Browns running back Trent Richardson's big Week 2 sets fantasy football world abuzz

CLEVELAND - "I let my game speak for itself... you'll see Sunday," Trent Richardson said Thursday in response to comments by Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga.

It didn't just speak - it rolled through, dashed past and silenced Cincinnati defenders.

Trent Richardson made a statement to NFL players and coaches with his performance in the Browns 34-27 loss to the Bengals. He also made a big impact virtually.

The rookie back who was picked third overall in the 2012 NFL Draft was also a high pick in fantasy drafts. Richardson's average draft position in ESPN leagues was 36.9, a billing he did not live up to in his first game. His 39 yards were good for only three points in standard scoring leagues.

Different story come Week 2.

There were plenty of milestones for the 'Bama back in game two as a pro:
- First NFL TD
- First Browns rookie to rush for 100 yards since Lee Suggs ran for 186 against the Bengals on Dec. 28, 2003
- First Browns rookie since the merger with 100+ rushing yards, rushing TD and receiving TD
- First Browns player to register a rushing & receiving TD in the same game since Jamal Lewis in 2007

@SportsCenter: Breakout game for rookie Trent Richardson. 104 Rush Yds, TD, Rec TD – 24 fantasy points in ESPN league standard scoring.

Whopping numbers from Richardson and an equally whopping 599 retweets of that tweet.

By nature, fantasy is a volatile game of odds. Fantasy owners can be a fickle bunch and one week's success story is often the next week's source of hair pulling. Cowboys wide receiver Kevin Ogletree, for instance, went from Week 1 fantasy darling to Week 2 dud.

Some owners were a bit too quick to doubt Richardson, who was one of Week 2's top scoring running backs.

@ptreez Trent Richardson with 25 fantasy points....on my bench...

@Jasminf05 Since I benched Trent Richardson this week and he went for 26 pts and the RB I played only got 11 there's no way I'm going to win this week

Those who stuck with Richardson in their starting lineup, 66 percent of Yahoo owners, were justly rewarded.

@dhoffeditz RGIII and Trent Richardson are keeping my Fantasy Football team alive. God bless you both.

@jdburrows51 I am winning 117-55 in fantasy football and my leading scorer is Trent Richardson with 27 pts. #unexpected #likeaboss

It's safe to say Richardson did enough to impress Maualuga and the fantasy owners who invested in him. U.S. Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney ? Verdict's still out on that one.