FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 2
BENCH/START WRAP-UP
September 18, 2007
Welcome to our weekly look back at our Bench / Start calls. Each week
we hold ourselves accountable for our good and bad recommendations. It
is easy to make predictions, but it is tough to stand behind them. Week
2 is typically a week where things start to take shape. However this
week was a wild one with the Browns actually winning a game. We hope
some of these calls helped you win a game or two this weekend. Without
further ado, let’s get to the weekly fantasy football Bench / Start Wrap-up.
Nostradamus (a.k.a. psychic)
Start:
Brett Favre, QB, GB – Favre had a great week as we had expected. The Giants have a terrible pass defense that should be exploited by fantasy owners as often as possible. Favre threw only 1 INT, but he managed 286 yards passing and 3 TDs. Favre is still proving that he can be a fantasy starter given the right matchup.
Denver Broncos Defense – The Broncos went off with 3 INT and 3 sacks while only allowing 12 points by the defense. The Raiders still seem to be a team in disarray, so it is still a good idea in general to pick on them until further notice.
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, SEA – Hasselbeck just keeps putting up solid numbers. In week 2, Hasselbeck did have a fumble, but he had zero INTs, 280 yards passing, and a TD pass. This is a barely startable QB performance, but it is still startable. We wanted more, but sometimes you have to go with what you get.
Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN – Peterson was a good start again in week 2. While he didn’t score, he did have over 118 yards of total offense (and 4 receptions for those of you out there in point per reception leagues). Peterson has been a pleasant surprise for those of you out there trying to use a late round RB to fill in for your RB #2.
Jay Cutler, QB, DEN – Cutler is the last QB on our list to just make a serviceable start in week 2. We really wish he wouldn’t have thrown those two INTs. We think the best is yet to come with this young player. Be sure you keep a close eye on Cutler as well.
Bench:
Ronald Curry, WR, OAK – Curry had a big week 1 and many fantasy owners correctly rushed to the waivers to pick him up. However, we told you to stay away from this player in week 2. Curry was a good bench call because he only managed 2 receptions for 12 yards. Curry did get a 2 point conversion, but that was a not enough to get him off the bench.
Donte’ Stallworth, WR, NE – 2 receptions for 19 yards is a great bench call. It seemed like almost every Patriot not named Stallworth had a good game against the Chargers, so it was a nice call picking Stallworth out as the guy you wanted to bench.
Antwaan Randle El, WR, WAS – Only 44 yards means that Randle El was a good bench call. In week 1, Randle El’s numbers were miles ahead of Santana Moss’s numbers. Things returned to normal in week 2.
Julius Jones, RB, DAL – 32 yards rushing and 24 yards receiving on only 1 reception is a good reason to leave Jones on your bench. We made the statement that Marion Barber is the better runner in our recommendation. You have to start to wonder when the Cowboys will figure that out. Once that happens, your days of even considering to start Jones will be numbered.
Michael Jenkins, WR, ATL – Roddy White actually had a decent game … for a Falcons’ WR with 81 yards. On the other hand, Jenkins was a great bench call with only 1 catch for 15 yards.
John Broussard, WR, JAX – Broussard was coming off a 55 yard and 1 TD performance in week 1, so some may have been looking for the next Marques Colston. We told you to look elsewhere and that ended up being a good move because Broussard had zero points in week 2.
Farmer's Almanac (a.k.a. not so bad/not so good)
Start:
Steven Jackson, RB, STL – We know that Jackson owners continue to be frustrated with Jackson, but we told you to hang in there with the big fella. Jackson gave you a so-so effort in week 2 with 60 yards on the ground and 36 in the air. Keep hanging in there with Jackson because he is still a stud you can’t turn your back on.
Brandon Jackson, RB, GB – Jackson managed a so-so start, but that could be the last one for him in a while thanks to Deshawn Wynn coming in and posting 68 yards and 2 TDs on only 12 touches. However, Jackson did do enough to not be called a complete bust in week 2.
Ted Ginn Jr., WR, MIA – Ginn was a so-so start because he was a bad start in standard leagues and he was a great start in return yardage leagues. That ends up being a so-so start this week. However, we are disappointed that Ginn wasn’t more involved in the best chance the Phins will have all season to put up some numbers.
Bench:
Damon Huard, QB, KC – Huard ended up as a so-so bench call because he managed to get a TD. Huard only had 175 and he had an INT, but his TD was a back breaker to our bench call.
Thomas Jones, RB, NYJ – Jones was under 90 yards of total offense and he only had 2 receptions. Jones just had a bad matchup week 2. Hang in there Jones owners because better fantasy days are on the way for Jones.
Plaxico Burress, WR, NYG – Burress basically had nothing until he hauled in a 28 yard TD pass. Pow! Burress just busted our bench call balloon. Burress still didn’t manage enough receptions or enough yards to be a complete bust, so this is where he ends up.
Weather Forecast (a.k.a. oops better luck next time)
Start:
Cincinnati Bengals Defense – There is a bad call and then there is a terrible, terrible call. The Bengals (and most of the fantasy world) got blindsided by a Cleveland Browns’ explosion that the league will likely not see again for a long, long time. If you saw this one coming, you have a better crystal ball than we do.
Rex Grossman, QB, CHI – We warned that Grossman is feast or famine. HE hit us with a famine. HE scored a TD, but that is about it. It was an ugly week for Grossman. HE would have been best suited for your bench.
Tarvaris Jackson, QB, MIN – A rushing TD is a very good thing. 166 yards passing is a good thing. FOUR INTs is a VERY bad thing. Jackson’s recklessness with the ball on Sunday cost us a start call and it cost his team a win.
Lee Evans, WR, BUF – Evans is improving. He more than tripled his output from week 1. The bad news is that he hasn’t broke a 20 yard in a game yet. Evans will come around. He has just had a tough time of it so far. He won’t play defenses this tough all season, so continue to stand by him.
Reggie Brown, WR, PHI – None of the Eagles WRs can get separation and McNabb can’t seem to hit the broad side of a barn. The end result was a loss for the Eagles and a terrible game from all WRs in Philly.
Bench:
Ahman Green, RB, HOU – Ahman busted up our bench call by going over 70 yards and popping in a TD. Green could have done more damage because he looked very good running the ball. However, Houston is taking care of their elder running back, so don’t expect too many 25+ carry games.
New England Patriots Defense – An INT for a TD will break up a bench call any week. The Patriots D had a great game and they stuck it to LaDainian Tomlinson even more than they stuck it to us.
Warrick Dunn, RB, ATL – Dunn only had 54 yards, but he did score a TD for the Falcons. Once again a single TD will yield a busted call 7 times out of 10 on a bench recommendation.
FootballDocs 2007 Bench / Start Records
Week 1
