Sunday morning updates - Week 2

Good morning, Fools. Hope you're undefeated (like me!) and ready to keep the good times rolling. Let's take a quick swing around the NFL for the news we can use...

Shady McCoy will play today, despite being slowed all week by a bum hammy. You have to start him, but there's a risk he could pull up lame at some point.

Tre Mason will be the lead back for the Rams today, but he's a flex play at best. Benny Cunningham will get some carries too, and hopefully Todd Gurley will see his first action of the year. Gurley is a game-time decision. Keep in mind that Washington's run defense is pretty solid. (Update: Gurley won't be active today, but I wasn't expecting much from him anyway. Doesn't change my opinion about Mason.)

If you need a sneaky flex play this week, I really like Lance Dunbar in PPR leagues. The Cowboys are using him a lot like the Eagles use Darren Sproles, and with Dez out, Dunbar should be one of the main beneficiaries.

C.J. Spiller appears on track to make his New Orleans debut today, but how much he'll be used is unknown. Hold him out until he's 100% and his role is clear.

Chris Ivory (groin) is questionable going into the Monday nighter, but I would be very surprised if he doesn't suit up and have an solid outing. Just understand that there's some risk there, and you'd be wise to have a backup plan in place if he's inactive.

Same story for T.Y. Hilton (knee), though he seems a little more in jeopardy of missing MNF. He could also be on a pitch count or used as a decoy. There's more risk involved with Hilton.

The worries about Alshon Jeffery's status have come to fruition. He has been declared out today. That means more targets for Forte, Martellus Bennett, Eddie Royal, et.al, but only Forte and Marty B deserve starts.

Mike Evans is expected to play this week, and you have to like his chances in the red zone. Again, you have to start a WR of his caliber when he's active, but you'd much prefer that he be fully healthy, and that's still a question mark with Evans.

You know Victor Cruz is still out. For those of us with OBJ, let's hope he gets his act in gear this week.

Delanie Walker won't play with Week 1 shooting star Marcus Mariota today. That's one more reason I can't imagine putting my fantasy team in the rookie QB's hands.

Jordan Reed is expected to go today, but he has a rough matchup against the visiting Rams.

Dwayne Bowe will play, but, seriously....

That's it for this morning. I'll start tweeting inactives and other late-breaking news shortly. Good luck, Fools!

Week 2 Starters & Benchwarmers

Wondering whether or not to start Drew Brees and Julio Jones, or to bench Blake Bortles and Taiwan Jones? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 2 of the 2015 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Andy Dalton, QB, Bengals vs. Chargers. His team won handily in Oakland last week, so Dalton wasn’t asked to do much in the second half. That should change on Sunday, and the Red Rifle is sure to turn his attention from Tyler Eifert to A.J. Green in a more wide-open attack. San Diego’s secondary gives up plenty of TD passes, so Dalton should have a fine outing in his home opener.

Ameer Abdullah, RB, Lions at Vikings. The rookie’s stellar debut last weekend wasn’t as shocking as starter Joique Bell’s poor performance. We expected Abdullah to overtake Bell at some point this season, but not quite this quickly. Against the defense that just made Carlos Hyde the darling of fantasy football, Abdullah is a must-start.

T.J. Yeldon, RB, Jaguars vs. Dolphins. Let’s go with another rookie who got off to a solid, though not spectacular, start last week. What’s most significant is that Yeldon received the majority of the carries against the Panthers’ stingy defense, so look for a similar workload and better results against Miami’s more-generous run defenders.

John Brown, WR, Cardinals at Bears. Michael Floyd is still working his way back from his finger injury, giving the second-year speedster another opportunity to assert himself in Arizona’s passing game. Carson Palmer should continue to shine against Chicago’s weak secondary.

