NFL Week 2 Recap: Immediate fantasy football takeaways from Sunday's games

Rookie running backs see an increased role: The Cleveland Browns‘ Quinshon Judkins made his NFL debut, Cam Skattebo pulled even with Tyrone Tracy in the New York Giants backfield, and Bhayshul Tuten scored as the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ new primary backup.

Super Bowl contenders dominate: The Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions all beat division rivals by multiple scores, leading to great fantasy finishes from Lamar Jackson, James Cook and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

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Estimated reading time: 50 minutes

PFF's fantasy football recap focuses on player usage and stats, breaking down all the vital information you need to achieve fantasy success in 2025.

Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens

Quinshon Judkins makes his NFL debut: The second-round rookie running back led Cleveland in both rushing attempts and rushing yards in his first game.

The Browns mostly used a two-man rotation at running back in Week 1. Fourth-round rookie Dylan Sampson played on early downs, while Jerome Ford played on third downs. However, Quinshon Judkins didn’t play. The Browns activated Judkins to the 53-man roster on Saturday, opening the door for him to play in this game and disrupt the running back rotation. The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported before the game that the plan was for Judkins to play 10-15 snaps.

Judkins became the Browns' primary early-down back, although it was an ugly three-man rotation. He took playing time away from both Ford and Sampson in these situations. Judkins similarly took over as the primary early-down back. The splits on third down and in the two-minute drill were similar to last week, allowing Ford's significant role to continue. Judkins ran the ball 10 times for 61 yards, which was a promising start. Ford received most of the work in garbage time.

We can expect Judkins' playing time to improve in future weeks. He should be a borderline fantasy starter in the short term, and he could eventually become a must-start option. Sampson should remain on fantasy rosters for the time being, as the league appears to still be investigating Judkins, which could lead to a suspension. If that happens, Sampson would return to being the Browns' lead back. Ford will continue having a few carries and catches each week, but Ford probably won't have any fantasy value this season, outside of very deep leagues.

Harold Fannin Jr. plays fewer offensive snaps: The fourth-round rookie still finished tied for first on the team in receptions at five and second in receiving yards at 48.

Fannin was one of the most popular waiver-wire pickups after Week 1 thanks to his seven receptions for 63 yards in his debut. He was second on the depth chart behind David Njoku, but the Browns ran 43 plays out of two- or three-tight-end sets where both players were on the field. The two were near even in terms of 11 personnel snaps on third downs. Fannin played well enough that it was at least possible he would play more this week.

This week, the Browns ran three fewer plays on offense in total. They ran six fewer plays in two- or three-tight-end sets, and three more in single-tight-end sets. Njoku played 27 of the 36 snaps in single-tight-end sets compared to Fannin's nine. Particularly on third downs, Njoku played seven of nine snaps.

It will be difficult for Fannin to maintain fantasy value in this role. It’s unlikely the Browns will keep running 73-plus plays each week. It was very promising to see the Browns' commitment to 12 personnel despite the game script, but it’s difficult to be consistent in fantasy as a tight end while only playing 63% of the team's offensive snaps, while others are playing over 80%, like Njoku.

Anyone who picked up Fannin should still hold onto him, as there is a chance he eventually overtakes Njoku in 11 personnel snaps, but Fannin might not stay a weekly starter.

Mark Andrews remains a non-factor despite increased snap rate: Andrews caught one pass for two yards in the Ravens' blowout victory.

Andrews played 74.5% of Baltimore's offensive snaps despite Isaiah Likely being inactive last week, and he caught one pass for five yards. This week, Andrews was more consistently on the field. His increase in snaps was primarily on early downs, where he split snaps with Charlie Kolar in one-tight-end sets last week. This week, he took 79% of those snaps.

Andrews played 80.4% of Baltimore's offensive snaps over the entire game, including 84.6% of the snaps before garbage time. We knew heading into the season that Andrews would be very dependent on scoring touchdowns, but this is a lower floor than most were expecting. He had caught at least two passes for at least double-digit yards in 15 of 17 games last season. If there is any good news here, it’s that Andrews had a very slow start last season. He caught six passes over his first four games, but Likely was healthy during that stretch.

It is fine to drop Andrews if you have a better option either on your bench or on the waiver wire. This could potentially make Likely a better waiver wire option for when he’s finally healthy.

Miscellaneous Notes

Isaiah Likely missed his second-straight game due to a foot injury, while fullback Patrick Ricard missed due to a calf injury. Zaire Mitchell-Paden was activated off the practice squad to take their place, similar to last week.

Keaton Mitchell was a healthy inactive for Baltimore for a second straight week. The Ravens only want to keep three halfbacks on the 46-man roster, and Rasheen Ali provides more special teams value. However, if Derrick Henry suffers a significant injury, it wouldn’t be surprising if Mitchell is the replacement.

Ali suffered a concussion in the first quarter of the game and didn’t return. If he misses next week, Mitchell will likely be active.

DeAndre Hopkins played 74% of 11 personnel snaps last week, but that dropped to 33.3% this week. He only played 10 snaps over the entire game on offense. While he caught two passes for 64 yards and a touchdown, his play will not be sustainable given such a low snap rate. Tylan Wallace was the primary third wide receiver throughout the game.

Browns undrafted rookie wide receiver Gage Larvadain was released from the 53-man roster to make room for Quinshon Judkins. He will presumably sign with their practice squad on Monday.

The Browns made Raheim Sanders inactive after he scored a touchdown last week due to the Quinshon Judkins addition.

Browns backup receiver and returner DeAndre Carter suffered a concussion early in the game and didn’t return.

Undrafted rookie Isaiah Bond played eight more snaps than Jamari Thrash. In both Weeks 1 and 2, Bond was the primary backup to both starters in two-receiver sets. The difference this week is that Bond was near even with Thrash in 11 personnel snaps.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Cincinnati Bengals

Bhayshul Tuten emerges as the Jaguars' primary backup: Jacksonville traded Tank Bigsby earlier in the week, paving the way for Tuten’s increased role.

