Fantasy Football Info For Serious Players
|
|
Login / Signup |
|
Week 2 Upgrades/Downgradesby David Dodds and Clayton Gray, Exclusive to Footballguys.com
Upgrades
After dogging him all preseason, Grossman actually looked decent for most of this contest. As long as the Bears keep winning games, his job as the starting QB appears safe.
Trent Green is expected to miss at least two weeks. Huard was decent in relief completing 12 of 20 for 140 yards and a TD. If you are deperate at QB, he is your man.
He and newly acquired Donte Stallworth connected in a huge way in week one. While he did start out against the Texans, McNabb looks eady to prove that he can succeed without Terrell Owens. While Stallworth, Reggie Brown and LJ Smith aren't the best in the NFL at their positions, it's enough for McNabb to shine most weeks. McNabb has shown he is capable of doing a lot with lesser talent in previous years.
While he won't face the Titans every week, Pennington's shoulder looked solid, and he looked very accurate He finished the game with a pair of TDs and 319 passing yards.
Smith looks much improved compared to last season. While he won't be taking on the Cardinals every week, he has already matched his 2005 season total of one TD pass. He found nine different receivers and threw for 288 yards. He had a nice long TD (to Antonio Bryant) called back due to holding. He looks ready to be a viable fantasy backup this season.
The Falcons look very good this season. They revamped the defense and it shutdown Carolina with ease. This gives Michael Vick the short field. Without TD vulture Duckett around, more emphasis will be on Vick to score the TDs (either with his legs or through the air). We weer impressed with the play of Michael Jenkins too. This could be Michael Vick's best season.
Sure this was against the 49ers, but Warner looked very sharp on opening day. Edgerrin James sets up the play-action pass as good as anyone. James also helps provide extra blocking on deep pass plays. The duo of Fitzgerald and Boldin are among the best in the league. Even Bryant Johnson is running solid routes. Expect to see Warner among the league leaders in passing yards as long as he can stay healthy.
Brown didn't do much on the ground against a stellar Pittsburgh defense, but he was very active around the goal line. Against more modest defenses, Brown should be excellent.
Buckhalter was very much under the radar this offseason, but he had eight carries in week one. In most leagues, RBs are at a premium, so he's definitely worth a look if still sitting on your waiver wire.
As expected, Bush was huge in the passing game. He was targeted ten times and caught eight balls for 58 yards (he also had 61 rushing yards). If those numbers become the norm, he will be huge in leagues that award a point per reception. The biggest reason for optimism with Bush going forward is HC Sean Payton loves him. Bush was spread wide, ran inside, ran outside, involved in screens, etc. We think if Bush is this involved now, it can only get better going forward.
It appears that Foster will be the primary RB when healthy. In week one, no other RB took a hand-off. Foster was also the leading pass-catcher out of the backfield.
He had 170 combined yards and 2 TDs. And this was running behind a depleted offensive line. Even on runs that lok dead at the line of scrimmage, Gore keeps moving his feet and before you know it has 5 or 6 yards. With Barlow out of the picture, Gore is primed to have a breakout season this year.
Green looked like a workhorse again as he faced one of the best defenses in the league yet still gained 110 yards on the ground and caught three passes for 22 yards. He faced little competition for carries (Gado lost seven yards on two rushes).
He looked in mid-season form in this contest. With Chris Perry on the PUP list, we expect Rudi to continue to get a lot of carries (and receptions). He is a very safe play every week.
The big question with Jones was how involved he would be in the offense. That question was answered in a big way in week one as Jones received almost all of the RB carries with 14 (Brian Calhoun had two) and nearly every RB passing target with nine (Shawn Bryson had two). Jones ended the game with 19 total touches for 80 yards. That's not spectacular, but the Lions offense is still coming together and should improve as the season unfolds.
While he didn't get a single target in the passing game, Lewis looks ready to rebound this season. He ran hard and with purpose delivery solid blows as he slammed into defenders. It's unlikely he (or any other back) can again get 2,000 yards, but he looks closer to that back than the overweight tired runner we saw on the field in 2005.
Parker was a true workhorse back against the Dolphins as he carried 29 times for 115 yards. He took all but two of the Steelers rushes.
With the game on the line, the Jaguars ran Taylor hard in the fourth quarter. With minimal competition for playing time, Taylor could be huge if he can stay healthy.
After a preseason filled with injury, Westbrook turned in a solid week one effort. He was targeted nine times and totaled 122 yards from scrimmage.
