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Welcome back RotoBallers to our Week 2 matchup analysis and start/sit column for fantasy football. Week 1 was filled with exciting plays and surprise performances, and now t's time to move on to Week 2!
For those who are not familiar, each week I'll be analyzing every game from the Sunday slate, helping you optimize your fantasy lineups and take down your opponent. Be sure to check back regularly for any updates on player injuries or other pertinent information.
This year I will be covering the entire Sunday slate of games, and we will have separate articles for the Thursday Night Football and Monday Night Football games. Be sure to read those as well. So join me as I help get your fantasy teams off to a strong start. If you have any additional lineup questions, follow me on Twitter @FAmmiranteTFJ and feel free to ask away. Let's get on to the matchups!
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Matchups Analysis - 1:00 PM ET Games
Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars
Matchups We Love:
Broncos RBs
The Broncos are six-point road favorites against a Jaguars team that looked like an absolute dumpster fire in their blowout road loss to the Texans. The Jags' run defense was actually pretty stout in this game, limiting the Texans running backs to 3.24 yards per carry on 37 attempts. However, the increased volume from the positive game-script enabled Texans RB Mark Ingram to rack up 85 yards and a touchdown. I expect a similar game-script here, with the Broncos controlling the clock due to a dominant effort by their defense. Melvin Gordon (50% snaps, 14 opportunities) and Javonte Williams (50% snaps, 15 opportunities) split the workload pretty evenly, with Gordon out-gaining the rookie 118-to-41. We can consider both backs FLEX plays with RB2 upside in this one.
Noah Fant (TE, DEN)
Noah Fant looked fantastic against the Giants, catching 6-of-8 targets for 62 yards. He has an opportunity to see an uptick in volume with Jeudy sidelined. The Jaguars allowed Texans tight end Pharoah Brown to catch four balls for 67 yards, including a 29-yard reception. Fant looks like the safest play among these Broncos pass-catchers. Look for Teddy Bridgewater to target this athletic tight end early and often in this one.
Matchups We Hate:
Trevor Lawrence (QB, JAX)
Trevor Lawrence really struggled in his debut, limited to 6.5 yards per attempt with three interceptions. He has able to throw for 332 yards and three touchdowns due to being forced into catch-up mode, but this was not an impressive performance by any means. Lawrence has a tough matchup against a Broncos defense that has upgraded their secondary with the additions of Kyle Fuller and Patrick Surtain II. You need to leave Lawrence on your bench with the way this offense looked in an exploitable matchup against the Texans.
Jaguars RBs
James Robinson really let everyone down in what looked like a smash spot against the Texans. Robinson (63.51% snaps, 11 opportunities) essentially split time with Carlos Hyde (33.78% snaps, 11 opportunities). While the good news is that Robinson played more snaps and had six targets, we can't play him with how poorly this Jaguars offense looks. Consider both of these backs low-end FLEX plays (Robinson is obviously preferred over Hyde) against a Broncos defense that limited Giants' running backs to 33 yards on 14 carries (2.36 YPC).
Jaguars WRs
Marvin Jones Jr. (90.54% snaps, 104 air yards, 18.37% target share), D.J. Chark (83.78% snaps, 199 air yards, 24.49% target share), and Laviska Shenault (70.27% snaps, 28 air yards, 18.37% target share) will eat into each other's value all season. Jones and Chark have more upside because they run deeper routes, but Shenault could rack up catches underneath. It's not a good spot to play any of these wideouts with the Jags struggles on offense, but the Broncos did allow Sterling Shepard to go off for seven receptions, 113 yards, and a touchdown. Consider each of these players risky options this week: Jones (WR3/4), Chark (WR3/4), and Shenault (WR4).
Other Matchups:
Teddy Bridgewater (QB, DEN)
Bridgewater looked highly efficient against the Giants, completing 28-of-36 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns while adding 19 rushing yards on 3 carries. The Jaguars just allowed Tyrod Taylor to complete 8.81 yards per attempt, so it's a good matchup for Teddy. The problem here is that the Broncos should control this game and it'll be tough for the Jags to score points on this defense, which caps Bridgewater's upside. This makes Bridgewater more of a lukewarm streamer this week.
Broncos WRs
It was a shame to see Jerry Jeudy go down with a high ankle sprain, as he was really looking great against the Giants. This opens up opportunities for K.J. Hamler (36.36% snaps, 86 air yards, 11.43% target share), Courtland Sutton (80.3% snaps, 51 air yards, 8.57% target share), and Tim Patrick (69.7% snaps, 34 air yards, 11.43% target share). It's a good matchup against a Jaguars defense that just got rinsed by Brandin Cooks for five receptions and 132 yards. I believe Hamler gets the biggest bump in value for his big-play ability and usage in the slot. Patrick gets an uptick in targets, but Sutton still needs time to get back in form after barely seeing targets in Week 1. Consider each of these players upside WR4 with Hamler as my favorite play.
Additional Notes:
Keep an eye on Jaguars TE James O'Shaughnessy, who had eight targets in Week 1.
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
Matchups We Love:
Josh Allen (QB, BUF)
Josh Allen had a disappointing season debut against the Steelers, averaging only 5.29 yards per attempt. This says more about how dominant the Steelers defense played. Allen should be able to get back on track against a Dolphins defense that gave up 281 yards through the air to rookie Mac Jones. When these two teams met in Miami last season, Allen threw for 415 yards (11.9 yards per attempt) and four touchdowns. Expect a better performance here.
Stefon Diggs (WR, BUF)
Stefon Diggs was limited to nine receptions for 69 yards against the Steelers, but he led the Bills in air yards (150) and target share (28.57%). His Week 1 performance is pretty much close to his floor, which really shows how dominant of a fantasy wideout he's become in Buffalo. The Dolphins allowed 9.08 yards per target to wideouts last season (T-27th). When these teams played in Miami last year, Diggs put up eight receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown.
Matchups We Hate:
Tua Tagovailoa (QB, MIA)
Tua's fantasy line was saved by his rushing touchdown, but he only attempted 27 passes for 202 yards against the Patriots. He now takes on a Bills defense that just limited Ben Roethlisberger to 5.88 yards per attempt. This is a tough spot for Tagovailoa, making him a player to avoid this week. The good news is that he gets Will Fuller back in the lineup, but I can't recommend Tua against this Bills defense.
Dolphins WRs
It was interesting to see the wideout usage for the Dolphins in Week 1: DeVante Parker (83.33% snaps, 84 air yards, 25.93% target share) and Jaylen Waddle (79.63% snaps, 66 air yards, 22.22% target share) really led the way. We can project a similar target share with Will Fuller (personal) out for the foreseeable future. Having said that, the Bills defense is tough, so these wideouts are risky plays that are better suited for DFS tournaments this week. Keep an eye on Waddle though, as his usage was highly promising for a rookie.
