Ok, Week 2 of the 2013 NFL Preseason is behind us, minus the final game of the week. So, who were the Week 2 preseason standouts? What players are on the rise heading into the 2013 fantasy football season? What players are on the decline? Let’s get to it!

Falcons @ Ravens

[level-all]

Falcons

Steven Jackson finally got some run in this game, which was nice to see. Jackson ran the ball 8 times for 42 yards. With Matt Ryan and Julio Jones ready to make history together this year, Jackson is going to have a lot of wide-open rushing lanes. That said, Jacquizz Rodgers is a must-own for all S-Jax owners this season! Ok, so Julio Jones currently has a 2.10 ADP, which is just stupid-low. His 3 receptions for 55 yards and 1TD in this week’s preseason outing may change that ADP slightly, but in the end Julio could crush a 1.12 ADP, so don’t be shy about drafting Julio higher should his ADP climb in the coming weeks; even without an ADP increase, I’ve drafted Julio with bookend 12/13 picks this season (which works perfect if you use my favorite WR/WR strategy this season).

Ravens

Ray Rice ran the ball 8 times for just 10 yards in this game, but this is preseason football and things like that should be completely ignored. That said, Bernard Pierce, who dodged an injury bullet last week, will surely steal some carries away from Rice this season, and that alone makes Pierce a fantastically-sneaky flex option right out of the gate in 2013! And, if he gets the start for any reason this upcoming season, let’s say due to a Rice injury, Pierce would instantly produce top 5-10RB numbers, of that I have very little doubt! Torrey Smith reminded us all this week that he has low-end fantasy WR2 appeal with his 2 receptions for 85 yards and 1TD (with his TD being a 77-yard reception). I myself would find it tough drafting Smith as my fantasy WR2, but if you can land him as an undervalued fantasy WR3, you will be looking at no risk and all upside in 2013!

[/level-all]

Lions @ Browns

[level-all]

Lions

Matthew Stafford is undervalued heading into 2013, but the QB pool is so deep in fantasy this year, it’s hard to value him where he deserves to be valued. This is great news for those that like to wait on a QB on draft day. Stafford dropped 5,038 yards and 41TDs in 2011. It really is crazy reflecting back on that, as those are some big-time numbers. Well, it’s an understatement calling Stafford’s 2012 campaign a disappointment, as he threw for just 20TDs. Well, all that makes for a good buy-low scenario heading into this upcoming year. Do I expect Stafford to throw down 5,000 and 40 again? No, even with the addition of Reggie Bush, and the fact that Ryan Broyles is ready to step-up, I’m not expecting that… it’s possible, but I’m not expecting those kinds of numbers. Still, I think 30-33TDs is relatively-safe expectation-wise, and 4,700-4,900 is very doable. Bush won’t have many 100-yard rushing games in 2013, but he should produce a lot of 4+ reception outings and grab close to 60 receptions on the season. Bush had 5 receptions for 44 yards in his team’s Week 2 preseason battle against the Browns. Stafford went 11-of-16 for 74 yards.

Browns

Brandon Weeden, a player I’ve been quite critical of over the last year, has looked very, very solid so far this preseason. While that could change, I really believe Weeden is going to manage that Browns offense quite efficiently. This is phenomenal news for Trent Richardson owners. I have made it very clear this off-season that Richardson is my No. 1 fantasy rusher heading into this upcoming fantasy season. I feel Norv Turner is going to hand Richardson 14+ scores, if not a lot more, and 1,300-1,400 yards rushing. Mix in 40+ receptions for 400+ yards, well, you’re looking at yet another Norv Turner running back success story. As for Week 2 of the preseason, T-Rich looked fantastic, rushing the ball 6 times for 33 yards (with an impressive 17-yard scamper, where I felt like I was hitting the “circle” button my playstation controller). Expect a lot of “circle” button spin moves this year, folks! Josh Gordon once again proved that he is a beast-in-the-making, pulling in 3 receptions for 72 yards. There are no bigger super-sleepers in the rounds where you can draft a Josh Gordon than Gordon himself and TY Hilton. It was a shame to see Dion Lewis break his leg, as he was set to be a very awesome T-Rich handcuff heading into the 2013 season, a handcuff you would confidently start on a weekly basis if need be. Brandon Jackson, who appears next up for the back-up role, I’m not so sure about. Unlike Lewis, I’m not sure he’d thrive if ever forced into the starting role… this could be good for T-Rich owners, that no one can relieve the stud properly, which means Norv is going give Richardson more carries than most imagine… but, we do want Richardson healthy and not overworked, and we certainly don’t want 390 carries on the year, something that could damage Richardson’s long-term durability.

