After Week 1, I stated the importance of looking at usage in addition to stats and not overreacting to one week. With another week of data, looking at usage remains important, but we can start to see some trends developing. Below are some players whose dynasty value is trending upward after two weeks and some who are seeing their value fall.
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Dynasty Fantasy Football Risers
James Cook (RB – BUF)
James Cook makes the list after tallying 28.5 PPR fantasy points on Thursday night, though that’s not the only reason he’s a riser. I wrote about Cook as an undervalued running back before the season, calling out his usage under Joe Brady, his efficiency and potential for more work around the goal line. So far, each of those boxes have been checked. Cook rushed for just two touchdowns in each of his first two seasons but has already matched that total after two rushing scores on Thursday.
Cook will always cede some goal-line carries to Josh Allen, but through two weeks, the 24-year-old is the only Bills running back to carry the ball inside the 10-yard line. Despite Ray Davis carrying the ball nine times to Cook’s 11, six of the rookie’s rushes came late in the game with the outcome already decided. He may not have many weeks quite like this one, but an increased touchdown total in a great offense will go a long way for Cook’s dynasty value.
Rashid Shaheed (WR – NO)
Rashid Shaheed was another one of my targets this season and the early returns are overwhelmingly positive. Shaheed’s snap shares have been impacted by the two blowouts, but the third-year wide receiver played around 80% of snaps in the first half both weeks after clearing a 70% snap share just four times last season.
He’s making good on the increased role, catching three passes for 73 yards and a score in Week 1 and going four for 96 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. He’s also getting some work on the ground as the Saints are finding ways to put the ball in his hands. He ran the most routes for the Saints on Sunday and is proving he’s not just a deep threat.
Chris Godwin (WR – TB)
Upon moving back into a primary slot role, Chris Godwin has caught 15 out of 16 targets through two games for 200 yards and two touchdowns. With 65% of his snaps from the slot, Godwin is averaging 23.5 fantasy points per game while garnering a 33% target share. Baker Mayfield has revived his career and looks as good as ever. Godwin finally appears healthy and comfortable in his role. At 28 years old, Godwin looks more like his 25-year-old self and should be a reliable fantasy WR2 for this year and beyond.
Can someone explain to me like I’m 5 why Chris Godwin is going as WR40 on Underdog?
????Back in the slot this szn
????WR10 in weeks 14-18 after moving back into slot last szn
????Two “down” years after ACL tear still cleared 1k yards
????Due for positive TD regression
????Contract year— Chad Workman (@tweetsbychad) June 4, 2024
Jalen Nailor (WR – MIN)
In week 1, Jalen Nailor played fewer snaps than Brandon Powell, leading to speculation Powell might be the Vikings’ No. 3 WR. Nailor, however, was working back from an injury and caught his lone target for a touchdown in Week 1. With Jordan Addison sidelined in Week 2, Nailor played in 2-WR sets with Justin Jefferson, catching three of his four targets for 54 yards and a touchdown.
With Jefferson suffering a leg contusion, it’s possible Nailor operates as the team’s top option next week. The Vikings were excited about Nailor and let K.J. Osborn walk to free up additional snaps for Nailor, so I would anticipate his role to keep growing.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – SEA)
It’s no secret Jaxon Smith-Njigba was surpassing Tyler Lockett as the Seahawk’s No. 2 receiver, but it became clear on Sunday. He led the team with 16 targets while Lockett saw just two. He turned those 16 targets into 12 catches for 117 yards. The Seahawks primarily play with three receivers, but Smith-Njigba managed to play on seven of the 12 2-WR snaps. The target share is most important, though, and it seems DK Metcalf and Smith-Njigba are the clear top two target earners.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – ARI) and Malik Nabers (WR – NYG)
It’s not as if anybody was actually panicking after Week 1 or questioning their talent, but the rookie wide receivers showed how they should be valued in Week 2. After much chatter about looking slow in Week 1, Marvin Harrison Jr. quieted that drama with four grabs for 130 yards and two scores, good for 29 fantasy points and the WR1 overall finish this week (barring Monday Night Football).
Malik Nabers has not been doubted for his talent, but more so for playing with Daniel Jones. It didn’t matter on Sunday as Nabers saw a whopping 18 targets, snatching 10 of them for 127 yards and a score. Get used to seeing these two names near the top of the scoring leaderboard, as they’re going to be sticking around for a while.
Dynasty Fantasy Football Fallers
Carolina Panthers’ Offense
If you’re feeling down about your fantasy team, at least it’s likely in better shape than the Panthers’ offense. Bryce Young threw for 84 yards on Sunday with one interception after 161 yards and two interceptions in Week 1. Through two games, only one skill position player has recorded more than 50 yards in a game — Chuba Hubbard in Week 2 (76 total yards – 64 rushing, 12 receiving).
Tommy Tremble led receivers this week with 23 yards, while Diontae Johnson has totaled 34 yards thus far. After an encouraging 35-yard debut for Xavier Legette, he was not targeted in Week 2. At this point, it would be an upset if Young is the answer. He will hold the offense down as long as he remains at quarterback, including Jonathon Brooks when he’s ready to go.
Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS)
Kliff Kingsbury uses pre-snap motion at one of the lowest rates in the league (27th after Week 1) That makes life increasingly tougher for Terry McLaurin, who is forced to win matchups on the outside without the benefit of movement. Not to mention, the offense doesn’t seem to be built to feed a top receiver targets.
McLaurin’s prime has mostly been wasted by the Washington franchise. Despite optimism that a young quarterback could improve McLaurin’s numbers, it’s not looking good. Through two weeks, he’s caught eight passes for just 39 yards. Short targets are not going to get the most out of McLaurin, but that’s mostly what we’re going to see this season.
Michael Pittman (WR – IND)
Similar to the Commanders, the Colts offense isn’t built to pepper a top target downfield, and it’s showing on Michael Pittman’s stat sheet. Although Alec Pierce has snatched a few deep balls, Pittman has been held to seven catches for 52 yards through two weeks with his longest reception being 13 yards. With Pittman’s skill set, he should see more contested catch opportunities downfield. There will be weeks where he posts numbers we saw from Pierce, and the same is likely true for Adonai Mitchell, but his consistently will be an issue in this offense with Anthony Richardson.
Chase Brown (RB – CIN)
On Sunday, Zack Moss played 51 snaps compared to Chase Brown’s 13. At a minimum, it seemed Brown would be the passing-down back, but he ran just five routes and did not see a target while Moss ran 26 routes, seeing one target come his way. This is the trend we’ve seen in two consecutive weeks now, including a heavier pass game script in Week 2.
To be fair, Moss hasn’t done much with the volume, rushing for 34 yards on 12 carries in Week 2 while Brown scampered for 31 yards on four carriers, but this is the same type of usage we saw with Joe Mixon and Brown last year. The Bengals likely view Brown as a complimentary piece, making him nothing more than a fantasy handcuff.
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