The Jaguars used four different running backs last week. Travis Etienne Jr. was the main running back in all situations except third downs, while seventh-round rookie LeQuint Allen Jr. served as the third-down back. Bigsby was the primary backup, leaving Tuten to play only four snaps. However, the Jaguars simplified their running back rotation last Monday by trading Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Etienne and Tuten both received notable upticks in playing time. Etienne played an even higher percentage of the early-down snaps, but Tuten took most of Bigsby’s snaps. Tuten frequently received the ball on the field, resulting in eight carries for 42 yards and two receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown. While Tuten played well enough to earn more playing time, Etienne is also playing very well, averaging over five yards per carry. Allen’s role was unchanged as their third-down back.

Tuten needs to be on fantasy rosters due to how close the two players were in touches. There is no guarantee he overtakes Eteinne at any point this season, but this remains one of the very few backfields where we could potentially see a change in the top running back without an injury.

The weekly Travis Hunter update: Hunter played more snaps on defense while playing the same snap total as last week.

On offense, Hunter has played exclusively in 11 personnel. That was true in the one preseason game he played, and it has remained true in both regular-season games. Hunter rotated out in 11 personnel slightly more often, but the Jaguars also ran more plays out of 11 personnel, leading Hunter’s total number of snaps to remain the same. While Hunter remained the Jaguars’ primary slot receiver, he lined up in the slot less frequently this week, while all four other wide receivers for Jacksonville received a higher slot rate this week.

He caught three passes for 22 yards, while backup wide receivers Parker Washington and Dyami Brown led the Jaguars in both receptions and receiving yards. Brian Thomas Jr. led the team in targets.

Hunter played six snaps on defense last week. There were reports throughout the week that Jacksonville planned on using Hunter more often. That was amplified once Jarrian Jones suffered a back injury. Hunter only played in one of 14 snaps in the first quarter, but that increased to 12 out of 18 in the second quarter while Jones dealt with his injury. Jones played six plays early in the third quarter, but then he didn’t return to the game. This left Hunter playing in the final 30 snaps in the game, resulting in 43 total snaps on defense to go along with his 42 snaps on offense. He lined up as the furthest outside left cornerback on nearly every play.

Hunter needs to remain on fantasy rosters, but he ideally would have had more production on offense over these first two weeks. It’s understandable if you want to leave Hunter on your bench until he puts together a better fantasy performance.

Noah Fant plays fewer snaps: Fant played 26 offensive snaps last week, but that fell to 17 this week.

Fant joined a crowded Cincinnati Bengals tight end room with Drew Sample and Mike Gesicki. Last week, Sample was the primary tight end on early downs, and Gesicki was the primary back on third downs, while Fant played a high percentage of the snaps in two-tight-end sets. Despite the low snap rate, Fant caught four passes for 26 yards and a touchdown.

This week, the Bengals were often playing from behind rather than playing with a lead. This meant Gesicki played more snaps in all situations. That, in turn, meant fewer snaps for Fant, who led the Bengals' tight end room in fantasy production with three receptions for 28 yards, but there will be weeks this season where Gesicki leads the tight end room in fantasy points.

This should be a tight end room to avoid.

Miscellaneous Notes

The Jaguars signed Cody Schrader from the Los Angeles Rams‘ practice squad after trading away Tank Bigsby, but Schrader was a healthy inactive this week.

Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange’s playing time jumped to 90.1% of Jacksonville's offensive snaps, which is a new career high, and a mark that Evan Engram only hit twice during his time with the Jaguars.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a toe injury and didn’t return. It is unclear how severe the injury is. If he misses time, Jake Browning is a great waiver-wire target. Browning averaged 20 points per game over his seven starts in 2023.

Chase Brown played in over half of the two-minute drill snaps. Brown was the primary two-minute drill back late last season, but Perine took all of the two-minute drill snaps last week.

Bengals backup wide receiver Jermaine Burton was a healthy inactive for a second straight week.

New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys

Cam Skattebo is the Giants' new lead back: Skattebo led the Giants in offensive snaps in the second half.

The Giants drafted Skattebo in the fourth round. There was an instant possibility he could overtake Tyrone Tracy as the starter, given Tracy’s slow end of the 2024 season. That momentum for Skattebo stalled when he missed significant time during training camp, including the first two preseason games. Tracy played over 70% of New York's offensive snaps in the first game, including over 90% of third downs and 80% of the short-yardage situations. Skattebo only played eight snaps, while Devin Singletary played 10.

Skattebo’s playing time was notably larger in the first half this week. Tracy and Skattebo were even on early downs and in short-yardage situations. Tracy had a slight lead over Skattebo due to third-down plays. However, in the second half and overtime, Skattebo played 19 of 31 snaps compared to Tracy's 11 and Singletary's two. By the end of the game, Skattebo was even with Tracy on both late downs and two-minute drill situations. Skattebo had a clear lead on early downs, while Tracy’s only win was in two-minute drill situations.

It will be difficult to trust either running back, given the evolving usage and the fact that they are playing a Chiefs team that is still looking for its first win of the season. Both running backs need to remain on fantasy rosters for now. However, it looks like we could already be at a point where Skattebo is a borderline fantasy starter, and Tracy shouldn’t be considered in fantasy starting lineups. We will need to see several weeks of Skattebo as the lead back before you should consider dropping Tracy.

Monitor KaVontae Turpin‘s health: Turpin suffered a neck injury and didn’t return.

Turpin played 45.9% of Dallas' offensive snaps last week, which included 56.5% of the snaps in 11 personnel while playing ahead of Jalen Tolbert. This week, it seemed like Tolbert regained an edge in 11 personnel. Tolbert played 17 snaps in the first half compared to Turpin's 10.

Turpin caught four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown and had 100 yards in kick returns prior to his injury. While Turpin’s injury initially appeared very serious, he was wearing a neck brace after the game, and the X-rays were “good.” Tolbert played a much higher percentage of the 11 personnel snaps after Turpin’s injury and would continue being the clear third wide receiver for any time Turpin misses. Tolbert also took four kick returns for 85 yards and had a fair catch, so he would likely replace Turpin as the returner for as long as Turpin is out.

Miscellaneous Notes

All three Giants wide receivers appeared on the injury report at the start of the week. Wan’Dale Robinson was the only one with an injury designation, as he was questionable due to an ankle injury.

