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11 Fantasy Football Players With Sweetheart Matchups In Week 2

by Pat Mayo | 1:45 pm, September 12th, 2012

Each week, Pat Mayo of RotoExperts.com will be bringing you 11 fantasy football players with favorable matchups. Whether it’s a wide receiver facing a weak-kneed secondary, a running back taking on a dinged-up front seven, or a team defense preparing to eat a cupcake rookie quarterback, these are the guys who are poised for a big fantasy output this Sunday.

This week, Pat says you should ride this AP train until the wheels fall off — and also take a ride on the Mike Shanahan running back carousel. Here are his sweetheart matchups.

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1.1. Doug Martin @ NYG

Skeptics gathered by the dozens to voice their objections to Doug Martin’s lofty ranking in week one. They had many questions about his usage rate and, more importantly, the potency of his performance. One week later, and those dissenters have been silenced. Even the Kremlin couldn’t eradicate differing options so quickly - and Martin was able to do it without the help of show trials or pulonium-210. He carried the ball 24 times for 95 yards, added an additional 23 through the air and placed a copyright on taking handoffs from Josh Freeman. The Giants really struggled to stop Demarco Murray in the season opener, and while they should be improved with ten days to prepare for the Bucs, Martin is primed to explode.

2.2. Stevie Johnson vs. KC

No, this isn’t a complete overreaction to the Falcons piling up 40 points on the battered Chiefs defense. Clearly, the Bills don’t sport the same type of offensive firepower as Atlanta. Buffalo couldn’t effectively move the ball until the Jets third unit hit the field. The one consistent is the health of Kansas City’s defense. The Chiefs were missing cornerback Brandon Flowers, safety Kendrick Lewis, nose tackle Anthony Toribio and professional quarterback smasher Tamba Hali. Their presence, or lack there of, allowed Matt Ryan enough time to run through all his progressions, twice, read the Sunday funnies, give serious thought to how Marvin is remains in print and still have a full minute to find one of his many open targets. Hali returns from his suspension this week, which means less time for Ryan Fitzpatrick to operate, but it looks like he’s the only one of the group returning to the Chiefs defense. Johnson handled Darrelle Revis last week, and will have no problems finding space against the frauds KC is starting in the secondary. Plus, with David Nelson blowing out his knee in week one, Fitzpatrick really has no other choice but to force him the ball.

3.3. Adrian Peterson @ IND

It seems inconceivable that Peterson could recover from tearing both his ACL and MCL so quickly without the use of some banned substance… hmmmm. Actually, the inconceivable part may be that his body could be damaged in the first place - Peterson runs faster in slow motion than Cedric Benson in wrap drive. After proving he can handle close-to-full workload, 18 touches against the Jags, he now gets to treat the Colts like Henry VIII does a turkey leg, feasting on their impotent run defense. Indianapolis wouldn’t have been to stop Matt Forte and Michael Bush in a game of touch football last week - they have no chance against a healthyish Peterson.

4.4. Jay Cutler @ GB

After being brutalized by the pass in 2011, the Packers look about the same in 2012. Although he’ll never be mistaken as an aeronautics expert, Alex Smith was nonetheless efficient and effective at Lambeau, completing 77 percent of his passes, averaging 8.1 yards per attempt. Now Green Bay, on just four days rest, must deal with the Bears - fresh off showcasing their new aerial options Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. Even after letting up in the fourth quarter, Cutler threw for 333 yards last week against a comparably terrible Colts defense. And in a game that will actually require Chicago to keep scoring for all sixty minutes, Culter could easily top that number.

5.5. Willis McGahee @ ATL

Somehow, despite trailing the entire game, the Chiefs were able to pile up 152 yards on the ground against the Falcons. Hosting Denver, Atlanta will just as susceptible against the run. With shutdown corner Brent Grimes finished for the season, the Falcons will be forced to cheat on the pass against Peyton Manning in an attempt to limit the Broncos big play ability. That will leave McGahee free to run wilder than Hulkamania in the late 80s. If week one was any indication, McGahee is going to see the bulk of the carries. His 16 were more than double Lance Ball and Knowshon Moreno combined.

