RADIO
The first week of the 2020 NFL season was definitely a wild ride to begin the season. Things seemed to fall off the rails rather early in the week with player injuries and continued to be a guessing game from that point forward. With upper-echelon fantasy players like Miles Sanders and Kenny Golladay being out of the lineups, it caused fantasy players to dive into the reserves much earlier than they anticipated. This could've swung victories and losses very easily in the fantasy football world. But with the lack of preseason games, many of us were coming into the season wondering just how things would play out. Would snaps be split to prevent injuries early on? Or would we see the bell-cow players that we have been accustomed to seeing for several years?
Well, it seems as though we got our answers with the leaderboards being filled with the household names that we know and love. But there were a few exceptions to this to begin the year. Josh Allen currently is pacing all fantasy QBs in scoring, while we have surprising names such as Nyheim Hines and Robby Anderson inside their respective positions top-10. While teams continue to shake off the rust and find their groove, I expect to continue to see under the radar names score big in certain matchups.
This only prolongs the guessing game for fantasy players and makes lineup decisions even tougher.
With a week under our belts, I take a look at the numbers and give you my Woos and Boos for Week 2. These are the players that you normally would not find in your starting lineups, but with plus matchups, they could prove pivotal as you look to secure wins in Week 2. While the Boos are players that, although you may be starting them, could turn in subpar efforts based on difficult matchups.
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Week 2 Woos
Philip Rivers vs. Minnesota Vikings
Although he filled the stat sheet with yardage (363 passing yards), the inability for Rivers to find the end-zone led to a QB22 finish in Week 1. Even though he targeted the running backs quite a bit (14), his 7.9 YPA was among the top third in the NFL in the first week. Now heading into Week 2, he faces a Vikings secondary that was torched by Aaron Rodgers (30.56 FP). With the secondary in shambles, look for Rivers to continue the strong play and be a fringe QB1 on the week. He has the weapons to take advantage of the matchup, the hope is that this game is a potential back and forth affair.
Zack Moss @ Miami Dolphins
Week 1 was a very ho-hum effort for Moss (12 touches for 27 yards) that was bailed out by a receiving touchdown. He played 39 snaps (Devin Singletary had 51) but the rushing workload was split right down the middle. The efficiency wasn't there, but all signs are pointing up for Moss as the team continues to work him in. This week, he faces a Dolphins Defense that was gashed by Cam Newton a week ago. With another running QB on the plate this week (Josh Allen), look for the Dolphins to be a bit more conservative on defense, leaving more room to run for Moss in this game. I expect that he scores yet again this week making him a player worth a look as a low-end RB2/Flex in Week 2.
Kendrick Bourne @ New York Jets
Bourne had a quiet Week 1 (five targets, two catches for 34 yards) in a back and forth affair against the Cardinals. But he was on the field for 92% of the snaps (most among 49ers wideouts), meaning that the opportunities were there. In Week 2, the 49ers face a Jets secondary that made Josh Allen and the Bills offense look like one of the most explosive in the league. The defense surrendered the most red-zone targets in the NFL in Week 1 (7), an area that Bourne excels in. With George Kittle looking very iffy in this game, Bourne could be in store for a very good game and is a player worth sliding into the Flex with a plus matchup in Week 2.
Dan Arnold vs. Washington Football Team
Arnold, a trendy deep sleeper heading into the 2020 season, turned in a TE27 game in Week 1 with just two catches. Only on the field for 55% of the Cardinals offensive snaps, his involvement in the offense was low as Kyler Murray funneled most of the targets into DeAndre Hopkins. The opportunities for Arnold should easily go up in Week 2 against a Football Team defense that gave up a whopping 34.90 FP to the position last week. If Arnold can get onto the field for 65-70% of the snaps in this matchup, he could easily turn in a low-end TE1 week for fantasy players. Someone worth putting into your starting lineup if you stream at the position.
Week 2 Boos
Deshaun Watson vs. Baltimore Ravens
Even with the QB12 finish against the Chiefs in Week 1, Watson struggled throughout most of the matchup. The offensive line was a major issue as he struggled to get ample time to allow his receivers to get open. That could again be the case in Week 2 against a Ravens Defense that turned in a solid effort against the Browns in Week 1 (9.86 FP). The pass rush could be in Watson's face all day, disrupting his rhythm, and possibly leading to turnovers. Playing from behind could lead to some garbage time points, but Watson could be a player to pivot away from this week.
Melvin Gordon @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 1 was an up and down effort from Gordon in his Denver debut. Although he did score and finished as RB16 on the week, he also fumbled and was losing snaps to Phillip Lindsay before his injury. His six avoided tackles and 67 yards after contact were among the league's best a week ago, but don't expect to see that in Week 2. Gordon and the Broncos go on the road to face the stout Steelers Defense that stifled Saquon Barkley to open the season. Look for Gordon to find the going tough in this matchup, taking him out of the RB2 discussion and placing him into Flex consideration. If you have other options with better matchups, I would look to fill the void for the week.
D.J. Moore @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Moore started the 2020 season with a very subpar effort. The targets were there (9), but the production did not match (four catches for 54 yards). All of his receptions resulted in first downs, but Moore was unable to find open space as indicated by his 2.0 YAC per reception. In Week 2, the going may not be any easier as the Panthers face a tough Buccaneers Defense that allowed just 20.20 FP to the Saints to open the season. If Moore continues to split the target share (26%) with both Robby Anderson and Curtis Samuel, the production will falter. The game script could be in his favor this week, but the opportunities may not match up. Look for Moore to fail to live up to WR1 type numbers yet again this week in the difficult matchup.
T.J. Hockenson @ Green Bay Packers
Hockenson came out of the gates hot in Week 1 with a TE4 finish (five receptions for 56 yards and a score). He benefited from the absence of Kenny Golladay last week as he was the red-zone target for the team against the Bears. Although he converted a touchdown, he was still fourth on the team in target share (12%) as Stafford continued to look for his receivers on most pass plays. The matchup in Week 2 will be a tough one as the Lions head to Green Bay to face a Packers Defense that surrendered just 6.90 FP to the position a week ago. I don't expect to see Hockenson repeat TE1 numbers this week and fantasy players could find another option to stream at the position in Week 2.
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