Well it took a whole week to happen, but fantasy lives are finally being ruined due to injury. I kid. Mostly. One man’s injury is another man’s opportunity and a chance for you live on the fantasy edge. Here are my takeaways from week 2 and some thoughts on week 3 to help you move upward and onward in the face of adversity.

 

Jets vs Bills

 

• Wow, it’s something special to see the Jets’ run-heavy offense coupled with elite RB talent. Matt Forte is the steal of the draft thus far, and could end up leading all rushers on the ground should he stay healthy.

 

• All of the Jets starting WRs are banged up, but Brandon Marshall seems the worst off of the group, though he seems to have avoided a MCL sprain. Monitor him, but if he can’t go this week, Quincy Enunwa is a must start – barring his own rib injury sidelining him.

 

• The Bills fired the wrong coach this past week when they got rid of OC Greg Roman – right after he joined the staff for a team photo. The issue isn’t the Bills’ offense so much as their defense’s inability to keep teams from scoring at will. That being said, look for Sammy Watkins to get more looks under new OC Anthony Lynn.

 

Bengals vs Steelers

 

• Jeremy Hill has done little fantasy wise thus far in the season, but I think he’s a prime buy low candidate. After week 3, he has a pretty cushy schedule ahead of him. That being said, Gio should have another solid day in week 3 against Denver’s stacked defense.

 

• Don’t worry too much about the Bengals passing game. Green, LaFell, Uzomah, and Boyd all had 8 targets – Pitt was just playing great defense all day.

 

• The same can be said for Antonio Brown and the Pitt WR corps. Remember this low output day when they revisit this matchup later in the season. Or don’t, I’m not sitting Green or Brown unless I have better options – which I don’t.

 

• One more game before LeVeon gets back. Now is the time to sell Williams to the Bell owner, unless you are that person.

 

Titans vs Lions

 

• Murray still holds the reigns in the Titan backfield, but Henry will have his day. Test the waters to see if his owner has grown weary. It will pay off come playoff time.

 

• It almost seems silly now that Tate was ranked so much higher than Jones by so many coming into the draft. Of course, RW nation knew that was backwards going in though.

 

• The loss of Abdullah makes Riddick the play in PPR and Washington worth flexing in standard leagues, as he will get the goal line snaps. Zenner has fallen out of favor in Detroit.

 

Cowboys vs Redskins

 

• So much for Dez taking a big hit with Prescott under center. He’ll have ups and downs, but it’s nice knowing he won’t be a complete bust with no Romo.

 

• Cole Beasley is the No.2 WR in Dallas, and should be owned where he can be had.

 

• Elliott’s butter-fingers make Morris a must own for Elliott’s owners. He’s only going to get more valuable as this season moves along.

 

• Cousins is living up to his reputation as a slow starter, especially when it comes to the red-zone.

 

• Jamison Crowder is making himself indispensible in PPR formats, leading the ‘Skins in targets in week 2. He needs to be owned and flexed.

 

Dolphins vs Patriots

 

• Jimmy G may have played his last snap this season. At least we know there is life after Brady. His loss makes Blount a must start until Brady returns.

 

• DeVante Parker showed his impressive upside in his first outing on the season. He’ll be boom or bust with Tannehill under center, but he’s worth flexing.

 

• Jay Ajayi may get the start in week 3, but he will be an uninspiring play with Drake and Williams in the mix too. With all the injuries going on, you can surely find someone else to put in your lineups.

 

49ers vs Panthers

 

• Fozzy Whittaker is high on my list of waiver pickups this week. With Cameron Artis-Payne still inactive, he’s going to get lots of chances versus Minn. Cam is likely to get the goal line carries though.

 

• Another week, another TD for McDonald. He’s a Gabbert favorite, but him losing snaps to Celek every week is going to catch up to his fantasy production.

 

• Chip Kelly’s offense is a funny fit for Carlos Hyde. He’s going to live and die by the TD with the way things are going.

 

Ravens vs Browns

 

• Corey Coleman had a coming out party in week 2 like we knew he had in him.  Unfortunately for him, and his owners, rookie Cody Kessler is likely to make multiple starts with McCown out. What would be a strong play in week 3 is now a shaky flex at best.

 

• Crowell becomes a must start in McCown’s absence. Johnson remains a PPR consideration.

 

• Wallace has shown that he’s more than an occasional deep threat for the Ravens. He and Dennis Pitta are the only B-more pass catchers worth starting in fantasy.

 

• Forsett and West continue to underwhelm. Kenneth Dixon should run away with the job when he gets healthy.

 

Giants vs Saints

 

• After scoring a combined 101 pts in their meeting last year, neither team could get much going in the scoring dept. I guess both defenses came in not wanting a repeat of their last meeting.

 

• Vereen out-touched Jennings 17-15 after Jennings injured his hand and wrist. I don’t know that Vereen is a strong play next week, even if Jennings misses time, as Darkwa and Perkins are likely to see snaps as well in that situation.

 

• Victor Cruz deserves consideration in deep leagues. Manning will be better on most days, and Cruz is going to be a part of the game plan.

