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FFL: Week 1 | NFL: Week 1

TE Strength of Schedule

Tue Jun 11 11:11am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Bowers could have big year one


Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the tight end position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to tight ends last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the tight ends with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the tight ends that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.

  TE SOS  
1. Cincinnati Bengals 186.39
2. Miami Dolphins 193.98
3. Philadelphia Eagles 196.38
4. Washington Commanders 197.75
5. Houston Texans 198.15
6. Pittsburgh Steelers 199.18
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 199.68
8. New York Giants 201
9. Dallas Cowboys 201.18
10. Los Angeles Rams 201.38
11. Buffalo Bills 201.39
12. Chicago Bears 201.66
13. Arizona Cardinals 201.76
14. New York Jets 202.56
15. Jacksonville Jaguars 202.86
16. Baltimore Ravens 203.04
17. Denver Broncos 203.95
18. Los Angeles Chargers 204.02
19. Atlanta Falcons 204.25
20. Cleveland Browns 204.59
21. New Orleans Saints 205.62
22. Seattle Seahawks 205.73
23. San Francisco 49ers 206.80
24. Indianapolis Colts 206.89
25. Detroit Lions 207.92
26. New England Patriots 208.23
27. Kansas City Chiefs 210.92
28. Tennessee Titans 211.44
29. Green Bay Packers 212.07
30. Minnesota Vikings 212.23
31. Carolina Panthers 213.66
32. Las Vegas Raiders 213.81


A rookie led fantasy tight ends in scoring last year and the top rated rookie tight end this year gets the easiest fantasy schedule for tight end. Brock Browers and the Raiders have the most favorable schedule for tight ends. Sam LaPorta showed last year that a rookie can make an immediate fantasy impact, so don’t discount Browers to have big-time success in year one. He certainly looks the part of an elite tight end.

Another rookie with a good chance to start has the second easiest schedule for tight ends. Panthers tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders will compete with Tommy Tremble to start, but should emerge and be the top pass-catching tight end. He is looking like a good late-round gamble for fantasy teams.

The Vikings, Packers and Titans round out the top-five most favorable schedules for tight ends. T.J. Hockenson would be looking like a great pick if he wasn’t returning from a major injury. He is no sure thing to play early in the year. But once he is healthy, he could help fantasy teams in a big way once again.

Green Bay is likely to have Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft split a lot of the work at tight end, hurting both their value. They could produce some big games along the way, though, making them decent No. 2 fantasy tight ends this season. Both produced well in an expanded role last year.

Lastly, Chin Okonkwo didn’t quite have the breakout season many hoped last year, but he wasn’t bad by any means. Maybe he gets a few more chances this year and has some bigger games along the way with this favorable schedule. He is another decent tight end to grab as your backup.

The teams that top the list for toughest fantasy tight end schedules are teams that haven’t really utilized the tight end much in recent seasons. The Bengals have the toughest schedule followed bye the Dolphins. Mike Gesicki is the starter for the Bengals, but probably isn’t worth the risk with this schedule and the Bengals recent track record with tight ends.

Miami uses their tight ends to block more than anything in their offense. They have the occasional big game, but Jonnu Smith is going to be a risky weekly fantasy play. He would have looked much better landing with a different team.

There are a couple big-time fantasy tight ends that have unfavorable schedules. Dallas Goedert has the third toughest schedule. Goedert can be a little hit or miss to begin with in this offense, so this schedule gives him a little more concern. You might want to pass on him come draft day and go with another elite tight end with a better schedule and more consistency.

Dalton Schultz is the other elite tight end with a top-five unfavorable schedule. Schultz had a big first season with the Texans, becoming a favorite target of C.J. Stroud. He should get the targets this year. But he has a challenging schedule and more to compete with for targets, so his consistency might be a little off this year compared to last. 

We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy tight ends. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the tight ends with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big-money contests.