Terrance Williams, WR, Cowboys at Eagles. He’s no Dez Bryant, nor is he Julio Jones. But Williams is capable of inflicting major damage on a Philly secondary that surrenders passing yards and TDs in big chunks. The third-year wideout should pickup more than his fair share of Bryant’s targets, and at least one long scoring play seems inevitable.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, Sam Bradford, Matt Ryan, Ben Roethlisberger, Ryan Tannehill, Nick Foles; RBs Chris Ivory, Justin Forsett, Mark Ingram, Darren Sproles, Carlos Hyde, Bishop Sankey, Joseph Randle, Lamar Miller, Alfred Morris, Jeremy Hill, Tevin Coleman; WRs Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Smith, Marques Colston, DeAndre Hopkins, Roddy White, Jordan Matthews, Vincent Jackson, Keenan Allen, Julian Edelman, Jarvis Landry, Davante Adams, Golden Tate.

Roll ‘em back

Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks at Packers. Marshawn Lynch’s mom isn’t the only one who thinks her son should be better deployed by the Seahawks. Despite a hefty 41 pass attempts against the Rams, Wilson had a mediocre fantasy performance in the opener – highlighted by six sacks. He’ll face another stiff test at Lambeau Field on Sunday night, so consider a safer option this weekend.

Alfred Blue, RB, Texans at Panthers. Blue was expected to be the bell cow until Arian Foster (groin) returned; but instead, Houston rolled out a full-fledged running back by committee in the opener. This is a tough matchup already, but having to compete for touches with his own teammates spells trouble for Blue.

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Steelers vs. 49ers. Williams looked surprisingly spry in the season kickoff, though he failed to reach the end zone. San Francisco effectively shut down a rusty Adrian Peterson on Monday night and should have less trouble keeping the 32-year-old Williams in check on Sunday.

Torrey Smith, WR, 49ers at Steelers. It’s not entirely clear that Colin Kaepernick has been introduced to Smith yet. With just one 11-yard reception on three targets, the “prized” offseason acquisition was virtually invisible in the opener. Despite the favorable matchup, Smith should be nowhere near your starting lineup until he and his quarterback recognize each other.

Pierre Garcon, WR, Redskins vs. Rams. Garcon was Kirk Cousins’ most-targeted wideout in the opener following DeSean Jackson’s exit, and that should continue. What is also likely to continue is Cousins’ struggles, particularly against a legit Rams defense. The Redskins should lean heavily on Alfred Morris in this tough matchup.

More thumbs down: QBs Colin Kaepernick, Cam Newton, Teddy Bridgewater, Kirk Cousins, Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Marcus Mariota, Johnny Manziel; RBs Devonta Freeman, Todd Gurley, Rashad Jennings, Dion Lewis, Frank Gore, Latavius Murray, David Johnson, Isaiah Crowell, Melvin Gordon, Ryan Mathews; WRs Sammy Watkins, Percy Harvin, Travis Benjamin, Allen Robinson, Stevie Johnson, Markus Wheaton, Amari Cooper, Andre Johnson, Kendall Wright, Eric Decker, Danny Amendola.

TAKING A FLIER

Chris Johnson, RB, Cardinals at Bears. I have serious reservations about CJ.6K’s season-long prospects behind Arizona’s line – especially since Andre Ellington (knee) isn’t expected to miss too long. But Johnson will be the workhorse against the vulnerable Chicago run defense, and Palmer will put the former fantasy superstar in good position to rack up a rushing score or two on Sunday.

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO…benches Tom Brady against the vaunted Bills defense. Sure, they made Andrew Luck look average in Week 1, but Brady has a stellar track record against this secondary and nobody can cover Rob Gronkowski. Enjoy the ride if you have either superstar on your roster.

Week 1 Heroes & Zeros

This was a great week to start…

QBs

Tom Brady, Patriots – Flipped off Roger Goodell with 288 yards and 4 TDs, without a blemish.

Carson Palmer, Cardinals – Passed for 307 yards and 3 TDs, without a turnover, plus 14 rushing yards.

Aaron Rodgers, Packers – Started off slowly, but finished with 189 yards, 3 TDs, 35 rushing yards and no turnovers.

Alex Smith, Chiefs – Passed for 243 yards and 3 TDs, and ran for 15 yards, with no turnovers.

Tony Romo, Cowboys – Passed for 356 yards and 3 TDs, plus 2 INTs – neither of which were his fault.

