Fantasy Depth Chart’s Week Two Sits & Starts

Last week was a great week of both real and fantasy football.

Below is a small selection (at every position) of my weekly starts and sits. To read the complete list click the link at the bottom of the page! Now lets take a look at last week’s article to see the hits and misses before diving into week two predictions.

Hits: Adrian Peterson (Start), Steve Smith (Start—only in PPR leagues though), Calvin Johnson (Sit), Larry Johnson (Sit), Clinton Portis (Sit), Kurt Warner (Sit), Tony Gonzalez (Start), John Carlson (Start—damn good of me too), Kellen Winslow (Sit), Tom Brady (Start—way to save me late Tom), Randy Moss (Start—all around player)

Misses: Santonio Holmes (Sit), Devin Hester (Sit—one play changes everything), Carson Palmer (Start—very concerned now), Terrell Owens (Sit), LaDainian Tomlinson (Start—way to roll your ankle)

RBs

Start:

Darren McFadden/Michael Bush @ Kansas City Chiefs. Both of these guys are very good starts this weekend. Bush is likely to be the better of the two in non-PPR (unless Fargas returns) while McFadden should be productive in the passing game to a tune of worthy RB2 in PPR leagues.

Sit:

Julius Jones @ San Francisco 49ers. Jones saved his week on Sunday with a long run late in the game. Don’t expect another miracle run this week against a very physical 49ers defense. Put Jones back where he belongs…on your fantasy bench.

QBs

Start:

Brett Favre @ Detroit Lions. The Lions stink. Its that simple. Getting your hands on the old one for a spot start in deeper leagues could prove to be fruitful. Favre will not be a weekly contributor so don’t rush to the waivers for him. But those playing the matchups should pay some interest in the legend.

Sit:

Kurt Warner @ Jacksonville Jaguars. He is on here again. Another tough physical defense that is built to stop the run will run over the Arizona Cardinals. A lot of owners will feel the need to start this highly drafted QB but don’t play the fool, things aren’t right in Arizona right now. Hopefully, the Cardinals will right the ship and save some fantasy teams later in the year.

WRs

Start:

Greg Jennings vs Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals defense was good enough for the Denver Broncos (minus their last play on the field) but going against the GB passing attack is different. Their nickel package could see a lot of time on the field this Sunday.

Their base 4-3 was built to stop the Steelers and Ravens, I suspect this week we’ll get to see how they will handle WR loaded teams. I expect Jennings to beat the deep man at least once on Sunday.

Sit:

Antonio Bryant @ Buffalo Bills. The Bills showed the NFL that they can properly gameplan. They restricted the production of an excellent passing attack by willingly double teaming throughout the game.

Bryant (injured or not) will stand no chance against a defense primed to shut him down. The Buccaneers will need to pound the ball hard before they are able to move it up the field with Bryant.

TEs

Start:

Owen Daniels vs Tennessee Titans. The Texans would be smart to mimic the Steelers use of Heath Miller against the Titans. A safety valve is exactly what Schaub will need against the Titan rush throughout the day.

Used properly, Daniels could be in for a PPR owner’s dream day even if he doesn’t score a TD. Given that Daniels can get vertical faster than Miller, Daniels still maintains some big play potential and should be on nobody’s bench.

Sit:

Antonio Gates vs Baltimore Ravens. I’m going out on a serious limb here talking down a top tier TE. However, I feel the Ravens are one of the few teams that can be physical with Gates while providing tight coverage in the secondary. Reed could be the great equalizer removing Gates as a downfield threat throughout the game.

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NFL Quick Hits (Sep 17th)

Colts’ Anthony Gonzalez Eyeing Week Seven Return

Whew.

Peyton Manning and Gonzalez owners can breathe a collective sigh of relief. While it’s great news that Gonzalez is officially coming back in 2009, losing him for the next six weeks hurts the Colts offense.

Not to mention leaves a hole in your receiving corps. If you only had the mini-Gonzo as a WR3 you should be able to recover just fine. Anything more, and you could be in the position Indy is is.

Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon are top considerations to replace him in Indianapolis.

Paul Posluszny Out Indefinitely With Arm Injury

Posluszny broke his left arm in Monday night’s action and had surgery to repair it on Tuesday.

While it’s a big loss and “Puz” will miss significant time, it’s not season-ending, and a speedy recovery is hopeful.

Dick Jauron is taking the conservative approach and guessing on a return around mid-season, but arm injuries are fairly easy to come back from, especially as a linebacker. Posluszny is a tough beast too, so you can expect him back before week eight.

