This Week Around The NFL.

[Greenbacks]

Patriots' Gronkowski questionable for Dolphins game.

Rob Gronkowski is no guarantee to suit up for the Patriots in Week 2.
The team on Friday listed the All-Pro tight end as questionable for Sunday's showdown with the Dolphins because of the nagging hamstring injury that kept him out of the opener. Gronkowski was limited during Friday's session, keeping hope alive for a possible start.
The Patriots also announced that both linebacker Dont'a Hightower (knee) and cornerback Malcolm Butler (ankle) are questionable for the clash.
The Patriots survived Week 1 without Gronkowski, but Tom Brady understudy Jimmy Garoppolo needs all the help he can get against an edgy Miami defense. Few teams have dealt with as many early season absences as New England.
Still, we trust the Patriots to be ready for battle no matter who suits up. After all, coach Bill Belichick could turn the Indigo Girls into a pair of reliable, hard-hitting linebackers in a pinch. New England will survive -- they always do.

 

[Greenbacks]

Chargers' Joey Bosa will not play vs. Jaguars.

The consequences of Joey Bosa's holdout will now extend into the season's third week.
The San Diego Chargers' heralded rookie defensive lineman will not play in Sunday's contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars as he continues to nurse a hamstring injury, the team announced. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport added that Bosa's availability next week is "no sure thing" either.
After missing the season opener at Kansas City, Bosa has sat out a week of practices ahead of San Diego's home opener. In fact, since returning from his contract standoff, Bosa hasn't even practiced in full pads.
The Chargers are sorely missing Bosa on the defensive line, which was worn down by the Chiefs in the second half last week. With a rising Jags offense coming into Qualcomm on Sunday and Andrew Luck's Colts in the near future, San Diego will be in deep trouble in the competitive AFC West right out of the gate if its promising pass rusher can't get up to speed.

 

[Greenbacks]

Vikings D among units rolling strong into Week 2

Minnesota Vikings defense

There are different levels of defensive greatness. There are good defenses, like the 2015 Vikings defense, a unit that boasted emerging talent and could occasionally take over a game. Minnesota finished fifth in points allowed, 13th in yards and 14th in Football Outsiders' opponent-adjusted defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA) metric.
A defense that takes the next level up wins games with Shaun Hill at quarterback. It wins games even when this week's expected new starting quarterback, Sam Bradford, barely knows the playbook. It also can occasionally out-score opponents on its own, like it nearly did against the Titans in Week 1. I believe the Vikings' defense is ready to take that next step and lead the team to a win Sunday night over Green Bay.

Minnesota smashed the exotic right out of Tennessee. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has built a group with athletes at every level that are bigger, faster and tougher than their opponents. Second-year pro Danielle Hunter adds yet another dynamic pass rusher to perhaps the deepest defensive line in football. The team finally is getting quality snaps out of cornerback Trae Waynes, last year's first-round pick. Eric Kendricks gives the Vikings another versatile linebacker alongside Anthony Barr, especially in pass coverage. We might even be a few weeks away from "Harrison Smith is the best safety in football" being conventional wisdom rather than some bold statement.

It's hard to quantify effort and good tackling, but Zimmer has a knack for having his guys ready. He's undoubtedly let his team know that no one was picking them to make the playoffs after Teddy Bridgewater was lost for the season with a devastating preseason knee injury.
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' offense will present a strong test, but it's not a bad time to catch Green Bay. Rodgers and Jordy Nelson -- who missed 2015 with a torn ACL -- were still working on their timing last week. Most of the Packers' big plays against Jacksonville came late in the down, with Rodgers making magic after not finding receivers initially open. (This was the team's prime issue last year.) While Rodgers was sensational, it should be concerning for the Packers that he averaged 5.9 yards per attempt in a game where he received sterling pass protection.

Because of their team makeup, the Vikings have as good a chance as anyone to contain Rodgers inside and outside of the pocket. I would take this Minnesota squad on Sundays -- and in some make-believe pickup basketball tournament between NFL defenses. It's not like the Vikings are inexperienced at beating the Packers and besting expectations in big games. They won the NFC North last December over Green Bay in a contest where Bridgewater only threw for 99 yards.
This is Minnesota's chance to send a warning shot to the rest of the NFC that they remain in the mix -- and that their defense has risen to the level of Seattle, Denver and Carolina. In Zimmer's mind, the Vikings quarterback is just a supporting actor anyway.


Miami Dolphins defense

It feels like Jimmy Garoppolo was named Homecoming King last Sunday night in Arizona, and this week has been a coronation. Don't be surprised if a familiar Patriots antagonist knocks the shine off in Week 2.
Russell Wilson's game-winning drive in Seattle shouldn't distract anyone from the promise Miami's rebuilt defense showed against the Seahawks last week. Ndamukong Suh was the best player on the field. Cameron Wake, coming off a torn Achilles at age 34, was effective as a situational pass rusher. In a game that included Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, Dolphins Pro Bowler Reshad Jones and sneaky free-agent pickup Isa Abdul-Quddus were easily the best safety combination in the field. They were one step ahead of Wilson and the Seahawks' offense all day.

Against New England on Sunday, the Dolphins face an uneven offensive line, similar to the one they saw in Seattle. For some mystical reason, perhaps no other NFL team outside Denver has given Bill Belichick more problems than Miami. The Dolphins have split with the Patriots three straight seasons, including a Week 17 Patriots disaster last season that cost New England home-field advantage in the playoffs. Belichick was quick to bring that game up this week, a rare admission by Belichick that the past even exists.
This week will be a tougher test for Garoppolo -- making his second start in the stead of suspended starter Tom Brady -- after facing vanilla coverage against a surprisingly cautious Cardinals defense in Week 1.

He should see quicker pressure this time around, especially if Dolphins pass rusher Mario Williams is cleared to play after suffering a concussion last week.
Dolphins VP of Everything Mike Tannenbaum should have felt entitled to enjoy a measure of "I told you so" last week, despite the team's loss. His acquisitions make huge impacts. Linebacker Kiko Alonso (11 tackles), acquired in a much-derided trade with the Eagles, looked like the guy who was the runner-up in the Defensive Rookie of the Year race with the Bills in 2013, not the sluggish imitation he was in Philadelphia in 2015. Alonso playing at this level would transform the team's linebacker group. Abdul-Quddus, cornerback Byron Maxwell (also dealt from the Eagles), defensive end Andre Branch and Williams, all pickups this offseason, played big roles in holding Seattle to six points on its first 11 drives.
We'd never pick against the Patriots at home, and the Dolphins' offense has its own questions to answer. But this contest has all the markings of a one-score game in the fourth quarter, with Garoppolo showing signs of inexperience against one of the most improved defenses in football.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense

Jameis Winston fever is spreading, as it should be. Part of what makes Winston so fun to watch each week, after all, are the weapons around him -- and coach Dirk Koetter's willingness to use them all.
Everyone knows about the receiver duo of Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson. Evans consistently created separation in the season opener against the Falcons and looks ready to emerge as a true No. 1. What should make the Cardinals' defense anxious about their showdown Sunday is the emergence of real depth to this Tampa attack.
As mentioned above, Arizona approached the Patriots matchup with surprising caution. The creative blitzes and pressure packages were rare, and we believe that came from a lack of confidence in the team's cornerback depth. The Cardinals don't want to put rookie Brandon Williams or Tyvon Branch on an island too often. The Bucs, even more than the Gronk-less Patriots, have the players to expose shaky one-on-one coverage.

Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins put a tumultuous offseason behind him to make two big plays in Week 1, a circus touchdown catch and a drawn pass-interference call. Third-year pro Charles Sims is already one of the best pass-catching backs in football, and it looks like he's added more strength to his repertoire this year behind Doug Martin. Adam Humphries is showing signs of emerging as the No. 3 slot receiver the Bucs have been missing for years. Starting tight end Cameron Brate is a favorite of Winston's in the two-minute drill.
Winston is showing signs of maturity by taking what the defense gives him. Unlike Ryan Tannehill or Tyrod Taylor, for example, Winston processes his options quickly. His mind is as quick as his feet in the pocket. It feels strange to think that a secondary including Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu could be a weakness, but it could take time for Honey Badger to fully look like his old self after recovering from a torn ACL. We expect the Bucs to spread the Cardinals out and pick on Arizona's other defensive backs.
Koetter won't be afraid to get into a shootout with the Cardinals. After one road win to start the season, this risk-embracing Bucs squad is playing with house money.

Baltimore Ravens defense

No team entered the opener with more questions than Baltimore. Coach John Harbaugh still doesn't seem to know some of the answers on offense, with the team splitting reps at tight end and running back, and between five receivers. But Week 1 should make him feel so much better about the group's team defense.
Eric Weddle has taken over as the quarterback of the team's secondary, and it showed. The Ravens were always in the right spot against Buffalo last week, with Weddle, Shareece Wright and Jimmy Smith all having standout games. Lardarius Webb looks like a natural at free safety.

With a better-looking secondary and a strong defensive-line tandem of Timmy Jernigan and Brandon Williams, coordinator Dean Pees was freed up to get weird with his blitzes. Pees out-Rexed Rex Ryan last week, and he should be creative again this week against Cleveland.
The Browns offense could be better off with Josh McCown at quarterback than with injured Week 1 starter Robert Griffin III, but this is still a soft landing from the scheduling gods. Cleveland, which once boasted a strong offensive line, is vulnerable. After holding Buffalo to seven points and 160 yards, Baltimore's defense can control this game again up front and build confidence. Just two weeks after entering the season without an identity, the Ravens may start to view themselves as a defense-first squad. Same as it ever was.

 

[Greenbacks]

Week 2 Cheat Sheet: Can Cowboys find Dez?

Key game-time decisions

All players questionable unless noted

Kansas City Chiefs: RB Jamaal Charles (knee) -- DOUBTFUL
Charles has been working with the scout team in practice while he recovers from a torn ACL.

Carolina Panthers: RB Jonathan Stewart (ankle)
Coach Ron Rivera says he expects his starting running back to play.

Miami Dolphins: DE Mario Williams (concussion), TE Jordan Cameron (thigh), RB Arian Foster (hamstring), LB Jelani Jenkins (knee), WR DeVante Parker (hamstring)
Williams practiced for the first time on Friday since undergoing concussion protocol.

New England Patriots: LB Dont'a Hightower (knee) -- DOUBTFUL; TE Rob Gronkowski (hamstring), WR Chris Hogan (shoulder), OT Nate Solder (hamstring), WR Chris Hogan (shoulder), CB Malcolm Butler (ankle), G Jonathan Cooper (foot), G Shaq Mason (hand)
Gronkowski could miss his second straight game to start the 2016 season.

New Orleans Saints: OT Terron Armstead (quad)

New York Giants: DE Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder)

Detroit Lions: LB DeAndre Levy (quad) -- DOUBTFUL; DE Ezekiel Ansah (shoulder)

Pittsburgh Steelers: LB Ryan Shazier (knee), WR Markus Wheaton (shoulder)
Wheaton is in danger of missing two straight games to start the season.

Baltimore Ravens: LB C.J. Mosley (thigh), WR Breshad Perriman (calf), CB Jerraud Powers (ankle), G John Urschel (shoulder)

Dallas Cowboys: CB Orlando Scandrick (hamstring)

Washington Redskins: OT Trent Williams (glute), WR Josh Doctson (Achilles), DE Chris Baker (rib, elbow), S Su'a Cravens (hip)
Jay Gruden said Williams will be reassessed on Saturday.

Indianapolis Colts: LB Trent Cole (back) -- DOUBTFUL; CB Darius Butler (ankle), CB Antonio Cromartie (hamstring), LB Robert Mathis (foot)
The Colts' secondary is at risk of being undermanned for a second straight week with Vontae Davis, Patrick Robinson and T.J. Green already out.

Denver Broncos: WR Demaryius Thomas (hip), DL Derek Wolfe (neck)

Los Angeles Rams: WR Pharoh Cooper (shoulder) -- DOUBTFUL; DT Michael Brockers (thigh), CB Lamarcus Joyner (foot)

Atlanta Falcons: DE Brooks Reed (shoulder)

Oakland Raiders: OT Menelik Watson (groin) -- DOUBTFUL

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LB Lavonte David (shoulder)

Arizona Cardinals: G Evan Mathis (foot), WR J.J. Nelson (shoulder), DT Robert Nkemdiche (ankle)

Green Bay Packers: DB Sam Shields (concussion) -- DOUBTFUL

Minnesota Vikings: OT Matt Kalil (hip)

Weather Tracking*

We could be in for a load of rain in our 11 outdoor games this week. We will update Sunday's prognostications for all non-dome contests as we drift closer to game times.
49ers at Panthers -- 85 degrees -- chance of thunderstorms (33 percent)
Ravens at Browns -- 73 degrees -- chance of thunderstorms (62 percent)
Dolphins at Patriots -- 74 degrees -- chance of thunderstorms (57 percent)
Saints at Giants -- 79 degrees -- chance of thunderstorms (50 percent)
Bengals at Steelers -- 73 degrees -- chance of thunderstorms (68 percent)
Cowboys at Redskins -- 83 degrees -- chance of thunderstorms (43 percent)
Seahawks at Rams -- 85 degrees
Colts at Broncos -- 77 degrees
Falcons at Raiders -- 69 degrees
Jaguars at Chargers -- 76 degrees
Eagles at Bears (MNF) -- 77 degrees -- slight chance of thunderstorms (7 percent)

 

[Greenbacks]

Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins

Dez Bryant's five targets in Week 1 were a whopping seven fewer than Cole Beasley. Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott insists he won't force the ball to Bryant, but he could force the ball to his star wideout, especially in the red zone. Much was made of Washington corner Josh Norman not traveling last week. If Redskins DC Joe Barry employs a similar tactic, it will be interesting to see how much the Cowboys avoid putting Bryant on Norman's side of the field. Norman held Bryant to just one reception on five targets last Thanksgiving (the CB traveled with Dez for Carolina in portions of that contest). Whether it's Bryant or another receiver, Dallas must stretch the field more consistently in Week 2 after the rookie passer went just one of 10 on throws over 15 air yards last week.

The Redskins' rushing attack with Matt Jones should be in for a bounce-back week. Jones carried just seven times for 24 yards (3.4 YPC) in Week 1, continuing his inefficiency from last season. The Cowboys' front four got pushed around against the Giants, particularly late in the contest, giving up 113 yards on the ground. If Jones can't penetrate a Dallas defensive line lacking playmakers, it will be a long, long season for Washington's No. 1 back.

Say what? Stat of the week: In Week 1 the Cowboys ran 75 offensive plays and had only one play of 20-plus yards.

Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns

The Ravens' rushing attack of Justin Forsett and Terrance West should get right versus the Browns' front seven. The duo carried the ball 22 times for just 73 yards in Week 1 (3.3 YPC). The Browns gave up 133 rushing yards last week. Baltimore's offensive line didn't perform well against a stout Bills defense as Ravens runners earned 1.9 yards per rush before first contact. A key for John Harbaugh's O-line Sunday will be blocking Cleveland rookie Carl Nassib, a bright spot on a dismal Browns defense.
Despite his reputation, Josh McCown puts the Browns offense in a better spot to perform this season. He might not win games, but the veteran quarterback performed solidly in two of his previous three seasons. On a sad Cleveland team last season, McCown completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 263.6 yards per game with at 12-4 TD-INT ratio in eight games. His receiving corps is immensely better this season. After a rough first week, expect tight end Gary Barnidge to bounce back. The TE has much better numbers with McCown in the lineup.

Say what? Stat of the week: The Ravens have gone six straight games scoring 20 points or fewer, dating back to 2015.

Tennessee Titans at Detroit Lions

The Titans' defense did not allow a touchdown in Week 1, but they aren't facing Shaun Hill. Since OC Jim Bob Cooter took over before the London game in 2015, Matthew Stafford has earned a 70 percent completion rate with 23 TDs to just four INTs, and the Lions have gone 7-3. In Week 1, Stafford was sublime, tossing for 340 yards and three TDs. He'll face a much stouter test in the Titans this week. If the Lions interior can't block Jurrell Casey, it could discombobulate the quarterback's rhythm. Tennessee will need to tackle in space. Detroit compiled 222 yards after the catch in Week 1 with running backs Theo Riddick and Ameer Abdullah doing much of the damage.


Expect a big day out of Delanie Walker. Detroit's linebackers and safeties had an atrocious time covering tight ends in Week 1. They face one of the most dynamic at the position in Walker this go-around. After a down week against speedy Vikings linebackers, Walker should explode as Marcus Mariota's security blanket over the middle. When he's not targeting Walker, the Titans quarterback will look for rookie receiver Tajae Sharpe, who earned seven receptions on 11 targets last week. If Lions corner Darius Slay doesn't follow Sharpe around the formation, the rookie could be in for a big week versus inferior talents.

Say what? Stat of the week: Mariota has actually been more effective on the road so far in his career: 11 TDs, 10 INTs at home; 10 TDs, 1 INT on the road.

Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans

Will we get the Chiefs offense that sleepwalked through the first three quarters of Week 1 or the one that blitzed its way through the defense in the fourth quarter and overtime? The Chiefs used running backs Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West a ton in the passing game last Sunday, and we should see a healthy dose gain. While J.J. Watt didn't have a usual Wattian performance in Week 1 after returning from a litany of offseason procedures, he'll be better this week. With Jadeveon Clowney lining up at defensive end more (and looking good) the Texans' pass rush of Watt, Clowney and underrated Whitney Mercilus will force Alex Smith to get rid of the ball quickly and target his check downs out of the backfield.
When the Texans have the ball, the matchup of DeAndre Hopkins and Marcus Peters will be entertaining to watch. In two head-to-head matchups last season, Peters was targeted eight times while covering Hopkins and gave up five receptions for 52 yards, surrendered two TDs and got an interception. Keenan Allen worked over Peters early in Week 1. Hopkins could do the same. If Peters negates Hopkins, expect another big day for rookie speedster Will Fuller, who will have a mismatch with the Chiefs' secondary defenders.

Say what? Stat of the week: Both of tight end Travis Kelce's two 100-yard receiving games in 2015 (including playoffs) came against the Texans.

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots

In Week 1, the Patriots rushed on 47 percent of offensive plays (6th most in the NFL) going for 106 yards on 31 carries. New England hasn't finished the season with a run percent of 47-plus since 2006 (47.3). Even after Jimmy Garoppolo's stellar opener, the plan could be similar facing a Dolphins defense that allowed 112 yards on the ground in Week 1. Pats receivers, however, will have an advantage against a weak set of Dolphins cornerbacks, if Garoppolo's line can keep Miami's pass rushers at bay.
The Dolphins will utilize the quick passing attack to Jarvis Landry to supplement the running game of Arian Foster. Foster looked spry but managed just 2.9 yards per carry on 13 totes (the stats don't tell the correct story). If Foster remains healthy, he'll be the workhorse. Getting the ball quickly out of Ryan Tannehill's hands will be key against the Pats defense. Tannehill was sacked five times in Week 1. The Patriots pass rush looks just as good as 2015 (49 sacks, second-most in NFL). Chris Long was a menace in Week 1. If Long's health holds, he'll more than make up for the Chandler Jones trade.

Say what? Stat of the week: Bill Belichick is 21-7 (.750 percent) versus first-year head coaches in their first meeting (excludes interim). Belichick has won seven straight of these matchups. His last loss was in 2009 to Jim Caldwell (Colts).

 

[Greenbacks]

New Orleans Saints at New York Giants

Last time these two teams locked horns, they scored 101 combined points in a shootout in New Orleans. Drew Brees looks primed to put up another monster season, spreading the ball around to his array of targets last week for 423 yards. With Brandin Cooks as the deep threat, Willie Snead the physical possession receiver, Michael Thomas making acrobatic plays and Mark Ingram proving a weapon in the passing game out of the backfield, Brees has his best set of weapons in years. But this is not the same Giants defense he torched last season. Big Blue's defensive front was one of the most impressive units in Week 1. The group might not have gotten sacks, but Olivier Vernon was a stud against the run, and the group pushed the pocket against a good Cowboys offensive line.
The Giants have a district advantage in the passing game. Not just with Odell Beckham Jr., who is a mismatch for any secondary. Rookie Sterling Shepard continued his exceptional play from the preseason with a TD and three catches in Week 1. Victor Cruz, after more than a year away, is back to being more than a mere corporeal entity. The Saints secondary is in woeful shape after losing No. 1 CB Delvin Breaux. P.J. Williams struggled in his first start, DeVante Harris was no better and rookie Ken Crawley was downright dreadful in 33 coverage snaps. It's hard to imagine Eli Manning NOT having a field day Sunday afternoon.

Say what? Stat of the week: Brees has passed for 300-plus yards in five straight games dating back to 2015. His longest such streak since going nine straight from 2012-13.

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers

Bad Blood! A.J. Green! Antonio Brown! Big Ben! Andy Dalton! DeAngelo Williams! Jeremy Hill! Geno Atkins! Ryan Shazier! How can you not get pumped for what should be the game of the week?
Let's start with A.J. Green. Too often forgotten in discussions about the NFL's top receivers, Green torched Darrelle Revis and the Jets for 180 yards on 12 receptions (13 targets) and a TD. Dalton had a passer rating of 144.4 when targeting Green and just 77.1 to all other receivers. Facing a Steelers secondary that played mostly zone last week to mask deficiencies, Green is in for another big day even with double- and triple-teams coming his way.
Hopefully, we get Green and Antonio Brown matching each other with spectacular plays. Brown's Week 1 torching of poor Bashaud Breeland was less about the Redskins corner and more about how unstoppable Brown is when Ben Roethlisberger is on the field. Big Ben had a 150.0 passer rating when targeting Antonio Brown (take that, Dalton-Green). Over his last 16 games with Roethlisberger, Brown has 151 receptions, 2,048 receiving yards, and 14 TD. Good luck to any secondary trying to slow AB down this season.

Say what? Stat of the week: The Bengals had only 57 rush yards in Week 1. In their previous 48 games, Cincinnati earned fewer than 57 rush yards once.

