Is Carson Palmer in store for another big week?

I hope you survived the injuries suffered in Week 1. Work the waiver wire and trade with your league-mates to upgrade any injury holes you may have.

Week 1 Recap

Let’s look at a quick recap from Week 1.

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I Knew It

• Carson Palmer – QB – Arizona Cardinals – 19/32, 307 yds, 3 TD/0 INT
  I liked him for 300 yards and three touchdowns – nailed it!

• Julian Edelman – WR – New England Patriots – 11 rec/97 yds
  I liked him for a “solid number of targets” – he led the team with 12.

• Jarvis Landry – WR – Miami Dolphins – 8 rec/53 yds/1 punt return TD
  I cannot say that I predicted the punt return for a score, but I loved Landry last week and he finished as the WR10. He was also targeted a team-high 12 times.

• Chris Ivory – RB – New York Jets – 20 rush/91 yds/2 TD
  I wrote that his coach stated they would like to see him get 20 touches a game. They were not lying.

• Russell Wilson – QB – Seattle Seahawks – 32/41, 251 yds, 1 TD/1 INT, 8 rush/31 yds
  I was not thrilled with his matchup against the stout Rams defense, and they held him to just one score and under 300 yards. He finished as the QB15 for Week 1.

• Terrance Williams – WR – Dallas Cowboys – 5 rec/60 yds
  I stated that he is typically touchdown dependent and he failed to reach the end zone.

• Tevin Coleman – RB – Atlanta Falcons – 20 rush/80 yds
  I suggested waiting a week on Coleman who finished as the RB38. His 20 touches are very encouraging going forward.

I Blew It

• Brent Celek – TE – Philadelphia Eagles – 1 rec/6 yds
  What can I say other than I am embarrassed at this suggestion.

• Brandon Marshall – WR – New York Jets – 6 rec/62 yds/1 TD
  The touchdown saved his fantasy day and made me look silly.

• Jordan Cameron – TE – Miami Dolphins – 4 rec/73 yds
  I’ll say I blew it on him in PPR leagues. Though Miami turned in a lackluster performance, Cameron was the third highest scorer on his team behind Jarvis Landry and the Dolphins D/ST.

Week 2 Start/Sit Suggestions

Let’s move onto Week 2 for your start/sit suggestions.

Who’s Hot – Start

Fire Starter: Carson Palmer – QB – Arizona Cardinals @ Chicago Bears
I am giving Palmer the distinction of my fire starter again this week. He faces a Bears defense that just kept Aaron Rodgers somewhat in check with less than 200 yards, but he did throw for three touchdowns. Palmer will shred this defense and I like him, again, for 300 yards and three scores.

Drew Brees – QB – New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brees finished outside of the top 10  last week and threw for a lone touchdown. He will bounce back this week against this division rival. The Bucs were made to look like fools last week against rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota, and the veteran Brees will throw for multiple scores against them this week. I like him for a finish well inside the top 10.

Emmanuel Sanders – WR – Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs
It’s not quite time to panic in regards to Peyton Manning just yet, who looked in Sanders’ direction a team-high 12 times last week. I like his matchup against the Chiefs defense who will show most of their attention to stud receiver Demaryius Thomas. After the rough week the media has given his quarterback, I think the Broncos come out slinging. Sanders should be on Manning’s radar again this week.

Eric Decker – WR – New York Jets @ Indianapolis Colts
Decker saw an unimpressive three targets last week in a game where Joe Haden was given the duty of covering Brandon Marshall. This week Marshall should square off against Vontae Davis, and Decker should be more of a part of the offensive game plan. This is clearly a run-first team, but Decker has a nice matchup and I expect Marshall to be shut down in the same vain Sammy Watkins was last week.

Tevin Coleman – RB – Atlanta Falcons @ New York Giants
The Giants surrendered 211 total yards to running backs not named DeMarco Murray last week in Dallas. The Falcons also showed their intended usage of Coleman by giving him 20 rush attempts. The Falcons will pound the ball with Coleman again this week, and he will score his first career NFL touchdown against this depleted Giants defensive front.

Jared Cook – TE – St. Louis Rams @ Washington Redskins
Cook trailed only Benny Cunningham (yes, you read that correctly) in targets last week and went for 85 yards on five receptions, averaging 17 yards per catch. He posted those numbers against a tough matchup, so I love him this week against Washington. Play him with confidence this week and don’t be surprised if he goes for over 100 yards and scores.

Who’s Not – Sit

Ice Cold: Cam Newton – QB – Carolina Panthers vs. Houston Texans
The problem isn’t Newton so much as his lack of offensive weapons around him, outside of Greg Olsen. There is also a defender you may have heard of, J.J. Watt, who will have Newton running for his life this Sunday. The matchup is not a favorable one. It’s tough to bench a quarterback with his potential, but put Newton on your sidelines this week.

Tom Brady – QB – New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills
Why am I telling you to bench last week’s QB1? Look at what Rex Ryan did to Andrew Luck last week. Ryan spends every offseason of his life preparing for Bill Belechick and Brady, and he will keep the future Hall of Famer in check on Sunday. Don’t chase last week’s performance when you are setting your line up this week. Brady on the road against Rex Ryan and his formidable defense have all the makings of a low-scoring game.

Amari Cooper – WR – Oakland Raiders vs. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens defense reminded the league they are still a force when they held Peyton Manning and company under 20 points last week. This defense will take advantage of an injured or inactive Derek Carr, which does not bode well for Cooper. He tied Latavius Murray and Michael Crabtree for team-high targets last week, but with the uncertainty at quarterback and the poor matchup, I’d let the rookie ride pine for you this week.

Jeremy Maclin – WR – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
Alex Smith appears hell bent on extending this puzzling record of not throwing touchdowns to receivers. Unfortunately, Maclin has front row tickets to the Travis Kelce show and a tough matchup this week. His team-high nine targets last week were encouraging, but this offense goes through Jamaal Charles and Kelce. I doubt he scores for the Chiefs or your fantasy team this week.

Dion Lewis – RB – New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills
Regardless of the fact that this is a bad matchup I think you have to bench Lewis because of LeGarrette Blount and Beletricks. You never know who is going to get the call, but you have to figure that Blount will get his share this week. Lewis looked great last week in the ‘Shane Vereen role,’ but with Blount back that’s all Lewis is. Rex Ryan himself stated that he is not even game planning for Lewis.

Heath Miller – TE – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. San Francisco 49ers
Miller likely came close to his ceiling last week when he took his eight receptions for 84 yards. He’s the de facto WR2 with Martavis Bryant still serving his suspension, but starting Miller this week could set you up for disappointment. The 49ers defense proved very effective last week despite the multiple blows they took this offseason. There are better options than Miller this week and you should consider them.

Get Start/Sit & Waiver Advice with My Playbook

I do not have a crystal ball and can only rely on research and good old intuition. I may hit or miss on a few but these are my honest predictions for this week. I’ll keep myself honest with a full disclosure section next week when I give you your who’s hot, who’s not for Week 3. Consider my recommendations here, but ultimately trust in yourself. Good luck!

Jen Ryan is a correspondent at FantasyPros. Click here for her archive and feel free to reach her and talk all things fantasy @FFdeJENerate.