NFL action has made a triumphant return to our TV screens, and after a satisfying Week 1, most fantasy owners find themselves in a lineup bind headed into Week 2 following a weak crop of waiver wire options.
START ‘EM:
Malik Nabers (WR)
Last Sunday in his NFL debut, Nabers showed fantasy owners that he can be a reliable starting option despite his role in a murky Giants offense. Despite a disastrous start from Daniel Jones, Nabers still managed to forge a productive Week 1 with five catches for 66 yards on seven targets in the home loss.
The former No. 6 overall pick was second among all Giants pass-catchers with a 19.4% target share, a number that is sure to skyrocket headed into a bountiful matchup with a porous Commanders secondary. Washington’s secondary is 31st in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers, as Baker Mayfield and the Bucs trounced the Commanders through the air a week ago.
Daniel Jones has historically been effective against his NFC East adversaries in the nation’s capital, with a 5-1-1 all-time record against them. Start Nabers with confidence this weekend.
Chris Godwin (WR)
Godwin decimated a favorable matchup with Washington a week ago, tallying 22.3 fantasy points and reeling in all eight of his targets, leading the Bucs with a 27.6% target share. Now playing in the slot in offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s offense, the Penn State product re-established himself as Tampa Bay’s 1B alongside Mike Evans’ 1A, and has yet another favorable matchup on the horizon.
Cooper Kupp exploded on Sunday Night Football against a young Detroit secondary who is dead last in fantasy points allowed to receivers, so with Godwin set to face one of the NFL’s youngest secondaries, there is no world where Mayfield’s security blanket should be on your bench.
Brian Robinson Jr (RB)
Despite being in a minor timeshare with Austin Ekeler, Robinson racked up 17.9 fantasy points in a poor matchup against a stout Bcs defensive front all while the game script did not favor the run game.
Robinson saw more snaps (56% to 53%) and touches (15 to six) than Ekeler, inducing optimism for the third-year back’s fantasy prospects.
Washington hosts the New York Giants on Sunday, and New York’s 23rd-ranked run defense allowed Aaron Jones to run free for 94 yards and a score.
Especially with a far more promising game script on the horizon against a struggling Giants squad, the former Alabama running back is a safe bet for a sizzling showing in Week 2, as is Jayden Daniels.
Jerome Ford (RB)
Yet another occasion of a running back outperforming expectations in a poor fantasy matchup, Jerome Ford continued his monopolization of the Browns’ backfield in Nick Chubb's absence, with the second-year running back seeing a 75% snap share in a blowout loss against Dallas.
Ford also was looked at for seven targets and a 17.5% target share, the same rate as Amari Cooper which was second only to Jerry Jeudy among all skill players for Cleveland. There is further optimism surrounding the Cincinnati product due to Ford corralling six of those targets for a six-catch, 25 yard statline through the air on top of his garbage time touchdown.
Fortunately for Ford, the Jaguars allowed 23 points to De’Von Achane last week, and as long as his three-down work continues, the 25-year-old is due to be a fantasy gold mine potentially after Chubb returns. Ford is a must-start this week.
Brock Bowers (TE)
A bit risky here, as the Raiders face a Ravens defense that kept Travis Kelce in check last Thursday night, but Bowers is one of the most talented rookie-pass catchers in football who showed that in his NFL debut against the Chargers.
On eight targets, the Georgia product caught six balls for 58 yards, leading Vegas with a 22.6% target share in his first glimpse of NFL action, displaying a blossoming rapport with Gardner Minshew.
The Ravens are still near the bottom of the NFL in tight end fantasy points allowed, which should bode well for Bowers, but the far-superior Baltimore roster should see the Ravens win this one handily.
However, the Raiders will need to air the ball out to keep themselves in this one, meaning Bowers could see a plethora of targets coming his way. Especially with Jake Ferguson and David Njoku out, Bowers is a top 10 option at the position this week.
SIT ‘EM:
Calvin Ridley (WR)
Having signed a lucrative deal to join the Titans this past offseason, Ridley only caught three passes for 50 yards in his first game playing in Music City.
Will Levis turned the ball over three times last weekend against Chicago and now gets a date with the New York Jets and Robert Saleh’s impenetrable defense.
In all likelihood, Ridley will be shadowed by Sauce Gardner for the majority of the game, and with Levis as inconsistent and unreliable as they come, leave Ridley on the bench in favor of a better option.
David Montgomery (RB)
The Lions saw sustained success running the football at Ford Field on primetime last weekend, but the Rams defensive front is youthful and no longer has Aaron Donald, so Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs’ dazzling performances should come as no surprise.
The Buccaneers are home to one of the more imposing defensive lines in football, especially against the run due to the influence of Vita Vea.
With the Lions set to face a Todd Bowles-led defense that has a lackluster secondary and a strong defensive line, this is the wrong week to start Montgomery due to his lack of a three-down role.
Courtland Sutton (WR)
Bo Nix struggled mightily in his NFL debut, with Sutton and Nix only managing to connect on four of 12 targets.
The volume is there for Sutton to be a consistent producer, with the former SMU Mustang netting a 27.5% target share, but the consistency is a long way away. Joey Porter Jr will shadow Sutton, so keep him on your bench, or even on waivers until Nix finds his footing as a pro.
Christian Watson (WR)
Even with Jordan Love banged up, Jayden Reed and Josh Jacobs are still starter-worthy in trying times for fantasy owners.
In the case of Watson, things are vastly different, as the majority of Week 1 points came because of a touchdown the former second rounder scored.
Reed became Love’s go-to target downfield, with Watson only attaining 13 receiving yards on just three catches and five targets.
There’s a new sheriff in town (in the short term) for Green Bay in Malik Willis, a quarterback whose NFL tenure has been riddled by accuracy issues. Avoid Watson at all costs, even with a favorable matchup with the Colts.
Chris Olave (WR)
Another lackluster week for Olave was one in which the Saints scored 47 points in an opening week victory over the division rival Panthers.
Carr threw for three touchdowns before the Saints abandoned the pass due to game script, yet Carr only looked at Olave’s way twice in 23 pass attempts. The Ohio State product’s 8.7% target share was fourth among all Saints pass-catchers with Rashid Shaheed, Alvin Kamara, and Foster Moreau generating more targets than the third-year wideout.
A matchup with Trevon Diggs and the strong Dallas secondary is looming for the 24-year-old, so temper expectations for not only Olave, but the Saints offense as a collective.
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