Patriots @ Jets - (Marcoccio)

Passing Game Thoughts: Wes Welker has made a remarkable recovery from last season’s ACL tear which occurred in Week 17, and he was able to score twice last week against the Bengals. Included in those two scores was a remarkable screen play were he snuck behind his two big TEs who were out in front and weaved his way into the end-zone. So much for my advice last week to “proceed with caution” regarding Welker. Tom Brady looked as sharp as ever in his season debut tossing 3 TD passes. He used many different targets to pick apart a tough Cincinnati secondary. The two rookie TEs drafted by New England were equally vital to the Pats passing attack, with Gronkowski being used as a nice red zone option and Aaron Hernandez being used as a hybrid slot WR ala Dallas Clark. The Jets did not defend the TE well last week against Baltimore (and it has been a weakness in the past as well), but it’s a tough call on which of the rookies to count on.

While Randy Moss is expected to find himself on Revis Island this week, it’s always a difficult decision to bench a stud like Moss. Keep in mind that the Anquan Boldin owners sweated out their line-up decision in Week 1 only to watch Boldin abuse Kyle Wilson and Antonio Cromartie for 7 catches and 110 yards as Revis matched up almost exclusively with Derek Mason. Joe Flacco was able to move the ball reasonably well against the Jets pass defense in Week 1, but was kept out of the endzone. Flacco was under a lot pressure but managed to find Todd Heap and Ray Rice as dump off targets when the heat drew near. The loss of Kris Jenkins to another season ending knee injury should really hurt the Jets’ pass rush, as Jenkins when healthy gets a tremendous push up the middle of the line drawing blockers that allow others to break free.

Running Game Thoughts: Fred Taylor was able to gain 71 yards against a tough Bengal defense last week and should be asked to handle a majority of the rushing load, as long as his 34 year old body holds up. It was Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis last week who was the primary change of pace option to Taylor, while Kevin Faulk manned his usual third down role. The patchwork o-line handled their Bengal opposition much better than expected and gave Taylor some nice holes to run through.

However, it should be tougher sledding for Taylor and company this week as the Jets run defense looked outstanding last week against Ray Rice and Willis MaGahee, even after Jenkins left the game. Jenkins’ loss obviously hurts the Jets run defense, but the lunch pail duo of Sionne Pouha and Mike DeVito do an admirable job filling in. Jenkins’ loss should create a bigger burden to the pass rush than it to stopping the run.

Projections:
Tom Brady: 245 yds passing 2 TDs, 1 Int.
Randy Moss: 45 yds receiving, 1 TD
Wes Welker: 80 yds receiving
Aaron Hernandez: 30 yds receiving
Rob Gronkowski: 35 yds receiving, 1 TD
Fred Taylor: 45 yds rushing / 5 yds receiving
Kevin Faulk: 15 yds rushing / 35 yds receiving

Passing Game Thoughts: While Mark Sanchez did not look sharp in Week 1, his poor production had as much to do with being handcuffed by the play-calling as his execution. Despite the fact that Baltimore was banged up in the secondary the Jets failed to challenge them deep and instead dinked and dunked with little success. Dustin Keller had one nice deep grab but it was called back by penalty and was otherwise quiet. The starting WRs were seldom thrown to in the contest and Jericho Cotchery uncharacteristically had trouble holding onto the ball when his number was called. While the Jets will never be an aerial juggernaut, better days are presumably ahead.

With Leigh Bodden’s season ending shoulder injury, the Pats were forced into starting a very inexperienced secondary, second year player Darius Butler and rookie Devin McCourty, against Batman and Robin last week. The pair held their own admirably until Chad Ochocinco managed to start accumulating stats in garbage time. Bill Belichick will surely look to mess with the Jets young QB who was clearly gun-shy last week against the Ravens and seems ripe for a meltdown if things start off slowly again this week.

Running Game Thoughts: LaDanian Tomlinson looked five years younger than he did last season – it’s funny what running room can do for you. LT clearly outplayed the much younger Shonn Greene who had a tough week and was benched for a large portion of the game after a key fumble. Rex Ryan announced this week that he’ll look to split the carries between his two backs but fantasy owners can take solace that there should be plenty of carries to go around provided that the running game gets in gear.

The Jets running game, which struggled against the Ravens front seven, should turn it around when they face a strong but far less fearsome front seven this weekend. Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork are solid big bodies but have seen their share of abuse which has slowed them down a little. Jerod Mayo has had some big games against the Jets in past seasons and will be a player that the Jets will need to keep an eye on if they don’t want a repeat of what Ray Lewis did to them on Monday Night.

Projections:
Mark Sanchez: 175 yds passing, 1 TD, 1 Int. / 10 yards rushing
Braylon Edwards: 30 yds receiving, 1 TD
Jerricho Cotchery: 35 yds receiving
Dustin Keller: 40 yds receiving, 1 TD
Shonn Greene: 55 yds rushing / 5 yds receiving
LaDainian Tomlinson: 65 yds rushing, 1 TD / 35 yds receiving

Prediction: Jets 17 New England 14 ^ Top

Texans @ Redskins - (Marcoccio)

Passing Game Thoughts: Matt Shaub and Andre Johnson surely disappointed their fantasy owners in Week 1, but those owners can take solace in the fact that each of them had far worse games in Week 1 last season before having career years. Further solace can be taken by the fact that it wasn’t that the duo played poorly, it’s just that they weren’t needed to contribute big passing stats with Arian Foster tearing up the Indianapolis run defense. Shaub did at least toss a TD to WR Kevin Walter, who will be far too inconsistent to be owned in fantasy leagues with the emergence of Jacoby Jones at his old starting spot. The Houston Texans have one of the premier passing offenses, so despite a difficult matchup they should bounce right back this week.

Washington finished as the 8th ranked pass defense in 2010 and should be a top unit once again despite playing in a tough NFC East. The Skins limited the Cowboys last week while putting heavy pressure on Tony Romo for most of the contest. The Skins were led by second year OLB Brian Orapko who abused the overmatched and undermanned Cowboy o-line. It should be noted that Miles Austin a player with similar size and speed to Houston’s Andre Johnson was able to torch the Skins secondary for a 10-146-1 stat-line. Not that anyone really needed any reason to keep Andre Johnson in their starting line-up.

Running Game Thoughts: Arian Foster sliced through the Bob Sander-less Colts defense for over 200 yards and 3 scores in Week 1, solidifying himself as a weekly starter in fantasy leagues. The big back out of Tennessee impressed the coaching staff all offseason and showed why in his 2010 debut. Foster isn’t very fast, but has good cutting ability and runs with a good deal of power. While it would be foolish to expect the same numbers each week, there’s no reason to doubt that he finishes the season with over 1,200 yards rushing and 10-14 TDs in the Texans’ high powered offense.

Washington allowed 112.4 ypg and 10 TDs on the ground in 2009 and shut down the Cowboys running game in the opening Sunday Night game – albeit with the Cowboys abandoning the run as usual. The Redskins should obviously put up more resistance than Indianapolis did last week, but it’s not a terribly difficult matchup for Foster provided that the passing game helps open things up a little.

Projections:
Matt Shaub: 235 yds passing, 2 TDs
Andre Johnson: 95 yds receiving, 1 TD
Jacoby Jones: 60 yds receiving, 1 TD
Owen Daniels: 35 yds receiving
Arian Foster: 80 yds rushing, 1 TD / 10 yds receiving
Steve Slaton: 25 yds rushing / 15 yds receiving

Passing Game Thoughts: Donovan McNabb didn’t do much in his Redskins’ debut but did manage to get his team past the mistake prone Cowboys. Santana Moss and Chris Cooley garnered the majority of the looks from McNabb in Week 1 and that trend should continue the rest of the way, as the rest of the receiver roster is limited by excessive age or little experience. McNabb has always been a great deep passer so expect OC Kyle Shanahan to eventually work in some deep strikes to his offensive game plan. While Joey Galloway may be old, he still seems to have a nice pair of wheels and should get some downfield looks – which doesn’t necessarily make him fantasy relevant of course.

The Houston pass defense had a tough opening week statistically but that would likely happen to any team that had Peyton Manning putting the ball in the air more than 50 times against them. Last season the were a middle of the road defense statistically allowing 218 yards per game and 19 TDs through the air. Mario Williams once again showed the world why it wasn’t a mistake to draft him over Reggie Bush and Vince Young as many believed it was back at the time. He put constant pressure on Peyton Manning and should be a force this week as well against rookie OT Trent Williams - who actually played very well against DeMarcus Ware last week.

