Fantasy Football Week 3: Michael Vick Will Dominate and 10 Stone Cold Locks
NFL head coaches have been playing their own game of "sit 'em, start 'em" over the past two weeks.
Michael Vick, Bruce Gradkowski, Jimmy Clausen, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Kerry Collins are among the names who have seen time in place of their benched quarterbacks. Although Collins will go back to the bench, the other guys are all starting for their teams this week. A couple of them are even among the fantasy relevant.
At this point in the season, we start learning what players and defenses are really made of. These first four weeks are spent setting a lot of expectations.
Let's look at some of the match-ups, and see if some of these players will live up to their standards. I'll also examine a solid waiver wire pick-up, as well as my start and sit of the week, and also check-in with everyone's favorite No. 1 draft choice, Chris Johnson in his pursuit of 2,500 yards rushing.
Tom Brady Will Get Back On Track Vs. Buffalo Bills
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Tom Brady looked poised to party like it's 2007 after their week one win over the Cincinnati Bengals, but the Jets grounded New England's aerial attack in the second half of last week's game, making Brady's robust first half numbers look pedestrian when coupled with his second-half implosion.
The fans in New England agree that Tom Brady needs to get back to his old self by spreading the ball around. Now is the time to do it—especially since the Patriots are loaded with talent at all receiver spots.
The Flying Elvii will fly again, as Brady won't let this team slip back into its 2009 second-half-busts wardrobe.
Stone cold lock: 280 yards, 3 touchdowns, interception
Brett Favre Will Pillage The Detroit Lions
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The ol' gunslinger admitted it himself. When the team gets in a tough spot, Brett Favre starts to press the situation and try to force the issue. He wants to be the one wearing the big red cape with an "S" on the back.
Unfortunately for himself and the Vikings—that's not the best solution to the situation.
At least he admitted his own faults after almost pointing the finger at his receivers for the evident miscommunications due to no time to develop rapport in training camp...huh...
There is time yet, and there's no better cure for the Minnesota blues than to pillage the Detroit Lions of what little dignity they have on defense, ranking 30th against the pass.
Stone cold lock: 290 yards, 2 touchdowns
Michael Vick Will Feast On The Jacksonville Jaguars
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Vick's detractors have had the following to say:
1. The Packers defense was stifling Kevin Kolb, whom they'd obviously prepared to face, before Vick lit them up.
2. The other good performance came against the Detroit Lions—who despite many improvements on both sides of the ball are still the equivocal Detroit Lions.
Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers lit up the Jaguars pass defense, who for some odd reason let Antonio Gates dominate them in the red zone with two touchdown catches.
He may not be as perfect as he's been over the past two games (the Jaguars have forced three interceptions in that span). With even more dangerous weapons than the Chargers, look for Michael Vick to post some impressive numbers again this week.
Stone cold lock: 210 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 90 rush yards, touchdown
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While You're at It, Go With Jeremy Maclin, Too
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The level of play that the Eagles would get at the quarterback position immediately went into question when the team traded Donovan McNabb. What was never in question, though, was the extreme talent of their two flankers, DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.
Maclin has been a favorite end zone target for Michael Vick over the first two games, picking up two of Vick's three touchdown passes along the way. The Eagles offense will only soar as high as Vick takes them, but the sky's the limit against a Jacksonville defense that has graciously escorted its opponents up and down the field to an average of 300 passing yards per game.
Stone cold lock: 5 receptions, 75 yards, 2 touchdowns
Reggie Wayne Will Make It Rain Vs. Denver Broncos
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The Broncos started out slow against the Jaguars, allowing the turqoise-and-teal Florida-cats to connect for three touchdown passes. Despite a strong showing against Matt Hasselbeck, Peyton Manning is one guy I don't want throwing against my defense, especially when they've already shown inconsistency at times.
Lo and behold, Wayne has been one of Manning's favorite targets as usual through the first two games of the season. He has seven receptions for over 90 yards and a touchdown in each game this season.
Even if the Broncos' defense wasn't suspect, I'd still bank on Wayne having a nice day. The fact that they are is just the icing on the cake.
Stone cold lock: 9 receptions, 114 yards, touchdown
Is Jahvid The Best Player in Fantasy?
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Through two games, Jahvid Best is the high scorer in most standard Yahoo! leagues.
