From a very good fantasy site:
Running Back
Prime Cut (Great matchup, strong sleeper)
Frank Gore - SF
- Gore was a beast against the Cardinals last week whether it was his physical running or catching the ball and making big plays in the open field. The Rams defense stifled the Broncos passing game, but the Broncos had plenty of success on the ground. The Rams allowed 161 yards rushing and a TD to the Bells. Gore could be affected by the 49ers loss of two of their best offensive linemen this week, but if he stays healthy then he has the potential to disappear from this column for good and become a top 10 fantasy back.
Jamal Lewis - BAL
- Oakland was the 2nd best opponent for fantasy RBs a year ago and after one week this year, they are 1st ? allowing 168 yds and 2 TDs to LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner on MNF. Lewis is a great play this week, but in deeper leagues watch out for Mike Anderson, too. If Lewis is truly ?back?, then he?ll top 100 yards and score in this matchup.
Chester Taylor - MIN
- One thing we know after week one is that Chester Taylor won?t fail as a fantasy back due to a lack of opportunity this year. Taylor ran 31 times for 88 yards and he caught 3 balls for another 43 yards while scoring a TD. Like Gore, he?s not much of a sleeper after producing that kind of game, but the Panthers are without Dan Morgan so Taylor could have his second big game in a row.
Worth a Gamble (Good matchup, solid sleeper)
DeShaun Foster - CAR
- The Redskins managed only 61 rushing yards against the Vikings on MNF and the Panthers lost Travelle Wharton (starting tackle) for the season when he tore his MCL and ACL against the Falcons. Foster gained 54 yards on 15 carries against Atlanta and he caught 4 balls for 20 yards, but failed to get into the end zone. The Vikings are certainly strong up front defensively, but Foster should still be reasonably productive and ? barring injury ? he?s getting the *ALL* of the touches out of the backfield if week one was a good indication of things to come. It?s a semi-tough matchup making Foster a gamble, but still a reasonably solid option.
Kevin Jones - DET
- Ahman Green enjoyed his best game since November 2004 last week playing the Chicago Bears. Sure, the Packers were shut out but Green ran for 110 yards on 20 carries while catching three for 22 yards. Jones played well against the Seahawks, another tough defense, gaining a combined 80 yards on 14 carries and 5 receptions. Jones promises to get another big workload this week. Mike Martz expects great things from Jones this year, and while we?ve all been severely disappointed by him in the past, if he succeeds in this game, then he will become much less risky and a fixture in the starting lineup.
Wali Lundy - HOU
- The Colts run defense is missing DT Corey Simon badly. They allowed 186 yards and a TD to the Giants last week. By contrast, Lundy and the Texans RBs combined for 45 yards rushing and no TDs against Philadelphia last week. Lundy should fare better in this game, but he?ll be sharing the rock with Vernand Morency and the Colts could put them into a chase mode by the end of the 1st quarter if things get ugly quick. Lundy carried 11 times last week to Morency?s 5 ? look for a similar rotation this week, but perhaps a few more carries for each back.
Solid Reach (backup / situational player with upside)
Joseph Addai - IND and Dominic Rhodes - IND
- The Texans allowed 123 rushing yards to the Eagles last week ? a team that doesn?t even like to run the football. The Colts don?t really like to run the ball much either and their offensive line didn?t look very good in the season opener. Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai will continue to share the load rendering each back semi-useful/semi-useless ? depending on your point of view and risk assessment regarding your starting lineup and other available options at hand. Against the Texans, at least they present lower risks, and one or both backs just might be useful.
Mike Bell - DEN and Tatum Bell - DEN
- The Chiefs allowed 103 rushing yards, 44 receiving yards and 2 TDs to the Bengals Rudi Johnson and Kenny Watson last week. Tatum Bell gets the starting nod in week 2. Presumably, he?ll get a few more carries than last week, but that?s hardly a guarantee. Mike Shanahan could go with Mike Bell more if he catches his eye and plays better in his first couple of series. Take your pick either player, but know that it?s a gamble ? at best ? trying to predict which player will be more productive in fantasy terms. Mike Bell got the goal line carries last week and all of the receptions out of the backfield, but Tatum is the one who broke 100 yards and he gets the ?start?.
Brandon Jacobs - NYG
- After watching Jacobs play against the Colts and during the preseason; it?s become clear (to me at least) that this guy is in store for a strong season ? even if he only touches the rock 5 to 10 times a game spelling Tiki Barber. Finally, the Giants have a REAL Thunder and Lightning tandem. Maybe it was the conditioning work Jacobs turned in with Eddie George during the offseason? The dude is running downhill like a Mack truck right now. He?s better than a 50-50 chance of finding the end zone this week and probably every week moving forward.
Laurence Maroney - NE
- Watch the Patriots for a few series and it?s easy to see who their best back is on their team. Maroney is getting around half of the carries and he could be a dangerous player every week and he promises to only get better moving forward, but the Jets were stout against the run last week. Tennessee only combined for 86 yards between Chris Brown and Travis Henry, but Henry did score twice.
If you're desperate (worth a look in deeper leagues)
Derrick Blaylock - NYJ
- Blaylock is the Jets starting tailback for now and carried the pill 19 times last week for 36 yards (compared to Barlow?s 11 carries). The Patriots allowed 99 yards rushing on 23 carries, four catches for 40 yards and a TD to the Bills last week. Blaylock should see enough touches in this game to warrant starting in deeper leagues.
