Fantasy Football Week 2 Predictions

The NFL has a not-so-funny way of flipping the script and making you look and feel like a fool. You can assume you know how things are going to unfold after one week, but everything winds up entirely different the next.

Speaking of fools, the Kansas City Chiefs' Andy Reid admitted, via Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star, he ostensibly is one, after getting Jamaal Charles just seven carries and four receptions in their Week 1 loss. You might now assume Charles is headed for bust city in fantasy 2014, particularly since the Chiefs' rebuilt offensive line looks just so shoddy right now. We don't.

Bleacher Report presents its Week 2 predictions, outlining some rebounds (Charles), surprises (Jeremy Hill) and blatantly obvious fantasy bonanzas (look out for points raining down in Indianapolis for Andrew Luck, the Colts, Nick Foles and the Eagles).

We also provide analysis for fantasy's matchup plays by position, reviewing last year's most suspect defenses against each position in addition to Week 1's most generous opponents. We include last year's data with this year's because one week is just too small of a sample size to draw conclusions from.

We need to keep the big picture in perspective. Charles is going to be fine, if not still in charge, starting this Sunday.

Fantasy stats provided by FFtoday.com unless otherwise noted.

MVP

Brennan Linsley/Associated Press

QB Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

Projected Stat Line: 400 yards passing, four touchdowns, 25 yards rushing and one TD

This prediction is a function of matchup and pace. Luck is going to dial up a lot of fantasy points like he did in Week 1 because of the spunk of his opponent. The Eagles are on the road, but they are not going to go away easily.

They are going to give up passing yards, though. The Eagles defense was fifth worst against fantasy quarterbacks last season and dead last against wide receivers. When the Eagles come out in 2014 and allow undrafted free-agent rookie receiver Allen Hurns to go off for 110 yards and two touchdowns, clearly they still have serious issues in their secondary.

Here's the bad news for the Eagles: Luck just torched a pretty good Denver Broncos defense for the second-most passing yards in the league (370), and the Colts' bolstered receiving corps is just getting started.

Let's take a look at some factors affecting the Colts offense:

• Hakeem Nicks is just getting used to his new passer.
• Reggie Wayne is still less than a full year removed from reconstructive knee surgery.
• T.Y. Hilton has to readjust to being a third option.
• Rookie Donte Moncrief needs to start finding his way.
• Dwayne Allen is just now coming into his own.
• Coby Fleener is an underrated red-zone matchup nightmare.

Oh, and Trent Richardson and the running game is still 100 percent unreliable.

With all this up for the Colts, who are playing in their home opener, you have arguably the best-looking scenario for fantasy points we might get all year.

We pity those playing against Luck this week in fantasy. Heck, pick up Allen, Fleener or even Eagles' fringe options just to catch a piece of the action here.

Honorable Mention

• Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)
• Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (vs. New York Jets)
• LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Indianapolis Colts)
• Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Chicago Bears)

Biggest Breakout Star

Frank Victores/Associated Press

Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

Projected Stat Line: 75 rushing yards, two touchdowns

You really have to squint to notice the rookie Hill, the second running back selected in May's draft, in the Bengals box score last week. Hill registered just four carries for 19 yards and 10 whole snaps compared to 57 for Giovani Bernard, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Cincinnati Enquirer.

Chalk that up to the Bengals leaning on a veteran back, albeit just one year Hill's senior, in an important opener against their division rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, who figure to be one of the toughest teams in football to run against. Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official website wrote as much.

Now NFL passing leader Matt Ryan and the Falcons come to Cincy, and if you know anything about football, you beat big-time offenses and quarterbacks by controlling the clock and playing keep away. Look for Hill to emerge a monster against a Falcons defense that allowed the New Orleans Saints' stable of presumably marginal fantasy backs to score the most points as a group in fantasy last week.

We didn't even need to hear offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, a ground-and-pound play-caller, went up to Hill after the Ravens game to assure him he is going to play more going forward, as Dehner Jr. tweeted.

Few teams really try to beat the Ravens at their own game of smashmouth football. The Bengals didn't. They spread them out. This home game against the Falcons will be just the opposite, as Jackson intimated to Hobson:

"

We were a little exotic in some things that we did because I thought we had to be. I didn't want to go just downhill at these guys because I didn't think that was the best way to defeat them. As a staff we kept watching—not that we don't think our players can do it—we thought what's going to give us a chance to keep them off balance, keep them guessing which direction we are coming from and going to.

