Fantasy Football Player Notes

In Week 1, Parker Washington operated as Jacksonville's WR1, finishing as the WR11 for the week. Washington had a 26.1% target share, 83 receiving yards (5.53 YPRR), zero red zone targets, two deep targets, and a 27.8% first-read share. The target share and first-read share easily led the team. The last time these two teams met, Washington had a 25% target share, 145 receiving yards, two red zone targets, a 23.8% first-read share, 26.5 PPR points, and a WR3 finish for the week. I expect Trevor Lawrence to lean on Washington again this week in this matchup, with Patrick Surtain likely shadowing Brian Thomas Jr. It won't be an easy matchup, though. Last year, Denver allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per target and the eighth-fewest yards per target to slot receivers.

Jakobi Meyers had a quiet Week 1 as Jacksonville crushed the Browns. Meyers had only an 8.7% target share, 40 receiving yards (2.50 YPRR), one end zone target (one score), and a 5.6% first-read share. Meyers was the WR28 in fantasy for Week 1. Last year, in this matchup, Meyers had a 19.4% target share, 45 receiving yards (1.15 YPRR), two red zone targets, one deep target, and a 23.8% first-read share. Meyers got more work with Brian Thomas Jr. seeing Patrick Surtain all game. I expect that to be the case again in Week 2. I don't know how successful Meyers will be, though. Last year, Denver allowed the second-fewest yards per target and the fewest fantasy points per target to perimeter wide receivers.

Brian Thomas Jr. is dealing with a shoulder injury. He practiced in a limited fashion all week and doesn't carry an injury designation into this game. He opened the week with a limited practice session on Wednesday. Last week, he had only a 50% route share, 13% target share, 40 receiving yards (3.33 YPRR), and a 16.7% first-read share. Even if he was fully healthy, I wouldn't want to play him this week. Last year, when Denver and Jacksonville tangled, Thomas Jr. was shadowed by Patrick Surtain, and I expect that to be the case again this week. Last year, Surtain followed Thomas Jr. on 78.8% of his routes, limiting him to one target, one reception, and nine receiving yards. Sit Thomas Jr. this week. He'll likely get blanketed again by Surtain this week.