Tunnel Vision of Week 4

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Sam Darnell 301-35 4
 Patrick Mahomes 278-26 5
 Matt Ryan 283-17 4
 Daniel Jones 402-27 2
 Jalen Hurts 387-47 2
Running Backs Yards TD
Saquon Barkley 13-52 rush
5-74 catch
2
Derrick Henry 33-157 rush
2-20 catch
1
David Montgomery 23-106 rush 2
Ezekiel Elliott 20-143 rush 1
James Robinson 18-78 rush
1-(-2) catch
2
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Tyreek Hill 11-186 3
Cordarrelle Patterson 6-34 rush
5-82 catch
3
Deebo Samuel 8-156 2
Terry McLaurin 6-123 2
D.J. Moore 8-113 2
Tight Ends Yards TD
C.J. Uzomah 5-95 2
Mo Alie-Cox 3-42 2
Dawson Knox 5-37 2
Maxx Williams 5-66 1
Dalton Schultz 6-58 1
Placekickers XP FG
Tyler Bass 4 4
Matt Prater 4 3
Justin Tucker 2 3
Jake Elliott 3 3
Ryan Succop 1 4
Defense Sack-TO TD
Bills 2 – 5 0
Cowboys 4 – 2 0
Bears 4 – 2 0
Football Team 1 – 0 1
Colts 3 – 2 0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Jimmy Garoppolo – Calf
QB Teddy Bridgewater – Concussion
RB David Montgomery – Knee
RB Tony Jones – Ankle
TE Logan Thomas – Hamstring
WR DJ Chark – Broken ankle
WR Will Fuller – Hand
WR Dyami Brown – Knee
WR Josh Reynolds – Knee
PK Robbie Gould – Hamstring

Chasing Ambulances

David Montgomery and DJ Chark were the biggest names from Week 3. But when your kicker (Robbie Gould) gets hurt before scoring a point, you know it’s probably not your lucky day.

QB Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) – He injured his calf and said that he “anticipates being out a couple of weeks.” That would put Trey Lance under center for this week in Arizona. The 49ers have their bye in Week 6 to help Garoppolo heal, but if he remains out, they play the Colts and at the Bears the following two weeks. He’d be an option as a starting fantasy quarterback since he played for one half and threw for 157 yards and two scores on the Seahawks, plus rushed for 41 yards in just 30 minutes of play.

QB Teddy Bridgewater (DEN) – Hit by a linebacker helmet-to-helmet, Bridgewater was ruled out with a possible concussion. Drew Lock played in the second half of the loss to the Ravens and passed for 113 yards and one interception. It’s a downgrade for the offense if Bridgewater remains out and they play in Pittsburgh in Week 5, so Lock doesn’t hold much interest even if he ends up starting next Sunday.

RB David Montgomery (CHI) – Laid on the field for a while as they looked at his knee, but he walked off to the locker room. He was in much pain when it happened, but it is believed to be a hyperextension and didn’t tear any ligaments. If an MRI bears that out, he may not miss much time. The Bears play in Las Vegas this week and will need Montgomery. Damien Williams will take his place for however long it is needed. Williams ran for 55 yards and a score on eight carries in the win over the Lions. He’s worth grabbing if the Montgomery owner left him on the waiver wire.

RB Tony Jones Jr. (NO) – The Saints No. 2 running back injured his ankle in the loss to Washington and was carted from the field. Jones appeared to think it was severe when he left the field but his status will be better known on Monday. Dwayne Washington is the only other running back on the current roster, and there are none on the practice squad though Ty Montgomery was originally a running back and typically gets a rush or two per game. There isn’t much fantasy value in the No. 2 back since Latavius Murray left, but there is always the chance that Alvin Kamara could get injured.

WR DJ Chark  (JAC) – A broken ankle shakes up the Jaguars’ receivers while Trevor Lawrence goes through the learning curve for a rookie quarterback. Laviska Shenault is the one most likely to benefit. He and Marvin Jones are the new starters, but the No. 3 role is likely a combination of Tyron Johnson, Jamal Agnew, and Tavon Austin. Shenault was dropped in some leagues but needs to be on fantasy rosters.

