Fantasy Football Risers and Fallers - Week 2 (2025)

September 11, 2025

Adam Koffler's fantasy football risers, fallers, sleepers, and busts heading into Week 2 of 2025. He identifies players at RB, WR, TE with rising and falling fantasy values.

And just like that, we are officially back with our fantasy football risers and fallers for Week 2! The opening week of the 2025 NFL season is in the books. We now have real data to work with, enabling us to make informed decisions for our fantasy teams moving forward.

While it's important not to overreact, it's crucial to analyze data and stay ahead of a trend, whether positive or negative. Just because someone scores a touchdown in Week 1 does not make them a riser heading into Week 2. And conversely, just because someone had a mediocre day doesn't make them a faller (i.e., Ashton Jeanty).

Below you'll find four of the top risers and four of the top fallers coming out of Week 1 as we look ahead to Week 2. We'll do this every week of the NFL season in hopes of keeping you ahead of the curve. Thanks for reading!

Week 2 Fantasy Football Risers

Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville backfield was the biggest mystery heading into the 2025 season. Would it be Etienne, Tank Bigsby, or rookie Bhayshul Tuten leading the charge?

After one game, the answer is clear: it's Etienne. And it became even more evident on Tuesday when the Jaguars traded Bigsby to the Eagles.

Etienne's 143 rushing yards in Week 1 were second behind only Derrick Henry. That was thanks in large part to a nice 71-yard run in which he showcased elite vision, patience, burst, and contact balance.

Travis Etienne goes 71 YARDS on the ground!

CARvsJAX on FOXhttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/tvsIl6cNNJ

— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025

Etienne finished the game with a 65.5% RB opportunity share. He also had a respectable 46% route rate and 10% target share. And, per NFL Next Gen Stats, Etienne was one of just three running backs to reach 20 miles per hour on a run in Week 1. He did that exactly zero times in 2024.

Tuten becomes a priority stash with Bigsby now gone, but this is Etienne's backfield until further notice after an impressive Week 1 performance.

Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts

In his first career NFL game, the rookie tight end out of Penn State led all tight ends in target share (31%) and targets per route run (0.39).

Per Fantasy Points Data, Warren was also second in yards per route run (3.30) behind only Brock Bowers, and second in first-read target share (30%) behind only Trey McBride. That kind of usage and efficiency is what dreams are made of at the tight-end position.

Rookie tight end Tyler Warren hauled in seven of his nine targets for 76 yards in his NFL debut against the Dolphins.

Warren lined up all over the formation, playing 33 snaps at tight end, nine in the slot, six out wide, and two snaps in the backfield.#MIAvsIND | #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/O86SH3aNTF

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 8, 2025

Warren even had a carry in Week 1. 10 opportunities right out of the gates for a rookie tight end is incredible. And he got double-digit opportunities despite having just a 73% snap share and 70% route rate in a positive game script.

The days of needing to wait a few years for tight ends to fully integrate into NFL offenses are officially over. Last year, it was Bowers; this year, it's Warren. A top-5 finish at the tight-end position is well within reach, and it wouldn't be shocking if he finished as the TE3 behind only Bowers and McBride this season.

Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Cleveland Browns

Yet another rookie tight-end riser. After being drafted by the Browns, many thought Fannin would play second fiddle to veteran tight end David Njoku.

But after just one game, we already have the answer to that question. Fannin lined up everywhere and looked every bit as elite as he did in his junior year at Bowling Green, where he posted 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Per Fantasy Points Data, Fannin was third among tight ends in expected fantasy points (16.4) and fourth in targets per route run (0.31). He bested Njoku in target share (20% vs. 11.1%), targets per route run (0.31 vs. 0.13), yards per route run (2.17 vs. 0.97), first-read target share (24% vs. 8%), and first downs per route run (0.103 vs. 0.026).

Like Warren, he did all of that in his first career NFL game. The difference with Fannin, however, is that he did that despite the presence of Njoku. Super, super impressive stuff. It's clear the Browns have a plan for their third-round pick, and you should, too.

Deebo Samuel Sr., WR, Washington Commanders

It took all of one game for people to get over the "slow Deebo" narrative from the offseason. He silenced all the critics with a WR6 finish in Week 1, going 7-77-0 on 10 targets with a 19-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep.

DEEEEEEEBO FOR 6️⃣

NYGvsWAS on FOXhttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/jnX4vSrL4D

— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025

Per Fantasy Points Data, Samuel ranked ninth among wide receivers in target share (33%), sixth in targets per route run (0.34), and 11th in first-read target share (36.4%).

Despite running fewer routes, he dominated teammate Terry McLaurin, fresh off a hefty contract extension, in both utilization and efficiency. Samuel finished the week fifth in fantasy points per route run (0.78), whereas McLaurin ranked 72nd (0.15) in that category.

