Week 2 Fantasy Recap

Alright, Sunday is in the books. Thursday was already in the last post (Bills 41, Lions 31). Giants-Rams is tonight, so I’m skipping it. This is Week 2 through Kansas City’s overtime win.

Two weeks is still a small sample. Usage, health, and who actually got the ball when the game got weird? That can stick.

Stock up: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kenneth Walker III, CeeDee Lamb, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Chris Olave, Parker Washington, Omarion Hampton, TreVeyon Henderson, Rashod Bateman, Dalton Schultz, Tre Tucker, George Kittle, Ja'Marr Chase, Jonathan Taylor

Stock down / caution: Justin Herbert and the Chargers, Ladd McConkey (ribs), Caleb Williams (hamstring), Jayden Daniels (elbow), Saquon Barkley, Dallas Goedert, Atlanta’s quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield, MarShawn Lloyd, Colston Loveland, Christian McCaffrey’s volume, Marvin Harrison Jr.

The scoreboard, real quick

CIN 20–6 HOU. PHI 24–20 TEN. CAR 34–3 ATL. NO 24–17 BAL. NE 20–3 PIT. GB 20–17 NYJ (OT). CLE 23–19 TB. MIN 9–3 CHI. LV 26–14 LAC. DEN 20–13 JAX. SEA 31–7 ARI. DAL 37–20 WAS. SF 35–13 MIA. KC 33–30 IND (OT).

Thursday (already recapped): BUF 41–31 DET. Monday: Giants at Rams, later.

Sticky things (the ones that might actually last)

Walker is not a one-week story. 24 carries, 117 yards, plus 10 targets (6-61). That’s 34 touches in a 33–30 overtime game. Patrick Mahomes went 32-of-47 for 382 and 3 scores, Travis Kelce was 9-101-1, and K9 still had a workhorse night. I floated this as “Andy Reid with a real lead back.” Two weeks in, that’s what it looks like. Emmett Johnson is the handcuff. He’s not stealing this.

JSN with Drew Lock is the other one I’m raising immediately. 9-155-3, 42.3% of the targets, including an 82-yarder on the second offensive play. Lock went 19-of-26 for 235 and all three scores went to JSN. I said last week the alpha role holds even if Seattle’s passing game gets worse. It did not get worse. Emanuel Wilson handled the backfield (23-105) with Sam Darnold still out.

Parker Washington in a loss. That’s the sticky part. Trevor Lawrence threw a pick and Denver’s defense woke up, and Parker still saw 12 targets (7-98) for 42.9% of the looks. Brian Thomas Jr. was 3-40 on 8 targets. I wanted Parker as a next-tier WR in auction. Two weeks of this share is a role. Bhayshul Tuten was fine again (13-65-1).

Olave is fully healthy, and Tyler Shough keeps finding him. 8-86-1 on 10 targets after the 10-182 opener. Shough went 27-of-34 for 252 plus a rushing score to beat Baltimore. I flagged Olave as a riser when Jordyn Tyson went down in camp. Two weeks of WR1 volume is what that looks like.

Waddle in Denver finally looked like the reason they traded for him. 8-138 on 10 targets, including a 49-yarder. Bo Nix was 22-of-31 for 288. Courtland Sutton was 3-25. If this is the hierarchy, Waddle is a weekly WR2. RJ Harvey sat with a hamstring. Jonah Coleman scored (10-39-1, 3 catches) and J.K. Dobbins had 10-36. Committee until Harvey is back, and maybe after.

Hampton is the Chargers offense while McDaniel and Herbert figure themselves out. 23-94-1 plus 2-21 receiving. The Chargers have scored 14 points in each of their first two games. I was on the McDaniel hype train all summer. The run game is the only part that currently works. Ladd played through the ribs and finished 3-35 on 3 targets. Tre Harris had a 53-yarder on his only catch. Quentin Johnston was 1-7 on 5 targets. I’m not selling Ladd. I’m also not pretending that was a clean return.

