[Editor's note: MSF is hosting its first ever fantasy football league this year, pitting several members of the MSF writing team against bloggers from around the Internet. Each week, Fraschetti will preview the Game of the Week. For this week he has decided to be a brown-nosing narcissist, choosing to preview his own battle against MSF's editor. We promise to spread the love moving forward...]
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The Week 1 Game of the Week is a battle of MSF’s own, Fraschetti vs JRod, as their respective teams face off.
Fraschetti is the proud owner of Ryan Russell’s preseason “Most Hated Team Name Award” winner, Ann Arbor F$%k The Bucks, while JRod’s team is named after his favorite crusader against irresponsible steroid speculation, The Ridiculous Rosenthals.
ESPN is predicting a total blowout by JRod’s team. Before going into the particulars, just note that JRod’s squad is facing horrible defenses, whereas Fraschetti’s team has nightmare match-ups across the board.
Position Match-ups
QB- Aaron Rodgers (Fraschetti) vs Drew Brees (JRod) Advantage-JRod
Plain and simple here, Brees against the Detroit Lions D, Rodgers against the Bears. If the roles were reversed, Rodgers would be the runaway favorite. I can only hope that Chicago is not focused, and the Lions play out of their minds. Both are very unlikely.
RB- Chris Johnson (Fraschetti) vs Ryan Grant (Jrod) Advantage-Push
ESPN is calling Grant the clear cut favorite here, but both are facing top-5 defenses. The only advantage here is the QB play from Rodgers to support Grant. Johnson is more explosive though with legit home run threat ability.
RB/WR- Darren McFadden (Fraschetti) vs Felix Jones (JRod) Advantage- Fraschetti
Unless something changes in Dallas from last year, Marion Barber will still get the bulk of the carries while Romo, Witten, and Williams will get a lot of touches as well. There is only so much ball to go around, which could hinder Felix Jones. Dallas has the easier defensive match up, and Jones has big play potential, but I look for McFadden to establish himself as being a worthy first round pick, where many chose him a year ago.
WR-Roy E. Williams (Fraschetti) vs Randy Moss (JRod) Advantage-JRod
No one on Buffalo will be able to cover Randy Moss, period. If Tom Brady felt like it, he could go 25 of 32, with 4 touchdowns and 325 yards, all to Randy Moss. There is no receiver in football I could put in Williams’ place and gain the advantage here.
TE-Kellen Winslow (Fraschetti) vs Chris Cooley (JRod) Advantage-Push
Both are capable, clear-cut #1 TE’s, and both have average to below average quarterbacks throwing them the ball. Winslow is more athletic where Cooley is more opportunistic.
Offensive Flex- Jay Cutler (Fraschetti) vs Matt Schaub (JRod) Advantage-Fraschetti
Schaub, when healthy, puts up big numbers. He is playing a Jets team which should be improved on defense from a year ago. Cutler will be fired up to play out of his mind to justify the actions that forced a trade out of Denver in the offseason.  I cannot go against Cutler and his abilities, I just hope his recievers can catch like Marshall and Co. did for him a year ago.
D- Steelers (Fraschetti) vs Giants (JRod) Advantage-Push
This is normally all Steelers, but their match up against the Titans’ powerful running game will not be advantageous for turnovers, whereas the Giants are facing the Redskins, who are known to give opposing defenses one or two interceptions and a fumble per game. There is no clear cut favorite here.
K-Nate Kaeding (Fraschetti) vs Mason Crosby (JRod) Advantage-JRod
ESPN is predicting all extra points for Kaeding, where they are giving Crosby a few field goals and extra points. If the Raiders defense has improved at all, the Chargers will not waltz into the endzone every redzone opportunity, but the edge still goes to JRod.
Fraschetti will need last year’s powerful defenses to fold in week 1, and the Saints to do all of their damage on the ground. Then he may have a chance.ÂÂ
If you have any questions as to who to start going into Week 1, become a fan of profootballinsight on Facebook and log your questions onto the wall for your answers.
Kurt Fraschetti
MSF Senior Fantasy Writer / ProFootballInsight
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