laughinboy_2000
Footballguy
Week two is and it’s that time to discuss some WR/TE matchups to Exploit/Avoid. Just for those of you who may be familiar with this thread, I will give my analysis of the matchups this weekend to take advantage of and some to stay away from for week two. The “EXPLOITS” are in Green and should be viewed as a possible sleeper pick with an excellent matchup. The “AVOIDS” are labeled in Red. Let’s get started shall we…
Green Bay @ Detroit:
Jennings/Driver/Lee: Guess what guys, that Detroit secondary is going to be horrendous this year. This may be the best matchup the Pack WRs face all year. The reason why I think this will be such a good matchup is because I’m not convinced Pack RB Ryan Grant is healthy. I know he scored last week and almost had 100 yards, but he did not get a lot of carries. Rogers meanwhile was very efficient and against a Lions secondary that made Falcon rookie QB Matt Ryan look good last week, I expect Rogers to go over 200 yards and fire in at least two TDs. I believe Gregg Jennings will be able to haul in at least one bomb, while I believe Driver may be the WR getting the most targets and receptions. All three of these guys are definite starts this weekend against the poor Lion secondary.
EXPLOIT: Jennings/Driver/Lee, WRs, Green Bay
Williams/Mega-Tron: The Lions for some reason think they can run the ball this year. Well I’m here to tell you, they won’t be able to do it with a defense that has no clue how to stop the run or defend against the pass. It’s apparent to me who the new man is in Detroit after the first week, and that is WR Calvin Johnson. CJ2 received more targets, had more receptions, and had more yards than his counterpart Roy Williams. And although Williams had the lone TD, Calvin had several opportunities to haul in TDs if it were not for overthrown balls and pass interference calls. The Pack secondary is good, but Kitna and Lion offense will be forced to throw and I could definitely see Williams and Mega-Tron finding pay dirt in week two. Look for Johnson to post his second 100 yard game of the year.
NYG @ STL:
Burress/Smith/Toomer: Mark my words, Burress is going to eat the Ram secondary apart. Burress caught everything Manning threw to him last week, literally. He caught all ten of his targets for 133 yards. He will find the end zone at least once this week. But the player I have a good vibe about this weekend is Amani Toomer. The Rams will be paying way too much attention to Burress and the Giants running backs that I can see Toomer sneaking into the end zone this week to go along with 60+ yards. I don’t think you can start Steve Smith until the Giants make an attempt to get him involved. I believe Toomer may be the sleeper play here.
EXPLOIT: Amani Toomer, WR, NYG
Holt/Daunte Hall/McMichael: Ram WR Torry Holt only received two targets in last week’s thrashing by the Eagles and you can better believe that will never happen again this year. This is a difficult match up I believe for the Rams, but I promise you “Big Game” will be much more productive this weekend. Another player I’m high on this weekend is TE Randy McMichael who the coaches promised to get involved this year. McMike delivered a nice five catches for 77 yards last week, but more importantly was targeted seven times. I think the Ram offense gets back on track a bit this week, and I could see McMike delivering a TD for his owners in week two.
EXPLOIT: Randy McMichael, TE, STL.
Chicago @ Carolina:
Booker/Lloyd/Clark/Olsen: Hopefully nobody started a Bear last week. Even though they won, no WR had more than 46 yards and no WR sniffed the end zone. However, there is value this week. That’s right value! No no, don’t look at Booker or any of the other lame Bear WRs. But starting Clark or Olsen may not be such a bad idea this weekend. The Panthers struggle stopping any and all TEs, and this weekend, I would not be surprised to see one either Clark or Olsen find the end zone. Roll the dice with Desmond Clark since he got more targets than any other Bear WR or TE.
EXPLOIT: Desmond Clark, TE, Chicago
Hackett/Moose/Rosario: The Bear pass defense has improved and I see this being a low scoring game. I rolled the dice on Moose last week and he produced six catches for 56 yards. But a closer look will show you Delhomme throwing him the ball a whopping 15 times! He’s clearly Jake’s favorite target and he’s worth a start yet again this week I feel. Not comfortable enough to advise starting Hackett, but keep this in mind, he received 10 targets from Jake. And finally, do the Panthers finally have a TE? Dante Rosario hauled in seven catches for 96 yards and a beautiful game winning TD which sent the Panthers home with an impressive road win. It was a sick catch from the back of the end zone. He could be a solid start this week too, but keep an eye on the injury report to make sure he plays before plugging him into your lineup.
EXPLOIT: Mushin Muhammad, WR, Carolina
Tennessee @ Cincinnati:
Scaife/McCareins/Gage: With QB Kerry Collins now behind center it’s hard to see who he will favor within the offense. I personally see the Titans giving the Bungals a heavy dose of Chris Johnson and Lendale White. Scaife seems like the best option simply because he’s the only one not dropping passes. I’d avoid all Tennesse WRs as it looks like a crap shoot to me trying to pick from this group of Titan WRs.
