Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson ran for 41 yards on 10 carries in Sunday's loss to the Rams. Atlanta trailed for most of the game, which didn't help. But Patterson also watched rookie RB Tyler Allgeier match his carry total. Patterson added just 1 target among 13 routes. Allgeier, Avery Williams and Caleb Huntley combined to run 11 routes. We'd like to see more separation for Patterson in at least 1 of the 2 areas -- especially the passing game -- vs. the rest of the backfield. There's some sell potential here, with proximity still to his big Week 1 and/or if he has big games in matchups with Seattle and Cleveland the next 2 weeks.
Giants WR Sterling Shepard totaled only 34 yards on 6 catches in a Week 2 win over Carolina. He paced the team with 10 targets and now owns a ~25% target share through 2 games. The results weren’t great this week, but it’s impressive to see him playing full-time snaps after the 2021 Achilles tear. Recall that the veteran was only activated from the PUP list on August 24. While we might see him round into form in the coming weeks, it’s still tough to get excited about anyone alongside Daniel Jones.
Saints WR Michael Thomas checked in 2nd among Saints in targets in Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers, catching 6 of his 9 looks for 65 yards and the team's only TD. Thomas is looking like a weekly starter, drawing 23% of targets through 2 games. WR Jarvis Landry saw his targets dip vs. Week 1 but maintained his position among the top 3 in routes. TE Juwan Johnson checked in just behind the 3 wideouts in route rate, running a route on 68.8% of Jameis Winston drop backs. His 7 targets ranked 3rd on the team and produced a decent 4-40 receiving line.
Rookie WR Chris Olave led the Saints with 13 targets in Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers. He caught just 5 of them, though, tallying 80 yards. Olave notably spent a lot of time working downfield, though. According to Pro Football Focus, he sported a 26.1-yard average depth of target for the game. He became the 1st player to ever do so on 13+ targets in PFF's 17 years of charting data, and the 1st to do so on 10+ targets since Mike Wallace in 2013. Olave checked in close with Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry in playing time and routes once again. It won't be surprising if the targets continue to fluctuate among that top 3. Olave's tremendous ADOT, though, will make it easier for him to deliver above-average efficiency. QB Jameis Winston and the passing game might be in for better defensive matchups until a Week 10 visit to Pittsburgh.
Giants WR Kadarius Toney caught 2 of 3 targets for 0 yards in Week 2. Toney did have a 36-yard deep ball called back, but his usage remained underwhelming. The Florida product ran only 17 routes on 43 dropbacks from Daniel Jones. (And that was with Wan'Dale Robinson sidelined due to a knee injury.) Next up is a Monday night game vs. Dallas.
With a rib injury sidelining RB Alvin Kamara, RB Mark Ingram led the backfield in Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers. He carried 10 times for 60 yards and caught his only 2 targets for 3 more. Dwayne Washington (4-18 rushing) and Tony Jones Jr. (2-8 rushing, 2-12 receiving) factored in as well. Jones actually led the group in playing team, beating Ingram by 9 snaps and 14 routes. New Orleans couldn't get much of anything going in a game that saw the Saints score only 10 points. We'll see about Kamara's status for Week 3.
With Chris Godwin and Julio Jones inactive Sunday, the Buccaneers turned to WRs Scotty Miller (8), Russell Gage (6) and Breshad Perriman (5) as the top 3 in targets. Gage caught 5 balls for 28 yards, increasing his usage vs. Week 1. Miller and Perriman caught just 3 balls apiece, with Perriman's 28-yard TD the highlight among them. Mike Evans got ejected for fighting after a 3-61 receiving line on 4 targets, and the league has suspended him for 1 game. Barring a successful appeal, Tampa Bay might need to lean on the same pack in Week 3 against Green Bay. We'll see about Julio Jones' health as well.
Buccaneers RB Leonard Fournette handled 24 of the team's 26 RB carries in Sunday's win over the Saints. He managed just 65 yards (2.7 per rush) against a Saints D that didn't give Cordarrelle Patterson much trouble the week before. Fournette added 2 catches for 9 yards on 4 targets. Rachaad White took the other 2 handoffs, gaining 1 yards, and failed to catch either of his 2 targets.
Buccaneers QB Tom Brady didn't have a terrible outing in Sunday's loss to the Saints, but he also didn't particularly help your fantasy team. With Chris Godwin and Julio Jones out, Brady completed just 18 of his 34 passes for 190 yards (5.6 yards per attempt) and 1 TD. He found WR Breshad Perriman for the 28-yard score. Brady took just 1 sack and threw no INTs, but he did lose a fumble. We'll see if he gets any pass-catchers back for the Week 3 meeting with Green Bay. He's not likely to have Mike Evans, however, thanks to his suspension for fighting Sunday. Don't be surprised if Brady lands outside our top 12 for Week 3.
Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey posted 128 scoreless yards in a Week 2 loss to the Giants. As usual, CMC rarely left the field, ultimately seeing a 91% snap share ahead of D’Onta Foreman (5%) and Chuba Hubbard (3%). The backups combined for only 2 touches. Our biggest concerns going forward are a hot-and-cold Baker Mayfield and a Matt Rhule-led Panthers squad that ranks 28th in total offense. High touch volume still keeps CMC in the top-3 discussion.
Panthers WR D.J. Moore tallied 3 grabs for 43 yards and 1 score in a Week 1 loss to the Giants. Moore saw a less-than-thrilling 20.6% target share on a day that turned up only 29 Baker Mayfield passes. Fortunately, Moore scored on an end zone target that found him dusting the CB. Through 2 games, Moore’s oddly posted a pair of games with 6 targets, 3 catches and 43 yards. Moore needs Baker Mayfield — and Carolina’s pass blocking — to improve dramatically if he’s to have a chance at reaching his upside.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport hears that Cardinals RB James Conner's ankle injury is "not considered long-term or serious." Conner remained on the sideline for the OT win over the Raiders but never returned. We'll keep an eye on his practice participation this week. If Conner can't play vs. the Rams on Sunday, we'd likely see a fairly even backfield split between RBs Darrel Williams and Eno Benjamin.
Bucs WR Mike Evans has been suspended 1 game for his role in Sunday's fight with the Saints, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Evans is considered a repeat offender after getting ejected from a game and suspended for fighting back in 2017. We'll see if Evans appeals this ruling, but fantasy owners need to plan on being without him in Week 3 for now. We'll see if WRs Julio Jones (knee) and/or Chris Godwin (hamstring) can make it back for Sunday's game vs. the Packers. If not, the Bucs will be down to WRs Russell Gage, Breshad Perriman and Scotty Miller.
Jets WR Corey Davis hauled in a 66-yard TD late in Sunday’s win over the Browns. Holding a 6-point lead, the Cleveland secondary inexplicably allowed Davis to get wide open deep with 1:32 left to play. Davis had a 10-yard catch wiped out by holding, but otherwise, Sunday was largely an uneventful day outside of the long score. He managed only 2 catches and 4 targets, 4th most on the squad and a lowly 9% team share. He’ll likely forecast as a WR4 this week vs. Cincinnati.
Forced to play from behind in the 4th quarter, the Jets fed RB Breece Hall only 8 touches in Week 2. The rookie rushed 7 times for 50 yards, including a 23-yarder that showed off his plus vision, balance and burst. He was stuffed for a loss on the next play — a goal line chance — but later scored on a swing pass where the Browns defense failed to guard him. On the day, RB Michael Carter matched Hall in carries. Carter also topped the rookie 5-1 in targets, with Ty Johnson even mixing in for 3 targets. So until his usage improves, Hall will remain an RB3 for the foreseeable future. Next up is a home date with the Bengals.
Jets WR Garrett Wilson erupted for 8 catches, 102 yards and 2 scores against Cleveland. His 14 targets — yes, 14 — represented a 31.8% team share. Teammate Elijah Moore, meanwhile, mustered only 3 catches on 5 targets. Wilson’s effortless ability to create separation was on display all day, particularly on a 3rd-and goal pass where he was isolated out wide. Later, the rookie found a hole in the middle of Cleveland’s zone and snagged the game-winning score. Through 2 games, Wilson's posted 22-12-154-2 vs. 12-8-90-0 for Moore. We’ll see how this unit is shaken up by the eventual return of Zach Wilson, but for now, Joe Flacco is playing above expectation.
Browns WR Amari Cooper came alive for 9 catches, 101 yards and 1 score vs. the Jets. His 10 targets led the team and represented a huge 37% share. He also saw a whopping 68% of Cleveland’s air yards. His lone score came on a busted zone coverage in the end zone. Overall, it was nice to see a more accurate Jacoby Brissett utilizing Cooper in the short to intermediate ranges. The former Cowboy should be treated as a WR3 for now.
Browns RB Nick Chubb matched a career high with 3 rushing scores in a Week 2 loss to the Jets. He out-carried Kareem Hunt 17-13 in a game that saw Cleveland play most of its snaps with a lead. Chubb even had a 33-yarder called back by holding. As the cherry on top, the veteran added 3 catches, a total he never exceeded last season. Cleveland now has a quick turnaround with a Thursday night game vs. Pittsburgh.
Bucs WR Mike Evans' "actions are being reviewed for a possible suspension," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Evans got in a brawl during the Week 2 win over the Saints and is considered a repeat offender after getting ejected and suspended back in 2017. We'll keep you updated on this situation.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford threw for 272 yards and 3 TDs in Sunday's win over the Falcons. He also tossed a pair of INTs. Stafford's scores went to, of course, Cooper Kupp (twice) and Allen Robinson. He targeted Kupp (14) or Tyler Higbee (9) on 63.9% of his pass attempts.
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