Ben Roethlisberger was the big name in fantasy play this week.
Two weeks into the National Football League season and there have already been notable surprises throughout the NFL. Fantasy football players might be in trouble, as there have been numerous injuries so far that have impacted not only the actual games, but also fantasy football games as well.
A few standouts from this past week were:
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Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger — Pittsburgh:
"Big Ben" tallied 30 fantasy points and made his fantasy owners pleased in week two. The Steelers QB absolutely torched the San Francisco 49ers for 369 passing yards and three touchdown passes en route to a 43-18 victory. Look for Roethlisberger to continue to put up numbers like he did this week as he has one of the better wide receiving cores in the NFL.
Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald — Arizona:
The former first-round draft pick put up 29 fantasy points this week as he caught eight passes for 112 yards and three touchdown receptions in the Cardinals 48-23 victory. The 32-year-old receiver was thought to be past his prime, but so far this season Fitzgerald has shown the league that he still has a lot left in the tank.
Running back Matt Jones — Washington:
The Redskins third-round pick in 2015 showed flashes of his potential Sunday when he rushed for 123 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Washington’s 24-10 victory over the St. Louis Rams. That performance by Jones was good for 29 fantasy points in week two. Jones is only owned in 16.4 percent of leagues, so if you need help at the running back position, then this could be a quality option for your team.
Disappointing fantasy performances in week two:
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Quarterback Andrew Luck — Indianapolis:
Luck has gotten off to a subpar start in the 2015 season and his Colts are 0-2. Last week, Luck put up only eight fantasy points as he committed four turnovers and threw for 250 yards passing and one touchdown pass in a 20-7 loss to the New York Jets. If you own Luck, do not panic. He should continue to be your starting quarterback because he can put up great numbers at any time.
Running back Marshawn Lynch — Seattle:
Lynch had a mediocre game Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, as he only managed to earn six fantasy points when he rushed for just 41 yards on 15 attempts. Just like Luck, if you own Lynch, I don't think you should be worried. Seattle relies heavily on the run game so expect Lynch to get about 20 carries each game he is on the field.
Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin — Kansas City:
When Maclin came to the Chiefs this offseason, it was thought that he would jumpstart a passing game in Kansas City that did not produce much in the 2014 season. In the first two weeks, Maclin has been a disappointment as he has caught just nine passes for 109 yards and only managed to put up 10 fantasy points so far in 2015. Maclin is the No. 1 option for the Chiefs, but for a team that has not seen a wide receiver catch a touchdown pass since week 14 of the 2013 season, it is to be determined how much Maclin will produce this season.
Here are a few under-the-radar players that still remain available in several leagues:
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor — Buffalo:
The Bills' quarterback has been impressive so far in the first couple weeks. Taylor, who is only owned in 17.9 percent of ESPN leagues, has thrown for 437 yards and four touchdowns and accumulated 40 fantasy points. Taylor did throw three interceptions in the week two loss against New England, which could be a red flag to potential fantasy owners.
Running Back Dion Lewis — New England:
The former fifth-round draft pick in 2011 from the University of Pittsburgh has bounced around the league. Now it appears as if Lewis has found a home in New England. Lewis is owned in just 40.8 percent of leagues on ESPN, but expect that number to jump significantly after his strong week two performance against Buffalo, when he ran for 40 yards and one touchdown. In addition, Lewis caught six passes for 98 yards.
Wide Receiver Travis Benjamin — Cleveland:
Benjamin, who is owned in just 7 percent of leagues on ESPN, has caught six passes for 204 yards and three touchdowns thus far in 2015. In week two, Benjamin showed off his speed when he returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown. The receiver has the potential to be the explosive player for the Browns offense, which is in dire need of a playmaker.
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