Here’s the shopping list for your trip to Staples:
* Clipboard
* 81/2 by 11 notepad
* Pens and pencils
* Highlighters (optional).
Opening weekend of the NFL season is finally here … almost.
The league teased us again this year with a game Thursday night and an excruciating two-day break until the real action begins.
For fantasy football players, the time between now and Sunday morning will seem like the entire offseason rolled into 48 hours.
You’ll be poring through your roster. Checking here, there and everywhere for advice on who to start.
What about Cincinnati cornerback Deltha O’Neal’s injured ankle? Will that boost Jets receiver Justin McCareins’ production this week?
You’ll be making trade offers and shuffling through various proposals.
It’s a madhouse!
At no other time will so much be happening while nothing is actually happening.
Just settle down.
We’re down to almost hours before we all sit ourselves in front of TV screens and computer monitors for four months worth of entire Sundays, waiting for those familiar Fox and CBS chimes, “doo, doo, doot … doo, doo, doo!” that signify a scoring update.
It’s too late to second-guess yourself now. Wait a little while before tossing out those trade proposals.
Maybe both of your quarterbacks have byes in Week 7, but what does that matter now?
Don’t make trade offers based on potential, unless you think your guy won’t live up to it. Let the season begin before making any blockbuster deals.
Hang on to that second- or third-tier quarterback or wide receiver for now. They could yield greater rewards later.
Ones to watch
Quaterbacks: Houston’s David Carr should light up the San Diego Chargers’ defense as the Texans aim to establish themselves as a legitimate offense. Houston is 2-0 in season openers and Carr will look for WR Andre Johnson, along with RB Domanick Davis.
Jets QB Chad Pennington should have a big game against the Bengals defense, particularly with O’Neal’s questionable ankle. Pennington has his favorite target in Santana Moss, as well as newcomer McCareins.
Be aware of the Jake Plummer effect with Arizona QB Josh McCown. Depending on what your options are, McCown could be a good start this week as he should be putting the ball in the air after the Cardinals fall behind early to the Rams on Sunday.
Running backs: Steelers running back Duce Staley will look to prove himself as the featured back in Pittsburgh, and the Raiders’ aging defensive front might be ripe for the picking. Steelers’ coach Bill Cowher likes to run, and so does Staley.
This is the moment Bears RB Thomas Jones and all those who drafted him have been waiting for. He goes against a Lions defense that gave up pretty big numbers to running backs last season, and he wants to back up the hype.
Wide receivers: Seahawks WR Koren Robinson will waste no time in showing that last year was an anomaly. He did have nearly 900 receiving yards, but scored only four times. One of those came against the Saints in last year’s opener, and he’ll keep the pressure on a New Orleans’ secondary that’s qualifying for senior discounts at Denny’s.
Columnist Victor Balta: 425-339-3455 or vbalta@heraldnet.com.
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