2012 Fantasy Football: NFL Week 2 Sit 'Em

Off to a hot start, we’re back with the second edition of the weekly Sit 'Em players for your fantasy teams. 

I’ll admit, the first week of the NFL season is always the most difficult to sit some of your top players. Why would you have wanted to sit Marshawn Lynch when he was good to go and you spent a second-round pick on him? 

Honestly, if I had drafted him, I probably would have started him based on that alone. However, sometimes you have to make tough decisions for the good of your team. 

In Week 1 our predictions were pretty spot on, though, other than Adrian Peterson and Peyton Manning. I can’t imagine many people expected Peterson to break out for two touchdowns. However, we did say to start Peyton, just to be cautious about the Steelers D. Turns out there was nothing to be cautious about; Manning is amazing. 

I will gladly take a 7-2 record. And yes: I am keeping score throughout the year.

Yet, there is always room to improve, and I feel this week we have nailed it. 

Now that we have a week of wiggle room to work with, players and matchups to avoid become a little bit clearer. The guys on this list are either facing injury, a tough matchup or are just plain past their prime.

Here are some players to think twice about before starting them in Week 2.

Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia

Does this warrant any more of an explanation than taking a look at his stats from Sunday?

Well, let's give you one anyway. Michael Vick threw 56 passes against the Browns on Sunday, while LeSean McCoy carried the ball only 20 times. Expect that to change. 

Despite lingering offensive line problems that have Vick continuously scrambling, it is still pretty clear that, in spite of being in the league since 2001, Vick still has a difficult time reading defenses. 

In spite of all of this, Vick is still worthy of starting in most leagues.

Only one problem: The Eagles face the vicious Ravens defense this week. In Week 1, the Ravens sacked Andy Dalton four times and induced two turnovers, one of which was taken back for a touchdown by Ed Reed. 

Mark Sanchez, QB, New York Jets

Two great performances in a row by Mark Sanchez? I don’t think so. 

Response to Mark Sanchez's performance has been the epitome of overreaction. He is getting hyped up for playing well against a subpar Cover 1 defense. 

It is going to take a lot more than just one good game against a team that allowed the 19th-worst total passing yards and that was 29th in touchdowns given up in 2011 to change my mind. 

However, this nomination to the sit-down list is based on his matchup in Week 2.     

The Pittsburgh defense had no answer for Peyton Manning in Week 1. He confused the Steelers D and flat out tore them apart. Sanchez won’t have similar luck. 

Per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley recently said, regarding this Sunday’s game: “Every week the mindset is to go out there and win a football game, and not start the season off bad. So far we’re 0-1, and we’ll manage to not go 0-2.” 

In Week 1, Sanchez threw abused inexperienced corners Stephen Gilmore and Aaron Williams. This week he faces a much more seasoned group of defensive backs. Eleven-year veteran Ike Taylor and fourth-year corner Keenan Lewis have put Game 1 behind them and are ready to control Stephen Hill and the Jets receivers. 

Trent Richardson, RB, Cleveland

Trent Richardson is the only player to have earned a spot on both Sit 'Em lists so far. 

Not only do I have absolutely zero trust in the Browns offensive line, but Cincinnati’s run defense finished in the top 10 last season. I have a lot of faith in defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and believe that they won’t have another showing like the beatdown they took on Monday night at the hands of the Ravens. 

While I do like the prospective future of Trent Richardson, I don’t believe the Browns offense is the right place for him to flourish this season. Sit him until he shows otherwise.

Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis

Is it time to call it quits on fantasy starts for Steven Jackson? I contemplated throwing him on the list last week, but based on his career productivity, I had to give him at least one shot to prove me wrong. 

Other than DeAngelo Williams, Steven Jackson had the most disappointing first week. Averaging less than three yards per rush—2.5 to be exact—on 21 carries is not going to cut it for fantasy owners. 

Steven Jackson only scored five touchdowns last year in the same poorly put together Rams offense. This year the offense looks just as bad, and Jackson is another year older. 

The Rams also play a red-hot Washington team led by Robert Griffin III, who is coming off an improbable win in New Orleans against Drew Brees and the Saints. The ‘Skins were able to hold the Saints to a total of 32 rushing yards on only 10 carries. 

While it may not be panic time on Steven Jackson as long as he is the only viable option in St. Louis, I would still rather not test it this week.

Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee

Uh-oh. Only four yards on 11 carries for a guy you spent a late first- or early second-round pick to get? 

How many of you are already freaking out? 

They call the Monday after the opening weekend “overreaction Monday,” due to the thousands of NFL analysts who over-hype huge games and throw in the towel on players with poor performances.

I am not throwing in the towel quite yet. 

CJ2K is on this list based two things: First, it seems as though he lacks trust in his offensive line. While they aren’t giving him much to work with, he is choosing to dance around looking for the huge play instead of taking the easy few yards they are giving him.

The other reason is his Week 2 matchup against the Chargers. San Diego was able to hold one of the league’s best running backs, Darren McFadden, to 32 yards on 15 carries last week. 

Injuries to a few of the Chargers defensive backs, Quentin Jammer and Shareece Wright, won’t help Johnson’s chance for a good game too much either.

Tennessee’s Jake Locker should be able to have success against San Diego, giving CJ less of a workload.

Kevin Smith, RB, Detroit

(Insert cliche statement about any running back facing the Niners defense here.)

But seriously, I would not start any running back in the NFL against San Francisco. I am not joking about this. I literally mean: until a running back has over 80 yards and a touchdown against them, I would sit everyone, including Arian Foster, Ray Rice and LeSean McCoy against them. 

A little far-fetched you might ask? Well let's see. In 2011, the 49ers allowed 18 rushing yards to McCoy, 59 to Rice, 33 to Lynch and 19 to Stephen Jackson, and this year they look much stronger and faster. 

This will be the best defensive front that the Lions will see this season, and I don’t see Smith having any production.

Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta

The fantasy prime of Atlanta running back Michael Turner’s career has ended with the hiring of offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. 

Atlanta’s offensive prowess has always been noticed, but has never emerged to its full potential. With the addition of Koetter, this is the year, but don’t expect Turner to be too involved in the success. 

In the Falcons’ monster victory this past weekend against KC, Turner was given only 11 touches in which he produced a mere 32 yards. 

While Atlanta does play Denver this week—a team which ranked 22nd in run defense last year—and head coach Mike Smith acknowledged that the Atlanta running game needs to be more efficient, I don’t see Turner’s role having much fantasy value for the next few weeks. 

In addition, Jacquizz Rodgers has made quite a name for himself in Atlanta and will be consistently taking away carries from Turner all season.