Fantasy owners looking to build off of NFL Week 1 know that jumping out to a 2-0 start in your league greatly improves your chances of making it to your fantasy playoffs!! Did you know that something like 71% of all fantasy teams that start 2-0 make it to their fantasy playoffs? That last statement was completely unfounded, but you know the deal. If you started out 0-1, then 1-1 is so much better than staring at 0-2. A lot of supposedly good/contending teams in the NFL reality (not fantasy) are staring at 0-2 if they don’ t get their acts together, and conversely a couple of surprising teams could be 2-0 after this week. But I won’t get ahead of myself—we are here to help you the navigate football fantasy waters and for my daily and weekly fantasy gamers, get some quick cash in your pockets. So let’s run down the Week 2 games and uncover some gold mines.
Kansas City vs. Buffalo
- Charles= Large and In Charge
This game figures to be a shootout because (surprise!) none of these teams look like they can stop passing attacks. Last week the Chiefs got ambushed by the Atlanta Falcons, 40-24, and the Buffalo Bills made the New York Jets look like the 1999 St. Louis Rams (48 points for the Jets—tied for the most ever by that team in a season opener). Problem is both the Chiefs and Bills have only slightly above average quarterbacks in Matt Cassel and Ryan Fitzpatrick. I’d say the biggest fantasy points will come from running backs C.J Spiller and Jamaal Charles—both of these guys are capable of taking a play all the way to the house. Stevie Johnson (Bills) and Dwayne Bowe, because of their physicality and ability to beat corners off the line, will be able to exploit mismatches in each team’s opposing secondaries. The Kansas City secondary is more suspect than Buffalo’s but the Chiefs wideouts are more explosive than the Bills—a conundrum. Dexter McCluster may have a poor man’s Wes Welker game to the tune of 7-catches and 60 yards but no touchdowns.
Adore: C.J Spiller, Jamaal Charles
Meh: Dwayne Bowe, Stevie Johnson, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Dexter McCluster, Kansas City D
Avoid: Matt Cassel, Buffalo D
Denver vs. Atlanta
- The Age of Demaryius
Another potential shootout in the Georgia Dome for the Monday night game; both teams come off impressive Week 1 wins. The Falcons will be without Brent Grimes, their presumptive shutdown corner. This figures to have a trickle-down effect on the entire Atlanta defense. Demaryius Thomas who is starting to show some Megatronish-type skills at wide receiver is going to be great fantasy option in this game. He’ll be matched up against Dunta Robinson or Asante Samuel—both are small and physical corners but will be hard-pressed to match up physically with the specimen from Georgia Tech. This means Eric Decker and Jacob Tamme will also have good fantasy potential. I say all this about Denver because the Atlanta Falcons will put up points with ease against the Broncos secondary. Wide receiver Julio Jones, who has been the real deal so far in the NFL, will likely draw Hall of Famer cornerback Champ Bailey. Bailey is still capable but Jones catch and run ability will be a difficult assignment for the veteran. Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez will benefit just as Decker and Tamme, as Jones will likely draw double coverage. Both running games will be afterthoughts although I like Willis McGahee and possibly Knowshon Moreno to score a goalline touchdown after Manning and his receivers do the heavy lifting in between the 20s. The Falcons seem hell-bent on throwing so I’m not sure what to think of Michael Turner. The Broncos did an alright job of stuffing the run last week but that was at home. Turner probably will rebound in this game and run for about eighty yards and a score. Jacquizz Rodgers, (who I’ve never been impressed with) has been mentioned as taking over first-string running back duty should Turner continue to shuffle, could be a factor in passing game.
Adore: Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan, Demaryius Thomas, Julio Jones, Eric Decker
Meh: Michael Turner, Willis McGahee, Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, Jacob Tamme
Avoid: Atlanta D, Denver D, Jacquizz Rodgers
Other thoughts around Week 2:
- I'm Startin' Martin
I wouldn’t say he’s an automatic must-start just yet, but Tampa Bay’s Doug Martin looks like a lock for twenty carries a game in Greg Schiano’s ball control offense. Martin is a feisty, Curtis Martin-type who grinds out tough yards and is always moving forward. He gets the Giants in Week 2 who had struggles stopping DeMarco Murray in Week 1.
A Reggie Wayne resurgence in 2012 looks very likely after his 9-catch, 135-yard performance in Week 1 vs. the Bears. Andrew Luck is certainly an upgrade and the Colts will trail plenty this year, which bodes well for lots of catches for Reggie. Up next: Week 2 and Minnesota’s always-suspect secondary.
Don’t bury Frank Gore just yet—112 yards on 16 carries against the Packers run defense in Week 1 means that Kendall Hunter, Brandon Jacobs, LaMichael James, LeBron James and whoever else are just going to have to wait to supplant Gore as the bellcow in San Francisco. The former Miami Hurricane isn’t ready to be put out to pasture just yet. Next up, the Detroit Lions in Week 2. The much-maligned run defense for the Lions was effective in shutting down the Rams last week; they limited Steven Jackson to 53 yards on 21 carries. Look for Gore to continue his success.
- Wes side of the bench?
I think Wes Welker owners should consider their other fantasy options for Week 2. In Week 1, quarteback Tom Brady tried to find new toy Brandon Lloyd (team-leading 8 targets) in a blowout win against the Titans. Wes Welker caught only 3 passes for 14 yards. That simply won’t cut it--one has to wonder how Welker fits on this new New England offense; they have discovered running the ball with Stevan Ridley and still feature two great tight ends that aren’t going anywhere. Welker has even split reps with Julian Edelman! Shades of 2010 when owners expected Welker to go for his fourth straight 100-catch season and ended up with 85-848 and 7 scores. Decent, but not where owners were drafting him. It’s not looking like Welker will be able to get to 100 catches this year.
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