  TE PLAYOFF SOS  
1. Atlanta Falcons 175
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 182.37
3. Philadelphia Eagles 184.73
4. Arizona Cardinals 187.67
5. Jacksonville Jaguars 187.77
6. New England Patriots 189.83
7. Miami Dolphins 190.37
8. New Orleans Saints 191.3
9. Los Angeles Rams 192.17
10. Pittsburgh Steelers 192.43
11. Cincinnati Bengals 196.1
12. Detroit Lions 196.12
13. Houston Texans 196.2
14. Indianapolis Colts 198.97
15. Buffalo Bills 199.63
16. Kansas City Chiefs 203.03
17. New York Jets 204.13
18. Carolina Panthers 205.7
19. Baltimore Ravens 205.9
20. Green Bay Packers 207.7
21. Chicago Bears 213.73
22. New York Giants 214.27
23. Seattle Seahawks 214.72
24. Cleveland Browns 214.97
25. Dallas Cowboys 215.8
26. Las Vegas Raiders 219.4
27. Washington Commanders 220.13
28. Denver Broncos 220.8
29. Minnesota Vikings 221.72
30. Tennessee Titans 223.73
31. San Francisco 49ers 225.53
32. Los Angeles Chargers 228.53


The Titans and Vikings are the only two teams with the most favorable fantasy schedule for tight ends during the regular season and playoffs. Hockenson is the intriguing one because he might not be fully healthy until late in the season. So while he might not be a huge fantasy factor for the regular season, Hockenson might be a difference maker in the playoffs.

Okonkwo is looking like a player worth grabbing as a No. 2 fantasy tight end, especially if you have an established starter ahead of him. Okonkwo has a high fantasy ceiling for the coming year because of a schedule that could facilitate a breakout season for him.

The Chargers actually have the best fantasy playoff schedule for tight ends. Donald Parham is the likely starter and has some potential in an offense looking for playmakers in the passing game. This could be his best season to date, making him an intriguing late-round gamble.

George Kittle is the biggest name on the list for top-five favorable fantasy tight end playoff schedules. He is going to produce big and could be even better down the stretch with a schedule setup for success.

The Falcons have the most challenging playoff schedule for fantasy tight ends. This is not good news for Kyle Pitts. He is already a polarizing fantasy player, so this schedule won’t do him any favors to get in good graces with more fantasy owners. Many think he could finally turn things around this year with a new coaching staff in place, but nothing is certain with this situation. Pitts could be a boom or bust pick once again.

The Eagles are the only team on both the top five most difficult fantasy schedules for tight ends for the regular season and playoffs. Goedert is looking like a player you might want to let someone else grab come draft day. There are a lot of good, young options at tight end this year. Going with one of those guys over Goedert might be the play on draft day.

Trey McBride is a favorite for many fantasy owners this year for a breakout season. He had a huge finish to last year and is shooting up draft boards. We wouldn’t avoid him come draft day because he has the fourth toughest fantasy playoff schedule. It is a little bit of a concern, but not a huge red flag for the talented tight end. Maybe just prepare for his numbers to dip a tad during the playoffs.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Starts/Sits: Week 1

Player Notes
Kadarius Toney Sep 9 6:40pm ET
Kadarius Toney

Former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney signed with the Cleveland Browns on Monday, according to sources. Toney also visited with the Seattle Seahawks and had visits with other teams lined up, but he'll head to Cleveland for now as the Browns look to add another playmaker. The 25-year-old former first-round pick by the New York Giants will start with the Browns' practice squad as he tries to work his way up to the active 53-man roster. Toney has always had elite playmaking ability because of his quickness, but he has not lived up to his draft pedigree, mainly because of nagging lower-body injuries. For the time being, Toney is just a player to watch in most fantasy leagues as he adds depth to Cleveland's receiving corps behind Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman. Only in the deepest of fantasy leagues with large benches should fantasy managers add Toney off the wire.

From RotoBaller

Devon Achane Sep 9 6:40pm ET
Devon Achane

Miami Dolphins running backs De'Von Achane (ankle) and Raheem Mostert (chest) were both listed as not practicing on the estimation of Monday's practice report. Heading into a short week, the Dolphins are likely just being cautious with their top two backs. However, if either of them remain DNPs on Tuesday, fantasy managers may want to start getting worried for Thursday's contest against the division-rival Buffalo Bills. If one or both of Achane and Mostert cannot play this week, it would thrust Jeff Wilson Jr. and Jaylen Wright into much bigger backfield roles. Wright was a healthy scratch in the Week 1 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Achane had only 24 yards on 10 carries but found the end zone and added seven catches for 76 yards in Week 1. He will continue to split touches with Mostert, but Achane is the better upside RB play in fantasy on a weekly basis.

