Fantasy Football Recap and Takeaways: Week 2

Following a cruel Week 1 for elite quarterbacks, Week 2 showed no mercy to top-tier running backs.

Many fantasy drafters who invested early on rushing may wish they tried out the Zero RB strategy. LeSean McCoy, Jordan Howard, and Ezekiel Elliott all limped to single-digit rushing yards, and DeMarco Murray took a back seat to Derrick Henry.

Along with those alarmingly low outputs, let’s see what fantasy players should take away from the season’s second week.

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Houston Texans 13, Cincinnati Bengals 9

• Deshaun Watson turned a Thursday-night sludge into a decent fantasy performance with a 49-yard touchdown run, but gamers should pay more attention to rookie running back D’Onta Foreman receiving 12 carries to Lamar Miller’s 18. Neither Foreman nor Miller were particularly effective against a tough Cincinnati front seven, respectively gaining 40 and 61 rushing yards. Yet the 2017 third-round pick mostly worked in short-yardage situations, which compromised his efficiency but could foreshadow red-zone work. It’s a troubling development for Miller investors, who may want to grab Foreman as insurance. He could lose some goal-line carries to the stocky newcomer, but perhaps a lighter workload will increase his productivity between the 20s.
• Watson continued to run a refined “Throw the ball to DeAndre Hopkins” offense, targeting his star wide receiver on 13 of 24 pass attempts. Hopkins now has a 48.3 percent target share through two weeks, and New England’s defense has looked vulnerable enough to spur a monster Week 3 showing.
• Joe Mixon played in one-quarter of Cincinnati’s snaps. Giovani Bernard, meanwhile, appeared in 33 of 64 offensive plays but accrued just 26 total yards. The backfield could remain a fantasy quagmire, but two brutal matchups certainly haven’t helped. Mixon at best is a borderline Week 3 flex play against the Packers.

Panthers 9, Bills 3

• Greg Olsen, who notched one catch for 10 yards, confirmed after the game that he broke his right foot. That’s a huge blow for Carolina and fantasy investors banking on a reliable star. Devin Funchess, a former tight end during his college days, was Week 2’s biggest benefactor with seven targets. Kelvin Benjamin and Christian McCaffrey could also get more looks as a result.
• For the second consecutive week, Cam Newton missed an open receiver for an easy touchdown. In a 9-3 win composed only of field goals, he overshot McCaffrey after Buffalo stuffed Jonathan Stewart on two carries. The 2015 MVP accompanied his 221 passing yards with 27 rushing yards, giving him just 128 total rushing yards and one touchdown over his last nine games. A Week 3 matchup with the Saints should nevertheless shield him from fantasy benches despite losing Olsen.
• McCoy ran for nine yards on 12 carries. He was a rookie in 2009 the last time he finished with single-digit rushing yards and less than one yard per rush. The only concern here is health, as he dealt with a sore groin earlier in the week and tweeted an ominous warning encouraging everyone to take care of their bodies. A brutal Week 3 slate with the Broncos could lead to another rough Sunday if he’s not 100 percent.

New England Patriots 36, New Orleans Saints 20

• Everyone started cursing Bill Belichick when Rex Burkhead opened the game with a four-yard touchdown grab. But fear not, Mike Gillislee owners. He still led the team with 18 carries — Dion Lewis was second with four — and converted his fourth touchdown of the season on another goal-line run. James White also justified the PPR matchup play by catching all eight targets for 85 yards. A Burkhead injury created a clearer distribution of labor that fantasy owners could cautiously trust if he needs to miss time.
• Week 2 didn’t go much better for Adrian Peterson, who procured 26 rushing yards on eight carries and 15 snaps, one fewer than rookie Alvin Kamara. A 20-point Patriots first quarter took him out of the game in favor of Mark Ingram, who doubled Peterson’s rushing workload with the same number of handoffs while adding 24 receiving yards on four catches. AP’s only relevance stems from name recognition, so consider cutting him in 10- or 12-team leagues.
• It probably surprised nobody to see Tom Brady and Drew Brees combine for 803 passing yards and five touchdowns, but Brandin Cooks and Michael Thomas got shunned from the end zone while Chris Hogan and Brandon Coleman scored. Any assessments of New England’s passing game is premature until studying the injury report, as Hogan, Rob Gronkowski, and Phillip Dorsett also got hurt after Danny Amendola — who was replacing the injured Julian Edelman — suffered a concussion in Week 1. Ted Ginn remains a maddeningly unreliable pass-catcher for New Orleans, but Willie Sneed will return from a three-game suspension after a tough Week 3 matchup against Carolina. This might have been the best chance to use Coleman.

