Fantasy Football

The Eagles are winless and Carson Wentz has had a forgettable the start to the season, averaging 12.7 (No. 27 among qualified quarterbacks) Fantasy Points per Game. Philadelphia’s signal-caller is throwing the ball at an average of 42.5 times per game and has 512 (No. 18) passing yards, however his efficiency metrics are concerning. If these downward trends continue into Week 3 versus the Bengals defense, the alarm bells might be at full volume.

Ben Roethlisberger looks to have found a new favorite target in Diontae Johnson. Despite ball security issues to start each of his first two games, Big Ben has not shied away from targeting the sophomore receiver. Interestingly, Roethlisberger mentioned in an interview earlier this week that his trust and confidence in Johnson was still growing. If this connection still has room to grow, it may not be long before Johnson’s dynasty stock truly skyrockets.

The Bengals have given A.J. Green a 23.4-percent (No. 21 among qualified wide receivers) Target Share and a 44.5-percent (No. 6) Air Yards Share. He’s given them a whole eight (No. 32) catches for 80 (No. 60) yards. Green’s efficiency metrics have been the stuff of nightmares. Pick almost any metric. If you’re on Green’s page, it’s going to say he’s closer to No. 100 than even No. 50. He’s standing on the edge of a fantasy cliff and Tee Higgins’ presence will be the final nudge. 

Josh Jacobs has been as good as the tape grinders have billed through two games this year. He even has seven (No. 11) catches for 63 (No. 10) receiving yards on a 14.5-percent (No. 6) Target Share. He also currently leads all running backs with 23 Evaded Tackles and has a 39.0-percent (No. 9) Juke Rate. People will still be anchored to draft capital early in the season. Take advantage and abandon ship on lesser backs such as Joe Mixon and Dalvin Cook in favor of Jacobs. 

Jerick McKinnon is the obvious plug-and-play RB1 option for Week 3 with both Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman injured. Though his athleticism may have been compromised by his 2018 ACL tear, he was already working with a baseline of “most athletic RB in the entire PlayerProfiler database.” If you didn’t acquire him last week, you need to bid aggressively on his league-winning profile.

Dalton Schultz thrived in Blake Jarwin’s role during Dallas’ Week 2 win against Atlanta. Nine receptions on ten targets for 88 yards in inspiring enough to start Schultz moving forward. After surprisingly leading all Cowboys pass-catchers with 10 targets against the Falcons, Schultz became this week’s free square waiver wire TE pickup.

Josh Allen produced 444 yards of offense on Sunday. This, after he stacked up 369 yards last Sunday. Allen has transformed himself from a high-volatility player into, through two weeks, one of the most consistently productive players at the quarterback position. The Bills have had choice matchups, sure, but Allen’s ability to capitalize on them feels like a new wrinkle in his previously low-floor, high ceiling game.

Seeing is believing, and Ben Roethlisberger has put it all together two weeks in a row. He’s passed for over 500 yards and five touchdowns to just one pick through two games. The Steelers were put into a competitive Game Script against the Broncos and Roethlisberger’s arm looked well up to the task. With a healthy QB, a wicked defense, and a running game even finding success behind a hobbled OL, this team is primed for a deep run into the winter.

Jamison Crowder and Denzel Mims are both out for the Jets this week, and Breshad Perriman is not operating at 100-percent. Chris Hogan only caught one of four targets for zero yards in his Jets debut, but that doesn’t matter as much as the projected opportunity spike he’s set to enjoy. He already logged a 100.0-percent Snap Share in his first game with the team, and is now set to become an active member of a passing game that will be active due to trailing in games a good amount.

Jordan Reed is not dead yet; he’s worth a stash and a possible spot start against the Jets. Especially in TE-premium formats. His 55.6-percent Slot Rate ranked No. 2 among all tight ends and only behind Trent Taylor among 49ers pass-catchers in Week 1. His 22.2-percent Hog Rate also ranked No. 2 among all tight ends, meaning he was already a passing game focal point when on the field.