We thought (Sunday's) game gave us that chance. If we could do it a little bit more consistently, maybe convert in the scoring zone when we get those opportunities maybe it's a whole entirely different game, but we won the game, that’s the most important thing. Now, we get ready for Atlanta.

"

Even if Bernard still dominates the touches and carries, the Bengals are going to finish scoring drives with Hill slamming the ball into the end zone here...at least twice. Hill should be starting in all leagues.

Honorable Mention

• Montee Ball, Denver Broncos (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)
• Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Chicago Bears)
• Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
• Jordan Matthews, Philadelphia Eagles (at Indianapolis Colts)

Biggest Bust

USA TODAY Sports

Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers (vs. New York Jets)

Projected Stat Line: 14 carries for 45 yards and no touchdowns

Lacy was already a Week 1 bust at the Seattle Seahawks. Short of predicting anyone facing the Seahawks defense every week to go bust—we actually believe the San Diego Chargers are going to put up some fantasy points at home vs. those Seahawks (if only in garbage time)—we will stick with the concussed Lacy as this week's biggest fantasy disappointment.

Lacy is not even cleared through the NFL's concussion protocol, but he should play, as Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported. "I would say Eddie Lacy is near the end, just based on talking with Eddie and what the medical staff feels," Packers head coach Mike McCarthy told Silverstein. "He's had good workouts. He's progressed very quickly."

Don't bother with Lacy, James Starks or any of the Packers running backs this week. You don't really own fullback John Kuhn or DuJuan Harris, do you?

The Jets are banged up and raw in the secondary and still do one thing really well defensively: stuff the run. The Jets are No. 1 in fantasy against running backs through one week.

You might not feel threatened enough by the Jets, but you should be concerned Lacy is just one more concussion away from an extended absence.

Honorable Mention

• Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers (vs. Seattle Seahawks)
• LeGarrette Blount, Pittsburgh Steelers (at Baltimore Ravens)
• Ryan Tannehill/Mike Wallace, Miami Dolphins (at Buffalo Bills)

Biggest Bounce-Back Player

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs (at Denver Broncos)

Projected Stat Line: 45 yards rushing, seven receptions for 65 yards receiving and two touchdowns

This one isn't necessarily a function of matchup. The Broncos should do a real good job against the run this season. Reid just cannot possibly leave his lone weapon out of the attack in an important division game here.

Even if Charles gets bottled up on the ground and the Chiefs get blown out on the scoreboard, Charles is going to get touches and fantasy points in the passing game. You have to figure they are going to need Charles out of the backfield as they play catch-up this week. The Broncos gave up a league-high 101 yards receiving to running backs last week, and the Indianapolis Colts backs are no Charles.

Reid told The Kansas City Star's Terez A. Paylor:

"

I've got to do a better job on my end of putting the quarterback and the rest of the offense in a better position to make plays, ... Not giving (No.) 25 the ball more than seven times is negligence on my part, also.

This offense is best when there's balance. I've got to make sure I maintain that and continue to give your best player, or one of your best players, the football.

"

Amen...even if this should have been blatantly obvious before. Don't sell low on Charles because you hate the Chiefs' revamped offensive line. Charles can be a fantasy star still in more ways than run...err...one.

Honorable Mention

• Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Chicago Bears)
• Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals (at New York Giants)
• Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (vs. New York Jets)
• Bernard Pierce, Baltimore Ravens (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers) 

Top QB Matchup Plays

Here are the bottom five teams against fantasy QBs in 2013, per FFToday.com:

1. Minnesota Vikings (vs. New England Patriots)
2. Dallas Cowboys (at Tennessee Titans)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (at Washington Redskins)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. St. Louis Rams)
5. Philadelphia Eagles (at Indianapolis Colts)

Here are last week's bottom five:

1. New Orleans Saints (at Cleveland Browns)
2. Denver Broncos (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)
3. New York Giants (vs. Arizona Cardinals)
4. San Diego Chargers (vs. Seattle Seahawks)
5. Buffalo Bills (vs. Miami Dolphins)

Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans (vs. Dallas Cowboys)

Projected Stat Line: 325 yards passing, two touchdowns, 20 yards rushing and one TD

Locker was a surprise against the Chiefs a week ago. He should be a star against that Cowboys defense.

We cannot avoid targeting that unit for fantasy production. Kendall Wright, Justin Hunter and Delanie Walker should all have big days as the Titans move the ball at will, even if they cannot hold off the Cowboys rebounding from a loss to the San Francisco 49ers last week.

