Week 2 offered the highs of “boom” performances that likely won matchups for fantasy managers and the lows of disappointment brought on by unexpected injuries and underperformance. Whichever side you ended up on, perhaps a little bit of both, it is never too early for a quick assessment of your team. Two weeks might not seem like much of a sample, but I feel it is enough to make decisions on how to best prioritize your roster.
Wherever your record stands up to this point, please keep in mind that things can flip just as quickly. Even if you are 2-0, your roster is never a finished product and you will be glad you did the work to plan ahead if/when adversity strikes. If you are 0-2, I am happy to report that the season is not over; there is a long way to go, but it is time to roll up your sleeves, diagnose any major issues holding your team back, and adapt your lineup. Let’s go get a victory in Week 3!
Article Overview:
- Analysis: Highlight a variety of RBs, WRs, and TEs (< 65% rostered on ESPN and/or Yahoo) who I feel could produce fantasy value, either that specific week as a replacement in your lineup or as a bench/ stash option.
- Ranking RBs, WRs, and TEs (< 65% rostered) in order. Please note that the players who are highlighted in the article are not always my top-ranked streamers. These rankings & notes could be useful for teams in deeper leagues or as a means to fill out your “Watch List”.
- Although base rankings tend to skew toward 12-team, half-PPR leagues, I will provide clarifications if a player is best used in a specific scenario or league type.
- Recap the performances of the previous week’s highlighted players.
* If anyone featured below is at risk of not playing or is relegated to a bench role late in the week, I will do my best to keep you all updated on Twitter (@BrandonMillerFB). All players below are under 65%-rostered as of 09/21/22.
Running Back
Raheem Mostert (RB, Miami Dolphins)
Mostert saw his snap percentage jump from 42% in Week 1 to 55% in a thrilling Week 2 victory over the Ravens (42-38). While it is encouraging to see this increase in usage, his injury history and the presence of Chase Edmonds (51% snaps in Week 2) will likely limit his volume and makes him a fringe RB3/RB4 as things stand. Regardless of how the backfield touches are divvied up moving forward, it makes sense to add Mostert now and ask questions later as part of this much-improved offense that could be in some shootouts this season.
Mostert out-produced Edmonds last week in terms of touches (14 to six) and total yards (79 to 41) and will be needed in an all-hands-on-deck effort at home against the Bills in Week 3. He has the speed to break off chunk gains, making him worth a gamble as a low-end Flex even in the tough matchup.
Nyheim Hines (RB, Indianapolis Colts)
Frankly, I was surprised to see that Hines was eligible for this article at 64% rostered in ESPN leagues and 66% Yahoo. The Colts offense notching a goose egg in Week 2 against the Jaguars makes it a little less surprising, but he is still a solid PPR option each week, particularly while Indianapolis searches for any semblance of a passing game. Despite the surprising negative game script in Jacksonville, Hines was not able to get much going (one carry for zero yards and four catches on five targets for 37 yards). At the end of the day, the fifth-year RB has the third-most targets on the team and I expect him to be a larger part of the gameplan vs the Chiefs in Week 3.
RB Streamers (ranked): Jeff Wilson Jr (66% ESPN, easily #1 if available), Raheem Mostert, Darrel Williams, J.D. McKissic, Jamaal Williams, Nyheim Hines, Mark Ingram, Eno Benjamin, Khalil Herbert, Jerick McKinnon, Ken Walker, Zack Moss, Rex Burkhead, Tyler Allgeier, Rachaad White, Alexander Mattison, Samaje Perine, Joshua Kelley, Kenneth Gainwell, Travis Homer, Justice Hill, Ameer Abdullah, D’Onta Foreman, Boston Scott, Jaylen Warren, James Cook, Brian Robinson (IR stash).
Wide Receiver
Joshua Palmer (WR, Los Angeles Chargers)
In the absence of Keenan Allen and Donald Parham last week, Palmer turned eight targets into four catches for 30 yards and a score. It will likely be at least another couple of games until Allen returns, opening up the opportunity for Palmer to continue cementing himself as a reliable option for Justin Herbert. While the efficiency is not ideal, the targets are likely to hold up for the foreseeable future unless the Chargers go more run-heavy with Herbert (ribs) ailing. Palmer will not be worth the start if Chase Daniel is behind center, but profiles as a WR3 if Herbert is able to tough it out against the Jaguars.
