Fantasy Football Week 2: Before You Start
Time for another week of real and fake football. Before you hit the submit line-up button for you team read through below for some fantasy football player nuggets that may alter your starting line-up:
-Colts DE Dwight Freeney is out, which could help the Vikings pass situation by not having to face the all-pro Pass Rusher. Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph could benefit the most from a Christian Ponder who has time to throw.
July 26, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews (right) and center Nick Hardwick (61) walk off the field after practice during training camp at Charger Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE
-It’s still early but don’t look for Chargers RB Ryan Mathews to suit up today. Last week Ronnie Brown was THE name to replace Mathews and we all saw how that turned out. Best to avoid the Chargers run game if you can in fantasy.
-Arizona QB John Skelton is inactive and the quarterbacking duties have once again been placed on the shoulders of Kevin Kolb. The Cardinals play a much improved Patriots defense this week so there’s really no point in starting Kolb this week, not like that was going to happen anyway.
-Colts WR Austin Collie is officially out due to concussion symptoms. Collie’s battle with concussions might not see him play at all this year so if you have him and can stash him on your bench do so, as he does have Top 30 WR talent. If you need the real estate on your team cut him loose.
-The following relevant players were already ruled out before today: Raiders WR Jacoby Ford, Saints WR Devery Henderson, Bills RB Fred Jackson, Jets TE Dustin Keller and Bills WR David Nelson. Look to Raiders WR Rod Streater and Saints WR Lance Moore to have bigger roles for their respective teams. Bills RB CJ Spiller should be owned and started in every league.
-Patriots RB Shane Vereen inactive, leaving RB Stevan Ridley another opportunity to run away with the starting RB job in New England.
-Eagles wideouts DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are both active and starting.
-Giants WR Hakeem Nicks is active and starting.
-Carolina will have the services of both WR Steve Smith and RB Jonathan Stewart.
-Browns RB Brandon Jackson is inactive. He was the team’s 3rd back last week and with him out that could leave rookie RB Trent Richardson to play all downs this week against the Bengals.
-Bengals RB Bernard Scott is inactive, leaving more workload for BenJarvis Green-Ellis.
-Raiders WR Denarius Moore is active but might be on a snap count so if you have other options at WR play them. Look for Moore to be no more than a WR3 play this week.
-Jets CB Darrelle Revis is out for today’s game against the Steelers, making the Steelers WRs Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown more appealing options to start in fantasy.
-As of right now Redskins WR Pierre Garçon is unlikely play but monitor his situation closely. Redskins play in the late game and he might convince the coaches to let him play. Aldrick Robinson would make for a nice fill-in if you have no other options.