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Bye Weeks: N/A
Grab a Helmet
Eddie
Royal @ TEN: Nature abhors a vacuum, yes, but I don’t generally
subscribe to the “SOMEbody has to catch passes for [insert team
name here]” theory. Royal’s quickly making a believer out of me.
In two contests, he’s managed to outscore every single wide receiver
in the league not named DeSean Jackson or Victor Cruz and he’s
done so by maximizing his targets to an almost absurd degree:
14 targets, 10 receptions, FIVE touchdowns. That, my friends,
is efficiency and I think it’s safe to say Royal, who I recently
claimed “was last relevant in 2008,” is now officially relevant
again. He’s filled the void created by Danario Alexander’s and
now Malcom Floyd’s injuries and should continue to remain relevant
so long as Philip Rivers keeps looking his way. I don’t know how
Rivers couldn’t since there aren’t a whole lot of other legitimate
options in San Diego.
Nelson and Cobb are 5th and 6th among fantasy
WRs after 2 weeks.
Jordy
Nelson @ CIN: Speaking of maximizing targets…. Very few stud
receivers offered better value during drafts than Nelson, who spent
a large portion of 2012 on the sidelines after a breakout 2011 and
then missed this latest preseason after knee surgery to correct
a nerve issue. Missed games, nerve injuries, no preseason preview.
It all added up to an ADP just south of Pierre Garcon and Torrey
Smith (5.06). Fast-forward several weeks and there’s Nelson right
near the top of the WR rankings (5th overall) despite garnering
just 14 targets through two games (tied for 43rd overall). Nobody
maximize targets like Nelson does (see that 2011 breakout season
for proof) and he seems to be at it again. In fact, the only other
receiver who comes close in my mind is…Nelson’s teammate, James
Jones. This just in: Aaron Rodgers is really, really good and you
absolutely want anyone who runs patterns in his offense.
DeAndre
Hopkins @ BAL: Here’s what one preseason prognosticator had
to say about Hopkins: “(He) isn’t as big as Johnson or as fast,
but he’s no shrimp (6’1”, 214 lbs.) and he’s certainly advanced
in other ways. He’s got great body control, for instance, and runs
very crisp routes. He also creates a lot of separation and has great
hands. Considering he’s unlikely to face anything but single coverage
in his rookie year, the Texans may have finally filled that enormous
void at the #2 receiver position.” Couldn’t have said it better
myself. I mean, I LITERALLY couldn’t have said it better myself
(wink).
Grab Some Wood
Cecil
Shorts @ JAX: For such a self-proclaimed smarty pants, I made
a very curious transaction this week, dropping the injured Vick
Ballard and picking up Ace Sanders for a song in my deep 2-QB
league. I guess you could say I was compelled by the number of
targets the former Gamecock is commanding in his rookie year (two
more than Jordy Nelson or James Jones, for the record). Never
mind the fact such a belief presumes a target is actually worth
something in the anemic Jacksonville offense. It might be at some
point this year, but that point isn’t now, especially with the
big, bad Seahawks dead ahead on the slate. Shorts is, of course,
the most valuable of the Jaguars receivers, but he’ll be hard-pressed
to get anything done against perhaps the NFL’s most dominant (and
jerkiest) corner, Richard Sherman. Jacksonville’s scored 11 points
this year and Seattle’s given up 10. Uh-oh.
Sidney
Rice v. JAX: Strangely, Seattle’s wide receivers haven’t been
a whole lot more productive than the Jaguars’ underwhelming bunch
so far this season. Only one of them (Doug Baldwin) has caught
more than four passes in a game and the lone TD reception for
the group belongs to the virtually unknown Jermaine Kearse (Week
1 v. Carolina). Can Seattle really be this unproductive in the
passing game and contend for a Super Bowl title? Actually, yes,
but I don’t think they will be (unproductive, that is) for much
longer. Russell Wilson is too good and somebody will eventually
step up to be his main hook-up as we move into the heart of the
campaign. Plus, the competition will get fiercer and Seattle will
need more than a strong running game and a suffocating defense
to keep its record unblemished. Not this week, though. Don’t rely
on Rice just yet.
Denarius
Moore # Rod
Streater @ DEN: I’m pretty much digging Terrell Pryor
these days, as loyal readers know, but it isn’t because
of what he’s been doing with his talented right arm. Not
yet, at least. Part of the reason it’ll be baby steps for
him as a passer is because he doesn’t have a whole lot to
work with at the receiver position. Only the aforementioned Jaguars
and the Browns have been less productive at the position through
two weeks and now the Raiders head to the Mile High City for a
showdown with the hated Broncos. I kinda like Pryor’s chances
of posting useful stats on Monday night, but trying to guess who
might join him from this sub-par receiving corps is anyone’s
guess. Stick with Pryor and Darren McFadden and wait for one of
these other guys to show you some production first.
Good luck, folks!
Quarterbacks 
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