Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

- Written by Ryan Czopek
- Edited by Marc Caviglia
- Predictions are based on Staff Consensus

WEEK 3 RANKINGS  QB  |  RB  |    |  TE  |  K  |  DEF

It was another crazy week at the wide receiver position in Week 2. We saw Denver Broncos’ wideout Demaryious Thomas but together his second big game, and New York Giants’ dynamic duo, Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz combined for over 300 receiving yards and three touchdowns. On the flip side, Julio Jones, Andre Johnson and Brandon Marshall all failed to get it done for their fantasy owners.

Who will be among the top scoring wide receivers this week? Read our fantasy football Week 3 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings below to gain an advantage over your friends and competitors alike.

::RANKINGS UPDATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 21 2012::

1. Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions) @ Tennessee
It’s been two games and no touchdowns for Johnson. Not ready to believe in curses yet, but becoming more skeptical. Johnson caught eight passes for 94 yards against a tough San Francisco 49ers’ defense in Week 2. He saw constant double teams most of the afternoon and no other Detroit Lions receiver performed well enough to take pressure off of Johnson. The Tennessee Titans have some problems on offense, but their pass defense has been solid so far this season. However, someone with Johnson’s talent level could only be held down so far and his first touchdown of the season could be coming this week.
Point Projection: 19 points

2. A.J. Green (Cincinnati Bengals) @ Washington

Following a so-so Week 1, Green led the Cincinnati Bengals in targets (12) and caught seven passes for 58 yards and scored his first touchdown of the season against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2. Green has the talent and is taking the steps desired to become one of the elite wide receivers in the league. He is a solid WR1 against a Washington Redskins squad that gave up 252 yards receiving and two touchdowns to the St. Louis Rams’ wide receiving core in Week 2. The St. Louis Rams have also allowed an average of 21.0 fantasy points per game over the first two games of the season. No need to even think about it, Green needs to be in fantasy owners’ lineups.
Point Projection: 17 points

3. Brandon Marshall (Chicago Bears) vs. St. Louis

What the heck happened? Marshall managed only two receptions for 24 yards against the Green Bay Packers in Week 2. The Green Bay Packers double teamed Marshall most of the game and he was only targeted five times after seeing 15 in Week 1. Marshall did have a chance to salvage the day for fantasy owners, but dropped let a ball go off his fingertips in the end zone. Bet on a bounce back performance for Marshall against a St. Louis Rams that struggled stopping the run in Week 1. If the Chicago Bears can get there running game going this week, Marshall will likely have opportunities to make some big plays. Marshall is a solid WR1 this week.
Point Projection: 17 points

4. Victor Cruz (New York Giants) @ Carolina

Dance salsa with me. Cruz caught 11 passes for 179 yards and scored a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Bucanners in Week 2. He received an incredible 17 targets, in the New York Giants come from behind win. The Ahmad Bradshaw injury may hurt the teams run game, which is too bad because the Carolina Panthers have struggled against the run this year, much like they did last year. This may hurt the New York Giants ability to establish the pass, but Cruz has excellent hands and is capable of making big plays virtually every week. Expect the talented Cruz to have another excellent performance this week.
Point Projection: 15 points

5. Julio Jones (Atlanta Falcons) @ San Diego

Say it isn’t so Julio! Jones caught just four passes for 14 yards against the Denver Broncos in Week 2. He was blanketed most of the night by the Denver Broncos defensive backs, but his fantasy production could have been salvaged if he didn’t drop a 19-yard Matt Ryan pass in the end zone. Don’t bet on a stale, repeat performance for Jones this week going against a San Diego Chargers’ team that has allowed two touchdowns to the wide receiver position, so far this season. Jones is a nice bounce back candidate this week.
Point Projection: 15 points

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6. Roddy White (Atlanta Falcons) @ San Diego

