Week 1 Preview

I said that I'd be back this year as FALAFEL's resident blogger, but what I didn't mention is that our beloved CPP is not coming back with me. I know that you're all wildly depressed, but it turns out that maintaining a borderline useless statistic is more time consuming than it's worth. Instead, I'll use this space to recap the best matchup(s) of the previous week, as well as preview the big games in the upcoming week. This does create the possibility that I won't discuss someone's team throughout the entire season, if they aren't a part of any big games, but I'm sure I'll find ways to work Barnard into the discussion in other ways.

With no other scientific way of determining the biggest game of the week, I'll go by the closest/highest scoring prediction by our friends at ESPN.

Week 1 Preview: Donny vs. Joseph

QB: This matchup includes some of the biggest names in the game, and brings with it a huge range of outcomes. That starts at the QB position, with a supposedly 100% Peyton Manning taking on a supposedly 100% Sam Bradford. Bradford has the better matchup, but Peyton put up 7 TDs on opening day against Baltimore two years ago. Things have changed since then, but not enough for me to pick against Peyton. Cut that meat. Edge: Donny

RB: If Arian was healthy, this would be close. If Arian was healthy, he also wouldn't have gone for as cheap in the draft. And if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle. Marshawn is the obvious big name here, but Isaiah Crowell just got a boost with the trade of Terrance West. Until Duke Johnson gets up to speed, I like Donny's RB combo as much as most in the league. As for Nick, I'm sure that Yeldon and Gordon will have great careers, but in their first NFL games, my hopes aren't too high. Edge: Donny

WR: This is Nick's bread and butter. Dez, Julio and Andre will take down any WR trio in the league, and that includes his holiness Odell Beckham. Donny's only hope here is that a banged up Roddy can capitalize on Julio's double teams. I don't like those odds. Big Edge: Joseph

TE: Not a lot to like here. Whoever scores likely wins. I'll take Larry. Slight Edge: Donny

D/ST: Two solid defenses playing two great offenses. Home field advantage tips it in Zona's favor. Slight Edge: Joseph

Verdict: If Crowell can seize control of the carries in Cleveland and Roddy can stay healthy, then I think Donny is a playoff team. This is his first step. Winner: Donny

Next week I'll have more content, but not a lot has changed since the draft. Until then we can all appreciate the lineup that Barnard is trotting out this week. Zac Stacy!