Lineup Prep: Week 2

Wed Sep 13 10:34am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Hopkins looked great in Week 1


Here is my advice for Week 1. You have to process the info, but don’t overreact. The best example I can make is my son’s fantasy league with his high school buddies. They all fly off the handle over a week of action, making crazy trades and drops. They are teenagers that are impulsive, though. Don’t be a teenager when it comes to managing your fantasy roster. You need to take it all in and make informed decisions going forward. A week doesn’t make a season. 

With that said, here are my random thoughts for the week. . . . .

I would worry if I’m a Garrett Wilson owner. He produced with a bad quarterback last season but you didn’t pay nearly the price you paid for him in drafts this year. He is going to have a hard time matching his draft capital price tag with Zach Wilson throwing him passes. So if you can get a good trade for him now, I say go for it.

I also need to mention you have to be heartbroken if you are a Jets fan. You finally get your elite quarterback and seem setup for a possible magical season, but that comes to a screeching halt just a few minutes into your season. It was a tough scene. You have to wonder if Aaron Rodgers returns from this one at his age. It will be interesting to watch this offseason. 

I wish I could have a better, more definitive answer with the Ravens running back situation. I really have no idea how that one is going to play out. I would suggest Gus Edwards out of all the options, but you never know with that running back room. Justice Hill is the best pass catcher and Melvin Gordon has the most experience. They will be in the mix. I actually think the best answer might be Kareem Hunt if he were to sign. I think he would be the best option out of the group. We’ll see.

Tyreek Hill sure looked great in Week 1. His talk of topping 2,000 yards doesn’t seem so far fetched after that performance. He could have a monster year if that first game is any indication. Hill looked as polished as ever and the Dolphins continue to do a great job of scheming plays for him. 

My biggest surprise of Week 1 was the Rams beating the Seahawks pretty handily. I thought they were going to be awful this year, but you can’t underestimate coach Sean McVay. He is a terrific head coach that had that team ready to play to open the season. I didn’t think the Rams offense was going to be any good, but McVay got that team rolling with a lot of unknown players. Maybe this team will have some fantasy value outside of Cooper Kupp.

The tight end position is off to a great start. Wow, what a disaster of a first week for that position. Hopefully, this is not a trend for the rest of the year, but you have to wonder if it will be based on last year. The position dropped off in a big hurry after the top five last year. There could be a repeat coming. Stay tuned. 

The Colts might need to scale back their designed runs for rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson. He took a beating that first game and is already banged up just a game into the season. It will be hard for him to stay upright if he has more games like Week 1. But with that said, he looked pretty good, especially throwing the ball, which was the concern for him. It was a good first start for the rookie. He topped 24 fantasy points and showed his huge weekly fantasy potential. 

Brock Purdy is so undervalued in the fantasy community. He is now up to seven straight games with multiple touchdowns. He is as consistent as it gets at the quarterback spot and I don’t see him slowing down in this offense. Purdy has some of the top playmakers to work with at every position and one of the best offensive lines in football blocking for him. He is setup for a big second season. 

News and Notes: Seattle signed offensive tackle Jason Peters on Tuesday. The veteran tackle could move into the starting lineup at some point because of injuries along the line for the Seahawks in Week 1. . . .The Jets confirmed that quarterback Zach Wilson will start moving forward after Aaron Rodgers suffered a torn left Achilles in Week 1. New York might bring in a veteran to back him up, but it looks like Wilson is the guy for now. . . . .The Panthers signed running back Tarik Cohen to their practice squad on Wednesday. He has been out of the league the last few seasons, but is healthy and looking to earn a roster spot. 

HOT PLAYS

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Titans. Hopkins had a very encouraging start to his season, piling up 13 targets. He caught seven passes for 65 yards and looked as good as ever. As long as he is healthy and playing, his weekly production should be solid in this offense. Expect another good game this week against the Chargers. The Chargers allowed the most fantasy points to receivers last week and a league-high 466-passing yards. 

Mike Evans, WR, Bucs. It was thought that Evans was slowing down and could be getting fewer looks with Chris Godwin around. Well, if Week 1 is any indication, his downfall was overblown. He led the Bucs in targets with 10 and caught six passes for 66 yards. It was a great start for the talented veteran receiver. He can keep it going this week against Chicago. The Bears allowed 245-passing yards last week and three passing touchdowns.

