Empty the Bench

Everybody can pencil in the obvious studs at running back, quarterback and wide receiver. That’s the easy part, but fantasy titles are won in the plethora of peripheral decisions made each week. These are the choices we agonize over again and again right up until 5 minutes before kickoff, the ones we’re kicking ourselves about just 5 minutes after kickoff, and the ones that (sometimes) make us look like fantasy geniuses. We’re talking about the RB2, the WR3, the WR/TE Flex Play and the WR/RB Flex Play.

Unless you’re prepared to carefully groom the fringes of your roster–both in the draft and in free agency–and make the right decisions with those players occupying secondary and tertiary roles every week, your team will crash and burn. These decisions are rarely easy or clear-cut, but fortunately there’s a ton of info out there at your disposal to help you settle on the players you’re most comfortable with. If you’re right, you deserve to win. If you’re wrong, well, you don’t.

Every week for the 2007 NFL season, in addition to addressing specific players in our Matchups column, we’ll also do our best to rank “fringe” players who are likely causing you some consternation. Not sure if you should go with Maurice Jones-Drew or Adrian Peterson? Losing sleep over whether to start Mike Furrey over Demetrius Williams? We’re here to help. It’s Week Two of ETB’s Peripheral Starter Cheat Sheet.

Week 2 Rankings

Week 2 Wide Receiver #3 Ranks

1. Demetrius Williams, Baltimore Ravens vs. NYJ
2. Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers @ NE
3. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions vs. MIN
4. Joey Galloway, Tampa Bay Bucs @ NO
5. Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos vs. OAK
6. Chris Chambers, Miami Dolphins vs. DAL
7. Wes Welker, New England Patriots vs. SD
8. Kevin Curtis, Philadelphia Eagles vs. WSH
9. Darrell Jackson, San Francisco 49ers @ STL
10. Patrick Crayton, Dallas Cowboys @ MIA

Fortune Cookies: With Mark Clayton hobbled by an injured toe, he might be limited to third-down plays, which means more snaps and scoring opps for Demetrius Williams. Plus, Kyle Boller–who’ll likely start this week in place of an injured Steve McNair–loves to throw the deep ball… After dropping a sure TD against the Bears last week, Vincent Jackson gets on track against a Patriots’ defense focused on stopping LT and Antonio Gates… Megatron is the real deal, and though he’s still not technically a starter in Mike Martz’s offense, Calvin Johnson will earn more snaps in his second week and will find the endzone for the second time… The Saints are going to put up some points at home this week, so Moonball Garcia will be forced to throw for most of the second half; Joey Galloway is his only reliable threat… 5’11″ CB Fabian Washington just doesn’t have the size or strength to keep up with the 6’4″ Brandon Marshall, who will benefit from all the attention on Javon Walker… We saw last week that the Cowboys secondary can be exploited, and Chris Chambers is by far Trent Green’s go-to guy… That chemistry between Tom Brady and Wes Welker (6 catches, 61 yards, 1 TD) in Week 1 is real. No official word yet if Welker is carrying his baby… Kevin Curtis‘ toughness over the middle and deep speed make him an attractive option at home vs. two corners who can’t keep up with him and in a game where Philly will pass often… Darrell Jackson went about his business rather nonchalantly last week against the Cards, short-arming one pass and kind of dogging it overall. We have our doubts about him now that’s been handsomely paid… With Terry Glenn likely not missing the season after just getting his knee scoped, there’s no time like the present for Patrick Crayton to make an impact…

Week 2 Running Back #2 Ranks

1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings @ DET
2. Travis Henry, Denver Broncos vs. OAK
3. Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens vs. NYJ
4. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins @ PHI
5. Edgerrin James, Arizona Cardinals vs. SEA
6. Deuce McAllister, New Orleans Saints vs. TB
7. Brandon Jackson, Green Bay Packers @ NYG
8. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jax Jaguars vs. ATL
9. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo Bills @ PIT
10. Michael Pittman, Tampa Bay Bucs vs. NO

Fortune Cookies: If Week Two in the NFL was a beauty pageant, Vikings rookie Adrian Peterson would probably count as the sexiest contestant as he faces a still-unproven Detroit defense… Tatum Bell rushed for 87 yards on the road against the Raiders; his old teammate Travis Henry should do even better at home… With Jonathan Ogden out of the lineup for any extended period of time, this might be the last time you see Willis McGahee this high in our RB2 ranks; he seems to always run roughshod over the Jets though… We’re willing to push the ‘Skins Clinton Portis up our ranks this week, but just because he’s getting close to 100% now doesn’t mean he’ll stay that way all season… The Cards offensive line looks like an improved run-blocking unit, and Edgerrin James seems rejuvenated because of it… Last year Deuce McAllister torched the Bucs for 123 yards rushing and a TD in Week 5 at home; don’t expect that much yardage, but he’s got a great chance to score… It’s make-it-or-break-it week for Packers rookie Brandon Jackson. Perform well against a poor Giants defense or yield carries and snaps to Vernand Morency the following week… Maurice Jones-Drew will improve on his so-so performance in Week 1 against a Falcons team that allowed 140 yards to the Vikings… Running the ball at home against the Broncos is an entirely different proposition for Marshawn Lynch than doing it on the road in Pittsburgh, who only allowed opponents 78 rushing yards/game at home in ’06… Michael Pittman should be featured prominently in the passing game and see at least 14 carries with Carnell Williams out (or at least very limited).

