Below is our Start and Bench Advice for Week 2 of the 2008 Fantasy Football season. Our "Who To Start & Who To Bench" advice is loaded with fantasy football player projections, fantasy analysis and straight up bold predictions.
Also, be sure to check out all of our updated Week 2 Player Projections, which are updated right up until kickoff. For previous Start Bench Advice, click here.
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What a stud this guy is. Michael Turner has a decent match-up against the Bucs this week. Tampa ranked 17th against the run last season and gave up over 100 rushing yards on Sunday against the Saints. Steven Jackson could struggle again in Week 2 against a very tough Giants defense, so roll with the running back who currently ranks No. 1 in your league after one week of action. The No. 1 ranked running back after Week 1 — I sure like the sound of that! |
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I have to go with Michael Turner with this one. It sure is hard to sit a guy like Steven Jackson, but the Rams are awful this year and that Giants defense is a tough match-up. Marc Bulger is going to struggle this weekend and the Rams should be down big entering the third and fourth quarters. That means little running for S-Jax in the second half. I say start Turner and expect 90+ rushing and a touchdown. |
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Neither matchup is a great draw for these runners, and neither team has a great offensive line. That said, you can’t bench Michael Turner after his week one performance, so I’d stay with the hot hand here. Don’t expect another monster week like he had against Detroit, but I think it’s a safe bet to put the “Burner” down for 100 yards and a touchdown. I will say this however – if you play in a PPR league no one would blame you for putting Steven Jackson in your lineup over Turner. |
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Both running backs have really good match-ups this week. The Bengals just let the Ravens run for 229 yards and 2TDs (proof that Cam Cameron is going to deliver for Willis McGahee owners in 2008)… and the Packers just gave up over 180 yards on the ground to the Vikings last week, 103 yards and a score by way of Adrian Peterson alone. With this on, I believe you have to go with the more talented runner. I say start Chris Johnson and don’t look back. The guy has more than just 4.24 speed, he is a talent and the Titans know it. They even gave him the surprise start in Week 1 and boy did he deliver (93/34/1). Expect more than a 100 total yards out of Johnson in Week 2 and expect at least one touchdown. Smith should still do well against that Packers rushing defense this weekend, but there is no way I bench Johnson over Smith. Not this week, not next week. Not any week. |
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Wow this is actually a tough call because I like both rookie running backs this year. I think Chris Johnson is the safer bet because the team seems to get him involved in both the rushing and passing game, so no matter how the game is going, Johnson should be heavily involved. Johnson should rush for around 90 yards again this week, just like he did last week, and he has a good chance of scoring. Kevin Smith could get the same 90 yards, but I don’t see him finding the end zone. |
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Both of these rookie runners had great starts to their careers last weekend, but Chris Johnson is a better play this weekend and should be the one in your lineup. The Bengals, who have never been known for stout defense, gave up 220+ yards on the ground to a mishmash of Baltimore runners in their opener. Even sloooow Joe Flacco ripped off a 37 yard run for a TD, so can you imagine what a speedster like Johnson will be able to do? Pencil Johnson in for 125 total yards, 5 catches, and a touchdown against the imploding Bengals. |
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Aaron Rodgers played well in Week 1, I admit, but injury concerns are half the beef I have with this kid. It isn’t like I’m just blindly predicting injury with this one — The guy got banged up more than once back in Green Bay despite rarely every being called upon. I admit that he stepped up more than I expected in his first NFL start, and he showed flashes of talent in that Week 1 contest, but I still think that in the end he won’t workout as the long-term answer in Green Bay. Call it more of a gut instinct than anything else (that I admit). As for this start and bench decision… Derek Anderson is a top 5-7QB in 2008 — Rough match-up or not, it’s going to take more than a Rodgers type to get me to sit Anderson. Because he is capable of 300 and 3TDs during any given week, I wouldn’t sit the Browns’ quarterback for anyone but Petyon Manning, Tony Romo, Drew Brees or Ben Roethlisberger. I see Anderson throwing for 290 yards and 2-3TDs in Week 2 against a tough Steelers unit. |
