Fantasy Football Heat Index: Buy or Sell Surprise Performances

Every Monday of the NFL regular season, we look at breakout performances from the weekend and analyze their fantasy football potential for sustained success. We will rank these performances from 1-5 based on whether we believe they are momentary or long-term options for your fantasy teams.

Fantasy Football Heat Index

Quarterback

Daniel Jones (QB – IND)

Stats:

23-of-34 for 316 Passing Yards
1 Passing Touchdown
6 Rushing Attempts
2 Rushing Yards
1 Rushing Touchdown

Position Rank (pre-MNF): QB7 (22.8 fantasy points)

Analysis: Daniel Jones entered the season as a stop-gap starter for the Indianapolis Colts, but through two weeks, he’s rewriting that narrative. After dismantling Miami in Week 1, he followed up with a poised, efficient outing against Denver’s top-tier defense.

Jones’ 9.3 yards per completion and 67.6% completion rate were especially impressive given the Broncos allowed just 112 passing yards the previous week. Jones has now posted consecutive top-10 fantasy quarterback finishes, totaling 52.3 fantasy points across two games. He’s averaging 9.4 yards per attempt and has yet to throw an interception this season.

Daniel Jones is not in the elite tier but is firmly in the streaming conversation and should be viewed as a weekly starter in Superflex formats. With a matchup against Tennessee on deck, Jones is a strong candidate to extend his hot streak.

Heat Index: 3

Running Back

Javonte Willams (RB – DAL)

Stats:

18 Rushing Attempts
97 Rushing Yards
1 Touchdown
6 Receptions
33 Receiving Yards

Position Rank (pre-MNF): RB4 (22 fantasy points)

Analysis: Javonte Williams has taken complete control of the Dallas backfield, handling 24 total touches and scoring 22 fantasy points in the Cowboys’ dramatic 40-37 overtime victory over the New York Giants.

Williams delivered a complete performance in Week 2, piling up 130 total yards and finding the end zone for the third time this season. He rushed 18 times for 97 yards, consistently churning out positive gains and showing burst we haven’t seen in years. He added six receptions for 33 yards in the passing game, operating as a reliable checkdown option and staying on the field for key third-down situations.

With this kind of volume and versatility, Williams is trending toward being an every-week Flex starter status in most formats. His involvement in both early-down work and passing situations gives him one of the most secure roles among non-elite running backs.

Heat Index: 4

Wide Receiver

Troy Franklin (WR – DEN)

Stats:

8 Receptions
89 Receiving Yards
1 Touchdown
1 Rushing Attempt
11 Rushing Yards

Position Rank (pre-MNF): WR8 (20 fantasy points)

Analysis: Troy Franklin is beginning to look like a key piece in Denver’s passing attack. He has effectively taken over the No. 2 WR role in Denver, outpacing Marvin Mims Jr. in targets and establishing himself as Bo Nix’s most reliable secondary option behind Courtland Sutton.

In Week 2, Franklin hauled in eight of his nine targets for 89 yards and a touchdown, leading the Broncos in receptions and receiving yards during the team’s narrow loss to Indianapolis. According to Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus (PFF), Franklin played 44 of the 45 snaps in 3-WR sets and five of the six snaps in 2-WR sets on Sunday.

Given his rising snap count, target volume and growing chemistry with Nix, Franklin is poised to be one of the more popular waiver wire pickups heading into Week 3. He’s not a plug-and-play starter, but there’s enough usage to justify stashing him on your bench.

Heat Index: 3

Tight End

Tucker Kraft (TE – GB)

Stats:

6 Receptions
124 Receiving Yards
1 Touchdown

Position Rank (pre-MNF): TE1 (21.4 fantasy points)

Analysis: Tucker Kraft put together the most dominant performance of his young career on Thursday Night Football, catching six of his seven targets for 124 yards and a touchdown in Green Bay’s 27-18 win over Washington. He led all Packers pass-catchers in receptions, yards and targets, stepping up after Jayden Reed exited early with a shoulder injury.

If this usage continues, fantasy managers should view Kraft as a top-10 tight end with top-five upside. He offers a rare combination of size, speed and opportunity that others cannot match. If the Packers continue to feature him in the passing game, Kraft could become one of the most valuable mid-to-late-round tight end selections of the season.

Heat Index: 5