The preason DOES matter in fantasy (but Week 1 not so much)

Here are a few things gleaned from Week 1 of the preseason. Remember, it's only Week 1 so performances and stats should not be weighed too heavily.

New England running back Laurence Maroney may have made himself fantasy relevant again, carrying the ball eight times for 30 yards and two touchdowns in a  27-24 win over New Orleans. Even if Maroney turns out to be the starter for the Patriots, he's a No. 3 fantasy back at best, more likely a No. 4 guy.

Also in New England, Julius Edelman is a player with a lot of upside fantasy owners may be able to draft in the later rounds. Edelman filled in for Wes Welker when his season ended due to injury last year and did OK. He appears to have picked up where he left off, catching six passes for 90 yards against New Orleans over the weekend. If Welker is slow to come back, Edelman should have value as a No. 4 fantasy receiver.

In the Washington-Buffalo game, Donovan McNabb looked sharp in his abbreviated performance with his new team. He was 5 for 8 passing for 58 yards and a touchdown in a 42-17 victory. Teammate Devin Thomas, a wide receiver, looks to be on track for a starting job with three catches for 64 yards and a TD. McNabb is a low-end fantasy starter while Thomas is a good No. 4 wideout if he gets the starting nod.

In the Kansas City vs. Atlanta game, both projected starting running backs had good days. KC's Jamaal Charles carried four times for 37 yards and Atlanta's Michael Turner rushed four times for 29 yards. Turner should be one of the top six running backs off the board and Charles is also a low-end No. 1 or excellent No. 2 back. Charles' chief competitor, Thomas Jones, suffered an undisclosed injury during the game which, if serious, should only increase Charles' value.


In Miami's 10-7 win over Tampa Bay, Dolphins' running back Ronnie Brown looked pretty good in his first game back after a season-ending foot injury in 2009. Brown had five carries for 20 and figures to be a solid No. 2 fantasy back if healthy.

Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers showed why he is the first quarterback off the board in most fantasy mock drafts this summer, going 12 for 13 for 159 yards and a touchdown. If the Packers offensive line can play better than it did a year ago, Rodgers should put up some spectacular numbers this fall.

In Texas, the arrival of heralded rookie running back Ben Tate may already be over. Tate suffered a serious ankle injury over the weekend and may be out for the season. Arian Foster took advantage with four carries for 31 yards. Teammate Steve Slaton was a mediocre 10 for 22 and fumbled into the end zone. Foster now had the edge over Slaton for playing time but wait and see how each of them gets used before putting them in any kind of draft order.

In San Diego's 25-10 win over the Chicago Bears, rookie Ryan Mathews lived up to his advance billing, carrying nine times for 50 yards. Mathews is expected to get a lot of work this season and is a definite No. 1 back in fantasy.

The Bears Devin Aromashodu made a strong bid for a starting spot, catching four passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. He finished strong last season and should be considered a low-end No. 3 or solid No. 4 receiver in fantasy.

Arizona's marquee wide out Larry Fitzgerald suffered a sprained knee over the weekend and will probably be out for a least a few weeks. His value will depend heavily on the play of his team's starting quarterback -- either Derek Anderson or Matt Leinart.


In the San Francisco-Indianapolis game, rookie running back Anthony Dixon celebrated his new-found No. 2 spot on the depth chart (behind Frank Gore) by rushing 21 times for 100 yards and a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 22 yards. Former No. 2 guy Glen Coffee unexpectedly announced his retirement over the weekend, Giving Dixon value as a No. 5 back and as a handcuff to Gore.

Buffalo running back Marshawn Lynch will be sidelined three to four weeks with a sprained ankle suffered in his team's first preseason game. Healthy or not, he's no better than a No. 4 or 5 fantasy back. Teammate Fred Jackson is expected to miss four to six weeks with a broken bone in his left hand.hand. This means rookie C.J. Spiller may turn out to be Buffalo's No. 1 back by default and should be considered a No. 4 or 5 fantasy back.