Grading SI Fantasy Predictions for Week 1

The start of the NFL Season marks the beginning of the Fantasy Football season. To capitalize on the FF buzz SI has started its own section, Fantasy Plus, to lure in readers by providing hints and predictions. There were many predictions, recommendations for starting and sitting, and sleepers or busts for Week 1 (W1) and these are my grades of each of those in a simple plus/minus format. There were 42 different predictions/recommendations and 22 received a plus for being accurate with one being borderline. SI's 'experts' got barely more than 50% of them correct. I would expect more.

Disclaimer: I don't play FF, so my understanding of the scoring systems are rudimentary. If I get something wrong let me know.

Predictions
Eli Manning will have more yards than Peyton
(-) Peyton outpassed Eli 276 to 247.
Colt’s will beat Giants barely
(+) Colts won 26-21 in a close game.
Lions’ RB Kevin Jones will not rush for 80 yards vs. Seattle
(+) Jones only had 35 yards rushing.
Jones will not be a factor in the 4th quarter
(?) hard to tell since he had so few yards but game was still close in the 4th.
Shaun Alexander will outrush Kevin Jones by 80 yards
(-) Alexander only had 51 yards rushing.
Alexander will sit much of 4th quarter
(-) not with a close game.
Fantasy Owners will scramble to pick up Houston RB Wali Lundy after W1
(-) not after 32 yds on 11 carries.
Fantasy Owners will scramble to pick up SF WR Antonio Bryant after W1
(+) 4 receptions for 114 yards.
Bears will shut out Packers and beginning of long year for Favre
(++) hard to pick a shutout and Favre didn’t look good.
Cowboys will shut out Jacksonville and will be start of good year for Dallas defense
(-) no dice when JAX wins.
Brian Westbrook, PHI, will show no ill effects from sprained foot
(+) 61 yards receiving and 71 yards rushing.
Donovan McNabb will be PHI star
(+) 314 yds passing, 3 TDs, 1 int.
Lee Evans will have 100 yards receiving vs Patriots
(-) not with 25 yds receiving
Evans’ yards will come in garbage time
(-) no garbage time in the 19 – 17 NE win.
Larry Fitzgerald, ARI, will have 100 yards receiving vs SF
(+) 133 yds receiving.
Anquan Boldin, ARI, will have 100 yards receiving vs. SF
(-) 62 yds receiving.
W1 Fantasy MVP will be Rudi Johnson, CIN, 140 yds & 3 TDs.
(-) there were better performers than 96 yds rushing and 1 TD, but still not bad.

Super Sleeper – Kurt Warner, ARI
(+) 301 yds passing, 3 TDs, 1 int
W1 Bust – Steve Smith, CAR
(+) Smith did not play.

Start ‘Em
Drew Bledsoe, DAL –
(-) 246 yds passing, 1 TD, 3 ints.
Willie Parker, PIT –
(+) 115 yds rushing, but no TDs.
Brian Westbrook, PHI –
(+) 61 yds receiving, 71 yds rushing,
Reggie Wayne, IND –
(-) 67 yds receiving, no TDs
Javon Walker, DEN –
(-) 3 for 41 yards, no TDs
Matt Stover, BAL –
(+) 2/2 FGs, 3/3 PATS
Thomas Jones, CHI –
(-) 21 rushes for 63 yds, no TDs.
Carson Palmer, CIN –
(-) 127 yds passing, no TDs
Reuben Droughns, CLE –
(-) 11 rushes for only 27 yds
Roy Williams, DET –
(-) 36 yds receiving, no TDs
Kellen Winslow, CLE –
(+) 63 yds receiving, 1 TD
PHI Defense –
(+) 10 points allowed, 208 yds passing, 70 yds rushing

Sit ‘Em
Daunte Culpepper, MIA –
(+) 262 yds passing, but no TDs and 2 ints.
Chris Simms, TB –
(+) 133 yds passing, 3 ints.
Ahman Green, GB –
(-) 110 yds rushing, no TDs
Willis McGahee, BUF –
(+) 70 yds rushing but no TDs.
Lamont Jordan, OAK --
(+) 20 yds rushing, noTDs.
Hines Ward, PIT –
(+) 53 yds receiving, no TDs
David Givens, TEN –
(+) 27 yds receiving, no TDs
Andre Johnson, HOU –
(-) 101 yds receiving, no TDs
Alex Smith, TB –
(+) 18 yds receiving, no TDs
Adam Vinatieri, IND –
(-) 4/4 FGs, 2/2 XPs
NY Giants Defense –
(+) 272 yds passing, 55 yds rushing, 26 points in loss, 1 int.