Who will win, step up and get beat down in Week 1 of the NFL season...

These game predictions do not reflect the opinion of FFToolbox.com but just a solo fantasy writer who promises to do better with his predictions or your money back...As a reminder, email any questions, be it about lineup fantasy decisions, trades, strategy or free agents, to podcast@fftoolbox.com or send tweets to @benstandig. Also download the weekly FFToolbox.com podcast - hosted by yours truly with guests from the Rotoworld, CBS Sports, NY Times and the National Football Post. Scheduled for Tuesday's and Thursday's at 7 p.m. or anytime via ITunes and that's where you will find this week's fantasy angles...

Home Team in CAPS

Atlanta 23 CHICAGO 21 (+2.5)

HOUSTON 31 Indianapolis 23 (+9)

KANSAS CITY 24 Buffalo 20 (+5.5)

Tennessee 27 (+1) JACKSONVILLE 17

CLEVELAND 28 (-6) Cincinnati 17

ST. LOUIS 24 (+4) Philadelphia 21

Pittsburgh 20 (+1) BALTIMORE 17

Detroit 27 (+1) TAMPA BAY 23

SAN DIEGO 34 (-9) Minnesota 21

WASHINGTON 20 (+2.5) NY Giants 17

ARIZONA 24 (-6) Carolina 14

SAN FRANCISCO 22 Seattle 17 (+5.5)

NY JETS 24 (-5.5) Dallas 17

New England 23 MIAMI 17

DENVER 28 (-3) Oakland 24

GREEN BAY 35 (-4) New Orleans 30

Last week: Straight, Spread; Overall: Straight, Spread

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Survivor picks

Entry 1 - Houston

Entry 2 - Kansas City (but I'm tempted to go with Cleveland)

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NFL season predictions

NFC Division winners: Philadelphia, Green Bay, New Orleans, Arizona

NFC wild cards: Atlanta, Detroit

NFC Champion: Green Bay

NFC Championship game: Green Bay over New Orleans

AFC Division winners: New England, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, San Diego

AFC wild cards: New York Jets, Houston

AFC Championship game: New England over San Diego

Super Bowl: Green Bay over New England

Regular season MVP: 1) Philip Rivers 2) Aaron Rodgers 3) Tom Brady

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On the FFToobox podcast and elsewhere I've been yapping about fantasy football players I love and those I loathe, both overall and relative to their draft day rank. Here is the compilation of those rants and my final stance on all heading into the 2011 NFL season. And yes, I was down on Peyton Manning waaaaaay before his neck injury became a doom and gloom scenario...

Quarterbacks

Loving - Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers, Tony Romo, Matthew Stafford

Liking - Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Chad Henne, Vince Young

Loathing - Peyton Manning, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Cassel, Andy Dalton

My fave - Matthew Stafford, if of course- say it with me - he can stay healthy

Don't get the fantasy hype - Sam Bradford, unless you tell me which of his receivers will definitely emerge

Running backs

Loving - Ray Rice, Chris Johnson, Jamaal Charles, Stephen Jackson, Darren McFadden, Jahvid Best, Reggie Bush, Ryan Mathews, Ben Tate, Delone Carter, Roy Helu Jr.

Liking - Arian Foster, LeSean McCoy, Maurice Jones-Drew, LeGarrette Blount, Shonn Greene, Fred Jackson, Mark Ingram ,Tim Hightower, Brandon Jacobs, Kendall Hunter

Loathing - Michael Turner, Peyton Hillis, Frank Gore, Ryan Grant, C. J. Spiller, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Marshawn Lynch, Daniel Thomas, Donald Brown, Ryan Torain

My fave - Darren McFadden. Beast.

Don't get the fantasy hype - Felix Jones, seeing as the one year he stayed healthy he lost his game-breaking pop. Until it all happens in the same season, can't see why he was getting picked in round two or three...

Wide Receiver

Loving - Larry Fitzgerald, Hakeem Nicks, Vincent Jackson, Greg Jennings, Brandon Marshall, Dez Bryant, Jordy Nelson, Jacoby Ford, Eric Decker

Liking - Mike Wallace, Mario Manningham, Julio Jones, Santana Moss, Lee Evans, Mike Sims-Walker, Plaxico Burress, Emmanuel Sanders, Jabar Gaffney

Loathing - Marques Colston, Reggie Wayne, Brandon Lloyd, Dwayne Bowe, Steve Johnson, Johnny Knox, Pierre Garcon, Michael Crabtree, Donald Driver

My fave - Jordy Nelson. Beast in the Super Bowl, has best chance to be the number three target in unreal passing attack.

