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Must Start
1. Antonio Gates vs. Min- Gates will eat the middle of the Vikings secondary alive on opening day. The top fantasy football TE again in 2011.
2. Jermichael Finley vs. NO- Aaron Rodgers favorite option is back and Finley will be prominent on Thursday night.
3. Jason Witten vs. NYJ- The Cowboys figure to have more success targeting the middle of the field than the outside vs. the Jets.
4. Owen Daniels vs. Ind- He will be a solid contributor against the Colts.
Next
Vernon Davis vs. Seahawks- Jim Harbaugh will have multiple plays drawn up to involve his speedy TE early and often.
Jimmy Graham vs. GB- Drew Brees loved throwing Graham’s way so much that it made Jeremy Shockey expendable in the off season. Expect Graham to play big on Thursday.
Zach Miller vs. SF- The Seahawks are breaking in a number of new players on offense and Tavaris Jackson will target his new TE often.
The Rest
Kellen Winslow Jr vs. Det- Freeman may need to get rid of the ball early against a tough Lions pass rush. Winslow will benefit greatly in this scenario.
Dustin Keller vs. Dal- The Cowboys LB’ers and Safety’s will have trouble staying with him.
Greg Olsen vs. Arz- Rookie Cam Newtown will be throwing to his safety valve often this season.
Dallas Clark vs. Hou- If Peyton Manning is back, Clark’s top 3. If Collins gets the call, he’s fine down here.
Aaron Hernandez vs. Mia – He was targeted most frequently by Tom Brady in the pre-season and we like him best of the Patriots’ TEs in Week 1.
Mercedes Lewis vs. Ten – Lewis will be prominent in the Jags passing game. Look for a red zone score on Sunday.
Tony Gonzalez vs. Chi- Tony G will still be an effective fantasy player near the end zone.
Visanthe Shiancoe vs. SD- McNabb has always targeted his TE over his career.
Chris Cooley vs. NYG- The Skins will try and exploit the middle of the field vs. New York.
Lance Kendricks vs. Phi – The rookie TE will be used against the Eagles heavily on Sunday. The middle of Philly’s defense is a weakness.
Fantasy Sleeper
Brandon Pettigrew vs. TB- A healthy Matt Stafford could be a boon for Pettigrew. Look for him to be an excellent fantasy sleeper in Week 1 and find a ton of success working the middle of the field.
