Buccaneers at Falcons - (Smith)

Passing Game Thoughts: Josh McCown is currently 10th among quarterbacks in fantasy points, but that is largely the result of the pair of touchdowns he scored on the ground in last week’s loss to the Rams. McCown has thrown for just 362 yards with two touchdowns and a trio of interceptions. His limited production and the Bucs’ conservative offense have slashed into Vincent Jackson’s fantasy value in a big way. The wideout has only eight catches for 87 yards and no touchdowns for the year, while rookie Mike Evans and tight end Brandon Myers have also posted similar numbers. Basically, there has been no fantasy value in Tampa’s passing game this season, though that might change against Atlanta, at least for Jackson.

The Falcons have given up oodles of passing yards in their first two games, but are in the middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to QBs because they’ve allowed only two touchdown passes and just eight rushing yards to the position. The wide receiver position is a different story, however. Atlanta has permitted the seventh-most fantasy points to receivers, with three different receivers amassing double-digit points in two games, and that was without having to face A.J. Green last week. That, combined with Jackson’s history against Atlanta (20 catches, 303 yards, 3 TDs last year) means fantasy owners can look forward to his first big game of the season.

Running Game Thoughts: Doug Martin (knee) missed last week’s game against the Rams, so Bobby Rainey stepped in and opened some eyes in the process. He ran the ball 22 times for 144 yards while snaring three passes for 30 yards in the contest. Rainey didn’t score in the game, but his performance has helped land him in the top-15 fantasy RBs. Martin has been limited in practice, and he may not play this week, but either way Rainey should be in fantasy lineups against the Falcons.

Atlanta has been porous against opposing backs this season. Only three other teams have given up more rushing yards to RBs, only one other team has surrendered more receiving yards to the position, but no other squad in the league has allowed more rushing scores or fantasy points to backs.

Projections:
Josh McCown: 225 pass yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Bobby Rainey: 80 rush yds, 1 TD, 15 rec yds
Doug Martin: 25 rush yds, 20 rec yds
Vincent Jackson: 105 rec yds, 1 TD
Mike Evans: 40 rec yds
Brandon Myers: 35 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: It’s been a Jekyll and Hyde first two games for Matt Ryan, who was brilliant in Week 1 against the Saints but stumbled last week against the Bengals. Nonetheless, he’s a QB1 who needs to be starting every week for fantasy owners. The same can be said for Julio Jones, who is off to a fast start, ranking among the top-10 fantasy WR. The other half of the Falcons’ talented receiving duo, Roddy White, is dealing with a hamstring issue, but the latest updates indicate that he’ll play against Tampa.

The Bucs have so far faced two teams, Carolina and St. Louis, who each played with backup quarterbacks (third-string in the Rams’ case), so it should come as no surprise that they are tied for seventh-fewest fantasy points allowed to QBs. Tampa is also dealing with a number of injuries to key defensive players, however, and considering the nondescript passing games they’ve faced, it could be a good sign for owners of Ryan, Jones and White that the Bucs rank T-15th in fantasy points permitted to WRs while allowing the 10th-most points to TEs.

Running Game Thoughts: Steven Jackson’s days of fantasy relevance have come and gone. He has more than double the amount of carries than any other RB on his team, but is third on the squad in fantasy points at the position. There’s also the opponent to consider.

Tampa Bay has been solid against opposing RBs so far this year, and is tied for eighth-fewest fantasy points allowed to players at the position. They surrendered 72 rushing yards to DeAngelo Williams in Week 1, and 72 yards plus a score to Zac Stacy last week, which are moderate numbers considering the Panthers and Rams are run-first teams.

Projections:
Matt Ryan: 285 pass yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Steven Jackson: 50 rush yds, 10 rec yds
Jacquizz Rodgers: 15 rush yds, 15 rec yds
Julio Jones: 110 rec yds, 2 TD
Roddy White: 60 rec yds
Harry Douglas: 45 rec yds, 1 TD
Devin Hester: 15 rec yds
Levine Toilolo: 20 rec yds

Prediction: Falcons 31, Buccaneers 21 ^ Top

Vikings at Saints - (Smith)

Passing Game Thoughts: When Matt Cassel is your team’s quarterback an explosive passing offense is probably not in the cards. Though he performed admirably enough in Week 1 against the Rams with a series of short passes and rollouts to avoid the pass rush, Cassel threw four picks in his return to New England last week. The team does have two potential fantasy assets in wideout Cordarrelle Patterson and tight end Kyle Rudolph, each of whom should get consideration this week against the Saints.

The New Orleans pass defense has been terrible through the first two games of the season. Matt Ryan tore them up in Week 1, and they allowed Brian Hoyer to throw for over 200 yards with a score last week. The Saints have not yet recorded an interception, and have given up the second-most fantasy points to QBs and the second-most points to WRs.

Running Game Thoughts: Without Adrian Peterson, it will be difficult for the Vikings to have much of a running game. Patterson (a wide receiver) leads the team with 102 rushing yards, all of which he picked up in Week 1 (oddly, he didn’t get a single carry last week). Matt Asiata is the team’s primary back for now, and while a capable receiver, his running prowess may leave something to be desired, so he’s a flex option even with a good match-up like he has this week.

The Saints are tied for 21st in the league in run defense this season, and have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs in the NFL. While no back has reached 70 rushing yards against them, three have broken 50 yards, and they’ve permitted the ninth-most receiving yards by running backs.

Projections:
Matt Cassel: 205 pass yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Matt Asiata: 55 rush yds, 15 rec yds
Cordarrelle Patterson: 85 rec yds, 1 TD, 25 rush yds
Greg Jennings: 40 rec yds
Kyle Rudolph: 55 rec yds

Passing Game Thoughts: Drew Brees is not having a very Drew Brees-like season through two games, ranking 11th at his position in fantasy points and having thrown only three touchdown passes. It’s a little early to fret though, and fantasy owners should still expect him to put up his typical numbers this year. It helps having a guy like Jimmy Graham, who leads all tight ends in receiving yards. The Saints have a number of other receiving weapons as well, though it was troubling to see that Marques Colston did not have a single catch, let alone a target, in last week’s loss to the Browns. That is highly unlikely to take place again this week against Minnesota.

Unlike the Saints, the Vikings have been very good against the pass in the season’s first two weeks. They are one of just three teams in the NFL to have allowed only one touchdown pass and are eighth in the league in pass defense. No team has allowed fewer fantasy points to QBs than the Vikings, who have also surrendered the 11th-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers and 10th-fewest points to tight ends.

Running Game Thoughts: Just when Mark Ingram seemed to finally be delivering on his promise, he goes and breaks his hand. That unfortunate development should mean more carries for Khiry Robinson and Pierre Thomas, both of whom have yet to deliver much to fantasy owners this year. However, with the added carries, Robinson in particular should be considered a flex play this week versus the Vikings.

Minnesota has only allowed a single touchdown on the ground through two games, and is exactly in the middle of the league in terms of run defense and fantasy points allowed to running backs. It’s hard to know exactly how good the Vikings’ run defense is, because they took a big lead on the Rams in Week 1 and thus negated that team’s ground attack, and fell behind big against the Patriots last week, leading to more than 30 carries by their backs.

Projections:
Drew Brees: 305 pass yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Khiry Robinson: 65 rush yds, 1 TD
Pierre Thomas: 35 rush yds, 20 rec yds
Brandin Cooks: 75 rec yds, 1 TD
Marques Colston: 60 rec yds, 1 TD
Kenny Stills: 35 rec yds
Jimmy Graham: 105 rec yds, 1 TD

Prediction: Saints 28, Vikings 13 ^ Top

Colts at Jaguars - (Smith)

Passing Game Thoughts: Andrew Luck leads all quarterbacks in fantasy points despite the fact he has yet to lead his team to a win this year. Luck failed to throw for even 175 yards last week against the Eagles, yet did toss three touchdowns. He has five scoring passes this season, yet none of those has gone to Reggie Wayne or T.Y. Hilton. But both receivers should be in fantasy lineups this week, because the Jaguars have little defense to speak of.

The Jacksonville pass defense has been, in a word, bad. They’re 25th in the league against the pass, have permitted the third-most fantasy points to both quarterbacks and the fourth-most points to wide receivers. This should come as no surprise considering the Jaguars are a team that has allowed 34 and 41 points, respectively, in their two games this season.

Running Game Thoughts: Trent Richardson continues to get the bulk of the carries for Indy, and continues to be the team’s second-best back, behind Ahmad Bradshaw. The former Giant has 11 fewer carries than Richardson, but just 14 fewer yards. Bradshaw is also third on the Colts in receptions and receiving yards, and leads the team in receiving scores. He’s a very good flex play this week against Jacksonville.

Just like their pass defense, the Jaguars’ run defense has been lacking. They rank 28th in the NFL against the run and have given up more rushing scores than every team but the Falcons. Jacksonville has surrendered the second-most fantasy points in the league to running backs, with three different backs already having gained at least 70 rushing yards against them, and four backs picking up double-digit fantasy points.

Projections:
Andrew Luck: 310 pass yds, 3 TD, 15 rush yds
Ahmad Bradshaw: 60 rush yds, 1 TD, 35 rec yds
Trent Richardson: 55 rush yds, 20 rec yds
T.Y. Hilton: 100 rec yds, 1 TD
Reggie Wayne: 75 rec yds, 1 TD
Hakeem Nicks: 20 rec yds
Dwayne Allen: 35 rec yds, 1 TD
Coby Fleener: 15 rec yds

Passing Game Thoughts: Chad Henne hasn’t been awful, but he’s no fantasy option. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a Jaguar that has legitimate fantasy usefulness, with the possible exception of Cecil Shorts (hamstring), who may make his debut this week. Other than that, there’s simply no trustworthiness anywhere among their pass-catchers. Tight end Marcedes Lewis has been placed on the short-term IR with an ankle injury. He won’t return until Week 12.

Indianapolis has faced two very good passing teams to start the season in Denver and Philly, and their defensive numbers bear that out. Indy has actually done very well against wide receivers, having given up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to players at that position. However, they’ve allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, and no team has surrendered more fantasy points to tight ends than the Colts.

Running Game Thoughts: To be fair to Toby Gerhart, he is nursing an injury and Jacksonville isn’t much of a threat to pass. Still, he picked up just eight yards on seven carries a week ago, and has just 50 yards on 25 carries this season. He isn’t much of a receiving threat either, which means the best place he can be right now is on fantasy benches, even against the Colts.

The Colts are 17th in the NFL in run defense, yet have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points in the league to running backs. Why? Well, they’ve given up three rushing scores, which is more than all but three other teams, and it certainly doesn’t help when a running back picks up over 150 receiving yards against you in a game, which Darren Sproles did last week.

Projections:
Chad Henne: 190 pass yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Toby Gerhart: 45 rush yds, 1 TD, 10 rec yds
Allen Hurns: 55 rec yds
Cecil Shorts: 40 rec yds
Allen Robinson: 25 rec yds
Clay Harbor: 40 rec yds

Prediction: Colts 34, Jaguars 17 ^ Top

Steelers at Panthers - (Smith)

Passing Game Thoughts: Ben Roethlisberger had a good start to the season, but was unable to do anything last week against the Ravens. He’s thrown only one touchdown in his first two games, to Antonio Brown, a legit WR1 who is fifth at his position in fantasy points. Big Ben will get more help this week with Lance Moore’s return, though none of them have it easy this week against the Panthers.

Carolina has been solid if unspectacular against the pass this season. They’re 12th in the league in pass defense, and firmly in the middle of the league in terms of fantasy points allowed to both quarterbacks and tight ends. They have, however, held wide receivers in check. The Panthers have surrendered the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, and it’s not like they’ve played patsies, having faced Vincent Jackson in Week 1 and Calvin Johnson in Week 2, holding both to fewer than nine fantasy points.