Mike Gesicki (TE, MIA)
Gesicki played only 38.89% of the snaps with two targets against the Patriots last week. Even with tight end being such a thin position, it's hard to even consider Gesicki with this type of usage. While he does run a lot of routes for a tight end, we just can't start him right now. What makes things worse is that Fuller's return adds another target in this offense. Gesicki looks like a drop candidate in most formats. Leave him on your bench if you're in a deeper league.
Other Matchups:
Devin Singletary (RB, BUF)
Zack Moss was a surprise healthy scratch last week, so Devin Singletary (75.29% snaps, 16 opportunities) carried the load. The Dolphins struggled to defend the run against the Patriots, giving up 100 yards on 23 carries to Damien Harris, so this is a good spot for Singletary. The problem here is that the Bills are extremely pass-heavy, so it's hard to see much upside for Singletary. It's also unclear if Moss will suit up for this game. Keep an eye out for any updates. If Moss does not play, we can consider Singletary an intriguing FLEX.
Bills WRs
Cole Beasley (26.53% target share) led the way among Bills' ancillary wideouts, but Emmanuel Sanders (149 air yards) had some appealing usage. Gabriel Davis (50.59% snaps, 10.2% target share) is the clear-cut number four among this group. Since I expect the Bills pass attack to be more efficient in this matchup, I would prefer starting Sanders because of his deeper routes, giving him more upside. Last week's game helped out Beasley because Allen had to constantly check it down against this Steelers defense. While Beasley is the safest of this group, Sanders has more upside.
Myles Gaskin (RB, MIA)
Gaskin played 53.7% of the snaps with 14 opportunities, including five targets. It's good to see that Gaskin was still the primary pass-catching back, but temper your expectations because Malcolm Brown (29.63% snaps) and Salvon Ahmed (20.37% snaps) still ate into the usage. The Bills run defense shut down Najee Harris, limiting him to only 45 yards on 16 carries, so this is a tough matchup, but Gaskin could grab a few receptions to salvage his day.
Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns
Matchups We Love:
Brandin Cooks (WR, HOU)
Cooks looked great in Week 1, catching 5-of-7 targets for 132 yards. This game sets up nicely for him because the Texans will be playing from behind. He takes on a Browns defense that just allowed Tyreek Hill to go off for 11 receptions, 197 yards, and a touchdown. Cooks looks like a rock-solid WR3 in this matchup. You have to love the fact that he led the Texans with a 22% target share.
Nick Chubb (RB, CLE)
Chubb is in an absolute smash spot against a Texans defense that allowed 5.54 yards per carry last season. I'm not putting too much stock in Houston's blowout win over Jacksonville. I think that says more about the Jaguars' incompetence than the Texans. The Browns are 12.5-point home favorites here, so the game-script sets up perfectly for Chubb, who had a solid debut against the Chiefs, rushing for 83 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Chubb is one of the top running backs in Week 2.
Browns WRs
Jarvis Landry (86.44% snaps, 18.52% target share) is the number one target on this Browns team right now and we can expect this to continue with Odell Beckham Jr. out for another week. It was interesting to see Anthony Schwartz tie Landry in target share while leading the team in air yards in Week 1. Donovan Peoples-Jones was a major disappointment, but he did play almost 80% of the snaps. I'd lock in Landry as a WR3 in a good matchup, especially with OBJ out again. Keep an eye on Schwartz and Peoples-Jones.
Matchups We Hate:
Tyrod Taylor (QB, HOU)
Taylor had an impressive Texans debut, completing 21-of-33 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns while adding 40 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Having said that, I'm not ready to put him on the streamer radar yet, even against a Browns defense that just got shredded by Patrick Mahomes for 337 yards and 9.4 yards per attempt. Quarterback is simply too deep of a position to be streaming Taylor at this point of the season. I need to see more from him and this Texans offense. If you play in SuperFlex leagues, then obviously that's a different story.
Mark Ingram (RB, HOU)
Ingram saw a ton of usage in Week 1, carrying 26 times for 85 yards and a touchdown. I'm not buying this one at all. For one, it was a dream game-script for the Texans, as they played with a lead for pretty much the entire game. That isn't going to happen often because this is still one of the worst teams in football. Secondly, Ingram was extremely inefficient, rushing for only 3.27 yards per carry. It's also worth noting that he played on 46% of the snaps. If the Texans fall behind like they're projected to do here, you'll see more David Johnson. I'm avoiding this backfield entirely.
Other Matchups:
Kareem Hunt (RB, CLE)
Hunt played just over 47% of the snaps in Week 1, totaling 33 yards on six carries while adding three receptions for 28 yards. We can reasonably project an increased role in this potential blowout against the Texans. If the Browns go up by double-digits, they can definitely start to feed Hunt and ease Chubb's workload. I'd consider Hunt a lukewarm play as an upside FLEX for this game, only because he doesn't get enough touches to warrant anything more than that.
Baker Mayfield (QB, CLE)
Mayfield completed 21-of-28 passes for 321 yards and an interception against the Chiefs. His failure to score a touchdown ruined his fantasy day and speaks to the risk you take when starting him in your lineup. Since this is such a run-heavy team, there's always a chance that they opt to feed one of their running backs more than other teams when they get in the red-zone. For that reason, Mayfield is only a lukewarm option, especially since this projects as a run-heavy game-script against the Texans.
Browns TEs
We saw some really interesting usage from the Browns' tight ends, specifically David Njoku, who finished second on the team with 102 air yards in Week 1. Njoku out-targeted Austin Hooper 5-to-3 as well, meaning we could be seeing a change in the pecking order at this position. Let's not forget that Njoku is a former first-round pick and still only 25 years old. He's absolutely worth a waiver wire add in deeper leagues. I wouldn't start any of these players yet, but they're worth a look in DFS against the Texans, especially Njoku, who has more upside. Consider both Njoku and Hooper as TE2s.
Cincinnati Bengals at Chicago Bears
Matchups We Love:
Ja'Marr Chase (WR, CIN)
What an impressive debut for the rookie after he struggled with drops throughout preseason. Chase came right in and established himself as the alpha WR1 in this offense, leading in snaps (89.86%), air yards (114), and target share (26.92%) while catching 5-of-7 targets for 101 yards and a touchdown. The Bengals passed only 45% of the time in neutral game-scripts in Week 1, but that should change this week because the Bears run defense is pretty stout. The Bears just gave up a 67-yard touchdown to Van Jefferson and a 56-yard touchdown to Cooper Kupp. We could see another big day out of Chase in this one.
Allen Robinson (WR, CHI)
Robinson is in a great bounce-back spot against a Bengals defense that just allowed Adam Thielen to go off for nine receptions, 92 yards, and two touchdowns. Keep an eye out to see if Bengals cornerback Trae Waynes is ready to go this week, as his absence contributed to the big game for Thielen. However, even if Waynes plays, Robinson looks like a high-end WR2 in a game where the Bears should have more success moving the ball.
