Fantasy Football 2017 - Starts of the Week, Week 2 Matchups, Players to Watch

Where am I? What were you talking about there? Who are you people? All right. I don't even know, man. I don't even know. Where am I? Sam Bradford is another interesting guy. You know, was the San Bradford we saw week one against a bad New Orleans Saints offense legit? Is he legit? Did he level up on the road? This whole Minnesota offense digs, Thielen, cooks, and Bradford, I want.

to see them on the road against a difficult team and see if that can help. That's, that's, you know, are they good enough as a team to be able to succeed? Yeah, it's, I think they are. Can we get an almost upset here? Is this, no? No, I don't believe in that. I think Pittsburgh takes care of Minnesota at home. Hmm.

Yeah, I think the Steelers defense is underrated. I think that you're going to see a very difficult environment. Asking for a friend, would you start the Steelers defense against what you saw last week and the new Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings? I'd like another option. I'd much rather start somebody like Tampa against Chicago this week, even though Chicago didn't perform or didn't produce fancy points for Atlanta's defense last week. I am starting Diggs and Thielen.

I think those are great options, both finishing the top five and fantasy points last week. So until further notice, I think you can count on the targets and the receptions there. Antonio Brown's a lock. Let's talk about Martavis Bryant because I think you're saying plug him in. I get it. The Vikings have a good defense. And they held, you know, Ted Ginn in check for the most part. Martavis Bryant is, if there's ever a time to play him.

You play him at home. What if he duds in this game? What is your thought then? You got the first two games out of the gate. It's kind of, you know. It's going to feel really, really bad. And perhaps you want to bench him until you see him. Like you talk about Rust for Levi-on-Belle. Martavis Bryant hasn't played football in years. So I got so much flack for being low on Martavis Bryant that I had to go to the judge. And I'm telling you.

You're going to want to sit Martavis Bryant this week. There's no way. Well, you two need to figure out a water bet right here right now based on that. All right. Just some sort of fantasy point threshold. Top 50? You're saying don't. Top 20? You're saying don't play him. Top 24. I'll take a top 24. Let's do it. Waterbed. I mean, the fact is, though, if you're saying don't play someone, I mean, they're not even in your top 36.

Top 24 water bet, Mike, so I'm confident enough. Because I am courageous. I am not the coward over there saying bench a guy. I would be very cautious about it. I bet he doesn't finish on the top 15. I say don't take a week one victory lap on Martavis Bryant. But you did make a bold call this week. He said sit him down at home. Trey Wains is going to be fun for him. Three butt catches this week from our tape. That's the prediction. Three butt catches? No hands.

Just butt cheeks. I understand that that's why they're bringing Gary Barnage back in Houston. They want to improve their butt catches per game statistic. They're very into metrics over there. The Bears. The Bears. Yeah, he's good. How's his butt? Yeah. It's your area of expertise with these players. Bears, Buccaneers. Bucks finally get to play in 2017. Seven point favorites at home. 43 and a half point over under. I think that's right.

I think that's right. I'm not expect. I would actually take the under in this matchup. I think you're just going to see some of the things you see in the beginning of a year. First game for Deshaun Jackson in this offense. Opportunity for Jekwiz Rogers getting the start. Do you start Jquiz Rogers against this Bears defense at home? I do. Yeah, I do too. I do. I would have him as a top 24 option. Brooks is nodding. He would start to quiz. I think Brooks has to. Is that just? I don't know. I'm just guessing. Are you starting him in one of your leagues, Brooks? Oh, yeah, definitely. Okay.

You do get the advantage. I didn't know you had him. You do get the advantage here, too, of coming off a training camp, having that week one bite. It's a really weird thing, and they'll have a disadvantage as time goes on. But they've got now two weeks to prepare for the bears while the bears have to shift gears and for the first time prepare inside of a week. So, you know, I think there is some advantage there to the Buccaneers' offense. Now, Jordan Howard was added to the injury report on Wednesday.

It's a shoulder. He was a limited participant. Do we have any any hesitation? And he is frowning like he had not heard that yet. I'm just fraying that I didn't spend more money on Tariq Cohen based on that news. I think that I don't have any concern. Yeah, he's going to play. But Cohen is a very interesting player to watch.

Especially this week. That's why he's on that list for me. I just want to see what the involvement is and how much they have to use him because they don't have other options. They have Kendall Wright and Josh Bellamy and my start of the week, Zach Miller. Oh, the Buccaneers. Spoiler! The Buccaneers, look, they have a strong front seven. They have good linebackers, so it won't be as easy. And it won't be up the middle for Cohen. That's the thing. It's going to be Mike Glennon, freaking out.

and finding Cohen underneath. Yeah, which he's going to do. And the thing is, he's going to freak out, that's for sure. The thing is, is Cohen is and has been a big play guy, whether in preseason or the first game of the regular season, he is that Darren Sproles. It only takes one play to make him fantasy relevant for that week. So I'm very excited to see this matchup. You know, you're starting Mike Evans. I don't know if there's anybody else to talk about. Is there a tight-in on the Buccaneer side?

I would be willing to start Cameron Brate. Yeah, I wouldn't. Remember how open Austin Hooper was? Once, one time. Yeah. It only took one out. Only two targets, so. Right. But James, James Winston targets Cameron Brate far more than Matt Ryan has been used. But O.J. Howard is going to get targets too. He's also going to block more than Cameron Bray. Just saying the guy coming off of a great year. That's putting top 12. I'm willing to start him.

