Weak Defenses & Favorable Week 2 Matchups

[electramax]

Rep for posting this...basically it's why I'm starting Eli Manning and Chris Johnson

[FatFoot]

I actually think Carolina is a strong play against the Bears.

In what sense?

Carolina WRs vs. Bears Secondary?
Carolina RBs vs. Bears Rush D?

Because neither of those looks like a walk in the park, if the Bear D is going to play like something that resembles 2005 (due to health.) Vasher's condition has been upgraded. Delhomme has always been shaky when pressured. The Bears know everything that there is to know about Mushin Muhammad... there's no Steve Smith... neither Panther RB will get a full share of playing time... I don't like anything about Carolina vs Chicago for fantasy purposes.

NFL is another story.

And yes, I'm a homer. But it doesn't change the reality of the matchup.

[The Lung]

Worst Run Defenses from Week 1 (Yds. Allowed, Rushing TDs given up)

27 Cleveland Browns 167.0, 3
28 Houston Texans 183.0, 3
28 Indianapolis Colts 183.0, 2
30 Green Bay Packers 187.0, 1
31 Cincinnati Bengals 229.0, 2
32 Detroit Lions 318.0, 3

Matchups in week 2:
Browns vs. Steelers (Willie Parker, Rashard Mendenhall)
Texans vs. Ravens (Willis McGahee if healthy, Ray Rice)
Colts @ Vikings (Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor)
Packers @ Lions (Kevin Smith)
Bengals vs. Titans (Chris Johnson, Lendale White)
Lions vs. Packers (Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson)

Worst Pass Defenses from Week 1 (Yds. Allowed, Passing TDs given up)

29 Oakland Raiders 299.0, 2
30 Cleveland Browns 320.0, 1
31 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 337.0, 3
32 St. Louis Rams 414.0, 3

Matchups in week 2:
Raiders @ Chiefs (Dwayne Bowe, Tony Gonzalez)
Browns vs. Steelers (Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Heath Miller)
Bucs vs. Falcons (Roddy White, Michael Jenkins)
Rams vs. Giants (Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress)

What does this all mean? It shows the worst run defenses and pass defenses from week 1 and the opponents they face in week 2. Although the data pool is limited to one data point (and you should never bench your studs) if I've got a borderline roster sit/start decision, I may go with the favorable matchup shown.

If you started these players, here's how you did:

Willie Parker: 105 yards, Rashard Mendenhall: 0 yards.
Willis McGahee, Ray Rice: DNP
Adrian Peterson: 180 total yards, Chester Taylor 16 total yards.
Kevin Smith: 61 total yards.
Chris Johnson: 121 total yards, Lendale White: 59 yards, 1 TD.
Ryan Grant: 20 yards, Brandon Jackson: 63 total yards, 1 TD.

Dwayne Bowe: 90 yards, Tony Gonzalez: 39 yards, 1 TD.
Ben Roethlisberger: 186 yards, 1 TD, Hines Ward: 59 yards, 1 TD, Santonio Holmes: 94 yards, Heath Miller: 33 yards.
Roddy White: 59 yards, Michael Jenkins: 0 yards.
Eli Manning: 260 yards, 3 TD, Plaxico Burress: 81 yards, 1 TD.

All in all, not too shabby. Mendenhall wasn't used at all during the game but I'd be shocked if anybody started him. To be honest, I expected AD to break 200 yards rushing! Grant was coming off a hamstring injury.