Fantasy Football Studs, Duds And Could-Be With Stats, NFL 2026 Week 2

Philadelphia Eagles -7 @ Tennessee Titans, 39.5 o/u

The Titans enter the game after a disappointing home loss to the New York Jets. Quarterback Cam Ward completed only 19 passes on 32 attempts with 39 dropbacks. The run game produced a total of 68 yards, and the only touchdown was scored in garbage time.

The Eagles enter as winners of their Week1 showdown against the Washington Commanders. Tight end Dallas Goedert finished with two touchdowns, and newly acquired Dontayvion Wicks had one.

Studs:Jalen Hurts QB8, Dallas Goedert TE2

Dud: WR Calvin Ridley

Could-Be: WR DeVonta Smith

The Why:

Last week, Smith led the team in targets (6) and routes run (33). It wasn’t opportunity that led him to WR42 (5.3 points) last week, but effectiveness. Smith’s final stat line read 3-for-5, 53 yards. As WR1, these numbers aren’t great. The good news is that the Eagles’ offense as a whole wasn’t that great. Hurts’ completion percentage hovered just over 56%. Barkley finished with 83 yards, but 42 of those yards came on one play, and the offensive line play was subpar, allowing Hurts to be sacked three times.

All that said, this is the second week; they are playing with new playcaller Sean Mannion, and offensive pieces have been moved around.

Don’t count Smith out just yet.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ New England Patriots -5.5, 41.5 o/u

The Patriots enter the game coming off a loss to the Seattle Seahawks that witnessed Drake Maye’s fourth-quarter meltdown, which included three interceptions. The Steelers walk into Gillette Stadium after defeating the Atlanta Falcons and their third-string quarterback 20-13.

Stud: Steelers Defense DST2

Dud: QB Aaron Rodgers

Could-be: TE Hunter Henry

It is clear that in this small sample size, offensive fantasy points go to die in Pittsburgh.

Last week, when A.J. Brown went out injured, Mack Hollins came in and played the X position. Look for Henry, who was in on the most offensive snaps (54), ran the third most routes (26), and had three targets, to increase his target share and productivity.

Last season without Brown, Henry had an 18.1% target share (9.7% Week1), a 19.6% target rate (13.6% Week1), averaged 26.1 routes run with an 80.7% route participation (22 routes with a 52.4% route participation Week1), and 19.9% first-read target share (6.3% first-read target share Week1).

New Orleans Saints @ Baltimore Ravens -8.5, 46.5 o/u

The Saints stay on the road and face the Ravens after spotting the Detroit Lions 21 points, fighting back to take the Lions into overtime, only to lose on a two-point conversion. Quarterback Tyler Shough attempted 56 passes, completed 35, and ended up with 410 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.

The Ravens are going home after defeating the Indianapolis Colts 41-33. A game where Lamar Jackson threw for 324 yards and a touchdown, and Derrick Henry passed Marcus Allen for the third-most rushing touchdowns.

Studs: Lamar Jackson QB7, Derrick Henry RB1, Chris Olave WR6

Dud: WR Rashod Bateman

Could-Be: RB Travis Etienne

The Why

The Ravens gave up 5.2 yards per carry to Jonathan Taylor last week. While Etienne finished Week1 as RB28, there is room for hope. For one, his floor is higher because of his use in the passing game. Last week, he ran 26 routes and caught 9 passes, for a 17% target share. And then there is his 5.1 yards-per-carry average that should buoy his stat line, although he will need an increase in his 58.1% opportunity share.

But…stop me if you have heard this…the Saints go into Baltimore an touchdown plus underdog. Head coach Kellen Moore will pull out all the voodoo magic, and that includes a liberal use of Etienne.

Cleveland Browns @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers -8.5, 41.5 o/u

Deshaun Watson was sacked five times last week. This week, he goes against a Todd Bowles defense that managed to have the second-highest blitz rate (45.9%) in Week1, while making Joe Burrow the least-pressured quarterback (Buccaneers had a league-low 29.7% pressure rate) and only one sack.

Now the Buccaneers’ blitz-happy defense goes against Pro Football Focus’ 30th-ranked offensive line coming out of Week1.

Stud Bucky Irving RB15

Dud RB Quinshon Judkins

Could-Be QB Baker Mayfield

The Why

It’s not all Judkins fault (ask Ashton Jeanty how playing behind a bad offensive line hurts). But last week Judkins averaged 2.8 yards per carry and 2.0 yards after contact with a 25% success rate.

