Teams that we deemed "doomed" for 2015 after their Week 1 performances bounced back with crucial victories in Week 2. Was that the case for your fantasy football team? For me, yes, it was. And my team needed a boost.
Here's a recap of Week 2's best performers and my Week 3 likes.
Week 2 Top Performers
QB – Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) –He was in my top-three last week, and he absolutely picked apart the 49ers' defense. Roethlisberger totaled 369 passing yards and three scores.
RB – Matt Jones (WAS) –Jones rushed for 123 yards with two scores, and he added 23 receiving yards in a big Washington victory. Not bad, rookie.
WR – Larry Fitzgerald (ARZ) –112 receiving yards with three touchdowns for Fitz. The 12-year veteran and QB Carson Palmer are clicking quite well.
TE – Rob Gronkowski (NE) –He was my top-ranked tight end last week. But why wouldn't he be? 113 yards and one score later, Gronk has separated himself from the pack as the best tight end in the game.
Defense/Special Teams – Dallas Cowboys –The Cowboys' defense forced three turnovers and scored one touchdown.
K – Stephen Gostkowski (NE) –Gostkowski made all four field goals, including one from 40 and one from 50 and all four extra points.
Week 3 Likes:
Quarterbacks
(NE) Tom Brady vs. Jacksonville –Brady seems to be on a mission to destroy every defense he faces, and he's done that so far this season. I don't see why that would change this week against the Jaguars, who just gave up 359 passing yards and two scores to Ryan Tannehill.
(IND) Andrew Luck at Tennessee –The Colts have to get it going at some point, right? It happens this week, and Luck gets the job done. He's been bad so far this season, but he gets it done this week and puts up big numbers against a sketchy Titans' defense.
(CAR) Cam Newton vs. New Orleans –I don't even know what to say about the Saints right now. Their offense is bad, and their defense is even worse. Newton has gotten better each week, and he will show up in a big way in this NFC South matchup.
Running Backs
(PIT) Le'Veon Bell at St. Louis –It will be Bell's first game of the 2015 season, and there's no doubt he will make up for lost time. The Rams' defensive line is stout, but they also got rocked last week by a rookie running back. Advantage Bell.
(SEA) Marshawn Lynch vs. Chicago –Seattle needs a win, badly. Lynch is going to be the go-to guy this week. The Bears have given up at least 87 rushing yards and one touchdown to opposing running backs in each game this season.
(HOU) Arian Foster vs. Tampa Bay – Foster hasn't played at all this season and is questionable for this game. But the Buccaneers have given up at least 100 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown in each of the first two games to opposing running backs. I think he suits up and has a day.
Wide Receivers
(PIT) Antonio Brown at St. Louis –Though I think the Steelers will struggle dealing with the Rams' defensive line, Brown is just too good to not play. He's caught at least seven passes in 13 straight games, an NFL record. And he's recorded at least 70 receiving yards in 20 straight games.
(NYJ) Brandon Marshall at Philadelphia –The Eagles' defense is banged up, and will be missing a lot of starters this week. The Jets are riding high. And Marshall has quietly put together a nice two-game stretch: 13 receptions, 163 yards and two scores.
(NE) Julian Edelman vs. Jacksonville –Two straight games with exactly 11 receptions for 97 yards. Last week he scored twice. His quarterback is going to have a big game, and what's not to like about Edelman this week against a Jaguars' defense that gave up 300 passing yards last week?
Tight Ends
(NE) Rob Gronkowski vs. Jacksonville –Like Brown, you cannot go wrong with Gronk. Who is going to stop him?
(MIA) Jordan Cameron vs. Buffalo –Cameron has recorded at least 60 yards in each game so far this season. Buffalo's defense is solid, but they've given up a touchdown to a tight end in each of the first two games this season.
(DET) Eric Ebron vs. Denver –Ebron has recorded a touchdown in each of the first two games this season and has recorded at least 40 receiving yards in each of those games. Denver's defense gave up 112 receiving yards last week to tight ends.
Defense/Special Teams
Seattle Seahawks vs. Chicago Bears –If Bears' fans thought Jay Cutler was bad, wait until they see Jimmy Clausen this week. This will get ugly.
Cleveland Browns vs. Oakland Raiders – Perhaps* *I am not getting enough sleep. But Oakland hasn't stopped anyone so far this season. West Coast team traveling to Cleveland, advantage Browns.
New England Patriots vs. Jacksonville Jaguars – I think the Jaguars are walking into a hornet's nest at New England.
Kicker
(NE) Stephen Gostkowski vs. Jacksonville –This is now my fifth Patriots' mention. The Jaguars have given up an average of 8.5 points to opposing kickers this season.
(STL) Greg Zuerlein vs. Pittsburgh –In Week 1 at home, Zuerlein totaled 10 points. I think the Rams will score enough points this week, with Zuerlein as one of the main contributors.
(ATL) Matt Bryant at Dallas –Bryant is 5-for-5 on FGs this season, four of those coming from 40 yards. Dallas has given up an average of 11 points this season to opposing kickers.
