Texans RB Dameon Pierce went from trailing Rex Burkhead in Week 1 opportunities to a big lead in Sunday's loss to the Broncos. The rookie handled all 15 of Houston's RB carries, gaining 69 yards (4.6 per rush). He added an 8-yard catch on his only target. Burkhead still beat Pierce 3-2 in targets, catching 2 for 9 yards. But Pierce ran just 4 fewer routes than Burkhead against Denver. That gap proved wider in Week 1, with Burkhead running a route on 60% of drop backs vs. just 12% for Pierce.
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton posted a 7-122 receiving line on 11 targets in Sunday's win over Houston. He accounted for 50% of Russell Wilson's total completions on a sluggish offensive day and claimed 35.5% of targets. Jerry Jeudy left early with a chest injury, but the team doesn't expect it to be serious. We'll see about Jeudy's Week 3 availability. No other Bronco exceeded 4 targets against the Texans.
Broncos RB Javonte Williams had a decent day in Sunday's win over the Texans, rushing for 75 yards on 15 carries (5.0 per attempt) and adding a catch for 10 yards among 4 targets. The better news for Williams -- amid a rough day for the Denver offense on whole -- was that his playing time stood further ahead of Melvin Gordon's in Week 2. Williams played 65% of snaps against Houston, compared with 32% for Gordon. They went 58-41 in the opener. Gordon also saw his route rate dip further from what was already a good-sized gap in Williams' favor. So the role has looked good for Williams drafters. Now we just need Denver's offense to stop being run moronically.
RB David Montgomery was the lone bright spot for Chicago in Week 2, rushing 15 times for 122 yards. The Bears trailed by double digits for most of this one, so fantasy owners should feel fortunate with the outcome. Montgomery ceded only 5 opportunities to Khalil Herbert (4 carries, 1 target) and looked at his best with 8 forced missed tackles (per Pro Football Focus). He’ll look to keep rolling at home against a Texans D that just limited Denver to 16 points.
Bears QB Justin Fields completed 7 of 11 attempts for 70 yards and 1 INT in Sunday’s loss at Green Bay. Laughable. The Bears ran only 41 plays, hurt by going a combined 1 for 8 on 3rd and 4th downs. There was simply nothing positive to take away from this one, outside of Fields scoring on a 3-yard run in the 1st quarter. Late in the game, he had a 6-yard rushing score wiped out following a review. He looked to get in on the next play, but the officials thought differently. He’ll look to rebound at home vs. a young Houston defense.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson completed just 14 of his 31 pass attempts for 219 yards in Sunday's win over the Texans. He threw a TD to TE Eric Saubert, but also an INT. Denver has scored just 33 points through 2 games, despite matchups with defenses that aren't likely to emerge as tough.
Jets DT Quinnen Williams left Sunday's win over the Browns with a foot injury. We'll see about the severity and his Week 3 status.
Packers RB Aaron Jones dominated the Bears in Week 2, rushing 15 times for 132 yards and 1 score. He chipped in with 3 catches for 38 yards and another score. AJ Dillon out-carried Jones by 3, but note that Dillon handled 3 consecutive carries on Green Bay’s final, clock-killing drive…when the Packers led by 17. Per Next Gen Stats, Jones posted 4.91 rushing yards over expected per attempt — best among all Week 2 rushers. It was a much-needed bounce-back after his Week 1 dud. The upcoming schedule (at Bucs, vs. Patriots) isn’t ideal, but you can start Jones with confidence.
Giants DL Leonard Williams suffered an MCL sprain in his right knee in Sunday's win over the Panthers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Williams reportedly "may miss time, but it's not expected to be much." It seems we should expect Williams to miss at least the Week 3 game, but we'll watch for updates.