There really is no need to go much further. Except to further reiterate that this is not the Jim Schwartz/Myles Garrett defense you are used to seeing. Last week, Trevor Lawrence shredded them for 245 yards and four touchdowns.

Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears -4.5, 48.5 o/u

This is not only the game watch 👀of the week 👀, but also the game that has the largest variance of outcome. Ben Johnson’s score now; ask questions later: offense versus Brian Flores blitz, or be damned defense.

Studs: Caleb Williams QB1 D’Andre Swift RB2 Justin Jefferson WR3

Dud: RB Aaron Jones

Could-Be: QB Carson Wentz

The Why:

Note to self: never doubt Ben Johnson’s resolve; mea culpa. Now that being said, this game will test his ability to maintain the pace of Week1. Flores’ defenses are no joke. His penchant to blitz relentlessly is well documented. Last week, the Vikings blitzed Jordan Love on 72% of his 46 pass attempts.

Last year in their two meetings: in the first meeting, the Vikings blitzed Williams on 37.2% of his dropbacks; he responded with 6-of-13 for 36 yards and a touchdown. In that game, Rome Odunze had a 93.9% snap share, ran 39 routes, and was targeted nine times for six receptions and 39 yards. Colston Loveland had a 53% snap share, ran 19 routes and was targeted two times for two receptions. (It should be noted that this was the first game of the 2025 season in Loveland’s rookie season.)

In the second meeting in Week 11, Flores, the Vikings’ defense blitzed Williams 66.7% of his dropbacks, went 11-for-21 for 126 yards. In that game, Odunze had a 74% snap share, ran 28 routes with six targets and 86 yards. Loveland was on the field for a 71.4% snap share, ran 20 routes, and was targeted four times.

All to say, I know Loveland burned you last week, but don’t give up on him just yet.

Green Bay Packers -3.5 @ New York Jets, 44.5 o/u

The Packers are coming off a fourth-quarter collapse against the Vikings, while the Jets are flying with their opening win against the Tennessee Titans.

Studs: Jordan Love QB11, Christian Watson WR1

Dud: RB Marshawn Lloyd

Could-be: RB Breece Hall

I know for most, Hall isn’t a “could-be” he is in, and that’s fair. The Jets ran the ball on 61.90% of their offensive plays. Last week, Hall had a 68.6% opportunity share, averaged 4.9 yards per target, and was eighth in evaded tackles. He finished with 102 yards. Now he gets a Packers defense that is still without Micah Parsons and allowed the Vikings duo to get 107 rushing yards against them last week.

Let’s discuss a “stud” who may now be so studly this week: quarterback Love. Last week, when Love was under pressure, he was 7-of-22 for 159 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception. The good news (for Jets fans)is that the Jets’ defense was third in pressure rate last week (44.9%). And the prediction is for it to be a rainy Sunday in New York. So, a fierce run game, anyone?

Carolina Panthers -2.5 @ Atlanta Falcons, 43.5 o/u

The obvious question is who is starting under center for the Falcons? The second question is how much do we trust the Panthers to continue their offensive onslaught this week?

Stud: Bijan Robinson RB7

Dud: RB Chuba Hubbard

Could-be: QB Bryce Young

The Why:

First, last week the Panthers allowed two 100- yard rushers: Swift rushed for 124 yards on 18 carries, and Kyle Monangai had 100 yards on 10 carries. There is no such thing as a sure thing…but Robinson definitely looks like the closest we can get to a sure thing here. The downside: last week the Panthers’ defense was unable to stack the box with Caleb Williams going all Punisher on them. Unfortunately, the Falcons do not currently have a quarterback that gives off those types of vibes, so we can be assured that the focus of the defense will be on Robinson.

Secondly, in the slugfest that was last week, quarterback Bryce Young finished as QB3 with 361 passing yards, three touchdowns on 37 attempts and 23 completions; Jalen Coker finished as WR2 with a team-leading nine targets, eight receptions, 138 receiving yards and two touchdowns; and Chuba Hubbard finished as RB9 with 49 rushing yards, 38 receiving yards, and one rushing touchdown and one receiving touchdown. Do we expect that fantasy magnificence to continue?

