QB:
Jon Kitna - He left last Sunday's game early in the 2nd quarter with a mild concussion, but returned late in the 4th quarter and led the Lions to victory. Given the doctors allowed him to return to the game and he threw the ball well, it appears that Kitna should definitely play in week 3.
Eli Manning - He defied all odds and not only played on Sunday, but played pretty well. He seems to be a lock to start week 3.
Josh McCown - He also defied odds and played last Sunday, but unlike Eli, he did not play well. The time is ticking for McCown to be replaced, but he's currently healthy.
Steve McNair - He sat out last Sunday's game against the Jets, but appears ready to go in week 3. He practiced fully on Wednesday.
Chad Pennington - He sat out last Sunday's game against the Ravens, but appears ready to go in week 3.
RB:
Clinton Portis, Thomas Jones, Cadillac Williams - They're officially off the injury report after handling the majority of the carries for their respective teams.
Brian Westbrook - He left last Monday night's game briefly with a knee problem, but then returned. It was initially deemed minor since he continued playing, but it has been reported on Wednesday that he will be re-evaluated and undergo an MRI. Westbrook has a history of knee problems in the past, but he has played through most of them. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, so this has become a concern.
LaMont Jordan - He sat out practice on Wednesday with a back injury, but returned to practice on Thursday. Many veterans get Wednesdays off during the season, so I wouldn't worry too much about this. Still, it's something to monitor given Jordan's recent back troubles over the past year.
LenDale White - He was limited in practice on Wednesday with a foot injury, but he returned to practice on Thursday. White has been bothered by numerous minor injuries so far in his young career, but unless he continues to be limited or miss practice, it shouldn't be a problem.
Kevin Jones - He looks to be ready to play in week 3, but in a limited role. Don't start him, but with Tatum Bell not performing well, the job is KJ's once he's ready to play the whole game. He practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday.
Brandon Jacobs - He's definitely out for week 3, but he might practice in a limited fashion this week.
Chester Taylor - He sat out last Sunday's game against the Lions, and while Adrian Peterson didn't put up the same guady numbers as in week 1, it seems unlikely that Chester will resume starting when healthy. He was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. If Chester misses this Sunday's game, Adrian Peterson will be a safer start.
Ron Dayne - He hurt his chest in last Sunday's game against the Panthers, but finished the game. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, and he appears to be in danger of missing this Sunday's game. If he sits out, then Ahman Green becomes a solid start.
WR:
Andre Johnson - He left last Sunday's game with a sprained MCL, but it looks like he avoided a disaster. AJ is out for this week, and he'll be re-evaluated on Friday to get a better grasp on his timetable.
Plaxico Burress - He left last Sunday's game with a sprained ankle, but he said after the game that he expects to start in week 3. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, but this was by design. He's expected to practice on Friday and start on this Sunday.
Steve Smith (NYG) - He left last Sunday's game with a fractured shoulder blade. He didn't have fantasy value currently, but might have started pushing Toomer for a starting role eventually. He'll be out 2-6 weeks.
Darrell Jackson - He left last Sunday's game and missed chunks of time with a bothersome back. He missed practice on Wednesday with the injury, but is expected to return on Thursday.
Mark Clayton - He only played on 3rd downs in last Sunday's game against the Jets, but reports are that he'll resume practicing normally this week and start in week 3. I'd give him another week on your bench to make sure he's worth using again.
Donte Stallworth - He missed part Thursday's practice with a knee injury after practicing on Wednesday. Given his fragility and the Patriots refusal to be honest with their injuries, he becomes an even riskier play than usual. His absence would make both Wes Welker and Ben Watson slightly stronger starts.
Greg Jennings - He sat out last Sunday's game against the Giants, and James Jones turned in a nice performance. He might have a bit of competition moving forward. He missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, so his availability for week 3 is in doubt.
James Jones - He left Wednesday's practice early with a hamstring injury, and that's never a good sign. If both Jennings and Jones miss this Sunday's game, Ruvell Martin will start in their place. Just another very good reason not to use Favre against the Chargers.
TE:
None.
K:
None.
D:
Trevor Pryce - He left last Sunday's game with a broken wrist. He'll miss at least 3 weeks, and Baltimore's pass rush won't be quite as effective without him.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Atlanta Falcons Sign QB Byron Leftwich
The Atlanta Falcons have signed former Jacksonville Jaguars QB Byron Leftwich.
Leftwich is a good fit for Bobby Petrino's offensive strategy. Petrino likes to mix a power running game with a vertical passing game, and there's no doubt that Leftwich has the arm necessary to throw the ball down the field, and he's also known as a pretty accurate passer. Leftwich got a raw deal in Jacksonville as they never surrounded him with reliable weapons in the passing game. The same holds true for Atlanta's receiving weapons, or at least that we know of now. It remains to be seen if the receivers truly made Vick look worse than he really was, or vice versa. It was likely a combination of both, but there's some talent here. Atlanta might have found their next franchise QB.
Fantasy Impact: Unless Harrington has some career revelation and becomes the QB everyone thought he would be coming out of Oregon, Leftwich should be starting by mid-season. Those in 2 QB leagues with an empty roster spot should stash Leftwich, but those in 12 team leagues shouldn't bother right now. Leftwich has QB2 upside if he grasps the offense and starts. Joe Horn is aging, but he's still a reliable receiver. Roddy White is a great downfield threat, but he's struggled with drops. Michael Jenkins is a good redzone target, but lacks the speed to separate down the field. Leftwich is worth keeping an eye on once he takes over in all leagues.
Leftwich is a good fit for Bobby Petrino's offensive strategy. Petrino likes to mix a power running game with a vertical passing game, and there's no doubt that Leftwich has the arm necessary to throw the ball down the field, and he's also known as a pretty accurate passer. Leftwich got a raw deal in Jacksonville as they never surrounded him with reliable weapons in the passing game. The same holds true for Atlanta's receiving weapons, or at least that we know of now. It remains to be seen if the receivers truly made Vick look worse than he really was, or vice versa. It was likely a combination of both, but there's some talent here. Atlanta might have found their next franchise QB.
Fantasy Impact: Unless Harrington has some career revelation and becomes the QB everyone thought he would be coming out of Oregon, Leftwich should be starting by mid-season. Those in 2 QB leagues with an empty roster spot should stash Leftwich, but those in 12 team leagues shouldn't bother right now. Leftwich has QB2 upside if he grasps the offense and starts. Joe Horn is aging, but he's still a reliable receiver. Roddy White is a great downfield threat, but he's struggled with drops. Michael Jenkins is a good redzone target, but lacks the speed to separate down the field. Leftwich is worth keeping an eye on once he takes over in all leagues.
NFL Week 2: Monday Night Game Wrapup
Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles
Jason Campbell - 16/29, 209 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 6/39. I really like Campbell as an NFL QB. He shows excellent poise in the pocket, especially last night against a sometimes frantic Eagles blitz. He still has to learn how to control his throws as he missed a wide open Santana Moss on a 60+ yard TD pass by overthrowing him by about 5 yards. He's a solid QB2, but be wary of his matchup on your starter's bye week.
Donovan McNabb - 28/46, 240 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 2/15. He still doesn't look right. His WRs weren't getting open for him last night, but when they did, he often airmailed the throw over their head. He had an easy TD to Kevin Curtis last night in the 4th quarter, but he threw wide right of his target. Hopefully you picked a backup QB earlier than usual given the concerns about his health, and depending on who it is, I'd think about starting him instead until McNabb shows improvement. An Eagles fan I know stated that McNabb is playing through a lot of pain because he's afraid Kolb will steal his job, and that makes sense given what we've seen from McNabb so far. A slow start should have been expected given the injury he suffered last year, and the slow start Palmer got off to last year, by comparison.
Clinton Portis - 17/69, 1/7, 1 TD. He's still not posting great yardage, but the overhaul the Eagles performed on their LB corp in the offseason seems to have improved their porous run defense. He averaged 4.1 YPC, and took 17/23 carries given to the RBs in this one. He's definitely back as the clearcut starter for the Redskins.
Brian Westbrook - 17/96, 8/66. Westbrook continues to rack up the yardage, but the struggling McNabb is holding him back from reaching the endzone. Expect improved TD production once McNabb gets himself back together. Westbrook remains a solid RB1.
Santana Moss - 6/89. Campbell did a better job hitting him on intermediate routes, and Moss caught a 48 yard bomb before stumbling after the catch, possibly preventing him from scoring. As I mentioned above, he also broke open for what would have been an easy 64 yard TD, but Campbell overthrew him. It was a much better showing from Moss who should prove to be a WR2 this year as Campbell improves.
Antwaan Randle-El - 4/44. Back to earth for Randle El. He's not a bad WR5, but he's nothing more.
