📝 Week 2 Key Takeaways

If you want a slightly abbreviated version that also includes embedded tweets to additional data and insights, check out this Twitter thread.

CLE - Browns might be a true pass funnel team as they’ve held opposing RBs to just 73 yards on 35 carries (2.1 ypc). Quinshon Judkins got the start and is looking to claim the lead RB spot, though how much of the backfield he’ll work up to is yet to be seen. Tillman and Jeudy will continue to be solid plays so long as Flacco remains QB. Njoku outsnapped Fannin but they continue to play mostly different roles in the offense.

BAL - Mark Andrews only has 2 receptions on 4 targets in the first two games, despite the Ravens putting up 81 points and Isaiah Likely missing both games. I’m calling it two strikes and one more, you’re free to consider dropping Andrews if you have better options. Zay Flowers followed up his 47% target share in week 1 with 39% in week 2. Resist the urge to pick up Deandre Hopkins as he only played 10 snaps today.

JAX - Just one game after trading Tank Bigsby, Bhayshul Tuten looks to have earned a role as back-up + change of pace back. He is likely one of the most valuable handcuffs in fantasy, with a chance at eventually winning the job straight up. WR breakdown looked similar to week 1, with Travis Hunter playing more defense this week.

CIN - Joe Burrow left the game in the 2nd quarter with a Grade 3 turf toe injury, expected to miss 3 months. While it hurts the offense, Jake Browning has shown to be a competent back-up. You can still feel solid about starting Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown.

NYG - Cam Skattebo is at worst in a timeshare, and at best the Giants’ new lead back after playing more snaps and dominating carries. Wan’Dale Robinson breaks out going 8/142/1 as he gets more downfield looks than previous years. Malik Nabers is a bonafide stud.

DAL - Week 2 looked very similar to Week 1 from a snaps and usage standpoint. Offense had 89 plays so be careful looking at raw numbers for this game.

CHI - Prior to the Bears being blown out and giving RB Kyle Monangai the final 11 snaps, D’Andre Swift outsnapped him 39-17. Swift still the lead back but Monangai has carved a short yardage and third down role. Rookies Luther Burden and Colston Loveland remain clear back-ups at this point and merely fantasy bench stashes.

DET - The Gibbs/Montgomery split mirrored Week 1, with Gibbs getting around 55% of the snaps. Rookie Isaac TeSlaa ate into Kalif Raymond’s WR3 snaps, expecting his snaps to continue to rise.

NE - Rhamondre Stevenson leads a three-headed backfield. TreVeyon Henderson isn’t doing himself any favors by being responsible for three holding calls in his 19 snaps. Boutte led the WRs in snaps (72%) but only got one target. Going to be difficult to really trust anyone in this offense.

MIA - De’Von Achane has one of the most valuable roles in fantasy, hitting a career high 93% snap rate and earning 10 targets. The offensive line continues to give the team struggles and limiting the number of downfield attempts.

SF - Jauan Jennings returns from injury and immediately leads the team in targets. Aligning with beat reports, I believe Jennings will be the team’s WR1 (at least until Brandon Aiyuk returns). Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell split the TE work with George Kittle out but neither are worth picking up in fantasy.

NO - Chris Olave played 100% of the snaps while Rashid Shaheed only played 70% (Devaughn Vele took them). After having a minimal role in the Week 1 passing game, Kamara was second in targets in Week 2. Juwan Johnson continued his elite TE role playing 96% of the snaps and finished with a 5/49/1 stat line.

BUF - Classic Bills game with no WR playing more than 51% of the offensive snaps and no RB playing more than 47% of the snaps. Anyone on the team can explode at any point (e.g., James Cook running for 132 yards and 2 TDs this week) but also will have plenty of frustrating weeks as the scoring is spread out.

NYJ - Breece Hall’s strong Week 1 earns him lead role in Week 2, playing 64% of the snaps and running a route on nearly half of his QB’s dropbacks. Justin Fields left the game with a concussion, could put next week’s start at risk.

SEA - The box score and snap shares tell two very different stories. Kenneth Walker ran for 105 yards and TD while Zach Charbonnet ran for 10 yards. However, Charbonnet had more snaps (36 to 23), carries (15 to 13), and routes run (12 to 6). That’s two weeks of Charbonnet leading in snaps and usage but we’ll see if Walker’s strong performance changes that next week.

PIT - Jaylen Warren takes a more traditional lead RB role, with Gainwell playing the complementary change-of-pace role. With Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith splitting the TE work, no pass catcher outside of DK Metcalf is worth starting in most leagues.

LAR - Kyren Williams played 70% of the snaps today, and HC Sean McVay said the split between Kyren and Blake Corum was “much more in alignment” with how he wants the backfield to look. Davante Adams barely outsnapped Puka Nacua, which is only noteworthy to say these are both high end WR plays each week.

