This is where I usually introduce my open with a short hook.

But there is no open here this week as I spent my "open writing time" doing something on Ray Rice and my reaction to it all, especially as it related to social media. I'm proud of what I wrote and would ask you to check it out when it gets published later this week. But it's not really an open to a fantasy football column, so we're not putting it in here and instead, we're just gonna dive right into the Loves and the Hates.

The usual caveats apply: This is not a start-sit column. If you want to know whether I think you should play one guy over another guy, please check my rankings. And now I am doing flex rankings as well, so you can compare a tight end to a running back or wide receiver.

This is a column about players I think will exceed or fall short of general expectations. In most cases, they are players I have ranked higher or lower than the consensus of my fellow rankers. In some cases we are all high or low on someone but it's not a typical rank for that player.

Finally, know that this column (and my rankings) are done with ESPN standard scoring and 10-team leagues in mind. These are leagues where most rosters have very good teams and you are deciding between a lot of good options, especially this week with no byes. I know many people play in deeper leagues or with different types of scoring, but this is by far the most popular version of the game on ESPN.

Let's get to it.

Quarterbacks I love in Week 2

Russell Wilson, Seahawks: I thought he looked really good in the season opener, and thought the Chargers' secondary looked terrible. Sometimes it's that simple. If you want a stat that tells you that, I can tell you that since entering the league in 2012, Wilson has averaged 14.5 yards per attempt on deep passes (15-plus yards), the best average in the league. On Monday night, the Chargers allowed Carson Palmer to throw for 207 yards on deep balls alone, the second most in Week 1. As I said, he looked good, they didn't and I expect both things to continue Sunday. I have Wilson inside my top six this week.

Jake Locker is gonna raise the roof off LP Field. If, you know, LP Field had a roof. Derick E. Hingle/USA TODAY Sports

Jake Locker, Titans: Tom Brady. Colin Kaepernick. Matt Ryan. Since last season, in games that Locker has finished, he has averaged more than 16 fantasy points a game, a higher per-game average than those quarterbacks I just mentioned, among others. He stayed in the pocket last week, spread the ball around, he's currently healthy, surrounded by good talent and gets the JV squad the Cowboys call a defense this week. Cowboy up, Locker is a top-10 play this week.

Carson Palmer, Cardinals: Anyone else scared of the Giants' secondary? Good, me neither. The Lions just shredded them and while Palmer isn't rushing for 30 yards again, he will continue to chuck it. I bet he even looks Larry Fitzgerald's way this week. Palmer was on the "love" list last week, and I'm back for more. Wanting to continue to ease up on Andre Ellington's workload means even more passing, and with the Giants struggling to generate a pass rush (only one sack Monday night), Palmer should have plenty of time to pick Big Blue apart.

If you're desperate: If you've listened to me at all this year, you know I am no fan of Andy Dalton. But since the start of last year, only Peyton Manning and Drew Brees have more touchdowns at home. The Falcons have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing QBs in that time (and looked bad last week). Surprising stat of the day: Dalton currently owns the longest active streak of at least 18 fantasy points a game; he has done it for five straight regular-season weeks, dating back to last season, and he's got a very good shot to make it six in a row Sunday. ... Last Sunday wasn't Robert Griffin III's best day and the Jags hung tough with Philly for a half, but I say there's a better chance RG III has more success without J.J. Watt in his face than Jacksonville does in shutting down Washington for a whole game. ... It'll be mostly junk time, but Alex Smith should wind up with solid numbers in a shootout with the Broncos.

Quarterbacks I hate in Week 2

Tony Romo, Cowboys: In addition to Romo looking terrible last week, I thought the Titans' defense looked great. That unit is legit, having allowed the second-fewest receiving yards to opposing wide receivers since start of last season. In addition, since 2013 the Titans have the best TD-to-INT ratio (2 TDs, 11 INTs) when defending deep passes. Nothing I saw last week gives me any confidence in Romo, especially on the road. He's not a top-10 play this week.

Philip Rivers, Chargers: Rivers has been a dink-and-dunk guy recently -- Rivers completed a league-high 76 percent of his short passes in 2013 -- but the Seahawks are very good against the short pass. Of course, they are very good at pretty much everything. But specifically here, they've allowed the fewest passing touchdowns and second-fewest yards on short throws since the start of last season.

Matt Ryan, Falcons: This could easily blow up in my face. After all, he certainly looked great last week. But the Bengals have a pretty good defense. Joe Flacco had that one huge 80-yard pass to Steve Smith, but take that play out and Flacco needed 61 passes to get 245 yards against Cincy. At home. Ryan has traditionally struggled on the road outdoors, and I don't see Ryan throwing 60 times, either. He'll be fine, but I have him outside my top 10, which after last week puts him on the "hate" list.

Running backs I love in Week 2