Running Backs for Week 2
Three touchdowns by Adrian Peterson/$16412/MIN was enough to make him the top DraftStreet running back in Week 1, and to bump up his salary. I advise staying away from him this week. Aside from one long run, the Lions effectively shut down Peterson in non-goal-line situations. Division rival Chicago is also familiar with Peterson and I don’t expect much more than a 120-yard, one TD game, not enough to justify the investment.
Instead, invest in LeSean McCoy/$16664/PHI, whose great performance in Week 1 makes him the most expensive RB of Week 2. I think McCoy will put up bigger numbers against the San Diego Chargers. The Eagles coach has promised an even quicker tempo and we are likely to see McCoy catch some passes to avoid the inevitable blitzes the Chargers will throw at Philadelphia. The Texans sliced through the Chargers’ defense in the second half and I expect the Eagles to put up close to 500 total yards, with McCoy getting a large chunk of it.
Pairing McCoy with understudy Bryce Brown/$4554/PHI makes sense. I anticipate at least 40 rushes for the Eagles on Sunday, and Brown will undoubtedly spell McCoy on a decent chunk of snaps. A season-ending injury to Vick Ballard/IND has opened the door for Ahmad Bradshaw/$6388/IND to become the top rusher for the Colts.
Wide Receivers for Week 2
Despite his brilliant performance against the Packers, Anquan Boldin/$11398/SFN is still relatively cheap. I think he is a good gamble, despite facing the Seahawks in Seattle. I recommend you sprinkle him into your lineups.
Among the elite receivers, I am comfortable investing in Wes Welker/$14184/DEN and Andre Johnson/$14229/HOU, due to their consistency. A.J. Green/$14260/CIN will get most of the targets from QB Andy Dalton/$11827/CIN, and Brandon Marshall/$14338/CHI is primed for a big game against the Vikings. Check the weather in Chicago tomorrow morning: if it is inclement, downgrade Marshall/CHI and upgrade RB Matt Forte/$14070/CHI.
My top wide receiver play is the dynamic DeSean Jackson/$12046/PHI. The Eagles are going to air the ball out a bit more and I expect Jackson to be the main beneficiary. Jackson was silent in the 2nd half against the Redskins, as the Eagles protected a big lead by running the ball. I expect the Chargers to stay competitive throughout, and that means Jackson will be needed all game.
The best among the bargain bin plays is Atlanta Falcons de facto number two wide receiver Harry Douglas/$6384/ATL. Julio Jones/$13204/ATL will draw most of the defensive attention, opening up space for Douglas/ATL and TE Tony Gonzalez/ATL. Leonard Hankerson/$8141/WAS is emerging as a favorite RG3 target and is still undervalued. If you need an ultra-cheap option to make the cap, Riley Cooper/$3833/PHI and Jason Avant/$3697/PHI will get a share of Eagles snaps.
