Game Info
Kickoff: Monday, September 16th, 2024, 8:15 ET
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Network: ESPN
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback
Kirk Cousins: Sit, QB2
Kirk Cousins showed some rust in Week 1. He threw two interceptions and only 155 yards in his first appearance with his new team. Cousins will probably still have some time before he truly gets back to being 100% from his Achilles tear. I would plan on having other plans at the position for at least the next three weeks. This week, he gets a better matchup but one that is not devoid of a pass rush in the Eagles. Expect a small bump in production with some likely arrant throws here and there.
Running Back
Bijan Robinson: Start, RB1
Tyler Allgeier: Sit, RB5
Robinson finally saw the usage we were all hoping for in his rookie season, falling just short of a 90% snap rate and seeing 23 touches. Against one of the better defenses in the NFL Bijan was able to post 111 total yards and five receptions. The offense as a whole made it hard to get into scoring range, but that should keep getting better for the Falcons and Bijan Robinson as the season goes on. Bijan is a locked and loaded RB1, and if he can stay healthy, the fantasy playoffs look to be a gold mine. Good news for Bijan means bad news for Tyler Allgeier. He now is solely a handcuff if the new offensive workload is to be expected all season long. Allgeier was only on the field for 18% of snaps and saw three touches all game. He shouldn’t be anywhere near starting lineups.
Wide Receiver
Drake London: Start, WR2
Drake London was a disappointment in Week 1. Kirk Cousins did him no favors with his performance and targeting London only three times all game. London shouldn’t be on the bench in any leagues, so you will have to take your lumps as he builds chemistry with his new quarterback. He has an easier matchup in Week 2 against the Eagles and should be able to find more space to work with. London is the best wide receiver on the team, but it’s important to note that Kyle Pitts matched him in targets last week and was the target in the red zone. With Cousins still getting back to full health, that takes any non-London wide receiver off the radar
Tight End
Kyle Pitts: Start, TE1
Kyle Pitts just missed my top tier of tight ends for Week 2. His target volume may be limited to some extent, but he looked good running routes against Pittsburgh’s defense and was the apparent go-to target in the red zone. He has never scored more than three touchdowns in a season, so his Week 1 score bodes well for the remainder of the season, especially if Kirk Cousins can regain some of his former glory. The one thing that could elevate him even further is if he can increase his 11.5% target share.
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterback
Jalen Hurts: Start, QB1
Jalen Hurts is a set-it-and-forget-it QB1 for fantasy football. That being said, we saw the impact not getting those tush-push touchdowns has on his fantasy value. He becomes more of a mid to low-end QB1 rather than the elite weapon we all know and love. He scored a tush push in 11 games last season. In those games, he had an average finish of QB12. In Week 1, he was the QB10. The Saquon effect is real for Hurts.
Running Back
Saquon Barkley: Start, RB1
We were treated to peak Saquon Barkley in Week 1, a trend I expect to continue throughout the season. He led all running backs in yards after contact, is the go-to option in high-leverage situations, and saw 26 touches. Volume and weighted opportunities mean fantasy football gold. Even in a tougher matchup, Barkley is my RB1 for the week. Kenneth Gainwell saw only two touches and remains a handcuff only in fantasy football.
Wide Receiver
AJ Brown: Start, WR1
DeVonta Smith: Start, WR2
In Week 2, both AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith saw 8+ targets. Smith ended up playing in the slot with regularity, which will be a massive boost in his fantasy value compared to last season in full PPR leagues. He is a prime buy high candidate, and in Week 2, you can fire him up as a locked and loaded WR2 with upside. The Batman to Smith’s Robin, AJ Brown, led the team in targets and yards in Week 1. The Falcons have AJ Terrell, who should pose some problems for Brown, but he remains a safe WR1 with game-breaking athleticism, he is my WR1 overall on the week.
Tight End
Dallas Goedert: Start, TE1
Goedert makes the fringes of the TE1 conversation in Week 2. He will never be the target leader for this offense and will usually find himself fighting for third or fourth in the pecking order. That being said, he has a bottom-10 opponent against Tight Ends in Week 2 and should see a similar target share (14.7%). I would not be surprised to see Goedert find the end zone this week.