Any questions about who the Titans WR1 might be were laid to rest in week one as Bennett was targeted 19 times.
He immediately becomes Seattle's #2 WR. Since it was looking more and more like he would be sitting out the first 10 games, this represents a huge upgrade. He could be featured in a few plays as early as this coming week.
He is clearly the player that Alex Smith was locking onto during the game. He finished with 4 catches for 114 yards and a huge bomb called back by offensive holding.
Of course he only saw significant action (11 targets) due to Steve Smith's injury, but it is very conceivable that Smith's hamstring could dog him for a while. If Carter is starting, he's a viable fantasy option.
He is clearly the #1 option in New York as Pennington routinely threw his direction. Coles finished with 8 catches for 153 yards.
Colston showed why the Saints were comfortable in dealing away Donte Stallworth. He is big and physical and is the perfect fit in this offense. Colston was targeted eight times, and he hauled in four catches including a TD.
It was unclear how big of a role Cotchery would have as a starter, but he laid that insecurity to rest in week one with 12 targets (the most on the team).
His situation just improved a lot. He is clearly healthy as he went deep and caught a 74-yard TD on the first play of the game. The play was called back due to holding, but Edwards' speed was noticeable. He looks all the way back. Edwards gets an additional bump due to the Joe Jurevicius injury which will sideline Joe for 4-6 weeks.
Even though he only played for half of Seattle's offensive snaps, Jackson was targeted an amazing six times. He looked very good despite missing the entire preseason and set up the team's game-winning FG. He should benefit from a reliable #2 opposite of him (newly signed Deion Branch).
He ended up with 101 yards on 6 catches. We have never doubted his talent, but have always questioned the OL giving Carr enough time to throw. The offensive line held their own at times and that all the difference. Since Houston is expected to be playing from behind often in games, Johnson could surprise with solid stats this year.
Northcutt isn't overly exciting, but he will start for the Browns for at least four to six weeks while Joe Jurevicius recovers from his broken ribs.
Despite non-stellar QB play by Drew Bledsoe, no one was faulting Owens. He seemed to get open at will. He finished with 80 yards and a score against a tough defense. He looks like he is completely recovered and ready to have a big year.
We're usually a bit cautious about WRs who have struggled in their career and then change teams (especially when the move is so late in the preseason), but Stallworth looked very much on the same page as Donovan McNabb. He is more talented than Reggie Brown so we see nop reason he won't continue to get a lot of targets.
A common theory this preseason was that the retirement of Willie Roaf would lead to more blocking (and therefore less pass route running) for Gonzalez. Well, he saw 12 targets in week one, so that theory doesn't look so hot anymore. If Trent Green misses time with his concussion, Huard should continue to target the TE often as well (seven of Huard's passes were to Gonzalez).
Against the Bills, New England only dressed three WRs. This gives Graham a huge opportunity to produce good numbers this season. He was likely undrafted in most leagues, so he should be available if you are weak at TE.
He won't have a long reception like he had in week 1 every week, but he showed a good understanding of defenses on his routes. He remains one if the better TE redzone options as well.
The Colts used a double-TE set often in week one, so Utecht saw plenty of action - his five targets equaled the looks that Dallas Clark saw.
With Deion Branch holding out, Watson is easily Tom Brady's favorite receiver. Even though the Patriot passing game was not needed against the Bills, Watson was targeted seven times and hit the 50-yards receiving mark. Production like this seems to be the low mark for Watson this season.
The Soldja is back. He looked very sharp and presents a nice mismatch against most defenses he will face. With Jurevicius mending, he should see increase targets in the passing game.
The Bears offense seems improved from a year ago, but they still lack a star quality that keeps them from completing drives. That spells good news for Gould as he could see a good number of FG attempts (he was four for four in week one).
The Ravens offense looks a lot better this year. And with a solid defense, Stover looks as if he should get a lot of chances this season.
What's not to like about six FGs? If the Rams continue to have trouble finishing off drives, Wilkins will be huge this season.
We knew they were good, but they dominated the Packers like a college team. They allowed 0 points, just 267 total yards while recording 3 sacks, 2 interceptions and a fumble recovery.
They recorded 7 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception and knocked out the opposition's starting QB (Trent Green). And they did all of that against a usually high-powered offense.
What a difference a year makes. They recorded 4 sacks, 3 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries running a very aggressive defense designed to create mistakes.
While the Buccaneers offense is not among the league's elite, they were completely dismantled by the Ravens defense. Baltimore allowed a mere 26 yards rushing and 116 yards through the air. They sacked the QB three times, forced three INTs and even scored on an INT return - a truly dominating performance.
