Week 2 brought forth a number of strange circumstances, breakout heroes, colossal flops and more injuries than I could stomach.
- The quarterback position was hit hard at the top, with Michael Vick and Tony Romo leaving owners unnerved. Say it with me. “Flak jacket.” “Kevlar.”
- Jamaal Charles’ injury still makes my head hurt.
- As of this writing, it appears that most injured wide receivers of note (except for Mario Manningham) will hit the field. Jerome Simpson was a popular waiver wire pickup this week, but there are other issues to attend to this week.
In any event, let’s turn back to the field and this week’s Lineup Calls. Ride the hot hand!
(Exclude: Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Greg Jennings, Vincent Jackson, Mike Wallace, Kenny Britt, Roddy White, DeSean Jackson, Wes Welker, Larry Fitzgerald, Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Marshall)
Heroes
Steve Smith vs. Jacksonville: Celebrate the healthy return of Smith to the fantasy headlines and for the emergence of a quarterback willing (and able) to uncork the deep ball and get him involved. In two weeks, Smith has caught 14 of 24 targets for 334 yards with two touchdowns. He finished the 201 season with just 554 receiving yards and has equaled his touchdown output.
Light it up for another big effort against the Jacksonville secondary. Carolina has yet to find success on the ground, and the Jaguars defend the run well. Ice the shoulder, Cam. Find No. 89.
Jeremy Maclin, PHI vs. New York Giants: Maclin pulled in 13 passes last week against the Falcons. He dropped a key pas late in the game, but I didn’t hear fantasy owners complaining about his 171 receiving yards or touchdown catch. Maclin’s back for another big outing in Week 3 against the injury-riddled New York secondary. He amassed 16 receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns against the Giants in 2010. With another big effort here, Maclin returns to the list of “Exclusions.”
Steve Johnson, BUF vs. New England: Johnson entered the practice week with health questions (groin), but he completed Thursday’s practice. Fantasy owners breathed a collective sigh of relief upon learning that Ryan Fitzpatrick’s top option would be available for the shootout in Buffalo.
Johnson has been targeted 20 times through two weeks. Continued great play from David Nelson will keep Johnson among the “Heroes” going forward (“Exclusion” list to come?).
Santana Moss, WAS at Dallas: Ride the hot hand of “Sexy Rexy.” Draw on the historical success of Moss against the Cowboys and the number of injuries impacting the Dallas secondary. Moss has averaged six receptions, 87.9 receiving yards and 0.5 receiving touchdowns in his 12 career starts against Dallas. He loaded up with an eight-reception, 72-yard performance that included two touchdown receptions in the last meeting between these NFC East rival.
Take the high target count and celebrate.
Deion Branch, NE at Buffalo: I can’t put him on the “Exclusion” list because the “anybody Brady throws to” tag just doesn’t cut it. It’s close. Branch has already piled up 15 receptions for 222 yards and might see an extra target or two with Aaron Hernandez sidelined. Get this game on the DVR.
David Nelson, BUF vs. New England: He’s a waiver wire darling for this week and an immediate start. Nelson caught four passes for 66 yards in Week 1 against the Chiefs. He exploded for 10 receptions, 83 yards and a touchdown in the Week 2 thriller against the Raiders.
I love the way Chan Gailey is spreading the Buffalo offense and how Ryan Fitzpatrick delivers the ball. Nelson is a potential monster from the late-WR2 slot in what promises to be a highly entertaining and high-scoring affair.
Nate Burleson, DET at Minnesota: Longtime readers know that I constructed the Burleson bandwagon upon his arrival to Detroit last season. He hasn’t let me down with a big start to 2010 in support of Matthew Stafford. Burleson has already amassed 12 catches for 153 yards. Calvin Johnson draws blanket coverage from Antonio Winfield. Burleson goes to work on the other side against Cedric Griffin.
Santonio Holmes, NYJ at Oakland: The Bills won a shootout over the Raiders in Week 2. Owners are hoping for an encore by the Jets in Week 3 and for Holmes to play through his leg injuries. Holmes did get through a portion of Thursday’s practice, so there’s optimism that he’ll be ready for a full load against the Raiders’ man-coverage.
Follow our show on FOXSportsRadio.com and the tag-team chat effort here on FOXSports.com as new information avails itself Sunday morning.
Dwayne Bowe, KC at San Diego: What else do they have? Seriously, there’s nothing to like about the individual matchup against the San Diego secondary or where the Chiefs are headed right now.
Bowe caught five passes for 101 yards in last week’s debacle against the Lions. A quick scan of the information coming out of Nevada tells us that the Chargers put a huge number on the board (watch last week’s tape for the eye test and fast-forward over the Charles injury). Throw it up and let him make plays. Garbage time points count just the same.
Percy Harvin, MIN vs. Detroit: Following a quiet Week 1 effort against the Chargers (he did return the opening kickoff for a TD), Harvin racked up seven receptions for 76 yards on eight targets against the Buccaneers. Harvin represents a huge threat this week against the Detroit secondary, provided, of course, that Donovan McNabb can avoid the pass rush.
Harvin caught 14 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown against Detroit last season. He’s the only reliable playmaker in this attack other than AP. Figure out a way to get the ball in his hands.
