The games from Week 2 did not exactly follow the script, but in terms of snap counts there was week-to-week consistency that fantasy players can start to rely on when setting lineups. There were also plenty of unforeseen opportunities for new players who increased their typical playing time thanks to the myriad of injuries. With big names such as Adrian Peterson and Jonathan Stewart out for an extended period of time and Danny Woodhead done for the year, there will be a strong uptick in volume for Jerick McKinnon, Matt Asiata, Fozzy Whittaker, Melvin Gordon and others. Seeing more time on the field may not automatically convert into productivity, but it’s at least a jumping-off point.
RUNNING BACKS
DeAngelo Williams was the running back leader of snaps with 66 in Week 2 and is the overall leader at the position after two weeks with 122. Matt Forte (60 snaps) resulted in 100 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground. So much for the fear of Bilal Powell eating into his volume. Powell saw just 17 snaps, so clearly it’s Forte’s world in the Jets’ backfield. Lamar Miller saw 50-plus snaps and 25-plus carries for the second straight week making him one of the most reliable backs in the NFL in the early going. He figures to keep that trend going on the short week as the Texans head to New England Thursday night. LeGarrette Blount played 51 snaps and had 30 carries Sunday. He too should be relied upon heavily in that Thursday night game as the Patriots piece together their quarterback position.
Thomas Rawls was supposed to take on the lion’s share for the Seahawks this week, but Christine Michael saw more snaps in a 47 to 16 mark thanks to a Rawls’ bruised leg. The Falcons were the other backfield by committee to monitor in Week 2 and that saw Tevin Coleman receiving 30 snaps while Devonta Freeman saw 36. Although Freeman’s 17 rushes for 93 yards dwarfed Coleman’s 12 for 46 yards, Coleman did have the only TD between the two. A frustrating day for Freeman owners for sure. T.J. Yeldon was again on the field for 40-plus snaps but the Jaguars fell behind early and abandoned the running game. With Chris Ivory again in doubt to play in Week 3, Yeldon’s presence on the field has yet to show returns for fantasy owners.
WIDE RECEIVERS
After two weeks, DeAndre Hopkins leads receivers with 145 snaps and he found the end zone for the first time in 2016 this past Sunday. Jordan Matthews is the surprise No. 2 behind Hopkins on the year as he’s developed into Carson Wentz’s early-season favorite with 142 snaps. Odell Beckham saw the most time of any wide receiver in Week 2 (78 snaps), but his day was marred by not one, but two dropped touchdowns. His eight catches for 86 yards were a disappointment considering the match-up and investment owners have put into him, year-to-date. Ironically, Sterling Shepard and Victor Cruz were numbers two and three, respectively, behind OBJ in receiver snaps. Neither caught a touchdown either but it goes to show you teams are going all-out pass on a weak Saints secondary. Expect Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu to be heavily involved this Monday as the Falcons trot out a similar game plan against New Orleans.
If Eric Decker continues to be as consistent a PPR receiver as there is in fantasy (72 snaps, 8 targets, 6/126/1 TD), then A.J. Green is continuing the trend of being one of the most inconsistent. Last year Green was notorious for having a big game then going format for weeks on end. He saw 72 snaps and caught just two balls on seven targets. His streaky play is difficult to live with as a number one wideout. When it comes to making the most of your time, Kelvin Benjamin’s 7/108 with two touchdowns on 52 snaps was the best bang for your fantasy buck.
TIGHT ENDS
Greg Olsen is tied for the snap count lead at tight end position with a Patriots tight end…but it’s not Rob Gronkowski. Martellus Bennett has matched Olsen’s 145 snaps and proved to be a major contributor in Week 2 with five catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. The same output cannot be expected this week with Jacoby Brissett under center. Travis Kelce continues to be one of the most overrated TE’s in football. His 55 snaps resulted in just five catches for 34 yards in Week 2. Nearly forgotten man Dennis Pitta on the other hand, was very effective when on the field. In 45 snaps, his 12 targets resulted in a 9/102 line. That’s a trend to keep an eye on as Joe Flacco has shown chemistry with Pitta in years past when he was healthy. If Pitta was the most pleasant surprise, Coby Fleener was the biggest disappointment. He received eight targets over 47 snaps, but drops bad route running equated to just two catches. Fleener owners have a right to be looking at other options for Week 3.
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Joe Pisapia (@JoePisapia17) is the eight-time best-selling author of the Fantasy Black Book Series for baseball and football. He hosts Fantasy Sports Tonight on Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio and The Fantasy Black Book/Sunday GameDay on FNTSY Network Radio.