Week two is behind us in fantasy football season. Some team owners are riding high on a two game winning streak while others might be feeling panic setting in on a two game losing streak. As to the latter, there’s plenty of time to turn things around in fantasy football.
Last week, we were wary of two players who might have posted fluke stats. Yet, both came through this week for fantasy football team owners. Both Seahawks' tight end Will Dissly and Buccaneers' wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who returned to play in Week 2 after sustaining a concussion, rocked the gridiron statistically again. This week, we’d be cautious to add the Panthers' Jarious Wright, who is part of a stacked wide receiving group and any touchdown dependent tight ends unless you lost Greg Olsen or Delanie Walker two weeks ago and your waiver wire is thin.
Don’t add a player to your fantasy football team if you don’t need one.
QUARTERBACKS
1 Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buccaneers
2 Andy Dalton, Bengals
3 Joe Flacco, Ravens
Still almost universally available despite the recommendation to add him, Ryan Fitzpatrick made the most of his second game as a starter posting another four hundred yards passing and four passing touchdowns for another top five finish in fantasy football. Unless Fitzpatrick face plants, the Buccaneers will have to consider Fitzpatrick their starter for the 2018 season despite what some think. The time to add Ryan Fitzpatrick is right now. This week, he gets a Steelers' team giving up 236 yards and 3.5 passing touchdowns per game.
While he hasn’t looked pretty, Andy Dalton has been solid through two games including against a highly ranked Ravens' pass defense who he torched for 4 passing touchdowns. Dalton has totaled 508 yards and 6 touchdowns through two weeks. At a minimum, he has back-up fantasy football quarterback written all over him.
Similarly, Joe Flacco is defying initial preseason analyses of him which generally views him as a past talented quarterback who cannot play up to expectations. So far, with a solid running game and stable of talented, experienced receivers, Flacco has 612 yards passing and 5 passing touchdowns. Could he revert to the mean? Certainly. But meanwhile, ride him while he’s hot if you’re desperate for help or just need a back-up.
To make room, cut Eli Manning of the Giants. Despite the talented players he’s been surrounded with, he’s struggled to stay upright and his numbers are pathetic for fantasy football purposes. Wait for him to turn things around if he does. This week, the Giants play the Texans in Houston. Ouch.
RUNNING BACKS
1 Tevin Coleman, Falcons
2 Matt Brieda, 49ers
3 Chris Thompson, Redskins
4 Phillip Lindsay, Broncos
5 Austin Ekeler, Chargers
6 Giovani Bernard, Bengals
7 Javorius Allen, Ravens
8 Corey Clement, Eagles
9 Mark Walton, Bengals
Except for Giovani Bernard and Mark Walton, the above referenced running backs were top ten finishers this past week.
Still available in some leagues Tevin Coleman, Matt Brieda, and Chris Thompson, should be your top adds if they are available. With Devonta Freeman out, Coleman will be a solid RB2 and revert to a flex-play upon Booker’s return. Breida distinguished himself from stable-mate Alfred Morris (16 touches, 80 APY) with a 14 touches for 159 all-purpose yards and one touchdown. Breida looks like the better playing going forward. Thompson was third in targets (14) for running backs for 92 yards receiving. He’ll remain and RB2 or flex consideration all season long. Pick him up where available.
Likewise, in the near third of the leagues he’s available, Phillip Lindsay continues to dominate the Broncos backfield taking his 14 carries (29 on the season) for 107 yards, outpacing Royce Freeman (8 carries, 23 on the season) and Devontae Booker (3 carries, 5 on the season).
Austin Ekeler continues to have stand-alone value averaging 112 all-purpose yards per game and added a score in Week 2.
Giovani Bernard gets a boost this week with Joe Mixon set to miss the next two to four weeks after a minor knee procedure. He’s worth an add for running back needy fantasy football team owners. His teammate, rookie Mark Walton is expected to be active and is a speculative add for deeper teams if he outpaces Bernard.
Javorious Allen andCorey Clement are players who get quite a bit of work behind their team starters. Both are worthy of a roster spot in 16 team leagues. Allen is a great handcuff for starter Alex Collins. As for Clement, when Darren Sproles was sidelined this past week, Clement’s work-load doubled from 5 to 11 touches and from 26 yards rushing to 85 all-purpose yards and a touchdown.
