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| ARI at JAX | BAL at SD | CAR at ATL | CIN at GB | CLE at DEN | HOU at TEN | IND at MIA | MIN at DET |
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Week 2 Game Recap: St. Louis Rams 7, Washington Redskins 9
St. Louis Rams
| QB Marc Bulger, Pass: 15 - 28 - 125 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - 9 - 0 |
By the time you finish reading this sentence, you will have had about 10 times as much time as Bulger had on nearly every snap in Week 2. The Rams' offensive line was downright offensive, as they bought nothing for Bulger under center all day. It looked like a game of "Jailbreak" every time Bulger looked to throw the ball, which was the main reason he had a terrible day as a passer and his top target (Donnie Avery) had a day to forget.
| RB Steven Jackson, Rush: 17 - 104 - 0, Rec: 4 - 15 - 0 (6 targets) |
Jackson had no time whatsoever in the backfield as the Redskins blew through the St. Louis offensive line as if it was not even there. Only one big run by Jackson saved his statistical day, as without his 58-yard scamper and he averages under three yards per carry for his other 16 runs. The Rams even tried to get Jackson more touches by splitting him out wide as a receiver, yet even that setup failed most of the time against a swarming Washington defense. Jackson is explosive and as long as he gets decent numbers with little team help he will be hard to bench, but the going will be tough without better lead blocking.
| RB Ken Darby, Rush: 2 - 13 - 0 |
Darby had only two carries for the Rams in Week 2 (along with a pass target that was negated by a penalty). As the only running back aside from Steven Jackson to touch the ball for St. Louis, his upside remains as a very loose handcuff to Steven Jackson. Odds are that the Rams would go with a committee approach should Jackson get injured, but the first running back off the bench is Darby.
| WR Laurent Robinson, Rec: 6 - 54 - 1 (9 targets) |
Robinson was the top receiver for the Rams in Week 2, which is not saying much. Robinson helped out Marc Bulger and the Rams with six catches including a leaping fade catch for the only St. Louis score for the day where he beat single coverage in the red zone. Robinson later added some nice shorter catches including a 13-yard snag on a square-in route to move the chains on third and long. Robinson was the featured guy since Donnie Avery could not get on track at all against a tough Redskins secondary.
| WR Keenan Burton, Rec: 2 - 38 - 0 (2 targets) |
Burton was two for two in Week 2, grabbing balls over the middle for 13 and 25 yards as he found openings between the linebackers and the safeties from the slot. Burton is the third receiver for the Rams behind Laurent Robinson and Donnie Avery, making him a very questionable fantasy value.
| WR Donnie Avery, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (6 targets) |
The Redskins took Donnie Avery out of the game in Week 2, letting him catch just one of his six targets. Avery's only catch would have been better to have been a drop for the Rams as he fumbled the short grab over the middle and it killed the Rams' best drive deep in Redskin territory and took away their only real chance to score in the second half.
| TE Randy McMichael, Rec: 2 - 14 - 0 (5 targets) |
McMichael had several short targets and even a screen designed to go to him for the Rams in Week 2, but it was far from enough to help the Rams on a tough outing. McMichael caught Marc Bulger's eye at least once in the game in the red zone and could become a nice sleeper TE if the Rams ever get going on offense, but for now he is not much of a fantasy TE value play.
Washington Redskins
| QB Jason Campbell, Pass: 23 - 35 - 242 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 7 - 28 - 0 |
Campbell had a decent day statistically, but aside from short dump-off passes to Chris Cooley he did not move the sticks with much regularity. He looked fine in the pocket and scrambled a few times for nice gains, but he could not find Santana Moss or anyone else very deep all day long. Some of his throws downfield sailed or were out of bounds as both he and the Redskins' offense struggled. No pass was completed for more than 25 yards and few if any of his connections afforded his receivers much chance of getting extra yardage after the catch.
| RB Clinton Portis, Pass: 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 19 - 79 - 0, Rec: 2 - 9 - 0 (3 targets) |
Portis had very nice running lanes all day and too advantage of them, gashing the Rams for 4-5 yards before contact on many of his attempts. The Rams pinched down inside in the red zone, keeping Portis at bay and outside of the end zone. Portis had one halfback pass to Chris Cooley which fell incomplete. The Redskins did get inside the 10 four times, so Portis lack of TDs was not for lack of opportunity.
| RB Ladell Betts, Rush: 4 - 13 - 0, Rec: 1 - 25 - 0 (1 targets) |
Betts mopped up late in the game, getting a few carries late in the fourth quarter and adding a 25 yard catch and run on a dump-off pass from Jason Campbell in the last period. Betts was on the field several times on third down but his main value is as Portis' handcuff.
| RB Marcus Mason, Rush: 3 - 5 - 0 |
Mason came in for a few carries to spell Portis early in the game, running hard up the middle but not picking up much in the way of yardage. He remains entrenched as the third RB on the depth chart, but if Portis and Betts both go down then Mason has a ton of value behind a strong offensive line.
| RB Mike Sellers, Rec: 1 - 12 - 0 (2 targets) |
Sellers may have been a Pro Bowl fullback, but in fantasy circles that does not mean much at all. His value is to the tailback as a lead blocker. In touchdown leagues he may have slight value as he does get occasional targets, as shown by a pass that was heading his way inside the five yard line that would have been a touchdown catch for Sellers if not for a deflection by a St. Louis defender.
| WR Malcolm Kelly, Rec: 4 - 41 - 0 (6 targets) |
Kelly looked like he might get involved early as he had two targets on the first drive including a deeper sideline route but he could not grab Campbell's passes. Kelly was involved a bit more later in the game, catching several short passes in the flat or over the middle for 10-15 yard pickups.
| WR Antwaan Randle El, Rec: 4 - 39 - 0 (6 targets) |
Randle El had the biggest catch of the game for any Redskin wideout in Week 2, grabbing a nice 24-yard pass down the seam when he lined up in the slot. His other three grabs were all short (15 yards total) as Washington's passing attack was all about the short pass. Randle El's value will only significantly increase if other receivers start to command more coverage.
| WR Santana Moss, Rec: 3 - 35 - 0 (6 targets) |
Moss was stifled by the Rams as the defense took away the Redskins' top wideout in Week 2. Moss had one longer pass of 21 yards but that was by far his highlight for the game as the Redskins were only afforded a shorter passing game all day. Moss also fumbled after a short catch, costing the Redskins another scoring chance in St. Louis territory. Jason Campbell was not fully on track and neither he nor Moss could get on the same page.
| WR Devin Thomas (2 targets) |
Thomas was targeted on a hard pass from Jason Campbell at the goal line, a very tough pass to snare. Thomas was barely open so Campbell had to try and force it in, but to no avail. The big takeaway here is that Thomas was on the field in the red zone and that Campbell looked in his direction.
| TE Chris Cooley, Rec: 7 - 83 - 0 (9 targets) |
Cooley was the featured receiver once again for Washington in Week 2. Jason Campbell worked the short passing game towards Cooley for most of the day, connecting with him a team leading seven times, but never for more than 18 yards at a clip. Cooley got open underneath and in the flat but he could not find his way into the end zone, the issue he had most of last year. He still appears to be the top target for the Redskins and with his TD last week he remains a Top 10 TE with very strong upside.
| TE Fred Davis, Rec: 1 - -2 - 0 (1 targets) |
Tight end Fred Davis had nearly a meaningless afternoon, catching just one ball for negative yardage. His only value is if Chris Cooley misses time, and even that would be debatable.