Housh/Ocho Cinco/Utech: What the hell happen to the Bungals offense last weekend? The O-line gave Palmer no chances to find his WRs. When he did have time, his passes were often short, or long. I know a lot of people are panicking, but I am not jumping off the Bungle players just yet. History will tell you that Carson lit up the Titan secondary last year to the tune of 283 yards and 3 TDs. I certainly don’t think he can match that this week, but 200+ yards and at least one TD has to be in store for Palmer. One guy I am wary of right now is Ocho Cinco. I am just not a fan of starting someone who is playing with a torn labrum. One hit on that should and he will be changing his name again to Oucho Cinco! Utech will be Carson’s safety valve and could sneak in a TD.
EXPLOIT: Ben Utech, TE, Bengals
AVOID: Ocho Cinco, WR, Bengals
Buffalo @ Jacksonville:
Evans/Reed/Royal: Lee Evans put together an OK week last week even though I had my doubts. But can he honestly go for 100+ yards yet again this weekend? I don’t trust him too. Reed did get four targets last week, but did not do much with them. The guy I like a lot this weekend and may not be on a lot of teams is TE Robert Royal. Royal turned seven of his targets into six catches for 52 yards and a TD. I see Edwards using him quite a bit as a dump off option against the stingy Jags.
EXPLOIT: Robert Royal, TE, Buffalo
Matt Jones/Williams/Lewis: Did anyone else notice the Matt Jones sighting last weekend in Tennesse? Jones busted out with a six catch 80 yard performance off of 10 targets from QB David Garrard. Jones took advantage of defenders with his size. Don’t break a leg getting this guy off the waiver wire. I don’t see him repeating that kind of production in week 2. The rest of the Jag WRs were nowhere to be found. I would stay away from all Jag WR this weekend against the Bills stingy pass defense.
AVOID: Matt Jones, WR, Jacksonville
Oakland @ Kansas City:
Curry/Leslie/Miller: Curry and Miller both received a team high six targets in the Monday Night blowout against the Broncos. I know they were blown out, but to me Russell looked improved. The Kansas City pass defense was hard to gauge due to the injury to Brady but from what I saw, they also look like an improved group. Oakland will do this game what they do best and that is run the ball. The only reason I think the Russell threw the ball last week was because they were so far behind early. I don’t see the Raiders passing much and my gut tells me there is no value this week in the Raider passing attack. Bench your Raider WRs who will be tested by what I feel is a solid Chief secondary.
AVOID: All Raider WR/TEs
Bowe/Gonzo: You almost have to start these guys because the Raider secondary got shredded last week by the Brandon Marshalless Broncos and Jay Cutler. I know the Chiefs will have a new QB, but the Raiders pass defense showed me absolutely nothing last week. Bowe and Gonzo should be able to do some damage this weekend.
EXPLOIT: Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City
Indy @ Minnesota:
Wayne/Harrison/Gonzalez/Clark: Wayne led all WRs in the NFL last week with a whopping 17 targets. He turned those into 10 catches, 86 yards, and a TD. Meanwhile, Harrison looks like he is over his knee injury and ready to go. The third option in the passing attack was WR Anthony Gonzalez who hauled in five passes for 48 yards. He may see more action this weekend as it looks like Colts TE Dallas Clark may not suit up in week 2 due to an injury. All three of these guys should be productive this weekend against the Vikings suspect pass defense. It does look like the Vikes pass defense has improved, but I see Manning and company coming out with a purpose in week 2. Look for Manning to exploit the Vike secondary and have a very nice day.
EXPLOIT: Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Indy
Berrian/Rice/Shiancoe: I avoided all of these players last weekend because I saw a fairly low scoring game with not a lot of passing through the air. This weekend, I think the Vikes will have to pass to keep up with the Colts who I feel will be on a mission to put points on the board. The value to me in this group for week 2 is WR Bernard Berrian. Berrian’s stats from last week don’t tell the truth. He had several nice catches against the Pack secondary and almost scored on one particular play where he had to be tackled from behind. Rice and Shiancoe should also see some targets this weekend, but I would keep them on the bench.
EXPLOIT: Bernard Berrian, WR, Minnesota
Miami @ Arizona:
Ginn Jr./Camarillo/Fasani: Wow, talk about an instant impact. It did not take long for QB Chad Pennington to pick his new receiver to throw the ball to. It's TE Anthony Fasani who turned nine of his targets into eight catches, 84 yards, and a TD. I would get this guy off the waiver wire immediately and put him into your lineup. We all know Pennington has a noodle of an arm, but he does specialize in short dump off passes. Fasani has great hands and should be Chad's favorite target until proven otherwise. Leave Ginn Jr, and Camarillo on the bench for the time being.
Boldin/Fitzgerald/Breatson: Boldin did most of his damage in the second half last week catching eight passes for 80 yards. However, the lone TD in the Cards passing attack went to the Million Dollar man, Larry Fitzgerald. With Warner as the QB, I think Bolding will receive more looks. Fitzgerald will be solid, but I for one would not be surpised to see Boldin put up better receptions and yards on a weekly basis as long as Warner is behind center. Breaston should be left on the waiver wire.