Running Game Thoughts: Le’Veon Bell is a true dual threat, one of just three backs in the league with at least 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards. He’s fourth in the NFL in fantasy points among running backs, and a rock-solid RB1. Bell has a difficult match-up this week, but he’s a guy that should never be taken out of fantasy lineups except in case of injury.

The Panthers have been stout against the run, ranking eighth in the league in rush defense and having yet to allow a touchdown on the ground. Yet they’re 16th in terms of fantasy points allowed to running backs because they’ve allowed a back to catch a touchdown in each of their first two games.

Projections:
Ben Roethlisberger: 225 pass yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Le’Veon Bell: 75 rush yds, 1 TD, 35 rec yds
Antonio Brown: 70 rec yds, 1 TD
Lance Moore: 45 rec yds
Markus Wheaton: 30 rec yds
Heath Miller: 35 rec yds

Passing Game Thoughts: Cam Newton made his debut last week against the Lions and did very well, throwing for 281 yards and a score without tossing an interception. His top target might be rookie Kelvin Benjamin as the season progresses, but for now it’s Greg Olsen, and with all due respect to Jason Avant and Jerricho Cotchery, Benjamin and Olsen are the only two that should receive fantasy consideration most weeks, with Olsen being the only one to trust against Pittsburgh.

Though the Steelers are one of eight teams in the league without an interception, they’ve still been more than solid against the pass. Pittsburgh ranks seventh in the NFL in pass defense while allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks and the fifth-fewest points to wide receivers. They did give up two touchdowns to Ravens TE Owen Daniels last week though, which is a big reason why they’ve allowed more fantasy points to tight ends than all but six other teams.

Running Game Thoughts: DeAngelo Williams did not play last week, and in his absence Jonathan Stewart managed to score a touchdown, but added only 37 yards on 15 carries. Williams remains questionable, and though Stewart is averaging less than 2.5 YPC this season, it’s hard not to think about him as a flex against Pittsburgh’s run defense.

There are only two teams in the NFL who have permitted more rushing yards than the Steelers this season. And despite the fact they’ve given up the second-fewest receiving yards in the league to backs, Pittsburgh has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to players at the position. Three backs have gained at least 50 rushing yards against them through two games, and it’s not exactly a who’s who of running royalty: Terrance West (100 yards), Bernard Pierce (96 yards), and Justin Forsett (56 yards).

Projections:
Cam Newton: 270 pass yds, 2 TD, 1 INT, 20 rush yds
Jonathan Stewart: 65 rush yds, 1 TD, 20 rec yds
DeAngelo Williams: 35 rush yds, 15 rec yds
Kelvin Benjamin: 75 rec yds, 1 TD
Jason Avant: 40 rec yds
Jerricho Cotchery: 30 rec yds
Greg Olsen: 80 rec yds, 1 TD

Prediction: Panthers 24, Steelers 17 ^ Top

Chargers at Bills - (Thorne)

Passing Game Thoughts: In upsetting the reigning Super Bowl champions QB Philip Rivers became only the second player ever to throw for three touchdown passes against the Seahawks when DB Richard Sherman was on the field. The recipient of each of those scores was his favorite target for the past nine seasons, TE Antonio Gates, who also led the game with 96 receiving yards and caught all seven of the passes thrown his way. Rivers threw the ball 37 times, connecting on 28 of the for 284 yards, no interceptions, and only one sack, while leading his team to over 42 minutes of nearly mistake-free possession. Despite that volume of attempts only six players were targeted in week two, and half of those were running backs. Aside from those three and Gates only wide receivers Keenan Allen and Eddie Royal were targeted, and of those two Royal received more targets, converted more receptions, and recorded more yardage, primarily because Allen received the more difficult defensive coverages. The second year standout still gained 55 yards on five receptions, a respectable game total against such a staunch secondary, and hauled in all but one of the attempts thrown in his direction.

After defeating two of the top pass defenses in back to back weeks San Diego ought to be looking forward to their cross country trip for week three. The Bills have given up over 550 yards in only two games this season and have allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete over 66% of their pass attempts. By stark contrast, Buffalo has also recorded three interceptions and six sacks in those two games, creating a feast-or-famine situation when defending against the pass. Even with a favorable matchup last week the Bills still allowed 241 passing yards and a touchdown, but did record four sacks and an interception, which is more of a referendum on their opponent’s offense than it is a positive reflection of their defense. Buffalo is able to exploit weak teams or take advantage of poor execution with their talented pass rushers, but if the Chargers are able to execute this week like they have previously there should be little that the defense can do to apply pressure and record negative plays.

Running Game Thoughts: With his latest injury (sprained MCL) running back Ryan Matthews will once again be forced to miss time, likely at least four weeks on this occasion. Coming off of the only 16-game season of his career Matthews has been justifiably labeled as injury-prone, and despite the full slate of appearances in 2013, late season injuries limit his effectiveness and contributed to the downfall of the team in the playoffs. In anticipation of, or clever preparation for, such an event the team signed RB Donald Brown in the off-season to be the direct replacement for Matthews. As reported in the local newspaper, the role which RB Danny Woodhead plays will remain virtually unchanged, paving the way for Brown to receive the bulk of the carries as the primary back for San Diego. Brown doesn’t have the upside that Matthews has exhibited, but as the starting ball carrier he does have fantasy value, even on a team that is averaging only 76.5 rushing yards per game, 2.5 yards per carry, and has but one touchdown to show for their rushing efforts. Combining the game two totals for Matthews and Brown yields a stat line of 18 carries for 52 yards with another 54 from six receptions.

Against two tough defensive front sevens the Chargers have held their own in the running game but certainly have not excelled in either contest, a trend which is likely to continue in week three when they travel to Buffalo. The home team surrenders just 83 rushing yards per game and has yet to concede a touchdown on the ground. The Bills haven’t allowed a rush of 15 yards or more through two games, and have kept rushers out of the endzone. With a less than stellar rushing attack as it is, San Diego will once again have to turn to Rivers and the passing game in order to take advantage of the defense and move the ball down the field. For the Bills, after holding RB Matt Forte to 82 rushing yards and the entire Miami team to 80, facing the diminutive duo of Brown and Woodhead will feel like a reward for their strong efforts in weeks one and two.

Projections:
Philip Rivers: 275 pass yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Donald Brown: 45 rush yds, 10 rec yds
Danny Woodhead: 20 rush yds, 25 rec yds, 1 TD
Keenan Allen: 80 rec yds, 1 TD
Antonio Gates: 75 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: As is the case with most young quarterbacks, the less EJ Manuel is asked to do the better off his team is likely to be, and while this formula for success may work well for the Bills this strategy is much to the dismay of fantasy owners who took a flier on the Buffalo signal caller. Compared to his rookie season Manuel is significantly better, not because he’s doing more right necessarily but because he’s doing less wrong. In each of the games this season he has completed 16 passes, on 22 and 26 attempts, with three total touchdowns and one interception, averaging a conservative 188 passing yards per contest. The team has largely relied on the ground game and contributions from defense or special teams, so while rookie WR Sammy Watkins broke out for 117 yards and a touchdown in Week 2, performances like that are likely to be few and far between. Only Watkins has more than five receptions of all of the Bills pass catchers, but eight of those came last week against a weak secondary while no other receiver recorded more than two receptions. Watkins should have minimal staying power as a starter even if he is the best receiver on the team, meaning that no Buffalo pass catchers nor the man throwing them the ball are anything more than desperation plays.

Against two NFC West opponents, admittedly not the most pass-happy division, San Diego has been approximately average defending through the air, and their only statistical deficiency is that they’ve not forced any interceptions. A disproportionate amount of the passing yards and touchdowns they’ve surrendered have come in the latter stages of games where their two opponents have staged impressive comebacks, though only one of which was ultimately successful. If the Buffalo ground game is able to do their part, that should reduce the necessity for Manuel and the passing game to have to attempt a drastic comeback and should further contribute to modest totals from the Bills aerial attack. Since the defense is likely to focus more on the ground game that may give Manuel additional opportunities through the air that weren’t abundantly available in the first two contests. The Chargers will be the first 3-4 front that Buffalo faces this season, and with their pass rushers presenting challenges for the quarterback and S Eric Weddle leading the secondary, San Diego is hoping to take advantage of Manuel and force him into making inexperienced mistakes whenever Buffalo is forced to attack through the air.

Running Game Thoughts: Once again the Bills are near the top of the league in rushing totals and have a yards per carry average that is better than most. Part of this is out of necessity due to their minimally effective passing game, but the majority of the reasoning lies with the two impressive ball carriers who shoulder the load for Buffalo. Frequently used as a one-two punch, running backs C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson are excellent complements to each other while also possessing many of the same skills as their counterpart. They are able to be rotated nearly interchangeably to keep them each rested, or when one is finding success the team can keep them in for longer periods of time knowing that the other is going to make the most of whatever opportunities they’re given. Despite averaging a combined 103 rushing yards per game neither has reached the endzone, in fact only QB EJ Manuel has been able to carry the ball for a score up to this point in the season. The division of labor has been nearly a 60-40 split in favor of Spiller and he’s recorded almost exactly the same proportion of the rushing yards. While both do contribute in the passing game, through two games that has been kept to a minimum, and although Spiller is seen as the more dynamic playmaker is has been Jackson who has seen the most explosive receiving play out of the backfield. As best as they’re able Buffalo will look to continue to rely on their backfield to carry the team toward success, but if defenses begin to key on this Manuel and the receiving corps may be called to take over the game and relieve some pressure off the ball carriers.

In consecutive weeks the Chargers have allowed 109 and 108 rushing yards to teams from the run-first NFC West, and had it not been for a 51-yard jet sweep on third-and-one where they lost containment, they might have held the defending Super Bowl champs to less than 60 yards on the ground. The defensive game plan for each contest seemed to be to take away their opponent’s top receiver and to key on the run, forcing the quarterback to throw to someone other than his most desired target while minimizing gains that could be made on the ground. Although the strategy failed on the road in the first weekend they executed it to perfection last week at home. By all accounts if they’re able to do much of the same when traveling to Buffalo for week three it would be expected that the Chargers would return home with a victory. With Spiller and Jackson in the backfield that may be easier said than done, but after holding Beast Mode to only 36 yards it is well within the realm of possibilities. Given that the Bills have limited receiving options and that the quarterback is far from one of the elite passers in the league, as long as San Diego doesn’t allow the backfield duo to run rampant the game should be under control.

Projections:
EJ Manuel: 195 pass yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 10 rush yds
C.J. Spiller: 60 rush yds, 55 rec yds
Fred Jackson: 40 rush yds, 20 rec yds
Sammy Watkins: 55 rec yds
Scott Chandler: 20 rec yds

Prediction: Chargers 30, Bills 13 ^ Top

Redskins at Eagles - (Thorne)

Passing Game Thoughts: Of all of the plays during which a quarterback could be hurt, a non-contact first down pass completion has to be one of the more strange possibilities. Having seen the play in real time, and then in narrow-focused slow motion, and understanding the athletic ability that went into Robert Griffin III making the play, the injury seems significantly less surprising but is perhaps even more so disappointing. The diagnosis is a dislocated left ankle and Griffin is expected to be out at least four weeks. Given that he has a history of returning too soon from injuries, the best move for Washington may be to put Griffin on Injured Reserve but designated to return, forcing him to give his leg six full weeks to heal and another two before he can take game contact. This would line up perfectly with the team’s week ten bye and allow him to play in the next game. As the Redskins have not chosen to do so they’re likely to go with backup QB Kirk Cousins for the short term and bring Griffin back when he’s able. In extended action last week Cousins was essentially mistake-free against a poor Jacksonville squad, leading Washington to two touchdowns, one of which was on his first attempt from scrimmage to FB Darrel Young who was split out as a receiver. His 250 yards passing and 67% completion rate were a nice introduction to the 2014 season, but considering that WR DeSean Jackson (Shoulder, Questionable) left the game early, starting TE Jordan Reed (Hamstring, Questionable) was held out, and backup TE Niles Paul was in favorable mismatches all afternoon, this one game may not be the best benchmark for setting expectations for Cousins. That being said, the backup has previously proven his worth in previous tours of replacement duty, and based on the “eye test” the Redskins responded positively to his presence in the huddle, perhaps even more so than to the starter.