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Deshaun Watson Sep 9 6:30pm ET
Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was sued on Monday in Houston for sexual assault and battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The accusations are very similar to those that were made against Watson in more than 20 lawsuits filed back in 2021, and the plaintiff is represented by Tony Buzbee, who represented many others who sued Watson in 2021. It's possible that Watson could be subject to further scrutiny under the league's personal-conduct policy, and it's also possible that a suspension could give the Browns a path toward voiding his remaining salary guarantees and ending the relationship. The biggest difference between this new case and the others is that Watson is specifically accused of sexual assault. After a terrible Week 1 performance against the Cowboys on Sunday, now Watson has yet another legal issue hanging over his head.

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Jordan Love Sep 9 6:20pm ET
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (knee) is not going on Injured Reserve, according to head coach Matt LaFleur. Love would have been required to miss at least four games if he had been placed on the IR after suffering an MCL sprain at the end of the Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil last Friday. Until Love is able to return -- he's projected for a three- to six-week timetable -- backup Malik Willis will take over starting duties under center in Green Bay, beginning with a Week 2 tilt against the Indianapolis Colts at Lambeau Field. Fantasy managers can only keep Love in an IR spot and hope for a speedy recovery. The Packers are fully expected to take a cautious approach to their franchise signal-caller's injury. With Love out, the entire Packers offense will have less upside in fantasy, mainly receivers Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed.

From RotoBaller

Malik Willis Sep 9 6:20pm ET
Malik Willis

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said on Monday that quarterback Malik Willis will be the team's starter until Jordan Love (knee) is able to return from his MCL sprain, which could take anywhere from three to six weeks. The Packers aren't putting Love on Injured Reserve, which would have required at least a four-game absence, but they are expected to play it safe with the franchise signal-caller's recovery. "If Jordan is not cleared, then we'll start Malik, and Sean will be the backup," LaFleur said. Willis, 25, appears in line to start in Week 2 at Lambeau Field against the Indianapolis Colts, where he'll be a desperation QB2 play in superflex leagues. The Titans former third-round pick will most likely be asked to manage the game for Green Bay's offense, lowering the fantasy ceiling of all of his wideouts, while the Packers could opt to lean on their ground game.

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Tee Higgins Sep 9 6:10pm ET
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) injured his hamstring in practice last Thursday and didn't suit up in the season-opening upset loss to the visiting New England Patriots on Sunday. We'll have a better idea of Higgins' status for the upcoming Week 2 showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs, but ESPN's Adam Schefter said on the Pat McAfee Show on Monday that he would be surprised if Higgins plays against the Chiefs. The Bengals offense looked dead in the water on Sunday against the Pats and with lead wideout Ja'Marr Chase being eased back in after holding in all summer during training camp during a contract dispute with the team. Chase led the team with six catches for 62 yards, with Andrei Iosivas serving as the WR2 with only three catches for 26 yards. If Higgins misses another game, expect Iosivas and tight end Mike Gesicki, who nearly had a TD in Week 1, to benefit the most.

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Puka Nacua Sep 9 5:50pm ET
Puka Nacua

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) is heading to the injured reserve after injuring his knee during Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions. He appeared to re-aggravate the bursa sac injury in his right knee, which he picked up in early August at training camp. The 23-year-old had a stellar rookie season, breaking the rookie receiving yards record, but will now miss at least four games. This is a massive blow to the Ram's offense, as Nacua won't be eligible to return until Week 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Cooper Kupp managers can expect him to see a huge target volume after seeing 21 targets in Week 1 with Nacua out most of the game. At the same time, Demarcus Robinson should see an uptick in targets as the Rams' No. 2 wide receiver with Nacua sidelined. Robinson is worth adding in most formats for managers looking for a replacement for Nacua.

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Josh Allen Sep 9 4:40pm ET
Josh Allen

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday that quarterback Josh Allen (hand) has been cleared to practice this week and will play on Thursday Night Football in Week 2 against the division-rival Miami Dolphins. On his second rushing touchdown of the Week 1 win over the visiting Arizona Cardinals, Allen injured his left (non-throwing) hand after leaping a defender to cross the goal line. However, the 28-year-old dual-threat signal-caller said after Sunday's game that he thought he was "fine," although he was expected to undergo cautionary X-rays. Apparently the X-rays didn't show anything concerning and Allen will be good to go this week. In the Week 1 comeback win, it wasn't all pretty for Allen, but in the end he threw for two touchdowns and scored two with his legs. With Allen being good to go for Week 2, keep him locked in fantasy lineups as an elite QB1.

