2013 Fantasy Football: Preseason Fantasy Stock – Week 2




With preseason underway, there will be updates daily to this 2013 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock page. Games will be added as I watch them. Adjustments will be made on my 2013 Fantasy Football Rankings accordingly. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.



2013 Preseason Notes: Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1
2013 Fantasy Football Stock Pages: Preseason Stock Week 4 | Preseason Stock Week 3 | Preseason Stock Week 2 | Preseason Stock Week 1 | Training Camp Stock



2013 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock – Week 2



Steelers at Redskins

Le’Veon Bell, RB, Steelers
Le’Veon Bell made his debut against Washington. Bell started off well with a 4-yard gain. He was given the ball four times on the first four plays, though he was able to muster just nine yards on those carries. He played on third down, but suffered a foot injury and had to leave the game. Bell, who looked like a typical Big Ten plodder, is starting to really worry me with these constant injuries.

Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Steelers
Jonathan Dwyer was the first man off the bench at Washington after Le’Veon Bell exited with his foot injury. He looked like the superior runner, as he finished with 68 yards on 14 carries. Dwyer, who is in better shape this season, showed some shiftiness and elusiveness on his runs. He did lose a fumble, but I don’t think it would be crazy if the Steelers opted to go with him as their starting running back in the early stages of the season. Bell just hasn’t been able to stay healthy.

Robert Griffin, QB, Redskins
The most prominent story coming out of this second preseason game was Robert Griffin’s warmup. Griffin worked out for about an hour prior to kickoff and looked great by all accounts. Even Dr. James Andrews said “wow” while watching him sprint. Griffin, now expected to be cleared for Week 1, is worth drafting in the Round 5-6 range.





Colts at Giants

Coby Fleener, TE, Colts
Coby Fleener had a very rough outing at New York. He dropped a pass and then failed to make a reception because he didn’t look back for the football. He ultimately exited with a mild knee sprain. Fleener has struggled mightily this summer, so you’re better off avoiding him in fantasy.

Brandon Myers, TE, Giants
I almost forgot Brandon Myers signed with the Giants. Through two games, he’s received only one target. Eli Manning threw to him in the red zone versus Indianapolis, but the two didn’t appear to be on the same page. This lacking chemistry is a big disappointment, as Myers projected to be a reliable intermediate target for Manning.

Hakeem Nicks, WR, Giants
It’s ironic that Cruz was knocked out of the game with an injury because Hakeem Nicks didn’t get banged up in his preseason debut against the Colts. Nicks saw a team-high four targets and caught two of them for 40 yards. He’s always at risk to get hurt, but he appears to be fine for now.

David Wilson, RB, Giants
David Wilson once again started for the Giants and left the field on third downs. However, it was clear that Wilson was the superior runner. He ripped off a 21-yarder right away and did a great job of evading defenders all night. He had an amazing stop-and-start juke move on a Colt defender. He stepped out of bounds on the play, but he still drew “oohs” and “ahhs” from the crowd. Wilson finished with 34 yards on eight carries to go along with two catches for 21 receiving yards. He’s so talented that it’s going to be difficult to keep him off the field.





Titans at Bengals

Giovani Bernard, RB, Bengals
BenJarvus Green-Ellis sat out the second preseason game, giving Giovani Bernard the start. Bernard was very impressive, gaining 37 yards on just seven carries. He also converted at the goal line with a 1-yard touchdown plunge. His best play came when he showed nice hands on a high pass and then used his great speed to sprint 22 yards down the sideline. Bernard is very talented, so the Bengals won’t be able to keep him on their bench for long. He’s an RB3/flex with definite RB2 potential, especially in PPR leagues.

Mohamed Sanu, WR, Bengals
Mohamed Sanu caught three of the four balls thrown to him against the Titans, accumulating 36 yards and a touchdown. His best reception was a 24-yarder in which he held off a tackler with a nice stiff-arm. Sanu is worth a look in the very late rounds, as he’ll be Cincinnati’s No. 2 wideout across from A.J. Green.

