Sunday Steals: Week 1

A group of guys who could boost your Fantasy output that you can grab last minute.

Jabar Gaffney - Denver WR

The top receiver on a team with a runningback coming off of a hamstring injury. Even better, versus on of the worst pass defenses in the league, in the Jags. Only 40% owned in Yahoo! Leagues.

Dustin Keller - New York Jets TE

My sleeper tight end was mostly picked up in the late rounds. Mark Sanchez's favorite receiver sees a good match-up any week as most teams will pack the line against the Jets. Keller had great games in last year's postseason and will look to continue into this season. Plus someone to keep you interested through the Monday Night game. 52% owned in Yahoo!Leagues

Steve Slaton - Houston RB

A clear 1st round pick last season has found his way to the waiver wire this season. Arian foster will take the load today versus the Colts. However Slaton will get carries and is in line to return kicks for the Texans in what is thought to be a shootout. Slaton also had 4 receiving tds last season making him a dual threat and a great change of pace back. 48% owned in Yahoo! Leagues.

-Deep Pick-

Kareem Huggins - Tampa Bay RB

The hype is way up on this out-of-nowhere RB. However for a good reason. Cadillac Williams has never taken a full load of carries since coming back from injury last season. Kareem is set to be a number 2 back and will likely see anywhere from 10-15 carries. A deep pick-up could help you later down the line. 12% owned in Yahoo Leagues.

Trendy Addition: Chris Chambers

The ex-Charger has had a great deal of successes against his former team. In his career with the Dolphins and Cheifs, Chambers has started 4 games and caught 23 catches for over 300 yards and 4 tds.

In the monday night spotlight Chambers will start his 5th games versus the AFC West juggernauts. If the trend continues Chambers could get off to a great fantasy sleeper start and solidify himself as the Cheifs number 2 receiver, between Bowe and McCluster.

Prediction: 2 Catches for 36 yards, TD

Hardy Tardys: Week 1

Brandon LaFell - Carolina WR
The 6'2" rookie receiver out of LSU is going to get the start over Dwayne Jarrett in Carolina. Good size and speed against a Giants team that's far from their champion year. A good matchup.Steve Smith's season ended early last year with a broken arm. LaFell could be the freshest receiver for Matt Moore.

Prediction: 5 catches for 70 yards

Louis Murphy - Oakland WR

Oakland's best wide receiver last season come into this season as Oakland's number 2 receiver. Finishing last season with 34 catches for 521 and 4 tds Murphy looks to create chemistry with the newest Raider, Jason Campbell. Campbell's controlled arm is a big change from JaMarcus Russell's "cannon". Tennessee's pass defense was toward the bottom of the league and the loss of Vanden Bosh decreases the Titans pass rush.

Prediction: 6 catches for 115 yards, TD

Larry Johnson - Washington RB

Yes the LJ-TD has become a poorman's Jonathan Stewart. A number two back who will get carries and could via for the starting job. Clinton Portis is coming off a season ended short at 8 games. If Portis stummbles even a little, Coach Shanahan would be fine with giving LJ the carries after an impressive pre-season.

Dallas isn't an ideal team to run against. McNabb will draw the focus of the Cowboys line and LJ could be look to heavily as a HB screen canidate. LJ is also pretty expandable, with Portis as their big investment back, Johnson will get a lot more opportunity than former back-up Ladell Betts.

Prediction: 10 rushes for 30 yards, TD

4 catches for 42 yards

Massaquoi a Must

Mohamed Massaquoi and the Cleveland Browns experienced a terrible offensive season last year. The plus's coming when Brady Quinn was behind the helm of the offensive line. This year Quinn is gone, as is former one-hit wonder Derek Anderson. So who's the now of the Browns?

Long time Panther and Veteran quarterback Jake Delhomme will be the starter this season with the back-up of Seneca Wallace. Delhomme has had a great pre-season and his top receiver seems poised to have a break out year.

The second year receiver out of Georgia has put his pre-season hamstring troubles behind him and is ready to go for game 1 of the regualr season. Massaquoi has played in two games this pre-season totaling 5 catches for 72 yards. After last season with inconsistant qb plays from the Browns Massaquoi tallied 34 catches for 624 yards and 3 tds in 11 games.

Massaquoi showed he has the tools to be a number one receiver in this league last season. Now with a qb who made Steve Smith a household name, the same has a good chance of happening to Mohamed.

