Fantasy Football Ride or Die, Week 2
In fantasy football there isn’t another moment in a season where more feelings change than they do in week two. Change is the most important phenomenon we, as fantasy football team owners must deal with. There isn’t another part of the season that offers more change than week two. Everything we thought we knew for the last month (or months) was changed in less than 24 hours this past Sunday. If you can’t deal with the change that comes from this portion of the season you will almost certainly give yourself an up hill battle.
Dealing with change is as important in fantasy football as it is reality. I thought I was going to have a solid top six quarterback in Tom Brady. You thought you were going to have two children and stop. Things change. You thought Cordarrelle Patterson wasn’t that good. I thought Ray Rice was suspended for only two games. We were wrong..
So we deal with the change. On a fantasy football level of course.
Here is some half-decent advice about what changes many of you are dealing with.
Tom Brady – Like many of you I was high on Brady bouncing back this season. The offense and his receivers are one more year older. Rob Gronkowski is healthy. The defense is at least slightly better than average. All of these things still hold true. Miami is a tough defense plus having your week one match up in hot Florida sun is also tough. Excuses aside, Tom Terrific will still have plenty of opportunities to be, well.. Terrific. In the event he isn’t I sure am glad I drafted a back up like Carson Palmer or Jay Cutler. If you didn’t, Jake Locker is somebody you might want to keep your eye on.
Brandin Cooks- I wasn’t one of them but a lot of fantasy writers wanted to warn us of all the hype for him. If you drafted him you’re a very happy owner this week. You saw just how much Drew Brees and the Saints want to employ their new weapon. He caught seven passes on eight targets and scored on a slant play from inside the 10 yard line. The only change I’m making about Cooks is not thinking about whether or not he’s in my starting lineup. I’ve read some concerns about when Kenny Stills returns and his healthy. I’m not worried. Behind Jimmy Graham and Drew Brees, Cooks is the Saint you want to own.
Tyler Eifert and Jordan Reed- If you took one of these tight ends there’s a good chance you’re pretty upset. Both were supposed to have a decent to a fairly good season. Whelp! The injury bug strikes early. Chances are you didnt’ draft a back up. Here are a few tight ends to consider from your waiver wire. All of these guys are owned in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues; Dwayne Allen (Colts), Levine Toilolo (Falcons), Larry Donnell (Giants). All of these guys scored more than six points in week one.
Knowshon Moreno- Many fantasy writers, me included felt his best days were behind him. That Miami over paid for a guy who looked better than he was thanks to being part of a Peyton Manning offense. One week into the season I am eating my words. One thing that changed my mind was the 134 yards on Sunday. Including a touchdown. He was the number three back for week one behind only Le’Veon Bell and Marshawn Lynch. After watching much of the Dolphins play on Sunday I am not afraid to admit, I dropped the ball on Knowshon. Incidentally, Lamar Miller should be owned in pretty much all leagues.
Now on to Ride or Die. Remember, this is not a start them, sit them column. These are just the guys I foresee having better or worse weeks than usual.
Quarterbacks to Ride With:
Peyton Manning- If you’re in one of those Survivor leagues or play a weekly game then this could be one of the better weeks to choose Manning. Last year in two games against Kansas City he manged an average of 30 points. In week one he scored around 25 points for most leagues. Not only are the Chiefs not as healthy on defense as they were last year, they also aren’t as good.
Dude. Let me lead this time.
Andrew Luck- Last week against a pretty decent Broncos defense he managed the third highest score for a QB for the week. Last week, the Philadelphia defense gave up big play after big play against the Jacksonville Jaguars. You read correctly. The Jacksonville Jaguars. Another big play weekend is in the works for the Indy QB.
