Week 2 Prep: Fantasy Football Studs and Duds Review + Waiver Pickups of the Week
Sorting Out Week 1 Noise: Who to Trust, Who to Monitor, and Where the Real Opportunities Lie Heading Into Week 2
Week 1 is always a mixed bag. Some players showed why you invested in them, some raised red flags, and others just left us with questions.
The key for Week 2 is separating noise from signal — figuring out which performances are real, which struggles were situational, and where the market is about to shift.
Editor’s Note: Numbers in parentheses reflect PPR fantasy points scored in Week 1, and roster percentages are based on 12-team league ownership.
Studs
Quarterbacks
Justin Fields (29.52) – Confident and composed, delivering both on the ground and through the air. Trustworthy going forward.
Daniel Jones (29.48) – The sneaky QB2 upside we’ve talked about is showing up. Worth starting in the right spots.
Justin Herbert (27.92) – Safely in the QB1/2 mix. Has weekly spike potential, but temper expectations.
Aaron Rodgers (25.66) – Proved he still has it, but expect volatility. Needs another solid showing to cement trust.
Wide Receivers
Emeka Egbuka (22.3) – Two touchdowns validated the preseason buzz. Six targets is on the low side, but he looks entrenched as a WR2.
Deebo Samuel (22.6) – Ten targets plus rushing work show he’s central to Commanders offense just like in SF.
Michael Pittman (20.0) – The Colts’ clear WR1. Eight targets for 6/80/1 reinforce his stable role.
Keon Coleman (25.20) – A huge factor in the passing game, especially late. A legit part of the offense moving forward.
Running Backs
Javonte Williams (20.4) – Found the end zone twice. Efficiency was average, but the role is valuable.
Travis Etienne (18.6) – Took over as the lead back as expected. Big-play threat every week. Locked in as an RB2 with upside.
Dylan Sampson (17.3) – Passing-game usage (8 receptions) makes him a floor-friendly flex. Role could shift as backfield competition heats up, Quinshon Judkins suits up in Week 2.
Tight Ends
Kyle Pitts (12.6) – Eight targets stand out. If Atlanta’s WRs remain banged up, Pitts could see more consistent usage.
Duds
Quarterbacks
Bo Nix (8.84) – Efficiency issues remain. The volume helps, but he’s still more of a QB2 until he cleans it up.
Bryce Young (10.16) – The rushing is promising, but the offense looks broken. Early concern.
Tua Tagovailoa (7.26) – Another rough outing. One more week to show life before he’s droppable in shallower formats.
Wide Receivers
Brian Thomas, Nico Collins, A.J. Brown, Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, Terry McLaurin (Under 10 FP) – Nothing to worry about long term.
Tyreek Hill (8.0) – Production tied to QB play. If the passing game doesn’t improve, patience could wear thin.
Davante Adams, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, George Pickens (Under 10 FP) – Some volatility ahead, but they remain solid WR2-level starts.
Running Backs
Omarion Hampton (8.1) – Volume was fine, but usage may tighten if Najee Harris earns more work.
Kenneth Walker (5.4) – Concerns about Zach Charbonnet look validated.
Isiah Pacheco (4.8) – Only 7 touches is alarming. If usage stays low, he drops to TD-dependent status.
Pickups
Michael Penix (32% rostered) – Nearly 300 yards and 2 TDs. High-upside streamer and bench stash.
Cedric Tillman (28%) – Flacco looked his way eight times. Worth a grab in deeper leagues.
Hollywood Brown (25%) – Extra opportunity with Xavier Worthy potentially sidelined and Rashee Rice suspended until Week 7.
Quentin Johnston (9%) – Volatile, but red-zone role gives him boom potential.
Juwan Johnson (1%) – Saw 11 targets, clearly a safety net in this offense.
Harold Fannin (2%) – Rotational role, but 9 targets suggest spike-week relevance in deeper formats.