Now that your draft is over and you have poured over your roster, it is time to make your opening week lineup decisions. While some owners may have struck gold on draft day, others may be looking for a sneaky play that could pay big dividends in Week 1. Some of these players were probably not even drafted and can be found on your leagues waiver wire. Here is a look at a group of these players that most owners would not necessarily think about in their starting lineup, but these guys should have fine opening games.

Quarterbacks

Ryan Mallett QB Arkansas vs. Missouri State: This Michigan transfer should thrive in Bobby Petrino’s fantasy friendly offense and this will start the first week against a severely over matched Missouri State team. This game should be more like a scrimmage for the Razorbacks and I would expect them to let Mallett throw the ball all over the field. I could easily see 350 yards passing with 3-4 TD’s.

Zac Lee QB Nebraska vs. Florida Atlantic: The Huskers offense now belongs to Mr. Lee and it should get off to a nice start versus the Owls in Lincoln. This guy can throw the ball well and has the athleticism to cause some damage on the ground as well. With the recent dismissal of Quentin Castille, I think the passing game may be emphasized a bit more which should bode well for Zac. A game of 250 yards and 3 total TD’s is certainly within reach.

Kelly Page QB Ball State vs. North Texas: The Mean Green gave up roughly 275 yards passing yards per game and 34 TD passes in 2008 and I don’t see much improvement in 2009. This should prove to be a blessing for a QB making his 1st career start in Mr. Page. He has a good WR in Briggs Orsbon to help him ease into the position. I have a feeling that fantasy owners will like what they see from Page in Week 1.

Mike Kafka QB Northwestern vs. Towson: The Wildcats have tailored their offense to allow this QB to make plays for them with his great athletic ability. He showed his ability last year against Minnesota when he toted the rock for an incredible 217 yards. This ability will be on full display in Evanston against a Towson team that will have no answer for everything that Kafka will bring to the table. I am envisioning 300 total yards and 3 total TD’s.

Andrew Luck QB Stanford vs. Washington State: This red shirt freshman will begin his Cardinal career with a tilt against Pac-10 for Washington State. The Cougars are lousy and should prove to be a nice starting point for the Lucky one. This youngster had a huge spring game and showed he is ready to take the reigns of the Stanford offense. I can see 250 yards and 2-3 TD’s in his first collegiate start.

Running Backs

Moise Plancher RB USF vs. Wofford: With the suspension of Mike Ford for the first two games and the knee injury to Jamar Taylor, the door is wide open for Mo to put up some solid numbers in Week 1 against lowly Wofford. I could easily see 120 yards and 2 TD’s for this Bull on opening weekend.

Harrison Jeffers RB Texas Tech vs. North Dakota State: While the demise of Baron Batch looks to be a bit premature with the news that he could be back very soon, the Raiders opening tilt versus North Dakota should be good news for Mr. Jeffers. Even if Batch is healthy enough to play, I cannot see Leach risking him so I expect to see Harrison running up and down the field while the Baron stands in street clothes on the sideline.

Anthony Allen RB Georgia Tech vs. Jacksonville State: This bruising transfer from Louisville should see plenty of action in his first game for the Yellow Jackets. The running game will be churning out the yardage and scores against an outmatched Jacksonville State ball club. The big guy could very easily top 100 yards on the ground with 2 scores.

Daniel Thomas RB Kansas State vs. UMASS: This is a true leap of faith but Coach Snyder has been happy with what he has seen from Mr. Thomas and has already stated that he will be playing the RB position in 2009. This kid is a big back with a ton of athletic ability that should make more than his fair share of plays for the Wildcats this season. He could make his big splash the first weekend against a not so mighty UMASS team.

Terrell Edwards RB Marshall vs. Southern Illinois:The suspension of starting tailback Darius Marshall has paved the way for Edwards to start the first game against Southern Illinois. This sophomore as some nice size and has the opportunity to showcase his skills. He should find some nice running room at home versus the whimpering Salukis.

Wide Receivers

David Ausberry WR USC vs. San Jose State: The recent injury to Ronald Johnson should open the door for this highly talented wide out to slide right into a starting spot. The Trojans will use this game against the Spartans to make their freshman QB Matt Barkley comfortable and that should mean some passes headed the way of Mr. Ausberry. I could easily see a 100 yards and a TD in the opener.

Keith Smith WR Purdue vs. Toledo: While the Purdue offense may not be nearly what it used to be, its still a safe bet to say they will put up some points against the Rockets. It looks like Smith will be the main target for Joey Elliott this year and he should have plenty of chances to shine in a high scoring affair with Toledo. I can envision a nice stat line like 120 yards and a TD.

Jarred Fayson WR Illinois vs. Missouri: This transfer from Florida will make his debut in what should be a “defense optional” game against Mizzou. This kid is super talented and should be an integral part of the Illini offense right out of the gate. With superstar Arreluious Benn drawing a ton of attention from the defense, Fayson should find plenty of openings to show off his ability. I think fantasy owners might see a nice game out of Fayson with 100 total yards and a TD a very good possibility.

Defenses

Below is a list of some D’s that may not get much love normally but could make very nice starting options in Week 1. These defenses should all allow a low number of points against and should record a good number of sacks, interceptions, or TD’s.

Pittsburgh vs. Youngstown State
Northwestern vs. Towson
Michigan State vs. Montana State
West Virginia vs. Liberty
Oregon State vs. Portland State
Mississippi State vs. Jackson State
Virginia vs. William & Mary
Arkansas vs. Missouri State
Houston vs. Northwestern State
Kansas vs. Northern Colorado
Texas Tech vs. North Dakota State
Arkansas State vs. Mississippi Valley State
Louisville vs. Indiana State
Vanderbilt vs. West Carolina
Arizona State vs. Idaho State

While it may take some guts to throw any of these players into your opening week lineup, it could also pay off very nicely for your fantasy team. These early season games against weaker competition are often the proving grounds for new players to emerge and these players all have the ability to shine. If you feel like rolling the dice, you could do a lot worse than this list. Good luck in Week 1 fellas!