Week 1: Pickups of the Week

QB Marc Bulger, STL

The last time Bulger was consistently useful to fantasy owners was back in 2006 when he threw for 4301 yards and 24 touchdowns against only 8 interceptions. The Seahawks, his opponents in week one, could help him regain that form. In 2008, Seattle allowed opposing QBs to rack up 4149 yards and 25 touchdowns against only 9 interceptions. Bulger has thrown for more yards against Seattle than he has against any other team in his up-and-down seven year NFL career and will surely pad those numbers on opening day.

RB Cedric Benson, CIN

Bear with me here and please understand that Cedric Benson isn't someone I'd recommend lightly. There are good reasons he's been labeled a bust and you were probably right not to draft him; however, opportunity can make heroes of even the least likely candidates. Here's the case for the much-maligned Bengals back this week:

- He posted back-to-back 100+ yard games at the end of the 2008 season (171 against Cleveland, 111 against KC).

- He faces a team that gave up 26 rushing touchdowns and over 146 yards per game last year.

- He's got virtually no competition at all for the top spot in the Cincinnati backfield.

RB Ray Rice, BAL

Only Oakland and Detroit gave up more yardage on the ground last season than the Kansas City Chiefs. Rice has edged ahead of both McGahee and McClain on the Ravens' depth chart and should see plenty of success in week 1. The yardage is almost a given, but it'll be worth keeping an eye on who the Ravens turn to in short yardage situations. Rice is on top for now, but this is still a running-back-by-committee situation and it may take a few weeks to figure out the exact nature of the time-share.

RB Carnell Williams, TB

In a surprise move on Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved Cadillac Williams ahead of Derrick Ward and Ernest Graham on their depth chart. Most observers thought Ward had the inside track, while work-horse Graham would get change of pace consideration, but Williams is making a push to be relevant again. Dallas isn't the ideal environment to showcase the new RB hierarchy, but this latest development certainly has long term implications. It seems as though Tampa brass is confident about Williams' health -- more so than fantasy owners who have seen Cadillac stuck in the garage for the better parts of the last two NFL seasons.

WR Derrick Mason, BAL

Unretiring Mason offers just what this Ravens offense needs most: experience. Between Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams and Kelley Washington, the Ravens have tons of speed, youth and ability at wideout -- but no one who can carry an offense and provide steady production. Over his 12-year career, Mason has played eight seasons in which he averaged at least 50 yards per game. The other three receivers have one such season between them. Mason will lead by example and help steady a talented, but largely unproven corps of WRs. He's a solid bet to put up big numbers against the Kansas City Chiefs' defensive backs, who also suffer from a dearth of NFL experience.