TE Logan Thomas (WAS)  – Left with a hamstring injury and threw his helmet at the bench after he hobbled off the field. There’s no word yet on the severity, but Ricky-Seals Jones would replace him again if needed this week when the Saints visit.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

Week 6 byes are almost here – The Falcons, Saints, Jets, and 49ers have a Week 6 bye, so get ahead of the game and review your rosters in preparation.  Week 7 is even worse with the Bills, Cowboys, Jaguars, Chargers, Vikings, and Steelers. Week 7 will touch likely every fantasy team. Look ahead to see if you need to swap out any kickers or team defenses.

TE C.J. Uzomah (CIN) – He only totaled four catches for 39 yards over the first three weeks, but Uzomah came to life against the Jaguars when he caught five passes for 95 yards and both passing scores for the Bengals. It’s just an aberration for now, but he helped out in Week 4 when Tee Higgins was inactive.

WR Curtis Samuel (WAS) – His debut was only four catches for 19 yards, but he’ll become a bigger part of the offense.

RB/WR Cordarrelle Patterson (ATL) – He’s 30 years old and on his fifth NFL team. But he just scored three touchdowns while catching five passes for 82 yards, plus he also led the backfield with six runs for 34 yards. Patterson’s five touchdowns in the last two weeks are more than he scored in any of the eight past seasons. He is 6-4 and 205 pounds and not built like any other running back. He faces the visiting Jets this week and it doesn’t have to make sense why he suddenly is posting fantasy points.

TE Dawson Knox (BUF) – He not only scored twice on his five catches for 37 yards in the win over the Texans, he also turned in touchdowns in each of the last three games. That ties him with  Rob Gronkowski for the scoring lead among NFL tight ends.

QB Justin Fields (CHI) – What a difference a week makes. The rookie threw for 209 yards and just one interception in the win over the Lions. He still only rushed for nine yards on three runs. So, it is odd that they cannot make use of his skills as a runner. On the plus, Darnell Mooney (5-125) finally showed up with Fields under center though his 64-yard catch helped significantly.

RB Dalvin Cook (MIN) – Took the start after missing Week 3 with an ankle injury. But he only ran nine times for 34 yards while Alexander Mattison gained 20 yards on ten rushes. There’s speculation that Cook aggravated the ankle as he played little in the second half.

QB Sam Darnell (NYJ) – He passed for 301 yards and two scores in Dallas, plus ran six times for 35 yards and two more touchdowns.  He currently ranks as the No. 5 fantasy quarterback after four games. That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for the Jets where he struggled for three years.

RB Saquon Barkley (NYG) – Now that’s the Barkley we remember. The Giants upset the Saints in New Orleans partly thanks to Saquon rushing for 52 yards and a score on 13 carries, plus catching five passes for 74 yards and another touchdown. He handled all but one touch for the backfield and finally looked back to form.

Giants Wide Receivers – Maybe the Saints got caught in a trap game. The Giants were without Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton and facing the Saints secondary. But Daniel Jones threw for 402 yards and two scores. The rookie Kadarius Toney (6-78) had a breakout effort, and John Ross (3-77, TD) debuted after missing time with a hamstring injury. Whether that was a trap game or not, the Giants head to Dallas this week, where the points tend to skew higher. It will all be worth tracking to see if Shepard and Slayton return from their respective hamstring issues.

RB Alvin Kamara (NO) – He ran for a season-high 120 yards on 26 carries as the Saints tried unsuccessfully to eat up the clock.  But Taysom Hill ran in the two rushing touchdowns, and odder still was that Kamara never had a catch. He never had a pass thrown to him. Last year, he had one game where he was thrown one pass and it was incomplete. But this week appears to be the first-ever game that he was never thrown a pass.