David Montgomery (RB, CHI)
Montgomery really looked impressive in a tough matchup against the Rams, rushing for 108 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. While he only played 59% of the snaps, I'm not too worried about that because it was in a game where the Bears fell behind. Damien Williams is just an insurance policy, as this is Monty's backfield. Montgomery has a great matchup against a Bengals defense that allowed 5.34 yards per carry last season. While they did a good job slowing down Dalvin Cook (3.1 YPC), I need to see more before I consider them an improved run defense. Montgomery is a borderline RB1 in this spot.
Matchups We Hate:
Tyler Boyd (WR, CIN)
It was a disappointing debut for Boyd, as he finished third in snaps (73.91%) and target share (15.38%) while placing fourth in air yards (24) among Bengals wideouts. Boyd is now a clear-cut third option on this team, which is bad news because he depends on volume for fantasy value as a slot receiver with a low average depth of target. I'm not really excited to use him against the Bears here because of this usage.
Andy Dalton (QB, CHI)
Dalton has his revenge game against the Bengals here and it's definitely an exploitable matchup, but there's no way you're starting him unless it's a SuperFlex league. Dalton completed 27-of-38 passes for 206 yards and an interception against the Rams. The veteran is just keeping the seat warm for rookie Justin Fields, as it's only a matter of time before we see the former star at Ohio State.
Other Matchups:
Joe Burrow (QB, CIN)
I came into the season concerned about how Burrow would look coming off the torn ACL, but he addressed that with his Week 1 performance, completing 20-of-27 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns. The Bears just allowed 12.3 yards per attempt to Matthew Stafford, so this is a good spot for Burrow. The only reason why he's in the lukewarm section is that quarterback is a deep position and there's a chance that Stafford's big day was because of how good the Rams offense is rather than the Bears' ineptitude.
Joe Mixon (RB, CIN)
What a great start to the season for one of my favorite running backs in the NFL. Mixon played 78% snaps while carrying 29 times for 127 yards and a touchdown, adding four receptions for 23 yards. That's absolutely monster usage, establishing him as an RB1 each and every week. He's in the lukewarm section here because the Bears run defense limited running backs to 4.15 yards per carry last year, but he's still a Top-12 option.
Tee Higgins (WR, CIN)
Higgins had a solid debut that was suppressed because he was sidelined after needing an IV treatment. The second-year wideout caught 4-of-5 targets for 58 yards and a touchdown. He has a good matchup against a Bears defense that hemorrhaged explosive plays to the Rams last week, but we need to keep him in this section because it looks like Chase is the top dog in this offense. I'd consider Higgins an upside WR3 in this matchup.
Darnell Mooney (WR, CHI)
You had to be intrigued with Mooney's usage in Week 1, as the second-year wideout played 100% of the snaps while posting a 17.5% target share and leading the team with 43 air yards. Mooney has a good matchup against this suspect Bengals secondary. Having said that, he needs to stay in the lukewarm section until Fields takes over as quarterback. Leave Mooney on your bench, but be a bit excited of what we could see in the near future.
Cole Kmet (TE, CHI)
Kmet played almost 74% of the snaps in Week 1, while Jimmy Graham was limited to 20%, indicating a clear change in the pecking order here. Kmet caught 5-of-7 targets for 42 yards as well, so this usage was encouraging for his outlook going forward. Keep an eye on him in this game to see this type of volume continues because if it does, he'll be a potential waiver wire pickup next week.
San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles
Matchups We Love:
Deebo Samuel (WR, SF)
Samuel started off his season with a bang, catching 9-of-12 targets for 189 yards and a touchdown. He out-snapped Brandon Aiyuk 83.64% to 47.27%. It looks like Samuel is the clear-cut top wideout in this explosive 49ers offense. What's even more encouraging is that Samuel put up 100 air yards and 8.3 average target depth here. Last season, he had only 97 air yards with a 2.2 average target depth in seven games. While the Eagles defense looked improved in their dominant win over the Falcons, this game still has a 50-point total, so it's a projected shootout. Fire up Samuel as a WR2 in this one.
George Kittle (TE, SF)
Kittle is coming off a modest debut where he caught 4-of-5 targets for 78 yards, but he goes up against an Eagles defense that allowed eight targets to Kyle Pitts. While Pitts only caught four passes for 31 yards, the fact that he was targeted so often could bode well for Kittle. Last season, Philly allowed 7.83 yards per target to tight ends (T-24th). We also saw Kittle erupt against them in their matchup, putting up 15 receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown. He's an elite TE1 every week, but he has a chance to hit his ceiling in this one.
Jalen Hurts (QB, PHI)
Hurts had a fantastic performance against the Falcons, completing 27-of-35 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 62 yards on seven carries. The fact that he looked this good as a passer really has to have you feeling good about his fantasy value right now. The 49ers just lost starting corner Jason Verrett for the season, which will help Hurts here. Having said that, this is a matchup-proof quarterback due to his rushing upside. If he keeps showing these improvements as a passer, the sky is the limit.
Matchups We Hate:
Brandon Aiyuk (WR, SF)
There's no way we can start Aiyuk in this matchup because he only played 47% of the snaps in Week 1, which was fewer than Trent Sherfield. There were reports from beat writers that Sherfield had outplayed Aiyuk in camp. We also heard that Aiyuk needed to "learn how to be a pro." This is a bad sign for a player who many had high hopes for, including myself. While you're obviously not dropping Aiyuk, you need to park him on the bench right now.
Other Matchups:
49ers RBs
Rookie Elijah Mitchell carried the load once Raheem Mostert left the game, rushing for 104 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Mostert is now out for the season, so we can expect Mitchell to be the 1A in this rushing attack, putting him on the RB2 radar because of how running back-friendly this offense is. The 49ers other rookie, Trey Sermon, was a surprise inactive in Week 1, but we could see him make his debut here. I would expect Sermon to be used as the 1B in this offense, so leave him on your bench. The Eagles run defense is tough (3.7 YPC allowed in 2020), but Mitchell is in an offense that can overcome difficult matchups.
Miles Sanders (RB, PHI)
Sanders looked good in his season debut, rushing for 74 yards on 15 carries while catching 4-of-5 targets for 39 yards. He takes on a 49ers defense that just gave up a combined 20 targets to D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams. While this speaks more to Jared Goff's willingness to check it down to his running back, it's still encouraging for Sanders. However, we still need to leave him in the lukewarm section because of this tough 49ers run defense (3.8 YPC in 2020). Rookie Kenneth Gainwell looks like head coach Nick Sirianni's new Nyheim Hines. Make sure to pick up Gainwell in your leagues because he has standalone value with massive upside if Sanders were to miss time.
Eagles WRs
DeVonta Smith caught 6-of-8 targets for 71 yards and a touchdown, leading the way in snaps (87.32%), air yards (56), and target share (25%). He's the clear-cut top option in this offense and it bodes well that he won't have to face cornerback Jason Verrett. We also should take note of Jalen Reagor, who showed signs of life with a 23-yard touchdown and 18.75% target share. You can start Smith as a WR3 here while keeping an eye on Reagor as a potential waiver wire pickup in the near future.
