Philip Rivers’ big game and a look around the rest of the league in Week 2 (Getty Images) Philip Rivers got 9.2 YPA with a 4:0 TD:INT ratio in a dominant performance Sunday, as he carved up a shaky Jags defense despite missing Keenan Allen and losing Danny Woodhead early. Rivers struggled badly without Allen last season, but San Diego is better equipped to replace him in 2016, as newcomer Travis Benjamin secured all six of his targets for 115 yards and two scores, while Tyrell Williams is 6-4, 205 with 4.4 speed and looks like a potential beast. Antonio Gates has lost a step at age 36 but is still a legit red-zone threat, so Rivers can maintain QB1 status despite the losses on offense. He gets highly favorable matchups the next two weeks, when the Chargers travel to face the Colts and then get the Saints at home.
Both Benjamin and Williams should be treated as WR3s at minimum right now, and the latter is still available in more than half of Yahoo leagues…Tough break for Woodhead, but if his injury proves to be as serious as it looked, Melvin Gordon’s already rising fantasy stock gets an even further boost. Fantasy owners who drafted him as a rookie but not this year have to be extremely frustrated…Jason Verrett routinely shuts down opposing No. 1 wideouts, so don’t worry about Allen Robinson, who should still be viewed as a borderline top-five fantasy WR moving forward…So much for the concern about Blake Bortles not racking up garbage time stats this year…T.J. Yeldon got 10 yards on nine targets. If he’s not worth using in a matchup against a San Diego defense that gave up the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing backs last season (and 199 yards to Spencer Ware last week) with Chris Ivory inactive, then when is he?
Josh McCown was a big boost for Cleveland, as he helped lead the Browns to three touchdowns during their first three drives. Corey Coleman looked terrific, and Isaiah Crowell did this. Unfortunately, McCown suffered what could be a serious injury, and all bets are off for everyone on Cleveland’s offense if they have to turn to Cody Kessler at quarterback…The Dolphins look like a great defense to stream in Week 3…The Ravens were down 20-2 in this game without recording a safety…Dennis Pitta should be treated as a TE1 as long as he can stay healthy, while Mike Wallace is suddenly a high-end WR3.
It’s been an ugly start to the year by Golden Tate, but he saw nine targets Sunday and should bounce back soon enough. He’s a possible buy-low candidate, although Marvin Jones is clearly the superior WR to own in Detroit…Oakland and Detroit allowed the most touchdowns to opposing tight ends last season, and after facing the Lions on Sunday, Delanie Walker gets the Raiders in Week 3…How about Andre Johnson with the late game-winning TD catch?…There were a whopping 29 penalties in this game…Theo Riddick was held in check, but it’s worth noting the Titans yielded the fewest receptions and the second fewest receiving yards to running backs last season. His value would obviously get a boost if Ameer Abdullah’s injury proves serious.
Jimmy Garrappolo had three TD tosses in the first 17 minutes, but the Pats covered by just a half a point after jumping out to a 24-0 lead. Jacoby Brissett is New England’s likely starting quarterback over the next two games, and he gets a quick turnaround to prepare for his first start facing a tough Houston defense Thursday…Nice to see Martellus Bennett used more than just as a blocker, but it’s safe to expect a lot of LeGarrette Blount over the next couple of weeks. He has as many fumbles this season (two) as he had over the last two years combined, but he made up for it with this sick hurdle. Blount is on pace to record 408 carries…DeVante Parker looked healthy and is immediately back on the fantasy radar. Owners can fire him up in Week 3 at home against the Browns.
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The Giants somehow didn’t score an offensive touchdown at home against the Saints. These teams totaled 101 points when they met last season but combined for just 29 on Sunday in a performance that disappointed many fantasy owners…Rashad Jennings saw fewer touches than Shane Vereen despite the latter losing an early fumble, and if you can’t rely on Jennings in this matchup, I don’t see how you can in any other moving forward…Mark Ingram has been a bust so far, but owners shouldn’t panic unless he puts up another dud in Week 3 at home against the Falcons.
The Bengals have opened the season on the road against the Jets and Steelers and next face the Broncos, so the schedule has been anything but kind to Jeremy Hill. He’ll be someone to target in trade talks entering Week 4…DeAngelo Williams has scored 12 touchdowns over his last 12 starts. The 33-year-old has racked up 68 touches through two weeks…Antonio Brown and A.J. Green were held without a score Sunday, while running backs and tight ends combined for all four touchdown catches.
