Welcome to the 2016 Fantasy Alarm Fantasy Football Game Recaps! Nobody watches more NFL football than yours truly mostly because it is impossible to do so. Each week I’ll open up my notepad to all of our Fantasy Alarm readers so that you guys can go beyond the boxscore to get the information you need to win your league.
Nothing ever goes exactly like we think which is why we love watching and reacting to these games so much. I am still reeling from the Chargers beating the heck out of the Jaguars which really is the only thing that happened this week that makes me question everything I thought about football. Of course, that wasn’t all that I saw or that we learned this week but for the rest you are going to have to read further.
If you missed a little chances are that you missed a lot. But have no fear because I’ll break down everything for you right here.
Here are the Week 2 Fantasy Football Game Recaps:
16 – Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers – 24
Fantasy Player of Game: DeAngelo Williams, RB, Steelers - 32-94 yards rushing; 4-38-1 receiving
Fantasy Disappointment: A.J. Green, WR, Bengals - 2-38 receiving
This game was played in a strong rain storm pretty much throughout making it difficult for the downfield passing game for each team. This led to some disappointing numbers for players like A.J. Green and even Antonio Brown today.
The Bengals staged a furious comeback and got within one score with 3:25 remaining but had their final drive end with a Tyler Boyd fumble after being hit by James Harrison.
Gio Bernard is one of those RB’s I hate to own. I already know that his name will be brought up 100 times this week on waivers, trades and to start/sit but I will tell you know that I am not buying. He is 100% game flow dependent and unless you know the Bengals will be playing from behind all game, Gio has to be on the bench.
Andy Dalton was walking around with the help of crutches after this game. He evidently suffered an ankle injury late in the ballgame and will need to be monitored throughout the week before he’s cleared to start against Denver next week.
This was Antonio Brown’s first game of less than 5-50 with Ben Roethlisberger as his QB since becoming full time starter at the beginning of the 2013 season.
Steelers TE Jesse James third quarter 9 yard TD reception was a pass that was actually intended for Antonio Brown in the back of the endzone but James pluked it away from the triple coverage for a TD.
I am intrigued by Sammie Coates but this performance doesn’t do anything to instill confidence in him from my point of view. With Markus Wheaton likely back next week I am not going to be buying on Coates at this given point in time.
16 – Tennessee Titans at Detroit Lions – 15
Fantasy Player of Game: Delanie Walker, TE, Titans – 6-83-1 receiving
Fantasy Disappointment: Golden Tate, WR, Lions – 2-13 receiving
The Lions had this game in hand until a couple of fourth quarter mistakes including a Matt Stafford interception turned the game around.
Eric Ebron and Anquan Boldin had back to back touchdowns called back in the third quarter of this game due to penalties. It’s the first time I can remember consecutive scoring plays being nullified by penalties in all my years watching football. Boldin also had a 24 yard reception called back after a penalty in this game a week after he lost a 30 yard catch as well.
The Lions were destroyed by injuries today. At the end of this game they were down to just two healthy linebackers after Kyle Van Noy left with an injury. The only two LB bodies they had at the end were Tahir Whitehead and newly signed Thurston Armbrister.
The Lions also lost Ziggy Ansah early on in this game due to a an ankle injury.
Ameer Abdullah left the game with a left leg injury as well leaving Theo Riddick to take on most of the RB slack in the second half.
I am not impressed with Marcus Mariota so far this year. I know he had the comeback today but he played like hot garbage most of the way including being scared to take a hit on a would be first down scramble.
Ryan Succop’s missed FG early on seem to take a lot of steam out of the Titans offense in the first half.
27 – Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins – 23
Fantasy Player of Game: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys – 21-83-1 rushing
Fantasy Disappointment: DeSean Jackson, WR, Redskins – 3-40 receiving
Dak Prescott is the most impressive rookie QB that I’ve seen since Andrew Luck. This has nothing to do with fantasy, so save your list of players who technically may have had better two game starts. This kid has a real future in this league.
If Alfred Morris wasn’t going to touch the ball more than five times against his former team, then it just isn’t going to happen. Consider Ezekiel Elliott the full fledged feature back here in Dallas.
It was Elliott however that fumbled the ball away late in this game giving the Redskins a chance to win it at the end. Lucky for him that Kirk Cousins wasn’t going to let Dallas give this game away.
The Redskins did indeed move CB Josh Norman around the field and had him shadow Dez Bryant after Bryant started to feast off of Bashaud Breeland while lining up on the right side. Norman caused the Elliott fumble and also disrupted a couple more passes that would have been first downs for the Cowboys late in the game.
