Unless you had Peyton Manning, Colin Kaepernick, Adrian Peterson, Victor Cruz, or A.J. Green, you might have had a bad week one for fantasy football. Please don’t panic, it’s only one week and its not time to hit the panic button and go pick up three or four guys off the waiver wire because they had a great week.
Top names like Cam Newton, C.J. Spiller, Marshawn Lynch, Calvin Johnson, and more had bad weeks, so what? It’s fantasy football and you have to be willing to take your bumps and bruises. It’s now week two and it’s time to take a look at who will be this weeks studs.
Week 2 Fantasy Football Studs
Quarterbacks
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
Newton had a career-low 125 passing yards last week and I can guarantee you that won’t happen this week versus Buffalo. Buffalo got shredded last year by rushing quarterbacks and with a banged up secondary Newton should have a very nice fantasy week. No matter what Newton will find a way to put up points whether it’s on the ground or through the air.
Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles
Last week we finally saw Chip Kelly’s offense and it looked good. Vick was able to pass all over the Redskins thanks a strong running attack. This week the Eagles will face the Chargers and Vick will be able to put up good fantasy numbers. In Kelly’s offense he has the ability to run or pass, there is nothing holding Vick back and look for a huge week from this Vick.
(Image Courtesy of Ladd Biro/ Fantasy Fools Blogspot)
Honorable Mentions: Eli Manning, Peyton Manning
Running Backs
Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Martin didn’t actually crush it in week one but he did put up 65 yards and a touchdown to help his fantasy owners out. In week two he faces New Orleans Saints who have a lackluster run defense. This may be the matchup Martin needs to get back to his 2012 running style. I expect Martin to have a big week as the Buccaneers will want to hold on to the ball as long as possible to keep it away from Drew Brees and that high scoring offense.
Trent Richardson, Cleveland Browns
Richardson only tallied up 77 yards last week versus a tough Miami Dolphins defense. This week the Browns face the Ravens and in 2012 Richardson ran for 240 yards and one touchdown versus the Ravens. Last week the Ravens didn’t look like the defense we remembered and I look for Browns to give Richardson the ball a lot.
Honorable Mentions: Matt Forte, Maurice Jones-Drew
Wide Receivers
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
Fitzgerald was targeted 14 times last week by Carson Palmer; yeah I think it’s safe to say Fitzgerald is going to have a good year. Fitzgerald finished the week with 80 yards and two touchdowns. He may not score two touchdowns this week but I look for him to easily hit the double digits for fantasy points.
Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers
Cobb had a very nice start to the 2013 season; he had 108 receiving yards and one touchdown. This week the Packers will face a Redskins secondary that gave up over 400 yards passing. If I was a gambling man I would say Rodgers and the Packers will most likely throw early and often. Cobb will have another great week if Cobb and Rodgers get on the same page again.
Honorable Mentions: Dez Bryant, Julian Edelman
Tight Ends
Image Courtesy of Brett Coomer/Chronicle
Owen Daniels, Houston Texans
Daniels had a very nice week one, catching two touchdowns. This week the Texans face the Titans defense who gave up the 3rd most fantasy points last season to tight ends. Daniels is off to a good start and Schaub seemed to trust him on Monday night in the red zone. I look for these two to continue their early season chemistry.
Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers
In week one Olsen was Cam Newton’s number one target and nothing is going to change in week two. Like I said the Buffalo Bills have a banged up secondary and are weak when it comes to covering tight ends. Olsen should have a good week for fantasy owners.
Honorable Mentions: Brent Celek, Jared Cook
Defense/ Special Teams
New England Patriots
Geno Smith is making his second career start and he is facing a above average Patriots defense. The Patriots defense didn’t get many takeaways in week one but they did keep the rushing game in check. If the Patriots can do that again they are forcing Smith to make the plays through the air, which may cause some interceptions.
Carolina Panthers
I know I am high on Panthers players this week but the Panthers defense has one of the top front seven lines in the NFL. Last week the Bills couldn’t get much going on the ground, and this week it is only going to get tougher. The Panthers defense should have a very good week versus a very average offense.
Honorable Mentions: Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals
Kickers
Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
Tucker is one of the better kickers in the game. This week the Ravens face the Browns and have a chance to put up a lot of points. I look for Tucker to have a double digit week.
Phil Dawson San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers play a tough team this week, the Seattle Seahawks. It won’t be easy to score points so look for the 49ers to get every point they can and Dawson’s name could be called quite a bit.
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