Sunday Morning Quarterback

This blog was intended to address unique topics at otherwise slow times in the fantasy football news cycle. I am realizing more and more that early Sunday is one of those times. I'm absolutely itching for the games to begin and yet I know I'll be a mental vegetable by the end of the day again because of them. Why do I subject myself to this torture?

As a million ideas float through my head (was dropping Deji Karim for Brandon Jacobs a good idea?), one that keeps recurring is who will be the next fantasy superstar in the passing offenses of Green Bay and New Orleans?

Opening Night, New Orleans at Green Bay, was an absolute delight for football fans and fantasy fans alike, and the concept was on full display. Randall Cobb and Darren Sproles, total afterthoughts on Draft Day, were as fantasy-useful as they were real-life exciting. Robert Meachem AND Devery Henderson both had touchdown receptions - usually, it's one or the other, and you never know which. Donald Driver, for once, didn't put a huge crimp on the values of the other Green Bay receivers.

Colston going down lifts every Saints receiver up a peg, but Lance Moore's return probably has the opposite effect once it comes to fruition. Adrian Arrington (!?) is the Hail Mary play today if Moore sits again, but it's hard not to get at least a little excited about Sproles and Meachem regardless, and so too Jimmy Graham. It's sooner rather than later that this guy breaks out in a monster way. I'd also be OK playing Henderson with more confidence than usual, at least until Moore is indeed back.

In Green Bay, I'm itching for the dominant Jermichael Finley to emerge, but it's going to be tough will all the options up there. Jordy Nelson is now firmly in the mix, as well as two legit RBs. I think Finley will ultimately be fine if not Gates-esque dominant, and Greg Jennings, though probably not as featured as he was last year, will still be No. 1. Nelson seems to be separating as much on the depth chart as on the field, but we said the same thing last year about James Jones, who you can't help but think still lurks in the background. And Cobb, how can you keep him off the field for much longer? I guess when you've got the guys you do ahead of him, you can take your time, but dynasty leaguers want action now! Don't even get me started on reception-vulture Driver, the Derrick Mason of the Midwest. Whenever this team is playing critical or grinding midseason games, the savvy veteran will be a big part of the gameplan, thwarting the hopes of fantasy owners everywhere.

The reality is that both of these teams have enough depth to field two full corps of receivers each, a big part of why Rodgers and Brees are two of the most reliable fantasy QBs in the biz. Even without Colston, his top wideout, Brees is unlikely to take a hit. Rodgers was nearly unaffected by the loss of Finley last year and my guess is he'll be that much better with him healthy this year.