Players to start, and to avoid, in Week 2

[Glaken]

Players to start, and to avoid, in Week 2

By JOHN McFARLAND
Associated Press Writer
The top player on most preseason fantasy football lists suddenly is looking a little shaky.
Not only did Larry Johnson's streak of nine straight 100-yard rushing games come screeching to a halt in the Chiefs' opening-day loss, but the entire offense is questionable after quarterback Trent Green's frightful head injury.
While Green's out, defenses can stack the line to stop Johnson and pay very little attention to non-threatening backup Damon Huard. Add to that the offseason departures of tackle Willie Roaf and lead blocker Tony Richardson, as well as nagging injuries along the line, and there's some real concern.
But don't panic, Johnson owners, and certainly don't fall for any lame trades from bargain-hunting, fear-detecting opponents. Johnson should be fine.
While Huard scares no one, he is savvy enough to run a dink-and-dunk attack with many passes to Johnson, who caught five for 80 yards last week. And the Chiefs have a favorable schedule, with a Week Three bye followed by San Francisco and Arizona. That'll give Green time to heal or the Chiefs time to find a replacement.
As you decide what to do with Johnson or develop devious schemes to acquire him, here's a look at some players to start in Week 2, some to avoid and a few long shots that just may pan out:
QUARTERBACKS

A SAFE BET

- Tom Brady's so comfortable in the new receiver-free offense that the Patriots unloaded Deion Branch. And Brady faces a Jets defense that gave up some big yardage to the very recently unemployed Kerry Collins.
- Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck usually lays out the Cardinals by handing off to Shaun Alexander. But this Arizona defense was lit up by the 49ers, and the Seahawks are eager to improve on their three field goal display in Detroit.
- The Rams also only scored field goals last week, so look for Marc Bulger to show the offense hasn't been reduced to the Greatest Toe on Turf. The last time Bulger faced the 49ers he went for 362 yards and two TDs.
- The Jets' Chad Pennington didn't look so noodle-armed after all, piling up 319 yards against the Titans. He has a history of duds against the Patriots, but this is a new system.
- Look for Carolina's Jake Delhomme to bounce back if top receiver Steve Smith plays. If not, don't even think about starting him.
TAKE A SHOT

- San Diego's Philip Rivers has a whole week of experience under his belt and gets to play an aggressively cooperative Tennessee pass defense.
BACK AWAY SLOWLY AND NOBODY GETS HURT

Please, in the name of the Huard brothers, don't start these guys:
- Think deep down Miami's Daunte Culpepper really misses Randy Moss? He now boasts these stats without his former long-ball partner: 6 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and a 2-6 record.
- Dallas' Drew Bledsoe isn't usually this sloppy until late in the season. Sure, he's playing without a line, but nine interceptions in his last four games will have Texas Stadium chanting ``Romo! Romo!''
- Tampa Bay's Chris Simms, still whimpering in the fetal position after what the Ravens did to him, now has to face the brutal Falcons.
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RUNNING BACKS

ALL DAY LONG

- After 55 yards rushing last week, it's clear the Colts miss Edgerrin James. But they're playing the Texans, who are missing just about everything on defense, so start Dominic Rhodes and/or Joseph Addai.
- Start everybody in the Green Bay-New Orleans game. The Packers will keep handing off to Ahman Green just because he doesn't throw interceptions. Holes in the Packers defense are big enough for both Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister.
- Baltimore's Jamal Lewis was solid against a tough Tampa Bay defense so should find plenty of space against a Raiders run defense that has apparently packed it in with 15 weeks to go.
- The Vikings seem content to hand off to Chester Taylor whether he gains yards or not. He faces the Panthers' vaunted defense that last week seemed content to watch guys run by.
- San Francisco's Frank Gore epitomizes the twisted fantasy football world: Millions of viewers will sit through a rotten 49ers game just to see Gore pile up fantasy points.
HE COULD FIND A SEAM

- Detroit's Kevin Jones could become the second straight back to put up big yardage in garbage time with the Bears comfortably ahead. He's scored in two of his last three games against Chicago.
RED FLAGS

- If you thought Oakland's Lamont Jordan looked bad in his 20-yard day against San Diego, wait until you see him against the Ravens.
- Good news: It's Week 2 and Jacksonville's Fred Taylor isn't hurt! Bad news: He faces the scary and rested Steelers, who held Miami's Ronnie Brown to 2 yards a carry.
- The Colts allowed a whopping 186 yards rushing to the Giants last week, but Houston's Wali Lundy will be lucky to get 18.6 yards.
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WIDE RECEIVERS

THROW HIM THE DARN BALL!

- Cincinnati's Chad Johnson hasn't scored on Cleveland in four of their last five meetings, but now that Carson Palmer's warm he should get his first chance to test the NFL's no-celebration rule.
- Even though he only beat up on the little Texans, Philadelphia's Donte' Stallworth should stay in your lineup. Donovan McNabb is healthy and running the offense masterfully.
- Jacksonville's Matt Jones is a 6-foot-6 leaper, the perfect target for Byron Leftwich to hurriedly loft passes to in the few seconds before Steelers blitzers get him.
- Keep starting Antonio Bryant, who has posted two straight 100-yard games, because the 49ers always need to pass while trying to catch up.
- Remember Santana Moss' last trip to Dallas? That was when he had 109 yards on two TD catches in the final few minutes.
MAYBE THROW HIM THE DARN BALL?

- Minnesota's Troy Williamson is really fast, and sometimes he actually holds onto the ball.
SHOW HIM THE DARN BENCH:

- Bench Randy Moss, who faces a Ravens defense tougher than the one that just shut out Oakland. (Moss probably misses Culpepper, too, by the way.)
- Remember Reggie Brown, the guy you drafted because he was Philadelphia's No. 1 receiver? In case you missed the news, that's not the case anymore.
- Don't get too excited by Muhsin Muhammad's first 100-yard day in about 50 years. He won't do it again until the next time his Bears play the Packers.
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FREE AGENT SHOPPING LIST

Snag these guys if they're available in your league:
- QB Chad Pennington of the Jets (319 yards, 2 TDs), 264-pound short-yardage RB Brandon Jacobs of the Giants (54 yards rushing, TD), QB Alex Smith of the 49ers (288 yards, TD), RB Correll Buckhalter of the Eagles (50 yards), WR Michael Jenkins of the Falcons (77 yards, TD).
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WHAT DO I KNOW?

Here's the best and worst of last week's projections:
- Big Hits: I reached the somewhat obvious conclusion that Kurt Warner (301 yards, 3 TDs) would do well against the 49ers. I also saw good things for Laveranues Coles (153 yards) and Antonio Bryant (114 yards), as well as failure for Kevin Jones (35 yards).
- Big Misses: I was wrong on the seemingly obvious conclusion that Carson Palmer would do well (127 yards, no TDs). I expected big days from Reuben Droughns (27 yards) and Javon Walker (41 yards). And I expected a flop from Michael Vick (2 TD passes).

[winkyduck]

we have the ravens D and lamont jordan

NO WAY IN HELL we start him - even though he was out #1 pick - he SITS this week and we are gonna play K. Jones and Tatum Bell