As hard as it may be to decipher emerging trends after only two weeks of the season, there’s a case to be made for the Eagles having consistency problems when it comes to defending against the pass. In week one they were burned by a journeyman quarterback and a handful of inexperienced receivers for 266 yards and two touchdowns, both of which were scored by an undrafted rookie on his first and second completions as a professional. In Week 2 they held a veteran offense led by a budding young quarterback to 172 passing yards and also forced and interception, though they did allow three short receiving touchdowns. In both games they trailed by double digits at halftime and then played markedly better in all phases of the game for the closing 30 minutes. Taking all of that into account it’s safe to say that the Philadelphia pass defense is both better and worse than expected, and without further observations they remain widely unknown as a fantasy commodity. They’re certainly able to be beaten, so in situations where you can risk a boom-or-bust performance, Redskins pass catchers as a group are likely to see good opportunities.

Running Game Thoughts: Losing RG III for any amount of time may alter the way the defenses approach the Redskins rushing attack, but with the talent and depth they have in the backfield that may matter very little. Once the Week 2 contest was in hand Washington metaphorically cleared the bench and ultimately had four running backs all contribute to the box score. The three tailbacks all received carries, led by starter Alfred Morris and his primary backup Roy Helu… touches in the latter stages of the game were given to rookie RB Silas Redd. Those three combined for 38 carries and between them recorded 151 yards and three rushing touchdowns. The offensive line overwhelmed the defensive line for much of the day and running lanes were available to every ball carrier on most every play. With the O-line still healthy and the backfield as near to full strength as could be expected, Washington is in a good position to exert their strength in the running game and use that to dictate the tempo of the game as well as force the defense into favorable matchups that Cousins is able to exploit through the air. If the ground game is working effectively the Redskins have the ability to build on previous performances and do more to secure their place in the top tier of NFL rushing attacks.

After allowing two 70-yard rushers last Monday night, the Eagles ought to be nervous about having to face a rested Washington team coming off of a dominating Sunday afternoon performance. By rotating Redd and Helu in for Morris all three should be ready for whatever workload comes their way in Week 3. Philadelphia surrendered 169 yards on 38 carries from a Colts team that seemed determined to wear down the defense by focusing on the ground game, and while the Eagles ultimately prevailed it may be their Week 3 opponent that benefits most from the beating Philadelphia endured previously. The defense may take a similar approach to this week as they did the last, recognizing that the quarterback has the capability of exploiting the secondary and thus overcompensating for that with coverage, instead choosing to risk rushing gains and success on the ground rather than being burned deep for quick scores. Since Cousins has a full week to prepare this strategy may be in vain, and considering how Washington ran at will in Week 2, the desire to slow down the running game may outweigh the risk which is perceived from a backup quarterback.

Projections:
Kirk Cousins: 280 pass yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Alfred Morris: 65 rush yds, 1 TD
Pierre Garcon: 80 rec yds, 1 TD
DeSean Jackson: 65 rec yds, 1 TD
Niles Paul: 70 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: When the Eagles figure out how to play a full 60 minutes of football the rest of the league will certainly have their hands full, but until then their opponents are enjoying at least a first half reprieve from the multitude of offensive weapons that Philadelphia is able to deploy each week. Doing most of their damage after halftime, QB Nick Foles and company have recorded the second most passing yards through two weeks. To do so they’ve attempted more passes than most every other team in order to compensate for the fifth worst completion percentage in the league. To this point in the season Foles has thrown as many interceptions as he did in the entirety of 2013, while suffering five sacks and scoring only three passing touchdowns. In the redzone Philadelphia has leaned on the running game, but elsewhere the wide open offense is well-suited to a passing attack which can take advantage of the spacing issues and coverage mismatches that they can create. Three of the four leading pass catchers on the team are not wide receivers, with RB Darren Sproles and TE Zach Ertz both recording more than 160 yards already, WR Jeremy Maclin over 140, and RB LeSean McCoy being the only other Eagle with more than 55 receiving yards; only Maclin (2) and Ertz (1) have touchdowns. The most consistent performers have been Ertz and Maclin, with the former securing three or more catches for over 75 yards in each game, and the latter reeling in four catches and a touchdown in both contests.

Strictly by the numbers Washington has the second best pass defense in the NFL, including the most sacks, fourth lowest completion percentage, fewest completions allowed, and surrendering only two touchdowns. Statistics don’t tell the whole story though, as their first two opponents have notoriously poor aerial attacks and struggled with offensive line issues for the majority of last season. Week three will be the first true test for the Redskins secondary, but to aid with this they’ll finally have S Brandon Meriwether available after missing the first two games due to suspension. After limiting the Jaguars to 193 yards passing and a 50% completion rate, giving up one score and forcing one interception, Washington will be looking to build on their franchise record-tying 10 team sacks as they get after an Eagles team that has allowed five already this season. With Foles choosing to target his tight ends and running backs most frequently the Redskins may be able to use their depth in the back seven to prevent the offence from taking over the game, though chances are Philadelphia will still find decent success.

Running Game Thoughts: The reigning kings of the rushing attack are at risk of being dethroned. After leading the league in nearly every statistical category for 2013, through two games this season the Eagles are at risk of falling outside of the top ten. Behind reasonable efficiency and a noticeable dedication to the ground game, Philadelphia is averaging 136 rushing yards per contest and has scored at least one touchdown in each game. The backfield workload has favored RB LeSean McCoy nearly 3-1 over RB Darren Sproles on handoffs while they’ve split pass receptions almost equally. In both facets of the offense Sproles has been significantly more efficient, but as this trend continues opposing defenses are likely to adjust accordingly and defend both ball carriers with similar fervor. Until that time however McCoy will be the more reliable fantasy play and Sproles will have much greater boom/bust potential, but given opportunities like they were in week two both players could have impressive games.

In the opening week the Redskins were manhandled along the line of scrimmage and then returned the favor on their next week’s opponent. After allowing a 100 yard rusher it was a noticeable improvement to allow just 25 to an entire team, including only eight to the starting running back, but game situation and the quality of the other team have as much to do with the results as do the Washington front seven. They deserve credit for smothering a weaker opponent, but the Week 3 matchup with the Eagles will be a truer test of their strength and perhaps a more honest reflection of their talents. In their meetings last year, Philadelphia recorded 389 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns with only McCoy shouldering the bulk of the carries. Now with Sproles in relief it is conceivable that Philadelphia will be looking to top their 2013 totals using their two-headed rushing attack.

Projections:
Nick Foles: 255 pass yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT
LeSean McCoy: 75 rush yds, 10 rec yds, 1 TD
Darren Sproles: 60 rush yds, 30 rec yds, 1 TD
Jeremy Maclin: 80 rec yds, 1 TD
Zach Ertz: 65 rec yds

Prediction: Redskins 34, Eagles 31 ^ Top

Texans at Giants - (Thorne)

Passing Game Thoughts: Considering who they’ve beaten the Texans aren’t considered to be great by any means, but after two weeks they’re one of just seven undefeated teams in the league and head into Week 3 against a team who has yet to taste victory. With several critical new pieces leading the offense, principally Coach Bill O’Brien and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, there was a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the passing game. Despite being error free through the air and undefeated where it matters most, the past weeks have taught us very little about Houston, seeing how neither of their previous opponents were expected to contend for much more than the number one draft pick in 2015. Beating two of the worst teams in the NFL simply means the Texans are not (currently) one of the worst teams in the league, but at this time last year they were also 2-0 before rattling off 14 straight losses. The team is incredibly efficient with the passing game but minimally effective, recording the third lowest yardage total through up to this point in the season despite having the third highest yards per attempt average, largely because Fitzpatrick has one of the highest completion percentages and the Texans have not surrendered a sack. In each of the first contests Johnson has made six receptions for 74 and 93 yards, and second year WR DeAndre Hopkins has been targeted five times, converting a touchdown in both games. No one else on the team has been targeted more than 5 times this season.

Last week the Giants caught a break by facing not only a run-first team but also their backup quarterback, and after a nationally televised beating they took in week one this bit of football fortune came as a pleasant surprise. It didn’t ultimately affect the outcome of the game, but at least the box score didn’t look nearly as embarrassing. Unfortunately the injuries have already started to pile up in the secondary and with the linebackers, so heading into Week 3 New York is once again hoping to be able to take advantage of any pleasant surprises that come their way. To their credit the Giants did hold backup QB Drew Stanton to less than a 50% completion rate and below the 170-yard mark all while forcing four sacks and not allowing a touchdown. No receiver gained more than 55 yards, and it took the leading pass catcher ten targets (six receptions) to even break 45 yards. Fitzpatrick will likely be asked to put forth a similar effort, seeking no mistakes and throwing just enough to try to force the defense to play honest, relying on the run game and contributions from the other phases of the game to secure the victory. The Texans didn’t bring in The Amish Rifle to dazzle in the passing game, and his steady and reliable approach has served the team well through the first two games of the season.

Running Game Thoughts: Provided of course that it works Houston should send a thank you note to the Cardinals for outlining the best way to play conservatively and still find a way to go on the road and beat New York. The Texans game plan should feature a heavy dose of RB Arian Foster, with a smattering of touches from RB Alfred Blue in relief, and just enough pass attempts to prevent the Giants from blatantly stacking the box. Currently Foster is the second leading rusher in the league with 120.5 yards per game, occasionally slips out of the backfield for a short reception, and has even found the endzone once already this year. Following a 2013 season, which was marred by injury, through two games he looks as healthy as ever and the offensive line in front of him too is in the best shape they’ve been in for a number of seasons. Very little that Houston does is complicated, generally just lining up and using formations and audibles to create opportunities for the running back. The Texans aren’t particularly efficient running the football (3.8 yards per carry) but their dedication to doing so makes up for it.

Houston’s O-line execution has allowed them to control the line of scrimmage in both contests that they’ve won, and their ability to control the tempo of the game and make the most of their time of possession has worked out favorably on the scoreboard. By minimizing negative plays (no sacks, one turnover) and the Texans have been able to get away with gaining less than four yards per rush, so the biggest goal for New York should be to force third-and-long situations where Houston is encouraged to pass more frequently. By getting the offense out of its comfort zone they may finally be tested and that could lead to significant plays for the defense. Despite finishing the prior season with the worst record in the league Houston has gone through the first two weeks relatively unchallenged and it will be up to the Giants to provide the first major stumbling block of the year. New York averages 100 rushing yards surrendered per game and yet has lost by double digits in both. One area where they need to improve is in rushing touchdowns allowed; with three already this season only three other teams have surrendered more scores in the ground game.

Projections:
Ryan Fitzpatrick: 185 pass yds
Arian Foster: 110 rush yds, 10 rec yds, 1 TD
Alfred Blue: 15 rush yds
Andre Johnson: 70 rec yds
DeAndre Hopkins: 45 rec yds

Passing Game Thoughts: Picking up where he left off last season, QB Eli Manning has gone exactly 14 minutes and 11 seconds of game time this year with more touchdowns than interceptions. Barring a phenomenal performance or the team finally coming together and executing in the new offense, that time is unlikely to increase very much in Week 3. The offense has looked discombobulated as a whole and the man under center isn’t doing much to provide any stability. Through two games only three pass catchers have gained more than 40 yards and just one of those is a receiver. Leading the way is TE Larry Donnell with 12 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown, then comes RB Rashad Jennings with eight catches for 95 yards, and finally there is WR Victor Cruz with seven catches for 84 yards; three more have between 25 and 40 receiving yards with one combined touchdown. Of the 12 receptions that Donnell has, all but one has resulted in either a touchdown or a first down as he is quickly establishing himself as the most reliable target for Manning. Until the offense begins to operate as expected very little else can be said of the Giants other than they’ve been known to start slow but often have a way of finding their rhythm in time to make a playoff run, and with the rest of the NFC East facing their own struggles that may mean New York has another few weeks to resolve their many issues.

