Week 2 Fantasy Football Injuries, Coachspeak and News to Help You Win: Updates on Nico Collins, Zay Flowers & More

Aaron Jones and DeeJay Dallas

Jones moves up to an RB2 with Jordan Mason on injured reserve after his thumb injury. Minnesota needs to replace the back who took 15 carries to Jones’ 12, but Kevin O’Connell has said he wants Jones heavily involved while keeping him fresh, so we can’t expect Jones to get all of the volume, but definitely an uptick from roughly an even share in Week 1.

Jones gets most of the opportunities, but Deejay Dallas has a path to carries while Mason is out. I am less interested in Demond Claiborne, who could still be a healthy scratch. From what I heard, the coaching staff doesn’t sound like they trust him in pass protection or interior runs yet.

Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz and the Pass Catchers

Kyler Murray remains in concussion protocol, so Carson Wentz is set to get the start in Week 2. Wentz played most of Minnesota’s first game, and the Vikings still got Justin Jefferson 9 targets, so I have no trepidation about Jefferson. It’s a smash matchup for the Vikings offense overall - playing a good Bears offense with a bad Bears defense where there’s shootout potential. I would still consider Jordan Addison as a flex based on this matchup and T.J. Hockenson in TE-Premium formats.

D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai

Swift and Monangai were both limited Wednesday and Thursday, but practiced in full on Friday, so I expect them to play.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Houston Texans

Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase

I’m buying Chase after his 4-target Week 1 performance. Zac Taylor, Dan Pitcher and Burrow have all said he needs to be more involved, which makes me feel like there will be a deliberate effort to get him the football.

Burrow expects to play despite the back tightness that has limited him in practice. I am not concerned about this injury, but am concerned about the matchup, which makes him a low-to-mid tier QB1 this week.

Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson and Dalton Schultz

Nico Collins is not expected to play this week, so I’m expecting Xavier Hutchinson and Kayshon Boutte to get the majority of the WR reps in two-WR sets with Jaylin Noel functioning as the slot receiver. If forced to choose one, I’d choose Boutte, but I hope you don’t have to start any of them.

Schultz is more appealing at TE after his 8 targets in Week 1. He could be the top pass-game option in this one against a Bengals defense that was the team to stream TEs against last season. 

C.J. Stroud gets a downgrade, and I expect the team to lean on the run game, but have an overall less productive offense, so this is somewhat neutral for David Montgomery.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New England Patriots

Michael Pittman Jr. and Pat Freiermuth

Freiermuth is a buy in TE-Premium and a potential streamer elsewhere, with Pittman’s foot injury adding to the case after he missed Thursday following a limited Wednesday and is listed as questionable on the official injury report. Mike McCarthy wants to keep using Freiermuth on seam and option routes, and Pittsburgh already gave him 8 play-action routes and 7 routes in motion on a 74% route participation. Pittsburgh is already making an effort to get him involved in different ways. A Pittman absence would potentially lead to more targets.

TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson

Stevenson’s Week 1 workload is coming down with Henderson back at full practice after his ankle injury. Stevenson handled 18 carries and 6 targets on an 85% snap share without him, and I don’t expect New England to leave that much work with one back when both are available. Against a Pittsburgh run defense I already wanted to avoid, Stevenson is a flex option, and I want to see it first with Henderson before I trust him in any lineups.

Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Romeo Doubs

A.J. Brown’s absence gives New England’s other WRs several weeks to establish a role, and Mike Vrabel plans to move them among different positions. Hollins is my first add for an immediate need after playing 70% of the snaps and even more when A.J. Brown was out. 

Romeo Doubs is probably not available, but he would be my first target on the wire and someone who’s playable in better matchups. He had a bad performance and played less than expected in Week 1, but I expect that to change in Week 2 with A.J. Brown out of the lineup. 

DeMario Douglas may get another target or two with Brown out, but he’s not interesting to me in most formats.

Green Bay Packers vs. New York Jets

MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks

Lloyd is still a bench hold for me with Josh Jacobs on the commissioner’s exempt list. Matt LaFleur liked how he responded to contact and finished his first game in almost two years, which matters after the injuries that have kept him out. Lloyd led the backfield with a 67% opportunity share (rush attempts + targets), and I think Chris Brooks played more as part of a ramp plan and out of pass-protection necessity against a blitz-heavy Brian Flores defense in Week 1. I am firing up Lloyd as an RB2 in Week 2 - a game they should win and have ample opportunity to put the ball in Lloyd’s hands.

