Juwan Johnson in Play as Tight End Streamer in Week 2
Juwan Johnson likely was off the fantasy radar in most leagues to begin the year, but he's become a popular waiver-wire target heading into Week 2 after his eight-catch, 76-yard performance (on 11 targets) in the Week 1 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Johnson surprisingly led the Saints in catches and yards on the day in the debut of head coach Kellen Moore, with second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler under center. The Saints aren't suddenly an offense to watch, but it was notable that Rattler dropped back to pass 46 times -- New Orleans will probably be playing from behind a lot in 2025. Johnson has never gone over 548 receiving yards in five NFL seasons, but he did score seven times in 2022 and could be a trusted weapon for Rattler all year long. He'll face a tougher Niners defense this week, but if you lost George Kittle (hamstring) or Dallas Goedert (knee) already, Johnson could be a serviceable short-term solution.
Source: Pro Football Reference
New Orleans Saints tight end Source: Pro Football Reference
Jake Ferguson a Borderline Fantasy Starter Versus Giants
Jake Ferguson came tantalizingly close in Week 1, with two potential touchdowns slipping through his fingers. Part of the challenge is that the Cowboys' wide receivers soak up so much attention that defenses can occasionally forget Ferguson exists, giving him sneaky opportunities. Still, history isn't exactly kind; against the Giants, he's managed just one touchdown in five career matchups and has topped 50 receiving yards only once. Ferguson sits on the borderline of TE1 territory, but he's a more reliable TE2 option. With the Cowboys likely to lean on the run to control the clock while the Giants flounder, his usage could be limited this week. He's worth consideration, but don't expect a breakout in this matchup.
Source: NFL
Dallas Cowboys tight end Source: NFL
Cowboys D/ST a Low-End Starting Option in Week 2
Source: ESPN
Miles Sanders Merely a Depth Stash
Miles Sanders coughed up a costly fumble that shifted momentum in the Cowboys' opener. It was a tough break, especially after he flashed with a 49-yard run earlier in the game. With rookie Jaydon Blue inactive and both Blue and Phil Mafah battling injuries, Sanders briefly had a window for increased usage. Still, he's not someone you want in fantasy lineups right now. The appeal lies in his situation: Sanders is tied to a high-powered Dallas offense, and starter Javonte Williams -- while impressive in Week 1 -- has a history of injuries. For now, Sanders is best viewed as a depth stash with contingency value. He's worth holding for the possibility of increased touches if Williams misses time, but unless your RB room is thin, he shouldn't be in your Week 2 lineup.
Source: ESPN
Just before the lightning delay against Philadelphia in Week 1, Dallas Cowboys running back Source: ESPN
Don't Give Up on George Pickens Just Yet
George Pickens' Cowboys debut was underwhelming on the stat sheet -- three catches for 30 yards -- but there's no reason for fantasy managers to smash the panic button. Pickens himself said he's eager to "get back in the lab" after seeing real game coverages, and drew a key pass interference that set up a Dallas score. Here's the bigger fantasy picture: the Giants' secondary just put Terry McLaurin in a Week 1 cage, but their track record isn't airtight. In that same matchup, Washington's No. 2 wideout, Deebo Samuel Sr., ripped them for a top-six fantasy finish. That bodes well for Pickens, who functions as Dallas's 1B to CeeDee Lamb's 1A. Pickens and Lamb look like natural complements, and Pickens' chemistry with quarterback Dak Prescott should only improve as the season progresses. While questions about maturity followed him from Pittsburgh, Dallas is betting on his upside, and so should you.
Source: NFL
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Source: NFL
Kalel Mullings Doubtful for Week 2
Kalel Mullings (ankle) is listed as doubtful to face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2 in the team's home opener. Mullings did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday before getting in a limited practice on Friday. The 22-year-old was the team's RB3 in the season-opening loss to the Denver Broncos last Sunday but was quickly injured on a punt return in the first quarter. Although he isn't on the radar in the majority of single-year fantasy leagues early in the year, Mullings' injury is notable for a Titans RB room that is already missing Tyjae Spears (ankle) for at least the first four games. Tony Pollard and Julius Chestnut will once again operate as the top two backs against the Rams. The Titans' only other option at the position is Jordan Mims, and he's currently on the practice squad.
Source: Titans PR
Tennessee Titans rookie running back Source: Titans PR
Dak Prescott Ready to Drop a Giant Game
Dak Prescott's Week 1 line against the Eagles didn't tell the full story. His night could have been much bigger if his pass-catchers had simply held onto a few well-placed throws -- his fantasy performance would've looked completely different with those extra yards (and potential scores) on the board. Now he heads into a divisional matchup with the New York Giants, a defense that just kept rookie Jayden Daniels to a QB13 finish in their opener and loves to bring heat from every angle. Prescott, however, has historically torched the Giants at home, averaging 274.1 passing yards per game with multiple four-touchdown outings in his career against them. That kind of track record makes any heavy passing script far less intimidating. Lock Prescott in as a steady low-end QB1 with sneaky upside. If his receivers cooperate, another big night against a familiar rival is well within reach.
Source: NFL
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Source: NFL
Jayden Daniels Gets MRI on his Knee?
