Week 2 - Start Em', Bench Em'

Week 2 - Start Em', Bench Em'

By: Andrew Bursey, North of the Border CFF Blogger

One week into the college football season, and already, the cream has begun to rise to the top.  Star players who put out stellar performances in Week 1 will be expected to keep up their production in Week 2.  Others, stars from last season who faltered in Week 1, will be expected to shake off the rust and starting producing for their fantasy owners.  Let's look at the best-bets to put up big numbers in Week 2, and those who have the potential to fall flat.

Start Em'

Quarterbacks

Lamar Jackson (Louisville) vs. Syracuse

Jackson eviscerated Charlotte last weekend, passing and running over the 49ers to the tune of 405 total yards and 8 touchdowns.  Yes, that was all in one game.  The Orange will be a tougher challenge, but Bobby Petrino's team seems to have recaptured their offensive prowess from years past.  Syracuse clobbered Colgate last weekend, but Jackson is a far cry from a mediocre FCS quarterback.  Expect big numbers again this week.

Deshaun Watson (Clemson) vs. Troy

This might seem like an obvious choice, but Watson didn't quite deliver as much as his owners would have liked last weekend in a grind-it-out affair against Auburn.  This weekend's tilt with Troy should be just what the doctor ordered for Watson and his fantasy owners, as a Sun Belt opponent should be no match for the Heisman Trophy second-runner up.  Any less than 300 total yards and 3 total scores against the Trojans would be a second-straight disappointment for Watson owners.

Brad Kaaya (Miami) vs. Florida Atlantic

Kaaya was very good in limited action last week against overmatched Florida A&M, throwing for 4 TD on 12/18 passing in 3 quarters of action.  Florida Atlantic will provide a stiffer test to the 'Canes, but Kaaya is one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC.  With Mark Walton and Joseph Yearby keeping the pressure on the Owls' defense on the ground, Kaaya should have all kinds of time to throw the ball.  275-300 yards and 2 scores looks very realistic this week.

Jalen Hurts (Alabama) vs. Western Kentucky

Hurts made his collegiate debut in a good ol' fashioned tail-whipping of USC, passing for 2 scores and running for 2 more in the 52-6 romp.  Hurts definitely looks to have distanced himself from Blake Barnett and Cooper Bateman at the top of 'Bama's depth chart, and has an excellent chance to put up more fantastic numbers against Western Kentucky.  The Hilltoppers feature one of the nation's more prolific offenses, but they haven't, and probably won't face anyone remotely resembling the Crimson Tide this season.  Alabama features one of the best offensive lines in all of college football, and they should allow Hurts all kinds of time to run and throw, piling up the points and yardage.  

Jake Browning (Washington) vs. Idaho

Browning had his way with a hapless Rutgers squad last weekend, throwing for 287 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Scarlet Knights, which bodes well for this week's contest against perennial bottom-feeder Idaho.  The Vandals did manage to hold Montana State to 17 points last weekend, but the Bobcats are also not nearly as talented as the Huskies, who should put up points by the boatload.  While the Huskies will look to get talented RB Myles Gaskin back on track, expect Browning to make more than enough plays to make himself a valuable fantasy commodity this week.

Running Backs

Jon Hilliman (Boston College) vs. UMass

Hilliman had a solid game last week in rain-soaked Dublin, running for 102 yards and a score on 17 carries in a heart-breaking loss to Georgia Tech.  BC doesn't have much of a passing game, so expect the Eagles to keep the ball on the ground and lean heavily on Hilliman against UMass.  The Minutemen hung with Florida for the majority of their loss last week, and should keep it close against the Eagles, forcing BC to feed Hilliman the rock repeatedly.  Fully expect the sophomore to at least equal, if not exceed his solid output from last week.

Myles Gaskin (Washington) vs. Idaho

Gaskin was inexplicably held to 57 yards rushing in the Huskies' blowout win over Rutgers last weekend.  A performance like that by one of the nation's better backs has to be frustrating, so expect Gaskin to take out his frustrations on Idaho this weekend.  Washington looks to have discovered a dynamic playmaker in WR John Ross, so if Ross and QB Jake Browning can combine to take some pressure off Gaskin, the super-sophomore should have a whale of a game versus the Vandals.

D'Onta Foreman (Texas) vs. UTEP

Foreman was a major factor in Texas's somewhat surprising victory last weekend over Notre Dame, running over the Irish to the tune of 131 yards and a touchdown in the 50-47 win.  With backfield-mate Chris Warren dinged up with an ankle injury, look for Foreman to receive the bulk of the carries against a UTEP team that really struggled to stop the run in 2015.  If Foreman can drop 130+ yards and a score against a team as good as Notre Dame, imagine what he can do against UTEP, if he gets the touches.  