Chris Cooley - 2/25, 1 TD. Campbell hit him for a TD at the end of the 2nd quarter on a beautiful pass towards the corner of the endzone. He was catching more balls last year, so expect continued improvement.
Reggie Brown - 2/27. He should have had a TD, but as was the theme last night, McNabb overthrew him. He's been a bust so far as a WR2, but that's more McNabb's fault than his own. I'd downgrade him to a WR3, or possibly to your bench depending on your options for now. Detroit is up next week, so giving him another shot is a smart move.
Kevin Curtis - 4/28. See above, but he was drafted more as a WR3/4 type.
L.J. Smith - 2/12. He's not 100% healthy, and he's in the same boat as Brown and Curtis. He's nothing more than a decent TE2 right now.
Jason Campbell - 16/29, 209 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 6/39. I really like Campbell as an NFL QB. He shows excellent poise in the pocket, especially last night against a sometimes frantic Eagles blitz. He still has to learn how to control his throws as he missed a wide open Santana Moss on a 60+ yard TD pass by overthrowing him by about 5 yards. He's a solid QB2, but be wary of his matchup on your starter's bye week.
Donovan McNabb - 28/46, 240 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 2/15. He still doesn't look right. His WRs weren't getting open for him last night, but when they did, he often airmailed the throw over their head. He had an easy TD to Kevin Curtis last night in the 4th quarter, but he threw wide right of his target. Hopefully you picked a backup QB earlier than usual given the concerns about his health, and depending on who it is, I'd think about starting him instead until McNabb shows improvement. An Eagles fan I know stated that McNabb is playing through a lot of pain because he's afraid Kolb will steal his job, and that makes sense given what we've seen from McNabb so far. A slow start should have been expected given the injury he suffered last year, and the slow start Palmer got off to last year, by comparison.
Clinton Portis - 17/69, 1/7, 1 TD. He's still not posting great yardage, but the overhaul the Eagles performed on their LB corp in the offseason seems to have improved their porous run defense. He averaged 4.1 YPC, and took 17/23 carries given to the RBs in this one. He's definitely back as the clearcut starter for the Redskins.
Brian Westbrook - 17/96, 8/66. Westbrook continues to rack up the yardage, but the struggling McNabb is holding him back from reaching the endzone. Expect improved TD production once McNabb gets himself back together. Westbrook remains a solid RB1.
Santana Moss - 6/89. Campbell did a better job hitting him on intermediate routes, and Moss caught a 48 yard bomb before stumbling after the catch, possibly preventing him from scoring. As I mentioned above, he also broke open for what would have been an easy 64 yard TD, but Campbell overthrew him. It was a much better showing from Moss who should prove to be a WR2 this year as Campbell improves.
Antwaan Randle-El - 4/44. Back to earth for Randle El. He's not a bad WR5, but he's nothing more.
Chris Cooley - 2/25, 1 TD. Campbell hit him for a TD at the end of the 2nd quarter on a beautiful pass towards the corner of the endzone. He was catching more balls last year, so expect continued improvement.
Reggie Brown - 2/27. He should have had a TD, but as was the theme last night, McNabb overthrew him. He's been a bust so far as a WR2, but that's more McNabb's fault than his own. I'd downgrade him to a WR3, or possibly to your bench depending on your options for now. Detroit is up next week, so giving him another shot is a smart move.
Kevin Curtis - 4/28. See above, but he was drafted more as a WR3/4 type.
L.J. Smith - 2/12. He's not 100% healthy, and he's in the same boat as Brown and Curtis. He's nothing more than a decent TE2 right now.
Monday, September 17, 2007
NFL Week 2: Late Game Wrapup
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
Matt Hasselbeck - 22/36, 281 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 2/6. Another solid outing from Hasselbeck, but like I said in my preseason QB review, there continues to be little upside here. He's still a solid fantasy QB regardless, though.
Matt Leinart - 23/37, 299 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1/-4. Much better outing from Leinart. Wisenhunt will continue to learn the strengths and weaknesses of Leinart as the season progresses, and Leinart will continue to improve. He makes a better QB2 than a QB1, but he definitely still has upside.
Shaun Alexander - 18/70, 2/5, 1 TD. Another unimpressive outing from Alexander, but he scored again for a solid afternoon. I remain highly skeptical about his value this season, but if he stays healthy, he's going to score. His upside as an elite RB is definitely gone, and he's an injury risk thanks to his career workload and advanced age.
Edgerrin James - 24/128, 2/22, 1 TD. The Edge looked much better in week 2 as he consistently churned out yardage, but since his TD came from 17 yards out (another positive about his afternoon), we're not sure what the goal line RB situation is in Arizona yet. The blocking looks better so far this year.
Deion Branch - 7/122. Much better. I promised that he'd be a bigger part of the gameplan, and the Seahawks made me look smart. Branch should continue to emerge as the go-to guy for Hasselbeck as he's a smart route runner and quick. I like him as a solid WR2.
Bobby Engram - 5/71. He might play the slot, but he's far more consistent than anyone they line up opposite Branch. He's not a bad guy to have as a WR5 as a non-exciting but reliable backup.
Larry Fitzgerald - 7/87. Much better. They did a much better job getting Fitz the ball downfield a bit as well as underneath. I don't like him as a WR1, but he's a very good WR2 with upside.
Anquan Boldin - 4/83. See above.
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
Tavaris Jackson - 17/33, 166 yards, 0 TD, 4 INT, 5/16, 1 TD. Leave him on the waiver wire, obviously.
Jon Kitna - 22/33, 245 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 3/13, 1/9. Yes, he caught his own pass and ran 9 yards with it. Could you imagine what fantasy nation would be saying had he scored with it? He was knocked out of the game with a concussion, but later returned to lead the Lions to victory. He appears to be fine for week 2, and would have had enormous numbers had he not gotten hurt.
Adrian Peterson - 20/66, 4/52. Another example of why the surrounding offense is almost as important as the talent level of a player. He started off with several great runs, but Detroit eventually crept up to the line to stop the only thing Minnesota was doing well on offense. His talent is undeniable and he'll post solid RB2 numbers when starting, but his surrounding offensive situation will hold him back from being elite.
Tatum Bell - 9/14, 4/25. So much for starting. Minnesota stuffed him, and the Lions don't like running anyways. KJ looks ready to play next week on a limited basis, so don't think about starting Tatum again. He's still worth stashing deep on your bench though.
Roy Williams - 7/111, 1/9, 1 TD. Big game from Williams, and it might have been bigger had Kitna not gotten hurt. Roy should maintain his status as a WR1 this season. Calvin Johnson might seem like a threat thanks to his incredible talent, but experience is important at the WR position, and Roy will remain the go-to target this year.
Calvin Johnson - 4/61, 1 TD. He was utilized on a jump ball in the redzone by backup O'Sullivan and hauled it in. Get used to it...there's no corner that will outjump or outmuscle Johnson for those. He remains solid WR3 with upside as he learns the NFL game.
Shaun McDonald - 7/71. Is it possible for the Lions to have 3 fantasy-worth WRs? With as much as they want to throw, it's becoming possible. Stash him as your WR5.
Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins
Tony Romo - 14/29, 186 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 4/36. He didn't have to throw much, but made use of his targets and tossed 2 TDs. He remains a solid QB1.
Trent Green - 23/40, 287 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT, 5/9. He had to throw often, and the results were rather ugly. He still looks like an unexciting QB2, however.
Julius Jones - 15/32, 1/24. Outproduced by Barber again. One has to wonder that with Parcells gone how long the new coaching staff will continue splitting carries if Jones keeps running like this.
Marion Barber - 14/89, 2/6, 1 TD. He just won't stop scoring, but this TD was a 40 yarder. He does a lot of damage against tired defenses in the 4th quarter, but it'd be interesting to see what he could do given the majority of the carries.
Ronnie Brown - 11/33, 2/36. I don't understand how he wastes all this talent. His line doesn't help, but he should be making more of what he's given. He remains a very risky RB2 thanks to the present of Chatman in the gameplan.
Terrell Owens - 5/97, 1 TD. Romo continues throwing to him as much as he can, and Owens remains one of the best WR1s in the game.
Jason Witten - 2/27. He slowed down a bit, but that's the nature of the TE position. He remains a solid TE1.
Chris Chambers - 9/109, 1/-5. He continues piling up the yardage as Green looks his way often. Fantasy nation was down on him this year, but he's emerging as a WR2 if he continues seeing all these targets. The TDs should came given that trend as well.
Marty Booker - 4/79, 1 TD. Unless you're really hurting at WR, I'd leave him out there. I'm not confident the Dolphins can produce 2 fantasy wideouts.
Baltimore Ravens at New York Jets
Kellen Clemens - 19/37, 260 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 3/2. He looked like a first year starter, but he definitely didn't crumble like many though he would against the elite Ravens defense. Pennington looks likely to start next week.
