Fantasy Football Predictions Week 3: 5 Struggling Players Who Will Get It Going

It's only Week 2. Your fantasy football studs will be fine.

Just two weeks into the season, it's easy to make snap judgments about the quality of your fantasy team.

This isn't the time for snap judgments—it's a time to trust the process.

Let's take a look at a few highly touted players that have underperformed so far, and why they'll rebound in Week 3. 

Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans RB

There was plenty of healthy debate around the NFL about how Chris Johnson’s lengthy holdout might affect his performance this season. Some suggested that the time off would actually help Johnson, keeping him fresh for the season. Others suggested that it would take time for Johnson to adjust back to life in the NFL.

Clearly, the latter group has been proven correct.

Johnson’s season has crawled to a start. The uber-star has rushed for just 77 yards on 33 carries. He has yet to break off a run of more than nine yards.

For a consensus top-five pick, those numbers are unacceptable.

Don’t worry—they won’t continue.

Week 1 was essentially Johnson’s preseason. He eased back into the game, receiving only nine carries. In Week 2, the Titans handed him the lion’s share of the work, but Johnson struggled against the Baltimore Ravens, one of the toughest rush defenses in the NFL. When considering these circumstances, Johnson’s performance is far less surprising.

In Week 3, Johnson goes home to Tennessee to face the Denver Broncos' porous run defense. I have no doubt he’ll get back on track: bet on 100+ yards and at least one score.

Arian Foster, Houston Texans RB

When Arian Foster tweeted his MRI photo a few weeks ago, panic struck fantasy owners nationwide. Hamstring injuries can be especially debilitating for running backs, and Foster’s looked totally not awesome.

It turned out that Foster’s injury wasn’t serious, but it’s limited his production through the first two weeks of the season. Ben Tate has stepped up in Foster’s absence, racking up back-to-back 100+ yard games.

While Tate has been excellent as a fill-in, Foster’s 2010 performance will earn him every opportunity to win his job back.

It’s no shock that Foster struggled a bit in his initial game back from his injury. He wanted to get back as soon as possible, but it will take some time for him feel confident enough in his hamstring to really go 100 percent.

Arian Foster will get better and better each week, but heading down to New Orleans to face the Saints presents an especially nice opportunity for a bounce-back. The Saints aren’t particularly stout against the run, and the Texans will look for ways to get the ball to their backs as a way to slow the New Orleans pass rush.

Foster will likely continue to split carries with Tate in Week 3, but he’ll bounce back with 100 total yards against the Saints.

Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints RB

Mark Ingram hasn’t impressed in the first two games of his rookie campaign, but he hasn’t been all that bad, either.

His New Orleans Saints have faced the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears—two of the better run defenses in the NFL. Though his stat lines in each game seem disappointing, the total result of his 27 carries against those two teams adds up to 91 rushing yards. It’s certainly not an all-star effort, but against a good rushing defense, it’s a solid output.

Even though Ingram will continue to split carries with Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas, he will have big-time fantasy value going forward. He brings a bowling-ball running style that neither of the other backs can match. He has all of the skills to be the primary goal line back for New Orleans.

The Saints have struggled in short-yardage situations early on this year, but that’s mostly a function of the defenses they’ve faced. In Week 3, the Saints take on the Houston Texans—an improving defense, but certainly not one the caliber of their first two opponents.

Against the Texans, expect Ingram to get at least 15 carries and find his way into the end zone.

Chad Ochocinco, New England Patriots WR

Chad Ochocinco stirred up a bit of controversy last week when he tweeted about his amazement with the New England offense. Coming from the lowest of low-rent organizations in Cincinnati, Ochocinco was awestruck at the unflinching consistency of Tom Brady’s passing attack.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t a big part of that attack.

Ochocinco managed only one catch in the Patriots’ Week 1 romp over the Miami Dolphins. He doubled his total in Week 2 against the San Diego Chargers, but it’s clear that he still hasn’t adjusted fully to his new home.

Though just two catches doesn’t seem like a big deal, a closer examination of Ochocinco’s performance against San Diego shows how far he’s progressed as a part of the Patriots offense.

Ochocinco averaged over 22 yards per catch on his two receptions.

On an offense dominated by shifty slot receivers and athletic tight ends, Chad Ochocinco provides a downfield threat on the outside. As he adjusts to the offense—and the offense adjusts to him—Ochocinco’s numbers will spike.

Though the Buffalo Bills are off to a 2-0 start, the pass defense leaves plenty to be desired. Ochocinco will blow up in Week 3. Expect him to double his season output in catches and find the end zone for the first time as a Patriot.

Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions TE

The Detroit Lions have exploded to start the 2011 NFL season, but Brandon Pettigrew hasn’t exactly been leading the charge.

Even as the Lions have cruised to a 2-0 record, Pettigrew has amassed only five catches for 64 yards. Is he just simply getting lost in the shuffle of talented pass-catchers in Detroit?

No chance.

Though fellow TE Tony Scheffler has already found the end zone twice, Pettigrew is the better bet for the rest of the season. Over the first two games of the season, Matthew Stafford has looked Pettigrew’s way nearly twice as often as he’s targeted Scheffler.

The Lions are committed to an offense built around throwing the ball, and Pettigrew is one of the best options on the team. The targets are there; the receptions (and touchdowns) will come.

The Lions head up to Minnesota to face the Vikings in Week 3. Matthew Stafford will have to hurry the ball downfield against the Vikings’ fearsome pass rush, and he’ll look to Pettigrew as a quick-read target. Expect a big day for Pettigrew—75 yards and a score.