Kevin Kolb to Start for Eagles if Donovan McNabb Can’t

It’s beginning to be old news, but Andy Reid wants everyone to know how he’s “rolling” with his quarterback depth chart.

Eliminating any mixed signals from the Jeff Garcia signing probably isn’t a bad thing.

Regardless of who starts this Sunday, neither Kolb or McNabb make particularly sexy starts against an improved Saints defense that picked off Matthew Stafford three times.

Kolb is healthy, but reportedly could be yanked in favor of either McNabb or Garcia if he’s ineffective. The same could apply to McNabb if he does indeed start, with his injury being the main concern. Keep away from Eagles quarterback this week.

LaDainian Tomlinson Doesn’t Practice, Wears Boot

A boot is only a good sign if you’re a pirate or a cowboy.

LT is neither, at least to the best of our knowledge.

Regardless, even a completely healthy LT isn’t a terrific play against the Baltimore Ravens, while Darren Sproles still looks to carve into his carries, as well.

If you can stay clear of Tomlinson for the week and do as the Chargers do; wait for him to get healthy.

Saints’ Pierre Thomas Practices, Still Questionable

Thomas did complete a full practice with the Saints on Wednesday, but did so with a “heavy brace”.

Not exactly what you want to hear.

The Saints have good depth at running back, and after Mike Bell’s huge game against the Lions, they’re unlikely to rush Thomas back.

As reported before, even if he does play on Sunday, he’s almost guaranteed to see a three-way timeshare with Bell and Reggie Bush.

“Hold Your Horses”, Darren Sproles Not a Feature Back

While speculation is a fun experiment, it doesn’t always bring out the truth.

Despite Sproles being used more in the passing game and late in the game on Monday night, reports have the reason having more to do with LaDainian Tomlinson’s ankle injury, rather than a passing of the torch.

This gives a good amount of value back to LT, as well as some confidence back to his owners. LT is still questionable for Sunday’s action, and if he does miss the game, Sproles is expected to split carries with Michael Bennett.

New York Jets and Eric Mangini Fined $75,000

Jets GM Mike Tannenbuam was fined 25,000, while Mangini, now with Cleveland, was fined the same amount.

The Jets failed to report Brett Favre’s arm injury during the stretch run last season, and have been under scrutiny of the league since Favre released the information.

This should equate to the Favre/Jets relationship officially coming to a close.

For all other Fantasy injury and status updates, visit www.theredzonereport.com

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Top 10 Cowboys vs. Giants Games of the Millennium

Cowboys Vs. Giants. One of the great rivalries in all of sports.

Sunday, September 20th, the Cowboys will host the Giants as they debut their new, 1.2 billion dollar Cowboy Stadium on Sunday Night Football.

The game, which pits two of the NFC’s best, promises to be a thrilling, meaningful game, keeping in tradition with the history of this rivalry.

Although many rivalries would struggle to scrape together ten important and exciting games since the turn of the millennium, this rivalry had no problem producing ten games worthy of recognition.

Whether this game is won on a last second field goal or a Hail Mary pass that bounces off of the over-sized video screen and into the waiting arms of a receiver, this game begins a new era in the great history of this rivalry.

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Bucs At Bills: Two Teams Try To Recover From Week One Disappointment

The Bucs were victimized at home while the Bills were heartbroken on the road. As both Tampa Bay and Buffalo set their sights on major opening upsets, both teams fell short and find themselves staring at an 0-2 start.

For the Bills, it’s a bit tougher. Not only do they have to recover from their heart wrenching loss to their hated rival, the New England Patriots, they have to do it in a short week.

Tampa Bay battled the Cowboys tooth and nail, putting up big numbers on offense, but special teams and mental breakdowns in the team’s secondary led to their demise.

When the Bucs head to Buffalo for the first time in franchise history, they bring with them the knowledge that both squads are better than previously believed. But each have flaws they need to solve if they’re going to be competitive this season.

Let’s take a look at the Buccaneers and Bills showdown.

 

Records

Buffalo 0-1, Tampa Bay 0-1

 

Location

Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, NY

 

Buccaneers Passing Attack vs. Buffalo Bills Pass Defense

The Bills pass defense contained Brady and Moss for 55 minutes of their Monday night matchup. By the end of it though, they had surrendered 366 yards and two gut wrenching touchdowns.

The yardage was more than the much maligned Buccaneers defense surrendered against Dallas in week one.

If Tampa Bay proved anything on Sunday, it’s that they could move the ball through the air or on the ground. Byron Leftwich stood in the pocket delivering strikes to a rejuvenated Michael Clayton, Kellen Winslow, and a whole cast of characters.

