The Fantasy Footballers’ Week 2 Starts
It’s time to really dig in now that Week 1’s huge performances, disappointments, and unfortunate injuries are in the books. Your path to a 2016 #FootClanTitle continues here with The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week, featuring players that may not be weekly plug-and-play starters but have great opportunities.
Mike’s Starts
QB Marcus Mariota @ Detroit
The Vegas over/under is set high at 47. The Lions offense has been firing on all sorts of cylinders since JBC-the Junior Bacon Cheeseburger, Jim-Bob Cooter took over on offense. Tennessee and Marcus Mariota will have to keep pace and will not be able to slow the game down.
RB LeGarrette Blount vs Miami
LeGarrette Blount went 22-71-1 against a very strong Arizona rush defense. Miami might be OK, but Christine Michael and Thomas Rawls went off for nearly 100 yards. Blount should be the only one getting carries and I think Bill Belichick does what he needs to do to get the win by protecting Jimmy Garopollo.
WR Mike Wallace vs Cleveland
The boom-upside start of the week at WR with Mike Wallace. Cleveland was torched by rookie Carson Wentz and Jordan Matthews. The sync with Joe Flacco was there last week. It would not surprise me if Wallace steals a TD again.
TE Jason Witten @ Washington
Target Monster alert. 14 targets-I repeat 14 targets. Dak Prescott will take the short, easy throws. Prescott is not going to get away from Cole Beasley and Jason Witten. He will get targeted out the Whooza!
Andy’s Starts
QB Matt Ryan vs. Oakland
Drew Brees put up 423 yards and 4 TDs passing against Oakland in a shootout and this game should also be high scoring. Matt Ryan is not Drew Brees but he’s a great streaming option and available on the majority of waiver wires.
RB Thomas Rawls vs. Los Angeles
Taking on the Rams, I don’t see where Thomas Rawls doesn’t have an increased workload. He looked good last week in limited time while working out some kinks. I feel really good about Rawls and he’s a good trade target right now.
WR Tajae Sharpe @ Detroit
Tajae Sharpe had a good game in Week 1. He’s the go-to guy. It’s going to be the Tajae Sharpe show. Don’t go crazy and make him your first option, but you can start him as a two or in your flex.
TE Virgil Green vs. Indianapolis
Virgil Green was targeted heavily and should have had a TD last week. I liked what I saw on film and I’m exceptionally happy with the matchup against the Colts. I’d put him in that 6-catch range this week for a nice spot-start.
Jason’s Starts
QB Matthew Stafford @ Tennessee
The Detroit Lions are a pass-pass-pass-pass-barely run-pass-pass type of team. There should be points put up and it probably won’t be through the running game so Stafford is a good high-ceiling, high-floor play.
RB Jonathan Stewart vs San Francisco
Sorry NaVorro Bowman, but as good as you are the San Francisco defense is not that scary especially on the road. This game script will be great for Carolina and I would take the over on 20 carries for Jonathan Stewart. To avoid more of a head beating to Cam Newton, Carolina may hand it off to Stewart a couple extra times near the goal line. Stewart has such a high-floor and I can’t see benching him if he’s on a team unless they have exceptional RBs.
WR Allen Hurns @ San Diego
Jacksonville @ San Diego is going to be another high-scoring game. Allen Robinson is facing Jason Verrett who was great against Jeremy Maclin last week. Hurns is the forgotten man and he has a great opportunity to be involved and score a TD. Shout-out to Emmanuel Sanders.
TE Antonio Gates vs Jacksonville
Start of the week/Public Service Announcement: Antonio Gates-he’s great. He’s going to catch TDs and he has a great matchup. He may hobble down the field but in important situations, Philip Rivers passes the ball to Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates. Gates is the only one left standing. He’s going to take the face off that clock, put some points in, and put the face back on that clock.
Eric’s Starts
QB Eli Manning vs New Orleans
You can pretty much like any QB that faces a horrendous New Orleans defense especially at home, but a QB with Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard, and a resurrected Victor Cruz sounds like a recipe for success. Eli Manning probably had the quietest 3 TD game last week while facing Dallas. I expect more of the same from him and he could turn in a huge performance if the game becomes another Drew Brees vs “Insert QB Here” shootout.
RB Spencer Ware vs Houston
I’m doubling-down on Spencer Ware. Ware took advantage of a poor San Diego defense in the tune of 199 total yards and a TD. Houston will be a tougher test, but this game may become a ground-and-pound battle between two teams with similar strengths. I don’t see Kansas City rushing Jamaal Charles back into the lineup or giving too many touches to Charcandrick West with how well Ware played last week. The sledding will be tough for Ware, but he should get 100+ yards again and at least 1 TD.
WR Vincent Jackson vs Arizona
This was Andy’s guy last week, but Andy may have been one week too early. Mike Evans will have the unenviable task of matching up against Patrick Peterson which leaves Vincent Jackson against a rookie CB. Jackson may not be the dominant WR he once was, but he’s a 32% owned wily vet who, as Andy pointed out last week, put up a monster 10-catch, 147 yard, and 1 TD game against a very good Carolina defense last year. Andy, I’m stealing him and making him mine this week for people who may have lost Keenan Allen.
TE Dwayne Allen @ Denver
Dwayne Allen caught a TD with 4 receptions and 53 yards last week. As Jason mentioned, Allen has yet to not catch a TD in his season opener. The bigger story belonged to Indianapolis’ TE Jack Doyle who hauled in 2 TDs. J. Doyle does not rule! Rob Chudzinski loves to use his TEs in his offense and Allen is the better talent. Indianapolis is going to have to use their TEs to defeat Denver just like Carolina used Greg Olsen who went for 7 receptions and 73 yards. Give those receptions and yards to Allen with a shot at a TD…or two.
You can jump straight to the Footballers’ Starts of the Week segment for their full take. Also, check out the Footballers’ Week 1 Review and cover a wide variety of news and notes relevant to your fantasy team and roster.