back, we call this one an even matchup.

Seattle Seahawks Rushing Offense at Jacksonville Jaguars Rushing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Shaun Alexander has been a team player since signing his tender, and he scored a TD vs. K.C. during the preseason week 3 game (12/23/0 rushing with 2/9/1 receiving). He's a classic dual-threat running back - Alexander racked up 353/1696/16 rushing with 23/170/4 receiving last year - who is the unquestioned headliner for his squad.

Jacksonville was a pretty hard-nosed bunch in this phase of the game last year, giving up an average of 111.1 rushing yards per game (11th in the NFL) and only 7 rushing scores during the season. The high-octane Falcons' rushing attack did scorch the Jags for 31/176/0 during week 3 of the preseason, so there is definitely room for improvement.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

Alexander is an outstanding back, while the Jags bring an up-and-coming defense to the table. At the Jags' house, this one looks pretty even to us.

San Francisco 49ers Rushing Offense vs St. Louis Rams Rushing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Kevan Barlow is atop the depth chart entering week 1 of the Regular season. Will he remain there? That's up to Frank Gore and the coaching staff. However, for now, Barlow is the headliner in San Francisco. Gore scored in the preseason finale (2/13/1 rushing) while Barlow churned out 3/4/0 rushing and 1/9/0 receiving in a limited appearance. Barlow also managed 9/30/1 rushing during week 3 of the preseason.

St. Louis was weak in this area last year, giving up an average of 136.2 rushing yards per game (13 rushing TDs allowed). The Lions didn't get their feet under them during the week 3 preseason game, and ended up with 17/66/0 on the ground as the Rams' offense humiliated Detroit 37-13. We'll see if the Rams can continue to play rush D at that level now that the games count.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

The forecast for San Francisco boils down to: perfect football weather. 69 F for a high, 56 F for a low, with a 10% chance for rain on Sunday.

San Francisco has some talented but enigmatic runners on the roster, but can the OL open holes for them? All told, we're going to call this matchup even.

Chicago Bears Rushing Offense at Washington Redskins Rushing Defense (Tough Matchup)

Cedric Benson didn't sign his contract in a timely fashion. That left the door open for last year's RB, Thomas Jones, to make a charge at the starting spot. Heading into week 1, Benson is expected to play, but Jones is the man who'll carry the ball when rookie QB Kyle Orton hands off. Jones managed 14/94/0 vs. the tough Bills D during the week 3 preseason tune-up game, and he has been praised repeatedly by the coaching staff and team-mates throughout preseason. He posted 240/948/7 rushing and 56/427/0 receiving last year when the Bears were suffering from horrible QB play - this guy can get it done. For now, it looks like Jones is the man at RB in Chicago.

Washington was extremely tough against the run last year, allowing a mere 81.5 rushing yards per game and only 7 rushing scores in the course of 16 games. They held the Steelers to 15/87/0 during the week 3 matchup vs Pittsburgh, and 51 of those yards came on one scamper by Willie Parker -- it won't be easy to run the ball against the 'Skins this year.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

Fed Ex Field expects a high of 83F and a low of 68F with a 0% chance of precipitation on Sunday -- perfect football weather appears to be on tap.

The problem with starting a rookie QB is that the opposing D will know you want to lean on the running game. Until Orton makes some key throws to back off the defenders, Jones will face a stacked line. Advantage, Washington.

Houston Texans Rushing Offense at Buffalo Bills Rushing Defense (Tough Matchup)

Domanick Davis is one of the best dual-threat RBs in the league. He piled up 301/1180/13 rushing and 69/596/1 receiving last year. He posted 8/39/0 rushing and 1/2/0 vs. the Cowboys during preseason week 3. He did leave the game with a bruised right elbow and twisted right ankle. Neither injury is serious, but watch this one closely. Rookie Vernand Morency took over and ran well in that game rushing 11 times for 55 yards including a 23-yarder. Davis has not been an Iron Man so keep Morency in mind.

Buffalo fields one of the premier defenses in the league. They gave up a mere 6 rushing TDs last year, while ranking 6th in the NFL with 100.3 rushing yards per game allowed. They are as tough a unit as there is anywhere in the NFL. During the week 3 preseason contest, though, the Bears' Thomas Jones gained 14/94/0 -- he sent a wake-up call to the Bills' defenders.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

The forecast for Ralph Wilson Stadium is ideal -- 78F for a high, 60F for a low on Sunday, with a 0% chance for rain. Weather shouldn't be a factor in this matchup.

Domanick Davis will try to carry his team, but he'll have a hard time against the stalwart Bills.

Indianapolis Colts Rushing Offense at Baltimore Ravens Rushing Defense (Tough Matchup)

The Colts bring Edgerrin James to this dance, a back who gained 2,000+ yards from scrimmage last year (334/1548/9 rushing, 51/483/0 receiving) - this player averages 4.2 yards per carry so far in his career, and has 312 receptions for 2502 yards and 10 TDs to his credit over 6 years (some of them injury-shortened). He was slowed by the Bears during a cameo appearance in week 3 of the preseason (6/4/0 rushing with no receptions), but we're not worried about the number of touches he'll see now that regular season has rolled around.