Downgrades
It is obvious that Delhomme missed Steve Smith in week one. While Delhomme completed 21 of 39 passes, he did so for a relatively paltry 186 yards and did not find the endzone. With Smith on the sidelines, the Carolina passing games lack explosiveness.
Green was pressured all day long before being knocked out of the game by Robert Geathers. Green had feeling in all extremities, but he does not remember the play. He is expected to miss at least two weeks.
Plummer was awful against the Rams as he completed only 13 passes for 138 yards and four turnovers (including three INTs). While Javon Walker did drop a likely fourth quarter TD, Plummer's performance was dreadful. Add the fact that rookie Jay Cutler looked sharp during the preseason and Plummer could be on a tight leash with another woeful performance.
Simms was downright awful against the Ravens. He eventually hit the bench after going 17 out of 29 for a mere 133 yards. He was picked off three times and did not find the endzone (unless you count the Chris McAlister INT return).
It's official - Volek was benched in favor of a guy that has been on the roster only two weeks.
Travis Henry vultured two TDs from short distance and Brown failed to establish himself despite LenDale White being inactive. This looks like a full-blown RBBC to us.
Cobbs was a healthy inactive this week. It's apparent that Cobbs will be useless if Tatum and Mike Bell stay healthy.
It's hard to run when your offensive line gives you no lanes to run through. The front blocking was horrible and could derail Droughns if it does not improve soon. The Saints are hardly tops of the league against the run either so this might be a chronic situation all year long.
Some were holding out that Houston would still be the team's primary RB. However, he was a healthy inactive in week one while Derrick Blaylock and Kevan Barlow took almost all of the action.
With the door wide open and his teammates wanting himto secure the number 1 spot, Thomas Jones whiffed. He finished with 63 yards on 21 carries (3 yards per carry) doing nothing to seperate himself from a less-than 100% Cedric Benson (who also avergaed 3 ypc).
Maybe this was just a one game fluke, but Cadillac looked sluggish and the OL looked worse. Both were easily domuinated in week 1.
Williams saw little action in the backfield (zero carries and one target). He looks like a fantasy nonstarter as long as DeShaun Foster can stay healthy.
If you were holding out hope that Donte Stallworth would flop in Philadelphia, that's pretty much out the window. Baskett has almost no value unless Stallworth or Reggie Brown is injured.
Burleson had only two targets and now is buried deeper on the depth chart with the signing of Deion Branch. Cut bait now and look for a better option.
Curtis is obviously a distant WR3 for the Rams. His two targets pale in comparison to the combined 24 looks given to Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce. Curtis' role looks very small with the two starters healthy. The Scott Linehan offense uses fewer 3 WR formations than previous HC Mike Martz.
It was a tough game for the entire Buccaneers offense, but Galloway gets the downgrade due to his lack of targets. He was thrown to a mere three times while Michael Clayton (seven), Anthony Becht (six), and Cadillac Williams (six) each saw more looks. While we're sure Galloway will get his this season, he definitely will have to share the ball a lot more in 2006.
Jurevicius was knocked out of week one with broken ribs. He is expected to miss four to six weeks with the injury. He already had limited value as the third option in the passing game (behind Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow, Jr.), so this injury makes him undeserving of a roster space in most small- or medium-sized leagues.
It was well known that Jerricho Cotchery had surpassed McCareins as the team's second starting WR, but McCareins was given a mere three targets in week one. That's barely a blip on the fantasy radar.
He gets downgraded because his starting QB, Trent Green, looks to be out 2-3 weeks. We expect the Chiefs will try and run the ball more during these games.
When the Saints released Zach Hilton, it was thought the Conwell would become a viable fantasy option. However, neither he nor any other TE on the roster was given a target in week one. This could be called the Reggie Bush effect.
It's only one week, but the newly acquired Anthony Becht saw much more action (six targets to two). While Smith did catch both intended passes, the lack of looks is bothersome.
It's hard to be excited about his opportunities with a weaker OL and now Trent Green on the sidelines. This offense is likely to struggle meaning less kicks for Tynes.
He was told to stay home this week . This is coming off botching two game-winning FGs in the last pre-season game. He might have been the most accurate FG kicker in league history, but he is likely on a tight leash right now. Shaun Suisham shanked a chip shot and might be released as the backup as well.
This unit does not appear to have the skills to stop anyone on defense. Load up your starters against them each week.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Forums |
News |
Football stats |
Login / Signup |
Contact
Us |