We Were Right About, We Were Wrong About

September 14, 2008 at 6:52 pm | Article by Paul Hickey |

We Were Right About, We Were Wrong About Many of our off-season predictions are coming true folks. As we suspected, not only is it the year of the rookie RB, but Darren McFadden has taken the lead in the race, with more than 160 yards and a score in Week 2. LT looks like a flop, and Adrian Peterson remains solid. Many of our Week 2 specific predictions were spot on as well folks, as Aaron Rodgers led the way among QBs with 328 yards and three TDs.

We Were Right About…

Aaron Rodgers, Packers QB - We had Rodgers as a top three QB in all formats this week, believe it or not. The youngster had three QB tosses in the first half against the horrible Lions, proving we were right about him this week. Not only were we really high on him this off-season, but he’s looking like a legit starting option for the rest of the season, as he’s poised and has a ton of weapons around him. He finished with 328 yards, three scores and zero turnovers.

Greg Jennings, Packers WR - Jennings was sleeper WR recommendation of ours in all formats this week, due to his match-up against Detroit, and he responded, hauling in six passes for 167 yards. Jennings is one of the more solid underrated WRs in the NFL and will continue to be a solid WR2 option in all leagues. He hasn’t hit the end zone just yet, but that will happen very, very soon.

Donald Driver, Packers WR - Due to the cupcake match-up against the Lions, we highly recommended Driver as a sleeper WR3 in all formats this week, and he proved us right, recording seven catches for 52 yards and a score. The Packers have a tough but exciting match-up at home next week against the Cowboys.

Darren McFadden, Raiders RB - We told fantasy owners all off-season that Darren McFadden would be the very best in an extremely deep and talented class of rookie running backs this season, and after a less than spectacular performance in Week 1, he took a huge step in that direction in Week 2. McFadden racked up 164 yards and a score on 21 carries against the Chiefs. We recommended that many fantasy owners start him this week, and we too started him in our FFOC.com league.

LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers RB - Let’s face it folks, we were NOT high on LaDainian Tomlinson at all this off-season. Not only did his recent proneness to injury bother us, but so to did the absence of Lorenzo Neal, who had been clearing the way for LT for most of his career. We also knew at some point that Tomlinson would have to hit what we call the statistical peak. The bottom line is that LT isn’t what he once was, limited by a bad toe to only 26 yards on 10 carries. Look out for Darren Sproles in Week 3, who had a huge game in relief of Tomlinson.

Justin Tuck, Giants DE - After the retirement of Michael Strahan - shoot, even before then - we anointed Giants DE Justin Tuck the next top three fantasy defensive end. After Week 2, in which he had three tackles, two sacks and an interception return for a TD, he is fantasy’s number one defensive end, bar none. Look for Tuck to continue to be an IDP stud for the rest of the season, and someone dynasty owners should hang on to.

Eli Manning, Giants QB - Manning was one of our top three sleeper QBs of the week, due to a match-up in which he was facing a piss poor St. Louis defense. Manning proved us right on the money, tossing for more than 260 yards and three scores. Expect Eli to have another good fantasy outing at home against the Bengals in Week 3.

Plaxico Burress, Giants WR - After dominating the Redskins defense in Week 1, Plax was a no-brainer this week against the horrible Rams defense. He caught five balls for 81 yards and a score, proving that he certainly was a must-start this week.

Amani Toomer, Giants WR - We told owners that Amani Toomer - who we’re normally not high on - was a great sleeper in all league formats against the Rams. Sure enough, he responded by catching six balls for 67 yards and a score. Don’t plan on keeping him in your line-ups next week though.

Torry Holt, Rams WR - After a horrible Week 1 outing against the Eagles, we told fantasy owners that Torry Holt would bounce back and produce at his old level in Week 2. He came through for us as the lone bright spot for the Rams, catching six balls for 76 yards and a TD.

Carson Palmer, Bengals QB - Even though it’s likely tough for Palmer’s owners to bench him, we recommended that they did against a very tough Tennessee Titans defense. 134 yards and two interceptions later, we were right about Carson Palmer. We expect him to actually bounce back in Week 3 against the Giants though, so don’t give up on him yet.

