In the first five or six rounds of the draft, we saw players like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Edgerrin James, Corey Dillon, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Deion Branch, David Givens, Dallas Clark, and Daniel Graham get scooped up quicker than a nude picture of Maria Sharapova.
The Patriots and Colts are the two teams who get decimated before all others. I remember a time when the St. Louis Rams earned the right to have their players swiped up, quickly. What amazes me is why owners are still gobbling up Rams like Ruben Studdard handles flapjacks at Denny's.
After Torry Holt and, maybe, Marc Bulger, if you have no other choice, it's time to check out the other squads. This is about the last year you will want to draft any Rams, unless they end up with a breakout player.
It's time to say goodbye to Marshall Faulk and Issac Bruce and say hello to the New Fantasy World Order...
The American Football Conference.
The AFC Fantasy World Order is not led by Priest Holmes or Jamal Lewis, but by the two best teams in the AFC. Holmes and Lewis are nothing more than drops in the ocean. The Colts and Patriots, on the other hand, should be known as Legion, for they are many.
Now that you have drafted all those Colts and all those Patriots, then watched them battle it out on Monday ... pardon me, Thursday Night Football, how did you make out and what should you do now?
Let's analyze the position players, defenses, and sleepers of the two best teams in the National Football League in their opening day clash.
Quarterbacks
The first thing you should know is that if you have Peyton Manning, then you've got no worries. Manning never disappoints, is never injured, and, arguably, is the best fantasy play every week of the season.
Manning is the kind of player who could earn fantasy points in a bye week.
Can we stop the madness and kick Daunte Culpepper to the curb? Why is he consistently being drafted over Tom Brady? What does this guy have to do to prove that he should be a top pick? Short of putting out a hit on the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback or Randy Moss heading elsewhere, Brady will continue to be undervalued.
Brady had not thrown an interception at home since the beginning of time. Even with his first pickoff at home for the season, Brady still tossed 3 TD passes and threw for 335 yards. Brady wins Super Bowls and Culpepper can't make the playoffs. In fact, I've seen Culpepper go in the first-round! Something just isn't right there.
Tsk-tsk.
Running Backs
Edgerrin James did well for yardage leagues, but couldn't find the end zone. Actually, he knew where the end zone was, he just forgot to bring the ball with him. Twice. Still, he had a nice game, netting 142 rushing yards, and it isn't like you're going to waive him because he had a case of the butterfingers.
The Edge is still worth his status as a first-round pick, but it would be nice if he would earn it next week.
Corey Dillon owners shouldn't fret. No, he didn't find the end zone and did not rush for the century mark, but this time, it wasn't because he is injured, nor has he lost a step. You must take into account that coaches could give a damn about what player you have on your fantasy team. They do what they do to win a game.
Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick fooled and shocked everyone, including the Colts, by not allowing Dillon to touch the ball until 6:30 left in the first quarter. Instead, Brady came out gunning. The Colts expected a healthy dose of Dillon, but instead got a healthy dose of the passing game. Dillon showed flashes of greatness when he was finally allowed to get his touches. That is a good sign for the rest of the season.
Wide Receivers
Marvin Harrison is Marvin Harrison and that will never change until he retires. Harrison didn't have a huge yardage night, but he scored, which is all that matters. Continue to play him with confidence.
Make out a missing persons report for Reggie Wayne, because Manning can't find him.
Patriot wide outs are a little tougher to analyze. Because of Belichick's craftiness and the Patriots' tendency to go with a five-WR set, David Patten ended up having a big game. I wouldn't go cutting my bench players, just yet, to snag him off the waiver wire, because he had one good game.
Be careful with David Patten. I'm willing to bet 75% of you reading this went to the waiver wire, during the game, last night and snatched him up.
The Patriots' wide outs were all solid in the opening day outing. The trips all gained about the same amount of yardage, all over 80, none over 100. Patten just happened to score, instead of David Givens. Deion Branch and Givens are still the number one and number two options for Brady, respectively, and could make you sorry for being impulsive.
Tight Ends
Dallas who? One catch for 64 yards. That's nice. Ho-hum.
The Patriots have a devastating tandem of tight ends with a sleeper, who just woke up, in Daniel Graham and Benjamin Watson. Graham had the bigger impact in this particular game with a score, but both are threats. I'd snatch Graham if he's still on the wire, but keep an eye on Watson, if Graham is unavailable.
Defense
Indianapolis defense: Bad.
New England defense: Good.
Sleepers
Daniel Graham, TE, New England
I would give Graham one more week, just to make sure. If all is well, start him, if you have him.
David Patten, WR, New England
I repeat ... be careful. Patten is making a case to be the starter on a fantasy roster, but against a subpar passing defense like Indianapolis has, anyone is bound to score. You may be disappointed when the Patriots are up against tougher pass defenses.
Brandon Stokley, WR, Indianapolis
Wow, where did he come from? Stokley had a solid performance. Perhaps, he is trying to beat out Reggie Wayne as Manning's number two option? Stokley beat Harrison, statistic-wise, but again, one game does not a superstar make. I would leave him alone.
Dominic Rhodes, RB, Indianapolis
I don't know if The Edge is coming down with a season-long case of fumblitis or if it was a fluke. If the red zone becomes Edge's pariah, Rhodes will begin handling goal line TD attempts. Rhodes might be a viable bye-week play, if your starter has the week off.
In any case, the guard has changed and it's the AFC's time to rule. I'm willing to bet that the winner of any of your fantasy leagues has a Colt or a Patriot on it. These two teams prove, day in and day out, why their rosters are worth their weight in gold, in the New Fantasy World Order.
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