Kyle Boller - 23/35, 185 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 3/7. He looked solid in this start, but his yards per completion was low as he played it safe. Baltimore won't have a problem if McNair misses more time, and a deep threat like Clayton would benefit from Boller's presence.
Thomas Jones - 24/67, 2/20. Poor YPC, but a solid effort against the Ravens. His carries show that he's healthy, so he's not a bad buy-low candidate as a RB2. Things look to get easier from here on out.
Willis McGahee - 26/97, 2/6, 1 TD. McGahee still looks like he's running in quicksand. He has not regained the explosiveness he had prior to the knee injury in college. With his projected workload and the decent Baltimore offense, he can't help but put up solid numbers, though.
Jerricho Cotchery - 7/165. Clemens definitely paid benefits for Cotchery's owners as he put up a massive yardage total. He'll go back to being solid with Pennington, but Clemens' stronger arm would allow Cotchery more chances for bigger plays. He's very similar to Boldin after the catch.
Laveraneous Coles - 6/57. Another solid outing from Coles, but no 2 TDs this time. He'll benefit from Pennington's return.
Derrick Mason - 8/54. Another solid effort from Mason who remains far more valuable in PPR leagues. He's not a bad WR4/5 to have on the bench, however.
Todd Heap - 7/76, 1 TD. Heap made a terrific one-handed catch while dragging his feet inbounds to score his TD. He remains a great TE1.
Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears
Damon Huard - 19/28, 175 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1/1. It's hard to do much of anything against the suffocating Bears defense, and Huard wasn't that bad considering how undermanned this Chiefs team is at the WR position. Huard has decreasing job security on a bad offense, so he's not worth touching in 12 team leagues.
Rex Grossman - 20/34, 160 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 3/-3. I expected more against the KC defense. He isn't being allowed to throw down the field very often which explains his dismal yards per completion. He had a tendency to light up weak defenses last year, so if you have him as your backup, I'd hang on a bit longer. Make sure he faces a weak defense the week your starter has a bye, though.
Larry Johnson - 16/55, 3/32. LJ looks fine, but the Bears defense looks as tough as ever against opposing RBs this season, and his surrounding offense is pathetic. The Chiefs are going to have to feed LJ a lot in order to have a chance this season, but it looks like he may struggle against tough opposing defenses this year.
Cedric Benson - 24/101, 1/9. That's better, although he still looks sluggish and seems to lack acceleration. I saw him run much better in college, so I'm not sure what's changed. The Bears offensive line isn't as good as it was last year, so perhaps that's the issue. It was nice to see him get 24/26 carries that the team generated yesterday. He remains a solid RB2 that will get a lot of carries this year.
Dwayne Bowe - 2/22, 1 TD. He should have had a 2nd TD, but it was called back due to an illegal shift on the offense. He's going to be inconsistent thanks to the poor offense and the fact he's a rookie, so leave him on the waiver wire for now.
Bernard Berrian - 5/65, 1 FL. Berrian is suffering a bit from the fact the Bears are so conservative on offense right now, but he's rounding out his game well by making more short and intermediate catches to become a more consistent fantasy option. He should remain a solid WR3.
Muhsin Muhammad - 1/7. Dump him. He was likely drafted late in your draft, but he's not rosterable at the current time.
Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders
Josh McCown - 8/16, 73 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT, 2/28. The Raiders must have really felt uncomfortable starting Culpepper this week, although that's not a bad idea. If they're still questioning his knowledge of the offense at the moment, throwing him to the wolves against a great Denver secondary wouldn't have been a smart move. It's only a matter of time til Culpepper does take over for good, however.
Jay Cutler - 23/33, 269 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 2/-2. Not a great game from Cutler, but Oakland's secondary is pretty solid as long as they don't get spread out too thin. Cutler has great weapons around him and will continue to improve, plus Shanahan has a great track record and is working with his most talented QB since Elway. Cutler remains a lower tier QB1.
LaMont Jordan - 25/159. Jordan is back as a great RB2 option. He was my favorite value pick at RB this year, and all he needed was a non-inept coach and offensive coordinator to bring his talent back out. Plus it helps that he's 100% as well. I'm surprised the Raiders didn't look to get him more involved in the passing game given how great Bailey and Bly are in the Denver secondary.
Travis Henry - 26/128, 2/8. Henry put up another big yardage day, but Cecil Sapp punched it in from 4 yards out. There's been some rumors that Sapp is the goal line back for Denver, but I'm not buying it right now given the fact that Sapp lined up as the FB and it was a nice misdirection play. Don't read too much into that yet, but keep an eye on who's scoring next time out.
Selvin Young - 3/43, 1/1. He's a must-have for all Henry owners. He busted out a very nice 40 yard run and has defintely passed Mike Bell as Denver's backup. I'm not sure he'd be a 25 carry guy if Henry got hurt, but he's worth owning to find out.
Ronald Curry - 2/12. The Champ Bailey factor. Do not worry about this, and get him in your lineup next week.
Jerry Porter - 1/46, 1 TD. Yes, he burned Bly down the sideline for a long score, but he's not doing a damn thing in games other than this. Don't pick him up.
Javon Walker - 8/101. Not even a talented corner like Asomugha could slow Walker down. Walker remains a borderline WR1 in 12 team leagues, and it's only a matter of time until he start catching a few bombs from Cutler. His speed and Cutler's arm are a perfect match.
San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots
Phillip Rivers - 19/30, 179 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 1/6. Another mediocre effort from Rivers, but his first two games have come against 2 of the 3 best defenses in the NFL (CHI, NE). Don't read too much into this, but Rivers just doesn't have the talent at the WR position to post big numbers against great defenses. Keep that in mind given his matchups, but SD's schedule gets a lot easier after this.
Tom Brady - 25/31, 279 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 1/2. He just makes it look so easy. SD stiffled him in the playoffs last year despite NE"s best attempt to spread them out, but the added talent at the WR position made all the difference. Brady is an elite QB1.
LaDainian Tomlinson - 18/43, 4/15. Tomlinson is not a stranger to slow starts, and much like I mentioned with Rivers above, his schedule so far has done him no favors. He will get going, there's still no one I'd rather own in fantasy football. See what his potentially frustrated owner thinks of him right now, just for kicks.
Laurence Maroney - 15/77. It'd be interesting to see what Maroney's stat line would look like if NE wasn't blowing their opponent out. Given their love to spread the field and pass the ball, it was really hard to see why Maroney was going in the first round despite his talent. Sammy Morris took the goal line carry later in the game, but don't read too much into that yet as it was alreayd 31-14 at that point. If he replaces Maroney in a closer game, then I'd worry.
Antonio Gates - 7/77, 1 TD. This is why he was being drafted so high this year. He started slow last year as Rivers adjusted to the NFL game, but he's off to an outstanding start this season with almost 200 yards and 2 TDs. He's the best TE in football.
Vincent Jackson - 4/53. He'll make some plays downfield and score some TDs, but this overrated sleeper will probably put up more games like this than he will big ones. He's still a solid WR3.
Randy Moss - 8/105, 2 TD. Did I mention he's back? This is for those who didn't get the memo.
Wes Welker - 8/91. He's a solid option as a WR3 who will consistent rack up targets and catches, but he's going to have to break a big one by himself since Brady is rightfully using Moss to stretch the field.
Donte Stallworth - 2/19. Another overrated WR heading into the year. He's clearly the 3rd (or arguably the 4th) option, and nobody would fault you for dropping him if you prefer someone on your waiver wire instead. He's a WR5.
Ben Watson - 5/49, 1 TD. Another TD. He's going to be inconsistent with yardage thanks to the other options on the team, but he's not a bad TE1 as he'll score several TDs this year. He's a great redzone target.
Matt Hasselbeck - 22/36, 281 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 2/6. Another solid outing from Hasselbeck, but like I said in my preseason QB review, there continues to be little upside here. He's still a solid fantasy QB regardless, though.
Matt Leinart - 23/37, 299 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1/-4. Much better outing from Leinart. Wisenhunt will continue to learn the strengths and weaknesses of Leinart as the season progresses, and Leinart will continue to improve. He makes a better QB2 than a QB1, but he definitely still has upside.
Shaun Alexander - 18/70, 2/5, 1 TD. Another unimpressive outing from Alexander, but he scored again for a solid afternoon. I remain highly skeptical about his value this season, but if he stays healthy, he's going to score. His upside as an elite RB is definitely gone, and he's an injury risk thanks to his career workload and advanced age.
Edgerrin James - 24/128, 2/22, 1 TD. The Edge looked much better in week 2 as he consistently churned out yardage, but since his TD came from 17 yards out (another positive about his afternoon), we're not sure what the goal line RB situation is in Arizona yet. The blocking looks better so far this year.
Deion Branch - 7/122. Much better. I promised that he'd be a bigger part of the gameplan, and the Seahawks made me look smart. Branch should continue to emerge as the go-to guy for Hasselbeck as he's a smart route runner and quick. I like him as a solid WR2.
