2012 Fantasy Football: Monday Night Football Week 1 Preview
As the cherry on top of the NFL’s opening week we’re treated to a double-header on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. At 7 p.m. ET the Cincinnati Bengals visit the Baltimore Ravens, and at 10:15 p.m. ET the San Diego Chargers host the Oakland Raiders.
Cincinnati at Baltimore
In their two games against the Bengals last year the Ravens averaged 27.5 points, or 7.2 more than what the Bengals allowed on the year. The biggest name in the Ravens offense is, obviously, Ray Rice, whom you’re starting no matter what. In his career against CIncinnati Rice has scored seven touchdowns in eight games while averaging 119 total yards and four catches. He’s set for a big Week 1
Joe Flacco and the rest of the Ravens offense has been hyped up greatly this preseason, and they should deliver on that hype. In most 10-team leagues you’re probably not starting Flacco since most teams have one of the top-10 preseason quarterbacks who are pretty much auto-starts. But if you’re in a deeper league and paired Flacco with another mid-tier QB such as Ben Roethlisberger or Matt Schaub, I would start Flacco over either of those two. Flacco hasn’t put up good numbers against the Bengals throughout his career but he should be able to match his Week 11 performance last year (270 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) that he put up against the Bengals.
Torrey Smith is a must-start in deeper leagues or leagues where you can play three or more receivers. As a WR3 Smith should be good for at least a handful of points and has the chance to go off like he did against Cincinnati last year when he had six catches for 165 yards and a touchdown in Week 11.
Anquan Boldin lacks the upside Smith has, and he shouldn’t be more than your last receiver you plug into your lineup. He’ll probably catch four passes for 50 yards and maybe get a red zone look, but don’t expect any more than that.
Both Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson improved in their sophomore years, but neither is startable at this point. Both would be no more than the fourth option in the Ravens’ offense.
The Baltimore D/ST is a good start option against what should be a weak Bengals offense, which only features AJ Green as any type of threat.
Andy Dalton was able to pile up the yards last year (605 in two games) against the Ravens, but he only threw one touchdown against three interceptions. This should be the case again Monday night, as I expect the Ravens to get out to an early lead and force Dalton to throw, throw, throw, but he’s unstartable.
The only Bengal I’d feel comfortable starting would be A.J. Green, who’s coming off a great rookie year. Expecting a touchdown might be too much for Green, but he should get plenty of catches and yards because he’s the only fully healthy reliable option Cincinnati has. Tight end Jermaine Gresham was a popular sleeper pick early in August, but he hurt his knee in a preseason game and missed most of the rest of camp. He fully participated in practice Friday, according to Joe Reedy, the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Bengals beat writer, but shouldn’t be expected to make much of an impact on Monday night.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis replaces Cedric Benson as the Bengals main running back. “The Law Firm” isn’t explosive – his longest run last year was 18 yards – and is very reliant on touchdowns for his fantasy value – which won’t be near as good this year as it was the past two years in the high-powered New England offense. I wouldn’t expect more than 60 yards rushing from BJGE Monday night, as the Bengals will be passing a lot. Green-Ellis isn’t a threat in the passing game. He’s no more than a low-end flex play this week.
The Bengals’ No. 2 receiver is Brandon Tate, who didn’t catch a pass last year, so I doubt he’s even owned in any standard leagues.
San Diego at Oakland
It seems like every year in the late Monday night game something wacky happens. Historically, Philip Rivers has played well against the Raiders in his career, and he played very well last year, when he threw for 584 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. Rivers didn’t look that good in the preseason, but without Ryan Matthews he should be throwing a lot. If you drafted Rivers to be your starter, roll with him.
Replacing Matthews this week will be veteran Ronnie Brown, who looked done last year. But since it’s just Week 1 Brown should be fresh and will be getting the majority of touches at running back. He should figure into the passing game, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he scored a touchdown. He should be a solid flex play.
Antonio Gates is another must-start. He had one solid game against the Raiders last year, and one great game (5-106-1). After that the receiving situation gets a little murky. Malcom Floyd should be a safer play than new Charger Robert Meachem. Floyd’s had moderate career success against the Raiders, who ranked 27th in passing yards allowed last year. Floyd’s 19.9 yards per catch last year were the best in the league, and Rivers is much more comfortable with Floyd than Meachem, whom I wouldn’t start.
The only must-start on Oakland is Darren McFadden. You spent a top 20 pick on him, and you better start him when he’s healthy. Carson Palmer didn’t play well at all in the preseason, and his receiving corps is Darrius Heyward-Bey and a bunch of question marks. Heyward-Bey burned the Chargers for nine catches, 130 yards and a touchdown in his lone game against them in 2011. I have no problems with you starting him if you want to. Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford are both battling injuries and their statuses won’t be known until game-time. Rod Streater would benefit if those two sat out, but since it’s the last game of the week you better not roll the dice on any of those three receivers.
Written by Andrew Miller exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com.
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