Nate Washington, WR, Titans
There was some speculation that Nate Washington would be phased out of the offense this year, but he led the Titan starters in targets (6) against the Bengals. He hauled in four of those balls for 44 yards. I would’ve given him a major bump had Kendall Wright suffered a major injury, but Washington should still serve as a decent fantasy backup.





Dolphins at Texans

Dustin Keller, TE, Dolphins
Dustin Keller took a fierce hit to the knee from rookie safety D.J. Swearinger in the middle of the second quarter. Keller was down for a while and had to be carted off. He’s out for the season with a torn knee ligament. It’s a shame because he signed a 1-year “prove it” deal this spring.

Ben Tate, RB, Texans
Arian Foster continues to miss action with multiple injuries, allowing Ben Tate to start the second preseason game. Tate gained 12 yards on four carries. What’s important though is that Matt Schaub targeted him twice on three drives. He hauled in both passes for nine yards.

Mike Wallace, WR, Dolphins
Mike Wallace and Ryan Tannehill finally got on the same page at Houston after struggling with chemistry earlier this summer. Wallace caught all three balls thrown to him for 58 yards and a touchdown, including a 33-yarder in which he beat Johnathan Joseph. His big-play ability will allow him to have some monstrous games, but he’ll be very inconsistent. He’s still being overdrafted.




Packers at Rams

Tavon Austin, WR, Rams
Tavon Austin didn’t catch a single pass in his preseason debut, so the Rams made it their mission to get him involved early and often against the Packers. Austin, who played outside and in the slot, was targeted seven times, catching four balls for 28 yards. However, he dropped two balls and was whistled for a hold on a 9-yard run. On the bright side, he was open for a touchdown (Sam Bradford missed him) and later nearly scored again, but was tackled at the 1-yard line.

Jermichael Finley, TE, Packers
I hate to say this because I’ve been fooled before, but Jermichael Finley might actually be a solid producer this season. Finley saw a team-high five targets go his way, as he caught four balls for 78 yards, including a 33-yarder. He’s playing for a new contract, so he has added incentive.

Eddie Lacy, RB, Packers
Eddie Lacy was unbelievable in his first outing. He opened up with an 8-yard run in which he utilized a spin move to evade a tackler. His next carry saw him break five tackles to rip off a 15-yard gain. Later on the opening possession, he bounced a 7-yard burst outside on a 3rd-and-1, though it was called back because of a penalty. Lacy also caught a pass for 11 yards. He used another spin move to get away from Trumaine Johnson. Lacy finished with 40 yards on eight carries. He’s looking like a very strong fantasy RB2.


Broncos at Seahawks

Montee Ball, RB, Broncos
Montee Ball may have officially passed Ronnie Hillman, though it didn’t have anything to do with how they ran against the Seahawks. Hillman (13 carries, 34 yards) fumbled twice. Ball then took over exclusively, mustering 28 yards on just six attempts. He screwed up as well, failing to pick up a blitzer and was consequently responsible for Manning getting drilled. But with Hillman in the doghouse and Knowshon Moreno nursing a knee injury, Ball appears to be the favorite for the starting job now. I’m still not sold on him, however, because he’s not very good and is being overdrafted.

Ronnie Hillman, RB, Broncos
Ronnie Hillman (13 carries, 34 yards) fumbled twice against the Seahawks. The refs ruled that he was down by contact on the first occasion, but it was clear that he coughed it up. His second fumble came at the goal line, which was returned 106 yards for a touchdown by Brandon Browner. Hillman was not seen after that. Montee Ball then took over exclusively. With Hillman in the doghouse and Knowshon Moreno nursing a knee injury, Ball appears to be the favorite for the starting job now.

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos
Knowshon Moreno missed practice all week with a knee bruise. With both Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman messing up against the Seahawks, Moreno missed a golden opportunity to seize the starting job. Injuries have always been a problem for him, however, so this is obviously not a surprise.