Tennessee Titans 37, Jacksonville Jaguars 16

• The final score is somewhat misleading, as Tennessee mustered 390 total yards on 64 plays. Considering the outcome, Marcus Mariota went an underwhelming 15-of-27 for 215 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception with 24 yards from the ground. He once again spread the ball to the detriment of fantasy investors. No Titan had more than five targets or four catches. It’d be wise to look beyond their passing game when they face the Seahawks and Texans in the next two weeks.
• Anyone counting on Mariota or a Tennessee wideout still won’t match the fear of Murray owners. While he compiled 25 rushing yards on nine carries, Derrick Henry accrued 14 carries, 92 yards, and a touchdown. Managers with solid alternatives may need to bench both against Seattle, but Henry would assume Murray’s seat as a top-10 fantasy running back if he poaches the veteran’s headlining role.
• In Jacksonville’s first full game without Allen Robinson, Marqise Lee registered seven catches and 76 yards on a dozen targets. Garbage Time MVP Blake Bortles found Allen Hurns for a meaningless fourth-quarter score, but it counts the same for fantasy players. Hurns and Lee should both be owned, but neither is a particularly appealing Week 3 starting choice against Baltimore.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29, Chicago Bears 7

• Tarik Cohen didn’t go away, recording 55 receiving yards on eight catches. Howard, on the other hand, vanished with seven rushing yards during a one-sided affair. Per Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune, he left with his right arm in a sling and declined to speak to reporters. With Cohen cementing his status as a backfield pass-catcher, this could become a recurring problem for Howard in blowouts. They play their next four games against the Steelers, Packers (at Lambeau), Vikings, and Ravens.
• There’s no such controversy in Tampa Bay. As advertised, Jacquizz Rodgers assumed Doug Martin’s heavy workload with 19 carries, 67 yards, and a touchdown. Including last year, he now has 462 rushing yards and three touchdowns in six games as the primary rusher. The schedule isn’t easy through Martin’s suspension, but Rodgers is a high-floor flex play who is not guaranteed to cede the favorable post when Martin returns.
• Despite winning by 22, Tampa Bay finished with one more total yard and 4.6 yards per play. Its defense proved a top Week 2 streamer with a Robert McClain pick six accounting for one of four turnovers. The offense had some rust to work off following a delayed season debut.

Pittsburgh Steelers 26, Minnesota Vikings 9

• Le’Veon Bell looked better than last week, but he’s expected to tally more than 91 yards when given 31 touches. Patience remains the only tenable course.
• Pittsburgh had a boring fantasy day aside from Ben Roethlisberger’s 51-yard strike and 27-yard touchdown pass to Martavis Bryant. Including the 2015 postseason, the 25-year-old wideout has 1,053 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in his last 15 games, so stomach the lows for his week-winning upside.
• Sam Bradford’s knee injury put Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen owners in a bind. Following huge Week 1 outings, they each received six targets — as many as Kyle Rudolph and the rarely seen Laquon Treadwell — and combined for 71 yards. Sitting either would be tough after their incredible season-opener, but Case Keenum will siphon their value if forced to start again.

Kansas City Chiefs 27, Philadelphia Eagles 20

• Kareem Hunt was no one-week wonder. His 109 total yards (81 rushing, 28 receiving) and two touchdowns seem quaint following the rookie’s ground-breaking debut, but he enters Monday with the week’s fourth-highest fantasy output at running back. With so many highly drafted rushers disappointing, he now factors prominently into the weekly and rest-of-season top-10, maybe even top-five discussion.
• Alex Smith still has never submitted consecutive 300-yard performances, but he provided his more typical version of a good game. The quarterback went an economical 21-of-28 for 251 passing yards and a touchdown to Travis Kelce, who went air bound to score on a shovel pass. Smith is a viable streamer with upcoming matchups against the Chargers and Washington, and Kelce is second only to a healthy Gronkowski at tight end.
• LeGarrette Blount finished with zero yards. He played just six snaps and did not record one carry. It’s peculiar the week after logging 14 rushes, but the 30-year-old now can’t be considered much more than a touchdown vulture for the deepest of leagues.
• If Gronk and Kelce are No. 1 and 2 at tight end, Zach Ertz has a case for the third spot. He registered five catches — including a 53-yard catch that bounced off a defender — for 97 yards on 10 targets, giving him 53 receptions and 633 yards over his last seven games. Ertz has developed enough of a connection with Carson Wentz to start on a weekly basis despite his limited touchdown potential.

Baltimore Ravens 24, Cleveland Browns 10

• Just as everyone expected, Ben Watson and Rashard Higgins led their respective teams in targets. Do not be embarrassed if you’re wondering which team Higgins plays for, as the Browns receiver caught six passes last year before tallying seven on Sunday. It’s more bad news for Corey Coleman, who once again is dealing with a broken hand. Watson, who secured his first catch since Week 17 of the 2015 campaign, also needs to prove his value over a larger sample size before adding.
• Javorius Allen, however, needs to be owned in all leagues. He outpaced Terrence West in the rushing and receiving game to total 101 yards and a touchdown. Allen has assumed Danny Woodhead’s projected role as the main pass catcher to use in PPR formats. West, who scored his second touchdown in two games, also took a hit with guard Marshall Yanda suffering a season-ending ankle injury, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
• The Ravens have snatched four interceptions in back-to-back weeks. Their next opponent: Bortles.

