Jody Smith’s Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 3
Jody Smith’s Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 3 FullTime Fantasy has been synonymous with accurate fantasy football rankings for years. Our rankings have garnered numerous industry accolades, with several top-5 finishes in season-long, weekly, and even sports betting accuracy. This is
FullTime Fantasy has been synonymous with accurate fantasy football rankings for years. Our rankings have garnered numerous industry accolades, with several top-5 finishes in season-long, weekly, and even sports betting accuracy. This is the home of Jody Smith’s Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 3.
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Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 3
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Target & Touch Leaders Week 2
Target & Touch Leaders Week 2 Opportunity is everything in fantasy football. Looking beyond the box score to see what players are earning crucial targets and touches is integral. Our weekly Target & Touch Leaders breaks down those opportunities in
Opportunity is everything in fantasy football. Looking beyond the box score to see what players are earning crucial targets and touches is integral. Our weekly Target & Touch Leaders breaks down those opportunities in a user-friendly way. Having this data can help fantasy football managers make informed decisions for Week 3 and beyond.
FullTime Fantasy Members will have access to this invaluable data every Tuesday. Subsequently, they will have a heads-up on making waiver wire claims.
However, to get access to it for the rest of the season, you’ll have to sign up.
Week 2 Target Leaders
Overall Target Leaders
Overall Target Share Leaders…
To see all the target & touch leaders…
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Injury Report: Week 3
Injury Report: Week 3 Apologies in advance. Week 2 was a brutal slate for injuries. Very few fantasy rosters have not been impacted. Before you head to your Week 3 waiver wire, our Injury Report: Week 3 catches you up on the myriad of injuries and how they impact fantasy football rosters. Also, a great starting point for staying updated on the latest injuries is to bookmark our NFL Injury Report. Finally, FullTime Fantasy Members will get the latest NFL injury news and advice live each Sunday and Thursday in the FullTime Fantasy Discord. Click below to join us today! Isiah Pacheco (RB) Kansas City Chiefs – A huge blow for the defending champs and fantasy managers everywhere, Isiah Pacheco fractured his fibula and will miss “months not weeks” of action. Carson Steele is the next man up for the Chiefs, who are also bringing in fading veteran Kareem Hunt for a potential reunion. However, none of those options can approach Pacheco’s value. Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco to undergo surgery this week on fractured fibula, will miss at least six weeks. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/aMAyv6upd1 — NFL (@NFL) September 16, 2024 Cooper Kupp (WR) Los Angeles Rams – A left ankle injury will sideline Kupp for multiple weeks. This is another devastating blow for the Rams, who are being ravaged by injuries. Check out Week 3 waiver wire recommendations for how to deal with the absence of Kupp and Puka Nacua. Rams HC Sean McVay said Cooper Kupp is expected to miss “an extended period of time” and is a candidate for injured reserve. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 16, 2024 Tua Tagovailoa (QB) Miami Dolphins – Another concussion will sideline Miami’s signal caller for the foreseeable future. Tagovailoa will see neurologists this week. Therefore, fantasy managers should look for other options and only hold Tagovailoa in Superflex leagues that can spare a roster spot. Ultimately, IR is still an option. Deebo Samuel (WR) San Francisco 49ers – Samuel is expected will miss multiple weeks with a calf injury. Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR) Detroit Lions – St. Brown is dealing with a contusion but Dan Campbell indicated it was not a long-term injury. We will monitor his practice participation this week. Justin Jefferson (WR) Minnesota Vikings – Like ARSB, Justin Jefferson is dealing with a minor quad contusion. We don’t anticipate it having any lingering effects for this week’s showdown with the Texans. A.J. Brown (WR) Philadelphia Eagles – Brown injured his hamstring in practice and was forced to miss Philly’s Monday Night loss to Atlanta. Unfortunately, this won’t be the only game Brown will sit. Expect a big boost in targets for DeVonta Smith and TE Dallas Goedert. Eagles WR AJ Brown told ESPN’s @saltersl that he does expect to miss a couple of weeks due to the hamstring injury he suffered Friday. