I don't think you ever get over the luck part of fantasy football. Sometimes you think you have -- you say, eh, that stuff all evens out -- but then something happens like facing Antonio Brown when he goes off for 41 fantasy points, and you lie awake staring at the ceiling like Charlie Brown on the pitcher's mound. Why? Why? Why?
Needless to say, I am smarting over a tough loss in a league this week. Perhaps this is where I produce some wise, all-encompassing statement that makes everyone feel better about their own tough losses, in the past or in the future, or a chippy remark like "That's fantasy football!" Or maybe I'll just get right to the Sunday recap.
Houston at Baltimore: Neither offense did very much in this game, with the Ravens scoring 2 of 3 TDs on defense/special teams. Bernard Pierce didn't let you down if you started him, at least. He should have a big game at Buffalo next week, which it appears he'll be starting for again. ... Andre Johnson left with an injury, again. Houston is starting to look like a team with some offensive problems. Not much to say beyond that; you don't really want to be counting on any Texans. Despite Peyton Manning's Week 1, Baltimore's defense is still very sound.
N.Y. Giants at Carolina: Every once in a while I am dead wrong on a game, and it sure seems to involve the Giants a lot. I expected them to slice and dice the Panthers secondary, but instead it was Cam Newton doing the slicing. What can I say? The Giants look like a train wreck right now, and the one good thing that happened in this game -- David Wilson streaking around left end for a touchdown -- was called back due to a holding penalty (tough to say where Wilson would have scored without the penalty). Maybe the Giants rebound with an unlikely win in Kansas City next week, or maybe the season becomes one long nightmare. As somebody who took a zero with Hakeem Nicks yesterday, I am going to be careful before starting anyone besides Victor Cruz again.
Green Bay at Cincinnati: Crazy game. The Bengals got 2 early touchdowns, the Packers scored 30 straight points, the Bengals won. Couple of main takeaways for me were that 1, Johnathan Franklin looked very good right up until that game-losing fumble -- but having him leap into the heart of the Bengals D on fourth and inches might not have been the wisest strategy, that's not his game. I do think he'll be a nice change of pace to Eddie Lacy coming out of Green Bay's bye; sorry if you wasted your waiver spot on James Starks. For the Bengals, we have to figure we'll see more Giovani Bernard and less BJGE going forward, 'cause the Law Firm doesn't look too good. Lucky win for the Bengals; tough bye week for Green Bay.
St. Louis at Dallas: Miles Austin hamstring acts up, that's the big news here; Dwayne Harris is a guy to consider adding. Big game from DeMarco Murray. If you won with Dez Bryant, feel lucky, because his touchdown really should have been flagged for a push-off (push-down, really). I really misjudged the Rams defense, it seems, since it has basically been pushed around so far. And most importantly, Jared Cook is not a must-start. Good player who will have the occasional big week and the occasional quiet one. Frustrating (especially with me having started him over Antonio Brown in a flex spot in one league yesterday).
Cleveland at Minnesota: Wow, Josh Gordon. Knew I liked the guy's talent, but what a game. Kind of feel bad for Brandon Weeden, who arguably would have done just as well as Brian Hoyer with Gordon in the lineup against that sorry defense, but that's how it goes. He's not getting his job back when healthy, it doesn't appear. Hoyer throws a nice ball. And: Jordan Cameron. Early favorite for breakout fantasy star of the year. I am pretty sure I didn't recommend him once in response to questions to my Saturday column. Apologies. Every-week starter.
Tampa Bay at New England: I will probably be shopping Stevan Ridley this week. Hoping there's still one owner out there who views him as a feature back in New England. They just seem willing to use any old back at any old time, so I don't think I want to start him anymore. ... Vincent Jackson hurt. If he misses time, you can officially stick a fork in the Bucs offense, if it isn't already stuck. A quarterback switch is going to happen; Josh Freeman's confidence appears shot. ... Nice games for Kenbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson. Another no-show for Zach Sudfeld, who can be cut if you haven't already.