TEN - Cam Ward looks like your typical 1st overall rookie QB: flashes of brilliance with too many drive-killing mistakes. If he can quickly improve, Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley, and rookie Elic Ayomanor can all make substantial fantasy impacts. But until then, it may be a bit rocky. Tyler Lockett can be dropped if you need the roster spot.

CAR - Through the preseason and Week 1, Rico Dowdle was the 3rd down back. In Week 2, Chuba Hubbard took that role. If he can keep it, that’ll be a major boost to his fantasy value. They have a tough Week 3 against a difficult ATL defense but after that, if he keeps this third down role, he’d be one of my top trade targets. Hunter Renfrow ran the same number of routes and had the same number of targets as Tetairoa McMillan. That could be a valuable role until Jalen Coker returns.

ARI - Trey Benson’s role expands as he earns two-minute drill to along with third down role. Cardinals played from ahead all game so fair to discount the relatively low passing numbers. Trey McBride continues to be Kyler’s #1 option.

DEN - JK Dobbins remains the lead back but this backfield will be a nightmare if they continue giving Tyler Badie 22% of the snaps. Evan Engram only played 42% of the snaps with Adam Trautman playing 63%. Engram wasn’t on the injury report but did suffer a calf injury in Week 1 so we’ll see if this usage and that injury are at all connected. Troy Franklin breaks out playing the most WR snaps (83%) and having a 32% target share.

IND - Jonathan Taylor continued his elite usage (93% of offensive snaps). Daniel Jones is now QB2 on the year. Josh Downs led the team in targets despite predominantly only playing in 3-WR sets. Tyler Warren continued his dominant role and can be as strong a TE as this offense allows.

PHI - Jalen Hurts only had 21 dropbacks which limited the pass catchers. He also only has 2 completions this year of 10+ air yards. AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith combined for 67% of the targets but will continue to be capped by the overall passing volume of the offense.

KC - Chiefs don’t look the same without Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. Hollywood Brown still the best option but hard to trust any WR. Same thing with RB as the work is split between Isaiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. Travis Kelce led the team in targets and remains the only trustworthy option for fantasy.

ATL - Their strong defense + strong rushing game is limiting the passing game as Michael Penix only had to throw 21 times for 135 yards. Bijan Robinson drafters are happy with his performance after two weeks but we’ll have to wait for more shootouts to see the true potential of this passing game.

MIN - JJ McCarthy’s first half struggles in Week 1 carried over to Week 2 as he couldn’t handle ATL’s repeated blitzes. It’s only his 2nd NFL game but expectations should lessen for everyone in this offense until we have more confidence in McCarthy. Aaron Jones left the game with a hamstring injury. If he can’t play next week, Jordan Mason becomes a must start vs CIN.

If you want more detailed information on each game, I highly recommend Nathan Jahnke’s weekly article.

⚕️ Injury Corner w/ Deepak Chona

CIN Joe Burrow - Grade 3 turf toe injury, expected to be sidelined at least 3 months

WAS Jayden Daniels - Video suggests PCL. Promising that he finished the game. Suspect he logs some LPs this wk but plays w/brace. Project dip in rushing attempts + production

NYJ Justin Fields - Concussion. Avg ~7 days. Data slightly favors playing Wk 3 but TBD

SF Brock Purdy - Reports suggest possible to play Wk 3, but data heavily favors sitting. Lean toward Wk 4-5 attempted return, w/Wk 5 most likely

KC Xavier Worthy - Trending toward playing Wk 3. Suspect low degree of internal damage based on rapid return. Data favors strong production when active + very high re-injury risk

GB Jayden Reed - Clavicle fracture. Reported 6-8 wks. 6-7 = most common. Likely 1st 2 wks of Nov return. Data supports rapid ramp up + low re-injury risk

HOU Christian Kirk - Hamstring. Ruled out. If LP by Wed, data will favor playing. +Re-injury risk upon return, higher if rushed

LV Brock Bowers - Reports suggest likely playing. Data favors dip in target volume

BAL Isaiah Likely - Lean toward playing Wk 3. Data suggests 4 game ramp up in stats

MIN Aaron Jones - Left game with hamstring injury, was questionable to return

Deepak Chona is an Orthopedic Sports Surgeon by day, data-driven injury analyst by night. You can follow more of his insights at @SportMDAnalysis.

📊 Poll of the Day

Last Friday’s poll: Which matchup are you most excited to use players in for fantasy?

Got feedback? Reply to this email and we promise we’ll read it.

Interested in advertising with us? Email [email protected].

Forwarded this email? Join our mailing list.