2015 Season - Week 2 Review

Wow! Week 2 was a tough week for me. Some of the players who looked like stars in week 1 turned in horrible performances. My Running Back’s in particular had a nightmare. There were also a number of performances that came out of nowhere, who would have thought Matt Jones of the Washington Redskins would post 24 points?

I’ve decided to split this week’s blog into two parts as it was running a little long. This first part will take a look at the performances of my picks from last week. My picks for week 3 will be posted separately later.

Quarterback's

Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts, $4m.
Week 2 Opponent: New York Jets
Week 2 Points: 8

Andrew Luck threw for 250 yards and a touchdown, and also added 24 rushing yards. This would give a solid if very unspectacular 16 point, however, Luck also threw 3 interceptions and lost a fumble to reduce that total down to 8 points. The Colts need to figure out what is going on and fast.

Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys, $3m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Philadelphia Eagles
Week 2 Points: 6

Romo left the game injured in the 3^rd quarter with a broken collar bone and looks set to miss a number of games (8 weeks per latest reports). It wasn’t exactly a vintage performance before that in a low scoring game with a disappointing 6 points.

Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals, $2m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Chicago Bears
Week 2 Points: 21

Another solid week from Carson Palmer, posting 21 points with 3 touchdowns. Palmer looks back on good form, if he can stay healthy could be a big player this year.

Outside Bet

Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills, $1m
Week 2 Opponent: New England Patriots
Week 2 Points: 25

Another strong fantasy performance from Taylor despite a defeat for the Bills. The only concern for me is that he turned the ball over 3 times, costing 6 points.

Avoid

Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos, $4m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Kansas City Chiefs
Week 2 Points: 20

This is a better fantasy performance than I expected from Manning this week. That said, I still don’t believe he is value for money at $4m.

Top 5 Performers

1. Ben Roethlisberger     30 points
2. Tom Brady                 28 points

3. Cam Newton              26 points

=. Colin Kaepernick        26 points

=. Derek Carr                26 points

Running Back's

Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks, $4m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Green Bay Packers
Week 2 Points: 6

Disappointing from Lynch who seemed to struggle to get yards against the Packers defence that was run through at will by Matt Forte last week. I’m sure Lynch will still be a big player this year but the Seahawks are not looking quite the power they were the last couple of years at the moment.

Matt Forte, Chicago Bears, $3m
Week 2 Opponent: Arizona Cardinals
Week 2 Points: 10

Slightly disappointing week from Forte, but he still managed 100 combined yards. Just missing that touchdown to top the score up.

Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals, $3m
Week 2 Opponent: San Diego Chargers
Week 2 Points: -1

Yes, you read that right. Minus 1 point. 39 rushing yards with 2 lost fumbles was what Hill had to show for a dreadful week where teammate Giovani Bernard stepped up to the plate with the majority of carries.

Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers, $2m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 2 Points: 5

Back down to Earth for Carlos Hyde who looked a shadow of the player from the week before in what was a bad week for the 49ers. Never great for running backs when their team goes multiple scores behind.

Chris Ivory, New York Jets, $2m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Indianapolis Colts
Week 2 Points: 5

Continuing the theme of weak performance from Running Back’s on Monday night, Ivory ran for just 57 yards on 14 carries as the Jets did their damage to the Colts through the air.

Bishop Sankey, Tennessee Titans, $2m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Cleveland Browns
Week 2 Points: 4

Another in the long line of my RB picks that didn’t perform. Sankey was always a gamble but looked good in week 1. Still worth keeping an eye on and playing the match up’s. Again, not helped by his team being down and abandoning the running game.

Outside Bet

David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals, $1m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Chicago Bears
Week 2 Points: 10

A decent performance again from David Johnson who had 42 yards and a touchdown. Johnson also had a 108 yard return for a touchdown, which unfortunately doesn’t count towards fantasy. Looks a real talent

Avoid

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings, $4m
Week 2 Opponent: Detroit Lions

Week 2 Points: 16

A good week from Peterson who was, by my reckoning, the 4^th highest scoring running back this week. Could be getting back towards his best, although the Lions looked poor.

Top 5 Performers

1. DeAngelo Williams     26 points
2. Matt Jones                 24 points

3. Dion Lewis                 17 points

4. Adrian Peterson          16 points

5. Jamaal Charles          14 points

=. Latavius Murray          14 points

Wide Receiver's

Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons, $4m
Week 2 Opponent: @ New York Giants
Week 2 Points: 13

13 feels a little disappointing from Jones, but for a short while that number stood at 19 before a touchdown was reversed which would have put him in the top 10 receivers this week.

Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants, $4m
Week 2 Opponent: Atlanta Falcons
Week 2 Points: 20

A strong week as expected from Beckham. If he gets sufficient targets he will make big plays and score points. Hopefully Eli Manning and the Giants will remember this going forward.

DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans, $3m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Carolina Panthers
Week 2 Points: 5

Just the 53 yards for Hopkins this week. Will have better weeks this year and is not being helped by the QB situation in Houston.

Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints, $3m
Week 2 Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 2 Points: 6

Another disappointing week for Cooks in what looks like a blunt Saints Offense. The Saints don’t look a great team this year and Cooks, who is clearly talented, could suffer for it.

John Brown, Arizona Cardinals, $2m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Chicago Bears
Week 2 Points: 4

Not Brown’s week this week. Teammate Larry Fitzgerald stole the show with 3 touchdowns and 29 fantasy points.

Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins, $2m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 2 Points: 11

Difficult to know how to judge this one. A decent performance by Landry with 110 receiving yards. To be a must play fantasy player he needs to be adding touchdowns.

James Jones, Green Bay Packers, $1m
Week 2 Opponent: Seattle Seahawks
Week 2 Points: 8

But for his butt hitting the ground a millisecond prior to a catch, Jones would have added another touchdown and the extra yard that would have pushed him up to 15 points. Frustratingly close to another very good week. Still great value for $1m but relies heavily on touchdowns.

Outside Bet

Terrance Williams, Dallas Cowboys, $2m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Philadelphia Eagles
Week 2 Points: 14

A solid week for Williams who managed to score reasonable points despite a low scoring game and Tony Romo’s injury.

Avoid

Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions, $4m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Minnesota Vikings
Week 2 Points: 14

Reasonable week for Johnson although, as with Julio Jones, you’d like more for $4m. For me, needs to do more (and do it consistently) to justify that price tag.

Top 5 Performers

1. Larry Fitzgerald         29 points
2. Antonio Brown           27 points

=. Allen Robinson           27 points

4. Travis Benjamin         23 points

5. Julian Edelman          22 points

Tight End's

Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots, $4m

Week 2 Opponent: @ Buffalo Bills

Week 2 Points: 17

Not this week’s top scoring Tight End, that honour goes to Crockett Gilmore, but still a very good week for Gronkowski. Makes it look so easy.

Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs, $3m

Week 2 Opponent: Denver Broncos

Week 2 Points: 5

Not the greatest week for Kelce. As with most TE’s, relies heavily on touchdowns.

Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals, $2m

Week 2 Opponent: San Diego Chargers

Week 2 Points: 10

Solid week for Eifert. Looks like he could be a consistent performer in a good looking team.

Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys, $2m

Week 2 Opponent: @ Philadelphia Eagles

Week 2 Points: 5

Another not helped by a low scoring game and Romo’s injury in Dallas.

Outside Bet

Darren Fells, Arizona Cardinals, $1m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Chicago Bears
Week 2 Points: 0

Tight End’s at this end of the market will always be inconsistent. So it proved, as Fells came out with a duck after a big week 1.

Avoid

Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints, $4m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Green Bay Packers
Week 2 Points: 1

Graham continues to struggle to adjust to life with the Seahawks with just 11 yards.

Top 5 Performers

1. Crockett Gilmore        20 points
2. Rob Gronkowski         17 points

3. Anthony Fasano          14 points

4. Tyler Eifert                10 points

=. Eric Ebron                  10 points

=. Richard Rodgers         10 points

Defence / Special Teams

St. Louis Rams, $2m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Washington Redskins
Week 2 Points: 4

A couple of sacks and a fumble recovery at least kept some fantasy points on the board in a disappointing loss to the Redskins.

Miami Dolphins, $1m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 2 Points: 0

Miami didn’t get a lot going either on defence or special teams, where I expected they may do something. Disappointing in a favourable match up.

Carolina Panthers, $1m
Week 2 Opponent: Houston Texans
Week 2 Points: 4

A sack and an interception provide 4 points for the Panthers. I expected a little more against a Ryan Mallett led offense.

Outside Bet

Tennessee Titans, $1m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Cleveland Browns
Week 2 Points: 1

I’d put the Titans in here expecting Johnny Manziel to turn the ball over at will, but that didn’t happen. 2 sacks rescue a single fantasy point for the Titans.

Avoid

Seattle Seahawks, $2m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Green Bay Packers
Week 2 Points: 4

As expected, the Packers didn’t give away too much against the Seahawks. A pair of sacks and a fumble recovery keep it respectable for the Seahawks.

