Have you caught your breath after some of those epic big plays in Week 2? We didn't think so. Well, the Fantasy Life Staff got together to take your breath away again with our Fantasy Football Stock Watch, the Sunday Diary featuring some of the day's top performers. There were rookie breakouts and a certain player who one of our staff members has been banging the drum for all season. Let's get to it!

Rashid Shaheed Succeeds (AGAIN & AGAIN!)

This offseason, hopes were high that Klint Kubiak might be the much-needed life support for an average-ish Saints offense that had fans calling for a head coach change at the end of 2023. It’s officially time to call off the coroner because New Orleans is alive and well! In fact, in the last two weeks, they’ve scored on nearly every single offensive drive. 

One major beneficiary of Kubiak’s play calling is Rashid Shaheed, who just torched DAL in Week 2 for 4-96-1. But the stat line alone does not do his big-play ability the justice it deserves:

  • Week 1: 59-yard TD
  • Week 2: 70-yard TD

But is this success solely due to Kubiak’s magic? No, no, no. This isn’t Shaheed’s first rodeo with deep balls (yeah, I said it). Shaheed has been turning his targets into long-yardage catches since 2022 (even with a sparse target share). With speed and hands like his, some are even starting to call Shaheed “Tyreek Hill 2.0”. Sure, it’s only Week 2, but they are saying it. And there are some fun numbers to back it up…
—cooterdoodle

Marvin Harrison Jr., Does The Job

After Marvin Harrison Jr. saw 3 targets, catching 1 for 4 yards, Kyler Murray was asked about why the rookie saw so few targets, and in his response he finished with, “That's not my job.” That led the fantasy football landscape to wondering if the rookie's talent was going to dry up in the Arizona desert. Looking at the numbers in the Utilization Score, MHJ ran routes on 95% of Arizona's pass plays in Week 1. His time was coming. It turns out he just needed to get home to do the job. 

Before the first quarter was done, MHJ had scored 2 TDs—of 23 and 60 yards out—and by halfitime he had a stat line of 4-130-2, good for 29 PPR points and the WR1 designation going into Sunday Night Football. Turns out Matthew Berry's “Ride or Die” Murray had eyes for MHJ after all. Turns out the folks in fantasy land worried a lot about nothing. And he might have had more, if only the Cardinals hadn't gotten off to a 21-0 lead less than 2 minutes into the second quarter. Murray and MHJ will make it their “job” to connect more often in this rookie's breakout season. —Jorge Martin

Chris Godwin—I Tried To Tell You

Is Week 2 too early to take victory laps? Who cares? I’m doing it anyway. The fantasy football regular season is only 14 weeks long, so that means we’re already 14% of the way through it. Every week matters. Last month, I wrote this:

If you are looking for a dark horse player to finish as a WR1 (top-12) this season who is going in the eighth round in ESPN leagues, Chris Godwin is your guy.

Simply put, he was too cheap, and now it’s too late.

Godwin has topped 22 PPR in consecutive weeks to open the season and is thriving in the slot role in Liam Coen’s offense. Yes, Mike Evans will still get his, but Godwin has garnered a 27% and 42% target share mark in his two first games, respectively. It’s going to be a fun season with Baker Mayfield dealing like he is. Godwin managers everywhere rejoice. —Sam Wallace

Sam Darnold is Good – We Can All Agree on That Now, Right?

Oh weird, Sam Darnold is good? Who would've thought?

The answer should be pretty much anyone who can think back more than three years. Coming into the 2018 draft, Darnold was in the mix to be the No. 1 overall pick. People loved him. Shoutout to newspapers.com for this gem:

And then this poor guy was drafted by the Jets, and his target leaders his first three years were:

His OCs were Jeremy Bates and Dowell Loggains (with Adam Gase as his head coach). 

I think it’s fair to say the guy never got a chance—we’re seeing this unfold in real time with Bryce Young, if you need a more recent example. But put Darnold in a functional offense with a stud WR and a pass-catching back in his prime… and this is what we get. Add him where you can—this is only going to get better as he gets more comfortable. 

—Nando Di Fino

 

Green Bay Packers Survive Loveless Game

With Jordan Love out and Malik Willis in, the Packers were 3-point underdogs coming into Week 2 against the Colts. From a fantasy perspective, starting any wide receiver for Green Bay came with massive risk. While it was predictable that Josh Jacobs would get high usage, his running room was in question, given the lack of weapons elsewhere. But if the Colts' gameplan centered on bolstering a strong rush defense, it wasn't apparent. The Packers ran all over the Colts, amassing 261 yards on the ground, and Jacobs had 151 of them. If Jacobs hadn't fumbled the ball in the end zone in the 2nd quarter, the game would have been more uneven, and he would have finished with far more than 13.10 PPR points.

For his part, Willis made every play expected of him, completing 12 of 14 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown with a passer rating of 126.8. He also rushed six times for 41 yards. He’s no fantasy-week winner, but he outplayed his projection, and with Matt LaFleur as coach, the Packers could squeak by with some victories until Love is back on the field. 

Anthony Richardson had a rough first half with only 4 completions and an interception. He played marginally better in the second half, ending the game 17 of 34 with 204 passing yards and 37 yards on the ground. While his passer rating was a dismal 41.8, Colts receivers could not hang on to the ball, and his final interception came on an end-of-game Hail Mary. Better days are ahead. —Jess Bryant

Malik Nabers Breakout 2.0! 

