Week One, save for a handful of tilts today and tomorrow, is in the books, and half of you are probably thinking championship and the other half are probably in full blown panic mode. While it's understandable that you're a tad concerned about the performance of your top picks, remember that each is a top pick for a reason, usually because he's done it before. And he'll likely do it again.
Week One is also a chance to see your brand new sleeper picks in action, and because we've put our eggs in quite a few baskets, we were staring intently at our laptops and cell phones for most of the weekend. For every fist pump that accompanied a Case Keenum/L.J. Castile/Mark Hafner TD, Mark Ingram carry and Kendall Hunter score, there was another round of sorrow-drowning brews ordered as Ryan McCants played pedestrian on the Oregon State sidelines.
So, it's time to ponder life's truly big questions: Why are we here? What's it all for? How much should we read into the fantasy results of the season's opening week? I don't know, I don't know and...I don't know. However I guess we'll give the third question a try because it's well, it's what we do.
A week of feast or famine
The first quarter had ended and Tim Tebow's Gators had yet to put some points on the board. Then, you went out to do some volunteer work, came back and saw that Florida put 28 on the board, and began to wonder just how Tebow Almighty accounted for his four scores, only to realize that he didn't get his first and only score of the day until midway through the third quarter. Clearly it's time to dump the bum, eh?
Not quite, however those that think Tebow will revert back to last year's version next week are likely going to be disappointed. I don't think Tebow will have too many weeks (maybe none) like this past week, however the speed coming out of the Florida backfield this year will ensure that many of Tebow's rushing scores will be spread out.
Thankfully Mr. Tebow Owner, you may have Michael Crabtree (or as we affectionately call him Crabcakes) to pick up the slack. In his one season he's become as money as a receiver can be, and he's a lock for a huge game, especially in the preseason. Wait, you mean 9-73-1 isn't quite what you had imagined? We were a little surprised as well.
Sports
Crabtree owners should find solace in Graham Harrell's 536 passing yards. In other words, the world hasn't gone completely crazy. The Tech offense is just fine and as we've come to know it; they just happened to run five scores into the end zone.
Tebow and Crabtree will get theirs, and the numbers will befit their lofty draft status.
A few other performances that caught our fancy:
Colt McCoy looked like the McCoy of 2006, and his run-pass performance (103 rushing yards and one of his four scores coming on the ground) should signal a team that's lacking a true go-to running back, and a quarterback on the verge of a huge year.
The Houston Cougar attack, led by Case Keenum (is that a mullet or hockey locks?), looks like it'll make fantasy stars out of L.J. Castile, Mark Hafner and hopefully, Chris Gilbert whenever he returns.
Expect our top freshman wide receiver, DeAndre Brown, to only build upon his solid (4-92-1) debut, and remember that while we love Julio Jones, Brown will not be lining up against SEC defensive units.
It looks like Damion Fletcher is one of the few fantasy studs we can truly count on. 222 yards and and two scores means he's a top pick that we'd feel comfortable picking us up from the airport.
James Casey's status as a TE is the fantasy equivalent of taking candy from a baby.
Things look all good with Jeremiah Johnson's knee, as it's one thing to carry the ball 15 times following knee surgery, but even more impressive was what he did with those carries: 124 yards and two scores.
Taking advantage of the situation
While Jeremy Childs sat in the corner, Titus Young touched the ball ten times and accounted for 176 yards and two scores. With Childs' expected return we shouldn't expect these numbers from Young on a weekly basis, however he's clearly a fantasy option.
The longer Andre Dixon sits out the more Donald Brown emerges as a real fantasy threat. While I'm stunned at the improvement Temple is showing, they are still Temple, and the Owls are up next on UCONN's slate.
Of course for every Young and Brown we got right in the sit/start, there is a Chris Rainey. We expected more out of Rainey against the Warriors, especially with Harvin out. But the Gator offense barley needed to touch the ball and burn out their stars in the lopsided win over Hawaii. Jeffrey Demps and Chris Rainey are going to be a great tandem, but they may drive owners insane.
Ryan McCants and the Rest of the Under performing running backs
We spoke of the running back dearth in this year's draft. This lack of talented backs meant that our RB3s and sleepers moved up 10-20 spots higher than normal. We highlighted some backs as potential stars, and after the first week we're a bit concerned as very few newcomers stepped up, particularly about one out west.