Jared Goff, QB, Lions. Goff led the Lions to a huge road win last week against the defending Super Bowl champs. His fantasy numbers were just alright, though, throwing for 253 yards and a touchdown. We expect a much better showing this week in his home opener against Seattle. The Seahawks allowed the third most passing yards last week (334) to a Rams offense that seemed to be lacking top options in the passing game. Goff can produce big against this unit. 

Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Patriots. Ezekiel Elliott did get some playing time last week for the Patriots, but Stevenson still payed 73 percent of the snaps and had 18 touches. He scored 14.9 fantasy points despite rushing for just 25 yards. Stevenson is the top back in this offense and will get a lot of weekly touches, especially in the passing game. Look for him to really get it going this week against Miami. The Dolphins allowed the most rushing yards in all of football last week and second most fantasy points. 

D.J. Moore, WR, Bears. Moore had a really disappointing start to his season after a lot of offseason hype. He caught just two passes for 25 yards on two targets. Expect the Bears to make it a point to get him the ball early and often this week, especially after his performance last week. Plus, he has a better matchup against the Bucs, a team that allowed the third most fantasy points to receivers. Don’t bench Moore because of last week. 

COLD PLAYS  

Najee Harris, RB, Steelers. Harris had a poor start to his season, rushing just six times for 31 yards. He scored just 5.3 fantasy points. He also split a lot of work with Jaylen Warren, playing 52 percent of the snaps compared to 40 percent for Warren. Things might not be much better for Harris this week against Cleveland. The Browns allowed the seventh fewest fantasy points to running backs last week and their entire defense looked great. If you have better options, you might want to go with them. 

Odell Beckham, WR, Ravens. Beckham didn’t do much in his Ravens debut, catching two passes for 37 yards on three targets. He was on the field a lot, but struggled to get open and rack up the targets. Beckham might be shaping up to be a matchup play this season. And a game this week against Cincinnati isn't a great one for him. The Bengals allowed the fifth fewest fantasy points to receivers last week.

Russell Wilson, QB, Broncos. Wilson looked a little better last week compared to last year, but still wasn’t great. He failed to throw for 200 yards and scored just 17 fantasy points. And this came against just a so-so Raiders defense at home. He is more of a platoon option for fantasy teams. A game this week against Washington isn’t a great one for Wilson. He gets a tough matchup against a relentless Commanders pass rush. Plus, Washington allowed the second fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks in Week 1.

Isiah Pachecho, RB, Chiefs. You never know what is going on with the Chiefs backs and last week proved that once again. Clyde Edwards-Helaire was the first back to get carries in the game. Pacheco did end up playing the most of the three backs, though. It was concerning to see Edwards-Helaire out there early. He might have a bigger role than most thought. Pacheco failed to reach double-digit fantasy points and had 12 touches for 54 yards. It might not be much better this week against Jacksonville. The Jaguars allowed the second fewest fantasy points to running backs and just 65-rushing yards.

Allen Lazard, WR, Jets. Lazard had just four targets in Week 1 and caught two passes for 46 yards. The loss of Aaron Rodgers is a huge blow to this entire offense and passing game, especially for Lazard. He had a good rapport with Rodgers, so you have to wonder about Lazard producing consistently with a new quarterback throwing him passes. The Jets are an offense to avoid this week against Dallas. The Cowboys might have the best offense in football and allowed the second fewest fantasy points to receivers in Week 1. 

SLEEPERS  

Curtis Samuel, WR, Commanders. Samuel gets lost in the shuffle sometimes but he remains a big part of this Commanders offense. Samuel played 65 percent of the snaps in Week 1. He topped double-digit fantasy points and had five receptions for 54 yard. He also ran once for six yards. He will get his weekly touches. Samuel gets a solid matchup this week against a Broncos secondary that could contain the top two receivers for the Commanders, but could struggle to stop Samuel out of the slot. The Broncos allowed the sixth most fantasy points to receivers last week.

Kayshon Boutte, WR, Patriots. Boutte did not get a catch his first NFL game but he was targeted four times in the game. And he played the second most snaps at receiver for the Patriots, ahead of JuJu Smith-Schuster. This bodes well for Boutte to produce going forward. We think good things could happen for him this week. Boutte plays a Dolphins defense that allowed the third most fantasy points to receivers. He could surprise in Week 2.

