Thursday, September 22, 2011

Week 2 Lessons: Truths and Myths

With players like Arian Foster and Chris Johnson doing little, and others like Rob Gronkowski, Devery Henderson and Eric Decker (remember when I threw that name out there?) lighting up the scoreboard, this season has had its share of surprises. So far, this season has been about out of nowhere performances and early comeback candidates. In order to evaluate what has been going on, here are some truths and myths from the start of the season.

Truth: Matt Stafford is now a must-start quarterback. Stafford is living up to his hype as he has produced two monster games to start the season. While one of those games was against the tumultuous Chiefs defense, the Lions schedule remains favorable for the rest of the season. As long as Stafford stays healthy, start him in all leagues unless you have a guy by the name of Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers. If he is a backup to your elite, look to trade Stafford while his value is high.

Myth: Beanie Wells is a bust and will lose his starting job. Beanie is another player that is finally losing his bust label after two straight 90 yard, 1 touchdown games. Because he looks explosive and Ryan Williams is out for the season, Wells' job appears to be safe. While Wells is not elite, he is a very solid option.

Truth: Arian Foster's value is sinking. Foster tweaked his hamstring again and will probably miss another game. Even if he does come back soon, the Texans will be extremely cautious with him. Oh, and that backup Ben Tate is looking quite solid as well. I expect that when Foster does come back, we will be in for another tough to figure out running back committee. Just dandy.

Myth: Darren Sproles is a viable starter. While Sproles is one the most elusive backs this year, he remains at most a solid PPR option. His touches will be inconsistent week to week and his value is minimal in most leagues.

Myth: Ryan Grant will return to his old form and take the starting spot. Grant hasn't done bad by any means this year, but James Starks looks much better. Grant is averaging 4.3 yards a carry, but only has 15 carries to date. He looks alright but isn't nearly the running back he was in 2009.

Truth: Kenny Britt is a stud. It's true. He is a stud. Hasselbeck trusts Britt and has helped him to be the 4th most targeted wide receiver this year. Last year Britt was actually a very consistent option, even though he found himself off the field because of his troubles. Now that he is healthy and out of trouble, expect Britt to continue his monstrous start.

Truth: Steve Smith is back for the most part. Smith's start is extremely encouraging to owners who took a chance on him. He has been targeted 2nd most in the NFL and is clearly Cam Newton's go-to man. While I don't expect Smith to keep up this torrid pace, especially if Newton slows down, Smith has officially returned to a viable option.

Truth: Rob Gronkowski is for real, and a top-5 tight end. With players like Jermichael Finley and Vernon Davis struggling, Gronkowski has stepped up his game in the typically weak tight end position. Because Brady is throwing so much, it doesn't matter how much he spreads the ball. Gronkowski will get the ball and put up great numbers. Take Aaron Hernandez out of the mix for a couple weeks, and you got a tight end with sky-high potential. He is a great sell-high candidate, but also one that can bolster any fantasy lineup.

Myth: Chris Johnson is no longer an elite running back. This is clearly a myth; Johnson has always had his share of mediocre games. While his holdout has certainly hurt him, I expect Johnson to find his groove and be the stud he was for the past three seasons. Johnson remains a must-start despite his early struggles.

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