Seeing as how they’ve given up 504 yards in two weeks against bad opponents, Houston may be the ideal team for the Giants to face in Week 3 as they struggle to learn and implement the offense that Coordinator Ben McAdoo brought to New York this off-season. Unfortunately, even with all of those yards surrendered the Texans have only yielded one touchdown, but they’ve forced two interceptions and have recorded three sacks. The disruptive presence of DE J.J. Watt, rookie OLB Jadeveon Clowney, and ILB Brian Cushing has generated a great deal of pressure for opposing quarterbacks even if those don’t show up in the box score. Taking keys from the 2013 defensive player of the year, Houston has found a way to affect the play of the quarterback even if they aren’t bringing him to the ground. Already suffering four sacks the year, New York will be hard pressed not to see that total increase, and Manning will almost certainly be feeling the presence of the Texans front seven regardless of what the sack total is or isn’t at the end of the game. Behind the pass rushers the Houston secondary is giving up a nearly 71% completion rate to opposing quarterbacks, so those times when the Giants offensive line is able to establish a solid pocket there will be opportunities for big plays from the New York pass catchers.

Running Game Thoughts: The offensive line struggles that have plagued the aerial attack aren’t doing any favors for the ground game either. New York is averaging only 67 rushing yards per game, the fourth worst in the league. The vast majority of touches and yardage belong to RB Rashad Jennings, and other than sporadic contribution from rookie RB Andre Williams the Giants have almost zero other production on the ground. Between his rushing and receiving totals Jennings has scored once and averaged over 100 yards per game, though less than 54% of his total yards come from the rushing attack. Behind an inconsistent O-line the ball carrier is rarely given a clean running lane, resulting in a 3.2 yard per carry average for the starter and only half of that for the backup. The Giants are neither a high volume nor high efficiency rushing offense, so whatever is gained in the running game is hard earned and frequently obtained only a handful of yards at a time. The inability to establish the run has led to, or at least stemmed from, the other deficiencies with the offense, and in a tragic chicken-or-the-egg sort of scenario it is hard to determine which aspect of the team can be corrected most readily.

Houston has faced fewer rushing attempts than all but five other teams but despite these limited opportunities more than half of the league has given up fewer yards in the running game. Statistically, no team yields more yards per rushing attempt than the Texans, paving the way for New York to lean on the running game and potentially take the ball out of Manning’s hands as needed. In both games this season Houston has given up at least 100 yards and a touchdown, with the opposing team averaging at least five yards per carry. The Texans front seven is gaining a reputation for being tough on pass protection but they’ve done little to be feared in the running game. Week three ought to be New York’s best opportunity thus far to establish the rushing attack and use that as a basis for solidifying the rest of the offense. If nothing else the ability to control time of possession will be a good help to their defense, who after several early injuries is already growing dangerously thin at multiple positions.

Projections:
Eli Manning: 210 pass yds, 1 INT
Rashad Jennings: 75 rush yds, 30 rec yds, 1 TD
Andre Williams: 20 rush yds
Victor Cruz: 50 rec yds
Rueben Randle: 35 rec yds
Larry Donnell: 75 rec yds

Prediction: Texans 16, Giants 13 ^ Top

Raiders at Patriots - (Thorne)

Passing Game Thoughts: To his credit QB Derek Carr has done as well as could be expected of a rookie leading one of the least successful franchises of the past decade. After a slow start where he threw for just 151 yards he followed that up in week two with a 263-yard performance, though he did throw the first two interceptions of his career also. In two games Carr as attempted 74 passes, compared to only 32 team rushing attempts, so the rookie has as more responsibility for his team’s success than nearly every other signal caller in the NFL. Unfortunately for all of the passes he’s asked to attempt the team doesn’t have very many quality receiving options available. The top receiver on the team is undoubtedly WR James Jones, whose slow first game (34 yards) was bolstered with a touchdown reception and whose second game (112 yards) was elevated into fantasy worthiness with another score. Provided that the Raiders are likely to play from behind on a regular basis and that Jones is unquestionably the top receiver in Oakland, he has the potential every week to record results that may entice fantasy owners. If personal pride is not an issue and garbage time points are just as valuable as all the others, Jones deserves to be on the fantasy radar. Because of his standout status on the team he is likely to draw the majority of the opponent’s coverage and runs the risk of being all but shut out if that is the team’s focus.

Although it was great to see signs of life from the Oakland offense, Jones having a big game the week prior to playing the Patriots probably means that he’ll draw the coverage of CB Darrelle Revis all game long. Aspiring to reclaim the title of best cornerback in the league, Revis will look to shut out whomever it is that he is assigned to cover. From the team’s perspective the Raiders don’t have enough viable offensive weapons to warrant extra attention being paid to a single player, especially if the secondary feels they can win the one-on-one matchups across the board. Through two games New England is averaging only 166 passing yards against and a meager five yards gained per attempt. They’ve recorded seven sacks and five interceptions, and no one in the league has held opposing quarterbacks to a lower completion percentage. On paper the Week 3 matchup favors the home team and on the field the mismatch may be even more favorable. If Jones is lost on Revis Island then Carr will be forced to spread the ball around between receivers who average fewer than 30 yards per game and a tight end who is ever so slightly better, and that sort of in-game responsibility is traditionally for too much for any rookie to have to handle.

Running Game Thoughts: To date the all-veteran backfield experiment in Oakland has yet to pay dividends. The established starter RB Maurice Jones-Drew missed Week 2 because of a hand injury and his status for Week 3 has yet to be determined. With him out the plan of a timeshare with RB Darren McFadden gets thrown out the window. As the primary ball carrier in Week 2, McFadden managed just 37 yards on 12 carries, nearly doubling that total with 31 receiving yards on two catches. He did however score a touchdown to salvage the day for any fantasy owners bold enough to start him. In Week 1 against a stout rush defense MoJo and Run DMC combined for 26 yards on 13 carries while adding another 18 on three receptions. The leading rusher in Oakland however is actually the rookie quarterback who leads the team with 57 yards on the ground, 41 of which were gained on a single play in Week 2. The Raiders have shown an aversion to running the ball, recording the fewest number of rushing attempts in the NFL, and even when they do choose to hand the ball off the gains are frequently disappointing. Combined the Oakland running backs aren’t worth starting in most leagues, and separate they’re hardly worth owning expect for in the deepest of leagues or most desperate of situations.

Even after holding their Week 2 opponent to 54 rushing yards on 19 attempts, New England still ranks in the bottom half of the league for run defenses because of their terrible showing in Week 1 where they gave up 193 yards on 35 carries to a pair of running backs. In Week 2 they were aided by the absence of the team’s star ball carrier and the limited effectiveness of their passing game, but the Patriots run stoppers showed up in a big way by limiting called running plays to go for no more than seven yards and allowing the starting running back to average just 2.8 yards per carry. The true abilities of the defense likely lie somewhere between the performances of the two games, where they were aided by absences in the second and were worn down by the heat and humidity in the first. With the Week 3 contest being played in Foxboro and the Raiders backfield consisting of veteran backs with existing injury concerns, the most likely outcome is another solid performance against the run from a New England front seven who may overachieve for the second week in a row.

Projections:
Derek Carr: 145 pass yds, 1 TD, 3 INTs, 30 rush yds
Darren McFadden: 30 rush yds, 10 rec yds
James Jones: 40 rec yds
Rod Streater: 25 rec yds
Mychal Rivera: 35 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: With respect to recent history New England as led by QB Tom Brady has not been statistically this deficient in a long while, perhaps ever. After two games only five teams have gained fewer passing yards, only one has a worse completion percentage, and no one has a lower mark for yards gained per attempt. The team has suffered five sacks and has only scored two passing touchdowns, and about the only thing that hasn’t gone wrong is that Brady has not thrown an interception. Neither of their opponents this season have been tough against the pass, and most would say that they’re actually poor in defending through the air. Because Bill Belichick is still the coach and Brady is still the quarterback much of the football world believes it’s only a matter of time until the ship is righted and order is returned to the fantasy universe, but with the Patriots growing desire to run the ball the fantasy ceiling for Brady may be as low as it’s ever been. For the receivers, WR Julian Edelman has played incredibly well, averaging almost 90 receiving yards per game, occasionally contributing in the run game, and recording a touchdown. Returning from injury TE Rob Gronkowski is the second leading pass catcher, and considering his snaps are being severely limited his ability to contribute is largely underrepresented and should only continue to increase as the season goes on.

A cursory overview of the yardage surrendered by Oakland against the pass would suggest that they’re one of the top defenses in the league. This of course is colored by the absurd amount of rushing yards that they concede and the observation that teams are more likely to run the ball to shorten the game rather than continuing to pass and running up the score. Historically Belichick has made it habit to score early and often on lesser opponents, and then at some point after halftime deciding that enough is enough and slowing down the offense. Considering the funk that Brady and company have been in recently, if Oakland is unable to slow the Patriots passing game early the contest could be well out of hand by the time the halftime whistle blows. Quarterbacks facing the Raiders have the highest completion percentage of any in the league and in two games the defense has only recorded two sacks. Oakland has given up two touchdowns to each of the quarterbacks they’ve faced, and if the New England offense finds its rhythm then the defense will be luck to hold Brady to only two scores.

Running Game Thoughts: More than most teams the game plan for New England can change drastically from week to week, including not only what facet of the offense to focus on but also who will be filling what specific role. In Week 1, running backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen split carries and receptions between themselves nearly evenly, and on the day Vereen made the most out of his touches. In Week 2, Ridley was the primary ball carrier and Vereen was made available primarily in relief duties and saw one target in the passing game whereas Ridley got none. Preseason insights suggested that Ridley would be the bell cow and Vereen would be used in a variety of complimentary ways, and despite a more even split in the first week, this more recent week more directly aligns with prior wisdom and thus becomes the new default point of comparison. For the time being Vereen will likely have more impressive averages because he is tougher for defenses to matchup against, but Ridley will receive most of the work in the more traditional running back role. Exclusive of an injury, fantasy owners of either Ridley or Vereen should hope for both to perform well, because it is the success of them both which causes defenses such difficulty in stopping either.

Allowing a 100-yard rusher, a 40-yard rusher, and a touchdown in back to back weeks is one of the ways to find a team quickly headed for the bottom of the rushing defense rankings. In only two games the Raiders have allowed 400 rushing yards, nearly 50 more than the next worst team, and double that of 12 others. In fact, the top three teams haven’t combined to surrender 400 rushing yards in two weeks. Oakland opened the season against a team whose backfield is structured similarly to New England; in that contest the two running backs combined for 193 total yards and two touchdowns on 28 touches. The following week they gave up nearly 140 yards plus one touchdown to one runner and the rest of the team combined for another 50 more yards. Regardless of how New England chooses to share touches in Week 3, as long as the offensive line is able to get any sort of push against the Raiders front seven, whoever is given the opportunity to carry the ball should see plenty of success in the running game.

Projections:
Tom Brady: 215 pass yds, 2 TDs
Stevan Ridley: 90 rush yds, 2 TDs
Shane Vereen: 65 rush yds, 25 rec yds, 1 TD
Julian Edelman: 80 rec yds, 10 rush yds, 1 TD
Rob Gronkowski: 55 rec yds, 1 TD

Prediction: Patriots 35, Raiders 6 ^ Top

Chiefs at Dolphins - (Thorne)

Passing Game Thoughts: The time has come for QB Alex Smith to prove he’s worth the $68 million extension he signed in the preseason. Last week the Chiefs saw their star running back Jamal Charles go down with a high ankle sprain, and although he’s not been declared out, history suggests that those types of injuries take multiple weeks to fully recover. In 2013 Charles was the all-everything offensive player for Kansas City, recording the second most total yards from scrimmage in the NFL. His contributions to the passing game will be missed even if he can be temporarily replaced, meaning that tight ends Anthony Fasano and Travis Kelce will have more of a loan to shoulder and WR Dwayne Bowe will have to start performing like the top receiver he’s supposed to be. After missing the first game Bowe returned last week to make three catches on seven targets, totaling 40 yards and three first downs. He wasn’t involved frequently, but when he was his contribution led to first downs and valuable yards. WR Donnie Avery recorded 84 yards on seven receptions in Week 1 with Bowe on the field, but last week with him back in the lineup he was relegated to 14 yards on three catches.

