Before we delve into the nitty gritty of Week 2, let’s take a quick look back at my ugly Week 1 performance and see what my hits and misses were:
- Start ‘em hits: Miami Dolphins D
- Start ‘em misses: Kevin Kolb, CJ Spiller, Jacoby Jones, Zach Miller
- Sit ‘em hits: Brett Favre, John Carlson, LaDainian Tomlinson
- Sit ‘em misses: Wes Welker, New England D
Now, if you look a little deeper it gets a bit better – start Forte, Gaffney, McFadden; sit Jacobs, J Stewart, Mike Wallace; more good calls than bad during the live chats – but I take a lot of pride in my top line suggestions being right, so I am not at all pleased with what happened in Week 1.
I probably feel a little bit like Mike Singletary feels right about now.
So I’ll dig a little deeper this week, not take so many uncharacteristic chances on unproven guys (Kevin Kolb and Jacoby Jones? What was I thinking!?), and we’ll all rebound together to lay an ass kicking on our Week 2 opponents.
Update 9/16: The new Fantasy Football 3-2-1 video has been posted. So in case you like getting your fantasy news visually or audibly, rather than by reading, here you go:
Now back to your regularly scheduled player rankings:
Fantasy Football Week 2 Start Em, Sit Em
Fantasy Football Week 2 Start ‘em QB: Eli Manning, New York Giants (at Indianapolis)
Eli Manning is my QB in P&G’s Blogger Fantasy Football League,* and I am even more confident in him after Week 1 than I was before.
I had a feeling that Eli and his young WR corps were being underrated, but I certainly didn’t expect three Week 1 TDs against a pass defense that was very good last year. Now, the INTs are a bit troubling, but Eli has only thrown 10 and 14 the last two years, so I’m not too concerned that he’s suddenly turned into Jake Delhomme.
Eli faces his big brother Peyton on Sunday Night Football next week, and it looks like he will probably do so without Bob Sanders back there. That obviously helps. Also, you just know that Eli will be licking his chops to rise to the occasion with big bro playing opposite him.
It is true that Houston and Matt Schaub didn’t throw much against the Colts Week 1, but they didn’t have to. Arian Foster ran wild. And while I see a good day from Ahmad Bradshaw coming, I also think that Eli is finding a real comfort level with Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith, one of the special up-and-coming WR duos in the NFL. (Oh, and Mario Manningham actually led the Giants in receiving in Week 1. So they go three deep.)
If you were thinking of sliding Eli to your bench because Matt Schaub struggled last week, I wouldn’t. Before Week 1 I thought Eli could have the first 30 TD season of his career. Obviously 3 TDs later that feeling is emboldened.
Eli Manning fantasy football Week 2 projection: 225 yards passing, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
Other start ‘em QBs for Week 1:
- If you’re an astute fantasy player, you know that Buffalo is very good against the pass. Thus, you might think about sitting Aaron Rodgers against Buffalo. Don’t. Rodgers is a must start, every week.
- Carson Palmer is going to put up numbers this year. It wasn’t pretty against New England, but he still put up solid numbers. Baltimore could make things rough on Cedric Benson (even though he ran well against the Ravens last year), meaning Palmer will probably have to take to the air.
- I know that Tom Brady is taking on the Jets, but I still start him unless I have a really, really good alternative. This is a grudge match, and I like the Patriots chances with Welker healthy and a pissed off (and hopefully still hard running) Randy Moss.
Fantasy Football Week 2 Sit ‘em QB: Brett Favre, Minnesota (vs Miami)
No, it’s not a cop-out choosing Favre as my sit ‘em QB two weeks in a row. It’s me wanting you to know just how I scared I am of Favre this year, especially with Sidney Rice out. And if you watched him on Thursday night last week, you undoubtedly agree with me.
So if you get that itchy trigger finger to start Favre, don’t. I haven’t done my Week 2 rankings yet, but there is no way he makes the top 15. Miami doesn’t have the best pass defense in the world, but it’s solid at worst. Right now, Minnesota doesn’t have anyone who scares you deep, especially with Bernard Berrian being a preseason and Week 1 no-show.
Put the burden on Favre to prove that he’s back, healthy, and able to lead the Vikings offense like he did last year. Until then, bench him.
Brett Favre fantasy football Week 2 projection: 210 yards passing, 1 TD, 1 INT
Other sit ‘em QBs for Week 2:
- Derek Anderson threw one TD and no INTs against St. Louis. Whoop-de-do. Don’t talk yourself into starting him.
- I was high on Alex Smith before Week 1. I’m no overreacting after one bad start, but I certainly would not put him in there until he shows something positive. Monday night against New Orleans is a tough place to expect that.
- Dallas is really good defensively. They pressure the QB and have very good cover corners. While their safeties are suspect, I still would worry about playing Jay Cutler against them.