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 17, 2024 Evan Engram (TE) Jacksonville Jaguars – We were able to quickly update the FullTime Fantasy Discord channel on Sunday when Engram injured his hamstring in pre-game drills and was ruled out. Hamstring injuries tend to linger when not given complete time to heal, so we anticipate Engram missing Week 3. We’ll continue to update the Discord if anything changes. Joe Mixon (RB) Houston Texans – A hip-drop tackle caused Mixon to roll his ankle. He left the game but later returned to action. For now, we’ll have to monitor his practice participation throughout the week. Cam Akers would be the reserve to target on waivers. #Texans veteran running back Joe Mixon ankle injury not considered long term or serious, per league sources. Dameon Pierce making fast progress from minor strained hamstring, per source. And safety M.J. Stewart close to returning from knee-quad injury, per sources @KPRC2 — Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 17, 2024 Rachaad White (RB) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – White is dealing with a groin injury but was able to play through it on Sunday. Expect him to have limited practice reps this week but he’s expected to be fine for Week 3. Justin Herbert (QB) Los Angeles Chargers – X-rays were negative on Herbert’s leg. Herbert played through the injury, so it doesn’t appear to be an issue. Just something to monitor. Keenan Allen (WR) Chicago Bears – Plantar fasciitis kept Allen out of action last week and could linger for multiple games. Subsequently, Allen looks like an iffy proposition for Week 3. Pierre Strong (RB) Cleveland Browns – Week-to-week with a hamstring injury. Fire up D’Onta Foreman. Tyjae Spears (RB) Tennessee Titans – Spears is dealing with a minor ankle ailment. For now, it doesn’t seem like much of a concern. Jake Ferguson (TE) Dallas Cowboys – Ferguson sat out last week with a knee injury. However, there is growing optimism that he’ll return in Week 3. MarShawn Lloyd (RB) Green Bay Packers – A lingering ankle injury has caused Lloyd to be placed on IR. He will miss four games, minimum. David Bell (WR) Cleveland Browns – A dislocated hip will end Bell’s season. ENTER OUR WEEK 3 DRAFT CONTEST! How it Works: Firstly, draft your team using our On-Demand Simulator. Next, try to stack the team with players you think will do well this week. Finally, the highest Week 3 Score wins. (PLUS: You get to see the Thursday Night game and then draft!) Here’s our Week 3 Player Rankings to help. Firstly, it’s a best-ball contest, so no need to submit a lineup. We’ll optimize the best one. Secondly, you just sit back and watch your team climb the leaderboard. Weekly Prizes and a Grand Prize at the end of the season! Finally, the Grand Prize Winner (highest individual week of the season) gets to choose from the amazing prizes below. If you don’t know just how awesome and amazing the Panini Flawless Football briefcase is, make sure and watch the video starting at the 8-minute mark! Trading cards are back! MEMBER PERK! Fulltime Members get 5 Free On-Demand Drafts
Circa Survivor Report: Week 2
Circa Survivor Report: Week 2 The parity in the NFL is wreaking havoc with Circa’s Survivor $1,000 entry fee Contest. For the second consecutive week, the BIGGEST betting favorite on the board was the MOST SELECTED team in the contest. Consequently, for the second straight week, that team was upset. 2,304 entries (26.5%) picked Lamar Jackson and the Ravens to beat Las Vegas at home. However, the 8.5-point underdog Raiders pulled off the biggest upset of Week 2 after earning the stunning 26-23 victory. #CircaSurvivor 2024 🏈🏆 Week 2 Selections 📄 Complete selections: https://t.co/csTKGuYaGd pic.twitter.com/uJfOyvrNTv — Circa Sports (@CircaSports) September 15, 2024 The record-breaking $14,266,000 million prize pool, despite not needing to cover any point spread, is proving impossible for even the best bettors to navigate. UPSET ALERT 🚨 Raiders (+350 ML) shock the Ravens in Week 2 ✅ pic.twitter.com/6e7dBjmR7r — DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) September 15, 2024 In addition to the Ravens, the Lions were the next biggest knock-out