6.6. Alfred Morris @ STL

Putting even a miniscule amount of trust in Mike Shannahan’s backfield is playing with fire. Fortunately, most of us grew up closet pyros, so there’s no need to worry. Morris monopolized the touches in the Redskins backfield against the Saints and will likely [fingers crossed] do it again this week in St. Louis. If that is the case, and Morris is fed the ball over and over, he’ll do plenty of damage. He scored twice last week, but collected most of yardage through attrition. If Washington is going to continue to pound the ball to set up play action, Morris won’t be slowed up against the Rams run defense that allowed a non-existent Lions run game to average 4.6 yards per carry.

7.7. Jermaine Gresham vs. CLE

The Browns generated five turnovers, but in between, the Eagles couldn’t be slowed. Philly gained 456 yards against a sluggish Browns defense, 306 of them through the air. The Bengals can’t outclass the Eagles in the passing game, but are proficient enough post respectable totals. Especially now, with Joe Haden forced to watch in his civilian duds. Without Haden, Cleveland will have to throw every resource they have into a most certainly doomed attempt to limit AJ Green. Leaving Gresham to bully the Browns in single coverage. The burly tight end was targeted eight times in week 1, and only figures to see his usage rate climb against a significantly weaker defense.

8.8. Andre Roberts @ NE

Andre Roberts went undrafted in most leagues. In fact, he’s probably still available in your league and that’s a bloody outrage that is! Despite having the honor of starting opposite Larry Fitzgerald throughout the preseason, most figured Michael Floyd would usurp Roberts’ gig fairly quickly. Well, that hasn’t been the case. Roberts not only started in week one, he was a major cog in the Cardinals offense. Finding himself on the end of a fourth of Arizona’s 36 pass attempts, hauling in five receptions for 54 yards and a TD. Roberts’ nine targets were double anyone else on the roster without the initials LF. Against the Patriots, expect the Cards to be down early and throwing often. Bill Belchick can usually take away what a team does best, in this case, Larry Fitzgerald, leaving Roberts ample room to maneuver from the opening kickoff.

9.9. Oakland Defense @ MIA

The Raiders may not have anyone on the roster capable of properly snapping a football, but seemingly have enough personnel to squash the run. Oakland’s front seven was impenetrable Monday night limiting the Super Chargers to a measly 1.6 yards per rush. Now, the majority of touches were given to Curtis Brinkley and Ronnie Brown. Who, as a tandem, may be the only thing that has looked worse than the trailer for The Mob Doctor – THIS FALL ON FOX! – still, the Raiders will give the Dolphins enough problems on the ground to force Ryan Tannehill to the air. When that happens, all that’s remains is sitting back and watching the points pile up.

10.10. Brandon LaFell vs NO

LaFell satisfied Fantasy owners in week one totaling 65 yards and earning the right to perform a wacky touchdown dance for the masses to enjoy. Week two presents an even better opportunity for the Panthers wideout to flaunt his downfield skills. The Saints labored to keep receivers in front of them against the Redskins and LaFell’s explosiveness presents an equivalently problematic challenge. With Steve Smith commanding the bulk of attention, LaFell will get more than few shots deep down field without vexation of safety help.

11.11. Reggie Wayne vs MIN

Like a sixth grader whose best friend’s parents get divorced, forcing him to move across the country, Reggie Wayne was forced to find a new BFF. Fortunately for him, and Fantasy owners, he and Andrew Luck hit it off right away. The Colts implemented the ‘Pass it to Will’ against the Bears, nominating Wayne for the Fresh Prince role. He was targeted a league high 18 times in the game, resulting in nine catches for 135 yards - against a fairly stout Chicago defense to boot. Now, Wayne gets the Vikings, who couldn’t stop the juggernaut that is Blaine Gabbert or cover the unholy trio of Cecil Shorts, Laurent Robinson and Justin Blackmon. They may suffer a full on stroke trying to keep up with Wayne.

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