2009 Fantasy Football Projections: Week 1 Sleeper Picks – Running Backs
September 7, 2009 by The Sports Watchers
TheSportsWatchers.com: This post was published 2 years 5 months 2 days ago which may make it irrelevant to your fantasy football inquiry. For up to date fantasy football projections and predictions, go to our homepage at TSW Fantasy Football. 
If you’re like me, and even if you have already had your fantasy football draft, you’re already thinking about fantasy football sleeper picks for Week 1 of the NFL season!
Well, I have a couple of picks at the running back position that not many people think will have a big Week 1. Here are my fantasy football sleeper picks for the opening week of the fantasy football season.
Willie Parker, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tennessee Titans
The defending champion Steelers will be looking to pummel the Tennessee Titans after the disrespect they figure the Titans gave them by stomping on the “Terrible Towel” last season. However, that’s not why I think Willie Parker will have a big day running the ball. To put it plainly, the loss of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is going to negatively effect this defense greater than the pundits are saying it will. The fact is, the Titans defense was far superior at stopping the run when Haynesworth was on the field. And when he wasn’t, they were egregious. I mean, not just bad, but they had a complete reversal of fortune when it came to stopping the run sans Haynesworth. Well, the Titans are going to get a taste of what their entire defense is going to look like in 2009 in the first week of the season. Luckily for Parker, he will be the first beneficiary of a Haynesworth-less Titans defense, and he should have a big day on the ground for the Steelers. In fact, last year Parker opened up the season with a career day, scoring 3 rushing touchdowns while rushing for 138 yards. So I’d bet on the fact that Parker is a fast starter and put him in the starting lineup as a sleeper pick for Week 1 of fantasy football.
DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers vs. Philadelphia Eagles
It seems crazy to think that the fantasy football leader from a year ago could be a sleeper pick in Week 1 of the following season. However, a lot of mock drafts have Williams behind quarterbacks and wide receivers, so it’s not like he’s getting a ton of respect. Meanwhile, players like the oft-injured Steven Jackson and the never-done-it-before Maurice Jones-Drew are widely considered better pick ups in 2009 fantasy football drafts than last year’s point leader. Well, at least in Week 1, I’m going to put DeAngelo Williams ahead of them all. Williams is just too good not to have considerable value against an Eagles defense that has lost their middle linebacker. Don’t get me wrong, the Eagle in me believes Philly will work this out by season’s end, but in Week 1, I doubt the Eagles defense will have found its answer at the middle linebacker position. And expect Panthers coach John Fox to take advantage of that by running the ball down the throats of the Eagles front 7, and trust me, Williams will get the majority of the carries. As for those who are concerned about Jonathan Stewart stealing carries away from Williams, don’t be. You don’t come off an injury-plagued season and start stealing carries from the team’s thoroughbred, if you know what I’m saying?
Week 1 Fantasy Football Projections – Sleeper Picks
1. Quarterback Sleeper Picks
2. Running Back Sleeper Picks
3. Wide Receiver Sleeper Picks
4. Tight Ends Sleeper Picks
5. Defensive Sleeper Picks
Week 1 Fantasy Football Projections – Top Picks
1. Quarterback Projections
2. Running Back Projections
3. Wide Receiver Projections
4. Tight End Projections
5. Defensive Projections
Week 1 Fantasy Football Projections – Extra Picks
1. Quarterback Fantasy Football Projections
2. Running Back Fantasy Football Projections
3. Wide Receiver Fantasy Football Projections
4. Tight End Fantasy Football Projections