[/level-all]

Panthers @ Eagles

[level-all]

Panthers

Cam Newton is going to have a big season, especially in leagues that award 6 points per rushing touchdown. His 112 yards passing was nice to see in this Week 2 preseason outing; he has looked in full control of that offense so far this preseason. David Gettis has looked impressive so far this preseason, and he had 5 receptions for 82 yards in this game, but he is battling for that third WR spot on a team that probably won’t even make the No. 2 WR a strong fantasy option on Sundays. Steve Smith is the only elite receiver in this group, and Greg Olsen is probably going to get more TD looks than anyone but Smith, so how consistent can Gettis be?

Eagles

Nick Foles looked solid at times in this one, but he did himself no favors throwing an interception. Vick looks impressive in this new Eagles’ offense, and after looking great last week, Vick went an impressive 9-of-10 for 105 yards. He also threw a pick, but it was a long bomb with 7 seconds left in the first half, so it wasn’t any kind of bad decision by Vick, and it, a deep lob by design, was his only pass not completed. Impressive! While I’d be cautious putting my faith in Vick as my fantasy starter, he is quite the sneaky back-up. Or, if you want to start him right out of the gate, go for it, I really think bounce-back is in the cards here for Vick, but be certain to grab a similar option with just as much upside to back him up (like a Sam Bradford or Ben Roethlisberger). While I admit that LeSean McCoy looked amazing in this game, running for 47 yards and 1TD on just 8 carries, I don’t think many fantasy owners out there are coming to terms with how risky it is to own McCoy this season without having him absolutely handcuffed to Bryce Brown. Concussions are serious, especially when a player has suffered as severe a concussion as McCoy suffered last season (a concussion that kept him out a grip of games, and one that was, at one point, said to be season-threatening). Concussions are tough to predict, and I won’t sit here and suggest that McCoy can’t put head concerns behind him, and not all concussions mean a player will always suffer more concussions… but, one thing is almost for sure… McCoy is likely more susceptible to further concussions, and successive concussions usually take less impact/force than the one prior one(s). Think Jahvid Best and how all his talent didn’t matter when he suffered his second severe concussion (his first in college, this second I speak of in the pros… and that was it, his career was essentially over right then and there despite the lingering around)… and again, I define “severe” as a multiple-game injury, one that strikes fear in people regarding health. That’s what McCoy had! If you own McCoy this season, you need Bryce Brown!!!

[/level-all]

Chargers @ Bears

[level-all]

Chargers

Philip Rivers could have a rough season in 2013, as he has lost multiple reliable weapons to injury; Antonio Gates could benefit, though, from this lack of available receiving options in San Diego this year… Do I trust Ryan Mathews entering 2013? No, I do not, so he is all yours if you draft in a league with me! His 9 carries for 45 yards in this game wasn’t disappointing, but it proves nothing to me. It’s going to take over a season of solid play for Mathews to ever earn even a shot at my trust again.

