Fantasy Football : Week Two Thoughts : The This and That of Fantasy Football

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall might be the best QB/WR duo this season. Yes, I know it’s early but Marshall, in his first game back from suspension, just had 18 catches for 166 yards and a TD. Cutler passed for 350 yards, four scores and threw a 2-point conversion pass. The video game stats I just wrote about were also gained against a supposedly solid Chargers’ defense. In two games now, Cutler has thrown for 650 yards and six TDs. On one of my teams, I can send Carson Palmer to the depths of my bench and watch Cutler sling the ball to Marshall, Eddie Royal and Tony Scheffler. I drafted Marshall on several of my teams ahead of guys like Steve Smith, Plaxico Burress and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and many questioned me. No one is questioning me now even after only one game for Marshall. Eddie Royal (146 receiving yards and a TD) had five catches for 37 yards, a TD and a two-point conversion, showing that even with Marshall going off, he can still be fantasy relevant. Scheffler followed 72 yards receiving in game one with six catches for 64 yards and two scores. At least now, fantasy owners who have Scheffler, who has been listed as third on the depth chart, don’t have to worry about Scheffler not producing. Only Mike Shanahan and his weird coaching mind would not have Scheffler starting. When it comes to Denver RBs, none can be trusted thanks to Shanahan. Selvin Young had eight carries against the Chargers, Andre Hall and Michael Pittman each had seven. Pittman is the only Denver back to score a TD. He has scored in both games. Young clearly has the most talent as evidenced by his 49-yard run against the Chargers, but Shanahan is completely acting like Bill Belichick when it comes to screwing fantasy footballers and their RBs. Wait until Ryan Torain possibly comes back at mid-season. I’m sure four RBs will split carries for Denver then.

As I watched LaDainian Tomlinson struggle with an injured big toe and pile up a mighty 26 yards on ten carries, I got mad at myself for breaking a cardinal rule in fantasy football. And that is handcuff your best players, especially if there is a quality backup behind that player. I have Tomlinson, but I don’t have his backup, Darren Sproles. You know the guy with mad skills who scored on a 66-yard TD reception and scored a kickoff return for a TD (even though I don’t get points for that). To my defense, I guess it was easy to think about selecting Michael The Burner Turner when he was LT’s backup. But, I don’t think anyone in any league I’m in drafted Sproles. Now as I hold the 11^th pick in my waiver order, I have no shot of getting Sproles. With that being said, take a look at your rosters and see if there are quality backups you can pick up to protect yourself a little in case of injuries. A player that jumps off the page at me is the Giants’ Ahmad Bradshaw, in case Brandon Jacobs gets hurt. Bradshaw had five carries for 52 yards; a 31-yard TD run and a 18-yard TD catch last week. I know this was in garbage time against the hapless Rams, and I know Derrick Ward is the official backup. But, just like last year’s playoffs, time will Bradshaw is the playmaker of the two and would be the guy who would really benefit if Jacobs (and I’m not wishing this on him) got hurt. Hey if you have garbage on your roster like an extra kicker, pick up both Bradshaw and Ward. Another guy to target is Marshawn Lynch’s backup, Fred Jackson. Against Jacksonville in week two, Jackson had six carries for only 17 yards, but he did have seven catches for 83 yards. Jackson, an undrafted free agent, is in his third season and played well in a week 13 start in place of injured Lynch last season rushing 82 yards and gaining 69 yards receiving. He also carried 15 times for 115 yards in week 14 last season. With Justin Fargas suffering a seemingly serious groin injury, Michael Bush becomes a solid pickup, because he will get a fair amount of carries in tandem with Darren McFadden. Bush rushed 16 times for 90 yards and a TD Sunday in the win over the Chiefs.

Did anyone think this year’s rookie running backs would have the impact they have had? Three of the top eight rushers in the league are rookies.

Chris Johnson – Everyone has raved about Johnson and his 4.3 speed. He almost has two 100-yard rushing games, despite splitting carries with Lendale White. Johnson has 34 carries to White’s 33. Johnson rushed for 93 yards in week one and for 109 in week two. He is averaging a whopping 5.9 yards per carry, has 46 receiving yards and has scored a TD. Splitting carries with White actually helps Johnson by keeping him fresher for long runs against tired defenses. Last week against the hapless Bengals, Johnson had a 51-yard run. Johnson is eight in the league in rushing with 202 yards.

Matt Forte – Against Carolina, Forte rushed for 92 yards on 23 carries and also caught three passes for 21 yards. This came after shredding the Colts in week one for 123 rushing yards, a TD and 18 receiving yards. Forte is slippery smooth and is not afraid of contact. Forte has a long run of 50 yards against the Colts. Forte is fourth in the league in rushing with 215 yards.

Darren McFadden – Fargas got most of the carries in week one, and McFadden had nine carries for 46 yards. But, with Fargas getting hurt in week two, McFadden was thrust into the spotlight and he answered the call. McFadden had 21 carries for 164 yards and a TD. He also has a 50-yard run, and is fifth in the league in rushing with 210 yards.

Jonathan Stewart – Stewart stole the show from DeAngelo Williams in week two’s win over the Bears with 14 carries for 77 yards and two scores. Williams has five more carries (29-24) but Stewart has 130 yards to Williams’ 117. Stewart should continue to see the majority of the goal line TDs.

Don’t forget about Felix Jones, who backs up Marion the Barbarian Barber and scored on a kickoff return TD Monday night against the Eagles.

E-mail questions to pechacek2@comcast.net