Marcus Mariota, Titans – Enjoyed a tremendous debut with 209 passing yards and 4 TDs, all in the first half.

RBs

Matt Forte, Bears – Rushed for 144 yards and a TD, and added 5 catches for 25 yards.

Carlos Hyde, 49ers -- Ran for 168 with 2 TDs, plus 14 yards on 2 receptions, in the late game.

Bishop Sankey, Titans – Shockingly, rushed for 74 yards and a TD and caught 2 passes for 12 yards and another TD.

Chris Ivory, Jets – Rumbled for 91 yards and 2 TDs.

Danny Woodhead, Chargers – Scored twice while rushing for 42 yards, and hauled in 4 passes for 20 more yards.

WRs

Julio Jones, Falcons – Scored twice on 9 receptions for 141 yards.

Antonio Brown, Steelers – Reeled in 9 passes for 133 yards and a trash-time score.

DeAndre Hopkins, Texans – Caught TDs from 2 different mediocre QBs on his 9 receptions for 98 yards.

James Jones, Packers – Returned to Green Bay with panache, catching 4 passes for 51 yards and 2 TDs, and very nearly two more scores.

Keenan Allen, Chargers – Was golden in PPR leagues, with 15 receptions for 166 yards.

TEs

Rob Gronkowski, Patriots – Made the Steelers defense look silly, with 5 receptions for 94 yards and 3 TDs.

Travis Kelce, Chiefs – Torched the Texans with 6 receptions for 106 yards and 2 TDs.

Tyler Eifert, Bengals – Racked up 9 catches for 104 yards and 2 TDs.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Buccaneers – Reeled in 5 passes for 110 yards and 2 TDs.

Jason Witten, Cowboys – Scored twice on his 8 receptions for 60 yards.

D/STs

Panthers – Amassed 5 sacks, 2 INTs, a fumble recovery, held Jacksonville to 9 points and scored on an INT return.

Seahawks – Gave up 34 points, but scored on a punt return and fumble return, plus 2 sacks.

Ks

Brandon McManus, Broncos – Booted through FGs of 57, 56, 43 and 33 yards, plus an XP.

This was a great week to play against…

QBs

Peyton Manning, Broncos – Held without a score, and had just 175 yards with an INT.

Eli Manning, Giants – Just 193 yards passing, no scores and no turnovers.

Joe Flacco, Ravens – Passed for only 117 yards without a score, and had 2 INTs.
Colin Kaepernick, 49ers -- Amassed just 165 passing and 41 rushing yards, without a score.
Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings -- Passed for 231 yards with 16 rushing yards, but no TDs and 1 INT.

RBs

Frank Gore, Colts – Began his Indy tenure with a disappointing 31 rushing yards.

Alfred Blue, Texans – Just 42 rushing yards and a 7-yard catch.

C.J. Anderson, Broncos – Ran for 29 yards and took 4 passes just 19 yards before leaving with a sprained toe.

T.J. Yeldon, Jaguars – Only 51 rushing and 16 receiving yards for the rookie.

Isaiah Crowell, Browns – Held to 20 rushing and 13 receiving yards.

Doug Martin, Buccaneers – Ran for 52 yards and caught a 2-yard pass.
Adrian Peterson, Vikings -- The freak was limited to just 52 combined yards.

WRs

Sammy Watkins, Bills – Blanked in the opener.

DeSean Jackson, Redskins – Pulled up with a bum hammy before catching a pass.

Eddie Royal, Bears – Caught an 8-yarder.
Torrey Smith, 49ers -- Had an 11-yarder in his 49ers debut.

Kenny Stills, Dolphins – For the first game, at least, Stills is the odd WR out with just a 12-yard grab.

Steve Smith, Ravens – Only 13 yards on 2 catches.

Michael Floyd, Cardinals – Had an 18-yarder, and that’s it.

Allen Robinson, Jaguars – Limited to a 27-yarder.

Andre Johnson, Colts – Like Gore, got off to a slow start with just 24 yards on 4 receptions.
Charles Johnson, Vikings -- Just 2 for 27.