The Falcons’ defense did not allow either Steelers running back to eclipse 50 yards. Jaylen Warren averaged 4.6 yards on 10 carries and only managed 46 yards. Rico Dowdle averaged an abysmal 1.9 yards on eight carries, amassing a whopping 15 total rushing yards. Neither excelled in the passing game, although Warren was targeted six times and Dowdle five times.

History seems to suggest that Young owns the Falcons and Jeff Ulbrich. He is 4-1 against the team. Last year in their first meeting, he boasted a 66.7% completion percentage, with 121 passing yards and a rushing touchdown. He upped the ante, and in their second meeting, he attempted 45 passes, had 21 completions, for 448 passing yards, three touchdowns, and a 68.9% completion percentage.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Houston Texans -2.5, 46.5 o/u

The Bengals are coming off a win where Ja’Marr Chase was only targeted four times, had two receptions, and 12 yards. The Texans are coming off a home loss to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills,s where Allen threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns, and tight end Dalton Kincaid went for 130 receiving yards and newly acquired D.J. Moore went for 100.

Studs: Josh Allen QB2, David Montgomery RB6, Nico Collins WR10, Dalton Kincaid TE5

Dud: QB C.J. Stroud

Could-be: WR Ja’Marr Chase

Last week, tight end Mike Gesicki finished as TE4 in fantasy. He led the team in targets (7), tied for receptions (5 with running back Chase Brown), led in receiving yards (78), and had the lone receiving touchdown, while only on the field for 33% of the offensive snaps.

The question is: is this the result of Joe Burrow going under center more? Burrow only had five dropbacks from nine plays under center…the jury is still out.

What we do know is that the Bengals’ defense might be legitimately good. They generated 14 pressures and four sacks last week, including the decisive strip sack from newly acquired Boye Mafe. This goes against Pro Football Focus’ 31st-ranked offensive line coming out of Week 1.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Denver Broncos -2.5, 45.5 o/u

This line is slightly perplexing, as the Jaguars looked good in their dismantling of the Cleveland Browns last week, whereas the Broncos looked genuinely bad in their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Studs: Trevor Lawrence QB5, Parker Washington WR9. Evan Engram TE8

Dud: WR Brian Thomas Jr.

Could-Be: RB Bhayshul Tuten

The Why:

Last week, the Denver Broncos defense allowed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, who is now playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, to average 7.5 yards per carry on 23 carries! That was 173 rushing yards and a touchdown. Walker also caught six passes for three receptions, 18 yards, and another touchdown.

Last week, Tuten averaged 4.4 yards per carry on 15 carries. He also had a 4.8% target share and 33.3% route participation while running eight routes.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers -6.5, 43.5 o/u

The Raiders are coming off a victory against the Miami Dolphins without stud tight end Brock Bowers. The Chargers are coming off an embarrassing loss in their home opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

Studs: Ashton Jeanty, RB5; Ladd McConkey, WR10

Dud: RB Omarion Hampton

Could-Be: TE Michael Mayer

The Why:

This isn’t just about Trey McBride torching the Chargers last week. Per Next Gen Stats, the Chargers gave up 8.2 yards per play in man coverage. This is about Klint Kubiak attacking man coverage.

Bowers missed practice again. Last week, Mayer did not produce as the fantasy community (myself included) hoped. But here is another try. Mayer ran the second most routes (24 with a 77% route rate). He was targeted seven times, had six receptions, and it amounted to an anemic 32 yards.

Miami Dolphins @ San Francisco Niners -13.5, 44.5 o/u

This game has the largest odds. The Dolphins are coming into the game after their loss to the Raiders. The Niners (with a little extra rest) are coming back to the States after their win against the Los Angeles Rams.

Stud: Brock Purdy QB10

Dud: RB De’Von Achane

Could-Be: RB Kaelon Black* (check injury status)

The Why:

This is a mismatch on all levels. If Black is healthy, there is no reason not to continue to use him as a breather for Christian McCaffrey.

In Week 1, Black had 14 carries to McCaffrey’s 10, even though McCaffrey out-snapped Black (28-33) with a larger snap share (44.7%-44%).

Seattle Seahawks -3.5 @ Arizona Cardinals, 40.5 o/u

The Seahawks will be without Sam Darnold for this game. They are coming off a win against the New England Patriots, where the defense dominated. The Cardinals are coming off the upset of Week 1, a win against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Studs: Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR6, Trey McBride TE3

Dud: QB Drew Lock

Could-Be: WR Kendrick Bourne

The Why:

Seattle’s secondary is formidable. They picked off last year’s MVP runner-up, Drake Maye, three times in the fourth quarter and limited the Patriots to 10 points.

