Week 2 pickups of the week
week 2 pickups of the week
QB: Christian Ponder
Ponder had his most accurate game as a pro last week, dissecting the Jacksonville Jaguars for 270 yards on 20 of 27 passing. Embattled and often hamstrung as a rookie, the strong-armed QB looks to have earned a longer leash in his second year. And where he lacked a reliable supporting cast in 2011, he now benefits from an apparently healthy Adrian Peterson and an apparently healthy Kyle Rudolph. He's still a work in progress, but early returns are positive and the Vikings pivot could be a sneaky good play against the miserable Indianapolis Colts in Week 2.
Rb: Alfred Morris
Morris drew the start and (somewhat unexpectedly) carried the load for the Redskins on Sunday, tallying 96 yards and two TDs on 28 carries. Because the Redskins held the lead, their rookie back benefitted from 11 clock-burning fourth quarter carries. That won't always be the case, as we suspect the better rounded Roy Helu will get the call when his team is playing from behind. There are no guarantees in Mike Shanahan's backfield, but with the lowly Rams next on tap, Morris owners should breathe easy for at least one more week.
Wr: Randall Cobb
Cobb, a converted college quarerback, barely factored into Green Bay's offensive plans in 2011, though he did turn heads as a dynamic return man. A remarkable athlete, Cobb looks to have earned a feature role on offense this year. In addition to his punt and kick return duties, he lined up at both running back and receiver versus the 49ers. The athletic multi-threat didn't record a carry, but caught all nine passes thrown his way and scored on a punt return while netting 230 combined total yards. He has all the makings of a bona fide fantasy superstar and should be scooped off any unplundered waiver wires immediately.
Wr:steven hill
Offensive dominance is not something many of us expected to see from the Jets this year. And few of us expected a large segment of that dominance to be delivered in the hands of a rookie wide receiver who admitted to ESPN.com in the preseason that running proper pro routes was a struggle. But Hill, an imposing big-bodied receiver with blazing speed, looked to have found his stride during his regular season debut. The Georgia Tech product scorched the Jets for five catches, 89 yards and two scores, despite playing through a stomach bug that had him puking on the sidelines in between plays. He and QB Mark Sanchez will be hard-pressed to maintain their elevated level of play against Pittsburgh in Week 2, but this tandem will have plenty of opportunities down the road to get better acquainted with one another.
Wr: Kevin Ogletree
Ogletree recorded the first two touchdowns of his NFL career last Wednesday during a performance that will almost certainly make the fourth-year wideout the most added fantasy player for Week 2. Last season, Laurent Robinson thrived in the third WR-role that Ogletree now holds. It bears mentioning, however, that Ogletree's breakout game came against a Giants secondary that has been decimated by injuries. In addition, two of the best Cowboys receivers -- Jason Witten and Miles Austin -- were limited by injuries, forcing Tony Romo to spread the ball around. Don't expect double-digit fantasy points to be the norm, but if you have room on your roster Ogletree is definitely worth the add.
Wr-rb: Dexter McCluster
A utility knife player who was too often kept in the drawer during the Todd Haley days, McCluster looked sharp and figured prominently in new coordinator Brian Daboll's offense. Though he didn't take any handoffs, McCluster was the top receiving target for the Chiefs on Sunday. His skills have never been in question, it was just a matter of getting the ball in his hands. With a new lease on life and a more clearly defined offensive role, he could be in line for a breakthrough season.
Te: Kyle Rudolph
The 22-year-old was a popular sleeper pick in fantasy drafts this year and tantalized those risk-taking owners with an impressive Week 1 performance. Rudolph was a matchup nightmare for the Jaguars, burning them for 67 yards including a beautiful 29-yard basket catch that nearly landed him in the endzone. A borderline top-10 fantasy tight end, Rudolph is the healthiest he's been as a pro and seems to be developing great chemistry with QB Christian Ponder. These two could hook up often next week against the lowly Colts.
Kicker: Blair Walsh
On the one hand, Blair had a shaky preseason with three missed field goals. On the other hand, his 12 preseason attempts were an indication not only of his job security, but also of how much work he was likely to get when the games started to matter. The rookie kicker had a stellar debut in his team's home opener, hitting on attempts from 20,42, 55 and 38 yards, including a game-tie with zeroes on the clock and a game-winner in overtime. The youngster acquitted himself well and proved he could be counted on to perform under pressure. Keep him in mind if your drafted kicker disappoints you.