The question is whom do you sit to start Locker? We wouldn't quite sit your drafted starter for Locker, as Bleacher Report's Week 2 Big Board ranked Cam Newton (rib), Tony Romo and even the maligned Robert Griffin III well above the upstart Titan, despite the matchup. You should feel good about Locker's production if you don't feel good about that trio's prospects, though.

Honorable Mention 

• Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)
• Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals (at New York Giants)
• Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (at San Diego Chargers)
• Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
• Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Chicago Bears)

Top RB Matchup Plays

Here are the bottom five teams versus fantasy RBs in 2013, per FFToday.com:

1. Dallas Cowboys (at Tennessee Titans)
2. Chicago Bears (at San Francisco 49ers)
3. Tennessee Titans (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
4. Washington Redskins (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)
5. Oakland Raiders (vs. Houston Texans)

Here are last week's bottom five:

1. Atlanta Falcons (at Cincinnati Bengals)
2. Green Bay Packers (vs. New York Jets)
3. New England Patriots (at Minnesota Vikings)
4. Cleveland Browns (vs. New Orleans Saints)
5. Oakland Raiders (vs. Houston Texans)

Chris Johnson/Chris Ivory, New York Jets (at Green Bay Packers)

Projected Stat Lines: Johnson (60 yards rushing, 45 receiving and a touchdown), Ivory (55 rushing and a TD)

You might not like the fact Chris Johnson was out-rushed by Chris Ivory in Week 1, but most of those yards came on a 71-yard TD run. Take that run away and Johnson's change-of-pace back (read: grinder), Ivory, had just nine carries for 31 yards and a Shonn Greene-like 3.4 yards per carry.

Johnson won the important categories: snaps (33-30, per ESPNNewYork.com's Rich Cimini), carries (13-10) and touches (18-10). He is still the Jets' better fantasy option.

The Packers have a suspect run defense and expect the Jets to try to pull an upset on the road by sticking with the run-heavy game plan. Once that fails and/or the Jets fall behind Aaron Rodgers in a hurry, it will be a concerted effort to get the Jets' best weapon the ball in space with the short passing game.

Start Ivory, too, because he was a 100-yard rusher in Week 1, but don't lose faith in Johnson as a fantasy game-changer.

Honorable Mention

• Giovani Bernard/Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
• Arian Foster, Houston Texans (at Oakland Raiders)
• Shonn Greene, Tennessee Titans (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
• Frank Gore/Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Chicago Bears)

Top WR Matchup Plays

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Here are the bottom five teams versus fantasy WRs in 2013, per FFToday.com:

1. Philadelphia Eagles (at Indianapolis Colts)
2. Minnesota Vikings (vs. New England Patriots)
3. Detroit Lions (at Carolina Panthers)
4. San Diego Chargers (vs. Seattle Seahawks)
5. Oakland Raiders (vs. Houston Texans)

Here are last week's bottom five:

1. New Orleans Saints (at Cleveland Browns)
2. New York Giants (vs. Arizona Cardinals)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (at Indianapolis Colts)
4. St. Louis Rams (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
5. Cleveland Browns (vs. New Orleans Saints)

Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks (at San Diego Chargers)

Projected Stat Line: 85 yards receiving and one touchdown

Call this a hunch: The Chargers are going to post a game effort against the Seahawks, who just don't play as well on the road as they do at home. That should force Russell Wilson to have to make some plays downfield with his receivers. Percy Harvin is really a glorified scatback, so consider Baldwin a sleeper play against a suspect Chargers secondary.

The Chargers were the fourth-worst pass defense in the NFL last season and didn't start much better against the Cardinals a week ago. There will be opportunities for Wilson to make plays to receivers like Baldwin.

You should be starting Harvin in all leagues already, but consider Baldwin a sleeper play in three-receiver and flex formats.

Honorable Mention

• Larry Fitzgerald/Michael Floyd, Arizona Cardinals (at New York Giants)
• Reggie Wayne/Hakeem Nicks/T.Y. Hilton, Indianpolis Colts (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
• Andre Johnson/DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans (at Oakland Raiders) 

Top TE Matchup Plays

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Here are the bottom five teams versus fantasy TEs in 2013, per FFToday.com:

1. Arizona Cardinals (at New York Giants)
2. Minnesota Vikings (vs. New England Patriots)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (at Washington Redskins)
4. Dallas Cowboys (at Tennessee Titans)
5. Miami Dolphins (at Buffalo Bills)

Here are last week's bottom five:

1. Indianapolis Colts (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
2. Dallas Cowboys (at Tennessee Titans)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (at Washington Redskins)
4. Denver Broncos (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. St. Louis Rams)

Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles (at Indianapolis Colts)

Projected Stat Line: 65 yards receiving and a touchdown

Zach Ertz had a productive day in a favorable matchup against the Jags a week ago, and now he gets to face a Colts defense that was ripped by Julius Thomas for 100-plus yards and three touchdowns. Ertz isn't yet in Thomas' class, but he is getting better by the week, especially since he is seeing time out of the slot, according to Zach Berman of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Ertz told Berman, "I'm more of a complete tight end this year than last year. I've made some improvements in the blocking specifically. I made plays in the passing game. Hopefully, I can contribute more and more each week."

