Sunday Six Pack: Week One

Jarrett Behar

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We’re with you every Sunday to provide the Sunday Six Pack, an article featuring six of the biggest storylines heading into each and every week of the season. Keeping tabs on these events will keep you prepared and informed throughout the season – just don’t drive within six hours of reading this. With that in mind, let’s take a look at week one’s Sunday Six Pack:

Can #1)  Tuel Time Cancelled

The anticipated start of Jeff Tuel, who would have been the first rookie undrafted free agent to start week one in the modern draft era, will give way to the beginning of the EJ Manuel era in Buffalo.  Instead of feeding an undrafted rookie quarterback to a Bill Belichick defense, the Bills will feed them a first round rookie quarterback instead.  So, I guess Bill gets a filet instead of chuck.  Look for a steady diet of the running game and stud running back CJ Spiller to both take the pressure off of Manuel and keep one Thomas Edward Patrick Brady, Jr.  (look it up) off the field.  In an ideal situation, I’d expect Manuel to throw around 20 passes, certainly a less than ideal start even in 2QB leagues.  In fact, regardless of the fact it’s Manuel over Tuel, I still wouldn’t be comfortable starting any Buffalo players other than Spiller.   Bills rookie receiver Robert Woods, perhaps the most NFL-ready wide receiver in this year’s draft, should draw the start across from Stevie “Verbal Diarrhea” Johnson.

Can #2) Shootout at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome

Our good buddies over at 4for4.com have the Saints and Falcons D/STs rated at 25th and 29th overall for week one and with good reason.  Both of these NFC South teams are loaded across the board on offense. Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston, Darren Sproles, Matt Ryan, Tony Gonzalez, Julio Jones, Roddy White and Steven Jackson are all rated as top options at their respective position with Colston’s WR19 the lowest among that group.  Each team has an interesting storyline for the 2013 season as well.  The addition of Jackson to the Falcons’ previously underwhelming rushing offense should provide the Falcons with more balance, and Jackson will no longer see the consistent eight man fronts that he saw in St. Louis. In New Orleans, I believe we are in store for some real creativity accompanying Sean Payton’s return to the sideline.  I picture Sean Payton’s house, after a year away from the team, filled with crumpled pieces of paper containing various play ideas.  Despite reclaiming Robert Meachem off the San Diego scrap heap, Kenny Stills should still get plenty of run as the Saints WR3.  He’s a great roster stash in all but the shallowest of dynasty formats.

Can #3) The Return of Revis Overshadowed

Darrelle Revis makes his return from an ACL repair where else but in New York against the Jets.  While the Jets don’t have a real receiving option to downgrade based on Revis’ existence, the same can’t be said for the Buccaneers where Vincent Jackson expects to see a lot of Antonio Cromartie, who did a good job against other big physical receivers last year (Andre Johnson had just one reception for 15 yards in week five and Larry Fitzgerald had just one reception for 23 yards in 13 against him last year).  Obviously you would have to have a much better option to bench Jackson this week, but it wouldn’t hurt to see if you have options who have better matchups this week.  Geno Smith should make his debut, but the rookie quarterback missed important preseason practice time with an ankle injury and is short on weapons, so don’t expect a smooth takeoff for the new Jet.

Can #4) Can You Bear to Watch the Chicago Offense This Year?

After a 10-6 season and just barely (I really can’t help myself) missing the playoffs, Chicago canned Lovie Smith because of their struggles on offense.  It’s unbelievable the transition from Mike Martz to Mike Tice didn’t work, huh?  The main beneficiary of the change to Marc Trestman should be Matt Forte who averaged almost ten yards per carry in the preseason.  The Bears seem committed to getting Forte the ball and Trestman has a history of getting his running backs highly involved in the passing game.  Forte should be an elite PPR running back option as long as he can stay healthy.  From a dynasty perspective, it will be interesting to see whether Marquess Wilson gets on the field or can take WR3 snaps away from Earl Bennett.

Can #5) Barbequed Walrus

The Andy Reid era beings in Kansas City and the biggest question for the Chiefs in 2013 is whether Reid and the Chiefs offense can be successful using Alex Smith in a pass heavy offense.  Early reports out of Chiefs’ camp indicated Reid didn’t even practice a running play the first day.  That may or may not be true, but Jamaal Charles is in for a big, vintage Brian Westbrook-type season in Reid’s wide open system, both running the ball and catching it out of the backfield.  The real question is whether Smith, when asked to throw the ball 30 plus times a game can make Dwayne Bowe a consistent WR1 or high end WR2 option.  Travis Kelce struggled with, of all things, blocking in the preseason, in addition to a small knee injury, but he should see some playing time with Tony Moeaki (spoiler alert) injured once again and now out in Kansas City.

Can #6) Throwing Pryor Into the Fire

The Raiders are in big trouble and are on the precipice of becoming a fantasy wasteland.  With their best offensive lineman (Jared Veldheer) on injured reserve, and his replacement (rookie Menelik Watson) also injured, things could get downright ugly real quick in Oakland.  Think about the fact that the shaky Indianapolis defense is actually a top D/ST option in week one and with good reason.  Inaccurate with suspect decision making, Terrelle Pryor’s best weapon is the unreliable deep threat Denarius Moore.  While the presence of a running quarterback may help Darren McFadden slightly, its more likely than not that Lucas Oil Stadium turns into a house of horrors for the Silver and Black.  Watch for rookie preseason darling Brice Butler to see if he can carry over that success into the regular season.

Enjoy the opening Sunday and make sure you make us a consistent daily read as we have tons coming your way this season.

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