The groans from Ryan McCants' owners could be heard immediately after Thursday night's game. We were such fraidy cats that we were tempted to have our better halves open our email. We expected to see McCants busting runs between the tackles, breaking the occasional one outside and eating up chunks of yardage and spitting out Stanford defenders. This didn't happen.
While this is zero consolation for about 10% of you, there is good news. It's only week one and it is impossible to gauge at this point how the rest of the season will shake out. We will go out on a limb and say McCants will get more that four carries against Penn State this weekend. Does that make him a good start? Probably not with the emergence of Jacquizz Rodgers.
If you're not happy with McCants, dump and run. I know trusted Ask the Insider writer Jim Belanger is already severed ties, and he's looking for a rebound running back to spend his weekends with. I'm not ready to throw the talented runner back into the pond just yet, but if there is an option with what you believe to be a better upside, then go for it.
And with that we take a look at some of the potential free agents after week one.
Toby Gerhart is back and taking names
Sorry Cardinal fan, Jim Harbaugh's days in Stanford are numbered, as a program that places a singular emphasis on football is going to come calling with lots and lots of money. He's taken shots at Southern Cal and Michigan, and Captain Comeback has backed it up with victories. If the start of the season is any indication, the Cardinal will play Pac-10 spoiler once again. One team was prepared and played with high energy on Thursday night, and the other looked lost and confused. The scoreboard will tell you which was which. One player that was the beneficiary of Harbaugh's high energy was Toby Gerhart.
Now before we go and anoint Gerhart the next Bronco Nagurski, let's keep things in context. It's one game and the Beavers looked awful. Still he is a load and probably a good pick-up if used correctly. You want better news? Gerhart had 100% availability before the week started in U-Sports leagues.
Aldrick Robinson (64% availability in U-Sports leagues) was our choice to be the #2 wide receiver for SMU in heading into the season and he did not disappoint, hauling in seven catches for 91 yards and two scores in the loss to Rice. SMU will spread the ball around and Robinson should continue to catch balls. One word of warning here, we didn't see the game but we're certain there will still be some growing pains with a rookie quarterback.
Has LSU finally settled on a running back? Charles Scott certainly thinks so. The big fella rumbled his way to 160 yards and two scores this Saturday. Yes it was against Appalachian State, but he gave the coaching staff no reasons to not feed him next week against Troy.
It's hard to believe L.J. Castile still has some availability (58%), but we understand the skepticism on Chris Gilbert (missed Saturday's game) and Castile. Guys, it's time to start putting some chips down on the Houston offense and taking some shots at their wide receivers.
Other Waiver Wire Prospects
Waiver wire prospects listed in order of how we would rank them at each position. We may add a few players as we get a second and third look at the stats or next week matchups, so check back. Additions will be added at the end of the list. U-Sports availability listed in parenthesis.
QB Daryll Clark, PSU (85% availability)
QB Casey Dick, Arkansas (79% availability)
QB Austin Davis, Southern Miss (100% availability)
RB Charles Scott, LSU (90% availability)
RB Kendall Hunter, OkSt (51% availability)
RB Toby Gerhart, Stanford (100% availability)
RB Donald Brown, UConn (62% availability)
RB Derrick Washington, Mizzou (73% availability)
RB Evan Royster, Penn State (41% availability)
RB Shonn Greene, Iowa (100% availability)
RB Da'Rel Scott, Maryland (83% availability)
RB Jeff Smith, Boston College (100% availability)
RB Shun White, Navy (85% availability)
RB Dujuan Harris, Troy (100% availability)
RB Mark Ingram, Alabama (85% availability)
WR L.J. Castile (58% availability)
WR Aldrick Robinson, SMU (66% availability)
WR Mark Dell, Michigan State (63% availability)
WR Darius Passmore, Marshall (81% availability)
WR Nate Swift, Nebraska (74% availability)
WR Manuel Johnson (81% availability)
WR Ben Tate, UNC (79% availability)
WR Nathan Palmer, Northern Illinois (100% availability)
TE Cameron Morrah, Cal (100% availability)
TE Blaine Irby, Texas (100% availability)
TE Nick Walker, Alabama (100% availability)
**ADDED**
QB Dustin Grutza, Cincinnati (83% availability)
RB Charles Clay, Tulsa (56% availability)
RB Kordell Young, Rutgers (86% availability)
WR Kyle Halderman, Air Force (85% availability)
TE Garrett Graham, Wisconsin (82% availability)
TE Ryan Moya, UCLA (100% availability)