Jamaal Williams, RB, Saints. Williams dominated the work at running back last week, playing 75 percent of the snaps. He had 20 touches in the game. Expect more of the same from Williams in Week 2 against Carolina. The Panthers allowed the most fantasy points to running backs in Week 1. If he gets 20-plus touches this week, look for Williams to have a big game for fantasy teams. 

Noah Fant, TE, Seahawks. Fant did not have a single catch or target in Week 1. It was not a good start for Fant. But he did play the most snaps of any tight end for the Seahawks and is the best pass catcher at the position for the team. Fant can get it going this week against the Lions, a team that allowed the fourth most fantasy points to tight ends in Week 1.

C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans. The Texans seemed comfortable with turning over their offense to Stroud. He attempted 44 passes in his first NFL game. He did not score a touchdown but also didn’t throw an interception with all those pass attempts. He also did this on the road against a very good defense. Look for Stroud to score this week and produce better at home against the Colts. Indy truggled to stop the Jaguars passing attack last week, allowing the ninth most fantasy points to quarterbacks.

High/Low Scoring Games 

Each week we will take a look at some of the high and low scoring games for the coming week. In high scoring affairs, get your marginal players on those teams in your lineup to take advantage of the possible points barrage. And in the low scoring games, keep those marginal players on the bench and make sure to have your defenses involved in those contests.

High Scoring Games: Vikings/Eagles, Seahawks/Lions, Chiefs/Jaguars.

Low Scoring Games: Bears/Bucs, Colts/Texans, Packers/Falcons, Giants/Cardinals, Jets/Cowboys, Commanders/Broncos, Saints/Panthers, Browns/Steelers.

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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Under the Radar Plays: Week 4

Player Notes
Jalen Tolbert Oct 2 11:40am ET
Jalen Tolbert

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert had his best game of the young season in the 38-3 shellacking of the New England Patriots on Sunday in Week 4. Tolbert hauled in all four of his targets for 53 yards, which was third on the team in this one behind tight end Jake Ferguson and receiver Michael Gallup. Both the catches and receiving yards were career-highs for the 24-year-old Tolbert, and he also made a big special-teams tackle early in the game. Fantasy managers can continue to ignore Tolbert, even in deeper formats, as he's currently behind CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks and Gallup on the receiver depth chart in Dallas.

From RotoBaller

Chase Claypool Oct 2 11:30am ET
Chase Claypool

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus told ESPN1000 in Chicago that wide receiver Chase Claypool will remain away from the team this week as they prepare for their Week 5 matchup against the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football. The Bears made some changes to their offense heading into the Week 4 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, the biggest of which was making the struggling Claypool a healthy scratch. A report on Sunday also surfaced that the Bears are seeking to trade the 25-year-old wideout to a team that is in need of receiver depth. In the first three weeks this year, Claypool has just four catches for 51 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. His fantasy value has hit rock bottom at this point, but a change of scenery could do him some good.

From RotoBaller

Brandin Cooks Oct 2 11:30am ET
Brandin Cooks

It wasn't much, but Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks caught a season-high four passes on four targets for 27 receiving yards in the team's 38-3 blowout win over the New England Patriots in Week 4 on Sunday in Dallas. Cooks returned in Week 3 from a knee injury after missing one game and he has six receptions for 44 yards on 11 targets the last two weeks. The Cowboys really haven't had to throw the ball all that much early on this year, which has hurt Cooks in his first year with the team. That won't remain the a case all year, but the 30-year-old veteran wideout probably isn't going to have a very dynamic role in this offense unless CeeDee Lamb or Michael Gallup miss time with an injury.

From RotoBaller

Pat Freiermuth Oct 2 11:20am ET
Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (hamstring) is getting his injured hamstring scanned on Monday. It's not just a tweak, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac. We'll have to wait to see what the tests show on his hamstring, but at this point, he seems pretty questionable to play in Week 5 against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. Before leaving Sunday's loss to the Houston Texans, the 24-year-old had three catches on four targets for just seven yards. If you've been rolling with Freiermuth as your TE1, you'd be wise to start making backup plans for Week 5 now. If he's unable to play against Baltimore, Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward would both be in line for bigger pass-catching roles for the Steelers.

From RotoBaller

Demario Douglas Oct 2 11:20am ET
Demario Douglas

New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas hauled in two of three targets for 45 yards against the Cowboys in Week 4. The Patriots lost by a score of 38-3, falling to 1-3 on the season. Douglas seemed to impress the Patriots' coaching staff throughout training camp and the first four weeks of the regular season, with the exception of his Week 2 fumble. The Patriots have a somewhat deep but not very top-heavy receiving corps, creating the possibility for Douglas to earn more targets if he keeps playing well. Dynasty managers would be wise to stash the Liberty product.