Kerryon Johnson (Auburn) vs. Arkansas State

Johnson was one of the very few bright spots for the Tigers in last week's ugly season-opening loss to Clemson, running 94 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.  The 23 carries definitely indicates that Johnson is Auburn's bell-cow, and with an awful mess of a quarterback situation, someone on Auburn needs to make a play.   Expect that someone to be Johnson against an Arkansas State squad that gave up 556 yards of offense last week's 31-10 loss to Toledo.

Teriyon Gipson (New Mexico) vs. New Mexico State

In last year's edition of the Rio Grande Rivalry, Gipson lit up his interstate rivals for 142 yards and a score on 19 carries as the Lobos took down the Aggies 38-29.  Not too shabby, seeing that Gipson, for the most part, played second-fiddle to Jhurell Pressley last season.  Fast forward to 2016 and Gipson now seems like "the guy" in the New Mexico backfield, shredding South Dakota for 181 yards and 2 TDs on only eight carries in Week 1.  New Mexico State is still atrocious; New Mexico still runs the ball a lot.  What does that mean?  It means Gipson owners should be very, very happy after Saturday's game concludes.

Wide Receivers

James Washington (Oklahoma State) vs. Central Michigan

Washington didn't see much burn against SE Louisiana in Week 1, catching 5 balls for just 34 yards versus the Lions.  In all fairness, the Cowboys didn't need him to do much against the overmatched FCS squad.  Expect that to change this weekend against a much more competitive Chippewas team, who should at least challenge Mike Gundy's crew.  In order to avoid falling to a MAC squad, expect QB Mason Rudolph to get his stud wideout involved early and often, and putting up between 80-90 yards and at least one score.         

Steven Sims, Jr. (Kansas) vs. Ohio

Either I'm clearly a sucker for punishment, recommending starting a Kansas player, or I'm onto something in recommending Sims this week.  Sims had a huge game last week versus Rhode Island, pulling in 5 catches for 124 yards and 2 TDs.  Ohio is clearly more talented than the FCS Rams, but struggled mightily trying to stop Texas State QB Tyler Jones last week, allowing 418 passing yards in the 3OT loss.  That stat bodes well for any owners who've been bold enough to take a chance on Sims, who seems to have established an immediate rapport with QB Montell Cozart.

ArDarius Stewart (Alabama) vs. Western Kentucky

Alabama has a gaggle of talented wide receivers in Stewart, Calvin Ridley, Robert Foster and Gehrig Dieter; but it was Stewart who established an quick connection with freshman QB Jalen Hurts last week, turning 4 catches into 113 yards and 2 touchdowns.  In a game that has the potential to be both a blowout or a shootout, expect Stewart to make an impact again, in either scenario.  

John Burt (Texas) vs. UTEP

Burt established himself as freshman QB Shane Buechele's favorite target last week, catching 6 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown against Notre Dame.  Texas should equal or exceed the 50 points put up against the Irish, which means several touches for their offensive weapons.  Burt has world-class speed, so if Buechele can connect with him against the Miners, expect to see some big numbers come Saturday.

J'Mon Moore (Mizzou) vs. Eastern Michigan

This pick might be a bit of reach, but Moore looked solid last week in the Tigers' season-opening loss to West Virginia, recording 8 catches for 104 yards against the Mountaineers.  QB Drew Lock looked much better than he did last season, throwing for 280 yards and a touchdown, without throwing an interception.  If Moore can put up those numbers against a Power 5 defense, even better numbers could be in store against a team that is consistently one of the weakest in the MAC.  Similar yardage should be expected, but also expect Moore to find paydirt on Saturday.  

Tight Ends

Gerald Everett (South Alabama) vs. Georgia Southern

Everett is one of the most productive tight ends in the college game, and will be a high factor in the Jaguars hope to hang with Georgia Southern this week.  The Eagles score a ton, which means South Alabama will have to be able to score themselves in order to keep pace.  The Jags' best chance to do that is for QB Dallas Davis to give Everett a steady diet of targets, which is definitely what fantasy owners want.