New Orleans @ Washington:
Colston/Patten/Henry/Shockey/Meachem: A tough break for the Saints as news broke Wednesday that stud WR Marques Colston will be out 4-6 weeks with ligament damage in his thumb. That will present some opportunities now for some of the other WR talent in New Orleans. The guys I would target are WRs Devery Henderson and David Patten. Patten is the more polished WR in my mind and my gut tells me he will have the most to gain given this situation. Henderson will be a nice deep threat now though and could get loose against a shaky Skins secondary. I will be the first to admit, I underestimated how well Shockey would play with his injury, but he looked damn good. I see him finding some pay dirt this week for his first TD as a Saint. Meachem did not play last week, but when he’s in the lineup, he could be worth a look. Saints passing game looks good this weekend.
EXPLOIT: David Patten, WR, New Orleans
Moss/Randle El/Cooley: Man that Redskin offense looks bad. It’s going to be a long season for the Redskins in 2008. I just don’t see the offense understanding what needs to happen on offense. That being said, I do think the Redskin offense can play better, especially against weak defenses like I think the Saints have for 2008. Moss was able to slide into the end zone last week but did not get a lot of yards or receptions. I could see Moss again finding pay dirt and rack up 60+ yards for week two. Randle El may also be able to find some production. Last week he had a solid all around game as he turned eight targets into seven catches for 73 yards. I expect another type of outing like this in week two with the possibility of finding the end zone. Cooley did next to nothing and maybe nursing an injury so check his status before the game. The Redskins will have to pass the ball this week so Moss and Randle El make nice options.
EXPLOIT: Randle El/Moss
San Fran @ Seattle:
Bryant/Bruce/Davis: Just being honest here, but I was not overly impressed with the “Mad Martz” offense last week against the Cardinals. Only one WR caught a pass and that was Bryant Johnson who caught three of them for 48 yards. Bruce was nowhere to be found, and Vernon Davis looked the best out there catching all three of his passes for 51 yards. I don’t think the Seattle defense is as bad as they played last week, and I think they could present some problems for the passing attack of the 49ers. I would avoid all three of these guys until the passing attack can score at least one TD. I don’t think that happens this weekend.
Logan Payne/Courtney Taylor/John Carlson: Yikes, look at this depleted group of WRs left for the Seattle passing attack. To make matters worse, QB Matt Hassleback is playing hurt, and RB Maurice Morris is out with an injury. Somebody has to pick up the slack in this group, and my best guess is that it will be TE John Carlson who looked decent last weekend against the Bills catching four passes for 52 yards. He would be the only one out of this group I would consider putting in a fantasy lineup.
Atlanta @ Tampa Bay:
Roddy White/Michael Jenkins: I know they were playing against the woeful Lions last weekend, but I was still impressed with how good QB Matt Ryan looked in his first start. His first TD of his NFL career was a beautiful strike to Jenkins who made a nice catch and run for the long score. The whole offense though for the Falcons revolves around RBs Mike Turner and Jerrious Norwood. Ryan only threw 13 passes last week, so it’s hard to recommend starting White or Jenkins. Tampa Bay did allow Drew Brees to light them up, but playing at home for the first time in 2008, I believe the Bucs will be tougher to pass on.
AVOID: Roddy White, WR, Atlanta
Galloway/Hilliard/Bryant: New QB Brian Griese will take over the Bucs passing attack in week two as he replaces an injured Jeff Garcia. I honestly think he may be the better fit for the passing attack in Tampa, and this is a tasty match up for Griese and company. Galloway was targeted a team high 13 times last week and I again think Galloway will produce this weekend. Another player that’s worth a start is WR Anotonio Bryant who caught three passes for 43 yards on nine targets. And then there’s Ike Hilliard who was the only Buc WR to find the end zone last weekend. I don’t see him producing like he did last week, as it will be the Galloway and Bryant show in week two.
EXPLOIT: Joey Galloway, Antonio Bryant, WRs, Tampa Bay
San Diego @ Denver:
Chambers/Jackson/Gates: The passing game for the Bolts looked awfully good last weekend against the Panthers. Rivers was able to throw for three scores as Chambers, VJax, and Gates all found pay dirt. I think this game will be a shootout with lots of opportunities to air it out. I see all three of these guys producing against the Bolts in a game that may reach the 30’s.
Marshall/Royal/Sheffler: With not much of a running game to speak of, I fully expect passing attack to be in full effect, not only for this game, but for the rest of the year. I’m just not sold on the RBs for Denver this year. Don’t walk, run and break a leg to get WR Eddie Royal off the waiver wire if he’s available. He looked very good last week and with Brandon Marshall coming back, the passing game for Cutler and company is ready to explode. I would almost advise an early season trade to try and get Cutler, Marshall, and Royal. I just see them passing a ton this year. I also see TE Tony Sheffler being more involved this weekend as well. Should be a fun game to watch.