Jayden Daniels (knee) got an MRI exam done on his knee on Friday after getting banged up in the Thursday night loss to the Green Bay Packers. Daniels never left the 27-18 loss, but he was limping "pretty good" at the end of the game, and Paulsen suggests it's something worth keeping an eye on. The good news is that the Commanders have a long layoff until their Week 3 clash against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Sept. 21. The 24-year-old second-year QB threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns on 24-for-42 passing on Thursday night, adding seven rushes for 17 yards. Washington's offense looked sluggish on a short week against a strong Packers D. If his knee isn't an issue, Daniels will have a prime chance to bounce back in Week 3 as a high-end QB1 in fantasy.
Source: 106.7 The Fan - Grant Paulsen
Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan says that he heard that Washington Commanders quarterback Source: 106.7 The Fan - Grant Paulsen
Javonte Williams Poised to Run Wild vs. Giants
Javonte Williams is "clearly" the starter, according to offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. After some offseason uncertainty about how Dallas would deploy its backfield, Williams put concerns to rest with a strong Week 1 showing in Philadelphia. He logged 17 touches for 64 total yards and two touchdowns, proving he can handle goal-line work and sustain drives. Schottenheimer later admitted he wished he had given Williams even more opportunities, which signals that his workload could increase moving forward. That's encouraging news for fantasy managers, especially given Dallas' lack of a true challenger for lead-back duties. Looking ahead to Week 2, Williams draws a favorable matchup against the New York Giants, who were gashed for 220 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 32 carries by Washington in Week 1. The Giants' front seven struggled mightily at the point of attack, giving Williams a chance to post another high-volume day with scoring upside. Williams is a strong RB2 with RB1 upside this week. His locked-in goal-line role, combined with the Giants' weak run defense, makes him a must-start. If he continues to dominate touches in this backfield, he could quickly become one of the most reliable fantasy starters of the season -- health permitting.
Source: ESPN
Dallas Cowboys running back Source: ESPN
CeeDee Lamb a Rock-Solid WR1 Despite Drops in Week 1
CeeDee Lamb rolls into a juicy divisional matchup with the New York Giants as quarterback Dak Prescott's clear No. 1 weapon and the heartbeat of the Cowboys' passing game. He topped 100 yards in Week 1 but sprinkled in a few drops that left yards (and maybe a touchdown) on the field -- his night could've been even bigger. The Giants can dial up pressure, but their secondary isn't exactly a no-fly zone. They ranked middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed to wideouts last season and just gave up chunk plays to opposing receivers in their opener. With Dallas' ground game still a riddle wrapped in a question mark, Lamb's target share stays sky-high. His crisp routes and run-after-catch juice give him both a sturdy floor and week-winning upside. Pencil Lamb in as a rock-solid WR1. Another 100-yard outing is squarely on the table -- this time without the "should've had more" drops.
Source: NFL
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Source: NFL
Buccaneers D/ST Avoidable for Week 2
Michael Penix Jr. who threw for nearly 300 yards. Despite that, the Bucs only gave up 20 points, but didn't do much outside of that. They recorded one sack in the game and failed to get any turnovers. Now, they head into a matchup against the Houston Texans on Monday night. The good news is, the Texans only scored nine points in the season opener last week. It doesn't seem that the Texans offense is as high-powered as years before. They should be able to keep this offense in check, but the Bucs defense won't offer much value unless they can create turnovers. There are certainly better streaming options available for Week 2.
Source: ESPN
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense didn't offer much fantasy value during the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons last week. The Bucs secondary was carved up by Source: ESPN
Chase McLaughlin Looks to Bounce Back in Week 2
Chase McLaughlin didn't have great results during the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons last week. He went 1-for-2 on field goal attempts and 2-for-3 on extra point attempts in the win. McLaughlin missed a 44-yard field goal in the third quarter and snagged an extra point attempt in the fourth quarter. Not an ideal outing for McLaughlin, but he deserves the benefit of the doubt after missing only two field goals all of last season. He figures to remain busy given the Bucs high-powered offense. Fantasy managers should continue to ride with him as a streaming option for the Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans on Monday night.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Source: Pro Football Reference
Cade Otton a Risky Choice for Week 2
Cade Otton was unable to get anything going during the season opener last week. Otton failed to bring in any of his three targets in the win. It's worth noting that Otton was dealing with a groin injury heading into this game. Possibly, Otton's lack of contribution was due to his groin problems. He appears to be fine heading into the Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans. It's worth noting that Otton has topped 35 yards in just one of his last seven outings, dating back to last season. It's probably best if Otton is left on the bench until he proves he can be a reliable contributor.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Source: Pro Football Reference
Emeka Egbuka Looks to Build Off Stellar Debut
Emeka Egbuka got his NFL career started off with a bang last week. The rookie wideout hauled in four of his six targets for 67 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Atlanta Falcons. He delivered a beautiful 30-yard score in the second quarter. Egbuka found the end zone again with a 25-yard grab as the game-winning score. It's tough to have a much better debut than that right there. He figures to continue having a significant role in the offense with Chris Godwin (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (neck) both out. In PPR formats, Egbuka should be viewed as a low-end WR2 for the upcoming Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Source: Pro Football Reference
Mike Evans Stays on WR1 Radar
Mike Evans didn't have a great season opener, but was still able to contribute in the win. Evans hauled in five of his eight targets for 51 yards in the victory over the Atlanta Falcons. The veteran wideout finished with the team-high in receptions and targets. However, Evans saw his fantasy value take a dip with Emeka Egubka and Bucky Irving catching the three touchdowns. Fantasy managers shouldn't be worried as Evans is one of the most consistent wideouts in the league. He should get the benefit of the doubt and remain on the WR1 radar for the upcoming matchup against the Houston Texans.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Source: Pro Football Reference