Article by: Alex Hall
It’s Week 3 of the NFL season and if you’re fantasy team happens to share the same record as the Dallas Cowboys or Minnesota Vikings; you might be feeling a similar pressure to get that first victory of the season. Luckily for all of you 0-2 fantasy managers our there, I’ve come up with a list of players who should help you get that monkey off your back and finally get that illusive first win.
Lions RB Jahvid Best against the Minnesota Vikings
Yes I realize this isn’t exactly a no-brainer start, and yes Best is facing a very respectable and stingy Vikings defense lead by power rusher Jared Allen, but did you see how Best tore apart the Eagles defense last week? Not only did he rush for 78 yards, but also he had 154 receiving yards all in one game, which is an NFL record. The Vikings will probably stack the box against Best but he’s been nothing short of a fantasy stud in his first two games in the NFL. There are some players in fantasy that you start regardless of the match-up and regardless of the mediocre offense around them, and Jahvid Best is beginning to make an argument that he belongs on that short list.
Eagles QB Michael Vick against the Jacksonville Jaguars
I don’t know what Michael Vick is drinking these days, but whatever it is he’s partying like it’s the 2004 NFL season in his two games under center for Philly. There were rumblings during the pre-season that Vick was looking like his old self and it looks like there was some truth to that. Vick has posted three touchdowns and no interceptions in the season’s first two games, while rushing for 103 yards against the Packers in Week One, after starter Kevin Kolb went down with a concussion. Also, he’s facing a Jaguars defense that ranked 23rd in the league at the end of the 2009 season, and currently ranks 29th overall. Michael Vick has always been a fantasy football nerd’s dream quarterback; he can score you points in both passing and rushing categories at any given game. Expect him to post big rushing and passing numbers this week against the Jags mediocre defense.
Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw against the Tennessee Titans
It looks like the Giants coaching staff finally figured out what most of the NFL already knew: Ahmad Bradshaw is a better runner than Brandon Jacobs. Bradshaw has posted two solid games this season against the Panthers and Colts, rushing for a combined 165 yards. He also faces a Titans defense that ranked just above the Jags in overall defense last season. The drawback to Bradshaw has always been that Jacobs gets the goal-line carries for the Giants, but that hasn’t been the case this season seeing as how Jacobs has yet to score a touchdown. The fact that No. 27 is throwing temper tantrums and asking to be traded only helps reinforce the idea that Bradshaw will get the majority of the carries this week in the fancy new Giants Stadium.
Patriots WR Wes Welker against the Buffalo Bills
I know this is the second week I’m picking on the Bills, but Welker has earned the right to be one of those “must start” players I referenced earlier. In addition, Buffalo is a team Welker is plenty familiar with. Whether as a Dolphin, Charger or Patriot, Welker has played the Bills at least once every season he’s played in the NFL and has had many quality performances against them. The shifty wide out had 12 catches and 93 yards in the 2009 season opener. The big worry going into this season was that the former Texas Tech wide out wouldn’t heal right away from his nasty ACL/MCL tear he suffered against the Texans last season. Luckily, that’s not the case, as Welker has quickly put those worries to rest this season. Against the Bengals and Rex Ryan’s New York Jets, he has posted a combined 14 receptions and 3 touchdowns. Welker may be the Robin to Randy Moss’ Batman, but he’s one of Tom Brady’s favorite targets, which means he’ll get plenty of receptions and chances to reach the end zone this Sunday.