Arizona Cardinals 16, Indianapolis Colts 13 (OT)

• Carson Palmer salvaged another disaster to finish with a backloaded 332 passing yards. Stopped twice inside the 10 — he threw an incomplete pass to Larry Fitzgerald on a 4th-and-goal at the 1 — the 37-year-old could have delivered more than a touchdown and interception against a defense ravaged by Jared Goff in Week 1. He’s not worth starting against the Cowboys next Monday night, and a poor Week 4 showing against the 49ers would permanently strip him of streamer consideration.
• Bad news for any David Johnson owners who grabbed Kerwynn Williams: Andre Ellington led the Cardinals in snaps, and the recently re-signed Chris Johnson led the backfield with 44 yards on 11 carries. Don’t bother sorting through the mess unless someone emerges against Dallas as a flex play to use versus San Francisco.
• At least Jacoby Brissett was better than Scott Tolzien. He went a middling 20-of-37 for 216 yards and an interception, but he found Jack Doyle on all eight tries for 79 yards and helped Frank Gore find the end zone. Doyle and Gore make palatable matchup plays against the Browns, but Andrew Luck can’t return soon enough.

Oakland Raiders 45, New York Jets 20

• The Jets are bad. Their futility might have hindered Marshawn Lynch’s Oakland debut, as the Raiders let Cordarrelle Patterson and Jalen Richard rattle off huge touchdown runs to avoid overworking the formerly retired veteran. Lynch also scored the first touchdown of his return, but a limited workload curtails his ceiling.
• It must have stunk for Amari Cooper owners giddy with excitement after seeing the score, only to discover he finished with 33 yards. Especially if they also faced Michael Crabtree, who instead played the fantasy hero with three touchdowns. Things should even out for both star receivers over the full season.
• Remember when Bilal Powell recorded 552 yards during last season’s final four games? He once again took a back seat to Matt Forte, who stockpiled 91 yards in a rout. It appears Forte, and not Powell, is the closest Jet to warranting any fantasy consideration.

Miami Dolphins 19, San Diego Chargers 17

• Jay Cutler held his own in his Dolphins debut, distributing 230 passing yards and a touchdown on 33 pass attempts. Yet the skill-position payers truly shined. Jay Ajayi amassed 122 yards on the ground. Jarvis Landry maintained his PPR stud status by reeling in 13 of 15 targets for 78 yards, and Kenny Stills caught a touchdown in his fifth straight game. DeVante Parker led the receivers with 85 yards, saving Cutler from an interception by winning a jump ball in traffic. While Cutler is only startable in the most advantageous scenarios, he’s competent enough to preserve his supporting cast’s fantasy value without Ryan Tannehill.
• Hunter Henry had eight touchdowns, but just 2.4 catches per game last season. He flipped the script on Sunday, recording 80 yards on a career-high seven catches while watching Antonio Gates receive Philip Rivers’ only touchdown pass. There’s speculation that the Chargers fed Gates more end-zone looks so he could break the record for most touchdowns by a tight end, so perhaps Henry finally escaped the veteran’s shadow. Henry is a potential top-10 option if he develops a refined role, but don’t get too comfortable in light of his silent Week 1.
• Keenan Allen received 10 targets for the second straight game. Hopkins and Antonio Brown are the only other players who logged double-digit targets in both weeks. Facing the Dolphins instead of the Broncos, he augmented his 35 yards to 100, but without a score.

Washington Redskins 27, Los Angeles Rams 20

• Volume does not always guarantee success. Samaje Perine, who didn’t play at all in Week 1 in part because of a preseason fumble, pieced together 67 yards on 21 carries. Rob Kelley needed just a dozen handoffs to compile 78 yards, but Chris Thompson turned three rushes into 77 yards and two touchdowns. Washington’s backfield has devolved into a slippery situation heading into Week 3’s game versus the Raiders. Kelley is a weak flex play in standard leagues, assuming he’s healthy. Thompson has forced his way into PPR consideration, and Perine warrants a waiver-wire add.
• Todd Gurley did not average more than 4.1 yards per rush in a game last season. He topped out at 108 yards from scrimmage. Despite fumbling twice, his strong Week 2 was a long time coming. The Rams running back posted 88 rushing yards on 16 carries and caught three balls for 48 yards. Scoring one rushing and receiving touchdown apiece gave the third-year back his first multi-touchdown game since last year’s Week 3. Even if he’s not the superstar from 2015’s glorious rookie campaign, Gurley looks poised to validate the second- or third-round draft cost.
• Kirk Cousins now has seven touchdowns and six interceptions in his last seven games after a tame 179-yard, one-touchdown outing. Terrelle Pryor (two catches, 33 yards), Jamison Crowder (four catches, 47 yards), and Jordan Reed (six catches, 48 yards) continue to slide far short of the high expectations levied on Washington’s passing offense. Perhaps the fantasy community did not properly appreciate the impact of losing DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon.