Henderson took the Patriots lead-back job I was watching for. 16-76-1. Rhamondre Stevenson mixed in (6-43, a fumble). Drake Maye still wasn’t pretty (14-of-22, 208, a pick), but he hit four chunk plays after zero of 20-plus last week, including 63 yards to Romeo Doubs. Doubs is the Patriots pass catcher I’d actually roster with A.J. Brown on IR.

Chase went 7-75-2 even with Cincinnati’s line getting wrecked. Tee Higgins saw 10 targets (5-95). Chase Brown had 20-80. Houston without Nico Collins dumped everything on Schultz (12-140 on 14 targets). That’s a TE1 stream as long as Nico’s hamstring is a thing. David Montgomery and Woody Marks combined for 18 yards on 14 carries. Week 1 touchdowns were the mirage. The yards-per-carry was the tell.

Carolina’s passing game looks real. Bryce Young went 23-of-36 for 287 and 3 scores. Tetairoa McMillan 5-101. Jalen Coker 8-66. Darren Waller two scores. Chuba Hubbard was the back (12-53 and a receiving TD). It’s Atlanta, so don’t crown anybody. Young has 6 passing TDs through two weeks. McMillan’s vertical work is the piece that can last.

Dallas remembered how to throw it. Dak Prescott went 26-of-31 for 279 and 4 TDs. Lamb was 8-153-2. Jake Ferguson scored twice. The run game is still dead (Javonte Williams 12-30). Lamb is the one you don’t overthink.

Brock Purdy was basically perfect. 20-of-22 for 287, 2 passing TDs, a rushing score. Five drives, five touchdowns. Kittle (4-80-1) looked like Kittle again. Mike Evans was 3-54. CMC scored twice from the 1 and still only had 10 carries (23 yards) plus 4-43 receiving. Kaelon Black got 7-25. The 49ers can put up 35 without CMC being 2023 CMC. Same usage yellow flag I had last week.

Trey McBride still ate in a 7-point game (8-41-1 on 10 targets). Arizona had 95 passing yards. Harrison Jr. went 0-for-1. McBride is the only Cardinals skill player I’m starting every week.

Injuries that actually change rest of season

Caleb Williams left in the fourth with a right hamstring. Non-contact, pulled up on a scramble, carted off, walking after the game. Ben Johnson said it didn’t involve the knee and they’d know more Monday. Hamstrings are a range. A mild one is a week. A real one is a month. Tyson Bagent is the fill-in, and Chicago hosts Philadelphia next Monday. I raised the Bears’ scoring environment after 59 points in Week 1. Then they scored 3, in the rain, against Brian Flores, and lost their quarterback. I’m not burying D'Andre Swift (16-45 and 5-54) or Kyle Monangai (10-47). I am lowering the passing-game ceiling until we see the MRI.

Jayden Daniels dislocated the same left elbow he dislocated last year. No fracture, more imaging Monday, Dan Quinn expects him back this season. Last year he missed three games, came back, and did it again. Marcus Mariota is the starter (11-of-16, 111, a score). Stefon Diggs still scored twice (5-47). Terry McLaurin saw 9 targets and caught 2. Rachaad White was 7-43 with 6 catches. If Daniels misses a handful of weeks, White’s receiving work is the Commanders skill player I’d rather have.

Saquon left on the first carry with a stinger, came back after halftime, and finished 4-9 plus a catch. He’s getting an MRI. Tank Bigsby was the back (13-33-1). I was already spooked by Bigsby mixing in with the 1s this summer. Goedert hurt the right knee early (1-4) and did not return. Early reporting sounded more “not a major” than “he’s fine.” DeVonta became the entire passing game (10-117-1 on 13 targets). Dontayvion Wicks was 5-74. If Goedert sits, Wicks is the add.

Alec Pierce aggravated the same left ankle/heel that needed offseason surgery. Non-contact, carted off, out at half. I spent the preseason worrying about this exact injury. Josh Downs was 7-72 on 9 targets. If Pierce misses time, Downs is the Colts WR to roster.

