What a weird Monday night game. I think this game will be more so remembered for the Jason Kelce antics pre game and for everything that occurred in the last few minutes. Everything else in between was… ok. I felt like the Eagles didn’t really show up on offense as a whole. Granted AJ Brown was absent due to a hamstring injury but things just never clicked. On paper they should be great but in reality, they struggle. The Falcons also didn’t seem to click until the final minutes but perhaps I should be giving more credit to the defenses. I do want to take a moment to laugh about the utilization of Tyler Allegier who carried the ball 9 times to Bijan’s 14. Bijan fantasy managers had to be feeling some type of way all night. The Eagles seemingly had this in the bag after a missed catch by Saquon on 3rd and 3 set Jake Elliot up for a field goal that would put the Eagles up 21-15. With 1:39 left of the clock, Kirko Chains would go on to orchestrate a 70 yard game winning drive capped off with a touchdown pass to Drake London.
Week 2 was tough for a lot of fantasy managers. After a relatively “Quiet” start to the season injury wise, it felt like injury after injury just kept piling up on Sunday. There were rumors of McCaffrey going on IR which eventually became a reality and we saw another scary concussion suffered by Tua in his Thursday night game against the Bills. No matter who you pull for, it always sucks to see guys go down. I don’t love what’s out there on the waiver wire this week but with that being said, here are some key injuries and waiver wire targets to consider heading into week 3.
Notable Injuries to Keep in Mind:
- Isiah Pacheco (Broken Fibula)
- Out 6-8 Weeks
- Christian McCaffrey (Calf/Achilles Tendinitis)
- Placed on IR
- Cooper Kupp (Ankle)
- Expected to miss “Extended time”
- Deebo Samuel (Calf)
- Expected to miss a few weeks
- AJ Brown (Hamstring)
- Out for Monday Night Football
- Joe Mixon (Ankle)
- Being evaluated, keep an eye on
- Tua Tagovailoa (Concussion)
- Being evaluated. TBD
- Kenneth Walker (Oblique)
- Week-to-week
- Hollywood Brown (Shoulder)
- Placed on IR. Expected to miss the entire season
- Evan Engram (Hamstring)
- (Week-to-week
- David Njoku (Ankle)
- Week-to-week
- Jake Ferguson (MCL sprain/Bone Bruise)
- Week-to-week. Likely to suite up in week 3
Waiver Wire Targets:
Samaje Perine (Rostered in 3.6% of ESPN leagues) and Carson Steele (Rostered in 1.6% of ESPN leagues)
Isaiah Pacheco suffered a broken fibula in Sunday’s win over the Bengals and he is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. That leaves us with Samaje Perine and Carson Steele. In what is mostly going to be a running back by committee approach, it is hard to get a read on who stands to get the most value in this Chiefs offense. Fantasy managers should be familiar as he is on his sixth team since being drafted by the Redskins in 2017. So far he has been the third down back pretty consistently and historically is more of a receiving back. Carson Steele is more of an unproven option but has filled the void elsewhere. Perine is listed ahead of Steele on the depth chart but Steele has edged out Perine when it comes to in-game carries. Personally, I think it’s hard to tell who is worth picking up. My gut tells me Steele just because I’ve seen Perine in the past and haven’t been impressed.
Braelon Allen (Rostered in 7.5% of ESPN leagues)
The RB 2 in New York had himself a day. Allen rushed 7 times for 33 yards and a touchdown as well as bringing in 2 passes for 23 yards and a touchdown. The rookie made history as the youngest player to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl era at 20 years and 239 days old. This is not a petition to chase the high point total (19.6) and add him into your starting lineups. Instead, this is me saying that should anything happen to Breece Hall, Braelon Allen looks to be the next man up and is an excellent stash/handcuff.
Bucky Irving (Rostered in 29.5% of ESPN leagues)
An addition from last week’s list, Irving is a repeat due to him being one of the higher quality RB handcuffs. Rachaad White suffered a minor groin injury on Sunday which is something fantasy managers should keep an eye on. Stash/handcuff only right now.
Rashid Shaheed (Rostered in 63.1% of ESPN leagues) Genius Pick of the Week
I don’t usually add players that are rostered in more than 50% of leagues, however, Shaheed has been phenomenal through the first 2 weeks of the season. In last week’s list I highlighted Shaheed’s boom or bust potential. While I still believe that to be true based on the amount of targets and average amount of air yards, the Saints are clicking on offense and the Carr/Shaheed connection is a big part of that. No reason for Shaheed not to be on rosters moving forward.
Demarcus Robinson (Rostered in 33.6% of ESPN leagues)
Robinson made the list last week after Puka went down with a knee injury. Now Kupp will also miss time further pushing Robinson up the depth chart. I could give fancy stats to support that Robinson will be productive for fantasy managers but I don’t feel that is needed. The thought here is: Someone will need to catch the ball in Los Angeles.
Colby Parkinson (Rostered in 43.6% of ESPN leagues)
Parkinson makes this list for the same reason Demarcus Robinson does. With the top two targets gone in the Rams offense, others will (hopefull) fill that void. Parkinson saw more targets in week 1 (5) than week 2 (2) but he is primed to increase his target share. There are also a few TE injuries still floating around so Parkinson could be a weekly flier if needed.
Derek Carr (Rostered in 9.6% of ESPN leagues)
Damn, I didn’t see myself adding Carr to my list this year. I’m admitting whole heartedly that I wasn’t very high on anyone on this Saints offense except Alvin Kamara. However, through the first 2 games, the Saints are on fire and have been one of the best teams in football especially after dismantling the Cowboys. Carr is averaging a 75.7% completion rate and has thrown for 5 touchdowns and 1 interception. He is currently averaging just about 21 fantasy points per game. That is good for QB2 at the moment. A tough Eagles team is right around the corner but I see no reason not to ride the hot hand.
Geno Smith (Rostered in 16.3% of ESPN leagues)
I was kind of shocked to see that Geno Smith was only rostered in 16.3% of leagues. Smith is a proven veteran option with a pretty solid supporting cast. It is hard to ask for much more than that. The Seahawks next three games are against the Dolphins, Lions and Giants, all of which I could see the Seahawks throwing a lot. Slot Geno in as a QB 2 option on your bench.
Side note:
You couldn’t pay me to add Quentin Johnston to this list. My 86 year-old grandmother who can’t really see or hear could also look like prime Calvin Johnson if she lined up against the Panthers.
*Point totals mentioned assume full point PPR scoring
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