Fantasy Stat Pack: Week Two

Ken Kelly

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 2020 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)

QB1     Dak Prescott, DAL
QB2     Cam Newton, NE
QB3     Josh Allen, BUF
QB4     Russell Wilson, SEA
QB5     Kyler Murray, ARI
QB6     Matt Ryan, ATL
QB7     Patrick Mahomes, KC
QB8     Ryan Tannehill, TEN
QB9     Joe Burrow, CIN
QB10   Ryan Fitzpatrick, MIA
QB11   Jared Goff, LAR
QB12   Gardner Minshew, JAX

The Cowboys made a miraculous comeback led by Prescott, who scored three rushing touchdowns and passed for 450 yards. Cam Newton and Kyler Murray stayed hot to begin their seasons while Josh Allen followed up his first career 300-yard game with a 400-yard passing effort. Bengals rookie and top overall pick Joe Burrow also posted the first QB1 game of his career, thanks in part to his 61 passing attempts.

Year to Date QB1s

QB1     Russell Wilson, SEA
QB2     Josh Allen, BUF
QB3     Cam Newton, NE
QB4     Kyler Murray, ARI
QB5     Dak Prescott, DAL
QB6     Matt Ryan, ATL
QB7     Aaron Rodgers, GB
QB8     Patrick Mahomes, KC
QB9     Ryan Tannehill, TEN
QB10   Lamar Jackson, BAL
QB11   Gardner Minshew, JAX
QB12   Joe Burrow, CIN

The top four quarterbacks have established themselves as the most reliable signal callers through the first two weeks of the season. While regression is always expected, it is still a surprise to see both Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes outside of the top-five scorers.

QB1 Games This Season

2 Josh Allen, Kyler Murray, Matt Ryan, Russell Wilson, Gardner Minshew, Cam Newton

1 Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson, Kirk Cousins, Aaron Rodgers, Mitchell Trubisky, Ben Roethlisberger, Dak Prescott, Patrick Mahomes, Jared Goff, Ryan Tannehill, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Joe Burrow

Most QB1 Games Allowed

2          ATL, CLE, MIA, SEA
1          BUF, DAL, DET, GB, IND, JAX, KC, LAC, MIN, NE, NYG, NYJ, PHI, SF, TEN, WAS

Four teams have allowed a top-12 fantasy scorer at the quarterback position in each of the first two weeks. They are the Falcons, Browns, Dolphins and Seahawks. It is still early to heavily base lineup decisions on this very small sample size but it is at least worth considering. The quarterbacks facing those teams this week are Mitchell Trubisky (vs. Atlanta). Dwayne Haskins (vs. Cleveland), Gardner Minshew (vs. Miami) and Dak Prescott (vs Seattle.)

Running Backs

Week Two RB1s (top 12 scorers)

RB1      Aaron Jones, GB
RB2     Alvin Kamara, NO
RB3     Leonard Fournette, TB
RB4     Nick Chubb, CLE
RB5     Christian McCaffrey, CAR
RB6     Kareem Hunt, CLE
RB7     Ezekiel Elliott, DAL
RB8     David Montgomery, CHI
RB9     James Robinson, JAX
RB10   James Conner, PIT
RB10   Miles Sanders, PHI
RB10   Darrell Henderson, LAR

Week Two brought some major shake ups at the backfield position as multiple to backs suffered injuries. Christian McCaffrey was able to post one more RB1 week before he landed on the injured reserve list, while Leonard Fournette, Miles Sanders and Darrell Henderson took over the respective backfields. Aaron Jones continued his hot start and doesn’t seem bothered by the addition of rookie RB AJ Dillon.

Year to Date RB1s

RB1      Aaron Jones, GB
RB2     Alvin Kamara, NO
RB3     Christian McCaffrey, CAR
RB4     Ezekiel Elliott, DAL
RB5     Josh Jacobs, LV
RB6     Chris Carson, SEA
RB7     Raheem Mostert, SF
RB8     Dalvin Cook, MIN
RB9     Kareem Hunt, CLE
RB10   Jonathan Taylor, IND
RB11   Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC
RB12   Melvin Gordon, DEN

The early top-12 includes a pair of rookie backs in Jonathan Taylor and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, along with a few other surprises. It was Nick Chubb who was being drafted as an RB1, but his Browns teammate Kareem Hunt is the top-12 scorer early this season. MaCaffrey, along with 49ers running back Raheem Mostert are sure to fall as they miss time with injuries.

RB1 Games This Season

2          Aaron Jones, Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott
1          Chris Carson, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Dalvin Cook, David Johnson, James Conner, Josh Jacobs, Kareem Hunt, Leonard Fournette, Malcolm Brown, Miles Sanders, Nick Chubb, Raheem Mostert, James Robinson, Darrell Henderson

Most RB1 Games Allowed

2          ATL, CAR, CIN, LAR, LV, TB
1          ARI, DAL, DEN, DET, GB, HOU, JAX, KC, MIN, NYG, PHI, TEN

Six squads have already allowed multiple RB1 games. As previously mentioned, decisions should not be made solely on this early data but it might be used as a tie-breaker. Here are the key running backs who will face these teams in Week Three…David Montgomery (vs. Atlanta), Austin Ekeler/Joshua Kelley (vs. Carolina), Miles Sanders (vs. Cincinnati), Devin Singletary/Zack Moss (vs. LA Rams), Sony Michel/James White (vs. Las Vegas) and Melvin Gordon (vs. Denver.)