Bears

Jay Cutler doesn’t even care to pump fake to anyone else when he literally only passes to Brandon Marshall. I somewhat joke… somewhat, as I do like Alshon Jeffery this season, but it’s clear that Cutler and Marshall are going to pick up right where they left off last year, which was feeding Marshall elite fantasy WR1-type production. The funny thing is, no one can seem to do anything about it, and the threat of Matt Forte keeps it that way! And, how about Matt Forte and his burst? He had 8 carries for 74 yards and a score in this game. Beast. I love Forte in the middle-to-late second-round right now, as he has top 5RB upside. I wouldn’t draft him that high, no way, he has a lot of injury risk, but as a middle-to-late second-round pick, a few missed games is built into his value. And, if he doesn’t miss games, you have one of the bigger steals of your draft.

[/level-all]

Vikings @ Bills

[level-all]

Vikings

Unless McLeod Bethel-Thompson is the next Kurt Warner, and anything is possible, I fear inconsistency for Cordarrelle Patterson (2 receptions for 19 yards this week) this season. Do I think he will shine at times? Sure, but he will look good some weeks, and go missing in others. I think the Vikings are in for a long season. Matt Cassel is not the answer, and neither is Ponder… I’m not sure what the Vikings were thinking not going and getting a passer to command this high-potential offense. Without a passer, most of the talent, aside from Adrian Peterson, is going to be extremely underutilized. And some of the talent, like Greg Jennings and Peterson, won’t play elite football for much longer… This team is a center piece away from winning a ton, but the organization failed to deliver a passer. Too bad for Vikings fans!

Bills

It’s a shame that E.J. Manuel required knee surgery this week, and that will surely make his availability for Week 1 a concern… or, it will just make him an even bigger hero if he steps in and wins after 1-2 losses… this kid is the real deal! Enter the new Russell Wilson! Buy-low in dynasty leagues, especially after this injury news! The Bills are going to turn heads in 2013 if he starts games early on… A small observation, Tashard Choice ran hard, and it will be interesting to see if he can beat out Fred Jackson as Spiller’s must-own handcuff this year.

[/level-all]

49ers @ Chiefs

[level-all]

49ers

Not much to see here, as the 49ers starters saw limited action. Although, Frank Gore, a player I have said could be on the decline, may just have another elite year left, proven by his 2 carries for 54 yards (52-yard rumble).

Chiefs

Knile Davis proved productive on certain occasions in this Week 2 preseason outing against the 49ers, as he had a long run of 9 yards and pulled in 3 receptions for 31 yards. He had 10 carries for 37 yards on the night, not a great YPC average, but again, he looked solid.

[/level-all]

Bucs @ Patriots

[level-all]

Bucs

Doug Martin received just 1 carry for 4 yards in this one. Not much to speak on regarding the Bucs, but on the season, Martin is set to produce top 3-6 fantasy RB numbers.

Patriots

Tom Brady went 11-for-12 for 107 yards and 1TD against the Bucs in this Week 2 preseason battle. With an ADP around 3.05-3.09, I’m not sure what most fantasy owners are thinking here… If you can land Brady in the 3rd-round of your upcoming 2013 fantasy football draft, you might just have a top 1-5 overall scorer in your league (depending on your format) at the cost of a third-round pick! It’s head-scratching how far elite QBs are falling just because the QB pool is deep. Who cares if it’s deep, the top 5QBs can still extremely-outperform the closely-bundled 6-12 group. Danny Amendola went nuts in this contest, pulling in 6 receptions for 71 yards and a score. If healthy, Amendola could arguably produce low-end fantasy WR1-type numbers. His health is what makes him a safer bet to count on fantasy WR2-type numbers, and his injury risk also makes Kenbrell Thompkins a super-sleeper even as a rookie!

[/level-all]

Raiders @ Saints

[level-all]

Raiders

The Raiders are in trouble at the QB position, unless of course they just immediately commit to starting Terrelle Pryor. I think Pryor can ball, and he could give this team a chance to develop fast. I’m afraid until they can prove that they can pass the ball, teams will stack the box against Darren McFadden, who had 5 carries for 17 yards in his Week 2 preseason contest. McFadden, very capable of a monster season in 2013, needs honest defenses to successfully run the ball; That Oakland offense, the way it looks today, will not keep defenses honest.