Eagles TEs
Dallas Goedert (73.24% snaps, 15.63% target share) is the better play than Zach Ertz (57.75% snaps, 6.25% target share), but the latter holds back the former from hitting their ceiling. It was encouraging to see Goedert catch a touchdown on two red-zone targets in Week 1. His touchdown upside will keep him as a Top-10 tight end play every week, but if Ertz were to miss time, we could see a huge bump in value. Fire up Goedert while leaving Ertz on the waiver wire, unless you're in a deep league.
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
Matchups We Love:
Alvin Kamara (RB, NO)
Kamara had 20 rush attempts for only the third time in his career in Week 1. Kamara is in line for a career-high in touches, especially with Michael Thomas on the shelf until at least midseason. He's an elite RB1 each and every week, regardless of matchup. The Panthers allowed 4.85 YPC last season (29th) but looked good against the Jets, limiting their running backs to only 45 yards on 17 carries. Still, Kamara is a Top-3 option here.
Christian McCaffrey (RB, CAR)
McCaffrey showed the fantasy football world why he's the clear-cut top player, racking up nine receptions and 187 total yards in his first game back after an injury-plagued 2020 season limited him to only three games. McCaffrey needs to be treated as the overall RB1 each and every week, even against a Saints defense that just totally shut down an explosive Packers offense, limiting Aaron Jones to only nine yards on five carries.
Matchups We Hate:
Jameis Winston (QB, NO)
Winston played great in Week 1, completing 14-of-20 passes for 148 yards and five touchdowns, but the lack of passing volume keeps him off the streaming radar against a Panthers defense that gave up 6.88 yards per attempt last season (T-9th). While we can expect Winston to attempt more passes in this game since it likely won't be a blowout, I can't recommend him as a streamer with how deep quarterback is, especially with his limited weapons on the perimeter.
Sam Darnold (QB, CAR)
Darnold looked rock-solid in his Panthers debut, completing 24-of-35 passes for 279 yards and a touchdown, but this Saints defense looked phenomenal against the Packers. New Orleans limited Aaron Rodgers to only 4.75 yards per attempt. When you add in the depth at the quarterback position, you come away feeling like Darnold has no business being a streamer this week. I'd look elsewhere if you're hurting at quarterback for this week.
Other Matchups:
Saints WRs
Marquez Callaway was a major disappointment in Week 1, but he still led the team in snaps (83.87%). The next closest wideout was Deonte Harris, who played 43.55% of the snaps. It's clear that Callaway is still the top option on the perimeter despite his poor showing, which can be attributed to game-script, as the Saints didn't need to air it out while leading by double-digits. Winston should attempt more than 20 passes here, so be patient with Callaway, especially against a Panthers defense that just allowed Corey Davis to go off for five receptions, 97 yards, and two touchdowns.
Saints TEs
Juwan Johnson (two touchdowns) had the fantasy production, but Adam Trautman (82.26% snaps, 30% target share) had the volume. I'd prefer to roster Trautman going forward due to Johnson's touchdown dependency. This is a situation to avoid for now, but keep an eye on Trautman because of this impressive usage. He has a clear path to targets in this Saints offense that is currently pretty underwhelming in pass-catchers aside from Kamara and Callaway.
Panthers WRs
D.J. Moore (81.25% snaps, 94 air yards, 24.24% target share) looks like the best option among Robby Anderson (81.25% snaps, 92 air yards, 9.09% target share) and rookie Terrace Marshall (53.13% snaps, 52 air yards, 18.18% target share). We can consider Moore as a WR2 even in the tough matchup against the Saints. Anderson is more of an upside WR3 while Marshall is a WR4 with a nice ceiling until we see him get more snaps. It's interesting to note that Anderson (30 aDOT) ran the deeper routes than Moore (11.8 aDOT) in this game, which is a reversal of roles that we saw last year. This bodes well for Moore's fantasy outlook.
Los Angeles Rams at Indianapolis Colts
Matchups We Love:
Matthew Stafford (QB, LAR)
Stafford looked fantastic in his Rams debut, completing 20-of-26 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns while averaging an absurd 12.3 yards per attempt. It appears that the Rams vertical passing attack is going to be a massive problem for opposing defenses this season. Stafford has a good matchup against a Colts defense that was just shredded by Russell Wilson for 254 yards, 11 yards per attempt, and four touchdowns.
Cooper Kupp (WR, LAR)
Kupp looked like Stafford's favorite target, posting an impressive 38.46% target share while catching seven balls for 108 yards and a touchdown. Kupp's contested-catch skills along with his ability to rack up yards after the catch make him a perfect fit with Stafford. We just saw fellow slot wideout Tyler Lockett go off for four receptions, 100 yards, and two touchdowns against this Rams defense, so it's a great spot for Kupp here. He looks like a high-upside WR2 in this matchup.
Darrell Henderson Jr. (RB, LAR)
Henderson got a massive workload in Week 1, playing on 94.23% of the snaps while out-touching Sony Michel 17-to-1. Henderson has to be considered an RB2 while he's getting this type of workload. The Colts run defense can be tough, but they just gave up 5.7 yards per carry to Chris Carson. It's going to be tough for the Colts to slow down Henderson while they're dealing with this explosive Rams passing attack.
Matchups We Hate:
Carson Wentz (QB, IND)
Wentz completed 25-of-38 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns while adding 23 yards on the ground, so it wasn't a bad debut against the Seahawks, but this is a super tough matchup against Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, and company. The Rams ranked at the top of every defensive category last season. There's no way you can play Wentz in any format aside from SuperFlex as a desperation option.
Colts WRs
Michael Pittman Jr. disappointed for three receptions for 29 yards, but he did lead the team in snaps (97.37%). Zach Pascal played a larger role than many expected, out-snapping Parris Campbell 90.79% to 60.53%. Pascal caught 4-of-5 targets for 43 yards and two touchdowns. One of Pascal and Pittman will have to deal with Ramsey on the perimeter, so this profiles as a better spot for Campbell. However, I'm not recommending any of these players in this tough matchup.
Other Matchups:
Robert Woods (WR, LAR)
Woods was limited to 76.92% of the snaps with a modest 15.38% target share, demonstrating that he could have been relegated to the number-two option with Stafford at the helm. We can consider him more of a WR3, even in this good matchup. Not only was Kupp the target hog, but Van Jefferson also emerged, playing 69.23% of the snaps with an 11.54% target share, including a 67-yard touchdown. This is bad news for Woods' fantasy value, but he could get back on track in this matchup.
Tyler Higbee (TE, LAR)
You have to love what you saw out of Higbee in Week 1. The tight end played 100% of the snaps and posted a 23.08% target share. That's huge news for his fantasy value. The Colts just gave up a combined five catches for 57 yards to Will Dissly and Gerald Everett, but they were tough against tight ends last year, allowing the third-fewest fantasy points per game to the position. Still, Higbee has to be considered a TE1 with this type of usage.