Bobby Engram - 5/71. He might play the slot, but he's far more consistent than anyone they line up opposite Branch. He's not a bad guy to have as a WR5 as a non-exciting but reliable backup.
Larry Fitzgerald - 7/87. Much better. They did a much better job getting Fitz the ball downfield a bit as well as underneath. I don't like him as a WR1, but he's a very good WR2 with upside.
Anquan Boldin - 4/83. See above.
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
Tavaris Jackson - 17/33, 166 yards, 0 TD, 4 INT, 5/16, 1 TD. Leave him on the waiver wire, obviously.
Jon Kitna - 22/33, 245 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 3/13, 1/9. Yes, he caught his own pass and ran 9 yards with it. Could you imagine what fantasy nation would be saying had he scored with it? He was knocked out of the game with a concussion, but later returned to lead the Lions to victory. He appears to be fine for week 2, and would have had enormous numbers had he not gotten hurt.
Adrian Peterson - 20/66, 4/52. Another example of why the surrounding offense is almost as important as the talent level of a player. He started off with several great runs, but Detroit eventually crept up to the line to stop the only thing Minnesota was doing well on offense. His talent is undeniable and he'll post solid RB2 numbers when starting, but his surrounding offensive situation will hold him back from being elite.
Tatum Bell - 9/14, 4/25. So much for starting. Minnesota stuffed him, and the Lions don't like running anyways. KJ looks ready to play next week on a limited basis, so don't think about starting Tatum again. He's still worth stashing deep on your bench though.
Roy Williams - 7/111, 1/9, 1 TD. Big game from Williams, and it might have been bigger had Kitna not gotten hurt. Roy should maintain his status as a WR1 this season. Calvin Johnson might seem like a threat thanks to his incredible talent, but experience is important at the WR position, and Roy will remain the go-to target this year.
Calvin Johnson - 4/61, 1 TD. He was utilized on a jump ball in the redzone by backup O'Sullivan and hauled it in. Get used to it...there's no corner that will outjump or outmuscle Johnson for those. He remains solid WR3 with upside as he learns the NFL game.
Shaun McDonald - 7/71. Is it possible for the Lions to have 3 fantasy-worth WRs? With as much as they want to throw, it's becoming possible. Stash him as your WR5.
Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins
Tony Romo - 14/29, 186 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 4/36. He didn't have to throw much, but made use of his targets and tossed 2 TDs. He remains a solid QB1.
Trent Green - 23/40, 287 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT, 5/9. He had to throw often, and the results were rather ugly. He still looks like an unexciting QB2, however.
Julius Jones - 15/32, 1/24. Outproduced by Barber again. One has to wonder that with Parcells gone how long the new coaching staff will continue splitting carries if Jones keeps running like this.
Marion Barber - 14/89, 2/6, 1 TD. He just won't stop scoring, but this TD was a 40 yarder. He does a lot of damage against tired defenses in the 4th quarter, but it'd be interesting to see what he could do given the majority of the carries.
Ronnie Brown - 11/33, 2/36. I don't understand how he wastes all this talent. His line doesn't help, but he should be making more of what he's given. He remains a very risky RB2 thanks to the present of Chatman in the gameplan.
Terrell Owens - 5/97, 1 TD. Romo continues throwing to him as much as he can, and Owens remains one of the best WR1s in the game.
Jason Witten - 2/27. He slowed down a bit, but that's the nature of the TE position. He remains a solid TE1.
Chris Chambers - 9/109, 1/-5. He continues piling up the yardage as Green looks his way often. Fantasy nation was down on him this year, but he's emerging as a WR2 if he continues seeing all these targets. The TDs should came given that trend as well.
Marty Booker - 4/79, 1 TD. Unless you're really hurting at WR, I'd leave him out there. I'm not confident the Dolphins can produce 2 fantasy wideouts.
Baltimore Ravens at New York Jets
Kellen Clemens - 19/37, 260 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 3/2. He looked like a first year starter, but he definitely didn't crumble like many though he would against the elite Ravens defense. Pennington looks likely to start next week.
Kyle Boller - 23/35, 185 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 3/7. He looked solid in this start, but his yards per completion was low as he played it safe. Baltimore won't have a problem if McNair misses more time, and a deep threat like Clayton would benefit from Boller's presence.
Thomas Jones - 24/67, 2/20. Poor YPC, but a solid effort against the Ravens. His carries show that he's healthy, so he's not a bad buy-low candidate as a RB2. Things look to get easier from here on out.
Willis McGahee - 26/97, 2/6, 1 TD. McGahee still looks like he's running in quicksand. He has not regained the explosiveness he had prior to the knee injury in college. With his projected workload and the decent Baltimore offense, he can't help but put up solid numbers, though.
Jerricho Cotchery - 7/165. Clemens definitely paid benefits for Cotchery's owners as he put up a massive yardage total. He'll go back to being solid with Pennington, but Clemens' stronger arm would allow Cotchery more chances for bigger plays. He's very similar to Boldin after the catch.
Laveraneous Coles - 6/57. Another solid outing from Coles, but no 2 TDs this time. He'll benefit from Pennington's return.
Derrick Mason - 8/54. Another solid effort from Mason who remains far more valuable in PPR leagues. He's not a bad WR4/5 to have on the bench, however.
Todd Heap - 7/76, 1 TD. Heap made a terrific one-handed catch while dragging his feet inbounds to score his TD. He remains a great TE1.
Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears
Damon Huard - 19/28, 175 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1/1. It's hard to do much of anything against the suffocating Bears defense, and Huard wasn't that bad considering how undermanned this Chiefs team is at the WR position. Huard has decreasing job security on a bad offense, so he's not worth touching in 12 team leagues.
Rex Grossman - 20/34, 160 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 3/-3. I expected more against the KC defense. He isn't being allowed to throw down the field very often which explains his dismal yards per completion. He had a tendency to light up weak defenses last year, so if you have him as your backup, I'd hang on a bit longer. Make sure he faces a weak defense the week your starter has a bye, though.
Larry Johnson - 16/55, 3/32. LJ looks fine, but the Bears defense looks as tough as ever against opposing RBs this season, and his surrounding offense is pathetic. The Chiefs are going to have to feed LJ a lot in order to have a chance this season, but it looks like he may struggle against tough opposing defenses this year.
Cedric Benson - 24/101, 1/9. That's better, although he still looks sluggish and seems to lack acceleration. I saw him run much better in college, so I'm not sure what's changed. The Bears offensive line isn't as good as it was last year, so perhaps that's the issue. It was nice to see him get 24/26 carries that the team generated yesterday. He remains a solid RB2 that will get a lot of carries this year.
Dwayne Bowe - 2/22, 1 TD. He should have had a 2nd TD, but it was called back due to an illegal shift on the offense. He's going to be inconsistent thanks to the poor offense and the fact he's a rookie, so leave him on the waiver wire for now.
Bernard Berrian - 5/65, 1 FL. Berrian is suffering a bit from the fact the Bears are so conservative on offense right now, but he's rounding out his game well by making more short and intermediate catches to become a more consistent fantasy option. He should remain a solid WR3.
Muhsin Muhammad - 1/7. Dump him. He was likely drafted late in your draft, but he's not rosterable at the current time.
Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders
Josh McCown - 8/16, 73 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT, 2/28. The Raiders must have really felt uncomfortable starting Culpepper this week, although that's not a bad idea. If they're still questioning his knowledge of the offense at the moment, throwing him to the wolves against a great Denver secondary wouldn't have been a smart move. It's only a matter of time til Culpepper does take over for good, however.
Jay Cutler - 23/33, 269 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 2/-2. Not a great game from Cutler, but Oakland's secondary is pretty solid as long as they don't get spread out too thin. Cutler has great weapons around him and will continue to improve, plus Shanahan has a great track record and is working with his most talented QB since Elway. Cutler remains a lower tier QB1.
LaMont Jordan - 25/159. Jordan is back as a great RB2 option. He was my favorite value pick at RB this year, and all he needed was a non-inept coach and offensive coordinator to bring his talent back out. Plus it helps that he's 100% as well. I'm surprised the Raiders didn't look to get him more involved in the passing game given how great Bailey and Bly are in the Denver secondary.
Travis Henry - 26/128, 2/8. Henry put up another big yardage day, but Cecil Sapp punched it in from 4 yards out. There's been some rumors that Sapp is the goal line back for Denver, but I'm not buying it right now given the fact that Sapp lined up as the FB and it was a nice misdirection play. Don't read too much into that yet, but keep an eye on who's scoring next time out.
Selvin Young - 3/43, 1/1. He's a must-have for all Henry owners. He busted out a very nice 40 yard run and has defintely passed Mike Bell as Denver's backup. I'm not sure he'd be a 25 carry guy if Henry got hurt, but he's worth owning to find out.