Demaryius Thomas, WR, Broncos
Demaryius Thomas was thrown to six times against the Seahawks. He caught three of them for 52 yards. He did fumble, but otherwise looked very dominant. He’s definitely matured and is poised for a monstrous 2013 campaign.

Julius Thomas, TE, Broncos
Julius Thomas is a very athletic tight end. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He hasn’t done much yet, but it appears as though the light is starting to come on. He saw three targets from Peyton Manning at Seattle and ultimately finished with four grabs for 70 yards. He’s a high-upside TE2 to consider near the end of your draft.


Jaguars at Jets

Justin Blackmon, WR, Jaguars
Seeing his first action of the preseason, Justin Blackmon led all the starters in targets with four against the Jets. Blackmon will miss the first quarter of the season because of a suspension, but he’ll flirt with WR3 status upon his return, especially if Blaine Gabbert continues to show that he can be a functional quarterback. If you have dependable starting receivers, it might be worth it to take a gamble on Blackmon in Rounds 11-12 because you can use him in the event of an injury from Week 5 on.

Chris Ivory, RB, Jets
Chris Ivory has been hurt, so he didn’t start against the Jaguars. He was mixed in with first-team snaps, but he was far inferior compared to Bilal Powell. Ivory gained just 13 yards on six carries, and didn’t look spectacular at all. Powell was much better. He even took multiple direct snaps, so it’s clear that the coaching staff has plans for him this season. Downgrade Ivory immediately.

Bilal Powell, RB, Jets
Bilal Powell was much better than Chris Ivory against the Jaguars. He ripped off a 37-yarder and ultimately finished with 68 yards on seven attempts. He took multiple direct snaps, so it’s clear that the coaching staff has plans for him this season. Try to draft Powell if he slips in your draft.


Cowboys at Cardinals

Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys
As mentioned, Dez Bryant fumbled the ball away in the second quarter at Arizona. This ruined what was a flawless performance. He saw four targets come his way, and he caught all of them for 74 yards. He made a beautiful back-shoulder catch on Patrick Peterson on one occasion. Bryant is going to be a beast this year.

Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals
Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald already have great chemistry. Palmer targeted Fitzgerald five times against Dallas, and the future Hall of Fame wideout snagged three receptions for 44 yards in about a quarter-and-a-half of action. He also had a 24-yard catch wiped out because of a hold. Barring injury, it’ll be a major upset if Fitzgerald doesn’t finish as a top-10 fantasy receiver this year.


49ers at Chiefs

Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs
Dwayne Bowe just saw one target go his way against the 49ers. He and Alex Smith just don’t seem to have any sort of chemistry thus far. Bowe has been way overdrafted in every fantasy mock draft I’ve participated in this summer.


Raiders at Saints

Mark Ingram, RB, Saints
Mark Ingram rushed for 30 yards and a touchdown on nine carries to go along with an 11-yard reception against the Raiders. Ingram looks a lot quicker than he was last year. He’s finally healthy, though that can change very quickly.

Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders
Darren McFadden rushed for 17 yards on five carries at New Orleans. He was stuffed on a 4th-and-1 on the opening drive. As I wrote last week, it’s impossible to tell if McFadden has explosion or not because his offensive line can’t open up any holes for him. He’s just going to suffer an injury anyway, so do yourself a favor and stay away from him.

Kenny Stills, WR, Saints
I was happy to see Kenny Stills bounce back from a brutal preseason debut. He was much more reliable and didn’t make any mistakes. He caught four of the five balls thrown to him for 64 yards and a touchdown. I wouldn’t recommend drafting him, but he’s worth monitoring.


Vikings at Bills

Greg Jennings, WR, Vikings
Greg Jennings saw four targets go his way in his first preseason game with the Vikings. The result? One catch for five yards. Ponder has a limited skill set, while Jennings took the money and ran to play with an inferior quarterback. It’s safe to say that he’s going to have a very disappointing 2013 campaign.