Colts RBs
Jonathan Taylor had 23 touches in Week 1 while Nyheim Hines had 15. It was impressive to see Taylor put up seven targets, as this can be massive for his fantasy value. Taylor is an RB1 every week with this usage, even against a tough Rams defense. Hines looks like a potential FLEX play because of his ability to make an impact in the passing game. It's clear that the Colts have big plans for him this year. It looks like their two best players are their running backs.
Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers
Matchups We Love:
Darren Waller (TE, LV)
Waller saw absolutely monster usage in Week 1, catching 10-of-19 targets for 105 yards and a touchdown. There's a legitimate chance that he can challenge Travis Kelce for the tight end throne with this type of volume. While the matchup against the Steelers is tough, as this defense looked phenomenal in Week 1 while shutting down Josh Allen, Waller needs to be considered a Top-2 tight end each and every week.
Najee Harris (RB, PIT)
Harris had an inefficient debut, rushing 16 times for only 45 yards while adding one catch for four yards. Despite that, I'm highly optimistic about his outlook for this week. Harris played every single snap in Week 1, which led all running backs. He's going to see monster volume this season and he should be able to bounce back against a Raiders defense that just gave up 7.2 yards per carry to Ty'Son Williams. Consider Harris an RB1 in this game.
Matchups We Hate:
Derek Carr (QB, LV)
Carr has a solid game against the Ravens, completing 34-of-56 passes for 435 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. However, we saw what this Steelers defense did to Josh Allen this past week. It's hard to recommend starting Carr in this tough matchup at a deep position like quarterback. If you're in a SuperFlex league, you're absolutely firing him up, but leave him on your bench or the waiver wire in other leagues.
Raiders WRs
Bryan Edwards really came alive in the second half of Week 1, catching four balls for 81 yards. Henry Ruggs was limited to only two receptions for 46 yards, while Hunter Renfrow led this group in target share (17.31%). This is a situation to avoid entirely, as Darren Waller is clearly the top dog in this passing game. The production from Ruggs and Edwards is likely to be volatile all year, while Renfrow simply has a very low upside.
Ben Roethlisberger (QB, LV)
Roethlisberger looked pretty awful against the Bills, completing 18-of-32 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown. He'll have a better chance to do damage against a Raiders defense that ranked 25th in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks, but you still can't really start him aside from SuperFlex leagues. The Steelers should be able to control this one with their running game. We need to see more out of Big Ben before recommending him as a streamer.
Other Matchups:
Raiders RBs
Josh Jacobs played injured last week and it showed with his inefficiency, as he was limited to 34 yards on 10 carries, although he did score two touchdowns. He's out for this week, so we can see an even bigger impact from Kenyan Drake in the passing game after he caught all five of his targets for 59 yards against the Ravens. The Steelers just allowed 6.5 YPC to Devin Singletary. Drake is a volume-based FLEX for this game.
Steelers WRs
Diontae Johnson (31.25% target share) was the clear-cut top dog in Week 1, while JuJu Smith-Schuster (25% target share) was the second option, leaving Chase Claypool (15.63% target share) as a distant third in the pecking order. Claypool (67.24% snaps) needs to play more in order for us to feel comfortable starting him as anything more than a volatile WR3. We can consider Johnson a WR2 with JuJu as a high-floor WR3 in this matchup. The Raiders allowed Marquise Brown and Sammy Watkins to combine for 10 receptions, 166 yards, and a touchdown in Week 1.
New England Patriots at New York Jets
Matchups We Love:
Patriots WRs
Jakobi Meyers picked up right where he left off last season, leading the Patriots with a 23.68% target share in Week 1. He has a good matchup against a Jets defense that gave up 8.64 yards per target to wideouts last season (22nd) and allowed D.J. Moore to go for 80 yards and Robby Anderson to score a 57-yard touchdown in Week 1. Meyers can be viewed as a WR3 in this matchup. Nelson Agholor was the clear-cut second option in Week 1, leading with 79 air yards and coming second with an 18.42% target share. He's an upside WR4 here.
Damien Harris (RB, NE)
Harris looked solid in his season debut against the Dolphins, rushing 23 times for 100 yards while playing 53.33% of the snaps. While James White (7 targets, 6 receptions) monopolizes the passing game usage, rookie Rhamondre Stevenson only played 6.67% of the snaps, so we can fire up Harris as an RB2. The Jets were stout against the run last year, limiting opposing rushers to only 4.09 YPC (11th), but Harris' volume keeps him in play.
Matchups We Hate:
Zach Wilson (QB, NYJ)
Wilson was average in his season debut, completing 20-of-37 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns along with one interception. The Pats defense limited Tua Tagovailoa to 202 yards and the Dolphins offense to 17 points in Week 1, so this isn't really the spot to considering streaming Wilson. Leave him on your waiver wire and monitor his progress because there's a chance that he can make a fantasy impact later in the season.
Jets RBs
Ty Johnson (53.85% snaps, 7 opportunities) played more than Tevin Coleman (26.15% snaps, nine opportunities), while rookie Michael Carter was limited to only one catch for 14 yards. This is a situation to avoid entirely until we see one of these players pull away with the lead role. Johnson currently has the upper hand, but Carter has draft capital on his side, so keep an eye on him. I have no interest in Coleman.
Other Matchups:
Mac Jones (QB, NE)
Jones showed some poise in his NFL debut, completing 29-of-39 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown in their loss to the Dolphins. He has an exploitable matchup against a Jets defense that just allowed Sam Darnold to throw for 279 yards and a touchdown. Jones can be considered as a potential streamer in this matchup, as the Jets also gave up 7.57 yards per attempt to opposing quarterbacks last year (25th).
Patriots TEs
Jonnu Smith (73.33% snaps, 13.16% target share, 3.6 aDOT) and Hunter Henry (72% snaps, 7.89% target share, 8.0 aDOT) are likely going to eat into each other's value all season long. Both players are touchdown-dependent for now, but the good news is that they'll both be major threats in the red-zone. Consider Smith and Henry more of upside TE2s until perhaps one of them pulls away with more usage.
Jets WRs
Corey Davis had a fantastic debut, catching 5-of-7 targets for 97 yards and two touchdowns. He's the clear-cut top option in this offense and should be considered an upside WR3 going forward. The Patriots just allowed DeVante Parker and rookie Jaylen Waddle to combine for eight catches, 142 yards, and a touchdown, so this is an exploitable matchup. Rookie Elijah Moore had a slow debut (one catch, -3 yards), but he did play on 86.15% of his snaps. Better days are ahead. Jamison Crowder is likely to return for this game, which will send Braxton Berrios (five receptions, 51 yards) back to the bench.
