FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 2
BENCH/START WRAP-UP
September 16, 2003
Looking back on your fantasy football predictions can be a tough cookie to swallow
some weeks, but that wasn't the case at FootballDocs this week. From starters
Jamal Lewis, Darrell Jackson, and Matt Hasselbeck to pine jockeys Joey Harrington
and Quincy Morgan, NFL week 2 was a hot week for the Docs Bench / Start predictions.
While we didn't get
every prediction right, we hope that we got enough
correct to help your team win. With no further delay, here is this week's Wrap
Up of the Week 2 Bench / Start for you to enjoy.
Nostradamus (a.k.a. psychic)
Start:
Jamal Lewis - We said "Look for Lewis to get ~25 touches and post a solid fantasy
game." Lewis ended up getting 30 touches for
295 yards and
2 TDs of 82 and 63 yards. Ok, so we underestimated Lewis' performance just a
bit, but if you followed our advice and started him ... you probably didn't mind.
In just about any kind of scoring system you can imagine, Lewis had a spectacular day
while setting the NFL's single game rushing mark. In leagues that give bonuses
for long TDs Lewis was even better with his two long scores.
Darrell Jackson - Not only did Jackson "get in the end zone for his first sore of the
season", but he liked the feeling so much he went back for more. With 2 TDs of
55 and 66 yards Jackson was another top performer in leagues that award extra points
for the big plays. Jackson's 133 yards receiving weren't too shabby either.
Jackson was one of the high scoring WRs in most scoring systems in week 2.
Matt Hasselbeck - Hasselbeck was able to rack up big time fantasy points with his two
long TD passes to Darrell Jackson. Hasselbeck tacked on an extra rushing TD for
good measure to turn in one of the better performances in TD heavy leagues. Keep
you hands on Hasselbeck the rest of this year ... he should remain a top performer.
Edgerrin James - We told you to hang in there and stick with James after his lack-luster
week 1 performance of 67 yards and no TDs. "The Edge" didn't let you down if you
started him. He nearly doubled his yardage with 120 yards rushing. For some
icing on top, James tacked on a TD just to show you how much he appreciated you giving
him the starting nod.
Marc Bulger - Bulger managed to continue his winning ways for St. Louis. With 236
yards no INTs and 2 TDs, Bulger turned in a very nice day at QB. With the junk that
Peyton Manning and Donovan McNabb have been turning in the first two weeks, Bulger is
looking pretty good. (FYI: don't give up on Manning or McNabb. They will
come around)
Donte' Stallworth - We told you that this TD machine was headed for a score. Well,
he delivered with a TD and 46 yards receiving. Not Darrell Jackson numbers, but
still a good game in most standard performance scoring leagues.
Isaac Bruce - Even though Holt got the TD, Bruce still received plenty of looks from Bulger
as we expected. In reception leagues, Bruce's 6 receptions for 63 yards was a very
solid game.
Bench:
Joey Harrington - We hated to jump off this young Lion's bandwagon, but we saw where it was
headed. Sure enough, Harrington turned in a pretty sad day with 241 yards 0 TDs and
3 INTs. In most leagues, those three interceptions killed Harrington's fantasy value
in week 3.
David Boston - Boston didn't play so we only take partial credit for this one. Still,
we bet you are glad that you didn't start him?
Quincy Morgan - 2 receptions for 18 yards and 0 TDs. It doesn't get much worse than
that ... unless you are a Tony Gonzalez owner! If Holcomb keep this up, he will have to
be removed from the starting line-up of the Browns. As a fantasy owner, make sure
Holcomb isn't in
your line-up.
Travis Taylor - The reason we told you not to start Taylor was "the Ravens will look to
focus the offense on Jamal Lewis." If you have seen anything that has to do with the
NFL over the weekend, you saw the Ravens do just that. Taylor may have made some nice
downfield blocks, but that didn't help out any fantasy teams that started Taylor and his 27
yards receiving.
Jermaine Lewis - 16 total yards and 1 reception. Jermaine Lewis was a huge bust as
predicted after a week one performance of 90 yards and a TD.
Farmer's Almanac (a.k.a. not so bad/not so good)
Start:
Charlie Garner - Garner had a respectable day in reception leagues with 5 receptions and
102 total yards. Since he missed out on the end zone in week two, we dropped him to
the Farmer's Almanac.
Bench:
Troy Brown - Browns 7 receptions for 43 were decent in reception leagues, so we didn't
nail down our prediction on Brown. However, in non-reception leagues you were glad
that you didn't start Brown.
Wayne Chrebet - Chrebet is still getting enough looks from "old Vinny" to make him a
lukewarm starter.
Weather Forecast (a.k.a. oops better luck next time)
Start:
Javon Walker - Robert Ferguson showed up to play the game and ruined our sleeper pick in
Walker.
Jerry Rice - Rice's 4 receptions for 40 yards were OK in reception leagues but his
performance was nothing to get too excited about.
Tiki Barber - He did get a 2-point conversion, but overall Barber's performance was well
below what we expected.
Bench:
Chris Chambers - We told you Chambers wouldn't have back-to-back 100-yard games and we were
right. Unfortunately for our prediction, he did get awful close.
Stephen Davis - Davis did the impossible and ran where others could not ... right up the
middle of the Bucs D. He didn't score, but his 142 yards were very nice.