blow to contestants as they took out another 859 entries (9.9%) after being upset by Tampa Bay. A total of 4,775 (55%) of the 8,675 remaining entries were eliminated in Week 2. Think the NFL is easy to predict? The Week 2 massacre concluded on Monday Night Football when the Falcons stunned the Eagles, 22-21, knocking out 785 (9%) of the entrants. In just two weeks of NFL games, 10,321 of the starting 14,266 entries have already been eliminated! This is historically shocking. After Week 2’s bloodbath, the highest percentage of entries have now been eliminated through Week 2. In 2022: 67.2% were eliminated after the first two weeks, but this year has topped them all taking out 72.8% of the contest after just 32 games. If you own one of the remaining 3,878 entries heading into Week 3 consider yourself fortunate. The sweat is already on heading to Week 3 as the entrants battle for the biggest Survivor prize in history. FALCONS COME BACK WITH UNDER A MINUTE LEFT TO STEAL THE WIN IN PHILLY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XkbzsizLiK — ESPN (@espn) September 17, 2024 The Circa Survivor contest is a grueling contest that forces entrants to pick one winner every week, with no spread with one pivotal caveat. Entrants CAN NOT use the same team more than once during the course of the season. In an early look-ahead to Week 3, it is expected that: Cincinnati (-8 ) vs Washington, San Francisco (-7)at LA Rams, Cleveland (-6.5) va NY Giants, Tampa Bay (-6.5) vs Denver, and Las Vegas (-6) vs Carolina – will be among the most heavily chosen teams in the contest. Circa Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas is the proud home of FullTime Fantasy‘s renowned Fantasy Football World Championship! ENTER OUR WEEK 3 DRAFT CONTEST! How it Works: Firstly, draft your team using our On-Demand Simulator. Next, try to stack the team with players you think will do well this week. Finally, the highest Week 3 Score wins. (PLUS: You get to see the Thursday Night game and then draft!) Here’s our Week 3 Player Rankings to help. Firstly, it’s a best-ball contest, so no need to submit a lineup. We’ll optimize the best one. Secondly, you just sit back and watch your team climb the leaderboard. Weekly Prizes and a Grand Prize at the end of the season! Finally, the Grand Prize Winner (highest individual week of the season) gets to choose from the amazing prizes below. If you don’t know just how awesome and amazing the Panini Flawless Football briefcase is, make sure and watch the video starting at the 8-minute mark! Trading cards are back! MEMBER PERK! Fulltime Members get 5 Free On-Demand Drafts each month in our contest! DRAFT YOUR WEEK 2 TEAM and enter your REDEMPTION CODE you received by email.
Waiver Wire: Week 3
Waiver Wire: Week 3 Through two weeks, we’ve seen a significant decline in scoring and passing. Also, injuries piled up in Week 2. That will force many fantasy managers to turn to the Waiver Wire: Week 3 to replenish rosters.
Through two weeks, we’ve seen a significant decline in scoring and passing. Also, injuries piled up in Week 2. That will force many fantasy managers to turn to the Waiver Wire: Week 3 to replenish rosters.
Along with knowing who to pick up, FullTime Fantasy‘s Matchup Analyzer Tool will help you get the most out of your lineup.
Here are the low-rostered players you should consider adding ahead of the season’s third week.
Bucky Irving (RB) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Irving only saw three fewer carries than Rachaad White last week. Speaking of White, he’s dealing with a groin injury that could result in reduced snaps. Also, White has been inefficient. That opens the door for Irving to secure a larger share of playing time for the first-place Bucs.
Carson Steele (RB) Kansas City Chiefs – The loss of Isiah Pacheco (leg) for multiple weeks will leave a huge void in Kansas City’s backfield. The benefactor will be Patrick Mahomes and the passing game. However, Steele logged seven rushing attempts against the Bengals. Andy Reid will probably resort to a committee backfield. But the rookie fullback is the favorite to lead the team in attempts and short-yardage work moving forward.
Samaje Perine (RB) Kansas City Chiefs – Perine can also see an increased role while Pacheco is sidelined. He’s been buried on the depth chart so far. However, nothing shakes up a depth chart more than losing a standout rusher. Perine is the favorite to see more targets and may factor in change-of-pace carries.
