Key Matchup
Thursday afternoon’s pitching matchup between Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester and New York Yankees starting pitcher Mike Mussina should be interesting. On the year, Lester is 12-5 with 116 strikeouts and a 3.49 ERA. In two starts against the Yankees this season, he’s 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA and a .241 opponents’ batting average in 16 innings. His last start at Yankee Stadium was a five-hit complete game shutout.

On the year, Mussina is 16-7 with 109 whiffs and a 3.45 ERA. In three starts against the Red Sox this season, he’s 1-2 with a 5.52 ERA and a .333 opponents’ batting average in 14 2/3 innings of work. Inside Yankee Stadium this season, Mussina is 10-6 in 17 starts with a 3.51 ERA.

Hottest Hitter
Over his last 10 contests, Sox outfielder Jason Bay has gone 14-for-40 (.350) with three dingers, nine RBIs, seven runs scored and two stolen bases. In 25 career Yankee Stadium at-bats, Bay has hit .200 with one home run, two RBIs and one run scored. It should be interesting to see how Bay embraces baseball’s greatest rivalry, especially as a member of the Red Sox.

1.)   San Diego Chargers (DEF)
The Chargers finished fifth amongst National Football League defenses last year in points allowed per game (17.8) and sacks (42). Plus, they were first in interceptions (30) and tied for third with five defensive touchdowns. The dominant presence of linebackers Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips will resonate a feeling of cold fear through the bellies of opposing offenses all season. The Chargers should once again be one of the fiercest defensive units in the game.

2.)   Minnesota Vikings (DEF)
Minnesota sported the league’s stingiest run defense last year while allowing a paltry 74.1 yards per game to opposing ground attacks. Plus, they forced 21 fumbles, which placed them tied for second amongst NFL squads. In addition, they scored a league leading eight defensive touchdowns. The presence of newly acquired defensive end Jared Allen and his 15.5 sacks from last year with the potent mixture of defensive linemen Kevin Williams and Pat Williams pits Minnesota’s defense in an esteemed seat amongst NFL teams. They are one of the safest grabs in fantasy.

3.)   New England Patriots (DEF)
The Patriots finished fourth amongst NFL squads last season in points conceded per game (17.1) and total yards allowed per game (288.3). Plus, they were tied for second in defensive scores (six) and finished second in sacks (47). They are anchored by the likes of defensive lineman Richard Seymour and linebackers Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas. The addition of rookie linebacker Jerod Mayo will prove to be vitally important and the mixture of safeties Rodney Harrison and John Lynch should be electric. Expect the Patriots to be atop the league in all defensive categories once again this season.

1.) Nick Folk (K) – Dallas Cowboys
I’m a huge fan of Folk, his bionic leg was the deciding factor in two of my leagues last season, which gives proof to the fact that kickers do matter. Last season, Folk nailed 26-of-31 field goal attempts and hit 9-of-12 from 40-plus yards. The 23-year-old University of Arizona alum is a mentally sound athlete, which is a crucial trait for a kicker on a team that scores at the pace the Cowboys do. Also keep in mind that he converted 53-of-53 PATs, which is a testament to his accuracy, consistency and demeanor.

2.) Stephen Gostkowski (K) – New England Patriots
The key to garnishing your roster with the perfect kicker is to draft a guy on a team that either scores a ton or consistently gets stopped in the red zone. Last year, Gostkowski converted 21-of-24 field goal attempts and was 3-of-5 from 40-49 yards. He nailed 74-of-74 PATs and was second amongst National Football League kickers with 137 points. He has sufficiently replaced former Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri admirably and should continue to mature under a system that will continue to utilize his leg on a regular basis.

3.) Adam Vinatieri (K) – Indianapolis Colts
With his 118-point showing in 2007, Vinatieri ran his streak of 100 or more points to 12 consecutive seasons. Last year, he converted 23-of-29 field goal attempts and nailed 49-of-51 PATs. However, in three attempts from 40 or more yards, Vinatieri laid a fat goose egg, which is worrisome since he was 9-of-11 from 40 or more yards during the 2006 campaign. Vinatieri is once again one of the safest bets in the kicking industry; draft him with utmost confidence even though he’s a traitor to the hometown garb.

Key Matchup
Starting pitcher Charlie Zink’s Red Sox debut pits him against Texas Rangers starting pitcher Scott Feldman. On the year for the Pawtucket Red Sox, Zink was 13-4 with a 2.89 ERA in 25 starts. Zink is a 28-year-old knuckleballer that has worked his tail off over his career to get to this point. He provides a bit more velocity on all of his pitches than resident knuckleballer Tim Wakefield exhibits and sports a slightly different knuckleball trajectory.