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Kirk Cousins entered with the highest completion percentage at home in NFL history, but he was inaccurate for the second straight game, badly missing open receivers at times. Still, he’s gotten 7.8 YPA and is on pace to throw for 5,544 yards, which would be the most ever in a season, so it’s not like he’s been a total disaster. The touchdowns will come soon enough…Jordan Reed owners need to remain similarly patient. Big things are ahead…Dak Prescott attempted 30 passes, and not one was intended for*Terrance Williams. Prescott’s 75 passes without a pick are the most ever to start an NFL career…Ezekiel Elliott has run 41 times for just 134 yards and has turned four targets into five receiving yards while also fumbling twice Sunday. Two touchdowns have saved his fantasy value, but it’s been an underwhelming start to his career.
Alex Smith threw an interception on what was clearly a “free play” for Kansas City after drawing Houston offsides, resulting in an excessive celebration penalty by the interceptor. Brilliant move by Smith in an otherwise poor performance…Here’s Will Fuller displaying his terrific speed and shaky hands all in one play.*He’s just the second WR ever to start his career with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games…Lamar Miller has 53 carries through two games. He wasn’t given his 53rd rushing attempt until October 18 last season.
Cameron Artis-Payne has been a healthy scratch each of the first two games, so Fozzy Whittaker, who totaled 131 yards Sunday, would likely become Carolina’s new lead back should Jonathan Stewart miss time with his injury. Whittaker arguably has more fantasy upside than his predecessor since he’s also a receiving threat, and Cam Newton steals all the goal-line scores anyway…Kelvin Benjamin is in store for an absolutely monstrous season…The 49ers and Panthers totaled three more points in the fourth quarter than the Saints and Giants did during their entire game Sunday…Vance McDonald had a 75-yard touchdown on one of his two targets. He had a bad drop on a would-be 55-yard TD on his other.
The Rams have yet to score a touchdown this season, and Todd Gurley has managed just 98 rushing yards on 36 carries. His schedule doesn’t ease up much with upcoming road games in Tampa Bay and Arizona. Gurley’s situation continues to kill him and his fantasy owners…Doug Baldwin, Thomas Rawls and Tyler Lockett all suffered injuries Sunday, and Russell Wilson continues to battle a high-ankle sprain. The Seahawks have scored 15 points through eight quarters this season, as it’s been a rough start for Seattle…If Rawls misses time, Christine Michael would be a must-start Week 3 in a matchup at home against San Francisco…Tavon Austin has 63 yards on 21 targets this season.
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No clue why Jameis Winston was still playing while down 40-7 late in the fourth quarter, especially in a game that already saw the Bucs lose Doug Martin to a hamstring injury. Charles Sims would be a borderline RB1 as long as Martin is sidelined…Larry Fitzgerald just won’t stop scoring touchdowns, while John Brown*was clearly not involved in the team’s game plan after missing time dealing with concussion issues…Mike Evans saw 17 targets Sunday. That will pay the bills.

The Colts were somehow within a touchdown late in the fourth quarter despite Andrew Luck throwing for fewer than 200 yards (4.9 YPA) and allowing a defensive score (they would allow another to seal the game later on). T.Y. Hilton was a bit banged up, and Donte Moncrief left early with concussion symptoms. Expect a lot more scoring from Indy over the next two weeks when the team faces the Chargers at home and the Jags on the road. Phillip Dorsett would make serious fantasy noise should Hilton or Moncrief miss time moving forward…Robert Turbin is an interesting RB to stash right now. Frank Gore looks pretty much done…He’s admittedly an injury risk, but I’d much prefer to own C.J. Anderson than Todd Gurley.
Song of the Week: Dawes – When The Tequila Runs Out
Devonta Freeman was Atlanta’s most effective runner, yet he was removed from a couple of possessions inside the 10 and oddly didn’t see a single target…One week after getting benched, Sean Smith was routinely beaten again Sunday…This Justin Hardy TD catch was rather fortuitous.
Longread of the Week: The Uber Killer: The Real Story of One Night of Terror
Adrian Peterson was getting 1.6 YPC on the year and is now dealing with a potentially serious knee injury. I stashed Jerick McKinnon as much as possible, but I fear there may be more Matt Asiata in the future than I care to see…Impressive Minnesota debut by Sam Bradford, and Stefon Diggs looks locked in as a top-15 fantasy wide receiver. He’s legit…Aaron Rodgers has somehow gotten 7.0 YPA just once over his past 12 games, which is mind blowing. He’s appeased fantasy owners thanks to two rushing scores so far this season, but with Jordy Nelson back and a healthy Randall Cobb, it’s beyond disconcerting to see the Packers’ offense continue to sputter like this. Green Bay is lucky it recovered so many of its fumbles or Sunday night’s game wouldn’t have been as close as it was…The Packers’ next road game is October 30…I still expect a big season from Rodgers, but Eddie Lacy owners should be terrified.
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