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| Tuesday, September 14, 2021 |
| Welcome to Week 2, or as I like to call it, "Overreaction Week!" |
| It's hard not to overreact after the first games for most of these players in nine months, and you probably need to overreact to at least a certain extent -- being passive around early-season trends can leave you behind the pack. Your opinions on players shouldn't necessarily shift dramatically after an offseason of research, but there's a lot of value in being able to identify where our preseason expectations were just flat out wrong and knowing how to react to that. |
| Today's newsletter is all about re-establishing expectations as well as helping you make the right moves to react to what we just saw in Week 1. But first, a quick rundown of all of the Week 1 injuries we'll need to keep an eye on this week: |
| Raheem Mostert (knee) -- Mostert is expected to miss about eight weeks a cartilage injury in his right knee. More about his replacements in the waiver-wire section. Jerry Jeudy (ankle) -- We're still waiting for a firm diagnosis, but it is believed to be a high-ankle sprain, which usually carries with it at least a multi-week absence. But his season is not over, thankfully. Ryan Fitzpatrick (hip) -- It seems like we're going to be counting this absence in months, not weeks. Taylor Heinicke figures to step in as the starting QB.Michael Gallup (calf) -- Gallup was placed on IR and will miss at least three weeks -- and the injury could stretch as long as five. Rashaad Penny (calf) -- Penny has been dealing with this injury for a little while and is expected to be shut down for a few weeks, per reports. Alex Collins will be the primary backup to Chris Carson. |
| For more on the latest news, make sure you tune in to Fantasy Football Today on CBS Sports HQ at noon ET, and for help locking in your waiver-wire claims join Jamey Eisenberg, Adam Aizer, and I on the FFT YouTube stream tonight at 8 p.m., where we'll be taking your questions live for an hour. And, if you want to take one last look back at Week 1 before you move ahead, check out my Week 1 Winners and Losers column here, where I break down every game, including Monday's wild game between the Raiders and Ravens. |
| Here's what we've got on tap in today's newsletter: |
| ➕Top Week 2 Waiver Wire Targets📈Week 2 Rankings📉 |
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| ➕Top Week 2 Waiver Wire Targets |
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| There is going to be a frenzy on the waiver wire ahead of Week 2, and you need to know how to best allocate your resources. Jamey Eisenberg's Waiver Wire column is up and ready for you to get all the help you need. Here are the top targets for this first waiver run of the regular season: |
| Jamey Eisenberg's top targets |
| Elijah Mitchell (6% rostered) -- Mitchell took over after Mostert's injury in Week 1 and looked great in his NFL debut. He figures to be the lead back moving forward, though don't drop fellow rookie Trey Sermon just yet -- he'll probably be active in Week 2. Mitchell may require 40% of your FAB budget to acquire, but unless I'm desperate for a No. 2 RB, I'd probably pass at that price. He's fine for 25%. Nyheim Hines (65%) -- Full disclosure: Hines was also one of the top waiver targets coming out of Week 1 last season too when he had seven carries for 28 yards and a touchdown on the ground along with eight catches on eight targets for 45 yards and a score. But this time is different ... right?Mike Williams (63%) -- Williams has shown flashes, but never quite like what he did in Week 1 when the Chargers used him like more than just a deep threat and he responded with a big performance. He could be in line for a huge breakout. Sterling Shepard (29%) -- I'm not quite sure I buy Shepard being able to remain a starting-caliber Fantasy option as the rest of the Giants offense gets healthy, but he was clearly undervalued coming into the season. Juwan Johnson (3%) -- Johnson caught two touchdowns in Week 1, but didn't play a huge role otherwise. Hopefully that changes moving forward, but make sure to check if he has TE eligibility in your league before adding him; he doesn't have much appeal otherwise. |