The Bills applied pressure to Tom Brady all night, giving him little time to get settled in the pocket and forcing the veteran into mistakes.

You have to wonder though if the issue was due more to Brady being tentative in his first game back from a major injury rather than the Bills playing above expectations.

Tampa Bay’s offensive line handled the vaunted Dallas Cowboys pass rush (which led the league in sacks in 2008), not allowing one quarterback take down.

They will likely be without their Pro Bowl caliber center, Jeff Faine, for this one. So his replacement Sean Mahan will need to step up and prevent penetration from the middle of the line by Marcus Stroud and company.

With Buffalo running a lot of cover two shell, Kellen Winslow may get a good opportunity to exploit the middle of that Bills defense, especially with veteran Paul Posluzny out with a broken forearm.

Advantage: Tampa Bay

 

Buccaneers Running Game vs. Bills Run Defense

The Buffalo Bills contained the Patriots running game, limiting New England to 3.2 yards a carry. The Patriots however, only ran the ball 23 times despite having 77 plays with the football.

As New England continued to get Tom Brady into rhythm, the running game became an afterthought.

Tampa Bay will test that Bills run defense. Tampa Bay rung up 173 yards rushing against one of the best defenses in the NFL.

If Tampa Bay can sustain drives with their running game, the Buffalo defense will be in deep trouble due to their offense’s fast break approach. Buffalo’s going to be on the field for a lot of plays against Tampa Bay’s three headed monster at running back.

Advantage: Tampa Bay

 

Bills Passing Attack vs. Buccaneers Pass Defense

We’ve all seen the replays—Cowboys wide receivers streaking down the field and dancing untouched into the end zone. It’s tough for the Buccaneers defense because with the exception of those four breakdowns in coverage, they pretty much held the Cowboys in check most of the game.

Ah, but that’s like saying despite losing 18 straight games the Lions are a darn good football team. You can’t dismiss the plays. They happened, and they will continue to happen until the Buccaneers prove they can stop it.

Trent Edwards had a good game for Buffalo against the Patriots, tossing for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Despite having time to throw, it seemed Edwards was content in checking down to his running backs. RB Fred Jackson led the Bills in receptions and yardage.

High priced free agent acquisition Terrell Owens only caught two passes, while speedster Lee Evans only caught three.

Can Edwards take advantage of Owens and Evans downfield against the Buccaneers secondary the same way Tony Romo did? He’ll need to.

Buffalo’s fast break offense affords him limited opportunities to throw the football. The Bills have to take advantage of any mismatches in the secondary.

Advantage: Buffalo

 

Bills Running game vs. Buccaneers Run Defense

Once again, the Bills fast break offense limited their opportunities in the running game. Without suspended back Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson carried the load for the Buffalo attack.

Jackson was decent, rushing for 57 yards on 15 carries for a 3.8 yard average.

While the Bucs run defense held Cowboys running back Marion Barber to 75 yards rushing, there was still a sense they gave up too much on the ground. The Cowboys finished with 118 yards on the ground, averaging 4.9 yards a carry.

The Bucs have to get tighter at the point of attack if they hope to win this ballgame.

Advantage: Push

 

Bills Special Teams vs. Buccaneers Special Teams

The Buccaneers special teams had a day they’d soon like to forget, fumbling once and having some break downs in coverage, a field goal blocked and another going wide right. This is not the Buccaneers special teams we’re used to seeing.

It will be interesting to see if this was a week one aberration or a sign of things to come.

Buffalo had their own fumble issues against New England on Monday night but kicker Ryan Lindell is as solid as they come.

Advantage: Buffalo

 

Buccaneers Coaching vs. Bills Coaching

Both teams fired their offensive coordinators a week before the season started.

Raheem Morris (0-1) lost in his debut as head coach of the Buccaneers, but his team fought hard and played the physical style he was looking for. Mental breakdowns cost them against Dallas.

Dick Jauron (57-77) is in a fight for his coaching life. After three consecutive 7-9 seasons, Jauron needs to get the Bills into the playoffs. Buffalo came out fired up to play on Monday night football and had the heavily favored Patriots on the ropes, only to let Brady and company escape.

Advantage: Push

 

Intangibles

This will be the first road test for the young Buccaneers under head coach Raheem Morris.

This is Buffalo’s home opener and it’s also the Bills’ opportunity to celebrate their 50-year all-time team.

(By the way, how O.J. Simpson cannot be on this list is beyond me. He may be a murderer, but he was one of the greatest players in Bills history. He’s a hall of famer for crying out loud and the first guy to break the 2,000 yard rushing barrier. How can you not have the Juice on your all-time team?)

