Going Deep: Week 2 WR
September 4th, 2008 by Vince Mullins
Week One served up some hellacious upsets and some new names on the scene. I hope you checked out my Twitter feed to follow the action – and yes, I was watching the Navy-Towson game…that is why I do what I do. I GO DEEP.
I will soon dig in to some of the interesting matchups for the week now that the totals are out (I feel naked without them) – but you know what comes first…
PERMASTARTERS
1. Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech at Nevada (Get it in Gear, you BAMF – #3 start of the week)
2. Chris Williams, New Mexico State IDLE (Again? Is he on a milk carton?)
3. Jarett Dillard, Rice at Memphis (My #1 start of the week, all formats)
4. Dante Love, Ball State vs. Navy (FRIDAY – this could get ugly)
5. Emmanuel Sanders, SMU vs. Texas State Armadillos (Friday)
6. Michael Thomas, Arizona vs. Toledo (#2 start of week)
7. Jeremy Maclin, Missouri vs. SEMO (stay tuned on ankle tendon, early call is he suits up)
8. Casey Fitzgerald, North Texas hosts Tulsa (looking for more than 3 out of the Green)
9. Bryan Anderson, Central Michigan at Georgia (testing the theory here – I admit I had to start Greg Orton of Purdue vs. Northern Colorado over him in one league.)
10. Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State hosts Houston (a barnburner. Just throw it high to Dez)
Hot Routes
New QB Christian Ponder for Florida State – immediately upgrade Greg Carr (right, Icon SMI).
WTF is Taylor Price of Ohio and his 14 catches? Bobcats throwing the ball, what is next – West Virginia chucking it more than running it? It all stops now versus the Buckeyes’s CB Malcom Jenkins, but will it pick up in Week three? Likely yes as they adjust to life without RB Kalvin McRae. Sit Price this week, revisit when they host Central Michigan.
Patrick White threw five TDs? Still shaking my head and my couch is on fire- don’t go gaga over WR Jocque Sanders and Alric Arnett, although they should do better against ECU than Virginia Tech did .. Likely Coach Stewart showed this to get safeties off the line for future games.
Drop all BC WRs – Matt Ryan ain’t here, some 6’5″ sprinter with no moves is at QB.
Mike Jones of Arizona State is a top 5 start of the week against a Stanford defense with as many holes as Barack Obama’s foreign policy plans (or McCain’s history with lobbyists – equal opportunity here.) Keep an eye out for Sun Devil WR Chris McGaha as well.
I still can’t figure out Oregon WR depth chart, especially with QB4/5 combo at the helm. At least QB Chris Harper has a pedigree. As for the wideouts I simply throw up my hands in this crapshoot even against the ghastly Utah State D. I would pay to see the Oregon WRs play pickup hoops against USC’s, but I couldn’t tell you who will emerge as a credible and consistent threat.
Brandon Gibson of Washington State has a horrible time getting open, and when he did had a hard time securing the football against Oklahoma State. This week they face Cal who allowed Michigan State Mark Dell to look like Jerry Rice for a couple hours. Elevate Gibby to primetime (and no you CBSers, not the freshman from Alabama).
Oregon ran all over Washington, and I expect the same of BYU to trample Washington. So careful with Cougar WR Austin Collie and TE Dennis Pitta. Although careful maybe 100 yds and no TDs.
Beaver wide receivers will have it rougher this week when they travel across this great country to face Penn State – Oregon State’s Sammie Stroughter and James Rodgers are great talents but should get fantasy pine against one of the nations top defenses. That goes for 13-catch man Shane Morales too. If Stroughter goes off here (100 and a TD), then he receives a free pass to Permastarter.
Don’t forget the 2008 debut of Notre Dame hosting San Diego State (NBC won’t let you anyway). If Duval Kamara is a free-agent, grab this budding superstar immediately. That should not have happened since I had him in my preseason top 30, but some of you are new…
Nebraska allowed Western Michigan QB Tim Hiller to throw for 342 last week, so imagine how WR Kevin Jurovich is licking his chops as San Jose State goes to Lincoln. Prime Time Jurovich with new QB Kyle Reed taking over under center.
CAREFUL – MAC Special
Stephen Williams, Toledo at Arizona – opener for the Rockets, Wildcats just pitched a shutout against a run-heavy Idaho team. Aaron Opelt has not impressed me as a QB at all – you may have to bench him even with a bunch of newbies at CB.
Nathan Palmer, Northern Illinois at Western Michigan – a brutal cocktail of a 30ypc in his debut redshirt-freshman WR with a redshirt-freshman QB taking on a solid defense on the road. Crap, I will start one of the Ducks before this guy. Nathan Palmer is no Brennan Marion.
Sleepers
Akron QB Chris Jacquemain put up some good digits against Wisconsin, and I have seen Coach Brookhart get more out of less talent. JUCO WR Deryn Browser might embarrass Syracuse DBs.
Remember John Huss’ article on sleeper QB Omar Clayton of UNLV? He throws to WR Ryan Wolfe, an above average Fantasy player in all-FBS leagues. Start Wolfe against Utah if you need a WR3.
Darius Heyward-Bey, Maryland at MTSU – DHB is no sleeper to NFL draftniks, but fantasy guys can’t stand the poor QB play of Jordan Steffy. Chris Turner is back now, might be good for 80 and a touch.
TIGHT ENDS
Houstons TE Mark Hafner looks like the next Garrett Mills as the “Big Slot” caught 7-103T2. Iowa’s Tony Moeaki out again for Week 2. Western Michigan TE tradition alive still with Brendan Ledbetter, you cannot allow him to be a free agent any longer. Dennis Pitta continues to tear it up for BYU, despite no trips to paydirt he caught 11 for 213 in Week One and demands to be a top 5 TE. FAU turned to Jamari Grant to man the TE spot in absence of Sun Belt All-Conference Jason Harmon (out ACL), and he responded with four receptions and 93 yards against Texas.
You can email me at vince@fantasycollegeblitz.com. This weekend the crew will be at USF at UCF, but you can follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/fcblitz just about every other weekend.
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