Week 1 of the NFL season is always exciting, but Week 2 is when we learn the most. Which trends continue from Week 1, and which are fake news? When a fifth-round rookie receiver snags 10 of 15 targets in Week 1, it’s cool to see, but when he follows it up with an even better Week 2, that’s when we know it’s for real.

So, who’s rising and falling after Week 2? Let’s get into it.

• Pat Fitzmaurice’s Weekly Rankings
• Andrew Erickson’s Weekly Rankings
• Derek Brown’s Weekly Rankings

9 Dynasty Fantasy Football Risers & Fallers (Week 2)

Risers

Puka Nacua (WR – LAR) & Tutu Atwell (WR – LAR)

With Cooper Kupp visiting injured reserve (IR) to begin the season, many targets in the Rams’ offense have been up for grabs. A big opportunity for Van Jefferson has turned into a monumental breakout for rookie Puka Nacua and a sneaky rise from Tutu Atwell. After catching 10 of 15 targets for 119 yards and 21.9 fantasy points in his first NFL game, Nacua silenced any remaining skeptics with 15 receptions on 20 targets, turning them into 147 yards. He also carried twice for four yards, accumulating 30.1 fantasy points.

Nacua is the only player in the league with double-digit receptions in both games while leading the league in receptions with 25. The rookie’s performance has overshadowed Tutu Atwell, but he also deserves some attention. Atwell posted 119 receiving yards in Week 1 and followed that up with 77 receiving yards in Week 2. Despite Nacua gobbling up 25 targets thus far, Atwell isn’t exactly starving for them, as he’s seen 17 to go with one carry.

Obviously, Kupp’s return will significantly impact these two, but Nacua has established himself as a full-time player, and Atwell should continue to see opportunities.

Kyren Williams (RB – LAR)

Sticking with the Rams, Kyren Williams has quickly gone from a backup with some hope for a receiving role to a full-time, workhorse role. With Cam Akers a healthy scratch this week, Williams handled 76 of 80 snaps and took all 14 of the running back carries. He ran 52 routes, garnering nine targets, turning them into six grabs for 48 yards and a score to go with his 52 rushing yards and rushing touchdown.

Williams has now scored four total touchdowns. With Cam Akers reportedly on the trade block, Williams’ mammoth workload should continue, barring a trade for a disgruntled star running back.

Nico Collins (WR – HOU) & Tank Dell (WR – HOU)

Another set of wide receiver teammates, the Texans duo of Nico Collins and Tank Dell, have started hot this season. Collins has seen 20 targets come his way through two games, following up a six-catch, 80-yard Week 1 performance with a touchdown and 146 yards on seven grabs in Week 2.

Collins was one of my, and many others, favorite sleeper and breakout pick this year, and so far, he is making good on that as C.J. Stroud‘s top target. Tank Dell is making a bid to be one of the top targets in the offense with Noah Brown on IR. Dell played 66 of 84 snaps, more than Collins’ 53, and caught seven of 10 targets for 72 yards and a touchdown. Robert Woods still led the way with 71 snaps but saw fewer targets with eight.

The offense needs playmakers more than anything, so it’s reasonable to expect Dell to continue this type of usage.

Sam LaPorta (TE – DET)

The rookie tight end ran 31 of 39 tight end routes this week, tallying five catches for 63 yards. LaPorta has caught 10 of the 11 targets sent his way and is already a big part of the Lions’ offense. Although rookie tight ends are generally tough to trust in fantasy, LaPorta already looks like a reliable fantasy contributor with a steady role. The only thing keeping him from a big performance is that he has yet to cross the goal line, but when he does, his value might be too high to reach for.

Fallers

Cam Akers (RB – LAR)

One running back goes up, and another must go down. With Kyren Williams ascending into the Rams lead back role, Cam Akers was a healthy scratch this week. With reports that he’s now on the trade block, it’s unlikely he will earn that role back any time soon. Perhaps the best-case scenario is that he gets dealt to a friendly landing spot or maybe gets swapped for a disgruntled star running back. This saga between the Rams and Akers has been a wild ride, and it appears the two sides may finally be heading for a split.

AJ Dillon (RB – GB)

AJ Dillon will remain in his role as the handcuff and complimentary back to Aaron Jones, but the hopes of him becoming the main man in the backfield feels like a distant memory. Dillon ran 15 times on Sunday, totaling 55 yards but failing to break a run longer than eight yards. His efficiency has dwindled, and he cedes passing down work, as he gave way to Patrick Taylor on passing downs on Sunday. It’s becoming clear that Dillon is best suited as a short-yardage back but likely nothing more.

Tank Bigsby (RB – JAC)

The expectation in Jacksonville following the training camp buzz was that Tank Bigsby would put a sizeable dent into Travis Etienne‘s workload. I’m still bullish on Bigsby as a player long-term, but that buzz hasn’t yielded the results many Etienne managers once feared. After scoring a touchdown but losing a fumble in Week 1 while carrying seven times for 13 yards, Bigsby did not receive a touch in Week 2.

He only saw the field on passing downs, but Etienne took the goal line snaps while D’Ernerst Johnson was the only other back to receive a carry. There’s still hope for Bigsby to become a reliable fantasy asset, but he should stay far away from lineups for now.