| Authored by Jean-Luc Nicolas - 20th September, 2006 - 4:36 pm
 If you took my advice last week and refused to Panic, you had a nice Week 2. You have swagger now, you think you own the league, you think you're going to win the remainder of your match-ups, you've brought 'SexyBack.' You are so happy with your team, you don't have any qualms at all about grooving with Justin Timberlake.
Before we get started with the rankings, here are a couple questions that I received this week:
Jean-Luc,
Need to decide which defense to play between the Bears and Ravens.
Matt in Oregon
Very nice problem to have Matt; this week I would start the Ravens. The Vikings should be able to score some point and Brad Johnson is too crafty to give up more than one interception. I would suggest trading one of those two teams though, because they have a ton of value. Wouldn't you trade Carson Palmer if you had Peyton Manning ahead of him?
I drafted Culpepper to be my starting QB and of course have been let down. Due to his horrible week one, I was able to pick up Alex Smith from the waiver wire. Neither guy gets me excited and I have some depth at running back (Rudi, Willie and Chester), should I deal one of those guys for a top-five QB?
John in Toronto
Tough decision, my friend. I think Culpepper will turn it around, I wouldn't be ready to give up on him just yet. He and Smith might make up a nice platoon as the season goes on. If you deal away one of those backs (Rudi shouldn't be dealt for anyone, by the way, including Alexander or LJ, in my opinion), you could be leaving yourself rather vulnerable to injury. Parker looks like he won't be used as frequently as Week 1 showed us and Taylor still hasn't proven himself as a guy who can perform week in/week out. I'd hold tight for now because you'll be able to make the same trade a week from now as you can today when you deal with one of those three backs.
And here come the top-10's..
Running Backs
1. Shaun Alexander (NYG @ Sea)
With both Larry Johnson and LaDainian Tomlinson resting with byes, Alexander gets top billing. He will immediately reap the benefits of Deion Branch's inclusion in the offense, while not taking away from his carries.
2. Frank Gore (Phi @ SF)
Putting Gore second even shocks myself, but with the Eagles' loss of Javon Kearse and the way he was able to run the ball against that same Rams' defense that contained Alexander, 120 total yards and a touchdown is a relatively safe bet.
3. Steven Jackson (STL @ Ari)
Jackson is third in the NFL in rushing and third on this list. Arizona's ability to stop the run is rather weak, so a big day is expected.
4. Rudi Johnson (Cin @ Pit)
Excluding yards receiving, Johnson has been the most productive running back in the game through Week 2, with 241 yards and three touchdowns.
5. Warrick Dunn (Atl @ NO)
Dunn leads the league in rushing, but has yet to taste the end zone. That wait will end in New Orleans.
6. Ronnie Brown (Ten @ Mia)
This has to be the week it all comes together for the Dolphins.
7. Tiki Barber (NYG @ Sea)
Like Dunn, Barber has yet to reach the end zone this season. He is also coming into this game a little banged up.
8. Jamal Lewis (Bal @ Cle)
Has shown some flashes of that 2003 season where he rushed for 2,066 yards, including 295 against the Browns.
9. Chester Taylor (Chi @ Min)
Already a mandatory weekly starter, even against the Bears' defense.
10. Reggie Bush (Atl @ NO)
Fortunately Bush ended up with the Saints because I doubt the Texans would have been willing to use him in this way. He will reach the end zone in his first game on Monday Night.
Quarterbacks
1. Donovan McNabb (Phi @ SF)
With Manning playing the Jaguars and Carson playing the Bengals, you have to go with McNabb this week against the 49ers. They will come into the game with a chip on their shoulder following that tough loss to the Giants, so even if they grab an early lead, there will be no pulling the foot off the pedal.
2. Tom Brady (Den @ NE)
The Broncos will key in on Dillon and Marooney, making Brady test out his new receivers.
3. Matt Hasselbeck (NYG @ Sea)
McNabb carved through the Giants last week, utilizing tight end L.J. Smith. Jerramy Stevens may be out, but Hasselbeck will find mismatches for many 10-15 yard passes this week.
4. Peyton Manning (Jac @ Ind)
He won't be this low again until the Colts play Jacksonville again.
