“It’s only one game.” You’ll hear the line repeated over and over again from the 16 NFL teams that find themselves 0-1 after a week of play. What you won’t hear is news of Week 1 duds being traded or released in favor of lesser talents who enjoyed solid Week 1 performances. Fantasy GM’s would be wise to react to Week 1 stinkers from their players with the same judiciousness and restraint as there is plenty of football left to be played. Here are a few players who didn’t live up to their lofty ADP who should be counted on to shake off their poor Week 1 performances
Fantasy Football Week 2: From Stud To Dud And Back Again
Week 1 unkind to your fantasy team? You’re not alone. We highlight a few players who should bounce back in Week 2.
Dwayne Bowe (1rec, 13yds) - Bowe was missing in action for the season opener at Arrowhead thanks in part to windy, rain-soaked conditions. TE Tony Moeaki led the team with just 21 receiving yards and managed the only Chief aerial touchdown. QB Matt Cassel ignored deep routes opting to keep most of his 22 pass attempts underneath the Charger secondary and ahead of the pass rush. The lack of a deep threat hurt Bowe's bottom line, limiting him to just 5 targets on the game. While Bowe has been inconsistent at times during his three plus seasons in the NFL, he reported to camp in the best shape of his career and remains the Chiefs best red zone receiving threat. In Week 2 expect a bounce-back performance against a weak Cleveland secondary that allowed two TD's to Tampa Bay receivers on Sunday.
Michael Crabtree (2rec, 12yds) - It wasn't what Crabtree did on Sunday that drew the ire of HC Mike Singletary, it's what the sophomore star didn't do. One catchable pass bounced off of Crabtree's hands and turned into an INT. On another INT, Crabtree made a tackle attempt that looked more like a 6-year old having a turn on the slip and slide than anything befitting an elite NFL talent. While his lack of passion and his lack of snaps in the preseason are a concern, there is plenty of upside here. One thing we can be sure of is coach Singletary dialing up the punishment at practice this week. The guy simply won't stand for sloppy, uninspired play. Crabtree has all the talent in the world, and the perfect coach to help him mature. This Sunday, the 49ers will host the defending champion Saints, who blitz more than anyone in the NFC. All that blitzing will lead to a lot of single coverage on the outside for Crabtree, something he and Alex Smith should exploit.
Jonathan Stewart (5rush, 12yds) - Last season Carolina produced twin 1,000-yard rushers when Stewart emerged as a legitimate every down back as DeAngelo Williams was sidelined with injury. But last week against the Giants Stewart saw just 5 carries to Williams' 16. While HC John Fox has a history of going to his veterans, it's obvious that Stewart's offseason surgery - which kept him out the entire preseason - has the Panther staff easing their junior back into the rigorous NFL grind. Williams will remain the back with more touches for the foreseeable future, but Stewart is too talented to relegate to change of pace status. This week, the Panthers face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that the duo torched in Week 6 last season for over 260 yards and 3 scores. With Carolina starting either a shell-shocked Matt Moore or newbie Jimmy Claussen, you can expect a steady dose of Williams and Stewart early to help take pressure off of the signal caller. Stewart is a good bet to reach double digit carries on his way to a productive RB2 day.
Shonn Greene (5rush, 18yds 1 rec, 9yds 2 fumbles) - Yes, the two fumbles are a concern. The benching in the second quarter is troubling. So are the words of HC Rex Ryan this week when asked if Greene was still the Jets featured back:
Both those guys are the centerpiece. We’ve said that both of them would have big roles in this offense. In one game, will one guy carry it more than the other? Absolutely. But... you’d love to see these guys get at least 15 carries apiece.
Not the kind of print you want to read about your second round pick. Even with all the negatives to come from Week 1 there is plenty to like about the second-year back going forward. For one, Greene's competition for carries, Ladanian Tomlinson, is no spring chicken. 31 is old for RB's and LT has plenty of tread (3,400 total touches) on his tires. While he has shown that he is still great in open space, it's likely that a full season will sack him of some of his burst. Secondly, Green is the superior between the tackles runner. His hard charging style is suited for a Jets offense that mauls at the line, dictating to opponents. Having a back that can wear down defenses is critical to the development of second-year QB Mark Sanchez. And lets be honest here, 15 touches behind one of the best offensive run lines in football is as good as 25 touches on a middling offensive unit. This week Greene and the Jets look to rebound from a dismal Week 1 outing against an overrated New England defense. Provided the Jets keep the game close, Green could be in line for a big day against a weak Patriot front seven.
In 2007, after a disastrous Week 1 showing from the Cleveland offense, I traded away Braylon Edwards who had just 49 yards on 3 receptions. Braylon, as we now know, went on to post 1,200 yards and 16 TD’s over the next 15 weeks. The lesson is a simple one: Don’t overreact to poor Week 1 performances. Just pretend you’re a real NFL’er and say, “plenty of football left to be played”.
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