FANTASY

Fantasy Player Projections

Quarterbacks

Rank	Team	Player	Projection	Opponent
1			Cam Newton 319 pass yards, 3 pass TDs, 20 rush yards Newton is licking his chops thinking about a Giants secondary that was unable to slow down Dallas and Tampa Bay this season. Fantasy owners can count on 30-plus attempts.	vs
2			Robert Griffin III 248 pass yards, 2 pass TDs, 51 rush yards The Bengals made Brandon Weeden look like a star last week. Robert Griffin III is a star. RGIII will tear up a defense that has allowed 9.4 yards per attempt and more than 300 passing yards a game.	vs
3			Drew Brees 305 pass yards, 3 pass TDs, INT When fantasy owners take a quarterback in the first round, they don't expect four interceptions in the first two weeks. Luckily, Brees threw for more than 300 yards in both games, with four touchdown passes. He should do very well against the Chiefs in Week 3.	vs
4			Matthew Stafford 293 pass yards, 3 pass TDs, INT The Titans allow opposing quarterbacks to complete a league-high 74.6 percent of their attempts, and only Washington has allowed more passing touchdowns. That's good news for Stafford, who has thrown just two touchdowns this season. Fantasy owners can expect the top-five fantasy quarterback to get his groove back this weekend.	at
5			Matt Ryan 250 pass yards, 3 pass TDs, INT Ryan outperformed Peyton Manning on Monday Night Football. His five touchdown passes are the most in the NFL, and only Robert Griffin III and Eli Manning rank better in fantasy scoring. He's a must-start player at San Diego.	at
6			Tony Romo 312 pass yards, 2 pass TDs, INT, 14 rush yards Whereas some quarterbacks such as Aaron Rodgers and Michael Vick have been slow coming out of the gate, Romo has met fantasy owners' expectations, ranking among the top-10 in both yards and touchdown passes. This week he faces a Buccaneers defense that has allowed a league-worst 801 passing yards.	vs
7			Andy Dalton 295 pass yards, 2 pass TDs Just the facts: Washington is without Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker, and so far has allowed more passing touchdowns than any other defense. Again, just the facts…	at
8			Aaron Rodgers 241 pass yards, 2 pass TDs, 13 rush yards For the third straight week Rodgers faces a stiff test. The Seahawks have been thrown on a lot this year, but their defense has allowed opposing passers to complete just 56.6 percent of their passes, and for just 6.1 yards per attempt. Rodgers will again be solid for fantasy owners, but not special.	at
9			Michael Vick 270 pass yards, 2 pass TDs, 2 INTs, 40 rush yards No. 7 bounced back from a four-interception game at Cleveland to throw for 371 yards and a touchdown against the Ravens in Week 2. The Cardinals have yet to allow a rushing touchdown, but they aren't slouches against the pass, either. Nevertheless, Vick remains a solid starter while he's healthy.	at
10			Jay Cutler 270 pass yards, 2 pass TDs, INT, 15 rush yards Cutler started strong in Week 1, moving from fantasy QB2 to fantasy QB1 status after his game against the Colts. But the game against the Packers in Week 2 was sobering, as Cutler threw for just 126 yards and four interceptions. Until the Bears sort out their protection issues, Cutler is a borderline fantasy starter each week.	vs
11			Alex Smith 250 pass yards, 2 pass TDs Smith has been considered a safe, boring fantasy quarterback over the past couple of seasons. But boring got 27 fantasy points for the second week in a row, and he hasn't thrown an interception in his last 216 passes. He should have a similarly decent day against Minnesota.	at
12			Ben Roethlisberger 260 pass yards, 2 pass TDs, INT, 15 rush yards Big Ben has enjoyed a great start to the season so far, with two touchdown passes in each of his first two games. The Raiders have a decent pass defense, but starting Big Ben still makes sense in fantasy leagues.	at
13			Andrew Luck 264 pass yards, 2 pass TDs, INT The Jaguars are the only defense to not have allowed a passing score, but don't let that fool you. Jacksonville ranks 31st in opponents' passing completion percentage and 17th in passing yards allowed. It will be another big day for the league's No. 1 pick.	vs
14			Eli Manning 243 pass yards, 2 pass TDs, INT After last week, Manning owners may need to come back down to earth. Expect more poise, fewer mistakes and a much smaller yardage total on Thursday.	at
15			Tom Brady 243 pass yards, 2 pass TDs, INT Ray Lewis likes to say "respect is earned." Brady is still trying to earn Baltimore's respect. In his last three outings against the Ravens he has thrown seven interceptions and completed just 59 percent of his passes.	at
16			Joe Flacco 239 pass yards, 2 pass TDs, INT Other than at the end of the Ravens' loss to Philadelphi, Flacco has looked improved this season. The Patriots will try to frustrate him by sending pressure, but Flacco has enough weapons (and enough poise) to hold his ground.	vs