Jake Locker- I mentioned him earlier in this column and it wasn’t by accident. Look. Dallas was putrid on Sunday versus the 49ers. Locker looked good in Tennessee’s home opener against the Chiefs. Throwing for 266 yards and two scores doesn’t just happen to Locker. If he can stay on the field he could be a real surprise this year in fantasy. He has enough weapons and his schedule is just soft enough to consider him your every week QB if let’s say someone like RGIII doesn’t get it going. It’s not out of the realm of possibilities you start him over Tom Brady down the road either.
Quarterbacks to Die With:
Nick Foles– I am not going to mince words here. He didn’t look good on Sunday. I have high hopes on him this season. I think he can be a top five or six quarterback in 2014. The Colts did the best they could do against Peyton Manning last Sunday night. They Kept the elder Manning under 300 yards. The three touchdowns to Julius Thomas aside it’s a pretty good game for the Colts defense. I’m not confident Foles turns it around this week.
Ryan Tannehill- He started well enough on Sunday throwing two touchdowns. He failed to reach the 200 yard plateau and did still throw a pick. Buffalo showed in week one they can play good defense against a good offense versus Chicago. Sunday in Buffalo it may not reach cold temperatures but may yet still offer a cold stagnant offense for the Dolphins.
Tom Brady- I still believe he will be a top QB this season in fantasy. I also still feel it’s going to be a month before we see it.
Running Backs to Ride With:
Marshawn Lynch-Him rushing for over a 100 yards and two touchdowns won’t happen every week this season. There’s a terrific chance he can for the seoncd straight week to start the season. The Chargers defense is good, but not that good. Look out for ‘Beast Mode.’
Alfred Morris-Last week versus the Eagles the Jags allowed 36 points to the running back position. The Redskins offense isn’t fixed yet but they will rely heavily on Morris. As long as he doesn’t get a touchdown vultured he should have a pretty good game here.
Giovani Bernard-Last week he looked well worth that second round pick you used on him. It gets even better in week two when he faces an Atlanta defense who allowed over 40 fantasy points to the Saints running backs. Jeremy Hill is a flex option if you’re desperate.
Frank Gore/ Carlos Hyde-Some things never change. Like the Bears stopping the run. They proved last week they still have problems in that area in Buffalo in week one. Both San Francisco backs are nice plays. The 49ers have shown already they have no qualms playing both of their talented backs.
Running Backs to Die With:
C.J. Spiller-He touched the ball 18 times last week in the home opener. Fred Jackson put up more yards on less carries. Miami does stop the run pretty effectively. I’m not thrilled playing any of the Buffalo backs this week. If Spiller doesn’t score it’s going to be tough to get any value from him in week two.
I am staying off twitter this week.
Jamaal Charles-Too be honest I cannot explain his performance in week one. Seven carries for 19 yards. The Chiefs were down and just wanted to throw the ball but he looked really ineffective. He wasn’t Jamaal Charles-Like. The Denver defense can stop the run and will focus on the Chiefs main offensive weapon.
DeMarco Murray-Tennessee showed in week one they have improved their defense. Ask Jamaal Charles. Given the Cowboys offensive problems I see an issue for Murray owners this week. The good news they will throw him the ball. Bad news is Romo just threw it into the ground.
Wide Receivers to Ride With:
Calvin Johnson-Duh. No seriously. Duh. He’s awesome. He’s the epitome of great wide receiver. I heard recently how he felt he could make himself a better athlete by changing his diet to a more natural one. So the best receiver in the NFL thinks he isnt’ good enough and wanted to get better? I know Carolina has a good defense. I don’t care. I’m looking at a record-breaking season coming from the Detroit wide-out. Re-Cord-Break-ing..
T.Y. Hilton-The more and more I read about this game the more and more excited I am as an owner of Hilton. In one of my leagues he’s in my flex spot and I am just tickled Colt blue and white about it. The Eagles didn’t show any real defense until the fourth quarter. Which was when the Jaguars showed up for real. Chip Kelly has his team in a good direction offensively however the defense is still suspect. Especially in the secondary. The big play ability of Hilton is ripe for exploiting in this Monday night match up.