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Puka Nacua Sep 9 4:20pm ET
Puka Nacua

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) aggravated the right-knee injury he dealt with during training camp in the summer in the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday night at Ford Field in the overtime loss to the Detroit Lions. While Nacua is still going through additional testing on Monday after leaving Sunday's game early, he is expected to be considered week-to-week, according to sources. It's unclear exactly when the Rams and fantasy managers might get the 23-year-old second-year wideout back, but nobody should be expecting him to play in Week 2 against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. Nacua was dealing with a bursa-sac injury in his knee back in camp. With Nacua leaving on Sunday, Cooper Kupp caught a league-high 14 passes on 21 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown, so his value will rise for however long Nacua is out. Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson figure to see bigger roles as well.

From RotoBaller

Tyrique Stevenson Sep 9 4:10pm ET
Tyrique Stevenson

On Sunday, the Chicago Bears' defense and special teams played a crucial role in securing a victory over the Tennessee Titans. With the Bears trailing 17-3 and struggling offensively, the special teams unit turned the tide by blocking a Titans punt and returning it for a touchdown, reigniting the Bears' chances. In the fourth quarter, the defense stepped up when Tyrique Stevenson intercepted a pass from Will Levis and returned it for a touchdown, giving the Bears their first lead of the game. To clinch the win, star cornerback Jaylon Johnson added another interception late in the game. The Bears' defense and special teams made a strong impression in their season opener, but fantasy managers should temper expectations for the upcoming week as the team faces a high-powered Houston Texans offense.

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Rome Odunze Sep 9 3:50pm ET
Rome Odunze

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze had a disappointing debut on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, catching only one pass for 11 yards on four targets. His lone reception came on an unusual play where the ball, initially intended for DJ Moore, was deflected into the air and snagged by Odunze. He fumbled after the catch, but fortunately, an offensive lineman recovered the ball. Adding to his woes, Odunze left the field with a knee injury sustained during the Bears' final drive with 4:22 left in the game. He appeared to be rolled up on while blocking for a screen pass to Velus Jones Jr., and though he stayed in for one more play, he walked gingerly to the sideline afterward. If Odunze is sidelined for an extended period, the Bears must rely on DeAndre Carter and Tyler Scott to step up. Odunze is scheduled for an MRI on Monday, and the team hopes for positive news. With the Bears set to face the Houston Texans next Sunday night, they will need all available offensive talent.

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Keenan Allen Sep 9 3:30pm ET
Keenan Allen

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) had a subdued performance against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, finishing with just 29 yards on four receptions despite being targeted a team-high 11 times. Allen missed a couple of key opportunities that could have turned his game around. In the first quarter, he was open down the sideline after a well-executed move, but quarterback Caleb Williams overthrew himan opportunity that could have resulted in a significant gain or even a touchdown. Later, Allen was targeted in the end zone for a potential touchdown, but he dropped a pass he typically would have caught. While the new offense may need some time to develop fully, seeing how frequently Williams looked to Allen is encouraging. Additionally, Allen entered the game with a heel injury and appeared to limp late in the match. Hopefully, he will recover for next Sunday night's game against the Houston Texans.

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Anthony Richardson Sep 9 3:20pm ET
Anthony Richardson

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that there is no issue with quarterback Anthony Richardson's right hand after he hit it on an opponent's helmet late in Sunday's Week 1 loss to the division-rival Houston Texans. It wasn't the best performance for Richardson to open the season, as he continued to display a concerning lack of accuracy on open receivers, but fantasy managers aren't complaining after he produced three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in the 29-27 loss. The 22-year-old went just 9-for-19 passing for 212 yards, two touchdowns and a pick while adding 56 rushing yards on six carries and a third TD. You'll have to continue to take the good with the bad with Richardson after he played in just four games in his rookie season in 2023 due to a shoulder injury, but his upside is through the roof and it gives him high-end QB1 upside each week.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Addison Sep 9 3:00pm ET
Jordan Addison