Don't get the fantsay hype - Marques Colston/Steve Johnson. Colston way inconsistent for where he gets drafted and let's see Johnson perform without Lee Evans and defenses keying on him.

Tight End

Loving - Jermichael Finley, Jason Witten, Vernon Davis, Jimmy Graham, Jared Cook

Liking - Antonio Gates, Rob Gronkowski, Brandon Pettigrew, Aaron Hernandez, Greg Olsen

Loathing - Marcedes Lewis, Tony Gonzalez, Chris Cooley, Visante Shiancoe

My fave - Graham/Cook. The pair could lead their respective teams in receptions.

Don't get the fantasy hype - Tony Gonzalez (there might not be hype, but people continued draft him like it's 2004)

Defenses

Loving - Green Bay, Detroit, St. Louis, Arizona, teams that play against Andy Dalton and the other rookie passers

What's up fellow Fantasy Football Fanatics...since I will be out at Redskins Park on Monday and won't have time to post my Monday observations report, I thought I'd go with a all-day blog post. Chime in with email's (podcast@fftoolbox.com), tweets (@benstandig) or comments at the bottom of this post...

4:01 - Queried before as to why Jahvid Best has posted scant numbers. Well it turns out he has been out much of the second half with a toe injury. Doesn't sound serious, but Maurice Morris is surely going to be a name to watch this week...OK, Redskins-Rams about to start and I'm going to go focus there for now. Will be back later with updates and thoughts about this high-scoring week three...

3:53 - BenJarvus Green-Ellis was a waiver wire name mentioned on the podcast this week and right now is just at 94 yards and a TD while Fred Taylor has six carries for 16 yards. The Law Firm will be owned in all leagues after this week...a deep league fantasy RB to ponder this week; LeGarrette Blount scored a TD and at this point leads the Bucs with 27 rush yards on six carries. Haven't watched much of this game and the Bucs got rolled, but Blount has a punchers chance of getting serious run going forward. Not a fan of Cadillac so wouldn't be a shocker to me if at some point the Bucs let youth be served...

3:42 - Moments after a 40+ yard run put him over the century mark, Chris Johnson scampered in from eight yards around the left end for his second score of the game. With the game almost over, CJ has a 32-125-2 stat line (no catches). Beastly.

3:37- Any hope of a Panthers win ended when Jonathan Stewart fumbled and the Bengals quickly turned that into a Palmer-to-Benson scoring pass. "Daily Show" has a score, but eight carries for 13 yards and should be planted on fantasy benhces until further notice...

3:33 - Romo and Roy Williams hook up again, this time it goes for 63 yards when the defender fell down covering a short slant. Even though I went for the Texans this week when the line dipped under three, it seemed like the Cowboys were destined to win this game. Couldn't go 0-3, no matter how much we wanted it...

3:28 - I haven't seen Jahvid Best on the RedZone channel since the first quarter. That can't be a good sign. Nine touches, 39 yards..TD Roddy White on a great pass to the corner of the end zone by Ryan. Perfect timing between those two. White had only two fantasy points when that drive began, now up to 12...

3:26 - Flacco to Boldin, count it. This one was a perfectly thrown lob down the field over the secondary. Three scores for that combo. And I was sooo trying to trade for Boldin in one league this week. Oh well...

3:23 - Another 4pm roster update; Addai is active...now that we are into the 4th, its time to start rooting for favorites to lose for my Survivor pool. I have the Pats which is looking better, but still within one score. Lots of folks have the Ravens so go Brownies!!!

3:17 - Tony Moeaki, wow. Dude made a silly back of the end zone grab. Two scores on the season. And the Chiefs, up 24-3. What is more shocking, Chiefs 3-0 or Niners 0-3? I'll say the former; you could talk me into Alex Smith bringing the Niners down, but no way did i see the Chiefs being undefeated.

3:10 - Roster updates for 4pm games; Beanie Wells, Clinton Portis are active. Laurent Robinson is out. Also Braylon Edwards is reportedly going to get a one play punishment for his DUI. Weak Rex, weak. Another note in Redskins game, rookie LT Trent Williams is also inactive...