Matchups Analysis - 4:00 PM ET Games
Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals
Matchups We Love:
Dalvin Cook (RB, MIN)
Cook is a matchup-proof RB1 every week, even against a Cardinals defense that just shut down Derrick Henry for only 58 yards on 17 carries. Cook's presence in the passing game can help him overcome such a matchup. He showed that last week against the Bengals, catching 6-of-7 targets for 43 yards. We can consider Cook a Top-3 option in this projected shootout with a 51-point total.
Justin Jefferson (WR, MIN)
Jefferson had a modest season debut, catching 5-of-9 targets for 71 yards. He has a chance to bounce back in this one, facing a Cardinals defense with a weakness in the secondary, particularly at cornerback. We have to give credit for the Cardinals defensive performance in Week 1, but we also need to acknowledge that perhaps this success was partly contributed by a Titans offense that looked inept under their new offensive coordinator Todd Downing. Consider Jefferson a WR1 this week.
Kyler Murray (QB, ARI)
Murray looks like a fantasy cheat code at quarterback right now, completing 21-of-32 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns while adding 20 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He takes on a Vikings defense that just allowed Joe Burrow to complete 74% of his passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Murray looks like the top quarterback on the slate for Week 2.
DeAndre Hopkins (WR, ARI)
Hopkins got off to a great start, catching 6-of-8 targets for 83 yards and two touchdowns against a suspect Titans secondary. He'll get another good matchup against a Vikings defense that just gave up five receptions, 101 yards, and a touchdown to rookie Ja'Marr Chase. As long as Murray is healthy and running wild, Hopkins needs to be considered among the top wideouts in fantasy football, especially in matchups like this one.
Matchups We Hate:
Kirk Cousins (QB, MIN)
Cousins had a solid game in Week 1, completing 36-of-49 passes for 351 yards and two touchdowns against the Bengals, but he faces a Cardinals defense that just shut down Ryan Tannehill, limiting him to only 6.06 yards per attempt. While the game total is appealing, it's hard to recommend Cousins as a streamer when this Cardinals defense looks like they have so far. Leave Cousins on your bench for this game.
Other Matchups:
Adam Thielen (WR, MIN)
Thielen had a fantastic debut, catching 9-of-10 targets for 92 yards and two touchdowns. He continues to be Cousins' favorite target in the red-zone, which increases the likelihood of another high touchdown output. Thielen has an exploitable matchup against this Cardinals secondary, but I get the feeling that this is more of a Justin Jefferson week due to his explosive ability. Consider Thielen a WR2 in this one.
Cardinals RBs
Chase Edmonds (57.97% snaps, 12 attempts, four targets) is the player you want in this backfield over touchdown-dependent James Conner (49.28% snaps, 16 attempts, zero targets). It's likely that Conner got all those carries because the Cardinals were blowing out the Titans. I'd consider Edmonds a potential RB2 in this strong matchup against a Vikings defense that allowed Joe Mixon to go off, while relegating Conner to a touchdown-dependent FLEX.
Cardinals WRs
Christian Kirk led the way with five receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns among Cardinals supporting wideouts. Rondale Moore had a solid debut, catching 4-of-5 targets for 68 yards. A.J. Green continued to be inefficient, catching only two of his six targets. Kirk (56.52%) and Green (79.71% snaps) out-snapped Moore (28.99%), which makes Moore's production look even more impressive. One of these players are likely to have a good game against an exploitable Vikings defense, but it's tough to bet on which one. Consider Kirk and Moore upside WR3/4s with Green as a volatile WR4. I expect Moore's snap count to increase throughout the season.
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Matchups We Love:
Calvin Ridley (WR, ATL)
Ridley had a disappointing season debut, catching 5-of-8 targets for 51 yards, but he goes up against a pass-funnel Tampa defense that forces opposing offenses to air it out all game due to their brick-wall of a run defense. Ridley should see a ton of volume in this one, especially with the Falcons likely playing catch-up all game as 12.5-point underdogs. While it's concerning to see how poorly this offense looked against Philly, the volume should help outweigh those concerns in this game.
Kyle Pitts (WR, ATL)
Pitts also disappointed fantasy players in his NFL debut, but it was encouraging to see him get eight targets. Like Ridley, Pitts will benefit from a pass-heavy game-script that we'll likely see from the Falcons in this one. The Bucs ranked 25th in fantasy points (PPR) allowed per game to tight ends last season. I would expect this dynamic rookie to have a breakout game here.
Tom Brady (QB, TB)
Brady looks like he hasn't missed a beat, completing 32-of-50 passes for 379 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions against the Cowboys. He gets another great matchup against a Falcons defense that just allowed Jalen Hurts to complete 77% of his passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Brady should be able to pick apart this defense, making him a high upside QB1 in this game.
Buccaneers WRs
Chris Godwin (98.46% snaps, 30.43% target share) led the way in Week 1. We can consider him a WR1 in this good matchup. Antonio Brown looked like his old self, catching 5-of-7 targets for 121 yards and a touchdown while leading the team with 144 air yards. He looks like a WR2 in this game. Mike Evans had a bad game, catching 3-of-6 targets for 24 yards, but we've seen how the squeaky wheel gets the grease in the next game. I expect Brady to get Evans more involved in this one. I think Evans will be the highest scoring Bucs' WR here.
Rob Gronkowski (TE, TB)
Wow, what a performance by Gronk in Week 1! The veteran tight end caught all eight of his targets for 90 yards and two touchdowns. It sure looks like that year off in 2019 did wonders for Gronk's health. He came on strong down the stretch last year and now with a full offseason, it looks like we need to consider Gronk as a Top-7 tight end going forward. He's still a major threat in the red-zone and we have to be encouraged by O.J. Howard's lack of usage. Fire him up in this great matchup.
Matchups We Hate:
Mike Davis (RB, ATL)
Davis looked like an inefficient plodder against the Eagles, totaling 49 yards on 15 carries. The good news is that he had six targets, but he only turned those into three catches for 23 yards. He's going to have a really tough time getting anything done on the ground against the Bucs here, as they allowed only 3.51 YPC last season. Perhaps Davis can salvage his day with some checkdown receptions. Wayne Gallman is looming and Cordarelle Patterson had seven carries for 54 yards. I'd be worried if I rostered Davis.
Russell Gage (WR, ATL)
Gage was a popular target due to Julio Jones' departure, but he was held catch-less in Week 1. Gage only had a 6.06% target share, which was lower than backup tight end Hayden Hurst. It's hard to really trust Gage going forward, although he could produce more in this pass-heavy game-script. I just don't see too much upside with this player, so I'm looking elsewhere at wide receiver.
Other Matchups:
Matt Ryan (QB, ATL)
Ryan looked awful against the Eagles, completing 21-of-35 passes for 164 yards. The only reason he's in the lukewarm section is because of the potential volume that he'll see against this pass-funnel Bucs' defense. This keeps him in play as a streamer, but he's super risky given how he's continued to really struggle without Julio Jones. If I was really hurting at quarterback, I'd consider using Ryan for one more week to see how it goes.