To make room, cut Devontae Booker of the Broncos who is barely getting enough touches (7 total so far) to get into the box score.
WIDE RECEIVERS
1 DeSean Jackson, Buccaneers
2 Will Fuller, Texans
3 Quincy Enunwa, Jets
4 John Brown, Ravens
5 Keelan Cole, Jaguars
6 Kenny Golladay, Lions
7 Tyler Boyd, Bengals
8 Dede Westbrook, Jaguars
9 Jarius Wright, Panthers
10 Chris Godwin, Buccaneers
DeSean Jackson, Quincy Enunwa, Will Fuller, John Brown, and Keelan Cole, are this week’s top adds at wide receiver. Except for Fuller, the others are widely available in many fantasy football leagues.
Despite the injury concerns, DeSean Jackson posted another one hundred-plus yard performance and another score. Jackson is in the passing game mix with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center. Quincy Enunwa has double digit targets in back to back weeks, posted solid yardage, and was helped by a touchdown score in Week 2. Will Fuller returned from injury to post eight receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown. John Brown has now scored in back-to-back games and leads the team in scores and yardage. And, Keelan Cole topped one hundred and scored too. Cole should remain among the top producers on the Jaguars. Dede Westbrook is in the mix in deeper fantasy football leagues. The second year player is second in receptions, targets and yards for the Jaguars.
A TFG fantasy football darling, second year wide receiver Kenny Golladay continued to show why he is in the WR3 conversation going six-for-nine in receiving for 89 yards and a touchdown.
The Bengals' Tyler Boyd took a big step in his second season being targeted nine times and hauling in six receptions for 91 yards and 1 touchdown. Boyd is worthy of a roster spot in deeper leagues.
Despite DeSean Jackson playing in Week 2, second-year player Chris Godwin again hauled in five receptions for 56 yards (41 last week) and another touchdown. Godwin is worth a roster spot in deeper leagues but is a touchdown dependent play as is Jarius Wright whose 62 yards were buoyed by a touchdown catch.
TIGHT ENDS
1 Will Dissly, Seahawks
2 OJ Howard, Buccaneers
3 Eric Ebron, Lions
4 Jesse James, Steelers
5 Austin Hooper, Falcons
6 Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Jaguars
This week’s tight end pick-ups are generally touchdown dependent tight ends. Among them, top add OJ Howard has solid wide receiver qualities while Eric Ebron looks like a regular red zone target for Andrew Luck, as Ebron has scored a TD in each of the past two weeks. Similarly, Seahawks' tight end Will Dissly’s numbers were buoyed by back-to-back weeks with touchdown catches. Dissly and Howard look like players whose role is to be a regular part of the scoring offense.
The 138 yards and touchdown score posted by Jesse James was a head turner but the tight end position for the Steelers, and James have been inconsistent. Plus, James must battle Vance McDonald for touches which keeps James value as more of a TE2.
If you’re desperate, both Austin Hooper and Austin Seferian-Jenkins are touchdown dependent options. They’re both generally targeted about five times per game and total 25 to 50 yards.
DEFENSES
1 Dolphins
2 Jets
3 Browns
The Dolphins have been playing as hyped and yet they are available in most leagues. In two games, the have 5 interceptions, 3 sacks, and are allowing just 79 yards rushing and 16 points per game. This week, they play the Raiders, a team struggling in all facets of their offense. It’s mind boggling more fantasy football owners have not rostered this unit.
The Jets finished top five yet again in most fantasy football formats bolstered by their four sacks and two defensive fumble recoveries. Defensively, the Jet allowed just 122 yards passing and 135 yards rushing. The Jets play the Browns in what looks like a defensive battle. The Jets are available in about two-thirds of leagues.
The Browns, yes the Browns, have impressed against two top offenses (Steelers and Saints) holding each to 21 points scoring. The Browns are a top five fantasy football unit through two weeks on 7 sacks and 5 defensive fumble recoveries. This week, they face Jets' rookie Sam Darnold. While Darnold has impressed, he should be under siege.