3:03 - Andre Johnson is back, whew. Too bad Schaub badly overthrew him and right into the arms of Cowboys corner Mike Jenkins. That turnover led to a Roy Williams score, 17-3 Dallas. Schaub right now is 11-17, 112 yards, one pick. This would be two weeks out of three with scant fantasy production. Not worried, just saying...

2:57 - in my "advanced" league, was trying to get a receiver upgrade since my core of Maclin, Bowe, Celek and Tony Gonzalez was brutal for the most part. Now Gonzo has 99 yards and a score, and Bow just hauled in a long TD off a gadget play. Was told all week no interest in these guys, especially Gonzo. Just goes to show you that you can't let what just happened dictate your look-ahead thoughts; Gonzo was a legit top-7 TE three weeks ago so why folks non-producing donkey's wouldn't be interested is beyond me. Then again, I was the one looking to make a move...Yes, this game drives me crazy.

2:54 - Interesting note in the 4pm games; Redskins punter Josh Bidwell apparently pulled up lame during warmups so rookie kicker Graham Gano is gearing up to pull double duty. Bidwell also the holder so Gano's day is looking a lot more complicated than it did yesterday when a certain someone picked him up to use against the lowly Rams.

2:51 - After the Pats score, Spiller runs the following kickoff all the way back for a score, Bills down 24-23. Owners in non-return yards leagues will get excited when they see the score and then get bitter when they see it was on teams...After Clausen throws incomplete in the end zone, Jonathan Stewart sneaks in from the one, Panthers down 10-7...

2:46 - Back to New Orleans where the Saints go for it on 4th-and-one at the Falcons 32 and Chris Ivory is stuffed...Wait, Chris Ivory is stuffed? And he has four carries to Pierre Thomas' five? Seriously, Sean Payton is the most maddening coach when it comes to fantasy backs. You never know what Bill Belicheck will do, but the Pats coach doesn't have a stud like Thomas either...A Kenny Britt sighting! The former Rutgers star gets a score at the Meadowlands. Dude has crazy talent, but the 'tude has been the issue. Well, that and the Titans don't throw a ton, but this will put him back on the waiver wire reports this week...

2:43 - Had to cut that stat update short with the vision of Andre Johnson lying on the ground in pain. Covered the Texans locker room last week and he was walking gingerly afterwards, but toughed it out. As a Schaub owner, breathlessly awaiting this update...Randy Moss strikes again, this time with a rare catch in traffic. Looks like the Pats offense has it clicking now...

2:35 - Since most of the games are at halftime, good time to do a quick fantasy look-around...

NYG-Ten; Eli Manning is 17-20 for 188 yards, but two of his misses have gone to the Titans. Chris Johnson has a TD, but a pedestrian 54 yards on 17 carries. Bradshaw 57 total yards and a TD...

Cin-Car; Carson Palmer is a brutal 10-24, 116, 2int, but the Bengals are up 10-0 because Jimmy Clausen is 1-5, 14 and one pick in his NFL debut. Steve Smith owners are linging for the good old days of Jake Delhomme right about now...

Pit-TB; Mike Wallace is getting the bulk of Batch's production, 3-100-2. Mendenhall is 9-40-1.One ray of sunshine for Bucs is rookie receiver Mike Williams, who has 4-53. Steeleers up 28-6 at half.

Buf-NE; Pats get last second field goal for a 17-16 lead in a surprisingly tight first half. Moss and backup RB Danny Woodhead have the Pats scores. Woodhead is clearly another candidate to pick up Kevin Faulk snaps, though his fantasy value remains limited for now. Aaron Hernandez 3-52.

Cle-Bal; already into third quater where Boldin just had another big gain and is already at 6-102-2. Hillis is over 100 total yards and has scored while Ray Rice has 56 yards on nine carries, 12 yards on three grabs.

2:20 - I would have been laughing so hard if any of my opponents had gone with Batch this week that peeing in the pants would have been on the potential menu for the day so I can't even imagine how bitter I'd be now that the Steelers fourth-string QB has thrown for three TDP and 177 yards in the first half. Last time he threw that many scores in a game? Opening week of the 2006 season.

