“All I know is that I know nothing.”
Socrates is attributed to that quote, and while it’s usually meant to expand on all the things we have yet to understand about life and the universe around us, I’d like to think it applies fittingly for this past week in the NFL.
What a rough – and I mean ROUGH – week for offense in the NFL. Whether it’s the lack of preseason snaps, cohesion for budding offensive units, injuries, etc., etc., one thing is certain; the start to this season has been less than ideal for many star NFL players.
The likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Drake London, Christian McCaffery, Evan Engram, Puka Nacua, and Travis Kelce put up straight duds in many a lineup, while guys like Allen Lazard and Jordan Mason placed among the highest weekly scorers.
Just like we all predicted, right?
Here’s hoping this week is a nice bounceback for the guys we’d been high on all summer. With that said, let’s dive right into Weeks 2’s Booms and Busts.
Booms: Week 2
J.K. Dobbins, RB – Los Angeles Chargers
Week 2 Matchup: at Carolina Panthers (31st)
Last Week: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (30th):
10 Carries, 135 Yards (13.5 Average), 1 TD / 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 4 Yards (1.3 Average), 0 TDs
The Jim Harbaugh era has officially kicked off in Los Angeles, and it did so with a hard-fought win against a loathed division rival. The expectation was always that Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman would focus on the running game as the tip of the spear for the Chargers’ attack, and Week 1 certainly fit that bill. The question then became WHO would lead the pecking order between former Baltimore Ravens acquisitions Gus Edwards & J.K. Dobbins – and to start against the Las Vegas Raiders it was Edwards with the first dibs. There sure appears to be a committee rotation of sorts in LA’s backfield, but if I had to choose who’s in charge, I’m riding with Dobbins to carry the hot hand over into Week 2.
For one, Dobbins balled out in Week 1.
139 total yards and a scorching 13.5-yard rushing average is quite the day for anyone in this league, earning him the overall RB4 finish to start the season strong. He also happened to out-touch Edwards on the afternoon, registering 33 to his teammate’s 24 offensive snaps. This makes sense when you see what Edwards did with his looks, going a paltry 26 yards on 11 carries in the game.
On top of his performance, the Chargers travel to Carolina to take on a Panthers squad that got absolutely molly-whopped by the New Orleans Saints last week, yielding 47 points and 180 rushing yards. This Carolina squad looks just as lost as they were last year when they finished as the worst team in football, and with news of former Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown out for the year with a knee injury, it sure does pour when it rains.
The problem with Dobbins has always been his health; for the moment, however, he looks explosive and is primed in an excellent spot. With Harbaugh poised to ride what works and strong run games typically traveling well, I expect Dobbins to eat and eat well in Charlotte on Sunday.
Evan Engram, TE – Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 2 Matchup: vs. Cleveland Browns (26th)
Last Week: at Miami Dolphins (11th):
4 Targets, 1 Reception, 5 Yards (5.0 Average), 0 TDs
The hype for Evan Engram after his monster finish to the 2023 campaign was at an all-time high this past summer. His preseason showing did nothing to abate it; if anything it simply filed further hopes that a continuation of dominance at the TE position was in line.
So it’d be an understatement to simply say just how disappointing he and the Jags as a whole were in their season kickoff.
Engram gave forth a lethargic dud of a game against the Dolphins on Sunday afternoon, registering a single catch and drawing the ire of millions of fantasy owners who started the 7th-year veteran with confidence. The entire Jaguars offense looked off to start the season, putting up only 267 yards total. It was disappointing, to say the least, but it wasn’t all doom and gloom, and I think Engram will bounce back in a big way this upcoming weekend.
Engram, for all the woes in Miami, still tied for the lead in targets on the day. He easily out-snapped the next Jaguars TE in Brenton Strange, so he’s not at risk of losing opportunities. Trevor Lawrence and the passing game are primed to bounce back and the volume for the trusted safety net option should be there, especially at home.
The Browns, while usually stout on defense as of late, allowed Dallas Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson 5 targets and 3 catches before he exited the game early with an injury. This is, for the most part, the same unit that gave up 11 catches on 12 targets for 95 yards and 2 scores to Engram late last year and is coming off an abysmal performance at home in their own season opener.
Engram is too talented for the dud streak to continue and I’m counting on him to excel in a plus matchup for Week 2.
Chris Godwin, WR – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 2 Matchup: at Detroit Lions (20th)
Last Week: vs. Washington Commanders (32nd):
8 Targets, 8 Receptions, 83 Yards (10.4 Average), 1 TD
For all the talk of NFL offensive units struggling league-wide, Chris Godwin and Tampa Bay didn’t miss a single beat, starting 2024 STRONG.
