RADIO
James Cook III Remains a Strong RB1 for Week 2
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III ran 13 times for 57 yards and finished with 69 total yards against Houston, but nothing about his role should worry fantasy managers. He was on the field for 72% of Buffalo's offensive snaps and clearly remained the lead option. Josh Allen simply handled the rushing touchdowns himself. Cook gets Detroit on Thursday with Buffalo expected to move the ball again, and Ty Johnson is questionable with a hamstring injury. That could leave even less competition behind him than usual. Cook also caught both of his targets in the opener, so he does not need a rushing touchdown to salvage his week. RotoBaller ranks him RB6 for Week 2. Allen is always going to steal some work near the goal line, but Cook's workload is plenty strong enough to keep him in the RB1 range against Detroit.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Josh Allen Has Overall QB1 Upside Against Detroit
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was already in midseason form against Houston. He threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns, added 23 yards on the ground, and scored twice as a runner in the 36-31 win. Now he gets a Detroit defense that just gave up 410 passing yards and three touchdowns to Tyler Shough. That is hard to ignore. Allen also got immediate production from two of his new-look weapons, with DJ Moore and Dalton Kincaid combining for 230 receiving yards in the opener. Buffalo did not need Allen to carry the entire offense to get him there, either. RotoBaller has him ranked QB1 for Week 2, and this is the kind of matchup where he can justify it. The rushing keeps his floor high even if the passing volume dips, while Detroit's Week 1 showing gives him plenty of room for another ceiling game at home on Thursday night.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kayshon Boutte May Have an Expanded Role
Houston Texans wide receiver Kayshon Boutte had just one catch in his Texans debut last week against the Bills, but he may need to take on a much larger workload moving forward if Nico Collins (hamstring) is limited or unable to play. Collins picked up the injury in Wednesday's practice, and his status is "in jeopardy" for Week 2, even though the injury isn't considered to be serious. Boutte played 46% of snaps in Week 1, the third-highest mark of all receivers for the Texans, but he only got two targets. Collins had 10 targets in Week 1, and Boutte could pick up some of that work if Collins is forced to miss time. He remains a deep option that is a boom-or-bust producer, but more chances could result in a quicker incorporation into Houston's passing offense. Keep an eye on Collins' status for this week, and if he's unable to play, Boutte would become a very intriguing, high-upside sleeper to consider.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Hunter Henry Poised For Larger Role
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry could help carry the load for the Patriots over the next few weeks with wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) on Injured Reserve with a high-ankle sprain. In Week 1, when Brown sustained the injury, Henry ended up playing more snaps than any Patriots WR, logging 76% of the team's offensive plays. He hauled in all three of his targets for 26 receiving yards, finishing with a quiet night while rookie TE Eli Raridon found the end zone for the team's only touchdown on his only catch of the game. QB Drake Maye threw three interceptions in the team's loss to the Seahawks, and relying on his trusty tight end Hunter Henry could help him have a redemption performance this week against the Steelers. With more work available, Henry is a strong rising option at tight end to consider for the next few weeks
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nico Collins' Injury not Serious, Week 2 Status in Jeopardy
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) suffered an injury in Wednesday's practice as the team was preparing to face the Bengals in Week 2. After Collins met with the training staff following practice, the team doesn't believe the injury is serious, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, although Collins' status for Week 2 is still "in jeopardy." Collins had seven catches for 75 yards on his 10 targets in Week 1 against the Bills, and if he misses time, the Texans would have a huge void to fill at receiver since they already lost Jayden Higgins (knee) for the season during the preseason. If Collins is out or limited, newcomer Kayshon Boutte, second-year receiver Jaylin Noel, and veteran Xavier Hutchinson would get most of the work at receiver, with TE Dalton Schultz also potentially getting more targets. Collins' injury will be a key one to watch leading up to Sunday's kickoff since his absence could open up so much potential value.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
D'Andre Swift a High-Volume Riser in Bears' Backfield
Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift wasn't the flashiest name in fantasy drafts this year, but he continues to rise in weekly rankings after a spectacular start to the season. Swift was the fifth-highest-scoring fantasy running back in Week 1 with 18 carries, 124 rushing yards, one catch, 10 receiving yards, and a rushing touchdown. He wasn't much of a pass-catching threat, but he made an enormous impact on the ground as a key contributor to the Bears' 59-37 win over the Carolina Panthers. He did cede some touches to Kyle Monangai (10 carries, 100 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown) later in the game, but all signs point to Swift remaining the primary weapon out of this backfield for the full season. It's fair to expect that the 27-year-old's ceiling may come down ever so slightly next week, assuming the Bears don't drop 59 points again. However, he's still firmly entrenched as an RB2 in fantasy football with low-end RB1 upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Olave Getting Peppered with Targets Left and Right
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave is proving to be a magnet for the football. The 26-year-old had 27 targets over his final two games of the 2025 season, and he kicked off the 2026 campaign with 13 targets against the Detroit Lions. He converted those 13 targets into a dominant performance that included 10 catches for 182 yards. He wasn't able to find the end zone, but he absolutely made up for it with his high volume and total receiving yards. Quarterback Tyler Shough is poised for a huge Year 2 leap, and Olave projects as one of the biggest beneficiaries. Staying healthy is the biggest obstacle for Olave, who missed nine games in 2024 but was sidelined for just one week last season. Concussions are a specific concern for Olave, but it's worth noting that he has added an extra layer of protection with a Guardian Cap this year. As long as he can stay on the field, Olave is a locked-and-loaded WR1 with top-five potential. He should keep things rolling in Week 2 as the Saints prepare for another potentially high-scoring game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian Watson Ascending Into a Fantasy Superstar
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson had a relatively slow start to his career, but he has recently blossomed into the fantasy superstar that managers expected when he was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Watson finished the 2025 season on a strong note, and he picked up right where he left off with a dominant Week 1 performance that included six catches, 147 yards, and two touchdowns. Watson is a playmaker who has shown that he can get open downfield, and his strong rapport with Jordan Love allows him to catch passes in stride and make big plays. Matthew Golden is also taking on a larger role offensively, but that should have no impact on Watson's outlook. The 27-year-old is a high-end WR2 with WR1 upside this season. He could feast in a favorable Week 2 matchup against the New York Jets.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tetairoa McMillan Plays a Major Role on Offense
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan made a very positive impression as a rookie last year, and he continues to offer solid WR2 value in fantasy football leagues in 2026. McMillan opened the season with eight targets, five catches, and 75 yards in the Panthers' Week 1 contest against the Chicago Bears. He came on a little slow but finished incredibly strong, ranking second on the team in catches and yards behind Jalen Coker. He also played an impressive 82% snap share, which indicates that he should continue to occupy a major role going forward, presumably as Bryce Young's No. 1 receiver. The emergence of Coker could have a very slight impact on McMillan's stock, but we're still confident in him as fantasy WR2 with high volume and touchdown upside. He should benefit immensely from a Week 2 matchup against a suspect Atlanta Falcons team.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
George Kittle Rising to Top-Tier TE1 Range After Recovery
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) was limited in Week 1 due to recovery from an Achilles injury, and while he remained limited in practice on Wednesday, we expect him to take on a substantially larger role going forward. As a result, he's back in the top-12 tight end range for fantasy purposes as long as he's healthy. Last year, Kittle ranked as the overall TE2 during his healthy stretch from Weeks 8-16. A healthy Kittle catching passes from Brock Purdy will fight to be the top-scoring fantasy tight end any given week, making him a must-start in all leagues. Managers who might feel spurned by his two-catch performance last week should feel some assurance knowing that he only played 45% of the offensive snaps. If he's healthy enough to play more than 75% of the snaps this week, he's a near-lock for top-12 production at the tight end position, especially after Purdy lost young target De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) to IR.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Garrett Wilson Eyeing Larger Target Share With Rookie WR Injured
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson has always had plenty of talent after the Jets took him 10th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft from Ohio State, but the problem is he has never worked with a good enough quarterback in the Big Apple to help him reach his true potential. Fantasy managers mostly overlooked the 26-year-old going into his fifth year in the league because he is working with veteran quarterback Geno Smith, who was disastrous in 2025 with the Las Vegas Raiders. Wilson had a solid showing in the Week 1 season-opening win over the Tennessee Titans, catching six of his seven targets for 79 yards, although he did not find the end zone. He was already New York's unquestioned WR1, but the expected multi-week injury to rookie receiver Omar Cooper Jr. is going to open up even more targets for Wilson as the Jets head into their Week 2 matchup at home against the Green Bay Packers this Sunday. Wilson is not in a sexy situation with Gang Green, but he will have WR1 upside in fantasy with Cooper sidelined.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Chris Godwin Jr. is Proving to be Trustworthy
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. is coming off a decent performance during the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. Godwin hauled in all four of his targets for 40 yards during the Week 1 loss. The 30-year-old appears to be healthy again after two injury-riddled seasons in a row. He has built good chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield throughout the years together. The loss of Mike Evans this offseason should mean that Godwin takes on more responsibility on offense. Fantasy managers should be able to plug Godwin in as a WR3 most weeks.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Bucky Irving is Rising After Strong Opener
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving did a little bit of everything on the field during the season opener. Irving rushed the ball eight times for 45 yards and a touchdown. He also hauled in all seven of his targets for 48 yards and another score during the Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Irving was highly efficient on the ground with 5.6 yards per carry, while being a huge factor in the receiving game. The Bucs clearly trust Irving to make plays on the ground and through the air. The presence of Kenny Gainwell does not appear to be making an impact on the value of Irving. Fantasy managers should consider Irving a high-end RB2 for the upcoming matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Juwan Johnson is Absent on Wednesday
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (illness) did not participate during Wednesday's practice session, according to Jeff Nowak. Johnson is feeling under the weather, so he sat out of practice to begin the week. Fantasy managers should consider Johnson day-to-day with a good chance of suiting up for the Week 2 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. The 30-year-old hauled in three of his seven targets for 54 yards and a touchdown during the Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions. If healthy, Johnson is an interesting starting option for Week 2. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday for another update on Johnson.
Source: Jeff Nowak
Source: Jeff Nowak
Tory Horton is a Full Participant During Wednesday's Practice
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (hamstring) was a full participant during Wednesday's practice session, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. Horton appears on track to play in Week 2 after missing the season opener due to a hamstring injury. Horton has been battling this issue during training camp, but he finally appears to be getting healthy again. Barring any setbacks, Horton should be active for the Week 2 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Fellow wideout Cooper Kupp (back) was limited during Wednesday's practice session. Horton might be asked to take on a larger role if Kupp is downgraded during the week. Fantasy managers should check back for an update on both players later in the week.
Source: Brady Henderson
Source: Brady Henderson