Despite the injuries, Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton and Robinson played 100% of New York's snaps in 11 personnel, and Nabers and Slayton played 100% of the snaps in 12 personnel.

The Giants claimed Xavier Gipson off waivers from the New York Jets after Gipson lost a fourth-quarter fumble last week. Gipson has the potential to play special teams for New York in the future, but he was a healthy inactive this week.

Javonte Williams played a lower percentage of Dallas' offensive snaps this week compared to last, while Miles Sanders played more than last week. However, the Cowboys ran 89 offensive plays, so it’s understandable that Williams needed more breaks. Both players played notably more total snaps than last week because the Cowboys ran so many plays.

Dallas rookie running back Jaydon Blue was a healthy inactive for Dallas for a second straight week. This left Dallas with only Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders and Hunter Luepke at running back. While there is still a possibility for Blue to emerge later in the season, this is not a great start to his NFL career.

The Cowboys signed Ryan Flournoy to the active roster on Saturday. They were the only team with only four wide receivers on the active roster before the signing.

Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions

The Bears stick with their two-man backfield: Roschon Johnson was on the Bears' active roster, but he didn’t play a snap on offense.

The Bears were down one of their running backs in Week 1 because Johnson was out. He had also missed a lot of training camp and the preseason, making it unclear how big a part Johnson was in the Bears' plans. D’Andre Swift played over 80% of Chicago's offensive snaps last week, while Kyle Monangai was the only backup.

While Johnson was active, he didn’t play any offensive snaps. Monangai remained the backup and played more. Monangai took the majority of short-yardage situations and received an uptick in snaps on both early downs and third downs before garbage time. While Swift lost a fumble, he averaged 5.5 yards per carry, while Monangai lost a yard on his only carry. The Bears were blown out, so Monangai took the last 11 snaps of the game.

Swift should remain in fantasy starting lineups most weeks going forward, despite the slight decrease in playing time compared to last week.

Isaac TeSlaa sees an increased role: TeSlaa only played three offensive snaps last week.

The Lions used Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams as their main wide receivers last week, while Kalif Raymond almost always joined the two in three-receiver sets. TeSlaa’s three snaps all came at Raymond's expense in three-receiver sets.

This week, Raymond’s playing time in 11 personnel dropped to 70.3%, while TeSlaa’s time increased to 43.2%. TeSlaa also played a snap in a two-wide receiver set. This was not necessarily a result of the blowout. TeSlaa played 12 snaps in the first half compared to Raymond's 15. TeSlaa played noticeably less in the second half because the Lions weren’t using as much 11 personnel.

While TeSlaa might not see enough volume to make him a fantasy starter, it will be interesting to see if he can take volume away from anyone else in the offense.

Miscellaneous Notes

Bears second-round rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III remains a distant fourth on the depth chart. He played 12 snaps this week after receiving only 18 snaps last week.

The playing time distribution between Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland was very similar this week to last week. Kmet played a slightly higher percentage of the third-down snaps but a lower percentage on early downs compared to last week.

Bears undrafted rookie wide receiver Jahdae Walker was inactive due to an ankle injury.

The playing time split between Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery was very similar this week to last week before garbage time. The only difference is that last week, Gibbs took the garbage time snaps, while this week, it was Craig Reynolds.

Lions backup running back Sione Vaki missed his second game due to a hamstring injury.

Lions third-string tight end Shane Zylstra suffered a first-quarter ankle injury. He was initially ruled questionable but was ruled out before halftime.

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins

TreVeyon Henderson fails to see an increased role: The Patriots moved more towards a three-man backfield, while Antonio Gibson saw an increased role.

Rhamondre Stevenson was the lead running back with the Patriots in Week 1, taking roughly two-thirds of the snaps to Henderson's one-third. This was true in roughly every situation. Gibson was a distant third with five snaps. They ran five plays with two running backs on the field.

This week, the Patriots ran even more plays with both running backs on the field at eight plays. However, they also ran fewer plays with just Henderson on the field. Henderson played 11 snaps in single running back sets compared to nine by Gibson. Last week, Henderson received 20 snaps in single-back sets. Henderson ran the ball three times for 10 yards and caught two passes for 30 yards. The other two running backs both received more carries and averaged more yards per carry. Stevenson also led the team in receiving, finishing with five receptions for 88 yards thanks to a 55-yard reception.

It is undoubtedly too early to give up on Henderson after seeing so many other rookie running backs earn an increased role this week. However, Henderson should not be in fantasy starting lineups until he sees an increased role.

A shift in the Patriots' wide receiver rotation: DeMario Douglas is no longer the Patriots' clear-cut third wide receiver.

The Patriots spent the last two years, as well as Week 1, with Douglas as their third receiver in three-receiver sets, playing a high percentage of snaps out of the slot. He played some snaps in two-receiver sets last season, and there was some thought he could do so this season. Instead, his playing time has gone in the opposite direction.

New England used a three-man rotation on the outside in Week 1 with Kayshon Boutte, Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins. That continued this week, but on 40% of 11 personnel snaps, those three receivers were on the field without Douglas. Most of the time, Diggs played in the slot, similar to what he did last season with the Houston Texans.

The Patriots ran 28 plays in two- or three-tight-end sets, along with eight plays with two running backs, so this left only 25 plays with three receivers on the field and 28 plays with two receivers. None of the wide receivers played above 75% of New England's offensive snaps in this rotation or gained more than 32 receiving yards. Boutte should remain on fantasy rosters after scoring a touchdown this week and performing well in Week 1, while Diggs should also remain on rosters, but neither should be in fantasy starting lineups until one of them can be consistent. Anyone who drafted Douglas can drop him.

De’Von Achane plays more snaps: Achane played a career-high 93.0% of Miami's offensive snaps.

Miami seemed to have a strong running back room heading into the season, with Jaylen Wright and Alexander Mattison as the primary backups. However, Mattison suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason, while Wright has missed the first two games of the season. Achane was on pace to set a new career-high in offensive snap rate at 88.2% last week, but a blowout loss led sixth-round rookie Ollie Gordon II to play most of garbage time, resulting in Achane’s snap rate falling to 72.3% of Miami's offensive snaps.