The Bills will have a short week to prepare for Tampa Bay and they’ll need to recover from one of the most disappointing losses in recent franchise history.

Blowing a 13-point lead with just a little over two minutes left in the game is just gut wrenching and reminiscent of some other Buffalo collapses on Monday night football, such as last season’s Monday Night loss to Cleveland.

It sent the Bills into a tailspin. They lost four out of their last six games and missed the playoffs after a 5-1 start.

Advantage: Push

 

Prediction

On the surface, it’s tough to go against a team that nearly defeated the New England Patriots on their home turf with all the nation watching. The Bills looked fast and strong, giving the Patriots fits on both sides of the football. It took a miracle fumble to allow the Pats to escape from the brink.

Dig a little deeper though and you see a football team that was out gained 441 yards to 276. You see an offense that managed only 17 points and was on the field 15 minutes less than their counterpart. And you see a team that blew a 13 point lead.

Meanwhile, in Tampa Bay you see a club that can not only throw the ball but also run it and when not blowing coverages can play pretty decent defense.

The biggest questions in this game are can the Bucs sustain a running game and/or can Trent Edwards get the ball downfield to Owens and Evans?

Which team answers the question successfully will likely be your winner on Sunday.

Pick: Buccaneers 24, Bills 17

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Must-Read For Redskins fans: The Off-Man Defense

During the Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants game on Sunday there were a lot of questions/complaints about the Redskins soft coverage on the Giants receivers. Nobody had a good answer as to why they play so far back.

Nobody, that is, until John Keim, the best X’s and O’s man covering the Redskins, asked some people and wrote up an article about it.

That article, which appears here, breaks it down in easy to understand terms. It should be required reading for anyone who wants to  complain about the defensive scheme.

I don’t want to go into too much about it here because you really should read the article, but there are advantages and disadvantages to playing off-man coverage as there are to playing press coverage.

If you’re playing off man, you can read the quarterback and the flow of the play and react to that. If you’re not exactly in the right spot, however (7-9 yards off the line of scrimmage, depending on the specific defense called), or if you read the quarterback incorrectly, you’ll get beat.

It’s in the execution, not the defensive call.

In press coverage, you get a bead on the receiver but you have to focus mostly on him and it’s more difficult to read the quarterback. Press coverage also tips off that the defense is in man to man. It’s easier to disguise the coverage in off man.

So before asking “why”, read Keim’s article and learn.

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New York Jets Player Power Rankings: Week One

This is very simple, much like the team power rankings. There we see the teams that are moving up and moving down each week based on the performance.

Here I will highlight which players are moving up and down each week based on there individual performance.

Of course, this is not an exact science, this is a team game and for one individual to flourish the other ten players need to be doing there jobs. However, they still have to execute.

I considered doing this for the whole roster; however, in the long term I think that would be impossible to sustain every week. So right now, I will be just documenting the top 10 in the power rankings each week and giving my opinions and reasoning for why they are there.

I’m sure many will agree and disagree and I welcome comments so that we can form some discussion. Like most of the article I write I have a few conversations with a couple of Jets fans, ask for there impressions and opinions, but ultimately these are from my own observations, so there will be things I miss, and things that I over analyse.

So Jets v Texans, player power rankings:

One

Mark Sanchez, Quarterback

I flip flopped a lot on David Harris and Mark Sanchez in this position; however, in the end, the fact that Sanchez is a rookie, came through with a win on the road in his first career start (only the fourth player to do that since the NFL/AFL merger) I really couldn’t put Mark here.

He put up a line of 18/31 for 272 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Not a bad start; he looked composed, he wasn’t ruffled after the interception. He came back and fired a bullet to Keller which took the wind out of the Texans sail, that pass alone pretty much wrapped up the game.

He made the one mistake, but overall he completed passes that he had to, was excellent in third-down situations, moved around in the pocket, avoided pressure, and improvised, like the step back under pressure from Williams and the little dump flare over the middle to Cotchery to get the third down.

 

Two

David Harris, Inside Linebacker

All I can say about Harris is that he was as dominating as I can remember seeing him. He put some hits on the QB and receivers that wont register in the stat sheet, but anyone who things that these were not influential is living in a dream world.

The commentators even mentioned that receivers seemed to have one eye on the ball and one eye on Harris.

He finished the day with 11 tackles and a sack. Six of those tackles were of the solo variety. The sack was a one handed grab of Schaub, bringing him to the turf. He was fast, elusive to blockers, and showed no mercy making the hit. Ryan said that he wants to see opposing players hit until there knee hits the grass. Harris will flourish under him.

