Nickel Coverage: Five fantasy questions that need answers before Week 2
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Each week throughout the season, I will posit five of the week's most intriguing fantasy questions to a rotating panel of experts from ESPN, ESPN Fantasy and NFL Nation. Five questions for five analysts, thus, Nickel Coverage.
Responses this week come from ESPN NFL senior writer Jeremy Fowler, NFL Nation Lions reporter Michael Rothstein, ESPN New York's Anita Marks, ESPN Fantasy analyst Matt Bowen and ESPN NFL scout Matt Williamson.
Tom Brady faces the staunch Bills defense, while Aaron Rodgers faces a Seahawks defense against whom he has averaged fewer than 200 passing yards and totaled two TDs during his past three meetings (including playoffs). Would you sit either quarterback in Week 2 if you have a viable backup with a good matchup?
Bowen: Sitting Brady or Rodgers should be out of the question. Yes, their numbers could drop a bit this weekend, given the matchups versus top-tier defensive clubs, but they are still elite starters. Go with your No.1 guy. For Brady, he must get the ball out quickly against the Bills' blitz packages. He knows what to expect versus coach Rex Ryan, and there will be one-on-one matchups to exploit. For Rodgers, it's time for the Packers' team leader to solve the Seahawks riddle. Make plays versus Cover 3 and create some explosive gains. Even if your No. 2 QB has a better "matchup" on paper, who shuts down Brady or Rodgers for the week? That's bad football.
Fowler: No chance. Ride your horses. Consider: In his past five years against coach Ryan (10 games), Brady has 20 touchdown passes to five interceptions and 2,662 yards (266.2 per game). That's not far off his career averages. Don't let Rex intimidate you. The only reason to veer from Brady would be if you have an undeniably sexy matchup, such as Carson Palmer against a porous Bears secondary. Otherwise, play him. As for Rodgers -- ride, ride, ride. Expect the Packers to struggle running the ball against Seattle's front, which means Rodgers, who will be ornery in this one after the way the playoff game unraveled, will get his.
Marks: Didn't we learn our lesson in Week 1 with Andrew Luck (posting a subpar 243 passing yards with two TDs and two INTs) vs. the Bills? I certainly did in two leagues! Keep in mind, Luck was blitzed on 49 percent of dropbacks Sunday, and I expect Rex to come after Brady just the same. Quick note: Last season the Bills' defense led the NFL with 54 sacks. Meanwhile, Rodgers, who is facing the stout Seattle defense with no Jordy Nelson and a dinged-up Randall Cobb, has me concerned as well. Instead of Brady and Rodgers, consider using Palmer at Chicago and Joe Flacco at Oakland.
Rothstein: In a word -- no. In multiple words -- absolutely not. While Buffalo and Seattle have two of the better defenses in the NFL, I find it very, very difficult to sit either quarterback at any point this year, barring injury or an insane weather situation. I say this because if you have Rodgers or Brady, the chances of you having Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger or Tony Romo would seem highly unlikely. Those would be the only three quarterbacks I'd consider playing above Brady or Rodgers this week. Stick with Brady and Rodgers in all other cases, because they are both talented enough to expose any defense.
Williamson: I would sit Brady if I had a midtier, high-upside quarterback who has a favorable matchup. Brady is going to get hit plenty in Week 2. As for Rodgers, I understand his history versus Seattle, but I roll with him every week no matter what.
With Dez Bryant out for the foreseeable future, how much should we adjust expectations for the fantasy value of Tony Romo and the Cowboys receivers in Week 2 against the Eagles and for the next month or two?