Fantasy Football Week 2 Start ‘em RB: LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia (@ Detroit)
I kept my eye on the Philly-Green Bay game Sunday afternoon and I was impressed with what I saw from LeSean McCoy. When I got home from BW3s, I was actually surprised that McCoy only had 12 touches in the game. He made the most of them though, running for 35 yards and a TD on 7 carries while tacking on 47 yards on 5 receptions. And remember, he faced a Green Bay defense that was outstanding last year in terms of limiting opposing running backs.
In Week 2, McCoy faces a Lions defense that allowed over 200 total yards to Matt Forte. Most encouraging is that Forte’s two TDs both came on passes; and let’s be honest, McCoy is always going to be most valuable when he gets involved in the passing game.
I like the Lions, but they still gave up 463 yards to Chicago. Whether Kolb or Vick is playing QB, I think McCoy gets 15-17 touches this week, and makes the most of them again.
LeSean McCoy fantasy football Week 2 projection: 11 carries, 44 yards, 6 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD
Other start ‘em RBs for Week 2:
- I was cautious with Ahmad Bradshaw before Week 1. He got 20 carries and scored a TD against Carolina. Add in his matchup against Indy, and he’s a must start.
- Did you see what Darren McFadden did in Week 1? 150 total yards, 6 receptions, and a TD. Wow. Check the status of Michael Bush, but even if Bush is back the St. Louis D is a mighty inviting matchup.
- Tim Hightower is a good player, isn’t he? Getting the start with Beanie Wells out, he pops for 94 total yards, a TD, and 4 receptions. Even if Beanie is back in Week 2, I like Hightower as a sleeper play in PPR leagues against Atlanta.
Fantasy Football Week 2 Sit ‘em RB: Felix Jones, Dallas (vs Chicago)
Look, I’m as excited about Felix Jones’ potential and explosiveness as anybody. But we cannot simply will Jones to fantasy stardom, or even to weekly relevance.
As much as we’d like to see what Jones could do with 12-15 touches per game, we just cannot ever be sure when he’ll get that amount of work. And while Jones’ big play ability makes him a serviceable flex start any week, it also makes him very risky.
Chicago still has a good defense, and the Cowboys have not proven they can put the ball in the end zone. Jones’ 50-60 yards that he typically gets simply won’t do you enough good. Until Dallas proves they’re committed to Felix getting consistent carries, sit him. Especially this week.
Felix Jones fantasy football Week 2 projection: 6 carries, 36 yards, 4 receptions, 30 yards, 0 TD
Other sit ‘em RBs in Week 2:
- Clinton Portis looked somewhat spry in Week 1, and Houston seems like an inviting matchup, but I’d like to see this Redskins’ offense look competent before I feel comfortable starting Portis, whose only value will come with TDs.
- CJ Spiller struggled in Week 1 with a decent matchup against Miami. I’m not a big fan of his Week 2 matchup against Green Bay’s very good run D. He’s always a threat for score a big TD, but I’d rather have a less risky option if I had one.
- From here on out, please don’t ask me about New England running backs. I can’t fathom a situation where I’ll ever recommend one. This is especially true against the Jets.
Fantasy Football Week 2 Start ‘em WR: Austin Collie, Indianapolis (vs New York Giants)
Was there a more surprising Week 1 statline (other than perhaps Arian Foster’s) than Austin Collie’s 10 catches for 131 yards a TD? I don’t think so. And I think it propels Collie, at least for now, in front of Pierre Garcon and Anthony Gonzalez, both of whom had key drops for Peyton Manning in Week 1.
And if you didn’t figure it out from Manning’s 57 pass attempts against Houston, the Colts are going to air it out this season.
Another reason why I like Collie is that he knows how to work the slot and get open quickly. With the Giants likely being able to put a lot of pressure on Peyton, he’ll need to get rid of the ball in a hurry, just as he did often in Week 1. I look for Collie to once again be the recipient of those throws. He might not go 10-131-1 again, but he’ll have a solid night.
Austin Collie fantasy football Week 12 projection: 8 receptions, 77 yards, 1 TD
Other Start ‘em WRs for Week 2:
- After Week 1 we can obviously stop wondering if Hakeem Nicks is a weekly starter. I also think Steve Smith of the Giants is a weekly starter. Keep both in your lineup.
- I know that Randy Moss is facing Darrelle Revis. I know he bitched and complained after Week 1. I still could not bring myself to sit him. Maybe you can, but I can’t. He’s too talented and Tom Brady appears to be fully back. I expect a TD. We’ll see if they come through.
