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Matthew Golden Brings WR2 Upside Into Week 2 Test Against Jets
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden enters Week 2 with legitimate breakout appeal after commanding a team-high 12 targets in the season opener against Minnesota. Golden turned that volume into six receptions for 95 yards while accounting for 28.6% of Jordan Love's pass attempts, an encouraging sign that his role may have expanded entering Year 2. The key question is whether that usage holds in a crowded receiving corps if Green Bay's pass volume drops from Love's 42 attempts in Week 1. New York held Tennessee to 140 passing yards in Week 1 and blitzed on 46.2% of its defensive snaps. That aggressive approach could test a Packers offensive line with Aaron Banks and Zach Bako-Bewele both listed as questionable. The Jets will also be without safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (groin). Golden still has to compete with Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Tucker Kraft for targets, so another 12-target game is far from guaranteed. Even so, his expanded perimeter role gives him enough weekly upside to finish as a WR2. RotoBaller ranks him WR30, and he belongs in the WR3/high-end FLEX range. In DFS, Golden makes sense as a tournament stacking partner with Love.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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Alec Pierce A Deep League Start, Still Working Back From Injury
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) recovered enough from an offseason surgery on his lower leg to play in his team's Week 1 contest. He hauled in four of his six targets for 61 yards in that game, totaling 10.1 PPR fantasy points. He's reprising his role as one of the best deep threats in the NFL, as he's averaged over 20 yards per reception each season over the last two seasons. When healthy, he's the clear WR1 for his team, and he's likely to continue to improve as the season goes on. There was a lot of skepticism about his potential return to health this year, as he was held out of practice and visibly limping as recently as a few weeks before the season started. Week 2 presents a difficult matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs defense. Pierce seems to be doing well, though Colts quarterback Daniel Jones is also working back from an injury, and will need to be on top of his game for Pierce to have a great day. The fifth-year wideout checks in as a risky WR3/flex in fantasy football for this contest.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Greg Dulcich Only Worth Playing in Extremely Deep Leagues
Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich played the vast majority of snaps at the position in Week 1, logging 77% of snaps against the Raiders. He only had two targets from QB Malik Willis, though, catching both of those passes for 18 yards. His third-round rookie backup, Will Kacmarek, didn't haul in his only target, so even though Dulcich didn't put up great numbers, he appears to have a firm grasp on the starting job in Miami. However, the Dolphins' run-first offense isn't likely to create enough volume to make him a good fantasy option unless he gets into the end zone. He is only the No. 28 TE in RotoBaller's Week 2 rankings, so even though he's starting for Miami, he probably should be left on the waiver wire in standard leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jonathan Taylor A Fantasy RB1 Even In Tough Week 2 Matchup
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is a must-start running back with RB1 overall potential in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs. "RB1 overall potential" is a bit of a formality in this case, as without pass-catching upside and against a defense that absolutely dominated in Week 1, it may be tough sledding for Taylor. However, he's one of the NFL's best running backs when healthy, and he scored 25.1 PPR fantasy points in Week 1 by rushing 19 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns and catching three of his four targets for 23 yards. He lost a fumble in that game, but the Colts won't stop giving him the ball because of it. The only thing he "lacks" from a fantasy perspective is elite receiving upside -- he doesn't get fed passes like RBs Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs of the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions do. And Taylor is a game script-sensitive player, as he tends to have his monster games in wins. Still, there isn't a world in which Taylor shouldn't be locked in to starting lineups as an RB in fantasy football for Week 2, and his upside is fantastic.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ka'imi Fairbairn Is a Fringe Starter in Week 2
Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn knocked through a 58-yard field goal in Week 1 and converted all four of his extra point attempts in his team's 36-31 loss to the Bills. He'll be at home at Reliant Stadium for a second straight week in Week 2 against the Bengals, who showed huge improvement on defense in Week 1 against the Bengals. The Texans' offense will be without star WR Nico Collins (hamstring), which lowers the team's overall scoring potential a bit. Even with a slightly lower ceiling, Fairbairn is still consistent enough to be a starter in most leagues, especially since he's kicking indoors. He checks in as RotoBaller's K No. 13 for Week 2.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ryan Flournoy A WR4 For Week 2 vs Commanders
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy received praise last season for a handful of breakout games he put on film. But he's potentially the fourth (or fifth) option in the passing game for a team that features WRs CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, tight end Jake Ferguson, and running back Javonte Williams. Flournoy is an ancillary piece in this offense, and would need to join a different team to have more opportunities in the passing game if none of those other players got injured. Another option would be the Cowboys offense having a gargantuan day against the Washington Commanders, their opponent in Week 2. The problem with that is that their Week 1 performance suggests that NFL defenses may have adjusted to Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer's offensive schemes. The results of that wouldn't be pretty. Flournoy should continue to be stashed in dynasty fantasy football leagues, but in normal size redraft leagues, he's better off on waivers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Javonte Williams An RB1 In Week 2 vs Commanders
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams was the only player that had a great day for fantasy football in Week 1 against the New York Giants. He rushed 12 times for 41 yards and a touchdown and caught all five of his targets for 31 yards and another score. The touchdowns saved his day from a fantasy perspective, but being a team's clear No. 1 goal line back with very little competition in the backfield tends to do that. He also has an excellent receiving role, and Dallas doesn't have a high-end pass-catching back to take that away from him. He figures to be plenty involved in the offense in Week 2, as Dallas is facing the Washington Commanders, who had a very porous defense last season. Williams scored double-digit PPR fantasy points in both games against them last season, and should see another heavy workload in a must-win home matchup with a bitter divisional rival. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer is in his second year as the leader of this team, and this game will go a long way in telling whether his offense has been "solved" by NFL defenses after just one season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Texans D/ST Is a Top-Ten Option in Potential Bounce Back
The Houston Texans D/ST was expected to be one. of the best options for fantasy football, but in Week 1, they had a very tough matchup against the Bills and Josh Allen. They allowed 36 points and only managed two sacks and no takeaways in a disappointing showing, but they'll be in a slightly better spot this week against the Bengals and Joe Burrow. Cincinnati scored 33 points in Week 1 against the Bucs with one interception and just one sack allowed. Houston's defense is still stacked with playmakers and brings an elite pass rush, so they are ranked as the No. 9 D/ST in RotoBaller's Week 2 rankings. Even in a less-than-ideal matchup, they are a top-10 option at home this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rashod Bateman Poised to Lead Receiving Corps in Week 2
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman is expected to be the Ravens' primary wide receiver during their home opener in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints. Bateman played 80% of Baltimore's offensive snaps in their 41-23 Week 1 win over the Indianapolis Colts and, most importantly, posted an 85% snap share before halftime when both Zay Flowers (hamstring) and Ja'Kobi Lane (wrist) were still in the game. With Flowers doubtful for Sunday and Lane on IR, Bateman sits atop the wide receiver depth chart in Week 2. Even though he was only targeted once on his 26 total routes, which were the most run on the team, and failed to record a reception in Week 1, Bateman has the clearest path to fantasy relevance among all Ravens wide receivers against the Saints. Last week against the Detroit Lions, the Saints gave up over 30 fantasy points to the wide receiver position and 204 total passing yards, which demonstrates the Saints defense is exploitable through the air. The sixth-year receiver had a down year, as did much of the Ravens' offense, in 2025, but Bateman logged six WR2 performances or better in 2024, proving that he has the capacity to provide fantasy value. Nonetheless, Bateman is a fringe WR4/Flex option in Week 2 and is best suited for managers in deep leagues.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Brandon Aubrey Still A Starting Fantasy Kicker For Week 2
Dallas Cowboys placekicker Brandon Aubrey is still worth starting in fantasy football lineups in Week 2. The Cowboys will play at home, where they tend to do well on offense, against the Washington Commanders on Sunday. Last season, Aubrey scored a whopping 34 fantasy points across two contests against this divisional rival, making him an absolute must-start in those games. That was when Dallas' offense was firing on all cylinders, though. Hopefully, their Week 1 performance was just an aberration, or a slow start on the road before returning home to get back on track. Aubrey's magical first season was followed by a decline in accuracy for his second two seasons, but he still was one of the more accurate kickers in the NFL. Of greater concern is the Cowboys offense and defense overall -- their defense was unable to get the Giants off the field in Week 2, leading the Giants to grind out long drives and Dallas to only see two possessions in the second half. Aubrey may no longer be the elite kicker option he once was in fantasy, but he could still be attached to a good offense, and is start-worthy in fantasy for Week 2.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dalton Schultz Is a Low-End TE1 Without Nico Collins
