Forsett, McCoy looking to rebound
Tough matchups will keep Wright, Blount in check
Which performances from the NFL openers were real and which were anomalies? It isn’t easy in Week 2 to tell the difference.
STUDS
QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints: After passing for 355 yards at Arizona, the veteran should thrive at home against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that allowed four touchdown passes by rookie Marcus Mariota.
RB Justin Forsett, Baltimore Ravens: The Forsett-centered rushing attack should fare better than the 73 yards it managed in Week 1. This week’s opponent, the Oakland Raiders, yielded 151 total yards and two scores to Cincinnati Bengals backs last week.
RB LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills: He hasn’t yet lived up to his draft-day cost, but there’s big potential. The New England Patriots were gashed by DeAngelo Williams in last Thursday’s opener. McCoy started to find his footing late last week, and with a bit of rest, he should build on that performance.
WR Golden Tate, Detroit Lions: Tate caught four of his eight targets for 24 yards in a subpar game from quarterback Matthew Stafford. But as defenses continue to hover around Calvin Johnson, Tate should benefit with more targets.
DUDS
QB Alex Smith, Kansas City
Chiefs: The Denver Broncos suffocated Baltimore’s Joe Flacco in Week 1, and their pass rush should be a big test for the Chiefs offensive line.
WR Kendall Wright, Tennessee Titans: Four catches, 101 yards and a TD in Week 1. But he
should see a lot of cornerback extraordinaire Joe Haden.
RB LeGarrette Blount, New
England Patriots: He’s returning from his one-game suspension and has to deal with the Buffalo Bills and one of the league’s best defensive lines. Expect New England to lean more
on slasher Dion Lewis.
WR Andre Johnson, Indi
anapolis Colts: Coming off a four-catch, 24-yard effort, he’s probably going to draw wideoutsnuffing cornerback Darrelle Revis. Donte Moncrief is a better play as the replacement for injured T.Y. Hilton.
SLEEPERS
RB Bishop Sankey, Tennessee Titans: Terrance West only piled on the touches in garbage time; Sankey, who averaged 6.2 yards a carry Sunday, is the main option (including around the goal line).
TE Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers: Davis looks to be more involved in this version of the Niners offense. He has an attractive matchup, considering the Pittsburgh Steelers allowed four touchdown catches to tight ends in the opener, including three to Rob Gronkowski.
WR Terrance Williams,
Dallas Cowboys: The Philadelphia Eagles allowed the secondmost fantasy points to wideouts in Week 1. Williams might not put up Julio Jones-like numbers, but in his first week replacing Dez Bryant as the Cowboys’ No. 1 wideout, he’s primed to break off at least one big play.