Fantasy Stat Pack: Week Two

Ryan McDowell

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably noticed a series of tweets I share on a weekly basis regarding player and team defensive performances, all from a fantasy lens. I’m going to be sharing some of that same information with you here.

I use this each week as I am making my own lineup and waiver wire decisions and thought you might find this valuable as well.

Note: The scoring system used for this data is always PPR with four points for passing touchdowns.

All year to date fantasy ranks are based on total points.

As the weeks of the 2019 season go by, this article will become even more valuable as trends are established. Until then, we’ll focus more on the individual player performances instead of the limited data we have.

Quarterbacks

Week Two QB1s (top 12 scorers)

Ravens second-year quarterback Jackson came within fractions of a point of repeating his Week One QB1 finish, coming in second only to Mahomes. It’s ironic because after this hot start, many dynasty players might be valuing Jackson above all other signal callers, with Mahomes as the exception. Prescott and Brady also repeated their previous top-12 rank, while Jimmy Garoppolo bounced back from a subpar opener.

Year to Date QB1s

  • QB1 Lamar Jackson, BAL
  • QB2 Dak Prescott, DAL
  • QB3 Patrick Mahomes, KC
  • QB4 Tom Brady, NE
  • QB5 Case Keenum, WAS
  • QB6 Deshaun Watson, HOU
  • QB7 Matthew Stafford, DET
  • QB8 Carson Wentz, PHI
  • QB9 Russell Wilson, SEA
  • QB10 Andy Dalton, CIN
  • QB11 Josh Allen, BUF
  • QB12 Kyler Murray, ARI

We’re only two weeks in, so searching for trends this early can sometimes be counter-productive. With that said, the number of quarterbacks currently in the top 12 who are also known for their ability to run the ball is notable. Along with Jackson, there’s Watson, Wilson, Allen and Murray. This list will seem odd without Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees and, possibly, Cam Newton this season.

QB1 Games this Season

  • 2 Carson Wentz, Case Keenum, Dak Prescott, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady
  • 1 Kyler Murray, Deshaun Watson, Drew Brees, Marcus Mariota, Matthew Stafford, Philip Rivers, Andy Dalton, Jared Goff, Jimmy Garoppolo, Josh Allen, Matt Ryan, Russell Wilson

Most QB1 Games Allowed

  • 2 ARI, MIA, NO, NYG, PHI, PIT, WAS
  • 1 ATL, CIN, CLE, DAL, DET, HOU, IND, JAC, OAK, SF

It’s still too early in the season to draw many conclusions about weekly defensive matchups, but one thing is clear. The Dolphins are terrible. Along with giving up the most fantasy points to the quarterback position through two weeks, Miami also just dealt their talented young defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick. Now they have to find a way to stop the red-hot Prescott this week. Arizona (vs. Kyle Allen or Cam Newton), the Giants (vs. Jameis Winston) and Washington (vs. Mitchell Trubisky) have each allowed over 30 fantasy points per game in the first two weeks.

Running Backs

Week Two RB1s (top 12 scorers)

Vikings star Cook continues his hot start as the focal point of the Minnesota offense while Mostert and Gore took advantages of injuries to their teammates to crack the top-12 in Week Two. Ekeler continues to ruin Melvin Gordon’s chances of cashing in and is currently the highest-scoring non-QB in fantasy this season.

Year to Date RB1s

The majority if names you might expect to see are already establishing themselves as RB1s in the early going. It’s some of the names that are not on this list that are worth tracking as James Conner, Alvin Kamara and Leonard Fournette are all playing without their starting quarterback. The same can be said of Bell, and perhaps McCaffrey.