| One (more) target for each position |
| QB: Tyrod Taylor (9%) -- Taylor looked pretty great in Week 1, albeit against a very soft Jaguars defense. Still, his rushing abilities make him a No. 2 Fantasy QB. RB: Mark Ingram (32%) -- It took a perfect storm to get Ingram to an RB19 finish in Week 1, but he's a lead back on a run-first team, so he should be on someone's roster. WR: Tim Patrick (9%) -- My initial reaction to Jeudy's injury was to add KJ Hamler , and while I still like him, I think I'd prioritize Patrick, who had a seven-game stretch in 2020 where he put up a 16-game pace of 69-1166-7. He's better than you think.TE: David Njoku (2%) -- Njoku played a surprisingly big role in Week 1 and looked really good, earning a handful of deep targets and leading the tight end position with 92 air yards. He ran more routes than Austin Hooper and could emerge as the better Fantasy option of the two. |
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| 📈Week 2 Rankings Preview📉 |
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| I try not to be too reactionary coming off Week 1, but I'll try to highlight the biggest movers at each position. I've also written about many of the players and my justifications for their rankings at each position, so click on each position for more of my thoughts. Those pages will also be updated throughout the week, so keep the links handy. These are all for PPR leagues: |
| Quarterbacks |
| The thing about quarterback is, there's a clear top 10 at the position, and they really stand out right now. Beyond them, you're talking about a point in my projections separating No. 12 from No. 23. Which means there is going to be a lot of movement from one week to the next, without a player's value actually changing. That being said, Jameis Winston and Teddy Bridgewater are big risers, while I'm feeling pretty pessimistic about Ben Roethlisberger and Carson Wentz after Week 1. For more of my thoughts on the quarterback rankings, head here. |
| Lamar JacksonPatrick MahomesRussell WilsonJosh AllenTom BradyKyler MurrayDak PrescottAaron RodgersJalen Hurts Justin HerbertMatthew StaffordRyan TannehillKirk CousinsJoe BurrowDerek CarrJameis WinstonTua TagovailoaTaylor HeinickeBaker MayfieldTyrod Taylor Teddy BridgewaterMatt RyanMac JonesSam DarnoldJimmy GaroppoloAndy DaltonTrevor LawrenceCarson WentzJared GoffBen RoethlisbergerZach Wilson Daniel Jones |
| Running backs |
| Joe Mixon confirmed all of my expectations in Week 1, so while he may be moving up for everyone else, he stays put at RB4 for me. Austin Ekeler hasn't really moved down yet, but if he doesn't get involved in the passing game this week, I'm going to start panicking. I came away from Week 1 pretty pleased with Clyde Edwards-Helaire's role, and a healthy D'Andre Swift looks like he might be the best pick in Fantasy this season. On the opposite end, I dropped James Robinson from the top-12 to fringe No. 2 status, and he could fall further than that. For more of my thoughts on the running back rankings, head here. |
| Christian McCaffreyAlvin KamaraDalvin CookJoe MixonNajee HarrisAaron JonesAustin EkelerNick ChubbDerrick Henry Clyde Edwards-HelaireAntonio GibsonChris CarsonJonathan TaylorD'Andre SwiftDavid MontgomeryEzekiel ElliottSaquon BarkleyMyles GaskinDarrell Henderson Kareem HuntMiles SandersMike DavisJames RobinsonChase EdmondsMelvin GordonJamaal WilliamsJosh JacobsDevin SingletaryElijah MitchellDamien Harris Javonte WilliamsKenyan DrakeNyheim HinesLatavius MurrayLeonard FournetteJ.D. McKissicTy'Son WilliamsJames ConnerJames WhiteDavid JohnsonA.J. Dillon Ronald JonesMark IngramTevin ColemanGiovani BernardCordarrelle PattersonCarlos HydeMichael CarterTony PollardTrey SermonKenneth GainwellTy Johnson Tony JonesLarry RountreeJeremy McNicholsMalcolm BrownPhillip LindsayDamien WilliamsDarrel WilliamsDevontae Booker |
| Wide receivers |
