Fantasy Reality Check, Week One: The Week of 'The Burner'

We have to keep in mind that what we just saw this past weekend was merely a one week sample. Sure, you can draw some conclusions ... but you can just as easily write some fluky situations off. Let's sort through the junk as see what's real and what was a facade.

Michael Turner
We've seen flashes from "The Burner" like this before, but questions lingered about his ability to do it in Atlanta when it wasn't mop-up duty. Worry no more, he's obviously capable of big things as a feature back. You can't expect 30+ point weeks to be commonplace, but he looked very real. Of course, they were playing the Lions ...

Bears D/ST
The Colts offense looked lost, Peyton Manning allegedly didn't know what the hell was going on, and the defense scored a TD off a fumble. While it's true that the Colts offensive line was injured and Manning had missed the entire preseason, the Bears also are completely healthy on defense and looked like the ball-hawking TD-scoring boys that carried some fantasy teams in '06. Even if you think the Colts are that bad, the Bears have plenty of offensively challenged and turnover-prone teams on the schedule. The Monsters of the Midway are real.

Philip Rivers
Hmmmm ... I could have sworn someone kept telling you he'd bust out as a fantasy stud this year? Don't doubt him to continue this. He's top ten at QB.

Matt Hasselbeck
The week wasn't a complete disaster after the TD pass to Nate Burleson, but now Burleson's out for the season. Courtney Taylor is now the number one wideout in Seattle, while Julius Jones -- who wasn't even good enough to beat out Maurice Morris as week one starter -- is now the top back. Yes, the Bills do have a solid defense, but now is probably the time to bail on Hasselbeck if people in your league still hold him in high esteem.

Colts Offense
I think that was a complete mirage. Manning's gonna get more into the groove, the young patchwork lineman will improve as the season progresses, and -- as I said earlier -- it's likely the Bears defense is just that stout again. Don't panic, and hold the course.

David Garrard
Boy, the entire Jax offense was pretty stagnant, no? It's not like we thought they would be a high-octane outfit, but I'm guessing you expected at least double digit points from the QB. The Titans do have a stingy defense, and the three turnovers are completely out of character for him.

Braylon Edwards
Ugh. That was awful. Not only do the numbers suck, but he looked awful. Several dropped passes, including a sure TD in the first quarter on a bomb from Derek Anderson. This was surely a facade, because Edwards is far too talented to continue this poor play. Plus, the Cowboys looked like the best team in the NFL Sunday. Things will get easier.

The Bengals offense
Ladies and Gentlemen ... please welcome the Bungals back to sucktitude. I'd be bailing on everyone, because -- as T.J. Houshmandzadeh told us -- they just plain suck. It's only week one, yeah, but prospects aren't looking good ... and we knew this before the season started.

Hank Baskett
Facade. Don't bite on a 90 yard TD in the first week. Plus, the Rams are horrible. On the other hand ...

Donovan McNabb and DeSean Jackson
Love that Eagles passing attack. The Rams are terrible, but Donovan can still chuck it, Andy Reid loves to pass, and DeSean is just what McNabb had been missing since T. O. departed. Obviously he's not even in the same ballpark as Owens, but there's potential for a big-time breakout season here.