Top 5 Performers

1. Denver Broncos          21 points
2. Cleveland Browns       20 points

3. Arizona Cardinals       18 points

4. Dallas Cowboys          17 points

5. New York Jets            14 points

Kickers

Brandon McManus, Denver Broncos, $1m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Kansas City Chiefs
Week 2 Points: 9

Slight disappointment as I expected McManus may get more opportunities for field goals. Manning & co. got the offense going leaving McManus with 4 extra points and a solitary 54 yard field goal.

Zach Hocker, New Orleans Saints, $1m
Week 2 Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 2 Points: 1

A tough week for the Saints not helped by Hocker missing both a field goal and an extra point. Of the 3 kicks he had at the posts he was 1 of 3 with just a single extra point going over.

Outside Bet

Josh Lambo, San Diego Chargers, $1m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Cincinnati Bengals
Week 2 Points: 7

Lambo made 2 of 3 field goals and an extra point for a respectable 7 points.

Avoid

Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis Colts, $3m
Week 2 Opponent: New York Jets
Week 2 Points: 1

A single extra point for your $3m. This performance included a missed field goal from close range which hit the upright.

Top 5 Performers

1. Stephen Gostkowski    18 points
2. Kyle Brindza              16 points

3. Mason Crosby             15 points

=. Justin Tucker             15 points

5. Robbie Gould             13 points

=. Sebastian Janikowski  13 points

=. Jason Myers               13 points

Watch List

These are the players I have been impressed with recently but I want to see a little more of before I commit them to my team.

Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans, $2m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Cleveland Browns

Week 2 Points: 15

Was never going to repeat his first week heroics and losing the ball twice on fumbles didn’t help his fantasy points. Still looks a talent but will have off weeks. Still a reasonable points haul all things considered.

Ameer Abdullah, RB, Detroit Lions, $2m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Minnesota Vikings

Week 2 Points: 0

A lot of people will be disappointed with this performance as was tipped by a lot of media sources for a big week. Once the Lions recognise his is the best Running Back on the team his points tally should improve.

Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, $2m
Week 2 Opponent: @ New Orleans Saints

Week 2 Points: 7

78 rushing yards and 20 receiving yards is a reasonable showing, with a lost fumble reducing the points total slightly. Still think he could have a reasonable year but need to see a bit more before I put him back in one of my teams.

Kendall Wright, WR, Tennessee Titans, $2m
Week 2 Opponent: @ Cleveland Browns
Week 2 Points: 1

Back down to Earth for Kendall Wright with just 17 yards on 2 receptions as Tight Ends took the majority of the receiving yards for the Titans. May look at him later in the year if he becomes more consistent.

Nelson Agholor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles, $2m
Week 2 Opponent: Dallas Cowboys
Week 2 Points: 3

Agholor has talent but doesn’t seem to be trusted yet. Sam Bradford isn’t exactly setting the world alight at the moment but I’m sure that will change as he gets his match sharpness back. Hopefully Agholor will profit from that later in the year.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, $2m
Week 2 Opponent: @ New Orleans Saints

Week 2 Points: 2

Tight End’s are notoriously inconsistent, which is one of the reasons I wasn’t sold on Seferian-Jenkins after week 1. May have his better weeks when the Buccaneers are chasing games – and I’m sure that will happen regularly.

Week 1 Performance

This is an overview of how my teams performed in Week 1.

First Team

Not a great week, with only Carson Palmer really excelling. Solid, if unspectacular, weeks from Julio Jones, Jarvis Landry, Tyler Eifert and Brandon McManus meant that some respectability was maintained with a score of 76. Normally I would class this as a bad week, however, it did move me up the leaderboard slightly to 2116th. Hoping for much, much better next week.

Second Team

This one hurt. There was only really Rob Gronkowski that gave me a performance. James Jones was unlucky not to score more, as noted above, and Josh Lambo was solid enough but all others were very disappointing and led to my worst ever fantasy score. Will chalk this week up to experience and move on. There are some lessons to take forward to the next few weeks (ie – the Saints look bad offensively) and there were a couple of picks I gambled on that were always going to be boom or bust – they just all seemed to bust at the same time. Anyway, will move on to next week and try again.

Team of the Week

This is the best possible line up from this week within the $18m budget...

QB        Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers, $3m         30 points

RB        DeAngelo Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers, $2m          26 points

RB        Matt Jones, Washington Redskins, $1m                   24 points

WR       Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals, $2m                29 points

WR       Allen Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars, $2m              27 points

TE        Crockett Gillmore, Baltimore Ravens, $2m             20 points

DEF      Denver Broncos, $2m                                             21 points

K          Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots, $3m     18 points

Total Cost - $17m

Total Points - 195