RB Jeremy McNichols (TEN) – The Titans were without Julio Jones and A.J. Brown in the loss to the Jets. Chester Rogers (5-63) and Josh Reynolds (6-59) were their replacements, along with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (3-29). But Ryan Tannehill threw a team-high twelve passes to No. 2 running back Jeremy McNichols, who led the team with eight receptions for 74 yards. Worth noting for a cheaper Daily Fantasy play next week in Jacksonville if Jones and Brown remain out.

RB Michael Carter (NYJ) – The rookie now takes a much bigger slice of the backfield pie. In the win over the Jets, he ran 13 times for 38 yards and the first Jets’ rushing touchdown of the year. Tevin Coleman (4-14) and Ty Johnson (3-1) played lesser roles though all caught one or two short passes.

Eagles backfield – Miles Sanders disappointed (again) with a role that shrinks since the season opener when he ran 15 times for 74 yards and caught four passes for 39 yards. Sanders was limited to just two runs and three catches in Week 3, then seven carries for 13 yards in the loss to the Chiefs that added three catches for 34 yards. However, Kenneth Gainwell gets better. He ran three times for 31 yards and a touchdown on Sunday and caught six passes for 58 yards. He plays more in passing situations, but the Eagles’ next three opponents are the Panthers, Buccaneers, and Raiders. This bode worse for Sanders and better for Gainwell.

TE Maxx Williams (ARI) – He posted seven receptions for 94 yards in Week 2 but then only three catches for 19 yards in Week 3. Versus the Rams, he caught five passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. The problem with that is Kyler Murray playing so well is that he takes what the defense  gives, and that changes every game. Christian Kirk went from 104 yards on seven catches in Week 3 to only one catch for five yards versus the Rams. DeAndre Hopkins and Murray are the only constants, but players like Williams occasionally show up in box scores.

RB Alex Collins (SEA) – The 49ers knew to bottle up Chris Carson and held him to only 30 yards on 13 carries and a one-yard catch. But Alex Collins replaced Rashaad Penny, who is on injured reserve, as the No. 2 back. And he provided a spark that helped lift the Seahawks to a win in San Francisco. Collins gained 44 yards and a touchdown on ten rushes and turned two catches into 34 yards. He was everything that fantasy owners wanted from Carson. He’s a must-own for the Carson owner now and showed that he could produce when given a chance. The depth chart remains unchanged, but Collins spawned more confidence about using him.

RB Trey Sermon (SF) – There is a good chance that Elijah Mitchell may return this week for the matchup in Arizona. It will likely be disappointing to see what happens to the backfield rotation. Sermon ran 19 times for 89 yards but had no role as a receiver in the loss to the Seahawks.  He was given all but two carries for the backfield and ran well. When Mitchell returns, he may assume a role as a receiver even though fullback Kyle Juszczyk already was the No. 2 receiver with four catches for 41 yards on Sunday. A tangled mess is looming.

WR Randall Cobb (GB) – Marquez Valdes-Scantling was placed on injured reserve last week, and that only made the prospect even worse of what happens when Davante Adams is somehow actually covered?  For at least one week, the answer is Randall Cobb. He was held with no catches in San Francisco during Week 3, but he led the Packers with five receptions for 69 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Steelers. The next two weeks are on the road to the Bengals and Bears, so the Packers will need someone besides Adams to step up.

Huddle player of the week

Tyreek Hill  –  After two weeks of very moderate stats and no scoring, the Chiefs’ star wideout dominated the overmatched Eagles’ secondary when he caught 11 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Travis Kelce (4-23) may have had an off day, but Hill was unstoppable.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Sam Darnold 336 4 QB Lamar Jackson 342 1
RB James Conner 66 2 RB Dalvin Cook 44 0
RB Kenneth Gainwell 89 1 RB Myles Gaskin 3 0
WR C. Patterson 116 3 WR DJ Chark 0 0
WR Randall Cobb 69 2 WR CeeDee Lamb 13 0
WR Kalif Raymond 46 2 WR Tyler Lockett 24 0
TE C.J. Uzomah 95 2 TE Logan Thomas 0 0
PK Jake Elliott 3  XP   3 FG PK Brandon McManus 1  XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 156 Huddle Fantasy Points = 31

