Fantasy Football Rankings, Projections Week 2: Top 10 Players at Every Position

By (Featured Columnist) on September 14, 2011

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - SEPTEMBER 12:   Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots jogs off the field after winning a game against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on September 12, 2011 in Miami Gardens, Florida.  (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The 2011 NFL Season is underway, and after Week 1, teams are either kings of the mountain or stuck in the cellar, undefeated or winless, with no gray area in between.

The same can be said for fantasy squads across the land, as right now you're either tied for first and sitting pretty or tied for last and trying to get off the schnide.

As you prepare your fantasy football lineup for Week 2 here's a look at a the top 10 players at each position that should absolutely be in lineups this weekend, be it because they're fantasy studs or possess a matchup that's just too tasty to pass up.

1. Tom Brady and the Top 10 Quarterbacks

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - SEPTEMBER 12:  Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on September 12, 2011 in Miami Gardens, Florida.  (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
Marc Serota/Getty Images

Fresh off throwing for the fifth-most yards in league history in a win over the Miami Dolphins on Monday night, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady headlines the top 10 fantasy players among signal callers in Week 2.

1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (vs. SD)

2. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles (at ATL)

3. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (at CAR)

4. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (vs. KC)

5. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (vs. CHI)

6. Rex Grossman, Washington Redskins (vs. ARI)

7. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (at NE)

8. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (at SF)

9. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans (at MIA)

10. Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins (vs. HOU)

2. Rashard Mendenhall and the Top 10 Running Backs

ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06:  Rashard Mendenhall #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. The Packers won 31-25.  (Photo by Jamie Squire/Ge
Jamie Squire/Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be looking to right the ship at the home against the lowly Seattle Seahawks in Week 2, making the fourth-year pro the top running back in fantasy football leagues this week.

1. Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. SEA)

2. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens (at TEN)

3. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders (at BUF)

4. Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns (at IND)

5. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (vs. TB)

6. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears (at NO)

7. Jahvid Best, Detroit Lions (vs. KC)

8. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (vs. DAL)

9. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs (at DET)

10. Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals (at DEN)

3. Calvin Johnson and the Top 10 Wide Receivers

TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 11:  Wide receivers Calvin Johnson #81 and Maurice Stovall #80 of the Detroit Lions celebrate after a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the season opener at Raymond James Stadium September 11, 2011 in Tampa, Florida.
Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson had a huge first game of the season, hauling in six passes and scoring two touchdowns, and, with a matchup with a shaky Kansas City Chiefs secondary on tap, he's wideout numero uno in fantasy football for the upcoming week.

1. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions (vs. KC)

2. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans (at MIA)

3. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals (at WAS)

4. Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers (at NE)

5. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles (at ATL)

6. Brandon Marshall, Miami Dolphins (vs. HOU)

7. Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers (at CAR)

8. Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons (vs. PHI)

9. Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. SEA)

10. Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys (at SF)

4. Antonio Gates and the Top 10 Tight Ends

SAN DIEGO - DECEMBER 05:  Tight end Antonio Gates #85 of the San Diego Chargers carries the ball against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium on December 5, 2010 in San Diego, California. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 28-13.  (Photo by Jeff Gross/G
Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Miami Dolphins tight end Anthony Fasano victimized the New England Patriots with 5 receptions for 82 yards Monday night, so one shudders to think of the sort of numbers Antonio Gates of the San Diego Chargers might put up when the Bolts visit Foxboro this Sunday.

1. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers (at NE)

2. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys (at SF)

3. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers (vs. DAL)

4. Aaron Hernandez, New England Patriots (vs. SD)

5. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers (at CAR)

6. Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers (vs. GB)

7. Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints (vs. CHI)

8. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots (vs. SD)

9. Kellen Winslow, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at MIN)

10. Dustin Keller, New York Jets (vs. JAX)

5. Stephen Gostkowski and the Top 10 Kickers

FOXBORO, MA - AUGUST 11:  Stephen Gostkowski #3 of the New England Patriots lines up his extra point kick in the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 11, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The New England Patriots defeat
Elsa/Getty Images

Predicting fantasy kickers is like trying to predict whether a baby will like the new toy you bought him better than the box it came in, but here's a look at the top 10 kickers for use in fantasy football leagues in Week 2.

1. Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots (vs. SD)

2. Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers (at CAR)

3. Jason Hanson, Detroit Lions (vs. KC)

4. John Kasay, New Orleans Saints (vs. CHI)

5. Shaun Suisham, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. SEA)

6. Alex Henery, Philadelphia Eagles (at ATL)

7. Neil Rackers, Houston Texans (at MIA)

8. Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland Raiders (at BUF)

9. Matt Prater, Denver Broncos (vs. CIN)

10. Nick Novak, San Diego Chargers (at NE)

6. Pittsburgh Steelers and the Top 10 Defenses

ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06:  James Farrior #51 of the Pittsburgh Steelers calls a play in the defensive huddle as Brett Keisel #99 and Casey Hampton #98 (c) look on against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 201
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Picking the right fantasy defense can be as much about the matchups as it is about the stoutness of a particular unit, and with the Pittsburgh Steelers defense coming up triple 7s in both regards, they're the top play among fantasy football defenses this week.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. SEA)

2. Green Bay Packers (at CAR)

3. Baltimore Ravens (at TEN)

4. Detroit Lions (vs. KC)

5. Dallas Cowboys (at SF)

6. New York Giants (vs. STL)

7. Cleveland Browns (at IND)

8. Philadelphia Eagles (at ATL)

9. Buffalo Bills (vs. OAK)

10. Washington Redskins (vs. ARI)

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