In a losing effort Week 2, Miami allowed the Bills to gain over 200 passing yards, recorded no sacks or interceptions, yielded a touchdown, and conceded more than 115 yards to a rookie receiver. After stifling the Patriots at the beginning of the season and coming away with a victory much more was expect last week, so now they head back home looking for redemption against a struggling Chiefs offense who is going to be without their starting running back. The mantra for Kansas City has largely been to win the game with defense and the ground game, and with those two areas hobbled by injuries the Dolphins may be able to force the Chiefs out of their comfort zone and call on Smith to dictate the game. One factor working in their favor is that Miami is allowing the second lowest completion percentage for opposing quarterbacks, meaning that on Sunday the Chiefs may have at attempt additional passes in order to make the gains that they need, giving the Dolphins additional chances to affect the play at the line of scrimmage or disrupt the pass from the secondary.

Running Game Thoughts: Over the past two seasons RB Jamaal Charles has missed most or all of three games, and in his place RB Knile Davis has averaged more than 22 carries, 97 total yards, and two touchdowns per contest. The second year man doesn’t have the elite upside that Charles does, but the Chiefs have no hesitation when it comes to Davis operating as their featured back. The team is unquestionably run oriented and assuming that this isn’t going to change dramatically Davis should be in line for a heavy workload on Sunday quite similar to what he saw in Week 2 where he total 105 total yards on 28 touches and scored two touchdowns. Even though Kansas City averages right at 100 rushing yards per game, the involvement of their running backs out of the backfield bolsters their totals and gives them extra opportunities to break a big play. As of Thursday, Davis was the only tailback not listed on the injury report, pointing even more to him receiving the vast majority of touches on Sunday.

Even though the word is generally viewed unfavorably, no negative connotation should be inferred when the Dolphins run defense is considered as average. Hovering right around the middle of league rankings in yards allowed per game and per attempt, rushes faced, and touchdowns conceded, through two games Miami is better than about half the league in every major category. With a 1-1 record it also makes sense that they’re behind the best teams in the league in nearly all categories as well, so them being right in the middle of everything fits quite reasonably. The team gives up 101 yards per game and 3.8 per carry despite having faced two teams who recorded significantly better than that in their other matchup. With the exception of one play in each contest the Dolphins have not allowed a rush of greater than 11 yards, forcing their opponents to commit to the run game if they’re going to earn any appreciable yards or impact the game on the ground. This sets the stage for a tough matchup with a Kansas City team who is dedicated to the run. While they may only come three or four yards at a time the Chiefs will almost certainly set out to control the game by running the ball, so if Miami is able to load up against the run and limit those gains that will be the easiest way for them to win the game.

Projections:
Alex Smith: 195 pass yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Knile Davis: 85 rush yds, 10 rec yds, 1 TD
Dwayne Bowe: 50 rec yds
Anthony Fasano: 45 rec yds
Travis Kelce: 70 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: Compared to last year QB Ryan Tannehill and the Miami passing game are already in a much better position. After giving up more sacks than every other team, the 2014 Dolphins have given up five through two games, putting them on the good side of the league average. Where they continue to struggle is in yards gained and especially in yards per attempt. Tannehill is completing just 60.5% of his passes and still has not improved when going deep; the longest completion of the season has been only 24 yards, the shortest mark of any NFL team. Perhaps the biggest change for this year is that WR Mike Wallace is now contributing at a relevant level, averaging 68.5 yards and a touchdown per game. He’s be targeted the most, has the most receptions, the most touchdowns, and has gained the most receiving yards on the team. Until others establish themselves as reliable options or defenses roll coverage to Wallace in an attempt to minimize his impact on the game, the speedy receiver is the only Dolphins fantasy receiver worth owning.

After being embarrassed at home in Week 1 the Chiefs traveled to Denver to square off against the reigning passing leader, and although they gave up three touchdowns through the air they only surrendered 242 passing yards and were able to force one sack. Coming into last week few expected Kansas City to be able to prevent their opponent from having a monster day, so the seven point scoring differential and efficient but uninspiring stat line came as quite a surprise. They allowed completions to only five different receivers, held the tight end and running back positions relatively in check, and aside from giving up 108 yards to one receiver the Chiefs played solid defense. In Week 3 their opponent will be significantly less talented in the passing game, so if Kansas City can match their efforts from the previous matchup they’ll do incredibly well against the Dolphins. Statistics say that the Chiefs are average at best against the pass, but their performance against one of the best aerial attacks in the league suggests there’s more to Kansas City than what they’ve shown so far on defense.

Running Game Thoughts: When the Dolphins won in Week 1 they rushed 38 times and threw only 32. In their Week 2 loss they ran 21 times and passed 49. Furthermore, their per-carry yardage average was 4.5 in victory and 3.8 in week defeat. On the whole Miami is better the more they run and the outcome of the game favors them more frequently when the ball is kept in the hands of their running backs and not with their quarterback. Unfortunately the backfield duo which found success in the opening game has been disrupted, with RB Knowshon Moreno dislocating his elbow early in Week 2, leaving RB Lamar Miller as the primary ball carrier. The latest reports suggest that Moreno is expected to miss at least four weeks. In relief rookie RB Damien Williams received five touches last week and gained 19 yards, doing his part to push the team total to the pedestrian 80 they recorded. With minimal competition behind him Miller should see the bulk of the backfield work on Sunday, but as the less inspiring of the former-duo fantasy expectations for him should be kept at a reasonable level.

One of the keys to success for Kansas City seems to be time of possession, whereas in game one they had the ball for barely over 22 minutes and lost handily to a mediocre team, in game two they were within a touchdown of one of the best teams in the league after controlling the ball for more than 36 minutes. While the offense plays a significant role in controlling the clock, the Chiefs defense also contributes to how many opportunities the offense is given and thus what they’re able to do with them. They gave up over 400 offensive yards in the opening game and showed little fight on either side of the ball, but then tightened up a bit and allowed only 380 to a much better opponent, hanging in the game until the final whistle. Kansas City gives up 125 rushing yards per contest but has yet to concede a touchdown on the ground and the longest rush they’ve surrendered is only 23 yards. This matchup between the Dolphins run game and the Chiefs rush defense will go a long way to determining the outcome of this Week 3 contest which features a pair backup running backs complemented by two lackluster passing attacks.

Projections:
Ryan Tannehill: 190 pass yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Lamar Miller: 75 rush yds, 10 rec yds
Mike Wallace: 60 rec yds, 1 TD
Brian Hartline: 25 rec yds
Charles Clay: 30 rec yds

Prediction: Chiefs 14, Dolphins 13 ^ Top

Bears at Jets - (Thorne)

Passing Game Thoughts: After struggling to survive behind a dysfunctional offensive line for much of last season QB Jay Cutler seems to finally have a quintet of pass protectors that he can trust. Through two games the Bears have surrendered only three sacks, which is more than just seven other teams. In Week 1 Cutler tosses two interceptions in an upset loss by the Bills, but the following week he took Chicago on the road and threw four touchdowns and no picks against the 49ers in an upset of their own. Already this season both starting wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery have been dealing with injuries, and despite being taken out for portions of game one neither missed last week and they seem on track to be even closer to full health this weekend. The pair are just two of four Bears pass catchers who have recorded 100 yards already this season, the others being TE Martellus Bennett and RB Matt Forte. All four have between 8-15 receptions on 12-20 targets, with four or more first downs each and at least 20 yards after the catch. In the redzone Cutler has favored Marshall (4) and Bennett (2) for all six if his touchdowns, but the other two are ready and able to take advantage of whatever opportunities are presented by the defense if Marshall or Bennett begin to draw more coverage.

This year so far the Jets have faced a rookie quarterback making his NFL debut and a former NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion quarterback; in the first game they gave up only 151 passing yards and in the second they were gouged for 346. In both situations they gave up two or more touchdowns, did not force an interception, and recorded one sack for approximately every 75 yards they surrendered. On average they yield over 220 passing yards with 2.5 touchdowns, three sacks, and no interceptions. Cutler and company are much closer to being Super Bowl contenders than they are to playing like rookies, so the Jets are facing another tough matchup and can reasonably expect their season totals to continue to trend in the wrong direction. The strength of the New York defense is their front seven, so without forcing pressure on a consistent basis it’s likely that the secondary will be left susceptible to the pass catchers running through it. The Bears quarterback does have a history of making questionable decisions at times and the offensive line has demonstrated that it is indeed beatable, but barring a catastrophic collapse from both parties the offence will come out throwing until the Jets force them to stop.

Running Game Thoughts: Under Coach Marc Trestman the Bears have adopted a pass-first philosophy and have largely turned away from their traditional stout rushing attack. Last year was his first season in charge and the team certainly went through its growing pains, but toward then end of the season and on into year two, Chicago seems to be firing on all cylinders offensively and is comfortable living and dying by their quarterback. In turn that has resulted in fewer rushes for workhorse RB Matt Forte but it has necessitated getting him the ball in space our out of the backfield, where he can use his quickness to take advantage of linebackers who are frequently matched up against him. Even with significantly fewer touches on the ground, Forte is still averaging over 100 yards from scrimmage per game and his 11 first downs are most on the team. The only thing he hasn’t done this year is find the endzone, but only two games into 2014 it is not yet time to panic about his lack of scoring opportunities. All but one planned running play has gone to Forte, and as long as he’s the one and only rushing option in Chicago he’ll continue to have fantasy value regardless of the particular role he’s asked to fill.

Looking to Week 3 as an opportunity to break his currently scoring drought isn’t particularly likely, considering how New York allows just 52.5 rushing yards per game and has yet to yield a touchdown. The Jets defense is built from the D-line backward, focusing on stopping the run and trying to create opportunities in pass defense. In essence, the Bears are exactly the opposite of what New York is built to defend as their offense flows through the quarterback and the receivers rather than through the ball carrier. Other than to keep the defense honest Chicago should have very little interest in trying to test the strength of the run defense, as the Jets rank as the stingiest in yards allowed and is the only team whose opponents have averaged less than three yards per carry and have not scored a rushing touchdown. Excluding a handful of quarterback scrambles, New York has yielded only 78 rushing yards on 31 attempts, barely more than 2.5 yards per designed carry. At that rate it would take Forte at least 20 carries to reach his season average, and quite plainly Chicago has better things to do with their offensive possessions than to try to bolster their rushing stats.

Projections:
Jay Cutler: 265 pass yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Matt Forte: 35 rush yds, 40 rec yds
Brandon Marshall: 75 rec yds, 1 TD
Alshon Jeffery: 80 rec yds, 1 TD
Martellus Bennett: 65 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: Although grumblings and pessimism suggest otherwise, the Jets do not have the worst passing attack in the league, at least on paper. Second year QB Geno Smith improved steadily throughout the latter half of his rookie campaign and he has rewarded New York’s faith in him by elevating the team to the point where are three others between them and the bottom of the charts. They’re not last in any statistical category and even the much maligned receiving corps is more balanced than at least one other team, so while the conservative offense lacks the aerial fireworks of today’s NFL they’re still putting on a better show than several other passing attacks. From a fantasy perspective these improvements are all but inconsequential and even the pass catchers on the team hardly warrant more than a footnote in most weekly wrap-ups. Only WR Eric Decker consistently sees enough targets to be seen as anything more than touchdown-or-bust, but with his hamstring injury (Questionable) the team is unsure if he’ll be able to go this week. The good news for the team is that they play Monday and that gives Decker an extra day to try to heal enough to be effective come game time, though for fantasy players this uncertainty causes an incredible headache as by the time Monday comes around there will be few viable replacements if he can’t play or is expected to be limited in the game.

