Ed Barkowitz: Pros know Kolb is solid choice for fantasy players

ANDY REID IS confident that Kevin Kolb is ready to be a real good NFL quarterback, and fantasy football players are buying it.

The Sporting News leagues have Kolb being selected somewhere around pick No. 68, which puts him right between the eighth and 12th quarterback taken. Kolb's average draft position is higher than Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, Brett Favre and Matt Ryan. Not bad for a kid who is coming into the season having made only two starts.

"I'm excited about where I got him in the draft," said Minnesota Twins first baseman/outfielder Michael Cuddyer.. "We have a 16-team league and I couldn't get a 'top-tier' guy - as the professionals like to say - but where I got him, I was thrilled that he was on the board. I grabbed him pretty quick."

Cuddyer is part of the CBSSports.com MLB Players Fantasy Football League and grabbed Kolb in the fourth round, No. 54 overall. Among those also on the board were Eli Manning and Jay Cutler.

"I believe in [the Eagles] receivers more than the Bears or the Giants or teams like that," he said. "With the two games he started last year, when he pretty much set the world on fire, I was excited about that. When you are willing to trade [Donovan McNabb] to make room for the heir apparent, something's gotta be good."

Cuddyer passed on Eagles running back LeSean McCoy and took Clinton Portis in the third round, hoping Kolb would be there in the fourth.

"For my strategy, I don't like taking the quarterback and running back from the same team," said Cuddyer, who is hitting .273 for the first-place Twins. "I feel like one of them is going to have a good day and the other won't do as well as I hope."

When asked on Wednesday about the challenges of being a first-year starter, Kolb answered flatly, "I'm very prepared," he said. "We're very prepared."

Let's keep it right here and give a prized Daily News fantasy football T-shirt out to whoever comes closest to predicting how many passing yards Kevin Kolb will register Sunday. In case of a tie, one winner will be chosen at random.

Send an e-mail to fantasyfootball@phillynews.com or a fax to 215-854-5524 by 4 p.m. Sunday. One entry per customer, please. Include your name and hometown.

Quarterbacks: In the infamous final two games against Dallas last year, Washington's Donovan McNabb threw for 223 and 230 yards respectively and a total of one touchdown and one interception for the Eagles . . . Pittsburgh's Dennis Dixon might be a better option this week. Ditto for San Fran's Alex Smith . . . Atlanta's Matt Ryan , who faces the Steelers, is 6-2 against AFC teams with 11 touchdown passes and one interception . . . Most stinging line so far involving Tom Brady's car accident yesterday was that it was the worst drive the Patriots have seen since the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 39. Runner-up is that Rex Ryan was driving the other car. Regardless, Brady will start Sunday against Cincinnati . . . A little nervous for San Diego's Philip Rivers this week. Brandyn Dombrowski is filling in for holdout Marcus McNeill at left tackle and going up against Kansas City's Tamba Hali.

Running backs: Looks as if patience will be required for Maurice Jones-Drew owners. He will continue to grab rest whenever possible after his career-high 312 carries for the Jaguars last season. Keep him in the lineup even though he may occasionally miss practice and be sure to have backup Rashad Jennings on speed-dial . . . Fred Taylor, 34, is the Patriots running back to have. Though with New England opening against Cincy and the Jets, the earliest he should be in a lineup is Week 3. Of course, he might be hurt by then . . . Chicago's Matt Forte has run for 100 yards in his last three games against the Lions. Then again, Matt Damon could probably get a hundred against Detroit. Still, Forte is a decent RB2 this week . . . The Seahawks will use Justin Forsett to return punts, which makes you wonder how many rushing attempts Seattle has in mind for him.

Wide receivers: Put Denver's Eric Decker on the sleeper watch for deeper leagues. The 6-3 rookie was nagged by an ankle injury in camp, but could be a red-zone option as he continues to pick up the offense . . . Good to see Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald (knee) back at practice. Insert him in your lineup and pray for quarterback Derek Anderson . . . Carolina opens the Giants' new stadium in the battle of Steve Smiths . New York might be looking for a little revenge after getting drilled 41-9 in Week 16 last year. Like Hakeem Nicks as a WR3 this week . . . This is a big week for Tampa Bay rookie Mike Williams . The Bucs host Cleveland, and Williams should have a chance to post some decent numbers.

