Fantasy: Marshall, Rodgers, Gates lead Week 2 Revelations

Here are some Fantasy Revelations from a mixed-results Week 2 of the NFL season -- a weekend that made stars of veterans who were seemingly thisclose to retirement (Antonio Gates, Frank Gore) and unheralded backups (Kirk Cousins, Knile Davis) who rose to fantasy power, via injury:

1. There's no shame in getting one's wires crossed on the Green Bay passing attack

Last week, as part of a 'Bold Predictions' package, I declared that Randall Cobb would catch more balls than any Week 2 wideout -- bar none.

Consequently, I tabbed Jordy Nelson for all the end-zone love.

Well, as luck would have it, Cobb posted his fourth career outing of multiple touchdowns, while catching only five balls for 39 yards; and Nelson rolled for nine receptions and 209 yards -- including the game-winning TD (80 yards) in the fourth quarter.

As part of that fantasy goodness, Aaron Rodgers racked up 374 total yards (348 passing) and three touchdowns on the day, clinching an elite-level spot among Week 2 quarterbacks.

But let's inject some reality into the situation: If the Packers don't fall behind the Jets 21-3 early in the second quarter, Green Bay likely would have sought balance with the running game. Instead, Eddie Lacy ended up with a pedestrian 61 total yards (48 rushing), and only two running backs accounted for 14 total carries (Lacy -- 13, John Kuhn -- 1).

Which brings us to this: This week marks the perfect time to make a blockbuster-trade play for Lacy, whose fantasy value has been tempered by a pair of stout rushing defenses in the first two weeks.

But that will change in the very-near future, with the second-year back -- and consensus Round 1 stud in the August drafts -- staring at a four-pack of attractive matchups for Weeks 3-6 (Lions, Bears, Vikings, Dolphins).

2. There's a thin line between loving and loathing Brandon Marshall's Sunday output

A three-touchdown day can erase a lot of hazy memories, particularly those who remember that Marshall had zero catches and just three targets at the two-minute mark of the first half.

But that's when the turnaround occurred, with Marshall -- a game-time decision before kickoff (ankle injury) -- catching his final five targets and producing three red-zone scores for the Bears, including two in the decisive fourth quarter.

For standard-scoring leagues, that's roughly 22.8 points; for Points Per Reception leagues, that's 27.8. Not bad for essentially 32 minutes of tangible work.

OK, let's get to the crux of the matter: If you believe Marshall's injury is nothing more than a short-term malady, then ride him with confidence next week and every other healthy Sunday after that.

After all, why panic on a guy who boasts 12 consecutive games of eight-plus targets?

But if you believe Marshall's bum ankle will be a lingering story angle throughout the season -- in terms of multiple missed practices during the week -- then it may be time to explore trade talks with your league's WR-needy owners.

And after two weeks of NFL action, you should have a good handle on these unfortunate fantasy GMs. They could be on the precipice of a freakout.

3. It's hard to tell what drives Antonio Gates more -- a fear of being benched ... or missing out on the Hall of Fame someday

This revelation holds great personal meaning for me:

Back in the late 1990s, Gates -- a fellow Detroit native -- was slated to play football at Michigan State University (my alma mater), presumably at tight end. But the athletic lefty also wanted to play hoops at the collegiate level ... a request that was roundly rejected by the Spartans' head coach at the time (rhymes with 'Schick Flaban').

So Gates transferred away from Michigan State and opted for the Mid-American Conference haunts of Eastern Michigan (briefly) and Kent State (long term). He even helped the KSU Golden Flashes reach the Elite Eight of the 2002 NCAA Tournament ... before eventually taking his athletic talents to the NFL, as an undrafted free agent with the San Diego Chargers.

Fast forward to the present, where Gates (732 catches, 9,370 yards, 90 TDs) resides on the statistical short list of all-time tight ends. But after two good, but hardly elite seasons in San Diego (2012/13), there were audible whispers of Ladarius Green bumping Gates from the Bolts' depth chart (including yours truly), sooner than later.

Well, Gates (double-digit targets in Week 1) quickly put those doubts to rest on Sunday, collecting seven catches, 96 yards and three TDs against the stingy Seahawks defense, while single-handedly vaulting QB Philip Rivers (301 total yards, three TDs) to a shockingly sweet fantasy day.

Gates also helped a certain fantasy writer twice for the weekend, including one free-agent acquisition that took place 11 minutes before the 1 p.m. kickoffs.

There is one tangible worry here: Of his first seven games last season, Gates notched two TDs, two 100-yard efforts, four outings of double-digit targets and five games of six-plus catches ... before enduring a noticeable drop-off for the remainder of the year (prompting the L-Green whispers).

At the very least, fantasy owners can abandon that strategy of rostering both Green and Gates, in hopes of riding the hot hand.

After Sunday's shakedown of Seattle, which included a sterling one-handed TD reception, Gates shall be the healthy lock for better numbers throughout September and October.

4. It's OK to fully recommit to Arian Foster, even though the Texans no longer have the wretched Raiders on the schedule

Charting his last five complete games (dating back to last season), Foster has averaged 24.6 carries and 151.4 total yards in that span -- elite-level numbers for a tailback, even with reduced tallies in yards per carry.

That fantasy goodness should continue for Weeks 3-6, with Foster drawing the Giants, Bills, Cowboys and Colts in four consecutive games. BOOM!

5. Darren McFadden shall remain a PPR league-only starter consideration for the time being

Did you see DMC's sterling 6-yard run on Sunday, when he steamrolled a Texans safety at midfield? It looked great on all the highlight shows ... but it also gave me cause for pause on a few fronts:

a) McFadden (aided by the Week 2 absence of Maurice Jones-Drew -- hand injury) was tackled immediately after doling out the offensive crunch.

b) DMC averaged a measly 3.1 yards per carry on Sunday; and yet, he still tallied 11 more rushes than the next Raiders tailback (Latavius Murray).

c) He was far more effective in the passing game, catching two balls for 31 yards and one touchdown.

But ay the rub: With Oakland trailing 27-0 heading into the fourth quarter ... how is it possible that only two pass-catchers accrued more receiving yards than DMC (James Jones, Andre Holmes)?

The only saving grace from Sunday: James Jones finally bore the look of a No. 1 wideout -- for PPR and standard-scoring leagues -- by amassing nine catches, 112 yards, one touchdown ... and of equal importance, 14 targets!

6. Let's not have everyone break their ankles when jumping off the 'Carlos Hyde' bandwagon

You wouldn't believe the number of talking heads, prior to the early kickoffs, going overboard in praising Niners rookie Carlos Hyde for last week's 55-yard, one-TD debut against the Cowboys.

Heck even FOX NFL Sunday's Jimmy Johnson said that Week 2 would signal a "changing of the guard" with the San Francisco rushing attack, in terms of Hyde usurping Frank Gore as the feature back.

Fast forward to Sunday night, as Gore collected 75 total yards (15 touches) and one touchdown ... and Hyde tallied just five yards on five touches.

Look, I'm not here to knock Hyde, who has tremendous potential as an NFL back. But I'm certainly not prepared to assume that Gore, at age 31, is ready to cede his status to the latest incarnation of Glen Coffee ... or Anthony Dixon ... or Kendall Hunter ... or LaMichael James ... or Marcus Lattimore.

Bottom line: When Gore stops being a healthy bet for 90 total yards and/or one TD every week, then I'll acknowledge the on-the-cusp greatness of whomever else lags behind him on the 49ers' depth chart.

Jay Clemons, the 2008 Fantasy Football Writer of the Year (Fantasy Sports Writers Association), can be reached via Twitter, day or night, at @FOX_JayClemons.