The Dolphins relied on Achane even more this week. He played at least 90% of the snaps in all situations. He was the only running back in the first 10 games of the week to exceed 90%, while Tony Pollard and Alvin Kamara were the only other backs above 80%. Achane ran 11 times for 30 yards and caught eight passes for 92 yards and a touchdown.

While there is a risk of Achane suffering an injury at some point this season due to his size and playing time, Achane should be one of the best running back options for fantasy purposes as long as he can stay healthy.

Miscellaneous Notes

Dolphins backup running back Jaylen Wright missed a second straight week due to a knee injury. Jeff Wilson was activated off the practice squad for a second straight week.

Darren Waller missed his second straight game due to a hip injury.

Dolphins kicker Riley Patterson was again activated off the practice squad while Jason Sanders is on injured reserve.

Patriots tight end Hunter Henry played an extremely high 93% of New England's offensive snaps last week, which was higher than in any other game last season. That snap rate fell to 85% this week, notably losing some playing time to Austin Hooper in single-tight-end sets on early downs. This is still very strong, but more in line with last season.

Patriots rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams was not a major part of the Patriots' wide receiver rotation. He played 10 offensive snaps, but seven of them were in single-receiver sets, a situation where wide receivers rarely produce.

Patriots undrafted rookie wide receiver Efton Chism III was a healthy inactive for a second straight week.

San Francisco 49ers @ New Orleans Saints

The 49ers' ever-changing wide receiver room: There were multiple questions about which wide receivers would be playing in 11 personnel this week.

The 49ers' wide receiver room has been in constant flux over the past two months. The 49ers used Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings as their primary wide receivers last week. Russell Gage Jr. was their slot receiver, while Marquez Valdes-Scantling took over for Jennings after he suffered a shoulder injury. Jennings was questionable heading into this week due to that shoulder injury. The 49ers signed Kendrick Bourne, who was released by the New England Patriots. He had played with the 49ers from 2017 to 2020. This left Gage on the practice squad this week.

Pearsall played 88.7% of the 49ers' offensive snaps, the second-best of his career. He played 92.1% of the snaps in Week 18 last season and 84.2% last week. Jennings’ injury seemed to have a minimal impact on his playing time at 87.3%, while Valdes-Scantling served as his backup. While Jennings and Pearsall both have experience in the slot, Bourne took over as the third receiver in three-receiver sets and was the primary slot receiver. However, all three played at least some snaps in the slot. After a lot of instability throughout training camp and the start of the season, it wouldn’t be surprising if this is how the wide receiver room looks next week.

Ideally, the 49ers get Brock Purdy back sooner rather than later. Regardless, both players should be heavily considered in fantasy starting lineups each week, at least until Brandon Aiyuk is back.

Devaughn Vele finds a role in the Saints offense: Vele played 33.8% of New Orleans' offensive snaps after playing only 22.7% last week.

The Saints brought back Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed from last season, added free agent wide receiver Brandin Cooks and traded for Vele late into training camp. Vele was a clear backup in Week 1, giving anyone a break who needed it in both two- and three-receiver sets.

This week, his playing time in 11 personnel was similar to last week. Both Olave and Cooks played at least 89% of the snaps in 11 personnel both last week and this week. However, this week, Vele cut into Shaheed’s playing time a little more, as Shaheed only played 81% of the snaps in 11 personnel. Vele’s snaps increased the most in two-receiver sets. He played half of the two-receiver sets, while Shaheed played less than half.

Shaheed finished the day with four receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown. However, Vele may continue to cut into this wide receiver rotation. While I’d be happy to have Shaheed in best ball thanks to his big-play ability, he might play enough to trust him in redraft leagues. In 10-team leagues, it’s fine to consider cutting Shaheed. In 12-team leagues or more, it’s probably a good idea to trade Shaheed after scoring 15 PPR points.

Miscellaneous Notes

Saints tight end Juwan Johnson remained a large part of the Saints' offense. He played over 95% of his team's offensive snaps, catching five passes for 49 yards and a touchdown.

Alvin Kamara played 85.9% of New Orleans' offensive snaps, which is a notable increase from last week and similar to his best games from last season.

49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was inactive due to both a left shoulder injury and a toe injury. Adrian Martinez was activated off the practice squad to be the backup.

The 49ers' running back rotation was the same as last week. Christian McCaffrey played 76-78% of the 49ers' offensive snaps, including 68-70% on early downs and nearly 100% of snaps in all other situations, while Brian Robinson Jr. took the rest of the snaps, and Isaac Guerendo didn’t play on offense.

George Kittle was placed on injured reserve earlier in the week. Similar to last week, Jake Tonges was the primary third-down tight end. However, last week Luke Farrell played the majority of single-tight-end snaps on early downs, while this week, Tonges played slightly more. Brayden Willis was activated off the practice squad to be the third tight end.

49ers rookie running back Jordan James and wide receiver Jordan Watkins have been dealing with injuries. They were both full participants in practice on Friday and weren’t given injury designations, but both players were inactive this week.

49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk suffered a first-half concussion and was ruled out for the game.

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets

Breece Hall takes a stronger hold on the Jets' backfield: Hall’s big game from Week 1 led to an increased role in Week 2.

The Jets were adamant they would use all three of their running backs throughout the offseason as well as during the preseason. That played out in Week 1. Hall played 58% of New York's offensive snaps, Braelon Allen played 31%, and Isaiah Davis played 12%, including being the primary passing-down back.

This week, Hall’s playing time increased to 63%. He played 73% prior to garbage time, while the other two backs saw more work once garbage time started. Most notable was that all three running backs played three snaps in third-down situations. This was a significant difference from last week when Davis took three-quarters of the third-down snaps. Hall’s playing time before garbage time was very similar to last season, but with more work on early downs and less on third downs. If anything, this is a good thing for his fantasy value.

Hall ran the ball 10 times for 29 yards and caught two passes for nine yards, which wasn’t great for his fantasy value. Hall’s fantasy value could still be limited due to the Jets offense, and he could lose some playing time after not performing very well this week. He will remain a borderline fantasy starter, depending on how well he’s playing, how well the Jets are playing, and his opponent.