2:17 - Turner pounds it home, 14-all. On the positive side, Turner is dominating Jason Snelling with touches (19-3) and has a score. On the other hand, he is averaging just over two yards a carry and 47 total yards...

2:10 - Adrian Peterson scores a shorty for Vikes, Hillis the same for the Browns (first TD allowed by the Ravens this season). Michael Turner is trying to join the fun, but got stopped at the one then gets horse collared. The refs call it, 1st and goal at the one. And...into the pile for nothing. Brian Billick called for a play-action pass on first down and I bet he gets it here.

2:05 - Only parts of Cle-Bal game I've seen has been the Boldin scores so I am downright giddy to see that Peyton Hillis is running all over the Ravens vaunted run defense to the tune of 10-71. Oh wait, he is leading the Browns w/ five receptions totaling 27 yards, the last grap getting the added battering ram finish. Love watching this guy. Also a James Davis sighting with Jerome Harrison inactive. At this point I think it will take a lot for Jerome to back into the mix, at least in terms of fantasy viability while Hillis is knocking on the RB@ door step...

1:58 - My Survivor pick is struggling early as the Pats are about to fall behind the Bills - THE BILLS...and there it is, a swing pass to C.J. Spiller for his first NFL score. Not sure I understand what is going on with the Pats. Maybe the killer instinct is gone, but no way should they be close with this team, let alone trailing minutes before halftime. Someone find a padded room for Bill Simmons, just in case...Mike Wallace does it again, this time catching a deflected pass in the end zone for another loooong score and the Steelers are cruising 21-6 against the Bucs...Marion Barber introduces himself to the end zone for the first time this season. Cowboys 7-3.

1:55 - Anquan Boldin gets another score. I don't think anyone will be fretting about the Ravens passing game after this week...

1:51 - What is with these QB's fliiping the ball like a shortstop tossing it to the second baseman for the putout. First Eli, now Brees with an incredibly poor decision that also gets picked off. Rarely see Brees make that kind of gaffe...Dez Bryant makes a silly leaping catch on a deep ball at the end zone, but the pass forced him to drift out of bounds. Then he comes back with a physical grab over the middle. Scary talent. Also scary that the Cowboys-Texans game is 3-0 late in 2Q. Where are all the points we were promised!!!...1:47 - Moments after Chris Johnson powered his way in for a short score, Rashard Mendenhall slams his way into the end zone. Obviously everyone likes CJ, but I liked Mendenhaall a lot this year and its impressive he's been able to do anything with little help from his QBs and injuries along the oline...Dexter McCluster, the Percy Harvin of this rookie class - was scary explosive taking a pass in the flat 3 yards for a score. It will take a little time for him to be fantasy viable, but defenses MUST account for him when he is on the field. Huge mismatch against linebackers.

1:45 - If its possible, Palmer's second pick was waaaaaaaay worse than the first one Seriosuly folks, why are using him. Move away from the the Bengals #9 jersey...Favre to Harvin! Have Harvin in "injustry" and at the Favre "sleeper" pick stays alive...

1:39 - Drew Brees is insanley accurate. So much so that I'd rather him pick games instead of some random monkey or octopus no matter how cutre people think that is...oh, Brees and Lance Moore connected for an 80-yard TD, which was about a 25-yard slant and a 55-yard run. Saints 14-7.

1:35 - Brett Favre throws his fifth pick of the season. Didn't see what happened, but a defensive lineman caught it. My sleeper pick of the week, not off to a good start (by the way, here are the other "sleeper" picks; Evan Silva from Rotoworld took Redskins RB Keiland Williams. Brian Murphy took Lee Evans and George Bissell took Fred Jackson. Some off-the-wall calls for sure, but hey, that's what sleepers are all about. The first two weeks (Peyton Hillis, Kyle Orton) worked so let's see if Favre can rally and keep my streak going...

1:26 - Lots of early scoring as now Anquan Boldin (from Flacco) gets on the board. Sweet over the top pass from Flacco...Cedric Benson just benefitted from a PI in the end zone and bounced to the outside for TD. I still am waiting to cash my Bernard Scott lottery ticket so this won't help.

