Wait, what's this? There's an actual NFL football game tonight? Believe it or not, yes there is.
I've been at PFW for a few months now, spending each day reading, writing and talking about the NFL. The funny thing is, there hasn't been one snap of pro football played during my tenure here. But all that changes tonight with the preseason opener between the Colts and the Redskins from Canton, Ohio (8 p.m. ET, NBC).
Like most early exhibition contests, this one might not be pretty to watch at times. Some offensive stars wil be sidelined — Peyton Manning for sure, and possibly Marvin Harrison and Clinton Portis — but there still will be some intriguing things to watch tonight from a fantasy perspective.
- How will QB Jason Campbell and the rest of the 'Skins offense look in their new West Coast system? We know it could take some time for the young QB to learn head coach Jim Zorn's playbook, so it'll be interesting to see how he's picked it up thus far.
- What's the progress of Washington's rookie pass catchers? The team took two receivers and a tight end in the second round of the draft, a statement that their receiving corps needs upgrading. If they all play, I'll be keeping a close eye on how WRs Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly and TE Fred Davis perform.
- How will the Colts' backfield shake down after Joseph Addai? We know Addai is set as the starter, but the team has a glut of RBs behind him on the depth chart. Dominic Rhodes and Kenton Keith both have proven to be decent fantasy options if given enough carries, and rookie Mike Hart was an absolute stud while at Michigan. Addai owners will want to know who to grab as a handcuff to their first-round investment, and tonight's game could shed some light on that issue.
- How big of an improvement has Anthony Gonzalez made entering Year Two? I've touted Gonzalez as a great sleeper all offseason, so I'm really interested to see if that looks like good advice or not. Granted, he'll be catching passes from Jim Sorgi and not Manning, so you can't put a ton of stock into his outing tonight.