| Wide receiver rankings shouldn't fluctuate quite as much as running back after one week, because WR usage tends to fluctuate from week to week without necessarily indicating a change in value or role. That being said, I'm more confident in DJ Chark, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle and Ja'Marr Chase this week, and I'm less confident in Julio Jones, Terry McLaurin, and Robby Anderson. For more of my thoughts on the wide receiver rankings, head here. |
| Davante AdamsTyreek HillDeAndre HopkinsStefon DiggsCalvin RidleyAllen RobinsonTyler LockettD.K. MetcalfAmari Cooper A.J. BrownJustin JeffersonKeenan AllenCooper KuppChris GodwinCeeDee LambRobert WoodsD.J. MooreMike EvansAntonio BrownJulio Jones Deebo SamuelTerry McLaurinDiontae JohnsonAdam ThielenCorey DavisBrandin CooksMike WilliamsJarvis LandryJaylen WaddleJa'Marr ChaseDJ Chark Robby AndersonSterling ShepardDeVonta SmithJakobi MeyersTee HigginsCourtland SuttonJuJu Smith-SchusterWill FullerKenny GolladayMarquise BrownTyler Boyd Laviska ShenaultMecole HardmanChase ClaypoolBrandon AiyukMarvin JonesEmmanuel SandersTim PatrickCole BeasleyMarquez CallawayBryan Edwards Michael PittmanDevante ParkerRondale MooreSammy WatkinsMarquez Valdes-ScantlingHenry RuggsDarnell MooneyNelson Agholor |
| Tight ends |
| The big question at the position after Week 1 is whether T.J. Hockenson is truly ready to join the elite of the position. I'll need to see more, but it was a heck of a start. I'm not at all concerned about Kyle Pitts or Mark Andrews, but I do have some concerns about Jonnu Smith after his disappointing usage in Week 1. For more of my thoughts on the tight end rankings, head here. |
| Travis KelceDarren WallerGeorge KittleT.J. HockensonMark AndrewsKyle PittsLogan ThomasTyler HigbeeJonnu Smith Noah FantRob GronkowskiDallas GoedertHunter HenryAustin HooperJared CookRobert TonyanWill DisslyZach ErtzDavid NjokuJuwan Johnson Tyler KroftAnthony FirkserCole KmetDalton SchultzBlake JarwinAdam TrautmanKyle RudolphGerald EverettMike GesickiHayden Hurst |
| Top-150 Flex Rankings |
| Christian McCaffreyAlvin KamaraDalvin CookJoe MixonDavante AdamsTyreek HillDeAndre HopkinsStefon DiggsNajee Harris Aaron JonesAustin EkelerTravis KelceNick ChubbDerrick HenryCalvin RidleyClyde Edwards-HelaireAntonio GibsonChris CarsonDarren WallerJonathan Taylor Allen RobinsonD'Andre SwiftDavid MontgomeryTyler LockettEzekiel ElliottD.K. MetcalfAmari CooperSaquon BarkleyA.J. BrownJustin JeffersonKeenan Allen Cooper KuppChris GodwinCeeDee LambGeorge KittleMyles GaskinRobert WoodsDarrell HendersonD.J. MooreMike EvansKareem HuntMiles Sanders Mike DavisAntonio BrownJulio JonesDeebo SamuelTerry McLaurinJames RobinsonDiontae JohnsonAdam ThielenCorey DavisT.J. HockensonBrandin Cooks Chase EdmondsMike WilliamsJarvis LandryMelvin GordonJaylen WaddleJa'Marr ChaseDJ CharkRobby AndersonMark AndrewsSterling ShepardDeVonta Smith Kyle PittsJakobi MeyersTee HigginsJamaal WilliamsJosh JacobsDevin SingletaryCourtland SuttonJuJu Smith-SchusterElijah MitchellWill FullerKenny Golladay Marquise BrownTyler BoydLaviska ShenaultDamien HarrisMecole HardmanChase ClaypoolJavonte WilliamsKenyan DrakeLogan ThomasBrandon AiyukMarvin Jones Emmanuel SandersNyheim HinesLatavius MurrayTim PatrickCole BeasleyMarquez CallawayTyler HigbeeLeonard FournetteJonnu SmithBryan EdwardsNoah Fant Michael PittmanDevante ParkerRondale MooreRob GronkowskiJ.D. McKissicSammy WatkinsTy'Son WilliamsJames ConnerMarquez Valdes-ScantlingJames WhiteHenry Ruggs Darnell MooneyNelson AgholorAJ GreenJalen ReagorDavid JohnsonA.J. DillonHunter HenryDallas GoedertDarius SlaytonChristian KirkAustin Hooper Ronald JonesElijah MooreJared CookRobert TonyanGabriel DavisMark IngramRussell GageWill DisslyDavid NjokuJuwan JohnsonTevin Coleman Giovani BernardCordarrelle PattersonDyami BrownCarlos HydeTerrace MarshallZach ErtzMichael CarterTony PollardTyler KroftZach PascalAnthony Firkser Trey SermonDalton SchultzParris CampbellBlake JarwinAllen LazardAdam TrautmanKenneth GainwellCole KmetDemarcus Robinson |
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