Jets continue to lack wide receiver depth: The Jets were down their No. 2 wide receiver and had minimal passing production.

The Jets made several changes at wide receiver this offseason. Garrett Wilson was locked into the top wide receiver spot, while Josh Reynolds quickly earned the second receiver spot, and he played 97% offensive snaps last week. Tyler Johnson was the slot receiver, while rookie Arian Smith was the only other wide receiver to play offensive snaps. Allen Lazard was a healthy inactive. The Jets needed to adjust their plans this week, as Reynolds was inactive due to a hamstring injury.

This week, Johnson went from a player primarily playing in 11 personnel to an every-down player. Lazard went from a healthy inactive to third on the depth chart. Lazard was the primary third wide receiver, while Smith also played noteworthy snaps. While Lazard had played notable snaps in the slot both last season and earlier in his career, he was the X receiver whenever he was on the field, taking Reynolds' role.

Despite all the changes, Wilson remained the only wide receiver who had any kind of fantasy relevance. He caught four passes for 50 yards, while every other player on the team was held to single-digit receiving yards.

The Bills return to their usual wide receiver rotation: No wide receiver played more than 51% of Buffalo's offensive snaps.

In Week 1, the Bills seemed like they would rotate wide receivers less often than in other recent seasons. Keon Coleman played 88.2% of the Bills' snaps as their X receiver, while Khalil Shakir played 95.2% of the snaps out of 11 personnel. The main rotation was between Joshua Palmer and Tyrell Shavers, with Shavers playing more in 12 personnel and Palmer playing a lot more in 11 personnel.

This week, the Bills ran 19 plays with only one wide receiver on the field, which contributed to everyone’s playing time. The Bills also used Moore and Shavers at the end of the game. However, early in the game, the Bills rotated personnel more often in 11 and 12 personnel. In the first half, Coleman played 19 of the 24 snaps in 11 personnel, while Shakir played 21 of 24. While those were both high rates, they were lower than last week for both receivers.

Buffalo only gained 180 passing yards in this game, and no receiver caught a touchdown or surpassed 50 receiving yards. Coleman and Shakir should only be considered borderline fantasy starters going forward.

Miscellaneous Notes

Bills veteran wide receiver Curtis Samuel was a healthy inactive for a second straight week.

In Week 1, Dawson Knox played 71% of 11 personnel snaps on third downs, while Dalton Kincaid played the other 29%. The good news for Kincaid is that he bumped that up to 53.3% this week. The bad news is he was still in a rotation with Jackson Hawes in 12 personnel.

Jets quarterback Justin Fields left the game late to be checked for a concussion. There is a chance he will miss next week.

Jets rookie tight end Mason Taylor was questionable for this game due to an ankle injury. He played 87% of the team's offensive snaps last week, but that dropped to 78% this week before garbage time. He primarily lost snaps on third downs out of 11 personnel. Ideally, his playing time will bounce back next week.

Jets fourth-string running back Kene Nwangwu was inactive due to a hamstring injury.

Seattle Seahawks @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Zach Charbonnet leads the Seahawks rotation for now: While Charbonnet played the most snaps in every situation, Kenneth Walker III had a much better day.

Charbonnet played 57.7% of Seattle's offensive snaps in Week 1. He played all of the goal-line snaps and a clear majority of third-down and two-minute drill snaps. The two split short-yardage snaps, while Walker led the day on early downs at 59%.

The percentages for both running backs were similar this week. Charbonnet took the lead on early downs, 58-42%. There were six plays with neither running back on the field on third downs, as the Seahawks used three wide receivers and two tight ends. While Charbonnet played more, Walker ran 13 times for 105 yards and a touchdown. He gained a first down on 54% of his runs and at least five yards on 61.5% of his runs. Charbonnet ran 15 times for 10 yards with no first downs.

Both running backs need to remain on fantasy rosters throughout the season due to how much Seattle likes running the ball. However, Walker will likely get more touches going forward while Charbonnet gets fewer based on their differing quality of plays this week.

Jaylen Warren leads the Steelers' two-man rotation: Kenneth Gainwell had led the Steelers in offensive snaps last week.

The Steelers' running back rotation in Week 1 resembled the past few seasons, but Warren was in Najee Harris’ role, while Gainwell was in Harris' role. Gainwell played 100% of the third down and two-minute drill snaps, while Warren played over 50% of the early-down, short yardage and goal-line snaps.

This week, Warren was the lead back. The two were used more interchangeably. Warren became the primary third-down back and played between 50-70% of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps in every situation, outside of goal-line snaps. Both running backs played multiple snaps on nearly every drive. Warren was more likely to touch the ball when he was on the field, finishing with 14 carries for 48 yards and catching four passes for 86 yards.

The usage of the two running backs appears to be very fluid. Gainwell may play the most snaps in weeks when he has the hot hand, while Warren is more likely to have a big game. Both players need to be on fantasy rosters, while Warren should be a starter when the matchup is right.

Miscellaneous Notes

Seahawks rookie quarterback Jalen Milroe was the designated third quarterback this week, after Seattle kept all three quarterbacks on the 46-man active roster last week. This meant Milroe was not eligible to have a short-yardage package after playing one offensive snap last week.

The Seahawks had backup wide receivers Jake Bobo and Dareke Young after both missed last week due to injury. They combined for 18 snaps, while Tory Horton remained the clear third wide receiver. Bobo and Young primarily played in single-receiver sets. The Seahawks used single-receiver sets on 18 plays, which is the only reason Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba played less than 70% of Seattle's offensive snaps.

All three Seahawks tight ends played more this week, thanks to 33 plays in two-tight-end sets and five plays in three-tight-end sets.

Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson only played two offensive snaps for the second straight week. He can be released in some 10-team leagues with lighter benches. While September is too early to give up on a rookie in 12-team leagues, there isn’t a clear path to him being a fantasy starter without an injury.

Roman Wilson has won the Steelers' third wide receiver job. He and Ben Skowronek split the job 50-50 last week, but Wilson played 81.5% of the snaps in 11 personnel this week. However, that only meant 35.5% of snaps overall because the Steelers run so many two- and three-tight-end sets.

