Week 1 – Flex Rankings

Photo By: Mike Nelson / US PRESSWIRE

Both Marshawn Lynch and Dwayne Bowe were likely drafted to be starters on your squad this summer, but we should temper our expectations for top flight production this week.

Uphill Battle For Lynch, Week 1

Lynch has been battling back spasms through the preseason, but it’s expected he will play week one. This same problem gave him trouble early last season and forced him to miss a game against the Browns.

Even if Lynch was well he will face a respectable defense in the Arizona Cardinals on the road. Let’s assume Lynch is healthy enough to carry the football 20 times and Russell Wilson can move the chains when called upon. It’s still going to be a difficult game for Lynch to amass more than 75 yards on the ground, and there’s no guarantee he will find the end zone.

In 2011, Lynch averaged 19 carries in both games against Arizona but posted 73 yards and 86 yards in both games, and was held without a touchdown.

Slow Start For Bowe?

I’m concerned about Bowe after watching him work in the third preseason game. He looked out of sync in Brain Daboll’s offense, and his timing with Matt Cassel needs work. Bowe has a lot ridding on this season, he’s likely headed for free agency next off-season and is in the running for Vincent Jackson type money.

While we should expect Bowe to have a Pro Bowl season by years end but if he has a poor showing early, it wouldn’t be the first time. Back in 2010, Bowe ripped off one of the more impressive seven game stretches I’ve seen from a receiver in the past twenty years of playing fantasy football.

That said, outside of a long touchdown bomb against the 49ers week three, he had a horrible first month of the season and many fantasy owners were asking me if they should trade him, or cut him all together!

Hopefully we won’t see Bowe start out the same way this year, but the writing is on the wall after a lengthy holdout through training camp. If you have a quality option on the bench, it might be a good idea to sit Bowe down and see how he looks during the game.

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Last Updated – Sep. 7th

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