Every year there is an underdog team and players that captures us all by surprise and plays well above its head. Last year that was the Washington Redskins and Kirk Cousins. Both are crashing to earth this season although Cousins is actually putting up similar numbers compared to where he was a year ago.
Josh Doctson’s 58 yard catch was a completely busted play so please don’t read into it that much and overvalue him on the waiver wire. There is no value here as he’s easily the fifth or sixth option at best on a very mediocre offense.
The Redskins lost nose tackle Kedric Golston on the first play of the game when he was carted off due to an injured right hamstring.
13 – New Orleans Saints at New York Giants – 16
Fantasy Player of Game: Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants – 8-117 receiving
Fantasy Disappointment: Mark Ingram, RB, Saints – 9-30 rushing
This game was a terrible disappointment for fantasy purposes today. We have to remember that the Saints offense is really an entirely different team on the road then they are in the dome.
The Saints lost safety P.J. Williams early on when he was carted off on a stretcher after having his head/neck run over by his teammate. Its always a scare situation watching these incidents but helps us maintain a perspective of just how tough of a game this really is.
Willie Snead left this game right before halftime with what appeared to be either a stinger or possible concussion. He returned a little ways through the third quarter and actually caught his TD pass right after that so it appears as though he is OK.
Saints RT Zach Strief left the game due to a chest injury.
It was a great afternoon for Victor Cruz but it could have been even better. Cruz had a nifty 40 yard catch and run in which he was about to get into the endzone but had the ball knocked out of his hands while making his final move inside the five yard line.
Speaking of missed opportunities, Odell Beckham Jr. didn’t have a bad day by any means but it could have been a lot better. OBJ let a perfectly throw pass slip right through his hands while wide open in the endzone in the second half today. I am 100% serious when I say that this kid is better catching a football with one hand than with two. That isn’t a good thing by the way because he’s dropping more passes than he’s catching lately which is severely hampering his fantasy production.
27 – San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers – 46
Fantasy Player of Game: Cam Newton, QB, Panthers – 24-40, 353 yards, 4 TD passing; 6-37 yards rushing
Fantasy Disappointment: Carlos Hyde, RB, 49ers – 14-34 rushing
So much for Vegas odds as this was supposed to be one of the lower scoring games of the day and turned into the best for fantasy owners.
Carlos Hyde lost a fumble early on in this game and it really appeared as though the 49ers were hesitant to give him the ball after this. Of course, they were down by two scores already so that could have factored in as well.
As much as I like the two TD’s Vance McDonald has right now, it’d be foolish to not be concerned over his lack of targets and receptions thus far. McDonald has just three receptions for 89 yards on the season which included his two TD’s.
Ted Ginn had a touchdown reception nullified after the review showed that his foot was indeed out of bounds.
Ginn also botched a kickoff return in which he let the ball fall short then tried to grab it only to be hit and have the ball recovered by the 49ers at the Panthers one yard line. Blaine Gabbert snuck the ball in on the next play.
Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart came into the game with an ankle injury but was well enough to give it a go. After just two series he left the game for good with what is being called a hamstring injury. Head coach Ron Rivera expressed concern for Stewart after the game which cannot be good for his status for next week.
Stewart’s replacement was Fozzy Whittaker who actually did a pretty good job this afternoon. Whittaker however also left the game at one point due to a concussion test but he did return later on. I am not racing to pick up Whittaker and instead might be interested in second year RB Cameron Artis-Payne who in my opinion is a much better option if Stewart were to be out for an extended period of time.
24 – Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots – 31
Fantasy Player of Game: Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Patriots – 18-27, 234 yards, 3 TD’s
Fantasy Disappointment: James White, RB, Patriots – 4-19 rushing
Arian Foster went down with what I believe is his 11th groin injury of his career. He also happened to exit the game when the score was 24-0 so either he is really hurt or not wanting to give it a go when his team is down. Either way you don’t need that on your fantasy team.
I love seeing Kenyan Drake get that TD run today. He’s still likely the RB3 behind Foster and Ajayi but after the crap that Ajayi pulled last week with pouting over his role, I wouldn’t doubt of Drake was moved up fast. Ajayi’s fumble may have been the beginning of the end of him here in Miami.
Dolphins linebacker Spencer Paysinger was taken off the field with a neck injury and did not return.