Bryant Johnson, 49ers WR - Once upon a time this off-season, we called Johnson our “sleeper of the year.” We really like to go out on a limb with our predictions. Johnson actually started looking like the player we know he can become, however, hauling in six passes for 78 yards and a TD in Week 2 against Seattle. He’s developing into a very fine starting option in deep leagues.

Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs TE - Gonzo was the TE we said would bounce back in Week 2, and he certainly did, catching five passes for 39 yards and a score against Oakland. It honestly has never mattered who his QB is, Gonzo is a must start in all formats.

David Patten, Saints WR - We told owners that with Marques Colston out for four to six weeks, veteran David Patten would be a great WR3 fill in option in points per reception leagues. He didn’t do a whole lot in Week 2 against Washington, but he did catch five balls for 55 yards - making himself very useful to many owners.

A.J. Hawk, Packers LB - The third year man from Ohio State has really come alive this season. We told owners he’d be a great IDP pick-up-and-play in Week 2, and he certainly was, racking up seven tackles and two sacks. It doesn’t get much bigger than that.

Chad Greenway, Vikings LB - We’ve written Chad Greenway’s name often in the context of IDP sleepers. The WLB led the Vikings with six solo tackles against the Colts in Week 2.

Freddie Keiaho, Colts LB - Keiaho is pretty much in the same boat as Greenway. He’s a young weakside linebacker with a high ceiling. Keiaho racked up six solo tackles and three assisted stops, leading the Cotls in Week 2.

Tony Scheffler, Broncos TE - We’ve jocked Scheffler longer than any other fantasy football website, calling him “the next top five fantasy TE” this off-season. Scheffler finds himself in an amazing situation with Jay Cutler playing out of his mind right now in Denver. The third year TE from Western Michigan hauled in six balls for 64 yards and two TDs. As long as he stays healthy, expect more where that came from in Week 3 and beyond.

Dante Rosario, Panthers TE - I believe our exact words this week were - “we’re not sold on him yet.” And with good reason, as he only caught one ball for six yards.

Matt Ryan, Falcons QB - The rookie signal caller from Boston College absolutely bombed in Week 2, as we expected, throwing for just more than 150 yards and two TDs. Why? He wasn’t playing the Lions. Expect Ryan’s struggles to continue.

Michael Turner, Falcons RB - Like Ryan, we predicted the demise of Turner in Week 2. 42 yards on 14 carries is not only nothing to write home about, but it’s cause for concern heading into Week 3. Well, then again, the Falcons do play the Chiefs, so Turner should bounce back.

Joseph Addai, Colts RB - Like Turner, we also warned owners about Addai this week, and he only rushed for 20 yards. It’s tough to bench him though, as he did get into the end zone once to salvage his week.

Anthony Gonzalez, Colts WR - The second year man from Ohio State University hauled in nine passes for 137 yards, as Peyton Manning looked his way early and often. We told owners he’d be a force in PPR leagues, but that he was unlikely to get into the end zone.

We Were Wrong About…

Ryan Grant, Packers RB - We jocked Ryan Grant extremely hard this week, and for that we owe his owners an apology. We called him a MUST START as long as he was active, but unfortunately, he only garnered 20 yards on 15 carries and was really the only Packers’ offensive player who didn’t enjoy a great fantasy day.

DeAngelo Williams, Panthers RB - Williams helped establish the ground game early for Carolina, carrying the ball 11 times for 31 yards, but didn’t play at all in the second half, as rookie Jonathan Stewart carried the rock 14 times for 77 yards and two TDs. We don’t think this is the last of Williams, but he has a horrible match-up in Week 3, so we recommend benching him for sure.

Chris Perry, Bengals RB - We told owners to steer clear of Perry in Week 2 against a tough Titans defense, but the Bengals showed faith in their former first rounder, allowing him to tote the rock on a 4th and 1 from the 10 yard line. Perry took it into the end zone and finished the game with 64 yards on 21 carries and two receptions.

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