Quentin Johnston (WR) Los Angeles Chargers – We can’t…
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Week 2 NFL Player Props: CeeDee Lamb, Brian Robinson Lead The Way!
Week 2 NFL Player Props Week 1 is in the books and if you read this column, you had a very profitable week! Last week, our picks absolutely crushed with a 6-1 record! And with multiple units on Brian Robinson Jr., we are up 4.85 Units to begin the 2023 NFL season. Let’s see if we can keep the momentum going with our Week 2 NFL Player Props. Remember to always odds shop at your different sportsbooks to find the best value for these props. With that in mind, let’s get down to business and find the best Week 2 NFL Player Props! Joe Burrow OVER 231.5 Passing Yards (-110) It appears everyone is jumping off the Joey B train and even with Tee Higgins looking questionable to suit up, I still think Burrow is poised for a bounceback effort against Cincinnati’s rivals, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. In Week 1, Burrow struggled against the New England Patriots, completing a solid 21 of 29 passes but for a measly 164 passing yards and 0 touchdowns. That didn’t cut it against New England and that definitely won’t cut it against the defending champs. With another week of practice with Ja’Marr Chase after his “hold in” and more reps with rookie Andreis Iosivas and Jermaine Burton, expect Burrow to get back on track and show us a different Bengals team in Week 2. Including the postseason, Joey B is 3-1 against the Chiefs over his career. And in his two regular season games against Kansas City, Burrow is averaging a whopping 366 passing yards per game with a monumental 78.6 completion percentage and a perfect six-touchdown-to-zero-interception ratio. If there was any matchup I thought would help Burrow get out of his rut, it’s this one against a team that seems to bring out the best in him. Look for the Burrow-Chase connection to be very strong in Week 2. Perhaps something similar to the Lamar Jackson-Isaiah Likely connection the Chiefs struggled to contain in their season-opening victory. This line is simply way too low so smash the over with multiple units. Brian Robinson Jr. OVER 51.5 Rushing Yards (-115) I’ve been very high on B-Rob the past year and he cashed in last week in Washington’s debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Although he was mostly bottled up, he still surpassed his rushing yards line and managed to punch in a touchdown. This week, the young stud faces a New York Giants run defense that was dominated by Minnesota’s Aaron Jones in Week 1 to the tune of 94 yards on just 14 carries. In three of four games against the Giants in his career, Robinson has eclipsed this line, averaging 14.5 carries for 70.3 rushing yards per game. New York surrendered the fourth-most rushing yards in the NFL last season and Week 1 did not indicate that they made enough improvements in that aspect of the game to change that trend based on Aaron Jones’ success running in the trenches. Whether or not the Commanders jump out to a big lead or not (though I think they will), game flow should favor Robinson. The Commanders will continue to rely heavily on the rushing game even after Jayden Daniels’ impressive debut. Robinson should continue to see a big workload despite Austin Ekeler’s presence and Daniels’ propensity to run. B-Rob will continue to be a Giants killer. Smash the Over. Jonathan Taylor Anytime Touchdown (+115) A running back who dominated 100% of the team’s carries in Week 1 at even money or better? That’s a jackpot, especially on a squad projected to score 21.5 points. JT was the undisputed workhorse in Week 1, handling all 16 running back carries, turning them into 48 yards, and punching in a touchdown from the 5-yard line. Sure, Anthony Richardson may vulture some goal-line glory, but Shane Steichen knows he’s got to protect his rookie QB from unnecessary hits this season if the