EXPLOIT: Eddie Royal, WR, Denver
Baltimore @ Houston:
Clayton/Mason/Heap: The passing game for the Ravens this year is going to struggle and it will be hard to advise starting anyone in this group. It took a double reverse to go 42 yards for WR Mark Clayton to have a productive day, but nonetheless, he did a nice job streaking down the sidelines pass defenders for the score. He only received five targets in the passing game and came up with three of them for 21 yards. Believe it or not, the veteran Derrick Mason still looks like the team’s best WR. He’s worth a roster spot, but I would not recommend him this weekend.
Johnson/Walter/Daniels: Tough match up here as the Ravens pass defense looked solid last week against Carson Palmer and the Bungles. However, I do believe they will have trouble stopping WR Andre Johnson. I would avoid all other players within this group of WRs. Look for AJ to have another 100 yard effort and his first TD of the year.
New England @ New York:
Moss/Welker/David Thomas: Huge loss for the Pats last weekend as the best QB in the league Brady goes down with a season ending knee injury. I don’t care what people say, this is a huge downgrade to the Pats passing game. Backup QB Matt Cassel has not started a game since high school. He looked OK last week, but can he be consistent? I have my doubts. Not helping matters is the fact that WR Randy Moss is hurt and may miss the game with a bad back. The biggest hit on the team I believe will happen to Wes Welker. Welker and Brady were in a good rhythm and I just don’t see him and Cassel having the same type of chemistry. I also see the Pats running the ball a lot more now that Brady is out.
AVOID: Wes Welker, WR, New England
Cotchery/Coles/Baker: Favre showed everyone last week why he wanted to come back and play. He looked sharp with his new team going 15-22 for 194 yards and two TDs. I still stand by what I said last week. Jerricho Cotchery will be the Jets go to WR as long as Favre is the QB. He and Favre connected on a nice 56 yard bomb in the first quarter. Look for this kind of production on a weekly basis for Favre and Cotchery. Coles is still trying to catch up with Cotchery and Favre but I expect him to slowly come along. Favre loves using his TE so Chris Baker could be worth a shot this week as well. I’m convinced the Pats secondary is not that great, so look for Favre to expose that in week two.
AVOID: Laverneous Coles, WR, NYJ
Pittsburgh @ Cleveland:
Holmes/Ward/Miller: The match up to exploit here is Hines Ward. Ward has burned the Brownies on more than one occasion and should be able to go over 100 yards and a TD. Holmes disappointed his owners last week, but I expect him to pay a visit into the end zone in week two. The Steelers TE Heath Miller should also be in your lineups. In other words, the Brownies can’t stop anybody through the air. Start your Steelers.
EXPLOIT: Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh
Edwards/Stallworth/Winslow: I mentioned this last weekend in my write up. I’m not convinced the Browns will be a prolific offense this year. Unfortunately, Edwards, Stallworth, and Winslow may all struggle putting up numbers this year. This is a bad match up for the Brownies WR. You have to play Edwards and Winslow regardless of the match ups, but temper your expectations against a solid Steeler secondary.
Dallas @ Philadelphia:
Owens/Crayton/Witten: This may be the best game of the week. Terrell Owens will return to Philly on Monday night where he is sure to be welcomed back to the city of brotherly love. What I can’t wait for is what TO does if he finds his way into the end zone. What will it be? A Rocky impersonation? Another “Sharpy” incident? Who knows, but my guess is he finds a way to get a TD against his former team. I hyped him up last week and I’m doing it again this weekend. Start Patrick Crayton. He will be getting a lot of looks Monday night in what should be a high scoring game. Cowboy TE Jason Witten I believe will is the #1 TE in football. He’s a BEAST and will produce this week.
Jackson/Lewis/Baskett/Smith: It does not matter that the Eagles will be missing their top two WRs this weekend. If McNabb can stay healthy, and that’s a big IF, he could be this year’s MVP. All McNabb does is spread the ball around and find the open receiver. The guy I love this week is TE L.J. Smith who if healthy has the potential to be a top 5. McNabb loves throwing him the ball as the team leading 10 targets last weekend shows. He may be the team’s best receiver not named Westbrook. I have to be honest with you, I love what I saw from rookie WR Deshaun Jackson last week, but will he be able to keep this up? Only time will tell. Baskett and Lewis are solid WRs in the Philly offense, but McNabb spreads the ball around so much, it’s hard to recommend starting them.
EXPLOIT: L.J. Smith, TE, Philadelphia
That’s a wrap folks for my week 2 WR/TE analysis. Now let’s pick apart some of the match ups to EXPLOIT and AVOID:
Top 5 WR/TE match ups to EXPLOIT:
1. Amani Toomer, WR, NYG
2. Desomond Clark, TE, Chicago
3. David Patten, WR, New Orleans
4. Bernard Berrian, WR, Minnesota
5. Antonio Bryant, WR, Tampa Bay
Top 5 WR/TE match ups to AVOID:
1. Ocho Cinco, WR, Cincinatti
2. Laverneous Coles, WR, NYJ
3. Wes Welker, WR, New England
4. Roddy White, WR, Atlanta
5. Matt Jones, WR, Jacksonville
I know some of you may have some issues with who I’ve picked as EXPLOITS and AVOIDS, but I have fun picking apart these match ups and enjoy reading what you guys have to say. Have a good week guys and good luck this weekend.
