Thinking Inside the Box: Week 2
Every Monday, Senior Editor John Paulsen takes to Twitter (@4for4_John) for Thinking Inside the Box, where he tweets different stats and tidbits from Sunday's box scores. We compile it here for subscribers.
Let’s start with The Brandon Marshall Incident.
Classic case of process vs. results. Doesn’t practice all week, team promotes two WRs from practice squad, Schefter source says there’s...
…a 75 pct chance both Marshall and Jeffery sit. Plus, a tough matchup against a SF defense that worked over Tony Romo the week before.
The best move was to pick up Holmes, if available, or have a Plan B on Monday night. That wasn’t possible for some Marshall owners.
CHI offense was dreadful through the first 28 minutes. Looked like benching him was going to turn out to be a backdoor cover.
(Benching Jeffery did turn out to be a backdoor cover.)
It was a confluence of events - Sun night kickoff (ugh), Schefter’s report, no practice all week, tough matchup = 5-48-3. Go figure.
Same thought goes for Cutler. Was not expecting a huge game with one or both of his WRs out in a bad matchup. Sometimes FF works this way.
The one guy we all pretty much agreed would have a good day due to heavier usage: Matt Forte — 17 touches for 36 yards. Try to buy low.
Michael Crabtree practicing fully means he should be in your lineup. 7-82-1 (9). Nearly had another TD.
I would like to watch Colin Kaepernick melt down against the Packers. Just once. Preferably in the playoffs. 66 rush yards saved his week.
Eddie Lacy’s quiet day (15 touches, 61 yards) was predictable. Very tough to run on NYJ. Lacy able to help his cause in passing game (2-18).
You don’t really bench Lacy since he’s a real threat to score TDs in any given week.
Eddie Lacy is a terrific buy low candidate if he’s owned by a skittish owner.
Geno Smith looked terrific in the first half and parts of the second. Looks like a solid QB2 depending on matchup.
If Eric Decker 4-63-1 (7) misses time, starters will likely be Nelson and Kerley. I’ve always liked Kerley.
Ivory runs harder so he gains yards when there’s nothing there. CJ doesn’t do much if holes aren’t open.
13 touches apiece for Ivory and Johnson. Bilal Powell checked in with six touches for 48 yards.
Oops, Ivory had a catch too: 14 touches, 46 yards and a TD for him.
Davante Adams passed up Jarrett Boykin this week after a Boykin drop. 5-50 (7), but he had a TD as well that he didn’t get credit for.
The WR3 in the GB offense holds 10th/11th round draft value, so bid on Adams accordingly. Also has WR2 upside if Jordy/Cobb go down.
Adams has fully passed Boykin, IMO. Boykin played well last year, but has been so-so so far this year.
Richard Rodgers and Andrew Quarless are splitting snaps at TE. Nothing to see here.
K. Moreno is out for a few weeks with a dislocated elbow, so it’s Miller’s show. But he left with an ankle injury. Damien Williams is RB3.
5-32 (8) for Brian Hartline. He was a top 35 WR last year. Worth an add if he hits the wire.
Sammy Watkins was reportedly ‘not 100 percent’ with his rib injury, but thrashed the Dolphins for 8-117-1 (11).
13 touches, 78 yards for Spiller; 14 touches, 51 yards for F-Jax. F-Jax played more snaps. #Bills
Love hearing about how Alfred Morris has been working on his receiving skills in the offseason and then he gets 0 targets through two games.
That said, thanks to Alfred for his 22 carries, 85 yards and 2 TDs.
Niles Paul has been around for a while, but is doing his best Jimmy Graham impression. 12-183-1 in the last two weeks.
Kirk Cousins in at QB. In four starts he has averaged 24/42 for 269 yards, 1.5 TD and 1.5 INT. That equates to QB17-type numbers.
Cousins is a good option for RG3 owners or those using a streaming strategy, depending on the matchup.
Pierre Garcon’s game was rough 1-12 (4), but he has averaged 7.5-98.5-.50 (12.5) in those four Cousins starts. Should correct itself.
Given DeSean Jackson’s shoulder injury, Andre Roberts is worth a look. 4-57 (5)
Allen Hurns was on crutches after the game yesterday with an ankle issue. Allen Robinson looking like a good pickup.
Toby Gerhart is off to a dreadful start, but I’m holding with the hope that the team turns to Bortles and becomes more competitive.
Jake Locker is still Jake Locker. Didn’t have the game we were expecting — 234 yards, TD, 2 INT and only 9 rushing yards.
Delanie Walker 10-142-1 (14) is raining on all the Justin Hunter and Kendall Wright parades.
I understand if owners want to cut bait on Bishop Sankey, but I’m holding for a few more weeks unless there is a great opportunity on WW.
McCluster being in a walking boot could help Sankey’s playing time next week.