Colts have any shot at winning this competitive division, especially after seeing what happened to Tua Tagovailoa on Thursday Night Football. The stars are aligning for Taylor in this looming matchup against a Packers defense fresh off a trip to Brazil, where they got gashed for 144 rushing yards and surrendered two rushing scores. Whether this game turns into a nail-biter or the Packers’ Malik Willis stumbles and the Colts grab the lead, both scenarios scream: run the ball with Taylor! I’m expecting a ton of volume and a breakout performance from the former Wisconsin man in Week 2. And here’s the kicker—when guys like Saquon Barkley have odds as short as -210 for a TD, getting Taylor at +115 feels like highway robbery. If Taylor finds the end zone again this week, expect those odds to shrink fast. Get in while the getting’s good! Stefon Diggs UNDER 57.5 Receiving Yards (-110) After Diggs’ modest six-catch, 33-yard performance (though he did score two touchdowns), the sportsbooks are starting to adjust. But not quite enough! Diggs is still a crucial piece of the Texans’ offense. He’s great at working the short and intermediate routes, and he’s become their go-to guy near the goal line. He’s perfectly fine stacking up those short catches like coins in a piggy bank. However, his longest grab in Week 1 was just 10 yards. To put that in perspective, the Bears managed to keep Will Levis’ longest completion to 15 yards, and even Calvin Ridley— the Titans’ top receiver—was held to 50 yards. And Diggs simply isn’t the deep-ball threat that he was in Buffalo or Minnesota. But let’s be real, C.J. Stroud and the Texans’ offense are a much scarier beast, with two other top-notch receiving options and a strong run game to boot. If Diggs stays heavily involved, I’m expecting a similar performance as Week 1 in which he’ll manage to catch five or six balls for 40 or 50 yards. Keep an eye on those shorter routes and goal-line targets—he’ll be busy! Just not
Target & Touch Leaders Week 1
Target & Touch Leaders Week 1 Opportunity is everything in fantasy football. Looking beyond the box score to see what players are earning crucial targets and touches is integral. Our weekly Target & Touch Leaders breaks down those opportunities in a user-friendly way. Having this data can help fantasy football managers make informed decisions for Week 2 and beyond. FullTime Fantasy Members will have access to this invaluable data every Tuesday. Subsequently, they will have a heads-up on making waiver wire claims. To kick off the 2024 season, we are realising our Target & Touch Leaders Week 1 for FREE. However, to get access to it for the rest of the season, you’ll have to sign up. Week 1 Target Leaders Overall Target Leaders Overall Target Share Leaders AFC East AFC North AFC South AFC West NFC East NFC North NFC South NFC West Week 1 RB Touch Leaders Overall RB Touch Leaders Overall RB Snap Leaders AFC East AFC North AFC South AFC West ENTER OUR WEEK 2 DRAFT CONTEST! How it Works: Firstly, draft your team using our On-Demand Simulator. Next, try to stack the team with players you think will do well this week. Finally, the highest Week 2 Score wins. (PLUS: You get to see the Thursday Night game and then draft!) Here’s our Week 2 Player Rankings to help. Firstly, it’s a best-ball contest, so no need to submit a lineup. We’ll optimize the best one. Secondly, you just sit back and watch your team climb the leaderboard. Weekly Prizes and a Grand Prize at the end of the season! Finally, the Grand Prize Winner (highest individual week of the season) gets to choose from the amazing prizes below. If you don’t know just how awesome and amazing the Panini Flawless Football briefcase is, make sure and watch the video starting at the 8-minute mark! Trading cards are back! MEMBER PERK! Fulltime Members get 5 Free On-Demand Drafts each month in our contest! DRAFT YOUR WEEK 2 TEAM and enter your REDEMPTION CODE you received by email.