1:22 - All the owners that sad Mike Wallace are bitter after him seeing catch that long bomb for a TD from Charlie Batch. Didn't know CB could still throw that far...nobody sat Randy Moss, who just scored. Its a "name your final number" kind of game for the Pats, so expect more, much more from Tom Brady and friends (speaking of the Pats, heard Tim Hasselbeck this morning talking about Julian Edelman as a possible Kevin Faulk replacement down the line. Interesting...)

1:19 - Tony Gonzalez lives! Wasn't quite sure after that horrid start, but he just hauled in a 34-yard pass and then a 13-yard TD catch! He had five points on the season; got 10 on that drive alone...Eli, what was that. Even Brett Favre and Tony Romo can't believe you were so carless with that sideways flip into traffice in the end zone. Ouch.

1:11 - and the first TD of the goes to Jeremy Shockey on a short pass from Drew Brees. Considering Shockey is always overvalued, I would talk him up all day to my friends that need a TE and then ship him off this week. Love the early scores that will get shown over and over and over again for this reason!

1:09 - and Jimmy Clausen fumbles the third snap of his career to give the Bengals the ball right back. Obviously you can't count on the former Golden Domer this week or likely this season, but I was higher on Clausen then apparently the NFL minds were. And trust me, I do not root for Notre Dame. I like his moxie and you want your QB to have attitude (after dealing with Jason Campbell's lukewarm vibe, trust me, you want some spunk)

1:06 - three early picks, the worst coming from Carson Palmer who missed his target by five yards. Not sure why folks are still buying Palmer has fantasy starter; he can win games, but only as a Trent Dilfer type effort (i.e. no mistakes, but no aggression)

12:33 - Thank god for the RedZone Channel since the only 1pm game here is Cle-Bal. That one will be Darryl Talley ugly. 4pm, Skins-Rams and Colts-Broncos, then the SNF game NYJ-Mia. Other than Graham Gano and NYJ defense, I don;t have anyone going in any of those games. Again, thank you RedZone channel.

Otherwise, did the egg/pancake thing this morning with some out-of-town relatives so belly is full. Alas I have no midday snack option other than popcorn (that kind of error is equivalent of Andy Reid's poor end of game clock management. No excuses).

Obviously every game and most viable fantasy options have interest, but in general here are the guys I am most focused on, at least at 1pm:

***oh, first let me say that like you out there, I have multiple leagues and while I try not to talk about my teams on the podcast, some of that talk will leak out today. Basically I have four leagues; the venerable (started in 1993, defending champ, the former office (defending champ) the advanced (smart setup, but I'm 0-2) and the industry (league with other fantasy writers). Let me know which players we are bonding over and where we are on the other sides of fence...

QB: Brett Favre; he was my Podcast "sleeper" pick this week abd its now or never. If he doesn't light up the Lions, its likely pull the rip cord time...For - Rodgers, Schaub, Vick(2); Against Vick, Ryan (2), Flacco,

RB: Michael Turner (advanced); anytime your guy leaves in-game it is always a blow, especially when the backup comes in and puts up insane stats like Jason Snelling did last week. Barring a blowout loss, I will be very disappointed if Turner doesn't get 20+ touches...For - Best/McFadden, C. Johnson/P.Thomas, Turner/Hightower, Thomas/Mendenhall/Bradshaw...Against - Turner, McCoy, Rice (2), MJD, Forte, D. Williams

WR/TE: For - White/Nicks/Finley, Jennings/S.Smith (Car)/Finley, Maclin/Bowe/Celek/Gonzalez); Against - Jennings (2), Austin, Colston, Fitzgerald, Bryant

OK, let's do this!!!

FedEx Field has not been a place for the faint of heart two games into the season as both contests have been decided on the final play. Depending on your vantage point , either the Washington Redskins blew a 27-10 lead or the Houston Texans rallied from a 17-point hole. Either way, nobody can say games involving the Redskins are boring anymore, that's for sure. Here are my thoughts on that game as well as other notes from around the league,..

Houston

1) It was obvious already, but on the football field, Andre Johnson is a man. Forced to the sideline with a sprained ankle – one that later was wrapped King Tut-like – Johnson went to the locker room to get "treatment" and came back out telling the coaches he was going back in even after the trainers said he was done. We know the rest; scores the game-tying TD on a fourth down, jump-ball pass. He was moving slowly in the press room after the game, enough to show that he was not 100%, but the effort he gave upon his return clearly was.