 

Three

Darrelle Revis, Cornerback

Andre Johnson is one of the best receivers in the game, if not the very best in the game. During the third quarter a friend I was watching the game with turned to me and asked if Andre Johnson was actually playing, and I think that speaks volumes for what Revis was able to do all game.

In fact he could well make a case for being the top Jets player of Week one. Andre Johnson finished the game with four receptions for 35 yards. At one point in the third, he had one reception for seven yards. That is almost unheard of for a player like Andre Johnson.

Revis forced Schaub into making secondary reads, which takes time, which allows pressure. Everything is connected in football, and that’s why it’s such a great game. If Revis can do as good a job against Moss as he did against Johnson, expect him to be atop the list next week.

 

Four

Dustin Keller, Tight End

Caught one of the most important passes on the day on the Thomas Jones second TD drive. Using a skinny post route, Keller streaked down the right, cut in took the ball in his stride, and moving for several yards after the catch. It completed a third-down situation and the game was all but over.

Constantly causes mismatches on defence, over the middle, in the slot or spread out wide. He can do it all, many scouts commented that he is a wide receiver in a tight ends body, and watching him play over the past year and a game, you can definitely see that.

His blocking is also coming along and with Ben Hartsock now on the team, he will be asked to block less and do more of what he is good at, and that’s making plays down the field.

Finished the day as the leading receiver with four receptions for 94 yards.

 

Five

Thomas Jones, Running Back

I know many people will be a little surprised to see Jones so far down on this list. After all he finished the game with 107 yards rushing on 20 attempts for two TD’s.

The only reason that he is here is because he was stopped for 3/4 of the game, he ran hard, and he never gave up. I understand that the Texans were stacking the box, but a lot of teams will do that this year against this pass attack.

I was very impressed with his toughness though, and when we needed him to come through he did just that. He is rock solid and shows no signs of slowing own even though he has passed the ripe old age of 30.

 

Six

Kris Jenkins, Nose Tackle

All you need to do is log on to YouTube and type in Jenkins and Texans in the same sentence and you will find videos of him man handling the Texans centre. It was such a mismatch that I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the poor centre who more times than not found himself sprawled to the turf.

He constantly takes on two blockers, creating space for blitzing linebackers, the main job of the nose tackle is to do just that. He might not light up the stat sheet every week, but I would contend that Kris Jenkins is the most important player on this Jets defence.

He was credited with just the one solo tackle, but he constantly pressured the line and the QB, decreased the size of the pocket and caused havoc in the backfield. Schaub had to release the ball earlier than he wanted to several times because of Jenkins pressure. Again you wont see it in the stat sheet.

 

Seven

D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Left Tackle

It’s always hard judging a lineman but the most important stat that I can look at that reminds me that Ferguson had a good game is the zero that is next to Mario Williams sack total on the day.

I remember a few instances where Williams pressured Sanchez, but overall I thought that Ferguson was just fantastic, even when Williams did get through, it was after being delayed giving Sanchez time to get the ball off.

Many Jet fans criticized Ferguson during his initial years with the Jets, but he has shown exactly why we invested so much money in him. He predicted a pro bowl this season, and his performance did nothing to suggest that this is any kind of exaggeration.

 

Eight

Jerricho Cotchery, Wide Receiver

Only a select few people felt that Cotchery could be the number one receiver for the Jets, well his clutch catches, his yards after catching and his route running suggest that he can.

Jerricho is probably more suited to the two, but there is no reason to suggest that he can’t handle being the one. He has sure hands, he runs good routes, he changes his pattern in emergency’s.

He had some crucial catches on Sunday on third down, and was a integral part of the eight minute drive the Jets had to start there first possession. That really set the tone for me.

Six receptions for 90 yards.

 

Nine

Donald Strickland, Cornerback

Strickland plays a lot of nickle, and didn’t play all that much on Sunday, at least I didn’t see him in that much, but one thing is for sure, he made some very valuable contributions when he did hit the field.

Many will remember a offensive outburst from the Texans with a short screen pass from Schaub to Slaton, who proceeded to go over the middle, picking up yards at a gallop.

It seemed like the Jes were about to give up some points, when Strickland came storming into the picture, put a big hit on Slaton, getting his helmet on the ball, forcing it out and up into the air for Mike DeVito to pick off.

He was also in on the pressure in the fourth quarter when Matt Schaub threw the interception to Sheppard. He hit the QB just when he was releasing the ball

 

10

Chansi Stuckey, Wide Receiver

There were plenty of people I considered in this spot, and notable mention has to go to Leon Washington, Bart Scott, and Nick Mangold. However, I just couldn’t leave the TD scorer off the board.

