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Lessons learned: NFL Week 1

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We've plotted and schemed for months getting reading for the fantasy football season.

After a Vikings-Saints appetizer on Thursday and a full menu of games on Sunday, we finally got to see the fruits of our labor. What did we learn?

Texans RB Arian Foster should have been the No. 1 fantasy pick. He rushed for 231 rushing yards and three TDs in a 34-24 win over the Colts, overshadowing RB Chris Johnson's "mediocre" 142 yards and two scores.

Patriots WR Wes "Sky" Welker is partially a robot. He nabbed eight catches for 64 yards and two scores just seven months after knee ligament surgery. In less surprising news, his Dark Side teammate WR Randy Moss ranted that he felt neglected in a post-game press conference.

Detroit is doomed. First, franchise QB Matthew Stafford left the game with a shoulder injury and then WR Calvin Johnson caught a go-ahead TD only to have it overturned because officially he didn't catch it (I'm still in the process of fully understanding that NFL rule). The Lions defense also made Mike Martz's Bears offense look high-flying again as RB Matt Forte amassed 201 total yards and two TDs while QB Jay Cutler did enough to secure a win (372 yards passing, two scores and one interception).

For at least one week, Seattle has two competent professional teams. The Seahawks stomped their rival 49ers, 31-6, and WNBA guard Sue Bird nailed a jumper with 2.6 seconds left to propel the Storm in Game 1 of the Finals. The Mariners still stink, however.

Philadelphians have an impending moral dilemma. QB Donovan McNabb looked strangely comfortable in Redskins red, leading his new team to a rare win over the Cowboys. Meanwhile, Eagles QB Michael Vick replaced concussion victim QB Kevin Kolb and played like his old self (he finished with 175 yards passing and ran for 103 in a close loss to the Packers). Come Week 4, when McNabb returns to the City of Brotherly Love, how will Eagles fans react? Will they boo the former face of their franchise and cheer for a convicted dog abuser? Get well soon, Kolb.

Buffalo QB Trent Edwards is too smart for football. The Stanford product had another miserable performance on Sunday against the Dolphins, amassing just 139 passing yards and one score. Edwards had a chance to be the hero with the Bills down by three and backed up to their 1-yard line with under two minutes remaining. But he didn't look like a man capable of leading a 99-yard game-winning drive, let alone one who could get his kicker close enough for a game-tying field goal. Perhaps it was his bright idea then for the Bills to take a safety to get better field position, which proved pointless as Edwards didn't get the ball back until 36 seconds left and at his own 20. The game ended, 15-10, after a 9-yard completion.

People still care about football in Jacksonville. The Jaguars sold out their home opener, thus avoiding a TV blackout, and loyal fans were rewarded with a 24-17 win over the Broncos. Fantasy afterthought QB David Garrard made an impact with three passing TDs while top pick RB Maurice Jones-Drew was steady but unspectacular (113 total yards and no scores). A bigger disappointment, however, was WR Mike Sims-Walker, who didn't catch a pass with CB Champ Bailey blanketing him. Second-year WR Mike Thomas is worth a look in deeper leagues as he caught six passes for 89 yards.