Fantasy football fans are busy processing what happened in Week 2. They’ve identified some breakout players as well as names to watch dealing with injuries that will impact future meetings and more. Prospects such as Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor proved their worth, while players such as Derrick Henry experienced underwhelming outcomes. Our breakdown of the most important winners and losers from this transformative week features analysis on their individual performances and breaks down what it all means going forward into the next games.
The most meaningful player to the fantasy landscape has been Daniel Jones, scoring over 20 fantasy points in both of his starts. His QB performance has been helped by two games with no interceptions allowed, a skill he’s shown his ability to provide with ball management. With one of the best possible matchups – the Tennessee Titans – on the schedule in Week 8, fantasy managers are looking forward to more high-scoring days ahead.
During this same week, Jonathan Taylor went off in his primetime matchup against the Denver Broncos. He ended up rushing for 165 yards and had a seven-yard touchdown reception. His career day with 29.5 PPR fantasy points should ensure he is the most trusted top-end running back option rest-of-season. If all goes to plan, Taylor should be the Week 3 starter when the Bengals face Tampa Bay. This context increases the intrigue surrounding his performance even more.
Daniel Jones Shines Again
Daniel Jones has emerged as a steady fantasy passer, most recognizable as the dude who will boom any time someone asks about double-digit points. In Week 2, he hit the 20-plus fantasy points mark for the second week in a row. And fantasy managers are certainly preferring to see this upward trajectory. They’d love to uncover some consistent third and fourth options, especially as the season wears on.
One more impressive note from Jones’s last two years is his interception avoidance. Before that, he played essentially two full games without throwing an interception. This brilliant stat further demonstrates his elite decision-making and raises his fantasy scoring potential through the roof. Jones draws a great matchup next week against the reeling Tennessee Titans. Given their problems on that end of the floor, expectations are sky-high for him to continue his phenomenal streak.
As he heads into Week 3, many analysts agree that Jones’ accurate and explosive style of play fits right into the mold of exploiting the Titans’ greatest weaknesses. Understandably, excitement about his performance is through the roof. Fantasy owners are thirsty to cash in on what may be yet another long, prolific performance.
Jonathan Taylor’s Dominance
In one of the most impressive performances of the season so far, Jonathan Taylor rushed for 165 yards vs the Denver Broncos in week 2. His elite play made him a cornerstone of the franchise. He finished with a monster 29.5 PPR fantasy points, placing him atop the weekly fantasy leaderboard.
Taylor’s effectiveness was further emphasized by the way he contributed through the air, catching a seven-yard touchdown pass. This versatility is even more important when it comes to fantasy football where scoring in different fashions matters. After all, Taylor’s action on the ground allows owners to feel confident about performance. They know they can count on him to be a key cog in their overall lineup.
Looking ahead to Week 3, there are discussions about Taylor potentially starting against Tampa Bay if certain conditions are met. So oppressively, in fact, that the details about these conditions are still sparse. Either way, should he play, he’d clearly be a dynamic addition to any fantasy lineup.
Challenges for Other Key Players
As much as there were winners in Week 2, the losers took a hit and created a ripple effect on the fantasy landscape going forward. Our own Breece Hall had a rough outing, as he was held to 29 rushing yards on ten attempts. In addition, he only gained nine yards receiving on two catches. This disappointing outing leads to some major questions on his future role, particularly as teams start to key in on defense.
Speaking of disappointing, Derrick Henry couldn’t even muster 3 fantasy points in Week 2. As recently as last year, as a consensus top-5 running back, Henry’s issues were inexplicable to fantasy analysts and social media used car salesmen. It is too early to see whether this performance is a one-off. Or it might just be indicative of a larger issue in his overall game.
Justin Fields left the game in the second half due to a concussion. That casts concerns as to his status for the pivotal matchups coming up. The fallout of this injury can cause a domino effect across fantasy lineups as managers will have to find options if/when Fields is ruled out.
Emerging Stars and Notable Performances
While Week 2 was a struggle for some, it was an opportunity for others to shine. None of those players generated greater interest than cornerback Brian Thomas Jr., who was targeted a team-high 12 times by quarterback Trevor Lawrence. This level of involvement suggests that he could be a valuable asset moving forward as Lawrence continues to develop their chemistry.
Ja’Marr Chase had himself a week, scoring a robust 36.5 PPR fantasy points. His ability to make explosive plays keeps him as a key target for fantasy managers looking for reliable scoring options. It’s this marriage of talent and opportunity that’s made Chase a must-start player every single week.
Finally, Tucker Kraft rounded out a brilliant tight end performance for the Packers on Thursday night vs. the Commanders, scoring 24.4 points. He led the team with seven targets, catching six for 124 yards and a touchdown. Such performances highlight the importance of monitoring emerging talents who might not yet be household names but can significantly impact fantasy rosters.
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