49ers RB Ty Davis-Price suffered a high-ankle sprain in Sunday's win over the Seahawks, HC Kyle Shanahan said. That injury typically costs guys 4-6 weeks. Davis-Price handled 14 carries behind RB Jeff Wilson's 18 in Week 2. San Francisco is now down to RBs Jordan Mason and Marlon Mack behind Wilson. Mason has been active the first 2 weeks but has yet to play an offensive snap. Mack couldn't make Houston's final roster. Wilson has a good chance to control backfield work until RB Elijah Mitchell returns from his knee injury.
Colts HC Frank Reich said Monday that WR Michael Pittman has “made good progress” with his quad injury and is on track to return for Sunday's game vs. the Chiefs. We'll track his practice participation this week.
Titans WR Kyle Phillips (shoulder) is active for tonight's game vs. the Bills. The rookie got in just 2 limited practices this week but is healthy enough to suit up for this one.
Bills WR Gabriel Davis (ankle) is officially inactive for tonight's game vs. the Titans. Rookie WR Khalil Shakir is active and figures to pick up some of Davis' work. He's an intriguing DFS flier.
Bills WR Gabriel Davis (ankle) is not expected to play vs. the Titans tonight, "barring a surprise," according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "Team has held out hope but playing was considered an uphill battle since Saturday's injury," Fowler tweets. We'll see if Davis can make it back for this coming Sunday's game vs. the Dolphins. His absence figures to mean WR Khalil Shakir's debut, although the rookie is really only an option in DFS. Stefon Diggs, Isaiah McKenzie, Jamison and Dawson Knox are candidates for extra targets with Davis out.
ESPN's Todd Archer reports that Cowboys TE Dalton Schultz has a PCL "issue" in his right knee. "Unclear if Schultz could miss time at this point," Archer adds. Guess we'll see about the severity and Schultz's status for Week 3. Dallas "unofficially" lists rookie Jake Ferguson as Schultz's backup.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson delivered big numbers in Sunday's come-from-ahead loss to the Dolphins. He ran for 119 yards on 9 attempts, with most of that coming via his 79-yard TD dash in the 3rd quarter. Jackson also racked up 318 yards and 3 TDs through the air, finding TE Mark Andrews, WR Rashod Bateman and WR Demarcus Robinson for scores. Bateman (4-108) and Andrews (9-104) each delivered big lines, combining to claim 62% of Jackson's targets for the game.
After trailing teammate Chase Edmonds in playing time and opportunities in the opener, RB Raheem Mostert took the lead position in Sunday's win over the Ravens. He carried 11 times (for 51 yards, 4.6 per carry) to Edmonds' 5 and matched his 3 targets, catching then all for 28 yards. Edmonds contributed 33 yards on the ground (6.6 per rush) and caught 1 pass for 8 yards. The 2 saw nearly identical playing time, so expect the variable workloads to continue.
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa delivered a stat line Sunday that belongs in the old WAC college football conference: 36-of-50 passing, 469 yards, 6 TDs and 2 INTs. He hit WR Tyreek Hill for an 11-190-2 line on 13 targets and WR Jaylen Waddle for 11-171-2 on 19 looks. Tagovailoa also connected with TE Mike Gesicki and WR River Cracraft for TDs. Hill and Waddled combined for 64% of the QB's targets for the game. We obviously can't expect numbers this large on a regular basis -- or maybe ever again -- but it's nice to see ultimate ceiling from the Miami passer. And the lead duo at WR have combined for more than 50% of Dolphins targets in each game so far.
"It's certainly possible" that Cowboys WR Michael Gallup (knee) plays vs. the Giants next Monday night, EVP Stephen Jones said. Gallup took team reps in practice last week for the 1st time since last January's ACL tear and is clearly getting close to a return. Of course, he won't be a fantasy option out of the gate coming off a serious injury and with QB Cooper Rush under center. But Gallup is worth stashing as a potential asset over the 2nd half of the season.
Cowboys TE Dalton Schultz received good news from Monday's MRI on his right knee, according to insider Michael Gehlken. "Damage to right knee could have been more substantial, and he's expected to avoid a significant absence," Gehlken tweeted. It's good news, although it still sounds like Schultz could miss games. We'll monitor his status this week.
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