Vegas Insider’s Top-3 Player Props
Vegas Insider’s Top-3 Player Props Last week, Matt Brandon’s Week 1 NFL Player Props went 6-1! For Week 2, our Vegas Insider @RespectedMoney presents his top-3 player props to target. With the opening week of the 2024 NFL season now in the books, let’s take a look at three “Respected Money” player proposition wagers for Week 2! RB Isiah Pacheco OVER 64.5 Rushing Yards (-110) Isiah Pacheco was a major factor in Kansas City’s season-opening win over Baltimore, setting the tone on the ground. The hard-nosed rusher, who finished Week 1 as the overall RB20 in PPR (15.8 points), appears ready to deliver on the expectation he will be a top RB1 in 2024. Pacheco will face a Bengals rush defense that heads into Arrowhead fresh off allowing 170 yards and a touchdown to the Patriots. Expect a heavy dose of Pacheco against a Cincinnati team he torched in Week 17 last season when he rushed for 130 yards and added seven catches for 35 yards and a touchdown WR Mike Evans ANYTIME TD (+130) Fans just watched the Rams light up the Lions’ pass defense, which yielded the most receptions (34) and the second-most passing yards (317) in Week 1, along with a touchdown. It will not get much easier for Detroit’s secondary, as Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers head to Ford Field. Evans, who finished as the overall WR6 (23.1 PPR points) in Week 1, continues to be one of the most underappreciated wideouts in fantasy football. This projects as a high-scoring affair between two teams that ranked in the top 10 in total yards of offense in Week 1. Last year in the NFC Divisional round of the Playoffs Evans grabbed eight of 12 targets for 147 yards and a TD. After scoring twice in Week 1, the dependable veteran has now scored in 12 of his last 18 regular season games. RB Joe Mixon OVER 66.5 Rushing Yards (-110) Mixon finished as the overall RB2 in PPR (26.8 points) after rushing for a league-high 159 yards and a touchdown in his Texans’ debut. Opposing defenses are not able to stack the box against Houston this season due to the club’s feared passing attack, and Mixon is the beneficiary. The Bears struggled to stop the run in Week 1, allowing 140 rushing yards (5.4 yards per rush) and a TD to the Titans. Mixon draws a Chicago defense that could struggle yet again and make him another week-winning player. ENTER OUR WEEK 2 DRAFT CONTEST! How it Works: First, draft your team using our On-Demand Simulator. Second, try to stack the team with players you think will do well this week. Finally, the highest Week 2 Score wins. (PLUS: You get to see the Thursday Night game and then draft!) Here’s our Week 2 Player Rankings to help. First, it’s a best-ball contest, so no need to submit a lineup. We’ll optimize the best one. Second, you just sit back and watch your team climb the leaderboard. Weekly Prizes and a Grand Prize at the end of the season! Finally, The Grand Prize Winner (highest individual week of the season) gets to choose from the amazing prizes below. If you don’t know just how awesome and amazing the Panini Flawless Football briefcase is, make sure and watch the video starting at the 8-minute mark! Trading cards are back! MEMBER PERK! Fulltime Members get 5 Free On-Demand Drafts each month in our contest! DRAFT YOUR WEEKLY TEAM and enter your REDEMPTION CODE you received by email.
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 2
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 2 Week 1 had its share of unpredictable performances. Both good and bad. Now that we have a week’s worth of action to go by, here are the top Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 2 players to target and fade in the second week of the 2024 NFL season. Additionally, FullTime Fantasy has some of the top tools of the trade and accurate rankings. Quarterbacks Start ‘Em Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers) at Minnesota Purdy’s fantasy performance in Week 1 was less than stellar, but there’s no need to panic. He faced a tough New York Jets defense, completing 19 of 29 passes for 231 yards and no touchdowns, resulting in 10.3 fantasy points. However, he earned the second-highest quarterback grade of the week and led the 49ers to victory. His outlook improves in Week 2, as he transitions from facing one of the best defenses in the Jets to the more manageable Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings impressed last week, but this matchup will present a new challenge for their defense. Purdy has historically thrived against zone defenses, earning an 85.7 grade versus zone compared to 68.5 against man coverage. Under Brian Flores, Minnesota has tended to lean heavily on zone coverage. You can confidently start Purdy Week 2 Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) at Detroit Mayfield’s transformation since his Week 6 debacle against Detroit last year has been remarkable. In Week 1, he exploded for 37.7 fantasy points against Washington, continuing a streak where he’s posted at least 20.3 points in seven of his last eight games, including playoff action. The Lions limited Matthew Stafford to 16.7 fantasy points last week, but Mayfield has momentum as he enters Week 2. The game’s expected total is 51.5 points, the highest of the week, making it likely that Mayfield will contribute to a high-scoring affair. Sit ‘Em Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears) at Houston Williams’s NFL debut was rough, completing less than half his passes for 93 yards and adding only 15 rushing yards, totaling just seven fantasy points. While Anthony Richardson had a strong fantasy day against Houston, it’s important to remember that the Texans generated pressure at a high rate. This makes it hard to trust Williams, especially with injuries to key receivers. Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) at Kansas City Burrow’s 8.1 fantasy points in Week 1 ranked 29th among quarterbacks, with no touchdowns and only 5.7 yards per attempt. He faces a tough matchup against Kansas City’s defense, which ranks as the sixth hardest for quarterbacks according to PFF. Burrow’s dealing with a wrist injury, and Tee Higgins’s status remains uncertain, making it difficult to rely on Burrow in Week 2. Running Backs Start ‘Em J.K. Dobbins (Los Angeles Chargers) at Carolina I was drafting a ton of Dobbins during the pre-season and I am so happy it paid off. Dobbins played on 59% of the snaps, turning 10 carries into 135 yards and a touchdown. His explosive runs, while chased down, are even more impressive given that this was his first game back since tearing his Achilles. Dobbins led Chargers’ backs in routes run and targets, showing his versatility. With a favorable matchup against the Panthers, who gave up 180 rushing yards last week, Dobbins is a must-start in all formats. Jerome Ford (Cleveland Browns) at Jacksonville Ford played a career-high 57 snaps in Week 1, accounting for 75% of the Browns’ offensive plays. Heading into Week 2, he faces a Jacksonville defense that surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to running backs in Week 1 and was one of the 12 worst teams in points allowed to the position last season. Ford’s usage and favorable matchup make him a strong fantasy option this week. Sit ‘Em D’Andre Swift (Chicago Bears) at Houston Swift’s Week 1 was a disaster, managing just 30 yards on 10 carries, with half of those attempts going for minimal gains. His lack of involvement in the passing game is concerning, and a matchup against the Texans, who just held Jonathan Taylor in check, doesn’t inspire confidence. Swift is a low-end flex option at best. Javonte Williams (Denver Broncos) vs. Pittsburgh Williams was on the field for 52% of the snaps in Week 1. But he only saw eight carries and two targets. Meanwhile, Jaleel McLaughlin had more opportunities. With the Broncos’ offense struggling under rookie QB Bo Nix, it’s hard to trust Williams, especially against a tough Pittsburgh defense. Wide Receivers Start ‘Em Jameson Williams (Detroit Lions) vs. Tampa Bay Williams exceeded expectations in Week 1, hauling in five catches for 121 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. His offseason improvements have paid off, and he looks poised for a breakout in his third year. With Tampa Bay’s secondary banged up, Williams should stay hot and is a solid WR2 in fantasy this week. Terry McLaurin (Washington Commanders) vs. New York Giants McLaurin has been reliable against the Giants, scoring at least 13.0 PPR points in eight of his last nine meetings against Big Blue. While he had a quiet Week 1, recording just two catches for 17 yards in Jayden Daniels‘s debut, Week 2 should see better chemistry between the two. The Giants allowed big performances from Justin Jefferson and others last week. This bodes well for McLaurin to bounce back. Sit ‘Em George Pickens (Pittsburgh Steelers) at Denver Pickens delivered with six catches for 85 yards last week. But he faces a tough test against Denver and star cornerback Pat Surtain II in Week 2. Surtain shadowed DK Metcalf last week, holding him to just 29 yards. With Pittsburgh likely shifting focus to the run, Pickens is best left on the bench this week. Calvin Ridley (Tennessee Titans) vs. New York Jets Ridley had a mediocre Week 1, managing just three catches for 50 yards on seven targets. The matchup against the Jets and their elite corner Sauce Gardner doesn’t bode well for Ridley’s fantasy prospects in Week 2. He’s a
Week 2 Sleepers
