The wide receiver struck back.
Running backs dominated Week 1. The top 12 running backs averaged 26.7 points in 0.5 PPR in Week 1. Four players topped 30 points. Ten topped 20.
The Top 12 wide receivers? Average of 22.11 points. No players with 30 points. Jalen Coker, the WR1, at 29.8.
Week 2 flipped. The Top 12 wide receivers averaged 24.4 points. Four players hit 30 points. Meanwhile, running backs dropped out, averaging 17.5 points with none hitting 30.
We're unlikely to see such extreme swings or point disparity week to week. Still, it is fascinating to recognize the variance. A valid Week 1 takeaway is that running backs are as valuable as ever. ZeroRB looked alive and well in Week 2.
We know football is a matchup game; that may have as much to do with the results as anything. For one week, the wide receiver matchups won.
How did the entire league break down?
The Target Report
I view target trees as "clean" or "dirty." Clean trees distill targets to their top options and give standout fantasy performances. Dirty trees are, well, a mess and rely on unpredictable possibilities. The chart below categorizes these offenses.
Offenses with Top 2 Options > 60% Target Share
| Team Name | Team Targets | Player Name | Targets | Stat Line | Target % | Snap % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 25 | Trey McBride | 10 | 8-41-1 | 40% | 88% |
| Michael Wilson | 7 | 2-18-0 | 28% | 94% | ||
| Jeremiyah Love | 3 | 3-16-0 | 12% | 40% | ||
| Carolina | 32 | Tetairoa McMillan | 10 | 5-101-0 | 31% | 84% |
| Jalen Coker | 9 | 8-66-0 | 28% | 83% | ||
| Xavier Legette | 4 | 2-64-0 | 13% | 50% | ||
| Green Bay | 28 | Christian Watson | 11 | 4-41-1 | 39% | 84% |
| Matthew Golden | 6 | 4-58-0 | 21% | 83% | ||
| Skyy Moore | 3 | 2-6-0 | 11% | 19% | ||
| Jacksonville | 27 | Parker Washington | 12 | 7-98-0 | 44% | 81% |
| Brian Thomas Jr. | 8 | 3-40-0 | 30% | 54% | ||
| Bhayshul Tuten | 2 | 2-(3)-0 | 7% | 51% | ||
| LA Rams | 29 | Davante Adams | 10 | 8-195-2 | 34% | 63% |
| Terrance Ferguson | 9 | 6-54-1 | 31% | 58% | ||
| Kyren Williams | 2 | 2-12-1 | 7% | 55% | ||
| Minnesota | 18 | Justin Jefferson | 6 | 3-55-0 | 33% | 100% |
| Jordan Addison | 5 | 2-21-0 | 28% | 90% | ||
| T.J. Hockenson | 4 | 3-29-0 | 22% | 69% | ||
| Seattle | 25 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | 11 | 9-155-3 | 44% | 67% |
| Rashid Shaheed | 6 | 3-35-0 | 24% | 56% | ||
| Cooper Kupp | 2 | 2-20-0 | 8% | 43% |
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McBride's 17 receptions to start the season are the 5th most by a tight end, tying 4 others. George Kittle had 19 to start 2020. Antonio Gates, Jimmy Graham, and Darren Waller had 18 to start seasons. He's on pace for 144. McBride had 7 touchdowns through his first 54 career games. He has 12 in his last 14. Marvin Harrison Jr.'s struggles are well publicized. They are providing cover for Wilson. His 50% catch rate and 9.4 ADOT are well below his career averages. Seattle was a difficult matchup, but San Francisco is no easier, allowing the fewest fantasy points to tight ends and ranking in the Top 10 in pass-defense EPA.
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Coker and McMillan are running pure, dominating targets in Carolina with 18 each, accounting for a 55% target share and 380 yards. Week 2's non-competitive nature was the only limiting factor for an offense that is rolling. Jonathan Brooks will miss multiple weeks, solidifying the importance of the passing attack with a depleted backfield. Coker carries an injury designation into Week 3 against a Cleveland defense that has allowed the 6th most fantasy points to receivers.
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Jayden Reed's scary injury was the headliner for Week 2. Latest updates have his 2026 return uncertain. Moore picked up snaps in his absence as the passing volume consolidated to the Top 2 receivers. Tucker Kraft has been quiet; the team has needed his blocking because the offensive line is decimated. OC Adam Stenavich shared that Kraft was almost called on to play offensive tackle. Atlanta is down star corner A.J. Terrell Jr. on a short week, making both Watson and Golden strong Week 3 options.
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Tracking from last week, Washington tied Thomas, Keenan McCardell, and Jimmy Smith for the longest streak of 5+ receptions and 80+ yards in Jaguars history at 5 games. Cooper Kupp had the longest streak in NFL history, hitting 15 games. Thomas's fantasy production hasn't popped yet, but the hyper-consolidation of targets remains encouraging. He ran against Patrick Surtain II Jr. and now looks to draw coverage from Christian Gonzalez against the Patriots in Week 3, making Thomas a tough fantasy play. Washington should continue his hot start with the Patriots funneling targets to the slot.
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Adams recorded his 3rd career 8+ - 195+ - 2+ game, tying Tyreek Hill, Amari Cooper, Don Hutson, and Charley Hennigan for the most in NFL history. Both Adams and Cooper accomplished the numbers on three different teams. With Puka Nacua out, Ferguson popped as the secondary target next to Adams. Nacua's Week 3 status remains questionable. Nacua is important for Week 3 against a Top 10 Denver defense. Without Nacua, the Broncos can match Surtain up on Adams and dare the rest of the Rams to beat them.
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Chicago has proven a tough matchup for Jefferson; he's averaged 12.6 points in half PPR against the Bears vs. 16.6 against Detroit and 14.3 against the Packers. The weather further hindered his production, grinding the Vikings offense to a stop. Addison's production through two games is disappointing; he has been an afterthought offensively after failing to reach terms on a contract extension this summer. Kyler Murray has received clearance and will return at quarterback after exiting Week 1 early as the Vikings face a Bottom 10 pass defense in Tampa Bay.
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Smith-Njigba set a career high with 3 touchdowns, becoming the 55th player to record a 9-155-3 game. Kyle Pitts Sr. was the only player to hit those marks in 2025. Sam Darnold returned to practice, tracking to beat the original projected return for his hip injury. Seattle faces a Washington defense that gave Dallas a huge week last week.