Arizona at New Orleans: Game went about how I thought. New Orleans' defense seems to be for real, so kudos to Rob Ryan. (Maybe the Rams should have hired him after all.) Nothing noteworthy to add, beyond, the Saints are going to win the NFC South. Maybe pretty easily.
San Diego at Tennessee: I stuck my neck out for Philip Rivers this week, and it did not pan out. If you watched the game, you know where things all went wrong -- Rivers threw a pretty touchdown to Eddie Royal in the corner of the end zone, but it was erased by Keenan Allen being flagged for setting an illegal pick. It was inadvertent and probably didn't even affect the play (which would have given San Diego an early 14-3 lead), but the touchdown was taken off the board, and Rivers got flagged for an additional 15 yards for losing his cool about it. Ironically, the Titans won the game on a last-minute touchdown where Justin Hunter appeared to get away with a push off. Heartbreaker, again, for the Chargers. ... Add Jake Locker? I'm not buying just yet. Let's see how he fares against the Jets next week. NFL and fantasy-wise, though, it was good to see Locker run some.
Detroit at Washington: Nothing noteworthy to say, Detroit's offense was as expected against a bad defense, and RGIII looks less than 100 percent running around with that brace and is being frustrated as a passer -- threw a really bad pick while scrambling, and had an Aldrick Robinson touchdown bomb overturned when it moved around in his grasp. Pretty throw. Alfred Morris looks really good; a shame nothing else about Washington does.
Atlanta at Miami: Great game. Miami is for real, surprising as that is to me. Credit Ryan Tannehill, who's making guys I didn't think much of look really good, and their defense. ... Falcons used an even committee of Rodgers and Snelling. They don't lose much without Steven Jackson. Oh yeah, their defense looked pretty hopeless in the second half yesterday.
Buffalo at N.Y. Jets: As we said a week ago, the Jets defense is for real. They're going to be in every game, and will win or lose based on how many mistakes Geno Smith makes (there will be plenty). These are both als0-ran teams in the AFC East, but they'll win a few games along the way. Not sure about C.J. Spiller's status, but, the guy has had trouble staying healthy. Add Fred Jackson, if he's available (probably isn't).
Jacksonville at Seattle: About as expected. Seattle going undefeated at home looks like one of the locks of the year. (A quick glance at the schedule indicates the Saints are the only ones with a shot to challenge them in Seattle.) Good team. Jacksonville has Cecil Shorts and nothing else. At least Justin Blackmon returns soon. Maybe the Jaguars should think about signing Tim Tebow. One of those "what are they clinging to" situations.
Indianapolis at San Francisco: Shocker of the week. I'm less surprised by the Indy offense than that of the 49ers. They looked really, really bad. Didn't run the ball against a soft defense. Colin Kaepernick looked a lot less like the next big thing than a confused youngster. Back to the drawing board -- and on a short week, they play Thursday -- for San Francisco. Guess they missed Vernon Davis. ... If you started Trent Richardson (I did) feel very fortunate you got 9 points out of him. Ahmad Bradshaw looked really good, casting some doubt on how many weeks it will be before Richardson is featured.
Chicago at Pittsburgh: Should have drafted the Bears defense higher. At least I have them in one league, that's something. Just an incredible group in fantasy terms. Wait til they start returning kicks for scores, too. ... In one league I started Antonio Brown and won because of him. In another I faced him and lost because of him. "That's fantasy football," right? Well, no; a wideout named Antonio Brown facing the Bears going off for 200 receiving yards and 2 TDs should not be part of fantasy football. In a third league, my most important (financially), I benched the guy, and have to sweat out the Broncos-Raiders game tonight. Lesson: good players in offenses with almost no other options are better lineup choices than good players in offenses that like to spread it around to many different players. I won't bench Brown again.
Monday, Monday: I picked almost the exact right score of last week's Bengals-Steelers game. So I'll try it again with Broncos-Raiders; how about, 31-17 Denver. I'm glad to have Knowshon Moreno going in this game, and am hoping for a crazy garbage-time performance about of Rod Streater. Hey, it happened for Antonio Brown.