San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers

Will Carlos Hyde be able to duplicate his fast start in Chip Kelly's offense? The third-year pro ripped off 88 yards and two touchdowns on 23 totes. Hyde's size and lateral agility are a perfect match for Kelly's system. Sunday he'll face arguably the toughest front seven in the NFL. Even if Hyde can get to the second level of the Panthers defense, Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis are the fastest linebacker combo in the league and gobble up runners like hungry hippos. If Hyde is shut down, will Blaine Gabbert be able to move the ball at all Sunday? It seems doubtful.
The San Francisco defense pitched a Week 1 shutout, but was that a mirage aided by an inept Rams offense or the real deal? The further NaVorro Bowman gets from his ACL tear, the more dominant he becomes. The linebacking maven earned nine tackles, one TFL and an INT in the opener. His matchup corralling Cam Newton in space will be fascinating to watch. Kelvin Benjamin popped back from his own ACL tear to remind the world his massive size is a mismatch against any corner, especially in the red zone. We need to see more from Devin Funchess and the rest of Newton's wideout corps this week versus an overlooked 49ers secondary.

Say what? Stat of the week: Hyde loves Week 1 games, scoring 3 career TDs in Week 1s and averaging 102 yards per contest. In Weeks 2-17 the back as a combined 4 TDs and just 30.8 YPG average in 19 games.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arizona Cardinals

Watching Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander is becoming one of the true joys in life. The second-year tackling aficionado flies all over the field, engulfing ball carriers, smashing into lineman, hurling himself into receivers. In Week 1, Kwon had 17 tackles (15 solo), 2 TFL, 2 QB hits and a sack. Find Alexander and you find the ball. The linebacker's matchup with Cards stud running back David Johnson will be the key. For all his dynamic plays, Alexander sometimes gets lost in coverage, which Johnson could take advantage of.
We expect Patrick Peterson to stick on Mike Evans the majority of the contest, which could provide Vincent Jackson and tight ends Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Brandon Myers big days. Jameis Winston wasn't keyed in on Evans in Week 1, spreading the ball around to a plethora of targets (four passing TDs to four different players). Even with the addition of ex-Seahawks corner Tharold Simon, the Cards secondary is vulnerable. If Winston can withstand Arizona's pass rush (he didn't face one last week in Atlanta) there are yards to be had through the air against Arizona.

Say what? Stat of the week: In Week 1, Larry Fitzgerald earned 8 receptions on 10 targets for 81 yards and 2 TDs. According to Next Gen Stats, all eight of Fitzgerald's receptions came when lining up in the slot, most of any receiver to open the 2016 season.

Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams

Poor Todd Gurley. Saddled with zero passing threat -- going all the way back to 2014, the Rams have averaged the fewest pass YPG (191.7) in the NFL -- the talented running back faces a box loaded with defenders. In Week 1, Gurley was so often hit in the backfield he had to bowl defenders over just to gain a single yard. Sunday's outlook is even meaner. The Seahawks haven't allowed an individual 100-yard rusher since Week 11, 2014.
Russell Wilson won't be 100 percent on Sunday following an ankle injury. How much his mobility is hindered could determine the Seahawks game plan. After watching their offensive line get pushed around in pass protection, it's unlikely Pete Carroll wants to see Wilson trying his normal magic tricks versus a stout Rams defensive front. L.A.'s weakness remains its secondary after losing key players this offseason. Is Wilson healthy enough and mobile enough to exploit it or will get a persistent pounding attack of Thomas Rawls and Christine Michael into the strength of the Rams D?

Say what? Stat of the week: The Rams had the worst total offense in the NFL last season (297.6 total YPG), but fell more than 100 yards short of that average in Week 1 and averaged only 3.1 yards per play (worst in NFL).

Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos

It's strength on strength in Denver Sunday afternoon. Andrew Luck is back to his 2014 form, slinging the ball for 385 passing yards and four TDs. With tight end Jack Doyle looking like the player the Colts thought Colby Fleener was, Luck has a surplus of weapons. He'll need them all against a studly Broncos secondary. The Colts offensive line played above expectations in Week 1, keeping Luck clean as he propelled a comeback. The key matchup will be Denver's edge rushers, Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, et al., against Colts tackles. The Broncos missed Malik Jackson pushing the interior in Week 1, so look for Luck to climb the pocket often to escape those edge rushing demons. In four career games versus the Colts (including playoffs), Miller has 0 sacks.
After facing the stout Panthers defense in his first start, going up against a banged up, talent deficient Indy squad might seem like a scurry through the park for Trevor Siemian. Colts linebacker Sio Moore played well in space last week. That's the only nice thing I can say for Chuck Pagano's defensive group. Indy was already without two of its top three defensive backs, then lost two more last week. Demaryius Thomas (if healthy) and Emmanuel Sanders should be open all day. Of course, after watching the Lions scamper all over the field, Gary Kubiak could decide to protect his young quarterback and hand the ball to C.J. Anderson and Devontae Booker 10 billion times.

Say what? Stat of the week: The Colts are 2-7 in their first two games of a season in the Andrew Luck era. Indy started each of the past two seasons 0-2.

Atlanta Falcons at Oakland Raiders

For the second straight week, Derek Carr faces a defense that lacks pass rush oomph. After throwing for 319 yards without a sack in Week 1, he'll face a Falcons defense that didn't take down the quarterback and combined for just six QB hits in Week 1. Carr should have plenty of time to find Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree downfield against an Atlanta secondary that was diced up last week.
Can the Falcons get the running game going, or will it once again rely on Matt Ryan hurling passes? Devonta Freeman rushed for just 20 yards on 11 carries in Week 1. Atlanta's offensive line must do a better job creating holes versus Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin. Freeman and Tevin Coleman were often hit in the backfield in Week 1. It will be interesting to see how long a leash veteran corner Sean Smith is given after his benching last week. The combo of Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu could pick on Smith.

Say what? Stat of the week: Since 2013, the Falcons have had 13 games without a sack, most in the NFL (Browns second with 10 such contests).

Jacksonville Jaguars at San Diego Chargers

T.J. Yeldon should be in for a fine day, regardless of whether Chris Ivory (released from the hospital this week) plays. The Chargers were carved up by Chiefs running backs in the passing game last week. Yeldon has the ball-skills to torture San Diego linebackers in space. The Chargers boast a solid trio of corners that will make life slightly more difficult for Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, so look for Yeldon and tight end Julius Thomas to take advantage of good matchups.
The Chargers offense fell apart without Keenan Allen last week. Since 2013, in games without Allen, Philip Rivers has thrown for 25.4 fewer yards per game and a passer rating 18 points lower. Tyrell Williams will need to step up opposite Travis Benjamin, but the drop off sans Allen is large. We're likely to see Danny Woodhead used more in the passing attack this week. After earning just one sack against Aaron Rodgers last week, the Jags front needs to pressure Rivers more consistently to knock off the home team.

Say what? Stat of the week: Jacksonville is 0-6 in September road games under Gus Bradley, getting outscored 223-84 in those six tilts.

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings

The expectation is Sam Bradford gets the start as the Vikings open their new stadium. Regardless of who is under center, Minnesota's ground game must improve. Hill was not a problem in Week 1, passing for 236 yards without a turnover. The stacked boxes didn't help, but even with Bradford under center, All Day will be the focal point of every defense this season. Peterson's 1.6 yards per carry in Week 1 were the second worst of his career (min. 15 carries). Most troubling was the -2 yards after contact Peterson earned. The revamped Vikings offensive line must be better versus a Packers defensive front that gave up just 48 rushing yards (1.8 yards per carry) in the opener.
Green Bay's offense looked more cohesive than last season's struggles but still managed just 294 yards passing. Aaron Rodgers rapport with Jordy Nelson was key on plays that broke down, but the timing routes against a good Vikings secondary will need to improve in Week 2. The Packers offensive line played well against Jacksonville, giving up just one sack (thanks in part to Rodgers' otherworldly pocket movement) but the test ramps up against Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph, Anthony Barr and Danielle Hunter, who jumped out on the Week 1 game film.

