In Week 1 of the Home Team Challenge, the free fantasy football game with great prizes on HoustonTexans.com, the winning player receives pregame sideline passes and club passes for the Week 3 contest at home against the Dallas Cowboys.
Remember to pick your new team each week, and don't forget there's an earlier deadline this time around, because the Vikings play at New Orleans on Thursday night.
There's no limit on who you can pick. If you want to construct a mega-team with the likes of Peyton Manning, Andre Johnson, Chris Johnson and every other high-rated player, go right ahead. This year's Home Team Challenge doesn't have a 300-point cap
Here's my guaranteed…you will win…and if you don't I'll mow your lawn for a year, fantasy advice, with a few players I like and a few players I don't.
Plus, if you don't like my advice, feel free to get in touch with Nick Scurfield: he had some Home Team Challenge success in 2009.
MORTAL LOCK
RB Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC (vs. DEN) The man nicknamed "Pocket Hercules" was good for 16 touchdowns and nearly 1,800 combined rushing/receiving yards in 2009. He's in the sweet spot of his career and it begins on Sunday afternoon at home against a Broncos defense that was top-10 last year, but due for a backslide in 2010.
AVOIDQB Brett Favre, MIN (@NOR) Father Time hasn't slowed Favre yet, but there's a great chance a Thursday evening meetup with the Saints' defense will. A tender ankle and a depleted Minnesota receiving corps won't help Favre either, so stay away from him when picking your team this year.
SLEEPER SPECIALWR Wes Welker, NE (vs. CIN) Normally, the guy who's finished near the top of the NFL leaderboard in receptions and yardage the past few seasons wouldn't qualify as a sleeper. But Welker's coming back from an ACL that he tore in the 2009 regular season finale against the Texans. Rehab went well, the "Slot Machine" played during the preseason and the Patriots open the 2010 campaign at home. Many are staying away from Welker because of his knee, but don't follow the herd. Be an individual and reap the rewards of a double-digit catch, high yardage, one-score game that Welker has dependably produced for the last few years.
TEXANS FANTASY STARTER OF THE WEEKQB Matt Schaub, HOU (vs. IND) Schaub was the NFL's passing yardage king in 2009 and looked to be in tune with his receivers this preseason. Another shootout with the Colts looms for Houston, so if you go with the Texans' triggerman, you'll likely see big numbers from Schaub on Sunday.
To register for the Home Team Challenge, click here.
*Make sure to set your lineups by Thursday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m. central.