Buccaneers RBs
Leonard Fournette (64.62% snaps, nine attempts, seven targets) established himself as the main running back in this backfield. He's absolutely on the RB2 radar in a positive game-script with the Bucs as 12.5-point favorites. Ronald Jones was benched after an early fumble and coach Bruce Arians says that Jones will start in Week 2. I take that to mean that Jones will play the first series before giving way to Fournette. This is likely just a strategy used by Arians to instill more confidence into his young running back. Having said that, Jones is still an upside FLEX due to the game-script. Giovani Bernard needs to be on your bench for this one, as he's strictly a third-down or hurry-up offense back that will likely be sparingly used in this game.
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Chargers
Matchups We Love:
Dak Prescott (QB, DAL)
Prescott looked great in his return to action, completing 42-of-58 passes for 403 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception while also adding 13 yards on the ground. The Cowboys are going to air it out all year, which makes Dak an elite QB1 every week, including this projected shootout. The Chargers allowed 6.76 yards per attempt last season (6th), but the volume along with the fast-pace of this Cowboys offense outweighs those concerns.
Ezekiel Elliott (RB, DAL)
Zeke had a disappointing debut, limited to only 33 yards on 11 carries, but he still played 83.33% of the snaps. We can chalk up the poor performance to that elite Bucs run defense which is by far the best in the NFL. The Chargers just allowed Antonio Gibson to put up 90 yards on 20 carries, so Zeke has a good chance to bounce back here. We also need to increase the probability of a touchdown with this being such a projected shootout at 55.5 points. Zeke is back as an RB1 this week.
CeeDee Lamb (WR, DAL)
Lamb looked fantastic last week, catching 7-of-15 targets for 104 yards and a touchdown. He led the Cowboys with 159 air yards, giving him the highest upside among these wideouts. Lamb could even see an uptick in volume with the injury to Michael Gallup, which will keep him out for the next few weeks. In a shootout like this, Lamb needs to be considered an elite WR1. There's just too much upside here.
Amari Cooper (WR, DAL)
Cooper reminded the fantasy football community why he's a perennially underrated receiver, catching 13-of-16 targets for 139 yards and two touchdowns while leading the team in target share (28.07%). Like Lamb, Cooper will benefit from Gallup's absence. We need to consider Cooper a Top-10 wideout going forward because this Cowboys team just loves to air it out and play at a fast pace. This matters more than the Chargers performance against wideouts.
Justin Herbert (QB, LAC)
Herbert had a slow fantasy game, but he was impressive from a football perspective, completing 31-of-47 passes for 337 yards with one touchdown and one interception, leading his team to a huge road win against a tough Washington defense. Now he takes on an exploitable Cowboys defense in a game that will feature a ton of fireworks. Herbert looks like a Top-6 quarterback in this spot. Fire him up with confidence.
Austin Ekeler (RB, LAC)
Ekeler carried 15 times for 57 yards and a touchdown, but he didn't see a target in his debut. However, even if we see somewhat of a downgrade in targets under this new offensive scheme, Ekeler will still make an impact here, as he's one of the best receiving backs in the league. The more actionable part about his Week 1 performance is his red-zone usage. Ekeler had seven red-zone carries against Washington after averaging fewer than two per game in each of the last two seasons. If Ekeler now consistently sees red-zone carries, the sky is the limit. He's a clear-cut RB1 in this game.
Keenan Allen (WR, LAC)
Allen caught 9-of-13 targets in a tough matchup against Washington, demonstrating his high weekly floor. Now he's in a fantastic spot against the Cowboys. You have to love how narrowly distributed the targets are with this Chargers team. You also have to be encouraged by the 47 pass attempts in a neutral game-script from Justin Herbert. Allen is locked in as a WR1 in this mouth-watering matchup.
Mike Williams (WR, LAC)
Big Mike was talked up all offseason as a perfect fit in new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi's offense. Williams delivered in Week 1, catching 8-of-12 targets for 82 yards and a touchdown against Washington. Williams saw his average target depth decrease from 14.5 to 9.8, which is huge for his fantasy outlook going forward. This is because now Williams is seeing intermediate targets as opposed to being strictly used as a deep threat, which will allow him to see more catchable targets. You need to acquire Williams before it's too late because this looks like a WR2 that you can acquire at a WR3 price. He's in a great spot against the Cowboys here.
Matchups We Hate:
There are no matchups to hate in this game. This has the highest total on the slate with 55.5 points. Expect fireworks.
Other Matchups:
Cowboys TEs
Dalton Schultz (67.86% snaps, 10.53% target share) and Blake Jarwin (57.14% snaps, 7.02% target share) will eat into each other's value all season, but the pass-heavy nature of the Cowboys can allow for one of these players to have some fantasy value on a given week. While it'll be very difficult to predict which tight end will make an impact on a given week, this is a spot where you can use one if you're desperate because their touchdown probability is increased with the potential shootout.
Jared Cook (TE, LAC)
Cook looked great in his Chargers debut, catching 5-of-8 targets for 56 yards against Washington. He's definitely a Top-15 in this potential shootout. You have to love how he dominated the snap count (58.02%), target share (17.39%) and air yards (67) among Chargers tight ends. He's the clear-cut top option for them at the position, making him worth a start in this high-scoring game.
Tennessee Titans at Seattle Seahawks
Matchups We Love:
Derrick Henry (RB, TEN)
Henry was stymied by the Cardinals defense, limited to only 58 yards on 17 carries, but it was good to see him catch 3-of-4 targets for 19 yards. Perhaps we'll finally see Henry get a bit more usage in the passing game. The Titans offense was an absolute dumpster fire in Week 1, so perhaps they'll lean on the Big Dog to get them back on track here. This game projects as a shootout, so there's a good chance Henry will find the endzone with his high touchdown equity. The Seahawks run defense is tough, limiting Jonathan Taylor to 3.3 YPC last week, but the potential shootout means more for Henry.
A.J. Brown (WR, TEN)
Brown was the only Titan who somewhat met expectation in Week 1, catching 4-of-8 targets for 49 yards and a touchdown, with the trip to the endzone salvaging his fantasy production. He has a terrific matchup in this projected shootout against a Seahawks offense that tied for 27th in points allowed to wide receivers. Brown put up a 22.86% target share in Week 1, establishing himself as the clear-cut top option on the perimeter.
Russell Wilson (QB, SEA)
Russ looked fantastic against the Colts, completing 18-of-23 passes for 254 yards and four touchdowns. The issue here is the volume, as he only attempted 23 passes with the Seahawks controlling the game, but he demonstrated his hyper-efficiency by maintaining strong fantasy production. We can expect more of the same against a Titans defense that just got shredded by Kyler Murray. Fire up Russ as a high-end QB1 in this fantastic spot.