Devery Henderson, NO vs. Houston: I don’t expect Henderson to get the same free release and to run unchecked on a 79-yard sprint like you saw against Chicago, but he’s dangerous downfield. Brees will spread things around between Lance Moore (getting back to 100%), Robert Meachem and Henderson, so there’s always some risk associated with them. Who makes the big play?
We remember Moore dominating the red zone in the past. Meachem can work efficiently in both capacities (red zone in Week 2). Henderson is a flat-out burner. When healthy, he’s a threat to sprint the distance and break things open (18.8 YPC in his seven-year career). I suspect that Brees takes his shot deep and tries to get Henderson involved quickly.
Ninja Alerts
Danario Alexander, STL vs. Baltimore: We like Alexander when he’s healthy. He was targeted seven times by Sam Bradford in Week 2 and produced three receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown. With Danny Amendola out indefinitely, there are targets to be spread about the receiving corps. Alexander is the home run threat out of this group. Run him out as a third wide receiver this week against the Baltimore secondary beset by injuries. Take a run on Mike Sims-Walker off of the wire as well.
A.J. Green, CIN vs. San Francisco: Does he count as a “Ninja” anymore? Green has been targeted 18 times through two weeks and racked up 10 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown in the near-miss against Denver in Week 2. The loss of Jordan Shipley to a torn ACL and Jerome Simpson’s interesting week puts more weight on the rookie’s shoulders.
San Francisco ranks 25th in the NFL against the pass, allowing 291 passing yards per game and five touchdown passes (two against Tarvaris Jackson). The 49ers will contain Cedric Benson (and Bernard Scott) on the ground, but Andy Dalton should find space downfield.
Jordy Nelson, GB at Chicago: Make it count. Nelson posted only two targets in Week 2 against Carolina. He caught one pass and sprinted 84 yards to the end zone. He caught six passes for 77 yards and scored against the Saints in Week 1. He struck again in Week 2. Look for the hat trick against the Chicago secondary and a strong matchup against 5-foot-8 cornerback Tim Jennings.
Nate Washington, TEN vs. Denver: Washington is playing the “Robin” role to Kenny Britt’s “Batman” perfectly. He’s amassed 13 receptions on 18 targets for 166 yards.
This is the day that Chris Johnson starts to find his groove. Denver has allowed 131 rushing yards per game, and the return of the first-round Johnson (not the two-week imposter) will make Matt Hasselbeck a fantasy hero once again. Denver will work to limit Britt, but that opens opportunities for Washington (catches of 30 and 42 yards in the first two games).
Titus Young, DET at Minnesota: Young broke out with a five-reception, 89-yard performance against the Chiefs. Young was targeted seven times in the obliteration of Kansas City.
He’s an intriguing option this week for owners in deeper leagues or those affected by the injury bug. The Minnesota pass defense is not a pushover, but the third man may get lost in the efforts to slow Calvin Johnson and emerging media star Nate Burleson.
Johnny Knox, CHI vs. Green Bay: Devin Hester received an inordinate amount of attention last week against the Saints following Earl Bennett’s injury (nine targets and just one catch). Knox was targeted six times and registered two receptions. I suspect that Knox takes on a larger role here against the Packers and benefits from the return of big receiver Roy Williams.
Patrick Crayton, SD vs. Kansas City: Everybody plays. Everybody wins. Malcom Floyd has been sidelined from practice because of a groin injury, making him increasingly unlikely to play on Sunday. Crayton returns from an ankle injury and will take on a big role opposite Vincent Jackson. The Kansas City defense is porous, to say the least, and the San Diego will be flying.
Brandon LaFell, CAR vs. Jacksonville: LaFell has taken full advantage of his increased playing opposite Steve Smith (following David Gettis’ season-ending injury). He’s caught eight of the 10 passes thrown to him by Cam Newton and scored in Week 2. The Panthers will open things up downfield once again. Jacksonville has been strong against the run, but the secondary has been beaten downfield with regularity. The second-year man out of LSU just might be my favorite of the “Ninjas” this week.
Flop Alerts
Brandon Lloyd, DEN at Tennessee: Lloyd returned to practice and went through his progressions without a setback on Thursday. As a result, he’s expected to take on a full load against the Titans and appears as a low-end WR2. I’m still not convinced that you’re getting significant returns.
The Titans contested every pass attempt by Joe Flacco in Week 2 and harassed Baltimore receivers up and down the field. Tennessee’s pass defense has been exceptional thus far (172 passing yards per game and a single passing touchdown), so approach Lloyd with caution.
Mike Williams, TB vs. Atlanta: Williams has experienced a difficult start to his sophomore season. He caught four passes for 50 yards and a touchdown in the opener against Detroit, but it didn’t come easy. Williams was then erased by Antoine Winfield in Week 2, producing a single reception for -4 yards (he did lose a touchdown to a review).
Williams caught a total of 10 passes and scored in both games against the Falcons last season. However, timing issues with Josh Freeman and an improved Atlanta secondary leave me reticent to make Williams anything more than a WR3 this week.
Plaxico Burress, NYJ at Oakland: Burress was an afterthought in Week 2 against the Jaguars despite a heavier reliance on the passing game. He was targeted just twice in Week 2, a precipitous decline from his fantastic debut (72 yards and a touchdown). Mark Sanchez will try to do a “make good” this week, but I’m not banking on frequent red zone targets.
