Week one in the NFL was an intriguing array of surprise performances, upsets, letdowns and discoveries. Fantasy football owners rode a rollercoaster of ups and downs, leaving many to ponder if they should start their top guys in week two. Top ten running back picks like Matt Forte, Michael Turner, Steven Jackson, Steve Slaton and LaDainian Tomlinson came nowhere close to living up to their first round value. They were out-performed by fantasy flops Cedric Benson, Julius Jones, and the resurrected Cadillac Williams. Generally, I always recommend starting your top picks, regardless of match-ups, barring injury, of course. It is obvious that you’ll always play guys like Randy Moss, Adrian Peterson and Drew Brees. However, given week one’s list of first round letdowns, let’s take a moment to run through week two expectations for them as well.
Start/Sit: Running Backs in Disarray
--Week 1 Surprises - What to expect in Week 2--
Matt Forte, RB, CHI - The Bears sophomore running back got lost in the new Green Bay defensive scheme, and Chicago QB Jay Cutler spent much of the game trying to establish himself; thus the running game was forgotten. Look for Forte to be heavily involved this week from the get go, even against the stout Steelers defense. Start him.
Michael Turner, RB, ATL - Turner’s first game of the 2009 season was not quite abysmal, but he only ran for 65 yards and never found the endzone. This is not what owners expected when they drafted him as a top 3 pick this season. This week he plays the Carolina Panthers. Last season he played them twice, tallying a mere 56 yards in one game, then lighting them up for 117 yards and four scores in their November rematch. Which Turner will we see in week two? You have to start him, but I still believe he’ll prove to be a first round bust.
LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, SDC - Going into 2009 there were two schools of thought on L.T., with one set of experts predicting his ongoing decline, and the other calling for his best season in years. Against the Oakland Raiders in week one, he looked like the RB in decline. L.T. showed no spark, and was splitting carries almost 50/50 with Darren Sproles. He did however hurt his ankle, and was held back because of that. He’s questionable to play this week, and regardless I wouldn’t push him against the Baltimore Ravens defense anyway. Sit him this week if he does play.
Steve Slaton, RB, HOU - It’s sad to see this sophomore stud lose his luster so quickly, but he did nothing against the NY Jets defense in week one. This week he has to face the Tennessee Titans who completely shut down the Pittsburgh Steelers running game in the season opener. As a top 10 pick you should start him, but if you have a worthwhile flex option, this might be a good week to break the rules and sit Slaton. He’ll be fine in the long run, but this week is a tough match up.
Steven Jackson, RB, STL - The centerpiece of the Rams offense had 16 touches and no receptions in week one. However, no one on his team did much of anything. Look for the Rams to get the ball to Jackson a lot more in week two against the Washington Redskins. He’s a solid start this week.
Cedric Benson, RB, CIN - Benson’s numbers in week one were not overly surprising against a poor Broncos defense. This week he faces Green Bay’s staunch new 3/4 defense. He will not have the same good fortune. Sit him unless you have no other options.
Julius Jones, RB, SEA - Jones went undrafted in many leagues this year because no one has faith anymore in his ability to make an impact. Then in week one he looked like a top five pick. Or did he? Last season the best game Jones put up was against the same lowly Rams defense. So this shouldn’t have been a big surprise. What is a surprise is how many people have quickly forgotten the past and jumped right back on his bandwagon. Before Jones broke his big touchdown run last week, he had 10 carries for 25 yards. That’s a pitiful 2.5 yards-per-carry. That’s what you can regularly expect from Jones. Sit him against San Francisco.
--Week Two Start and Sit--
Quarterbacks | Tight Ends | ||
Start | Sit | Start | Sit |
Joe Flacco, BAL | Matt Schaub, HOU | Todd Heap, BAL | Ben Watson, NEP |
Matt Hasselbeck, SEA | Marc Bulger, STL | Dustin Keller, NYJ | Greg Olsen, CHI |
Trent Edwards, BUF | Donovan McNabb, PHI | Vernon Davis, SF | Brent Celek, PHI |
Brett Favre, MIN | Kyle Orton, DEN | Heath Miller, PIT | Owen Daniels, HOU |
Mark Sanchez, NYJ | Chad Pennington, MIA | Vinsanthe Shiancoe, MIN | Jeremy Shockey, NOS |
Wide Receivers | Running Backs | ||
Start | Sit | Start | Sit |
Louis Murphy, OAK | Antonio Bryant, TBB | Fred Jackson, BUF | Willie Parker, PIT |
Antwaan Randle El, WAS | Ted Ginn, Jr., MIA | Ray Rice, BAL | Fred Taylor, NEP |
Justin Gage, TEN | Bernard Berrian, MIN | Darren McFadden, OAK | Cadillac Williams, TBB |
Percy Harvin, MIN | Steve Breaston, ARI | Leon Washington, NYJ | Beanie Wells, ARI |
Nate Burleson, SEA | Darren Sproles, SDC | Knowshon Moreno, DEN | |
Donnie Avery, STL | DeSean Jackson, PHI | Kevin Faulk, NEP | Joseph Addai, IND |
Lee Evans, BUF | Steve Smith, CAR | Clinton Portis, WAS | Ronnie Brown, MIA |
Terrell Owens, BUF | Lance Moore, NOS | Lendale White, TEN | Kevin Smith, DET |
Eddie Royal, DEN | Braylon Edwards, CLE | Larry Johnson, KCC | Reggie Bush, NOS |
Josh Morgan, SFO | Devin Hester, CHI | Correll Buckhalter, DEN | Pierre Thomas, NOS |
Team Defense | Kickers | ||
Start | Sit | Start | Sit |
Washington Redskins | San Diego Chargers | Shaun Shuisam, WAS | Josh Brown, STL |
Green Bay Packers | New Orleans Saints | Matt Prater, DEN | Dan Carpenter, MIA |
If you still have questions about players not discussed here I host a start/sit question and answer, you’re welcome to join in.
Written by Rustyn Rose