Green Bay @ Detroit:
Jennings/Driver/Lee: Guess what guys, that Detroit secondary is going to be horrendous this year. This may be the best matchup the Pack WRs face all year. The reason why I think this will be such a good matchup is because I’m not convinced Pack RB Ryan Grant is healthy. I know he scored last week and almost had 100 yards, but he did not get a lot of carries. Rogers meanwhile was very efficient and against a Lions secondary that made Falcon rookie QB Matt Ryan look good last week, I expect Rogers to go over 200 yards and fire in at least two TDs. I believe Gregg Jennings will be able to haul in at least one bomb, while I believe Driver may be the WR getting the most targets and receptions. All three of these guys are definite starts this weekend against the poor Lion secondary.
EXPLOIT: Jennings/Driver/Lee, WRs, Green Bay
Williams/Mega-Tron: The Lions for some reason think they can run the ball this year. Well I’m here to tell you, they won’t be able to do it with a defense that has no clue how to stop the run or defend against the pass. It’s apparent to me who the new man is in Detroit after the first week, and that is WR Calvin Johnson. CJ2 received more targets, had more receptions, and had more yards than his counterpart Roy Williams. And although Williams had the lone TD, Calvin had several opportunities to haul in TDs if it were not for overthrown balls and pass interference calls. The Pack secondary is good, but Kitna and Lion offense will be forced to throw and I could definitely see Williams and Mega-Tron finding pay dirt in week two. Look for Johnson to post his second 100 yard game of the year.
NYG @ STL:
Burress/Smith/Toomer: Mark my words, Burress is going to eat the Ram secondary apart. Burress caught everything Manning threw to him last week, literally. He caught all ten of his targets for 133 yards. He will find the end zone at least once this week. But the player I have a good vibe about this weekend is Amani Toomer. The Rams will be paying way too much attention to Burress and the Giants running backs that I can see Toomer sneaking into the end zone this week to go along with 60+ yards. I don’t think you can start Steve Smith until the Giants make an attempt to get him involved. I believe Toomer may be the sleeper play here.
EXPLOIT: Amani Toomer, WR, NYG
Holt/Daunte Hall/McMichael: Ram WR Torry Holt only received two targets in last week’s thrashing by the Eagles and you can better believe that will never happen again this year. This is a difficult match up I believe for the Rams, but I promise you “Big Game” will be much more productive this weekend. Another player I’m high on this weekend is TE Randy McMichael who the coaches promised to get involved this year. McMike delivered a nice five catches for 77 yards last week, but more importantly was targeted seven times. I think the Ram offense gets back on track a bit this week, and I could see McMike delivering a TD for his owners in week two.
EXPLOIT: Randy McMichael, TE, STL.
Chicago @ Carolina:
Booker/Lloyd/Clark/Olsen: Hopefully nobody started a Bear last week. Even though they won, no WR had more than 46 yards and no WR sniffed the end zone. However, there is value this week. That’s right value! No no, don’t look at Booker or any of the other lame Bear WRs. But starting Clark or Olsen may not be such a bad idea this weekend. The Panthers struggle stopping any and all TEs, and this weekend, I would not be surprised to see one either Clark or Olsen find the end zone. Roll the dice with Desmond Clark since he got more targets than any other Bear WR or TE.
EXPLOIT: Desmond Clark, TE, Chicago
Hackett/Moose/Rosario: The Bear pass defense has improved and I see this being a low scoring game. I rolled the dice on Moose last week and he produced six catches for 56 yards. But a closer look will show you Delhomme throwing him the ball a whopping 15 times! He’s clearly Jake’s favorite target and he’s worth a start yet again this week I feel. Not comfortable enough to advise starting Hackett, but keep this in mind, he received 10 targets from Jake. And finally, do the Panthers finally have a TE? Dante Rosario hauled in seven catches for 96 yards and a beautiful game winning TD which sent the Panthers home with an impressive road win. It was a sick catch from the back of the end zone. He could be a solid start this week too, but keep an eye on the injury report to make sure he plays before plugging him into your lineup.
EXPLOIT: Mushin Muhammad, WR, Carolina
Tennessee @ Cincinnati:
Scaife/McCareins/Gage: With QB Kerry Collins now behind center it’s hard to see who he will favor within the offense. I personally see the Titans giving the Bungals a heavy dose of Chris Johnson and Lendale White. Scaife seems like the best option simply because he’s the only one not dropping passes. I’d avoid all Tennesse WRs as it looks like a crap shoot to me trying to pick from this group of Titan WRs.