The Minnesota Vikings are being cautious with wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) after he left the team's 28-6 victory over the New York Giants in the third quarter. Before his departure, Addison hauled in 3-of-4 targets for 35 yards on a day where the Vikings did what they wanted against a hapless Giants squad. When asked about his young wideout, head coach Kevin O'Connell said, "He's got pretty significant soreness We'll just see. Still hopeful he'll have a chance this week, but we'll be smart with him." It's not exactly an encouraging endorsement for the 22-year-old, though it is good news that it is not the same ankle he injured previously. Minnesota will square up for an early-slate tilt in their home opener against the San Francisco 49ers in a tough matchup this coming Sunday. It would benefit Sam Darnold to have all of his weapons, but Addison is unknown for now.

From RotoBaller

D.J. Moore Sep 9 2:50pm ET
D.J. Moore

Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore had a busy but ultimately unremarkable game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. He led the team with 36 receiving yards on five catches and added a 14-yard rush. Moore's day seemed at risk after he made two receptions for 12 yards and then took a hard fall out of bounds, prompting him to remove his helmet and struggle to get up. Fortunately, the injury was not severe; Moore walked off on his own and returned to the game shortly after that. Given the challenging matchup against cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, it was anticipated that Moore might have a subpar performance. However, he is expected to bounce back and perform better in the upcoming game against the high-scoring Houston Texans next week.

From RotoBaller

Jack Jones Sep 9 2:50pm ET
Jack Jones

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer and Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones are not expected to be suspended, as per Tom Pelissero. Palmer and Jones began brawling after a failed LA 2-point conversion with under four minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Both players were ejected and could still potentially be fined by the league, but they seem to have avoided missing time. The Raiders' DB was unavailable to the media after the game, but Palmer was and had a few interesting things to say. "They came and started throwing punches, but we're not going to be punching bags," said the fourth-year wideout. "So we had to defend ourselves." The 24-year-old racked up just four targets in the Chargers' 22-10 win as Jim Harbaugh deployed a run-centric scheme, culminating in LA rushing one more time (27) than they threw it (26). They'll take on the Panthers in Carolina this Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson Sep 9 2:30pm ET
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (undisclosed) was not seen at Monday's practice, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Well, this is mildly alarming. Jackson most recently produced a staggering 395 total yards with one touchdown and one interception in Baltimore's Thursday night 27-20 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs. He also lost one fumble. There is no reason for Jackson's absence at practice, as the Ravens' first injury report of the week is released on Wednesday. However, we'll be able to learn more about this matter over the next few hours, with head coach John Harbaugh scheduled to speak with the media after practice. Baltimore will square off against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders in their home opener this Sunday. Josh Johnson is the only other QB on the Ravens' roster at this time.

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D'Andre Swift Sep 9 2:30pm ET
D'Andre Swift

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift had a lackluster performance against the Tennessee Titans as the offense struggled to gain any momentum. Trailing 17-0 early, the Bears' offense could not find its rhythm. Swift managed a standout 20-yard carry, the longest play for the Bears all game, but only accumulated 10 yards on his remaining nine carries. He did catch a pass for a two-point conversion, but surprisingly, he did not record any other receptions. On a positive note, Swift was the lead back, with no other running back on the roster getting more than two carries. Swift will look to rebound next week against the formidable Houston Texans defense, which limited Colts RB Jonathan Taylor to under 50 rushing yards in Week 1.

From RotoBaller

Sam LaPorta Sep 9 2:20pm ET
Sam LaPorta

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta had a mediocre night against the Los Angeles Rams. LaPorta caught four passes for 45 yards, with the longest reception being 18 yards, averaging 11.2 yards per reception. The Lions went with a very run-heavy offense on Sunday night, running the ball 31 times in their win. Jared Goff's favorite target through the air was his third-year receiver, Jameson Williams. LaPorta is still one of the most elite tight ends in the league, and fantasy managers should continue to start him without question going into Week 2.

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Jared Goff Sep 9 2:20pm ET
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed 18 of 28 passes for 217 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in Sunday's 26-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Goff went against one of the weaker defenses in the league, but that can be excused some, considering it was only Week 1. However, things will only get more brutal as they face a much better Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense in Week 2. Goff should still be considered a mid-level fantasy quarterback, making him a mid-range QB2 heading into Week 2 against the Bucs.

From RotoBaller