Much like how the strength of the offensive strength of the Bears lines up with the defensive weakness of the Jets, New York too will have a distinct advantage in one facet of the game but the passing attack is most certainly not it. Chicago has benefited by playing two teams who are sub-par through the air and their defensive statistics are inflated accordingly. They’re not bad against the pass but they’re likely not as good as the numbers and rankings would suggest. Currently sitting just inside the top ten of several defensive passing categories the Bears may use the Monday night game as an opportunity to skew the numbers further in their favor. Despite the impressive yardage, interception, and sack totals the secondary is definitely beatable if the quarterback us willing to challenge them and doesn’t make poor decisions in the passing game. Similar to the Bears offense rushing only sparingly New York will probably elect to shy away from the passing game in favor of a more easily exploitable point of attack.

Running Game Thoughts: Not only do the Jets have the best run defense unit in the league they’re also leading in rushing offense, averaging an absurd 179 yards per game on the ground. Aided by a 71-yard run in Week 1 New York is picking up better than five yards per carry and has scored more rushing touchdowns than 26 other teams. Behind the ball carriers who share a first name, running backs Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory, the Jets aim to control the line of scrimmage and wear down opposing defenses but utilizing the rushing attack early and often. Offensive duties in the ground and pound system have been split nearly evenly between Johnson and Ivory, with the former having a two carry and five-reception advantage on the latter. Of the two backs Johnson is more dynamic and tends to be better in space whereas Ivory is a more violent runner better utilized between the tackles, but as both have previously been every-down backs they can each succeed in either role, making it increasingly hard for the defense to key in on one verses the other. To date Ivory has been the better fantasy back, recording 148 total yards and two touchdowns compared to 112 and one score for Johnson, but if you were to exclude a late game 71 yard touchdown run from Ivory the tables would be turned entirely.

Against two strong rushing teams the Bears have done well enough to keep the game close and give their offense an opportunity to win the game in the final quarter; once they succeeded and once they did not, but nonetheless the opportunity was there. Along the way Chicago has averaged 160 rushing yards against per game but they’ve given up only one rushing touchdown in each contest. By all accounts the Jets have the ability to surpass each of those marks, and with the tandem of Johnson and Ivory each at full strength it’s hard to imagine that they’ll fall short of doing so. Because the Bears front seven isn’t dominant, Johnson is in a position to see more success than he has previously and Ivory’s tough-nosed running ability may be less called on than in the first two games. Chicago has previously faced a fearsome backfield duo from the AFC East and that contest didn’t end well, ultimately allowing a big run in overtime, which would set up a game-winning field goal. The difference this time may be the lack of a viable passing threat and thus an increased ability to stack the box against the run.

Projections:
Geno Smith: 155 pass yds, 1 INT, 20 rush yds
Chris Johnson: 75 rush yds, 10 rec yds, 1 TD
Chris Ivory: 60 rush yds, 1 TD
Eric Decker: 65 rec yds
Jeff Cumberland: 30 rec yds

Prediction: Bears 24, Jets 17 ^ Top

Titans at Bengals - (Marcoccio)

Passing Game Thoughts: Tennessee Titans fans have been waiting for a breakout season from Jake Locker since he was drafted with the eighth overall pick of the 2011 NFL draft. His inability to stay healthy has been the biggest obstacle, but Locker’s lack of accuracy has also held back the offense. Heading into the season, Locker had a career 57.2percent completion rate, and through two games of his fourth NFL season, he’s only completing 59.7percent of his passes. The Titans have a good collection of pass catchers at the wide receiver position in savvy veteran Nate Washington, the shifty Kendall Wright and the athletic Justin Hunter. The team has also received tremendous production from former 49ers tight end Delanie Walker. Walker has 13 catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns, showing tremendous speed and reliable hands. Walker has become Locker’s favorite target, but the team will need to attack more down the field if it wants to steal a road win against one of the league’s better defenses.

The Bengals finished the 2013 season as the fifth-ranked pass defense, allowing 209 yards per game and 22 touchdown passes on the season. Through two weeks this season, the team is allowing 270.5 yards per game, but most of those yards have come in the second half of games when the Ravens and Falcons were attempting to come from behind. Locker, who is prone to mistakes, must be careful against a defense that has four interceptions on the season and has only allowed two passing touchdowns.

Running Game Thoughts: Last week, the Bengals faced Atlanta, a team that used four different backs in the backfield, and this week they face another potential four-headed RBBC. Veteran Shonn Greene has led the way for the Titans, but Dexter McCluster, rookie Bishop Sankey and even ancient return-man Leon Washington have seen snaps in the backfield. The expectations were that Sankey, the first running back selected in the NFL Draft, would be the lead back, but so far Head Coach Ken Whisenhut has deferred to the steady veteran Greene. Greene is averaging 5.6 yards per carry, so don’t expect Whisenhut to go away from him anytime soon. Greene is a North-South power runner with decent straight-line speed but offers little wiggle or pass-catching ability. McCluster has been used as the third-down back but left last week’s game wearing a protective boot. Sankey is the type of back that is solid all around but doesn’t excel in any aspect of the game; he should, however, eventually prove to be the best option in this backfield.

The Bengals’ run defense has once again been outstanding. It’s allowed only 95.5 ypg and one rushing touchdown through the first two weeks. There is little value in starting a running back from the Titans this week.

Projections:
Jake Locker: 205 pass yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 25 rush yds, 1 TD
Shonn Greene: 50 rush yds
Bishop Sankey: 25 rush yds, 25 rec yds
Justin Hunter: 65 rec yds, 1 TD
Kendall Wright: 40 rec yds
Nate Washington: 20 rec yds
Delanie Walker: 40 rec yds

Passing Game Thoughts: Andy Dalton has efficiently led the Bengals to a 2-0 record, throwing for 553 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. It was an impressive effort last week as the team was without A.J. Green, who left with a toe injury in the first quarter, and tight end Tyler Eifert. Green’s injury isn’t considered major, but there is a good chance he sits this week, giving him two full weeks of rest with the Bengals having a Week 4 bye. In his place, Mohammad Sanu, who was only starting due to Marvin Jones being out for the first six weeks, grabbed a 76-yard touchdown and is likely to see heavy targets in Week 3.

The Titans have the league’s top passing defense, allowing only 163 yards per game and two touchdown passes. The team held Alex Smith and Tony Romo in check and should do well against a Bengals team that is missing its top three talents in the passing game. Expect the Bengals to take the air out of the ball this week.

Running Game Thoughts: A week after rookie Jeremy Hill saw only four touches; he was given the ball 15 times and rushed for 74 yards and a score. He also added two catches for 22 yards. Hill was still out-touched 32 to 17 by Giovanni Bernard, but it was a step in the right direction. Bernard rushed 27 times for 90 yards and a score while also adding five catches for 79 yards. Hue Jackson insisted all offseason that the Bengals would run the ball much more than they did in 2013, and the loss of Green made that even more of a necessity. Expect a ground-heavy gameplan against a run defense that was gashed by DeMarco Murray and the Cowboys last week.

The Titans gave up 220 yards on the ground last week. They had no answer for the hard=charging Murray, who consistently ran over and dragged defensive players during the game. Expect the unit to be heavily tested in Week 3 on the road.

Projections:
Andy Dalton: 255 pass yds, 1 TD, 5 rush yds
Jeremy Hill: 65 rush yds, 1 TD, 10 rec yds
Giovani Bernard: 95 rush yds, 1 TD, 45 rec yds
Brandon Tate: 45 rec yds
Mohamed Sanu: 80 rec yds
Jermaine Gresham: 40 rec yds, 1 TD

Prediction: Bengals 27, Titans 17 ^ Top

Ravens at Browns - (Marcoccio)

Passing Game Thoughts: Quarterback Joe Flacco was efficient in leading the Ravens to an important win over their hated division rival on Thursday Night. Flacco completed 21 of26 passes for 162 yards and two scores against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The offensive line, which struggled tremendously against the Bengals in Week 1, did a far better job of protecting Flacco in Week 2. Steve Smith, who scored on a long 80-yard touchdown in Week 1, continued to look like he drank out of the fountain of youth, hauling in six catches for 71 yards in Week 2. Smith, Sr. has been running as the X receiver in Gary Kubiak’s passing offense. Many predicted that vital role would be occupied by Torrey Smith. Torrey Smith has been non-existent in the offense, with only four catches for 60 yards through two games. Following Week 1, quarterback Flacco stated to the press that he thought Torrey Smith would catch over 100 balls this season, and his owners have to hope Flacco tries to make that happen over the last 14 games. Tight end Dennis Pitta was the focus of the passing game in Week 1 but was quiet in Week 2. It was veteran tight end Owen Daniels who instead found himself on the receiving end of both of Flacco’s touchdown passes. Fantasy owners would be wise not to chase those points, as this was likely a fluky game for Daniels. Daniels is at best fourth in the pecking order for targets in this offense, despite being familiar with Kubiak’s offense from their time together in Houston.

The Steelers moved the ball well through the air against Cleveland, but the Browns surprisingly shut down the high-flying Saints offense for much of Week 2. Only tight end Jimmy Graham did much damage against the Cleveland secondary. Through two weeks, the Browns are allowing 299.5 yards per game and three passing touchdowns. It will be interesting to see which Smith the Browns put Joe Haden on. If it’s Steve Smith, Sr., this just may be the week Torrey Smith breaks out in 2014.

Running Game Thoughts: After being benched in Week 1, following a first half fumble, it was clear Bernard Pierce is now the team’s feature back, while veteran Justin Forsett occupies the third-down, change-of-pace role. Pittsburgh was doing a good job bottling up the Ravens running game until a few long late fourth-quarter runs padded the stats of both Pierce and Forsett. Pierce rushed 22 times for 96 yards, running hard between the tackles. He did, however, fail to convert on any of his four carries inside the Steelers five-yard line. The Steelers did appear to sell out to stop the run with the goal-line behind their backs, which allowed Owen Daniels to get so open on his touchdown catches. Forsett rushed eight times for 56 yards, including a 41-yard rush at the end of the game, where he was tripped up just short of the goal-line. Expect the same mixture of carries going forward as it’s the scenario that best meets each back’s skill set.

Cleveland has a strong front seven, but they were gashed for 109 yards by Le’Veon Bell in Week 1 and allowed Mark Ingram to gain 83 yards in Week 2. On the season, the Browns are giving up 150.5 yards per game with three scores on the ground. The Ravens will look to add to those totals.

Projections:
Joe Flacco: 245 pass yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 5 rush yd
Bernard Pierce: 85 rush yds, 1 TD, 10 rec yds
Justin Forsett: 45 rush yds, 35 rec yards
Torrey Smith: 85 rec yds, 1 TD
Steve Smith: 55 rec yds
Dennis Pitta: 40 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: If Brian Hoyer could have pulled off that near comeback win over the Steelers in Week 1, he would have already achieved legendary status amongst the Cleveland faithful by following it up with an upset last-minute victory over the New Orleans Saints. Hoyer finished last week’s game with 204 yards and a touchdown. Hoyer has limited arm strength, which does not allow him to challenge teams downfield or on outside routes, but he’s a fiery leader and competent enough for a team that has an outstanding running game and solid defense like the Browns. Without receiver Josh Gordon and tight end Jordan Cameron, the team is lacking any real threats in the passing game, which also works against Hoyer. Former Cowboy Miles Austin caught a three-yard touchdown, included in his six receptions for 44 yards. The diminutive Andrew Hawkins saw 12 targets and through two weeks has seen 22 targets. Hawkins is quick and sure-handed, and if he continues catching Brian Hoyer’s eye, he should be a solid WR3 in PPR leagues. Cameron missed the game with a shoulder injury, and his Week 3 status remains in doubt, although he practiced this week.

