Hey guys, we had a hell of a week there in week one, didn’t we?
Well, at least my teams did.
If you weren’t so stubborn and listened to my week one predictions maybe you would have won, too.
It certainly was one of the better opening weekends I’ve ever witnessed.
The Packers lit up the Saints on opening night. The Ravens pulverized the division rival Steelers. Tom Brady and Sebastian Janikowski passed and kicked their way into the NFL record books. Even the Bills were able to pull off a blowout against Kansas City. Yes, those Bills. You know, the ones from Buffalo?
I was just as stunned as everyone else.
It was as if Roger Goodell had scripted each game and the players served as mere actors, executing the Commish’s plans to the the tee.
And I haven’t even mentioned the storybook setting that was on display for the weekend’s slate of games as the majority were played on the tenth anniversary of 9/11.
The Jets commemoration on Sunday night was one that will stay with me for a long time.
Alright. Time to quit the sappiness. Let’s get down to business. Before we do, let’s go over a little refresher on what this piece is all about:
A “stud” constitutes a player I feel is a must-start as he displays a very favorable match-up and is primed to put up a ton of points for that particular week.
A “dud” is a player who I feel is put into starting lineups far too often for that particular week or simply won’t perform up to expectations. In all likelihood, there is a much better option for your starting lineup than a “dud” based upon match-ups for the week.
*All statistics and projections are based off of the standard Yahoo! Sports PPR league scoring system.
Before we get to the Studs of week two, excuse me as I gloat (and bite my tongue) while we look over my predictions from last week.
Week 1 Told’ya So(Studs)
Matthew Stafford QB DET
Projected: 322 YDS, 3 TD, 25 PTS
Actual: 305 YDS, 3 TD, 23 PTS
Darren McFadden RB OAK
Projected: 140 TOTYDS, 2 TD, 26 PTS
Actual: 156 TOTYDS, 0 TD, 11 PTS
Ben Tate RB HOU
Projected: 123 TOTYDS, 1 TD, 18 PTS
Actual: 116 TOTYDS, 1 TD, 12 PTS
Kenny Britt WR TEN
Projected: 112 YDS, 1 TD, 18 PTS
Actual: 136 YDS, 2 TD, 22 PTS
Week 1 Eating Crow(Studs)
Vincent Jackson WR SD
Projected: 11 REC 104 YDS, 1 TD, 21 PTS
Actual: 2 REC 31 YDS, 0 TD, 3 PTS
Lance Kendricks TE STL
Projected: 6 REC 81 YDS, 1 TD, 16 PTS
Actual: 1 REC 18 YDS, 0 TD, 1 PT
Week 1 Success Rate: 4/6, 66%
Studs
Kevin Kolb QB ARI
Matchup vs Washington
Kolb had his fair share of doubters last week. But he proved to them that maybe he won’t be such a fluke in Arizona after all. He tossed for 309 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions against Carolina. Okay, so the Panthers don’t have the most stifling pass defense in the league, but Kolb went out and proved he can get the job done. This week, he’s faced with another juicy matchup. Arizona and Washington each have their fair share of secondary issues, so this one’s almost certainly a lock to turn into a shoot-out, which obviously benefits Kolb and Co.
Week 2 Forecast: 27/34 336 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception, 24 fantasy points
Honorable mentions: Matt Schaub, Tony Romo
Peyton Hillis RB CLE
Matchup vs Indianapolis
Ben Tate and Derrick Ward combined for over 150 rushing yards against the Colts last week, so it’s safe to say you can expect much of the same from Peyton Hillis in week two. Hillis is coming off a disappointing fantasy opener where he ran for only 57 yards and no scores against a sub-par Bengals run-D at best. Well this week Hillis and the Browns will be facing another spotty run defense and will likely hit the Colts with a heavy dose of running plays, so you can start him with confidence.
Week 2 Forecast: 27 carries, 142 yards, 2 touchdowns, 21 fantasy points
Matt Forte RB CHI
Matchup vs New Orleans
Matt Forte looks primed and ready to put his struggles of last season behind him and he got off to a fast start last week. If you own him, I’d expect much of the same as the Bears are set to take on the Saints in what is sure to be a battle of prolific offenses. With Chicago’s dismal receiving corps, Forte remains Cutler’s top target and most passing plays. That means he has incredible value if your league is PPR.