Breshad Perriman (WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Like many streamers who are fringe starters, the viability of Perriman will come down to the health of others at his position. As it stands, Julio Jones and Perriman are expected to command the most targets against the Packers in Week 3 with Tampa Bay’s top two receiving options out. Russell Gage (hamstring) will also be involved to an extent, but Perriman makes the better short-term streamer. Perriman has always had downfield ability in his profile (three catches for 45 yards last week) and can live up to fringe Flex/WR4 status if he can haul in a few targets.
WR Streamers (ranked): Joshua Palmer, Julio Jones (64% Yahoo, 69% ESPN), Sterling Shepard, Jakobi Meyers (48% Yahoo, 70% ESPN), Chris Olave (64% Yahoo), Russell Gage, Noah Brown, Treylon Burks, Jahan Dotson, Greg Dortch, Robbie Anderson, Corey Davis, Breshad Perriman, Nelson Agholor, Zay Jones, DeAndre Carter, Marquez Valdes-Scantling (65% ESPN), Chase Claypool (65% Yahoo), Devin Duvernay, Mecole Hardman, D.J. Chark, Jarvis Landry, Robert Woods (65% Yahoo), Nico Collins, Tyler Boyd (65% ESPN), Richie James, Isaiah McKenzie, Kyle Philips, K.J. Osborn, George Pickens, Marvin Jones Jr, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Kadarius Toney (inj), Rondale Moore (inj), Alec Pierce (inj).
Tight End
Irv Smith Jr. (TE, Minnesota Vikings)
For as much complaining as I do about TE streamers, there are some decently intriguing names out there this week. In short, go with Logan Thomas if you are looking for the safer floor and Irv Smith Jr if you are chasing upside and a potential breakout. Both players make viable options this week and possibly rest of season, but Smith has momentum coming off a solid Week 2 with five catches (eight targets), 36 yards, and a touchdown. Smith’s arrow is pointing up in this pass-heavy Vikings offense if he can continue to increase and/or maintain this improved target share.
TE Streamers (ranked): Gerald Everett (48% ESPN, 76% Yahoo), Logan Thomas, Irv Smith Jr., Evan Engram, Hayden Hurst, Robert Tonyan, Tyler Conklin, Hunter Henry, Mike Gesicki,Cole Kmet, Juwan Johnson, David Njoku, Albert Okwuegbunam.
Looking Back
Accountability is everything, so here is a quick look back at last week’s recommendations
Jaylen Warren (RB, Pittsburgh Steelers): Warren was a contingency start in the event that Najee Harris could not make it into the lineup last week. Harris was able to play through his foot issue and did not have any reported setbacks, so Warren can safely be kept in “backup” status for now. Unless Harris is on your roster, the backup is probably a drop.
Jamaal Williams (RB, Detroit Lions): Williams did his thing in a complementary role, totaling 13 touches for 60 all-purpose yards. He should be on rosters as a rare priority backup who also has some standalone value.
Sterling Shepard (WR, New York Giants): With the Giants’ receiving corps in shambles, Shepard has provided a somewhat “boring” but reliable veteran presence. Last week he hauled in six of ten targets for 34 yards and should receive another high-volume workload at home against the Cowboys on Monday Night Football.
D.J. Chark Jr. (WR, Detroit Lions): Chark registered an unfortunate Week 2 goose egg, catching zero of four targets despite the Lions throwing 34 times and scoring 36 points. The talent is still there, but you are fine to drop him due to the likely inconsistency this season.
Tyler Higbee (TE, Los Angeles Rams): Whenever you are able to snag a player the week before their rostered percentage exceeds 65% (and they effectively “graduate” from eligibility for this article), I feel like I have done my job. Higbee backed up his 11 Week 1 targets with another near double-digit target effort, hauling in seven of nine looks for 71 yards. This is a good Rams offense and the volume has been there so far; do not overthink adding him even as a second/ backup TE.
Make sure to check out our weekly priority waiver wire adds article and waiver wire podcast for more insights on who you should be submitting claims for heading into each Wednesday; it is a great way to get a head start on players often discussed in this article. Good luck in Week 3!
(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire)