Fantasy Football Week 2: Last-Minute Player Projections and Top Sleepers

When it comes to rearranging your fantasy football roster for success, it's better late than never. There's still some time left to make the proper adjustments before Sunday's mass of Week 2 NFL showdowns take place, but proper is the key word.

While most owners have their starting lineups conceivably figured out after draft day, anything from injuries, to other standouts emerging, to a sheer lack of team success can shake things up significantly.

It's important not to look too much into what unfolded on the opening weekend, but just 60 minutes can show us that a certain player will be more—or less—utilized than the fantasy experts predicted or that a certain unit might be gashed all season.

Let's predict the top performers at each position and the top sleepers to target.

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projected Stats
1	Peyton Manning, DEN	Chiefs	300 yards, 4 TD
2	Aaron Rodgers, GB	Jets	320 yards, 2 TD
3	Drew Brees, NO	Browns	300 yards, 2 TD
4	Nick Foles, PHI	Colts	275 yards, 2 TD
5	Matthew Stafford, DET	Panthers	250 yards, 2 TD
6	Andrew Luck, IND	Eagles	250 yards, 2 TD
7	Colin Kaepernick, SF	Bears	200 yards, 3 TD
8	Tom Brady, NE	Vikings	240 yards, 2 TD
9	Jake Locker, TEN	Cowboys	235 yards, 2 TD
10	Russell Wilson, SEA	Chargers	270 yards, TD

Quarterback Sleeper: Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans

USA TODAY Sports

Chances are you can get Jake Locker on the waiver wire in your fantasy league, and that's usually for a reason. But early on in 2014, he's looking like a strong plug-and-play option when facing a favorable matchup—especially if the Titans continue impressing like they did in Week 1.

Locker faced a tough Kansas City Chiefs defense in Week 1 and didn't blink. He played turnover-free football, throwing for 266 yards and two touchdowns while spreading the ball around to eight receivers.

The lowly Dallas Cowboys defense comes to Nashville on Sunday, and if Locker had his way against Eric Berry and the Chiefs, it's hard not to imagine him throwing a couple more touchdowns while gashing a secondary that has many more questions than answers. Justin Hunter and Nate Washington found separation in tight coverage last week, and they'll do so again in Tennessee's home opener. 

Many of the league's top quarterbacks face stout defenses (Matthew Stafford against the Carolina Panthers; Matt Ryan against the Cincinnati Bengals). If you're looking for a quick waiver grab to fill in, Locker is your guy.

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projected Stats
1	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	Chargers	150 yards, 2 TD
2	LeSean McCoy, PHI	Colts	125 yards, 2 TD
3	Giovani Bernard, CIN	Falcons	100 yards, 2 TD
4	Jamaal Charles, KC	Broncos	125 yards, TD
5	Matt Forte, CHI	49ers	125 yards, TD
6	Eddie Lacy, GB	Jets	115 yards, TD
7	Montee Ball, DEN	Chiefs	160 yards
8	Alfred Morris, WAS	Jaguars	80 yards, TD
9	Arian Foster, HOU	Raiders	75 yards, TD
10	Frank Gore, SF	Bears	75 yards, TD

Running Back Sleeper: Chris Johnson, New York Jets

Chris Szagola/Associated Press

Fantasy owners won't be as fortunate to grab Chris Johnson like Locker, but those who enjoy his presence on their bench—or in the starting lineup, even—will be graced with a surprise performance Sunday.

Johnson got his New York career off to an impressive start simply by scoring a touchdown, which came as a surprise to anyone who has owned CJ2K over his final few years in Tennessee. Along with his TD, he amassed 68 rushing yards and 23 yards receiving.

In Week 2, Johnson's Jets face the Green Bay Packers on the road. Marshawn Lynch ran wild against the Packers last week with 110 yards and two scores, proving that Green Bay's problems up front on defense are worse than expected thus far. 

Johnson doesn't bring the punch that Lynch does, and he won't have the same yards after contact. But if he finds some seams similar to how Percy Harvin did against the Packers, they could be in for a long day.

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projected Stats
1	Jimmy Graham, NO	Browns	150 yards, TD
2	Julius Thomas, DEN	Chiefs	80 yards, 2 TD
3	Vernon Davis, SF	Bears	100 yards, TD
4	Zach Ertz, PHI	Colts	80 yards, TD
5	Rob Gronkowski, NE	Vikings	80 yards, TD
6	Greg Olsen, CAR	Lions	70 yards, TD
7	Martellus Bennett, CHI	49ers	110 yards
8	Jordan Cameron, CLE	Saints	50 yards, TD
9	Jason Witten, DAL	Titans	90 yards
10	Larry Donnell, NYG	Cardinals	35 yards, TD

Tight End Sleeper: Larry Donnell, New York Giants

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

There aren't many good things going on in the Giants offense right now, but Larry Donnell is one of them.

The 25-year-old emerged as one of Eli Manning's favorite targets in their Week 1 loss against Detroit, with eight targets for 56 yards and a touchdown. 

New York faces the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday—one of the NFL's better defenses, but it's also one that struggles to deal with tight ends. Tight end Antonio Gates led the Chargers in receiving against Arizona in Week 1 with 81 yards.

Manning isn't getting much time to make decisions with the way his offensive line is performing, but Donnell will be a solid security blanket when the Cardinals front seven is after him. 

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projected Stats
1	Calvin Johnson, DET	Panthers	160 yards, 2 TD
2	A.J. Green, CIN	Falcons	100 yards, 2 TD
3	Brandon Marshall, CHI	49ers	95 yards, 2 TD
4	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	Chiefs	150 yards, TD
5	Jordy Nelson, GB	Jets	140 yards, TD
6	Percy Harvin, SEA	Chargers	135 yards, TD
7	Cordarrelle Patterson, MIN	Patriots	110 yards, TD
8	Julio Jones, ATL	Bengals	95 yards, TD
9	Allen Hurns, JAX	Redskins	85 yards, TD
10	Randall Cobb, GB	Jets	135 yards

Wide Receiver Sleeper: Allen Hurns, Jacksonville Jaguars

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

If Allen Hurns is still available in your fantasy league, he won't be around for long. The Jaguars receiver has flown up the depth chart and will be relevant almost every week if he remains one of Chad Henne's main targets.

After leading the NFL in receiving yards this preseason, Hurns showed out against the Eagles in his league debut. The undrafted rookie—yes, undrafted rookie—caught four passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half against Philadelphia.

Cecil Shorts continues to miss time in the Jacksonville receiving corps, with ESPN's Michael DiRocco reporting it "doesn't look he'll be playing in Sunday's game" against the Washington Redskins. With him out, it only ups Hurns' already high value.

Henne threw Hurns' way nine times in the opener, and he should do the same against a below-average Redskins secondary. 

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