Fantasy Football Week 2: Last-Minute Stat Predictions Before Sunday's Games

Every Sunday in the fantasy football world resembles the moment in "Jerry Maguire" where Tom Cruise flips out when he says he's not going to flip out. You're down to the wire with who to start and sit, constantly following the injury news to see who will play and who won't. 

That sense of panic can drive you mad, though mixed martial artist Forrest Griffin has said that genius is merely insanity until it works. We certainly don't want you going berserk over your fantasy options in Week 2, so we have compiled a final projections list for the top-20 players. 

The names on this list will be familiar to every fantasy player, though their actual ranking depends on their talent and, most importantly, who they are playing. Matchups are everything in football, whether it's real or fantasy. 

Here are the players we love and a closer look at the individual positions. 

Rank	Player, Pos.	Team	Opp.	Projected Stats	Projected Points
1	Drew Brees, QB	NO	at CLE	332 yards, 4 TDs	29
2	Peyton Manning, QB	DEN	vs. KC	305 yards, 4 TDs	28
3	LeSean McCoy, RB	PHI	at IND	130 yards, 2 TDs	25
4	Aaron Rodgers, QB	GB	vs. NYJ	275 yards, 3 TDs	23
5	Russell Wilson, QB	SEA	at SD	240 yards, 2 TDs	23
6	Tom Brady, QB	NE	at MIN	290 yards, 3 TDs	23
7	Demaryius Thomas, WR	DEN	vs. KC	144 yards, 1 TD	22
8	Calvin Johnson, WR	DET	at CAR	98 yards, 2 TDs	21
9	Andrew Luck, QB	IND	vs. PHI	282 yards, TD	20
10	A.J. Green, WR	CIN	vs. ATL	132 yards, TD	19
11	Matt Ryan, QB	ATL	at CIN	310 yards, TD	18
12	Matt Forte, RB	CHI	at SF	88 yards, TD	18
13	Julius Thomas, TE	DEN	vs. KC	63 yards, 2 TDs	18
14	Frank Gore, RB	SF	vs. CHI	103 yards, TD	17
15	Giovani Bernard, RB	CIN	vs. ATL	74 yards, TD	16
16	Jake Locker, QB	TEN	vs. DAL	243 yards, TD	15
17	Matthew Stafford, QB	DET	at CAR	242 yards, 2 TDs	15
18	Marshawn Lynch, RB	SEA	at SD	69 yards, TD	15
19	Jamaal Charles, RB	KC	at DEN	110 yards	14
20	Frank Gore	SF	vs. CHI	81 yards, TD	14

Quarterback

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

We talk about how the NFL's new rules have benefited quarterbacks more than any other in fantasy position. This week certainly makes that more evident than ever with five of the top-six projected scorers being quarterbacks. 

Tom Brady is the one player in that group I wasn't sure what to do with. He never looked comfortable in the pocket last week, struggling on throws deep down the field, via ESPN Stats & Info:

On top of that, Brady's completion percentage has been in decline for the last four years, via ESPN's John Buccigross:

However, there's always a time when we think the Patriots have hit a patch that makes us question everything about them. Usually that's when they come out and put together a brilliant performance. Brady has earned a lot of leeway from fantasy owners, so don't hit the panic button yet. 

One quarterback who didn't qualify for my top 20 but could easily end up in the top 10 after Sunday is Jay Cutler. I haven't put him in there for now because there's a trust factor quarterbacks have to earn, which he just doesn't deserve yet because he has consistently made mistakes. 

There are questions right now about Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall. Chicago's two big wideouts didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday, though Marshall is quoted by Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago as saying he plans to play in San Francisco on Sunday. 

The 49ers have their own injury concerns on defense with cornerbacks Tramaine Brock (toe) and Chris Culliver (concussion, stinger) missing practices earlier this week. The defensive line did a good job of creating pressure on Tony Romo in Week 1, so that unit will be under more pressure this week if those two defensive backs can't go or are less than 100 percent. 

Running Back

Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Last week was a rough start for some of the top fantasy running backs. LeSean McCoy didn't score a touchdown against Jacksonville and averaged 3.5 yards per carry. Jamaal Charles touched the ball 11 times against Tennessee. 

The good news is those superstars figure to be much better in Week 2. McCoy is playing on the turf in Indianapolis. The Colts did well against the run in Denver last week, holding the Broncos to 3.0 yards per carry, but that was against Montee Ball's power style. Let's see if they can match the speed-power combination of Philadelphia's star running back. 

As for Charles, Andy Reid said it was a mistake on his part not to use his star running back more in Week 1, via Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star:

There were some familiar names who fared well in Week 1 that we figure will do well this week. Marshawn Lynch isn't going to slow down any time soon if his performance against Green Bay is any indication. Darren Sproles continues to be the best weapon you let someone else get in your fantasy draft. 

The breakout star from Week 1 was Cleveland's Terrance West, who ran for 100 yards on 16 carries against Pittsburgh. He's got a matchup at home against a New Orleans defense that allowed 123 yards and one touchdown on the ground in Atlanta last week. He should have another strong game. 

Wide Receiver

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Let's just agree we can't talk about Calvin Johnson and A.J. Green in fantasy circles because every other wide receiver will pale in comparison. Of course, Demaryius Thomas is my top-ranked wide receiver this week. 

This is more about the matchups than anything else. Johnson doesn't have a great matchup in Carolina against that defense, though I still expect him to have a big day because there's no one who can cover him. My assumption is Matthew Stafford will move the ball around a little more, incorporating Golden Tate and Reggie Bush into the game plan more. 

Green was held in check, relatively speaking, in Week 1 against Baltimore before a 77-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. He's got a good matchup against a weak Falcons secondary that Drew Brees had his way with last week. 

Thomas was a forgotten man last week with just four catches for 48 yards in the win over Indianapolis. Peyton Manning was too busy exploiting a favorable matchup with Julius Thomas in the red zone and going to Emmanuel Sanders deep down the field to find his No. 1 option. 

Expect that to change in Week 2 when Denver hosts a Kansas City team that looked lost against Tennessee and will be playing without Derrick Johnson and Mike DeVito the rest of this season due to Achilles injuries. 

While he specifically is referencing points-per-reception leagues, Pat Thorman of Pro Football Focus notes that Thomas has always come back strong for fantasy owners after a bad week with Manning as his quarterback:

Also, be sure to keep an eye out on the two receivers in Chicago. Marshall is making grand proclamations, but if he and/or Jeffery are less than 100 percent, it would be in your best interest to look at your bench or scour the waiver wire to see if someone like Allen Hurns is still available. 

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