I’ve been saying for weeks that Danny Amendola is actually ahead of Chris Hogan on the Patriots depth chart and the healthier he gets the less time it means for Hogan. I strongly feel that neither of these guys should be counted on for anything in fantasy as this Patriots WR situation is just too volatile.
Jimmy Garoppolo was knocked out of this game in the first half after leading the Patriots to three consecutive TD drives due to a left shoulder injury. The rumors are that he has an AC join sprain and could miss up to six weeks. Rookie QB Jacoby Brissett came on in relief for Garoppolo and was just fine managing the offense. He will start if Jimmy misses the next two weeks.
Patriots fans have a decision to make. Either players like Matt Cassel, Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett are great players or Tom Brady probably isn’t as great as you think that he is. He is still a hall of fame player for sure, but there are a number of other QB’s who when they are out, their team suffers significant drop off in QB performance.
12 – Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans – 19
Fantasy Player of Game: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans – 7-113-1 receiving
Fantasy Disappointment: Alex Smith, QB, Chiefs – 20-37, 186 yards passing
Spencer Ware came back down to earth a bit today but he could have had a better outing if he hadn’t have fumbled late in the first quarter that led to a Texans field goal. Charcandrick West got the next two series before Ware re-entered the game.
The split between Ware and West will be irrelevant though since Jamaal Charles is widely expected to make his 2016 debut next week against the Jets.
Tyreek Hill could be the fastest player in the NFL. He had a 102 yard kickoff return for a TD that was nullified due to a holding penalty in the fourth quarter today. The penalty literally took the wind out of the Chiefs sails.
J.J. Watt is getting most of the credit but I assure you that this Texans defensive output was a team effort. I am real impressed with Jadaveon Clowney who almost had himself a pick six on a screen pass today. He was in the backfield literally as the snap came in and was on point in deflecting the ball away from Spencer Ware.
Here is the deal, folks. Do you like Brock Osweiler as a fantasy QB? You’re probably going to say no. Do you like DeAndre Hopkins as a fantasy WR? You’re going to say yes or I will use my elbow to knock out your eyeballs. Do you like Lamar Miller as a fantasy RB? About 65% of you will say yes to this as well. So, can a QB that you don’t like make two WR’s put up fantasy worthy numbers on a consistent basis? All while the running game is also a steady fantasy producer? In other words, Will Fuller is going to crash down to earth and the fall could be real hard. Be careful..
Texans WR Braxton Miller left the game with a hamstring injury and did not return. He will have an MRI on Monday and his status will be updated later in the week.
25 – Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns – 20
Fantasy Player of Game: Corey Coleman, WR, Browns – 5-104-2 receiving
Fantasy Disappointment: Justin Forsett, RB, Ravens – 14-37 rushing
This game was decided really on one seemingly meaningless play in the first quarter. After Corey Coleman’s second TD of the game the Browns were cruising and about to go up 21-0 on the lifeless Ravens. But then Patrick Murray’s extra point attempt was blocked and returned for the very first ever NFL defensive two point conversion. Sure a 20-2 score is still a lopsided tally but this play gave the Ravens life and allowed them to win the game with field goals instead of having to punch in that third TD.
The Ravens WR Chris Moore had quite an interesting day. First off he drops an easy TD reception when he was wide open in the first quarter. Then later on he has a 25 yard TD reception that got nullified due to a holding penalty in the fourth quarter.
Well its clear that Kamar Aiken is the forgotten man in Baltimore now. He is playing behind not only Mike Wallace and Steve Smith but second year guy Breshad Perriman. Aiken has no value right now in leagues of twelve or less.
For those that follow our DFS NFL Playbook and are Playbook PRO subscribers, you’re welcome. No, I didn’t expect Dennis Pitta to go off for 9-102 today when I put him in my Optimal Lineup but I’ll certainly take it. Flacco and Pitta have always had a good bond but injuries have derailed his career. Pitta is a must add in seasonal leagues this week.
Don’t go crazy over the first quarter these Browns had today. Isaiah Crowell had a total of 133 yards rushing today but 85 of those yards came on one run in which he wasn’t touched. That run was the second longest in Cleveland Browns history by the way. Take away that run and Crowell ran for 17 times for 48 yards or 2.8 yards per carry. Suddenly it’s not so impressive, right?
Browns QB Josh McCown also got out to a hot start today but that was quickly extinguished when he was driven into the ground injuring his left shoulder. McCown was taken to the lockerroom for X-rays but was allowed to come back in the game despite being in obvious pain. He just wasn’t the same after that injury.