Running Game Thoughts: Clinton Portis saw the vast majority of the carries last week and he performed admirably against a tough Cowboys defense. His burst is no longer there, but over the years Portis has bulked up and has reinvented himself as a strong savvy runner that can make hey running inside and finding seams.

Although Portis will get to face the Texans while Brian Cushing continues to serve his 4 game suspension, he is probably still not a very attractive option outside of for those in deep leagues. The days of Portis’ steady presence in the top 10 are gone and aren’t coming back. Even without Cushing the Texans are still a solid run defense – in 2010 they allowed only 106.9 ypg but did allow 17 scores on the ground. Middle LB DeMarco Ryans led the team in tackles last season moves very well laterally and should have no trouble with the slower and less shifty Portis of 2010.

Projections:
Donovan McNabb: 225 yds passing, 2 TDs / 10 yards rushing
Santana Moss: 75 yds receiving, 1 TD
Joey Galloway: 35 yds receiving
Chris Cooley: 60 yds receiving, 1 TD
Clinton Portis: 45 yds rushing / 35 yds receiving
Larry Johnson: 30 yds rushing

Prediction: Texans 24 Redskins 14 ^ Top

Bears @ Cowboys - (Marcoccio)

Passing Game Thoughts: Tony Romo had his best season as a pro in 2009 (4,483-26-9) but good off to a slow start in 2010 largely as a result of his makeshift o-line which consistently allowed Redskin defenders into the backfield. RT Mark Columbo and LG Kosier returned to practice this week, which should certainly make Romo happy. Miles Austin started out 2010 as if he was still in 2009, finishing with 10 catches for 146 yards and a score. In a somewhat surprising move rookie WR Dez Bryant was targeted 12 times by Romo after missing most of the preseason. It’s safe to say that he will be a big part of the Cowboys passing attack going forward. Roy Williams would have grabbed the game winning TD had it not been for a holding penalty which nullified the play and ended the game – nevertheless he should be way too inconsistent to start unless you are desperate since he’ll be in line behind Austin, Bryant and TE Jason Witten for targets most weeks.

The Bears corralled WR Calvin Johnson for most of last week’s game until the final play where they apparently let him catch a 25 yard game winning TD – however we all know how that turned out. The Bears defense played very well, albeit mostly against an unprepared and mediocre backup QB, Shaun Hill. Julius Peppers was brought aboard to wreak havoc on opposing QBs and after seeing what Brian Orapko did last week he must be salivating.

Running Game Thoughts: The Cowboys roster three very talented running backs, but apparently for no reason. OC Jason Garrett generally pays lip service to the running game early before the urge to get pass crazy overcomes him. Marion Barber has slimmed down and looks quicker than ever while maintaining his hard running style. Felix Jones has bulked up, looking stronger while still maintaining his big play ability. Either back is capable of putting up big numbers, but given the presence of the other along with third string RB Tashard Choice and the Cowboy play-calling they are both generally risky starts.

The Bears looked like a team possessed against the Lions last week. RB Jahvid Best was consistently swallowed up in the backfield and had little running room on all but a handful of carries. MLB Brian Ulracher is back from injury and looked as quick as ever and seems to be trying to make up for lost time. The decimated Bears’ defense wasn’t very good against the run last season, but as we know, things change quickly in this league.

Projections:
Tony Romo: 285 yds passing 3 TDs, 1 Int. / 15 yds rushing
Roy Williams: 25 yds receiving
Miles Austin: 90 yds receiving, 1 TD
Dez Bryant: 55 yds receiving, 1 TD
Jason Witten: 65 yds receiving
Felix Jones: 30 yds rushing / 40 yds receiving, 1 TD
Marion Barber: 65 yds rushing / 5 yds receiving

Passing Game Thoughts: Jay Cutler has always been a better fantasy QB than an NFL QB and that should once again be the case – especially with Mad Mike Martz now aboard in the Windy City. Last week it was Aromashodu that received the most targets but in the Martz offense there may not be the same “go to” guy each week. Those that were worried about the usage of TE Greg Olsen in a Martz offense had to at least be encouraged by the fact that he was targeted a few times and caught 4 balls

The Cowboys were only the 20th ranked pass defense in 2009 (225.5 ypg, 19 TDs) so they should not present too big of a challenged to a pass happy offense. They performed well against their old nemesis Donovan McNabb last week however, and they do feature a better than average pass rush – something that does not bode well for an offense that favors 4 WR sets and does not like to maximize pass protection.

Running Game Thoughts: Matt Forte saved his fantasy owners by catching and running for a 89 yard TD against the Lions (and a second receiving TD as well), as he was held to a mere 50 yards rushing. The Bears have a subpar o-line that wasn’t able to get much push against an improved Detroit defensive front line and will have an even tougher matchup this week. Forte is not a dynamic runner, but should have a good to very good season based on his value as a pass catcher and Martz’ propensity for putting RBs out in pass patterns.

Dallas had the No. 4 run defense in 2009 allowing only 90.5 ypg and a scant 7 TDs on the season. They feature an undersized but quick and powerful NT in Jay Ratliffe who does a nice job of disrupting the interior o-line. Brady James and Keith Brooking each can get sideline to sideline and close quickly on opposing ball carriers. The Bears want to pass anyway, and will likely abandon the run early.

Projections:
Jay Cutler: 325 yds passing 2 TDs, 2 Ints. / 15 yds rushing
Devin Hester: 45 yds receiving, 1 TD
Devin Aromashodu: 80 yds receiving, 1 TD
Johnny Knox: 105 yds receving
Greg Olsen: 35 yds receiving
Matt Forte: 40 yds rushing / 40 yds receiving
Chester Taylor: 35 yds rushing, 1 TD / 5 yds receiving

Prediction: Cowboys 27 Bears 24 ^ Top

Seahawks @ Broncos - (Eakin)

Passing Game Thoughts: As I mentioned last week, though I didn’t imagine it coming to fruition, QB Matt Hasselbeck has all-pro skills when given time to scan the field. The Niner’s found that out the hard way in a college like atmosphere on opening day in Seattle. (Note to self, after failing to pick Seattle or KC to win; home field matters.) Wide out Mike Williams looked spry opening day proving the preseason was no fluke. He should be a solid possession receiver and redzone target all season as the only notable Seattle target with size. He may have a tough week if the Broncos elect to have Champ Bailey, who held Mike Sims-Walker without a catch, shadow him all day. For big plays downfield, the Seahawks have several similar options in Deion Branch and Deon Butler. Branch is the starter but both are hit and miss options. Overall, while I think Seattle will move the ball due to Denver’s punch-less pass rush, they are notoriously better at home than on the road and Denver has always been a tough place to win. Also of concern, the Seahawks lose RG Max Unger for the season and will entire a hostile environment with a newly shuffled O-line.

Running Game Thoughts: As expected, Pete Carroll gave equal opportunity at RB between the three Seattle espresso shots, Justin Forsett, Leon Washington, and Julius Jones or Latte, Chai, and Espresso if you prefer. All three will get 5-10 touches and with the expected troubles of finding Williams open, look for Seattle to throw to their backs quite a bit on swings, short outs, and screens to combat Denver sending LBs at Hasselbeck. For fantasy, Forsett is a marginal to poor option for a flex play as the starter, while the others should be ignored in light of Denver keeping MJD pretty bottled up on the road in Jacksonville.

Projections:
Matt Hasselbeck: 225 yds/1 TD/1 INT
Mike Williams: 35 yds
Deion Branch: 60 yds
John Carlson: 55 yds/1 TD
Justin Forsett: 40 yds/25 yds rec/1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: I like Kyle Orton here. He was the 14th ranked fantasy QB a year ago, and while he lost Brandon Marshall, he continues to plug away with pretty solid numbers. He spread the ball well amongst Lloyd, Royal, and Gaffney. Lloyd has spent a career perfecting the art of the fantasy tease, but Gaffney and Royal should contribute consistent high-end third WR numbers in PPR leagues.