Kendall Wright- I’ll take any play makers facing Dallas this week. It’s just a mess over there.
Andrew Hawkins-If he’s still available in your league you should probably pick him up. He is seeing a lot of targets and thanks to Josh Gordon’s suspension and Jordan Cameron’s week one injury Hawkins looks like the best passing option for quarterback Brian Hoyer. He’s also another decent play in survivor leagues.
Wide Receivers to Die With:
Wait. Malcom is over there? Damn. There go my targets.
Keenan Allen- He didn’t look so number one like with a healthy Malcom Floyd on the field with him. With healthy competition for targets and a strong Seattle defense I’m actually sitting Allen in all but full point PPR formats.
Mike Wallace- Hard for me to see him getting a lot if plays deep if Tannehill is under a lot of pressure. The Buffalo defense is for real. I’m nervous for him here.
Terrance Williams-Until Tony Romo and the rest of the Dallas offense looks more in sync Dez is the only Dallas receiver I’m playing. Williams will be too unpredictable to rely on.
Brandon Marshall-Ankle injuries and the 49er secondary. Both make me weary this week. If he plays I’m playing him, but not confidently.
Tight Ends to Ride With:
Julius Thomas-Just more of the usual. Big plays and a lot of happy fantasy owners.
We will see more and more from him as the season moves on.
Zach Ertz– I feel this is a pretty bold call. There’s no real reason to say he’s going to have a big week here. It’s the kids second year in the league. Chip Kelly and the Eagles brass have raved about this kid and are pretty vocal about how much they want to use him. It’s a Monday night game against a premier opponent like the Colts. I love prime time players in prime time match ups. Ertz could be primed for the big stage. This defense did just allow three touchdowns to a tight end last week, ya know.
Delanie Walker-The Dallas defense is so bad I wish I could play Tennessee’s entire offense. Just about anyone can play big here. In recent history Dallas has not played well against tight ends.
Larry Donnell-He was the most consistent receiver in Eli’s offense for the Giants on Monday night. If you just lost Jordan Reed you might as well grab a guy who will see the targets.
Tight Ends to Die With:
Martellus Bennett-San Francisco gave Jason Witten a tough time last week. Although that’s probably indicative to how awful the Dallas offense is. I still don’t trust this match up.
Heath Miller-Tough match up versus Baltimore. Another one of those black hole games for fantasy players. Two defensive rivals on a Thursday night. There are better options.
Chargers Tight Ends-Seattle scares me that much. Larry Donnell looks better this week.
Defense/ Special Teams to Ride With:
Tampa Bay-For the person streaming defenses. The Rams don’t have a quarterback anyone is confident in. Turn overs should be plentiful this Sunday for the Tampa Bay defense.
Arizona-I am pretty sure Eli has had an interception in every game of his career. It at least seems that way. Why not. Take a risk. They’re better then the Philadelphia defense this week.
Denver-This week we see why the Broncos went out and signed so many new defensive players. Alex Smith be wary. Be very wary.
Tennessee-I guess I didn’t feel like I mentioned this match up enough. I’ll repeat. Dallas is bad. Real bad.
Defense/ Special Teams to Die With:
Carolina-This is why I don’t like owning one defense for the season. You don’t want o drop them but you know it’s a tough match up. The Detroit offense is one of the most dangerous so long as #81 is on the field.
Philadelphia-Tough match up against Andrew Luck. Wouldn’t expect anything special from them. Last week Jacksonville exposed them for more than one deep ball.
Dallas-No, come on. Don’t make me laugh. You didn’t draft them did you? Go. Go grab Tennessee or Tampa Bay. It’s fine. I won’t laugh anymore.
If this wasn’t enough read some more from me by clicking here..If you have a complaint then you can go here. If you want to see how I did last week you can check it out over here. Other than that have a great weekend and post a comment below. My bosses love that kind of stuff.