By John Sarianides
It’s week two of the NFL season and fantasy football line ups are starting to shape up. Here are my good bets and bad bets for Week 2.
Quarterback
Good Bets
1. Jameis Winston vs. Bears: I love this match up for Winston against a Bears defense that doesn’t get consistent pressure and can’t cover the deep ball.
2. Carson Palmer vs. Colts: Palmer has looked old for the last year and a half so I won’t recommend playing most weeks. I like him this week against a Colts defense that made Jared Goff look like a franchise quarterback last week.
3. Derek Carr vs. Jets: Come on! This is a no brainer. Tyrod Taylor had success against the Jets last week and Carr is better than Taylor.
Bad Bets
1. Ben Roethlisberger vs. Vikings: Big Ben didn’t play well against the Browns so I don’t see how he turns things around against a tough and talented Vikings defense.
2. Kirk Cousins vs. Rams: Cousins struggled against the Eagles front four last week. It doesn’t get any easier this week against a Rams front that gets Aaron Donald back.
3. Aaron Rodgers vs. Falcons: Obviously you wouldn’t bench Rodgers but don’t expect a typical week of production from him either.
Running Backs
Good Bets
1. Marshawn Lynch vs. Jets: The Jets have a stout front seven but I still expect Beast Mode to top the 100 yard mark and score a touchdown.
2. Davonta Freeman & Tevin Coleman vs. Packers: I like both Falcons backs against a Packers defense that plays a lot of nickel defense and struggles to set the edge against the run.
3. Todd Gurley Vs. Redskins: Gurley got off to a good start last week against the Colts and this week he faces a Redskins team that was middle of the pack against the run last season. Head coach Sean McVay wants to run the football to protect Jared Goff so that makes Gurley a good play.
Bad Bets
1.Saints Running Backs vs. Patriots: Forget about what Kareem Hunt did to the Patriots last week. The Saints running back situation is a mess. None of them are a good play this week against a Patriots defense that is banged up but motivated to play better after last week.
2. Paul Perkins vs. Lions: The Lions defense did a great job bottling up David Johnson last week and Perkins is no David Johnson. Plus, the Giants want to get into 11 personnel and throw the football.
3. Demarco Murray vs. Jags: Murray got off to a slow start last week and I think it was a harbinger of things to come moving forward. This week, Murray has a tough match up against a stout Jaguars defense that shut down the Texans last week.
Wide Receiver
Good Bets
1.Brandin Cooks vs. Saints: The Saints are one of the worst defenses in the NFL against the pass and Cooks will be motivated to prove that the Saints made a mistake trading him. Not only that, but the Patriots are only dressing three receivers today.
2. Larry Fitzgerald vs. Colts: Rookie Cooper Kupp had a big day against the Colts undermanned secondary. Can you imagine what a grizzled veteran like Fitzgerald will do today? Arizona will throw the ball more now with Johnson hurt. Fitz’s value goes up big time.
3. Doug Baldwin vs. 49ers: Baldwin got off to a slow start last week against the Packers but he will bounce back against a young Niners secondary that struggles with vertical routes.
Bad Bets
1. Dez Bryant vs. Broncos: Bryant struggled last week against Janoris Jenkins and he will struggle again today against Aqib Talib and the Broncos secondary.
2. Jarvis Landry vs. Chargers: Landry is banged up so he could be a game time decision. Factor in that he will be lining up against Casey Hayward and you could see why he is a bad play this week.
3. Terrelle Pryor vs. Rams: Pryor will be matched up against the Rams Trumaine Johnson who is long, athletic and has the ability to shut down the other team’s number one receiver.
Tight Ends
Good Bets
1.Rob Gronkowski vs. Saints: Gronk was quiet last week but expect to break out in a big way today against a Saints secondary that has no one that can match up with him in the red zone.
2. Charles Clay vs. Panthers: Clay has been a top five fantasy tight end statistically since the end of last season. He has a great match up this week against a Panthers secondary that struggles against tight ends.
3. Zach Ertz vs. Chiefs: Ertz had a big game last week and with no Eric Berry in the Chiefs secondary, Carson Wentz will be looking to him early and often.
Bad Bets
1. Delanie Walker vs. Jags: Walker will struggle to find space against a talented secondary that can play man and zone coverage well.
2. Jesse James vs. Vikings: Vikings free safety Harrison Smith is a shut down cover safety. James won’t have the space to operate like he did last week against the Browns.
3. Jason Witten vs. Broncos: Witten had a great opening game against the Giants but don’t expect that to be the case this week against the league’s best secondary. The Broncos are actually better against the pass without T.J Ward.
FLEX
1.Bilal Powell vs. Raiders: The Jets will be playing from behind all afternoon so Powell will get plenty of garbage touches.
2. Tarik Cohen vs. Bucs: Cohen had a big game in his rookie debut last week against the Bucs and with Jordan Howard banged up, Cohen will get plenty of touches in this one.
3. Alvin Kamara vs. Patriots: Kamara is the Saints third down back and he will get plenty of touches in what will be a shootout.
Bad Bets
1. Christian McCaffery vs. Bills: McCaffery will be the victim of the Panthers desire to push the ball vertically against a suspect Bills secondary.
2. Carlos Hyde vs. Seahawks: Hyde will struggle to get touches because the 49ers will be playing from behind a lot in this game.
3. Andre Ellington vs. Colts: Don’t take the bait. Ellington won’t get as many touches as you think. The Cardinals will look to push the ball vertically this week.
Defenses
Good Bets
1.Jaguars vs. Titans: I am on the Jaguars bandwagon until they come back to earth and change my mind. I like this match up for the Jags defense this week. They must make sure they do not allow Marcus Mariota to break contain.
2. Raiders vs. Jets: Come on, you know why I like the Raiders defense this week. The Jets offense is awful and will not consistently move the ball.
3. Cardinals vs. Colts: The Cardinals aren’t as bad as they looked defensively last week. They will bounce back this week against Jacoby Brissett and a Colts offense that is a mess right now.
Bad Bets
1. Packers vs. Falcons: This is in case you were foolish enough to think that the Packers defense had sleeper potential and you were stupid enough to start them tonight.
2. Eagles vs. Chiefs: The Eagles played well last week but I don’t see them replicating that performance against a diverse Chiefs offense that can make big plays.
3. Bills vs. Panthers: Don’t buy into the fact that McDermott knows the Panthers offense and he can shut down Cam Newton. It is not going to happen.