The Broncos will be a good early gauge too sees where Seattle’s secondary is. They improved at FS with rookie Earl Thomas. He flew around at home so we will see if he can do the same in less friendly confines. Lawyer Milloy has greater freedom to crowd the line with Thomas’ speed protecting the hawks deep. At CB Marcus Trufant is playing with a swagger that went AWOL for much of 2009. He can be a ball hawk if Orton gets careless. The Bronco’s are hurting on the O-line, giving up three sacks to a comparably average Jaguar pass rush. Starting tackle Ryan Harris is likely out for another week so now would be a good time for 2009 first round picks Aaron Curry to rediscover the gifted physical tools that scouts drooled over a year ago.

Running Game Thoughts: The big news here is the acquisition of Lawrence Maroney from the Patriots in a trade finalized Tuesday. His immediate impact is more of a threat to backup Correll Buckhalter than Knowshon Moreno is. Denver gave up a 4th round pick for Maroney, who is in the final year of his contract, so logic would dictate they plan on keeping him beyond this season. Having coached him in New England, Josh McDaniels knows his skill set well. Moreno had a pedestrian start to the season, with 70 yards and a TD in Jacksonville, but given his absence of a preseason with a pulled hamstring, it wasn’ t a bad rust shedding day. He should fare better than Gore against the Seahawks defense if only because Orton will demand more respect than 49er QB Alex Smith did Sunday with his abysmal effort.

Projections:
Kyle Orton: 275 yds/2 TD/1 INTs
Jabar Gaffney: 65 yds/1 TD
Eddie Royal: 60 yds
Brandon Lloyd: 45 yds
Knowshon Moreno: 80 yds/25 rec/1 TD

Prediction: Denver 24 Seattle 20 ^ Top

Jaguars @ Chargers - (Eakin)

Passing Game Thoughts: David Garrard and the Jaguar’s passing attack started the season strong throwing for three scores, including two for TE Marcedes Lewis. Lewis has flashed this kind of promise in the past but never kept up the consistency. Another positive sign was the play of WR Mike Thomas. An argument can be made that Thomas has become the favored target over Mike Sims-Walker. He outscored Sims-Walker the last five games of 2009 and caught six receptions for 89 yards while the more touted Sims-Walker was shutout by Champ Bailey on opening day. I see their value remaining close as the season plays out, with Thomas getting more targets and catches while Sims-Walker gets the big plays and scores. At first glance, their prospects look strong in this match-up as Garrard should have time to throw and they could find themselves playing from behind. However, few teams played worse on the road than the Jags last year, especially Sims-Walker and the passing attack. They were outscored 61-3 in their two west coast visits to San Francisco and Seattle last year. Ouch.

There’s a good chance Shawne Merriman will see his first action of the year after missing the opener. He can help with their lackluster pass rush. So far so good for Antonio Cromartie’s replacement, CB Antoine Cason. They held the Chiefs aerial assault in check Monday night. Doubtful they will get torrential downpours and strong winds from Mother Nature to protect them this week though. Cason may not deliver the highlight reel plays of Cromartie, but he is fundamentally sound and doesn’t gamble on jumping routes either. Opposite Cason, I can see CB Quentin Jammer giving Sims-Walker fits. Jammer is one of the better, well…jammers in the league and Sims-Walker struggles to get off the line of scrimmage at times.

Running Game Thoughts: By all accounts Maurice Jones-Drew’s knee didn’t cause any visible problems despite all the speculation during the preseason. He ran 23 times for 98 yards with three catches last week, so he was solid but didn’t exactly set the world on fire. A TD would have changed that. That seems like a reasonable stat line to duplicate with a score mixed in this time.

The Chargers were burned on a big play By Jamal Charles but, as far as I can tell, just about everyone does. They are generally solid against the run but nit elite. MLB Stephen Cooper needs to get more involved in the action than the three tackles he registered in KC. He’ll get plenty of opportunities as the Jags look to ride MJD and keep Rivers off the field.

Projections:
David Garrard: 200 yds/1 TD
Mike Thomas: 75yds
Mike Sims-Walker: 50 yds 1 TD
Marcedes Lewis: 40 yds
Maurice Jones-Drew: 105 yds/25 rec/1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: We certainly saw the feisty side of QB Philip Rivers on Monday Night as the Chargers miss fired in their comeback attempt. It appeared his WRs missed some routes while he missed some opens targets as well. That should change with the weather clearing up and their chemistry improves. No doubt about the attention Antonio Gates is getting until Floyd and Naanee can prove effective. He was doubled and sometimes triple teamed at the line of scrimmage by KC. Even with the attention, he caught five balls for 76 yards and a score. The jury is still out on Malcom Floyd’s ability to replace holdout Vincent Jackson. He failed to make any big plays in the downpour but hold off the doubt until we see how he does against the Jags weak secondary in better conditions. If he is held in check again, the temperature in general manager A.J. Smith’s office will rise about ten degrees. Opposite Floyd, WR Legedu Naanee had a solid outing that was exaggerated by a blown coverage that left him all alone for a 59-yard score. There’s a realistic chance Naanee becomes the bigger outside threat but I wouldn’t expect either him or Floyd to become a star over the other since Rivers should spread the ball around evenly. The fear with Naanee is if ex-Cowboy Patrick Crayton carves out a piece of the action, it’s more likely to be at his expense as they have the more similar skill sets.

Running Game Thoughts: The much-anticipated debut of Rookie RB Ryan Mathews was a mixed bag, 19 carries for 75 yards. There’s no doubting his ability as a power back. He moves the pile when he hits it. There were some concerns though. At 3.9 yards per carry there was not a marked difference from LaDainian Tomlinson’s unspectacular YPC average that saw him labeled finished and shipped out of town. Maybe it was the offensive line after all since LT has looked sharp for the Jets. Mathews didn’t make many people miss and took a couple big shots, one caused a fumble. He should be a solid RB this year, with a favorable slate of run defenses, but he has some work to do before being tagged for stardom.

Projections:
Philip Rivers: 320 yds/2 TDs
Malcom Floyd: 70 yds/1 TD
Legedu Naanee: 70 yds
Antonio Gates: 70 yds/1 TD
Ryan Mathews: 90 yds/1 TD

Prediction: Chargers 31 Jaguars 13 ^ Top

Saints @ 49ers - (Eakin)

Passing Game Thoughts: Anyone worried about QB Drew Brees only throwing for 237 yds and one TD in the opener, take a deep breath, exhale, and back away from the ledge. This offense will be just fine. The same stubborn game planning that called all those run plays in the second half will equally dial the passing plays when they’re slicing up the opposition. Brees completed a stellar 75 percent of his passes and looked sharp. With all of last year’s weapons back plus 2008 stud WR Lance Moore added to the mix, they may improve upon last year’s numbers. WR Marques Colston led the receiving core in week one but the ball is going to be spread all over. A stunning eight players had two or more catches in a game where the aerial attack was featured only half the game.

Running Game Thoughts: It was amazing to see the Saints carve up the vaunted “Williams Wall” in the second half to secure the lead. When an elite passing team like the Saints can out muscle the bully on the block, the NFC’s runner-ups that have been dreaming of revenge since their loss on the doorstep of the Super Bowl, a clear message has been sent league wide. The Bourbon Street Boys will not be resting on their laurels. It will be interesting to see how much success they have running in to the equally strong 49er front seven led by MLB Patrick Willis. The Niner’s will be jacked up after losing a to the lowly Seahawks week one. They’re flexible 3-4 will be tougher to get helmets on. I see the Saints throwing to win with less success for Pierre and ex-Heisman trophy winner Reggie on the ground. In reception league’s they will still have value though.

Projections:
Drew Brees: 320 yds/3 TDs/1 Int
Marques Colston: 70 yds/1 TD
Devery Henderson: 45 yds
Robert Meachem: 60 yds/1 TD
Pierre Thomas: 70 yds/25 rec
Reggie Bush: 25 yds/40 rec/1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: On the exact opposite end of the spectrum of Brees, we have 49er QB Alex Smith. He looked rattled by the college-like Seattle 12th man, and the entire offense was completely out of sync for most of the afternoon. From missed throws, missed routes, and getting the plays late, they have several areas to work on. WR Michael Crabtree, whom they are relying on to take the next step, showed rust from missing the preseason and looks at the same place he was when he entered after his long holdout as rookie, finishing with an embarrassing 2 receptions for twelve yards. That won’t get it done. Opposite him is Josh Morgan, a perennial preseason sleeper that continues to do his best work Monday thru Saturday caught three balls for 32 yards. The Saints secondary has a pair of excellent underrated CBs in Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter. They will hold their own on the outside allowing safeties Malcom Jenkins and Roman Harper to crowd the line and make life difficult for the Niner’s bread and butter TE Vernon Davis. After being burnt by Visanthe Shiancoe in the first half, the adjustment of putting Roman Harper on him shut Favre’s favored target out in the second half. Davis will get his catches but his impact will be limited.