Saints

Drew Brees was his usual self, throwing for 202 yards and 1TD (with the TD pass going to the receiver we talked up last week, Kenny Stills). Stills pulled in 4 receptions for 64 yards and 1TD in this one. Mark Ingram continues to excite me, given his almost-forgotten draft value… he had only 30 yards on 9 carries, but he scored in this one, and he is proving to get carries and an opportunity moving forward, which I believe is all he needs in order to produce at least flex-like fantasy numbers in 2013. He has upside for more, though.

[/level-all]

Cowboys @ Cards

[level-all]

Cowboys

Dez Bryant continues to look the part of a top 2-4 fantasy wide receiver, something we screamed from the rooftops this time last year. In this preseason outing against the Cards, Dez pulled in 4 receptions for 74 yards, with a long of 27 yards. Tony Romo looked good in this one, throwing for 142 yards. Lance Dunbar is a very interesting player to monitor, as he had 2 carries for 61 yards. He runs hard and is just someone to watch over the next couple weeks. Miles Austin looked good in this game, despite only pulling in 2 receptions for 25 yards. If he stays healthy, which is a big IF, he could have a very sneaky fantasy WR3-type season, or should I say low-end fantasy WR2-type season at the cost of a fantasy WR3, which is the only way he shakes out as a bargain.

Cards

When asked what sleeper defense is out there heading into 2013, I have repeatedly said Arizona, and that defensive unit made me feel even more confident about that in this game (2 fumbles, 3INTs, 2 sacks). There isn’t much offensively to review on Arizona’s side of the football in this game, but I still fully expect Larry Fitzgerald to have a monster bounce-back season in 2013!

[/level-all]

Titans @ Bengals

[level-all]

Titans

Ryan Fitzpatrick was a great signing by the Titans, and if he starts, I think Kenny Britt shines right away in 2013… the problem is, Jake Locker might kickoff the season as that Titans’ starter. Britt, who I think could have a big-time fantasy WR2-type season, will need solid QB play to do his damage in 2013, and Chris Johnson, who ran the ball 7 times for 30 yards (2 receptions for 16 yards) in this week’s outing, won’t have open rushing lanes if defenses don’t respect the pass. The fantasy values of CJ2K and Britt depend on that QB situation in TEN this year! This might help you buy-low if you sense a QB change after a few weeks.

Bengals

Andy Dalton was efficient in this game, going 9-of-14 for 115 yards and 1TD, and as I said last week, I like Josh Johnson should anything happen to Dalton this year. That’s security for AJ Green owners! Gio Bernard looked smooth in this game, running the ball 7 times for 37 yards and 1TD. He also pulled in 1 reception for 22 yards. I like this rookie more and more each week, and if the Bengals hand him starter carries, something that didn’t seem to be in the plans via some early off-season public statements, the sky is the limit for Gio in 2013 and beyond. Size is a concern for the long-term, but let’s take it one year at a time and recognize that high-end fantasy RB2-type numbers is possible just as soon as starter carries are available for the little guy.

[/level-all]

Jags @ Jets

[level-all]

Jaguars

It was nice to see Maurice Jones-Drew back in action, but he only had 3 carries for 9 yards in this one. He did have 1 reception for an impressive 20 yards, but if you watched the reception, MJD didn’t look all that speedy, and the coverage was what really allowed for the lengthy reception. Still, it’s nice to see MJD back, and next week will provide us a bit more insight on his potential this upcoming season. Justin Blackmon, who will start the season suspended, pulled in 4 receptions for 46 yards. Blackmon is truly gifted, but tough to trust at this point. He shouldn’t be counted on by anyone entering 2013, which makes him low-risk/high-reward, which is where he belongs for the time being. Blaine Gabbert was actually impressive in this game, which sounds strange to say. He threw for 165 yards and 1TD, going 13-for-16. Still, I’m not convinced just yet that Gabbert can thrive in this league, or stay healthy. Time will tell. Denard Robinson ran the ball 11 times for 29 yards, and pulled in 2 receptions for 16 yards. While those numbers aren’t all that impressive, the carries and workload is, meaning that he has handcuff potential this season.

