We dive into the numbers of Week 1 to give you waiver wire and trade advice specific to each NFL team ahead of Week 2. You can find all of the analysis in Andrew Erickson’s Fantasy Football Forecast for Week 2. And below take a closer look at a few players of note ahead of the weekend.
- More Waiver Wire Advice
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football Outlook
Houston Texans
Buy Nico Collins
C.J. Stroud can move, and he looked way better than the box score would suggest. Stood strong in the pocket, took several hits behind a patchwork OL and was not intimidated despite playing in a house of horrors. He also looked more mobile than he ever was at Ohio State. 4 scrambles for 20 yards.
Big things are coming for Stroud. 242 passing yards was a top-5 mark in Week 1.
Nico Collins emerged as WR1 with 11 targets and 6 receptions for 80 yards, while Robert Woods settled as WR2. Collins was easily Stroud’s preferred target, and he was not afraid to rip it downfield to his big-bodied wideout. 61% air yards share, 158 total air yards. I love Collins next week versus a very beatable Colts no-name secondary.
Robert Woods was WR2 and competent. Moved the chains with 6 for 57 on 10 targets. Basically, his ability to earn targets will nuke Dalton Schultz‘s fantasy appeal. Schultz still played 81% of the snaps (77% route participation) but only earned four targets (two catches). The matchup was bad, so I expect the target gap to close between Woods and Schultz, given the high playing time.
Cleveland Browns
Buy Elijah Moore
Nick Chubb was a standout performer. Rushed for 106 yards despite a long of just 17 rushing yards.
18 for 106 versus Jerome Ford‘s 15 for 36. Same offensive line. Chubb is just that good. And he did it on a 49% snap share. And better yet, Chubb got more receiving work totaling 22 touches with four targets. Buy high before people realize Chubb is poised for his best season ever.
Deshaun Watson‘s rushing ability kept him valuable in fantasy, despite his struggles in passing. 5 for 45 rushing and 1 touchdown on the ground.
He missed some key throws, but his running capability allowed him to finish as a fantasy QB1.
WRs Elijah Moore and Amari Cooper each saw 7 targets (24%), but efficiency was an issue with inaccurate throws and the weather. Moore led with the most yards and was frequently moved around the formation. He also led the team in route participation (86%), but Cooper did miss time with an injury.
Donovan Peoples-Jones played the most snaps but had just one catch. Considering Cooper played the most out-wide, good chance he sees Steelers CB Patrick Peterson. Peterson gave up two TDs to Brandon Aiyuk as the iso WR. Both should be sought-after in trades.
Wouldn’t mind buying low on some of these Browns WRs after the Steelers’ secondary got ripped to shreds by Brock Purdy. Moore’s the guy I would go after in trade after really encouraging usage in Week 1 that did not translate into a ton of fantasy production. Also can be acquired cheaply.
David Njoku is a hold even after zero production. Still saw solid usage – 63% route participation, 73% snap share – and better days will be ahead. Got unlucky with Harrison Bryant coming away with the TD score.
Jack Conklin was also carted off the field. It’s a big injury to their starting offensive line. That could prove problematic against the Steelers in Week 2 for the passing game unless we see rookie Damonte Jones step up. He held his own in pass protection after entering the game on Sunday.
New Orleans Saints
Buy Jamaal Williams
Jamaal Williams had a volume-based RB1 role. 18 carries and 2 catches for 53 yards. Woof. Volume-based fantasy RB2 that completely face-planted with a 75% snap share and 20 overall touches. The Titans’ run defense was a unit to avoid all last season, and they looked the part in Week 1. For Williams, he should benefit from a real easy matchup in Week 2 versus the Panthers. Acquire him for dirt cheap as a one-week rental.
Chris Olave led the team with 10 targets (8-112, 30%) followed by Michael Thomas (8, 24%) and Rashid Shaheed (6, 18%). Olave was also the air yards share leader (34%, 129 air yards), while MT led the Saints in routes run (89% route participation).
Juwan Johnson didn’t do much in the stat sheet but ran a healthy number of routes (84% route participation). Three for 36 on 5 targets will be his weekly floor with that deployment.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Add Calvin Austin
Betting the Steelers ML…they said it would be fun. Definitely one of my biggest misses in Week 1. Alas, we live and learn. The entire Steelers offense wasn’t good enough.
Running back Najee Harris went 6 for 31. I proposed whether or not Harris’ fantasy value would increase/decrease after he played SF in Week 1? We know where it stands. Jaylen Warren out-targeted him 6 to 2 with a 40% snap share to Harris’ 52%.
WR Allen Robinson led the team with 8 targets – 5 for 64 – after Diontae Johnson got hurt. George Pickens was second with 7 targets (26% air yards share) – including a dope one-hander that he was ruled out of bounds. A-Rob and Pickens played full-time roles (89% snap share) running a route on almost every Kenny Pickett dropback.
Second-year WR Calvin Austin went 6-for-6 and would likely see a big playing boost if DJ misses time. His route participation settled at 50%. He was involved early on.
In addition to Johnson’s injury, Pat Freiermuth also got banged up. Played just 51% of the snaps. Scored on his one catch (4 targets).
Not optimistic about this receiving unit sans Johnson versus a Browns defense that put the clamps on the Bengals WRs in Week 1.
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