Tucker Kraft

Kraft’s 48% route participation needs the context Matt LaFleur provided: Green Bay planned for 40 snaps in his return from a torn ACL, and he played 45. He’s a fringe TE1 for me this week with the workload ramp, so be sure to check the Fantasy Football Ranks to see if there are any other options available to start above him.

Cleveland Browns vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jalen McMillan, Ted Hurst, Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin

Jalen McMillan is questionable in Week 2, but have a full practice this week, so the chances of him playing are looking better. This will mainly impact Ted Hurst’s playing time, but I am watching to see if there’s a larger WR rotation with McMillan in the fold or if they just remove snaps from Hurst and not anyone else.

Quinshon Judkins and Raheim Sanders

Dylan Sampson going on IR hasn’t given Sanders the passing-down job outright. Sanders stepped in behind Judkins, but Travis Switzer has said any of the three available backs can work on third down, including Judkins and Jaleel McLaughlin.

Judkins stays in the RB2/flex range, with Sanders a bench add only where RB options are scarce.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans

Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts and the Offensive Line

Landon Dickerson’s move to injured reserve could force Philadelphia to change more than one position. Drew Kendall and Willie Lampkin have been discussed as replacements, along with the possibility of moving Cam Jurgens from center.

A direct replacement at left guard would leave the other four starters together, while moving Jurgens would change two interior positions at once. It may not matter for Week 2 with the Titans on deck, but something to monitor in terms of run game efficiency and pass protection beyond this week.

Wan’Dale Robinson

Cooper DeJean and Jalen Carter returned to limited practice Thursday, and Carter expects to play. DeJean’s availability matters more for Robinson, who works from the slot and had 6 targets last week. His absence would improve Robinson’s case for a PPR lineup spot, but with Cam Ward coming off 140 passing yards, this remains an option for a thin roster.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Denver Broncos

Brian Thomas, Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington

Washington is my preference in Jacksonville this week, with Thomas and Meyers limited by shoulder and thumb injuries, respectively. Thomas’ shoulder complicates the evaluation, but his route participation was already below 65% before he left the game, so the injury doesn’t explain all of the concern about his role. Washington ran 6 in-breakers on 18 routes, including 3 off play-action, giving Trevor Lawrence ways to find him across the field. Those opportunities can become more valuable if either teammate is unavailable. Meyers remains a WR4-range player for me when he’s healthy.

RJ Harvey, J.K. Dobbins and Jonah Coleman

Dobbins is the back to have rostered while we wait on Harvey’s hamstring. Harvey improved from no practice Wednesday to limited Thursday, so he still has a chance to play, but Dobbins already led the rushing work with 8 carries to 3 and becomes an RB2/flex if Harvey is out.

Harvey handled passing downs and drew 4 targets, and Coleman’s ability to protect the QB could help him get on the field if Denver needs someone else in that role. That makes Coleman a speculative bench add, with Dobbins the player to use immediately. Being trusted to block on third down wouldn’t necessarily give Coleman Harvey’s catches.

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer

Mayer is a borderline TE1 for me if Bowers misses another game. Bowers missed Wednesday and Thursday, and Klint Kubiak has called him day-to-day after his knee procedure. Mayer’s 81% snap share and 7 targets against Miami came without Bowers, so I’m adding him now if I need a TE replacement. Bowers is officially doubtful for Sunday, but if Bowers plays, I’m using another option instead of Mayer and playing Bowers.

Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre Harris and David Njoku

Johnston and Harris both become more appealing with McConkey missing Wednesday and Thursday because of his ribs, but getting a practice in on Friday and is officially listed as questionable on the team injury report. Harris and Johnston would likely get strong route shares since they won’t have to split one WR spot between both of them. Both are interesting flex plays if McConkey is out

Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals

Drew Lock and Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Smith-Njigba is still an elite receiver with Drew Lock, who is expected to start. Lock played almost all of Seattle’s first game, and JSN still received 11 targets, so we’ve already seen the offense continue to run through him. Cooper Kupp and Rashid Shaheed each had 3, making them harder to use with the backup QB. Lock is a Superflex option.

Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier

Love is a hold after Mike LaFleur explained that Arizona monitored his workload following several missed weeks of practice. Allgeier’s 17-to-11 carry advantage came with Love returning from the ankle injury, and Love still led in targets, 4 to 2.

Arizona has reason to use him more as he gets further into that return, but Allgeier has enough of the rushing work to keep Love in the flex range this week. LG Isaac Seumalo improved to limited Thursday with a shoulder injury, which is encouraging for the run game, but it is still a bad matchup against this Seahawks defensive line.

Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys

Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Kaytron Allen

JCM is still a flex for me, but Allen’s late work was more valuable than his 4-carry total suggests. Allen took Washington’s final 3 handoffs from the Philadelphia 18, 14 and 4 after JCM fumbled and never returned. Dan Quinn said the switch reflected both the fumble and a preference for Allen’s power running.

Bill and Allen each received 1 carry inside the 10, and JCM scored on his from the 1 earlier in the game. Allen is a bench stash for me, and I think he’s clearly the backup to Bill, above Rachaad White.

Chig Okonkwo and Antonio Williams

Antonio Williams is a bench add for me with Okonkwo out. He caught all 4 targets for 64 yards and a TD on 37% of the snaps against Philadelphia. David Blough could use more three-WR sets in place of some two-TE packages, giving Williams a chance to run more routes alongside McLaurin and Diggs. Williams showcased immense talent in a limited sample size in Week 1 - he deserves a bench stash in deep leagues.

Javonte Williams

I’m giving Javonte Williams a small matchup upgrade with Frankie Luvu out. Williams was a bellcow in Week 1, and Washington now has to replace a good starting linebacker. That makes Williams a more appealing option in DFS lineups.

Jayden Daniels, Dak Prescott and the Defensive Injuries

Luvu’s absence helps the Dallas passing game too, and Washington could get a better matchup if Dallas’ injured defenders remain out. Dallas had Malik Hooker and DeMarvion Overshown miss both practices. Washington is also monitoring Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson and Dorance Armstrong, who were limited in practice. Daniels and Prescott are starts, and these injuries give me more interest in pairing them with Terry McLaurin or Stefon Diggs, and CeeDee Lamb or George Pickens, respectively, in DFS. This game has immense shootout potential with two bad defenses.

Miami Dolphins vs. San Francisco 49ers

Christian McCaffrey and Kaelon Black

Kyle Shanahan said the plan entering the Rams game was to balance the rushing work more, so Black’s 14 carries to McCaffrey’s 10 deserves our attention. Black is worth holding and could have flex appeal this week in a game the 49ers should easily win.

Black did miss practice with a groin injury, so I need a reassuring health update before putting him into a lineup, but he’s a must-roster. Black is questionable for Week 2.

Demarcus Robinson and George Kittle

Robinson’s opportunity now extends well beyond a one-week injury replacement, with De’Zhaun Stribling expected to miss about 10 weeks after ankle surgery. He ran a route on 88.9% of San Francisco’s dropbacks after Stribling left, which is why I liked the add last week. Robinson is worth holding through the coming weeks as San Francisco adjusts to Stribling’s absence.

Kittle’s limited practices and 46% snap share came in his return from an Achilles injury. Jake Tonges going on IR removes another TE, but Luke Farrell can take blocking work without San Francisco asking Kittle to play a full game before he’s ready. Kittle remains in the TE1 discussion for me this week. Any increase in his routes still depends on how much work he can handle in his recovery.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Alec Pierce

Pierce was back at practice Friday after missing Thursday with his heel injury. He is off the injury report and expected to play. He’s not someone I want in my lineup until he ramps up his route share from 65% in Week 1. Sit him for now.

New York Giants vs. Los Angeles Rams

Malik Nabers

Nabers came through his ACL return without a setback and is off the injury report. The Giants targeted him 9 times on a 52% snap share, showing they were willing to make him a priority when he’s on the field, but still ramping up. He’s still a WR2 until they ramp him all the way up.

Puka Nacua and Davante Adams

Adams gets more appealing if the Giants have to replace multiple corners. Paulson Adebo missed Thursday with a knee injury and is now on IR, with Deonte Banks getting a DNP on Friday, looking iffy, and Greg Newsome II limited this week, so New York could need help covering more than one receiver.

Now, we got a surprise DNP out of Puka Nacua on Friday with a hip injury, which means Davante Adams is a clear WR1 this week if Nacua can’t go. Puka’s backup Jordan Whittington was also a DNP with a quad injury.

Terrance Ferguson is an interesting dart throw this week if Nacua can’t go, as the team’s de facto WR3.

If you have Nacua and we get news that he’s a game-time decision, I would wait for that information because this could be a monster game for him, especially if you’re an underdog in your matchup. If your alternative is also a top WR like George Pickens, go ahead and play Pickens, but if it’s Quentin Johnston, wait for Nacua. 

Also, make sure you have backup options that can slot into your flex for Nacua, like Ferguson, Malachi Fields, or others.