He was used all over the field and put in motion numerous times. It was abundantly clear that the Commanders came into Week 1 with a plan, and it was to maximize their prized offseason pickup. McLaurin could eat into Samuel's role a bit going forward, but don't expect the Commanders' new slot/gadget guy to be phased out of the offense. Deebo is here to stay.

Other Fantasy Football Risers:

• Kayshon Boutte
• Keon Coleman
• Javonte Williams
• Dylan Sampson
• Marquise Brown
• Travis Hunter
• Elic Ayomanor
• Chris Olave
• Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Week 2 Fantasy Football Fallers

Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Walker battled a foot injury this offseason. Whether or not that affected his Week 1 performance isn't clear. What is clear, however, is the backfield split between him and Zach Charbonnet.

Walker technically "started" the game, but it was Charbonnet who led the backfield with 12 rush attempts to Walker's 10. And Charbonnet was the one who found more success as well.

There was a lot of talk this summer about how Klint Kubiak's zone run scheme was good news for Walker. But his success rate on those types of runs in Week 1 was 66.7% compared to Charbonnet's 87.5% (per Fantasy Points Data).

Walker also ran one fewer route than Charbonnet (8 vs. 9). His route participation was just 32% in Week 1, compared to 46% in 2024. PFF gave Walker the 26th-highest grade in Week 1, while Charbonnet received the 12th-highest grade at the position. Walker might be limited early in the season, but Charbonnet is ready to earn more work with every rep he gets with Walker off the field.

Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins

Where to even start? The offseason vibes were horrible, and unfortunately for Hill managers, they carried over into the regular season.

The Dolphins possessed the football for a league-low 21 minutes in Week 1. Per Fantasy Points Data, Hill logged a route rate of just 58.3%. Not great if you're looking to accumulate fantasy points! And he was visibly agitated on the sidelines when things weren't going the team's (or his) way.

All is well in Miami. Mike McDaniel: 49ers Senior Advisor by Thanksgiving. pic.twitter.com/f9szdFmQvy

— Ollie Connolly (@OllieConnolly) September 7, 2025

Dating back to last season, Hill has failed to eclipse 40 yards and four receptions in four of his last five games. He also hasn't had a reception over 30 yards since Week 1 of the 2024 season. Just two years ago, Hill averaged a ridiculous 15.1 yards per catch.

We're now a long way removed from Hill's historic 2023 season. Not only is this not the same player, but it's not the same Dolphins offense. They look lost. Tua Tagovailoa has trouble under pressure and won't push the ball downfield.

Oh, and on top of all of that, Hill is now also being accused of domestic violence. Again, the vibes are bad down in South Beach.

David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns

This feels a little like cheating, but I'm going to do it anyway. Njoku is a faller as a direct result of Fannin being a riser. The reason I'm highlighting Njoku here as a top faller is because I've gotten numerous questions asking which Browns tight end is the one to roster going forward. My answer is a resounding "Fannin."

As highlighted above, the rookie saw a 24% first-read target share in his first career NFL game. Njoku was at just 8%. Yes, Njoku still had six targets, but he wasn't nearly as involved in the game plan as his rookie counterpart.

Only the most elite tight ends come out and produce like this right out of the gates. Fannin did just that, and it came at the expense of Njoku. Another tight end being able to run routes like this in the middle of the field spells trouble for Njoku.

Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions

I was in on Jamo heading into the 2025 season, but after Week 1, I'm officially 5/10 concerned. And it's due to a combination of factors.

It appears Ben Johnson was great for Williams once he became a full-time player. Last season, he closed the gap on first-read target share with Amon-Ra St. Brown (23% vs. 31.6%).

But in Week 1, with new offensive coordinator John Morton, Jamo's first-read target share sat at just 9.5%, fifth on the team behind Sam LaPorta, St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, and even Kalif Raymond. With a new OC calling the plays, it's important to get a feel for how they want to distribute targets, and first reads are a big part of that.

Additionally, we've heard all offseason how Gibbs would be more involved in the passing game. That came to fruition in Week 1, with "Sonic" earning 10 targets. Gibbs also had an astronomically high 0.38 targets per route run, which speaks to his ability to earn targets. That will inevitably siphon targets away from other pass-catchers (including Williams and St. Brown).

Not only is Williams competing with the aforementioned players, but he'll also have to fend off another athletic freak in Isaac TeSlaa, who the Lions want to get more involved in the offense starting in Week 2.

WHAT A CATCH BY ISAAC TESLAA

DETvsGB on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/AKjxdJGvfM

— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025

There are too many mouths to feed on an offense destined for regression in the post-Ben Johnson era.

Other Fantasy Football Fallers:

• Travis Kelce
• Isiah Pacheco
• Alvin Kamara
• Josh Downs
• Evan Engram
• Terry McLaurin

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