Say what? Stat of the week: The Vikings were just one of two teams that did not score an offensive touchdown in Week 1 (Rams). It marked the second time since 1970 the Vikings scored 25-plus points without an offensive TD (Week 2, 1970: Vikings won 26-0 vs. NO).

Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears

Carson Wentz impressed in the opener, tossing for 278 yards on 22-of-37 passing for two touchdowns and a 101.0 passer rating against the Browns. He'll have a slightly stiffer test against the Bears in primetime. Chicago's defense forced an interception and earned two sacks last week, but gave up 346 yards in the process. After a career-high 14 targets in Week 1, Jordan Matthews should see a lot of passes his way once again against a Bears secondary that was picked on last week without CB Kyle Fuller.
We can't take much from Jim Schwartz's defense against the anemic Browns. The Eagles will have a bigger challenge shutting down the Jay Cutler-Alshon Jeffery combo. Will we finally see more out of Kevin White after an anticlimactic beginning to his career? Philadelphia's corners didn't stand out last week and could be picked on by Cutler if he has time to throw. Fletcher Cox, as always, was a beast to open the year. The matchup between Cox and Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long should be fun to keep an eye on.

Say what? Stat of the week: Ryan Mathews earned 22 carries for 77 yards and a TD in Week 1. Mathews hasn't had consecutive games of 20-plus rushes since ending the 2013 season with four straight games of 24-plus rushes.

 

[Greenbacks]

Eagles OC: Carson Wentz a combo of Luck, Jim Kelly.

Let's make one thing clear: The Philadelphia Eagles have no doubts about their rookie quarterback.
In fact, Carson Wentz is already drawing comparisons inside the building to a Hall of Famer.
"Physically, he reminds me a little bit of a combination of Andrew Luck -- though, I've never played with him -- just watching him play, but a guy that I did play with in Jim Kelly -- the size, strength and just the toughness," Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich said of Wentz on Friday, per Matt Lombardo of NJ.com.
Reich, of course, knows Kelly's traits as well as anyone after serving as his backup for years with the Buffalo Bills. If nothing else, it's an interesting comparison from a coach who has studied both signal-callers with his own eyes.
Besides, the toughness angle makes sense. Coming out of last Sunday's win over the Browns -- who boldly passed on Wentz in the draft -- Reich singled out a gritty completion to tight end Zach Ertz as evidence of the rookie quarterback's willingness to deliver the ball with defenders in his face.

"The mentally tough, physically tough attitude and not being afraid to stand in the pocket and take a hit," Reich said. "I think Carson showed that, having played with Jim Kelly all of those years, a Hall of Fame quarterback, you don't want those guys to take hits but it is the willingness on fourth-and-4 with guys coming up the middle to make the play to Ertz and take the hit because that's what it takes to make the play and keep the drive alive, so those are good signs."
The praise for Wentz has flowed at a rich pace this week, but it's premature to anoint him after one game against an inexperienced, uber-young Browns defense. The veteran-heavy Bears should pose a stiffer test on national TV in Week 2.
"Going on Monday Night Football in Chicago, obviously a very historic place like Soldier Field," Reich said. "It's great football down there. It's an exciting opportunity for the whole team, certainly for Carson as a rookie quarterback going into that environment ... There's obviously the crowd-noise factor. We obviously work that all the time, we practice it all the time, you just have to keep your poise."

While Wentz still has kinks to work out mechanically, his debut certainly came packed with "poise." He played from wire-to-wire without losing his cool, which thrilled Reich and the Eagles.
"I think we got what we expected," Reich said of Wentz's NFL debut. "He's surrounded by good players. Our whole focus going in was just to execute the plan. We thought we had a good plan going in. This game is about players, as coach says all the time, it's very true. They have to execute and don't try to do too much. Plays present themselves. Your natural ability and instincts take over and I think that's what we saw in Carson. It was what we were hoping and expecting. You still have to do it but it was a great team effort."

 

[Greenbacks]

Who to start Week 2: Derek Carr over Aaron Rodgers?

Each week of the regular season in "Fantasy Audibles" I'll use the SAP Player Comparison Tool to help you make the right decisions when it comes to difficult lineup dilemmas. The tool uses several factors to help make an educated suggestion, including past performance, matchup, consistency, upside and intangibles. However, the tool isn't fully operational quite yet. As a result, I'll use the old-fashioned fantasy methods to help make a determination on three difficult Week 2 matchup decisions below. Let's take a look at the start/sit questions haunting some of our fantasy readers and try to help them set a winning lineup.

Who should I start at QB: Aaron Rodgers or Derek Carr?

On the surface, this question seems silly. You start Aaron Rodgers, the guy who has finished as the overall QB1 or QB2 in six of the seven years he's played at least 15 games, and not the third-year quarterback who has never thrown for 4,000 yards in a season, right? Well, for Week 2, the decision might not be so cut and dry.
While Rodgers puts up video game-esque numbers on nearly a weekly basis, there is one defensive coordinator who consistently gets his goat, and that's Mike Zimmer the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, Rodgers' Week 2 opponent. This trend started back when Zimmer was the defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals (2-0 versus Rodgers and the Packers while in Cincy), and continued once Zimmer moved to Minnesota. Here's a look at how Rodgers has stacked up against Zimmer over their six career meetings:

While there are solid performances in that admittedly small sample size, what's concerning is how Rodgers' numbers against Zimmer-led defenses compare to his career averages. The fact that he throws for roughly 40 yards and .5 touchdowns fewer per game against Zimmer should be of particular concern for fantasy owners. Add in the fact that Rodgers is heading into Minnesota for the grand opening of a new stadium, with Jordy Nelson still operating at less than 100 percent, and the concerns begin to mount. This isn't to say Rodgers is going to be a disaster on Sunday night, but there are enough factors to give fantasy owners pause when considering slotting Rodgers into their starting lineup.

Derek Carr on the other hand, faces an Atlanta pass rush that lacks teeth. The team ranked dead-last in the league in 2015 with 19 sacks, and couldn't bring down Jameis Winston once in Week 1. Against a feeble New Orleans pass rush in Week 1, Carr was able to stay clean in the pocket (zero sacks, three hits) en route to a 319-yard, one-touchdown day. It wasn't gangbusters in fantasy, but if Carr is afforded similar time this week in Atlanta he should be able to put up similar numbers. He boasts a deeper, more talented pass-catching crew than Winston, and likely won't have a 75-yard Jalen Richard touchdown run taking his fantasy scoring opportunities off the board. Desmond Trufant is a worry in terms of locking down Amari Cooper, but since Trufant largely sticks to one side of the field, Cooper (and Michael Crabtree for that matter) should be able to find plenty of space to roam.

However, there's every chance Winston's four-touchdown explosion in Week 1 was an outlier. Aside from a revamped linebacking corps, the Falcons defense wasn't too drastically different from the unit routinely trotted out in 2015 that allowed just 19 touchdown passes all year. Let's not overreact to Week 1 here and suddenly anoint the Falcons as a team to stream quarterbacks against (though another porous performance will put them in consideration).
While Carr has the seemingly safer floor, it's too hard to bench Rodgers given his always sky-high upside. He's beaten tough matchups countless times in his career, and what's to say he can't ruin the Vikings opening ceremony at U.S. Bank Stadium with a stellar performance on Sunday night? While I wouldn't fault anyone for starting Derek Carr over Aaron Rodgers in Week 2, I will not be among those bold enough to make that call.

 

[Greenbacks]

Who should I start at RB: Spencer Ware or T.J. Yeldon?

Two backs in committees who are earning the lion's share of the opportunities, though one has a much harder matchup on paper. Let's dive in, starting with T.J. Yeldon
Last week, Yeldon assumed a featured back role when Chris Ivory was a surprise scratch before the game against the Packers after being hospitalized with an illness. Up next for Yeldon is a date with a San Diego defense that gave up 13 catches on 14 targets for 153 yards to the Kansas City backs. Yeldon is an excellent pass-catcher, and could be the Jaguars featured runner again with Ivory just getting out of the hospital on Tuesday. While Yeldon was stuffed on the ground against the Packers (39 yards on 21 attempts), Spencer Ware racked up 70 yards on just 11 carries against the Chargers, so there could be more room to roam. It's worth noting, however, that Yeldon isn't Spencer Ware. Which brings us to the other side of this lineup dilemma.
Ware was a near unstoppable force against the Chargers, and surprisingly maintained fantasy relevancy despite the Chiefs falling behind 21-3 early. That's because of the talk this offseason of him improving as a pass-catcher came to fruition as he hauled in seven of his team-high eight targets for 129 yards (also a team-high).

This week Ware faces a much tougher challenge in a Houston defense that bottled up Jeremy Langford in Week 1. Langford averaged just 3.35 yards per rush attempt and only hauled in two of his four targets for a measly six yards. The Texans front seven manhandled the Bears offensive line thanks to a ready-to-breakout Jadeveon Clowney and a healthy J.J. Watt. They could pose issues for Ware, but the Chiefs know this offense runs through the backfield, and not Alex Smith's arm, so Ware should have every chance to earn plenty of touches once again.
While the matchup doesn't favor Ware, in this instance it's wiser to ride the hot hand. The Jaguars and Chargers game could turn into a shootout, while the Chiefs figure to be locked into an old-fashioned game of defensive, running football. Yeldon has plenty of upside, especially in PPR, but Ware is the No. 1 or 2 option in his offense along with Jeremy Maclin, while Yeldon feels like the fourth guy behind Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Julius Thomas. Ware is the right choice here.

 

[Greenbacks]

Who should I start at WR: Willie Snead or Will Fuller?

Two semi-surprising breakout wide receivers from Week 1 ... though this one isn't that close.
Will Fuller made his NFL debut with a bang, leading the Texans in targets (11) while hauling in five catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. Fuller's hands remain a concern, but his playmaking upside is evident. The Texans will continue to utilize him each and every week, though don't expect him to consistently lead the team in targets. Looking ahead to Week 2, Fuller should see a healthy dose of both Phillip Gaines and Marcus Peters, as he lined up all over the field for the Texans in Week 1 (39 plays wide, 13 in slot divvied up almost 50-50 between right and left). While Philip Rivers' box score looks like the Chiefs held him in check, he was 12-for-14 (85.7 completion percentage) for 109 yards and a touchdown before Keenan Allen went down with a knee injury.

Brock Osweiler isn't on Rivers' level, but with his arsenal of talented pass-catchers headlined by DeAndre Hopkins, he should be able to make some noise against this Kansas City defense -- especially while the pass rush is still operating at less than full strength (Justin Houston is on PUP, Tamba Hali is injured).
That's all well and good for Fuller's upside this week, but Willie Snead should get the start in this lineup battle. And that's not because he simply posted a more impressive Week 1 stat line of nine catches for 172 yards and a touchdown (on nine targets). What's relevant for his Week 2 matchup with the Giants, is that 110 of those yards came from the slot, where he played 64 percent of his Week 1 snaps. The Giants allowed 102 yards from the slot to the uninspiring trio of Jason Witten, Cole Beasley, and Terrance Williams in Week 1. Snead is a better, and younger player than anyone in that group, and is paired with a Hall of Fame quarterback in Drew Brees. While Snead isn't likely to repeat his monstrous opening weekend stat line, he's a good bet for solid production and is a much safer WR2/flex play than Fuller is on Sunday.

 

[Greenbacks]

Who should I start at TE: Coby Fleener or Dwayne Allen?

I love this question because it's two former teammates coming off polar-opposite weeks facing polar-opposite matchups. Let's start with Coby Fleener.
Fleener shot up fantasy draft boards and rankings after he was a high-priced free-agent acquisition by the Saints. Many assumed (or hoped, rather) that'd he'd immediately step into the Jimmy Graham/Benjamin Watson role, assume 130-ish targets, and take the fantasy world by storm. So far, that hasn't happened ... at all. Reports mounted all offseason about Fleener struggling to pick up the playbook and not being in sync with Drew Brees. That materialized on Sunday when Brees threw the ball 42 times for 423 yards and four touchdowns, yet Fleener managed just one catch for six yards on four targets ... all while playing a whopping 81 percent of the offensive snaps. Woof. Is this simply growing pains in a new offense, or is this Fleener's past performance issues finally finding the limelight? After all, from 2012 to 2015 Fleener posted the lowest catch percentage and touchdown percentage among Dwayne Allen (former teammate) and Jimmy Graham/Benjamin Watson (Saints TEs people wished Fleener would become). Anyway, enough throwing dirt on Fleener's fantasy grave. After all, "He's not dead yet!"

Fleener currently is eyeing a matchup against the New York Giants, a team that just gave up 10 catches for 87 yards on 15 targets to Jason Witten and Geoff Swaim. Fleener, despite his flaws, is an athletic specimen with a daunting size-speed combination. If the Saints want to find an inherent mismatch against the Giants, it'll be with Fleener against the middle-of-the-road linebacking corps the Giants currently start (Kevon Dennard, Kelvin Sheppard, Jonathan Casillas). Fleener's weekly upside in a Drew Brees-led offense is immense, if he receives the requisite targets, making him an enticing start regardless of matchup. The trouble is, we've now seen his ghastly floor, and that will (and should) undoubtedly scare plenty of fantasy owners.
Now the man in Indianapolis, Dwayne Allen is coming off of a solid fantasy outing (four catches, 53 yards, one touchdown) even though Jack Doyle vultured two red-zone touchdowns.

However, Allen is facing the vaunted Broncos defense, giving many the night sweats. Last year, Allen was blanked by the Broncos despite Andrew Luck posting 21.48 fantasy points in what many figured was a nightmarish matchup. However, Greg Olsen was able to find space against the Broncos in Week 1 (seven catches for 73 yards on nine targets), and that was with a less dynamic passing attack than what the Colts bring to the table. With Donte Moncrief and T.Y. Hilton commanding extra attention on the outside, it stands to reason that Allen could be featured prominently in the passing attack. After all, while he posted had zero catches against Denver in 2015, Coby Fleener and Jack Doyle were minorly productive. Allen is the best player of that bunch, and could still post solid totals in Week 2 against the Denver defense.
All told, this battle should ultimately be decided by what your Week 2 lineup needs. If chasing mouth-watering upside, go with Fleener. However, if a safe, reliable floor is the goal, then Allen is the wiser choice. If push came to shove, I'd go Allen.

 

[Greenbacks]

Drew Brees, C.J. Anderson with great Week 2 matchups.

Eli Manning & Drew Brees

The last time these two teams met, they combined for 101 total points and 14 total touchdowns. Eli Manning and Drew Brees threw for a combined 861 yards, 70 completions and 13 passing touchdowns.
To think that kind of historical game is in the cards again might be an exaggeration, but it's still a great matchup for Manning, Brees and each of their respective receiving corps.
You can safely start both quarterbacks in what should be another shootout-type of affair in the Superdome. Brees, who threw for 423 yards last week, most in the NFL, added four touchdown passes: Two to Willie Snead, one to Brandin Cooks and one to Travaris Cadet.