Housh/Ocho Cinco/Utech: What the hell happen to the Bungals offense last weekend? The O-line gave Palmer no chances to find his WRs. When he did have time, his passes were often short, or long. I know a lot of people are panicking, but I am not jumping off the Bungle players just yet. History will tell you that Carson lit up the Titan secondary last year to the tune of 283 yards and 3 TDs. I certainly don’t think he can match that this week, but 200+ yards and at least one TD has to be in store for Palmer. One guy I am wary of right now is Ocho Cinco. I am just not a fan of starting someone who is playing with a torn labrum. One hit on that should and he will be changing his name again to Oucho Cinco! Utech will be Carson’s safety valve and could sneak in a TD.
EXPLOIT: Ben Utech, TE, Bengals
AVOID: Ocho Cinco, WR, Bengals
Buffalo @ Jacksonville:
Evans/Reed/Royal: Lee Evans put together an OK week last week even though I had my doubts. But can he honestly go for 100+ yards yet again this weekend? I don’t trust him too. Reed did get four targets last week, but did not do much with them. The guy I like a lot this weekend and may not be on a lot of teams is TE Robert Royal. Royal turned seven of his targets into six catches for 52 yards and a TD. I see Edwards using him quite a bit as a dump off option against the stingy Jags.
EXPLOIT: Robert Royal, TE, Buffalo
Matt Jones/Williams/Lewis: Did anyone else notice the Matt Jones sighting last weekend in Tennesse? Jones busted out with a six catch 80 yard performance off of 10 targets from QB David Garrard. Jones took advantage of defenders with his size. Don’t break a leg getting this guy off the waiver wire. I don’t see him repeating that kind of production in week 2. The rest of the Jag WRs were nowhere to be found. I would stay away from all Jag WR this weekend against the Bills stingy pass defense.
AVOID: Matt Jones, WR, Jacksonville
Oakland @ Kansas City:
Curry/Leslie/Miller: Curry and Miller both received a team high six targets in the Monday Night blowout against the Broncos. I know they were blown out, but to me Russell looked improved. The Kansas City pass defense was hard to gauge due to the injury to Brady but from what I saw, they also look like an improved group. Oakland will do this game what they do best and that is run the ball. The only reason I think the Russell threw the ball last week was because they were so far behind early. I don’t see the Raiders passing much and my gut tells me there is no value this week in the Raider passing attack. Bench your Raider WRs who will be tested by what I feel is a solid Chief secondary.
AVOID: All Raider WR/TEs
Bowe/Gonzo: You almost have to start these guys because the Raider secondary got shredded last week by the Brandon Marshalless Broncos and Jay Cutler. I know the Chiefs will have a new QB, but the Raiders pass defense showed me absolutely nothing last week. Bowe and Gonzo should be able to do some damage this weekend.
EXPLOIT: Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City
Indy @ Minnesota:
Wayne/Harrison/Gonzalez/Clark: Wayne led all WRs in the NFL last week with a whopping 17 targets. He turned those into 10 catches, 86 yards, and a TD. Meanwhile, Harrison looks like he is over his knee injury and ready to go. The third option in the passing attack was WR Anthony Gonzalez who hauled in five passes for 48 yards. He may see more action this weekend as it looks like Colts TE Dallas Clark may not suit up in week 2 due to an injury. All three of these guys should be productive this weekend against the Vikings suspect pass defense. It does look like the Vikes pass defense has improved, but I see Manning and company coming out with a purpose in week 2. Look for Manning to exploit the Vike secondary and have a very nice day.
EXPLOIT: Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Indy
Berrian/Rice/Shiancoe: I avoided all of these players last weekend because I saw a fairly low scoring game with not a lot of passing through the air. This weekend, I think the Vikes will have to pass to keep up with the Colts who I feel will be on a mission to put points on the board. The value to me in this group for week 2 is WR Bernard Berrian. Berrian’s stats from last week don’t tell the truth. He had several nice catches against the Pack secondary and almost scored on one particular play where he had to be tackled from behind. Rice and Shiancoe should also see some targets this weekend, but I would keep them on the bench.
EXPLOIT: Bernard Berrian, WR, Minnesota
Miami @ Arizona:
Ginn Jr./Camarillo/Fasani: Wow, talk about an instant impact. It did not take long for QB Chad Pennington to pick his new receiver to throw the ball to. It's TE Anthony Fasani who turned nine of his targets into eight catches, 84 yards, and a TD. I would get this guy off the waiver wire immediately and put him into your lineup. We all know Pennington has a noodle of an arm, but he does specialize in short dump off passes. Fasani has great hands and should be Chad's favorite target until proven otherwise. Leave Ginn Jr, and Camarillo on the bench for the time being.
Boldin/Fitzgerald/Breatson: Boldin did most of his damage in the second half last week catching eight passes for 80 yards. However, the lone TD in the Cards passing attack went to the Million Dollar man, Larry Fitzgerald. With Warner as the QB, I think Bolding will receive more looks. Fitzgerald will be solid, but I for one would not be surpised to see Boldin put up better receptions and yards on a weekly basis as long as Warner is behind center. Breaston should be left on the waiver wire.
