Week 2 Top Performers At Each Position

Another week, and of course there were some injuries. Tony Romo left the game Sunday with a fractured clavicle. This is an injury that could keep him out for over half of the season, and is quite a blow to his owners, as well as people who own other Cowboys. But wait we aren't done with just the Romo injury, as there was one that happened to a bigger name. Eddie Lacy left the game Sunday night with an ankle injury. As of writing this (Directly after the Sunday night game) we don't know what this means for him going forward. At least there were some good performances to help ease those injuries hopefully, or maybe just frustrate you more if you went against them. If you played against Travis Benjamin this week, I don't know if there is any consoling, as that is just crazy, but more on that below.

The goal of this article is to highlight those top guys, and if you can expect some similar performances in the future from them or if it was a flash-in-the-pan, and also whether you should be worried about top picks in drafts that put up less than stellar performances. So without rambling on longer in this intro, let's take a look at those who performed well in week 2.

QB - Ben Roethlisberger 369 Passing Yards, 3 TD's, 2 Two Point Conversions 30 Fantasy Points

The Steelers took this game right away, and never looked back. Big Ben always has these types of games, and more is sure to come. The one interesting note from this game is the fact that the Steelers went for 2 point conversions. I love the play calling idea from Mike Tomlin, both from a real life, and fantasy standpoint. I think this is a trend that can be sustained, and is exactly what the NFL was hoping could happen with moving back the extra points. Ben is a borderline top 5 QB the rest of the way, with some of the other top guys struggling early.

QB - Tom Brady 466 Passing Yards, 3 TD's, 28 Fantasy Points

Looks like I get to do another write up on Tom Brady. I really don't know what I can say about him that hasn't been said, but he is just amazing. I guess it helps having Gronk on your team, but even that alone isn't enough to do what Brady is doing. Top 3 QB the rest of the way, and is putting himself into the top QB conversation with Rodgers and Luck.

RB - DeAngelo Williams 20 Carries for 77 Yards and 3 TD's, 4 Catches for 15 Yards, 26 Fantasy Points

Well it was fun while it lasted. Even with a 3 TD performance, Williams will be relegated to a handcuff now. I guess it is for the best, as Le'Veon Bell is one of the best backs in the NFL, but it is sad to see Williams not get more run. Going forward you won't be starting him, but keep him for the chance that Bell could get hurt, in which case Williams becomes a top 20 back immediately.

RB - Matt Jones 19 Carries for 123 Yards and 2 TD's, 3 Catches for 23 Yards, 24 Fantasy Points

This was just remarkable. Jones went out and showed that he may be the most talented back in the Washington backfield. While I doubt you started him this week, it is a very good sign for later this season. I have been on the record stating how I don't believe Alfred Morris will have a good year, and if that is truly the case, Jones is more than capable of filling in for him and performing well. Jones is a guy who if on the waiver wire deserves to be picked up, but not started. I don't see Jones getting more than 50% of the carries the next few weeks, but by week 8, he could have the starting gig for himself.

WR - Larry Fitzgerald 9 Targets, 8 Receptions for 112 Yards and 3 TD's, 29 Fantasy Points

I don't think anyone is happier to have Carson Palmer back for this season than Larry Fitzgerald. What a difference a good QB can make to someone's fantasy value. It appears as though Palmer can actually get the ball to Fitzgerald in a spot to make a catch. I am tepidly optimistic though on Fitzgerald, but do think he can be a borderline top 25 guy the rest of the way with his teammate John Brown. I still think Brown is the guy to own the rest of the way, but it is close.

WR - Travis Benjamin 4 Targets, 3 Receptions for 115 Yards and 2 TD's, 1 Punt Return TD, 29 Fantasy Points

Okay really Travis Benjamin? You just had to go out and score not one, not two, but three TD's! I can't explain how this happened. Johnny Manziel does throw a nice deep ball, that isn't in question, it has been the decision making mainly. I can't go and recommend you starting Benjamin next week, as at some point he can't just catch long TD passes. Oh and he added that Punt Return for good measure as well. If you have a roster spot that you would like to use a flier on, Benjamin is a nice person to fill that spot. My guess is that he just won't be starting material at any point this year, but hey I could be wrong about him and Manziel.