Jets

If Rex Ryan is smart, he will start Geno Smith and get that ball rolling. Going through the Geno growing pains after the Jets drop a handful of losses won’t allow the Jets to rebound record-wise late in the season.

Texans

[/level-all]

Dolphins @ Texans

[level-all]

Dolphins

Ryan Tannehill went 10-of-15 for 141 yards and 1TD in his team’s Week 2 preseason outing against the Dolphins. He looked good, good enough to keep defenses honest for my boy Lamar Miller (5 carries for 10 yards and an impressive 4-yard touchdown run). Mike Wallace pulling in 3 receptions for 58 yards and 1TD was nice to see, as Tannehill and Wallace haven’t proven to have a strong rapport to date. Looks like they can connect after all! I know most of you are tired of the Lamar Miller content, as I post it at almost every turn, but I want to say that Miller will never be cheaper after two somewhat quiet preseason outings. Act now, especially in dynasty leagues!

Texans

With Arian Foster still out, there isn’t much to review here. Now there is talk about Foster having back issues, needing injections, and pain from his back shooting down to his legs. It could be overblown rumors, or we may learn more and more about all this in the coming weeks. Stay tuned on this, but with lowered value comes buying opportunity. Sometimes a potential bust turns undervalued over night. I’m sniffing that here with Foster, and his dive in value due to this news will have me taking stabs via trade… DeAndre Hopkins did appear to suffer a concussion, which is never a good thing, but this shouldn’t affect his 2013 outlook given it was not suggested to be a severe concussion. There is a big difference. Once a player shows any kind of pattern for concussions, or suffers a concussion which forces multiple missed games, then it’s time to get concerned. For now, just monitor the Hopkins news and hope for the best. If healthy, this kid, who has Cris Carter-like hands, is good enough to eventually be a top 5 fantasy wide receiver!

[/level-all]

Packers @ Rams

[level-all]

Packers

Eddie Lacy ran tough in Week 2 of the preseason, rumbling a lot like a bigger version of Steven Jackson, or maybe a more fit version of Jerome Bettis. Lacy finished with 8 carries for 40 rushing yards. Look, there is no denying this guy has talent and a hard running style that his going to make him successful. For me, though, it has always been about staying healthy. His foot issue is arguable, and there are sources on both sides of the topic… will he have a short NFL career, or are the foot concerns overblown? You be the judge, but know this… I like Lacy when healthy, and I think the safest move one can pull off if they want Lacy (in any format) is to handcuff him to Johnathan Franklin. Handcuffing the duo suddenly turns risk into a sneaky-good fantasy RB2 situation. Doubting a player like I doubt Lacy (for the long-term) doesn’t mean there aren’t creative ways to still invest in risky options while ensuring one doesn’t get burned.

Rams

Sam Bradford continues to look like the poor man’s Tom Brady, going 8-of-12 for 156 yards in this game. Chris Givens is legit, and while he can be drafted as a low-end fantasy WR3/4, for now, as that can change, he could be this year’s surprise fantasy WR2 emergence. Think Marques Colston the year he emerged in the NFL, as he went undrafted in most leagues that year. Clearly Givens is going to be drafted in almost all leagues, but he will be drafted relatively late, so his impact could mirror Colston’s the year that he emerged. Have I beaten a dead horse regarding the rise of Jared Cook? Cook looked like he was playing a high school team when he pulled in his 37-yard reception in this contest. Act now, Cook will never be cheaper via trade. And, if you haven’t drafted, you might be looking at the next Jimmy Graham, so be certain to snag him in your upcoming draft(s), but use ADPs to your advantage!