The Ravens allowed 230 passing yards per game and 25 touchdown passes in 2013. After allowing Andy Dalton to put up 301 yards with a touchdown they held Ben Roethlisberger (257 yards and an interception) in check last week. The Ravens will now face their third consecutive division rival, this time drawing the weakest quarterback of the bunch. If Cameron isn’t on the field, don’t expect much from the Cleveland passing attack.

Running Game Thoughts: Rookie Terrence West followed his Week 1 100 yards rushing game up with a 68-yard effort and scored his first NFL touchdown. West also added two receptions for 22 yards. West is showing a hard-nosed running style, good balance and lean during his audition as a starter. Fellow rookie Isaiah Crowell was also worked in, gaining 54 yards on 11 carries. The Browns have a solid offensive line and are looking to run the ball, and the two rookies have shown to be a solid duo while filling in for starter Ben Tate.

Projections:
Brian Hoyer: 180 pass yds 1 TD, 1 INT
Isaiah Crowell: 35 rush yds, 10 rec yds
Terrance West: 95 rush yds, 1 TD, 25 rec yds
Miles Austin: 65 rec yds
Andrew Hawkins: 60 rec yds, 1 TD
Gary Barnidge: 25 rec yds

Prediction: Ravens 27, Browns 20 ^ Top

Packers at Lions - (Marcoccio)

Passing Game Thoughts: Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense got off to a slow start during the first half of last week’s game due to the pressure applied by the Jets’ front seven, but it was only a matter of time until they were able to exploit the Jets’ poor secondary. Rodgers finished the game with 346 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Jordy Nelson dominated the Jets’ cornerbacks to the tune of 209 yards and a touchdown. Nelson’s size and speed was just too much for New York’s beleaguered secondary. Nelson has been targeted 30 times through the first two games of the season, and his high target numbers aren’t likely to change anytime soon. Jarrett Boykin, who was sacrificed on the altar of Richard Sherman in Week 1, struggled in Week 2, dropping a red-zone pass which opened the door for rookie Davante Adams. Adams seized the opportunity with five catches for 50 yards, impressing Head Coach Mike McCarthy. Adams is now on the redraft radar as his talents can add a new dimension to the offense. Once again, the tight end position was a wasteland for the Packers. Perhaps that changes with the physically talented Brandon Bostick returning from injury, but right now three- or four-wide receiver sets may be the way to go for the Packers.

The Lions pass defense has held up well, allowing only 197.5 yards per game and two touchdown passes against the Giants and Panthers. The Lions have been able to take advantage of two shaky offensive lines by recording seven sacks, and for the third week in a row, will face an offensive line in shambles. Aaron Rodgers should be under duress a good part of his day in Detroit.

Running Game Thoughts: Eddie Lacy is off to a slow start this season, but in his defense, he has faced two top-10 run defenses so far. The Seahawks’ and Jets’ linemen and linebackers simply manhandled the Packers’ blockers, giving Lacy little room to run. The bad news is that Detroit boasts the second-ranked run defense in the league. Lacy has run hard, and his size and leg drive should allow him to break some tackles and potentially break some runs, despite not seeing much running room. His owners will need to exhibit some patience as his better days likely lie ahead.

Projections:
Aaron Rodgers: 315 pass yds, 3 TDs, 15 rush yds
Eddie Lacy: 45 rush yds, 25 rec yds
James Starks: 25 rush yds, 5 rec yds
Jordy Nelson: 105 rec yds, 1 TD
Randall Cobb: 75 rec yds
Davante Adams: 60 rec yds, 1 TD
Andrew Quarless: 15 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: The Lions passing game picked apart the Giants at home on the opening Monday Night of the season, but as usual, the team struggled to gain traction on the road. Matthew Stafford took four sacks against a ferocious Panthers defense and finished with 291 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception. Things will get easier this week, at home against a defense that hasn’t shown much through two weeks. Calvin Johnson had a “down” game for “Megatron” but could have added a 40-yard touchdown reception if he would have been able to hold onto the ball all the way to the ground. The “Calvin Johnson Rule” foiled him again. Golden Tate was also kept at bay by the Panthers, catching five balls for 57 yards. Expect much more production from the duo this week.

The Packers sixth-ranked pass defense (178.5 yards per game) is likely a little deceiving as it has matched up with two teams that don’t put the ball in the air much, instead preferring a run-based attack. Seattle only attempted 28 passes in Week 1, and the Jets attempted 32 passes in Week 2. The Packers haven’t generated much of a pass rush through two weeks, but the pressure they put on Geno Smith at the end of the first half did lead to an interception after they hit the quarterback in the process of throwing the ball. If the Packers’ front seven gives Stafford time to throw, it could spell serious trouble for the team.

Running Game Thoughts: Joique Bell dominated touches in the Detroit backfield, on a day where the offense struggled to move the ball. Bell had 16 touches to Reggie Bush’s eight touches. The Lions seem to see Bell as the better option carrying the ball, while preferring to use Bush more out in space. Last week, neither back was able to get in any real rhythm against a tough Panthers defense. Expect better results this week.

The Packers have been decimated by opposing runners through two weeks, allowing 176.5 yards per game and four rushing touchdowns. Only the Oakland Raiders have allowed more rushing yards.

Projections:
Matthew Stafford: 335 pass yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 15 rush yds
Joique Bell: 85 rush yds, 1 TD 35 rec yds
Reggie Bush: 45 rush yds, 55 rec yds, 1 TD
Calvin Johnson: 125 rec yds, 1 TD
Golden Tate: 55 rec yds, 1 TD
Brandon Pettigrew: 10 rec yds
Eric Ebron: 45 rec yds

Prediction: Detroit 34, Packers 27 ^ Top

Cowboys at Rams - (Caron)

Passing Game Thoughts: It has been a rough start to the season for the Dallas Cowboys passing game, specifically quarterback Tony Romo. After enjoying one of the best statistical seasons of his career in 2013, Romo has looked terrible at times in Weeks 1 and 2, throwing for a total of just 357 yards and two touchdowns. The worst part, though, was that he threw three interceptions in Week 1 against the 49ers and realistically should have thrown more. Of course, it doesn’t help that the Cowboys have been so effective running the ball as DeMarco Murray currently leads the league in rushing yardage, but there is still serious reason for concern that he and the receivers in this offense haven’t been clicking. One of the biggest shocks has to be that Romo’s usual favorite checkdown target, Jason Witten, has just 46 total yards receiving on six catches with zero touchdowns thus far. The lone bright spot in the passing game has been superstar wide receiver Dez Bryant who exploded for a 10-catch, 103-yard, one touchdown performance in Week 2 in Tennessee.

Bryant is nursing a shoulder injury which momentarily removed him of the Week 2 contest, but he is expected to play and should be in for another nice day as he goes up against a St. Louis Rams pass defense that has struggled through the early part of the season, conceding the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers through two games. Look for second-year receiver Terrance Williams to bounce back this week as well, as he was held to just two catches for 20 yards in Week 2 after a solid Week 1 saw him catch four passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. While the Cowboys are still likely to be a run-first offense as long as it’s working, don’t be surprised to see Romo pass the ball more this week than he has so far this season, as the team is still a high-powered passing attack at its core.

Running Game Thoughts: Few players are off to a better start than the NFL’s leading rusher, DeMarco Murray, whose 285 yards on the ground are 44 more than the league’s second-place rusher (Arian Foster) and over 100 yards ahead of the league’s third-place rusher (Alfred Morris). This comes as a shock to many who expected the Cowboys to be one of the league’s most pass-happy offenses this season in an effort to get the ball into the hands of playmakers like Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams. That hasn’t been the case, however, and fantasy owners of Murray have benefited from the running back’s increased workload and effectiveness running behind one of the most impressive run-blocking offensive lines in football. The Cowboys have used numerous first round NFL Draft picks on offensive linemen over the past few years and it appears to be paying off as Tennessee and even San Francisco had trouble matching up with the unit once they committed to the run. With standout defensive lineman Chris Long out due to an ankle injury, the Cowboys will almost assuredly test this mix-and-match defensive line early and often with the run. Look for Murray to touch the ball at least 20 times in this game, which makes him a must-start in all formats.

Projections:
Tony Romo: 235 pass yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
DeMarco Murray: 100 rush yds, 1 TD, 20 rec yds
Dez Bryant: 90 rec yds, 2 TD
Terrance Williams: 75 rec yds
Jason Witten: 40 rec yds

Passing Game Thoughts: There isn’t much to cheer about on offense for a second straight season as former No. 1 overall draft pick Sam Bradford is once again on the sidelines and even backup Shaun Hill is banged up with a thigh injury. With both signal callers injured, it has been Austin Davis who has stepped in and at least limited mistakes enough to earn the team a 1-1 record as they head into Week 3. Davis’ numbers haven’t been very exciting from a fantasy standpoint, however, as he has not thrown a touchdown pass yet this season while throwing one interception in the Rams’ Week 1 loss to the Vikings. In fact, no St. Louis quarterback has thrown a touchdown pass yet this season. This incompetent passing game has been largely due to the fact that no receivers on this team are particularly exciting. The only player who has really done much of interest has been wideout Brian Quick whose 173 yards and 14 catches are both team highs through the first two contests. Tight end Jared Cook has at least performed decently with eight catches for 102 yards, but that’s really nothing to be too excited about. The truth is that there really isn’t much for fantasy value in the St. Louis passing game at the moment.

But that could change this week as they host the Dallas Cowboys and one of the league’s least-skilled and most banged-up defensive units in the league. While cornerback Orlando Scandrick will be back after serving a short suspension, the rest of this secondary has been less-than-stellar and is essentially the same unit that the second-most points to opposing fantasy quarterbacks in the 2013 season. It’d be almost impossible to trust anyone in this passing game right now, but if you’re desperate, Quick and Cook may be players who could net you some decent fantasy totals in this game and maybe even sneak into the end zone.

Running Game Thoughts: Just when it looked like the Rams were ready to give a full on workload split to running backs Zac Stacy and Benny Cunningham, they give everyone a curve ball by giving Stacy 19 carries and Cunningham just six in Week 2. Stacy owners breathed a sigh of relief as the high-round fantasy pick also delivered on his first touchdown of the season while rushing for 71 yards on the day in the victory over the Buccaneers. It’s too early to really be confident that Stacy is going to continue to get that kind of workload, but it’s at least encouraging to see that the coaching staff is willing to give him a few weeks of actual in-game work to prove himself. The downside, of course, is that he looked truly awful in Week 1, at least from a fantasy standpoint, as he rushed for just 43 yards on 11 carries. Still, the fact that he played 67 percent of the snaps in Week 2 has to be at least somewhat of a sign that he’s going to hold onto this job for at least the next few weeks.

Stacy has a chance to really produce nice fantasy numbers this week as he and the Rams host a Dallas Cowboys defense that was one of the worst we’ve seen in years at stopping the run back in 2013. They allowed a total of 22 touchdowns and 2,661 total yards to the position on the year. While they haven’t been nearly that bad to start the 2014 season, it’s worth considering that the Titans only ran the ball seven times against the Cowboys for the entire game in Week 2. Look for the Rams to at least double that in Week 3, which should mean that Stacy has an opportunity to make it back-to-back weeks with a touchdown.

