NFL QB COACH – Week 2, 2015

WEEK 2

* Quarterbacks listed by passing attempts.

ELITE OPTIONS

Luck completed just 10-of-25 passes with two picks when he was blitzed in Week 1. The blitz doesn’t usually bring him much trouble, but in this case it did as the Colts’ offensive line is a bit shaky. A matchup without Ty Hilton and against the Jets is a stiff early season test.

Big Ben faces a Niners club that confused and held down the Vikings in Week 1. The Steelers miss Martavis Bryant, but they will likely continue to throw the ball a lot with Le’Veon Bell out one more week.

Brees takes on a Bucs squad that was destroyed by Mariota last week. What do you think a seasoned pro like Brees will be able to do?

Rodgers threw for three scores in Week 1 but he failed to hit 200-yards. He faces a more difficult matchup in Week 2 than the Bears with the Seahawks on the other side of the field.

Ryan just keep throwing the ball to Julio Jones in Week 1, and Roddy White looked pretty spry as well. The result was 298 yards and two scores. Still, there were a couple of terrible reads by Ryan that are concerning, though we did see Romo light up the Giants suspect D in Week 1.

Brady threw for 288 yards and four scores in Week 1. He looked like the Tom of old. The Bills did flummox Luck in Week 1 and they are a tough bunch. Oh, and I loved this Brady South Park reference. 

Romo will be without Dez Bryant and that’s a significant loss indeed. Romo threw for 356 yards and three scores in Week 1 and with the Eagles pushing the offense on the other side, Romo is bound to throw the ball frequently this week.

SOLID PLAYS

Bradford tweaked his ankle, though he should be OK. He threw two picks in Week 1 and his 6.5 YPA mark was certainly influenced by all the short passes he threw. Overall, a solid first effort though.

Eli faces a Falcons clubs that was burned a bit by Bradford in Week 1. The Falcons couldn’t keep up with the pace, and Eli will be looking to improve upon a poor Week 1 effort. Note that Eli has thrown just three picks his last seven starts.

Peyton Manning looked bad in Week 1. He has a short week. He faces a solid Chiefs defense in Week 2.

Rivers threw for 400-yards in Week 1. The Bengals held the Raiders to 183 passing yards, but that’s the Raiders. Rivers should still be able to move the ball through the air in Week 2 with the wily veteran under center.

Wilson threw a career-high 41 passes in Week 1 and he still managed only 251 passing yards. He also threw for a score and was picked. He ran eight times for 31 yards. Overall his effort was very middling. He goes on the road to Lambo.

Palmer threw for 300/3 and looked sharp in doing it. Another week of health for Michael Floyd should help, and with Andre Ellington out it’s unlikely we’ll see the Cardinals reign in the pass attempts.

Tannehill was decent in Week 1 and faces a Jags club that really made Newton look bad. Of course, the Panthers passing attack is spotty so it’s not fair to judge the Jags based on that one effort. That’s still not an elite unit.

Stafford’s arm is ok and he will be able to play in Week 2 after taking a hit from Melvin Ingram. Stafford has always excelled at home passing for 292 yards a game and in one more game at home than on the road he’s thrown 13 more passing scores.

Dalton was sharp in Week 1 (269 yards, two scores). The Chargers were mid-level in Week 1 in fantasy points allowed to the QB and are a moderate unit.

Smith lit up the Texans for three scores. He also didn’t hit 250 yards passing, still can’t get a score to a wideout, and great benefited from the Texans making some spotty reads defensively. Not as good as he looked in Week 1. Hope you know that.

Newton has no one to throw to. Week 1 confirmed that. He was forced to carry the ball 14 times in Week 1. He won’t last 16 games doing that.

Mariota threw just 16 passes in his masterful Week 1 effort. That’s simply not enough to go on in terms of predicting a ROY season for Marcus. The Titans faces the Browns, and that defense is not necessarily a top level unit and they allowed two passing scores in Week 1.

RISKY PLAYS

Flacco threw for 117 yards, no scores and two picks in one of his worst efforts in recent memory. Steve Smith couldn’t get anything going and the team desperately needs Breshad Perriman. Oakland’s defense didn’t look sharp in Week 1 but neither did Flacco.

Kaepernick looked pretty poised in Week 1 but didn’t throw a score or reach 170 passing yards. He takes on a Steelers club that was annihilated by Brady for four scores in Week 1.

Foles threw for nearly 300-yards in Week 1 and faces a Redskins team that isn’t strong against the pass. Still, with Brian Quick being a healthy scratch in Week 1 how can you trust this passing attack?

Cutler faces a Saints club that allowed more than 300 passing yards and three scores against the Cardinals in Week 1. Alshon Jeffery didn’t look at his best in Week 1, ditto Eddie Royal. Until they are full healthy Cutler isn’t a trustworthy option.

Fitzpatrick threw for two scores in Week 1 but he also tossed the pigskin just 24 times for a mere 179 yards. The Colts had solid numbers in Week 1 against the Bills, but they weren’t challenged at all in that one by Taylor.

Taylor was extremely efficient in Week 1 completing 74 percent of his 19 passes, but he only threw 19 passes, failed to reach 200 yards and produced just one score. The Pats were yardaged to death by Big Ben in Week 1, but they will likely scheme away in Week 2 and we don’t yet know how Taylor will handle that.

Bridgewater completed 20-of-32 passes for 231 yards. He also looked flustered at times, didn’t throw for a score, was picked off, and failed to get Charles Johnson involved against the Niners. He has a matchup against the Lions that he might be able to exploit, but he really didn’t look sharp in Week 1.

QUARTERBACKS TO AVOID

Cousins threw two picks in Week 1 giving him 21 interceptions compared to 19 touchdowns for his career. He also fumbled though he didn’t lose it in Week 1. The Rams have a potentially fearsome front seven and are riding high after beating the Seahawks.

Winston was picked off twice in Week 1 while completing a mere 48.5 percent of his passes in a really poor first effort. After a poor preseason Mariota needs to be on benches until he proves worthy of inclusion on a starting roster.

McGloin/Carr – It sounds like Carr has a chance to play despite there being an issue with his hand. The Ravens lost Terrell Suggs which might limit their pass rush, but the Ravens did hold Peyton Manning to no scores and just 150 passing yards.

Manziel/McCown – Johnny Football appears likely to start against the Titans who picked off two passes in Week 1. It’s an easier matchup than the Jets in Week 1, but how could you possibly trust either Browns’ QB at this point?

Bortles averaged a sickly 4.6 yards per attempt against the Panthers and simply must attack the defense down the field before he can be considered even a solid QB2 option.

Mallett/Hoyer – Hoyer looked bad in Week 1 with Mallett coming on to look sharp in relief. It’s unknown who will start in Week 2, and without Arian Foster it’s simply not likely that the Texans will light it up through the air.