Running Game Thoughts: Perhaps more concerning than the off-day passing was the poor showing in the running game in Seattle. At the end of the day, they have always had Gore to hang their hat on. Seventeen carries for 38 yards isn’t much of a hanger. They will no doubt get back to basics and run Gore until he drops to play keep away with the Saints offense as much as possible. The Saints are no slouch against the run, but it remains the best way to attack them. Jonathan Vilma could finish with fifteen tackles. In the end, despite two home team upsets last week, and this looking like a great time to pull the trigger on an upset special, I just can’t do it. Pass me the bourbon boys!

Projections:
Alex Smith: 180 yds/1 TD/2 INT
Michael Crabtree: 55 yds/1 TD
Josh Morgan: 35 yds
Vernon Davis: 65 yds
Frank Gore: 90 yds/45 rec/2 TDs

Prediction: New Orleans 27 49ers 20 ^ Top

Bills @ Packers - (Autry)

Passing Game Thoughts: I don’t want to say that Trent Edwards is one of the worst starting QBs in the league, but he’s one of the worst QBs in the league. He’s about as average as they come. Out of the 33 games in which he’s appeared in his career, Edwards has thrown for multiple TDs in a game only five times. FIVE TIMES. That’s unbelievable. His week one contest against Miami at home was on par with what he’s done in his career. Don’t expect a whole lot from Edwards this week, as Green Bay should come out smoking in their first home game of the season.

By virtue of having one of the worst QBs in the league, the Bills by default also have one of the worst passing offenses in the league. Lee Evans is a one-dimensional WR whose strength lies in his ability to go deep, and Roscoe Parrish is a glorified return man posing as a WR. Steve Johnson is a virtual unknown who’s caught all of 12 passes in his two-year career. Green Bay’s secondary is looked at as the team’s biggest weakness despite having All-World CB Charles Woodson. They’re missing several starters, but that didn’t seem to affect their play against Philly last week. Expect a shutdown performance by the Packers’ pass defense in week two.

Running Game Thoughts: Rookie RB C.J. Spiller was a popular pick during fantasy draft season based on his productive preseason. But once the lights came on in week one, he fizzled mightily to the tune of 6 yards on 7 carries and 8 yards on 4 receptions. Ouch. Certainly it’s too early to panic, but those numbers are distressing regardless of the point of the season. Philly’s RBs were unable to do much of anything against Green Bay last week; it was the legs of Michael Vick that skewed the rushing for the Eagles. This game will be a tough one for the offensively-challenged Buffalo Bills. They may fall behind early and have to rely on their passing game, thus rendering their running game useless. There’s nobody on the Buffalo roster that warrants any real consideration to start. Stay away from the Bills this week at all costs.

Projections:
Trent Edwards – 155 yards / 1 TD / 2 INT
C.J. Spiller – 35 yards rushing / 20 yards rec
Fred Jackson – 25 yards rushing
Lee Evans – 40 yards
Steve Johnson – 35 yards / 1 TD
Roscoe Parrish – 25 yards
Jonathan Stupar – 15 yards

Passing Game Thoughts: Aaron Rodgers threw a couple TDs last week, but he also tossed a couple of INTs as well. What should the biggest concern for Rodgers owners is the continued sieve of an offensive line in Green Bay. Rodgers was sacked three times last week and hit countless others. His being sacked 50 times last season has been well documented, so it’s crucial that the Packers strive to protect their most charmed asset.

The harassment that Rodgers and his receivers encountered in Philly probably won’t be matched against the Bills. These aren’t your father’s Buffalo Bills. There aren’t many play-makers on that side of the ball, so Green Bay’s passing offense should hit its stride this week. Jarius Byrd and Donte Whitner are ball-hawking safeties, but CBs Drayton Florence and Terrence McGee are ripe for the picking. Greg Jennings and Jermichael Finley especially should have good days. Expect a 300 yard game from Rodgers with multiple TDs.

Running Game Thoughts: Ryan Grant went down in week one, but Brandon Jackson takes over the starting spot. Two good things immediately come to mind for Jackson owners: first, Green Bay hasn’t been known as a RBBC over the past several years. Secondly, Jackson was once a starter, so the bright lights of the NFL won’t be too much for him. In limited time last week, Jackson delivered. Now with a full week to prepare as the starter on one of the most dynamic offenses in the league, Jackson is poised to be one of those waiver wire gems we seek every year that pay huge dividends. Jackson can also be a threat in the passing game, but don’t expect too much of that this week. Rodgers will go after Buffalo by throwing downfield. But Jackson will be a solid #2 fantasy back henceforth, so start him if you have him.

Projections:
Aaron Rodgers – 320 yards / 3 TDs
Brandon Jackson – 85 yards / 1 TD
Greg Jennings – 140 yards / 2 TDs
Donald Driver – 70 yards
James Jones – 65 yards
Jermichael Finley – 45 yards / 1 TD

Prediction: Green Bay 31, Buffalo 13 ^ Top

Ravens @ Bengals - (Autry)

Passing Game Thoughts: Not many thought that Joe Flacco would do anything of significance last week against a tough New York Jets pass defense. While he didn’t necessarily light up the scoreboard, he at least go belly-up, throwing for almost 250 yards with no scores and one INT. This week he gets to attack a Bengals pass defense that probably couldn’t stop Tom Brady last week if they had 12 defenders on the field at one time. They didn’t look that good at all.

Obviously, Baltimore is not the passing team that New England is, but with WRs Anquan Boldin and TJ Houshmandzadeh joining Derrick Mason, the Ravens have quickly fortified their offense to the point where it is now the strength of the team. Boldin was catching passes all over the field last week. That could continue against the Bengals. Houshmandzadeh was also integrated in the passing game, but it’s too early for you to give serious consideration to putting him in your line-up. There have been whispers this week that Heap could be a game-time decision. Keep an eye out for that. Baltimore passed seven more times than it ran last week. That ratio could be flipped this week. Plan accordingly.

Running Game Thoughts: Baltimore ran for a whopping 49 yards against a stout Jets defense. The Bengals, meanwhile, gave up 118 yards on the ground to New England—although the defense was softened by Brady torching them early and often in the first half. Look for Baltimore to rely more on the legs of Ray Rice early in this one. The newfound threat of a potent passing attack will open things up in the running game and Rice will be the primary beneficiary of that opportunity.

Cincy had one of the top run defenses in the league last season. They didn’t look much like that squad last week, so perhaps they make a concerted effort to halt Rice and the Ravens running game. I mean, really. The fossil Fred Taylor ran for 71 yards on 14 carries against the Bengals for crying out loud. Rice should be the dual threat he was from last year. While the addition of Boldin and TJ at wide receiver will most certainly take away receptions from Rice, this is a game where you should expect Rice to shine in all facets of the game.

Projections:
Joe Flacco – 240 yards / 2 TDs
Ray Rice – 70 yards rushing / 40 yards rec / 1 rushing TD
Anquan Boldin – 85 yards / 1 TD
Derrick Mason – 45 yards / 1 TD
T.J. Houshmandzadeh – 30 yards
Todd Heap – 35 yards

Passing Game Thoughts: Carson Palmer’s 50 pass attempts last week were the most since a November contest in 2007 against Arizona. Oh yeah, they lost that game too. But in fantasy circles, that’s a great number—especially for the team’s receivers. With all those pass attempts, there must be pass completions. Chad Ochocinco benefited the most from Cincy being down so early last week against the Patriots. His 12 receptions were the most since a 2007 game against Tennessee. Chances are that neither Chad nor Palmer will come close to those numbers this week against the Baltimore defense.

For years the Bengals offense was devoid of a receiving threat at TE. It’s actually been an entire generation since Dan Ross produced consistently for Cincy. I know that name doesn’t ring a bell to you youngsters, but suffice it to say that rookie Jermaine Gresham gives Palmer and this offense the jolt of production this team has been lacking from the TE position for 20-plus years. And oh by the way, this team also has Terrell Owens. The Bengals passing attack in this game should be better able to exploit the back-half of the Ravens defense in a way the Jets were unable to. Baltimore’s secondary is clearly this team’s Achilles heel, and teams built to throw the ball will give the Ravens the most fits this season. Cincy falls into that category.

