Carolina Panthers (0-0) @ Chicago Bears (0-0) Sunday 1:00 PM, FOX
The Panthers will open the season by heading to Soldier Field to take on the Chicago Bears. Pretty evenly matched going into the matchup, the Bears are now heavily favored thanks to a dud from WR Jarrett Boykin for the Panthers. WR’s Percy Harvin and Randall Cobb had respectable games for their teams both totaling double digits. This Panthers team is full of flash and upside as Cordarrelle Patterson looks to build on his strong end to the 2013 season. Running back could be a big question mark for Carolina heading into the season, but these questions should be answered fairly soon as we will see the roles of Trent Richardson and Khiry Robinson defined early on. As for the Bears, they are pretty solid across the board. 2013 breakout RB Zac Stacy looks to make his debut for the Bears on Sunday. Chicago paid Stacy like a top back and they will need him to produce like one to have success in the NFC North. QB Matthew Stafford will look to wrap things up for the Bears on Monday Night Football in his first appearance.
Difference Makers:
Carolina Panthers – RB Trent Richardson
Chicago Bears – RB Fred Jackson
Cincinnati Bengals (0-0) @ Buffalo Bills (0-0) Sunday 1:00 PM, CBS
Owner/GM Bart Thompson and the Cincinnati Bengals will travel to Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park to take on Owner/GM Bill Smith and the Buffalo Bills. The Bengals are prohibited favorites to win in week one according to Vegas. In August the Bengals gave RB Jamaal Charles the biggest contract in IFFDA history at 5 Years/$21.5M. As you can imagine, Cincinnati is all in on Charles and they will go as he goes. The Bengals will also feature young up and coming WR Michael Floyd. They will need Floyd to produce like a WR1 for them to succeed. The Buffalo Bills will be without RB Ray Rice for Sunday's matchup as he is suspended for the first two games of the 2014 season for a domestic violence charge. It is unclear whether Stevan Ridley or Bernard Pierce will take the field Sunday for the Bills in his place. Veteran future Hall of Fame WR's Larry Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson will be suited up and appear ready to lead this Bills team in their first divisional game of the season.
Difference Makers:
Cincinnati Bengals - QB Andy Dalton
Buffalo Bills - RB Stevan Ridley or Bernard Pierce
Cleveland Browns (0-0) @ Miami Dolphins (0-0) Sunday 1:00 PM, CBS
No. 2 Overall pick in the 2014 IFFDA Rookie Draft Sammy Watkins will make his debut on Sunday as the Cleveland Browns head down to South Beach to take on the Miami Dolphins. Watkins makes his debut in the wake of the suspension of WR Wes Welker and the Browns will lean heavily on the youngsters Watkins and Tavon Austin at wide receiver until Welker returns. Franchise QB Andrew Luck will control the huddle and looks to make a big impact on Sunday as he tries to lead the Browns to a victory in Week 1 along with WR AJ Green leading the young guys. Dolphins QB Matt Ryan and veteran WR Roddy White will have something to say about that though as they try to do the same for Miami. RB Eddie Lacy looked good in the early going but left his game with another concussion in his young career. RB Ryan Mathews will look to pick up the slack and carry the Dolphins backfield this weekend. Third Overall pick in the IFFDA Rookie Draft WR Brandin Cooks will also make his debut.
Difference Makers:
Cleveland Browns - WR Sammy Watkins
Miami Dolphins - RB Ryan Mathews
Arizona Cardinals (0-0) @ Washington Redskins (0-0) Sunday 4:15 PM, FOX
The big spending Cardinals travel to the Nation’s Capital to take on the ‘Skins. Arizona is favored in Vegas by 2 points after RB Marshawn Lynch went Beast Mode to open the season Thursday Night. There was a lot of concern about the aging running back heading into the season but he put that all to rest with a 110 yard 2 TD performance. While the Cardinals appear top heavy, the Redskins will use a balanced attack. TE Rob Gronkowski appears set to play for the first time since he suffered a serious knee injury last season and he will be a huge factor in the decision for the Redskins along with WR DeSean Jackson. The visiting Cardinals will be relying heavily on the arm of QB Peyton Manning as they also roster WR’s Demaryius Thomas and Andre Caldwell along with TE Julius Thomas. Arizona RB Adrian Peterson has made a bold statement already claiming he will take his first carry in 2014 to the house. We will find out which NFC North team will start their season off right.