2) Fine, Arian Foster will not run for 200+ yards each week, but his 138 total yards were impressive all the same. Unlike the gaping holes he had against the Colts defense in the opener, Foster had to dance a lot more to find space against the Redskins run defense, but when space was there - or he created it - he exploded up the field. Looking oh so shifty, Foster also turned a short pass into a 50-yard pickup and overall. Almost any production was going to look ordinary in comparison to his stunning opener, but Foster was an effective weapon when the Texans weren't pitching and catching the ball down field. Keep the faith, no doubt.

3) For all the pre-season hype surrounding Jacoby Jones, the Texans best receiver without the last name Johnson continues to be Kevin Walter. Even when AJ went out, Walter had no issue being the main option and he ripped the Redskins for long plays. In all he had grabs of 35, 24 and 21 yards. Plus he hauled in each of his 11 targets; talk about efficiency. Granted Jones had a fine day and also found the end zone, but If Walter is available in your league, get a piece of this high-powered offense now while you can.

4) Number of targets in a game where the QB throws the ball 52 times may not be a true indicator, but Johnson (17), Walter (11) and Jones (9) all saw plenty of looks. Tight end Owen Daniels caught two of his five targets for 24 yards.

5) Had someone in one of my fantasy leagues this past week ask me if I was nervous about Matt Schaub because of how great the Texans ground game looked in their first game. I think I was able to withstand laughing in his face or giving him the old stink eye, but either way, I don't think anyone is going to be asking that again anytime soon.

6) If the Texans had blown this game, botched kick returns by Steve Slaton would have been mentioned as one of the reasons. At least the former starting running back still appears to be the number two back behind Foster with Derrick Ward nowhere in sight. The former Giants and Bucs runner was the only active Texans player not to see the field.

7) It would have been very, very easy for the Texans to not show up for this game, coming off an emotional win over their arch nemesis in week one, especially since the hunger for that win had been building for months. The factor in the 20-7 and 27-10 holes they found themselves in. Instead, the Texans rallied not just for the win, but to make it clear to the rest of the league – and to any remaining doubters – that this squad was in it to win it. Said Johnson after the game, "My thought coming into this week was that I knew that a lot of people was going to be questioning us, asking if we were for real. I think we showed a little something today."

Washington

1) The epitome of the silver lining - How desperate have the Redskins fans been for not just winning, but simply having a viable, exciting and professional product on the field after years of unimaginative offensive schemes and Mickey Mouse coaches? Many are singing a happy tune today even after their team blew a 17-point lead because the passing game was electric and the team overall played inspired, even if ultimately losing football.

2) I have called Donovan McNabb the "best-worst QB" I have ever seen due to his penchant for tossing worm burners or getting into a John Starks in Game 7 of the NBA Finals like accuracy drought. But when he is on like he was for the most part on Sunday, it is a sight to behold. His staggering stats were thisclose to being even greater, but two receivers were tackled at the one after catching a pass and McNabb was oh so close on hitting Joey Galloway on a deep ball late in the game. Too bad his overall weapons are rather mundane, but based on this performance McNabb is a low-end QB1 at worst.

3) Whether it's Clinton Portis or Larry Johnson or John Riggins, the Redskins cannot run the football right now. The backs are getting hit in the backfield. The runners they have are simply too old and no longer have the ability to make anyone miss. Portis is running hard and makes for a potential RB2 play against the Rams this week, but tread lightly overall. In fact, see which owners in your league will bite on his two-TD performance and ignore the 2.5 yards per carry average. As for Johnson, even though I was a pre-season advocate, I am ready to the pull the plug if need be. The best Redskins back to own my very well be rookie free agent Keiland Williams, who is seeing increased playing time and caught four passes against the Texans.

4) Albert Haynesworth was inactive due to an ankle injury. Hmmm. Maybe his presence on the field doesn't make a difference, but considering the Redskins defense gave up a whopping 497 passing yards to Matt Schaub, it would have been nice to see what a consistent pass rush push from the middle would have done to slow that roll. This situation continues to be a nightmare all the way around.

5) Speaking of the defense, safety LaRon Landry is looking much more like a heat-seeking missile, not to mention potential Pro Bowler, now that he has been moved – FINALLY – to his more natural "strong" spot His aggressive style was a poor, poor fit when he was asked to play a reactive center field. He and the rest of the Washington defense make for a fine play against Sam Bradford in week three.