Running Game Thoughts: With the Bengals down so much so early last week, they had no time to establish a running game. Consequently, Cedric Benson finished with a pedestrian 43 yards, although he did score on a short run late in the game. Baltimore did allow an ancient LaDainian Tomlinson to rumble for a game-high 62 yards last week, so that bodes well for the Bengals—a team that may want to try to establish a running game that was one of the best in 2009.

The beauty of the Bengals running game is it’s one of the few in the league that doesn’t incorporate a heavy dose of a RBBC. Bernard Scott got a lot of playing time last week—relatively speaking—but that was due in large part to the deficit Cincy incurred early. This week’s game should be the usual AFC North, grind-it-out contest that features the ground attack. Look for Benson to get 20-plus touches this week, and his production should warrant a strong RB2 as a result.

Projections:
Carson Palmer – 210 yards / 1 TD / 1 INT
Cedric Benson – 80 yards / 1 TD
Chad Ochocinco – 70 yards
Terrell Owens – 50 yards / 1 TD
Jordan Shipley – 25 yards
Jermaine Gresham – 65 yards

Prediction: Baltimore 20, Cincinnati 13 ^ Top

Chiefs @ Browns - (Autry)

Passing Game Thoughts: Despite the fact that QB Matt Cassel engineered a Kansas City offense last week that yielded only nine first downs, 62 passing yards and completed less than 50 percent of his passes, the Chiefs somehow won at home against San Diego. That formula won’t work most weeks, but it did last week and may very well be enough to squeak out a victory against Cleveland this week. Cassel is far from the QB he appeared to be two years ago while replacing an injured Tom Brady in New England. He bamboozled Kansas City into giving him a ridiculous free agent contract, yet he’s done nothing to warrant that kind of investment.

Whether it’s Cassel holding back the passing game, the consistently underachieving WRs doing little, or a combination of the two, the Chiefs offense did little to impress last week. I’m not going to jump off the ship just yet. New offensive coordinator Charlie Weiss is known for developing productive offenses, but that was with Brady as the triggerman. All the passing game components on the Chiefs are borderline fantasy starters. Even against a perceived inferior opponent such as the Browns, caution must be exercised when trying to determine if you should start one of them. Dwayne Bowe could be considered a top-notch #3 WR this week, but beyond that, you’d be scrapping the bottom of the barrel.

Running Game Thoughts: It was hilarious how many on this site were ready to castrate head coach Todd Haley for not putting RB Jamaal Charles in last week’s game until the third offensive series. It was rather peculiar why he delayed so long. Charles wasted little time in delivering for fantasy owners, as he darted down the field 56 yards for a TD on only his second carry of the game. That’s the kind of production fantasy owners were expecting.

The one disconcerting aspect of the Chiefs running game, although it wasn’t totally unexpected, is the 50-50 split between Charles and Thomas Jones. Charles outplayed Jones in every area, but both received 11 carries each. That will prove to be a thorn in the side of those Charles owners who see his potential on a weekly basis, yet have to withstand the annoying presence of Jones in the game plan. Expect more of the same this week. Cleveland allowed Cadillac Williams to run for 75 yards, so expect the combo of Charles and Jones to double that output this week.

Projections:
Matt Cassel – 175 yards / 1 TD / 1 INT
Jamaal Charles – 85 yards rushing/ 30 yards rec /
Thomas Jones – 60 yards / 1 rushing TD
Dwayne Bowe – 75 yards / 1 TD
Chris Chambers – 35 yards
Tony Moeaki – 25 yards

Passing Game Thoughts: There’s a good chance that QB Jake Delhomme will sit this out due to an ankle injury suffered in week one. As of this writing, he’s yet to practice. So the likelihood of Seneca Wallace getting the start looks more and more like a reality as the week progresses. Truth be told, you’re looking at six in one hand and a half-dozen in the other. The only discernable difference between the two is Wallace is more of a running threat. But from a purely fantasy perspective, both can’t be counted on for either personal production of assisting with the production of those around them.

Mohamed Massaquoi’s sleeper value takes a tremendous hit with the dreadful QB play this team is handcuffed with. Philip Rivers was able to torch the KC pass defense last week, but that was Rivers. Expect a conservative passing attack from the Browns, with bootlegs, roll outs and Wildcat formations being the pass plays of choice for Cleveland. Don’t be surprised if Josh Cribbs gets a crack at orchestrating several Wildcat plays. Whatever way they choose to attack KC’s defense, it won’t come close to mirroring that of the Chargers. This game as a whole—perhaps outside of the Chiefs running game—could be a fantasy wasteland. I’d hate to have to watch this contest.

Running Game Thoughts: Another one of the dreaded RBBCs, the Browns’ version is probably one of the worst because of the bland and seemingly inept nature of the offense. Jerome Harrison and Peyton Hillis complement each other, sure—one’s the explosive type, the other the between-the-tackle battering ram. But for my money it’s difficult to count on either one, despite both having standout games against Tampa Bay last week. This reeks of the kind of situation that leaves fantasy owners scratching their head over who to start each week. If you’re really desperate, I suppose Hillis would be a safer choice because he gets the goal line carries. He’s also involved in the pass game too, as his four receptions last week tied for the team lead. My quick advice would be to stay away from the Cleveland running game until either Hillis or Harrison emerges.

Projections:
Seneca Wallace – 120 yards passing / 35 rushing yards / 1 passing TD / 2 INTs
Peyton Hillis – 40 yards / 1 TD
Jerome Harrison – 25 yards
Mohamed Massaquoi – 55 yards / 1 TD
Josh Cribbs – 30 yards rec / 35 yards rushing
Chansi Stuckey – 35 yards

Predictions: Kansas City 17, Cleveland 14 ^ Top

Eagles @ Lions - (Autry)

Passing Game Thoughts: Anyone who relied confidently on Kevin Kolb as a starting fantasy QB obviously saw little of the 2009 Philadelphia Eagles. It was quite apparent at the time that the coaching staff wanted to get cute with its own version of the Michael Vick Experience. Even if Kolb was healthy heading into week two (which he’s not), Vick’s role in the offense would carve a huge dent in Kolb’s value. That Philly QB situation will be a hot mess all season long.

But as it relates to this week in particular, Vick will get the start and should have a field day against a Detroit defense that allowed Jay Cutler to embarrass them last week. Vick’s presence in the offense I believe will affect HIS value more than it will affect others. He has never been known to heighten the fantasy value of any receiver, so don’t expect that to happen now (sorry DeSean Jackson owners). Much like last week, Vick will get both passing and running points. There’s no one on the Lions roster who can keep up with Vick from a pure athletic standpoint. He’s a sneaky start this week. It’d take a certain level of guts to start him over a more established QB, but if you’re the gambling type, go for it.

Running Game Thoughts: Thoughts on the Philly running game? LOL. What running game? Head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Morningweg seem to have a healthy distain for running the football. These guys get way too carried away with their assorted pass plays. That obviously is a buzz kill for those relying on Philly RBs. Speaking of which, FB Leonard Weaver’s injury will probably now allow McCoy to get both the 3rd down plays and the goal line carries. Then again, that may give Morningweg and Reid another reason to forget about the run altogether inside the red zone. Who the heck knows with those guys….

I’ve always felt that McCoy has the skills to be a productive and reliable fantasy RB. He simply lacks the opportunities thanks to the cutesy offense Philly runs. There’s no way I’d suggest starting an Eagle RB just yet. Jokes aside, Weaver’s injury may very well prompt them to stick to running McCoy more. I wouldn’t hold my breath though. If anything, the Philly running game will be given a shot in the arm courtesy of Vick—and Vick only.

Projections:
Michael Vick – 180 yards passing / 90 yards rushing / 2 passing TDs / 1 rushing TD
LeSean McCoy – 60 yards rushing / 20 yards rec
DeSean Jackson – 65 yards rec / 25 yards rushing
Jeremy Maclin – 40 yards / 1 TD
Brent Celek – 55 yards / 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: Shaun Hill replaced an injured Matthew Stafford last week and played about as well as could be expected, considering the circumstances. One thing is for sure: at least he attempted to throw the ball to Calvin Johnson. Johnson was seemingly invisible to Stafford, who inexplicably threw to others on the squad instead of his supposed game-breaking WR. Philly played tough pass defense against Green Bay, picking off Aaron Rodgers twice. If they can do that to an established offense, imagine what they’ll do to the Lions?