New Orleans @ Washington:
Colston/Patten/Henry/Shockey/Meachem: A tough break for the Saints as news broke Wednesday that stud WR Marques Colston will be out 4-6 weeks with ligament damage in his thumb. That will present some opportunities now for some of the other WR talent in New Orleans. The guys I would target are WRs Devery Henderson and David Patten. Patten is the more polished WR in my mind and my gut tells me he will have the most to gain given this situation. Henderson will be a nice deep threat now though and could get loose against a shaky Skins secondary. I will be the first to admit, I underestimated how well Shockey would play with his injury, but he looked damn good. I see him finding some pay dirt this week for his first TD as a Saint. Meachem did not play last week, but when he’s in the lineup, he could be worth a look. Saints passing game looks good this weekend.
EXPLOIT: David Patten, WR, New Orleans
Moss/Randle El/Cooley: Man that Redskin offense looks bad. It’s going to be a long season for the Redskins in 2008. I just don’t see the offense understanding what needs to happen on offense. That being said, I do think the Redskin offense can play better, especially against weak defenses like I think the Saints have for 2008. Moss was able to slide into the end zone last week but did not get a lot of yards or receptions. I could see Moss again finding pay dirt and rack up 60+ yards for week two. Randle El may also be able to find some production. Last week he had a solid all around game as he turned eight targets into seven catches for 73 yards. I expect another type of outing like this in week two with the possibility of finding the end zone. Cooley did next to nothing and maybe nursing an injury so check his status before the game. The Redskins will have to pass the ball this week so Moss and Randle El make nice options.
EXPLOIT: Randle El/Moss
San Fran @ Seattle:
Bryant/Bruce/Davis: Just being honest here, but I was not overly impressed with the “Mad Martz” offense last week against the Cardinals. Only one WR caught a pass and that was Bryant Johnson who caught three of them for 48 yards. Bruce was nowhere to be found, and Vernon Davis looked the best out there catching all three of his passes for 51 yards. I don’t think the Seattle defense is as bad as they played last week, and I think they could present some problems for the passing attack of the 49ers. I would avoid all three of these guys until the passing attack can score at least one TD. I don’t think that happens this weekend.
Logan Payne/Courtney Taylor/John Carlson: Yikes, look at this depleted group of WRs left for the Seattle passing attack. To make matters worse, QB Matt Hassleback is playing hurt, and RB Maurice Morris is out with an injury. Somebody has to pick up the slack in this group, and my best guess is that it will be TE John Carlson who looked decent last weekend against the Bills catching four passes for 52 yards. He would be the only one out of this group I would consider putting in a fantasy lineup.
Atlanta @ Tampa Bay:
Roddy White/Michael Jenkins: I know they were playing against the woeful Lions last weekend, but I was still impressed with how good QB Matt Ryan looked in his first start. His first TD of his NFL career was a beautiful strike to Jenkins who made a nice catch and run for the long score. The whole offense though for the Falcons revolves around RBs Mike Turner and Jerrious Norwood. Ryan only threw 13 passes last week, so it’s hard to recommend starting White or Jenkins. Tampa Bay did allow Drew Brees to light them up, but playing at home for the first time in 2008, I believe the Bucs will be tougher to pass on.
AVOID: Roddy White, WR, Atlanta
Galloway/Hilliard/Bryant: New QB Brian Griese will take over the Bucs passing attack in week two as he replaces an injured Jeff Garcia. I honestly think he may be the better fit for the passing attack in Tampa, and this is a tasty match up for Griese and company. Galloway was targeted a team high 13 times last week and I again think Galloway will produce this weekend. Another player that’s worth a start is WR Anotonio Bryant who caught three passes for 43 yards on nine targets. And then there’s Ike Hilliard who was the only Buc WR to find the end zone last weekend. I don’t see him producing like he did last week, as it will be the Galloway and Bryant show in week two.
EXPLOIT: Joey Galloway, Antonio Bryant, WRs, Tampa Bay
San Diego @ Denver:
Chambers/Jackson/Gates: The passing game for the Bolts looked awfully good last weekend against the Panthers. Rivers was able to throw for three scores as Chambers, VJax, and Gates all found pay dirt. I think this game will be a shootout with lots of opportunities to air it out. I see all three of these guys producing against the Bolts in a game that may reach the 30’s.
Marshall/Royal/Sheffler: With not much of a running game to speak of, I fully expect passing attack to be in full effect, not only for this game, but for the rest of the year. I’m just not sold on the RBs for Denver this year. Don’t walk, run and break a leg to get WR Eddie Royal off the waiver wire if he’s available. He looked very good last week and with Brandon Marshall coming back, the passing game for Cutler and company is ready to explode. I would almost advise an early season trade to try and get Cutler, Marshall, and Royal. I just see them passing a ton this year. I also see TE Tony Sheffler being more involved this weekend as well. Should be a fun game to watch.
EXPLOIT: Eddie Royal, WR, Denver
Baltimore @ Houston:
Clayton/Mason/Heap: The passing game for the Ravens this year is going to struggle and it will be hard to advise starting anyone in this group. It took a double reverse to go 42 yards for WR Mark Clayton to have a productive day, but nonetheless, he did a nice job streaking down the sidelines pass defenders for the score. He only received five targets in the passing game and came up with three of them for 21 yards. Believe it or not, the veteran Derrick Mason still looks like the team’s best WR. He’s worth a roster spot, but I would not recommend him this weekend.