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I go with Derek Anderson here even though Aaron Rodgers looked impressive last week. Both are good starts, but the Packers will probably run the football a lot against the Lions very bad Lions defense. Michael Turner just ran for 220 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions in Week 2. Start Anderson in Week 2 and count on 240 yards and 2TDs, one to Braylon Edwards and one to Kellen Winslow. |
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Last weekend, Derek Anderson and the whole Browns team had a tough day against the Cowboys, and I don’t think it gets any better against a tough Steelers defense. Aaron Rodgers, on the other hand, faces a Detroit team that is known for bad defense and lives to give up big yardage to the opposing team. With his first game jitters behind him, Rodgers is in a prime spot to put up some big numbers. I don’t want to overstate the case, but I think 300 yards and 3 TDs is a very likely stat line for him. |
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Update: The Texans-Ravens game has been postponed until November 9, so get all Texans and Ravens out of your line-up in Week 2. The Ravens just held Carson Palmer and the Bengals to 99 passing yards, so this is a no-brainer in my opinion. I love Andre Johnson this year, but if you’re lucky enough to have this dilemma (as I’d think one would still start both WRs no matter what), roll with Holmes. The Steelers deep-threat is going to be very underrated heading into Week 2, as some fantasy owners might be question his ability to be a top 10-12 fantasy wide receiver this year. Doubting him is a big mistake (hint to all you non-Holmes owners)! Expect Holmes to pull in 5 or so catches for 90-100 yards and 1TD. |
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Update: The Texans-Ravens game has been postponed until November 9, so get all Texans and Ravens out of your line-up in Week 2. I go with Holmes for sure. AJ is my boy this year, but the Ravens are still sick on defense and Chad struggled last week, which isn’t a good sign heading into this week’s match-up. AJ will usually get his no matter how Schaub is playing, but not this week. Holmes should be able to easily pull in 80 yards and a score in Week 2 against the Browns. |
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Update: The Texans-Ravens game has been postponed until November 9, so get all Texans and Ravens out of your line-up in Week 2. Santonio Holmes came into the season with high expectations, but had a tough opening day last week in catching only 2 passes for 19 yards. It’s not hard to predict he’ll have a much better game than that, but there’s no way I can consider starting him over Andre Johnson. Johnson is coming off a 10-catch game and is the centerpiece of that entire offense. Many will point to how effective the Ravens were in shutting down the Bengals passing offense last weekend, but sometimes you just have to put that stuff aside. Look back over the last two seasons and you’ll see AJ has hauled in 6 or more catches in 19 of his last 26 games – that’s a #1 wide receiver, and he’s not someone I can bench in good conscience. |
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DeSean Jackson gets the call here until Marc Bulger proves that he still has even an ounce of fantasy value left in the tank. I like Torry Holt this year and I think that he is very underrated, but that could change after another Week of nothing… he needs to get the football thrown in his direction in order to produce and the Rams don’t seem to get that. Don’t expect 6 catches for 106 yards out of Jackson again this week, but I see no reason he can’t match last week’s overall fantasy value by finding the end zone once and racking up at least 60 yards or so receiving. |
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DeSean Jackson. Any questions? |
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I’m a believer in DeSean Jackson and think he is just what the doctor ordered for Donovan McNabb and the Eagles. Conversely, based on what I saw out of the Rams last weekend, it is really hard to endorse anyone on that offense right now, even an immensely talented guy like Torry Holt. Easy call for me here as I would put Jackson in without hesitation even though I expect pedestrian numbers from him in this one – figure in the neighborhood of 5 catches for 75 yards. |
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Simple one. Lee Evans. The Bills stud was so underrated heading into this year and we warned everyone… many fantasy owners were stealing him left and right back in August. Well, Trent Edwards looks sharp and that entire Bills offense is as impressive as I expected. If his four catches for 102 yards weren’t impressive enough for you last weekend, enjoy watching Evans catch a 60+ touchdown bomb from Edwards in Week 2 against the Jags. |
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Not sold on either Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams this season. That situation is a mess and will probably continue to be a mess for most of the year. I take Lee Evans and expect about 75 and a score. The Bills could surprise in this game. |
