Red Shirt: Vick Named Eagles Starter After Impressive Week 2 (AP Photo)
Week 2 gave presented a few surprises. Surprise! The Bucs, Chiefs, Texans and Dolphins are all 2-0. Bigger Surprise: The Vikings and Cowboys are 0-2. The Biggest Surprise?: Maybe that the Steelers are 2-0 despite uncertainty under center. Here's the best and worst from Week 2.
Offensive player of the week-Michael Vick After Kevin Kolb was knocked out of the season opener, the triumphantly-returning Vick almost lead a comeback win against the Packers. Last week against the Lions, Vick showed poise and confidence, throwing for 2 TDs and committing no turnovers as the Eagles held on for a victory on the road. Vick's play and his leadership of this club over the past six-plus quarters may have caused Andy Reid to conduct an end-around with his signal caller, naming a cleared-to-practice Kolb the starter for Week 3 at Jacksonville on Monday, only to reverse field and name Vick the starter yesterday. Looks like he may be in the saddle until further notice.
Defensive Player of the Week-Clay MatthewsThe second-year pro from USC is really off to a great start. He continued that against Buffalo in Week 2, recording five tackles and three sacks to raise his season sack total to six. Matthews is a key cog in a talented linebacking corps and an improved Green Bay defense that already is backed up by a high-powered offense.
Fantasy Star of the Week-Matt SchaubHigh five if you started this guy *self high-five*. Schaub performed well against the Redskins in the first half, but when down 17 points, he took it to the next level. The 'Skins pass rush while recording five sacks of Schaub on the day, couldn't get the needed pressure on the Texans QB when it mattered in the second half and he made them pay. Schaub lit up Washington to the tune of 497 yards and three TDs and probably gave plenty of fantasy owners between 20-30 points in their Week 2 matchups while completing passes to eight different receivers. Talk about clutch.
Fantasy Dud of the Week-Brett FarveI thought hard about giving this award to Vince Young and his debacle against the Titans, but to his defense, the entire Titan offense was horrendous Sunday. Think Brett wishes he reconsidered retirement? Four turnovers against Miami have the Vikes at a 0-2 start and two games back of their chief rivals in the NFC North in Chicago and Green Bay. Through two games, the Vikings offense has averaged a putrid 10 points and Farve has looked lost without his leading receiver from '09 in Sidney Rice and a healthy Percy Harvin.
Guts Award: Week 2-Andre JohnsonJohnson already had a good number before leaving with an ankle injury with less than 6 minutes left in the fourth quarter against Washington. His connection with Matt Schaub proved paramount in the Texans comeback in the fourth quarter and his sensational leaping grab on the bum ankle in the near corner of the end-zone for a 34-yard TD at the 2-minute warning on 4th and 10 was arguably the play of the day in the league. You can't help but respect his guile and athletic ability in a situation where you have to have a play.
Most Impressive Rookie-Jahvid BestSure, the Lions are 0-2 and have lost their first two games by a combined 8 points. It hasn't been because of the efforts of Best, the rookie back from Cal. In the first two weeks, he's scored 5 TDs (4 rushing, 1 receiving). Last week, against the Eagles, he had a spectacular performance: rushing for 78 yards and two scores and taking a short pass from Shaun Hill and turning it into a 75-yard catch and run to paydirt. The Lions may not win very many games this season, but the early indications point that Best will be a gem in the backfield.
Most Impressive Unit Performance-Steelers DefenseSome things don't change. Old Faithful frustrated Vince Young and sending him to the bench Sunday, forcing 7 turnovers and holding the league's leading rusher to less than 60 yards total offense. It will be nice for Charlie Batch, Leftwich and Co. to ride this defense until Big Ben returns next month.