Now get back to work…

Tunnel Vision of Week 3

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Josh Allen 358-9 5
 Justin Herbert 281-16 4
 Matthew Stafford 343-(-2) 4
 Tom Brady 432-14 2
 Patrick Mahomes 260-45 3
Running Backs Yards TD
Najee Harris 14-40 rush
14-102 rcv
0
Kareem Hunt 10-81 rush
6-74 rcv
1
James Robinson 15-88 rush
6-46 rcv
1
D’Andre Swift 14-47 rush
7-60 rcv
1
Peyton Barber 23-111 rush
3-31 rcv
1
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Mike Williams 7-122 2
Cooper Kupp 9-96 2
Justin Jefferson 9-118 1
Davante Adams 12-132 1
DK Metcalf 6-107 1
Tight Ends Yards TD
Tyler Conklin 7-70 1
Mike Gesicki 10-86 0
Travis Kelce 7-104 0
Mark Andrews 5-109 0
Tyler Higbee 5-40 1
Placekickers XP FG
Chase McLaughlin 2 4
Justin Tucker 1 4
Brandon McManus 2 4
Tyler Bass 4 3
Mason Crosby 3 3
Defense Sack-TO TD
Broncos 5 – 2 0
Cardinals 2 – 4 1
Browns 9 – 0 0
Saints 2 – 3 1
Dolphins 3 – 1 1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

Nothing appeared serious with these, though a few might miss some games.

QB Justin Herbert – Hand (returned)
QB Justin Fields – Hand (returned)
RB James White – Hip
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster – Ribs
WR Sterling Shepard – Hamstring
WR Darius Slayton – Hamstring
WR AJ Brown – Hamstring
WR Elijah Moore – Concussion
TE Rob Gronkowski – Ribs (returned)

Chasing Ambulances

RB James White (NE) – Injured his hip and stayed down for a while. He was carted off the field and immediately ruled out. Bill Belichick was more communicative than usual when asked about White’s status and he replied, “We’ll see.” It appeared to be a serious injury.

The only running back with a role as a receiver was Brandin Bolden, who caught three of four targets for 23 yards. There’s no certainty about what the Patriots will do if he misses time, and there won’t likely be. With White out, Mac Jones threw more to his wideouts in the loss to the Saints.

WR AJ Brown (TEN) – Suffered a hamstring injury at the start of the game and was ruled out. He wasn’t in his uniform in the second half. His replacement was Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who led the Titans with four receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown. He’ll stand to inherit the job if Brown’s hamstring forces him to miss any time.

Westbrook-Ikhine was signed last year as an undrafted rookie free agent from Indiana. The Titans’ next two games are on the road at the Jets and Jaguars. The need to throw likely will not be great in those matchups.

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (PIT) – Injured his ribs and left the loss to the Bengals in the third quarter. It wasn’t apparent when he was injured, and Diontae Johnson was already missing with a knee injury. James Washington and Ray-Ray McCloud would see more work if Johnson and Smith-Schuster were to miss time. But the offense is already struggling, and both Washington (3-20) and McCloud (3-33) were marginally productive against the Bengals.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

RB Zack Moss (BUF) – And we’re back to late 2020, when Moss was the better back than Devin Singletary. He gained 60 yards on 13 runs and caught three passes for 31 yards and a touchdown in the win over Washington. Singletary totaled only 26 yards on 11 rushes and gained nothing on his one catch.  While Moss benefitted from the Bills getting a big lead, they host the Texans this week.

QB Justin Fields (CHI) – His debut as a starter went about as bad as it possibly could. He completed 6-of-20 for 68 yards and only gained 12 yards on three rushes. No receiver was better than Allen Robinson’s two catches for 27 yards. The Lions are coming to town this week, but all of the Bears are  risky fantasy options until Fields shows that he can get the offense working.

WR Odell Beckham (CLE) – His 2021 debut saw him lead the Browns with five receptions for 77 yards in the easy win over the Bears. Jarvis Landry is on injured reserve, at least for now, so Beckham’s return was welcomed. But the Browns didn’t need to throw much in the game, and the next two weeks will be on the road at the Vikings and Chargers, where the rushing offense alone will not be enough to get a win. It was good to see Beckham back after his torn ACL of last year, and yet troubling that no other receivers caught  more than two passes on Sunday.

WR A.J. Green (ARI) – DeAndre Hopkins was limited with a rib injury and only caught three passes for 21 yards. But Green led the Cardinals with five catches for 112 yards in the win over the Jaguars.  Christian Kirk (7-104) also delivered. Green caught a touchdown last week, so he’s becoming more involved in the offense. The next two opponents are the Rams and 49ers, so Green’s improvement may stall for a few weeks.

RB James Robinson (JAC) – The Cardinals visited in Week 3, and Robinson finally looked like vintage-2020 when he ran for 88 yards and a score on 15 carries and caught six passes for 46 yards. Carlos Hyde ran eight times for 44 yards and never had a target.

WR Mike Williams (LAC) – Justin Herbert has a new best friend called Mike. Williams already surprised with scores in each of the first two games. He followed that up with his best effort yet – seven catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns at the Chiefs where he was an instrumental part of the upset.

RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC) – Finally was more than mediocre when he ran for 100 yards and caught two passes for nine yards and a score in the loss to the Chargers.

QB Jameis Winston (NO) – The Saints beat the Patriots, and Winston threw two scores, but he only passed for 128 yards and completed 13-of-21. His last full season as a starter was when he threw for over 5,000 yards. His current pace would end with only 2,193 yards in a 17-game season.

RB Cordarrelle Patterson (ATL) – He only ran for 20 yards on seven carries, but he led the Falcons with 82 yards on six catches. He plays against the visiting Football Team and Jets before their Week 6 bye, so his role as a receiver should continue.

RB Saquon Barkley (NYG) – He was sidelined temporarily, but Barkley was closer to his old form in the loss to the Falcons. He ran for 51 yards on 16 carries and scored a one-yard touchdown. He also added six catches for 43. Considering how badly the Giants offensive line is blocking, Barkley’s getting very close to no longer having any limitation.

RB Najee Harris (PIT) – While the rookie ran for only 40 yards on 14 rushes, he led the Steelers with 14 catches for 102 yards. His increased usage coincided with the absence of Diontae Johnson.

RB Michael Carter (NYJ) – There’s nothing with fantasy value on the Jets so far, but at least Carter was given nine rushes and three targets in the loss to the  Broncos. Tevin Coleman was out, and Ty Johnson only ran the ball three times. He’ll face softer defenses in the Titans and Falcons next, but at current rate, he won’t see the volume he needs to become a fantasy option. But worth tracking these next two weeks.

TE Mike Gesicki (MIA) – Perhaps it was the switch to Jacoby Brissett, but Gesicki totaled just three catches for 41 yards after the first two games. In Week 3, he posted ten catches for 86 yards to lead the Dolphins in their overtime loss to the Raiders.

WR Jaylen Waddle (MIA) – It is comforting to know that even a quarterback change doesn’t impact how badly the Dolphins want to connect with Waddle. He only gained 58 yards but caught 12 of the team-high 13 targets. The upcoming schedule is one of the lighter ones in the league.

WR Bryan Edwards (LV) – He led the Raiders with 89 yards on three catches in the win over the Dolphins.  That included a 34-yard catch deep in overtime that kicked off the winning drive. He’s only caught three or four passes in each game, but he’s also made the critical catches to help the three-game winning streak of the Raiders. More notable, those all came against the good secondaries of the Ravens, Steelers, and Dolphins. He’s become a reliable part of the passing scheme, and the schedule continues to face better than average defenses.

RB Peyton Barber (LV) – In his second game as a Raider, Barber replaced Josh Jacobs and ran for 111 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, plus caught three of five targets for 31 yards. Kenyan Drake remains the third-down back with just eight runs for 24 yards and three receptions for 31 yards. The Raiders paid the big bucks to bring on Drake, but they turned to Barber to be the primary running back with Jacobs out.