Week 2 Wide Receiver/Tight End Flex Plays

1. Deion Branch, Seattle Seahawks @ ARZ
2. Ronald Curry, Oakland Raiders @ DEN
3. James Jones, Green Bay Packers @ NYG
4. Mike Furrey, Detroit Lions vs. MIN
5. Jeremy Shockey, New York Giants vs. GB
6. Nate Burleson, Seattle Seahawks @ ARZ
7. Isaac Bruce, St. Louis Rams vs. SF
8. Devery Henderson, New Orleans Saints vs. TB
9. Troy Williamson, Minnesota Vikings @ DET
10. Eric Johnson, New Orleans Saints vs. TB

Fortune Cookies:Mike Holmgren has promised to get Deion Branch more involved this week, and it’s a pretty decent matchup on the road… Ronald Curry has loads of talent, but how much attention is he going to get from Champ Bailey with Jerry Porter finding it difficult to separate?… We love the Packers offense and James Jones in this contest versus a laughable Giants secondary and a pass rush missing Osi Umenyiora… The Minnesota defense is tough, but they lack a quality nickel back after Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin, which makes them weak over the middle where Mike Furrey shines… Look for chubby funster Jared Lorenzen to dump off to his safety blanked Jeremy Shockey early and often while under heavy duress from the Green Bay defensive ends… Nate Burleson has the skills and mentality to be a great second WR for Seattle while DJ Hackett is out, but we haven’t seen him perform up to his talent since 2004… Don’t count the old man out just yet, especially in a game at home where Isaac Bruce and the Rams offense figures to be passing often … Devery Henderson tends to score fantasy points in feast or famine fashion due to his huge play ability and unsure hands, but this is a game where we should see one of those huge plays… If Troy Williamson can’t perform on turf versus one of the weakest passing defenses in the NFL on a day when the Vikings will be in need of points, he might not be worth owning any more … Eric Johnson was the lone bright spot for the Saints last Thursday, and Drew Brees knows how to lean on a tight end.

Week 2 Wide Receiver/Running Back Flex Plays

1. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys @ MIA
2. Julius Jones, Dallas Cowboys @ MIA
3. Ahman Green, Houston Texans @ CAR
4. Deion Branch, Seattle Seahawks @ ARZ
5. Derrick Ward, New York Giants vs. GB
6. LenDale White, Tennessee Titans vs. IND
7. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers vs. HOU
8. Ronald Curry, Oakland Raiders @ DEN
9. DeShaun Foster, Carolina Panthers vs. HOU
10. James Jones, Green Bay Packers @ NYG

Fortune Cookies:Marion Barber will be a top flex play every week with his touchdown potential, but he might have earned more touches between the 20s as well… The Cowboys offense if good enough to feature two of the NFL’s top flex options, and Julius Jones is worth starting even against the 8th best rush defense from 2006… Even if Ahman Green is well past his prime and sharing duties with Ron Dayne, it’s a luxury to have a starting running back in your flex slot… The Seattle passing attack is a rhythm unit, and it’s not that unusual for a wide receiver like Deion Branch to start slow in such a system… While he’s this week’s hot waiver wire add, Derrick Ward will find little room to run against a physical Packers D led by run stuffers Nick Barnett and AJ Hawk… We still like LenDale White as the Titans goal line back (after Vince Young) and think the Colts rushing defense’s performance last week was an aberration… DeAngelo Williams can take it to the house on any given play and the Carolina running game will be active at home versus the middling Houston rush defense… DeShaun Foster is technically a starting running back and it’s a good situation for him, but we still believe DeAngelo will overtake him in the near future… Greg Jennings is still hobbled and practicing sparingly, so feel comfortable rolling with James Jones on the road.

Possibly Related Content:

1. Fantasy Football: Week Eight Cheat Sheet


2. Fantasy Football: Week Four Cheat Sheet


3. NFL Fantasy Football: Week One Cheat Sheet


4. Fantasy Football: Week Five Cheat Sheet


5. Fantasy Football: Week Nine Cheat Sheet