Fun, Failure, Frustration, and Fame: Week 2 Edition

This is my reminder that fantasy football should be fun.  It is also fair warning that I only play (and write about) fantasy football for fun.  I have never done a paid league, and I would not suggest you use my thoughts in a betting situation.

I am NOT an expert, and I play for fun.

FAILURE

Part One: My Failures

Part One is where I admit my failures and point out where I was wrong last week.

WR Calvin Austin

While I knew the Steelers offense wouldn’t put up the numbers they did Week 1, I expected WR Calvin Austin to be more involved.  Austin only had one catch for 22 yards on four targets.  He looks to be a hit-or-miss prospect moving forward.

WR A.J. Brown

Good news is A.J. Brown improved over Week 1.  Bad news is he still stunk it up for fantasy owners!  In Week 2, he had five catches (on eight targets) for 27 yards.  I still expect Brown to put up numbers, but to say he’s had a slow start is a massive understatement.

WR Terry McLaurin

Terry McLaurin also had a better Week 2 than Week 1, but he still did not produce the results fantasy managers are hoping for.  McLaurin had five catches on nine targets for 48 yards.  I still expect him to bounce back as well, but he’s hard to count on for Week 3, especially if QB Jayden Daniels ends up missing the game with a knee injury.

RB Jerome Ford

With RB Quinshon Judkins active, I thought Jerome Ford would completely fade away to never be heard from again in fantasy.  While his numbers weren’t great – six rushes for 31 yards and five receptions for 23 yards – he still is a possibility as a flex play, especially in deep PPR formats.  I wouldn’t want to count on him to produce, but he’s not completely off the fantasy radar yet.

Part Two:  This Week’s Player “Failures”

Part Two is where I discuss what players failed owners and whether I think it was a trend or a fluke.

QB Justin Fields

To say it was a rough week for QB Justin Fields would be a massive understatement.  3-for-11 passing for 27 yards + five rushes for 49 yards before being knocked out of the game in the 2^nd half with a head injury, resulting in him being placed in concussion protocol.  First, it is questionable whether he will be able to play Week 3 due to the injury.  Moving forward, Fields is a risky play.  He has the potential to put up big numbers on the ground and through the air like Week 1, but he will also have weeks where he is downright horrible.

Verdict:  TREND

QB Geno Smith

After a nice showing in Week 1, QB Geno Smith put up a clunker in Week 2:  24 of 43 passing for 180 yards, 0 touchdowns and three interceptions.  Smith is a serviceable QB that will have inconsistent results, especially against good defenses.  I would expect Smith to have several games where he struggles this year.

Verdict:  TREND

QB Aaron Rodgers

QB Aaron Rodgers not only couldn’t repeat his Week 1 performance, but struggled mightily against the Seattle Seahawks defense.  Rodgers ended up 18 of 33 passing for one touchdown and two interceptions.  Rodgers still has a good arm and is a competitor, but he’s a shell of what he used to be.  Expect his performance to be mediocre-to-poor as the season wears on and the hits accumulate.

Verdict:  TREND

RB Derrick Henry

RB Derrick Henry was completely shut down by the Cleveland Browns defense, rushing 11 times for a miniscule 23 yards.  The Browns were determined to not let Henry beat them, and they were effective in doing so.  Credit to the Ravens for finding other ways to score and win.  As for Henry moving forward, I have absolutely no concerns.  He will put up big numbers for you.

Verdict:  FLUKE

RB Ashton Jeanty

Another week of very modest production from RB Ashton Jeanty.  Jeanty finished Week 2 with 11 rushes for 43 yards and three receptions for a single yard.  I had major concerns from the beginning with the hype Jeanty was receiving, and I mentioned that he was being way over-drafted.  No doubt that Jeanty is a talented RB, but this is not a good team.  I expect his numbers will continue to be mediocre most weeks.

Verdict:  TREND

FRUSTRATION

Chargers RB Situation

Last week I included RB Najee Harris in this section because I expected him to get more work in Week 1 after being cleared to play.  After Week 1, it appeared RB Omarion Hampton was the clear RB1 for this team.  Fast forward to Week 2 and the reps were pretty even.  Hampton finished with eight rushes for 24 yards and one reception for one yard, and he had a fumble late in the game.  Harris finished with eight rushes for 28 yards and two receptions for 20 yards.  It still remains anyone’s guess how the workload will be distributed.  At this point, either RB is a risky bet for fantasy owners.

