Xavier Worthy Officially Ruled Out for Week 2
Xavier Worthy (collarbone) from doubtful to out for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. It's not surprising that Worthy will not be able to play in Week 2, considering he suffered a dislocated shoulder in Week 1. Without Worthy on the field, Kansas City will rely more heavily on wide receivers Marquise Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton. Brown profiles as a solid fantasy WR3/flex option on Sunday against Philadelphia.
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
The Kansas City Chiefs have officially downgraded wide receiver Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Chase Brown, Bengals Offense Ready to Get it Together in Week 2
Chase Brown had only 43 yards off 21 carries in the Week 1 win over Cleveland. His 2.0 yards per carry was a tough pill to swallow for fantasy managers. Still, he at least found the end zone, so the afternoon wasn't a total flop. The same can't be said for the rest of the Bengals offense, with Joe Burrow throwing for 113 yards and one touchdown. To make matters worse, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combined for five receptions. Despite the subpar offensive showing, Cincinnati managed to pull off a narrow one-point victory. With a win in the books, Brown and company will host the Jaguars in Week 2. Without question, the Bengals have struggled to begin the season in the last few years. However, Brown and company have a great chance of turning things around. Although he sometimes struggles picking up yards on the ground, his versatility as a pass-catching back makes a difference. Sunday's game is expected to be one of the highest-scoring contests on the schedule, so both offenses may be clicking on all cylinders. All things considered, Brown should be more productive in Week 2, especially if Burrow can get the offense into the Red Zone more than he did against Cleveland. Keep Brown rolling in all fantasy lineups.
Source: ESPN
Cincinnati Bengals running back Source: ESPN
Cameron Dicker a Top Kicker This Week Against Las Vegas
Cameron Dicker had a perfect outing in Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs, scoring nine points with two field goals and three converted extra points. This week, the Chargers are projected to score around 25 points against the Las Vegas Raiders, setting Dicker up for another productive day. He is a reliable kicker on a high-scoring offense, which makes him a valuable asset in fantasy football. RotoBaller projects Dicker as K2 this week and should be started with confidence.
Source: RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers kicker Source: RotoBaller
Will Dissly Not Projected for a High Volume Week 2
Will Dissly had only one target in Week 1, converting it into a single catch for 18 yards. He will look to rebound against the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night. Despite the Raiders' defense giving up 76 yards to the tight end position last week, Dissly might not see enough volume to be relevant in fantasy. Dissly's 54.1% route participation and his lack of involvement in the game script make him an unreliable fantasy option. RotoBaller projects him as TE38, and he should not be started in any fantasy leagues at this time.
Source: RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Source: RotoBaller
Quentin Johnston Continues to be a Red-Zone Threat
Quentin Johnston silenced his critics in Week 1 with an impressive 5-79-2 stat line on just seven targets against a tough Kansas City Chiefs defense. Johnston's 97.3% route participation and 66.7% red-zone target rate show that he is a key part of this offense. The former first-round pick is expected to have a favorable matchup against Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, and his big frame could make him a go-to target in the red zone again this week. He has a high ceiling and a solid floor for this Week 2 divisional matchup. He is a strong flex option versus the Raiders, and RotoBaller projects him as WR45 this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Source: RotoBaller
Younghoe Koo Not a Preferred Option at Kicker in Week 2
Younghoe Koo was 2-for-2 on extra points in Week 1 and 2-for-3 on field goals, but the one field goal he missed was a 44-yarder that could have tied the game and sent it to overtime. We'll see if that shakes his confidence after making just 73.5 percent of his field goals in 2024, and also after Head Coach Raheem Morris said that the Falcons will begin working out new kickers after the miss. He'll get pristine kicking conditions inside a dome (again) at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota on Sunday night, but with other more consistent kicker options available, the 31-year-old kicker ranks outside of the top 12 options at the position this week.
Source: ESPN
Atlanta Falcons kicker Source: ESPN
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. Harris will look to carve out a role against the Las Vegas Raiders. 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, and he can be left on the bench versus Las Vegas.
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