The naysayers were questioning the landing spot. Will Daniel Jones be able to unleash Malik Nabers’ talent? Will defenses key on the uber-talented rookie wideout and limit him? Will he get frustrated at the lack of targets? To all those questions, let’s look at one stat: 18 targets!

Going against a Washington defense that got torched in Week 1, Jones looked for Nabers early and often. Catching 10 passes for 127 yards and his first NFL TD—28.7 PPR points!—Nabers has announced his presence with authority as the next great rookie wideout to grace our fantasy streets. His 18 targets came on 28 pass attempts by Jones. Everyone, meet the new WR1 for the New York Football Giants, and this is just the first of many big games he’s going to have. For those who drafted him No. 57 overall in redraft leagues, celebrate. —Jorge Martin

Brock “Mega” Bowers 

I still can’t believe Brock Bowers’ Week 2 prop was set at 34.5 yards. As I outlined in my weekly milestone bets on X.com, Bowers had a 23% team target share in Week 1 per the Utilization Report and had a TE-friendly matchup against the Ravens in Week 2.

He destroyed Baltimore, posting 9 receptions for 98 yards, and came within a hair of shipping the 100+ yard line at +1600. 

The Raiders’ defense still kind of stinks (they’ve allowed 6.20 YPC to RBs this year), so Bowers is going to have many more pass-friendly game scripts this season. If you drafted him in the mid-rounds, congrats. You should have a legit top 5 TE the rest of the way. —Geoff Ulrich

J.K. Dobbins is Back

For two weeks now, J.K. Dobbins led the Chargers’ backfield and played to his potential. In 2020 and 2022, the two years he was on the field at least half the games, he averaged 6.0 and 5.7 yards per carry, respectively. In a career plagued with injuries, Dobbins has always had the talent to excel but no momentum. In Week 1 this season, he averaged 13.5 YPC, rushing 10 times for 135 yards and a TD for 22.9 PPR fantasy points; this week, he had 131 yards on 17 carries with a TD, averaging 7.7 YPC, culminating in 20.10 PPR fantasy points. 

Dobbins may have found his home in Jim Harbaugh’s run-heavy offense. If you were smart enough to draft him in the final round or grab him off the waivers, he could be your league winner. Far out-producing his ADP, he may end up being the steal of the season. Oh, and the Chargers are winning again (albeit vs. the Panthers this week) with a 2-0 record going into Week 3. —Jess Bryant

Where's Travis Kelce?

In Kansas City’s thrilling 26-25, last-second win over Cincinnati in Week 2, Travis Kelce was targeted only 3 times and ended the game with 1 reception for 5 yards and a 13% target share. Taylor Swift was at the game cheering on her man, and the Chiefs pulled out the victory over the Bengals with a 51-yard field goal from Harrison Butker as time expired. But, none of that is particularly relevant to fantasy managers who spent a fair amount on a player targeted seven times in total after two weeks.

On Sept. 4, the day before the NFL regular season began, Kelce’s ADP was 28.4 and 24.2 on ESPN and Yahoo, respectively. For those who paid the price, don’t worry—Kelce has better performances ahead. He nearly had a touchdown and one long-yardage catch was reversed due to holding. The Chiefs’ touches have been concentrated among Isiah Pacheco (111 scrimmage yards), Rashee Rice (5 catches, 75 yards and a beautiful 46-yard TD pass from Patrick Mahomes), and Xavier Worthy (2 TDs in Week 1), but Kelce will have his days. Let’s just hope it comes in Week 3. —Jess Bryant

Injury Updates 

Cooper Kupp was in a walking boot on his left lower leg postgame, which is not a good sign. He appeared to get rolled up on when he was being tackled during the game. There is no prognosis yet, but medical professionals seeing the video said this could be a high-ankle sprain. The silver lining, if there is one, is that his previous injury was to his right ankle. With Puka Nacua already on IR, if Kupp were to miss time it would put the focus on Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson in the passing game for the Rams. 

Justin Jefferson suffered a right quad injury when a 49ers defender was blocked into the side of his leg on a Ty Chandler run play. Nick Bosa was also hurt on the play. JJ did not return to the game, and this will drudge up memories of the All-Pro WR missing seven games last season with a hamstring injury. Any missed time would be a big blow to the Minnesota offense, which was without Jordan Addison already in this game. 

Amon-Ra St. Brown came back from a quiet Week 1 with 19 targets on the way to 11 catches for 119 yards. Late in the contest he was tackled at an awkward angle. After the game both St. Brown and HC Dan Campbell said it was not believed to be a major injury, though this should be followed. If he sits any games, the targets should be split up between Sam LaPorta, Jameson Williams, and Jahmyr Gibbs. 

Isiah Pacheco was bent over backward and appeared to injure his ankle on a run play. He left the stadium in a walking boot and on crutches. That’s rough news for a Kansas City offense that is so dependent on a running back who posted an elite 80% snap share and 8.2 Utilization Score in Week 1. Samaje Perine is next man up if Pacheco misses time and would get plenty attention on the waiver wire.

Tyjae Spears suffered a hurt ankle in the third quarter, and did not return. Spears has been on the short end of the timeshare with Tony Pollard, who dominated the touches 22-8 over Spears. The former Dallas RB also compiled 102 scrimmage yards to 31 for Spears. Any missed time by Spears would make Pollard an unquestioned lead RB for the Titans and a potential top-12 back.