Opponent Analysis

First of the bye weeks and six teams on bye. One of my big advantages last year was I played a lot of good players on their bye week. I plan to keep track of that this year. I'm playing team 11 this week.

QB: Derek Anderson, Cle at Cin and Gus Frerotte, Min at Ten. With Frerotte going against my defense, I'm certainly hoping that he won't do much. I have to say this is the first week where I expect to win this position. He has Matt Cassel, NE on bye and Troy Smith, Bal still injured.

RB: Steven Jackson, StL vs Buf and Fred Taylor, Jax vs Hou. Two good RBs. Jackson plays a tough D and that's why I think I'll win the position. Peterson plays a tough D, too, or I'd feel really good about this. He used his first two picks on Jackson and Joseph Addai, Ind on bye. He also has Julius Jones, Sea on bye and Jones has been a monster so far. He also has Domonic Rhodes, Ind on bye and Jamaal Charles, KC vs Den. Charles will probably take over for Larry Johnson some day but he can't be played now.

WR: T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cin vs Cle and Steve Smith, Car vs Atl. Certainly name WRs but neither has done much this year. Housh had an excellent game last week and Smith was so-so in his first game back from suspension. He has Marques Colston, NO vs SF but injured, Ted Ginn, Mia on bye, Santonio Holmes, Pit vs Bal, and Brandon Lloyd, Chi vs Phi. He added Lloyd this week, maybe to keep me from getting him, but he's got injury questions and I'm glad to have Reed this week. He certainly accumulated some name WRs and top guys. I don't expect to win this position, but I don't feel like I'll get creamed.

TE: Robert Royal, Buf at StL. I'm not terribly impressed but he'll be fine. I like my chances but this position won't decide anything. If he does do anything, it negates Edwards, but I can't picture him doing a lot. He has Dallas Clark, Ind on bye.

PK: Ryan Longwell, Min at Ten. Another guy playing my D; I hope he does nothing. Another position that shouldn't be consequential.

TM: Bills at StL. I like that he's playing against his own #1 RB. They should have a good game and maybe outscore the Titans, but not by much.

So I think I'll win, possibly handily.

What I think is interesting here is the contrasting draft strategies. He went with two RBs in the first two rounds while I went for Hasselbeck with the one pick. Now his QBs are pretty weak, while he is strong at RB. I'd rather have the strong QBs and less depth at RB. He also went strong for WRs while I ignored them for a long time. Now he's got good WRs but I still prefer my position. My idea is that JaMarcus Russel has a big game and I trade him to this team for a big improvement at WR.