Eric Karabell
The second Sunday of the NFL season was kinder to fantasy soccer managers than the primary, with six gamers surpassing 30 PPR factors, led by three of the highest broad receivers within the sport.
Nicely, it was kinder until you're one who depends on Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow. Whereas seven video games featured 50 or extra mixed factors (getting into Monday night time) and particular person scoring was considerable, the long-term absence of final season's No. 3 fantasy scorer amongst quarterbacks ought to have essentially the most lingering results to fantasy managers.
Sadly, the dangerous quarterback information is not restricted to Burrow. New York Jets twin risk Justin Fields is within the concussion protocol and will miss Sunday's highway recreation in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Washington Commanders star Jayden Daniels is coping with a knee damage and is unsure for Sunday in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders; and Minnesota Vikings starter J.J. McCarthy is coping with an ankle damage and never anticipated to play in opposition to the Bengals on Sunday.
Every Monday, earlier than the present NFL week ends, we'll determine gamers obtainable in no less than 50% of ESPN normal leagues worthy of your consideration, from normal codecs to deeper choices. The NFL is a weekly league, and participant valuation and roles seldom stay stagnant. It doesn't matter the way you purchase gamers to your fantasy rosters, simply that you just get them.
Quarterback
Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals (rostered in 0.0% of ESPN leagues): We begin with this profession backup, however many fantasy managers can do higher in single-QB codecs. Browning, 29, made seven begins in the course of the 2023 season, and he performed capably, averaging 20 fantasy factors per recreation. Burrow (toe) is anticipated to overlook three months. Browning scored 17.74 factors in Sunday's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, although that included three interceptions. He will get to throw to wonderful WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and RB Chase Brown is not so dangerous, both. Nonetheless, he could also be extra for the superflex/2QB group. The Bengals play difficult opponents in Minnesota and Denver the subsequent two weeks.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (33.5%): If you are going to lose a fantasy star in an ordinary league, let it's a quarterback. There's depth right here. For instance, whereas Stafford hasn't registered a top-10 fantasy week but, scoring 13.6 factors in opposition to the Houston Texans in Week 1 and 17.32 Sunday in opposition to the Tennessee Titans, he's a stable participant and much too obtainable. He's taking part in by means of a again damage, however he's taking part in. Let him characterize, for this area, quite a few veteran passers that deserve streaming consideration over Browning. The Rams play a revenge recreation (from final season's playoffs) in Philadelphia this week, however Stafford threw for 324 yards and two scores there in January. He should not be overwhelmed.
Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (21.2%): Fantasy managers might not have purchased into his Week 1 efficiency, when he ran for a pair of touchdowns. They needed to see extra in Week 2 in opposition to the Denver Broncos. Jones topped 20 factors once more, scoring his third speeding landing, however he additionally handed for 316 yards. The Colts play the Tennessee Titans in Week 3, and that's a horny matchup. Jones might not rise all the best way previous 50% this week, however he seems price counting on this week.
Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers (0.6%): Jones crammed in capably for starter Brock Purdy (toe), throwing for 279 yards and three TDs at New Orleans. Jones isn't any rookie, and positively there are proficient playmakers (and good teaching) surrounding him. He could also be beginning in Weeks 3 and 4 at residence in opposition to the Cardinals and Jaguars. We advocate him over Browning, however then once more, Browning ought to have the beginning job for significantly longer, and that could be a consideration for determined fantasy managers, too.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
Operating again
Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars (40.0%): Starter Travis Etienne Jr. scored 16.9 factors on Sunday, dealing with 16 touches, however the rookie Tuten earned 10, which is sort of noteworthy. He turned them into 74 yards and a receiving landing, for 15.4 factors. Most imagine Etienne was the beneficiary of the Tank Bigsby commerce to the Philadelphia Eagles, however it's in all probability the ascending Tuten, who already is shortly approaching flex standing.
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons (34.1%): Allgeier might be overqualified to be a backup, however there is no such thing as a controversy in the case of star Bijan Robinson. Nonetheless, Allgeier topped 600 speeding yards every of the previous two seasons, and he ought to achieve this once more. The Falcons rushed for greater than 200 yards in a powerful Sunday night time highway win in Minnesota. Robinson, after all, led the best way. Allgeier did little in Week 1, so fantasy managers moved on. They could transfer him again to rosters after he earned 17 touches, a landing and 15.0 factors.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
Rams backup Blake Corum (5.3%) turned one in all his 5 touches from Sunday right into a landing, and thus 10.4 factors. Ho hum, however there actually aren't sufficient related operating backs obtainable in 50% of leagues to characteristic right here. Many fantasy managers probably depend on a large receiver (or perhaps a tight finish) of their flex place. Corum might turn into a star sooner or later if Kyren Williams will get damage, however Williams shouldn't be damage.
