Here they are—rankings for Week 2 to help you decide who to start and who to sit on your fantasy football team.
1. Larry Fitzgerald (ARI) – If Jacksonville decides to match up rookie CB Derek Cox against Fitzgerald in week 2, Fitzgerald is almost sure to be in for a big afternoon. Cox spent the majority of week 1 pitted against the Colts Reggie Wayne and if you missed it, Wayne torched him all day. Nothing personal against Cox, as he did manage to pick off an under thrown Peyton Manning pass in that game and he is sure to have a bright future, but he was obviously not ready for Wayne and he is certainly no match for Fitzgerald if he in fact does get paired against him in week 2. It seems logical that the Jaguars would use their best cover corner, Rashean Mathis, against Fitzgerald rather than a rookie, but that seemed logical in week 1 against Wayne too, and it was rarely the case. Regardless of who covers Fitzgerald, he is a must start fantasy option each and every week.
2. Reggie Wayne (IND) – He is coming off of a monster week 1 performance in which he torched rookie CB Derek Cox and the rest of the Jaguars secondary for 10 catches, 162 receiving yards and a TD. It could be déjà vu all over again in week 2 as Miami will likely match their rookie CB Sean Smith against Wayne as well. Needless to say, Wayne will be targeted early and often in this match up regardless of who is covering him and we expect big things from him on Monday night.
3. Greg Jennings (GB) – He is battling a wrist injury that is somewhat bothersome, but we do believe Jennings will play on Sunday and play well. He is coming off of a huge week 1 performance against the Bears and the Bengals secondary, while improved, should not present Jennings with a huge challenge. Be sure to monitor his injury as Sunday approaches. Check injury report: wrist
4. Calvin Johnson (DET) – He did not manage to find the end zone in week 1, but his 90 receiving yards suggests that he is starting to get on the same page with QB Matt Stafford. Johnson should be more in tune with his rookie signal caller in a week 2 match up with the Vikings. Johnson posted almost identical numbers in each of the 2 games he faced Minnesota in 2008 (85 yards and a TD in game 1 and 84 yards and a TD in game 2). He should be in that neighborhood this time around as well.
5. Randy Moss (NE) – It was vintage 2007 Brady to Moss last Monday night as Moss hauled in a whopping 12 balls for 141 yards against the Bills. Week 2 should prove a bit more challenging against a much improved Jets secondary and defense in general. Jets CB Darelle Revis and the rest of their upgraded secondary basically shut down star wideout Andre Johnson in week 1 and Revis has performed well against Moss in the past. Moss is a big time playmaker, especially with Brady on the field, but he could have his work cut out for him.
6. Andre Johnson (HOU) – Following a disappointing week 1 against the Jets, Johnson is looking at a second tough match up against lock down CB Cortland Finnegan and a solid Titan pass defense. That said, Johnson absolutely smoked the Tennessee secondary the last time he faced them posting 207 receiving yards on 10 receptions with a TD.
7. Santonio Holmes (PIT) – It took a while, but Holmes is finally starting to emerge as a top flight fantasy option. Following his elite week 1 performance, Holmes will face a good, but not great, Bears pass defense in week 2. Greg Jennings was able to dominate the Chicago secondary last week, and while Holmes hasn’t quite reached Jennings’ status, we see no reason why Holmes can not do the same.
8. Wes Welker (NE) – He should continue to rack up numbers as Tom Brady’s safety valve and while Welker was unable to find the end zone in week 1, it was promising to see Brady looking Welker’s way more often in the red zone. Welker is a dream fantasy option for PPR leagues and a very solid play against the Jets in week 2. Check injury report: knee
9. Roddy White (ATL) – In addition to the Falcons run first philosophy, there is little doubt that the addition of TE Tony Gonzalez hampers White’s fantasy potential to some degree, but White remains the big play threat in this offense and there should be plenty to go around for him to find success in week 2. White totaled 160 receiving yards on 11 receptions in 2 games against Carolina last season and he has a consistently solid track record against the Panthers overall.
10. T.J. Houshmandzadeh (SEA) – He was not nearly as effective in week 1 as we expected him to be, but it is only a matter of time before the big performances start rolling in. It could start as early as week 2. While the San Francisco pass defense looks to be much improved, they should be no match for Houshmandzadeh. He should be targeted early and often in this match up. Check injury report: back
11. Marques Colston (NO)
12. Roy Williams (DAL)
13. Anquan Boldin (ARI) – Check injury report: hamstring
14. Terrell Owens (BUF)
15. Vincent Jackson (SD)
16. Brandon Marshall (DEN)
17. Dwayne Bowe (KC)
18. Steve Smith (CAR)
19. Hines Ward (PIT)
20. Jerricho Cotchery (NYJ)
21. Derrick Mason (BAL)
22. Donald Driver (GB)
23. Chad OchoCinco (CIN)
24. Eddie Royal (DEN)
25. Lee Evans (BUF)
26. Justin Gage (TEN)
27. DeSean Jackson (PHI) – Check injury report: groin
28. Santana Moss (WAS)
29. Percy Harvin (MIN)
30. Braylon Edwards (CLE)
31. Nate Burleson (SEA)
32. Devin Hester (CHI)
33. Isaac Bruce (SF)
34. Bernard Berrian (MIN)
35. Patrick Crayton (DAL)
36. Mark Clayton (BAL)
37. Lance Moore (NO)
38. Steve Smith (NYG)
39. Laveranues Coles (CIN)
40. Torry Holt (JAC)
41. Kevin Walter (HOU) – Check injury report: hamstring
42. Earl Bennett (CHI)
43. Josh Morgan (SF)
44. Ted Ginn (MIA)
45. Donnie Avery (STL)
46. Louis Murphy (OAK)
47. Kenny Britt (TEN)
48. Antwaan Randle EL (WAS)
49. Chansi Stuckey (NYJ)
50. Mark Bradley (KC)
Additional noteworthy WR’s for week 2:
Pierre Garcon (IND)
Devery Henderson (NO)
Michael Clayton (TB)
Nate Washington (TEN)
Antonio Bryant (TB) - Check injury report: knee (not expected to play)
Mario Manningham (NYG)
Steve Breaston (ARI) – Check injury report: knee
Davone Bess (MIA)
Domenik Hixon (NYG)
Robert Meachem (NO)
Muhsin Muhammad (CAR)
Chris Henry (CIN)
Miles Austin (DAL)
Troy Williamson (JAC)
Sidney Rice (MIN)
Laurent Robinson (STL)
Kevin Curtis (PHI) – Check injury report: knee
Michael Jenkins (ATL)
