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NFC North Fantasy Preview: Week One

September 9, 2009 by Kurt Turner

Finally! The roster tweaking is done (unless you're still waiting for Richard Seymour to show up), the rookies are establishing their roles, you've got all your starters named (unless you're Eric Man-genius) and it's time to play the games.

But now that your drafts are complete and the rosters are set, who should I play? And, perhaps more importantly, who shouldn't I play? Let's take a look at the matchups for the NFC North division in Week One of the NFL Regular Season.

Minnesota Vikings @ Cleveland Browns - Sunday 1:00 PM EST

Talk about an ideal situation for a team to put a tumultuous offseason behind them. The Vikings, with Brett Favre under center for real this time, get to invade Cleveland. Of course Browns coach Eric Mangini is refusing to name his starting quarterback until closer to game time, but thanks to Terrell Owens and the Cleveland media (with a little help from Captain Obvious), it appears Brady Quinn will be the man for the Browns.

Quarterback isn't the only position in question for the Browns, though. Jamal Lewis failed to clearly identify himself as the top running back, and could lose carries to rookie James Davis. The Browns are also in search of consistency from their receivers as well, with Braylon Edwards coming off a miserable season. With Kellen Winslow now in Tampa, there will be even more emphasis on Edwards and Joshua Cribbs contributing.

The Browns also had defensive issues last year. They were in the middle of the NFL in points allowed per game last year (21.9), but allowed a ridiculous 151.9 rushing yards per game.

On the other side of the ball, the Vikins are almost the same across the board from last year with two significant exceptions: Favre and rookie Percy Harvin. If Mangini hasn't cleaned up the run defense, and Minnesota's elite run defense shuts down the backs the Browns bring to the table, Quinn could have more pressure on him than he might want for the first week of the season.

Who to Play - Definite:

Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN

MIN DEF

Josh Cribbs, WR, CLE

Who to Play - Maybe:

Bernard Berrian, WR, MIN

Brett Favre, QB, MIN

Visanthe Shiancoe, TE, MIN

Who to Avoid:

Brady Quinn, QB, CLE

Jamal Lewis/James Davis, RB, CLE

CLE DEF

SLEEPER ALERT: Percy Harvin, WR, MIN

Detroit Lions @  New Orleans Saints - 1:00 PM EST

This could be a very entertaining game, and fantasy gold for owners with players hitting the turf in New Orleans. The Saints defense hasn't been very good in years, but the Lions will stick a rookie under center. Turnover heaven for the (few) owners of the Saints defense? Or will Calvin Johnson tear up a questionable secondary for huge numbers?

The flip side of the coin is that the Lions were biblically bad in 2008, and the Saints offense, led by Drew Brees, was record breaking. Even without Deuce McAllister (Pierre Thomas will do just fine, thank you), the Saints should be able to put points on the board.

This could turn into a shootout.

Who to Play - Definite:

Drew Brees, QB, NO

Marques Colston, WR, NO

Calvin Johnson, WR, DET

Kevin Smith, RB, DET

Who to Play - Maybe:

Pierre Thomas, RB, NO

New Orleans DEF

Who to Avoid:

DET DEF

SLEEPER ALERT: Matthew Stafford, QB, DET

Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers - Sunday 8:15 PM EST

Prime time, under the lights, with the whole nation watching, two of the best 25-year old quarterbacks the game has seen since the famous Class of '83 will do battle as divisional foes for the first time. Not only is this the oldest, and best, rivalry in professional football, but now Jay Cutler and Aaron Rodgers will be the center of fantasy arguments for the next decade.

But there's a lot bubbling under the surface with this game that should raise some eyebrows for fantasy owners. Will Ryan Grant be the Good Grant or the Mediocre Grant? How much will Rodgers pick on the Bears' injured secondary? Will Matt Forte run wild against the Packers new 3-4 defense? How much will the Bears ask Cutler to do in the air?

This isn't your father's Bears-Packers game... this might be an aerial assault with significant fantasy points coming from any number of players.

Who to Play - Definite:

Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB

Greg Jennings, WR, GB

Matt Forte, RB, CHI

Greg Olsen, TE, CHI

Who to Play - Maybe:

Donald Lee, TE, GB

Ryan Grant, RB, GB

Jay Cutler, QB, CHI

Devin Hester, WR, CHI

Who to Avoid:

CHI DEF

GB DEF

SLEEPER ALERT: Earl Bennett, WR, CHI

SLEEPER SPECIAL: Donald Driver, WR, GB

Category - Fantasy Football News and Analysis - NFC North Fantasy Preview: Week One

About Kurt Turner

Kurt's fantasy advice is featured on USA Today Sports, Bleacher Reports, SiriusXM and Fox Sports.

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