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These lesser-known players deserve to start this week due to matchup or other circumstances. This week’s picks include Alex Smith, Matthew Stafford, Jerome Harrison, Darren McFadden, and Malcom Floyd.

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After a long off-season of rehabilitation, New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker is returning for the 2010 season after shredding his knee. Although Welker plans on playing in Week 1, he doesn’t believe he’s back to 100 percent. “I still feel like I’m a long ways off from that personally,” Welker said. “People say it looks the same.I don’t feel the same. So I’m not gonna put a number on myself.” Welker never planned on sitting out games. He added, “For me, it was never a question. I wasn’t gonna sit out. It’s just not in me. I can’t do it.” FANTASY ANALYSIS: If Welker is healthy enough to play, it isn’t as though he can only walk gingerly. He can play competitively otherwise there’s no reason to have him on the field. Welker is returning from a serious injury and it will take time for him to rebuild his own confidence in himself and his body…

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If you watched the New York Giants during the preseason, it’s obvious whom their best running back was. Ahmad Bradshaw was just better than Brandon Jacobs. Better at getting through the hole, better at receiving, better at creating big plays. Overall, he was much more productive. So he started the Giants’ final preseason game Thursday night and it’s pretty much a lock that he’ll start week one versus Carolina.
It’s the best thing for the Giants. But it certainly doesn’t make Jacobs happy.
“It’s almost hard to stay positive in a situation like this, but that’s what I’ve got to do,” Jacobs told Jane McManus of ESPN New York.
“No one’s your friend in this business. This is a cutthroat, backstabbing business. That’s just the way it goes…

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It seems to be fate. Cleveland Browns running back Montario Hardesty endured injuries throughout his time at the University of Tennessee. He’s undergone surgeries on both knees, including an ACL operation in 2005. Then the rookie suffered a twisted knee and bone bruise just before the start of his first NFL training camp, which sidelined him for close to a month.
But going into Thursday’s preseason game versus the Chicago Bears, Hardesty was — gasp! — healthy. That lasted less than two quarters.
Hardesty injured his left leg making a cut in the second quarter of Thursday’s game. He told The Cleveland Plain Dealer that it may not be another knee injury, but he’s certainly discouraged. Hardesty left the locker room on crutches and with a full brace wrapped around his left knee. He will undergo an MRI on Friday to determine the extent of his injury…

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It seems that the chemistry that was developing rather rapidly earlier between Oakland Raiders’ Jason Campbell and Zach Miller in the preseason has continued to strengthen through each and every snap taken as opening day draws closer. Even Oakland’s coach, Tom Cable, has noticed. “There’s a comfort level there with both of them, whether it be in third down or the red zone,” Cable said. “Certainly Zach and Jason’s relationship is flourishing.”
Jason Campbell has been spoiled when it comes to the tight-end he has had the privilege of throwing to. After leaving the Redskins where he had Chris Cooley as a safety valve, it is as if nothing has changed as Cooley and Miller have very similar playing styles and skill sets…

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Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells probably wanted to see more than two carries Thursday night, but that’s all he got after injuring his knee. He suffered the injury after his second carry and came out of the game one play later. According to Darren Urban of the Cardinals’ official Web site, Wells’ upper shin was wrapped in ice. But the good news is that Beanie never went to the locker room and said after the game that he is fine.
Wells’ preseason ended after 26 carries, 75 yards, one touchdown and one lost fumble. Beanie’s main drain for carries, Tim Hightower, gained just seven yards on four carries Thursday. His rushing stats are better: 21 carries for 88 yards. FANTASY ANALYSIS: I’m a little worried about Beanie and it doesn’t have much to do with this new knee thing. It initially sounds like he’ll be good to go for week one…

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When Oakland Raiders running back Michael Bush fractured a thumb during a preseason game Saturday, no one really pushed the panic button. At worst, Bush seemed to be questionable for week one. Well, apparently Jerry McDonald of The Oakland Tribune has done some research and he thinks the Raiders will be without Bush for at least a month.
“Based on what information is available regarding the fractured thumb of running back Michael Bush, it’s highly unlikely he’d be ready to play in the opener and could miss up to a quarter of the season or more,” McDonald wrote Thursday.
McDonald also quoted an orthopedic surgeon who said that the best-case scenario time frame for someone to fully recover from “Bennett fracture” is four-to-six weeks.
FANTASY ANALYSIS: The Raiders were looking to trim down their running backs, but they may have to keep both Rock Cartwright and Michael Bennett…

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Although, fantasy football is difficult to predict from year to year, looking at last season’s stats with an eye on fantasy performance can shed some light on things. And, it may help owners avoid choosing the wrong guy on draft day.

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Looks like the guessing game of who will be the Pittsburgh Steelers’ week one starting quarterback won’t take a genius to solve. An agency that represents Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich posted on its Twitter account Thursday night that the QB tore his left MCL during the team’s preseason game versus Carolina.
Profootballtalk.com contacted a separate source with knowledge of the situation. That source said the extent of the damage to Leftwich’s knee is unknown, but “Whatever [the degree] is, it seems to be serious.”
Lefwich, who played immediately after Ben Roethlisberger on Thursday, was hurt early in the second quarter as he completed pass. Dennis Dixon came in after the play and threw a 23-yard touchdown pass, his only pass of the night, to end the drive.
Leftwich ended his night completing two of four passes for 46 yards…

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Last year T.J. Houshmandzadeh lead all Seattle Seahawks receivers, yet former NFL quarterback Brock Huard speculated on ESPN 710 AM that Houshmandzadeh may no longer be the ‘fit’ that the Seahawks need, as reported by Danny O’Neil of The Seattle Times.
Ideally, Houshmandzadeh is a slot receiver, and apparently, if he doesn’t ‘buy into that role’, the team could consider moving on. Houshmandzadeh is targeted more frequently in this scenario, but he is not as productive after the catch as the Seahawks would wish.

Of recent, T.J and Deion Branch have worked as the team’s starters, but wide receivers Golden Tate and Deon Butler have shown flashes. WR Mike X. Williams has also emerged during training camp.
In mid August Seattle offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates said wr T.J. Houshmandazeh has been very impressive in practice, as reported in The Seattle Times…

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