Last week’s uninspiring page didn’t show up, which isn’t a huge surprise. Week 1 is the most unpredictable schedule of the year, and it’s also the week most fantasy managers play their best games and start their star players. The fantasy season doesn’t really start until the chaos starts.
Of course, we’re in that mess right now. Week 1 was filled with poor performances and injuries, and that means many fantasy managers are probably scrambling for unconventional answers. Let’s get to work.
Last year, the easiest way to get quarterback points was to draft someone, anyone, to go against Washington’s defense. And in the new season, not much has changed. Baker Mayfield blew out the Commanders on opening day with 289 yards and four touchdowns. It was a nearly perfect performance, with just six incompletes, one sack and zero turnovers. Mayfield even ran for 21 yards, and finished as QB2.
OK, Jones isn’t Mayfield; we know that. But New York’s two young starters last year (Tyrod Taylor, Tommy DeVito) both had QB7 performances when Washington called.
When the fight is so interesting, you have to keep an open mind.
Raiders left winger Alexander Mattison at Ravens
The Raiders were one of several teams that struggled on offense last week — 14 first downs, 296 total yards. It wasn’t going to be enough. But their best moment came on their only touchdown, a 31-yard catch-and-run by Mattison.
Mattison’s other touches were few, but he was used a lot. Mattison logged 36 snaps to Zamir White’s 23, and Mattison collected six targets to White’s two. Las Vegas has expressed a tough situation in its backfield, and even if Mattison is uninspired in Baltimore, he’ll likely get plenty of opportunities in the passing game. The Raiders are 9.5-point underdogs at this point, and a negative game script should favor Mattison.
Cooks was irrelevant in fantasy for most of the 2023 season, but he ended the season on a high note. He scored touchdowns in five of his last seven starts and caught six passes in a playoff loss to Green Bay. His 2024 start wasn’t bad either — he went 4-40-1 on seven targets. Cooks led Dallas receivers in routes and was second in targets.
Everyone knows CeeDee Lamb is Dallas’ go-to guy, and his production is only going to increase. However, if injured TE Jake Ferguson is out on Sunday (or out altogether), Cooks becomes the obvious second option in a good offense. Dallas has 26.5 points, the third-best point total on the Week 2 slate.
WR Wan’Dale Robinson of Giants at Commanders
We have to be careful with Robinson’s recommendation, I understand. Last week’s 12 targets could have been a fluke; this offense will soon be running through great freshman Malik Nabers, and Daniel Jones is an unbelievable quarterback.
However, Washington’s pass defense, as we explained above, is the most interesting matchup in the league right now, and the Commanders were particularly tired in the slot last week. Robinson won’t play every snap — he ran routes on 74% of his dropbacks last week — but his routes offer the quick throws Jones is looking for.
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The Rams have two obvious issues on offense right now — Puka Nacua is out for at least the next four weeks, and the offensive line is battling a slew of injuries. Nacua’s absence will create more opportunities for other players, and when the offensive line plays reserves, it’s easier to cover for them by blocking passes. Sean McVay will be all out this week.
Cooper Kupp had 21 targets last week, but it wasn’t the big win you might think, as Kupp only averaged 5.2 yards per target. Parkinson and Robinson will likely see an increase in their target numbers here, and WR Tyler Johnson isn’t a bad alternative for those in a very deep league. Arizona’s leaky defense also presents a favorable matchup.
The Panthers couldn’t stop the Saints in the opener, gaining 22 first downs and 379 yards of offense. New Orleans ran the game well for most of the game, resulting in five different players scoring touchdowns. Amazingly, two different tight ends (Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau) scored.
So Hurst’s return will probably be a happy one.
The Chargers are clearly a run-first offense, but Hurst showed last week that he is the tight end they display in the passing game. Hurst ran 23 times on 29 dropbacks and posted a 2-33-0 line on three targets. With the potential for more goal-line equity in this game, Hurst could be a deep league player for a manager struggling with injuries at the tight end position.
Defensive streaming is generally about a few basic concepts — find a favorite team, hopefully at home, and pick a bad quarterback. And it’s time to accept that Deshaun Watson is a bad QB. Watson hasn’t posted above-average metrics since 2020 — four years ago. Physical issues have been to blame, and perhaps his confidence is gone for good.
There are a couple of other solid, widely available options at D/ST if you’re playing the position week in and week out — the Colts will attack Malik Willis in Green Bay, while Seattle could expose a New England offensive line that struggles with pass blocking. But with the Jaguars at home, they’re my first streaming pick.
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