Fantasy owners can safely fire up both Cooks and Snead in this one, but it's not likely both go off for 140-plus yards in two consecutive weeks. Brees also has rookie Michael Thomas and tight end Coby Fleener to deposit passes to. With all of the weaponry surrounding him, Brees is a top-three quarterback play in fantasy this week.
For New York, the return of Victor Cruz makes Manning a much more interesting option in fantasy than he would be without the veteran salsa-dancer. The duo hooked up for a touchdown last week for the first time since Week 3 of the 2014 season. Manning also connected with rookie Sterling Shepard for his first career end zone catch. Burying the lede here, Odell Beckham Jr. is a must-start against the worst pass defense (yes, still) in the NFL. New Orleans is coming off a game in which they allowed Oakland to put up 35 points and 486 yards of offense.

 

[Greenbacks]

Andy Dalton & Ben Roethlisberger

In a heated division rivalry game, both Cincy and Pittsburgh enter this contest with a 1-0 record to start the season.
In Week 1, each team took advantage of their top playmakers. Andy Dalton only had eyes for A.J. Green, littering his star wideout with 13 targets that went for 12 receptions, 180 yards and a score. On the opposing side, Ben Roethlisberger hooked up with Antonio Brown on eight of 11 targets that went for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
Both stacks: Dalton/Green and Roethlisberger/Brown are worth considering this week in fantasy. With a lack of other options in the passing game, it's likely that Green leads the Bengals in targets once again. Obviously, Pittsburgh will try to mitigate the damage he inflicts in the box score, but they don't boast a great secondary. Brown is a virtual lock for at least 100 yards, and that's probably his floor. Again, the Bengals will try to shut down the Ben-to-Brown connection but opposing teams have had a tough time doing so: In his last 16 games with Roethlisberger starting, Brown has collected 151 receptions for 2,048 yards and 14 touchdowns.

 

[Greenbacks]

Carson Palmer & Jameis Winston

Arizona was one of the highest-scoring offenses in the NFL last season and that trend should continue in 2016. Tampa Bay has the potential to be in that conversation as well. That's why this matchup is an interesting one to target for quarterback/wideout stacks in fantasy.
For Arizona, Larry Fitzgerald dominated last week against New England, but there is much more to love about the Cardinals' passing game than just Fitz. The advantage that Carson Palmer has over other fantasy quarterbacks is extreme depth in terms of his pass-catching corps. Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd (a buy-low candidate), John Brown, David Johnson, Andre Ellington Jermaine Gresham, Jaron Brown and J.J. Nelson make up a talented array of targets. All of the aforementioned players got looks in Week 1, and they provide Palmer with myriad options on any given play, increasing his opportunities for big yardage and touchdown totals.

The veteran signal-caller usually peppers his top three wideouts with most of the targets, so those are the guys fantasy owners should be looking at to eat against Tampa Bay. More specifically, look for Floyd to rebound after a disappointing Week 1 and start him with confidence.
Last week in this space I suggested stacking Jameis Winston with Mike Evans against Atlanta. Winston went off for four touchdown passes following a rough first quarter, with all four of his touchdowns distributed to different players. Evans led the Bucs with 99 yards receiving and a score. The matchup is a bit tougher for this duo going up against an Arizona defense that boasts superstars like Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu lurking in the secondary. Still, 12 of Evans' 16 career touchdown receptions have come on the road and it seems he and Winston have built some strong chemistry in the preseason, especially on deep balls, that has carried over into regular season play. While Winston might be a questionable start this week against Arizona's defense, Evans should get the nod in fantasy leagues across the board.

 

[Greenbacks]

Ground Analysis:

Ezekiel Elliott vs WAS

In his NFL debut, Ezekiel Elliott found it to be tough sledding against a revamped and dominant New York Giants defensive front. He averaged just 2.55 yards per carry on his 20 rush attempts but did manage to sniff out the end zone in the second half, saving his fantasy day from being a total disaster.
After re-watching his runs, it looked like Zeke was anxious to break off a big one, sometimes rushing to hit holes that weren't necessarily there. When Dallas put veteran Alfred Morris in, he displayed why patience is key for a running back, waiting for lanes to develop and averaging 5.0 ypc on his seven rush attempts.

This week, Zeke will face off against a Washington line that just got absolutely shredded by DeAngelo Williams for 143 rush yards on Monday night. The Cowboys' offensive line will create opportunities for Elliott and after studying his mistakes, he should improve his efficiency. Dallas would also be wise to get their rookie back more involved as a pass-catcher in Week 2. Zeke had just two targets in Week 1, but much of his value comes in his ability to make defenders miss in space. Expect Elliott to get a high volume of carries early on as Dallas attempts to establish the run. In Week 1, 10 of Zeke's 20 carries came in the first quarter, and he totaled just five rush attempts in the second half.
We'll chalk up Zeke's debut to rookie struggles. Fantasy owners can expect a much bigger game this week in Washington against a less-than-formidable defensive line.

 

[Greenbacks]

Lamar Miller vs KC

It's evident that the Texans are going to use Lamar Miller as the lynchpin of their offense this year. In his debut with Houston, he logged 32 touches and over 100 yards from scrimmage. While he failed to reach the end zone, that's the kind of volume fantasy owners can only dream of. It should continue this week against Kansas City.
Kansas City's defense used to be a horrible matchup for fantasy running backs. But the unit is without ILB Josh Mauga for the entire season (hip), linebacker Justin Houston (knee) is out until at least until November, and Tamba Hali (knee) played limited snaps in a backer rotation with Dee Ford and Frank Zombo. This weakness was apparent when San Diego's running backs combined for 177 total yards and three touchdowns against the Chiefs in Week 1.

Danny Woodhead, who is known more for his pass-catching prowess than his rushing ability, ate up big chunks of field with 80 rush yards on 14 attempts from the shotgun and added a receiving touchdown. Melvin Gordon scored twice in short-yardage situations early. All signs point to Miller, who is a do-everything, three-down and goal-line back, getting all of the opportunities to himself against the Chiefs. And with the downfield threat of DeAndre Hopkins and rookie Will Fuller helping to keep defenses honest, Miller should have ample room to run once again. Lock him into your RB1 slot for Week 2.

 

[Greenbacks]

C.J. Anderson vs IND

In the first game of the 2016 season, C.J. Anderson lit up Carolina's defense with 139 total yards and two scores on 24 touches. It's clear that Denver is going to load up Anderson's workload this year in Gary Kubiak's run-first scheme, especially with such a green signal-caller under center.
Anderson's matchup in Week 2 against the Colts could not be better. Indianapolis allowed 229 total yards and four total touchdowns to Detroit's running back committee in Week 1. That translated to 46.9 fantasy points between three running backs. Anderson's not a one-trick pony either as he logged 47 yards and a receiving score on four receptions against the Panthers. Fire up Anderson as an RB1 as he looks to take advantage of the holes in Indy's defense for one of the best running back matchups of the week.

 

[Greenbacks]

Trade for Giovani Bernard, trade away Carlos Hyde.

Week 1 has come and gone and fantasy owners are in a frenzy over who to add, drop and put on the trade block. Some players' trade value will never be higher, while others are ideal buy-low candidates meaning you should try to capitalize on the fear generated by a slow Week 1 outing for players who have positive outlooks for the season. That's why this column, "Trade Calls" will come at you each and every week. It's pretty simple: I do the heavy lifting, you get some information and start making offers. So ahead of Week 2, here are some players to think about trying to acquire on the low, and moving after a big Week 1 performance.

