Fantasy Football Player Notes

Jaylen Warren was the backup to Rico Dowdle in Week 1. Yes, if you look at the boxscore it doesn't look like that, as Warren finished with 15 touches and 73 total yards (Dowdle had ten touches) as the RB25 for the week, but he only played 35.9% of the snaps, had a 30.2% route share, and he didn't see any red zone rushing attempts. Yes, his fumble in the first quarter could have absolutely played a role in his reduced role for Week 1, but we'll have to see if that's the case if Dowdle massively out-snaps him in Week 2. When he was on the field, Warren was his same explosive self, posting 3.0 yards after contact per attempt. Warren could be an RB2 in Week 2 if he sees a similar workload against the Pats. In Week 1, New England allowed the 12th-highest explosive run rate, the 11th-most yards after contact per attempt, and they had the sixth-lowest stuff rate.

I know Rico Dowdle had only ten touches and 21 total yards in Week 1, but he was the starter for Pittsburgh. He led the backfield with a 57.8% snap rate, a 48.8% route share, and the only red zone carry. Yes, Jaylen Warren fumbled in the first quarter of their game against the Falcons, which could have played a part here, but we'll have to see the division of labor in Week 2. Dowdle wasn't amazing on a per-touch basis in Week 1 with only 1.75 yards after contact per attempt and a 13% missed tackle rate, but it's a small sample, and we have a much larger one over the last two seasons that shows Dowdle is #good. Dowdle has solid flex value this week in a good matchup. In Week 1, New England allowed the 12th-highest explosive run rate, the 11th-most yards after contact per attempt, and they had the sixth-lowest stuff rate.