Marques Colston, Saints – Only 3 catches for 29 yards.

Calvin Johnson, Lions – Caught 2 passes for 39 yards.

Golden Tate, Lions – Limited to 24 yards on 4 passes.
Anquan Boldin, 49ers -- Just 4 for 36.

Odell Beckham, Jr., Giants – Only 44 yards on 5 catches.

Dez Bryant, Cowboys – Managed 48 yards on 5 receptions before leaving injured.

Brandin Cooks, Saints – Just 49 yards on 4 receptions.

TEs

Greg Olsen, Panthers – Managed just an 11-yarder.

Owen Daniels, Broncos – Peyton’s new TE tallied 5 receiving yards.

On cue, opening week dishes out surprises

Marcus Mariota to Kendall Wright. I told you to expect a huge game from this dynamic duo.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins: clearly the next Gronkowski.

Ravens and Broncos defenses: 2 TDs. Peyton Manning: nada.

Calvin Johnson, Odell Beckham Jr., Dez Bryant and Brandin Cooks each held under 50 receiving yards. As predicted here.

What, you say you missed those prognostications? From me, or anybody?

That’s because they’re what we in the fantasy guru biz call aberrations. They are especially common in season openers, when players are often rusty and teams are out of sync. But, more often than not, they prove to be the exceptions to the norm.

So don’t pat yourself too hard on the back for your late-round “steal” of Bishop Sankey. And don’t panic (yet) about Frank Gore’s no-show in the opener.

Maybe panic a little about Sammy Watkins’ goose egg.

Your primary focus today would be better placed on the rash of injuries of various severity that befell such stars as Bryant, T.Y. Hilton, C.J. Anderson, Andre Ellington and DeSean Jackson. How those situations are resolved, at least in the short term, will likely have more bearing on your future success than chasing after one-week wonders.

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.

Catch ‘em while you can

Chris Johnson, RB, Cardinals. Starting running backs are rare birds, so even when they’re past their prime, they are usually roster-worthy. Johnson (or, as I like to call him, CJ.6K) is expected to play a lead role in Arizona’s backfield while Ellington recovers from his knee injury. Rookie David Johnson, who scored on a nifty 55-yard catch and run, will also be in the mix.

Ronnie Hillman, RB, Broncos. If you invested your first-round pick on C.J. Anderson, you’re probably worried today. And rightly so. The Broncos looked ragged against the Ravens even before Anderson left with a sprained toe. Hillman ran hard and surely has earned additional playing time. He’s Anderson’s proxy for the time being.

James Jones, WR, Packers. I was seriously tempted to call Jones my Week 1 flier, but that seemed so remote given his recent flameouts with the Raiders and Giants. Yet there he was, looking like the same guy that reeled in 14 TD passes from Aaron Rodgers in 2012. Jones finished with four receptions for 51 yards and two scores, but two other touchdowns were overturned by penalty. That’s unwelcome news for Davante Adams owners especially.

Donte Moncrief, WR, Colts. Moncrief had a couple of big games as a rookie that hinted at bigger things to come. Now that Hilton is in jeopardy of missing time with a knee injury, and with Andre Johnson seemingly having lost several steps, it’s Moncrief’s time to shine. Rookie Phillip Dorsett may likewise see more targets going forward.

Jordan Reed, TE, Redskins. Reed has always brimmed with potential, but injuries have held him back. That risk remains, but for now, his arrow is pointing up. Kirk Cousins targeted Reed more than any other receiver on Sunday (11 times), at least partly due to the loss of DeSean Jackson (hamstring). There’s no reason to think that will change soon.

Brandon McManus, K, Broncos. Got issues at kicker? McManus booted field goals of 57, 56, 43 and 33 yards in the Mile High air. The Broncos offense will presumably find their way into the end zone going forward, but they clearly have a big-footed mop-up man.