Ronald Curry - 2/12. The Champ Bailey factor. Do not worry about this, and get him in your lineup next week.
Jerry Porter - 1/46, 1 TD. Yes, he burned Bly down the sideline for a long score, but he's not doing a damn thing in games other than this. Don't pick him up.
Javon Walker - 8/101. Not even a talented corner like Asomugha could slow Walker down. Walker remains a borderline WR1 in 12 team leagues, and it's only a matter of time until he start catching a few bombs from Cutler. His speed and Cutler's arm are a perfect match.
San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots
Phillip Rivers - 19/30, 179 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 1/6. Another mediocre effort from Rivers, but his first two games have come against 2 of the 3 best defenses in the NFL (CHI, NE). Don't read too much into this, but Rivers just doesn't have the talent at the WR position to post big numbers against great defenses. Keep that in mind given his matchups, but SD's schedule gets a lot easier after this.
Tom Brady - 25/31, 279 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 1/2. He just makes it look so easy. SD stiffled him in the playoffs last year despite NE"s best attempt to spread them out, but the added talent at the WR position made all the difference. Brady is an elite QB1.
LaDainian Tomlinson - 18/43, 4/15. Tomlinson is not a stranger to slow starts, and much like I mentioned with Rivers above, his schedule so far has done him no favors. He will get going, there's still no one I'd rather own in fantasy football. See what his potentially frustrated owner thinks of him right now, just for kicks.
Laurence Maroney - 15/77. It'd be interesting to see what Maroney's stat line would look like if NE wasn't blowing their opponent out. Given their love to spread the field and pass the ball, it was really hard to see why Maroney was going in the first round despite his talent. Sammy Morris took the goal line carry later in the game, but don't read too much into that yet as it was alreayd 31-14 at that point. If he replaces Maroney in a closer game, then I'd worry.
Antonio Gates - 7/77, 1 TD. This is why he was being drafted so high this year. He started slow last year as Rivers adjusted to the NFL game, but he's off to an outstanding start this season with almost 200 yards and 2 TDs. He's the best TE in football.
Vincent Jackson - 4/53. He'll make some plays downfield and score some TDs, but this overrated sleeper will probably put up more games like this than he will big ones. He's still a solid WR3.
Randy Moss - 8/105, 2 TD. Did I mention he's back? This is for those who didn't get the memo.
Wes Welker - 8/91. He's a solid option as a WR3 who will consistent rack up targets and catches, but he's going to have to break a big one by himself since Brady is rightfully using Moss to stretch the field.
Donte Stallworth - 2/19. Another overrated WR heading into the year. He's clearly the 3rd (or arguably the 4th) option, and nobody would fault you for dropping him if you prefer someone on your waiver wire instead. He's a WR5.
Ben Watson - 5/49, 1 TD. Another TD. He's going to be inconsistent with yardage thanks to the other options on the team, but he's not a bad TE1 as he'll score several TDs this year. He's a great redzone target.
NFL Week 2: Early Game Wrapup
Houston Texans At Carolina Panthers
Matt Schaub - 20/28, 227 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 2/3. Schaub has turned himself into a legit QB2 option, so if you need to replace your backup QB and Schaub is available, do it. I would use him against an elite defense even on a bye week, but it's clear that he's making smart decisions, and that he knows how to get AJ the ball downfield. I wouldn't start him while Andre Johnson is out, and I'll cover that injury in just a bit.
Jake Delhomme - 27/41, 307 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 1/13. Delhomme has gone back to being a solid QB2 who can have QB1 outings when the matchup is right. Houston doesn't have anyone that can cover Steve Smith (does any team?), and odds are most opponents won't either. There's just enough talent opposite Smith to help Delhomme produce more solid games than bum ones.
Ahman Green - 15/71, 1 TD. Houston is doing a good job limiting Green's load, and he looked better running the ball this week than he did last week. He remains a solid RB3 going forward, but he doesn't get the ball enough to be an every week starter.
DeShaun Foster - 9/22, 4/20. Foster had a promising week 1, but he turned in a horrible week 2. Houston's defense has actually put up 2 straight weeks of solid run defense, although LJ was limited a bit in the opener. It's too early to tell how tough they are on D, but Carolina fell down 3 scores early in the 2nd half and was forced to abandon the running game. Foster better rebound next week to maintain his RB3 status.
DeAngelo Williams - 8/31, 5/20, 1 FL. He's looking overrated so far as Foster has outproduced him 2 weeks in a row despite being drafted several rounds later. Williams is a very dicey RB3 right now given the strict RBBC status that the team is employing.
Andre Johnson - 7/120, 2 TD. Another monster game from Johnson as he finally has a QB that can get him the ball downfield. The bigger news here, however, is the sprained knee that Johnson suffered. He's being called doubtful for week 3, and owners have to pray that nothing big comes from Monday's scheduled MRI. Hopefully he doesn't miss too much time, but he looks to be out at least a week right now.
Owen Daniels - 5/58, 1 FL. He emerged as Schaub's 2nd favorite receiver in this one, and look for his role to expand next week if Johnson does indeed miss week 3's game. He's emerged as a great TE2, and perhaps a borderline TE1 moving forward.
Steve Smith - 8/153, 3 TD. Elite WRs have been the way to go so far through the first 2 weeks. Smith's monster game was nothing out of the ordinary, especially given Houston's bad safety group. He remains one of fantasy football's best WRs.
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals
Carson Palmer - 33/50, 401 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT, 2/10. Palmer predictably had a big game against Cleveland, but it was even bigger thanks to Cincinnati's horrific defensive showing, forcing Palmer to throw constantly in the 2nd half. If Cincy's defense continues its poor play, it'll give Palmer even more opportunities to throw the ball and rack up fantasy points.
Derek Anderson - 20/33, 328 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT. Where the hell did this come from? Anderson will be a popular pickup this week, and this should starve off the Brady Quinn talk for a week or two, so he's not a bad QB2 to be started in the right matchups. Anderson will have a chance to start most of the year as long as he doesn't turned the ball over and make poor decisions which plagued him in the preseason. With Edwards and Winslow, he definitely has great talent to throw to.
Rudi Johnson - 23/118, 4/33, 1 TD, 1 FL. As promised, Johnson bounced back and put up a very nice fantasy effort. The only disappointment was that he didn't score on the ground, and he would have had an even bigger game had Cincy's defense allowed them to get a lead later on. His increased involvement in the passing game so far is an excellent surprise. Expect him to remain a solid, but not spectacular RB1 for this season as he's always been.
Jamal Lewis - 28/215, 1 TD. Where the hell did this come from? Lewis hasn't showed breakway speed in over 3 years, but he busted a long 66 yard TD and another 47 yard run in this game. If you have another solid RB3, this is a perfect opportunity to sell high to a RB-starved team. He should be a decent RB3 moving forward, but this is not the re-birth of Jamal Lewis.
Chad Johnson - 11/209, 2 TD. CJ hauled in over half of Palmer's yardage in a monster performance against the cross-town rivals. He's easily living up to the pre-season ranking among the elite fantasy WRs. He was maddeningly inconsistent last season, but he change that this year and provide much better weekly output this year. This could prove to be his career year.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh - 8/69, 2 TD. CJ is hogging all the downfield action, but Housh has been the elite WR2 he was drafted to be so far. He will continue to be among the most consistent fantasy WRs in football thanks to his excellent possession skills.
Braylon Edwards - 8/146, 2 TD. Much like AJ, all he needs is a QB to get him the ball. His skills are excellent and he'll continue to post numbers with solid QB play. If Anderson settles in as a solid starting QB, Edwards will be a great WR2.
Kellen Winslow - 6/100, 1 TD. He seems to produce no matter what's going on around him. Overlooked in drafts heading into the season, Winslow is proving fully recovered from offseason microfracture knee surgery and producing just like last season. Lke Edwards, if Anderson settles in, it'll only help. He's a great TE1.
Joe Jurevicius - 4/44, 2 TD. He'll probably be a popular waiver wire pickup, but unless you're really hurting at WR, I'd pass. He's the 3rd option in an average passing attack.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons
Joey Harrington - 12/20, 200 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 2/2. He had 174 yards at halftime, so obviously he was horrible in the 2nd half. He didn't turn the ball over, but he was sacked 7 times due to solid pressure and his tendency to hold the ball too long. He's not worth owning in 12 team leagues.
David Garrard - 17/25, 272 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 5/20. Garrard turned in another solid performance and remains a solid QB2 option to be used against weaker defenses. If the Jaguars could settle on their WR corp, Garrard would be able to build chemistry which would lead to more consistent outings.
Warrick Dunn - 13/50, 1/4, 1 TD. Another mediocre outing from Dunn. He's barely a RB3 as is, and makes for a boring RB4. Expect him to continue losing carries to Norwood.
