RGIII was superb in his NFL debut. (USP)

Go ahead and throw yourself into oncoming traffic, jump out of an airplane without a parachute and purposely fall into a den of voracious lions wearing nothing but antelope steaks.

Yep, the season of overreaction has officially arrived. There's no point in living.

To kneejerkers, one quarter of the first preseason game is enough evidence to draw outlandish conclusions. This player is destined for greatness. That one is doomed to fail. Everyone is guilty of doing it. Take this exuberant Yahoo! commenter for example:

You're right, "Living Legend," Mathews is done. Stick a fork in him. Future first-ballot Hall of Famers Le'Ron McClain and Ronnie Brown are far superior talents. Heck, Curtis Brinkley should be ahead of the busted back on the depth-chart. Dude should just live out the rest of his pathetic days playing bridge in a double-wide at Shady Acres Retirement Park. His eighth-best overall finish among RBs down the stretch last year (Last five weeks) and fantasy friendly setup are completely ignorable.

And Ronnie Hillman, who John Elway recently compared to Darren Sproles, is completely worthless. His hamstring strain that forced him out of action against Chicago will plague him for the rest of eternity. He might as well amputate his leg to permanently quell the pain. There's simply no reason to walk anymore. His long-toothed teammate, Willis McGahee, is slated for a career year at age 30. And Lance Ball is the second-coming of Terrell Davis. The resemblances are uncanny…

Again, a few already have it all figured out.

Roethlisberger tight spirals should split the 8 and 4 often this year. (USP)

See Also: QB Primer

Imagine you're on a revamped version of the hit game show "Pyramid." For the past 25 minutes you've selected wittily titled categories, dominated the board and stacked cash. Now onto the final round with your celebrity partner, 80s favorite TV alien Alf, you confidently strut over to the Winner's Circle, plop down in the chair and focus on the task at hand. Uncover the answers quickly, and those calf implants you've always wanted could finally become a reality.

As the clock ticks down, you quickly climb toward the $100,000 prize, correctly nailing subjects from mountain ranges to artists on Death Row Records. Finally, you reach the top. From his cat-breathed mouth Alf spews the final clues: "The Grand Canyon. Warren Buffet's pockets. Mark Trumbo home runs. Usain Bolt's resume of Olympic conquests. …"

You struggle.

The clock inches closer to zero.

With seconds to spare, your furry friend utters one last nugget: "Fantasy football wide receivers in 2012."

Synapses fire. A sense of unparalleled confidence overtakes. You respond: "Things that are deep."

Winner, winner, chicken dinner. …

The Noise feels your pain, kid. (USP)

Grief-stricken.

That's exactly how the Noise currently feels.

Only 10 days into August, some things, evidently, never change. Ryan Mathews and Michael Vick didn't survive their brief preseason appearances. The latter escaped with just a bruise, while the former, well, you know how his post-game examination went. Equally disconcerting, popular WR sleeper Torrey Smith is expected to miss a few weeks after he wrenched an ankle. And, announced earlier this week, Trent Richardson, who gained significant steam of late, is out of action for the next 2-4 weeks after undergoing a clean-up procedure on his left knee.

Damn you insatiable injury imp. Damn you.

On this week's somber episode, Andy Behrens and Brad Evans told you just how far you should slide the dinged commodities down your cheat sheet. We'll also discussed what Robert Griffin III's standout performance in Buffalo means for his value.

Meanwhile in Hour No. 2, Terrell Owens has showcased vintage form thus far with Seattle. Will he be worth more than just a bench spot in 12-team leagues? And what players are rising and falling in drafts? We pushed you in the wrong right direction.

Too busy watching the always thrilling synchronized swimming finals? No sweat. Listen to the replays below or download the show here:

LISTEN TO HOUR 1 HERE (NFL)

LISTEN TO HOUR 2 HERE (NFL)

This was the lone glimpse owners had of Mathews Thursday. (USP)

Ryan Mathews' preseason lasted a whopping one carry. Yep, that's it. One (expletive) five-yard sweep to the right. Game over, for now.

Originally thought to be relatively minor, the hyped first-round pick, a popular top-five selection in "expert" circles, suffered a broken clavicle. He is expected to miss up to six weeks.

