Two words. Allen. Hurns.
Welcome to eDraft Sport’s coverage of the 2014 Fantasy Football season, where we have you covered endzone to endzone. I’ll be your server today, with our special entree being the famous “Week 2 Start Em.” A little later on in the week, I’ll bring you some desert in the form of “Week 2 Sit Em.” So, grab a napkin and enjoy!
Quarterbacks
Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans
First and foremost, I personally didn’t really think he’d be in a “Start Em” article. But, he played great against the Chiefs in Kansas City. But, you will see a very similar trend throughout the season: Start players against the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys played halfway decent against the 49ers. Anytime that defense only gives up 319 total yards is a great win. That won’t happen twice in a row, and especially on the road. After one week, Locker is second in the AFC with a QB rating of 111.4. All the players on offense that Locker has at his disposable is going to be too much for the Cowboys defense to handle, especially on the road.
Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles
The first half was pretty bad, and by pretty bad I mean really bad. But a 34 point second half changes the outlook a ton. The high-powered Philly offense travels to Indianapolis for what is sure to be a touchdown-fest. Eight players for the Eagles had a catch Sunday. And there’s LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles are in the backfield. It’s been well documented that what is holding the Colts back is there lackluster defense, who gave up 361 total yards and 24 first half points. Foles has even more weapons than Locker does, and this is matchup heaven for fantasy owners. Foles finished Sunday with 27 completions, 322 yards and two touchdowns.
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
There is always some speculation on Wilson in terms of fantasy. If you are in a 2QB league, or looking for a mid-tier option on Fanduel, Wilson is your guy. You know what you are going to get every week from him. He’s only went over 300 yards a couple times, but on the flip side he has only had multiple interception games three times. You are going to get 250 yards and two to three touchdowns a game from him. He faces to Chargers this week, and for god’s sake, they let Carson Palmer throw for over 300 yards and a couple touchdowns.
Running Backs
Arian Foster, Houston Texans
Foster owners are still waiting for him to breakout the way he did in 2011 and 2012. After playing just eight games last season, Foster’s average draft position fell into the middle of the second round. I traded him last season just a few weeks in, for Antonio Brown and Stevie Johnson and boy was that a money move. But this season, if I had him, I would hold onto him. After a 100-yard performance in the opening game of the season, he gets the Oakland Raiders in Week 2.
This is terrific news for Foster, in Week 1 the Raiders gave up more than 30 fantasy points to the New York Jets’ running backs. Over 170 rushing yards, with a rushing and receiving touchdown for the crew lead by Chris Johnson. Foster will get 25+ touches per game with Ryan Fitzpatrick starting at quarterback. And that spells disaster for the Raiders.
Carlos Hyde/Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers
Suggested these two last week, and they combined for 116 yards and a touchdown. Once again, they are on the Start Em list. Chicago had the worst rushing defense last year, and with additions like Jared Allen, they were supposed to be better on that side of the ball. Well, that didn’t happen, and Fred Jackson abused Chris Conte with a stiff arm that should be the new mold for the Heisman Trophy.
Altogether, the Bears gave up 193 yards rushing, 174 of them went to the Bills’ running backs paired with a touchdown. It’s not looking much better for Chicago going to San Francisco to meet these two power-backs. Very easily the 49ers could rack up 200 rushing yards like the Bills did with Hyde, Gore and Colin Kaepernick. Screw it, the niners are not going to pass at all and they’ll finish with 300 rushing yards. Boom.
Bernard Pierce/Justin Forsett, Baltimore Ravens
Another pair of backs here, and if either or (Mostly Pierce) is available in your leagues, pick them up now. Thankfully, Ray Rice is gone, and hopefully for good. That leaves these two backs to face the Pittsburgh Steelers at home. The Steelers run defense was very lackluster in Week 1, even with Ben Tate going down. Terrance West went for 100 yards, and Isaiah Crowell went for 32 yards and two scores.
In Week 1, Pierce and Forsett combined for 84 yards and a score. They only combined the ball a total of 17 times, and you can expect many more carries this week. Especially after what happened to the Steelers rushing defense last week. It’s still unclear what the ball distribution will be, and that would determine how I set my lineups.
Wide Receivers
Michael Floyd, Arizona Cardinals
Floyd has been a prime target for breakout player of the year, after he had maybe the quietest 1,000 yard season of any receiver in 2013. So much so, that his average draft position has him as a fifth-round pick. Last season, he was top-30 in eDraft Sport’s “Player Consistency” metric, as well as “Most Targeted” metric. The first week of the season, all he did was catch five
In Week 2, he faces the New York Giants. That’s all you really need to know. If you need more, just look what the Lions passing game did to them. Their wide receivers finished with 13 catches for 257 yards and two scores. Also, if you’re worried about Larry Fitzgerald, I wouldn’t be. See what he does this game first before you sit him.
Andrew Hawkins, Cleveland Browns
Looking up the Browns depth chart at wide out is worse than looking at the Panthers, and that is pretty hard to do. On the bright side, Hawkins played great against the Steelers in Week 1, finishing with eight receptions for 87 yards.
Hawkins was the 11th most targeted receiver in week one, and catching 80% of those targets. That smells like a good recipe for success against New Orleans, who got absolutely torched by the Falcons. Although the Falcons receivers are clearly better, it looks like some of the new Saints are still trying to gel as a defense.
Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs
This might be the biggest upside play this week. A strong FLEX option, or on Fanduel where his price is only $6,200, Bowe could be the steal of the week. Week 1 was an awful week for the Chiefs. Jamaal Charles has next to nothing for the offense. Alex Smith lead the team in rushing, and Donnie Avery lead the receivers with seven receptions and 84 yards.
Enter Dwayne Bowe, coming off a one-game suspension. Bowe has been a top target for the Chiefs since entering the league in 2007, and especially has been a top-target in games against the Broncos. In the last five games against Denver, he has totaled 47 targets. There will be no problem getting him the ball, considering Kansas City’s uninspiring receivers.
Tight End
Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans
Walker’s second season with the Titans started out how every fantasy owner could have hoped, with a touchdown against the Chiefs. Tight end is a pretty random position to pick week-to-week, with the exceptions of the elite players. One thing remains the same however, the same teams are consistently bad covering them. One of those teams is the Dallas Cowboys.
They were one of the worst in terms of fantasy points against for Tight Ends in 2013, and the trend continued in the first week this season. Vernon Davis torched them for 44 yards and two touchdowns. Expect much of the same from the 6”1’ Central Missouri State product.
Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins
Reed only playeed nine games last season, and was still the 23rd most targeted tight end in the league. In those nine games, Reed caught over 75% of those balls, finishing with 45 receptions for 499 yards.
Reed didn’t do much in the first week of the season, but I’m not taking any stock in that considering he was the third most consistent tight end in 2013, according to eDraft. Reed faces the Jaguars who are always bad against Tight Ends.