Week 1 is always very interesting. You can finally get a feel for how good or bad a team or certain players are after speculating throughout pre-season. 2009 is starting off like many other years. Hope springs eternal, unless you are a Bengals fan. Those who had the number 1 pick and used it on All-Day Adrian Peterson had to feel validated. If you went with Michael Turner or MoJo, you have to be feeling very foolish right now. After watching damn near every game from Thursday night through the end of Monday, I took a few notes on my observations.

  • Drew Brees. WOW. I think everyone penciled in 300 yards and 4 TDs, but he easily exceeded those lofty expectations.
  • The Chiefs were actually competitive and were tied late in the game before exhausting their luck. One does have to be concerned with Baltimore's pass defense.
  • I guess Josh McDaniels is an offensive genius. How else can you explain the play he drew up for Brandon Stokley?!
  • Pittsburgh is way too loyal to their long-term running backs. Sticking with Willie Parker is dooming their running game. Mewelde Moore is a much more-effective back as he brings variety to their running game and swing-pass plays.
  • Buffalo needs to turn down any further Monday Night Football appearances. This last debacle turned faster than Stewie going from world domination to questionable sexuality.
  • I still find it funny that Brett Favre is being lauded as a savior by Viking fans, especially after the pedestrian numbers he put up this weekend. I guess some people have to celebrate even the most minor accomplishments.
  • While I love the Bears, Tyler Perry has a better chance at convincing me that anything he puts out is "very funny" than anyone does at convincing me that the Bears are a Super Bowl contender.
I love the waiver wire after Week 1 in the NFL. This is the week with the most transactions as people dump their "sleepers" that did very little and pick up players that put up unexpectedly good numbers. Tread carefully folks, it is one game. Some players who put up big one-week numbers may not accumulate that many points again this year, total. So, don't go crazy for Brandon Stokley, Louis Murphy, or Devery Henderson. Players worthy of note are listed below.

QB: Joe Flacco (BAL) – Flacco picked up where he left off in 2008. Even though the Ravens mixed in all three running backs, Flacco did air it out for 307 yards and three TDs. You could do much worse if you need a fill-in for Donovan McNabb or have a team being lead by Brady Quinn. Baltimore seems to be content to throw much more this year.

RB: Mike Bell (NO) – The Saints will have to run the ball to balance out their offense a bit and be a Super Bowl contender. Everyone expected Pierre Thomas to lead that assault, but one has to take notice of Bell's 143 yards last week. He had been shelved due to injuries since tearing up the league in the last half of 2006. He was a sneaky play last week by a few savvy owners, but needs to be owned immediately.

RB: Carnell Williams (TB) – I really thought Derrick Ward would be The Man in Tampa. Well, it looks like he is sharing that designation with Cadillac. The Caddy looked pretty good when he came back late in 2008 but he floored me against Dallas. He looked quick and powerful. If he is available, grab him now!

WR: Mark Clayton (BAL) – See Joe Flacco. Derrick Mason used to be the only steady WR on the Ravens with Clayton putting up nice number on occasion, but he was similar to Devery Henderson and would get you zeroes on occasion. This year appears to be different with Baltimore allowing Flacco to flex that strong arm of his.

WR: Nate Burleson (SEA) – Burleson was a well-documented Sleeper in 2008 but blew his knee out. It appears that he is on track for that role in 2009 after putting up a 7/74/1 line against St. Louis. In closer games, he could do even better, especially if Deion Branch is on his way out.

TE: Todd Heap (BAL) – Rumors of Heap's demise appears to be greatly exaggerated. I was shoveling dirt onto him after the Ravens signed L.J. Smith, but he turned the clock back to 2006 with a 5/74/1 line last week in Baltimore's explosive offense. He was available in over 80% of the leagues last week so grab him now if he is still there in yours.