Wide receiver has been a position of criticism for the Jets over the past few months, but some have remained like stone in there assumption that the Jets are perfectly fine with Stuckey as the second receiver.

On Sunday against the Texans, he showed why, and although he scored the TD, that was not the play that impressed me. There was a blown coverage, and sure he still has to catch the ball, but any receiver in the NFL should make that play.

I was more impressed with another play earlier in the game, where on third down, he received the ball several yards short of the marker, and he stayed on his feet under pressure from several defenders, kept the legs churning and fell forward for the first.

 

So here we have the top 10 power rankings for Jets players after week one, if you feel that I have missed anyone out that deserves to be in ahead of the guys mentioned then please don’t hesitate to leave a comment explaining why. Will be back early next week (Monday hopefully) with the week two power rankings, so make sure you come back to find out who rose and who fell after week two.

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Kiss The Rings? Rex Ryan Fails To Follow The Rules

Doesn’t Rex Ryan know better? You are not supposed to say anything entertaining. You are supposed to use clichés. Do not say anything other than “We respect our opponent. They are a great team. We will have to play our best to beat them.”

 

Having a personality and saying outlandish things! This is terrible. Let’s get back to boredom!

 

Look, I am a Patriots fan. I knew I hated the Jets before I knew how to tie my shoes. And there is no more boring coach in the NFL than Bill Belichick. He says nothing, he gives nothing. He is painfully boring in front of a microphone. There is also no one I would rather have coaching my team on Sunday than him.

 

Rex Ryan is different. And different is OK. He has a charismatic personality. Last time I checked, there is nothing wrong with that. But the media sees that and smells blood. Here is this new kid on the block. He does not know the rules. He talks different, he looks different. Let’s swarm and make mountains out of molehills.

 

Let’s hearken back to what Rex Ryan said on June 3. I mean, it was only 3 months ago he said it, I see why the media likes to bring it up.

 

“I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick’s, you know, rings,” Ryan said. “I came to win. Let’s just put it that way. So we’ll see what happens. I’m certainly not intimidated by New England or anybody else.”

 

OK, I read it. What is wrong with what he said? Should he be here to kiss someone’s rings? He never said this guy stinks, or we are going to kick their rear end, or I hate them, or anything like that. He came to win and he is not going to be intimidated. I do not see anything wrong with that.

 

Sure it makes for great theatre. It makes a lively rivalry even better. But here is what I know (and it is only week one): the Patriots respond to their coach. They embrace him and they love playing for him (despite what Tom Jackson might think).

 

And so far, the Jets players love playing for Ryan. He is exciting, and he has loosened the reins from the Eric Mangini era. Some Ravens players (Bart Scott, Jim Leonhard)  have migrated to New Jersey because they enjoy playing for Ryan so much. Again, it was only one week, but to win on the road handily in the NFL, as the Jets did at Houston, is impressive. The players have taken to Ryan’s techniques.

 

Will it work this Sunday? I am not sure, but I cannot wait to watch. I just hope and pray that Rex Ryan does not say anything with any personality or humor after the game. I do not think the talking heads will be able to stand much more of it.

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Sleeper Watch: Week 2 Surprises

Let’s take a look at those players that have good matchups and could perform well for your fantasy football teams in Week 2.

These are players you wouldn’t normally start, but might be worth a second look this weekend. This is especially for those owners dealing with injuries to fantasy starters like Donovan McNabb, Anthony Gonzalez—both on my team—or LaDainian Tomlinson.

 

Jason Campbell, QB, Redskins

Jason Campbell didn’t perform all that bad against the vaunted New York Giants’ defense in Week 1. He did, however, throw an interception and lose a fumble. This week he faces the St. Louis “Pee-Wee Football” Rams.

The Rams’ offense looks so bad that the Redskins’ offense might stay on the field the entire game due to a multitude of three-and-outs. Take advantage of this matchup and any team that plays the Rams, until they prove they can play NFL-caliber football again.

 

Laurence Maroney, RB, Patriots

I liked what I saw out of Laurence Maroney during the Monday Night Football game against Buffalo. Maroney was hitting the hole hard and with purpose (that’s what she said!).

Fred Taylor did get the only rushing touchdown, but I believe Maroney is going to be the main guy in New England. They are playing a New York Jets’ defense that shut down the Houston Texans, so this could be a tough matchup.

On the other hand, Mark Sanchez will be facing his first real defensive test, masterminded by Bill Belichick. The Patriots could be put into some good offensive spots due to rookie quarterback mistakes. This is a rivalry game and the Patriots will need to run the ball with some success to perform at a high level offensively.

