24 Hours 'Til Sunday — Andy Richardson

Another season, another season's worth of pregame updates. We send out a rankings update to subscribers each Friday night to get them caught up on injury info, but I do these Saturday columns to add additional thoughts. I'll mention injuries, offer quick takes on games, and probably talk about my suicide pool. It won't be comprehensive -- that's what the Weekly is for -- but maybe you'll hear something you didn't already know.

Additionally, I'll check back in here a couple of times a day on Saturdays. If you've got lineup questions, post them, and I'll do the best I can to answer them. Sometimes I'll diverge from Ian's official Fantasy Index rankings, usually due to my own biases or hunches. Do with them what you will. OK? On to the games.

Colts at Bears: It's a little bit early in the season for all these "game-time decisions," isn't it? The first one we've got is Austin Collie. Liked him early in the week when he was cleared to practice fully. Don't like him now. Won't risk taking a zero unless I really have no other options. I think Luck is usable this week, along with Wayne and Donald Brown. Colts don't have much on defense, so I'd certainly use Forte and probably Cutler and Marshall, too. Not inclined to risk any second-tier Chicago options, sorry.

Eagles at Browns: There's not much doubt Trent Richardson will play, but considerable doubt how much work he'll get. Speculation has varied from a handful of carries to 15 or more. I don't have him anywhere (I have six teams, by the way, including one that drafts tonight -- I'm moving Romo and Ogletree up my rankings, or in Ogletree's case, ranking him, since I can start players from that game). If I did, I'd only use him if my other options were really poor committee guys. I see him playing and maybe getting about 50 or 60 rushing yards, so unless he scores he's not a great play. And I expect the Eagles to win this game easily and the Browns will pull him out in the third quarter.

Patriots at Titans: No Shane Vereen, so Stevan Ridley is locked in as the starter and a fine option. I picked up Brandon Bolden in my dynasty league, just in case Ridley fumbles early and gets benched. I'm starting Kendall Wright in a couple of PPR leagues. New England should roll, but Tennessee should score plenty of points.

Falcons at Kansas City: Ian broke this one down pretty well in the Weekly. Kansas City is very shorthanded on defense, making most of the Falcons' key guys nice starts. Only worry is that maybe Kansas City's running game dominates time of possession. I'm using Charles and, yes, key members of the Falcons passing game. I think Peyton Hillis will get just as much work as Charles.

Jaguars at Vikings: In case we haven't mentioned it, don't use Adrian Peterson. I doubt he plays much. I would use Toby Gerhart, and Harvin (who I have everywhere) and Rudolph. Similar situation for Jacksonville; I would use Rashad Jennings, not Maurice Jones-Drew. Like Justin Blackmon. No Jerome Simpson, just in case you were considering him, he's suspended.

Washington at Saints: If you're like me, you've had it with all this bounty stuff. Jonathan Vilma is hurt, the Saints have two - two - replacements for him at middle linebacker, and he probably won't play this season anyway. Not for the Saints anyway. Will Smith, he's the significant player, he'll play until suspensions of some sort get reinstated, which they will. As for the game, you're wondering who will start at running back. We're backing Albert Morris, but we don't really know. I would not start Royster. I am not starting Morris anywhere, just too risky, but he's the one I would start if I had to. I think Helu plays on third downs, so PPR coaches can consider him. Would definitely use Garcon and probably RG III and Fred Davis, there should be a whole lot of points scored in this game. Colston is hurting (already?) but should play. Typical Saints can be in lineups.

Bills at Jets: Stevie Johnson should be good to go, I'm starting him. Fred Jackson. I see no use to starting any Jets. I don't have any on my rosters, save Keller in a dynasty league (where I wouldn't start him). I don't believe in their offense. Nothing good can come of considering any of these guys. Maybe they'll surprise me, but I doubt it. Move along.

Rams at Lions: If you're going to use the Rams passing offense, this is the week. If you're going to use Kevin Smith, this is also the week, since he's healthy now and facing a pretty soft defense that will be without its top pick, Michael Brockers. If I don't mention Matthew Stafford or Calvin Johnson all season long it's because they're guys you don't need to think about starting. Typically I won't mention the obvious guys. Unless they're "game-time decisions." Which bring us to....

Dolphins at Texans: Arian Foster is a game-time decision. I haven't been lucky enough to draft him anywhere, but if I were, I'd use him. I don't think there's any doubt he'll play and play quite a bit. (It's a 1 p.m. game, so yes I'd be watching the early inactives just in case.) I'm assuming the injury is minor and won't limit him too much. I'd use Schaub and Andre and maybe Owen Daniels. For Miami, if I had Reggie Bush, I'd be OK using him. I don't, of course, since I did not and would not draft, sign, rank, or otherwise consider any Dolphins in any of my leagues. No offense Reggie. Texans are my suicide pool pick. My wife and I (she is better at picking these games than I am, and she picked Detroit) have shared the pot two years in a row.

49ers at Packers: I sort of like Randy Moss here. Not enough to bench someone really great for him, but I could see him scoring. Love Vernon Davis. Would consider Frank Gore, since Jacobs won't play. Would not use Benson (pretty much ever, but especially this week). Green Bay's passing offense, start 'em if you got 'em.

Seahawks at Cardinals: The really unfortunately game-time decision. If I had Lynch (back spasms), I'd be trying to trade for Robert Turbin so I could start him if Lynch is inactive. As is, tough to risk using Lynch. Again, a rough Week 1 for these game-time questions. Oh, I'd use Sidney Rice and Larry Fitzgerald, and am looking forward to seeing Russell Wilson play. Beanie Wells is questionable and can't be used. Ryan Williams can be, if Wells is inactive, but it's not an ideal matchup.

Panthers at Bucs: I have, I think, a slightly more favorable view of Cam Newton than Ian does. I think he's going to have another big year. Starting right here. Steve Smith could be OK, though Tampa Bay's secondary should be improved (better than its front seven). I don't think Jonathan Stewart plays a snap and would happily start DeAngelo Williams (if you drafted him, you might not have a better chance to use him all season). I would use Doug Martin gleefully, and consider Vincent Jackson, as Carolina's defense isn't particularly good.

Steelers at Broncos: I believe in Peyton Manning. Soft spot for these aging Hall of Fame quarterbacks, big Brett Favre fan. Steelers will miss safety Ryan Clark linebacker James Harrison and kind of had a lousy preseason. I'm using Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas, too. Avoiding the TEs for now. I have a lower view of Denver's defense than some so I'd be fine using their passing game, Big Ben (I try to avoid nicknames, but also like to avoid spelling names like Roethlisberger. Great, did both there.) and Brown and Wallace. Any running backs in this game won't be starting for me.

Bengals at Ravens: A pair of Monday games. No noteworthy game-time decisions here. I like Baltimore. Ray Rice and Joe Flacco and his top two wideouts should be pretty good. I'd use A.J. Green and no other Bengals.

Chargers at Raiders: This game starts at 10 p.m. here on the East Coast. I'll be up, because all these Thursday games force us to do the Weekly in basically a 48-hour period, but I don't imagine I'll get to watch it too closely. When halftime comes at 11:30, that's late. Love Darren McFadden in this game. Would be OK starting Philip Rivers since I'm not sure Oakland's D is any good, but clearly he's got line issues and might not have much of a running game to work with. Denarius Moore should play, but I am starting Rod Streater in PPR leagues anyway. He should be the slot guy and could catch 6-7 passes. Talked him up all preseason and won't bench him now. This could actually be kind of a wild offensive shootout, and it's fun starting players in that kind of game. Even if it's too late for anyone East of the West to actually watch.

Enjoy the games.

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