RB Sony Michel (LAR) – With Darrell Henderson out, the Rams relied exclusively on Michel as the primary back with 20 carries for 67 yards in the win over the Patriots. He added three catches for 12 yards while Jake Funk only handled one carry. He faces an average rush defense when the Cardinals visit this week.

RB Alexander Mattison (MIN) – And that’s why you get the handcuff. Dalvin Cook was inactive this week, and Alexander Mattison ran for 112 yards on 26 rushes and caught six passes for 59 yards in a very Cook-ish performance. If Cook remains out, the Vikings host the Browns and Lions over the next two weeks.

TE Tyler Conklin (MIN) – The Vikings only totaled six catches for 56 yards to tight ends over the first two weeks. But Conklin came around for the Seahawks, catching a career-best seven passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. It was the second score in his four years in the NFL. If the Vikings face a defense that is weak versus tight ends, Conklin is an option.

RB Trey Sermon, FB Kyle Juszczyk (SF) – The rookie had his first NFL start and ended with 31 yards and a touchdown on ten carries, plus two catches for three yards. It wasn’t nearly as impressive as Elijah Mitchell, but it also wasn’t against the Lions. Even with Mitchell out and JaMycal Hasty on injured reserve, the 49ers also relied on fullback Kyle Juszczyk for five rushes for 14 yards and four catches for 37 yards and almost the winning touchdown.

TE Dawson Knox (BUF) – Scored for the second week in a row and gained 49 yards on four catches in the win over Washington. Knox caught four passes for over 40 yards in the two home games this year, and his week host the visiting Texans, who are ranked No. 29 versus the position.

Huddle player of the week

Justin Tucker  –  He’s been the ultimate fantasy kicker for several years and was already considered one of the best kickers, if not THE best kicker, in NFL history. Wonder no more. Tucker walked off the field in Detroit after he kicked a 66-yard field goal that hit the cross bar, bounced up and then fell over for the score. What better way to break an all-time NFL record?

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Taylor Heinicke 243 3 QB Russell Wilson 298 1
RB Peyton Barber 107 1 RB Christian McCaffrey 40 0
RB Alexander Mattison 171 0 RB David Montgomery 55 0
WR Kendrick Bourne 96 1 WR Sterling Shepard 16 0
WR DeSean Jackson 120 1 WR DeAndre Hopkins 21 0
WR Hunter Renfrow 77 1 WR Tyler Lockett 31 0
TE Tyler Conkin 70 1 TE T.J. Hockenson 10 0
PK Justin Tucker 1 XP 4 FG PK Harrison Butker  3 XP 1 FG
Huddle Fantasy Points = 129 Huddle Fantasy Points = 23

Now get back to work…

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

We learned many things in Week 2, but mainly that the good teams are not that good and the bad teams are not that bad. We need at least one or two more games before we can be comfortable in assessing teams if that’s ever possible. No one was shocked that the Packers returned to form (though not until the second half…) and while the Saints weren’t going to throw five touchdowns every week, just one score would have been welcomed in Carolina.

The hunt for free agents is never-ending, and there will be players worth grabbing, but after this week, it will be as a function of injuries granting a new opportunity. By Week 3, backfields and wide receivers are largely set for the year until someone is hurt, or in a few cases, the team gives up on the starter and turns to the backup.

Let’s take a look at half a dozen guys I’m watching this weekend.

1.) RB Demetric Felton (Browns) – It doesn’t take much to set fantasy leaguers running to the waiver wire, and Felton did just that when he caught a 33-yard touchdown that showed a nifty spin move in the win over the Texans. He ended with two catches for 51 yards as the leading receiver. The 5-9, 189 pound USC hybrid played both running back and wide receiver at USC, where he totaled 233 carries and 99 receptions over his four years. He was drafted as a running back in the sixth round.

