Week 2

Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh) – Big Ben attempted just 23 passes in the season opener, but four of them went for touchdowns, a career high for the quarterback.  This week, Roethlisberger faces a banged-up Buffalo defense that lost two starting defensive backs for the season and allowed Denver to pass for more than 300 yards in Week 1.   

Brett Favre (Green Bay) – Favre didn’t do much against the Eagles in Week 1, but that was expected.  His numbers should improve significantly this Sunday against a struggling NY Giant defense that allowed Tony Romo to pass 345 yards and four scores in the opener. 

Matt Schaub (Houston) – Schaub had a solid debut as a Texan against the Chiefs, passing for 225 yards and one score.  This Sunday, he’ll face a much stiffer test, going on the road to take on the Panthers.  Carolina’s defense was impressive in the opener, limiting the high-powered Rams to 238 yards and 13 points. 

Steven Jackson (St. Louis) – Jackson owners are not happy.  Against Carolina, he was limited to 58 yards on 18 carries, and he caught just one pass.  This week, the running back will face an improving San Francisco defense.  The good news is that the Niners were much tougher against the pass than the run in Week 1, allowing 161 yards on the ground and 100 through the air to the Cardinals.  Edgerrin James accounted for 112 total yards and one TD for Arizona, and you can expect something similar from Jackson, who produced 316 total yards in two games vs. San Francisco last season.
 

Willis McGahee (Baltimore) – The Ravens suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Bengals on Monday night.  While most of the folks in Baltimore are blaming the refs for the defeat, I feel that Coach Brian Billick should have given the ball more to McGahee, who finished the game with 77 yards on 19 carries and 34 yards on three catches.  This week, the Ravens will face the Jets, and both teams will likely be missing their starting quarterbacks.  Look for Baltimore to stifle second-year QB Kellen Clemens and the rest of the New York offense, leading to numerous opportunities for McGahee.  In six career games vs. the Jets, he has rushed for 705 yards and three scores. 

Chris Brown (Tennessee) – I don’t expect the oft-injured Brown to rush for more than 100 yards every week, but for now, he’s healthy and running hard.  This Sunday, Brown will face the Colts, who were very stingy in their opener against the Saints.  Even so, the Titans’ running game gave Indianapolis fits last season, totaling 433 yards on the ground in two games. 

Warrick Dunn (Atlanta) – The Falcons need a spark on offense, and the answer might be second-year RB Jerious Norwood, who averaged 4.1 yards more per carry than Dunn in Week 1.  This Sunday, Dunn, who was limited to 55 yards on 22 carries in the opener, will face an angry Jacksonville defense.  With DTs John Henderson and Marcus Stroud anchoring the middle of the line, the Jags will reestablish themselves as one of the better run-stuffing units in the league. 

Chris Chambers (Miami) – Chambers has to like his chances against a Dallas secondary that was burned badly in Week 1.  With top corner Terence Newman (questionable, foot) out, the Cowboys allowed a combined 17 catches for 235 yards and three TDs to Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer.  Chambers, meanwhile, established himself as Trent Green’s favorite target, catching six balls for 92 yards in the opener. 
 

Donald Driver (Green Bay) – See Brett Favre. 

Joey Galloway (Tampa Bay) – Galloway may be getting old, but he’s still the top target in Tampa Bay.  In Week 1 against Seattle, he caught five balls for 72 yards, and this Sunday, he’ll face a New Orleans secondary that was shredded by the Colts in the opener.  In his last four games against the Saints, Galloway has caught 17 balls for 320 yards and six touchdowns.   
 

Heath Miller (Pittsburgh) – See Ben Roethlisberger.   

Ronald Curry (Oakland) – There is no doubt that Curry is Josh McCown’s go-to guy.  Unfortunately for Curry, there is some doubt about McCown’s (foot and finger) status for this week.  If long-baller Daunte Culpepper is under center for the Raiders, Jerry Porter might get more chances.  Either way, it probably doesn’t matter because the two Oakland receivers will be facing Denver’s excellent CB tandem of Champ Bailey and Dre’ Bly, who limited Buffalo’s Lee Evans to five receiving yards in Week 1.
 

Deion Branch (Seattle) – The supposed No. 1 receiver in Seattle had no catches last week, and the man that he replaced, 49ers WR Darrell Jackson, had just four catches for 36 yards on Monday night against the Cardinals, this week’s opponent.  In one game against Arizona last year, Branch caught just three balls for 54 yards and no scores. 

Jason Elam (Denver) – In Week 1, the Broncos moved the ball up and down the field, racking up 470 total yards, but they sputtered in scoring territory.  As a result, Elam attempted five field goals, making three (21, 48, and 42) and missing two (50 and 43) in rainy Buffalo.  This Sunday, the veteran will be kicking in the friendly confines of Mile High against the Raiders.  In his last two home games vs. Oakland, Elam has scored a total of 17 points.   

Cincinnati Defense – Last week, the Bengals took advantage of a Baltimore offense that had issues at quarterback, racking up six takeaways and two sacks.  This Sunday, the Cincinnati defense could have another feast against a Cleveland squad that is still searching for a signal caller.  In Week 1 against Pittsburgh, the Browns turned over the ball five times and allowed six sacks.

San Diego Defense – The San Diego defense looked great in Week 1, but this Sunday night, that unit will face a tougher test – New England on the road.  In the opener vs. the Jets, Patriots QB Tom Brady had all day to throw and his running backs had plenty of holes to run through.  The end result was 431 yards and 38 points, with no sacks and no turnovers, for the Pats.  When these two teams clashed in the playoffs last season, the Chargers defense did fairly well against New England, allowing 327 yards and 24 points and recording two sacks and three INTs.  However, thanks to the additions of WRs Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte’ Stallworth, this year’s version of the Patriots’ offense has many more dangerous weapons.