Rowdy Roddy thrilled his fantasy owners on Monday night, catching eight passes for 102 yards and scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos in Week 2. Julio Jones’ star rising hasn’t effected Roddy White’s production so far this season like many thought it would. He has now scored at least eight fantasy points in each of the first two games of the season. Matt Ryan still relies heavily on White in times of duress and he should continue to produce in a pass heavy Atlanta Falcons’ offense. White is a strong WR1 against the San Diego Chargers this week.
Point Projection: 15 points

7. Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh Steelers) @ Oakland

Well, it didn’t take too long to get back into game shape did it? Wallace looked like his old self in Week 2, catching five passes for 74 yards and scoring a touchdown in a Pittsburgh Steelers victory. Wallace showed the great speed that has been his career trademark and showed great concentration making a highlight reel catch in the end zone. The Oakland Raiders are looking like one of the worst teams in the NFL through the first two weeks of the season and Wallace is capable of burning anyone with his knack for consistently making big plays. Wallace is a solid WR1 this week.
Point Projection: 14 points

8. Dwayne Bowe (Kansas City) @ New Orleans

Is this the Bowe from a couple of seasons ago? It was in Week 2 at least. Bowe caught eight passes for 102 yards and scored two touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills.  It was a nice lift for Bowe’s fantasy owners, but Bowe no doubt benefited from Matt Cassel throwing the ball 42 times to try and hurriedly erase a big deficit late in the game. Bowe was far and away the Kansas City Chiefs leader in targets receiving 15 on the afternoon. The New Orleans Saints defense has been out of sorts their last two games allowing 75 points total to their opponents. Bowe, who is the Kansas City Chiefs unquestioned No. 1 receiver, has a nice chance to perform well this week.
Point Projection: 14 points

9. Steve Smith (Carolina Panthers) vs. New York Giants

Providing his usual ho hum performance, Smith caught three passes for 104 against the New Orleans Saints in Week 2. It was the Smith’s second straight 100-yard receiving game. He continues to be Cam Newton’s most reliable and favorite receiver despite being 33 years old. It was two seasons ago that Smith burned the New York Giants, catching five receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown. Banking on a repeat performance for Smith wouldn’t be a bad bet, consider the New York Giants secondary has had major injury and coverage issues so far this season. The New York Giants have also been burned by big play receivers Miles Austin and Vincent Jackson, over the last two games. Smith, who consistently makes big plays, could easily be the third receiver this week.
Point Projection: 14 points

10. Miles Austin (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Tampa Bay

The Khardashian curse maybe finally over. Austin had five catches for 63 yards and scored a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2. He was tied for the team lead in targets and it was the second straight week that Austin has scored 12 fantasy points or more. Look for Austin to continue his resurgence going against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ team that allowed 414 yards and two touchdowns to the New York Giants’ wide receiving core in Week 2. Austin is a solid WR2 this week.
Point Projection: 14 points

11. Steve Johnson (Buffalo Bills) @ Cleveland

There was some occasional receiving during the C.J. Spiller show in Week 2. Johnson managed to catch two passes for 56 yards and a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. Fitzpatrick only attempted 19 passes, so Johnson took advantage of the few targets he saw. Johnson, a solid WR2 virtually every week, has a mouth-watering matchup against a Cleveland Browns’ team that allowed 251 yards receiving and three touchdowns to the Cincinnati Bengals suspect receiving core in Week 2. C.J. Spiller will likely carry the load offensively once again for the Buffalo Bills, but Johnson still has a solid chance of being successful thanks to his remarkable history of consistent production.
Point Projection: 14 points

12. Andre Johnson (Houston Texans) @ Denver

Where was Andre? Pulling a disappearing act, Johnson caught three passes for 21 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2.  The running game was working for the Houston Texans’ all game long, so Johnson only saw four total targets. Expect Johnson to be more involved in the Houston Texans’ offense this week, considering they probably won’t be able to run the ball as well against the Denver Broncos as they did against the Jacksonville Jaguars. As long as Johnson is healthy he is always a strong No. 1 receiver.
Point Projection: 13 points