Buccaneers at Patriots

Danny Amendola, WR, Patriots
It’s almost as if Danny Amendola and Tom Brady have been playing together for a decade. The two were incredibly in sync against the Buccaneers. Brady threw to Amendola seven times on two drives, and the former Ram came up with six receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. If Amendola can stay healthy all year – a big if – he’ll definitely be a top-10 fantasy receiver.

Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
Tom Brady finished 11-of-12 for 108 yards and a touchdown against the Buccaneers. He was unstoppable. He went 7-of-8 for 65 yards and a score in the preseason opener, so he’s now 18-of-20 for 173 yards and a pair of touchdowns through two games. It’s almost as if he hasn’t lost anyone this offseason. Brady looks like he’s on a mission. Don’t have any reservations about drafting him in Rounds 3-4.


Falcons at Ravens

Julio Jones, WR, Ravens
Julio Jones was the only Falcons’ starter who saw more than two targets go his way at Baltimore. He snagged three of the four balls for 55 yards and a touchdown. Jones is set to have a monstrous campaign.

Steven Jackson, RB, Falcons
Steven Jackson looked a bit slow in his preseason debut, but he had a stronger showing in his second contest. He rushed for 42 yards on eight carries. He also recorded a 13-yard reception in which he broke a Michael Huff tackle. Jackson will have plenty of goal-line opportunities this year, making him a consensus first-round fantasy pick.

Ray Rice, RB, Ravens
Ray Rice didn’t have any running lanes against the Falcons, making it the second week in a row that he couldn’t get anything going on the ground. Rice gained just 10 yards on eight carries, as the blocking simply wasn’t there. A frustrated Rice even yelled at right tackle Michael Oher for missing a block in the second quarter, resulting in a 4-yard loss. On the bright side, Rice shared the team lead in targets with two.


Lions at Browns

Jordan Cameron, TE, Browns
Jordan Cameron had a rough exhibition debut, so it was nice to see him rebound versus Detroit. He saw three targets and caught all of those passes for 42 yards and a pair of touchdowns. With Rob Chudzinski and Norv Turner coaching him up, Cameron is poised to have a break-out campaign.

Josh Gordon, WR, Browns
Josh Gordon is a stud. He saw more targets than any other Cleveland starter (4) against the Lions. He snagged three of those balls for 72 yards, as Brandon Weeden’s only misfire to Gordon resulted in a near-acrobatic, one-handed catch. Gordon will miss the first two games of the season, but he’ll serve as a potential WR2 the rest of the way.

Dion Lewis, RB, Browns
Dion Lewis fractured his fibula against the Lions and will be out for a few months. He was seen as a decent handcuff for Trent Richardson.

Trent Richardson, RB, Browns
I heard that Trent Richardson had an excellent performance in this contest, so I couldn’t wait to watch it. Indeed, Richardson dominated the Lions, as he showed off his power, speed and elusiveness. He rushed for 33 yards on just six carries, including a 17-yard run that he was able to bounce outside. Richardson looks completely healthy, so he can safely be chosen with a top-five fantasy selection.


Panthers at Eagles

LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles
LeSean McCoy made his preseason debut against the Panthers. He looked outstanding. He rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, including one run in which he made three jukes to burst for 21 yards. McCoy solidified his standing as a first-round fantasy stud.

Cam Newton, QB, Panthers
Cam Newton missed open receivers and nearly threw an interception to go along with his mediocre stat line against the Eagles: 8-of-17, 112 yards. It’s been two weeks now, and Newton just hasn’t looked very good. Perhaps this will change once the games actually mean something, but it’s a reminder that Newton is learning under a new offensive coordinator this year. He’ll still get his rushing touchdowns, but I’d try to avoid him in fantasy leagues.


