Week 2 Recap: Patriots Offense, Struggling Stars, Rookie Decisions & More! (09/21 Fantasy Football Podcast)

A.J. Brown's high ankle sprain is a significant concern, as it appears more severe than typical cases that allow for quick returns. There is skepticism regarding his ability to return to his expected form, leading to a recommendation to offload shares of him in fantasy leagues.

Antonio Williams is a strong wide receiver stash. He is seeing increased playing time, is highly productive in yards per route run (12th among WRs), and is highly regarded by the coaching staff.

Bijan Robinson is a phenomenal player who will remain a fantasy starter due to his high volume of touches and catches. While his ceiling is currently capped by inconsistent quarterback play, he has historically produced even in poor offensive environments. There is no reason to panic or trade him, as he is expected to stabilize once the Falcons' quarterback situation improves.

Bucky Irving is emerging as a key player, ranking sixth in the NFL in yards after contact. He is seeing significant red-zone usage, including a designed touchdown run, and is expected to win out as the primary back.

Chris Olave is shredding defenses and looks uncoverable; if he stays healthy, he is projected to be a league-winning pick at wide receiver.

Colston Loveland led the team in route participation in Week 1, but his usage dipped in Week 2, potentially due to increased blocking requirements against a blitz-heavy defense.

David Montgomery played fewer snaps than Woody Marks in Week 2, even in the first half, and has struggled with efficiency, totaling 26 carries for 70 yards. His fantasy outlook is tied to the team's offensive performance, specifically the presence of Nico Collins.

Njoku is noted for a critical error where he failed to secure a perfect pass from Herbert, instead tipping it into the air for an interception, which contributed to the team's offensive struggles.

Devon Achane's usage is a major concern; despite being the best running back on the team, he is splitting work with Alvin Kamara and saw only two touches compared to Kamara's ten in the recent game.

Devon Achane is expected to remain a viable fantasy asset despite a slow start and concerns about the Dolphins' offense. While he is currently not a top-12 running back, he maintains a high expected fantasy points (XFP) role, ranking 12th on the year. The thesis remains that his elite talent and projected 300+ touches will provide value over the full season, even if efficiency is hampered by poor team performance.

George Pickens remains skeptical of Devon Achane, noting that his yards per carry have declined significantly (3.3 to 3.7) and his target volume has been inconsistent. He is viewed as a 'dead zone' back with limited safety.

Denzel Boston is a buy candidate who has demonstrated excellent timing and rapport with Deshaun Watson on third downs. He has shown the ability to win on various route types, including back-shoulders, fades, and deep in-cuts. Despite some fluky production, his role in Todd Monken's offense makes him a player of high interest.

Drake Maye is showing promise on tape despite the Patriots' offensive line struggles and lack of elite playmakers. While he is not currently a recommended start due to difficult upcoming matchups and a lack of rushing production, his processing and pocket presence are encouraging. He is a player to monitor, especially if the team's offensive efficiency improves.

George Pickens' target per route run rate is actually higher than it was last year, which is a positive indicator for his usage.

George Pickens remains a top-15 wide receiver candidate. George Pickens believes in his upside due to the team's high-octane passing offense and Dak Prescott's ability to process defenses and find open receivers when coverage shifts to CeeDee Lamb.

George Pickens remains a strong fantasy asset with a 21% target share and an increased target-per-route-run rate. Despite the Steelers' offense currently ranking among the lowest in total plays, the team leads the NFL in pass rate over expectation and plays at a fast pace, suggesting the current low volume is a result of game script rather than scheme. Pickens is capable of succeeding even on go routes, which have comprised 34.4% of his routes so far.

Jadarian Price's fantasy outlook is becoming 'scary' as his role appears clearly defined and limited. With Zach Charbonnet returning, Price's path to meaningful touches is narrow, making him a difficult start.

Despite limited usage, there is optimism that Jeremiah Love could emerge as a 'hot hand' in the backfield. He is viewed as a more explosive player than Tyler Allgeier, though he currently lacks the route-running and pass-blocking trust from coaches.

Jonathan Taylor is averaging 28 points per game and is heavily utilized in the red zone, as the Colts have run the ball on five of their six plays from the five-yard line or closer.

Josh Downs is viewed as the best wide receiver on the Colts/Chiefs teams rest of season; he consistently gets open and earned nine targets on 31 pass attempts, showing a terrific target share.

Herbert is struggling with an offensive line that cannot block, leading to a 'panic mode' where he is missing reads and looking uncomfortable in the pocket. Despite being accurate for most of the game, he has been plagued by drops from receivers and poor offensive design that forces long-developing play-action passes behind a weak interior line.

Keenan Allen saw minimal playing time in Week 2 despite an injury to Alec Pierce, suggesting he may no longer be a primary contributor. If he cannot command targets, Josh Downs is expected to become the primary productive receiver.

Kenneth Walker is considered the best running back rest of season between the Chiefs and Colts; he is in the mix for RB1 overall if he stays healthy, functioning like a Jonathan Taylor on a better team with more targets (16 targets vs. Taylor's 8).

McConkey is considered a very good player by the analysts, though there are concerns regarding his health and usage, specifically his route participation and the team's apparent effort to protect him when he runs routes over the middle.

Mike Evans has a hip injury that is not expected to be serious, but his upcoming schedule against Denver and Seattle makes him a questionable start in weeks four and five.

Parker Washington has been highly efficient, averaging nearly four yards per route run over his last six games. He has been consistent, scoring at least 15 points per game in that span, though his usage fluctuated in Week 2.

Johnston is playing without confidence, and his concentration drops have returned for the second consecutive week. This regression is a major concern, as it mirrors the unconfident play seen during his rookie season.

Quinshon Judkins has seen increased involvement in the passing game, running more than 40% of routes in four straight games. While his overall fantasy production is depressed, these usage trends are a positive sign.

Rashee Rice is not a must-start player; his target per route run rate has dropped significantly from 30% to 11%, and his average route depth remains low, limiting his fantasy ceiling.

The analysts are down on Travis Etienne, moving him behind players like Bucky Irving and David Montgomery. There is skepticism regarding his touchdown upside compared to Montgomery, and concerns that his receiving work will decrease with Kamara back in the mix.

Travis Kelce is still the preferred tight end option rest of season, looking like the best player on the Chiefs offense and receiving more first-read targets.

Tyler Allgeier continues to see significant route participation (18 routes in Week 2) and carries, likely due to his superior understanding of the playbook and pass-blocking reliability compared to younger backs like Jeremiah Love.

Tyler Warren is being used in a gimmicky role with a very low 0.83 aDOT, primarily catching screens and design reads rather than intermediate routes; however, he is heavily involved in the red zone with three of the Colts' seven red zone targets.

Xavier Worthy is worth holding onto as he is being used as a short-area target and a 'better version of Rashee Rice' in the current Chiefs offense.