13. Demaryious Thomas (Denver Broncos) vs. Houston

Peyton Manning has arguably never had a receiver with Thomas’ physical gifts and man is he taking advantage of them. Thomas caught seven passes for 78 yards and scored a memorable touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. Through two games this season Thomas has been stellar, hauling in 13 receptions for 188 yards and scoring two touchdowns. Thomas has a challenging matchup against a Houston Texans’ team that has allowed the least fantasy points to the wide receiver position (7.0) this season. It’s going to be tough for Thomas to have a big game this week, but his game breaking ability shouldn’t be underestimated.
Point Projection: 13 points

14. Jordy Nelson (Green Bay Packers) @ Seattle

It wasn’t quite the big game envisioned for Nelson (guilty), but he still had a solid performance catching six passes for 84 yards against the Chicago Bears in Week 2. With Greg Jennings sidelined, Nelson led the team in targets (9) and since last year has been one of the more consistent receivers in fantasy. Look for Nelson to keep rolling against the Seattle Seahawks, who struggled stopping the Dallas Cowboys wide receivers in Week 2. The Green Bay Packers have just as good of an offense if not a better offense than the Dallas Cowboys. Nelson is a strong WR2 this week.
Point Projection: 13 points

15. Percy Harvin (Minnesota Vikings) vs. San Francisco

Harvin delivered a nice performance against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, catching 12 passes for 104 yards. He capitalized on a nice matchup and was by far the Minnesota Vikings most targeted receiver (13). This week is a real challenge for Harvin, who has to go against a San Francisco 49ers’ defense that has stymied the solid offensives of the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions the past two weeks. They have also allowed only one touchdown to the wide receiver position this season. Don’t count on a big game for Harvin, but he still will be pretty productive, taking into account the amount of target he receives each week.
Point Projection: 12 points
 
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Please use this link to enter for $1 (max entries is 2):  $500 IN PAYOUTS/ SEAT IN BBFC  (click to register)

16. Vincent Jackson (Tampa Bay) @ Dallas

Jackson seems to be following the same pattern as last season, which is a so-so game followed by a big game. Jackson had nice game against a hapless New York Giants’ secondary in Week 2, catching five passes for 128 yards and scoring a touchdown. He was by far the most targeted receiver on the team (10) in Week 2 and appears to be Josh Freeman’s go-to receiver so far this season. The Dallas Cowboy’s secondary has been strong against the wide receiver position over the last two games allowing the fourth least fantasy points (9.5) to the wide receiver position. However, Jackson has the talent to overcome difficult matchups and make a big play. Still, we wouldn’t consider Jackson anything more than a WR2 this week, as you don’t know which Tampa Bay offense will show up.
Point Projection: 11 points

17. Dez Bryant (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Tampa Bay
So much for the Dez Bryant Rules making him take a star turn. It is still early however. Bryant had only three receptions for 17 yards against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3. It was a poor showing for Bryant who dropped a couple of easy passes in the game. Bryant has an opportunity to break out of his slump in a big way against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ team that has allowed the most fantasy points (39.5) and three touchdowns to the wide receiver position this season. If there is any week to bet on Dez, it maybe this one.
Point Projection: 11 points

18. Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) vs. Philadelphia

Where’s Larry? Has anyone found Larry? Fitzgerald caught only one pass for four yards in a favorable matchup against the New England Patriots in Week 2. Kevin Kolb only completing 15 passes and a solid, overall performance from the New England Patriots defense were the main reasons Fitzgerald was taken out of the game. The Philadelphia Eagles held the Baltimore Ravens receivers to only 77 yards passing yards and a touchdown in Week 2, which isn’t good news for Fitzgerald. Expect a better performance from Fitzgerald this week, but it wont come easy, considering Kevin Kolb continues to struggle to get him the ball.
Point Projection: 10 points

19. Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis Colts) vs. Jacksonville

