The games are afoot, to paraphrase Sherlock Holmes. And the mystery is which tights ends stand the best and worst chances of producing fantasy pointage this week.
Last season, no team was worse at surrendering points to tight ends than the New York Giants. They should be better this season, and to get them off to a good start they face the Panthers, so not much risk of a tight end break out there. Let's see who else has favorable match-ups this week.
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--Start ‘em ~ Week 1-- |
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| Jermichael Finley, GB @ PHI | As good as the Eagles were defensively last season, one weak spot was TEs. This week they face one of the best young TEs in the game. |
| Greg Olsen, CHI vs. DET | In Mike Martz new offense Olsen may be the odd man out most weeks, but a game against Detroit’s woeful protection should spell a score for him in Week 1. |
| Kellen Winslow, TB vs. CLE | Winslow has been quietly productive year in and year out, and he starts 2010 with one of 2009’s biggest felons at protecting against TEs |
| Michael Hoomanawanui, STL vs. ARI | This rookie had a surprising breakout this preseason, and seems to have a connection with Sam Bradford. A season opener against the Cardinals poor TE coverage could spell a good day. |
| Zack Miller, OAK @ TEN | Miller may turn out to be the Raiders best receiver this year, and the Titans have not been very good at protecting against tight ends. |
While there is no good reason for my belief in this week's "I feel lucky" pick; I have a very good feeling that rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski will score against the Cincinnati Bengals when they face off this Sunday.
Where there are winners, there are losers, and this week, the five guys below have very poor match-ups.
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--Sit ‘em ~ Week 1-- |
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| Owen Daniels, HOU vs, IND | Daniels is one of the game’s best, and after 2009’s injury I expect a big year, but he starts 2010 against a defense that only allowed 2 TDs and 523 receiving yards to TEs last year. |
| Jermaine Gresham, CIN @ NE | The rookie TE looked good this preseason, but I do not see him having much luck this weekend in New England. |
| Todd Heap, BAL @ NYJ | Not that Heap is striking fear into the hearts of anyone these days, but the Jets D is stifling for TE’s, so he’s not likely to do anything this week. |
| John Carlson, SEA vs. SF | Carlson should rebound nicely in 2010 as one of Hasselbeck’s favorite targets, but not against a 49ers defense that allowed one tight end TD all last season. |
| Vinsanthe Shiancoe, MIN @ NO | Favre’s favorite red zone target faces the only other team to surrender only one TD to a tight end in 2009. With Favre having little prep time, I think Vin busts this week. Outcome: 4 catches, 76 yards and a TD. The Saints have already matched last season's record for TDs surrendered to TEs. |