Pittsburgh Steelers backup Kenneth Gainwell (10%) gained marginally higher than he did in Week 1, however nonetheless, 59 yards on 20 touches over two video games aren't a lot. Gainwell was among the many most-added operating backs getting into Week 2, however it's powerful to make a case for him, or another obtainable operating backs earlier than the bye weeks.
Large receiver
Romeo Doubs, Inexperienced Bay Packers (20.3%): Doubs presumably strikes up a notch within the hierarchy after starter Jayden Reed fractured his collarbone final Thursday. The issue with the hierarchy is that it's attainable no Packers WR breaks out of a stable, deep rotation, particularly when RB Josh Jacobs earns huge quantity, and TE Tucker Kraft boasts 140 receiving yards in two video games. Doubs caught three passes for 28 yards in opposition to the Washington Commanders, one for a landing. He's available. In any given week, it could be Doubs main the best way, or rookie Matthew Golden, or very like final season when nary a Packer reached 60 receptions or 900 receiving yards, no one will shine. Drop Reed, who might not play once more till November, however don't assume any Packers turn into WR3 choices, and even secure WR4s.
Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans (7.7%): The Stanford rookie has caught six of 13 targets by means of two weeks, however he scored a landing Sunday, and there may be room to develop with fellow newcomer QB Cam Ward. Star WR Calvin Ridley has been held to single-digit factors in every recreation. Hold Ridley rostered, after all, however Ayomanor deserves some consideration as effectively.
DeAndre Hopkins, Baltimore Ravens (9.7%): Hopkins has secured shiny landing catches in every of the primary two weeks, which is nice, but it surely in all probability shouldn't be sustainable until he sees extra quantity. Hopkins has solely 4 catches on 4 targets. That is it. Why is he listed right here? Nicely, individuals know his identify, and it's attainable QB Lamar Jackson will look his far more within the coming weeks. Simply do not assume you need to get Hopkins when Zay Flowers is the quantity receiving choice.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
New York Giants starter Wan'Dale Robinson (29.9%) scored 28.2 factors within the loss to the Dallas Cowboys, as Russell Wilson achieved a hearty 450 passing yards. Do not count on Wilson — and thus Robinson — to repeat the efficiency in Week 3 in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, if ever once more.
Denver Broncos second-year choice Troy Franklin (2.0%) caught eight passes and a landing Sunday, scoring 24.0 factors, and he's clearly pushing Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr. for consideration. This can be a good factor. Franklin could also be Denver's high WR.
Jaguars WR Dyami Brown scored a landing Sunday, and he has 26.4 factors after two weeks. Not impressed? It occurs to be extra factors than each established star Brian Thomas Jr. and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Brown in all probability cannot maintain his manufacturing going to this stage, however Thomas and Hunter traders are in all probability panicking.
Tight finish
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints (48.2%): A repeat identify from final week, Johnson has scored greater than 15 factors every of the primary two weeks, trailing solely the aforementioned Kraft for general tight finish scoring. Johnson has outscored RB Alvin Kamara. That should not proceed, but it surely does not imply Johnson cannot maintain TE1 manufacturing for some time, both.
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders (50.0%): The wily veteran has landing receptions every of the primary two weeks, and that is sufficient to make him well-liked in fantasy leagues with a Week 3 recreation in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders looming.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
Carolina Panthers starter Ja'Tavion Sanders (1.0%) was an intriguing, deep-league sleeper this season, however he did not do a lot in Week 1. He did extra in Week 2, catching seven of 9 targets and scoring 12.4 factors. Hold him in thoughts in case your starter will get damage.
D/ST
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
Inexperienced Bay Packers (44.8%): It's shocking that the Packers D/ST unit stays obtainable in additional than 50% of ESPN normal leagues. It simply scored 17 factors in dominant wins over the offensively explosive Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders. In Week 3, the Packers face the Cleveland Browns. The Browns aren't explosive. The Packers needs to be among the many top-10 rostered D/ST models by then.
Indianapolis Colts (36.6%): Equally, fantasy managers didn't react to the Week 1 outcomes by including the Colts D/ST in lots of leagues. This unit scored just one level in opposition to the Broncos on Sunday, however in Week 3 it faces the Titans. That needs to be simpler.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (12.4%): The Chiefs held the Eagles to twenty factors, albeit with nary a takeaway. There'll probably be a turnover or three this Sunday night time in opposition to the Giants.