Chargers at Bears

Vincent Brown, WR, Chargers
No Danario Alexander, no Malcom Floyd, so Vincent Brown was expected to be the star wideout in San Diego’s offense in the second preseason game. Brown, however, wasn’t targeted on a single occasion. Philip Rivers didn’t have much time in the pocket to find Brown downfield – a theme that’s sure to continue throughout this entire season.

Matt Forte, RB, Bears
Matt Forte looked great against the Chargers, rushing for 74 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, thanks to a 58-yard burst. This performance was encouraging, considering the problems Chicago has on its offensive line.

Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers
Antonio Gates was the only Charger starter who had more than one target from Philip Rivers in the second preseason game. He was thrown to five times. With San Diego now concentrating on a short, quick passing game, Gates’ receptions are sure to rise. He’s still a risky player because of his durability issues, but he’s worth snagging in Rounds 8-9.

Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Ryan Mathews looked good in his second exhibition contest. He ran hard and tallied 45 yards on just nine carries. Mathews will eventually miss time with an injury, but if, by miracle, he can manage to stay healthy, he can definitely be a top-15 fantasy running back.

For more on this game, go to the 2013 NFL Preseason Fantasy Football Notes. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.


2013 Preseason Notes: Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1
2013 Fantasy Football Stock Pages: Preseason Stock Week 4 | Preseason Stock Week 3 | Preseason Stock Week 2 | Preseason Stock Week 1 | Training Camp Stock


Be sure to check out my other 2013 Fantasy Football articles, which will include mock drafts, rankings, sleepers, busts, cheat sheets and other things.






More 2013 Fantasy Football Articles:
2013 Fantasy Football: Home

2013 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/1 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings: RUNNING BACKS - 9/4 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/4 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/2 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 6/3 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 6/3 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Auction Values - 4/24 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings - 5/5 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/28 (Walt)

2013 Fantasy Football Season Features:
Week 17 Fantasy Football Rankings - 12/26 (Walt)
Week 17 Fantasy Football Rankings: PPR - 12/26 (Walt)
Week 17 Fantasy Football Injury Reports - 12/26 (Walt)
Week 17 Fantasy Football Start Em, Sit Em - 12/26 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Add/Drop: Week 15 - 12/9 (Walt)
Week 14 Fantasy Football Start Em, Sit Em - 12/8 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Fan Duel Picks - 11/22 (Walt)
FanDuel FanDuel $15,000 Contest - 11/22
FanDuel Exclusive Offer to WalterFootball.com Readers - 8/24
FanDuel Week 1 $500 Freeroll - 8/24

2013 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets (Printable Option):
2013 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Traditional Scoring - 9/4 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: PPR Scoring - 9/4 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Touchdown Scoring - 9/4 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: 2-QB Format - 9/4 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Downloadable Spreadsheets - 9/2 (Walt)

2013 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-team, 3-WR, Flex - 9/2 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-team, PPR - 8/29 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-team, Standard - 8/22 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-team, Dynasty - 8/15 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 14-team, PPR - 8/8 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 3-WR - 8/1 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 2-QB - 7/26 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 14-teamer - 7/19 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 7/11 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 6/29 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Four-Man Mock - 6/13 (Walt)

2013 Fantasy Football Articles:
2013 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Training Camp - 9/4 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock - 8/30 (Walt)
2013 NFL Preseason Recap, Fantasy Football Notes - 8/30 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Quarterback Targets - 8/30 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 8/28 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Busts - 8/28 (Walt)
2013 ESPN Fantasy Football Magazine: 10 Reasons Not to Buy It - 8/21 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football IDP Tips - 8/17 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy - 8/16 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Draft Boards for Sale - 6/13
2013 Fantasy Football All-Value Team - 6/9 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Hot Finishers - 4/24 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Quarterbacks - 4/24 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Running Backs - 4/24 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Wide Receivers - 4/24 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football: Overdrafted Players - 2/17 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football: First-Round Bust History - 2/17 (Walt)
Running Backs with Most Carries - 2/17 (Walt)




2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 23


NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22


Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19


NFL Picks - Feb. 12