 

Percy Harvin, WR, Vikings

Did you see the love Brett Favre showed Percy Harvin when he caught his first career touchdown in the NFL? Favre is already making Harvin his new favorite target. Oh, and the Minnesota Vikings are facing a Detroit Lions team that gave up six touchdown passes to Drew Brees last weekend.

Don’t be surprised to see the Vikings open up their offense this week, allowing Harvin to see more passes thrown his way.

 

Robert Royal, TE, Browns

Robert Royal seems to be the most sure-handed receiver on the Cleveland Browns. Maturing starting quarterback Brady Quinn will probably rely heavily on his tight end until he becomes more comfortable in his own shoes.

Take advantage of Royal while Quinn is still leaning on the veteran tight end and he could reward you with some solid production.

 

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Fantasy Football Week Two Starts N’ Sits for Success

In all fantasy sports it takes three S’s to have a successful season–stars, starters, and sleepers.  In fantasy football you always have to make that tough decision on who you will play and who will ride the pine.

After you’re done with the three S’s be sure to watch my starts n’ sits YouTube video and also watch my Week Two Pick’em video while you’re at it!

Star

Sit: Jay Cutler Vs Pittsburgh – Even without Troy Polamalu in the lineup the Steelers are still an imposing defense to face.  Cutler may not throw four picks, but he will be facing more pocket pressure than he did last week, and more than he faced in all of 2008.  LoStradamus prediction: 225 passing yards, one TD, two INTs.

Sit: Braylon Edwards Vs Denver – After struggling to connect with Brady Quinn against the Vikings, Edwards will have to deal with Champ Bailey hounding him all game.  All it takes is one play though, so if you are thin at WR don’t seat him just because.  LoStradamus prediction: Three receptions and 45 yards.

Start: Ronnie Brown Vs Indianapolis – After a disappointing loss to Atlanta the Dolphins are going to be looking to come out with a splash.  The Colts run-D is still a bit suspect and could use the wildcat to his advantage in Week Two.  LoStradamus prediction:  110 total yards, one rushing TD, 25 passing yards, one passing TD.

Sit: LaDainian Tomlinson Vs Baltimore – You never want to have to sit a first round back, but right now LT is slated as a game time decision up against a Ravens D that allowed 29 rushing yards.  Is the potential of a score worth the risk of a zero?  LoStradamus prediction:  45 total yards.

Starter

Sit: Kevin Smith Vs Minnesota – A Lions’ RB plus the Vikings D equals very few rushing yards.  Now Smith was able to break a few big runs against Minnesota last year, but it’s hard to bank on one big play for your starting RB.  LoStradamus prediction: 45 total yards.

Start: Darren McFadden Vs Kansas City – The Chiefs gave up 198 rushing yards against Baltimore and Oakland has an equally dangerous ground attack.  We also saw a lot of split-out looks from McFadden and he is a solid route runner.  LoStradamus prediction: 150 total yards and one TD.

Sit: Cedric Benson Vs Green Bay – Don’t be fooled by Benson’s 108 total yards and a TD against the Broncos, a majority of his fantasy production came on the team’s final drive.  The Packers held Matt Forte to 55 rushing yards on 25 carries, their new 3-4 scheme is looking much more productive.  LoStradamus prediction: 65 total yards.

Sleeper

Start: Washington Defense Vs St. Louis – Only one team was shut-out in Week 1 and that was the Rams.  The Skins addressed the D in free-agency and the draft so it’s time to put their money where their mouth is.   LoStradamus prediction:  10 points allowed, four sacks, and two turnovers.

Start: Fred Jackson Vs Tampa Bay – The dual-threat ability of Jackson makes him a strong play in Week Two.  Another bonus of Jackson owners is that the Bills only have one other RB and he’s half the player of Jackson.  LoStradamus prediction:  125 total yards and one TD.

Start: Mike Bush Vs Kansas City – The big, but deceptive back had a strong showing against the Chargers and he’s hungry to get in the goal line.  If you’re playing in a deep league give Bush a look and he’s also a great hedge play with McFadden.  LoStradamus prediction: 80 total yards and one TD.

Start: Chester Taylor Vs Detroit – Taylor was a bit of a no-show in Week One but it all means the Vikings could be setting up some plays for Week Two.  AP is still an automatic start but if you’re looking for an extra RB Taylor has a shot to get in the zone.  LoStradamus prediction:  60 total yards and one TD.

