Hightower, Benson will shine in Week 2
If you looked at the highlight reels or scanned box scores for Week 1, you would have believed that running the ball was outlawed. Fourteen quarterbacks passed for at least 300 yards, and there were 54 passing touchdowns thrown.
Only 16 running backs scored via the ground.
Part of me misses the days of “three yards and a cloud of dust.” The other part works the abacus hard.
Let’s get rolling through the Lineup Calls for Week 2.
(Exclude: Jamaal Charles, Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice, LeSean McCoy, Arian Foster, Darren McFadden)
Week 2 Heroes
Rashard Mendenhall vs. Seattle: Mendenhall was a non-factor in Week 1, limited to just 45 yards on 12 carries. He’d started strong with a 23-yard run, but the huge deficit relegated him to the role of bystander. Mendenhall rebounds to the top of the heap this weekend against the Seahawks. Look for Ben Roethlisberger to push the ball downfield early, thereby affording Mendenhall huge running lanes and a pair of end zone plunges.
Matt Forte at New Orleans: Forte amassed 158 total yards on 21 touches with a touchdown in the Bears’ Week 1 win over Atlanta. Marion Barber practiced Wednesday, but was held out of Thursday’s workout. As a result, Forte stands as the sole option against New Orleans.
The Packers ran fairly well in the opener (Starks had 57 yards and a touchdown), but it’s Forte’s effectiveness in the passing game that separates him from the pack in Week 2.
Tim Hightower vs. Arizona: Hightower took the reins for Mike Shanahan in Week 1 and put forth a strong effort in the Redskins’ victory over the Giants. He rushed for 72 yards on 25 carries (Roy Helu had a single carry) with a touchdown.
You can point to the Panthers’ running game and its struggles in Week 1. It’s true. They didn’t run effectively, but they didn’t exactly need to with receivers roaming free in the Arizona secondary.
Hightower posts a huge game this week against his former team.
Michael Turner vs. Philadelphia: Steven Jackson burst up the gut for a 47-yard touchdown run before pulling up lame. Cadillac Williams logged 91 yards on 19 carries in the opener. I anticipate seeing a huge number of touches from Turner in Week 2 as the Falcons try to find some space for Ryan to operate following a tough opening effort against Chicago.
Cedric Benson at Denver: I was more excited about Benson’s prospects when it appeared that Bruce Gradkowski would stand under center and perhaps stretch things downfield. Andy Dalton can hand it to him 25 times just as well and let him pile up yards against defensive line that was manhandled in Week 1 by the Raiders. Darren McFadden and Michael Bush ran all over the Broncos without much of a downfield threat. Benson replicates the feat on a smaller level (100 yards and a touchdown).
Frank Gore vs. Dallas: Gore was anything but dominant in Week 1 against Seattle, but he did shoulder a heavy load in the win (78 total yards on 25 touches). I anticipate another sizable touch count against the Dallas front, including heavy involvement in the passing game (three receptions in Week 1).
The Jets ran terribly in the opener (45 yards on 16 carries), but LaDainian Tomlinson paid dividends in the passing game.
Peyton Hillis at Indianapolis: Hillis was held in check by the Bengals in Week 1. He was limited to 57 rushing yards on 17 carries, although he did add 30 receiving yards. Hillis will receive a heavy workload here against the always-suspect Indianapolis run defense that allowed 167 yards to Houston backups.
Beanie Wells at Washington: Wells produced a fantastic effort for fantasy owners in Week 1. He embraced the feature back role, amassing 90 rushing yards on 18 carries with a touchdown (he added four receptions for 12 yards). Kevin Kolb will open up the passing game against the Washington secondary, particularly if Champ Bailey is unavailable. There are few backs that have no competition for touches. Run Wells while he’s healthy.
Ahmad Bradshaw vs. St. Louis: Bradshaw logged 44 rushing yards on 13 carries and scored in the Giants’ Week 1 loss to Washington. He received the goal-line work in Week 1 ahead of Brandon Jacobs, thereby thrusting him into the top fantasy role.
I slotted him down a few pegs early in the week as we awaited word on Hakeem Nicks’ injury. Nicks maintains that he will be available, so I’m more comfortable with Bradshaw’s installment as a strong RB2 option. LeSean McCoy gashed the Rams for 122 yards on 15 carries in Week 1.
Felix Jones at San Francisco: Jones carried the ball 17 times for 44 yards with a touchdown against the Jets, adding four receptions for 39 yards. Jones was frequently stuffed at the line and found running room sparse.
The 49ers weren’t world-beating (Ted Ginn notwithstanding), but they virtually eliminated Marshawn Lynch from the box score (13 carries for 33 yards and two receptions for 14 yards). Of course, there’s a sizable difference between the Dallas passing game and that of Seattle. That keeps Jones off of the “Flops” list, but I’m still reticent to give him a flowery endorsement here.
LeGarrette Blount at Minnesota: The Buccaneers got down against Matthew Stafford’s high-octane offense, thereby forcing them into pass-first mode. As we know, that’s not where Blount excels. Therefore, Earnest Graham earned ample playing time and touches out of the backfield. Blount was limited to five carries for 15 yards.
If you saw even a minute of the Minnesota-San Diego game (put that on to induce a nap), you’ll recognize just how different things are between the Week 1 opponent and this one. I love watching Adrian Peterson run. The passing game made me nauseous.
Blount faces a Minnesota defense that is still without run-stuffer Kevin Williams (suspension) and will see ample carries this week.
Don’t have him? Go find the poor soul still wringing his hands over last week’s low touch count and sell, sell, sell.