From RotoBaller

Kendrick Bourne Oct 2 11:20am ET
Kendrick Bourne

New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne hauled in two of three targets for 36 yards in Week 4 versus the Cowboys. The Patriots lost by a score of 38-3, falling to 1-3 on the season. This was the Bourne's worst game of the season in terms of both statistics and fantasy production. The 28-year-old had a big Week 1, playing 91 percent of snaps and scoring two touchdowns, but has come back down to earth since then. Notably, he has yet to log more than 56 percent of snaps in a single game since the opener. He has lost playing time to DeVante Parker and Demario Douglas and isn't an appealing fantasy option for the time being.

From RotoBaller

Myles Garrett Oct 2 11:20am ET
Myles Garrett

Cleveland Browns All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett (ankle) rolled his ankle in the Week 4 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday and was seen in a walking boot after the game, but it doesn't seem to be a major injury. The Browns are heading into their bye in Week 5, and Garrett assured reporters on Sunday that he's not going to miss any time with his ankle injury. It's great timing for the 27-year-old, the Browns defense and fantasy managers that have Garrett rostered in IDP leagues, as he should be back and ready to rock in Week 6 at home against the San Francisco 49ers. Garrett is one of the best pass-rushers in football and has nine tackles (eight solo) and 5.5 sacks through the first four weeks of the 2023 season.

From RotoBaller

Trevor Siemian Oct 2 11:13am ET
Trevor Siemian

Dynasty | Embattled Jets quarterback Zach Wilson completed 28-of-39 passes for 245 yards and two interceptions in the Jets close loss on SNF to the Chiefs. Dynasty Analysis: The Jets decided to stop playing it safe with Wilson and just let him loose in prime time. The results were shocking as he made difficult throws throughout the night and genuinely looked like a player who should have been taken in the top five of an NFL Draft. This is a small sample size and Wilson still made a critical mistake on a late fumble but the talk of Trevor Siemian taking over will be extinguished for now. Wilson is still off the dynasty radar but he at least has a pulse.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Justin Herbert Oct 2 11:10am ET
Justin Herbert

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (finger) suffered a fractured finger on his left, non-throwing hand in the Week 4 win over the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, according to sources. Herbert's finger also suffered a gruesome nail injury, but he somehow finished the game and with the team's bye coming in Week 5, Herbert shouldn't miss any time. Once he returned to the game after having a split put on his fractured finger, he didn't take any snaps under center, except for a fourth-down sneak late in the game. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said he doesn't see this being a major issue for Herbert moving forward. The 25-year-old saved his fantasy day on Sunday with two rushing touchdowns, but he should remain a strong QB1 option coming off the bye for a Week 6 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, Oct. 16.

From RotoBaller

Rhamondre Stevenson Oct 2 11:10am ET
Rhamondre Stevenson

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for just 30 yards on 14 carries against the Cowboys on Sunday evening. He also hauled in two of three targets for an additional 10 yards through the air. The Patriots lost by a score of 38-3, falling to 1-3 on the season. Stevenson's relative struggles were the product of an ugly game that saw Mac Jones get benched in the second half. With that said, the Patriots face the Saints next week, which could be a bit more favorable. Stevenson should be treated as a low-end fantasy RB2.

From RotoBaller

George Pickens Oct 2 10:10am ET
George Pickens

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens caught just three of his seven targets for 25 yards in the team's 30-6 blowout loss to the Houston Texans. Still, outside of running backs, the second-year pro led the team in receiving yards. The entire Pittsburgh offense sputtered against a beatable Houston defense. They also lost quarterback Kenny Pickett (knee) and tight end Pat Freiermuth (hamstring) to injuries. It appears as though Mitch Trubisky could get the start against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5. The passing game can't get much worse, so Pickens will still be viewed as a flex option next week.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Warren Oct 2 10:00am ET
Jaylen Warren

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren received 14 opportunities out of the backfield in the team's 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans. The second-year pro turned eight carries and six catches into 55 total yards. Warren and Najee Harris nearly split the touches 50/50. The starter ran the ball 14 times and caught one pass on two targets. Both backs saw 49% of the snaps in the blowout loss. Warren and the Steelers face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5. An already struggling offense could have a new quarterback in Mitch Trubisky, who is likely to start in place of Kenny Pickett (knee).