Ertz can do more than contribute in fantasy this week. He can star next Monday night in that shootout in Indy.

Honorable Mention

• Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
• Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs (at Denver Broncos)
• Larry Donnell, New York Giants (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

Top D/ST Matchup Plays

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Here are the bottom five teams versus fantasy D/STs in 2013:

1. New York Giants (vs. Arizona Cardinals)
2. Houston Texans (at Oakland Raiders)
3. New York Jets (at Green Bay Packers)
4. Minnesota Vikings (vs. New England Patriots)
5. Washington Redskins (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)

Here are last week's bottom five:

1. St. Louis Rams (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
2. Dallas Cowboys (at Tennessee Titans)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (at Washington)
4. Philadelphia Eagles (at Indianapolis Colts)
5. Kansas City Chiefs (at Denver Broncos)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. St. Louis Rams)

Projected Stat Line: 10 points against, four sacks, three turnovers and one defensive TD

The Bucs were not that impressive against the Carolina Panthers' backup quarterback last week, but we are going back to the well here with Lovie Smith's unit having a far more productive day in their second go-around, especially at home against the woebegone Rams.

Smith is too smooth of a defensive operator, and there is too much talent for the cream not to rise to the top in Tampa Bay.

Whether Shaun Hill (thigh) starts or not, the Bucs are going to be pinning their ears back against a weak offense with an even weaker quarterback situation. Also, we fully expect the Bucs offense to perform better than it did against the Panthers a week ago, giving Smith's club more wins in the field-position battle.

The Bucs should be considered a starting fantasy unit in all leagues.

Honorable Mention

• Arizona Cardinals (at New York Giants)
• Houston Texans (at Oakland Raiders)
• New Orleans Saints (at Cleveland Browns)

Top Waiver-Wire Options

Here are the top 10 most-added players in fantasy this week, per CBSSports.com roster trends:

1. RB Justin Forsett, Baltimore Ravens
2. WR Allen Hurns, Jacksonville Jaguars
3. RB Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns
4. RB Bobby Rainey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5. TE Larry Donnell, New York Giants
6. WR Josh Gordon, Cleveland Browns
7. RB Ahmad Bradshaw, Indianapolis Colts
8. WR Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans
9. WR Steve Smith, Baltimore Ravens
10. RB Chris Ivory, New York Jets

We have already gone in-depth on the best of the Week 1 waiver-risers in B/R's Week 2 Insider Notebook, and we will detail some of the last-minute waiver fill-ins in Week 2's Ultimate Guide to Sunday's Action.

It might be too late for you to add those guys above this week, but here are our some of our favorite most-added options by position because of favorable matchups or recent news:

Quarterbacks

1. Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
2. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals (at New York Giants)
3. Brian Hoyer, Cleveland Browns (vs. New Orleans Saints)

Running Backs

1. Terrance West/Crowell, Cleveland Browns (vs. New Orleans Saints)
2. Shonn Greene, Tennessee Titans (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
3. Lorenzo Taliaferro, Baltimore Ravens (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)

Wide Receivers

1. DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans (at Oakland Raiders)
2. John Brown, Arizona Cardinals (at New York Giants)
3. Allen Hurns, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Washington Redskins)

Tight Ends

1. Dwayne Allen, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
2. Larry Donnell, New York Giants (vs. Arizona Cardinals)
3. Delanie Walker, Titans (vs. Dallas Cowboys)

Defense/Special Teams

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. St. Louis Rams)
2. Green Bay Packers (vs. New York Jets)
3. Houston Texans (at Oakland Raiders)

Kickers

1. Mike Nugent, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
2. Ryan Succop, Tennessee Titans (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
3. Shayne Graham, New Orleans Saints (at Cleveland Browns)

Follow @EricMackFantasy

Eric Mack, one of the giants among fantasy writers, is the Fantasy Football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, where you can ask him endless questions about your team, rip him for his content and even challenge him to a head-to-head fantasy game.