Week one of the NFL season is in the books and what an exciting week it was. We saw some impressive fantasy stat lines as well as some very unimpressive performances. Thursday is right around the corner which means the beginning of another week of fantasy thrills and heartbreak. It’s time to turn on the week two fantasy spotlight.
Week Two Fantasy Spotlight: Things to Watch
Carson Wentz
So raise your hand if you had Carson Wentz in your starting lineup week one? If your hand is up, you are most likely lying. The Philadelphia Eagles rookie quarterback put up an impressive 101 quarterback rating in his NFL debut, carving up the abysmal Cleveland Browns defense for 278 yards and two touchdowns. Wentz showed great chemistry with wide receiver Jordan Matthews. While it may be too soon to put Wentz in the category of viable fantasy option, a strong performance this Monday night against the Chicago Bears could have him hot on the waiver wire.
Kirk Cousins
It’s a pretty safe bet that Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins did not “like that” performance Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although Cousins threw for 300 yards his timing was off all night. The Steelers zone defense had the Redskins signal caller missing throws constantly and forced two interceptions. Cousins, playing for a contract since signing the Redskins franchise tag in the offseason, is looking to prove his 2015 was no fluke. Many fantasy football players drafted Cousins in late rounds to be their starter. While it is too soon to jump off the bandwagon, the fantasy spotlight will certainly be on Cousins at home Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.
Todd Gurley
If you drafted Todd Gurley with your first pick, Monday night was not fun for you. The Los Angeles Rams offense looked pathetic against the San Francisco 49ers. It was pretty clear that the 49ers were not going to allow Gurley to beat them. Quarterback Case Keenum completed less than 50% of his passes and threw two interceptions in the Monday night blowout. Gurley was kept in check by the swarming 49ers defense, racking up 47 yards on 17 carries. Although it’s only one week, there has to be a little concern for Gurley fantasy owners. Besides Tavon Austin, the young running back is the star of the Rams offense and if the quarterback play doesn’t improve, it is going to be very hard for Gurley to get on track. Also, it doesn’t get any easier week two when the Rams host the Seattle Seahawks. If you have a solid option on your bench, you might want to consider sitting Gurley week two.
New Orleans Saints vs New York Giants
The New Orleans Saints travel to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Giants on Sunday at 1:00PM. This game is going to be a fantasy players dream. Drew Brees and the Saints, despite losing at home week one, absolutely lit up the Oakland Raiders defense. Wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead combined for 315 yards and three touchdowns while Brees threw for 423 yards and four scores. Although vastly improved, the Giants defense will be tested all day. While the Saints have weapons, so do the Giants. Odell Beckham, a resurgent Victor Cruz and impressive rookie Sterling Shepard should be catching passes all day from All-Pro Eli Manning. The week two fantasy spotlight will be shining bright on these two teams Sunday. The Saints and Giants offenses should explode like they did last season in New Orleans.
Who is Catching the Football in San Diego?
The San Diego Chargers blew a 27-10 fourth quarter lead against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. More importantly, the Chargers lost their number one receiver Keenan Allen for the season. Allen suffered a torn ACL on a non-contact play. Future Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates is still here, however the Chargers wide receiver depth is sure to be tested the rest of the season. Free Agent acquisition Travis Benjamin should assume the number one receiver role. Despite accumulating only 16 yards on five catches after the injury to Allen, Benjamin, if available should be hot on the waiver wire. Dontrelle Inman has two years in the Chargers system. Tyrell Williams, while very raw, could be a big target for Philip Rivers. Look for Danny Woodhead to be relied on to catch even more passes out of the backfield. Regardless of who steps up, the 100% snap share of Keenan Allen in 2015 will be irreplaceable.
