Hot Fire Fantasy Football Questions: Week 2
Our “Hot Fire Fantasy Questions” series takes a look at Week 2 following up recent news, fantasy performances, and implications for owners moving forward. Our Hot Fire contributors from our Fantasy Footballers writing staff includes: Matt Okada (@FantasySensei), Nate Hamilton (@DomiNateFF), Ryan Weisse (@TheFantasyFive), and Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg). Give them a follow on Twitter.
Make sure you listen to today’s podcast to get Andy, Mike, and Jason’s reactions from all the Week 2 action.
1. Which RB’s performance impressed you the most in Week 2?
C.J. Anderson
I’ll take the easy answer and say that I was most impressed by the week’s current RB1, CJ Anderson. He ran hard, averaged almost 5 YPC, and scored a rushing and receiving TD. All this was against a Dallas defense that held the Giants to 35 yards and 0 rushing TDs in Week 1. -Ryan Weisse
Kareem Hunt
After a monstrous Week 1 that we all knew was unrepeatable, the only question with Hunt was how close to his everyday production that game would be. After racking up 13 carries for 81 yards, three receptions for 28 more, and two TDs, we could be looking at a regular top-five fantasy running back rest of season. The opportunity in an Andy Reid offense was always going to provide a high ceiling, but Hunt’s talent appears up to the challenge and he should be viewed among the elite moving forward. -Matt Okada
Javorius Allen
Buck Allen out touched Terrance West and looked like a stud running back in the Ravens offense on Sunday. Allen gained 66 yards on 14 carries and adding 5 receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens win vs the Browns. It would appear, Buck Allen has separated himself as the number 1 running back to own in Baltimore. If he’s available, grab him. -Nate Hamilton
2. Whose stat line from Week 2 will go “under-the-radar” but fantasy owners need to pay attention to?
Jack Doyle
Doyle had 8 catches for 79 yards in the Colts loss to Arizona. Not bad numbers but not great either. Doyle is clearly on the same page as Jacoby Brissett, who will be the QB for the foreseeable future. He caught all 8 targets thrown to him and accounted for more than 1/3 of the teams receiving totals. The Colts play the Browns in Week 3 and Cleveland is very friendly to opposing TEs. They gave up the most fantasy points to TEs last season, 2 TDs to Jesse James in Week 1, and allowed 85 year old Benjamin Watson to put up an 8 for 89 stat line. Doyle rules in Week 3. -Ryan Weisse
Rob Kelley
It seems as if everyone has been down on Rob Kelley. Even before the season began, most analysts were predicting that rookie Samaje Perine would take over the starting job early in the season. Rob Kelley was having a great game (12 carries for 78 yards, 6.5 ypc) before exiting the game in the first half with an apparent rib injury. If Kelley is able to avoid significant time, fantasy owners may want to give this running back a chance on their rosters. -Nate Hamilton
DeVante Parker
With “only” 85 yards and no touchdowns on four receptions, Parker’s first game with Jay Cutler was not quite the breakout some had hoped for. Do not despair. Cutler is head over heels for Parker and barely missed several more big plays across nine total targets to his big receiver. On one deep pass that Parker leaped up to steal out of a defender’s hands, Cutler was visibly enamored with the 24-year-old. Smokin’ Jay will continue throwing balls up for the “faster Alshon Jeffery,” and chances are we will see more catches and touchdowns start to crop up as their chemistry grows. -Matt Okada
Kevork Djansezian/ Getty Images
3. Carson Wentz and Trevor Siemian both have 2 top 5 weeks to start the season. Who do you prefer ROS?
Carson Wentz
For me it’s Carson Wentz. The Eagles do not have a run game like Denver and will have to air it out more. Wentz has looked great in the first 2 weeks of the season and already has 85 passing attempts, good for third most in the league, behind Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott. He is top 5 in passing yards and top 6 in completions. After 2 weeks, Siemian ranks outside the top 15 in completions and attempts and outside the top 10 in passing yards. The volume will not be there for Siemian. The workload will be there for Wentz all season. -Nate Hamilton
Wentz has the volume you’re looking for in a fantasy QB. The Eagles ran only 10 designed running plays against the Chiefs which helped aid his 333 passing yards. He’s also shown the athletic ability to tuck the ball and run as his 55 rushing yards definitely was a cherry on top. I started Wentz in a league this week and this was exactly what I hoped for. His schedule definitely looks tougher moving forward (NYG, LAC, ARI) but if you know you’re getting 40+ attempts, then it seems 300+ scrimmage yards is an inevitably. He’s looking more and more like an NFL QB. -Kyle Borgognoni
Trevor Siemian
I think I’m going to go against the grain and out on a limb here and say Siemian. Before the season, the Eagles offensive line graded as superior by a good amount, but so far Denver’s squad has looked extremely good. If the protection remains equally sufficient for both QBs, Siemian has slightly better receiving weapons, a much better run game to keep defenses honest, and an elite defense that will consistently give him extra drives and excellent field position. This might be a hot take, and I do love Wentz, but I’m saying Siemian finally gives John Elway and the Broncos the QB they’ve been seeking. -Matt Okada
4. Which player needs to be dropped after another weak showing in Week 2?
LeGarrette Blount
After his 14 carries for 46 yards (3.3 ypc) in Week 1, Blount barely salvaged his fantasy week with a 1 yard touchdown. This week, Blount was without a single carry and had just 1 reception for 1 yard. It’s clear that he isn’t a big part of the Eagles plans. It’s safe to drop Blount as there are more effective assets available on waivers. -Nate Hamilton
Speaking of the Eagles’ poor running game, Blount had zero carries and one reception for … wait for it … zero yards and zero touchdowns in Week 2. I’m not sure what the answer in this Philadelphia backfield, but it’s not Blount, who is old, slow, and a terrible fit for the offensive scheme. Blount has no upside and a floor around the elevation of Death Valley. Drop him without hesitation. -Matt Okada
Jordan Matthews
I’ve reached my end with Jordan Matthews already. The Bills offense is bad and when they throw they seem to prefer Shady, Charles Clay, or Andre Holmes. I didn’t invest a lot in Matthews and the bottom of my roster is typically reserved for lottery ticket guys, not 5 catches every 2 weeks kind of guys. -Ryan Weisse
Adrian Peterson
It’s time to abandon ship. Sorry, I was among those who thought I was getting a league-winning RB at a basement-level bargain price. It’s just not happening. AP had more snaps and carries than Week 1, but with the Saints in another negative game script, he was outpaced by Alvin Kamara, the more dynamic pass-catching option. If their defense is going to be this bad rest of the year, you’re looking at a lot more frowns and frustrated sideline looks from the future Hall of Famer. If you haven’t done so yet, drop his fallen fantasy corpse off the side of the waterfall ala Boromir in Lord of the Rings. –Kyle Borgognoni