Schedule Strength (on a scale of 1-10)
Week 1: vs TB 6
2:KC 7
3:Bal 4
4:Cin 4
5:Atl 7
6:Pit 3
7:NO 5
8bye
9:NE 4
10:NYJ 3
11:Jac 9
12:Car 8
13:Mia 6
14:Buf 7
15:Cin 4
16:Bal 4
17:Pit 3

Average Strength: 5.25
A tough schedule to pass on due to their division teams, however games against the Jags and Falcons may lead to Massaquoi being atop the receiver charts for those given weeks.

Or-Non, Kyle is the man in Denver

After almost all of the pre-season is over now there were some bust and must for fantasy purposes, but nothing has really been said. However there have been so great outbreaks on the QB front that may turn out to pay off in some heavy fantasy gains.

Kyle Orton - Denver Broncos

Orton proved right out of the gate that he was the man in Denver. After Tebow's hype and haircut settled, the former Chicago Bear tore up all of the spectulation going 8 of 13 for 84 yards and 2 tds. Orton came back in the second preseason game going 16 for 22 for 177 and 2 tds. After throwing over 3,800 yards and topping 21 touchdowns, with a small 12 interceptions.

Passing Game

The 27 year old was inked to an extention in over the summer and is set to be the top dog this season, regardless of how much Brady Quinn or Tebow grow. The Denver offense took a big shot when they lost Brandon Marshall this offseason. Now the Broncos top receivers look to be third year man Eddie Royal and eight year veteran Brandon Lloyd.

Running Game

The big question in Denver's offense is Knowshon Moreno. Moreno only played 9 games in his rookie campaign due to injuries and started off training camp hurt. However, he did accomplish a mighty feat by leading all 2009 NFL rookies in rushing yards compilling 947, with a total of 1,160 yards from scrimmage and 9 tds. If the second year back out of Georgia Tech can stay healthy he could take a load off Orton's shoulder an be a tantalizing weapon in the pass game.

Defense Outlook

With the loss of Elvis Dummerville Denver's defense took a big shot. However a very sustainable secondary should keep the Broncos opponents down. This doesn't mean that the Broncos won't fall behind though. This means Orton should be looking downfield and firing.

Schedule Highs and Lows

Week 1: vs Jacksonville, excellent matchup for Orton. Jacksonville's pass defense was in the bottom 5 last year.
Week 2: vs Seattle is anoter favorable matchup against a young Seahawks secondary.
Weeks 3-6: All are tough teams to play against and chances are Orton will be relied on the air out against BAL, NYJ, TEN, IND.
Week 7: could be a let down versus a very less powerful Oakland squad, watch out for their tough secondary.
Week 8: vs San Fran will be a tough matchup much like the one's in weeks 3-6. Expect a low scoring game.
Weeks 10-13: vs all bad run defenses in San Diego, Kansas City twie and St. Louis. Could lead to good completion percentages but low yardage.
Week 14: vs Arizona will depend on how the QB battle in the Dessert ends up, if ARZ has no pass offense it should be competitive.
Week 15: vs Oakland again.
Week 16: vs a sub-par pass defense against the Houston Texans, could be very high scoring, however is a home game so it'll be freezing.
Week 17: vs SD another favorable matchup, their place in the standings will determine how it goes for Orton.

Welcome

hopeless football is a blog about the vigorous 17 week season of the Fantasy Football player. I love to play and am about to embark on my fourth voyage through the FFB leagues. Last year i took the crown in my league, this year i intend on blabbing about everything FFB.

I love sleepers, who doesn't? low cost, high pay off. I wil ramble on about anything from injuries and back-ups to Top 5's and their weaknesses. Love the game of football, but love the game of Fantasy Fottball even more.

Enjoy everything this blog has to offer. Good luck and here's to a successful season!

2010 Kick Returners

2010 Tight Ends

2010 Wide Receivers

Carolina
Brandon LaFell: Hardy Tardies: Week 1

Cleveland
Mohamed Massaquoi: 2010 Preview

Kansas City
Chris Chambers: Trendy Addition: Week 1

Oakland
Louis Murphy: Hardy Tardies: Week 1

2010 Running Backs

Washington
Larry Johnson: Hardy Tardies: Week 1

2010 Quarterbacks

Denver
Kyle Orton: 2010 Preview