5. Kurt Warner (STL @ Ari)
Warner will continue to throw the ball a lot so long as James struggles to get going.
6. Carson Palmer (Cin @ Pit)
The Steelers will be the first defense to really test Palmer. Fortunately, Kimo von Oelhoffen is now with the Jets.
7. Marc Bulger (STL @ Ari)
Bulger hasn't exactly been at the helm of a potent offense this season, as many were expecting, but the Cardinals have a way of helping QB's fix that.
8. Brett Favre (GB @ Det)
Matt Hasselbeck looked bad against the Lions' defense, but Rex Grossman looked great, go figure.
9. Michael Vick (Atl @ NO)
Favre looked good again against the Saints, so expect Vick to continue his exciting season out of the pocket.
10. Daunte Culpepper (Ten @ Mia)
Tennessee is actually better against the run than the pass and they're not very good at both, so expect the arm roll on Sunday.
Wide Receivers
1. Larry Fitzgerald (STL @ Ari)
His efforts have been workman like, averaging just under 100 yards a game and not yet finding the end zone. Expect two to make up for it against St. Louis.
2. Marvin Harrison (Jac @ Ind)
I don't care how good Jacksonville looked against the Steelers, because I also watched Week 1 and the Cowboys were able to throw the ball for 246 yards. You know Manning won't be coughing up the interceptions the way Bledsoe did.
3. Torry Holt (STL @ Ari)
Holt found the end zone against the Niners and should easily find himself with 100 yards and another score against Arizona.
4. Santana Moss (Was @ Hou)
With the running game under distress, Moss will be found early and often.
5. Antonio Bryant (Phi @ SF)
The Niners will definitely be able to score some point against the Philly defense and Bryant is a pure playmaker.
6. Chad Johnson (Cin @ Pit)
Johnson has looked rather ordinary without his buddy TJ. There is no relief when you face Ike Talyor.
7. Plaxico Burress (NYG @ Sea)
Eli and Plaxico are developing a nice rapport. Last year against Seattle, Burresss caught 6 passes for 109 yards, but was outdone by the 137 yards and two touchdowns scored by Joe Jurevicius.
8. Donald Driver (GB @ Det)
Guess who's leading the NFC in receiving yards.. The Lions gave the Packers fits last year, but Favre actually has a hot hand right now and Driver is the recipient.
9. Donte Stallworth (NO @ SF)
I was suspicious after Week 1, but after he did it again in Week 2, I'm on the bandwagon. Excellent late round value pick.
10. Chris Chambers (Ten @ Mia)
That touchdown catch was remarkable last week. He won't have to strain so much against the Titans.
Kickers
1. Adam Vinatieri (Jac @ Ind)
The Colts offense will be good enough to just get into his field goal range 3-5 times. No need for Morten Andersen.
2. Jeff Wilkins (STL @ Ari)
The game should be high scoring and nobody has had a longer foot so far this season.
3. Neil Rackers (STL @ Ari)
He was most people's favorite kicker coming into the season, but has been a disappointment in the early going.
4. Josh Brown (NYG @ Sea)
While watching Feely miss three field goals last year, Brown calmly kicked a 36 yard game winner. He should get more chances this year.
5. Jason Elam (Den @ NE)
Denver has only scored one touchdown this season, which means a lot of work for the proverbial Jason Elam.
6. David Akers (Phi @ SF)
Akers wanted to take on the entire Giants' sideline during the opening kickoff last week. He will have a lot of chances to kick against the Joe Nedney and the Niners.
7. Joe Nedney (Phi @ SF)
He must be happy he stuck around to see the development of the Niners' young core.
8. Robbie Gould (Chi @ Min)
The Bears offense looks like it won't have any problems moving the ball and should give Gould some long chances in the dome.
9. Shayne Graham (Cin @ Pit)
He is 5-6 with 6 extra points through two weeks, not bad production.
10. Ryan Longwell (Chi @ Min)
In my league, I am proposing an immediate amendment where kickers receive points for any touchdowns they throw.
I'd be happy to answer any FFL questions you might have, please include your hometown to be considered for inclusion in this column; nicolasjeanluc@yahoo.com |
