What We Saw: Week 2

   

Brett Ford
What We Saw 3 Months Ago
Series Navigation
Introduction
Bills @ Dolphins
Saints @ Cowboys
Buccaneers @ Lions
Colts @ Packers
Jets @ Titans
49ers @ Vikings
Seahawks @ Patriots
Giants @ Commanders
Chargers @ Panthers
Browns @ Jaguars
Raiders @ Ravens
Rams @ Cardinals
Steelers @ Broncos
Bengals @ Chiefs
Bears @ Texans

Jets @ Titans

Final Score: Jets 24 – Titans 17

Writer: Jesse Maida

 

With both teams hoping to avoid a 0-2 start to the season, the Jets earned a tough road victory in Tennessee. While Aaron Rodgers continues to shake off some rust, the Jets relied on their running backs, giving Breece Hall and Braelon Allen 30 combined touches, which accounted for all three Jets touchdowns. This was a winnable game for the Titans but Will Levis once again channelled his inner Clint Eastwood. With a young, raw QB like Levis, it’s expected he will make some good plays and also some bad plays, but to win in the NFL, he needs to avoid the ugly ones. Already up 7-0 and threatening to score again in the red zone, Levis had another ugly turnover on the Jets 12-yard line, causing a massive momentum shift, and giving the Jets a lifeline.

Three Up

  • Calvin Ridley – Acted as the clear WR1, scoring two touchdowns, while Hopkins was hardly involved once again.
  • Tony Pollard – Started and was the lead back for the second straight week. Pollard recorded every RB touch after Spears left the game with an injury in the 3rd quarter.
  • Braelon Allen – He is the clear handcuff to Breece Hall but may even have standalone value in deeper leagues, scoring two touchdowns and seeing surprising passing game usage.

Three Down

  • Allen Lazard – Came back down to earth after a massive week 1 and only ran two more routes than Mike Williams.
  • Tyjae Spears – Exited the game with an ankle injury in the 3rd quarter and never returned.
  • DeAndre Hopkins – A larger role was expected in week 2 but his poor stat line was almost identical to week 1.

 

Jets

 

Quarterback

 

Aaron Rodgers: 18/30, 176 Yards, 2 TD | 2 Carries, 1 Yard

This wasn’t a great game from Rodgers. There were a few missed throws, uncharacteristic delay of game penalties, and some frustration, but he did what he always does; deliver in the clutch. Rodgers had 34% of his total passing yards on the Jets’ final drive of the game, capped off by a Braelon Allen 20-yard TD run to give the Jets the lead which they never relinquished. Earlier in the second half, Rodgers connected on a touchdown with Breece Hall, abusing a matchup advantage with a linebacker attempting to cover the star running back. The Rodgers/Hall connection looks to already be developing excellent chemistry.

Notes

  • The 20-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers 20-yard touchdown pass to Allen, marked a score by the NFL’s oldest and youngest players.

 

Running Back

 

Breece Hall: 14 Carries, 62 Yards | 8 Targets, 7 Receptions, 52 Yards, TD

After being held to just 23 yards on 9 touches in the first half, Hall accounted for 56 yards on the Jets first possession of the 2nd half, including a spectacular touchdown reception. He continues to be a PPR monster, totalling another 7 receptions with a 26% target share. Even with Allen more involved, no other RB saw the field on offense for the Jets, with Hall playing 71% of snaps and running 19 routes. He makes scoring 20 PPR points look easy and should see some monster game this season with his current usage.

 

Braelon Allen: 7 Carries, 33 Yards, TD | 4 Targets, 2 Receptions 23 Yards, TD

This was a breakout game for the 4th round rookie running back out of Wisconsin. Not only did he score his first NFL touchdown of his career to tie the game in the 2nd quarter, he also scored the game winning touchdown with less than five minutes left in the 4th quarter. Allen saw his snap share double from 18% to 36% and saw his touches increase from two to nine, including four targets from Rodgers. Allen is a bulldozer, looking to run through defenders which gives this offense a new dynamic. With Isaiah Davis limited to special teams and Israel Abanikanda once again inactive, Allen is the clear RB2 on this team and one of the most valuable handcuffs in fantasy football.

Notes

  • He became the youngest player in NFL history to record two scrimmage touchdowns in a single game.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Garrett Wilson: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 57 Yards | 1 Carry, 5 Yards

Wilson did not record his first reception until four minutes left in the first half and couldn’t really find any momentum in this game. He was shadowed by L’Jarius Sneed who played 100% of the Titans’ defensive snaps which may have forced Rodgers to look elsewhere. There is nothing to worry about with Garett Wilson as his alpha WR role remains secure, posting a 100% route participation, 29% target share, and 45% air yard share through two weeks.

 

Allen Lazard: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 11 Yards

After a monster week 1 (likely) sitting on your waiver wire, Lazard fell back to Earth, seeing limited involvement in a game with neutral game script. Mike Williams continued to ramp up his snap count which is expected to eat into Lazard’s playing time as he gets healthier.