 

• Mark Ingram only has 27 carries on the season, and he’s losing targets to Travaris Cadet. Perhaps coach Peyton will see an 0-2 start as a reason to reconsider his game plan.

 

Chiefs vs Texans

 

• Charcandrick West was actually more productive than Ware on the ground, but Ware was more involved in the passing game and should remain the “lead” back in Charles’ absence.

 

• Alex Smith regressed back to the mean this week and showed just why he’s only worth streaming consideration.

 

• Will Fuller is no fluke. I’m treating him as a WR2 with upside until he gives me reason to think otherwise. Start him every week until then, if then happens.

 

Seahawks vs Rams

 

• Wilson ain’t right, but it’s going to be hard to sit him against the 49ers in week 3 after what Cam did to them.

 

• The same can be said for Rawls, but it’s time to pick up Christine Michaels if he was dropped in your league. He may have played himself back into the competition, or rather, Rawls may be playing himself out of the starting job.

 

• Case Keenum’s ineptitude is making life extremely difficult for Todd Gurley, who is basically the sole focus of defensive efforts. Gurley is too good to stay down for long though, even if it’s him against the world.

 

• Austin isn’t living up to his pay grade in L.A. I just just don’t know that he’s worth rostering with Keenum under center.

 

Buccaneers vs Cardinals

 

• Winston took a big step back in week 2, but I don’t think it was as bad as it seems on paper. In a game where his best RB was injured and his team fell behind, the young QB forced the ball. He’d be on my bench for the next 3 weeks, with L.A., Den., and Car up next.

 

• Adam Humphries may be worth some deep PPR flexes for those games as the slot WR in Tampa.

 

• Make sure Charles Sims isn’t on waivers come Wednesday. He could start for the next couple of weeks with Martin’s hamstring injury in play.

 

• Don’t be fooled by the box score, CJ2K only outsnapped Johnson because the Cards had the game well in hand.

 

• Keep him rostered, but John Brown is bench bound until he gets his head right.

 

Jaguars vs Chargers

 

• I said last week that Yeldon was a sit even with the start, and he proved me right. Chris Ivory can’t get healthy soon enough.

 

• It seems almost all of the top WRs had rough weeks, and Robinson was no exception. The Chargers secondary is formidable. Thankfully the Jags have Baltimore this week.

 

• Marquise Lee was legit in week 2, but I want to see him put things together for multiple weeks before I run to the wire to grab him.

 

• The injury bug bit hard this week, and Woodhead was one of it’s victims. He’s gone for the season, making Melvin Gordon and Travis Benjamin must starts.

 

• If we didn’t convince you that Tyrell Williams needed to be owned, maybe you’re a believer now. He’s going to be heavily involved going forward. He’s a must own.

 

Falcons vs Raiders

 

• Tevin Coleman outscored Devonta Freeman again this week. While Freeman is still worth starting in most formats, Coleman is as well.

 

• Keep an eye on Julio this week. A week 3 absence would mean bigs things for Sanu.

 

• Jacob Tamme had a second week of 8 targets in week 2. He’s a strong play against the Saints in week 3.

 

• The Raiders backfield is a timeshare with Murray losing 15 touches to Washington and Richard. He still holds the most value due to his goal line usage, but I’m selling him where I can.

 

Colts vs Broncos

 

• Make sure Phil Dorsett is rostered in case Moncrief misses any time with his shoulder injury.

 

• Jack Doyle doesn’t instill much confidence, but he does just enough to sap some of Dwayne Allen’s fantasy thunder.

 

• I’m happy Thomas was able to do well in week 2, but it was against the worst secondary in the NFL. I might be inclined to move him, as I don’t know that Siemian can do this on a weekly basis.

 

Packers vs Vikings

 

• The Packers have picked up where they left off last season as a middling team. Aaron Rodgers has thrown under 250 yds both games thus far. Having Nelson back in the fold was supposed to fix this right?

 

• Stefon Diggs is on fire, and if you’re a RW pro member you probably own him. He leads the league in receiving through two games with two different QBs. He’s going to continue to go bonkers with AP sidelined for the near future.

 

• McKinnon vs Asiata. If you remember AP’s last absence, you know that Asiata was the stronger play, and I don’t expect that to change. Both are worth owning though.

 

Eagles vs Bears

 

• Doug Pederson loves Darren Sproles. Sproles out carried Ryan Mathews 12 to 9 on Monday night bewildering Mathews owners everywhere. Mathews did get the goal line carries though and remains the stronger fantasy play. Sproles is forcing us to pay attention to him in PPR formats though.

 

• Trey Burton makes for a safe streaming option while Zach Ertz is out.

 

• If I’m a Langford owner, I’m picking up Jordan Howard where I can. Langford is failing to impress coach Fox, and Howard is moving up on the totem pole with a better showing on Monday and an injury to Ka’Deem Carey.

 

• I honestly don’t see Hoyer being that much of a drop off from Jay Cutler with the way Jay has been playing this year.