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Fantasy Football Out on a Limb 2009: Week Two

Time for another edition of Fantasy Football Out on a Limb, where I scour NFL rosters to select a player who I feel will outperform a higher profile player each week.

I base my decisions on matchups, how the players are trending, and the ever-important hunch. To mix things up, I’ll occasionally do some two-on-one matchups or even pit RB or WR duos against each other. Sometimes, I’ll spot a player some points.

 

Scoring

6 points for rushing or receiving TD
4 points for passing TD
0.1 points per yard for rushing or receiving
0.05 points per passing yard

Last Week

Brett Favre vs. Eli Manning—I lost, Eli crushed Favre, 16.5 to 9.5
Darren Sproles vs. Derrick Ward—I lost as Ward outscored Sproles, 14.3 to 12.6
Chester Taylor vs. LenDale White—I lost, LenDale squeaked by Chester, 3.3 to 3.0
Chad Ochocinco vs. Dwayne Bowe—I lost by a hair, Bowe’s 10.0 beat Chad’s 9.7
Marques Colston vs. Andre Johnson—Finally won, Colston had 9.0 to AJ’s 3.5
SS: Peyton Hillis vs. Clinton Portis—I lost. Portis 7.2, Hillis 0.8

Regular Picks: 1-4
Super Stretch Picks: 0-1
Overall: 1-5

Season Record

Regular Picks: 1-4
Super Stretch Picks: 0-1
Overall: 1-5

 

WEEK TWO PICKS

Quarterbacks

Ben Roethlisberger over Tony Romo

Both QBs threw for more than 350 yards last week, but I feel Big Ben will have to answer the call again due to Pittsburgh’s lack of a running game. Big Ben has the easier matchup against Chicago (Romo faces the Giants), but he is on the road while the Cowboys are at home.

The Giants are going to put a lot of pressure on Romo, which could force him into some turnovers. They’ll also use a mix of Marion Barber III and Felix Jones in what should be an intense game. Chicago just lost Brian Urlacher for the year, which should make things a little easier for Big Ben.

 

Running Backs

Adrian Peterson over Matt Forte and Kevin Smith combined

I’m doing my first two-for-one special of the year. I’ll take last year’s leading rusher against two second-year backs. I’m counting on AP to do his damage early because he could be watching the game on the sidelines in the fourth quarter as Minnesota draws Detroit.

Forte (Pittsburgh) and Smith (Minnesota) both face tough run defenses. Although both are capable of picking up yardage in the passing game, I’m guessing neither back scores this week.

 

Ryan Grant over Michael Turner

Ryan Grant got off to a decent start against the Bears last week, and he should follow that up with a strong effort against Cincinnati at home. Michael Turner had somewhat of a disappointing start against Miami in Week One, and although he’s also at home, I would temper my expectations. He’s playing a Carolina team that got dominated by Philadelphia, but they are going to come out firing to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke. Plus, Turner scored four TDs the last time he played Carolina, which I’m sure the Panthers were reminded of several times this week.

 

Wide Receivers

Brandon Marshall over Andre Johnson

I’m going to pick on AJ once again. I think he has a tough matchup going on the road to Tennessee. Houston QB Matt Schaub is going to be under heavy pressure, and Johnson is going to draw plenty of attention.

After dealing with Jets CB Darrelle Revis last week, he’ll have to face Cortland Finnegan this week. Meanwhile, Marshall plays against Cleveland. He’s had another week to get acclimated to the offense, and QB Kyle Orton’s getting healthier.

 

  
Percy Harvin over Chad Ochocinco

Brett Favre threw his first TD as a Viking to Percy, and I think the rookie will find a way to get into the end zone again against the Lions. He is so explosive, and when the Lions try to stop AP, Harvin should get loose.

Ochocinco has to face Green Bay’s tough defense, which forced Chicago QB Jay Cutler into four INTs in Week One. While I don’t see Bengals QB Carson Palmer making that many mistakes, Cincinnati’s offense isn’t in sync right now. It’s not going to happen for Chad in Lambeau this weekend.

 

Super Stretch

  
LeSean McCoy +2 over Steven Jackson

With QB Donovan McNabb likely out, the Eagles are going to have to run the ball more to move the chains and keep Drew Brees and company off the field. While RB Brian Westbrook should be in line for a big game, the Eagles will have to use a heavy dose of McCoy as well to make sure Westbrook doesn’t get banged up.

I’m taking on a top-six fantasy pick in S-Jax, so I’ll spot McCoy two points. Jackson faces Washington, who kept Brandon Jacobs in check on the road in Week One. Look for them to do the same against Action Jackson.

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Originally published at LestersLegends.com.

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