He fell in the draft with a 4.58 40-time, but his touchdown came as a slot receiver. He’s never going to dislodge Nick Chubb or Kareem Hunt, and he’s No. 4 on the Browns official depth chart behind D’Ernest Johnson. But Jarvis Landry is out with an MCL injury, and Odell Beckham has yet to be in the lineup this year. The Browns need receiver help, and Felton is getting playing time in the process. This week matches against the Bears, and the next two games are on the road versus the Vikings and Chargers.

2.) WR Rondale Moore (Cardinals) – The 2.17 pick of the draft was the eighth wideout selected in a draft considered rich in receivers. On a team that contains Christian Kirk, A.J. Green, and DeAndre Hopkins, it was expected he’d take a bit of time to carve out a significant role. Not so. He is currently the No. 17 fantasy wide receiver, just behind No. 12 DeAndre Hopkins. The hype about A.J. Green being back to form has all but vanished. Christian Kirk opened the year with two scores but only caught three passes last week.

Moore faces the Jaguars this week but then goes against the Rams and 49ers. He’s the one to track in this offense. After just two games, he already leads the Cards in targets (13), receptions (11), and yards (182). Those are more catches than any other rookie receiver.

3.) RB/WR Cordarrelle Patterson (Falcons) – The former wideout has played many roles in his nine years in the NFL, and at the age of 30, he is on his fifth team. That would typically mean he’d be ignored, but he just posted 69 total yards and two scores on the Buccaneers last week. So sure, he’s back off the waiver wire again. He’s been a wideout mostly, though with fewer than 32 catches in a season since 2016. His use as a rusher peaked last year in Chicago when he carried 64 times for 232 yards.

He’s fallen short of fantasy relevancy for his career. But he might be a piece to the rebuilding Falcons, if only for this year. Mike Davis only rushed for a  3.6-yard average. Patterson only gained 11 yards on seven runs but ran in a score, plus caught five passes for 58 yards and the second touchdown. More importantly – his seven targets were second only to Calvin Ridley (10) and more than Kyle Pitts (6). We’ll see if last week was just an aberration.

4.) TE Pat Freiermuth (Steelers) – Rookie tight ends are rarely fantasy relevant. Freiermuth was drafted 2.23, the next best tight end to Kyle Pitts for 2021. And while he only caught four passes for 36 yards in the loss to the Raiders, he did not miss any of his four targets. The ex-Penn State star also was the only Steeler tight end with a catch. Eric Ebron failed to snag either of his passes. The Steelers appear likely to head into a blow-up of the roster next year, so highly-drafted Freiermuth would already be worth tracking. But by Week 2, he was thrown twice what Eric Ebron received, and he caught all of his. Ebron caught none.

5.) Packers receivers – It’s only two weeks, so relax. R-E-L-A-X. Aaron Rodgers failed to show up in Jacksonville when he played the Saints, but he roared back with 255 yards and four touchdown passes versus the Lions as expected. There was hope that Marquez Valdes-Scantling might see more work this season. Randall Cobb returned so they could rekindle their chemistry from 2011 to 2018. They even drafted a wideout (Amari Rodgers – no relation) with their 3.22 pick.

Again – just two weeks. But so far, only Aaron Jones, Robert Tonyan, and Devante Adams have done anything. Cobb is the next best receiver with only three catches for 58 yards total. No wideout, including Adams, has scored this year. Facing the 49ers and then the Steelers, the Packers will  find it more challenging to move the ball if they only have to cover a couple of people.

6.) Saints receivers – This is another team with vastly different results over two weeks. Week 1 saw Jameis Winston nearly perfect with five touchdowns spread over the wideouts, old running backs, and new wide receivers. That all fell apart in Carolina when there were only 11 completions for 111 yards. The Panthers are better this year, to be sure. But which Saints team is the real one?

Marquez Callaway played well enough in the preseason that he seemed likely to step up this year. Maybe even become Winston’s new BFF, at least until Michael Thomas shows up. Callaway totals three catches for 22 yards and no scores. Almost every receiver had just one catch. There is fantasy value here – at least potentially – but Game 3 should give a better idea if the Saints will bounce back or crumble. A road game to play the Patriots is just what  this offense needs to show their true colors.