Center Cameron Erving suffered a pulmonary contusion late in this game and had to be taken to the hospital via ambulance before the game was over. It was a pretty horrible sight-seeing a guy this big grabbing at his chest during the course of the game. Thankfully he will be alright after the bruised lung heals.
3 – Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams – 9
Fantasy Player of Game: Greg Zuerlein, PK, Rams – 3 Field Goals
Fantasy Disappointment: Literally Every Other Player
I really don’t know what to write about this game because out of my four pages of notes, I have nothing but “one of the worst games ever” written down.
As we speculated all week long, Russell Wilson’s sprained ankle limited his mobility which allowed this aggressive Rams defense to get to him non-stop. Wilson’s lack of mobility exposed just how bad this offensive line really is.
Thomas Rawls was having a miserable day until being knocked out with a leg contusion after just seven carries. Rawls will be reevaluated during the week and we’ll have to monitor his progress during the week.
Christine Michael fumbled the ball away in the closing moments of the game to seal the victory for the Rams.
The Rams defense only sacked Wilson twice but they were on him all day long. The Rams defense hit Wilson nine times, deflected five passes and managed seven tackles for loss this afternoon.
Don’t pay any attention to any of the Rams receivers especially Kenny Britt who may persuade someone to pick him up after his 6-94 effort today.
7 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arizona Cardinals – 40
Fantasy Player of Game: Carson Palmer, QB, Cardinals 18-31, 308 yards, 3 TD
Fantasy Disappointment: Jameis Winston, QB, 27-52, 243 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT
The Jameis Winston you saw in week one was not the real player. The Jameis Winston you saw today wasn’t the real player either. The truth is somewhere in the middle of these two performances is the real Jameis Winston, Quite frankly, that is not a player that I find very alluring for fantasy purposes.
Not only did the Buccaneers lose the game but they lost plenty of players as well.
TE Luke Stocker went down with an ankle injury early on and did not return. He was immediately followed by RB Doug Martin who was knocked out of the game with a hamstring injury. Martin stayed on the sidelines for most of the rest of the game.
Bucs DE Robert Ayers also left the game with an ankle injury and did not return. Lastly, newly signed WR Cecil Shorts went down with a hamstring injury and was not seen again.
David Johnson wasn’t needed much in this game but he still made quite an impact. DJ caught three passes for 98 yards in addition to his 12-45 on the ground. He didn’t have a TD but he barely played in the second half. Backup RB Chris Johnson showed he still has a spring to his step by rushing 16-54-1 this afternoon.
Anybody holding onto John Brown in fantasy football is simply chasing a ghost. Brown is an afterthought right now and is mixing in more with the likes of Jaron Brown than he is challenging Larry Fitzgerald or Michael Floyd for targets.
14 – Jacksonville Jaguars at San Diego Chargers – 38
Fantasy Player of Game: Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers – 17-24, 220 yards, 4 TD passing
Fantasy Disappointment: Allen Robinson, WR, Jaguars – 3-54 receiving
I was so incredibly wrong about this game. I really thought that the Jaguars would be able to manhandle the Chargers in just about every facet of the game. Somehow, the exact opposite happened. There is little question that the Jaguars have far superior talent so this result sits squarely upon the coaching staff. Gus Bradley is not the genius we thought after leading the Seahawks defense to dominance. He’s not been able to replicate any of that success here in north Florida and it is about time that a change is made here before these players rot.
The reason PPR scoring leagues are so stupid was on display in this game today. Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon was a complete non-factor in the game especially as a receiver. Yet, Yeldon is credited with a whopping eight catches in which he gained just 10 yards total. Yeldon’s 38 yards from scrimmage somehow awarded his owners 11.8 points today.
The Jaguars biggest loss of this game could very well be in the form of LT Kelvin Beachum who had to be put on a stretcher and carted off of the field after suffering a nasty head injury. Beachum was taken to a local hospital where he is being treated for a concussion.
Don’t expect me to shed any tears for Chargers RB Danny Woodhead who was carted off after suffering a knee injury today. Its not that I want any player to get hurt because I don’t. But when a 5’7” 175 lbs running back gets injured it really shouldn’t surprise anybody. Woodhead had an MRI on his knee on Sunday night and we should know more by Monday afternoon at the latest.
I really like this kid Tyrell Williams. I know that Travis Benjamin will receive all of the attention after his 6-115-2 performance today but Williams is the guy to own here in San Diego. Benjamin will have some big weeks but he will also likely be completely faded out at times as well.
The Chargers also lost safety Jaheel Addae due to a shoulder injury late in this game and did not return.