Philly pressured Rodgers all game long. And as porous as Green Bay’s O-line is, Detroit’s is worse. You can expect the same kind of pressure this week. I predicted here last week that Bears DE Julius Peppers would be a handful for Detroit to deal with last week. What did he do? He blindsided Stafford and took him out the game. The same can be said this week. Detroit’s O-line is average at best, and they most protect Hill at all costs. Whether or not they’re capable is another story.

Running Game Thoughts: Jahvid Best got off to a quick start against the Bears, rushing for two first half scores. His yardage total left a lot to be desired, but you can’t argue with those two scores. The offense will obviously be less productive with Stafford out of the line-up, meaning Best’s production could circle the drain too. Best should be used in every facet of the game, from running plays to screen passes; from short yardage plays to circle routes out the backfield. He’s a do-everything kind of RB; now all he needs is help from the signal-caller and the offensive line. That probably won’t come this week, but Best could have one of those games where he ends up when it’s all said and done with respectable numbers. He’s a nice flex option this week or a low-end #2 RB.

Projections:
Shaun Hill – 210 yards / 1 TD / 2 INTs
Jahvid Best – 55 yards rushing / 20 yards rec / 1 rushing TD
Calvin Johnson – 90 yards / 1 TD
Nate Burleson – 40 yards
Bryant Johnson – 20 yards
Brandon Pettigrew – 25 yards

Prediction: Philadelphia 27, Detroit 17 ^ Top

Dolphins @ Vikings - (Autry)

Passing Game Thoughts: It was a rather uneventful debut for Brandon Marshall in a Miami uniform in week one. Eight receptions for 53 yards is nothing to get excited about. The Dolphins passing attack now takes its show on the road to Minnesota, a team that prevented Drew Brees and the vaunted New Orleans passing attack from exploiting its true weakness: the secondary. Chad Henne did little last week against Buffalo. He was looked at as a sleeper #2 fantasy QB, but too many performances like last week will soon have his owners dropping him like a hot potato.

Expect a few deep throws to Marshall early in this game. Marshall vs. CB Antoine Winfield will be a great match-up. Winfield isn’t the player he once was, especially after suffering through injuries last season. But he’s still formidable enough to give Marshall a run for his money. Davone Bess could ease into a productive game. I think he will quietly have a good season, as defensive attention is turned toward Marshall. Bess could get free after a short pass, as his run-after-catch ability is vastly underrated. Keep an eye on him this week.

Running Game Thoughts: Miami is one of the most RBBC-dedicated teams in the league. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams had identical performances last week, separated only by Brown’s TD run. Both have their roles on fantasy teams, but it seems more of a gamble starting Williams, as Brown does his damage in other ways besides running the football. Minnesota’s stingy run defense picked up where it left off in 2009, holding New Orleans to 79 yards in week one. I suspect the two-headed RB monster for Miami will meet with a similar fate. Brown will get what I consider bonus rushing yards, as he’s the primary catalyst for the Dolphins’ Wildcat formation. His presence in that formation makes him a dual threat, equally adept at either running or passing the ball.

Projections:
Chad Henne – 210 yards / 1 TD / 1 INT
Ronnie Brown – 40 yards rushing / 25 yards rec / 1 rushing TD
Ricky Williams – 35 yards rushing
Brandon Marshall – 90 yards / 1 TD
Davone Bess – 40 yards
Anthony Fasano – 20 yards

Passing Game Thoughts: Chatter has gone back and forth since the season opener last Thursday. Some feel Brett Favre was productive considering the circumstances (not much training camp, injured WR corp, etc.) while others feel he stunk up the joint. The truth may lie somewhere in the middle. It stands to reason, however, that Favre may struggle early in the season—the same way he did in 2009. His receiving crew is tattered with injuries, starting of course with Sidney Rice. Now Percy Harvin’s availability is in question because of a hip injury. The Vikings are unsure whether he will play. That could be a problem.

If Harvin doesn’t play or is limited in any way, that leaves a one-dimensional Bernard Berrian and possession WR Greg Camarillo as primary targets on the outside. TE Visanthe Schiancoe stepped up his game last week in the absence of Rice and performed admirably. Four receptions for 76 yards and a score is not a bad stat line when you consider he’s the only reliable target. Miami held the anemic Buffalo offense in check last week, but the task will be a bit more daunting this week. I don’t like Favre this week; his targets are decimated by injury. The only player in the Vikings passing attack I like is Schiancoe. He’s a must-start in TE-required leagues and a solid start in TE-optional leagues. Either way you slice it, get him in your line-up.

Running Game Thoughts: Adrian Peterson ran like he had an attitude early in the game last week. I realize that’s his M.O., but it seemed more pronounced. I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me. There’s no in-depth analysis that’s needed here. In should be noted, though, that Miami held Buffalo to a measly 50 yards on the ground. Rookie C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson combined for a whopping 25 yards on 11 carries. Yeah, I know. This is Minnesota, not Buffalo. But holding an NFL team to 25 yards is impressive, regardless of who’s toting the rock. Peterson will be the cornerstone of this offense for the foreseeable future. This team’s passing game will continue to struggle with its banged-up wide-outs. There’s simply no getting around that. Peterson should continue rewarding his owners with stellar performances, starting with this game.

Projections:
Brett Favre – 190 yards / 1 TD / 1 INT
Adrian Peterson – 130 yards / 2 TDs
Bernard Berrian – 70 yards
Greg Camarillo – 40 yards
Percy Harvin – 20 yards
Visanthe Schiancoe – 60 yards / 1 TD

Prediction: Minnesota 24, Miami 10 ^ Top

Cardinals @ Falcons - (Kilroy)

Passing Game Thoughts: Matt Leinart was supposed to be the new franchise quarterback in Arizona following Kurt Warner’s retirement last season, but as we all know that didn’t work out. So now we have Derek Anderson, formerly of the Cleveland Browns, running things for the Cardinals.

In his regular season debut with the Cards Anderson provided a mediocre performance as he threw for just under 300 yards with one touchdown and zero interceptions while completing 53.7% of his passes. It wasn’t a great outing, but he kept his mistakes to a minimum and the connection he had with Larry Fitzgerald in the end zone was enough to lead the Cardinals to a 17-13 victory on the road against the St. Louis Rams. In Week 2 however, Anderson and the Cardinals will again be on the road and facing a much more competent opponent in that of the Atlanta Falcons.

Atlanta began their season on the road last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game that went into overtime tied at 9-9. It ended just a few minutes into the extra period however as Rashard Mendenhall broke off a 50-yard touchdown run. Somewhat surprisingly, even though they limited Pittsburgh to three field goals in regulation play, is that they allowed third year veteran Dennis Dixon to complete 18 of his 26 attempts (69.2%) for 236 yards (an average of 9.1 yards per pass). If the Falcons allow Derek Anderson to complete anything close to that high a percentage of his passes or average nearly 9.0 yards per attempt it will be a very long day for the Falcons secondary.

While some may be hesitant to play a QB like Anderson on the road against Atlanta, and for understandable reasons, it wouldn’t be too surprising if he manages to put up worthwhile numbers for your fantasy team. Not only did the Falcons allow Dixon, a quarterback who was making just his second career start in the NFL, to complete such a high percentage of his attempts at an average of 9.1 yards per pass, they also failed to defend the pass well in 2009 as they allowed nearly 242.0 passing yards per game while surrendering 25 touchdowns through the air.

All things considered, Anderson should be able throw for at least 225 yards while connecting with either Fitzgerald or Breaston for a touchdown or two. Early Doucet, usually the Cardinals third wide receiver, will be OUT for the next 3-6 weeks following surgery to repair a sports hernia. Undrafted rookie Stephen Williams is expected to take over the slot role during Doucet’s absence.