RB1 Games this Season

  • 2 Austin Ekeler, Dalvin Cook, Derrick Henry, Le’Veon Bell

1 Aaron Jones, Alvin Kamara, Chris Carson, Christian McCaffrey, Damien Williams, David Johnson, Ezekiel Elliott, Frank Gore, Kerryon Johnson, Mark Ingram, Marlon Mack, Nick Chubb, Peyton Barber, Raheem Mostert, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs

Most RB1 Games Allowed

  • 2 CIN, CLE, DET, IND, BUF, LAC
  • 1 MIA, NYG, WAS, ATL, HOU, JAC, CAR, DEN, GB, LAR, MIN, NYJ

Not only have the Bengals allowed a pair of RB1 games, they’ve also surrendered two RB2 games. It is no surprise then to see them at the top of the list, allowing over 40 fantasy points per game to opposing backfields. This week, that’s good news for the crowded Buffalo backfield. Rookie Devin Singletary suffered a hamstring injury and his Week Three status in unknown. That could leave veterans Gore and TJ Yeldon to feast against Cincy. Although they’ve only given up one RB1 game, the Dolphins have allowed the second-most fantasy points, setting up Cowboys’ back Elliott to explode.

Wide Receivers

Week Two WR1s (top 12 scorers)

With Tyreek Hill out, it was backup receiver Robinson who led the way for the Chiefs and outscored every other wideout in the league. That’s the first time in the top-24 weekly fantasy scorers for Robinson. Among this group, there was only one Week One repeat, Bengals receiver Ross, who used a late 66-yard touchdown to reach this WR1 range.

Year to Date WR1s

The top-12 running back list we looked at earlier was not very surprising. That’s not the case with these pass catchers. Along with Watkins at the top and Ross’ back-to-back WR1 weeks, a pair of rookies in Brown and McLaurin are major surprises. Perhaps the biggest shocker is Jaguars second-year speedster Chark. Even after two solid weeks, there are still many doubts about Chark as a fantasy asset.

WR1 Games this Season

Most WR1 Games Allowed

  • 2 LAC, NYJ, PHI, SF
  • 1 ATL, BUF, CAR, CHI, CIN, DET, IND, JAC, LC, LAR, MIA, NO, OAK, PIT, SEA, WAS

A pair of NFC East teams have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing receivers, the Redskins and Eagles. Washington faces the Bears and Allen Robinson this week, while the Eagles must try to slow down Kenny Golladay and the Lions. The Jets have given up a pair of WR1 games and now face the Patriots, with Josh Gordon, Julian Edelman and possibly Antonio Brown all a threat to finish as top-12 receivers.

Tight Ends

Week Two TE1s (top 12 scorers)

Second-year tight end Andrews is off the an even better start than most could have imagined. He was a projected breakout but can already be considered as a top-five dynasty tight end. Seahawks Dissly is picking up where he left off after his hot start last season before suffering a serious knee injury. While Saints tight end Jared Cook has disappointed, his replacement Waller has two straight TE1 games.

Year to Date TE1s

  • TE1 Mark Andrews, BAL
  • TE2 Evan Engram, NYG
  • TE3 Travis Kelce, KC
  • TE4 Delanie Walker, TEN
  • TE5 Vance McDonald, PIT
  • TE6 Zach Ertz, PHI
  • TE7 TJ Hockenson, DET
  • TE8 Darren Waller, OAK
  • TE9 Greg Olsen, CAR
  • TE10 Will Dissly, SEA
  • TE11 Austin Hooper, ATL
  • TE12 Jason Witten, DAL

A year ago at this time, Witten was in the Monday Night Football booth and there were serious concerns if Olsen and Walker would ever play after suffering serious injuries. Now, all three are producing and are currently inside the top-12 fantasy scorers.

TE1 Games this Season

Most TE1 Games Allowed

  • 2 ARI, TB, TEN
  • 1 ATL, BUF, CAR, CHI, CIN, CLE, DAL, DEN, KC, MIA, MIN, NYG, OAK, PHI, PIT, SEA, SF, WAS

As has been the case for years, the Cardinals can’t defend the tight end position. This week, the means Panthers tight end Olsen should be in your lineups. Tampa Bay has also struggled to stop tight ends and now face Engram and his new quarterback, rookie Daniel Jones. It is difficult to project how that transition will go but Engram will be in every fantasy lineup.

ryan mcdowell
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