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My normal mantra is to lean towards start the running back when faced with a flex position decision. Here, however, I find it hard to endorse Ronnie Brown after he touched the ball a mere nine times against the Jets last weekend. Hard to know if the Dolphins are throwing more by design, but I don’t want to risk a start by Brown until I find out, especially with him splitting time with Ricky Williams. Lee Evans is a lineup decision week in and week out, but I’ll take my chances with him this week against Jacksonville. My thinking is that Buffalo will have to throw to win this game, and I have a gut feeling the Bills will strike gold in this game with a TD bomb to Evans. He’s due. |
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Tough call. Matt Forte was extremely impressive in his first NFL start, but Ward is a forgotten fantasy man in 2008. He should continue to see the targets in Pittsburgh in 2008, even if Santonio Holmes starts to shine like we predict. I go with Ward and I expect 80 yards and a score in Week 2 against the Browns. Forte could still rush for about 70 yards or so, and has at least a decent shot at scoring in this one. |
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I go Matt Forte. I think Santonio Holmes will take back that production moving forward. Ward is a decent WR3 this year, but with Holmes ready to breakout, I don’t see Ward being very consistent this season. Forte should be good for 80 and a score against the Panthers this week. |
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I’m not on the Matt Forte bandwagon – yet. Call me crazy, but a big day on the ground against the Colts defense does not impress me – I’ll need to see that a few more times against better teams before I eat my words. Until then, I’ll take one of the most underrated fantasy wide receivers this season – Mr. Hines Ward. Last week he once again proved he’s the best WR the Steelers have, and I expect more of the same this weekend against the Browns. |
Updated Last: 9/10/08
Of course I’m expecting another big outing out of Michael Turner this week, as I said above… and I’m also expecting some of the big dogs to get back to scoring in this Week 2 of the 2008 fantasy season. Adrian Peterson should destroy that Colts rushing defense in Week 2. They give up insanely-long runs and I think AP is going to score at least twice in that match-up… he could also have roughly 150 total yards.
Derek Anderson and Braylon Edwards should get back to end zone celebrations in Week 2, despite facing a very tough Steelers team. I see Santonio Holmes and Chad Johnson both finding the end zone, along with some solid receiving numbers. Update: I had just had Marques Colston listed here as well, but the receiver is out 4-6 weeks after thumb surgery. Tough break.
Maurice Jones-Drew should bounce-back with authority in Week 2 against the rising Bills… and if Larry Johnson is going to prove doubters wrong in 2008, it should be this week against the Raiders.
I really like Brandon Jacobs this week against the Rams. The Giants should get off to a quick start and will likely pound the rock.
And finally, don’t be shocked if Michael Pittman once again steals all of Selvin Young’s thunder… oh wait, Selvin Young may not even be the starter by name anymore… That’s exactly why we suggested unloading Selvin while he still had starter-value. Now that ship has likely sailed. Congrats to those who listened and traded out of that Denver running back situation.
Player
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Match-Up |
Week 2 Projections |
QB Tarvaris Jackson |
vs. IND |
220 yards, 0TDs, 1 INT |
RB Adrian Peterson |
145 / 30 yards, 3TDs |
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RB Chester Taylor |
30 / 10 yards |
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WR Bernard Berrian |
4 rec, 42 yards |
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WR Sidney Rice |
4 rec, 45 yards |
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WR Bobby Wade |
1 rec, 12 yards |
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TE Visanthe Shiancoe |
2 rec, 88 yards |
Player
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Match-Up |
Week 2 Projections |
QB Peyton Manning |
@ MIN |
340 yards, 3TDs, 0 INTs |
RB Joseph Addai |
52 / 8 yards |
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RB Dominic Rhodes |
5 / 2 yards |
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WR Reggie Wayne |
6 rec, 110 yards, 2TDs |
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WR Marvin Harrison |
4 rec, 55 yards, 1TD |
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WR Anthony Gonzalez |
4 rec, 55 yards |
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TE Dallas Clark |
3 rec, 25 yards |
View All Week 2 Player Projections
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