Chris Carson (RB, SEA)
Carson rushed 16 times for 91 yards while adding three receptions for 26 yards. It was encouraging to see this usage, as backup Rashaad Penny only had two carries with zero targets. Carson played 77.78% of the snaps, which was a significant increase from last season's total of 50.44%. Carson needs to be considered as an RB1 in this matchup with this type of usage, especially since the game projects as a high-scoring affair.
D.K. Metcalf (WR, SEA)
Metcalf had a slow game that was salvaged by a 30-yard touchdown later in the game, giving him a final line of four catches for 60 yards and a touchdown. He's in a great spot against a Titans defense that just allowed DeAndre Hopkins to go off for six receptions, 83 yards, and two touchdowns. Perhaps Metcalf's slow game was partly influenced by his calf injury, so monitor his injury status for this game. If he suits up, he's a high upside WR1.
Tyler Lockett (WR, SEA)
Lockett got off to a terrific start to his 2021 season, catching 4-of-5 targets for 100 yards and two touchdowns, demonstrating phenomenal efficiency. Perhaps the Seahawks will be forced to air it out more frequently in this projected shootout. Lockett needs to be considered as a WR1 whenever the Seahawks are playing in games with high totals, simply because the Seahawks targets are so narrowly distributed between himself and Metcalf.
Matchups We Hate:
There are no matchups to hate in this game, as it has a 54-point total, which is the second-highest on the slate.
Other Matchups:
Ryan Tannehill (QB, TEN)
Tannehill looked awful last week, completing 21-of-35 passes for only 212 yards with one touchdown and one interception. This is a fantastic spot in a projected shootout, but the poor performance has to give you some pause, especially since the Titans have a new offensive coordinator in Todd Downing and we saw how former OC Arthur Smith really revived Tannehill's career when he got to Tennessee. For that reason, Tannehill stays in the lukewarm section, but it wouldn't surprise me to see a bounce-back in this spot.
Julio Jones (WR, TEN)
It was a forgettable debut for Julio, as he was limited to only 29 yards on three receptions, as the entire Titans offense struggled against the Cardinals. Jones saw some disappointing usage, putting up a 17.14% target share with only 63 air yards. We'll give him a mulligan for this one considering the poor play of the entire unit, but we have to keep him in the lukewarm section, even in this strong matchup. Brown is the WR1 here, so Jones carries more risk.
Anthony Firkser (TE, TEN)
Firkser only caught three balls for 19 yards in Week 1, but he did see a modest 11.43% target share. He's the receiving tight end here with a chance to emerge as the number three option in this offense, although wide receiver Chester Rogers did show some flashes of potential with four catches for 62 yards. Keep an eye on Rogers because his emergence is bad news for Firkser. Both players are on the DFS radar in this shootout.
Gerald Everett (TE, SEA)
Everett was only targeted two times, but he turned those into 20 yards and a touchdown. There's a good chance that he'll be one of Wilson's preferred targets in the red-zone, giving him streamer appeal at tight end, especially in this high-scoring game. The one concern is that Will Dissly was also used, as he out-produced Everett with three receptions and 37 yards.
Matchups Analysis - Sunday Night Football
Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
Matchups We Love:
Patrick Mahomes (QB, KC)
Mahomes looked phenomenal against the Browns in Week 1, completing 27-of-36 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns. He takes on a Ravens defense that just gave up 435 yards to Derek Carr in a projected shootout with a 55.5-point total. When these teams met last season, Mahomes threw for 385 yards and four touchdowns while adding 26 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He's in a smash spot here, giving him an even higher ceiling than usual.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB, KC)
CEH had a disappointing performance last week, carrying 14 times for 43 yards with three receptions for 29 yards. However, it was encouraging to see that he played 72.31% of the snaps while dominating running back touches. The Ravens have a stout run defense, but last time these teams met, CEH put up five receptions with 130 total yards. He's a borderline RB1 in this projected shootout due to his high usage.
Tyreek Hill (WR, KC)
Hill went nuclear in Week 1, catching 11-of-15 targets for 197 yards and a touchdown against the Browns. He's in another great spot in this projected shootout against the Ravens. While Baltimore allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to wideouts last year, this is outweighed by the potential game-script. Hill should be considered an elite WR1 every week, but he has a higher ceiling in games like this one.
Travis Kelce (TE, KC)
Another game, another dominant Kelce performance, as the veteran tight end caught 6-of-7 targets for 76 yards and two touchdowns against the Browns. You can write in his name with a sharpie as the TE1 every single week, but his ceiling is even higher in this matchup. He's absolutely worth using as your team captain if you play the DFS single slate. Last time these teams met, Kelce put up six receptions for 87 yards.
Lamar Jackson (QB, BAL)
Jackson was under duress for much of Monday night's disappointing loss to the Raiders, but he still ran for 86 yards which helped salvage his fantasy production. Jackson will need to have a big game if the Ravens are to knock off the Chiefs and avoid an 0-2 start. He really struggled in last season's matchup, throwing for only 97 yards while rushing for 83, but we can expect a better performance here in a game that should be filled with fireworks.
Ravens WRs
You have to be encouraged with what you saw from Marquise Brown in Week 1. The third-year wideout played 69.12% of the snaps with a 20.69% target share. We also saw him used underneath more with an 8.0 aDOT, much lower than his 13.1 total from last year. Perhaps this will allow him to rack up more targets this year. You also have to like Sammy Watkins' usage and this is a revenge game for him against his former team. Watkins led the team in air yards (90) and target share (27.59%). Both players are viable WR3 options this week, with Brown carrying more upside.
Mark Andrews (TE, BAL)
Andrews had a disappointing debut, catching three balls for 20 yards while being out-targeted by Watkins and Brown. You have to think the Ravens get him a bit more involved in this one, in a game where we can project an uptick in passing volume with Lamar trying to go toe to toe with Mahomes. Andrews still runs routes at a very high rate. I would still consider Andrews a Top-5 tight end this week despite his poor game in Week 1.
Matchups We Hate:
There are no matchups to hate in this game. It has a 55.5-point total, so we'll likely see a ton of fireworks.
Other Matchups:
Chiefs WRs
Mecole Hardman (9.09% target share) led the way for supporting wideouts, but Demarcus Robinson (73.85% snaps) played more snaps and had more air yards (33 to 1). Hardman was used in more of an underneath role (0.3 aDOT). While Hardman has more upside in this game, it's hard to consider him as anything more than an extremely volatile WR4, even in a projected shootout. He should only be used in deep formats or DFS tournaments.
Ravens RBs
Ty'Son Williams (51.47% snaps, four targets) has more upside than Latavius Murray (30.88% snaps, zero targets), but the veteran got much more work in the second half. It appears that the Ravens trust Murray in pass protection more, which will cap Williams' upside all season. Having said that, Williams is a rookie back who performed well overall, rushing for 65 yards and a touchdown on only nine carries in his NFL debut. Consider Williams an upside FLEX with Murray as a touchdown-dependent desperation play.
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