Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Start 'Em
David Nelson vs. NE
This recommendation is contingent upon the availability of teammate
and fellow WR Stevie Johnson, who was held out of some practice
time this week, but expects to be good to go. If Johnson plays,
Nelson makes a solid WR3 play against the Patriots. He had 10
catches (13 targets) for 83 yards and a TD last week, following
up on Week 1, which produced 4 catches for 66 yards. It has been
reported that Nelson will be the Bills’ full-time slot receiver
going forward; as such he should continue to see plenty of targets
from QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. At 6’5” and 220 pounds,
expect him to be active in the red zone.
A.J.
Green vs. SF
In just his 2nd NFL game (first full game with QB Andy Dalton
under center; Dalton was removed at the half in Week 1), Green
exploded, snaring 10 of his 14 targets for 124 yards and a TD.
Green should find room against the 49ers (who have been stout
against the run), as they have given up 582 passing yards in their
first 2 games, including one game versus the underwhelming Tarvaris
Jackson and the Seahawks. Dalton may not be a model of fantasy
consistency just yet, but the 6’4” Green remains his primary passing
option.
Fred Davis @ Dal
Davis has put together quality back-to-back games, following up
5 catches for 105 yards in Week 1 with 6 catches for 86 yards
and a TD in Week 2. On the season he already has six catches of
at least 20 yards; in all of 2010 he made only four such plays.
On Monday night, Davis has a good chance to put up another quality
game against the depleted Cowboys secondary. Dallas has allowed
2 TDs to TEs (Delanie Walker, Dustin Keller) this season. Davis
is tied with WR Santana Moss for the team lead in receptions (11)
and leads the Redskins with 191 yards receiving.
Nate Burleson @ Min
Obviously Calvin Johnson is a must start each and every week,
but it is worth noting that the Vikings have covered WR1s well
(see Vincent Jackson, Week 1: 2 catches, 31 yards; Mike Williams
Week 2: 1 catch, -4 yards), so Burleson could play an expanded
role this week in Minnesota. His numbers after two games are solid:
12 catches for 153 yards, but he has yet to find the endzone.
With QB Matthew Stafford on the verge of fantasy stardom, that
should change quickly. Start Burleson at WR3 or flex this week.
Bench 'Em
Harvin needs more targets before he's a
legitimate fantasy threat.
Percy Harvin vs. Lions
As a mildly dissatisfied Harvin owner, I’m struggling with
the decision to actually bench Percy for fear that he is certain
to explode the moment he is replaced in my lineup. The issue is
not with Harvin or his playmaking ability; but rather his snap
count: he has been on the field for just over half of Minnesota's
plays on offense through the first two games of the season and
has been absent from the red zone package. He is by far the biggest
threat on the team after Adrian Peterson so this comes as fairly
discouraging information. You may have to roll with him; but possibly
consider a better option until the Vikings utilize him appropriately.
Johnny Knox vs. GB
Knox, like Harvin above, is the most dangerous wide receiver on
his team and I like to believe his offensive role will expand
moving forward. Last week in New Orleans, Bears QB Jay Cutler
had 10 completions to RB Matt Forte and only 8 completions to
his wide receivers combined. So, while Knox has impressive average
yards per catch (21.0), his 5 receptions are substandard. Green
Bay has been getting lit up through the air thus far, so maybe
Cutler will have more time to get the ball downfield this week?
Knox has had some success against the Packers in his career, but
I’d like to see it happen before rolling with him again.
Pierre Garcon vs. Pit
Garcon closed out 2010 with some huge performances; during the
final 5 games (Weeks 13 – 17) he posted 29 catches for 306
yards and 5 TDs. As such, the expectations were amped up for Garcon
entering 2011, but he has been limited to 6 catches for 67 yards
in 2 games with QB Kerry Collins now under center. He will not
find things any easier on Sunday night against the Steelers and
their perennially stingy defense. It’s a situation to monitor,
but his value in 12-team (or smaller) leagues is quickly waning.
Eric Decker @ Ten
After his surprising absence from the lineup last week, Brandon
Lloyd is expected to resume his WR1 role in the Denver offense
in Tennessee on Sunday, which takes a bit of the luster off of
Decker’s impressive start. The Titans defense has been notable
it its own right but I’m not ready to put them on the same level
as the ’85 Bears. Still, it seems unreasonable to expect Decker
to maintain this level of play (8 catches, 166 yards, 2 TDs).
With Eddie Royal expected to miss the next the next few weeks,
Decker certainly holds value, but probably ends up more of a decent
bye-week filler than anything else.
Good luck in Week 3!
Quarterbacks 
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