Seems Like Forever...

...since we had something meaningful to talk about. The injury updates and the transfer extravaganga have been good reading in the meantime (we hope) but having a two week break for Internationals after just 10 days of games was tough to take.

Now, on to the next thing that's tough to take - Yahoo not having the new players posted...I have a message in to my contact there so hopefully, there will be at least an update if not an actual resolution. Come on guys, you have players just DYING to get Anelka, Kuyt, Martins, Baptista, and Kanu into their line-ups.

So, while we wait for that along with tomorrow's injury report, here is my initial thinking on putting together my squad for the week...

Chelsea - The champions are home to a Charlton squad that have, as is there habit, been better than expected in the early going. That said, you'd have to give them almost zero chance of pulling out a win here. The big questions really revolve - as always - around the Chelsea newbies...Will Ashley Cole (who is cheap) start? If so, he's in. Is Ballack ready to contriubute after a lackluster debut? Will Sheva (finally) look like he's worth all the money? Will Kalou or Drogba start opposite Sheva? That's about it for the bargains. Of course Cech, Terry, and Lamps are excellent bets if you're willing to pay. We'll wait for tomorrow for a ruling on the Cole issue (although I have to think he'll start - sorry, Wayne). As for the two high-profile signings, they're both highly likely to make my line-up unless Yahoo gets the new guys into the system. I think I'm going to follow my own advice from last year and stay away from the #2 striker rotation now that Kalou looks to be replacing Crespo as the person cutting into Drogba's fantasy points. I'm still in on Lampard but I think I can do better with the money than Cech and Terry.

The Race for the Champions League - Well, this category is in a state of flux with Spurs and Arsenal stumbling out of the gate so far. For now, we'll assume that both are just anomolies but the situation deserves to be monitored. Unfortunately for Spurs, things don't get any easier with a trip to Old Trafford to visit red hot Manchester United. In my mind, this diminishes the value of the players on both squads. Especially the defenders from both teams and the Spurs attacking players. This looks like a 2-1 match to the Red Devils. Regardless of the exact outcome, I rate the chances of either side getting a clean sheet as low which immediately devalues both keepers and the defenders, especially the expensive ones. Throw in Rooney's continued absence and you have Saha as the only true value pick here. Giggs and Ronaldo are still valuable but they're expensive and you'd better have a feel about one or the other to choose them against Spurs. Berbatov and Assou-Ekotto are not terribly attractive given Berbatov's injury and the match-up. Malbranque is unlikely to be fit and Chimbonda will have his hands full with United's midfield. One final note, please remember that while United have been hot in winning their first three matches they haven't really played anyone...

Just as fantasy owners should be on alert because United and Spurs are going into a tough match, they should be equally aware of Liverpool as they head down the road for an away derby match at Everton. The high emotion (and Everton's relatively bright start) should increase the chances of an upset as well as the probability of yellow cards being more plentiful than goals. Of the players I would ordinarily consider from this match - Gerrard, Kuyt, Aurellia, Howard, and AJ - I'm really only considering Gerrard and Howard and I'm only considering Howard because I have him for cheap already. Kuyt isn't available on the system but if he came available in the next 24 hours or so, I'd think about it but would probably wait until next week. That really only leaves Gerrard and he's still expensive so you'd better be pretty sure since it means you'll have to scrimp somewhere else (wouldn't you rather go Terry and a midfield at 12 with a better match-up?).

Finally, we get to Arsenal. What to do with the Gunners? Yet another midfielder/second striker for the potential rotation in Baptista further devalues just about everyone except Henry and Cesc who seem like the only no-doubt-about-it first choice players in either midfield or attack. The big question you have to ask yourself is whether you're ready to bite on Henry and are willing to gut your squad to do it. With Boro struggling in defense, this might be a good week to bet on a Gunners outburst. Do remember though that you'll have to figure something else out next weekend as Henry heads to Old Trafford. I'm thinking I'll stay away this week despite the fact that I'm guessing Henry will score at least one and have an excellent fantasy weekend. Honestly, Rosicky is the only Gunner I'm really considering seriously. If I have some extra money, I might invest it in Eboue in the back - especially if Cole isn't a sure thing. On the Boro side, Downing and Yakubu are really the only two guys worth giving much consideration to with Downing being the low risk option likely to get you about 10 points but unlikely to get you more than 12. Yakubu is always a boom or bust pick and, frankly, there are plenty of options that are more attractive in my mind - especially for the money.

The Relegation Battle - Watford head to Bolton in a match-up that only matters a) if you're on the Ashley Young bandwagon (which I'm still on) and b) if they post Anelka. If they post Anelka, he's going right into my line-up against the Premiership newbies (I need to replace Berbatov who is both banged up and playing at ManYoo). Marlon King is obviously Premiership quality but the Bolton match-up doesn't make this the weekend where I'm going to give him a try.

Reading have the Monday Night match-up at home against a Manchester City team that is clearly in transition. The biggest problem here is that Reading are in something of a crisis at striker with Lita's arrest and the injury to Kitson leaving Doyle as the only established striker. The more I write about this, the more it looks like it's going to be a freakin' mess. I'd stay away from anyone other than Joey Barton who I'd rate as an above-average but not fantastic pick. If you really need two from this match Nicky Weaver might be a good bet as well.

Fulham are quickly distancing themselves from this category as they look better than the sum of their parts in the early going. The trip to St. James' Park should be an interesting match-up, especially now that Newcastle have two healthy strikers to line-up. Assuming Yahoo doesn't get Anelka, Kuyt, et al posted Rossi is likely to replace Berbatov in my line-up. Throw in the fact that Bullard will be facing a NUFC backline that wasn't improved during the transfer window means he's one to keep in your lineup. Not too much else to like here unless Martins gets posted or you want to take a relatively high-priced risk on Duffman, Milner or Nobby (none of which I'm willing to do).

Finally, we have Sheffield United hosting Rovers - is this the week that MGP finally breaks out? Certainly the match-up makes it possible and Benni McCarthy looked good against Chelsea so defenders will likely start to pay him more attention which will help Bentley (who has also looked good on the right) and MGP on the wings. If it looks like Rossi isn't going to start, McCarthy is likely my Berbatov replacement (again, presuming the new guys aren't posted). Rovers defenders are pretty expensive (and prone to yellow cards) so despite the good match-up, I'm going to stay away. Not much on the Blades side of the ball to consider.

And The Rest - Perhaps the two best stories of the season so far - West Ham (for their acquisitions) and Villa (for their fast start with minimal talent) face off at Upton Park. The early rumors were that Tevez and Maschereno won't play until the mid-week UEFA Cup match which is probably good since fantasy owners will want to get in early on these guys. It is less likely that Villa newboy Stiliyan Petrov will wait for Yahoo's technical issues to work themselvs out for his debut. As a result, the most interesting options for fantasy owners are Zamora and Angel who have both been hot at the start of the season. As Jeremy rightly pointed out, West Ham haven't kept a clean sheet in ages so while I love Konchesky's offensive skills he is only an OK choice this week given Villa's performances so far.

Finally, the third great story of the year so far Pompey are hosting Wigan at Fratton Park. Matt Taylor owners have to be questioning their choice to spend a lot of money until they see their points from last week - if you think he'll get his points eventually (which I do) then he's still a good bet even at the elevated price. Kanu is still unavailable almost guaranteeing that he won't score another goal after he finally does hit the fantasy board. David James is a pretty good bet given Pompey's no-goals-allowed defensive showing so far and a reasonable price. Stefanovich is also a low-budget option - he doesn't do much on offense but with another clean sheet very do-able against Wigan he might get you another 8-9 points for a low budget number.