Brock Bowers sat again. The real replacements were Tucker (5-119-1) and practice-squad elevation Cody White (2-24-2). Ashton Jeanty still got 21 carries. They just went for 48 yards (2.3 a pop) plus 4-15 receiving. Volume is sticky. Efficiency is not. Kirk Cousins has 6 passing TDs in two games. Tucker is the Raiders WR I’m adding until Bowers is back. Mike Washington Jr. got 3 carries for 7. This was Jeanty’s game even when it was ugly.

Zay Flowers sat. Bateman went 7-88-1. Derrick Henry had 16-68-1 and then disappeared after halftime. Don’t assume Flowers is a one-week sit. Hamstrings lie. Nico’s hamstring cost him Sunday. Schultz feasted. If Nico misses another week, Schultz is a must-start TE.

Darnold sat. Lock started. We covered JSN. Kyler Murray sat in concussion protocol. Carson Wentz won 9-3 in the rain (11-of-20, 143). Justin Jefferson was 3-55. Aaron Jones went 23-105 with zero targets. Jefferson stays in lineups. Wentz is not a 1QB start.

Ladd played. That’s the good news. 3-35 is the bad news. Don’t start him against Buffalo unless the practice reports look clean. DJ Moore was a ghost after the Thursday AC sprain. Keon Coleman was 6-63. That’s still the add if you need a Bills WR. Josh Jacobs is still on the commissioner’s exempt list. Chig Okonkwo still out. De'Zhaun Stribling sat with an ankle.

Trending up (raise the rest-of-season number)

Kenneth Walker. Last week was 173 rushing yards. This week was 34 touches and real receiving work. The average comes back to earth. The role might not.

JSN. Backup quarterback, three touchdowns, 42% of the targets. That’s an alpha, not a scheme.

Parker Washington. Target share like that in a bad script is how late-round WRs become season-long WR2s.

Waddle, Olave, Hampton, Henderson. One quiet week then a boom, two weeks of WR1 volume, 23 carries while Herbert throws picks, and the Patriots lead back I wanted to see. Raise all four.

Bateman for as long as Flowers is out. Schultz, same sentence with Nico. Tucker until Bowers is back. Kittle’s ramp-up is over.

DeVonta, Lamb, Taylor, Chase. Locked-in weekly difference-makers. The Colts can be 0-2 and JT is still an RB1 (24-92-2 plus 4-40).

Denzel Boston has a receiving TD in each of his first two games, both 45-plus yards. Roster him in deep leagues. Deshaun Watson going 24-of-30 for 238 and 2 scores is why he’s still the starter.

Trending the wrong way

Herbert and McDaniel. 15-of-27, 192 yards, a pick, two more, three fumbles (they only lost one). The Chargers are 0-2 with 14 points in each game, and the next seven are a murderers’ row. I am not declaring the season dead. I am lowering the passing-game projections until we see a single functional half.

CMC’s volume is still the committee. Two rushing TDs paper over 10 carries for 23 yards. Black is not going away. I said last week I wasn’t dumping CMC and I wasn’t pretending this is 2023. Same sentence this week, except the efficiency disappeared too.

Lloyd scored a 6-yard receiving TD. Then he fumbled. 6 carries, 20 yards. Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks were on the field for the overtime winning drive. I needed to see early downs and passing downs. I saw a committee with a punch-in. Jacobs is still on the list. Week 2 did not make me flip back.

Loveland caught one ball for 3 yards on 3 targets in a game Chicago desperately needed offense. That’s two weeks of high-ish process and almost no production. I still want him. I also need him to get more than a couple of targets before I keep talking about him as a focal point. Swift and Monangai were the only Bears who looked like fantasy players.

Atlanta’s quarterback room is a crisis. Cooper Rush went 10-of-17 for 86 and 2 picks and got benched. Undrafted Jack Strand threw a pick-six on his first career pass. Tua Tagovailoa is doubtful with an oblique. Michael Penix Jr. might be back Thursday at Green Bay. I faded Bijan Robinson because I thought this offense might be bad with Tua. It’s been worse without him. Bijan still had 16-72 and 3 catches in a 34-3 loss. Volume RB. Everyone else in that offense is on thin ice.