I mean, you're saying you're willing to start him. That means you're willing to go. You're basically saying, I'm going to start Cameron Brate over all of these week one flashes, whether it's a cook, whether it's Zach Miller in the same game. Are you willing to start him over Zach Miller? Ooh, maybe, maybe. That's an eval. Stay tuned to the rankings, ladies and gentlemen. All right, it's time for our starts for this week, too. Starts of the week.

All right, you want to start the quarterback position? Sure. All right, Mike, why don't you kick it off? I'm scrolling down. All right, this one I'm not going to overthink it. I start of the week. I'm sending in the car. S. Sending in the car. J-E-T-S. Derek Carr. Send in the car. Send in the car. Because he's going to put up points. I mean, they were very impressive. And what was even more impressive for me was that the Raiders defense was actually competent.

unlike what they were for the majority of last season. So this is just, you know, putting that confidence on Derek Carr, I expect at least two touchdowns. So top 12 quarterback easy. It's interesting. They passed the ball on 50% of their first downs in week one. Yeah, it absolutely makes sense. And they're trying to get Amari Cooper even more.

involved. And once a Mari Cooper really unleashes, you know, then really big things can happen for Clark. It's actually funny that the top five teams that pass the most on first down was it was Derek Carr, Trevor Simeon, Alex Smith, Sam Bradford, and Carson wins. Just what I would expect. Well, the point is they all won. The top five teams, the highest percentage of passing on first down all won. It's almost like passing.

is more valuable than running today's NFL. That's a ridiculous conclusion based on that information. Russell Wilson is my start of the week. Russell Wilson. Look, you drafted him to start him, but week one might have gotten you a little worried, and I want to give you the comfort of a home matchup for Seattle. I think Russell Wilson. Russell Wilson takes care of business.

And I'm not worried about him whatsoever. So I think you start him with confidence. Don't over think it. Don't try to stream Alex Smith over him. Don't go grab Trevor Simeon over him. Don't be cute. Just play Russell Wilson. Yeah, and I'm going to, you know, stick to a very similar line. I don't think the bears are great.

by any means. And I think James Winston, we just talked about that. He's got the extra week to prepare. I think he has the weapons. We kind of forget about James because he had that week one by. But you've got Sean Jackson. You got O.J. Howard you brought up. Cameron Brayt was good last year. You've got Mike Evans. This is an offense that should be able to score, including James Wiz Rogers, being able to catch the ball. So James Winston, if I've got him.

You know, I'm starting him. I don't think he'll be a top five quarterback, but he's certainly going to be a startable quality option this week. All right. Let's move over to the running back position. I'll pick it off. I've got Time Montgomery. Get him in your lineup. This means making a decision for many of you because of where you got Time Montgomery to, if you're faced with that decision of putting him in as that running back too over a lot of other options.

I think Time Montgomery has an absolute monster week. The carry totals were there. He had his most career touches last week that he's had ever since he came into the NFL. He looked apart. Jamal Williams only had, I believe, two touches in this game. So I think time Montgomery is quickly moving up my board in terms of elite running back options. Start him with a smile. Start him with a smile. Yeah, full confidence on time. Smiles are free. I love the idea of starting time Montgomery.

But I'm going to pick an old man who I'd start over Ty Montgomery. What? Yes. Frank Gore? Well, don't you put that evil on me? No, I'm talking about my... He would start him over Ty Montgomery? Well, I'm talking about my number five ranked running back this week. And that is Frank Gore? No, Sean Lynch. Look, Marshaun Lynch looked...

Good last week. His fantasy day was nothing, you know, overtly special. But when you watch the film, how did Marchand look to you guys? He looked outstanding. He looked like the old Marchand. He's got the great offensive line. They are at home. There are 14 point favorites against the Jets. I'm calling for the double touchdown from Marshaun Lynch this week. Love it. I think a touchdown is a virtual guarantee. He is a must start against the Jets at home. And that's.

That says nothing. Like, I am not buying into the narrative thing. That's all based on what I just said. However, there is still the narrative. This is his first Oakland Raider home game. We're going to this way? No, I'm, that was, I mean, when I, when I looked and made this start of the week, it was based on the fact that Oakland has the highest expected point total from Vegas for a home team. And I'm like, well, I love running backs in a plus.

home situation oh now i see why because the jets you're going to be able to score and then after all that it dawned on me i was like oh my goodness this is beast mode at oakland for the first real time for a team that passed 50% on first down a down in which marshal lynch always owned in seattle he still had 18 carries in week one so that's impressive to me 18 carries in a game you were winning uh or or that was competitive and a team that passed 50% on first down

Very impressed with Marshall Lynch. I love that start this week. Mike, who's your running back start of the week? My running back start of the week, James White. I love the matchup. You get the Patriots in a high-scoring game with the Saints. Last week, James White had a near 14% target share. He was identical with Chris Hogan. He's going to get targets. And here was the interesting thing.

He had 33% of the carries, of the running back carries. I mean, that's not what you expected when James White started the season. It looks like the Patriots are going to roll with Gillisly and James White. And Burke is just going to, every once in a while, happen to get on and get a snap or two. But White and Gilsey are going to be the predominant running backs. And I just saw I want a piece of that action. So I'm.

Very confident playing James White. The way you're talking about James White seems to extend beyond this week. That is very correct. Okay. Mike, why don't you give us your wide receiver start of the week? Yeah, you're doubling up. Mr. Mix a lot. Kelvin Benjamin. I like, I liked his matchup as well. He should see E.J. Gaines. He got banged up last week. But here's the thing. Calvin Benjamin has a six inch 50 pound advantage if E.J. Gaines is the one who is predominantly covering him.