NFL, Fantasy, Player News / Analysis, Heath Miller, james jones, Jonathan Dwyer, Mikel Leshoure, Donald Jones, Carson Palmer, Kendall Hunter, Andrew Hawkins
QuarterbacksCarson Palmer (OAK): Palmer didn't play a great game Monday night, as he didn't seem at all willing to chuck the ball downfield. However, one must consider the fact that his favorite receiver, Denarius Moore, and slot speedster Jacoby Ford weren't available. The Raiders new Greg Knapp-run west coast offense looks to feature a lot of short passes to playmakers, such as Darren McFadden, that get defenses creeping up to allow the lightning fast receivers to go over the top. Palmer looked efficient last night, and could be up around that 300 yard mark consistently once his top receiving threats come back.
Running Backs
Kendall Hunter (SF): Hunter wasn't as productive as starter Frank Gore was on Sunday, but he still averaged a solid 4.6 yards per attempt on only seven less carries than Gore. With Gore closing in on 30 years of age, they 49ers may opt to mix in their talented backup more often to keep their stud starter fresh for the whole season. Hunter got 112 carries last year, and that number should improve, making him worth a pickup in deeper leagues.
Mikel Leshoure (DET): Running back Kevin Smith performed very well on Sunday, especially from a fantasy standpoint. Averaging 4.8 yards per carry, he looked better taking handoffs than he has in the past. However, the Lions were reportedly looking to trade for a running back that they could use between the tackles, and they might have one in 2011 second round pick Mikel Leshoure. He won't be back from suspension until Week 3, but if you're shallow at running back and miss out on Alfred Morris this week, it's worth going after Leshoure early as a low-risk/high-reward player.
Jonathan Dwyer (PIT): Dwyer was by far the Steelers' most impressive back on Sunday night. Though he got two less carries than Isaac Redman, Dwyer averaged 4.8 per carry compared to Redman's 1.8 and Chris Rainey's 2.5. Dwyer is the guy to own in the Steelers' backfield until Rashard Mendenhall proves he's ready to return.
Wide Receivers
James Jones (GB): Despite the array of aerial weapons that the Packers have, Jones managed to lead the team in receiving yards and scored a touchdown. Jennings, Nelson, Finley, and Cobb will likely be more productive in most weeks, but Jones could be an old-school Robert Meachem-esque gamble for a boom-or-bust game when you need a bye week fill in.
Donald Jones (BUF): Bills' number two receiver David Nelson was knocked out for the season with a knee injury on Sunday, and Jones played well in Nelson's absence, catching five passes for 41 yards. He should continue to post similar lines, making him a decent bye week fill-in at the flex spot in PPR leagues.
Andrew Hawkins (CIN): Hawkins was very impressive on Monday night against the Ravens, catching passes in space and fearlessly weaving through the Ravens' defense. The Bengals seem to be using him similarly to how the Packers and Chiefs used Cobb and McCluster on Sunday. There's a chance he's a one hit wonder, as the Bengals could never find a sustainable number two receiver to AJ Green last year, but Hawkins is certainly worth a pickup due to the possibility that he continues to put up numbers close to his eight catches for 86 yards from Monday.Tight Ends
Heath Miller (PIT): Miller was targeted seven times, catching five balls for 50 yards and a touchdown. He's nothing more than a bye week fill-in, but he's a pretty reliable one.
Defenses
Raiders: The Raiders defense looked great against the Chargers. If it weren't for the punt team completely bombing and giving the Chargers remarkable field position three times, the Raiders defense probably would have given up only 13 points. With rookie Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins on the schedule for next Sunday, the Raiders defense looks like a good matchup play.
Redskins: They gave up 32 points on Sunday, but it was to the Saints in the Super Dome, which is actually pretty good. On top of that, they had Drew Brees, the all-time single season completion percentage leader, completing less than 50% of his passes and held the Saints to 32 team rushing yards. This defense could be the real deal.
