Two weeks into the NFL season, and most players and fans are begging for the league to replace the replacement officials. While the labor mess with the game's officials continue into the third week of the season, it is time to explore which fantasy football players have been studs and duds.

FANTASY STUDS

San Francisco 49ers v Green Bay Packers
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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1. Alex Smith – Quarterback San Francisco 49ers
This San Francisco quarterback will rarely throw for 300 plus yards and four touchdowns, but he also never throws interceptions. That what I love so much about Alex Smith; the guy simply does not many make mistakes and is one of the most efficient signal callers in the league. Last week against Detroit, Smith completed 20 of 31 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception. In fantasy football, there are plenty of quarterbacks that will outscore Smith on a week-to-week basis. Robert Griffin III, Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Tony Romo, Phillip Rivers, are just a few that come to mind. However, if you want a consistent player that rarely has a bad game, Smith is your man.

Oakland Raiders v Miami Dolphins
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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2. Reggie Bush – Running Back Miami Dolphins
It’s amazing how a guy that seemed washed up in New Orleans has found a new lease on life in Miami. Bush was a thousand yard rusher for the Dolphins last season, and is off to a fast start in 2012. Last week against the Raiders, he rushed for 172 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He is also a dangerous receiving threat and has caught nine passes for 71 yards in his first two games. Miami might not be a playoff team and their offense could struggle some weeks, but Bush will be a valuable fantasy player and is worth starting in most leagues.

Cincinnati Bengals v Baltimore Ravens
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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3. Dennis Pitta – Tight End Baltimore Ravens
Now here is a name that few people are talking about, but that will change if he continues to put up quality stats for the Ravens. Pitta is a 27-year old tight end that was not on anyone’s radar a few weeks ago. That changed after his 73-yard and one touchdown performance in week one against the Bengals. Last week against the Eagles, he did not score a touchdown, but did catch eight passes for 65 yards. The key stat with Pitta is the number of targets from quarterback Joe Flacco he has received in the first two weeks. He was targeted nine times against the Bengals and a whopping 15 times against the Eagles. If Flacco continues this trend, Pitta will become the new favorite tight end for fantasy football owners.

FANTASY DUDS

Detroit Lions v San Francisco 49ers
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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1. Matthew Stafford – Quarterback Detroit Lions
This one is a little bit of a head scratcher. Although Stafford didn’t throw three interceptions like he did in week one against the Rams, he still had a subpar performance for his standards against the 49ers. 230 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception is not what fantasy football owners expected from one of the best young signal callers in the league. The good news is that the season is just two weeks old, and Stafford has one of the game’s best wide receivers in Calvin Johnson. The perfect remedy for him could be traveling to play the Tennessee Titans this Sunday. Tennessee is winless in two games and has looked awful on defense.

San Diego Chargers v Oakland Raiders
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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2. Darren McFadden – Running Back Oakland Raiders
Speaking of head scratchers, did anyone expect such a dreadful start for one of the game’s best young rushers? McFadden has totaled just 54 rushing yards on 26 carries and no touchdowns. At least, he’s pulled in 15 receptions for 105 yards. Still, expectations are high for the 25-year old who has the ability to break 1,200 yards and double digits in touchdowns. The Raiders have not looked good, and McFadden could struggle again this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who held the Jets to just 90 total rushing yards last week. I still like McFadden and think he would be a perfect buy-low candidate if he has another stinker on Sunday.

Dallas Cowboys v Seattle Seahawks
(Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
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3. Kevin Ogletree – Wide Receiver Dallas Cowboys
My favorite hot pickup after his week one performance against the Giants fell back to earth last week in Seattle. One reception for 26 yards will not cut it for most fantasy football owners, but at least the Cowboys stunk as a team last week against the Seahawks. I still like Ogletree as a #3 receiver for Dallas, but he could be more of a feast or famine kind of player. That will drive fantasy owners nuts, because they will never know which week to start him. A bounce-back this week against the Bucs is possible, since they surrendered over 500 passing yards against the Giants last week.

 

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