It’s bad process to devalue Devin Singletary just days after he led the league in routes run at the running back position. Fortunately for those seeking to buy low, that’s exactly what’s happening here. There was nothing noteworthy in rookie Zack Moss’ 12-touch, 27-yard performance that suggests he’s ready to usurp Singletary as the lead back. Moss’ offseason hype and Singletary’s underwhelming Week 1 has opened a buy-low window to be taken advantage of.

While David Montgomery’s 12.5 Weighted Opportunities in Week 1 might not stand out, it’s encouraging that the coaching staff deemed the second-year running back healthy enough to play over Tarik Cohen for the most part. The 23-year old looked genuinely improved over his rookie season, and his 35.7-percent Juke Rate and five Evaded Tackles back that up. Given Montgomery suffered no setbacks, his share of the backfield workload will only grow as the season moves along. 

A trend that unfolded in Week 1 was Phillip Rivers’ connection with his trusted slot receiver. Lined up in the slot on 55 snaps, good for a 96.5-percent Slot Rate, this receiving weapon now wears the number 15 and goes by the name Parris Campbell. Finishing as the WR27 in PPR leagues, Campbell’s nine targets matched T.Y. Hilton for the most among Colts wideouts. After a strong showing in training camp, a solid Week 1 performance has the former Buckeye’s dynasty stock on the rise.

Harrison Bryant played 31 snaps, good for a 42.4-percent (No. 44) Snap Share, in Cleveland’s Week 1 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He ran a route on 30.8-percent of his snaps and caught one of two targets for five yards. With David Njoku parked on injured reserve, an uptick in Bryant’s usage is on tap. The next three weeks (at minimum) may be enough to put him on the radar of even casual fantasy gamers. Monitor his stock closely and be ready to act.

Before the season, Devin Singletary’s fantasy football value entered into a quintessential touch squeeze. Basically, both Singletary and Zack Moss are capable of handling the majority of touches in the Bills backfield. This leads to both sharing it almost 50/50. Where Moss may have found an edge is inside the red-zone, totaling three carries from inside the five to Singletary’s zero. Both backs are no more than Flex plays (for now).

Whereas J.K. Dobbins’ second touchdown came after the game was decided, he still managed to lead the backfield with two Goal Line Carries, converting both. Ingram was not used at the goal line, which is potentially troubling after he registered 13 (No. 2 among qualified running backs) such carries in 2019. He should be given one more week in starting lineups to prove himself before we consider other arrangements.

Will Fuller’s Week 1 performance confirmed the priors that he would be an alpha receiver on the Houston offense. He hit 123 yards of total target depth on 10 targets. He caught eight balls for 112 yards and was the only Houston receiver to catch more than three balls versus the Chiefs. Buy him before he hits 150 yards or scores multiple times in a game. He’s a WR1 going forward and paying anything less is a steal.

Hayden Hurst only drew five targets against the Seahawks in Week 1, the same number as Todd Gurley. Both earned a 9.8-percent Target Share. That isn’t going to cut it for Hurst to post fantasy TE1 numbers. He has never been a special player and this performance shows that he’s certainly not capable of getting his in an offense stacked with pass-catching options. See if the person who has Logan Thomas will let you buy high with Hurst as a bargaining chip.

Russell Gage spent the offseason as an intriguing late-round dart throw in Best Ball after a strong finish in 2019. He erupted in Week 1, matching both Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley with 12 targets, nine receptions and over 100 receiving yards. Expect him to be the No. 1 waiver wire target this week as a result. We wouldn’t recommend blowing all of your FAAB or a top priority waiver claim on Gage, but he’s certainly worthy of a bench spot and Flex consideration.

The Logan Thomas breakout is upon us. Many refused to believe that Thomas could be this year’s Darren Waller due to the low probability of having two breakout tight ends in back-to-back years that came from absolutely nowhere. Thomas led the Washington Football team with eight targets and his usage was beyond promising for future success. Add Thomas and insert him into your starting tight end slot unless you already have one of the Big Five on your roster.