This week, their focus has to be on limiting McBride. Last year’s Seahawks allowed the fifth most targets (144), fifth most receptions (105), and the sixth most receiving yards (1060) to the tight end position. And then there is the emergence of Michael Wilson and the name recognition of Marvin Harrison Jr.

That leaves newly acquired Bourne. Last week, Bourne was on the field for 66.66% snap share, had a 21.6% target share (14.3% in the red zone), a 24.1% first-read target share, and ran 28 routes with 71.8% route participation. Perhaps Bourne is the man no one sees coming.

Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys -3.5, 50.5 o/u

Ooof! The Cowboys did not look good on either side of the ball in their Sunday Night Football loss to the New York Giants. The Commanders, for their part, tried to pull off an upset, but could not get that two-point conversion to go their way against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Stud: Javonte Williams RB10

Dud: RB Rachaad White

Could-Be: WR George Pickens

The Why:

Pickens (on the Cowboys team) had an abysmal Sunday night last week. Pickens was targeted six times, had three receptions for 28 yards, and two drops. This was on a 31.3% target share. He ran 31 routes with 86.1% route participation.

This week, Pickens gets to go against the secondary that keeps on giving, the secondary that gave up five explosive plays last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, including Dontayvion Wicks’ 64-yarder. Basically, 64% of the Eagles’ offense came on the five explosive plays the Commanders’ secondary surrendered. And then there is cornerback Mike Sainristil, who earned a PFF coverage grade of 29.3 while playing 54 of the 55 defensive snaps.

It feels like a bounce-back Sunday for Pickens and the Boys.

Indianapolis Colts @ Kansas City Chiefs -6.5, 46.5 o/u

The Colts are licking their wounds from the pounding they took at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens, while the Chiefs are strutting into the game after dismantling the Denver Broncos on both sides of the ball.

Studs: Patrick Mahomes QB9, Kenneth Walker RB3, Jonathan Taylor RB8

Dud: QB Daniel Jones

Could-Be: WR Rashee Rice

The Why:

In the onslaught that was the 31-10 victory over the Denver Broncos last week, tight end Travis Kelce led all receivers. Kelce was targeted five times, collecting 71 yards on three receptions. Rice, on the other hand, was third on the team in targets with two ( both Walker and Xavier Worthy were targeted six times). Rice did haul in both of his targets, one for a touchdown, but finished with only 19 yards.

The good news for Rice and the Chiefs’ wide receivers is that they are facing a secondary that just got torched by Baltimore Ravens’ wide receiver Zay Flowers. Flowers was targeted six times, had five receptions for 150 receiving yards, and a touchdown.

New York Giants @ Los Angeles Rams -7, 48.5 o/u

Who would have thought this game would feature the 1-0 Giants versus the 0-1 Rams?

Studs: Jaxon Dart QB4

Dud: RB Cam Skattebo

Could-Be: WR Davante Adams

I confess this game, like the Minnesota/Chicago games, has me flummoxed. Are the Rams genuinely bad, or was it as simple as not adequately planning for intercontinental travel? There will be no Myles Garrett, but will Aaron Donald play, and will it make a difference?

Skattebo averaged 4.6 yards per carry last week and finished with 81 yards on 18 carries. But this front seven is a completely different animal (or should be). This supposedly elite front seven gave up 174 rushing yards in Melbourne and did not get a sack on Brock Purdy.

So what to expect from this game? The Rams have had extra time to plan (that’s never good for opponents). They still have Kobe Turner, Brandon Fiske, Tyler Davis, Byron Young in the pass rush and a potential Donald return.

Expectations are that the Rams show why they are a Super Bowl favorite and lean on the veteran Adams in the end zone and their front seven on defense, and the Giants come crashing back to earth. But who knows- that’s why they play the game”.

Studs, Duds and Stats Week 2

It’s Week 2, and we are still working with a limited data set. There are trends to watch: more quarterbacks going under center, more elite defensive players moving around, and teams completely ignoring narratives that were set for them.

Any questions? DM me on Twitter @gladyLtyler and, of course, on Friday nights (9 pm Eastern), come ask me or my tremendously informative co-host @ffadjacent questions on the In No Particular Order podcast.