Ninja Alerts
Willis McGahee vs. Cincinnati: We didn’t certainly nearly as much of McGahee as we’d anticipated in the opener against Oakland. McGahee was limited to three rushing yards on four carries, though he did contribute five receptions for 32 yards.
Knowshon Moreno’s hamstring issue thrusts McGahee to center stage this week against the Bengals. Cincinnati did well to limit Peyton Hillis to 57 yards on 17 carries (five receptions for 30 yards). Kyle Orton’s willingness to fling downfield (see Brandon Lloyd’s status on game day) should afford McGahee more running room in Week 2.
If you really want to gamble, then look to Lance Ball, who had big-play potential and scored in Week 1.
Joseph Addai vs. Cleveland: Better days. That’s what I’m preaching to those ready to bury the Colts altogether. We didn’t expect Kerry Collins to step in and dominate immediately. OK, we don’t anticipate that Collins will dominate at all. However, there will be better days ahead for the Colts, and I believe that you’ll see a much better effort at home against Cleveland.
Addai rushed eight times for 39 yards in the Week 1 loss to Houston. They won’t be boat-raced in this contest, so balance will be maintained. Put it this way. The Bengals were able to lean on the Browns enough to allow Cedric Benson to uncork that 39-yard sprint to paydirt to seal a win.
Cadillac Williams at New York Giants: Williams demonstrated great toughness between the tackles and cut-back ability in Week 1 against the tough Philadelphia front. He logged 91 rushing yards on 19 carries and contributed five receptions for 49 yards. As a result, he makes an appearance in the “Ninja” realm while occupying the “Atlas” role regularly played by Steven Jackson.
He’s a featured player in a battle between two teams absolutely obliterated by early-season injuries.
James Starks at Carolina: Ryan Grant will undoubtedly still play a role in the Green Bay offense, but Starks’ stock is rising following his tough-nosed effort in the opener. His 17-yard touchdown run (57 yards overall) pushed him ahead in the battle for touches and sets him up nicely here against Ron Rivera’s defense that must account for the loss of linebacker Jon Beason.
Reggie Bush vs. Houston: Bush did me proud from the “Ninja” realm last week, so I’m ready to line him up here again. The Texans did well to stifle the Colts, but was that more of an indication of where this unit is or where the Indianapolis is under Kerry Collins? Remember, Collins’ career record against Wade Phillips-led defenses fell to 0-8 last week.
Bush did exactly what I expected he would against New England. He offered minimal support on the ground and worked his magic in the passing game (with a late touchdown to cap the night for owners in standard leagues). Look for more of the same this week against the Dolphins. I expect him to be active for Chad Henne once again.
Shonn Greene vs. Jacksonville: Greene was a non-factor in Week 1 against the Cowboys. The team fell behind against the Cowboys and he was quickly shuffled out in favor of LaDainian Tomlinson. As a result, the critics have sharpened their knives and the words “Here we go again” were uttered across fantasyland. Greene finished with 26 rushing yards on 10 carries.
Greene gets back in the “W” column for fantasy owners in Week 2 against Jacksonville. This is a difficult road test for the retooled Jacksonville defense against a much better, much more efficient offense.
Flop Alerts
Chris Johnson vs. Baltimore: Nobody expected Johnson to run wild in Week 1. However, nobody anticipated that Johnson would be limited to just carries and 24 rushing yards in a close game against Tennessee (adding six receptions for 25 yards).
Johnson faces a daunting challenge this week against the lean and mean Haloti Ngata and the Baltimore defensive front. He still starts as an RB2, but temper the expectations.
Maurice Jones-Drew at New York Jets: Fantasy owners didn’t get their bonus points last week when Jones-Drew finished just shy of the vaunted 100-yard mark. He did score a touchdown on a 21-yard sprint early in the game. Interestingly, Jones-Drew didn’t record a catch, thus ending a streak of 67 games in which he’d recorded at least one reception.
Jones-Drew faces a Jets defense that held Felix Jones and the Cowboys run game in check (64 yards and short touchdown plunge total). It’s a step up in class and a dangerous proposition for MJD owners in Week 2. As with Johnson, you start MJD. Just don’t expect a huge effort.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs. San Diego: In Week 1, the Chargers squared off against Adrian Peterson, who had torched them in their previous meeting. Peterson didn’t etch his name in the record books on Sunday, but still posted strong numbers. His effort, combined with a few Donovan McNabb sprints, yielded 159 rushing yards.
This game has big-time shootout potential (the Over/Under is set 54), but I’d be turning my eyes to the passing game. You’re left hoping for goal-line plunges with Green-Ellis.
Ryan Mathews at New England: Week 1 hero Mike Tolbert is banged up, but that doesn’t help Mathews’ cause here. The Vince Wilfork-Albert Haynesworth combination upfront will stifle any efforts to get Mathews rolling. Hope for flares to the outside and a big presence in the passing game if you choose to start him.
DeAngelo Williams vs. Green Bay: What else can I say? Tackle Jeff Otah remains a question mark, beset by both a knee issue and a concussion. Williams was unable to run against the Cardinals (Williams ran 12 times for 30 yards) and this is a marked step up in class. There’s also the nagging problem of Jonathan Stewart playing well and eating into his touch count. No thanks.
Wild Card
Mark Ingram vs. Chicago: The Saints gave Ingram the bulk of the workload in Week 1 against Green Bay (13 carries for 40 yards). Most importantly, Sean Payton showed a commitment to Ingram in the red zone. Ingram got swallowed by B.J. Raji (he never had a chance), but that won’t be the end of the story. It was an important personnel choice, as pass-catchers Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles were available to change the complexion of that red zone attack. I’m not anticipating a huge game in terms of yardage, but he apparently owns the short-yardage role for now.