Week 2 Forecast: 21 carries, 116 yards, 1 touchdown, 5 receptions, 62 yards, 1 touchdown, 26 fantasy points
Honorable mentions: James Starks, Ahmad Bradshaw
Mike Wallace WR PIT
Matchup vs Seattle
Wallace continued to show everyone why he surpassed Hines Ward as Big Ben’s favorite target a long time ago. A respectable eight-catch, one hundred yard game is a nice way to start a season, and the Steelers head into Seattle with a huge chip on their shoulder. The Seahawks will likely serve as the punching bag as the Steelers look to rid themselves of their frustration caused by a horrendous week one beat down. What better way to do so than to get Mike Wallace a ton of catches and a score or two?
Week 2 Forecast: 9 receptions, 123 yards, 1 touchdown, 19 fantasy points
Santonio Holmes
Matchup vs Jacksonville
Holmes is slightly banged up this week, but it is believed to be considered just a minor injury that should have no effect on whether he plays or not. You certainly can’t stick him on the bench for this one as the Jags showcase one of the league’s most laughable pass defenses, as shown in last week’s game versus Tennessee. Holmes is Sanchez’s number one target, so look for him to get plenty of catches and likely a score this week as the Jets roll.
Week 2 Forecast: 7 receptions, 114 yards, 1 touchdown, 17 fantasy points
Honorable mentions: Miles Austin, Greg Jennings
Jimmy Graham TE NO
Matchup vs Chicago
I think this is the week Jimmy Graham breaks out and shows everyone why so many people have been saying such great things about this kid. Marques Colston is out for the Saints, and if you think Brees is going to key in on Devery Henderson and Lance Moore the entire game you should probably re-think that statement. I’m willing to say Graham is Brees’ number one target this week, especially in the red-zone. I have him at tight end in two of my own leagues and I am starting him without a doubt (over Vernon Davis in one).
Week 2 Forecast: 8 receptions, 112 yards, 18 fantasy points
Honorable mentions: Rob Gronkowski, Jermaine Gresham
Week 1 Told’ya So(Duds)
LaGarrette Blount RB TB
Projected: 95 TOTYDS, 0 TD, 6 PTS
Actual: 15 YDS, 0 TD, 1 PT
Brandon Lloyd WR DEN
Projected: 5 REC 78 YDS, 0 TD, 8 PTS
Actual: 6 REC 89 YDS, 0 TD, 9 PTS
Dallas Clark TE IND
Projected: 6 REC 84 YDS, 0 TD, 9 PTS
Actual: 4 REC 39 YDS, 0 TD, 5 PTS
Week 1 Eating Crow(Duds)
Tony Romo QB DAL
Projected: 210 YDS, 1 TD 2 INT, 10 PTS
Actual: 342 YDS, 2 TD 1 INT, 16 PTS
Maurice Jones-Drew RB JAC
Projected: 110 TOTYDS, 0 TD, 8 PTS
Actual: 97 TOTYDS, 1 TD, 12 PTS
Miles Austin WR DAL
Projected: 4 REC 64 YDS, 0 TD, 6 PTS
Actual: 5 REC 90 YDS, 1 TD, 14 PTS
Week 1 Success Rate: 3/6, 50%
Overall: Week 7-5, Season 7-5.
Duds
Cam Newton QB CAR
Matchup vs Green Bay
Ah, Cam Newton. How he has you all so fooled. Alright, I admit he looked very impressive in his opener. He leaped well over any reasonable expectations I had for him, that’s for sure. But he’s sure to come crashing back down to earth this Sunday against the Packers. When a rookie like Newton has a week like he did last week against a subject pass defense we often forget the most important aspect about that sentence — he’s a rookie. Packers’ defensive coordinator Dom Capers will surely bring the blitz from every direction on every down. If I were you, I’d expect multiple turnovers and a very poor outing from the number one pick.