Mike Gesicki (Penn State) vs. Pitt

Gesicki is a massive target at 6'6 and 252lbs, and has thus far provided a pretty decent safety net for inexperienced starting QB Trace McSorley, catching 3 balls for 49 yards and a score versus Kent State on Saturday.  Pitt is much tougher on defense than the hapless Golden Flashes, and McSorley will rely heavily on Gesicki to make catches in order to move the ball down the field.  Expect 40-50 receiving yards in the game for Gesicki, and another score.  

Bench Em'

Quarterbacks

Justin Holman (UCF) vs. Michigan

Don't.  Just don't.  Holman had decent game last weekend against FCS South Carolina State, but the Wolverines are a completely different animal.  Expect Holman to be harassed, sacked, and intercepted more than once in this one.  Holman has decent games ahead, but unless you have the worst quarterback stable in the history of college fantasy football, there's absolutely no reason to have Holman anywhere than the bench this weekend.

Dane Evans (Tulsa) vs. Ohio State

Evans has flourished under head coach Philip Montgomery's uptempo system, and will put up fabulous numbers during the 2016 season.  However, that won't happen against the Buckeyes on Saturday.  Ohio State completely shut down another high-powered offense last week, flattening Bowling Green 77-10, and holding QB James Knapke to less than 50% passing, 110 yards, 0 TD and 2 picks.  Evans is likely to suffer a similar fate this weekend, so keep him on your bench.

Dallas Davis (South Alabama) vs. Georgia Southern

It's hard not to get excited over Davis' potential after a 24/34, 285 yard, 2 TD passing performance against Mississippi State.  However, he may simply not get enough opportunity against Georgia Southern.  The Eagles' vaunted spread option offense excels at milking the game clock with run after run.  Davis might have success, but it will be difficult if he simply doesn't get opportunities to touch the ball.

Running Backs

Aaron Jones (UTEP) vs. Texas

Jones exploded his way back onto the college scene last weekend, running for 249 yards and 2 TDs against New Mexico State.   Problem is, Texas is good - really good, as evidenced by their gut-check win last weekend against Notre Dame.  UTEP should be down early in this one, forcing QB Zack Greenlee to throw the ball, which severely diminishes Jones' value.

Chris High (Navy) vs. UConn/Andy Davidson (Army) vs. Rice

Both High and Davidson had huge games last week, both running for over 120 yards and 2 scores.  The only problem is, I, and many others, just don't trust option running backs.  There are simply too many cooks in the kitchen when you look at teams that run the option; quarterbacks, tailbacks, fullbacks, and wide receivers all get a piece of the action, so it's impossible to tell week-to-week who will get the lion's share of carries.  If High and Davidson can put together a string of successful performances, then pull the trigger, absolutely.  However, you might want to wait another week or so before starting them.

Travon McMillian (Virginia Tech) vs. Tennessee

The problem with starting McMillian this week isn't that McMillian isn't a good running back, or that Tennessee is a particularly good defensive squad.  Neither is true; McMillian was a workhorse last year under Frank Beamer, rushing for over 1000 yards, while Tennessee allowed Appalachian State tailback Marcus Cox to break the 100-yard barrier last weekend.  The issue lies with the fact that Beamer isn't around anymore, and new head coach Justin Fuente loves to share the rock between his backs, as seen in his time with Memphis, continually using the committee approach.  If McMillian can't establish himself, stay away.

Wide Receivers

Keevan Lucas (Tulsa) vs. Ohio State

When healthy, like this season, Lucas is an absolute stud, and the rule is always to start your studs.  That being said, look at how thoroughly Ohio State shut down Bowling Green last weekend.  No Falcons wideout had more than 45 receiving yards, even with head coach Mike Jinks' commitment to keeping an uptempo style.  Lucas is arguably better than any receiver Bowling Green has, but should still be held out of the endzone by the Buckeyes.

Kenny Golladay (Northern Illinois) vs. South Florida

Golladay absolutely lit up Wyoming last weekend in a losing effort, but don't expect the same production against an ever-improving South Florida defense.  The Bulls should apply much more pressure on Huskies QB Drew Hare than the Cowboys were able to muster, so don't bet the farm on Golladay (as good as he is) this week.

Allen Lazard (Iowa State) vs. Iowa

Lazard had a big season-opener last week against Northern Iowa, and has the potential to have a solid game against an Iowa squad who allowed Miami (OH) QB Billy Bahl to throw for 266 yards and 2 touchdowns.  However, expect Iowa to be more motivated this week in their state rivalry game, after giving up good numbers to a middling MAC squad.  Fully expect Lazard to be blanketed by Iowa's secondary as the Cyclones' only proven pass-catcher.