6) Two games into this rookie year, left tackle and fourth overall pick Trent Williams has faced DeMarcus Ware and Mario Williams. Though both of the premier pass rushers made plays against him, Williams more than held his own. Assuming he gets back on the field quickly from a toe injury – the initial fear that he also suffered a knee injury has fortunately been ruled out – Williams is on his way to becoming a fine anchor for this evolving line. However, if he is forced to miss time, McNabb, et al will be running for their lives.

7) Cue up Alanis Morrisette please…Speaking of Williams, one of the key – and ironic - plays took place right after the big man was forced the sideline. Last week the Redskins snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when officials called a holding penalty when Cowboys RT Alex Barron nearly put Redskins OLB Brian Orakpo in a sleeper hold on the final play of the game, negating the game-winning touchdown. In this game with less than 90 seconds in regulation and the Redskins trying to get into game-winning field goal position, McNabb completed a 22-yard pass on 3-and-20 that would have given them the ball just shy of midfield. Instead, Stephon Heyer - the man that replaced Williams – applied a near copycat hold on Mario Williams; the refs too spotted this infraction, wiping out the play.

NFL

1) After watching Michael Vick pass and scat all over the field in his first NFL start since going to the pokey, add me to the list of those that does not see why he should not be the Eagles starting QB in Week three and perhaps beyond. This is not a knock on Kevin Kolb, but the man expected to be Donovan McNabb's replacement is far from entrenched. Vick's mobility is a major asset for a team that has lost key blockers early on and his playmaking skills looked sharp to boot.

2) Drafting Jahvid Best as early as the fourth round in mock drafts dating back to June is looking more and more brilliant with each passing week. Sitting him yesterday for Brandon Jackson, not so much. The Lions rookie will be starting from here on out and is on the verge of becoming an RB1, if he isn't already with four scores in two games.

3) Of all the QB benching that took place in week two, the spots that I am most interested in seeing what transpires are in Carolina and Arizona. I was buying the Jimmy Clausen hype at draft time – not in the top-10, but as a talent – and now he gets a very early chance to show what he can do. Not a fan of throwing rookies into the fire this early, but the Panthers do have a typically strong ground game to take the pressure off of him and Steve Smith has a hstory of running under passes no matter who throws them. Fellow rookie Max Hall also got a taste of the pro game, coming in late during the Cardinals blowout loss to the Falcons. From a winning and losing standpoint, the Cards might be better off making a change at QB, but it would likely not benefit Larry Fitzgerald owners to see the erratic bomber Derek Anderson replaced by the former BYU star.

4) No Jay Cutler. Adios Brandon Marshall. Guess what? The Broncos can still sling the ball. Kyle Orton continues to look might efficient and highly productive, throwing to what is now looking like a deep pool of receivers. Considering the struggles that the likes of Joe Flacco, Carson Palmer and Brett Favre have had so far, you could do a lot worse than plugging Orton into your fantasy lineup.

5) Reggie Wayne has clearly been the apple of Peyton Manning's eye in the first two weeks while Pierre Garcon has been MIA with only four catches in that span. It might not be fait to call Wayne a sell-high candidate, but let's not forget how his numbers tailed off in the second half last season. At the same time, do not rush to send Garcon to the waiver wire as Manning will spread the ball around and is sure to find the third-year receiver sooner or later.

6) With the news that his groin injury is not serious, Michael Turner can breathe easier. Also, they should not be worried about Jason Snelling stealing too many touches even after his stellar relief effort against the Cardinals. However, those that own Ryan Mathews, who also left his game due to injury, should be a bit more concerned about their prized rookie's situation. Yes, most of Mike Tolbert's yards came after Mathews went out with an ankle injury in the second quarter, but the big back also pounded one in from the goal line in the first, before the injury. The injury does not serious and thus Tolbert is nothing more than a deep reserve for now, but Mathews value will take a hit if he loses out on this close-in bunnies.

7) Kudos to those that kept Hakeem Nicks in their lineup despite the ankle injury and late Sunday start and were rewarded with what was perhaps a game-winning score in garbage time. That's what fantasy football is all about; grabbing victory from the jaws of defeat. For those like my buddy Tim who were on the other end of that...well, the sun did come out today, right?