The bigger question is, did you start your fantasy football season 1-0? If you did, there's no time to think you can cruise to a 2-0 start. And if you are 0-1, there's no time to panic. 1-1 is in sight.
Best of Week 1
Matt Ryan (QB, Atlanta) –In a thriller of a contest, Ryan threw for 448 yards with three touchdowns with zero interceptions to help his team to victory. I know it's only one game, but Ryan showed up his NFC South rival Drew Brees in a big way.
Matthew Stafford (QB, Detroit) –He has the weapons, obviously. But the question is, will he still force the ball to Calvin Johnson. Well, Monday night that didn't matter. Stafford threw for 346 yards and two scores and added one rushing touchdown to help beat the Giants.
Calvin Johnson (WR, Detroit) –By the end of the first quarter on Monday night, Johnson already had a 67-yard touchdown reception and a 16-yard touchdown reception. He finished with 164 receiving yards with two touchdowns and almost added a third in the second half. He's too hard to contain.
Julius Thomas (TE, Denver) –All three of Peyton Manning's touchdowns were thrown to Thomas, and they all came in the second quarter. He finished with 104 receiving yards. It's a great start to the year for Thomas, who had a stellar 2013 season.
Andrew Luck (QB, Indianapolis) –Despite the loss, Luck threw for 370 yards with two touchdowns and added one rushing touchdown. He has passed for more yards (8,196) than any other player in his first two NFL seasons, and he's again on pace to pass for 4,000 yards in 2014.
Week 2 Likes:
Quarterbacks
Peyton Manning (vs. Kansas City) –The Chiefs lost two starting defenders for the season due to injury. That will only give Manning more time to dissect Kansas City's defense. Since joining the Broncos, he's 4-0 against Kansas City with 1,315 passing yards and 11 touchdowns. That's good math.
Drew Brees (at Cleveland) –Ben Roethlisberger carved up the Browns' defense last week. Brees is coming off a loss. In his last five games coming off of a loss, Brees hasn't thrown for less than 280 yards. Since 2012, Brees has 25 touchdowns in eight games versus AFC opponents.
Aaron Rodgers (vs. N.Y. Jets) –The Jets' defense is not nearly as good as the Seahawks. Rodgers' 81.5 QB rating against the Seahawks was tied for the third-lowest since the start of the 2012 season. Since 2012 at home against AFC teams, Rodgers is 3-0 with eight touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Running Backs
Le'Veon Bell (at Baltimore) –In Bell's 14 career games played, he averages 70 rushing yards and 35 receiving yards per game. He's also recorded at least one rushing touchdown in four straight regular-season games. Last week he had a monster game in the AFC North against Cleveland.
Adrian Peterson (vs. New England) –The Patriots were cut up last week by the Dolphins' rushing attack that gained nearly 200 yards. Peterson and the Vikings racked up nearly 200 yards last Sunday. AP all day.
Alfred Morris (vs. Jacksonville) –Morris recorded 91 rushing yards last week on just 14 carries. Jacksonville put up a valiant effort last Sunday at Philadelphia but still gave up 145 rushing yards. Jacksonville is a long ways away from being stout against the run.
Wide Receivers
Calvin Johnson (at Carolina) and A.J. Green (vs. Atlanta) –I don't care who these two go up against. They are that good. They have the size, strength and speed that allows them to win one-on-one matchups and sometimes even two-on-one matchups.
Antonio Brown (at Baltimore) –For 17 straight games, Brown has at least five receptions and 50 receiving yards. That's the second-longest streak in the NFL since 1960. He's also reached the endzone in four of his last six games. He's too consistent not to like.
Kelvin Benjamin (vs. Detroit) –This might be a reach but after a 92-yard and one touchdown performance in his NFL debut, why not? Benjamin has that size and skill set that opposing defenses fear. Whether it's Newton or Anderson throwing the ball, I still like Benjamin's chances of winning.
Tight Ends
Julius Thomas (vs. Kansas City) –Thomas probably won't score three times like he did last Sunday, but with Manning throwing the ball anything is possible. The two have a great rapport. Kansas City's linebackers will struggle to cover Thomas.
Antonio Gates (vs. Seattle) –I'm leery to like anyone going up against Seattle's defense, but Gates still has it. He had 81 yards last Monday night and Philip Rivers isn't afraid to get him the ball. He's the X-factor.
Dennis Pitta (vs. Pittsburgh) –He hauled in 10 catches in Week 1. The Steelers struggled to cover the Browns' tight ends last Sunday. Pittsburgh will have to account for Steve Smith and Torrey Smith, which will open up spots for Pitta.
Defense/Special Teams
Miami Dolphins (at Buffalo) –Last season, the Dolphins were shut out by the Bills in Buffalo when Miami controlled their playoff fate. They get revenge on Sunday and confuse the Bills' offense. I expect a big day from the Dolphins' defense with multiple turnovers.
Arizona Cardinals (at N.Y. Giants) –Eli Manning struggled in the season opener. The Cardinals defense is still a force and I think they will cause problems for the Giants' offense Sunday.
Tampa Bay (vs. St. Louis) –The Rams will struggle to move the ball whether it's Shaun Hill or Austin Davis taking the snaps. Despite the loss last Sunday, Tampa Bay's defense had a good showing.
Kicker
Shaun Suisham (at Baltimore) or Justin Tucker (vs. Pittsburgh) –The Steelers-Ravens game always is close and it usually comes down to who can make the most three-pointers. This could be an 18-15 affair with both kickers having big games.
Nick Folk (at Green Bay) –Green Bay's defense had a bad outing at Seattle and will rebound this week. I think Folk's leg gives the Jets the best chance to put points on the board.
Mike Nugent (vs. Atlanta) –He made 5-of-6 last week. I expect him to make an additional 3-4 this week.
