Week 1: Sleepers of the Week
RB Carnell Williams, ---
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Cadillac Williams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks in week one. After a very good rookie season, everyone expected Cadillac Williams to be the next big thing at the running back position. Now, after a tremendously disappointing sophomore season in which Williams only scored one touchdown, he is being dismissed as a decent-poor fantasy option at running back. Despite a terrible season last year, I am not ready to give up on Cadillac. The Seattle run defense suffered a big loss last week as run stopper Marcus Tubbs was lost for the season. When Tubbs went down last season, so did the Seahawks run defense. The Seahawks finished the season allowing 4.6 yards per carry to opposing teams. I expect Cadillac to get off to a good start this season with more than 75 total yards and one touchdown on opening day.
WR Mark Clayton, ---
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Mark Clayton and the Baltimore Ravens travel to Cincinnati to face the Bengals on Monday night in week one. Clayton made a tremendous leap in his second NFL season, accumulating 939 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 14 yards per reception. Clayton has a good match-up this week against the weak Cincinnati secondary. The Bengals allowed close to 250 passing yards per game last season in addition to 24 passing touchdowns. The Bengals did little to upgrade their secondary in the off-season and it should once again be a weak point for the team. Clayton is a good sleeper wide receiver for week one and should accumulate around five catches for 70 yards and a touchdown.
WR Jerricho Cotchery, ---
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Jerricho Cotchery and the New York Jets open the season with a playoff rematch against the New England Patriots. Cotchery enjoyed the best season of his career in 2006, and three of his best games came against the New England Patriots. Cotchery scored one touchdown in each of the three games last season and totaled 291reciving yards in those games. The Patriots will be missing Rodney Harrison due to suspension, giving fantasy owners another reason to consider starting Cotchery. I am expecting a 1000 yard season from Jerricho Cotchery this season, and he should get off to a good start with five catches for 75 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots in week one.
WR Darrell Jackson, ---
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Darrell Jackson and the San Fransisco 49ers face the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night in week one. Jackson was traded from the Seahawks to the 49ers during the off-season and has been installed as the 49ers number one wide receiver heading into the season. Jackson has been hampered with nagging injuries in the off-season, but will play in week one against the Cardinals. In two games against the Cardinals last season, Jackson accumulated ten catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson should be become a go to receiver for Alex Smith this season and will get off to a good start against the Cardinals. Expect five catches for 75 yards and a touchdown for Darrell Jackson in week one.
TE Jason Witten, ---
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Jason Witten and the Dallas Cowboys open the 2007 season with a home game against division rivals, the New York Giants. Witten is coming off a season in which he caught 64 passes for 754 yards and only one touchdown. While the receptions and receiving yards are good, Witten will need to increase his touchdowns to vault himself into the top tier of fantasy tight ends this season. In two games against the Giants last season, Witten averaged 72.5 yards per game, but did not record a touchdown. Witten should be a good starting option at tight end this season and will get off to a good start against the Giants. Look for Witten to catch five passes for 65 yards in week one.
Remember to read all our columns for this week and use our Who To Start Rankings
