Fantasy Football Heat Index: Jordan Mason, Brock Bowers, Rashid Shaheed

Every Monday of the NFL regular season we showcase exceptional player performances from the weekend and analyze their potential for sustained success in fantasy football. We will rank these performances from 1-5 based on whether we believe they are momentary or long-term options for your fantasy teams.

Fantasy Football Heat Index

Quarterback

Sam Darnold (QB – MIN)

Stats: 17-of-26, 268 passing yards, two touchdowns, one interception, five rush attempts, 32 rushing yards

Position Rank (pre-MNF): QB3 (19.92 points)

Analysis: With No. 10 overall draft pick and future franchise savior J.J. McCarthy ruled out for the season, journeyman Sam Darnold has a stranglehold on the Vikings’ starting quarterback job. So far, so good for the veteran on his fourth team since 2000.

In Week 2, Darnold led the Vikings to a shocking 23-17 upset victory over perennial Super Bowl contender San Francisco. He hasn’t lit up the boxscore this season, but Darnold has played well enough to help Minnesota to their first 2-0 start since 2016.

In a lackluster week of QB scoring, Darnold is the current QB3 on the week. While that’s unlikely to repeat very often, Darnold will remain on the fantasy radar as long as wide receiver Justin Jefferson remains healthy. With Jefferson leaving Sunday’s contest early with an undisclosed injury, keep an eye on his status moving forward.

Heat Index: 2

Running Back

Jordan Mason (RB – SF)

Stats: 20 rush attempts, 100 rushing yards, one touchdown, one reception, four receiving yards

Position Rank (pre-MNF): RB8 (16.9 points)

Analysis: In two games this season, 49ers running back Jordan Mason has finished as the RB3 and RB8 (through Sunday Night Football) in half-PPR scoring formats. With Christian McCaffrey placed on injured reserve (IR) with no real timetable to return, Mason is a locked-in RB1 until further notice.

Mason has been a near-zero in the passing game (one catch in each contest), but he’s overcoming that with bell-cow volume in the rushing game. I know some fantasy managers are debating whether to sell Mason while they can or hold firm and enjoy the fantasy points. Just know Mason is one McCaffrey setback away from being a league-winner.

Heat Index: 5

Wide Receiver

Rashid Shaheed (WR – NO)

Stats: Four receptions, 96 receiving yards, one touchdown, three rush attempts, 13 rushing yards

Position Rank (pre-MNF): WR10 (18.9 points)

Analysis: After two weeks of action, the New Orleans Saints have been the biggest surprise of the NFL season. To the shock of everyone not affiliated with the organization, the Saints are 2-0 and have outscored the Panthers and Cowboys by a combined score of 91-29.

Under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, the Derek Carr to Rashid Shaheed connection has played a major role in New Orleans’ offensive resurrection. Despite Chris Olave being the presumed No. 1 WR, Shaheed currently leads the team in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. With WR13 and WR9 finishes, Shaheed is on his way to a breakout season.

Heat Index: 4

Tight End

Brock Bowers (TE – LV)

Stats: Nine receptions, 98 receiving yards, zero touchdowns

Position Rank (pre-MNF): TE4 (14.3 points)

Analysis: One week after finishing as the TE5, Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers is the current TE4 on the week. Not bad for a rookie in his first two career starts.

Coming out of Georgia, Bowers was seen as a “generational” tight end prospect, but his landing spot led to an abundance of overthinking his offseason. So many people worried about quarterback play and the offensive environment in Las Vegas they forgot just how good Bowers is.

Two games into his NFL career, Bowers is reminding them. Not only is Bowers earning targets (17 through two games) at an impressive clip, but he’s making the most of them with consecutive top-five fantasy performances. With so many top tight ends struggling so far this season, Bowers has rewarded those who employed a mid-to-late-round TE strategy.

Heat Index: 4