The second week of the 2015 NFL season featured ten games in the early window at 1:00 ET. There were some big surprises, some throwback performances, and some late-game drama. Both Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston led their teams to victory while Marcus Mariota struggled. With plenty of action all across the country, let’s catch up on all the scoring leaders week 2 from the games in the early window on Sunday afternoon.
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There still plenty of games to play to decide this week’s winners and losers, but these players got their team’s off to a good start and are the current scoring leaders week 2.
Ben Roethlisberger-QB-Pittsburgh Steelers: Big Ben threw for 369 yards in the Steelers destruction of the 49ers. He completed 21 of his 27 passes including three touchdowns and a successful two-point conversion. Roethlisberger looked sharp and should be a top ten QB going forward.
Larry Fitzgerald-WR-Arizona Cardinals: In a throwback performance, Fitz showed he can still produce catching three touchdowns from Carson Palmer in the Cardinals 48-23 win in Chicago. Fitzgerald caught all but one of his nine targets and finished with an impressive 112 yards to go with his trio of touchdowns.
Travis Benjamin-WR-Cleveland Browns: One of the hottest names on the fantasy football waiver wire this week is sure to be Browns playmaker Travis Benjamin. Benjamin scored three touchdowns total two on long passes from Johnny Manziel and one on a punt return. He finished with 115 yards on his three catches, so he isn’t a volume producer, but he can definitely makes some plays and Johnny Manziel has a clear connection with him.
Tom Brady-QB-New England Patriots: Brady continued his revenge tour throwing for league-high 466 yards in Buffalo against a supposedly tough Bills defense. Brady threw for three touchdowns, but he did lose a fumble late in the Patriots 40-32 win.
Colin Kaepernick-QB-San Francisco 49ers: While the Steelers were crushing the 49ers, Kaepernick was having to throw the ball a ton to try and catch up. He finished with 335 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns while adding 51 yards rushing and a two-point conversion.
Antonio Brown-WR-Pittsburgh Steelers: Brown was the main recipient of Big Ben’s fantasy football attention and put up a huge fantasy football line for the second week in a row. Brown finished week 2 with 195 yards on nine catches as well as a touchdown and a successful two-point conversion.
Cam Newton-QB-Carolina Panthers: Newton and the Panthers held on and escaped with a win for the second week in a row as they held off the Texans 24-17. Newton finished with 195 yards passing and a pair of touchdown throws to go with a touchdown run and 76 yards on the ground. He was at his dual-threat best, but he’ll need better play from his receivers to stay in the elite group of QBs going forward.
DeAngelo Williams-RB-Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers passing game was great, but they didn’t leave out their running game. Williams finished his time filling in for Le’Veon Bell with three touchdowns against the 49ers while running for 77 yards on his 20 carries and adding 15 more yards on four catches.
Matt Jones-RB-Washington Redskins: Jones was one of the early breakout performers. He got 19 carries against the Rams and ripped off a total of 123 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Redskins surprise win. He added three catches for 23 more yards, and he’ll be a hot waiver wire pickup headed into week 3.
Julian Edelman-WR-New England Patriots: Edelman was once again doing work as he and the Patriots took on the Bills. He ended up with 97 yards on 11 more catches and a pair of touchdowns. He’s an absolute PPR fiend and will continue to get tons of work in the Patriots passing attack.
Carson Palmer-QB-Arizona Cardinals: Palmer and the Cardinals had a field day in Chicago. Even though he only threw for 185 yards on 17 of 24 passing, Palmer had a good fantasy day since he threw for four touchdown strikes although he did also throw a pick.
Odell Beckham Jr.-WR-New York Giants: Beckham bounced back with a big game after a quiet opener catching seven passes for 146 yards and a touchdown in the Giants 24-20 loss to the Falcons. Beckham is clearly a WR1 and should continue to post good numbers moving forward.
Adrian Peterson-RB-Minnesota Vikings: Peterson didn’t get into the end zone against the Lions, but he did have a great bounce back game after a not-so-great opener in San Francisco. Peterson ran for 134 yards on 29 carries and added 58 yards on his two catches in a return to his elite form.
Rob Gronkowski-TE-New England Patriots: After tight ends scored just about every touchdown it seemed in week 1, there weren’t a lot of tight ends in on the action in the early games. Gronk still led the way, though, catching seven passes for 113 yards and a touchdown against the Bills.