TE - Crockett Gillmore 6 Targets, 5 Receptions for 88 Yards and 2 TD's, 20 Fantasy Points

Amazing things can happen when you play against the Raiders defense. Freed from playing against a tough Broncos defense, the Ravens offense looked good, and that is because of Flacco and Gillmore. Before the season it was tough to think one TE from the Ravens had the upper hand, but signs pointed to rookie Maxx Williams potentially being that guy, not Gillmore. I don't think a performance like this can be expected at any point the rest of the season for Gillmore, but a top 15 TE is certainly possible. I have other TE's I like more than him that could be free agents, but you could do worse. He is third in the target pecking order on the team, and I think he could fall to fourth if they use Forsett more as a receiver going forward. It was a good performance that warrants monitoring his status going forward.

TE - Rob Gronkowski 13 Targets, 7 Receptions for 113 Yards and 1 TD, 17 Fantasy Points

Another week, another time for Gronk. Don't worry I will just reserve your spot on this list for the rest of the year. Is that cool with you? Can you go out and get 20+ TD's for me as well? That would be awesome if you could man. Wait why I am I writing this like Gronk is going to read this? I guess this is going to be the start of me trying to find something new to write about Gronkowski every week. Get yourselves ready folks for more of these fun blurbs going forward.

TE - Anthony Fasano 7 Targets, 5 Receptions for 84 Yards and 1 TD, 14 Fantasy Points

This performance is much about Fasano, but the guy he was filling in for. Delaine Walker gets a nice boost to his value without even playing in this game. When he comes back healthy, he will be the TE, not Fasano. He did a nice job filling in, but this is Walker's job. Mariota looked for Fasano in the game, and that will be Walker next week. Walker is a top 10 guy going forward, and in weeks where he is hurt, Fasano can be considered as a spot starter for you.

Now a look at a couple of other performances that stood out to me from Sunday's games:

QB - Drew Brees 255 Passing Yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 12 Fantasy Points

Well Brees kind of killed some of my DFS lineups. I thought a matchup with the Bucs defense could cure all problems, but boy was I wrong. He just looks like he doesn't have it anymore. I am worried about him, and his pass catchers going forward. In the preseason I still was optimistic about Brees, and liked Cooks. I am now starting to back off of those only 2 weeks into the season. Sure it may be an overreaction, but he just hasn't looked good. You are still going to start him next week, unless you have someone on your waiver wire like a Carson Palmer, highly doubtful, so for now just hope he figures it out.

RB - Dion Lewis 7 Carries for 40 Yards and 1 TD, 6 Receptions for 98 Yards, 17 Fantasy Points

We have found the Shane Vereen successor it appears. He was on the field for 70 of the Patriots snaps on Sunday, and looked good. Going forward he will start to lose snaps to LeGarrette Blount, but even so, I don't think his touches will diminish all that much. I expect him to get 5-7 receptions a game, and around 5-7 carries. Even with limited touches, he can be a useful FLEX option, or emergency RB2 in bye weeks, and if injuries occur.

RB - C.J. Anderson 12 Carries for 27 Yards, 1 Catches for 2 Yards, 2 Fantasy Points

Please don't tell me you are going to go Montee Ball on us Anderson. We saw what you are capable of last year. I hope it is just the nagging foot injury slowing him down on a short week, but that may not be the case. That is only one of the two concerns I have for him going forward. The other concern is with the offensive line. The line looked bad on Thursday night, as they didn't open up any holes for him to break big gains. I hope that the extended break will help take care of the first problem. Starting him next week is all dependent on who your other backs are, but this may need to be a case where he needs to show he is healthy before making it back into one of my lineups.

WR - Marvin Jones 5 Targets, 2 Receptions for 48 Yards and 1 TD, 10 Fantasy Points

Keep your eyes on Marvin Jones. Two years ago this guy had double digit TD's. This year, while unlikely he reaches that mark, could put up serviceable WR3 numbers later on in the year. He was on the field for 63% of plays in the first week, and as long as they get him on the field more going forward compared to Sanu, he has some nice upside. Stash if you have room, otherwise keep a close eye on him in the coming weeks.

Want thoughts on a specific player?  Leave a comment on who it is, and I will respond with my thoughts on that guy's performance and where he stands going forward.