Quarterback Rankings:

Deserves a Second Look
Joe Ganz, Nebraska (San Jose State)
The Huskers quarterback is certainly no sleeper pick after 345 yards and four scores last week against Western Michigan. However, he still may be a back-up on most rosters. Look for another huge week against inferior competition.

Brian Johnson, Utah (UNLV)
The Utes quarterback threw for over 300 yards on the road in a big upset win over powerhouse Michigan last week. Against lowly UNLV, his numbers could be even better. The offense will click for both halves this week so expect big numbers once again.

C.J. Bacher, Northwestern (@ Duke)
In a bit of a revenge game, the Wildcats head down to Durham after allowing Duke to snap their long losing streak in Evanston last season. Look for all Wildcat options to have solid performances against the Blue Devils this Saturday.

Matt Stafford, Georgia (Central Michigan)
The UGA signal caller needed only 13 completions to record 275 yards passing. That means big plays. And he faces a defense that allowed 52 (Kansas), 45 (Purdue), 70 (Clemson) and 51 (Purdue again) to the four BCS conference opponents they faced last season. Good news for Stafford.

Better Think Twice
Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan (@ Georgia)
Thunder Dan will score some points this week against Georgia. But expectations should be tempered as the Bulldogs should run at will, keeping the Chippewa offense on the sideline as much as possible.

Dustin Grutza, Cincinnati (@ Oklahoma)
After a great week one – and the long overdue end of the Ben Mauk saga – Grutza is a definite no play this week in Norman. Although this game will be closer than the experts think, Grutza should not be in any fantasy line-up.

Case Keenum, Houston (@ Oklahoma State)
Oklahoma State allowed Wassu’s Gary Rogers only 82 yards and a single touchdown strike last week in Seattle. Keenum is going to perform better than that, however, a repeat of his 390-yard, five touchdown game last week is highly unlikely.

Trevor Vittatoe, UTEP (Texas)
The Miners quarterback played terribly on Thursday night against Buffalo. It ended in a 42-17 defeat. Vittatoe mustered only 199 yards and one score and three interceptions. Against a very strong Texas team – in a game that means a lot for both in the recruiting world – UTEP will struggle on offense.

Running Back Rankings:

Deserves a Second Look
Derrick Washington, Missouri (Southeast Missouri State)
This kid looked nothing short of spectacular in St. Louis Saturday night. He ran through, around and over Illini players all night. With defenses so concerned with all the firepower around him, Washington will be overlooked by nearly every defensive coordinator. Against SEMO, Washington will be huge.

Kory Sheets, Purdue (Northern Colorado)
Sheets has reached double-digit touchdowns every season as Boilermaker. And that was with Jaycen Taylor splitting time in the backfield. Taylor is no longer in the picture as he tore up his knee in pre-season play. Sheets will have a field day against Northern Colorado – unless of course a rogue back-up punter comes after him.

Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State (Houston)
Although the Cowboys won handily in Seattle last week, the stars of the offense did not shine like expected. Quarterback Zac Robinson played below average fantasy football and looked to Hunter to pick up the slack. Hunter responded with a 107-yard, two touchdown performance. Expect more of the same against the Cougars.

Shonn Greene, Iowa (FIU)
After not playing in a single game due to academic issues last season, Greene came back with a force last week against the Black Bears of Maine. He rushed for 109 yards and a score in the 46-3 rout. Against FIU this week, fantasy owners can expect much of the same.

Better Think Twice
Damion Fletcher, Southern Miss (@ Auburn)
After a 222 yard-two touchdown performance in week one, it will be very hard to bench one of the top fantasy backs in the nation (gulp, I will not be playing him this week). Auburn has a great front seven and pitched a shut out last week so upside is not great.

Rodney Ferguson, New Mexico (Texas A&M)
The first two weeks of the season will not be kind to Fergie. His 64 yards against TCU were not terrible but the 27-3 score was. The A&M defense should be fired up after the home loss to the Red Wolves of Arkansas State last week. Expect a much better effort from the Aggies in week two.

Ryan McCants, Oregon State (@ Penn State)
Not only is this just a bruttle match-up, but McCants will lose carries all season to the electric Jacquizz Rodgers. He is a must sit this week.

James Starks, Buffalo (@ Pitt)
The Bulls tailback had a huge game against UTEP last weekend but didn’t find the end zone. Despite the ‘play’ of the head coach, Pitt has solid linebackers and a decent front seven. And you have to think the Panthers will be fired up after losing to Bowling Green last weekend.

Wide Receiver Rankings:

Deserves a Second Look
Nate Swift, Nebraska (San Jose State)
Swift was the top recipient of Joe Ganz passes last week with 121 yards on five receptions and two scores. The top Husker receiver will have another huge game against the Spartans of San Jose State.

Mark Dell, Michigan State (Eastern Michigan)
Nine catches. 202 yards. And a touchdown. That is all Dell did to the Golden Bears last weekend in Berkeley. Against a much lesser opponent in Eastern Michigan, Dell and quarterback Brian Hoyer should both have big days.

Manuel Johnson, Oklahoma (Cincinnati)
The overlooked Johnson led the Sooners in receptions, yards and scores in the season opener against Chattanooga. Against a gamey Bearcat secondary, Johnson should be able to once again get open since Juaquin Iglesias and Jermaine Gresham should take most of the attention.

Jock Sanders, West Virginia (@ East Carolina)
Pat White threw a career high five touchdowns last week against Villanova. Sanders caught two of them. The Pirates are coming off one of the biggest upsets in school history and it will be tough for them to get up once again. Expect Sanders to be White’s top target all season long.

Better Think Twice
Bryan Anderson / Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
The Chips may have to pass the ball a lot late in what should be a very lop-sided battle, so it is not a clear “bench” opportunity. However, the Georgia ground game should keep the CMU offense off the field, as BCS teams have had their way with the MAC champion’s defense of late. Temper expectations.

Marcus Barnett / Dominick Goodman, Cincinnati (@ Oklahoma)
This game will be closer than the experts think but not close enough to keep the Bearcats receivers in fantasy line-ups. Barnett caught only four passes and 44 yards last week in a blowout of Eastern Kentucky. The Sooners will make it tough on all facets of the Brian Kelly spread attack.

Jeff Moturi, UTEP (Texas)
The UTEP offense did not look good at all against Buffalo last Thursday. Moturi managed only 38 yards on five receptions last week. Quarterback Trevor Vittatoe played poorly as well as he threw three interceptions. Texas will shut down the in-state rival in what is a huge game for recruiting out in west Texas.

Jeremy Maclin, Missouri (Southeast Missouri State)
The fact that SEMO heads to Memorial Stadium this weekend, combined with the nagging ankle injury means little upside for the stud do-it-all Tiger receiver. Even if Maclin does play, the game will be out of hand so quickly that it will not be worth risking more complications with the ankle.

Tight End Rankings

Defensive Rankings:

In a weekend with few big match-ups, once again there should be plenty of defensive options in any fantasy format. Kentucky (Norfolk State) scored two touchdowns on defense last week and could be a great play this week. Florida State always has strong defenses and a match-up with the Catamonts of Western Carolina should provide owners with solid output.

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