Johnson/Walter/Daniels: Tough match up here as the Ravens pass defense looked solid last week against Carson Palmer and the Bungles. However, I do believe they will have trouble stopping WR Andre Johnson. I would avoid all other players within this group of WRs. Look for AJ to have another 100 yard effort and his first TD of the year.
New England @ New York:
Moss/Welker/David Thomas: Huge loss for the Pats last weekend as the best QB in the league Brady goes down with a season ending knee injury. I don’t care what people say, this is a huge downgrade to the Pats passing game. Backup QB Matt Cassel has not started a game since high school. He looked OK last week, but can he be consistent? I have my doubts. Not helping matters is the fact that WR Randy Moss is hurt and may miss the game with a bad back. The biggest hit on the team I believe will happen to Wes Welker. Welker and Brady were in a good rhythm and I just don’t see him and Cassel having the same type of chemistry. I also see the Pats running the ball a lot more now that Brady is out.
AVOID: Wes Welker, WR, New England
Cotchery/Coles/Baker: Favre showed everyone last week why he wanted to come back and play. He looked sharp with his new team going 15-22 for 194 yards and two TDs. I still stand by what I said last week. Jerricho Cotchery will be the Jets go to WR as long as Favre is the QB. He and Favre connected on a nice 56 yard bomb in the first quarter. Look for this kind of production on a weekly basis for Favre and Cotchery. Coles is still trying to catch up with Cotchery and Favre but I expect him to slowly come along. Favre loves using his TE so Chris Baker could be worth a shot this week as well. I’m convinced the Pats secondary is not that great, so look for Favre to expose that in week two.
AVOID: Laverneous Coles, WR, NYJ
Pittsburgh @ Cleveland:
Holmes/Ward/Miller: The match up to exploit here is Hines Ward. Ward has burned the Brownies on more than one occasion and should be able to go over 100 yards and a TD. Holmes disappointed his owners last week, but I expect him to pay a visit into the end zone in week two. The Steelers TE Heath Miller should also be in your lineups. In other words, the Brownies can’t stop anybody through the air. Start your Steelers.
EXPLOIT: Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh
Edwards/Stallworth/Winslow: I mentioned this last weekend in my write up. I’m not convinced the Browns will be a prolific offense this year. Unfortunately, Edwards, Stallworth, and Winslow may all struggle putting up numbers this year. This is a bad match up for the Brownies WR. You have to play Edwards and Winslow regardless of the match ups, but temper your expectations against a solid Steeler secondary.
Dallas @ Philadelphia:
Owens/Crayton/Witten: This may be the best game of the week. Terrell Owens will return to Philly on Monday night where he is sure to be welcomed back to the city of brotherly love. What I can’t wait for is what TO does if he finds his way into the end zone. What will it be? A Rocky impersonation? Another “Sharpy” incident? Who knows, but my guess is he finds a way to get a TD against his former team. I hyped him up last week and I’m doing it again this weekend. Start Patrick Crayton. He will be getting a lot of looks Monday night in what should be a high scoring game. Cowboy TE Jason Witten I believe will is the #1 TE in football. He’s a BEAST and will produce this week.
Jackson/Lewis/Baskett/Smith: It does not matter that the Eagles will be missing their top two WRs this weekend. If McNabb can stay healthy, and that’s a big IF, he could be this year’s MVP. All McNabb does is spread the ball around and find the open receiver. The guy I love this week is TE L.J. Smith who if healthy has the potential to be a top 5. McNabb loves throwing him the ball as the team leading 10 targets last weekend shows. He may be the team’s best receiver not named Westbrook. I have to be honest with you, I love what I saw from rookie WR Deshaun Jackson last week, but will he be able to keep this up? Only time will tell. Baskett and Lewis are solid WRs in the Philly offense, but McNabb spreads the ball around so much, it’s hard to recommend starting them.
EXPLOIT: L.J. Smith, TE, Philadelphia
That’s a wrap folks for my week 2 WR/TE analysis. Now let’s pick apart some of the match ups to EXPLOIT and AVOID:
Top 5 WR/TE match ups to EXPLOIT:
1. Amani Toomer, WR, NYG
2. Desomond Clark, TE, Chicago
3. David Patten, WR, New Orleans
4. Bernard Berrian, WR, Minnesota
5. Antonio Bryant, WR, Tampa Bay
Top 5 WR/TE match ups to AVOID:
1. Ocho Cinco, WR, Cincinatti
2. Laverneous Coles, WR, NYJ
3. Wes Welker, WR, New England
4. Roddy White, WR, Atlanta
5. Matt Jones, WR, Jacksonville
I know some of you may have some issues with who I’ve picked as EXPLOITS and AVOIDS, but I have fun picking apart these match ups and enjoy reading what you guys have to say. Have a good week guys and good luck this weekend.

Last edited by a moderator: