Week 2 Lineup Calls Wide Receiver
Air it out!
In Week 1, receivers were running free and clear in the secondary and yardage counters were rolling over like pinball machines.
Ten wide receivers logged at least 100 yards receiving.
Another nine wide receivers recorded at least 81 receiving yards.
Twenty-eight wide receivers caught at least five passes.
Twenty-eight wide receivers caught a touchdown pass (four caught two).
Reload the pyrotechnics and add some additional celebratory music. The schedule appears to be rife with high-scoring matchups in Week 2.
Exclude: Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Hakeem Nicks (watch his injury), Reggie Wayne, Greg Jennings, Mike Wallace, Miles Austin, DeSean Jackson and Vincent Jackson
Week 2 Heroes
Santana Moss vs. Arizona: Moss was relatively quiet in Week 1 against the Giants. He recorded six receptions (76) on eight targets, but did not light up the scoreboard for Rex Grossman. Perhaps Moss can do his best Steve Smith impression and find great fields of green to roam around this week. I suspect that Arizona tightens things up a little bit. However, they’re not shutting down the Rex Grossman juggernaut in front of the home crowd. Ride the hot hand and his top target.
Mario Manningham vs. St. Louis: Manningham caught four of his seven targets for 49 yards in the Giants’ Week 1 loss to Washington. It was a quiet season debut for a player circled on many draft boards following his breakthrough 2010 campaign.
He’ll crush those numbers in Week 2 while squaring off against a St. Louis secondary that nearly matches the Giants in terms of a body count. Both starting cornerbacks sustained injuries in the opener. Bradley Fletcher injured his toe and carries a “Questionable” tag for Monday. Ron Bartell was lost for the year because of two fractures in his neck.
St. Louis is woefully thin at the position heading into Monday night, and that translates to opportunities downfield for Eli Manning.
Stevie Johnson vs. Oakland: Johnson caught four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown in the Bills’ resounding victory over Kansas City in Week 1. He’s set to take center stage at home against an Oakland defense that surrendered 300 yards to Kyle Orton in Week 1.
I say this for fans and fantasy owners that slept through the Monday night game and relied only on the brief highlight package. It could have been much, much worse. Fitzpatrick and his receivers will capitalize where Orton and his failed (notice I say that while discussing a quarterback who passed for 300 yards?).
Robert Meachem vs. Chicago: Meachem lines up as Drew Brees’ top option (next to Jimmy Graham, anyway). He was targeted eight times in Week 1 against the Packers (five receptions, 70 yards and a touchdown) and will be a primary option this week in what could be a shootout at home.
Devery Henderson is also in the mix, but we’ve seen him flash onto the radar and disappear almost as quickly in past seasons.
Santonio Holmes vs. Jacksonville: Plaxico Burress (Ninja potential) is around to wreak havoc in the red zone, but Sanchez stays true to his No. 1 option with a high target count. Holmes was targeted 10 times in the win over Dallas and finished the game with six catches for 70 yards. He’s primed for another strong day against this Jacksonville secondary that proved susceptible to the big play in Week 1.
Anquan Boldin at Tennessee: I noted the aggressiveness of Joe Flacco and Boldin in my early Week 1 recaps. Both players attacked the Steelers. Flacco was trying to shake the “He can’t beat them” tag, and Boldin sought to prove that he was a true No. 1. For one week, they answered the bell. I want to see Flacco come out firing again.
This week, Boldin will be tested by Cortland Finnegan. He’s a master agitator, so Boldin will need to keep his cool and battle through the noise. The production of the shuffled offensive line and offseason acquisition Vonta Leach opens things up downfield for Boldin. Owners start talk of “fantasy steals” following a strong Week 2 performance.
Jordy Nelson at Carolina: Nelson has become a consistent No. 2 target for Aaron Rodgers behind Greg Jennings. He was targeted eight times in Week 1, logging six receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown. Remember, Nelson almost had a second touchdown reception, but Rodgers overshot him.
He wears out Captain Munnerlyn this week as the Panthers struggle to get off of the field. The loss of Jon Beason weighs heavily on this unit.
Donald Driver represents a solid WR3 option in deeper leagues.
Wes Welker vs. San Diego: Welker was having a fine day for fantasy owners before the most-watched highlight play of the week. Hey, it gave the production crews an opportunity to trot out Brett Favre tape.
Anyway, this isn’t the best of matchups, but I’ll take the “unstoppable force” of the New England offense against the “immovable object” of the San Diego defense. Those in the know put the number into the 50s, so we can anticipate offensive firepower again.
Nate Burleson vs. Kansas City: I constructed the Burleson bandwagon for 2011, so I’ll keep shouting from the megaphone for Week 2. The Chiefs lost Eric Berry for the season in Week 1, thereby creating a gaping hole in the secondary. That isn’t to say that there weren’t other issues exploited by the Bills and Ryan Fitzpatrick, but Berry’s loss is magnified with the high-octane Lions on tap (did I just type that?).
Burleson recorded five receptions for 60 yards in Week 1. He eclipses those numbers this week and sees red zone opportunities as well.
Mike Williams at Minnesota: Williams almost dropped into the “Flops” section because of his difficult individual matchup against Antoine Winfield. However, I couldn’t look past his connection with Josh Freeman and the array of circus catches he’s made in support of his quarterback. I don’t anticipate a monster yardage total, but Williams wins in red zone situations. Freeman continues to target his top option at a high rate, though I’m anticipating a massive touch count for LeGarrette Blount.
Dez Bryant at San Francisco: Bryant has been slowed by the thigh injury sustained against the Jets (Wear the pads!), so we’ll need to watch the game notes on Sunday morning regarding his availability. Jerry Jones declared him ready on Thursday, but his enthusiasm waned on Friday morning. His early touchdown catch against the Jets showcased the “stuff” that gets analysts, scouts and fans excited. Start him as a WR2 if he plays, but have your mobile phone handy.
Ninja Alerts
Anthony Armstrong vs. Arizona: Armstrong was one of my early “Ninja” picks for 2011. Granted, I thought that the Redskins would change up the quarterback position at the time.
I’m not converting to a full-on Rex Grossman supporter, but I did like what I saw in the opener, and I believe he’s in a prime spot for a fantastic follow up performance. As such, Armstrong (two receptions for 24 yards with a touchdown) is on the radar as well. The Arizona secondary can’t help but to improve on last week’s torturous effort, but there’s a long road to be traveled to reach “decent” status.
Hines Ward vs. Seattle: The Steelers didn’t have a ton of “bright spots” in Week 1 against Baltimore. Ward retaining his role as Ben Roethlisberger’s safety blanket was one of them. He caught five of nine targets for 67 yards in the crushing loss.
I do anticipate larger roles for Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders (he scored the Steelers’ lone touchdown), but Roethlisberger’s faith in Ward cannot be understated. He does a dance and flashes many a smile against the Seahawks in Week 2.
David Nelson vs. Oakland: Nelson pops onto the fantasy radar following his four-catch, 66-yard effort in the opener against Kansas City (six targets). The Oakland secondary surrendered 300 yards to Kyle Orton and, but for drops by the receivers and Orton’s unforced fumble, it could have been much, much worse. Fitzpatrick posts a big day in Week 2.
Davone Bess vs. Houston: Who doesn’t love some Bess? He’s a quality PPR option with the speed to make plays in the open field. Bess caught five passes for 92 yards in the Monday night shootout against the Patriots. I anticipate another high-scoring affair this week in south Florida with Schaub and the Texans on the slate. You could do far worse at your WR3.
Braylon Edwards vs. Dallas: Alex Smith completed 15-of-20 pass attempts against the Seahawks for a meager total of 124 passing yards in Week 1. As such, dipping my toe into the San Francisco receiving corps for this piece required a five-minute cooling off period.
I approach it in this vein. The Dallas secondary remains in tatters. The Cowboys are likely to hang a sizable point total on the San Francisco defense. Ergo, Smith takes to the air and tries to force things downfield, with Edwards standing as the primary beneficiary of his efforts. He’s a roll of the proverbial dice for owners scuffling to find a WR3 option.
Malcom Floyd at New England: Floyd was targeted eight times in Week 1 against the Vikings to lead all San Diego receivers. He finished with three receptions for 45 yards. The Patriots are expected to be an upper-division defense in the long term. As evidenced by Chad Henne’s success, they’re not quite there yet.
New England shan’t shut down the San Diego offense altogether, though Mike Tolbert’s tussle against the Haynesworth-Wilfork combination is troubling. In the passing game, it’s just a question of which of Philip Rivers’ receivers makes the big hit downfield. McCourty draws Vincent Jackson, so I expect Rivers to target Floyd heavily.
Flop Alerts
Brandon Lloyd vs. Cincinnati: Lloyd provides our cautionary tale for Week 1. He was held out of Thursday’s workout because of a groin injury. Lloyd would draw Leon Hall in coverage even if he does play on Sunday. That doesn’t thrust him out of a WR2 role, but his ceiling is lowered a bit. His injury is one we’ll be following on FOX Sports Radio this Sunday, although official word won’t come down until later with the Broncos slated for an afternoon tilt.
Roddy White vs. Philadelphia: It’s one of the marquee matchups of the week, a top-3 preseason wide receiver against the prized free agent. White will undoubtedly see a sizable target count in front of the home crowd, but I’m not anticipating fireworks. You’re left hoping for a big hit against this Philly secondary. I’m fearful that it comes from a secondary option (Harry Douglas?).
Mike Thomas at New York Jets: Fantasy owners voted in their drafts and left Jacksonville’s No. 1 option on the waiver wire in many leagues. As kickoff approached for Week 1, we saw a slight surge in his ownership. Thomas rewarded trusting owners in PPR leagues with eight receptions for 55 yards. He’ll be targeted with regularity, but I’ll avoid the presence of Darrelle Revis here. Thomas is a fourth option at best and more likely a bench warmer for Week 2. I can’t hope for a “Hail Mary” connection.
Steve Smith vs. Green Bay: Charles Woodson won’t forget his assignment or get lost in space. Smith will be bodied, bullied and harassed all over the field, a stark contrast to Week 1 when he ran free in the Arizona secondary. Cam Newton will be compelled to chuck the ball downfield while in shootout mode (catch-up mode?) against the Packers. That bodes well for Smith’s target count, and you can only ask for opportunities to make a play. As a result, he still rates as a low-end WR2 this week.
Wild Card
Dwayne Bowe at Detroit: Can the Kansas City offensive line provide Cassel with time? That’s the fundamental question to ponder as we look ahead to this Week 2 matchup. If Cassel can keep his backside clean and is afforded time to throw, he can make waves against the Detroit secondary. If not, Bowe may match his two-catch, 17-yard performance (eight targets) of Week 1. Start him as a WR2 this week.
Chad Ochocinco vs. San Diego: Forget about the Tweeting flap. It sounded more scripted than a bad WWE rant. Ochocinco was targeted three times and recorded a single catch in the opener (14 yards). Better days lay ahead as he gets acclimated to the offense. He’s obviously a risky start, but I’m not ready to dismiss him just yet.