QB injuries

Injuries stink and it was a rough week for QBs.  Obviously, the biggest injury was QB Joe Burrow who is predicted to be out three months after needing surgery for his turf toe injury.  But, he is far from the only QB that was banged up this week.  J.J. McCarthy has an ankle injury and is expected to miss time. Justin Fields is in the concussion protocol so his status is uncertain.  Jayden Daniels is questionable for Week 3 with a knee injury.

FAME

Part One:  What I Got Right Last Week

Suggested waiver pickup TE Juwan Johnson:  Juwan Johnson came through for fantasy owners that picked him up. In Week 2, Johnson had five receptions for 49 yards and 1 touchdown.

Suggested waiver pickup TE Harold Fannin, Jr.: Harold Fannin, Jr. also had a solid day with five receptions for 48 yards.

Suggested waiver pickup WR Quentin Johnston: Quentin Johnston finished with three receptions for 71 yards and a TD.  His deep-play ability will always keep him a threat even when he doesn’t get major volume.

Bounce-back performance Bo Nix:  As expected, Bo Nix shook off the rust and delivered a solid performance.  He finished 22 of 30 passing with three touchdowns and one interception.  He also added three rushes for 20 yards.

Bounce-back performance Ja’Marr Chase:  A surprise to nobody, Ja’Marr Chase shook off a weak Week 1 performance with a stellar Week 2 performance, finishing with 14 receptions on 16 targets for 165 yards and a touchdown.

Bounce-back performance Tua Tagovailoa:  While the Dolphins ultimately came up short against the New England Patriots, Tua Tagovailoa put up solid numbers for fantasy managers.  He finished 26 of 32 passing for 315 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

FAME

Part Two:  Who I Like on the Waiver Wire

Titans WR Elic Ayomanor:  WR Elic Ayomanor finished with four receptions on six targets for 56 yards and a TD.  Ayomanor seems to be a favorite target for QB Cam Ward.  Week 1 he had seven targets (only two completions) and this week he had six targets.  He looks to have enough volume to make him a solid WR or flex play, especially in deeper leagues.

Packers WR Romeo Doubs:  Romeo Doubs has an opportunity for more volume after fellow Packers WR Jayden Reed suffered a fractured collarbone.  The Packers pass-game targets tend to vary game by game, but Doubs has a chance to be a solid flex play.

Bengals QB Jake Browning:  Jake Browning takes over for the Bengals after the injury to Joe Burrow.  With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, he has a ton of weapons.  Expect him to put up a ton of yards in that offense.  I think he will make more mistakes than Burrow, but he is definitely a solid pickup in fantasy.

Jaguars RB Bhaysul Tuten:  No, I am not putting RB Bhaysul Tuten in here just because it’s an awesome name to say and type.  Tuten took advantage of his opportunity as the RB2 behind Travis Etienne after Tank Bigsby was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.  Tuten had eight rushes for 42 yards and two receptions for 32 yards and a TD.  For now, he has established himself as the main complementary option to Etienne.  If he keeps making the most of his opportunities, I think he will slowly get more touches.

Ravens WR DeAndre Hopkins:  To be clear, I would only add WR DeAndre Hopkins in deep leagues.  He simply is not getting the volume to warrant him being rostered in shallower leagues.  But, he is a force and a great end zone target.  This makes him a TD-dependent flyer in deep leagues.

Texans RB Woody Marks:  Again, I am only recommending him in deep leagues or if you are desperate for RB depth.  On Monday night, Woody Marks had three rushing attempts for 14 yards and one reception for 37 yards.  But, Marks jumped RB Dameon Pierce who was a healthy inactive.  If Nick Chubb was to get injured, or if the Texans fall out of contention, I could see Marks getting a larger opportunity.

The post Fun, Failure, Frustration, and Fame: Week 2 Edition appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2025/09/17/fantasy/fun-failure-frustration-and-fame-week-2-edition/