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The Badger Herald

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The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

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Star Performances in Week 1 Bolster Free Agent Pool

Week 1 in the NFL was full of surprises and introduced many new potential fantasy superstars. At quarterback, Robert Griffin III suddenly becomes both a fantasy star and a NFL star with his debut against Saints, while fellow rookie quarterback and No.1 draft pick Andrew Luck didn’t show as much promise as people were expecting.

At running back, Alfred Morris and CJ Spiller were studs in Week 1 causing Roy Helu and Fred Jackson to significantly lose fantasy value. So even if you lost in Week 1, don’t give up yet. Fantasy football is all about finding a good free agent pickup. These are some players that shined in Week 1 who give teams a boost in Week 2.

Boh’s recommended pickups for Week 2:

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  1. Rashard Mendenhall (Pit, RB): Mendenhall fully participated in practice Wednesday and he is currently ‘probable’ for Pittsburgh’s game versus the New York Jets. Since both Redman and Dwyer didn’t make a great impression in Week 1, the chance that Mendenhall becomes a starting running back for the Steelers in the near future is very possible. I wouldn’t start him in Week 2, but this is definitely the time to pick him up while he is still available.

  2. Danny Amendola (Stl, WR): Amendola was targeted a team-high nine times and racked up 70 yards with five catches. He also had one carry for two yards. The Rams now face the Redskins whose defense isn’t as stingy as the Lions’ secondary that Amendola faced last week so there is a great chance that Amendola can be a big fantasy factor this week.

  3. Kevin Ogletree (Dal, WR): Yes, Ogletree caught eight passes for 114 yards with two touchdowns last week in the NFL opener at the Giants. No, he won’t do that again in Week 2, but he might get five catches with 60+ yards and a touchdown. Seattle’s defense will be busy covering Miles Austin and Dez Bryant, so Ogletree could produce 10+ points this week again.

  4. Randall Cobb/James Jones (GB, WR): Both combined for 13 receptions with 158 yards and a touchdown (15 targets combined), while the number one and two targets Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings combined for ten receptions with 97 yards and no touchdowns (16 targets combined). Since Jennings is questionable for Thursday’s game and the Packers lost their first game, Rodgers will throw quite a lot to make Cobb and Jones again possible candidates for 10+ points in Week 2.

  5. Alfred Morris (Was, RB): Where did he come from? Morris rushed 28 times for 96 yards with two touchdowns against the Saints. Don’t get too excited yet. Under Head Coach Mike Shanahan, Redskins’ running backs can be a stud one week and become a non-factor the next. At least, he made a good impression and his value is high right now. I recommend picking him up and trading him high before Week 3.

  6. Bengals Defense: The Bengals defense is a good pickup for someone who needs an emergency defense just for Week 2. The Bengals are facing the Browns ineffective offense at home. Last week, the Ravens offense made the Bengals Defense look like a high school team but the way Weeden and Richardson played in week one against Eagles makes me feel confident that the Bengals Defense has value this week.

Boh’s time to trade list: (Alfred Morris belongs to this list also)

  1. Shonne Greene (NYJ, RB): Greene had 27 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown against the Bills. He was definitely a stud in Week 1. So why should you trade him? Well the Bills’ defense cannot be compared to that of the Steelers and don’t forget about the presence of Tim Tebow. Tebow carried 5 times and for only 11 yards in week one. But, we all know what he is capable of doing. It will be too late to trade Greene when Tebow carries as much as Greene later in the season.

  2. Fred Jackson (Buf, RB): He will be out for at least for weeks and there is a chance that he might not come back until week six or even later. If the Bills have no running backs who step up during Jackson’s absence then Jackson can stay on your bench but the way Spiller played against the Jets’ defense makes me think that Jackson might not be the starting running back for Bills any more.

  3. Marshawn Lynch (Sea, RB): Lynch rushed 21 times for 85 yards and caught two passes for 12 yards. Not too bad, but he has back spasms at the moment and I am not sure he can repeat his beast mode that he showed last season again this year. Also, the new rookie QB Wilson tends to run taking away rushing opportunities, which could limit Lynch’s value.

  4. Greg Jennings (GB, WR): Jennings is currently suffering from groin injury and the Packers have plenty of talent at the wide receiver position. His status against Bears in week two is doubtful and I don’t know how this injury will affect his performance. Yet, his name value is high, so I would quickly sell him before it gets too late.

  5. Trent Richardson (Cle, RB): Richardson rushed 19 times for 39 yards and one reception for five yards last week. Quite different from the glorious days at Alabama. Since Cleveland’s quaterback Weeden isn’t efficient either at the moment, so the opponent’s focus will be more on Richardson. Chris Johnson (Ten, RB) was in a similar situation in the past 2 years.

  6. Stevan Ridley (NE, RB): Ridley had 21 rushes for 125 yards with a touchdown and two receptions for 27 yards. He was a top five running back in Week 1 so it shouldn’t be too get rid of him. The thing I don’t know like about New England runningbacks is that Brady is too good. He throws so often and effectively he often makes Patriot running backs a non-fantasy factor. I am afraid it will happen to Ridley in the future.

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