17			Philip Rivers 255 pass yards, pass TD, INT Rivers had a big day against the Titans in Week 2, with three touchdown passes and 284 yards passing. The Falcons are coming off a huge win against the Broncos, who were forced into four turnovers in the first quarter alone. Rivers still remains a solid fantasy starter.	vs
18			Matt Cassel 240 pass yards, pass TD, INT Cassel threw for more than 300 yards Sunday against the Bills, but he has three touchdowns and three interceptions in two games this season. That's not a great ratio, and that makes him a tricky fantasy play for Week 3.	at
19			Russell Wilson 181 pass yards, pass TD, INT, 23 rush yards Wilson is developing into a serviceable starting quarterback for Seattle, able to move the chains with his arm or feet. However, this week Dom Capers' attacking defense will present him with challenges he hasn't faced before.	vs
20			Matt Schaub 234 pass yards, pass TD, INT The Broncos were tested by Ben Roethlisberger and plucked apart by Matt Ryan. Both threw two touchdowns. Does Schaub belong in that company? Not quite.	at
21			Carson Palmer 230 pass yards, pass TD, INT After an impressive 2012 debut, Palmer looked even better for his fantasy owners in Week 2. He threw for 373 yards and a touchdown at Miami, along with his first interception of the season. The Steelers should pose a bigger threat, however, making it tough to start Palmer in Week 3 fantasy play.	vs
22			Blaine Gabbert 226 pass yards, pass TD, INT Gabbert is dealing with toe and hamstring injuries that affected him in the Jaguars' Week 2 loss (well, that and the Texans' swarming defense). The Colts give up a lot of yards through the air, so if Gabbert is healthy he could have a bounce-back week.	at
23			Peyton Manning 209 pass yards, pass TD, INT In his last two games against Houston (with the Colts), Manning threw five touchdowns, no interceptions and completed 74-of-102 attempts. That was two years ago. This Texans unit features a new coordinator and several names Manning hasn't faced before.	vs
24			Ryan Fitzpatrick 205 pass yards, pass TD, INT The Bills threw the ball just 19 times against the Chiefs in Week 2, but that was still enough for Fitzpatrick to pass for 178 yards and two touchdowns. While he's not yet worth starting in fantasy, he is someone to consider in upcoming bye weeks.	at
25			Brandon Weeden 205 pass yards, pass TD, INT Rookies fared much better in Week 2, including both of the Browns’ top 2012 picks. Weeden had one of the worst NFL debuts in history in Week 1, but he came back with 322 passing yards and two touchdowns in Week 2. The Bills have allowed five touchdown passes so far, but Weeden has a way to go before he's fantasy starter worthy.	vs
26			Jake Locker 194 pass yards, pass TD, INT There were whispers that Locker might be benched, and the fact that coach Mike Munchak addressed the situation is not good news. Locker needs help; the Lions defense won't offer much of it.	vs
27			Josh Freeman 193 pass yards, pass TD, INT Freeman may have a bit of trouble against Dallas' third-ranked pass defense, which has a pair of outstanding cornerbacks and a fierce pass rush.	at
28			Christian Ponder 225 pass yards, pass TD, 2 INTs The second-year quarterback has shown some signs of being a gamer in the first two weeks. The Niners pose a tough threat for Ponder, though, and he remains more of a fantasy backup with a decent future than a current starter.	vs
29			Ryan Tannehill 185 pass yards, pass TD, 2 INTs, 15 rush yards The rookie got his first win in Week 2, and even though Tannehill showed some improvement (one touchdown pass and one rushing touchdown), he still has to make better decisions. The Dolphins will continue to ride running back Reggie Bush, which makes Tannehill's fantasy value muddy in coming weeks.	vs
30			Mark Sanchez 220 pass yards, pass TD, 2 INTs Sanchez didn't deliver back-to-back good games, but his Week 2 effort wasn't the disaster many had predicted. He threw for a touchdown and avoided interceptions, and now he faces a Dolphins defense that has some question marks. Even so, he's not worth starting.	at
31			Sam Bradford 210 pass yards, pass TD, 2 INTs The 2010 No. 1 overall pick came through with a big game in Week 2, throwing for 310 yards and three touchdowns against the Redskins. His upcoming schedule ( @CHI, SEA, ARI, @MIA, GB, NE, @SF, NYJ) make him a free agent not worth adding.	at
32			Kevin Kolb 205 pass yards, pass TD, 2 INTs Kolb threw 27 passes against the Patriots, but only five of those passes went to playmaker Larry Fitzgerald. That's not good for Kolb or Fitzgerald. Fantasy owners still should stay away from Kolb in most formats.	vs
33			Tim Tebow 0 pass yards, 20 rush yards The Jets ran just three plays for Tebow in Week 2, but he made the most of his only rushing attempt, picking up 22 yards. Feel free to cut him, as the Jets have yet to use him as much as they promised.	at

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