Fantasy Football Week 2: Hot Players Due for a Letdown

You lauded and cheered their efforts after Week One.You were thrilled with the results they gave you, as some of the studs listed here perhaps carried you to victory.

However, fantasy football is all about match-ups, and while we all crave consistency, certain studs that stand out in one week could turn into duds the following week. It’s just the nature of the beast.

So, here is a slideshow of Week One studs (in no particular order) who could be due for a letdown. Proceed with caution.

1) Cam Newton- Carolina Panthers

The fantasy football blogosphere erupted after Cam Newton had one of the best rookie QB debuts ever by passing for 422 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for another score.

However, that performance came against the Cards. Up next for Cam? A date with the defending champion Green Bay Packers and their excellent secondary.

2) Kenny Britt- Tennessee Titans

Britt is in line for another scintillating season.This much is certain.

Britt began his season with five receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns against the Jaguars, but the going will get much tougher with the Ravens coming to town this Sunday. The Ravens, who forced the usually unflappable Ben Roethlisberger to commit five turnovers, will easily rattle Matt Hasselbeck, thus limiting Britt’s effectiveness this week.

3) Mike Tolbert- San Diego Chargers

It’s not so much the knee strain that you should be concerned with when it comes to Tolbert this week. It’s just predicting which Charger’s running back will do the best (remember Ryan Matthews got plenty of carries and did well last week also) that can get hairy.

Besides, my gut instinct leads me to believe Phil Rivers will try to outduel his Patriot companion Tom Brady in this game by throwing more often. Expect a lot more passing this week from the Chargers.

4) Reggie Bush- Miami Dolphins

By all accounts, Bush had a solid debut with the Dolphins, touching the ball 20 times (11 carries and nine receptions) for 94 total yards and a receiving touchdown in a memorable Monday night slug-fest with the Patriots

This week the stage is smaller and Bush and the Dolphins will take on an improved Texan’s defense. The Texans, after all, did limit the Colts’ running backs (Joseph Addai and Delone Carter) to 64 yards rushing.

Also, factor in that Daniel Thomas (who was inactive on Monday) will get some carries and that could eat into Bush’s production.

5) Steve Smith- Carolina Panthers

What was said about Newton, can also be said for Smith.

After an explosive game against the Cardinals (eight receptions for 178 yards and two scores), Smith will now have to contend with the Packers’ Charles Woodson.

While signs indicate that Smith is in store for a rebound season, he’ll have some hiccups along the way and Sunday could easily be one of them.

6) Mark Sanchez- New York Jets

I admit it: The inclusion of Sanchez on this list looks puzzling.

Sanchez is coming off a fine performance in which he threw for 335 yards and two touchdowns against the Cowboys. Then you see he has a matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars and you’d think that Sanchez will have little problem lighting up a weak Jaguars secondary (heck, even Matt Hasselbeck did).

However, I see this game as a complete mismatch, a game that could be over by halftime. I see the Jets relying much more on their defense and running game this week.

7) Maurice Jones-Drew- Jacksonville Jaguars

Speaking of the Jets’ defense, well, their game plan this week is to shutdown Jones-Drew. And who do you think will come out on top of that battle?

Luke McCown won’t scare the Jets’ secondary one bit. So, MJD will see plenty of stacked boxes all day and the results will be far from stellar.

8) Scott Chandler- Buffalo Bills

Ah yes, everybody’s new favorite tight end Scott Chandler will be looking to expand on his breakout performance of last week when he hauled in five catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns.

As fantasy fans, we need to see more. Don’t rush to get him active just yet. The Raiders’s defense looked good on Monday while limiting Broncos’ tight end Daniel Fells to just 32 yards on three receptions.

9) Beanie Wells- Arizona Cardinals

Wells, with no other competent running back threatening his playing time, had a fine opening week performance rushing for 90 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown.

However, traveling cross country for a 1:00 matchup with an improved Redskins’ defense is not an ideal setting for repeat success. Also, take into consideration the fact that the Redskins held the Giants combo of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs to just 73 yards rushing.

10) Ben Tate- Houston Texans

This is an obvious choice.

Kudos to you if you started Tate in Week One. However, with Arian Foster due back this week, Tate will be relegated to backup duties.