We are officially into another already crazy fantasy football season! If Week 1 was any indication, we are in for a heck of a ride this year. Week 1 provided us with some mind-blowing, unexpected stats, some of which I will share with you in this article. So put on your seatbelts and let’s dive into the burning questions heading into Week 2 of the 2017 fantasy football season.
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Will bad performances from top quarterbacks carry into Week 2?
There were many top-tier quarterbacks that disappointed in a big way. I mentioned on Twitter; Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Russell Wilson, Marcus Mariota, Andy Dalton, and Eli Manning all COMBINED for just two touchdowns in Week 1. A stat like that will have you second-guessing your early quarterback selections. I’m here to tell you that you can R-E-L-A-X. For quarterbacks of this caliber, clearly, these are outlier weeks. Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers had elite defenses to open the season. All three have more favorable matchups in week two, so start them! OK, now that we have addressed the obvious moves, let me help you with the rest of the list I mention above.
Russell Wilson has a great matchup this week and as the Seahawks showed in Week 1, they can’t rely on their run game at the moment. The good news for Wilson is his ability to actually run the ball. He was the team’s leading rusher in Week 1. I expect he will repeat that Week 2. While they figure things out at the position, I anticipate Wilson will air it out early and often at home against the 49ers.
Marcus Mariota scares me a bit Week 2. The reason? Last week, Mariota threw the ball 41 times. He accomplished 41 or more attempts only twice last season. I understand the moves they made in the offseason could potentially lead to more passing attempts, but the run game is what drives the success for the Titans. Mariota’s 41 attempts last Sunday only translated into 256 passing yards and zero touchdowns. In Mariota’s case, more does not equal better. The Titans will look to balance things out Week 2 against a solid Jacksonville defense.
I’ll skip Andy Dalton as he has already played. My expectations for Eli Manning heading into Week 2 are more of what we saw last week. Eli seemed unmotivated and dull. Brandon Marshall looked like he was enjoying retirement in a Giants uniform. Sterling Shepard looks hungry for targets and production and was only targeted eight times in the game. If Odelle Beckham Jr. sees the field, I have more faith in Manning. Still, as far as fantasy goes, you can leave him on waivers. There are plenty of better options out there.
Which top running backs will bounce back this week?
Another stat I tweeted involved running backs. David Johnson, Le’Veon Bell, Melvin Gordon, Devonta Freeman, DeMarco Murray, Todd Gurley, and Jordan Howard all had a COMBINED average of 40 rushing yards in Week 1.
Both Melvin Gordon and Devonta Freeman will bounce back this week. Gordon had the volume with 18 carries but unfortunately was served a tall order of spending Week 1 in Denver against the Broncos’ defense. He’ll continue to get a full workload and will be in line for a much-improved game Week 2 at home vs. the Miami Dolphins. Freeman only rushed for 37 yards but saved his fantasy day with a touchdown. The Falcons take on the Packers Sunday in what should be a high-scoring affair. Freeman will be heavily involved and will likely see the end zone again in this contest.
DeMarco Murray will bounce back this week. As mentioned in the first question, the Titans aren’t known for throwing the ball as much as they did Week 1. They will have a game script that benefits Murray in Jacksonville this weekend. Do not hit the panic button on Murray. He will be a fine play Week 2 and beyond.
Which top running backs that had bad performances Week 1 repeat in Week 2?
David Johnson will be out for the majority, if not the rest of the season. I would stay clear of the Arizona backfield heading into Week 2.
Le’Veon Bell had what we all thought to be a tasty matchup vs. the Cleveland Browns week one. Either the Browns run defense is legit or Bell was a bit rusty from lack of presence in the preseason. I’ll choose the latter. The Steelers will be home Week 2 against a defense that just shut down Drew Brees and the Saints. Bell will have a better game this week but lower your expectations as there is a real chance he has a mediocre game for a second week in a row.
Todd Gurley just may not be as good as everyone wants him to be. His receptions will help his PPR value a bit, but, overall, he is not an appealing running back to me. Even in a positive game script last week Gurley did very little to make him a starter on your team that you are happy about. It is likely the Rams will be playing from behind in most games which doesn’t help Gurley’s run game. The Rams will come crashing back to earth this week against the Washington Redskins.
I am a little worried about Jordan Howard. The fact that the Bears have no legitimate wide receivers helps him out as Tarik Cohen will be utilized more in the passing game leaving the bulk of the carries to Howard. He didn’t have an awful Week 1, and I would expect he has a similar week as the touchdown possibilities for this Chicago Bears offense are meek.
Is the Los Angeles Rams offense for real?
The Los Angeles Rams scored more points than any team in the NFL last Sunday as they defeated the Indianapolis Colts 46-9. This does not make their offense a true threat Week 2 and beyond. The Rams defense scored two touchdowns in this home game and was able to take advantage of a depleted Colts team that had Scott Tolzien at the helm to start. The Colts were horrific, however, they were able to hold Todd Gurley to just 40 rushing yards on 19 carries. The Rams have a way to go before they can be considered an offensive threat. I would not bank on this offense vs. Washington Week 2. The Rams defense, however, is a talented group and could be streamed on weeks with favorable matchups. Week 2 is not one of those against an above average offense.
Who are my starts of the week?
Derek Carr (QB – OAK)
The Oakland Raiders have been gifted the New York Jets in their home opener. Derek Carr will expose the Jets defense with ease as the Jets are the worst team in the NFL and have to travel west to play in a hostile environment in the Coliseum. Oakland’s defense is not the best but fortunately, they don’t have to be against their Week 2 opponent. Carr will have plenty of time on the field, airing out the ball to Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Jared Cook. Look for Derek Carr to be a top 8 QB this week.
Kelvin Benjamin (WR – CAR)
I’m doubling down on Benjamin as he was my WR start of the week for Week 1. Kelvin ended the game with one catch for 25 yards so most will feel hesitant to start him Week 2. The Panthers were away on the west coast facing a defense that presented decent matchups for Kelvin. Week 2, the Panthers are home against the Buffalo Bills who do not have the same assets to take on the six-foot-five, 243-pound wideout. Benjamin will get more targets as Cam Newton will look to please the fans at home Week 2 vs. the Bills.
Marshawn Lynch (RB – OAK)
I thought it would be a good idea to lock up both aspects of the Raiders offense this week. Just as Carr will have plenty of fantasy value, so will his starting running back Marshawn Lynch. Lynch, surprisingly looked like his old self, Week 1. The Raiders will have a balanced attack against the Jets until the Raiders’ lead builds to a point where it only makes sense to run. Both game scripts benefit Lynch, leading to a big day.
Charles Clay (TE – BUF)
Maybe it’s because it’s Week 2 that I feel the need to double down on two players. Last week, my tight end start of the week, Clay, accumulated 53 receiving yards on nine targets and a touchdown. Clay is and will be Tyrod Taylor’s top target this season. Clay had more targets than all of the Bills wide receivers combined last week. Clay is someone that Taylor trusts and will continue to lean on Week 2 and beyond. It would not shock me if Clay scores 10+ touchdowns this season. The volume and surrounding talent on the team will lead to fantasy success for Clay this week and rest of season.
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Nate Hamilton is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Nate, check out his archive and follow him @DomiNateFF.