Jonnu Smith only played 56.5% of his team's offensive snaps this week after playing 66.1% last week. Pat Freiermuth was the clear third-down tight end, which wasn’t the case last week. These tight ends should only be rostered in 10- or 12-team leagues when your starting tight end is injured or has a bye week.

Los Angeles Rams @ Tennessee Titans

Kyren Williams comes back down to Earth: Williams played less than 75% of the Rams' offensive snaps for the second time in the last two seasons.

For the last two seasons, it seemed like Williams would play fewer offensive snaps. The Rams spent early-to-mid round draft picks on Blake Corum and Jarquez Hunter, but that didn’t have an impact on his playing time last season. In Week 1, Williams played a little less than usual at an 81.7% snap rate. The Rams largely rotated by drive, as Corum took the third and seventh drive of the game, while Williams tok the other seven drives in the game.

This week, the rotation was nearly identical, as Corum took the third and seventh drives. The Rams had 11 drives in that game, leading Corum to also take the 10th drive. The difference this week is that Corum’s drives averaged six plays to Williams' 4.8. Corum looked good given his opportunities, running for 44 yards and a touchdown on his five carries.

For the time being, Williams remains a must-start option. However, if Corum keeps playing well, there is a chance he could start earning drives more frequently.

Jordan Whittington overtakes Tutu Atwell: Whittington played more than Atwell for a second-straight week.

Whittington played 30 snaps in Week 1 compared to Atwell's 25. However, Atwell played 71% of the snaps in 11 personnel compared to Whittington's 54%. Nacua was dealing with an injury, leading to less playing time, and Whittington appeared to be his replacement.

Nacua only played in 69% of the Rams' offensive snaps this week despite not appearing on the injury report. This included 80% of the snaps in 11 personnel, but Whittington continued to take significant work from Nacua in 12 personnel. Another difference this week is that Whittington played more snaps than Atwell in three-receiver sets. This left Whittington playing 39 snaps compared to Atwell's 26.

Whittington caught both of his passes for 42 yards, while Atwell didn’t catch his only target. The Rams probably don't have three fantasy-relevant wide receivers, but this is worth noting in case Davante Adams or Nacua miss time at any point this season.

Chimere Dike’s role increases for Tennessee: One Titans’ rookie wide receiver already earned a starting job, and we might be closer to a second.

The Titans started training camp with Van Jefferson as their X receiver, Calvin Ridley as their Z receiver, and Tyler Lockett as their slot receiver. Throughout training camp, Elic Ayomanor overtook Jefferson for one starting job. However, Dike played 17.5% of the snaps. This included taking a few snaps from Lockett in three-receiver sets, as well as a few snaps in two-receiver sets.

This week, Lockett played 32 snaps compared to Dike's 28. This included Lockett playing 32 of the 60 snaps in 11 personnel compared to Dike's 26, and Dike playing two snaps in two-receiver sets. Lockett caught two passes for nine yards while Dike caught two passes for -1 yard.

It wouldn’t be surprising if these two were in a rotation for another month, but the Titans are 0-2 and a young team playing for the future. At some point, it will probably make sense to turn to their 23-year-old rookie full-time over the receiver who will be turning 33 years old before the end of the month.

Miscellaneous Notes

Titans running back Tony Pollard continues to play nearly 90% of Tennessee's offensive snaps with Tyjae Spears on injured reserve.

Titans backup running back Kalel Mullings was inactive due to an ankle injury after being listed as doubtful. He was the Titans’ third running back in Week 1. The Titans activated Jordan Mims in his place.

Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo’s playing time dropped to 76% of the Titans' offensive snaps this week, which is still relatively strong for a tight end but was lower than last week. This was partially due to the Ttians using much fewer two-tight-end snaps, so there were fewer snaps to tight ends to go around.

Rams backup tight end Colby Parkinson was doubtful due to a shoulder injury. He played 48% of the Rams' offensive snaps in Week 1, including 24% of the early-down snaps out of 11 personnel and 92% of the snaps in two-tight-end sets.

This left Tyler Higbee playing 75% of the Rams' snaps, while Davis Allen played 41%. Rookie Terrance Ferguson played four snaps, making his regular-season debut with the Rams.

Carolina Panthers @ Arizona Cardinals

Chuba Hubbard re-takes the third-down role: Hubbard played 64% of Carolina's offensive snaps on third downs after Rico Dowdle took all of these snaps last week.

Hubbard was Carolina's feature back last season. The Panthers added Dowdle in free agency to help ease Hubbard’s workload. Throughout the preseason, it was clear the plan was to play Dowdle on third downs, while Hubbard took the majority of snaps in all other situations. In Week 1, Hubbard played at least 70% of the snaps all situations outside of third downs.

This week, Hubbard didn’t dominate early downs or goal-line snaps as much as Week 1, but ultimately, he played a higher percentage of Carolina's offensive snaps (74.1%), thanks to that increase in third-down snaps. The Panthers quickly were down by multiple scores, leading Hubbard to only run 10 times for 38 yards. However, he caught five passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.

This change shouldn’t have a major impact on Hubbard’s fantasy value, but this does open the door for him to have some games where he’s playing over 80% of the snaps if he’s performing well enough.

Hunter Renfrow catches two touchdowns: Renfrow caught seven passes for 48 yards in his best game since 2022.

The Panthers used a similar wide receiver rotation this week as last week. Tetairoa McMillan and Xavier Legette played in two- and three-receiver sets, while Renfrow joined them in three-receiver sets. The Panthers fell behind in the game early, so they used a lot of 11 personnel, leading Bryce Young to throw 55 passes.

Renfrow’s game was promising, but it might be difficult to trust him going forward while only playing in three-receiver sets. However, this could have earned him a larger role going forward. Xavier Legette caught one of six targets for -2 yards. Brycen Tremayne cut into Legette’s playing time just a little bit, and in that time, he caught three passes for 48 yards. Legette hasn’t reached 48 yards since Week 13 of last season.

Jalen Coker is eligible to return after Week 4. It was initially assumed that Coker would be playing in the slot in three-receiver sets. However, given the difference in Renfrow’s play compared to Legette, Coker may take the Z receiver role over Legette. Given how the Panthers played in the last 20 minutes of the game, their passing game may improve, so they could have a second fantasy-relevant receiver outside of McMillan.