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz was already a featured piece in his team's passing game, but with Nico Collins (hamstring) ruled out for Week 2, he becomes an even better option with more opportunity to post a monster game against the Bengals. Schultz had Houston's second-most targets and catches in Week 1, behind only Collins, snagging four of his eight opportunities for 35 yards. He doesn't typically stretch the field with big gains, but he is a consistent PPR producer with a large enough workload set to come his way to make him a top-10 option this week. He also has a favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, who were one of the worst defenses against his position last year. Shultz is the No. 9 TE in RotoBaller's Week 2 rankings, making him a solid starter in most standard-sized leagues this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jake Ferguson Has Upside, But Plenty Of Risk In Week 2
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson could be one of the more disappointing players at his position this season when all is said and done. He wasn't very involved in what little the Cowboys had of a passing game in Week 1, when he caught both of his two targets for just six yards and zero touchdowns. The stars of the passing game are wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, and even they didn't have great performances in Week 1. It was tough sledding for the whole offense. Week 2 presents a theoretically easier matchup against the Washington Commanders, who struggled against the pass last season. Dallas' offense did well in both games in 2025, putting up a combined 74 points across two games. The Commanders didn't significantly bolster their secondary, either. But Ferguson is often an afterthought in the game plan, as he's not a huge difference-maker at his position. He's better left on the bench outside of deep dynasty leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jared Wayne Could Get More Work in Week 2
Houston Texans wide receiver Jared Wayne had an impressive training camp and a big preseason, so with Nico Collins (hamstring) unable to play in Week 2 against the Bengals, he could be in line for a bigger role. Wayne earned a spot on the roster this season after spending last year on the practice squad, and the 25-year-old from Pitt played 25 snaps in Week 1, the fourth-most of the team's WRs. He caught his only target for 12 yards, but with Collins joining Jayden Higgins (knee) and Christian Kirk (calf) on the sidelines this week, Wayne could have an opportunity to break out. He's RotoBaller's No. 119 WR this week, making him not worth starting in almost any format at this point. However, the Texans are looking for help at the position behind Collins even when he's ready to return, so Wayne could be worth stashing in extremely deep leagues based on his potential increased workload.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dak Prescott Should Be Productive In Week 2 vs Commanders
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott managed just 175 passing yards on 34 attempts, good for just over 5.1 yards per pass, against the New York Giants in Week 1. It was an overall sluggish start against what was one of the weaker pass defenses in the NFL last season. Dallas will return home for Week 2 for another divisional showdown, this time against the Washington Commanders, who allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game in the NFL last season. Prescott was potent against them last season, finishing with 23.3 and 22.7 fantasy points in their two matchups. Something feels different about this year's Cowboys offense, though -- despite having their starting running back and two star receivers healthy, they floundered against a team they put up 40 points against in Week 2 last season. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer didn't have his team prepared to compete in Week 1, as they were simply dominated by New York, though many of the problems stemmed from the Cowboys not being able to get off the field. Prescott remains a must-start in 2QB and superflex leagues, though he's a big risk to start in non-6 point passing TD leagues and 1QB contests.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Browns D/ST Has Bad Matchup Against Buccaneers
The Browns D/ST is not worth starting this week as they head to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers. The Bucs scored 27 points in Week 1's loss to the Bengals but with quarterback Baker Mayfield facing his former team in the Browns, look for him to have a big revenge game. The Bucs can also run the ball with Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell but look for Mayfield to spread the ball around to his talented receivers in Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin, and Ted Hurst. The Browns D/ST allowed 34 points to Jacksonville in Week 1. They allowed 245 passing yards and four touchdowns to Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence and gave up 360 yards of total offense. The Browns D/ST is not good enough to be started in fantasy and that should apply again in Week 2.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
CeeDee Lamb A Must-Start WR For Week 2
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb salvaged what would have otherwise been a disappointing performance in Week 1 with a receiving touchdown. He finished with 15.4 PPR fantasy points. The Cowboys offense looked uncharacteristically bland in the loss to the New York Giants, but could be on the verge of getting back on track against another divisional rival, the Washington Commanders, in Week 2. Dallas was one of the best passing offenses in the NFL last season, and unless NFL defenses have completely solved Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer's schemes, the Commanders defense presents a good opportunity for an explosive game. They were fifth-worst in the NFL in 2025 at slowing down opposing passers. Lamb played well against them in 2025, logging 31.6 PPR fantasy points across two contests by catching 10 of his 18 targets for 156 yards and a touchdown. He's a must-start wideout in all leagues in Week 2, though it looks like he may not pay off at his first-round ADP in fantasy football.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kayshon Boutte Is Set for a Bigger Role Without Nico Collins
