NFL Week 2: Wide Receivers Set for Big Games

We know that the top receivers such as Calvin and Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald and Wes Welker will fill up the stat sheet week in and week out.  They are perennial Pro Bowlers who do everything that wide receivers are supposed to do.  But what about the wide receivers who are just below these guys?

In the season opener, many receivers had average games at best.  Maybe they were rusty from the lockout and needed that game as a warm-up.

This week I will take a look at the other tier of receivers who will look to heat up and put up some great numbers in Week 2.

San Diego Chargers: Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd

The Chargers go into Gillette Stadium against one of the top teams in the league.  The New England Patriots are an offensive juggernaut with Tom Brady leading the way, dismantling every team in their path.  Their defense, on the other hand, is a work in progress, especially the secondary.  An average Chad Henne blew up the patriots secondary for over 300 hundred yards.

Last season the Chargers were the No. 1 offense in the league, and with wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd, this year could be the same.  Jackson is a bona fide No. 1 receiver with big play ability, and Floyd is a borderline No. 1.

Both players will line up against a weak Patriots secondary, and both will score touchdowns come this Sunday.  Bank on both players to also get over 100 yards as this game will be a shootout. 

New England Patriots: Chad Ochocinco

Ex-Patriot and current ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi absolutely bashed on Chad’s tweet about being amazed of the Patriots offense, and told Chad to get involved.  I think Chad will take Tedy’s advice and light up the Chargers this week.

Chad still has the big play ability and is a great route runner.  Tom Brady will definitely look for Chad more this week.  There will be plays drawn up for Chad, and he will take full advantage of it.    

The Chargers will focus so much on New England’s double tight end set and Wes Welker, that Chad will have a lot of opportunities to shine.  Look for Chad Ochocinco to go for 100 yards and a touchdown.

Chicago Bears: Devin Hester

The Bears head into Saints country for a great matchup in Week 2.  The Bears, as a team, are going to be playing extra hard with a heavy heart as team captain Brian Urlacher’s mother passed away this week.  Expect to see the defense flying around on the field, and Jay Cutler and the offense slinging the ball.

Last week, Jay Cutler and the rest of the Bears offense looked comfortable in their second season under Martz’s offense.  Martz will utilize Hester’s speed this week against a Saints defense that is blitz-happy.  The Saints blitz more than most teams, and leave the secondary on islands.  Hester is too fast not to beat a cornerback off the block—he has DeSean Jackson ability. 

Hester’s speed will exploit the Saints, opening up the running game.  Hester will have a huge day with over 125 yards and two touchdowns.

San Francisco 49ers: Braylon Edwards

One of my favorite rivalries is headed into Week 2.  Well, it's not the rivalry that it once was in the '90s, but it should be a good one.  The Cowboys look to bounce back from a horrible late-game collapse while the 49ers are still trying to find their identity with quarterback Alex Smith.

Luckily for Smith, he has a new weapon in wide receiver Braylon Edwards to play with. Last week, Edwards had three catches for 27 yards as he was getting acclimated in Jim Harbaugh’s offense.

This week, look for Edwards to break out against a weak Cowboys secondary.  Cornerback Terence Newman is out for Week 2, leaving a hobbled Mike Jenkins to cover Edwards and all the 49ers receivers.  

Edwards is a red-zone target and will catch two touchdowns for 100 yards this week.

New York Jets: Plaxico Burress

Although behind bars for the last two years, Plaxico Burress had a great showing in his first game as a New York Jet. He had four grabs for 72 yards and a touchdown—so much for being rusty.  

Burress’ body is two years rested from the beatings of the NFL game, and his game is heavily relied on his height and strength, so any rust was non-existent.  Burress is able to grab anything that is near him with his huge mitts for hands.

This week the Jets take on the Jaguars and will have ample opportunities in the red zone.  Look for quarterback Mark Sanchez to target Burress on every down. The two have a connection that seem like they have been playing together for years.

Burress will have seven catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns, and look dominant against the Jaguars in Week 2.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Wallace

The Steelers will put last week’s horrendous loss behind them, and look to demolish a weak Seattle Seahawks team.  Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had three interceptions last week and will bounce back in dominating fashion.  

Look for Big Ben to utilize all his weapons, and display a deep threat attack with wide receiver Mike Wallace. 

Mike Wallace is not really a known commodity, but he is the Steelers' No. 1 receiver.  He has an uncanny ability to break away from defenders with great separation.  On a lot of his big plays last year, defenders never seemed to be near him.  He is just too fast. 

Wallace is going to kill the Seahawks defense.  He will go over 150 yards on 10 catches and a score.  Wallace and the Steelers are going to take their anger out on a Seattle team that has no identity.  I feel sorry for them.

Buffalo Bills: Steve Johnson

The Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is a true gun slinger, and is able to make every pass in the NFL.  He has an awesome arm, a high IQ and an emerging star at wideout in Steve Johnson. 

Steve Johnson has great size and speed to succeed in this is league.  Coach Chan Gaily will make sure Johnson gets enough touches because they don’t have too many offensive threats besides Johnson.

In Week 2, the Bills take on the Oakland Raiders who are coming off a big win.  The Raiders lost their best player and arguably best cornerback in the league in Nnamdi Asomugha, and Steve Johnson will be very happy about this.

Johnson will hit the 100-yard mark as well as a touchdown against the Raiders in Week 2.

New Orleans Saints: Robert Meachem

The Saints are coming off a great offensive battle loss against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, and look to take their anger out on the Chicago Bears.

Marques Colston is injured and Lance Moore is questionable for this game, so Robert Meachem is inserted into the No. 1 wide receiver slot. Meachem is a solid receiver who Drew Brees can make look great this week.  Brees will look to Meachem to make the big plays with his favorite targets out.

The Chicago Bears run a Cover 2 scheme where their main focus is takeaways.  The Bears do not care about giving up yards, so look for Meachem to rack them up.

Robert Meachem will catch 125 yards on 10 catches, but I don’t think he will score a touchdown on my Bears' stout defense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Williams

Wide receiver Mike Williams was a surprise rookie last year, but shouldn't have been with processing everything a No. 1 receiver is suppose to have.  He has the size, strength and he catches everything thrown his way. 

This week, the Bucs take on one of the worst teams in the league in the Minnesota Vikings, and Williams is due to run wild against them.  The Bucs will look to pound the ball on the ground to set up the play action, and with Josh Freeman’s huge arm, look for Williams to catch a deep ball or two.

Williams will have eight catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.  

Atlanta Falcons: Roddy White

The Dream Team Eagles look to take their show into Atlanta where Mike Vick was once the poster child for this team.  The Falcons look to rebound from a dismantling by the Bears in the opener.  This will definitely be an emotional game.

This is also a game where wide receiver Roddy White will show off his Pro Bowl abilities.  Most of you are thinking that I am crazy for putting White on this list because the Eagles have Nnamdi, Asante Samuel and Cromartie to guard him and everyone else, but the Falcons have too many weapons.

Julio Jones will play in his second game and be more comfortable, and along with Harry Douglas’ speed, will free White up.  White has a great ability to find the open areas in zone coverage and to free himself up on broken plays.

White will make quarterback Matt Ryan look real good this Sunday, and make the fans forget about Vick.  Roddy will go for 100 yards with two touchdowns, and prove to the league that the Falcons are legit contenders.

Today’s NFL is a passing league, and the divas who are the wide receivers are the beneficiaries of it.  These receivers will be warmed up and ready to go in their second game, and poised to put up some great stats.