Trey Benson takes the two-minute drill: Benson’s role in the offense has expanded to include more passing-down work.

Last season, James Conner was the early-down back, Emari Demercado was the third-down back, and Benson was the primary backup on early downs. This included Conner taking 53% of the two-minute drill snaps and Demercado taking 45%. Benson did not play a single snap on third downs or during the two-minute drill last year. The Cardinals changed plans for this season. Benson took over on third downs, and Demercado was not playing on offense. The team didn’t have a two-minute drill last week.

This week, Benson continued being the primary backup on early downs and the third-down back. However, this week, he also played all six snaps in the two-minute drill. While this doesn’t necessarily mean he will play every snap in the two-minute drill during the season, it was a positive sign for Benson’s progression as a player.

Conner still played 70.6% of Arizona's offensive snaps on early downs, which was more than last week and his average last season. However, Conner played fewer snaps than usual because 15 of the Cardinals' 55 plays were in third-down or two-minute drill situations. While Conner hasn’t lost any playing time yet, it’s possible that could change. Conner has averaged 3.1 yards per carry this season compared to Benson's 7.5. A changing of the guard hasn’t happened yet, but if Conner remains ineffective in the run game, that could change very quickly.

Miscellaneous Notes

Ja’Tavion Sanders caught seven passes for 54 yards and played a higher percentage of Carolina's snaps this week (66%) than last. However, that snap rate isn’t high enough to trust him going forward.

Cardinals backup tight end Tip Reiman was out due to a foot injury. Arizona activated Josiah Deguara off the practice squad to take his place. Reiman played 51% of Arizona's offensive snaps in Week 1, all from two-, three- or four-tight-end sets.

Elijah Higgins and Travis Vokolek both received an uptick in snaps. They split snaps in two-receiver sets with Trey McBride. They also played seven snaps out of three-tight-end sets.

Denver Broncos @ Indianapolis Colts

R.J. Harvey sees an uptick in snaps: He and J.K. Dobbins were closer in terms of offensive snaps this week, but not in terms of the box score.

In Week 1, Dobbins played in 53% of Denver's snaps compared to Harvey's 29% and Badie's 18%. Badie was the clear passing-down back, while Dobbins was the early-down back, and Harvey was his backup.

This week, the roles of the running backs were the same. Badie increased slightly to 22% of Denver's offensive snaps while taking a stronger hold of the third-down and two-minute drill role. Harvey's playing time also increased from 29% to 32%, while Dobbins fell from 53% to 46%. This was particularly notable on early downs, where the split was 29-17% last week and 19-16% this week. The area where Dobbins had a clear lead over Dobbins was goal-line and short-yardage situations, where Dobbins played eight snaps to Harvey's one.

However, Dobbins ran 14 times for 76 yards and a touchdown, while Harvey ran five times for eight yards. Both players caught one pass. The box score suggests Dobbins can safely be put in fantasy starting lineups going forward, but the change in playing time suggests the running back rotation remains a little unsettled. As long as this remains a three-man committee instead of two, this will be a headache for fantasy managers.

Troy Franklin’s ascension continues: Franklin smashed his career high in offensive snaps while catching eight passes for 89 yards and a touchdown.

Franklin started the preseason rotating with Devaughn Vele for snaps in the slot in three-receiver sets. The Broncos traded Vele partway into the preseason, suggesting Franklin had won the job. In Week 1, Franklin overtook Marvin Mims as the clear second wide receiver in three-receiver sets. He also played a majority of the snaps in three-receiver sets, although he was rotating with Trent Sherfield Sr.

This week, Franklin played 44 of the 45 snaps in three-receiver sets and five of the six snaps in two-receiver sets. The only situation he was consistently off the field was one-receiver sets, which isn’t a big deal for fantasy managers. Franklin will be a clear top waiver-wire target this week.

Courtland Sutton joined Franklin in two-receiver sets and most of the single-receiver sets, but he only played 35 of the 45 snaps in three-receiver sets. This opened the door for third-round rookie Pat Bryant to play more. Sutton played 76.3% of Denver's offensive snaps, which is notably lower than his 85.5% average from last season and 94.7% mark from last week. If Bryant is going to continue playing more going forward, it will come at Sutton’s expense and could make it harder for him to be a fantasy starter.

Mims seemed like a great fantasy sleeper heading into the season. After a strong end to last season, he was consistently on the field with the starters in the preseason. While he barely played in two-receiver sets last week, he played in 83% of the snaps in three-receiver sets. However, this week, he was down to 44.4% of the snaps in three-receiver sets, sharing time with Sherfield. Mims only played 35.6% in general. While Mims finished second on the team in receiving yards (24) and caught a touchdown, he can probably be released in most fantasy leagues. The Broncos are unlikely to have three fantasy-relevant wide receivers. If they are going to have two, it’s Sutton and Franklin.

Evan Engram plays 42% of the Broncos' offensive snaps: Engram was not a priority in the Broncos' passing game for a second-straight week.

Engram was one of my overvalued tight ends heading into the season because he seemed likely to rotate with Adam Trautman this season and wouldn’t play enough to be fantasy relevant. In the preseason, it was clear that he would rotate with Trautman, andTrautman took more work on early downs, while Engram played more on third downs.

During the season, the rotation has been worse than anticipated. Over two games, Trautman has played 45 snaps on early downs in single-tight-end sets compared to Engram's 33, as expected. Engram has played 14 snaps on third downs to Trautman's six, which is also expected. However, Engram has only played in four of 30 snaps in two-tight-end sets, while Trautman and Lucas Krull shared almost all of those plays. This left Engram playing 34% of the snaps last week and 42% this week.

The one silver lining is that Engram suffered a calf injury last week. He was limited in practice on Wednesday and was a full participant in practice on Thursday and Friday with no injury designation. His usage in two-tight-end sets will likely continue, and it doesn’t seem to be related to the injury, as they were using him the same way before the injury.

He caught three passes last week and one pass for 12 yards this week, while Trautman caught three passes and a touchdown. There will likely be a few games this season where Engram posts big numbers, but we won’t know which games they are until after the fact. Other tight ends should be more reliable this season, making Engram someone who can be dropped in most leagues.