Houston Texans wide receiver Kayshon Boutte only made one catch in Week 1, but he'll need to be much more involved in Week 2, since Nico Collins (hamstring) is out. In his Texans debut, Boutte played 46% of snaps in Week 1, which was the third-highest total of Houston's WRs. He only had two targets and made one catch for 21 yards. C.J. Stroud will have to lean on Boutte, Jayline Noel, and Xavier Hutchinson much more in Week 2 after Collins dominated the target share with 10 looks in Week 1. Boutte definitely brings potential as a boom-or-bust deep-ball specialist, and more chances could result in him stepping into a larger role in Houston's offense for the rest of the year. He has a high ceiling without Collins, but he's still only RotoBaller's WR No. 46, so he's still only worth starting in deep leagues or if you are desperate for a FLEX play.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Harold Fannin Jr. Could Be Sleeper Target for Week 2 at Bucs
Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. had a rough matchup in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, as he was limited to three targets and two catches for 21 yards. It was a disappointing week for a tight end who was looked at as a fantasy sleeper at the position after a good year last year. Getting just three targets was the most disappointing part of the Week 1 performance, as he was expected to be more heavily involved in the offense. With three receivers -- Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, and Jerry Jeudy -- all in the mix and demanding targets from Deshaun Watson it can be tough for Fannin Jr. to get his share. But look for that to change in Week 2 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs defense allowed a nice game to Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki, who actually led the team in receiving. Expect Watson and the Browns offense to look to get Fannin Jr. involved in the game plan and give him some easy catches early on to get going and get him established. Fannin Jr. could be a sleeper target at the position for Week 2.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
George Pickens Primed To Bounce Back In Week 2
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens got off to a slow start in Week 1 against divisional rival New York Giants when he hauled in just three of his six targets for a paltry 28 receiving yards. He figures to get back on track in Week 2, when Dallas takes on another divisional rival in the Washington Commanders at home. Washington lost 24-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, so both teams will be looking to right the course with a bounce-back win. The Commanders pass defense allowed the fifth-most passing yards in the NFL in 2025, while the Cowboys unit was the worst in the NFL. Pickens averaged 12.0 PPR fantasy points across his two contests against Washington last season. He's a startable WR2 if he can manage that again and haul in at least one touchdown. A fully healthy CeeDee Lamb might make it difficult for Pickens to be worth his ADP in fantasy drafts, but he should still be started in all leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Xavier Hutchinson In Line for More Work against the Bengals
Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson played the second-most snaps of all his team's WRs in Week 1, and with Nico Collins (hamstring) out in Week 2, Hutchinson will have to carry more of the workload against Cincinnati. Hutchinson also had the second-most targets of any WR and caught three of his six opportunities for 32 yards. While Jaylin Noel and Kayshon Boutte will also have to be more involved, Hutchinson could end up leading this receiver group in a tough matchup against the Bengals, who looked sharp in Week 1 against the Bucs. Hutchinson is the No. 69 WR in RotoBaller's Week 2 rankings, so he remains a very high-risk start despite the potential extra work. If you need a flier for DFS or in deep leagues, his potential extra work puts him on the radar, even though he remains high-risk.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jerry Jeudy Not Worthy of Start in Week 2 Matchup at Bucs
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy was not heavily involved in Game 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He caught two passes for 26 yards on four targets and was outplayed by fellow wide receivers Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion. That could be the case again in Week 2 when the Browns visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Look for Jeudy to be third in line in the wide receiver pecking order behind Boston and Concepcion. He could get a few targets, but will have to make the most of those targets in order to make an impact at the Buccaneers. The Bucs defense is very solid and did a good job of keeping Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and the Bengals receivers in check in Week 1. The Bucs have a young but talented secondary that should do a good job of defending Jeudy and limiting his output in Week 2. If you need to start a Browns receiver, it might be the smart move to look towards Boston or Concepcion rather than Jeudy this week.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
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