Baker still looks uncomfortable in Zac Robinson’s offense. Screens, swing passes, skittish in the pocket. Tampa is 0-2. Emeka Egbuka scored sitting down (3-16-1). Bucky Irving was the one Buccaneer I’d still start without blinking (17-89). I said last week I wasn’t trusting Baker as a weekly QB2 until the fumbles calmed down. The fumbles calmed down. The offense did not.

The Steelers scored 3. Aaron Rodgers was 23-of-39 for 187, a pick, four sacks. DK Metcalf was 4-27 on 9 targets. That’s two weeks of WR3 production from a WR1 draft slot.

Lawrence vs Denver was the version I was hoping Liam Coen had left behind. One game against a good defense is not a fade. Combined with Parker still eating, TLaw is a matchup QB this week, not an auto-start against New England.

Harrison Jr. had zero catches in a game his team threw for 95 yards. Jeremiyah Love was 9-29 with 3-16 receiving. Share is there. Offense is not.

Miami is 0-2. De'Von Achane had 20-74 and 3-19. Volume is the only thing keeping him in the RB2 conversation.

Breece Hall had 16-29 and 5-63. Volume is real. The Jets blew a 17-7 fourth-quarter lead. Adonai Mitchell saw 12 targets (6-63). Interesting. Not sure that’s a place you want to live.

Christian Watson scored again (4-41-1) on 11 targets. Efficiency was ugly. Jordan Love threw for 145. Matthew Golden was 4-58. I was high on Watson in the auction plan and I’m not backing off. Target volume is sticky. The 147-yard Week 1 was the ceiling.

Jefferson’s 3-55 was a rain game with Wentz. I’m not moving him.

League-winner watch

Walker, if 20-plus carries and passing-game work is the new normal. That’s a top-5 RB profile.

JSN, because the alpha role survived a backup quarterback.

Parker Washington. 43% of the targets in a loss against Denver is championship-roster stuff. The cheaper version of the JSN sentence.

Waddle if Denver keeps this up. Olave if the Shough connection holds. Hampton if the Chargers stay this run-heavy.

Dalton Kincaid is still in this conversation from Thursday. I’m not walking that back because Sunday happened without him.

Chicago’s offense as a stack is on pause until we know what the hamstring is.

A few more notes

James Cook, Kincaid, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Amon-Ra St. Brown already got their flowers Thursday. Still like all of them. Henry’s second-half vanishing act is game script, not a fade. Cam Ward ran in two scores (Superflex dart). Alvin Kamara and Travis Etienne split New Orleans. Garrett Wilson scored (5-57-1) and is fine. Puka and the Rams get their own paragraph after Monday.

What I’m watching

Tonight is Giants-Rams. I’ll leave it. If you have Puka or Kyren, you already know.

Thursday: Atlanta at Green Bay. If Penix actually plays, that’s a different Falcons offense than the one that scored 3. If he doesn’t, Bijan is a volume hope-and-pray. Lloyd vs Atlanta’s run defense is the other look. I still need to see a lead-back game.

Caleb’s MRI. That’s the biggest rest-of-season fulcrum of the week. Bagent vs the Eagles on Monday Night is not the same offense.

Daniels’ ligament tests. Elbow dislocations lie, and this is the same elbow.

Saquon’s MRI and Goedert’s knee. Philadelphia hosts Chicago next Monday. That’s a lot of injuries pointing at one game.

Bowers’ practice week. I expected a sit last week. I need to see him on the field before I start him.

Flowers and Nico. Hamstrings. Have Bateman and Schultz ready again.

Ladd vs Buffalo. That’s a brutal spot to shake off ribs.

And then we can talk about the rest of Week 3 after the Sunday slate. Rams-Broncos on Sunday Night and Eagles-Bears on Monday can wait.