Don’t be fooled

Marcus Mariota, QB, Titans. Four TD passes in the first half of his NFL career, and I’m not recommending that you pick him up? Right. Call me crazy (it won’t be the first time), but as sharp as he looked against the hapless Bucs defense, I am still convinced that Mariota is destined to struggle more often than not through his rookie campaign. After all, the Titans didn’t get him at No. 2 overall because they were a good team. They just snapped a 10-game losing streak! If you are convinced Mariota will defy the odds, go right ahead. But I’ll bet you waive him before long.

Dion Lewis, RB, Patriots. Lewis raised eyebrows in the season opener, but he also fumbled in the red zone. How do you think Bill Belichick liked that? With LeGarrette Blount returning from his one-game suspension and the mighty Bills defense on tap next, Lewis’ moment in the spotlight may turn out to be a lot like Jonas Gray’s.

Percy Harvin, WR, Bills. There’s a reason Harvin went undrafted in more than half of all fantasy leagues. Actually several reasons. He’s injury prone. He’s just getting acquainted with his fourth team over the last four seasons. The Bills’ passing attack is very suspect. And he’s inconsistent as all get-out. Don’t take the bait.

Cole Beasley, WR, Cowboys. Beasley is a fan favorite in Dallas, but he’s a very unlikely fantasy stud. Sure, he’ll see more targets with Bryant sidelined. But so will Terrance Williams, Lance Dunbar, Jason Witten and the rest of the Cowboys’ receivers. Bryant’s absence is more likely to hurt Tony Romo than help his undersized slot man.

Sunday morning updates - Week 1

Ah, yes yes yes. It's a beautiful Sunday morning in Fantasyland, so it's time to take a quick stroll across the NFL so we can make any necessary last-minute adjustments to our winning lineups.

Alshon Jeffery (calf) is active and should be a solid go against the Packers. He may not be 100%, but he's surely better than your backup options.

Prospects for Mike Evans (hamstring) aren't quite so positive. Though Evans is "optimistic" he will play, his bum hammy apparently hasn't healed fully, so don't be surprised if he's limited even if he is active today. That's too bad, because the Titans present a very nice matchup. Louis Murphy would start in his place, but you've got better alternatives, I hope.

Michael Floyd (fingers) looked like he'd be good to go, but the NFL Network just reported that he's inactive. Seems too early to make that call for the later game, so keep an eye on this one. I still like Carson Palmer's chances against the Saints.

Roddy White is expected to play. He's a marginal WR3/WR4 option this week.

Victor Cruz (calf) almost surely won't play tonight.

Dwayne Bowe is out. Yeah, I know. Who cares?

Tre Mason (thigh) is out, but you weren't going to start him anyway, right? Not against the Seahawks. Benny Cunningham is an even worse option. Just be patient...Gurley will be there soon.

Is the Falcons running game something we should watch, or avoid, this year? We'll start to find out Monday night against the Eagles. Rookie Tevin Coleman will get the start, but Devonte Freeman -- who likewise has been battling a bum hammy during preseason -- is probable and will share the carries. I'd keep both on your bench in Week 1.

I like Zach Ertz's chances this year, as long as both he and Sam Bradford are healthy. Sam looks good heading into Week 1, but Zach has been dealing with a sore groin (aren't we all?). He's questionable going into MNF, so if he's your TE, you may be better off riding another option today.

Next up: The inactives. I'll be tweeting them starting in just a couple of minutes at twitter.com/ladd_biro.

Week 1 Starters & Benchwarmers

Wondering whether or not to start Andrew Luck and Adrian Peterson, or to bench Brian Hoyer and Tavon Austin? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 1 of the 2015 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Carson Palmer, QB, Cardinals vs. Saints. This contest sets up as a shootout, though Palmer may be slinging it without starting wideout Michael Floyd (fingers). Despite the favorable rushing matchup, Palmer will have to carry a big load to keep pace with Drew Brees & Co. Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown will do their parts.

Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers at Jaguars. I have plenty of concerns about J-Stew’s durability for the season, but at least he’s healthy heading into the opener. And given the sorry state of Carolina’s receiver corps, and the soft underbelly of the Jacksonville defense, Stewart should find plenty of room to roam on Sunday.

