So you've drafted your team, and because you're unusually knowledgeable and gifted, you've got a lot of depth. With that comes a great deal of danger -- the possibility of choosing the wrong guys to start each week. The Crystal Ball is my effort to help you sort through some of those tough decisions by looking at each fantasy position each week, and suggesting one player to start that you might not have thought of, and one player you shouldn't start who you just might have been planning to play.
QUARTERBACK
Jon Kitna, Lions (YES!): Quarterback strikes me as a deep and even position this year, so most fantasy teams without Peyton Manning be playing the matchups initially. In a Mike Martz offense, Kitna just might surprise this year, so if he went undrafted in your league, he is worth a claim and even a start. Even in the worst case scenario that the Lions fall well behind the Seahawks, Kitna should throw a lot.
Drew Bledsoe, Cowboys (NO!): The first week of the Terrell Owens show in Dallas should have a lot of drama -- you just should not be counting on the results, particularly against a tough Jacksonville defense.
RUNNING BACK
DeShaun Foster, Panthers (YES!): With a lot of running situations clouded by injury or competition, Foster going against a team that struggled to stop the run last year looks like a pretty choice.
Mike Bell, Broncos (NO!): This really goes for just about any Bell, or Bronco running back, for that matter. Chances are the Broncos will run effectively, and chances are that they will have one featured runner. Chances are that no one, including Mike Shanahan, is positive of who that effective featured runner will be.
WIDE RECEIVER
Lee Evans, Bills (YES!): Bill Belichick always gets the benefit of the doubt, and you know that the pass defense for the Patriots has to be a lot better this year. Nonetheless, last year they were arguably the second worst pass defense in the league, and Evans has the advantage of being the type of number one receiver that teams don't bother to double team -- at least for now.
Darrell Jackson, Seahawks (NO!): Jackson looked like himself when he returned from knee surgery at the end of last year. The problem is that he really hasn't been on the field since. He may be fine (in fact, he may be a steal in a lot of leagues), but give him a week or two on the bench before you commit to starting him.
TIGHT END
Chris Cooley, Redskins (YES!): Cooley continues to improve, and he now works for a guy who utilized Tony Gonzalez to great effect. Plus Cooley admits that, in his best game last year, he singlehandedly defeated his own fantasy team. Sounds like he's got his priorities in order.
Ben Troupe, Titans (NO!): Something of a fantasy darling last preseason, Troupe ended up playing second fiddle to Erron Kinney much of the year. Kinney is hurt now, but now Troupe has to contend with an extremely unsettled quarterback situation. Wait until it settles.
DEFENSE
Minnesota Vikings: The preseason doesn't mean much, but the Redskins performance clearly tested that hypothesis. The Vikings were one of the better turnover defenses in the league last year, and the Redskins come in with a new offense that allegedly hasn't been used in any actual games and very likely without Clinton Portis.
Washington Redskins: The start of the year is a good time for this reminder: the Redskins have a very good defense if you're trying to win real football games. For fantasy games, they're below average.
KICKERS
Adam Vinatieri, Colts (YES!): He's dinged, but I suspect we'll get exactly what everyone seems to expect from the Manning brothers: a shootout.
Mike Vanderjagt, Cowboys (NO!): He's a familiar name on America's Team, but the Cowboy offense has a tough matchup this week.