Apparently the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Injures have tarnished Mathews' reputation since he entered the league in 2010. Numerous nicks and scrapes along with a nasty case of fumbilitis stunted his growth. Pumped excessively as a rookie, he flashed occasional brilliance. Last year he was outpaced by Mike Tolbert for roughly half the season before turning it on down the homestretch. Over the final five weeks of the regular season, he averaged 15.6 points per game in standard formats, the eighth-best output during that stretch.

Entering camp, Mathews' star was blindingly bright. Expectations were understandably high. With Tolbert now toiling away

Thursday night in Chicago, all eyes will be on No. 18. (USP)

Every year supposed hardcore fantasy players claim preseason football is largely meaningless, a long, boring evaluation period that's more important for real, not virtual GMs.

They couldn't be more wrong.

To the serious gamer, exhibition play showcases subjects in the testing phase. Though the sample sizes are small, particularly in Week 1, the information gleaned can be invaluable, uncovering potential sleepers and undervalued commodities. Adrian Peterson, Arian Foster and Victor Cruz, to name a few, are players who offered a glimpse of their future greatness before seeing a regular season snap. Owners who paid attention scored a sensation. Those who didn't missed the boat on a season-defining stud.

This preseason, like any other, is brimming with fascinating fantasy storylines. Will Peyton's head remain attached? Is Robert Griffin III for real? Does Doug Martin deserve early-round consideration? How will Lucifer Shanahan creatively screw over the fantasy masses this time?

With football (Finally!) in full swing, here are six must-watch players this preseason:

Early drafters feel your pain, Trent. (USP)

On Tuesday, Trent Richardson was seen on the sidelines riding a bike with a rubber sleeve encasing his left knee, the same knee that was scoped back in February. The original prognosis was positive. MRI results revealed no damage and a source admitted it was "no big deal," but the troublesome swelling and residual soreness elevated owner concern.

Now, sadly, it's time to freak out.

Wednesday afternoon Chris Mortenson dropped a bombshell on Fantasyland revealing Richardson's scheduled visit with Dr. Death, James Andrews, isn't just for a routine checkup. The prized back is expected to go under the knife... again. From Adam Schefter:

Trent Richardson is tentatively scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery Thursday to remove a "hang nail particle" of loose cartilage that is irritating the left knee but it is expected to allow him to return before the regular season opener.

As noted above, the setback isn't a complete life-is-not-worth-living situation. As Mort and Schefter both indicate,

The T.O. Show comes to Seattle this fall. (USP)

Earlier this week, an incredible discovery was made. And NASA had nothing to do with it.

Terrell Owens, at 38, apparently still has something left in the tank. The mouthy wideout, desperately seeking employment after a one-year hiatus from the NFL, which included the cancellation of his reality show, financial strains, depression admissions and an embarrassing stint with the Allen Wranglers, blew the minds of Seattle scouts Monday, running a sub-4.5 40-yard dash. Tuesday, the 'Hawks, looking to add veteran depth at receiver, promptly signed the five-time All-Pro to a 1-year, $925,000 deal.

Dr. Phil really does possess healing powers.

The last time Owens signed an incentive laden deal, with Cincinnati in 2010, he was thought to be washed up. The year before his employment with the Bills yielded only marginal results. That combined with his cumbersome personality led many to believe his days in the league were numbered. Remarkably, though, he silenced doubters, compiling 983 yards and nine touchdowns in just 14 games. Still, even after a rebirth, no GM wanted to hire the problem child the following season. Only Kenny Britt scored more points in the "character flaw" category.

Is Aaron Rodgers worth taking the Lambeau Leap for in the top-three? (USP)

Unprecedented.

That's the best way to describe the swift evolution of the NFL over the past five years.

This isn't your father's or even your older brother's league. It's a new time, a new era. Spread schemes, once widely accepted gimmicks peddled by Don "Air" Coryell in the 80s and used sporadically during the 90s and early 2000s, are now ordered in bulk. Even the most conservative teams have embraced it in some way. Last year's 229.7 per team per game passing yards average, the highest in history, is a product of that.

No shock, the paradigm shift has greatly impacted how fantasy owners draft, manage and succeed in the virtual game. Not long ago, if you reached for Peyton Manning in Round 1, endless ridicule was bound to follow. Unless the beneficiary of an incredible stroke of luck, you were widely considered the "dead money" dude of the league. However, last year, three quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton and Tom Brady, were cornerstones on championship rosters, each ranking inside the top-12 among Yahoo! MVPs. Saints rock Drew Brees and mid-draft marvel Matt Stafford were also indispensable.

Don't expect the bombardment to subside anytime soon.