[/level-all]

Broncos @ SEA

[level-all]

Broncos

Peyton Manning went 11-of-16 in this one, for 163 yards and 1TD. Manning is going to have a monster 2013 season, and Demaryius Thomas, who I’m starting to stop correlating to “high-risk” tags, is set to have a big-time season if healthy. How big? Even with the presence of Wes Welker (3 receptions for 31 yards and 1TD), Thomas could still manage to pull in double-digit touchdowns with 1,300 or so yards (with 80-85 receptions). Ronnie Hillman got the start in this one, but fumbled yet again. He carried the ball 13 times for just 34 yards. While Montee Ball ran impressively, rushing just 6 times for 28 yards, Manning did get leveled while Ball was on the field in pass protection mode. That said, it’s hard to blame every hit to the QB on the rusher, as Ball was busy blocking at the time. It’s not good when Manning gets leveled on your watch, but Hillman isn’t doing himself any favors whatsoever by continuing to put the ball on the ground. I continue to stand by the fact that Montee Ball has elite upside and has an elite skill set… it may take time, which presents a great buy-low situation, but Ball’s elite skill set should eventually shine through. Remember, a runner’s emergence is a marathon sometimes, it’s not always a sprint that ends in the middle of the preseason! I’m taking advantage of all the Montee doubt right now, and I’m offering trades left and right for the doubted rookie! Julius Thomas made a slash in this one, pulling in 4 receptions for 70 yards. He looks like a solid sleeper tight end heading into 2013!

Seahawks

Russell Wilson looked every bit the stud that he is in this game, going 8-of-12 for 127 yards and 2TDs. This team is so fun to watch, and Wilson just wins. It’s like each drive is a win to the guy, he is amazing to watch. Wilson, underrated by default given the depth at the QB position this year, is going to have a cup of coffee with the top 4-6 fantasy QBs all year long.

[/level-all]

Colts @ Giants

[level-all]

Colts

Is everyone starting to see that TY Hilton has the ‘eventual’ upside of a true fantasy WR1? He may never unseat any of the big 3-4 (Calvin Johnson, AJ Green, Julio Jones or Dez Bryant), and he may not be the 5th- or 6th-best fantasy wide receiver in the coming years, but Hilton can eventually be a top 10 fantasy receiver in his league, something I’ve been screaming since January. Don’t even consider drafting Hilton as even a fantasy WR2, because you don’t have to, but draft Hilton as your low-end fantasy WR3 and get ready for a whole lot more. Andrew Luck could be a top 5-7 fantasy quarterback this year, proven by his insanely-accurate passing during this Week 2 preseason contest (9-of-13 for 107 yards and 2TDs). Reggie Wayne might still have another great season left in the tank, something I wasn’t predicting recently. It’s the preseason, things change, some players look good in the preseason and then vanish into the night once Week 1 approaches, but that doesn’t appear to be the case when it comes to Wayne. Wayne still looks like a high-end fantasy WR2, something that doesn’t concern me at all when speaking about Hilton emerging as a future fantasy WR1. Hilton won’t be a fantasy WR1 just yet, it could take one more year, but elite fantasy WR2-type numbers, even as early as this year, is doable for Hilton, no question. Luck can produce two strong receivers this year!

Giants

David Wilson showed awesome burst on his 21-yard rumble in Week 2 of the preseason. He finished with 34 yards on 8 carries and pulled in 2 passes for 21 yards. While I still worry about the Giants not using Wilson properly this year, think CJ Spiller last year, but I still love Wilson as a player easily capable of playing like a top 5-10 fantasy runner in 2013! Breakout alert all the way!

[/level-all]

Steelers @ Redskins

[level-all]
Pending completion of this game…
[/level-all]