Jerious Norwood - 9/30, 1/13. He needs to make use of every touch he gets in his quest to overtake Dunn as the starter. He didn't do that last night, so he'll likely remain the backup in week 3.
Fred Taylor - 16/56, 1/11. I expected more from Taylor who literally did nothing with his last 9 carries. He might give way to MJD later in the year if he continues his subpar play.
Maurice Jones-Drew - 11/31, 1/10. Continuing to prove that he was extremely overrated heading into the year. Nobody doubts his talent, but he's not being given much of an opportunity to post fantasy numbers. The Jacksonville ground game has been nowhere near as proficient as last year so far, so hopefully the new offensive coordinator finds a way to get his two most talented players (Taylor, MJD) going and soon.
Roddy White - 4/81. He's not a bad guy to stash as a WR5. Barring injury, he will lead the Falcons in receving yards and remains their best downfield threat. His numbers overall won't be that great, but he could emerge useful as the season wears on.
Green Bay Packers at New York Giants
Brett Favre - 29/38, 286 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 2/-2. Favre posted excellent numbers against a mediocre Giants secondary. Favre remains a solid QB2 with excellent upside against weaker defenses.
Eli Manning - 16/29, 211 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. Well, I guess he's healthy. He exited the game early, but that was due to the score and not due to re-injury. Manning should start next week and is a high upside QB2.
Brandon Jackson - 17/35, 4/24. Pathetic against an average NYG rush defense. He had the opportunity to really take hold of the starting job and failed miserably posting a horrible stat line. He'll start losing carries to Wynn, and he's already being pulled on 3rd downs and at the goalline. He's worth stashing, but don't let him anywhere near your starting lineup.
Deshawn Wynn - 10/50, 2/18, 2 TD. 38 of these yards were on a long TD run in the 2nd half, but Wynn has worked his way into the RB rotation in GB and is definitely worth picking up in fantasy leagues. Don't go starting him as Jackson remains the starter, but he's an interesting guy to have on your bench.
Derrick Ward - 15/90, 4/35. I was concerned about the Giants signing FB Hedgecock thinking it might be an indication that the Giants would use Droughns in a committee with Ward, but Ward was the only RB to log a carry in week 2 and looks to be a very solid RB2 option with Jacobs hurt.
Donald Driver - 8/73, 1 TD. Driver remains an outstanding WR2 with another solid performance. Like I said before, he remains Favre's go-to target with all the youth around him and remain very consistent from week to week.
James Jones - 4/75. He's worth owning with Greg Jennings out as the impressive rookie will likely be Favre's 2nd target in the passing game. When Jennings does return, he'll still be an injury risk given his first 1+ years in the league, so stash him as a WR5.
Plaxico Burress - 2/32, 1 TD. Thankfully he scored before departing with an ankle injury. He suffered the injury initially during the offseason, so this is a bit of a concern. He claims he'll play in week 3, but stay tuned to his practice schedule during the week for confirmation on his week 3 status.
Jeremy Shockey - 5/60. Another solid outing from Shockey, and if Burress misses week 3, he'll probably be looked to more in the redzone. Manning's health is great news for Shockey who remains a solid TE1 with Manning starting.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills
J.P. Losman - 15/25, 154 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 4/38. Another poor performance against an elite defense. He looked much improved in the 2nd half of last season, but he's started out this season in an ugly fashion. He's a mediocre QB2, but he'd make for a very inconsistent weekly starter as he's much better used in advantageous matchups.
Ben Roethlisberger - 21/34, 242 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1/10. Much more was expected against Buffalo, but he still played great. I did catch part of the game where he underthrew his FB which would have been an easy score, so at least one more TD should have been a part of his statline. I still view him as a solid QB1.
Marshawn Lynch - 18/64, 1/21. 85 total yards behind a medicore offensive line and against the Pittsburgh defense is a pretty solid effort from Lynch. He'll struggle against great defenses thanks to the surrounding talent, but he remains a solid RB2 thanks to getting the majority of the carries and his talent.
Willie Parker - 23/126, 2/7, 1 TD. Parker busted out several of his patented long runs thanks to his patience en route to a very good day. He was a soild RB1 on draft day and should continue to post solid numbers all season long.
Lee Evans - 2/17. He's perilously close to being a candidate for the bench against great defenses. With NE up next, it's very hard to recommend starting him no matter what round you drafted him in. His schedule gets a lot better in the 2nd half, so monitor his progress and keep him in mind as a buy-low candidate.
Hines Ward - 5/55. Boring output from Ward this week, but the Steelers had control of this game for most of the day, and Ward almost had a TD mixed in here which would have given him a much better stat line. Consider him a very solid WR2.
Santonio Holmes - 3/53. Half of his yards come on a big play, and like I said before, his ability to make those plays make him a quality WR3 this season.
Heath Miller - 2/34. A 29 yard catch saved his day. He remains a borderline TE1/2, and he'll have more value when the Steelers have to throw more. Bigger days are ahead.
San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams
Alex Smith - 11/17, 126 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 2/-1. An ugly outing against the Rams is a reason to get concerned. That's 2 bad outings in a row against questionable defenses, but since Smith is probably your QB2, you can afford to be patient. They have to get better.
Marc Bulger - 24/41, 368 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT. Bulger posted another great yardage day, but they couldn't punch it into the endzone more than once, and of concern is the beating he took with Pace out of the lineup. Things figure to get better going forward as the Rams adjust to not having Orlando Pace, but securing a reliable QB2 option is probably a good idea.
Frank Gore - 20/81, 2/4, 2 TD. Gore busted out a terrific 43 yard TD run on a 4th and 1 after initially being bottled up. I expected better yardage from a Rams D that stuffed him throughout most of the day, but the passing game is doing him no favors as teams will continue to stack 8 in the box until Smith improves his play. Expect it to happen soon.
Steven Jackson - 21/60, 3/36. Yes, Jackson has been insanely frustrating so far, but don't even think about giving up on him. Much like Bulger, he's suffering a bit with the loss of Pace, and the Rams will eventually adjust and find the right replacement. Better days are ahead, and now's not a bad time to inquire about what his price is right now.
Darrell Jackson - 3/61. A nice 34 yard grab saved his day, but Alex Smith is holding him back. He's a dicey WR3 until Smith gets going, but he looks healthier with each week.
Vernon Davis - 2/23. Progress, I guess. Davis called for the ball after this week, so expect the 49ers to work on that in week 3. Things will continue to get better as the 49ers would be foolish not to continue working on getting him the ball.
Torry Holt - 5/74, 1 TD, 1 FL. Another solid performance from Holt as he showed an improved YPC. Better protection for Bulger will improve Holt's downfield ability.
Isaac Bruce - 8/145. Bruce, the ageless wonder, puts up yet another great game. He'll continue to be a solid WR3 despite his advanced age, and will likely be as consistent as any WR3 out there thanks to the Rams passing attack.
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Drew Brees - 26/44, 260 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 3/10. Don't be fooled...most of these stats occurred during garbage time when the Bucs stopped caring. The Saints offense looks horrible so far, but with a depleted Titans secondary up next, giving Brees another shot is a smart idea.
Jeff Garcia - 10/16, 243 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 2/6. Garcia is maintaining his value as a solid QB2 as Gruden has turned him into a fairly consistent fantasy player...like he does with many veteran QBs. There's no upside here, but with a healthy Joey Galloway, that's enough to get it done most weeks.
Deuce McAllister - 10/49, 1/7, 1 FL. The whole offense sucks right now, so continue leaving Deuce on your bench until they figure things out. He's still a fairly solid RB3.
Reggie Bush - 10/27, 6/43. Ditto with McAllister. He may have been drafted as your RB1, but as much as it pains you, treat him as an RB3 until the Saints get themselves straightened out. I expected big things from Bush this year after a great finish to the 2006 season, but he's been a bust so far.
Carnell Williams - 24/61, 2 TD. Don't read too much into the final statline as Cadillac produced 16 rushes for 52 yards in the 2nd half, so he improved greatly after halftime. His improved production in the 2nd half makes him a solid RB2 for week 3. The 2 TDs from 1 yard out proves that he's the goal line back, enhancing his fantasy value. Expect improved yardage.
Marques Colston - 8/70, 1 TD. Thanks, garbage time. He's still a weekly starter, but he's proving overvalued as a WR1 so far thanks to the struggles of the Saints offense. Defenses are playing deeper against Brees now, and while that kills the value of the rest of the receivers, Colston does his best work underneath and will continue to have solid fantasy value.
Eric Johnson - 3/18. Not a TE1 yet, but still a solid TE2.
Joey Galloway - 4/135, 2 TD. He's the best of the ageless wonders as his speed is still elite. He's started off in a big way, and looks to be a WR2 as it stands right now. Garcia hardly has a cannon, but he's very accurate when he throws downfield, and that's good enough to get Galloway the ball.
