What a Week 2. Some of the most exciting football I can remember this early into the year. It’s a whole lot of offense and that is what we love in Fantasy Football. This week there were some hard hitters who balled out and some stinkers that are in a bad spot early on. Let’s break them down the losers and winners of Week 2.
Winners of Week 2
Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs offense), Kansas City Chiefs
Wow. The guy I said would be Top-10 quarterback this season is simply astonishing thus far. Patrick Mahomes is your QB1 through two weeks, folks. We knew the ceiling was high for Mahomes, but nobody saw him reaching – nay – exceeding that ceiling in his second start of his first full season as the starter.
Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Kareem Hunt, and Sammy Watkins are all playable assets in Fantasy and the most fun show in town.
Mahomes had 362 yards and six touchdowns on Sunday and every one of the players I mentioned above scored except for Watkins. It was encouraging, however, to see Watkins catch six of seven targets for 100 yards. Andy Reid made it clear he wanted Watkins involved by designing an end-around he took for 31 yards.
The Chiefs offense is the real deal and everyone is startable next week against the 49ers, who gave up over 150 yards and a touchdown to Golden Tate and Marvin Jones, who were also winners of Week 2.
Stefon Diggs/Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings
This Vikings offense is fun to watch. In a come-back effort by Kirk Cousins (425 yards and four touchdowns), the Vikings managed to tie the Packers at Lambeau Field.
What we knew about Kirk Cousins going into this season was that he loves throwing to his wide receivers. In 2016 Cousins supported two 1,000 yard receivers in Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson. He is going to do that again in 2018. Diggs’ talent combined with Cousins’ ability to take shots while providing precise timing on shallow routes makes the fourth-year receive a locked WR1 this season.
Thielen has WR1 upside with the volume he is getting. He has received at least 12 targets in both games thus far. Both receivers are winners of Week 2. They play the Bills in Week 3. Wheels up for the Viking’s wideouts.
Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints
Just like Mahomes, it seems that I did not project Michael Thomas high enough in my rankings. I had Mahomes as the QB12 overall and Thomas as the WR6. Both are No. 1 at their position after two weeks.
Thomas is getting increased volume up and down the field with Mark Ingram suspended. But, what makes him such a beast right now is his bumped up red zone usage. Drew Brees tossed two touchdowns from within the five-yard line to Thomas in the fourth quarter in a winning effort.
The trust that the future Hall of Famer and Sean Peyton have in Thomas is evident, especially when you consider he has fumbled in both games. Thomas is the best wide receiver that Brees has had in his career as a Saint – and that is saying something. 28 catches, 269 yards, and three touchdowns in two games. Trade for him if you can and I hope you don’t have to play him any time soon.
Other Notable Winners of Week 2
Melvin Gordon
Saquon Barkley
Keelan Cole
T.Y. Hilton
Brandin Cooks
Losers of Week 2
LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a full-blown dumpster fire. We hoped for volume with Shady, and it seemed like that was going to happen against the Chargers. McCoy had nine carries and four catches and was on his way to a decent Fantasy day considering the circumstances. Unfortunately, he left the game with a rib injury which seems to be serious as he was seen in pain after the game.
Even when Shady returns to the Bill’s lineup, it seems that he is an RB2 at best. He will certainly have Fantasy relevance as long as he straps up cleats in the NFL no matter who his team is. But, he is not going to be a Top-12 guy as long as the Bills offense remains uninspiring.
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
Another great player who is in a bad situation, Fitzgerald was having an average day on a day that Cardinals fans would like to forget.
Fitzgerald’s day ended early as he experienced a hamstring injury. Coach Steve Wilkes reported that it is more serious than the team initially thought. If he is out for a couple weeks, try and trade for Fitzgerald IF Josh Rosen gets inserted into the Cardinals lineup. Bradford threw for 90 yards on 17 of 27 passes.
I feel more confident about Fitzgerald moving forward with a mobile Rosen who can push the ball down the field. For now, Fitzgerald will rely on volume as long as he is healthy with Sam Bradford at quarterback,
Kenny Stills, Miami Dolphins
Stills had a great Week 1, scoring two touchdowns on four catches. It was a trap game against the Jets on Sunday.
The Dolphins were ahead for most of the game which took Stills out of a favorable game script. The running backs, Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore combined for 20 carries. Stills is best suited in games where the Dolphins need to pass.
He is a solid flex play, but the matchup has to be considered. This was Sam Darnold’s second NFL game and he threw two interceptions which made the Dolphins more inclined to run and use Albert Wilson and Danny Amendola underneath.
While Stills only had two catches on three targets, do not be scared to him Stills in lineups. He will be at home against the Raiders in Week 3. Fire him up with confidence.
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