Thursday outlook

Enough of this preseason crap ... let's play some real football!

Saints-Colts seems like a heck of a way to kick off the 2007 season. It's one of those dream matchups for fantasy nerds like myself thanks to all the skill players involved. Here are some thoughts ....

• You want to start pretty much everybody involved in this one. Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, Joseph Addai and Reggie Bush are all obvious must-starts ... if you didn't already know that, you're pretty much hopeless.

• Marques Colston has been hampered by injuries since last year, and there's a little uncertainty surrounding him this year since he hasn't gotten much preseason work. He's also just a second-year guy who won't have the benefit of being an unknown like last year (anybody who owned Michael Clayton in 2005 is nodding their head in agreement right now). Defenses will be waiting for him. There will be a lot of pressure on him.

With all that being said, I'd start him this week unless you're super stacked at WR. This game has "track meet" written all over it, and until he does something to fall out of that second tier of fantasy's top receivers, he deserves to be in your lineup.

• Deuce McAllister is a pretty good option too, depending on your league size and your roster depth. He could be a No. 2 or a No. 3 fantasy tailback right now depending on your situation, but this seems like a pretty favorable matchup against a defense that looks downgraded from last year's and should struggle against the run. I think Deuce will be used basically the same as he was last year while sharing the load with Bush, which makes him a nice play.

• As for the tight ends, Dallas Clark might do something, but he can be kind of hit or miss. There are probably better options out there unless you're in a really deep league. And while I like Eric Johnson as a sleeper this year for the Saints, it's too early to play him unless you're really thin. I'm interested to see how New Orleans uses him in the early going.

• Devery Henderson and Anthony Gonzalez are fringe fantasy players right now. Although it's a favorable matchup for both, they're more like bye week fill-ins rather than starters this early in the season.