Featured Fantasy Football Article

Top 5 Surprises of week one

Here are five players who made surprisingly large contributions in Week One and could continue to pay fantasy dividends in the weeks to come:

1. Cadillac Williams — Written off by many after multiple knee injuries, Williams was stunningly effective in the Buccaneers' opener, rushing for 97 yards and a touchdown against the Cowboys, with an average of 7.5 yards per carry. In fantasy leagues, Cadillac has quickly gone from penny stock to dividend payer. A month ago, fantasy owners were wondering how the Buccaneers would divide the rushing duties between Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham. Williams, perceived by most as a nonfactor, had one solid preseason game but was still flying beneath the radar before Bucs head coach Raheem Morris announced that Williams would start in Week One. Now, health permitting (knock wood), it appears the Caddy will be a major factor in the Tampa running game, with Ward also contributing and Graham at least temporarily out of the picture.

2. Mike Bell — The ex-Bronco's 143-yard rushing day in Week One might not have been a complete shock to anyone who watched him run wild against the Texans in the preseason. And considering that Saints RB Pierre Thomas was sidelined, and that New Orleans had a favorable matchup against the Lions, Bell's numbers make some sense. But a 143-yard game was well beyond expectations, and Bell has undoubtedly carved out a role for himself in the high-powered New Orleans offense. Thomas will most likely be back this week, and Reggie Bush will still get a lot of work as a pass catcher and occasional runner, but Bell should continue to get his share of touches.

3. Patrick Crayton — The Crayton bandwagon had its fair share of passengers the last couple of seasons, but after rough rides, most of those passengers got off and started hitchhiking. In Week One of 2009, the engine finally turned over, and the bandwagon sped off, unburdened by the weight of so many riders. Crayton had four catches for 135 yards, including an 80-yard TD catch. The 80-yarder obviously padded the numbers, but Crayton has always shown flashes of big-time talent, and with Terrell Owens out of the picture, the Cowboys' receiving duties figure to be divided more democratically this year.

4. Nate Burleson — The Seattle passing game looked sharp in Week One, and Burleson was a major contributor, with seven catches for 74 yards and a TD. Burleson didn't get much attention in this year's fantasy drafts after a torn ACL wiped out his 2008 season, but he has a reasonable chance at his first 1,000-yard season since 2004, provided he stays healthy and QB Matt Hasselbeck does the same. WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh and TE John Carlson will draw a lot of defensive attention from Seattle's opponents this season, creating opportunities for Burleson.

5. Michael Bush — Teammate Darren McFadden was the sexier fantasy pick in this year's drafts, but it became clear in Week One that Bush will be a significant factor in the Oakland running game after he carried 12 times for 55 yards and a TD against San Diego. In Week 17 of last season, Bush ran for 177 yards and two TDs against the Buccaneers. Apparently that performance was overlooked by most fantasy owners, since Bush was either undrafted or a late-round pick in most leagues. He might not be an every-week fantasy starter, but Bush can be a capable bye-week fill-in and overall insurance policy.