Week 2 NFL Fantasy Football Rankings: An Elite Duo Emerges at Tight End

Week 2 is here and hopefully, it’s as successful for you as Week 1 was for me. If you haven’t already, make sure you are checking out John Daigle’s waiver wire column. This week we have a lot of elite passing games in average to above-average matchups and a lot of big-name receivers projecting highly.

*Note: All rankings are half-PPR and are courtesy of 4for4’s Week 2 rankings

What Stands Out: There are a lot of elite quarterbacks and passing games in great spots this week, but there is only one Josh Allen.

Analysis: Obviously, Josh Allen is an unfadeable monster at the top. He’s in an above-average matchup and projects a full two points clear of Jalen Hurts. That’s a similar distance between Joe Burrow (10th) and Matt Ryan (16th). Looking at the rest of the top five, Hurts and Justin Herbert stand out for their great matchups. Herbert and Patrick Mahomes will likely put on a show on Amazon Prime on Thursday night, even with Herbert missing Keenan Allen at receiver. I don’t feel great about what I saw from Kyler Murray or Russell Wilson in Week 1, but you can’t panic and should trust the 4for4 projections. One player out of the top 10 to keep an eye on is Trey Lance. His floor is high because of his rushing ability and presumably, he won’t be playing in a swamp during a bad storm again like Week 1.

* Check out the full QB rankings here.

What Stands Out: Antonio Gibson was left for dead in mid-August and here he is in the top 10 in Week 2.

Analysis: Elite workloads at the top separate Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, and Saquon Barkley from the rest of the pack. McCaffrey is in the best matchup but also has the most questionable offense of the three. I can’t say I saw that coming before Week 1. The Chargers spread carries and targets around like they don’t have elite weapons at running back and receiver. Hopefully, we’ll see Ekeler with a massive workload again on Thursday night. Nick Chubb gets the Jets, so at least he will be able to compile a big rushing total again after Kareem Hunt had both touchdowns last week. We can’t project the Dallas offense to do much of anything without Dak Prescott, so game script is a huge plus for Joe Mixon this week. Outside of the top 10, Darrell Henderson’s workload looks very safe and after what Taysom Hill did to the Falcons on the ground last week, Henderson is a nice play.

* Check out the full RB rankings here.

What Stands Out: Seven of the top 10 receivers have elite matchups this week, but Justin Jefferson just went nuclear in a sub-par matchup in Week 1.

Analysis: This feels like a big week of receiver scoring in season-long fantasy football. DFS might be a little different with so many of the big names off the main slate, but we’ll still have Cooper Kupp, Davante Adams, Ja'Marr Chase, and Mike Evans. Not much to say about Kupp, Adams, and Chase. They have an elite number of targets headed their way and are in great matchups. As noted, Justin Jefferson has another tough matchup this week, but he’s so talented and a potential shootout against the Eagles awaits as the late kickoff on Monday Night Football. After an injury to Chris Godwin, it looked like Mike Evans could be in for a huge night, but the Cowboys put up zero fight on Sunday Night Football. Evans was fine (5 catches on 7 targets for 71 yards and a touchdown), and hopefully the Bucs get tested this week by the Saints. It turns out Tyreek Hill is still Tyreek Hill even if Tua Tagovailoa is the one throwing him the ball. He was tied for the sixth-most targets on the week and trailed only Adams of the elite receivers in target rate at 30%. Outside of the top 10, I’d note how far CeeDee Lamb fell down the ranks. Check out the full rankings to see where.

* Check out the full WR rankings here.

What Stands Out: There’s Travis Kelce. Then there is Mark Andrews. And then everyone else.

Analysis: Kelce and Andrews do rise above the rest even after a slow week from all the other elite tight ends. Darren Waller was quiet as Davante Adams led the way against the Chargers. Hopefully, in what should be a high-scoring affair against the Cardinals, he can rebound in Week 2. T.J. Hockenson did have seven targets as the Lions played catch-up against the Eagles. He looks to be in another good spot this week as second-year LB Jamin Davis looked lost for portions of the game in coverage for the Commanders last week. A Dallas Cowboy in the top 10 of their position! Dalton Schultz sneaks into the back half as a security blanket for Cooper Rush. Zach Ertz salvaged his day late in Week 1 but was just 27th among tight ends in target rate. Outside of the top 10, Robert Tonyan posted a 22.7% target rate last week and the Green Bay offense can’t get any worse. Hopefully.

* Check out the full TE rankings here.