Monday Morning Hangover: Week Two

Jeff Haverlack

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Every Sunday we’re featuring the Sunday Six Pack that covers the day’s biggest storylines. We follow this up each and every Monday with The Monday Morning Hangover, which looks back on those stories and covers what we learned. These back-to-back articles are sure to get you primed, pumped and informed throughout the entire season. In addition, reading these articles will ensure you understand the dangers of not paying attention or drinking too much on Sundays.

Can #1) Rusty RG3

In a game that largely mirrored his week one performance vs. the Eagles, RGIII was completely absent in the first half before posting noteworthy fantasy production in the second half.  The Green Bay Packers defense thoroughly frustrated the visiting Redskins and was stout for the first three quarters of play.  In the end, Griffin was able to post fantasy relevant numbers, taking advantage of a  defense set to take away the big play.  On the day, Griffin threw for 320 yards, three touchdowns with only a single interception.  What remains absent from his game is the running dynamic that kept defenses on their heels.  To anyone familiar with RGIII early in 2012, it’s obvious that he’s still within the psychological recovery period of his knee injury.  Current owners shouldn’t panic but nor can they expect week-over-week QB1 performance.

Can #2) Megatron vs. Peterson

Megatron didn’t pile up the receptions, but he made them count.  Six receptions, 116 yards and two touchdowns made fantasy owners smile as they rejoiced in the resurgence of the game’s top wideout.  There’s not much to say here as Johnson will make any defensive back look like a rookie on any given play.  To his credit, Patrick Peterson played Johnson tough and nearly shut him down in the second half.  And just in case the Cardinals were to lose Palmer due to injury, Peterson looked pretty nifty in the rare cornerback option play that he successfully completed.  On the day Peterson threw for 17 yards on a single pass attempt.  Beat that Calvin!

Can #3) Paging Doug Martin

Doug Martin found the running lanes much wider during the Buc’s tilt vs. New Orleans in week two.  On the day, he rumbled for 144 yards on 29 attempts, good for five yard per carry.  Of greater concern is the continued poor play by signal caller Josh Freeman.  At times, Freeman has looked lost and without confidence.  As rumors swirl of a growing rift between he and the coaching staff, one has to wonder just how short the leash actually is. For Martin, it was notable that he didn’t record a single reception, something the that needs to remedied post-haste.  With a road trip to New England on tap in week three, Freeman will at least have one more week to stave off the calls for rookie Mike Glennon to be given a chance under center.  As for Doug Martin, his fantasy prospects over the next three to four weeks look promising.

Can #4) Henne For Your Thoughts

For his part, Chad Henne did play mistake free football, but could only muster 241 yards and a single touchdown.  But hey, to Jaguar fans, that equates to an offensive power surge.  Henne is clearly more capable under center than is Blaine Gabbert but there simply isn’t enough capability present to change the certainty of what’s to come in 2014.  The Jaguars will be picking highly in the first round of the 2014 draft and will have a number of athletic and exciting quarterbacks to choose from.  Be patient Jacksonville, a new era will be upon you soon.

Can #5) Dolphins and Colts and Running Backs, Oh My!

Both backs, Lamar Miller of the Dolphins and Ahmad Bradshaw of the Colts, played to a tie on Sunday, at least statistically speaking.  Miller tallied 69 yards and a touchdown on 14 totes while Bradshaw chimed in with 65 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.  Both produced minimally in the passing game as well.  For fantasy owners, two different questions loom.  For Bradshaw owners – Just how many carries can he shoulder before his health is again threatened?  For Miller owners – Will the Dolphins’ coaching staff provide more carries toward establishing him as a potential lead back?  The logical answers to both will likely limit both runners to some extent, but not so much that they won’t be able to produce as a RB2s going forward.  Bradshaw owners can be happy with that result while Miller owners have to be somewhat disappointed.

Can #6) The Manning Drinking Game 

It wasn’t the offensive show that many were expecting and, in the end, brother Peyton emerged as the victor, besting brother Eli by the score of 41-23.  Peyton threw for 307 yards and added two more scores for a total of nine in the young season.  Eli threw for 362 yards and a single touchdown but was intercepted four times on the day.  Both teams are heading in decidedly opposite directions.  The Broncos are the odds-on favorite to reach the Super Bowl in the AFC and the Giants look to be staring down last place in their division if they can’t right the ship.  Whereas Peyton is a sure-fire every-week starter in fantasy, Eli is now nothing more than a solid QB2 play with upside.  Additional game note:  Knowshon Moreno anyone?  Moreno was a bonefide RB1 to end 2012 and it appears as though he’s now the clear-cut primary back to own in the backfield.

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jeff haverlack