Buy-low candidates

Giovani Bernard, RB, Bengals Simply put, the Jets completely shut down the Bengals run game in Week 1. Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard combined for 16 total touches and 61 yards from scrimmage. Bernard only received seven of those 16 touches which is surprising in a game script that favored a shifty change-of-pace back like Gio. But I'm confident in crediting this poor performance to the stellar play of the Jets defensive line more so than lack of ability on Bernard's part. On his rushes, he averaged 5.0 yards per carry with all but one of his rush attempts coming out of the shotgun formation. And it wasn't a case of usage either; Bernard was on the field for 28 plays compared to Hill's 29, so it was basically a 50/50 split in terms of playing time.
Remember that despite Jeremy Hill's volume last season (over 200 carries) Bernard was still able to finish the year as a top 25 running back in PPR formats and that was mainly due to his total yardage, racking up over 1,200 scrimmage yards. In fact, it was his second straight season with over 1,200 scrimmage yards and third straight with at least 1,000. This is a guy you want to target in trades as soon as possible. Bernard made Around the NFL's Chris Wesseling's list of top pass-catching backs too, which is a sign that fantasy owners shouldn't worry about his slow Week 1. In his article, Wesseling states, "From Week 1 through Week 17 last year, you could count on one hand the number of running backs who outplayed Bernard: Doug Martin, Adrian Peterson, Todd Gurley and Freeman."
Sounds to me like a player you want to buy low on while the time is nigh.

Michael Floyd, WR, Cardinals Michael Floyd hauled in three receptions for 61 yards against the Patriots in Week 1, and you can bet that his fantasy owners were clamoring for a touchdown that never came. Despite seeing three targets in the red zone in the fourth quarter, Floyd only caught one of them and he went out of bounds at the 1-yard line. The other two were well-defended by Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler who was one of just six cornerbacks to notch two passes defensed in Week 1 according to Pro Football Focus. Butler blanketed Floyd all night in man coverage and the Arizona receiver struggled to get open against him. Obviously Larry Fitzgerald reaped the benefits working mainly out of the slot with his 81 yards and two touchdowns.
But don't let Floyd's slow Week 1 deter you from targeting him in a trade. He was Arizona's leading receiver from Week 8 on last year leading the team with 636 receiving yards and tied John Brown for the most touchdown receptions (four) during that stretch. With Brown still seemingly not 100 percent after dealing with concussion issues from the preseason, Floyd's volume should remain solid this week at home against Tampa Bay. And going forward he has some juicy matchups to take advantage of matching up against the Rams, 49ers (twice) and Jets in the next nine weeks.
If Floyd's owner is thinking about hitting the panic button on this Arizona wideout following his down Week 1 outing, make a move to buy low before it's too late.

Jarvis Landry, WR, Dolphins We already know that Jarvis Landry is a target hog. That status was cemented in Week 1 when he saw double the targets of any other pass-catcher on the Dolphins securing seven of his 10 targets for 59 total yards. The majority of his 10 targets were in the short-to-intermediate range, which is what we expected as the Seahawks have struggled to defend against passes underneath in short-yardage. But nearly every time Landry hauled in a reception, he was swarmed by the Legion of Boom, so let's cut him some slack on that front. Following a tough week against a formidable defense, it's time to buy low on Landry.
His owners may be scared off by the disappointing 5.9 fantasy points he posted in Week 1. But if Kenny Stills can't adjust his Ted Ginn-like drop issues and DeVante Parker can't get healthy, Landry will remain Ryan Tannehill's most trusted target and may have to force the ball to him in the red zone. Despite the notion that Landry's fantasy ceiling is capped in standard leagues because of his low touchdown totals (nine TD rec in his first two seasons combined), he was still Miami's most targeted player in the red zone in 2015 with 22. Add to it that he's one of the most dangerous wideouts in terms of yards after catch, 40 of his 59 yards came after the catch in Week 1, and you've got an ideal buy low candidate to target.

 

[Greenbacks]

Sell-high candidates

Carlos Hyde, RB, 49ers It's official. Carlos Hyde is the king of Week 1. The finally healthy 49ers lead back dropped 21.3 fantasy points on the Rams on Monday night despite averaging just 3.8 yards per carry on his 23 attempts.
Last season, he opened the year with a similar bang, registering 30.2 fantasy points against the Vikings. In the six games following, he averaged 3.3 yards per carry with just one touchdown before bowing out for the season with a foot injury.
In Week 1 of 2014, Hyde posted 11 fantasy points on just seven touches with 50 yards on the ground and a touchdown. In the 12 games following, he averaged a mere 3.2 yards per carry while splitting the workload with Frank Gore. Hyde's season was cut short due to an ankle injury.
The 49ers rank in the bottom quarter of the league in Elliot Harrison's Power Rankings, even after a dominant performance against the Rams. But let's get real for a second -- domination of the Rams isn't much to brag about. San Francisco is not supposed to be very good this season, or at least not as good as the final score showed Monday night. The team's upcoming schedule does not bode well for Hyde's outlook going forward.
Hyde will face Carolina on the road in Week 2 followed by another away game in Seattle the following week. Toss in a Thursday night game against Arizona in Week 5 and another road game against the Cardinals again in Week 10 and you can understand why I'm advocating to move Hyde while his value is as high as it will probably be for the rest of the season. His durability history doesn't help matters either but don't mention that to the owner you're selling him to.

DeMarco Murray, RB, Titans Murray's Week 1 fantasy point total of 17 looks great and all, but if you dig a little deeper he didn't really have that nice of an outing. He averaged just 3.2 yards per carry, granted it was against a tough Minnesota defensive front. But if you own Murray, now is the time to put him on the block.
It's only a matter of time until beastly rookie Derrick Henry breaks out. I suggested trading for Henry in this space last week. That's because once he gets into a grove against an inferior defense, the split between Murray and Henry will absolutely even out. Henry was limited to seven touches in Week 1 which, given his pedigree and how we saw him dominate in the preseason, is criminal under-usage especially when you consider that the Titans had a 10-0 lead at halftime.
Did you see him make something out of nothing on a first quarter screen pass? That highlight is here, and embedded if you missed it. That's just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what this kid can do. Seven total touches has got to be his absolute floor on a week-to-week basis so don't fret about his volume just yet.
Derrick Henry is coming. Move Murray now, while you still can.

Brandin Cooks, WR, Saints There is no better time to sell Brandin Cooks than now.
The speedster exploded in Week 1 with two touchdowns and 143 receiving yards, which translated into 27.4 fantasy points in standard leagues-the highest total among wideouts in the opening frame. Over half of his fantasy points came on a single 98-yard touchdown reception in which he absolutely burned Oakland's defenders and sprinted down the sideline.
The fantasy gods won't always be raining good fortune on Cooks though, as Drew Brees historically spreads the ball around. In fact, last season marked the first year that Brees had a 1,000-yard wideout since 2012 (it was Cooks). With many a mouth to feed in the New Orleans offense (Willie Snead, Michael Thomas, Coby Fleener, Mark Ingram, Travaris Cadet), each player will have his ups and downs throughout the season. This was one hell of an up for Cooks, but the downs aren't far off.
Following a couple of great matchups against the Falcons, Giants and Chargers in the next three weeks, Cooks has a slew of unfavorable matchups coming up. From Weeks 6 through 11, the Saints face Carolina twice, Kansas City, Denver and Seattle. That's five unfavorable matchups in a six-week span and it's down the stretch of the fantasy regular season when you need as many good matchups as you can get for your squad. Look to put Cooks on the block in the coming weeks, before those bad matchups roll around.

 

[Greenbacks]