I am not sure if I can remember a more eventful week in the NFL, and perhaps the most action was happening off the field. Ray Rice exhibited his left hook on security camera for the whole world to see. Roger Goodell proved to be either the worst liar and most incompetent commissioner we have in professional sports today (and that's saying something considering corruption is rampant through FIFA these days). And then if that wasn't enough, another face of the NFL faces child abuse charges in Texas after disciplining his son. And that's all before anybody laced it up and stepped on the gridiron for Week 2!! Dark dark week for the game we love boys, but I am confident there are better days ahead. For one, the Jets lost in the most Jets way possible this weekend (Go Pack Dan!), and we saw another bevy of upsets (Clevelandddd). Injuries, strange plays, and upset victories stole the headlines this weekend, let's get down to some of it.
Cleveland Browns - Don't look now but the Browns may no longer be the NFL's perennial pushover, and this with Hoyer at the helm. Miles Austin forgot how to suck for at least a week. Andrew Hawkins is proving worthy of the flyer I took on him. Despite no Ben Tate, Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell have filled in admirably. After a week one comeback came up just short, they beat the NO Saints on a last second FG in week 2. Might be a little bit of an overreaction here, but in a weak division look for the Browns to try and make a splash this season. From a fantasy perspective, we are still waiting on word for Josh Gordon's definitive status, and word from Cleveland is they really like Isaiah Crowell's game. Look for him to see an increased workload, and West becomes more of a 3rd down change of pace back.
AJ Green - A toe, really? Anyone remember a certain Rashad Johnson getting a finger torn off? Toughen up man.
New York Giants - I might catch some flack this one, but I think the G-Men are two weeks away from that offense clicking. Minus a punt return TD and a flukey fumble (wtf Jennings), they win the ball game against a good Arizona team this weekend. Victor Cruz will ideally lose the diva attitude and start catching balls, and Larry Donnell looks to be the real deal. The offense is designed to limit turnovers and move the ball methodically up the field. I think it can accomplish that and suits their personnel, just need to get everyone on the same page and Eli needs to lose the "spray and pray" mentality of last season.
Aaron Rodgers - Anyone think this guy isn't the best in the business right now? Jets applied constant pressure on Sunday, moving Aaron outside the pocket. Didn't slow him down, and if anything, he might be better outside of the hashmarks. Has not had a legitimate o-line in his entire career, but still gets it done week in and week out.
Jordy Nelson - Unbelievable hands. The long TD reception is the only that comes to mind where he wasn't making a tough catch.
Smiths on the Ravens - To begin this season, I had high hopes for Torrey Smith with Steve Smith Sr. coming to town. Finally someone to draw attention away from Torrey and open up more opportunities. Shaping up right now like that could't be farther from the truth. Through two games, Steve Smith Sr. has been targeted 25 times to Torrey's 10.
Sammy Watkins - Showing some toughness as a young gun in the league. Had himself a day this weekend even with the rib injury (AJ Green you reading this?). The Bills defense looks legit, EJ Manuel may be capable of managing ball games, and CJ Spiller showing some explosiveness this season. And don't hold your breath, but the Buffalo Bills lead the AFC East!!!
Tom Brady - I was very much on the Tom Brady bounceback season train to begin this season. In my mind, Brady and Manning were never going to slow down until they called it quits. With Gronk coming back this season, Brady just had to be better, right? So far, not so good. Forget any sort of situational football, Brady just does not look like the Brady of old. Too early to be pressing the panic button on one of the best to ever sling it, but I want to see some improvement next weekend against a weak Raiders team.
Matt Cassell - You don't play in Foxborough anymore, you're throwing to the guys in purple.
Knile Davis - Charles goes down, the Chiefs run game doesn't miss a beat. Along with Christine Michael, Latavius Murray, and Terrance West, Davis was a preseason favorite to step up to the plate if granted the opportunity. Still early to speculate on the Charles injury, but given any sort extended absence, Davis is a more than capable fill-in.
Kirk Cousins - In what I think may be a blessing in disguise, Kirk Cousins is the Redskins (am I allowed to use that name in print?) QB for the near future. With athletes a plenty around him, might be worth a pickup considering the poor play of some of the league's best so far.
Dallas Cowboys - Finally, someone is smart enough in Dallas to see the gem that is Demarco Murray and use him as such. Too many times last year Murray would dominate the first half to inexplicably see no action in the second half. They pounded the rock on Sunday and beat a very good Titans team in my opinion. If they can utilize Murray in controlling the clock and keeping that god awful defense off the field, might be able to steal a couple more W's. Also, I am on record in the preseason as saying Murray, if healthy for 16, will finish as a top 5 fantasy RB. You heard it here folks.
PS. That defense is bad. There is 12 of us in this league. Should we be trying out in Dallas? Kaier, can you get to work on some defensive schemes?
Antonio Gates - And here is this week's most over-added player. Had a career day Sunday against the league's best defense, but I think this is the best game Gates puts up this year. There is a lot of wear and tear on that body, and Ladarius Green is a stud in waiting.
Richard Sherman - If you have Twitter, please give this guy a follow. Great entertainment.
Josh McCown - Just not good so far. Plays with one of the best "throw it up and he'll get it" receivers in the game in Vincent Jackson and one of the best coming out of college in Mike Evans and he is just not getting it done. I had high hopes for McCown going into this year, considering he would be going from two big receivers in Chicago (Marshall, Jeffery) to two big receivers in Tampa. With Doug Martin proving to be dirt, not looking good right now for Lovie Smith and the Bucs.
Arian Foster - 55 attempts, 231 yards in two games thus far this season. That's quite the workload. Looking to prove the naysayers wrong when questioned about his durability. If we are seeing a reemergence of the Arian Foster of old, could prove to be quite the lineup with AJ Green and Dez Bryant on "Ants in my Eyes Collins."
Ahmad Bradshaw - Looks to be the guy in Indy. Went from a clear backup to seeing the most (as well as most significant) snaps of the two. Gotta give Richardson some credit for the way he ran last night, but two fumbles isn't going to win you a starters job. Also, Indy cannot run block. Bradshaw being the quicker man and better in the pass game figures to be the better choice in that situation. And with Indy's defense looking pretty suspect thus far, may find themselves down in games and going to the pass.
Nick Foles - Threw for 330 yards, but 150 of those were on dink and dunks to Darren Sproles. Has looked less than impressive so far to me, and looks almost gun shy coming out of the gate early in games. I expected him to come way back down to Earth this season in terms of production, we'll see how that pans out in the coming weeks, especially with a couple matchups against better defenses.
So that really wraps up week 2 for me, let me know what you think boys and be on the lookout for my bi-weekly power rankings later this week.
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