Colts Place Jaylon Jones on Injured Reserve
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones (hamstring) has been placed on Injured Reserve, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Jones will not be eligible to return until Week 6 at the earliest. Indianapolis will be severely shorthanded in the secondary on Sunday against the Denver Broncos with both Jones and top corner Charvarius Ward (concussion) sidelined. Xavien Howard and Mekhi Blackmon appear poised to be the team's starting corners on the outside, but it could be a big day for quarterbackTravis Hunter a High-Upside Flex Option Against Bengals
Travis Hunter had a solid Week 1, and will look to expand on it in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished his first NFL game against the Carolina Panthers with six catches on eight targets for 33 yards. It seems like head coach Liam Coen is interested in getting the ball in Hunter's hands as much as possible, a great sign for his future fantasy outlook. Against the Bengals, the game script should favor passing against a weaker pass defense, so that is good news for Hunter's upside. The only potential drawback for the rookie receiver is if he plays more on defense this week. Given Hunter's clear talent, fantasy managers should feel great starting their star rookie in the flex spot in Week 2.
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie sensation Tre' Harris Needs More Opportunities to Make a Fantasy Impact
Tre' Harris had a very quiet debut in Week 1, recording just one catch for 11 yards. The rookie barely saw the field, running only five routes and participating in just 13.5% of the offensive snaps. While it's common for rookies to be eased into their roles, Harris is clearly behind three more established wide receivers in Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Keenan Allen. He will need to maximize his limited opportunities, which are not enough to make him fantasy-relevant at this point. He should stay on your bench until he shows a significant increase in usage, which is likely only if one of the starters gets injured. RotoBaller projects him as WR91.
Source: RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Source: RotoBaller
Keenan Allen's Reliability Makes Him a Solid Start
Keenan Allen showed his excellent chemistry with quarterback Justin Herbert during the team's Week 1 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. The veteran recorded seven catches for 68 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets, proving his reliability and ability to get open against any defense. This week, Allen faces a decent matchup against Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes and is likely to remain a primary target for Herbert. While he may not have the explosive upside of some younger teammates, Allen's high floor and consistent volume make him a safe fantasy option. He is a solid WR3/4 and a reliable start against Las Vegas, especially in multi-flex leagues. RotoBaller projects him as the WR38 this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Source: RotoBaller
Ladd McConkey is Still a Top Option Entering Week 2
Ladd McConkey put up solid numbers in the team's Week 1 win against the Kansas City Chiefs, catching six passes on nine targets for 74 yards. Although he didn't score a touchdown, his high target volume and 100% route participation immediately established him as a top option in a pass-heavy offense. This week, he faces a favorable matchup against Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darnay Holmes, which should further boost his outlook. However, it's worth noting that he had no red-zone targets last week, which could limit his scoring upside. Despite this, his consistent target share from Justin Herbert makes him a reliable option with a high ceiling in this matchup. He is a must-start and RotoBaller's WR9 for the week.
Source: RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Source: RotoBaller
Brian Thomas Jr. a Bounce-Back Candidate Against Bengals
Brian Thomas Jr. managers hoping for a much better performance out of their top draft pick. Thomas Jr. had high expectations entering the season after elite stat lines down the stretch of last year, but he finished with just one catch for 11 yards against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. He did salvage his week somewhat with a nine-yard rushing touchdown, but it was a disappointing fantasy performance nonetheless. The Jaguars relied mainly on the running game, but that could change in what should be a more favorable passing game script. Fire up Thomas Jr. as a clear WR1 in Week 2 in what could be a huge bounce-back outing.
The Jacksonville Jaguars face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2, which has a chance to be a shootout. That's fantastic news for Najee Harris' Workload Remains Unknown for Week 2
Najee Harris saw limited action in Week 1, with just one carry and one catch, each for five yards. He was gradually brought back into the lineup after a limited offseason following a superficial eye injury in July. Harris has been practicing in full and is ready to take on a further workload against the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night. Although the veteran's conditioning and readiness for the game may have improved, with Omarion Hampton clearly established as the lead back, Harris's workload should stay limited for another week. RotoBaller projects him as RB45, and fantasy managers should keep him on their bench in Week 2 against Las Vegas while monitoring his role in the Chargers backfield in the upcoming weeks.
Source: RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers running back Source: RotoBaller
Nick Folk a Back-End Week 2 Option
Nick Folk is one of the riskier options this week for his home matchup with the Buffalo Bills. The 40-year-old was a perfect 2-for-2 on field goal tries last weekend - including a 51-yarder - and knocked through both of his extra-point attempts - providing decent fantasy value in the loss. Folk has been deadly accurate across the past two campaigns. Over that stretch, he's a superb 50-of-52 on FGs, and 11-of-12 on ones from 50 or more yards out. While New York offered him plenty of opportunities for points in Week 1, it's unclear if the same will be true against Buffalo's defense. The University of Arizona product has a chance to be a modest producer in Week 2, but fantasy managers can likely find a better option than him. Folk is RotoBaller's K29 for his contest with the Bills.