Running Game Thoughts: While it appears more and more likely Beanie Wells will return to action this week Tim Hightower will retain his position atop the depth chart. Wells missed the Cardinals season opener against the Rams do to a bruised right knee. He has been limited in practice leading up to Arizona’s contest against the Falcons, but the latest reports have him stating he will “definitely” go through a full practice on Friday. As long as he doesn’t suffer any setbacks look for him to dress on Sunday. If he is unable to go however, second year player, LaRod Stephens-Howling, who had 7 carries for 49 yards in Week 1, will remain active as the number two option in the Arizona backfield.

As for what type of production one can expect from Hightower against Atlanta chances are he’ll perform much in the same manner as he had in Week 1. Prior to the 50-yard dash Mendenhall turned in for a winning touchdown last week against the Falcons he was limited to 21 carries for 70 yards. There’s no reason to expect more than that from Hightower although he should still produce as a solid number two fantasy back – especially in PPR leagues. He’s also a threat to score a touchdown if the Cardinals get any opportunities from within the 5-yard line as that is where the majority of Hightower’s 19 career touchdowns have come over the last three years.

Projections:
Derek Anderson – 235 yards passing / 1 TD / 1 INT
Tim Hightower – 45 yards rushing / 1 TD / 25 yards receiving
Chris “Beanie” Wells – 25 yards rushing / 0 TDs / 10 yards receiving
Larry Fitzgerald – 100 yards receiving / 1 TD
Steve Breaston – 65 yards receiving / 0 TDs
Stephen Williams – 20 yards receiving / 0 TDs


Passing Game Thoughts: In last week’s contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers Matt Ryan failed to throw a touchdown pass as he connected on 27 of his 44 attempts (61.4%) for 252 yards (5.7 yards per pass) with 1 interception. In other words, he didn’t have all that great of a game. Against the Cardinals he should fair a bit better however as Arizona is coming off an outing in which they allowed rookie Sam Bradford to complete 58.2% (32 of 55) of his attempts for 253 yards and 1 touchdown. The Cards did come away with 3 interceptions against the number one overall pick in this year’s draft, but that’s not surprising considering it was the first start of Bradford’s NFL career.

Another factor worth a look is how the Cardinals defended the pass in 2009. That year they ranked 23rd in the league while allowing an average of 233.7 passing yards per game. Ryan will likely match or surpass that total as long as Michael Turner doesn’t become the primary factor for the Falcons this week.

This also looks to be a very promising outing for Roddy White considering the Arizona secondary is coming off a game in which they allowed the Rams Mark Clayton to catch 10 passes for 119 yards. Danny Amendola had a solid outing of his own against the Cardinals with 6 receptions for an additional 67 yards receiving. That could translate into a solid outing for Harry Douglas as a third option at wide receiver in fantasy leagues. I’d also expect Tony Gonzalez to fair better than the 2 receptions for 35 yards he had in the opener.

Running Game Thoughts: Michael Turner failed to do much with the 19 carries he had last week against the Steelers. He averaged a dismal 2.2 yards per carry on his way to finishing the afternoon with just 42 yards on the ground. While he could’ve done better it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he didn’t have a great outing. Pittsburgh after all has been one of the toughest defenses to run against in recent years and 2010 figures to be no different.

As for the Cardinals, they’re a bit weaker when it comes to stopping the run as evidenced by their 17th place ranking within that category last year. Not only did opponents gain 112.8 rushing yards per game against them, they also averaged 4.5 yards per carry. The Cardinals did manage to limit Steven Jackson to 81 yards on 21 carries last week, but the Falcons offense is far more advanced than that of the Rams. Look for Turner to finish the afternoon with a touchdown and 80-100 yards on the ground.

Projections:
Matt Ryan – 240 yards passing / 2 TDs / 1 INT
Michael Turner – 85 yards rushing / 1 TD
Roddy White – 110 yards receiving / 1 TD
Harry Douglas – 45 yards receiving / 0 TDs
Tony Gonzalez – 65 yards receiving / 1 TD

Prediction: Atlanta 24, Arizona 14 ^ Top

Steelers @ Titans - (Kilroy)

Passing Game Thoughts: For a QB that was making just his second career start in the NFL last week against the Falcons, Dennis Dixon turned in a pretty admirable performance. He didn’t connect with any of his receivers in the end zone, but he did average 9.1 yards per pass attempt while completing 69.2% of his throws for 236 yards. This week he’ll face a Titans secondary that limited Oakland’s Jason Campbell to 180 passing yards on 37 attempts. While those stats alone won’t inspire anyone to start Dixon this week, it is worth noting the Raiders air attack has been horrendous in recent years, so the fact Tennessee limited Campbell to pedestrian like numbers isn’t all that impressive.

If we take a look back at last season to see how the Titans faired against their opponents passing attack we learn there is much improvement to be had. In 2009 Tennessee ranked 31st in the league when it came to limiting the amount of damage their opposition produced through the air. Not only did they allow 258.7 passing yards per contest, but the 31 touchdowns they allowed were second highest in the league. In all fairness, the Titans did face the Colts and Texans (the two highest rated passing offenses in the league last year) a total of four times last season, but nonetheless it shows success can be had through the air against them.

Taking those numbers into account, along with considering how the Titans performed against the Raiders last week, the possibility is there for Dixon to have a decent afternoon on Sunday. I wouldn’t expect him to throw for any more than 230 yards or so, but he should fair better than Campbell had in Week 1 against the Titans.

Running Game Thoughts: Prior to the 50-yard score Mendenhall ripped off in overtime last week against the Falcons he was averaging a subpar 3.3 yards per carry on 21 attempts for a total of 70 yards rushing. While the long touchdown run was encouraging for his owners everything else about his performance was not.

This week Mendenhall will have to play on the road against a Titans run defense that is every bit as good the Falcons unit that bottled him up for four quarters last Sunday. With that said however, Darren McFadden, whom many have considered a bust since he entered the NFL as the number four overall pick in the 2008 draft, managed to have a strong outing in the opener versus Tennessee. He handled 18 carries for 95 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per rush. He also contributed another 55 yards on 6 receptions with a touchdown. Those are strong totals, but I wouldn’t expect Mendenhall to match them.

Mendenhall may be able to crack the 100-yard mark if he handles close to 25 carries, but I certainly wouldn’t expect him to average 5.0 yards per rush on the road against the Titans. Instead owners should expect him to produce 70-90 yards on the ground with a couple receptions and a possible score.

Projections:
Dennis Dixon – 220 yards passing / 2 TDs / 1 INT
Rashard Mendenhall – 85 yards rushing / 1 TD / 15 yards receiving
Hines Ward – 90 yards receiving / 1 TD
Mike Wallace – 55 yards receiving / 0 TDs
Heath Miller – 50 yards receiving / 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: Vince Young had a better outing than expected last week as he completed 76.5% of his passes with 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Trouble is he managed to do so while only throwing 17 times for 154 yards. Normally, if a quarterback attempts just 17 passes throughout an entire game it isn’t going to translate into much production for your fantasy team.

Young benefited, however, by having Chris Johnson in his backfield going against a porous run defense. The Raiders allowed Johnson to average 5.3 yards per carry on 27 rushing attempts for a total of 142 yards on the ground. He also contributed with 2 touchdowns. When your running back is able to have that much of an impact in a game it’s going to make the quarterback’s job far easier.

In this week’s contest against the Steelers it stands to reason Johnson will have a lot more difficulty gaining his yards. As a result one can expect Young to also have more difficulties in the passing game. He may end up throwing more than the 17 times he had last week, but it’s highly unlikely he will do so while connecting on 76.5% of his passes, or while averaging anywhere close to the 9.1 yards per attempt he had in the opener. In other words, don’t be fooled by the production he had in Week 1 as he is bound to face more difficulties in this week’s contest against the Steelers.

Running Game Thoughts: Chris Johnson picked up this year (142 yards rushing, 2 TDs) where he left off last season, and it really shouldn’t have come as a surprise to anyone that’s familiar with just how wretched Oakland’s rushing defense can be. This week however, Johnson will go against one of the more highly regarded run stopping unit’s in the league as the Titans host the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday afternoon.

It’s been seven years since the Steelers defense has allowed their opponents to average more than 100 rushing yards per game against them. Last week they managed to put on another strong showing as they limited the Falcons Michael Turner to just 42 yards on 19 carries. While Chris Johnson is clearly regarded as the superior back in comparison to Turner he’ll still have to work a lot harder in gaining his yards against the Steelers than he had in Week 1 against Oakland.