Different Colts wide receivers step up: Michael Pittman Jr. gained 80 yards and a touchdown last week. This week, Alec Pierce and Josh Downs achieved over 50 receiving yards.

The Colts' wide receiver rotation has been simple over the last two seasons. Pittman and Pierce are the primary receivers in two-receiver sets, while Downs joined them in three-receiver sets. Pierce is the team’s deep target, while Pittman and Downs have relatively low average depths of target. The general thought heading into the season is that Pittman, Warren and Downs would compete for targets, which has been true. However, while defenses are focused on all three players, this has allowed Pierce and his 18.3-yard average depth of target to make some plays.

There was one notable wrinkle this weel. Downs played three snaps in two-receiver sets at Pittman's expense. He didn’t take any snaps in two-receiver sets last week and only played multiple snaps in two-receiver sets in four games last season. If Downs starts taking more snaps in two-receiver sets, that could make Downs a much more reliable fantasy receiver while hurting Pittman’s potential.

Miscellaneous Notes

The Colts relied even more on their star players this week. Jonathan Taylor and Tyler Warren both played 93% of Indianapolis' offensive snaps this week, which was a notable uptick compared to last week.

Tyler Goodson was listed as questionable due to an elbow injury after also missing Week 1 and was ultimately inactive. Ulysses Bentley was activated off the practice squad in his place.

Broncos third-string tight end Nate Adkins was out due to an ankle injury for the second straight game. The Broncos activated fullback Adam Prentice off the practice squad in his place.

Broncos backup running back Jaleel McLaughlin was a healthy inactive for a second straight game.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are hurting at wide receiver: Kansas City didn’t have its top two wide receivers, leaving no wide receiver to gain over 60 receiving yards.

The Chiefs started the 2025 season without their top wide receiver Rashee Rice, who has now served two of his six-game suspension. They were also without fourth-round rookie Jalen Royals due to a knee injury, and he was drafted in part due to his similarities to Rice. Royals was also inactive this week due to the injury. The Chiefs lost Xavier Worthy after three plays in Week 1 due to a shoulder injury, which also kept him out this week. This left Kansas City with Hollywood Brown as its top wide receiver, primarily playing out of the slot. JuJu Smith-Schuster was the other primary wide receiver, while Tyquan Thornton was the team’s deep threat.

Brown, Thornton and Smith-Schuster continued to take the majority of the Chiefs' snaps. Thornton overtook Smith-Schuster in two-receiver sets, although it remained a rotation. Similar to last season, when Kansas City was uncomfortable with its wide receiver room, the Chiefs used a higher percentage of two- and three-tight-end sets, leading to more Noah Gray, who was tied for the second-most targets but only caught one pass for one yard.

There are reports that Worthy might be ready to return to the team as early as next week. Anyone who picked up Smith-Schuster this past week can potentially drop him. Anyone who drafted Brown might want to hold on to him. Once Worthy and Rice are back, we could see Brown in Thornton's current role. This includes multiple deep shots each game, where Brown could still hold some fantasy value.

Isiah Pacheco takes a higher rate of early down snaps: While Pacheco hasn’t held much fantasy value, that could change once the Chiefs start winning.

Pacheco spent the end of last season in a two-man rotation with Kareem Hunt on early downs, while Samaje Perine took third downs. With Perine in Cincinnati, Hunt has taken over as the third-down back. Last week, Pacheco played 62% of the Chiefs' offensive snaps on early downs compared to Hunt's 21% and rookie Brashard Smith‘s 18%. Pacheco took most of the two-minute drill snaps, which is a positive sign considering Perine had that role last year. However, Hunt took all of the short-yardage snaps.

This week, Pacheco’s role on early downs expanded even further, finishing with a 70.3% snap rate. He again took the majority of the two-minute drill snaps. Hunt took the majority of short-yardage snaps, but Pacheco still played two of the six short-yardage snaps.

This didn’t lead to much on the box score. Pacheco ran 10 times for 22 yards and caught a seven-yard pass. Hunt ran eight times for 31 yards. However, the Eagles were one of the top run defenses last season. The week before, they played the Chargers, who were also top-eight in preventing fantasy points to running backs. Pacheco’s snap rate compared to last season suggests he should have fantasy value when the Chiefs are winning games. Kansas City is more likely to win once they have its top wide receivers back.

A.J. Dillon takes the Eagles backup job for now: The Eagles lost Will Shipley while adding Tank Bigsby over the last week.

The Eagles lost Shipley last week due to an oblique injury. He was elevated to be Saquon Barkley‘s primary backup after Kenneth Gainwell‘s departure. Dillon stepped up during the second half of last week. The Eagles made a surprising investment at running back after Week 1 by trading for Bigsby. This made it seem like Shipley’s injury was very serious. Shipley was inactive this week, but he hasn’t landed on injured reserve, suggesting he should be back sooner rather than later.

While Bigsby was active, he didn’t play an offensive snap. Barkley played 83.3% of Philadelphia's offensive snaps, which was a higher rate than last week and higher than his average game last season. However, it also makes sense for Barkley to play a higher rate against their most competitive opponents. Barkley played 89.6% of the snaps in the Super Bowl before garbage time, for example.

We can expect Bigsby to mix in more in future weeks, and it will be interesting to see how the backup snaps are distributed once Bigsby is up to speed and Shipley is healthy again.

Miscellaneous Notes

Eagles undrafted rookie Darius Cooper took 10 snaps from DeVonta Smith in 12 personnel. These were mostly in the fourth quarter, and nearly all of them were on run plays. Smith was reportedly walking gingerly after the game. It’s worth seeing if Smith appears on the injury report this week.

The Eagles' top tight end, Dallas Goedert, was inactive due to a knee injury. Similar to last season when Goedert was hurt, Grant Calcaterra took over as the primary receiving tight end. Cameron Latu was activated off the practice squad to be their third tight end. Like other weeks when Calcaterra has been the starter, this largely led to more touches for the other skill players.

Atlanta Falcons @ Minnesota Vikings

Coming soon!

Table notes

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