Fantasy Football Week 2 Sit ‘em WR: Michael Crabtree, San Francisco (@ New Orleans)
I watched the San Francisco-Seattle debacle and Michael Crabtree looked terrible. He was listless, couldn’t get away from man coverage, and was barely even looked at by QB Alex Smith in the second half. In fact, Crabtree looked like a guy that didn’t do much in the preseason and who isn’t well-liked by his teammates. Oh right, that’s what he is.
Anyway, I still like Crabtree long term this season because I think the 49ers have a chance to be solid on offense and one poor outing won’t change that. However, I do not like Crabtree as a start Monday night against a New Orleans defense that locked up Minnesota’s passing game in Week 1. Vernon Davis is clearly Alex Smith’s #1 target, and I’d like to see Crabtree have a good game and prove he’s ready to go in 2010 before I waste a starting WR slot on him.
Michael Crabtree fantasy football Week 12 projection: 4 receptions, 41 yards, 0 TD
Other Sit ‘em WRs for Week 2:
- Mike Williams from Seattle had an encouraging game against the 49ers in Week 1. He was facing Nate Clements, however, who is not Champ Bailey. I don’t like Williams to repeat his Week 1 performance in Week 2. Ask Mike Sims-Walker what it’s like facing Champ Bailey.
- Mike Wallace caught two passes for 62 yards in Week 1, showing that he and Dennis Dixon can connect for big plays. In Week 2, Pittsburgh faces a Tennessee D that held Oakland’s WRs almost completely in check. I still like Wallace long-term, but I’d like to sit him in Week 2 if I could.
- Donald Driver caught a TD in Week 1. However, he is the #3 option in the Green Bay passing game and faces a stingy Buffalo pass D in Week 2.
Fantasy Football Week 2 Start ‘em TE: Chris Cooley, Washington (vs Houston)
I like Chris Cooley and I like him a lot this year. Not only did Cooley get off to a nice start with Donovan McNabb, catching 6 passes for 80 yards Sunday night, but it’s also important to remember just how successful Mike Shanahan was using a good receiving TE in Denver. The name Shannon Sharpe ring a bell? After the top tier of TEs (Gates, Davis, J Finley) I think Cooley is a weekly start.
Chris Cooley fantasy football Week 2 projection: 5 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD
Other start ‘em TEs for Week 2:
- Visanthe Shiancoe. You have to. Brett Favre loves him and will love him even more until Sidney Rice gets back.
Fantasy Football Week 2 Sit ‘em TE: Owen Daniels, Houston (at Washington)
As expected, Daniels was not involved much in the passing game in Week 1. He only had one catch for nine yards. As he gets back up to speed recovering from surgery, there may be a few more games like this. Add in the fact that Washington held Jason Witten down in Week 1, and it’s a recipe for a sit. So sit Daniels. Just don’t drop him. He’ll value down the road.
Owen Daniels fantasy football Week 2 projection: 3 receptions, 27 yards
Other sit ‘em TEs for Week 2:
- I don’t like Greg Olsen. I can’t recommend him. Sit him. He may have one or two big games this year, but don’t waste your time trying to guess what they’ll be.
- Mercedes Lewis caught two receptions and scored TDs on both of them. He’s talented, and we’ve seen flashes from him before, but I don’t trust him enough to play him.
Fantasy Football Week 2 Start ‘em D/ST: Oakland Raiders (vs St. Louis)
Yeah, Oakland got crushed by Tennessee in Week 1. In Week 2 the get to face the Rams and rookie QB Sam Bradford, who will someday be a fantasy star but in the meantime will be an INT machine. He threw three against Arizona in his first game, and might match that in his first road game against Oakland. St. Louis just doesn’t have anyone on the outside who scares you. This is a great one week pickup start.
Other start em D/ST units for Week 2:
- Chicago is a solid start in Week 2. Don’t let all the glitz, glamor, and big names fool you. Dallas is not very good offensively right now. Julius Peppers will have a field day.
- Atlanta is also a solid start. No, I don’t trust Derek Anderson.
Fantasy Football Week 2 Sit ‘em D/ST: Buffalo Bills, (@ Green Bay)
The Bills do a good job of containing opposing passing games, and typically play in low scoring games, but I don’t like them against of the NFL’s most explosive offenses.
Other sit ‘em D/ST units for Week 2:
- San Francisco was supposed to have an awesome defense. They may still prove to be really good, but I certainly don’t like them against New Orleans.
- I wouldn’t want either the Colts or Giants D in Week 2. I like Peyton and Eli both lead their offenses to good days in an entertaining brother v brother Sunday night.
Okay, those are my recommendations. The comment section awaits your questions, which I will get to as quickly as I can.
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* – The P&G Blogger Fantasy League (BFL) is a group of 12 digital sports influencers competing on the NFL.com fantasy platform for the chance to win P&G product, a donation to a local charity, and a trip to Super Bowl XLV, all furnished by P&G. The NFL Entities have not offered or sponsored the sweepstakes in any way.