In fact, the last time Johnson had fewer that 100 yards rushing with at least 15 carries in a game came in Week 1 of the 2009 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers (15 carries, 57 yards rushing, 3.8 yards per carry). While he should fair better than he had the last time he faced Pittsburgh, it wouldn’t be a shock if his streak of 12 straight games with at least 100 yards rushing came to an end this Sunday.

Projections:
Vince Young – 190 yards passing / 1 TD / 1 INT / 20 yards rushing / 1 TD
Chris Johnson – 85 yards rushing / 1 TD / 30 yards receiving
Nate Washington – 55 yards receiving / 0 TDs
Kenny Britt – 40 yards receiving / 0 TDs
Justin Gage – 35 yards receiving / 1 TD
Bo Scaife – 30 yards receiving / 0 TDs

Prediction: Tennessee 24, Pittsburgh 21 ^ Top

Buccaneers @ Panthers - (Kilroy)

Passing Game Thoughts: Tampa Bay is coming off a hard fought victory at home in which quarterback Josh Freeman threw for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Cleveland Browns. It was a pretty good outing for a player whose status was up in the air do to a broken thumb in his throwing hand which forced him to the sidelines during the Buccaneers last two preseason games. This week, however, he’ll be facing a tougher opponent and the status of his thumb may not matter.

In 2009 the Carolina Panthers ranked 4th in the league against the pass as they allowed an average 191.0 yards per game to be had through the air against them. Although Eli Manning managed to complete 20 of his 30 attempts versus the Panthers last week for 263 yards and 3 touchdowns – along with 3 interceptions – it’s very doubtful Freeman will come anywhere close to matching those statistics. Freeman isn’t nearly as accomplished a quarterback as Eli is, nor is he surrounded by the same level of talent as Eli.

Look for Freeman to throw for somewhere in the 150-200 yard range with a possible score. It’s unlikely he’ll provide statistics any better than that however.

Running Game Thoughts: While facing one of the poorer rushing defenses in the league from 2009 Cadillac Williams still only managed to produce 75 yards on 22 carries (3.4 yards per carry) with zero scores. This week he’ll play on the road against a Panthers unit that limited Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs to an average of 3.75 yards per attempt amongst their 32 combined carries.

If the Panthers were able to keep that thunder and lightning duo in check throughout most of last week’s contest than its doubtful Williams will fair any better. In all likelihood his yards per carry won’t be any higher than 4.0. Combine that with the possibility he’s likely to see less than 20 carries in this week’s match-up and you realize he’s not worth a start on your fantasy roster. Eighty yards rushing with 10-20 yards receiving is about the best you could hope for from him.

Projections:
Josh Freeman – 195 yards passing / 1 TD / 1 INT
Carnell “Cadillac” Williams – 65 yards rushing / 0 TDs / 15 yards receiving
Mike Williams – 50 yards receiving / 0 TDs
Sammie Stroughter – 40 yards receiving / 0 TDs
Kellen Winslow – 80 yards receiving / 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: Matt Moore suffered a concussion in last week’s game against the Giants, but all indications throughout the week have him as a likely start against the Buccaneers this Sunday. Whether he starts or not however, he isn’t someone you want to be relying upon.

Before he was pulled from last week’s game do to the concussion Moore had completed just 14 of his 33 pass attempts for 182, a touchdown, and 3 interceptions. While he should have a better outing against the lowly Browns, there is still a realistic possibility he won’t throw for any better than 200 yards. The reason being the Buccaneers are one of the weakest defensive units in the league against the run which means Carolina will lean far more heavily on DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart than they will Matt Moore.

Running Game Thoughts: DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for just 21 carries last week as they fell behind by as many as 15 points early in the fourth quarter. Things are likely to be a bit different in their home opener however as they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In 2009 the Buccaneers ranked worst in the league against the run as opponents racked up an average of 158.2 yards per game against them. Opponents also averaged a league high 4.8 yards per carry against the Buccaneers last season. Last week the Cleveland Browns duo of Jerome Harrison and Peyton Hillis combined for a total of 93 yards on 18 carries (5.2 ypc) and 1 touchdown. The superior duo of Williams and Stewart should be able to accomplish far more damage than that, and likely will, with the Panthers hosting Tampa Bay in Week 2. Consider both of the Panthers running backs worthwhile starts this week.

Projections:
Matt Moore – 185 yards passing / 0 TDs / 0 INTs
DeAngelo Williams – 110 yards rushing / 2 TDs / 15 yards receiving
Jonathan Stewart – 60 yards rushing / 1 TD / 10 yards receiving
Steve Smith – 80 yards receiving / 0 TDs
Dwayne Jarrett – 35 yards receiving / 0 TDs
Brandon LaFell – 20 yards receiving / 0 TDs
Dante Rosario – 15 yards receiving / 0 TDs

Prediction: Carolina 24, Tampa Bay 13 ^ Top

Giants @ Colts - (Kilroy)

Passing Game Thoughts: Last week the Colts managed to limit the top rated aerial attack from 2009 to just 107 yards passing. They did so at a costly price however as the Texans Arian Foster tore through their defense for 231 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. Chances are the Giants won’t have that same level of success on the ground however, so Eli Manning will have to come prepared when he faces his brother and the rest of the Colts this Sunday night in Indianapolis.

Using Eli’s outing last week against the Panthers as a measuring stick, along with taking into account how the Colts finished the 2009 season against the pass (14th with an average of 212.7 passing yards allowed per game) he should be in for another solid outing. He probably won’t throw 3 touchdowns like he had against Carolina, but he should be able to produce another 240-260 yards through the air while coming away with at least 1 score.

Running Game Thoughts: After watching Arian Foster tear through the Colts defense the way he had last week you can be sure Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs will be looking to do the same before a national audience on Sunday night. The duo combined for 32 carries and 120 yards rushing with a score last week against the Panthers and based upon Foster’s Week 1 success against Indianapolis there’s reason to believe the two will build upon their production of a week ago.

Ahmad Bradshaw should be viewed as a must start in all leagues while Jacob’s fantasy production will likely hinder on whether or not he finds the end zone while rushing for somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 yards.

Projections:
Eli Manning – 265 yards passing / 2 TDs / 1 INT
Ahmad Bradshaw – 95 yards rushing / 1 TD / 25 yards receiving
Brandon Jacobs – 50 yards rushing / 1 TD / 10 yards receiving
Steve Smith – 65 yards receiving / 1 TD
Hakeem Nicks – 80 yards receiving / 1 TD
Mario Manningham – 50 yards receiving / 0 TDs
Travis Beckum – 20 yards receiving / 0 TDs

Passing Game Thoughts: Peyton Manning had an excellent outing last week versus the Texans as he completed 40 of his 57 attempts (70.2%) for 422 yards and 3 touchdowns, but in the end it wasn’t enough to pull off the win against the Texans and their unlikely hero, Arian Foster. This week against the Giants, Peyton should have himself another fine outing, although another 400-yard day would seem unlikely. Then again, if the Colts fail to establish any sort of threat on the ground like they had last week (and throughout much of their 2009 campaign), 400-yard days from Peyton may become a necessity. As for this week, however, Eli’s older brother should be good for at least 2 touchdowns while compiling in the neighborhood of 280-320 yards passing.

Running Game Thoughts: The Colts were the worst rushing team in the league last year in terms of yardage and based upon how poorly they ran in the 2010 preseason, along with them compiling just 44 yards on the ground last week, there’s good reason to believe Joseph Addai and Donald Brown will struggle to produce via the ground in the year ahead. One of them should be able to come away with a touchdown Sunday night based on the 21 rushing touchdowns New York allowed in 2009, but as far yardage, it’s unreasonable to expect either player to produce more 50-60 yards with their feet until we actually see the Colts ground game serve as a worthwhile compliment to Peyton Manning and his targets in the passing game.

Projections:
Peyton Manning – 320 yards passing / 3 TDs / 0 INTs
Joseph Addai – 45 yards rushing / 1 TD / 20 yards receiving
Donald Brown – 15 yards rushing / 0 TDs / 10 yards receiving
Reggie Wayne – 105 yards receiving / 1 TD
Pierre Garcon – 60 yards receiving / 1 TD
Austin Collie – 40 yards receiving / 0 TDs
Anthony Gonzalez – 20 yards receiving / 0 TDs
Dallas Clark – 65 yards receiving / 1 TD

Prediction: Indianapolis 34, New York 28 ^ Top