Guest Fantasy Post: Bad Week 1? Don't Panic With These Three

[We're please to publish this guest article from our friends at FanDuel on week 1 fantasy duds that had their owners cringing.  We'll be back with the weekend picks later in the week.  Enjoy!  - The BQB]

It is easy as a fantasy football owner to already feel anxiety about some of the top talents on your team. However, people need to remember that there is a reason why these guys were so highly regarded. Here is what to expect from three stars who struggled in Week 1 for the rest of the season.

Mike Wallace

The Miami Dolphins expect to be AFC East and even Super Bowl contenders in 2013, and one of the major reasons is their new #1 wide receiver. However, against the Browns, the fantasy football standout was nothing more than an expensive decoy. He voiced his displeasure after the win because he was targeted only five times the entire game, with just one catch for 15 yards. Joe Haden did a solid job on him, but the play of Brian Hartline will open up opportunities for Wallace all season long. He should still be expected to reach those lofty expectations, especially once he develops a better connection with Ryan Tannehill.

Robert Griffin III

The second-year quarterback wasn’t terrible in Week 1, but he was clearly limited in Washington’s loss to Philadelphia. He threw for 329 yards, but he lost the ball a total of three times. His rushing numbers (and attempts) simply weren’t there either. Can he get healthy in time to be a solid every week fantasy football starter? He should get more and more comfortable as the season goes along, but he also has a high injury risk. Hopefully, you didn’t reach for him too much in your draft. His numbers might take a small hit, but he will still have value.

Arian Foster

Again, it wasn’t a terrible day at the office for Foster, but the Houston Texans appear to be more of a passing team than in recent memory. Thanks to a healthy Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and rookie DeAndre Hopkins, Foster could see his workload go down a bit. He was going as high as #2 overall in some leagues, so obviously expectations are pretty high. He will probably still be a top 10 running back, but his numbers will go down slightly overall this fantasy football season.

Guest Article: Fantasy Rookie RBs

We're pleased to post this guest article from our friends at FanDuel.com!

Ball, Lacy And Bell All Poised For Solid Rookie Campaigns

The 2013 NFL Draft certainly paled in comparison to last season, but there are still plenty of young players who will step in and start right away. From a fantasy perspective, a lot of these starters will be at non-skill positions, which means next to nothing to them. However, three running backs seem poised to have great 2013 seasons as the featured running back for their team. How will Montee Ball, Eddie Lacy and Le’Veon Bell do as rookies?

Montee Ball (Denver Broncos)

After being a workhorse at Wisconsin, Ball will step into a nice situation in Denver. The Broncos, with Peyton Manning at the helm, are always going to be a pass-first team, but Ball can step in right away to provide value on the ground. Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno, the two guys who received a lot of running opportunities for Denver last year, are both injured, so it is Ball’s position to win. Durability for the long term is a concern for Ball, but as a rookie, he should be the top running back option.

Eddie Lacy (Green Bay Packers)

Many thought that Lacy would be taken in the first round by the Packers, but the team took a gamble and it paid off. He lasted until the second round, mostly due to the fact that some teams are worried about his injury history. In Green Bay, he won’t be asked to do a ton, but he can both run and catch the ball with ease for a lot of fantasy football 2013 value. Aaron Rodgers enjoys having a running back who can catch a few passes, so expect him to have a solid all-around campaign.

Le’Veon Bell (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Last season, the Steelers had a terrible time trying to find the right type of running game. Bell will get his opportunity to be a featured back, but if he can’t get it done, it could be a somewhat short stint for the former Michigan State running back. The Steelers, like the other two teams mentioned in this article, have a franchise quarterback, so Bell will not have to do a ton. Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman could still earn the starting spot as well, so that is why he can’t be any higher than third right now.

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