 

Mike Williams: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 19 Yards

After being on a snap count in week 1 (and only running 6 routes), Mike Williams was on the field for 15 snaps alone in the first half and ran 24 total routes vs. 26 for Lazard. Williams only registered one official target in this game, but he made a fantastic grab on a 50/50 ball for 19 yards on 2nd and 16.

 

Malachi Corley: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 4 Yards

Corley recorded his first NFL reception on the Jets’ first offensive possession of the game but was not targeted afterwards.

 

Tyler Conklin: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 10 Yards

Conklin has received 87 targets three consecutive seasons but only has four through two weeks this season. For now, the Jets have abandoned the tight-ends in the passing game.

 

Titans

 

Quarterback

 

Will Levis: 19/28, 192 yards, TD, INT | 4 Carries, 38 Yards

The Titans 2nd-year QB completed his first eight pass attempts, resulting in a TD scoring drive on the Titans’ 2nd possession (Ridley rushing TD) and a red zone trip on the very next possession. Unfortunately that same red zone possession was cut short due an inexcusable turnover (for the second week in a row). Head coach Brian Callahan had the same reaction we all did.

On the very next offensive play, Levis launched a deep shot (which should never been thrown) to Treylon Burks in double coverage which was picked off. It seemed as if Levis was about to implode but to his credit, he settled down in the second half, hooking up with Ridley on numerous occasions, including a 40-yard touchdown to tie the game in the 3rd quarter. Levis also made some fantastic plays with his legs, gaining 38 rushing yards including some impressive Houdini-like escapes from the pocket.

 

Running Back

 

Tony Pollard: 17 Carries, 62 Yards | 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 40 Yards

Pollard saw the first two touches of the game, once again starting over Spears. Earlier in the week, head coach Brian Callahan spoke about closing the usage gap between his two running backs but Pollard still accounted for approximately 67% of the backfield touches in the first half. Pollard acted as the bellcow in the second half after Spears left the game in the third quarter, handling 100% of the workload. He showed off his versatility as a receiver while also battling for extra yards in the trenches, surpassing 100 total yards against a strong Jets defense.

 

Tyjae Spears: 6 Carries, 20 Yards, 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 11 Yards

Spears left the game in the 3rd quarter with an ankle injury and did not return. The rushing split was nearly even at half-time, with Spears seeing six carries to Pollard’s seven, but Pollard did have the edge in the receiving game. He and Pollard were both inefficient on the ground.

 

Julius Chestnut: N/A

With Spears exiting the game on the 3rd quarter, Chestnut stepped in as the RB2, however that only led to a single snap.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Calvin Ridley: 6 Targets, 4 Catches, 77 Yards, TD | 1 Carry, 10 Yards, TD

In a game featuring numerous fantasy relevant running backs, it was actually Ridley who had the first rushing touchdown of the game. Ridley also had a strong game through the air, accounting for 54% of the team’s air yards and 40% of the total receiving yards. In the third quarter, Ridley had a 40-yard pass slip right through his hands on a beautifully thrown ball by Levis, but he made up for it a few possessions later on another 40-yard pass, this time securing it for a touchdown. It appears he was actually touched down at the 1-yard line but fantasy players won’t complain (unless you’re against Ridley). He was the top Titans offensive weapon in this game after an underwhelming week 1.

 

Missed Opportunities

  • As discussed above, he dropped a 40-yard pass on a beautifully thrown ball from Levis.

 

DeAndre Hopkins: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 9 Yards

It was another game to forget for Hopkins who once again was not involved. He did see his snaps increase from 27% in week 1 to 43% against the Jets, but the result was the same. He is likely being eased back in as he recovers from his MCL injury.

 

Tyler Boyd: 5 Targets, 2 Receptions, 26 Yards

Boyd played 80% of the offensive snaps, only trailing Ridley (83%), which was similar usage to what he had in week 1 (83%). He did have a nice 17-yard gain but this current role is not fantasy friendly, especially as Hopkins should take on a larger role as he gets healthier.

 

Treylon Burks: 1 Target

Burks put in a cardio shift, playing 50% of the offensive snaps but failed to record a reception. He registered one target which was intercepted on a poor decision from Levis.

 

Chig Oknonkwo: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 16 Yards

Chig saw his snap share decline from 59% in week 1 to 48% this week. As a result, Josh Whyle saw much more playing team against the Jets and was on the field for 41% of the snaps.

 

 

Series Navigation
Introduction
Bills @ Dolphins
Saints @ Cowboys
Buccaneers @ Lions
Colts @ Packers
Jets @ Titans
49ers @ Vikings
Seahawks @ Patriots
Giants @ Commanders
Chargers @ Panthers
Browns @ Jaguars
Raiders @ Ravens
Rams @ Cardinals
Steelers @ Broncos
Bengals @ Chiefs
Bears @ Texans

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