Projections:
Austin Davis: 220 pass yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Zac Stacy: 80 rush yds, 1 TD, 10 rec yds
Benny Cunningham: 25 rush yds, 15 rec yds
Brian Quick: 60 rec yds, 1 TD
Chris Givens: 30 rec yds
Jared Cook: 60 rec yds

Prediction: Cowboys 21, Rams 17 ^ Top

49ers at Cardinals - (Caron)

Passing Game Thoughts: A promising road win over the Cowboys in Week 1 saw Colin Kaepernick look like a potential fantasy breakout player as we headed into Week 2. Kaepernick’s 201 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions were the kind of mistake-free football that would not only help fantasy owners, but also help the 49ers as they looked to make a return to the Super Bowl this season. Then came Week 2. An ugly, mistake-filled game at home against a mediocre and broken down Chicago Bears defense. Kaepernick improved his yardage total to 248 yards, but threw just one touchdown while tossing three picks and fumbling the ball once. He looked out of rhythm and and very uncomfortable in the pocket, and his receivers suffered because of it. Tight end Vernon Davis, who left the game due to an ankle injury, caught just three passes for 39 yards after a nice Week 1 game where he had 44 yards and two touchdowns. Anquan Boldin, who had led the team with eight catches for 99 yards in Week 1, was held to just 34 yards in Week 2. Only Michael Crabtree seemed to be in sync with his quarterback as he led the team with seven catches for 82 yards and the team’s only passing touchdown for the day.

If the 49ers are going to make another deep run in the playoffs, they’re going to need this passing game to get going. It could start this Sunday as the team heads to Arizona, where the Cardinals defense has looked like a shell of its 2013 self. They’ve gone from being elite practically across the board to middle-of-the-pack in just about every area thus far. In Week 2, they allowed Eli Manning to throw for 277 yards and two scores against them and they may struggle to contain all of the weapons that the 49ers have, especially if Davis does end up playing. As of right now, most reports indicate that San Francisco will be without its star tight end, which could mean increased targets for both Boldin and Crabtree.

Running Game Thoughts: After a one week show where rookie Carlos Hyde outshined veteran Frank Gore, things returned to normal in San Francisco for Week 2 as Gore led the team with 63 yards on the ground and a touchdown while Hyde was held to zero yards on four carries for the day. There may be plans for Hyde to take over the job at some point, but for now, Gore is still the man in this offense; just as he has been for years now. Quite frankly, the entire offense still revolves around Gore’s ability to move the ball effectively on the ground and eventually allow Kaepernick, or whoever the quarterback is at the time, to catch the defense off guard for a nice play action pass.

The potential future hall-of-famer has had his fair share of big games against the Cardinals over the course of his career, but his 2013 season was kind of the tale of two games. When the teams first met in Week 6, Gore gashed the Cardinals for 101 yards on the ground. However he was held to just 14 yards on 13 carries when they met in Week 17, in Arizona. With this game being in Arizona and the Cardinals having played excellent run defense thus far this season, Gore does not necessarily make for an exciting fantasy option in this game. While the consistent production is undeniable, Gore only rushed for 100 yards in three games in 2013. Don’t look for that to happen again in this one.

Projections:
Colin Kaepernick: 210, 2 TD, 1 INT
Frank Gore: 60 rush yds, 1 TD, 10 rec yds
Carlos Hyde: 25 rush yds
Michael Crabtree: 75 rec yds, 1 TD
Anquan Boldin: 55 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: A surprise last-minute scratch of Arizona Cardinals quarterback left fantasy owners scrambling in Week 2 and the veteran signal-caller will once again be listed as “questionable” heading into Sunday afternoon’s game against the 49ers. This makes things extremely tough on fantasy owners as fellow veteran Drew Stanton gave us nothing to be excited about in relief of Palmer as he threw for just 167 yards and no touchdowns against the Giants. One positive, if you can call it that, is that Stanton did seem to look toward Larry Fitzgerald more than Palmer did in Week 1. Then again, we really can’t make much out of that as it could have just been a gameplan decision, and not Palmer himself, that made it so frustrating to be a Fitzgerald in Week 1 as the star receiver caught just one pass for 22 yards. Unfortunately, Stanton’s interest in Fitzgerald came at the expense of young receiver Michael Floyd who came out of the gates in Week 1 with a huge five catch, 119 yard performance only to be held to one catch for 19 yards in Week 2. Floyd is one of the best deep threats in all of football, but Stanton just doesn’t seem to have the same ability to get the ball down the field as Palmer did. Because of that, the trends of Stanton looking more to Fitzgerald and Palmer looking more to Floyd could very well continue going forward. Rookie wide receiver John Brown was on the field quite a bit again in Week 2, but has made just five total catches through two games and should remain on most fantasy benches, or even un-rostered, until he gets some consistency going.

No matter who the quarterback is in Week 3, they will have a tough time going up against the San Francisco 49ers and their excellent defense. Don’t be fooled by Brandon Marshall’s three-touchdown performance in Week 2 - this is still a rock solid group that humiliated Tony Romo in Week 1 and could have a field day with either Palmer or Stanton. Fitzgerald and Floyd could have themselves decent fantasy days, but try not to rely on this quarterback situation in Week 3.

Running Game Thoughts: Yet another case of embarrassing violence from an NFL player happened earlier this week when Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault for an incident that took place back in July. Dwyer has since been removed from the team’s active roster and will no longer be a fantasy consideration at least until the legal process takes its course. In the meantime, this does actually give a bit more fantasy value to Andre Ellington who could end up seeing at least a bit more goal line work than he did for the first two weeks of the season. Ellington’s 101 total yards in Week 2 against the Giants were an inspiring bit of fantasy production after an ugly Week 1 where he fumbled and only put up five total fantasy points. Ellington is now in line to take an even higher number of the team’s snaps while Stepfan Taylor may end up seeing more playing time as well in the wake of Dwyer’s suspension, albeit not enough to make himself fantasy relevant at this time.

Neither player should be too exciting for fantasy owners this week, however, as the will be up against a unit that just got done holding Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte and to 21 yards on 12 carries. If Forte couldn’t exploit this defense in a game that his team won, it will be very difficult for Ellington to do so in a game where his quarterback may very well be Drew Stanton. It’d be hard to not give Ellington a chance as a FLEX this week, but this is one of the rare matchups where you may be able to find someone better than him on your bench.

Projections:
Drew Stanton: 210 pass yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Andre Ellington: 50 rush yds, 25 rec yds
Stepfan Taylor: 25 rush yds
Larry Fitzgerald: 70 rec yds, 1 TD
Michael Floyd: 50 rec yds
John Brown: 30 rec yds

Prediction: 49ers 24, Cardinals 16 ^ Top

Broncos at Seahawks - (Caron)

Passing Game Thoughts: It’s funny to think that 511 yards and six passing touchdowns through the first two weeks of the season is a bit disappointing, but that’s just how crazy-inflated Peyton Manning’s numbers were in 2013. At this point last year, Manning had already thrown for 769 yards and a ridiculous nine touchdowns. But don’t go making it out to be something it’s not, because Manning and this offense are not slipping. In fact, despite his numbers being a little closer to planet Earth so far this season, Manning is still the No. 1 fantasy quarterback in standard scoring leagues. All that, and he’s expected to have one of his favorite weapons back this week in Wes Welker, whose suspension has been removed due to the NFL’s new drug policy. Welker will immediately step back onto the field and assume his role as the slot receiver in one of the most potent offenses in the history of football. While he may need a game or two to get his full chemistry with Manning back, both players are good enough to make things happen even if they aren’t fully in-sync quite yet.

Manning, Welker and the Denver offense will have their hands full, however, as they head to Seattle to square off against the defense that absolutely dominated them in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks, their impressive pass rush and their world class secondary gave Manning fits in that game and caused him to have one of his worst performances in recent memory. But Manning has had an entire off-season to sit and think about that one game. He is one of the smartest players ever to put on a pair of shoulder pads and it would be astonishing if he doesn’t come out and look better in this game than he did in the Super Bowl. His connection with Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and Julius Thomas has been great to start the season and this will be his chance to finally prove the doubters wrong. Don’t be surprised to see Peyton excel in this game, even if it is a tough matchup. Fantasy owners would be wise not to overthink the matchup and keep the league’s top quarterback in their lineup for Week 3.

Running Game Thoughts: Playing alongside Peyton Manning and the high-powered Denver passing game was supposed to make Montee Ball an immediate fantasy star in 2014, but through two games, the results have been a bit shaky. Although Ball did rush for a five yard per carry average in Week 2’s win over the Chiefs, his 60 yards were not what Denver fans were hoping for. That followed up a Week 1 performance against the Colts where he rushed for fewer than a three yard per carry average. Although he did sneak into the end zone in that game, it was a disappointing start to the year for those who had Ball listed as a potential breakout star. While there has been no rumors or on-field movement to sit Ball down for any other back on the roster, Denver could very well opt to come out and pass the ball 40 or more times in Week 3’s game in Seattle if Ball doesn’t start the game off with some nice running.

Seattle has allowed just 164 rushing yards through their first two games this season and they allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2013, so this isn’t exactly a great matchup for Ball and the Broncos running game. Still, the chances of Ball getting at least a few carries near the goal line in this game and every game make him a very tough player to bench, even in tough matchups like this one.

Projections:
Peyton Manning: 290 pass yds, 3 TD, 2 INT
Montee Ball: 60 rush yds, 1 TD, 10 rec yds
Demaryius Thomas: 75 rec yds, 1 TD
Julius Thomas: 50 rec yds, 1 TD
Wes Welker: 50 rec yds
Emmanuel Sanders: 40 rec yds, 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: He doesn’t give fantasy owners many weeks of elite fantasy production, but Russell Wilson has been a reliable QB1 for fantasy owners for the better part of an entire season now. He has been off to a good start through the first two games of the season, too, as he has thrown for nearly 400 yards and four total touchdowns with no turnovers thus far in 2014. The frustrating thing, however, has been his insistence on spreading the ball out and not keying in on any one receiver. It looked as if Percy Harvin had a chance to be his go-to guy after one game, but Week 2 saw a completely different gameplan as Harvin was held to just one catch for five yards. While we still expect Harvin to be the top target on the team going forward, Doug Baldwin remains a reliable on-field performer for the Seahawks even if he doesn’t provide much in the way of fantasy production. Meanwhile deep pass specialist Jermaine Kearse gives the team the kind of vertical threat that opens things up underneath for tight ends, running backs and other receivers to make shorter catches for first downs which keep drives alive.

Although they didn’t have to do much in the Super Bowl to keep up, Wilson and the Seahawks passing game may be asked to do more this Sunday as they host the Broncos. Denver’s secondary, outside of new top cornerback Aqib Talib has looked awful thus far in 2014, which could mean an opportunity for Wilson to provide a nice fantasy day. Unfortunately, if Talib is locked up on Harvin, the speedster may have a tough time getting loose for any big plays in the passing game.

Running Game Thoughts: A miserable game running the ball was saved by an uncharacteristic receiving touchdown by Marshawn Lynch during Seattle’s Week 2 loss to the Chargers. Lynch carried the ball just six times on the day, which tied his fewest number of rushes since joining the Seahawks. The bizarre gameplan made more sense, however, when head coach Pete Carroll told reporters after the game that Lynch had experienced some back tightness during the game which led the team to adjust their play calling in an effort to keep their workhorse back healthy.

While there have been no reports of Lynch potentially missing Sunday’s game against the Broncos, it’s worth noting that this isn’t a particularly great matchup for him even if he does play. The Broncos have allowed just 126 yards on the ground in two games and although they allowed two rushing touchdowns in Week 2, they came on 26 carries in a game where the Denver offense was struggling to put points on the board; thus allowing the Chiefs to run the ball more than they would likely otherwise be able to. Lynch averaged just 2.6 yards per carry against the Broncos in the Super Bowl and while we should expect improvements upon that number, a monster game like his 110-yard, two-touchdown performance in Week 1 seems unlikely.

Projections:
Russell Wilson: 240 pass yds, 2 TD, 30 rush yds
Marshawn Lynch: 50 rush yds, 1 TD, 10 rec yds
Robert Turbin: 20 rush yds, 10 rec yds
Percy Harvin: 60 rec yds, 30 rush yds
Jermaine Kearse: 50 rec yds, 1 TD
Doug Baldwin: 40 rec yds
Zach Miller: 30 rec yds, 1 TD

Prediction: Seahawks 30, Broncos 28 ^ Top