He'll face the Minnesota Vikings' vaunted "Williams Wall".
Despite the struggles of the team, the Vikings are still a purple abyss into which opposing running backs seem to disappear. The Dolphins rush offense had one carry over 10 yards, which was a 50-yard burst by Ronnie Brown. Other than that, the Vikings held them to a piddling 69 yards on 27 carries—just under three yards per carry.
Luckily for his owners, Best has been getting it done in more ways than one. He has 14 receptions for 170 yards and a touchdown through the first two games.
Stone cold lock: 15 carries, 52 yards, touchdown, 3 receptions, 32 yards
The Sub-100-Yard Performance Streak Is Over!
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Adrian Peterson owners can breathe a sigh of relief. His streak of 8 consecutive regular season games with less than 100 yards rushing is over, after a 145-yard stampede all over the Miami Dolphins last week. Even though the Vikings lost the game, Peterson was their work horse with 28 carries and 5 receptions.
Expect that trend to continue this week against Detroit. Peterson feasts on the Lions each time he plays them, racking up a ridiculous 623 yards and five touchdowns to go with over 100 yards receiving in six contests.
The Vikings have looked all out of sorts over the past couple of weeks, but a struggling Lions defense could be the cure for the Minnesota blues.
Stone cold lock: 150 yards, 2 touchdowns, fumble, 2 receptions, 15 yards
Waiver Wire Wonder: Mike Tolbert
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When Ryan Mathews went down, the outlook for San Diego's rush offense became grim.
But in stepped the pocket-size wonder Mike Tolbert, battering and bruising a hapless Jaguar defense, taking 16 carries 82 yards for 2 touchdowns. Ryan Mathews isn't a scratch this week, but Tolbert will get the start against the Seattle Seahawks.
Chances are the Chargers won't risk throwing Mathews at a hungry Seahawks defensive line. Even if Mathews poaches some carries from Tolbert—the Coastal Carolina product could be the battering ram at the goal line.
Stone cold lock: 62 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 reception, 15 yards
Start of The Week: Tony Romo
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Yes, Romo and the Cowboys have gotten off to an unexpected awful start.
Yes, the Houston Texans have been on a roll right out of the gate.
But the Texans haven't exactly played the best pass defense in the world while off to their most impressive (though not their first) 2-0 start in franchise history. In fact, their pass defense over the first two games is dead last.
Against a high-powered Cowboys offense that has a huge chip on its shoulder and a lot to prove, look for Tony Romo to have a big day even if Dallas doesn't get a win this week.
Stone cold lock: 300 yards, 3 touchdowns, interception
Sit Of The Week: Larry Fitzgerald
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Larry Fitzgerald owners get to pick their "Black Hole": lining up across from Nnamdi Asomugha, or catching passes (?) from Derek Anderson.
Whichever poison you choose, the venom may be too strong for Fitzgerald owners this week. His numbers through the first two games aren't dismal, but Fitzgerald threatens to "flame out" on people who took him as high as the second round.
The once-high-flying Cardinals offense will need to get their feet back under them, or they may walk the plank against the Raiders this week. Proceed with caution, Fitzgerald owners.
Stone cold lock: 3 receptions, 34 yards
Chasing 2,500: At New York Giants
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Chris Johnson's streak of 12 consecutive 100-yard performances was snapped like a twig by the vaunted Steelers defense that held CJ2K to just 34 rushing yards and a 2.1 yard per carry average last week.
So much for 2,500 yards—but there are still 14 games to go. Up next, the New York Football Giants.
Last week, Joseph Addai and Donald Brown ripped the G-men a new one on the ground with 161 rushing yards and a touchdown, but previously had held the "Smash and Dash" duo of Deangelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to just 74 yards on 21 carries for a little over 3.5 yards per carry.
So which Giants will we see on Sunday vs. the Titans?
Tthe Giants will be without their best pass rusher, Justin Tuck, against the Titans. Any quarterback, even Vince Young, can be a threat when they have all day in the pocket. Vince Young's ability to scramble makes him even that much bigger a threat to the Giants, meaning their focus may be diverted from Johnson.
And do you really think Johnson can be held to under 100 yards two weeks in a row?
Stone cold lock: 110 rushing yards, touchdown, 3 receptions, 36 yards
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