FOOTBALL FANTASYLAND – The first week of the NFL season brings new optimism- New coaches and players trying to cement their legacy with every down,everyone making their own Super Bowl prediction (mine: Broncos 27, Packers 24). and of course, the new fantasy season.
So what if you lost last year? You drop your top receiver to pick up Kevin Ogletree after Week 1 last year? It’s in the past. Pass over Robert Griffin III in the draft to take the first kicker? Over with. This year, it’s new beginnings. It’s a new you. No more being overhyped by out of nowhere Week 1 performances (I’m looking at you, Julius Thomas), no more passing up on the unknown star, it’s time to roll!
Love/Hate for Week 2:
Players I Love:
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers:
I know. I know. It’s Aaron Rodgers. It’s kind of a given you’re going to love him every week. In Week 1, against an incredible San Francisco 49ers defense, the leader of the Pack still put up an outstanding 24 points, going for 333 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Packers lost in that game, giving Rodgers extra motivation to pounce on a deflated Washington Redskins team that just got trounced by Michael Vick and the new high-octane Eagles offense. Add that with the Lambeau home-field advantage and the added weapon of rookie Eddie Lacy in the backfield gives Rodgers all the tools to be even more of a fantasy monster.
Terrelle Pryor, QB, Oakland Raiders:
A stat that needs to be repeated: Only Lesean McCoy has more rushing yards so far than Pryor, who racked up 112 yards on only 13 attempts Sunday in Indianapolis. He did throw 2 interceptions, but that came in a from behind situation, where wild passes are bound to occur. Coming from behind shouldn’t be a problem this week, as Pryor and the Raiders are facing off against the wretched Jacksonville Jaguars. If Pryor wants to prove that he’s for real, he’s going to have to get the job done Sunday. I think he does.
Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens:
I don’t think we gave the Ravens a fair start. Last year’s Super Bowl Champion team is gone. Ed Reed’s in a Texans uniform, Ray Lewis is on ESPN. Football fans shouldn’t have been expected the Ravens to go into Denver and win. But, you can make the expectations high this week. Although old Ravens tormentor James Harrison is coming back in a Cleveland Browns jersey, Joe Flacco is up to the challenge. Even with the loss last week, Flacco still put in an 18 point performance. Expect the home-field advantage and a better performance from Ray Rice to push Flacco and the Ravens to a very good week.
Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks:
12-7. This should not be the score of a Super Bowl favorite going up against a less talented Carolina Panthers team. The Seahawks did disappoint a little in Week 1, but a win’s a win. This week, things get real: The 49ers come to Seattle, and the Sunday Night Lights will be on bright. But, things are looking up for Beast Mode. Last year, one of the only backs to crack the Niners D was Lynch, who averaged over 100 yards a game in 2 games against San Fran. Also, both defenses are going to be watching young stud QBs Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick, letting Lynch work under the radar and show everyone why he is one of the top 5 rushers in the game.
Brian Hartline, WR, Miami Dolphins:
How this guy is still under the radar is beyond me. He broke the 1,000 yard receiving barrier last year, including a 253(!) yard game. New Miami wideout Mike Wallace was supposed to be the standout in Week 1 against Cleveland, but Hartline stole the spotlight with 9 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. This week, it’s the Colts for Miami, a team that looked shaky against the passing game last week against Oakland. Hopefully, the spotlight shines brighter on a very deserving receiver.
Jared Cook, TE, St. Louis Rams:
The Honey Badger ruined it. If Tyrann Mathieu didn’t knock the ball out of Cook’s hands at the last second of what looked to be a 50 yard touchdown catch, Cook would have joined Peyton Manning and Colin Kaepernick as the only 30-point fantasy scorers in Week 1. If the Rams stick to their gameplan of Cook being their main target, it could be a monster year for him. The Falcons loom in Week 2, if the impressive performances want to continue, that’s a good place to start.
Players I Hate:
Ben Rothlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers:
It’s hard times for Big Ben. The quarterback was already tasked with major handicaps on offense, with rookie running back Le’Von Bell out with injury for at least the next few weeks, along with the team cutting 2012 leading rusher Jonathan Dwyer in training camp. In Week 1 against the Titans, it got even worse, with Pro Bowl Center Maurkice Pouncey and rusher Lerod Stephens-Howling both going down with serious injuries. It doesn’t get any easier in Week 2, as the ferocious Bengals defense is waiting for him in Cincy. Good luck, Ben. You haven’t got any of it lately.
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers
Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans
Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars:
Grouping these 3 together. As little as 3 years ago, these 3 would be inseparable at the top of fantasy drafts everywhere. Now it seems the clock has timed out on them. For Williams, it’s the burden of injuries for both he and backfield mate Jonathan Stewart that’s kept him out. With Johnson, it looks like he’s just burned out. I didn’t want to add MJD to this list, and I even picked him early in my draft, but the horrible QB situation in Jacksonville combined with previous injuries lands him in a bad spot.
Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints:
Two words: Revis. Island.
Cecil Shorts, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars:
If I haven’t spelled it out during this article, the Jaguars are not a very good football team. The only glimmer of hope is that perhaps Chad Henne can turn the team around in replacing the injured Blaine Gabbert. That glimmer is proving small right now. That said, any Jacksonville receiver is a dead zone right now.