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
Peyton Manning - 28/42, 312 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1/-2. A subpar game for Manning given only 1 TD, but Tennessee has played them very tough last year, winning once, and they continued that tendency yesterday. Still, Manning did just fine and posted solid fantasy numbers once again.
Vince Young - 17/27, 184 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 5/53. A solid effort from Young against an improved Colts defense. I'm still wary on starting him every week, but his rushing totals, much like Michael Vick, will aid his stats and help prevent him from horrible outings.
Joseph Addai - 20/81, 2/6, 1 TD. I'm very surprised that the Colts aren't getting Addai the ball more in the passing game so far, but he'll likely score most weeks thanks to the Colts offense, and he'll always be putting up solid yardage total. He's a very safe RB1 with the potential for a few monster games.
LenDale White - 15/64, 1 TD. White was much better than Chris Brown this week, and he'll still have the chance to win most of the carries come season's end. Given the fact he's the goalline back, he has far more upside than Brown. He makes for a pretty solid RB3 as VY will keep the Titans in most games.
Chris Brown - 12/34, 1/2. Unless White gets hurt, Brown won't come close to doing anything like week 1. He's a RB4.
Marvin Harrison - 6/87. Good ole Harrison. No scores this week, but solid yardage per usual.
Reggie Wayne - 5/70. Good ole Wayne. See above.
Dallas Clark - 7/69, 1 TD. Is he rising to TE1? His skills are great and he works the middle of the field very well. Anthony Gonzalez's progression might get in his way, however.
Matt Schaub - 20/28, 227 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 2/3. Schaub has turned himself into a legit QB2 option, so if you need to replace your backup QB and Schaub is available, do it. I would use him against an elite defense even on a bye week, but it's clear that he's making smart decisions, and that he knows how to get AJ the ball downfield. I wouldn't start him while Andre Johnson is out, and I'll cover that injury in just a bit.
Jake Delhomme - 27/41, 307 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 1/13. Delhomme has gone back to being a solid QB2 who can have QB1 outings when the matchup is right. Houston doesn't have anyone that can cover Steve Smith (does any team?), and odds are most opponents won't either. There's just enough talent opposite Smith to help Delhomme produce more solid games than bum ones.
Ahman Green - 15/71, 1 TD. Houston is doing a good job limiting Green's load, and he looked better running the ball this week than he did last week. He remains a solid RB3 going forward, but he doesn't get the ball enough to be an every week starter.
DeShaun Foster - 9/22, 4/20. Foster had a promising week 1, but he turned in a horrible week 2. Houston's defense has actually put up 2 straight weeks of solid run defense, although LJ was limited a bit in the opener. It's too early to tell how tough they are on D, but Carolina fell down 3 scores early in the 2nd half and was forced to abandon the running game. Foster better rebound next week to maintain his RB3 status.
DeAngelo Williams - 8/31, 5/20, 1 FL. He's looking overrated so far as Foster has outproduced him 2 weeks in a row despite being drafted several rounds later. Williams is a very dicey RB3 right now given the strict RBBC status that the team is employing.
Andre Johnson - 7/120, 2 TD. Another monster game from Johnson as he finally has a QB that can get him the ball downfield. The bigger news here, however, is the sprained knee that Johnson suffered. He's being called doubtful for week 3, and owners have to pray that nothing big comes from Monday's scheduled MRI. Hopefully he doesn't miss too much time, but he looks to be out at least a week right now.
Owen Daniels - 5/58, 1 FL. He emerged as Schaub's 2nd favorite receiver in this one, and look for his role to expand next week if Johnson does indeed miss week 3's game. He's emerged as a great TE2, and perhaps a borderline TE1 moving forward.
Steve Smith - 8/153, 3 TD. Elite WRs have been the way to go so far through the first 2 weeks. Smith's monster game was nothing out of the ordinary, especially given Houston's bad safety group. He remains one of fantasy football's best WRs.
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals
Carson Palmer - 33/50, 401 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT, 2/10. Palmer predictably had a big game against Cleveland, but it was even bigger thanks to Cincinnati's horrific defensive showing, forcing Palmer to throw constantly in the 2nd half. If Cincy's defense continues its poor play, it'll give Palmer even more opportunities to throw the ball and rack up fantasy points.
Derek Anderson - 20/33, 328 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT. Where the hell did this come from? Anderson will be a popular pickup this week, and this should starve off the Brady Quinn talk for a week or two, so he's not a bad QB2 to be started in the right matchups. Anderson will have a chance to start most of the year as long as he doesn't turned the ball over and make poor decisions which plagued him in the preseason. With Edwards and Winslow, he definitely has great talent to throw to.
Rudi Johnson - 23/118, 4/33, 1 TD, 1 FL. As promised, Johnson bounced back and put up a very nice fantasy effort. The only disappointment was that he didn't score on the ground, and he would have had an even bigger game had Cincy's defense allowed them to get a lead later on. His increased involvement in the passing game so far is an excellent surprise. Expect him to remain a solid, but not spectacular RB1 for this season as he's always been.
Jamal Lewis - 28/215, 1 TD. Where the hell did this come from? Lewis hasn't showed breakway speed in over 3 years, but he busted a long 66 yard TD and another 47 yard run in this game. If you have another solid RB3, this is a perfect opportunity to sell high to a RB-starved team. He should be a decent RB3 moving forward, but this is not the re-birth of Jamal Lewis.
Chad Johnson - 11/209, 2 TD. CJ hauled in over half of Palmer's yardage in a monster performance against the cross-town rivals. He's easily living up to the pre-season ranking among the elite fantasy WRs. He was maddeningly inconsistent last season, but he change that this year and provide much better weekly output this year. This could prove to be his career year.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh - 8/69, 2 TD. CJ is hogging all the downfield action, but Housh has been the elite WR2 he was drafted to be so far. He will continue to be among the most consistent fantasy WRs in football thanks to his excellent possession skills.
Braylon Edwards - 8/146, 2 TD. Much like AJ, all he needs is a QB to get him the ball. His skills are excellent and he'll continue to post numbers with solid QB play. If Anderson settles in as a solid starting QB, Edwards will be a great WR2.
Kellen Winslow - 6/100, 1 TD. He seems to produce no matter what's going on around him. Overlooked in drafts heading into the season, Winslow is proving fully recovered from offseason microfracture knee surgery and producing just like last season. Lke Edwards, if Anderson settles in, it'll only help. He's a great TE1.
Joe Jurevicius - 4/44, 2 TD. He'll probably be a popular waiver wire pickup, but unless you're really hurting at WR, I'd pass. He's the 3rd option in an average passing attack.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons
Joey Harrington - 12/20, 200 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 2/2. He had 174 yards at halftime, so obviously he was horrible in the 2nd half. He didn't turn the ball over, but he was sacked 7 times due to solid pressure and his tendency to hold the ball too long. He's not worth owning in 12 team leagues.
David Garrard - 17/25, 272 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 5/20. Garrard turned in another solid performance and remains a solid QB2 option to be used against weaker defenses. If the Jaguars could settle on their WR corp, Garrard would be able to build chemistry which would lead to more consistent outings.
Warrick Dunn - 13/50, 1/4, 1 TD. Another mediocre outing from Dunn. He's barely a RB3 as is, and makes for a boring RB4. Expect him to continue losing carries to Norwood.
Jerious Norwood - 9/30, 1/13. He needs to make use of every touch he gets in his quest to overtake Dunn as the starter. He didn't do that last night, so he'll likely remain the backup in week 3.
Fred Taylor - 16/56, 1/11. I expected more from Taylor who literally did nothing with his last 9 carries. He might give way to MJD later in the year if he continues his subpar play.
Maurice Jones-Drew - 11/31, 1/10. Continuing to prove that he was extremely overrated heading into the year. Nobody doubts his talent, but he's not being given much of an opportunity to post fantasy numbers. The Jacksonville ground game has been nowhere near as proficient as last year so far, so hopefully the new offensive coordinator finds a way to get his two most talented players (Taylor, MJD) going and soon.
Roddy White - 4/81. He's not a bad guy to stash as a WR5. Barring injury, he will lead the Falcons in receving yards and remains their best downfield threat. His numbers overall won't be that great, but he could emerge useful as the season wears on.
Green Bay Packers at New York Giants
Brett Favre - 29/38, 286 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 2/-2. Favre posted excellent numbers against a mediocre Giants secondary. Favre remains a solid QB2 with excellent upside against weaker defenses.
Eli Manning - 16/29, 211 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. Well, I guess he's healthy. He exited the game early, but that was due to the score and not due to re-injury. Manning should start next week and is a high upside QB2.
Brandon Jackson - 17/35, 4/24. Pathetic against an average NYG rush defense. He had the opportunity to really take hold of the starting job and failed miserably posting a horrible stat line. He'll start losing carries to Wynn, and he's already being pulled on 3rd downs and at the goalline. He's worth stashing, but don't let him anywhere near your starting lineup.