Four targets isn’t going to get it done for Terrance Williams 2-20 (4). Dez with 14.
It was the right move to move down the ARI WRs on the news that Palmer wasn’t going to play. Fitz had a TD that was overturned though.
Rashad Jennings had an ill-timed, freaky fumble when he slipped on the turf and face planted. I doubt it affects his playing time too much.
Jennings does not have a history of fumbling, and Andre Williams isn’t exactly lighting it up — 8 carries, 12 yards yesterday.
Larry Donnell 7-81 (9) looks like the real deal. He’s leading the team in targets (17) through two games.
Victor Cruz should rebound. Saw 10 targets and has a great upcoming schedule.
Just when it looked like Vereen was staking his claim on some carries, it was Ridley with 25 totes for 101 and a TD. No fumbles, either.
Julian Edelman now has 6+ catches in eight straight games. 5+ in 16 of last 20, including the playoffs. #PPRGold
It was Matt Asiata (18 touches, 84 yards, TD) who dominated touches for MIN. McKinnon did play 33% of snaps — only four touches.
I bet Greg Jennings will hit some waiver wires after his trip to Revis Island. I still like him.
Very surprised Cordarrelle Patterson didn’t see a single carry with AP out. Seems counterintuitive. 4-56 (7)
Vikings are going to let AP play, but NFL could step in and suspend him if they want to seem tougher on domestic violence.
Ingram is off to a great start (RB4 so far) but will miss a month with a hand injury. Both Khiry (big) and PT (small) get a bump. Cadet too.
Did not see much of the game, but it sounds like CLE sold out to stop receivers, so not too worried about Colston/Cooks.
Andrew Hawkins is currently the #19 WR in PPR formats. @andybehrens
Matt Ryan’s stats came down to earth in a tough road matchup. 231 yards, TD, 3 INT.
Hue Jackson promised more touches for Hill, and he delivered: 17 touches, 96 yards, TD.
Gio Bernard is more than living up to his lofty ADP. RB3 in PPR, RB5 in standard. Expect a run-heavy offense with A.J. Green out this week.
Mohamed Sanu 3-84-1 (4) plus 50 yards passing is worth a pickup if you need a spot starter for Week 3.
It’s not looking like a very good idea to start players facing the Panthers. Calvin nearly had 1-2 TDs though.
Jonathan Stewart had a slow start but finished with 59 total yards and a TD. Benefited from a Mike Tolbert chest injury to get the GL carry.
More touches for Joique Bell (16, 97 yards) than Reggie Bush (8, 32 yards). Bush was battling a knee injury in practice this week.
Zac Stacy (19 carries, 71 yards, TD) appears to be holding off Benny Cunningham (7 touches, 19 yards).
Brian Quick 7-74 (9) with another solid outing. Britt is droppable. Quick is the #15 WR in PPR formats. @andybehrens #PPRNewsletter
Vincent Jackson 4-51 (7) is another buy low candidate. He has Atlanta this week.
Bobby Rainey making his case for the RB1 job in Tampa — 25 touches, 174 yards. It’s possible. Depends how much staff likes Martin.
Through two weeks, Russell Wilson is currently the #7 QB in fantasy, and will be no worse than #9 after Monday night.
Doug Baldwin has had a slow start to the season, but he led the team in targets (6) this week.
Danny Woodhead back with a good usage game — 12 touches, 59 yards — and nearly caught a TD. Usage should rise with Mathews out a month.
But the big bump goes to Donald Brown, who was brought in for this exact scenario. Very capable as he proved with Colts last year.
Brown only had 10 touches for 31 yards, so we’ll see what kind of action he gets on the waiver wire of casual leagues. RB3/flex for now.
At this point, Ladarius Green is a stash-until-Gates-gets-hurt, offering no real week to week value with Gates in the lineup.
Mentioned this last night, but now’s the time to buy low on Keenan Allen. Schedule is about to get much easier.
Philip Rivers with 284 yards and 3 TDs against the Seahawks. He’s pretty amazing. #bolotie
It appears that Alfred Blue is backing up Arian Foster. Played twice as many snaps and 11 carries to Grimes’ three.
It was all Darren McFadden with MJD out. 14 touches to just one for Latavius Murray. So much for that series by series rotation.
James Jones had 9-112-1 (14) and a double fumble. Rod Streater had a hip flexor injury which led to more snaps for Holmes and Moore.
Knile Davis is why you handcuff. 28 touches, 105 yards, 2 TD. Too bad JC owners couldn’t make use of him yesterday.
Travis Kelce is happening. 4-81 (6) with a few Gronk-like moments. Limited snaps may create some frustrating weeks, however.
Montee Ball with a quiet 89 yards on 15 touches. #TouchdownsAreComing
That wraps up Thinking Inside the Box for Week 2. Thank you for reading.
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