QB: Christian Ponder
Ponder had his most accurate game as a pro last week, dissecting the Jacksonville Jaguars for 270 yards on 20 of 27 passing. Embattled and often hamstrung as a rookie, the strong-armed QB looks to have earned a longer leash in his second year. And where he lacked a reliable supporting cast in 2011, he now benefits from an apparently healthy Adrian Peterson and an apparently healthy Kyle Rudolph. He's still a work in progress, but early returns are positive and the Vikings pivot could be a sneaky good play against the miserable Indianapolis Colts in Week 2.
Rb: Alfred Morris
Morris drew the start and (somewhat unexpectedly) carried the load for the Redskins on Sunday, tallying 96 yards and two TDs on 28 carries. Because the Redskins held the lead, their rookie back benefitted from 11 clock-burning fourth quarter carries. That won't always be the case, as we suspect the better rounded Roy Helu will get the call when his team is playing from behind. There are no guarantees in Mike Shanahan's backfield, but with the lowly Rams next on tap, Morris owners should breathe easy for at least one more week.
Wr: Randall Cobb
Cobb, a converted college quarerback, barely factored into Green Bay's offensive plans in 2011, though he did turn heads as a dynamic return man. A remarkable athlete, Cobb looks to have earned a feature role on offense this year. In addition to his punt and kick return duties, he lined up at both running back and receiver versus the 49ers. The athletic multi-threat didn't record a carry, but caught all nine passes thrown his way and scored on a punt return while netting 230 combined total yards. He has all the makings of a bona fide fantasy superstar and should be scooped off any unplundered waiver wires immediately.
Wr:steven hill
Offensive dominance is not something many of us expected to see from the Jets this year. And few of us expected a large segment of that dominance to be delivered in the hands of a rookie wide receiver who admitted to ESPN.com in the preseason that running proper pro routes was a struggle. But Hill, an imposing big-bodied receiver with blazing speed, looked to have found his stride during his regular season debut. The Georgia Tech product scorched the Jets for five catches, 89 yards and two scores, despite playing through a stomach bug that had him puking on the sidelines in between plays. He and QB Mark Sanchez will be hard-pressed to maintain their elevated level of play against Pittsburgh in Week 2, but this tandem will have plenty of opportunities down the road to get better acquainted with one another.
Wr: Kevin Ogletree
Ogletree recorded the first two touchdowns of his NFL career last Wednesday during a performance that will almost certainly make the fourth-year wideout the most added fantasy player for Week 2. Last season, Laurent Robinson thrived in the third WR-role that Ogletree now holds. It bears mentioning, however, that Ogletree's breakout game came against a Giants secondary that has been decimated by injuries. In addition, two of the best Cowboys receivers -- Jason Witten and Miles Austin -- were limited by injuries, forcing Tony Romo to spread the ball around. Don't expect double-digit fantasy points to be the norm, but if you have room on your roster Ogletree is definitely worth the add.
Wr-rb: Dexter McCluster
A utility knife player who was too often kept in the drawer during the Todd Haley days, McCluster looked sharp and figured prominently in new coordinator Brian Daboll's offense. Though he didn't take any handoffs, McCluster was the top receiving target for the Chiefs on Sunday. His skills have never been in question, it was just a matter of getting the ball in his hands. With a new lease on life and a more clearly defined offensive role, he could be in line for a breakthrough season.
Te: Kyle Rudolph
The 22-year-old was a popular sleeper pick in fantasy drafts this year and tantalized those risk-taking owners with an impressive Week 1 performance. Rudolph was a matchup nightmare for the Jaguars, burning them for 67 yards including a beautiful 29-yard basket catch that nearly landed him in the endzone. A borderline top-10 fantasy tight end, Rudolph is the healthiest he's been as a pro and seems to be developing great chemistry with QB Christian Ponder. These two could hook up often next week against the lowly Colts.
Kicker: Blair Walsh
On the one hand, Blair had a shaky preseason with three missed field goals. On the other hand, his 12 preseason attempts were an indication not only of his job security, but also of how much work he was likely to get when the games started to matter. The rookie kicker had a stellar debut in his team's home opener, hitting on attempts from 20,42, 55 and 38 yards, including a game-tie with zeroes on the clock and a game-winner in overtime. The youngster acquitted himself well and proved he could be counted on to perform under pressure. Keep him in mind if your drafted kicker disappoints you.
Ponder... 