Difference Makers:
Arizona Cardinals – WR Riley Cooper
Washington Redskins – TE Rob Gronkowski
Oakland Raiders (0-0) @ Denver Broncos (0-0) Sunday 4:15 PM, CBS
The Raiders (Chris Berman voice) take on the Denver Broncos in this AFC Rivalry at Mile High Stadium. The home team went running back heavy in the draft and will feature backs Doug Martin and Alfred Morris. A main concern of owner Ryan Branagin heading into this season is the health of QB Robert Griffin III. If he stays healthy and plays close to what he did his rookie season and the Broncos get any production from their WR's they will be tough to beat. The Oakland Raiders took a different approach in August by constructing a balanced but deep roster all while saving cap space. QB Russell Wilson is already back to his usual ways and was very effecient while throwing for two scores. Raiders WR Jordy Nelson also had a solid performance hauling in 9 receptions for 10 fantasy points. It will be an interesting Sunday in the Mile High City.
Difference Makers:
Oakland Raiders - RB Toby Gerhart
Denver Broncos - All 3 WR's
Atlanta Falcons (0-0) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-0) Sunday 8:30 PM, NBC
The Falcons travel down the road to Raymond James Stadium and look to silence the cannons on Sunday Night Football. The Bucs are favorites in Vegas especially after a dud from Falcons QB Aaron Rodgers to open the season with just 9 points. RB Montee Ball and WR Antonio Brown look to make a statement in this rivalry game and make up for a bad game from the Franchise QB. Young TE Jordan Reed is questionable but has practiced all week. Falcons WR Josh Gordon will not be in attendance Sunday night as he has been suspended by the IFFDA for the entire 2014 season. The home team will be keeping an eye on the health of their newly acquired QB Cam Newton who had ankle surgery this offseason. Newton has taken every step to play, but is still considered questionable for the opener. Tampa Bay is deep across the board but appear to be set to start two rookies, Mike Evans and Austin Seferian-Jenkins. This prime time matchup will set the tone for years to come.
Difference Makers:
Atlanta Falcons - RB Frank Gore
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - QB Cam Newton
Indianapolis Colts (0-0) @ New England Patriots (0-0) Monday 7:10 PM, ESPN
The IFFDA Monday Night opener will feature the Colts and Patriots. Two buddies who are set against eachother in a divisional matchup on the biggest stage in Week 1. The Colts and Owner/GM Grandon Winningham head to Foxboro with their WR heavy team and look to make a statement early in the AFC West division. Indianapolis features two cornerstone wide receivers in Dez Bryant and Alshon Jeffery followed up at WR3 with proven veteran Reggie Wayne. Tom Brady will man the huddle for the Colts in hopes of starting early on their road to Super Bowl One. Big Blue has two running backs who's roles are undefined as they find themselves in new offenses this season. The New England Patriots and Owner/GM look to put an abrupt stop to the Colts "Super Bowl talk" and take an early lead on the division. The Pats run a balanced attack and feature a lot of players with high upside. Rookie WR Kelvin Benjamin will be in the starting lineup in this prime time game along with RB's DeMarco Murray and CJ Spiller. The health of Murray is always a concern, but he showed last year what he's capable of when relatively healthy all season. New England is favored by 10 points at home.
Difference Makers:
Indianapolis Colts - RB Chris Johnson
New England Patriots - RB CJ Spiller
Detroit Lions (0-0) @ Seattle Seahawks (0-0) Monday (Game of the Week) 10:30 PM, ESPN
The 12th Man will be pumped up and loud for this one as the Lions head to Century Link Field in Seattle on IFFDA's Monday Night Football stage. The Seahawks are the prohibited favorites to take home the IFFDA Super Bowl in 2014, but it all starts this week. The Lions will be no small task for the 'Hawks. RB Le'Veon Bell gave a scare to Lions fans when he was arrested on marijuana related charges, but he was not suspended and will begin the 2014 season in uniform. Detroit signed WR Julio Jones to a lucrative 5 year deal making him the face of their franchise and look to him for answers in this nationally televised game. Jay Cutler will take on signal calling duties for Detroit in Week 1 as well. As for the Seahawks, they are built to win now. Brees, Forte, and Andre are some names you may recognize from this roster. How about Cruz, Graham, or Decker? Anything can happen in fantasy football, but the 12th man will be rocking and Seattle looks to make a statement to the IFFDA early on.
Difference Makers:
Detroit Lions - QB Jay Cutler
Seattle Seahawks - RB Knowshon Moreno
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