Often, Week 1 can be written off as an aberration — the good and the bad. This season, it seems, troublesome occurrences in Week 1 frequently reoccurred in Week 2. One week, we can write it off to bad luck or rustiness or any number of factors. Two dismal weeks to start the season and we begin to get worried. When the future offers no reprieve from early struggles, well that’s when we decide to alter our gameplan early in the season. Such is the case with a few players you likely drafted with intentions of starting them every week. You thought you were getting Shia LaBeouf, instead it turns out you have Vin Diesel.
Take action now to try to recast these surprising holes in your roster:
Larry Johnson, RB, Chiefs — We still think L.J. can be a dynamic running back, but no one stands a chance in the K.C. backfield. Now he’s frustrated, which isn’t going to help matters. He’ll see more than 12 touches a week, normally. But this guy is not going to rebound to the degree we thought he would, making him a bust as a second-round pick.
Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals — It wasn’t that long ago that Palmer seemed ready to ascend to the same elite status as Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Then a knee injury, and the Bengals suddenly realized they are, indeed, the Bengals.
Since that 2006 playoff injury, we kept thinking the real Palmer would return. He never has. And it certainly doesn’t appear as if it’s going to happen anytime soon, if ever. Sinking with him are T.J. Houshmandzadeh and the wide receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson.
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seahawks — The good news is, the struggling Seahawks anticipate getting their top two WRs — Bobby Engram and Deion Branch — back after the Week 4 bye. The bad news is, there’s no reason to believe Hasselbeck will get better protection when they do return. We’re going to bench Hasselbeck until their return, and we’re holding out a sliver of hope he will improve after that.
BIG WEEK: RB Michael Turner (Falcons, vs. Chiefs); QB Marc Bulger (Rams, at Seahawks); RB Chris Johnson (Titans, vs. Texans).
BIG WEAK: RB Jonathan Stewart (Panthers, at Vikings); RB Marion Barber (Cowboys, at Packers); RB Thomas Jones (Jets, at Chargers).