From RotoBaller

Ezekiel Elliott Oct 2 9:50am ET
Ezekiel Elliott

New England Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott rushed just six times for 16 yards against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon. He added six receiving yards on two catches. The Patriots lost by a score of 38-3, falling to 1-3 on the season. Elliott was reportedly expected to handle the workload of an RB1 on Sunday, but that certainly did not happen. Not only did he and the offense struggle, but he was out-touched by Rhamondre Stevenson, 16 to eight. Elliott should not be started in fantasy football, and he can be dropped in leagues with 10 or fewer teams.

From RotoBaller

Najee Harris Oct 2 9:50am ET
Najee Harris

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris cobbled together a fantasy-relevant performance for the Steelers in their 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans. The third-year pro ran the ball 14 times for 71 yards and caught one pass for 32 yards. His 100-yard performance was his first of the young season, despite his lowest snap percentage of the campaign. Backup running back Jaylen Warren received 14 touches in the game. The Steelers scored just six points on the afternoon as the offense continued to sputter. Harris and the Steelers face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5, where quarterback Mitch Trubisky may start in place of Kenny Pickett (knee).

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Hunter Henry Oct 2 9:50am ET
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry remained the team's most involved pass-catcher on Sunday, hauling in four of five targets for 51 yards. The Patriots lost to the Cowboys by a score of 38-3, falling to 1-3 on the season. Henry has 17 catches, 176 yards, and two touchdowns so far, ranking as the overall TE6 in PPR leagues. As much as the Patriots' offense has endured sporadic struggles, Henry has remained a relatively constant force and should be started in most fantasy leagues going forward. The Patriots face the Saints in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Kenny Pickett Oct 2 9:20am ET
Kenny Pickett

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (knee) will miss some time but it appears he's avoided a season-ending injury. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports that an MRI showed no ACL injury to Pickett's knee. We'll have a better idea about Pickett's injury soon but expect Mitchell Trubisky to start in Week 5 against Baltimore. Following their tilt against the Ravens, the Steelers will have a bye week. Pickett hasn't been good for fantasy managers this season and isn't on rosters in standard-sized redraft leagues. The Steelers' offense has been a disaster so far in 2023 and a new quarterback may not solve the problem.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Oct 2 9:10am ET
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) may not miss any time with what is believed to be a minor hamstring injury. The 30-year-old departed the game against New Orleans in the second quarter after snagging three catches for 40 yards. The Buccaneers are on bye in Week 5 which gives Evans more time to heal. They'll face the Detroit Lions in Week 6. If he is still unable to play two weeks from now, Chris Godwin will play the role of No. 1 wide receiver. Trey Palmer and Deven Thompkins would also earn more snaps.

From RotoBaller

Adam Thielen Oct 2 5:00am ET
Adam Thielen

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen caught seven of his eight targets for 76 yards in a 21-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4. Thielen wound up leading all Panthers receivers in yardage while finishing second behind Terrace Marshall Jr. in targets and catches. Thielen has been productive since his Week 1 dud, going for 25 catches and two touchdowns over his past three games. Emerging as the top target in Carolina, Thielen has earned every week WR3 status in fantasy. He will look to stay hot against the Detroit Lions on the road in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Terrace Marshall Jr. Oct 2 4:50am ET
Terrace Marshall Jr.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. caught nine of his 11 targets for 56 yards in a 21-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4. Marshall saw an uptick in playing time with rookie Jonathan Mingo (concussion) inactive and he made the most of those chances by leading the Panthers in catches and targets in the loss. The third-year receiver has been busy over the past two weeks as he has drawn 18 targets, turning those into 14 receptions for 91 scoreless yards. That being said, Marshall is likely to return to a backup role once Mingo is ready to return, which could be as soon as Week 5 against the Detroit Lions.

From RotoBaller

Bryce Young Oct 2 4:40am ET
Bryce Young

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completed 25 of his 32 passes for 204 yards and added 10 yards on two carries with a lost fumble in a 21-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4. Young did not throw any touchdowns or interceptions in the contest. The rookie signal-caller missed his team's game in Week 3 with an ankle injury but he appeared to emerge from Week 4 without any issues. Young has now thrown just two touchdowns to go along with two interceptions in three contests. He will face off against the Detroit Lions on the road in Week 5.

From RotoBaller