Week 2 Forecast: 19/33 209 yards, 0 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 1 fantasy point
Honorable mentions: Donovan McNabb, Matt Ryan
Chris Johnson RB TEN
Matchup vs Baltimore
Man, Chris Johnson looked terrible against the Jaguars last week. It’s as if he held out the entire training camp or something. I knew he would likely get off to a slow start as anyone who misses training camp and the preseason typically does, but not this slow. CJ’s performance mad Posluszny and the Jags’ run D look like that of an all-pro team, and we all know that couldn’t be more exaggerated. This week things don’t look much better as he draws the Ravens who might as well be considered all-pro compared to the Jaguars. Expect another painfully slow game from “the best play-maker in the NFL” this week as he struggles to find his legs.
Week 2 Forecast: 19 carries, 57 yards, 0 touchdowns, 3 receptions, 21 yards, 6 fantasy points
Fred Jackson RB BUF
Matchup vs Oakland
Look! It’s a Bills sighting. Freddy’s inclusion here means that a Bill was finally productive enough to reach our fantasy radar. Jackson was a huge part of the Bills dominance of the Chiefs last week but I’m not so sure that trend will continue versus a Raiders front-seven that doesn’t get nearly enough credit for stopping the run. If the Bills are able to put up any points, it will be through the air. I wouldn’t expect much out of Jackson this week.
Week 2 Forecast: 21 carries, 76 yards, 0 touchdowns, 2 receptions, 15 yards, 7 fantasy points
Honorable mentions: Ryan Grant, DeAngelo Williams
Reggie Wayne WR IND
Matchup vs Cleveland
I don’t know about you, but I was pretty shocked Wayne was still able to amass 100+ yards and a score without Manning tossing him the ball last week. This week though I think it’ll be a different story against the Browns. Joe Haden will be all over him the entire game and Wayne hasn’t had very much success against the Browns throughout his career to begin with. I think this will be the week we begin to see just how much Reggie Wayne will miss Peyton Manning this season.
Week 2 Forecast: 4 receptions, 62 yards, 0 touchdowns, 6 fantasy points
Dwayne Bowe WR KC
Matchup vs Detroit
Bowe turned out a terrible performance against the Bills last week and even though much of that was probably due to Cassel’s inability to make any decent throw whatsoever, I still think Bowe struggles here against the Lions. It looks as though the Chiefs passing attack is going to miss Charlie Weis a little more than everyone thought, so Bowe could turn out to be a serious disappointment for the remainder of the year.
Week 2 Forecast: 3 receptions, 42 yards, 0 touchdowns, 5 fantasy points
Honorable mentions: Steve Smith, Mike Sims-Walker
Tony Gonzalez TE ATL
Matchup vs Philadelphia
I am a huge Tony Gonzalez fan, but he is nowhere near what he used to be. Like his Falcon teammates, Gonzalez couldn’t have produced a much worse showing last week. I see no reason to trust him here with a starting spot until Matt Ryan shows signs of returning to form, especially against one of the NFL’s better defenses in Philadelphia.
Week 2 Forecast: 3 receptions, 34 yards, 0 touchdowns, 4 fantasy points
Honorable mentions: Marcedes Lewis, Kellen Winslow
Buffalo Bills Fantasy Meter: Week 2 vs Oakland
As I said last week, you’d all be wise to stay away from starting any Bills your lineup until they show they can produce on a week-to-week basis. Granted, I said that and they put up 41 points, but Scott Chandler and David Nelson were two of the best fantasy performers on the team, and how many of you started them last week? That’s what I thought. I suppose Ryan Fitzpatrick could pay dividends if you need a quarterback as the Raiders pass D isn’t anything to write home about after Stanford Routt. But, if you haven’t got any other options, there’s nothing wrong with throwing Fitz into the fold here. If he puts up numbers for the second week in a row, we could have a fantasy commodity in the makings right here in our own backyard. Who would have guessed?
Disagree with something I said? Well, let me hear it in the comment box! Better yet, follow me on Twitter if you seek answers to any additional fantasy questions you may have @THWGoldSchlager.
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