Baltimore fields one of the upper-echelon defenses in the NFL. They were 8th vs. the run last year (averaging 105.1 rushing yards allowed per game), and only coughed up 9 rushing scores over 16 weeks. They have Ray Lewis at MLB. Enough said.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

Two top units will test each other in this game. Both sides are outstanding and neither has a clear advantage over the other. Although it's clearly a tough matchup for the Colts.

Miami Dolphins Rushing Offense vs Denver Broncos Rushing Defense (Tough Matchup)

Miami will rely on Ronnie Brown to start the season. Vs. Tampa Bay during the preseason week 3 tune-up, Brown managed 6/20/0 rushing (no receptions). He also scraped together 5/25/0 (1/5/0 receiving) against the Falcons in the preseason finale on 9/1/05. As you can see, we don't really know how productive Brown may be given a full load during a game. This week, we'll find out. The offensive line has struggled and that's not what a rookie RB needs.

Denver's rush defense was fairly stout last season, ranking 4th in the NFL allowing an average of 94.5 yards per game - but they coughed up 16 rushing scores last year, which tied them with the 30th ranked Saints for scores allowed. To address the situation, the team remade the defensive line and linebacking corps, adding a bevy of ex-Browns to the mix, headlined by DT Gerard Warren (a former first round pick). During the week 3 preseason showdown with playoff nemesis Indianapolis, the results of this realignment were mixed, as the Broncos surrendered 28/111/0 (a 4.0 yards per carry average). It remains to be seen if the new unit is better than last year's edition.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

The Dolphins' pass game is suspect, so expect the Broncos to load up vs. the run and dare Frerotte to throw against them. It could be a long game for Ronnie Brown.

New Orleans Saints Rushing Offense at Carolina Panthers Rushing Defense (Tough Matchup)

Deuce McAllister is a top 5 fantasy back on almost everyone's board. He'll open the 2005 campaign at Carolina on Sunday, but we haven't seen a lot of McAllister to date during preseason. He put up 9/29/0 rushing and 2/10/0 vs Baltimore during the week 3 preseason game - a short outing, by all measuring sticks. Last year he was the 16th best fantasy back in points per game (he did suffer from a high ankle sprain to start the season, remember)with 269/1074/9 rushing and 34/228/0 receiving.

Carolina played poorly to open 2004, and played very well to close the season. Their 2004 statistics reflect this - the Panthers ranked 17th in the NFL last year allowing an average of 119.0 rushing yards per game (with 19 rushing scores surrendered during the season). Entering the 2005 regular season, the D seems to be back at the top of their game - Carolina surrendered 25/85 rushing during week 3 vs. Cleveland (although they did cough up 2 TDs).

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

The forecast for Bank of America Stadium calls for a high of 86F and a low of 69F with a 0% chance of rain - it should be a great day to play some football.

Division rivals face off in this game - we think that the Panthers will have a boost from the home crowd, which makes this a tough matchup for McAllister and company.

Oakland Raiders Rushing Offense at New England Patriots Rushing Defense (Tough Matchup)

Now we'll get to see what LaMont Jordan is made of. He's the man in Oakland, and he'll get the majority of touches (except perhaps at the goal-line/in short yardage situations, when Zack Crockett may see the ball a good bit). So far, Jordan has been up and down in his chances - he compiled 10/23/0 rushing and 5/23/0 receiving vs. Arizona during preseason week 3. Although he looked outstanding earlier in the preseason.

New England's defense was a tough nut to crack last year, allowing a season average of 98.3 rushing yards per game (6th in the NFL during 2004), with only 9 rushing scores allowed over 16 games. Ahman Green managed a paltry 11/23/0 during the week 3 preseason tune up game. The Patriots' rush defense looks like it is ready for the opening game.

The NFL released an early injury report for Oakland/New England. RB Justin Fargas is questionable for the Raiders. LB Tully Banta-Cain, DE Jarvis Green, and DT Dan Klecko are questionable for the Patriots.

The forecast for Gillette stadium calls for a high of 85F and a low of 59F with a 20% chance of precipitation. It should be a great evening to play some football.

Jordan is still working to find a comfort zone in Oakland, while the Patriots look like they are in mid-season form. Advantage, New England.

Tennessee Titans Rushing Offense at Pittsburgh Steelers Rushing Defense (Tough Matchup)

Here's the million dollar question - can Chris Brown stay healthy? He's been very good during preseason, throwing down 6/28/1 during the preseason finale and 11/72/0 rushing with 2/20/0 receiving during the week 3 "tune-up" game (when most teams play their starters for a half). If he's past the nagging turf toe injury that marred 2004, Brown owners may be in for a lot of fantasy points this year.

Pittsburgh fielded the #1 rush defense in the land last year, allowing an average of 81.2 rushing yards per game, with only 8 rushing scores given up in 16 games. That's a Steel Curtain, folks. Washington did manage to rack up 41/166/1 against the Steelers during week 3 of the preseason, though - there is always room for improvement.

The official NFL injury report will not be available until after our deadline to post the week 1 matchups. Please refer to the week 1 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

Heinz Field is forecast to have a 0% chance for rain, a high of 80F and a low of 65F on Sunday -- practically perfect football weather, in our opinion.

Brown has come on strong this year, but playing the Steelers in Heinz field is not going to be a cake-walk.

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