Week 2 Sleepers, Potential-Emergent Players, and Opportunistic Plays This column is NOT intended to provide weekly waiver claims lists. Instead, the purpose is to look at young players whose opportunities could be emerging and should be monitored. I will also look at potential injury replacement players, but I will try to not focus on the obvious choices for this week’s slate of games as that is covered elsewhere on the sight. My goal is to help look around corners for the season which might give some ideas for pre-emptive adds to your roster. Running Backs Bucky Irving (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – Irving is more than just a young handcuff for Rachaad White in Tampa Bay. He enters the league with a strong receiving profile as well as a better prospect for rushing between the tackles. He would make a great handcuff for White, but he also appears to have already turned this into a committee backfield. White carried the ball 15 times for 31 yards compared with Irving’s nine carries for 62 yards. Now, White was very productive in the passing game as he has always been with six receptions on six targets for seventy-five yards so he is likely not going away. I suspect Irving will carve out a significant role going forward. Jaylen Wright (Miami Dolphins) – There was a lot of hope for Wright pre-season and there still is amongst many fantasy managers. However, Wright was INACTIVE this weekend in favor of Jeff Wilson backing up Mostert and Achane. Both Mostert and Achane received DNP designations Monday and Tuesday ahead of Thursday’s game. So, although the inactive status on Sunday is worrisome he might be slow to fire. He also might see the field on a short week on Thursday with the two co-starters banged up. I would continue to monitor Wright’s status. The Miami backfield can produce a league winner in fantasy. Wright is a name to keep an eye on. Blake Corum (Los Angeles Rams) – Corum was another young RB who did not see the field this past week. He played behind both Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers. It was widely thought that Corum was going to pick up a significant opportunity share to lighten Kyren Williams’ load. That did not happen. He looks like strictly a handcuff right now who’s opportunity may take a little while. Tank Bigsby (Jacksonville Jaguars) – The talk of Bigsby taking on a bigger role this year. Unlike the talk with Corum, proved to be true. And he delivered on the promise he showed last preseason. Carries were split evenly with Etienne this past week. Bigsby had 12 carries for 73 yards compared with Etienne’s 12 carries for 45 yards. It looks like Bigsby’s opportunity has arrived. He is unlikely to unseat Etienne but he’s forced his way into a committee. Wide Receivers Jalen McMillan (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – He did catch a long touchdown this week and could have had more. McMillan played alongside Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk in college. He seems to have fit in as one of the three receiver weapons in Tampa and out snapped both Evans and Godwin. Look for his target count to increase throughout the season. Adonai Mitchell (Indianapolis Colts) – Mitchell is taking advantage of Josh Downs’s absence to play the slot role for the Colts. He looks good in action and left a lot of opportunity on the field this past week. His stat line was modest but could have included a touchdown where he and Richardson failed to hook up on a long pass. The challenge here is that the Colts will have a low volume passing attack and Downs will return to the field shortly. Mitchell will need to make his mark, and Richardson needs to develop as a passer for him to pay-off this year. Malik Washington (Miami Dolphins) – Washington was injured for this past week’s game. Achane picked up the slack that Washington could have provided in the passing game. When Washington gets healthy the Dolphins will add another speed element to their attack that will make this team even more difficult to defend. I’d continue to monitor his health and opportunity to see if he can fire when he gets his chance. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seattle Seahawks) – JSN was drafted in the first round last year but failed to break out. There was a lot of hope that a healthy off season and new offensive system was going to lead to more opportunities. That really did not happen week 1. All indications were that he would have a bigger role this year, however. Be patient. Tight Ends Brock Bowers (Las Vegas Raiders) – Bowers was one of the few tight ends that provided usable stats in week 1. Other than Isaiah Likely, we did not see a true blow-up game for a tight end. Bowers led the Raiders in targets and receptions in Week One on his way to a six-catch, 58-yard performance. It’s a usable game and could be a pre-cursor of what’s to come. Tucker Kraft (Green Bay Packers) – In a surprise turn of event. Kraft played the TE1 role for the Packers instead of Musgrave. Kraft’s performance was not eye-opening, but his usage was. Musgrave was the clear TE2 playing in 2 TE sets. The late round dart throws on Kraft could pay off. That usage could lead him toward a top 12 TE finish. However, Jordan Love’s injury could put a near term damper on his performances. ENTER OUR WEEK 2 DRAFT CONTEST! How it Works: Firstly, draft your team using our On-Demand Simulator. Next, try to stack the team with players you think will do well this week. Finally, the highest Week 2 Score wins. (PLUS: You get to see the Thursday Night game and then draft!) Here’s our Week 2 Player Rankings to help. Firstly, it’s a best-ball contest, so no need to submit a lineup. We’ll optimize the best one. Secondly, you just sit back and watch your