Tight end: Houston's Owen Daniels (knee) is still not 100 percent and should remain on the fantasy bench. Indianapolis, the Texans' opponent, gave up the fewest yards to tight ends last season.

WEEKLY RANKINGS (Based on projected production for Week 1)

QUARTERBACKS

1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers at Eagles

2. Peyton Manning, Colts at Texans

3. Drew Brees, Saints *vs. Vikings

4. Matt Schaub, Texans vs. Colts

5. Brett Favre, Vikings *at Saints

6. Tony Romo, Cowboys at Redskins

7. Tom Brady, Patriots vs. Bengals

8. Philip Rivers, Chargers at Chiefs

9. Eli Manning, Giants vs. Panthers

10. Alex Smith, 49ers at Seahawks

11. Matt Ryan, Falcons at Steelers

12. Kevin Kolb, Eagles vs. Packers

13. Carson Palmer, Bengals at Patriots

14. Jay Cutler, Bears vs. Lions

15. Matt Stafford, Lions at Bears

RUNNING BACKS

1. Adrian Peterson, Vikings *at Saints

2. Chris Johnson, Titans vs. Raiders

3. Michael Turner, Falcons at Steelers

4. Frank Gore, 49ers at Seahawks

5. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars vs. Broncos

6. Ray Rice, Ravens at Jets

7. Steven Jackson, Rams vs. Cardinals

8. Ryan Grant, Packers at Eagles

9. Ryan Mathews, Chargers at Chiefs

10. Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers vs. Falcons

11. LeSean McCoy, Eagles vs. Packers

12. Shonn Greene, Jets vs. Ravens

13. Pierre Thomas, Saints *vs. Vikings

14. Cedric Benson, Bengals at Patriots

15. Ronnie Brown, Dolphins at Bills

16. DeAngelo Williams, Panthers at N.Y. Giants

17. Arian Foster, Texans vs. Colts

18. Matt Forte, Bears vs. Lions

19. K. Moreno, Broncos at Jaguars

20. C.J. Spiller, Bills vs. Dolphins

21. Jahvid Best, Lions at Bears

22. Joseph Addai, Colts at Texans

23. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs vs. Chargers

24. J. Harrison, Browns at Bucs

25. Cadillac Williams, Bucs vs. Browns

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS

1. Andre Johnson, Texans vs. Colts

2. Calvin Johnson, Lions at Bears

3. Miles Austin, Cowboys at Redskins

4. Roddy White, Falcons at Steelers

5. Randy Moss, Patriots vs. Bengals

6. Brandon Marshall, Dolphins at Bills

7. Reggie Wayne, Colts at Texans

8. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals at Rams

9. DeSean Jackson, Eagles vs. Packers

10. Percy Harvin, Vikings *at Saints

11. Steve Smith, Giants vs. Panthers

12. Greg Jennings, Packers at Eagles

13. Marques Colston, Saints *vs. Vikings

14. Steve Smith, Panthers at Giants

15. Malcom Floyd, Chargers at Chiefs

16. Jermichael Finley, Packers at Eagles

17. Donald Driver, Packers at Eagles

18. Dallas Clark, Colts at Texans

19. Antonio Gates, Chargers at Chiefs

20. Mike Wallace, Steelers vs. Falcons

21. Vernon Davis, 49ers at Seahawks

22. Pierre Garcon, Colts at Texans

23. Jason Witten, Cowboys at Redskins

24. Michael Crabtree, 49ers at Seahawks

25. Hakeem Nicks, Giants vs. Panthers

26. Chad Ochocinco, Bengals at Patriots

27. Mike Williams, Buccaneers vs. Browns

28. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles vs. Packers

29. Visanthe Shiancoe, Vikings *at Saints

30. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons at Steelers

31. Johnny Knox, Bears vs. Lions

32. Zach Miller, Raiders at Titans

33. Anquan Boldin, Ravens at Jets

34. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs vs. Chargers

35. Brent Celek, Eagles vs. Packers

36. Hines Ward, Steelers vs. Falcons

37. Jacoby Jones, Texans vs. Colts

38. Kellen Winslow, Bucs vs. Browns

39. Dez Bryant, Cowboys at Redskins

40. Steve Breaston, Cardinals at Rams

*Played last night.

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Ed Barkowitz, who is worried that he made a mistake by taking Steven Jackson ahead of Ryan Mathews in one of his drafts, has been writing about fantasy football for the Daily News since 2001.