Deshawn Wynn - 10/50, 2/18, 2 TD. 38 of these yards were on a long TD run in the 2nd half, but Wynn has worked his way into the RB rotation in GB and is definitely worth picking up in fantasy leagues. Don't go starting him as Jackson remains the starter, but he's an interesting guy to have on your bench.
Derrick Ward - 15/90, 4/35. I was concerned about the Giants signing FB Hedgecock thinking it might be an indication that the Giants would use Droughns in a committee with Ward, but Ward was the only RB to log a carry in week 2 and looks to be a very solid RB2 option with Jacobs hurt.
Donald Driver - 8/73, 1 TD. Driver remains an outstanding WR2 with another solid performance. Like I said before, he remains Favre's go-to target with all the youth around him and remain very consistent from week to week.
James Jones - 4/75. He's worth owning with Greg Jennings out as the impressive rookie will likely be Favre's 2nd target in the passing game. When Jennings does return, he'll still be an injury risk given his first 1+ years in the league, so stash him as a WR5.
Plaxico Burress - 2/32, 1 TD. Thankfully he scored before departing with an ankle injury. He suffered the injury initially during the offseason, so this is a bit of a concern. He claims he'll play in week 3, but stay tuned to his practice schedule during the week for confirmation on his week 3 status.
Jeremy Shockey - 5/60. Another solid outing from Shockey, and if Burress misses week 3, he'll probably be looked to more in the redzone. Manning's health is great news for Shockey who remains a solid TE1 with Manning starting.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills
J.P. Losman - 15/25, 154 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 4/38. Another poor performance against an elite defense. He looked much improved in the 2nd half of last season, but he's started out this season in an ugly fashion. He's a mediocre QB2, but he'd make for a very inconsistent weekly starter as he's much better used in advantageous matchups.
Ben Roethlisberger - 21/34, 242 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1/10. Much more was expected against Buffalo, but he still played great. I did catch part of the game where he underthrew his FB which would have been an easy score, so at least one more TD should have been a part of his statline. I still view him as a solid QB1.
Marshawn Lynch - 18/64, 1/21. 85 total yards behind a medicore offensive line and against the Pittsburgh defense is a pretty solid effort from Lynch. He'll struggle against great defenses thanks to the surrounding talent, but he remains a solid RB2 thanks to getting the majority of the carries and his talent.
Willie Parker - 23/126, 2/7, 1 TD. Parker busted out several of his patented long runs thanks to his patience en route to a very good day. He was a soild RB1 on draft day and should continue to post solid numbers all season long.
Lee Evans - 2/17. He's perilously close to being a candidate for the bench against great defenses. With NE up next, it's very hard to recommend starting him no matter what round you drafted him in. His schedule gets a lot better in the 2nd half, so monitor his progress and keep him in mind as a buy-low candidate.
Hines Ward - 5/55. Boring output from Ward this week, but the Steelers had control of this game for most of the day, and Ward almost had a TD mixed in here which would have given him a much better stat line. Consider him a very solid WR2.
Santonio Holmes - 3/53. Half of his yards come on a big play, and like I said before, his ability to make those plays make him a quality WR3 this season.
Heath Miller - 2/34. A 29 yard catch saved his day. He remains a borderline TE1/2, and he'll have more value when the Steelers have to throw more. Bigger days are ahead.
San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams
Alex Smith - 11/17, 126 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 2/-1. An ugly outing against the Rams is a reason to get concerned. That's 2 bad outings in a row against questionable defenses, but since Smith is probably your QB2, you can afford to be patient. They have to get better.
Marc Bulger - 24/41, 368 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT. Bulger posted another great yardage day, but they couldn't punch it into the endzone more than once, and of concern is the beating he took with Pace out of the lineup. Things figure to get better going forward as the Rams adjust to not having Orlando Pace, but securing a reliable QB2 option is probably a good idea.
Frank Gore - 20/81, 2/4, 2 TD. Gore busted out a terrific 43 yard TD run on a 4th and 1 after initially being bottled up. I expected better yardage from a Rams D that stuffed him throughout most of the day, but the passing game is doing him no favors as teams will continue to stack 8 in the box until Smith improves his play. Expect it to happen soon.
Steven Jackson - 21/60, 3/36. Yes, Jackson has been insanely frustrating so far, but don't even think about giving up on him. Much like Bulger, he's suffering a bit with the loss of Pace, and the Rams will eventually adjust and find the right replacement. Better days are ahead, and now's not a bad time to inquire about what his price is right now.
Darrell Jackson - 3/61. A nice 34 yard grab saved his day, but Alex Smith is holding him back. He's a dicey WR3 until Smith gets going, but he looks healthier with each week.
Vernon Davis - 2/23. Progress, I guess. Davis called for the ball after this week, so expect the 49ers to work on that in week 3. Things will continue to get better as the 49ers would be foolish not to continue working on getting him the ball.
Torry Holt - 5/74, 1 TD, 1 FL. Another solid performance from Holt as he showed an improved YPC. Better protection for Bulger will improve Holt's downfield ability.
Isaac Bruce - 8/145. Bruce, the ageless wonder, puts up yet another great game. He'll continue to be a solid WR3 despite his advanced age, and will likely be as consistent as any WR3 out there thanks to the Rams passing attack.
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Drew Brees - 26/44, 260 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 3/10. Don't be fooled...most of these stats occurred during garbage time when the Bucs stopped caring. The Saints offense looks horrible so far, but with a depleted Titans secondary up next, giving Brees another shot is a smart idea.
Jeff Garcia - 10/16, 243 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 2/6. Garcia is maintaining his value as a solid QB2 as Gruden has turned him into a fairly consistent fantasy player...like he does with many veteran QBs. There's no upside here, but with a healthy Joey Galloway, that's enough to get it done most weeks.
Deuce McAllister - 10/49, 1/7, 1 FL. The whole offense sucks right now, so continue leaving Deuce on your bench until they figure things out. He's still a fairly solid RB3.
Reggie Bush - 10/27, 6/43. Ditto with McAllister. He may have been drafted as your RB1, but as much as it pains you, treat him as an RB3 until the Saints get themselves straightened out. I expected big things from Bush this year after a great finish to the 2006 season, but he's been a bust so far.
Carnell Williams - 24/61, 2 TD. Don't read too much into the final statline as Cadillac produced 16 rushes for 52 yards in the 2nd half, so he improved greatly after halftime. His improved production in the 2nd half makes him a solid RB2 for week 3. The 2 TDs from 1 yard out proves that he's the goal line back, enhancing his fantasy value. Expect improved yardage.
Marques Colston - 8/70, 1 TD. Thanks, garbage time. He's still a weekly starter, but he's proving overvalued as a WR1 so far thanks to the struggles of the Saints offense. Defenses are playing deeper against Brees now, and while that kills the value of the rest of the receivers, Colston does his best work underneath and will continue to have solid fantasy value.
Eric Johnson - 3/18. Not a TE1 yet, but still a solid TE2.
Joey Galloway - 4/135, 2 TD. He's the best of the ageless wonders as his speed is still elite. He's started off in a big way, and looks to be a WR2 as it stands right now. Garcia hardly has a cannon, but he's very accurate when he throws downfield, and that's good enough to get Galloway the ball.
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
Peyton Manning - 28/42, 312 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1/-2. A subpar game for Manning given only 1 TD, but Tennessee has played them very tough last year, winning once, and they continued that tendency yesterday. Still, Manning did just fine and posted solid fantasy numbers once again.
Vince Young - 17/27, 184 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 5/53. A solid effort from Young against an improved Colts defense. I'm still wary on starting him every week, but his rushing totals, much like Michael Vick, will aid his stats and help prevent him from horrible outings.
Joseph Addai - 20/81, 2/6, 1 TD. I'm very surprised that the Colts aren't getting Addai the ball more in the passing game so far, but he'll likely score most weeks thanks to the Colts offense, and he'll always be putting up solid yardage total. He's a very safe RB1 with the potential for a few monster games.
LenDale White - 15/64, 1 TD. White was much better than Chris Brown this week, and he'll still have the chance to win most of the carries come season's end. Given the fact he's the goalline back, he has far more upside than Brown. He makes for a pretty solid RB3 as VY will keep the Titans in most games.
Chris Brown - 12/34, 1/2. Unless White gets hurt, Brown won't come close to doing anything like week 1. He's a RB4.
Marvin Harrison - 6/87. Good ole Harrison. No scores this week, but solid yardage per usual.
Reggie Wayne - 5/70. Good ole Wayne. See above.
Dallas Clark - 7/69, 1 TD. Is he rising to TE1? His skills are great and he works the middle of the field very well. Anthony Gonzalez's progression might get in his way, however.
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