Reggie Wayne delivered as expected (shameless plug) against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2, catching six passes for 71 yards and scoring a touchdown. He continues to function as Andrew Luck’s safety net and has been very productive in the process. The Jacksonville Jaguars may have a solid pass defense, but Wayne will continue to see the large volume of targets necessary to continue being productive this season. Wayne is a solid WR2 this week, especially in PPR leagues.
Point Projection: 10 points

20. Marques Colston (New Orleans Saints) vs. Kansas City  **QUESTIONABLE - EXPECTED TO PLAY ON SUNDAY**

Has Colston lost a step or is the New Orleans’ Saints offense a bit off so far this season. Probably a little bit from column A and a little bit from column B. Colston caught only three passes for 49 yards against the Carolina Panthers in Week 2. He was only targeted four times in the game and often failed to gain separation for the Carolina Panthers solid defensive backs. Expect Colston to bounce back this week against the Kansas City Chiefs, who have struggled to keep their head above water this season allowing 75 points through two games. If the New Orleans Saints’ offense starts to find their groove in this game, Colston could be one of the main benefactors.
Point Projection: 10 points

21. Wes Welker (New England Patriots) @ Baltimore

Following a forgettable Week 1, Welker was able to haul in five catches for 95 yards against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2. It was a nice bounce back game for Welker, but he hasn’t been off to a rather slow start this season. He did however receive 11 targets in the contest and could be in line for heavy targets this week because of the unfortunate Aaron Hernandez injury. Welker only had six receptions for 53 yards against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game last season, but he’s always difficult to stop and is always a threat to score. Expect Welker to be productive this week.
Point Projection: 10 points

22. DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia) @ Arizona

Action Jackson appears like he is back after a seemingly season long hiatus. The Baltimore Ravens couldn’t prevent Jackson from hauling in seven receptions for 114 yards against them in Week 2. Jackson now has scored at least seven fantasy points in each of the season’s first two games. The Arizona Cardinals defense has looked strong and they proved it by holding the New England Patriots to 18 points in Week 2. However, Jackson is a tough cover regardless of matchup and appears to be playing with more of a purpose than he did last season. Bet on another solid game for Jackson.
Point Projection: 10 points

23. Malcom Floyd (San Diego Chargers) vs. Atlanta

No Antonio Gates, no problem. Floyd caught six passes for 109 yards against the Tennessee Titans in Week 2. The absence of Antonio Gates meant more targets for Floyd (8) in Week 2 and to his credit, was able to take advantage. The Atlanta Falcons secondary got burned a couple times by the Denver Broncos wide receivers on Monday night, so it’s possible Floyd can continue his string of nice production. Look for Floyd to be productive again this week, especially if Phillip Rivers can continue his stellar play.
Point Projection: 10 points

24. Antonio Brown (Pittsburgh Steelers) @ Oakland

Brown delivered solid production for the second week in a row, catching seven passes for 79 yards against the New York Jets in Week 2. The good news is it was his second performance this season with at least seven fantasy points scored, but the bad news is that it was the fifth game, if you include last season, of his touchdown drought. The only thing keeping the talented Brown from being an elite fantasy receiver is catching more touchdowns. The Oakland Raiders have allowed only one touchdown so far to the wide receiver position this season in two games. Bet on another solid game for Brown, but unfortunately all the big plays seem to his running partner, Mike Wallace.
Point Projection: 9 points

25. Danny Amendola (St. Louis Rams) @ Chicago

Danny A. had a monster game against the Washington Redskins, hauling in 15 receptions for 160 yards and scoring a touchdown. It was the first 100-yard receiving game of his career and he far and away led the team in targets (16). Amendola should continue to be a force in PPR leagues, going against a Chicago Bears’ team that were among the top teams in allowing receptions to wide receivers last year. The Chicago Bears also continued that trend in Week 1, allowing nine receptions to the Indianapolis Colts’ Reggie Wayne. Expect another solid game from Amendola this week.
Point Projection: 9 points