(Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)
The sports world is in the midst of one of the greatest times of the year: Fantasy Football season. Though I was unable to give you assistance in week one (yes, I’m sorry), I am sure that you fared well considering you guys are all sports geniuses.
Regardless, week one of the season came and went quickly. It was highlighted by a six-touchdown performance and the occasional upset, as well as two Monday night miracles.
Though performances tend to barely scratch the surface during opening weekend, several gridiron stars surprised the world with shattering and breakthrough performances, while others equally shocked the world with their lack of brilliance. Having said that, let us take a look into the week two notable Start ‘Em/Sit ‘Ems for the NFL.
Quarterbacks
Jay Cutler
Cutler entered last week as one of the most watched quarterback candidates in the league last week. He left as a chump. Jay struggled miserably against a solid Packers defense, throwing 17-for-36 with 277 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions. Cutler seemed lost in the Bears' offensive scheme, having difficulty establishing who his true targets were.
Week Two—Sit ‘Em
The Bears QB faces arguably the toughest defense in the league in Week Two, that being of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even without Troy Polamalu, who would have further grieved Cutler, the defensive formation that Mike Tomlin has created will be difficult for any man behind center, especially one coming off four turnovers.
Mark Sanchez
Mark Sanchez came into last Sunday’s game as the number one name in New York. He did not disappoint. Sanchez led the Jets to a 24-7 win against the Houston Texans, a team many expected to be an AFC South contender.
His stats were not unbelievable, going a solid 18-for-31 with 272 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception. Unlike Kellen Clemens in the past, though, Sanchez brought a sense of leadership to the Jets squad, leading to an efficient day in the air and on the ground.
Week Two—Sit ‘Em
Yes, while he was just bolstered in the paragraph above, there was one thing that stood out about Sanchez in his first game and preseason games: the inability to work under pressure. Mark’s one interception came when the pocket collapsed entirely on him, resulting in an overthrown route.
He faces a New England defense this week that even without Richard Seymour can still apply pressure. While it is true they nearly lost to Buffalo on Monday, they also have proven in the past that they can come up in big situations. While it is enticing to start Sanchez this early in the season, it is too much of a risk in his first divisional game.
Joe Flacco
Flacco is coming off a career-high 307 passing yards against the Kansas City Chiefs, a 38-24 win. True, this was the Chiefs, but Flacco was firing on all cylinders. He made strong use of Mark Clayton alongside his three-headed monster of a run game.
Though he did over/underthrow at times, he still used his sophomore leadership to turn what was a relatively close game into a sizable win.
Week Two—Start ‘Em
The Ravens play the San Diego Chargers this week, a team that runs the 3-4. While it is almost certain that his numbers will be not as high due to the solid pass coverage of the Bolts, the team allowed JaMarcus Russell to look like a Pro Bowler. Also, expect more carries from Ray Rice and Willis McGahee, which could impact his stats. In general though, Flacco looks like a solid double-digit pick for Sunday.
Tony Romo
After a very strong three-touchdown performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Romo proved he does not need Jessica Simpson around to succeed. He displayed a variety of targets during the game, effectively escaping the pass-rush of Raheem Morris and effectively leading his team to victory. Tony did tweak his ankle, however, which could prove rather hurtful if he is to become mobile.
Week Two—Start ‘Em
Last week, the Giants defense only allowed a late touchdown and a field goal to the Washington Redskins (the special teams allowed the other). First of all, Jason Campbell is not Tony Romo. Also, the Giants will be without starting cornerback Aaron Ross for the second week in a row and have been beaten up severely over the past month. Romo defeated a similar Giants defense late last season 20-8, throwing no picks.
HOWEVER, if his ankle proves to be a problem over the week, escaping the Giants' blitz will become difficult, so be sure to keep an eye on that.
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