35 – Atlanta Falcons at Oakland Raiders – 28
Fantasy Player of Game: Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons – 26-34, 396 yards, 3 TD passing
Fantasy Disappointment: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Falcons – 3-19 receiving
The late TD by Tevin Coleman completely ruined what was otherwise a cut and dry backfield situation for the Falcons up to that point. Devonta Freeman had controlled the snaps and the touches up until late in this game when Coleman came in on passing situations. This is not an ideal situation for fantasy owners but Freeman is in fact still the guy to own here.
Tevin Coleman had one of his dropped passes actually go the Falcons way though today. A fourth quarter pass that hit Coleman in the chest bounced up and into the waiting arms of Justin Hardy who made the grab for an eight yard TD.
Falcons TE’s combined for 10-180-1 today which will not be a regular occurrence. So, don’t waste any of your time picking up the likes of Austin Hooper or Jacob Tamme this week because there is a very good chance that neither match their production from today in the next three weeks combined.
Amari Cooper had a 51 yard touchdown reception in this game but it was called back because replay showed that he had ran out of bounds before coming back in to make the catch and run. That catch sure would have looked nice on top of his 5-71 stat line.
Jalen Richard had himself another nice run of 29 yards that was called back due to a holding penalty today. It appears as though all of the Raiders RB’s are productive when given the opportunity. Right now the only one being given a real opportunity though is Latavius Murray.
20 – Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos – 34
Fantasy Player of Game: C.J. Anderson, RB, Broncos – 20-74-1 rushing
Fantasy Disappointment: Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Broncos – 3-39 receiving
I really don’t know what’s going on with the Colts and Dwayne Allen but Jack Doyle was the starter and played ahead of him most of this game. The team gave Allen $30 million this offseason to be their full time TE and yet are having him split time with a nobody. I’m still interesting in Allen for the season but this is obviously troubling. My hope is that Allen and the Colts are hiding an injury and that it will get better as we move through the 2016 season.
The Colts were destroyed by injuries today. They came into the game without the services of Vontae Davis, Patrick Robinson and T.J. Green. Then they lost CB Antonio Cromartie to a shoulder injury and CB Rashaan Melvin to cramps.
The offense also took a hit when WR Donte Moncrief left the game in the second quarter with a shoulder/neck injury. He did not return and is said to be going for further testing on Monday.
Brandon McManus missed on his first field goal attempt today, a 54 yard attempt but then got right by connecting on each of his next four tries.
Von Miller is a wrecking crew but other than him and maybe Aqib Talib this Broncos defense is nothing to fear really. This is a much different looking squad than the one that won the Super Bowl a year ago.
That Broncos defense took a big hit when OLB DeMarcus Ware suffered a fractured right arm that will require surgery. He is out indefinitely.
They also lost starting RT Donald Stephenson and TE Virgil Green due to calf injuries.
14 – Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – 17
Fantasy Player of Game: Stefon Diggs, WR, Vikings – 9-182-1 receiving
Fantasy Disappointment: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers – 20-36, 213 yards 1 TD, 1 INT
The Packers have played their first two games of the season on the road for the first time since 1924. No, that is not a misprint. How in the world can a team never have back to back road games to start the season? No idea.
During the Sunday night broadcast, Chris Collinsworth started suggesting the thing that I’ve been saying for over a year about Aaron Rodgers. He has become wildly inaccurate in stretches and has a tendency of missing way high to his receivers even when they are open.
Davante Adams had a fumble on his first reception of the game and although the ball was briefly recovered by the Vikings, they lost it themselves and it wound up in the hands of Randall Cobb. The Packers dodged that bullet big time.
The Packers lost DT Letroy Guion with a knee injury late in the first half. He did not return.
The big news for the Vikings is the knee injury to Adrian Peterson. There have been conflicting reports on just how bad the injury is and how much time Peterson will miss. This could be anything from a handful of games to the entire season. I hate to say it but Peterson has looked awful this season and one has to wonder if that is just bad luck or whether he has actually lost the ability to get free. We will know more on Monday. Jerick McKinnon would be the Vikings RB to own if Peterson misses significant time.
I have not been quiet about my hatred for Stefon Diggs both last year and going into the 2016 season. But I have to admit that I really like him with Sam Bradford here. Bradford is a major upgrade over Teddy Bridgewater and even though I don’t expect a performance out of him like this every week, I think Diggs might now be a lower end WR3 moving forward.
The Vikings lost DE Danielle Hunter late in this game with a knee injury and he did not return.