Seattle Seahawks 12, San Francisco 49ers 9

• The Seahawks went over seven quarters before scoring their first touchdown of the season. At least fantasy gamers got answers regarding their backfield. With Eddie Lacy inactive, Chris Carson ran for 93 yards on 20 carries. A complete non-factor in the receiving game last week, C.J. Prosise was a complete non-factor in the rushing offense against a vulnerable rushing defense. A returning Thomas Rawls mustered five yards on four handoffs, so Carson is the best of the bunch to own. But anyone who already added him shouldn’t celebrate just yet. Per USA Today‘s Liz Mathews, Pete Carroll said he wanted to ease Rawls back into action, and he and Lacy remain a part of the team’s plans. Rawls is the bigger threat.
• When is it time to worry about Russell Wilson? He now has 356 passing yards and one touchdown in two games. Smith, Bradford, Jared Goff, and Mike Glennon are among the passers who have surpassed 300 yards in a single game this season. Sacked three times in both bouts, he has spent September running for his life while averaging a meager 5.4 yards per pass attempt. He’s not the only one suffering; Jimmy Graham has nine yards. A putrid offensive line is downgrading Wilson and Graham from top-five options at their respective positions to borderline starters who require matchup homework.
• Carlos Hyde showed what he can accomplish in a competitive game by accumulating 124 rushing yards on 15 handoffs. Last season, he submitted 640 rushing yards and six touchdowns during seven games in which he recorded at least 15 carries. If they can hang tight with the Seahawks, perhaps the 49ers can avoid drubbings against the Rams, Cardinals, and Colts in upcoming weeks.

Denver Broncos 42, Dallas Cowboys 17

• Peyton Mann…umm…Trevor Siemian continued his torrid start for the Broncos. After tossing four touchdowns, he has an NFL-high six through two games. He has notched top-five QB finishes in each week, but those results helped more waiver wires and benches than starting lineups. Even if he is now just streamer-worthy, he could make a major fantasy impact during crunch time with the Broncos facing the Jets and Colts in Weeks 14 and 15.
• Siemian resuscitating Denver’s offense has also reaped major rewards for C.J. Anderson, who assembled 118 rushing yards, 36 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. He’s the only running back to receive 20 or more carries in Weeks 1 and 2 and now has 764 yards and seven touchdowns in his last nine games. A healthy Anderson has top-10 potential, so grabbing him as a No. 2 back seems like a savvy buy in hindsight.
• The Cowboys won’t orchestrate a 50:14 run-to-pass ratio very often, but a slow start from Elliott paved the way for a large deficit, which forced them to abandon the run. It won’t happen often, and Dak Prescott’s two interceptions and 4.8 yards per attempt are forgiven against a lethal Broncos defense. At least the game script allowed Dez Bryant to shine in a brutal matchup with seven catches on 16 targets for 59 yards and a score.

Atlanta Falcons 34, Green Bay Packers 23

• Jordy Nelson left Sunday night’s game early, and Aaron Rodgers stumbled through three quarters. Before anyone could spend the ensuing week remembering his uncharacteristically mortal 2015 without his star wideout, Rodgers finished with 343 passing yards, two touchdowns, an interception, and a fumble. An extended Nelson absence could reinforce the value of Davante Adams, who tallied 99 yards and a touchdown. The same would have been said about Randall Cobb had he not later left with a shoulder injury. A diminished receiving corps caused Martellus Bennett to lead the team with 11 targets.
• With Green Bay playing from behind, Ty Montgomery returned to making a larger dent as a receiver. He accumulated 75 receiving yards and a goal-line touchdown on a shovel pass, but also added 35 rushing yards and another score. Popular preseason sleeper Jamaal Williams received two carries for the second straight week, so the fruitful role belongs comfortably to the converted receiver.
• Including Atlanta’s Super Bowl run, Tevin Coleman has scored 15 touchdowns in his last 17 games. Devonta Freeman has 19 during the same timeframe. As for the Falcons planning to get Julio Jones more involved in the red zone, he is still searching for 2017’s first touchdown. Jones remains a deserving fantasy building block, but Freeman offers more week-to-week stability. It’s getting tougher to write off Coleman’s frequent end-zone visits as a fluke, so he remains a sneaky flex play in the right spot.

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Andrew Gould is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Andrew, check out his archive and follow him @andrewgould4.