Fortune favors the bold, right? As Matthew Freedman said on a recent episode of the FantasyPros Football Podcast, “I’m not drafting to come in third place.” Now that draft season is over and we’re into the regular season, it’s time for weekly bold predictions.
The point here is that if you follow the consensus, you’re probably going to have a good team. But in order to go from good to great, you have to take some chances. You have to do your homework and figure out where you can zig when the rest of your league (or at least your opponent this week) zags. In short, you need to know how and when to be bold.
We asked our analysts to provide a bold prediction for Week 2. Their answers and justifications are below.
Week 2 Bold Predictions
Brandon Aiyuk OVER 150 receiving yards vs. the Seahawks
Everybody is ready to write off Trey Lance and the 49ers passing game after a disappointing loss in a Chicago swamp. But looking beyond the win-loss column, you’ll find Aiyuk’s 100% route participation combined with 47 yards on just three touches. The dude is a certified stud and just needs volume to deliver a massive Week 2 performance versus a Seahawks D that allowed over 21 yards per reception to Broncos WRs in Week 1. With George Kittle trying to come back from injury and Deebo Samuel taking more snaps at RB, Aiyuk is the No. 1 WR in an offense that will benefit from Lance’s huge arm.
– Andrew Erickson
Julio Jones outscores Mike Evans this week
The history of Mike Evans vs. Marshon Lattimore is well documented. Julio Jones is healthy (for now) and looked good in Week 1 with Tom Brady. Julio is a great flex play this week with touchdown upside.
– Joe Pisapia
Hunter Renfrow is a WR1 this week
With Davante Adams going crazy in Week 1, Hunter Renfrow faded into the background with a 17.6% target share and 9.5% of the team’s air yards. Renfrow could reassert himself in Week 2 in this juicy matchup. Renfrow will see Jalen Thompson on about 92% of his routes. Last year in slot coverage, Thompson allowed an 87.5% catch rate and a 123.2 passer rating. With Murphy on the perimeter, the slot receptions are Renfrow’s for the taking.
– Derek Brown
Cooper Kupp has 200 receiving yards vs. the Falcons
Allen Robinson didn’t fit into the Rams’ offense in Week 1, and Van Jefferson is still hurt. The Falcons have good outside cornerbacks in A.J. Terrell and Casey Hayward, but their other corners — the ones who’ll likely be tasked with trying to cover Kupp — are undrafted rookie Dee Alford and journeyman Mike Ford. Kupp was busy in Week 1 against the Bills (13-128-1 on 15 targets), and he could be even busier in Week 2 against the Falcons.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
A.J. Brown has another 150-yard performance
In his first three seasons, Brown was one of the most explosive receivers in the league with 10.2 yards per target. The problem was that he never had more than 106 targets in any season with the Titans. But in his first game with the Eagles, he popped off for 155 yards receiving and a week-high 73% share of air yards on 13 targets. This week he gets to face 32-year-old No. 1 CB Patrick Peterson, who last week allowed Christian Watson — a raw small-school rookie receiver — to burn him deep for what would’ve been a wide-open 75-yard touchdown if Watson had not dropped the ball. Brown won’t drop that ball.
– Matthew Freedman
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