What You Need to Know From Week 2

Photo: Sam Navarro, USA Today Sports

LAC @ KC

• Justin Herbert still looks great without Keenan Allen, but he got hurt at the end of this one, and a 99-yard pick-six that happened when Herbert tried to target an exhausted Gerald Everett was the difference in this one.
• Austin Ekeler has been disappointing in part because he’s not getting goal-line opportunities, but the players getting them instead of him have failed, so a bounceback week is coming.
• Josh Palmer’s touchdown came in garbage time, and he was inefficient on his opportunities. He doesn’t look like a rising star (yet).
• Mike Williams was dominant on his targets and should get more even when Allen returns to the lineup.
• Gerald Everett, pick-six notwithstanding, is developing into a core target while Donald Parham sits with a hamstring issue. He’s a TE1 until he lets us down.
• Patrick Mahomes II did not have an easy time moving the ball against a Chargers defense much tougher than the last time we saw them.
• Clyde Edwards-Helaire isn’t used like a true feature back and he won’t hit his ceiling without redzone work, but he has been efficient on his touches and is still a fantasy RB2.
• Juju Smith-Schuster was a non-factor and could be inconsistent week to week after a strong first half to open Week 1. Marquez Valdes-Scantling was a non-factor and can probably be dropped - certainly if he doesn’t do anything against Indianapolis this week.
• Travis Kelce had to deal with Derwin James and didn’t pop in this game, but that’s more about James being a tight end stopper (he gets Evan Engram this week) than Kelce showing any signs of decline.

NE @ PIT

• Nelson Agholor asserted himself as the top outside receiver with a huge contested catch score that should have been an interception. He’s at least quality bench depth going forward.
• Jakobi Meyers isn’t going away as Mac Jones' favorite target. He’s an established PPR WR3/Flex now.
• Damien Harris ran strong and scored but hurt his knee on the game-clinching play. Watch his Week 3 status. Rhamondre Stevenson could be a feature back vs. Baltimore.
• Mitchell Trubisky is terrible and dragging down the value of the offense. Or maybe it’s the line. Or maybe the playcalling. The Steelers offense is going to be barren for fantasy.
• Najee Harris and Diontae Johnson have to stay in lineups because of volume, but lower expectations. Chase Claypool is a wait-and-see. George Pickens is sadly a drop.
• Pat Freiermuth does have good chemistry with Trubisky and can be started as a low TE1 vs. the Browns on Thursday night.

CAR @ NYG

• No wide receiver can thrive with Baker Mayfield. D.J. Moore is merely a WR3/Flex, and Robbie Anderson is a desperation play. Anderson also had a costly fumble.
• The Panthers need to get Christian McCaffrey the ball more often. He’s fine and the only thing consistently working in the offense.
• Sterling Shepard and Richie James are going to lead the offense in targets. That shows you the quality of this pass offense.
• Saquon Barkley got a huge workload, but was slowed down by a solid Panthers run defense. He still looks like a hit at ADP.
• Kadarius Toney isn’t 100% yet and isn’t out of the doghouse. The Giants coaches won’t feel compelled to play him. He’s a hold if bench size allows because of sheer talent, but don’t hold your breath waiting for him to win over Brian Daboll.