Feldman is a 25-year-old right-hander who has four years of major league experience, but just began starting this season. In 20 appearances (18 starts) this year, he is 4-5 with a 4.82 ERA. Over his last four starts, he’s 1-2 with a 4.07 ERA in 24 1/3 innings. In four career appearances against the Sox, he sports a 1.35 ERA in 6 2/3 innings.

It will be interesting to see how the mashing offense of the Rangers does against Zink’s dancing knuckleball. On the flip side, I’ll be quite surprised if the Sox don’t crank at least two dingers off Feldman, he has allowed 16 on the year.

Hottest Hitter
I can’t help but glimmer with elation over outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury’s recent success. Over his last five games, the 24-year-old speedster has gone 10-for-19 (.526) with two home runs, six RBIs, five runs scored and three stolen bases. In 24 career at-bats against the Rangers, he’s 9-for-24 (.375) with nine runs scored and five stolen bases. Expect to see Ellsbury continue his success, he has hit .359 in 128 career August and September at-bats combined.

Key Matchup:
Saturday night’s tilt between Red Sox starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka and White Sox starting pitcher Jose Contreras (elbow) should be an epic battle of control or lack thereof. In one career start against Chicago, “Dice-K” got roughed up for three earned runs on two hits in five innings of work. He also walked six batters en route to the loss. But as evidenced by his 12-2 record this season, the past is the past and Dice-K is maturing. On the road this season, Matsuzaka is 5-0 with a 2.20 ERA and a .158 opponents’ batting average in 45 innings of work. Matsuzaka has finally adopted the form that saw him garner so much praise upon his arrival in the United States. His only flaw is his inability to realize that this isn’t Japan anymore and players here aren’t going to swing at the stuff that made him look like a god overseas. The Sox are on a roll as of late and Matsuzaka has been one of their main catalysts. He’s a great pitcher that is only scratching the surface of what he could do in Major League Baseball.

1.) Jason Witten (TE) – Dallas Cowboys
In 2007, Witten finished second amongst National Football League tight ends with career highs in receptions (96) and receiving yards (1,145). He also added a career-high seven touchdown grabs. Witten is a determined pass-catcher that isn’t afraid to play smashmouth football, and opposing secondaries know it. Last season, Witten caught six or more passes 10 times and notched 100-plus receiving yards on four occasions. In my mind, he has officially taken the crown from tight end king Antonio Gates, so to expect anything less than a stellar year from Witten would be foolish on your part. Draft the 6-foot-5, 265-pound bruiser with confidence, because Dallas quarterback Tony Romo loves him and won’t hesitate to throw his way 15-20 times a game if he has to.

2.) Antonio Gates (TE) – San Diego Chargers
Unfortunately for Gates, the surgery he had on his toe in late February will likely keep him off the practice field for most of training camp. However, word out of San Diego is that Gates is adamant about playing in the season opener against the Carolina Panthers. There is no doubt that Gates will slip in drafts this season due to his ailing toe, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use an early draft pick on the 6-foot-4, 260-pound superstar. In four consecutive seasons, Gates has recorded 900-plus receiving yards and at least nine touchdown grabs. Although Gates’ reception totals have been down over his last two campaigns, his presence in the red zone is still legendary. Plus, with quarterback Philip Rivers feeling better, a healthy LaDainian Tomlinson and wide receiver Chris Chambers in the mix, Gates’ presence on the field and on fantasy rosters should loom larger than ever.

Key Matchup:
Friday night’s matchup between Red Sox starting pitcher Tim Wakefield and Oakland starting pitcher Justin Duchscherer presents itself as a very intriguing clash. In 36 career appearances (25 starts) against the Athletics, Wakefield is 9-6 with a 4.32 ERA in 179 1/3 innings of work. This season, he conceded eight earned runs on eight hits in five innings to take the loss in his only start against them. However, over his last 10 starts this season, the crafty knuckleballer is 3-3 with a 3.19 ERA in 67 2/3 innings. The Sox must get back on track here, so hopefully the immortal Wakefield can steer them in the right direction.

On the year, Duchscherer is 10-7 with 76 strikeouts, 28 walks and a 2.37 ERA in 121 2/3 innings. In 10 career appearances inside Fenway Park, he’s 1-0 with 20 strikeouts, three walks and a 1.10 ERA in 16 1/3 innings. In one start against the Sox this season, albeit in Oakland, Duchscherer recorded the win while allowing no runs in eight innings of one-hit ball. Although the 6-foot-2, 201-pound right-hander surrendered eight earned runs on nine hits against the Texas Rangers during his last outing, he’s still 6-3 with a 2.43 ERA over his last 10 starts in 74 innings of work. This is a must-win game for the beleaguered Sox, so hopefully their sleeping bats can awake and recreate the turmoil that Texas put Duchscherer through during his last outing.