I don’t even know why I play fantasy football anymore. I mean is the frustration worth it? I basically sit in front of my television with remote in hand, flipping channels like a maniac and cursing. It’s not a good look.

Ah, who am I kidding? Time to get back on the horse and begin the prep for Week 2.

Week 2: Workin’ the Wire

Ryan Fitzpatrick – Jets

Don’t let the mediocre 19/35 for 189/2/1 scare you off. Problem one, the Bengals have a tough defense. Problem two, Marshall and Decker combined for only 69 receiving yards. Fitzpatrick has some of the best weaponry in the league at his disposal. The addition of Matt Forte will provide Fitz with some “cheap” yardage each week in the screen game and check-downs. Speaking of cheap yardage, nothing comes cheaper than the yardage he is going to accumulate on the jet-sweep action that they ran a few times Sunday with wide receiver Quincy Enunwa. The snap is timed up so that Enunwa is in a full sprint behind the offensive line and as Fitzpatrick catches the shotgun snap, he simply push passes it to Enunwa who is in full gallop. It amounts to basically a one-yard toss. However, if Enunwa pops it for an 80-yard touchdown, it will show up in the box score as an 80-yard touchdown pass.

Brock Osweiler – Texans

Osweiler looked strong in his debut with the Texans. His arm-strength is no joke and his functional mobility is a big factor in allowing his talented receivers Hopkins and rookie Will Fuller time to get open. He should be on the radar in two quarterback formats.

The TIGHT END position was a forgotten one in Week 1. The leading tight end had 74 yards, and only four tight ends cracked double-digit fantasy points. Two of which came from the Colts. While no one really broke out, if you are desperate I have a name for you.

Dennis Pitta – Ravens

Remember him? He posted 61/669/7 way back in 2012. Due to injuries, he has only played in seven games over the past three seasons. He has a good rapport with Flacco, and from the looks of the target distribution among tight ends he is the one to own in an offense that will throw the ball around.

Speaking of Flacco slinging it around…

Start’em

Joe Flacco @ CLE



I don’t want to overreact to one game, BUT here is what I saw Sunday…

The Cleveland defense made an FCS rookie quarterback who played in part of one preseason game and missed a chunk of training camp with a rib injury look like a well-seasoned vet. They allowed Wentz to complete 60% of his passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns. Again, I don’t want to overreact to one game, but if you have any kind of imagination you can see how Flacco could have a big game.

Matt Ryan @ OAK

I know the prospects of Matt Ryan on the road are enough to make even the strongest stomach queasy, but hear me out. He was solid in 2015 on the road. In his eight road games he threw for less than 246 yards only once. The game that he was under that mark was against the Carolina Panthers. I’m not sure if you saw the game Sunday, but the Raiders defense isn’t quite on par with the 15′ Panthers.

While on the topic of Matt Ryan, I am not sure why there is so much hate. He has posted four consecutive years of 4500+ pass yards. I get that the touchdown total was embarrassingly low for someone who attempted 614 passes, but in the three previous years averaged 29 touchdown tosses per season over that stretch. I like him this week, and for the season.

Eli Manning vs. N.O.

Until further notice, anyone facing the Saints is at the minimum a solid start. A quarterback of Eli Manning’s caliber will be a popular choice for “start of the week” at the quarterback position. Remember what happened when he played the Saints last year?

The Giants offense is going to be tough. Rookie Sterling Shepard looks the part. If Victor Cruz can even be 75% of the old Cruz, defenses are going to have a hard time matching up. Oh yeah, that other receiver Odell Beckham Jr. isn’t bad either.

Jason Witten @ WAS

It has been a long-standing theory that a rookie quarterback’s best friend is the tight end. This was on full display in the Big D on Sunday. Dak Prescott targeted Witten 14 times. Witten hauled in nine of those targets and posted 66 yards. While Dak continues to get comfortable in the offense, he will look Witten’s way plenty. Witten still possesses minimal appeal in standard leagues because of his low ceiling, but in PPR he is a must start.

Eric Ebron vs. TEN

Ebron was one of four tight ends to post double-digit fantasy points in Week 1. He caught all five of his targets for 46 yards and a touchdown. His Week 2 opponent, the Titans had a few breakdowns in coverage in Week 1, which allowed Kyle Rudolph to get loose on a few plays.

With five pass-catchers having four or more receptions for Detroit, it appears Stafford will be content in spreading the ball around. However, when they get into the red zone, Ebron will be by far the biggest target for Stafford to work with. Touchdowns are a hard stat to predict, but I feel confident he will get his fair share of red zone targets which is step one to scoring touchdowns.

Sit’em

Alex Smith @ HOU

Okay, I know Alex Smith might seem like an obvious sit, but hear me out on this.

Here is a conversation I overheard today on the golf course.

Guy 1: Rivers is screwed without Allen. I need another fantasy quarterback.

Guy 2: You watch that game?!?! Wow, did Alex Smith look good in the second half. Is he available?

Guy 1: Good call. He is available! I am going to pick him up!!

Don’t be ‘guy 1.’

Actually, be more like ‘guy 2.’ Drop his name in on fellow owners in hopes that they rush to pick him up after what I predict will be his highest scoring fantasy game of the season.

Russell Wilson @ L.A.

This doesn’t have to do with the fact that Wilson looked off on Sunday; but it is not bad to keep that game in mind. Last season against the Rams, Wilson posted 15 and 18 fantasy points. Add in the fact that it is the home-opener for the Rams and there will be some extra juice in the building. Realistically, your’e going to have to have a solid option on the bench to consider sitting Wilson. With that said, I wouldn’t bet on him finishing as a top 12 quarterback in Week 2. Stay away in DFS.

Tyrod Taylor vs. NYJ

I am not a fan of having players in the Thursday night games, especially quarterbacks. I can’t imagine it is easy to install a game-plan in three days; as a result, these games are often disjointed. Add in the whispers that Sammy Watkins could be shut down for a few weeks and a fierce Jets pass rush and this feels like an easy pass to me.

Coby Fleener @ NYG

I have gone from driving the Coby Fleener bandwagon, to merely being a passenger, and now I am getting off at the next stop. It is a big, bright red flag when Brees throws for 423 yards and Fleener only had six. No, not six catches. No, not six targets, but six YARDS. He admitted that he was still getting used to the offense, and he wasn’t kidding. I still think he could contribute, but until he shows some life keep him benched.

Dwayne Allen @ DEN



Allen is the definition of a “touchdown dependent” player. If he scores a touchdown he will have a shot at double-digit fantasy points (see: Week 1). The 53 yards receiving he posted in Week 1 was his first game with more than 50 receiving yards in his last 22 games.

Let that sink in for a minute.

He is red zone threat, but Denver isn’t exactly an easy defense to score against. They only allowed six touchdowns to opposing tight ends in 2015.

Stack Play: Mariota to Walker

Week 1 was a terrible matchup for Mariota, Walker, and the Titans in general. The Lions allowed three touchdowns to Indianapolis tight ends and 385 yards through the air in Week 1. I expect Mariota and Walker to bounce back in Week 2.

Good luck. Feel free to hit me up with any roster questions @barkballin

Share this: Reddit

Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

Tumblr

Pocket

Telegram

Pinterest

Skype

WhatsApp

Email

Print