Wide Receivers

Week Two WR1s (top 12 scorers)

WR1    Calvin Ridley, ATL
WR2    Stefon Diggs, BUF
WR3    Julian Edelman, NE
WR4    Terry McLaurin, WAS
WR5    Mike Evans, TB
WR6    Diontae Johnson, PIT
WR7    Tyreek Hill, KC
WR7    DeAndre Hopkins, ARI
WR9    Tyler Boyd, CIN
WR10  DJ Moore, CAR
WR11  Tyler Lockett, SEA
WR12  DK Metcalf, SEA

A possible changing of the guard is apparent when viewing the Week Two top-12 wideouts. At the top, the Falcons Calvin Ridley is leading the way for his team, outpacing superstar Julio Jones in every way. The same can be said for Diontae Johnson, who looks like the Steelers top target ahead of Juju Smith-Schuster.

Year to Date WR1s

WR1    Calvin Ridley, ATL
WR2    DeAndre Hopkins, ARI
WR3    Davante Adams, GB
WR4    Stefon Diggs, BUF
WR5    Robby Anderson, CAR
WR6    Julian Edelman, NE
WR7    DK Metcalf, SEA
WR8    Tyreek Hill, KC
WR9    John Brown, BUF
WR10  Adam Thielen, MIN
WR11  Russell Gage, ATL
WR12  Tyler Lockett, SEA

It is not rare to see a team with multiple fantasy WR1s. It is rare to see three teams with a pair of top-12 scorers, though. That’s right – the Falcons, Bills and Seahawks account for half of the early WR1s. The biggest surprise is that it is slot receiver Russell Gage, and not Julio Jones, is the second player representing the Falcons.

WR1 Games This Season

2          Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins

1          Adam Thielen, Darius Slayton, Davante Adams, Diontae Johnson, DJ Moore, DK Metcalf, Jamison Crowder, Juju Smith-Schuster, Julian Edelman, Julio Jones, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mike Evans, Robby Anderson, Russell Gage, Sammy Watkins, Stefon Diggs, Terry McLaurin, Tyler Boyd, Tyler Lockett, Tyreek Hill

Most WR1 Games Allowed

4          SEA
3
2          MIN, NE
1          ARI, BUF, CAR, CLE, DAL, DEN, GB, HOU, LAC, LV, MIA, NYG, PIT, SF, TB, WAS

The Seahawks have been picked on early this year and now get the three-headed monster from Dallas. Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup could be in for a big week in another shootout.

Tight Ends

Week Two TE1s (top 12 scorers)

TE1     Tyler Higbee, LAR
TE2     Darren Waller, LV
TE3     Mike Gesicki, MIA
TE4     Jonnu Smith, TEN
TE5     Jordan Reed, SF
TE5     Travis Kelce, KC
TE7     Dalton Schultz, DAL
TE8     Hayden Hurst, ATL
TE9     Noah Fant, DEN
TE10   Mo Alie-Cox, IND
TE11   Hunter Henry, LAC
TE12   CJ Uzomah, CIN

The Rams’ Tyler Higbee picked up where he left off last season, catching three touchdowns in Week Two to hold down the overall TE1 spot. Jordan Reed, Dalton Schultz and Mo Alie-Cox all stepped up in relief of injured starters to score with top-ten performances.

Year to Date TE1s

TE1     Travis Kelce, KC
TE2     Darren Waller, LV
TE3     Jonnu Smith, TEN
TE4     Noah Fant, DEN
TE5     Tyler Higbee, LAR
TE6     Mike Gesicki, MIA
TE7     Dallas Goedert, PHI
TE8     Jordan Reed, SF
TE9     TJ Hockenson, DET
TE10   Mark Andrews, BAL
TE11   Hunter Henry, LAC
TE12   Hayden Hurst, ATL

Many tight ends were being pegged as the next breakout stars entering the season and so far, Noah Fant and Jonnu Smith are coming through. Each can be valued as top-ten dynasty tight ends moving forward.

TE1 Games This Season

2          Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Noah Fant, Travis Kelce

1          Dallas Goedert, David Njoku, Greg Olsen, Jared Cook, Logan Thomas, Mark Andrews, OJ Howard, TJ Hockenson, CJ Uzomah, Darren Waller, Hayden Hurst, Mike Gesicki, Mo Alie-Cox, Tyler Higbee, Jordan Reed, Dalton Schultz

Most TE1 Games Allowed

2          ATL, CLE, NO, PHI
1          BAL, BUF, CHI, CIN, DAL, DEN, HOU, JAX, KC, LAC, MIN, NYJ, PIT, TB, TEN, WAS

The Falcons, Browns, Saints and Eagles have allowed a pair of TE1 games already this season. This should be good news for their Week Three foes, including Logan Thomas and Drew Sample.

Finally, here is this week’s defensive summary, showing how many top weekly performances each team has allowed, along with the schedule for this week.

statpack

ken kelly