Granted, the Commies had the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft for a reason; they weren’t exactly forecasted to be world-beaters early on in the year. It still doesn’t take away from the fact that the Bucs had their way offensively, with Godwin leading the impressive outing overall.
The talented receiver brought in every ball thrown in his direction, leading the Tampa Bay offense on the night and pacing all receivers in total yards. The offseason buzz was just how lethal Godwin would be in returning primarily out of the slot, and he was surgical with how he diced up the Commanders’ secondary for catch after catch.
With this week showcasing a rematch of the 2023 Divisional Playoffs, the Buccaneers’ offense looks to continue their high-octane prowess against a Lions defense that got burned early and often by Cooper Kupp and the Los Angeles Rams. Kupp happened to do most of his damage out of the slot as well, posting 110 receiving yards on the night – so it’s a prime matchup for Godwin, one where I see the Boom continuing to the delight of all.
Busts: Week 2
Derek Carr, QB – New Orleans Saints
Week 2 Matchup: at Dallas Cowboys (3rd)
Last Week: vs. Carolina Panthers (31st):
19/23, 200 Yards (8.7 Average), 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 84.9 QBR / 2 Carries, 13 Yards (6.5 Average), 0 TDs
You can’t play the Carolina Panthers every single week, and for that reason, I’m expecting a smackdown dud for Carr against the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday.
If you saw the Cowboys-Browns game last week, you saw a masterclass of a defensive game plan by DC Mike Zimmer. The Cowboys menaced Browns QB Deshaun Watson, registering 6 sacks, 2 interceptions, 17 QB hits, and 25 total pressures on the day. Monstrous.
Carr had a fun, light game against a bottom-tier team and now has to travel into the lion’s den to take on Micah Parsons and company. The narrative surrounding the Saints in the preseason was the fear for the offensive line, given the nature of injuries and the lack of any real talent at the tackle position. You can try and navigate Parsons and plan around him, but the Cowboys have a bevy of other playmakers that are poised to make life miserable for the Saints offense.
New Orleans put together a great game in Week 1 and witnessed a lot of promise in standout performances by Rashid Shaheed and Foster Moreau. Should the Saints fall behind early in the game, the passing volume will be there for Carr and his options. I’m just not very high on his chances to succeed in this one.
Aaron Jones, RB – Minnesota Vikings
Week 2 Matchup: vs. San Francisco 49ers (13th)
Last Week: at New York Giants (14th):
14 Carries, 94 Yards (6.7 Average), 1 TD / 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 15 Yards (7.5 Average), 0 TDs
Much in the same vein of Carr vs. the Panthers as mentioned above, Jones had his way with the wayward NY Giants defense, slicing them up to the tune of 109 total yards and a score. As easy as Week 1 appeared to be for Jones and the Vikings, it’ll be a different animal entirely with the team coming to visit Minnesota in the 2024 season’s second week – the defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers handily handled Aaron Rodgers and the Jets on Monday night, stifling the veteran QB and minimizing his star weapons Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson. The defense didn’t miss a beat in their home opener, and All-Pro LB Fred Warner looks even more threatening for opposing offenses in 2024. The Jets in my opinion are a much better offense than what Minnesota can field, and taking out the garbage time stats, San Francisco didn’t just beat the Jets but pummeled them around in a fairly lopsided affair.
Jones is a talented back and was a high-profile pickup for the Vikings in the offseason, but the game is very likely to get out of hand early in Minneapolis. I expect the Niners to come out firing on both sides of the ball, stuffing the run often and forcing QB Sam Darnold to air it out instead. If it gets out of hand, it’s sure to be a rough day for Jones and his productivity.
Zamir White, RB – Las Vegas Raiders
Week 2 Matchup: at Los Angeles Chargers (5th)
Last Week: at Baltimore Ravens (24th):
13 Carries, 44 Yards (3.4 Average), 0 TDs, 1 Fumble (Lost) / 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 2 Yards (1.0 Average), 0 TDs
Yet another preseason hype-man has given way to the clear cold reality that is meaningful NFL football. What a shame.
As high as people were on White, the writing was on the wall all preseason and it culminated in the pedestrian numbers he gave forth in his first 24′ outing. To add insult to injury, free agent acquisition Alexander Mattison had a more effective day on the ground and especially in the air, racking up a 3.8 YPC average on 8 fewer carries and 43 yards on 6 targets and 4 receptions. It wasn’t a particularly impressive showing for the Raiders offense as a whole, so it’s damning that Mattison looked much better with much less against LA.
This week the Raiders get to travel to Baltimore to take on a Ravens defense that kept Kansas City Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco in line, allowing only 45 yards and a 3.0 YPC average through the ground. It’s a tough matchup and Las Vegas looks outmatched off the bat entering the new year. If I had White on my fantasy roster, I’d definitely be searching for alternatives.
Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurtwasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)