Chris Ivory, RB, Jets vs. Browns. Here’s another RB that I had no intention of drafting, yet he’s poised for great success against the worst run defense in the league in 2014. Ivory has no real competition for carries, and there are plenty of concerns about the Jets’ passing game. For one week at least, Ivory should shine.

Marques Colston, WR, Saints at Cardinals. Brandin Cooks has already been anointed the new leading man in New Orleans, but the veteran still retains an important role in the Saints’ high-powered passing attack. Arizona’s secondary was its bugaboo in 2014, so look for more aerial fireworks on Sunday.

Davante Adams, WR, Packers at Bears. I’m not convinced Randall Cobb can take a hit to his shoulder, which could keep him from prowling the between the hashes. Aaron Rodgers will have to look Adams’ way early and often, and we all know Chicago’s secondary is a sieve.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Matt Ryan, Tony Romo, Sam Bradford, Matthew Stafford, Ryan Tannehill, Russell Wilson, Eli Manning; RBs Andre Ellington, Latavius Murray, Alfred Morris, Joique Bell, Alfred Blue, Lamar Miller, Carlos Hyde; WRs Larry Fitzgerald, Jordan Matthews, Emmanuel Sanders, Golden Tate, Jarvis Landry, Vincent Jackson, Anquan Boldin, DeSean Jackson, Steve Smith.

Roll ‘em back

Phillip Rivers, QB, Chargers vs. Lions. Antonio Gates is suspended, Ladarius Green is in the concussion protocol and his rookie running back has struggled during the preseason. Rivers will need to connect regularly with Keenan Allen and new wideout Stevie Johnson to excel in this one. Despite Detroit’s so-so secondary, I have my doubts Rivers will get off to a strong start.

Tevin Coleman, RB, Falcons vs. Eagles. The rookie has been named the starter, seemingly by default, but Devonta Freeman will get his share of the carries as well. More concerning is that both backs saw minimal work during the preseason due to hamstring injuries, and Atlanta’s offensive line is highly suspect. Stay away from this backfield on Monday night, and until further notice.

Melvin Gordon, RB, Chargers vs. Lions. Detroit was the toughest team to run against in 2014, but that was with new Dolphin Ndamukong Suh anchoring the middle of the defensive line. Still, the Lions should be stout and Gordon has done little in camp to suggest he’s in line for a stellar debut. He’ll likely come out on third downs in favor of Danny Woodhead, so consider other options for your Week 1 lineup.

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans vs. Chiefs. I feel for the folks who invested a premium pick in Hopkins, who seems destined to struggle due to mediocrity at the quarterback position. Facing a solid Kansas City secondary that has been fortified by the return of safety Eric Berry, all bets are off with Houston’s passing game.

Brandon Marshall, WR, Jets vs. Browns. It’s bad enough that Marshall will be stretching out for passes from Ryan Fitzpatrick, but he’ll be doing so with Joe Haden blanketing him. Marshall has the size to outleap the shutdown corner in the end zone, but I wouldn’t count on it.

More thumbs down: QBs Cam Newton, Nick Foles, Jay Cutler, Colin Kaepernick, Kirk Cousins, Joe Flacco; RBs Ryan Mathews, Ameer Abdullah, Bishop Sankey, Benny Cunningham; WRs Kendall Wright, Allen Robinson, Torrey Smith, Pierre Garcon, Mike Wallace, Dwayne Bowe, Eddie Royal, Eric Decker.

TAKING A FLIER

Nelson Agholor, WR, Eagles at Falcons. A rookie wideout playing in his first career game? Yeah, that’s the very definition of a flier. But Agholor looked sharp in the preseason, as did Sam Bradford. Going up against the worst pass defense in the league from 2014, Agholor’s debut could be a memorable one.

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO…ignores the inactive reports. I say it every year, yet it bears repeating. Every week, including the opener, several star players will be game-time decisions, and some will either be inactive or put on a play count. I tweet out the inactives and other late-breaking news as it happens (@ladd_biro), so follow me or find another reliable source. Just don’t set your lineup on Thursday and forget about it!