Week 1 is in the books, and by the time you’re reading this, you’ve already decided for yourself if you are ‘ship bound or if your season is completely sunk. Let’s put the latter to rest and use Week 2 to get in the win column if you didn’t last week.
Holding myself accountable, here is how my callouts last week faired. I am judging my ‘hit or miss’ against a full-PPR format.
Baker Mayfield, QB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 2 Matchup: @ Detroit Lions
Have a Week 1, Baker Mayfield. The overall QB2 last week to kickoff the season, Mayfield torched the Commanders to the tune of 289 yards and four touchdowns, with 21 yards on the ground off just three rush attempts. It’s been cool to see Baker turn his career around with Tampa, and he’ll have another chance this week to continue to roll off his hot start. If you are a team still looking to replace Jordan Love, or maybe even pivot off of names like Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert, Mayfield is your guy against a Lions defense that allowed Matthew Stafford to throw for 317 yards and a touchdown last Sunday night.
It’s worth mentioning that when the Bucs last faced Detroit in the Divisional Round playoff, Mayfield went 26/41 for 349 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, meaning he has the ability to go off against this team once again.
Jameson Williams, WR – Detroit Lions
Week 2 Matchup: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In the same matchup as Mayfield, ride the hot hand that is Jameson Williams. Is this the year he finally puts it all together? Last week against Los Angeles, Jamo returned 24.4 full-PPR points; albeit points that may have been sitting on your bench. He posted a career high 121 receiving yards and a touchdown, having seen a team-high nine targets in the game. Williams is poised to take a stronghold on the WR2 duties in this potent Detroit offense, and despite FantasyData projecting him to finish as the WR32 this week, you can FLEX him with confidence.
Ladd McConkey, WR – Los Angeles Chargers
Week 2 Matchup: @ Carolina Panthers
Last week saw a nice NFL debut for rookie Ladd McConkey, who in due time will overtake WR1 duties for the Chargers. His seven targets were a team-high, and two more than second-year wideout Quentin Johnston, who was drafted 21st overall last year. McConkey had five receptions for 39 yards and was the recipient of Herbert’s lone touchdown on the day vs. the Raiders. His score came off a Red Zone target from inside the 10, and per FantasyData, McConkey had two receptions on third down, which could trend towards a good sign for Herbert trusting him in pivotal moments.
Carolina got absolutely scorched by the Saints last week, allowing Derek Carr to complete 19 of 23 attempts for 200 yards and three touchdowns. I’m all in on McConkey this week to exploit this porous Panthers defense.
Sit ‘Em
D’Andre Swift, RB – Chicago Bears
Week 2 Matchup: @ Houston Texans
Nothing went right for the Bears offense last week, as the number one overall pick Caleb Williams threw for just 93 yards and no touchdowns. While the pass game wasn’t working, the same was true for the running back room. Free agent signing D’Andre Swift turned his 10 carries into 30 scoreless yards, averaging just three yards per attempt. He also did not catch his lone target on the day.
It was a discouraging day on the ground for Swift and co. to say the least, and I’m not certain this week, in primetime on Sunday night, will be the get-right spot for Swift. Last week, the Texans held Jonathan Taylor to just 48 yards on 16 rushes; and he too averaged three yards per carry.
George Pickens, WR – Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 2 Matchup: @ Denver Broncos
I was a bit torn on how to declare George Pickens this week, but ultimately sided with having him to ride pine. He had a positive Week 1 last week against the Falcons, turning seven targets into six receptions for 85 yards. However, this week he’ll line up against Patrick Surtain II, who is coming off a season debut in which he held DK Metcalf to just three catches for 29 scoreless yards. While there aren’t many receiving threats behind Pickens, I’d look elsewhere for your FLEX this week given his impending matchup. FantasyData projects him to finish as the WR30 in full-PPR formats this week.
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR – New York Giants
Week 2 Matchup: @ Washington Commanders
Yes, the Commanders just got lit up by the Buccaneers. Yes, Wan’Dale Robinson ‘produced’ – I use that term loosely for fantasy purposes – against the Vikings last week, catching six of 12 targets for 44 meaningless yards. No, you should not have him in your lineup this week.
Robinson owned an average target distance of just 5.1 yards according to FantasyData, which further shows that the checkdowns he caught, weren’t translating into much of anything. Consider me highlighting Robinson this week as a lesson not to necessarily see a 11.8 full-PPR output from a player, and assume it’s worth chasing for his next game, without realizing how those points came about.
– Matthew Cava, @cavaM_ on Reddit
Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurtwasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)