Source: ESPN
New York Jets placekicker Source: ESPN
Austin Ekeler Suffers Torn Achilles
Austin Ekeler suffered a torn Achilles during Thursday night's loss to the Green Bay Packers. Ekeler injured his ankle on the game's final drive while stepping back awkwardly. The lead back for Washington through the first two weeks, Ekeler totaled 14 carries for 43 yards and added five receptions for 38 yards. With 2024 starter Brian Robinson Jr. already traded, rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt will now step into the starting role. Ekeler's contract expires after this season, making the injury an even bigger blow for the former star running back.
Source: Ian Rapoport - NFL Network
Washington Commanders running back Source: Ian Rapoport - NFL Network
Kyle Pitts Sr. a Volatile Low-End TE1 in Week 2
Kyle Pitts Sr. had a nice start to the season in Week 1, drawing eight looks from quarterback Michael Penix Jr., which was second-most on the team, and he recorded seven catches for 59 yards. While it was encouraging to see the rapport with his young QB after drawing a total of 10 targets in three games with him under center in 2024, the fact that Darnell Mooney (shoulder) was not a participant in Week 1 almost certainly boosted Pitts' target share. Mooney is expected to return to the field for Sunday night's road matchup with the Vikings, which could send the 24-year-old tight end back to the No. 3 or No. 4 option in the passing attack behind Drake London (shoulder), Mooney, and perhaps even behind running back Bijan Robinson. Drawing the second-most red zone looks on the team in 2024 buoys his fantasy value somewhat, but the 6-foot-6 TE needs to produce on a regular basis before he's not categorized as a risky low-end TE1, which is what he will be this week.
Source: ESPN
Atlanta Falcons tight end Source: ESPN
Omarion Hampton Remains a High Upside RB2
Omarion Hampton had a quiet game in the team's Week 1 win against a tough Kansas City Chiefs rush defense. The rookie finished with 48 yards on 15 carries (3.2 YPC) and added two catches for 13 yards. This week, he's facing the Las Vegas Raiders, who got out to an early lead and shut down the New England Patriots' run game in Week 1. Despite the tough matchup, the Chargers are still expected to rely on their young back early in the game. Fantasy managers should be aware that Najee Harris (eye) is one more week removed from the NFI list and should eat into Hampton's touches moving forward. RotoBaller projects Hampton as the RB17, and he should be started as a high-end RB2 this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers running back Source: RotoBaller
Travis Etienne Jr. an RB2 in Solid Week 2 Matchup
Travis Etienne Jr. and the team take on the Cincinnati Bengals, whose strength is offense and weakness is defense. That bodes well for the Jacksonville fantasy assets, especially with Etienne Jr.'s resurgent performance in Week 1 against the Panthers. The Panthers have one of the worst run defenses in the NFL going back to last season, but a 16 carry, 143 yard performance is still impressive. Add on the team trading away Tank Bigsby to the Jaguars, and the veteran back should get plenty of work once again. The game script should be less in favor of the running game this week, but that shouldn't stop Etienne Jr. from being a solid RB2 this week.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Matthew Stafford Could Underwhelm in Week 2
Matthew Stafford is not a top fantasy option for Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans. Instead, he ranks as a low-end QB2. First of all, the Titans' passing defense showed major strides in Week 1, intercepting Bo Nix twice. This was the lone bright spot for a Tennessee team that struggled essentially everywhere else. Additionally, the Rams are favored to win, so they could adopt a run-heavy approach that aims to drain the clock. If so, we'll see fewer attempts from Stafford through the air. With a respectable matchup and potentially positive game script, Stafford, who lacks rushing upside, drops to the fringe top-24 range.
Source: RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Source: RotoBaller
Jets D/ST Gets Unfavorable Week 2 Draw
Aaron Rodgers erupted for a four-touchdown performance as the Steelers edged out a 34-32 win. Things won't be any easier this Sunday when Josh Allen and the explosive Bills' offense take the field. New York did well to quiet Pittsburgh's rushing attack last weekend, but they didn't have to deal with a mobile quarterback. The Jets can succeed if they force Buffalo to be one-dimensional. However, they'll take a hit this week with the unfavorable matchup, coupled with their poor showing in the previous contest. The unit comes in as RotoBaller's DST31 ahead of Week 2.
Source: ESPN
The New York Jets defense/special teams gets an unideal matchup in Week 2 when they host the visiting Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. Expectations were high for New York's defensive unit heading into Week 1, but ex-Jet Source: ESPN
Zach Charbonnet Named Team Captain For Week 2
Zach Charbonnet a team captain for Week 2's matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The third-year back handled 12 carries for 47 yards and a touchdown in Seattle's 17-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Charbonnet was one of the biggest fantasy talking points from Week 1 after out-snapping and outproducing Kenneth Walker III, fueling speculation about a changing of the guard in the Seahawks' backfield. Reports before the opener suggested Charbonnet would be "more involved" this season, and his captain designation could be another sign of his growing role.
Source: Field Gulls
The Seattle Seahawks have named running back
Source: Field Gulls