Giants Daily Blitz Blog

Week 2 Fantasy Grades

The views expressed in this article are not of the New York Football Giants but those of an independent Fantasy Expert.

Start

RB Trent Richardson

Week 2 vs. Bengals: 145 Total yards, 2 Td’s, 109 yards rushing, 36 yards receiving.

Richardson went off as expected in his week 2 match-up vs. Bengals. Eclipsing expectations, having both a rushing (32) and receiving (23) touchdown. Not only did he have two touchdowns, he surpassed the 100 yard rushing mark for the first time in his young and promising career. With Weeden finding his rhythm as well (322 yards, 2 td’s), Richardson’s production will only grow as the season moves forward.

Arrow: Up

WR Brandon LaFell

Week 2 vs. Saints: 6 catches, 90 yards receiving, 25 yards rushing

LaFell had yet another productive week.  Not only has LaFell showed he is a consistent weapon for the Panthers offense but a legitimate starter in a 2/3 wide receiver leagues.  His constant down field presence and Cam Newton’s trust in his play-making ability, finally has him as a vital piece to one of the most explosive offenses in the league.

Arrow: Up

TE Kyle Rudolph

Week 2 vs. Colts: 3 catches, 35 yards, TD

Rudolph started off with a real rough game, having only one catch for fifteen yards throughout the first three quarters.  He made up for his absence by catching the game tying touchdown pass, late in the fourth. Though it wasn’t a Rob Gronkowski or Jimmy Graham performance, Rudolph has held his own thus far this season and has proven he is a reliable option in the red-zone for the Vikings and will continue to be throughout the 2012 season.

Arrow: Up

RB Donald Brown

Week 2 vs. Vikings: 16 carries, 46 yards rushing

Brown was the lone-loser this week in the start column. Right when it seemed destined  he was going to break out, he didn’t.  Brown’s consistency has been a problem his whole career and it continued last Sunday in Indianapolis.  Hopefully he’ll find the path, sooner than later.

Arrow: Down

Top Defense: Houston Texans

Houston lived up to its dominating defense, as they manhandled the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Holding the Jaguars to just 117 total yards on offense, one score, recovering a fumble and had recorded three sacks on Blaine Gabbert (who was knocked out of the game).

Arrow: Up

Bench

Joe Flacco

Week 2 vs. Eagles : 228 passing yards, 1 TD, 2 turnovers

Flacco has been hearing a lot of praise for his recent play and rightfully so.  Sunday in Philly, he came back to earth and put together a week where fantasy owners were used to seeing in previous years. Though Flacco didn’t completely have that abysmal of a game, it definitely wasn’t worthy of a start.

Arrow: Up

Jason Witten

Week 2 vs. Seahawks: 4 catches, 58 yards

Witten is getting healthier, as was shown in the game vs. Seattle.  He had 10 targets throughout the contest, compared to his 3 he had vs. Giants in week 1.  Tony Romo’s  most reliable target looks to be healthy again and ready to contribute on a high level that he’s grown accustom too.  Though he showed progress last weekend to start him this weekend, he was still a dud for the week.

Arrow: Up

49ers Defense

Week 2 vs. Lions

San Francisco defense was stout all night in a football perspective, holding the Lions high powered offense to three field goals and one score.  Though, they still gave up 19 points and were below the average when comparing to other defenses this past weekend.  As the Niners move on to play the untested Minnesota Vikings, their defense should get back to be a top 5 performer, weekly.

Arrow: Up

Pierre Garçon

Week 2 vs. Rams

There’s not too much to evaluate here, except that he didn’t play, so hopefully he was on your bench regardless.   Garçon’s presence was definitely missed as Robert  Griffin III was held to just 208 yards passing, compared to his 320 ( 109 from Pierre) he had last week. After this past week-off, Garcon should be ready to get back to work and contribute to one of the most surprising teams in the National Football Conference.

Arrow: Even

Top Free Agent Pick-Ups

Andre Brown, RB Giants

Week 2 vs. Buccaneers: 13 carries, 71 rushing yards TD, 19 receiving yards

Brown played extremely well when Bradshaw went down with a neck injury. Almost as if he was doing it for years, Brown stepped in as a veteran running back does and ran well.  Bradshaw looks to be a be a game-time decision, but with the game only few days away, Brown’s chance of starting or at the very least bit, contributing in a positive way, seem to be more and more of a probability.

Donnie Avery, WR Colts

Week 2 vs. Vikings: 9 catches, 111 receiving yards

Avery does it again, getting over 110 yards and 9 catches (career-high), after a week 1 performance where had 37 yards and a touchdown catch and was targeted 8 times .  He looked like the old Avery in St.Louis from a few years ago and seems to of found his long lost stride.

Brian Hartline, WR Dolphins

Week 2 vs. Raiders: 9 catches, 111 receiving yards

Hartline has solidified himself as the Dolphins no.1 receiver as well as Ryan Tannehill’s favorite new target.  The two seem to have an uncanny connection where both know when to go back shoulder or when to turn it up field.  Rejoice Miami, you have a receiver.

Scott Chandler, TE Bills

Week 2 vs. Chiefs: 2 catches, 53 yards, TD

For the second straight week, Chandler is at it again with a receiving touchdown.  This was a pattern that the massive 6’7 tight end is used to seeing, starting with at least one touchdown in the first 3 games of last season, totaling, four touchdowns and six touchdowns all of last year.

Brandon Gibson, WR Rams

Week 2 vs. Redskins: 2 catches, 53 yards, TD

Gibson added on to his quick week 1 start of the season by catching another touchdown pass from Rams Quarterback, Sam Bradford.  With Danny Amendola commanding a lot of attention with all the targets headed his way (15 catches, 160 yards, TD vs. Redskins), Gibson (6 catches,104 yards, 2 Td’s in 2012) will be open for those scrappy 30-40 yard bombs, when the other part of the field is drawing double coverage. Gibson is a hit or miss type of player, right now he’s hitting.