These are Fantasy Sleepers for Week 2 of the NFL season. (Note: All Players are available in 80% or more of Yahoo Leagues.)
Quarterbacks
Mac Jones | New England (21%- cheated on this one, but it is close)
Who led the NFL in Pass Attempts in Week One? Mac Jones. Jones passed for 316 yards on 54 attempts in a loss to Philadelphia. Last season, Jones only passed for 300+ in two games, so there is a lot to be excited about. Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien seems to have something working. Jones goes head-to-head with fellow Alabama alum Tua Tagovailoa and the red-hot Miami Dolphins. This game has points written all over it. If you need a streamer, consider Jones.
Running Backs
Tyjae Spears | Tennessee (16%)
Spears did not put up much in the stat column (caught 1 of 4 targets rushed for 27 yards), but he surprisingly out-snapped Derrick Henry 34-30 in a tight loss in New Orleans. We have not seen the Titans complete plans for Spears. Spears is a must-stash recommendation (come on Yahoo players, available in 84% of leagues?). Do not underestimate him being a more significant part of the game plan and having production.
Cordarrelle Patterson | Atlanta (9%)
This is for deep leagues only. Patterson makes his debut this Sunday as Atlanta faces a tough Green Bay defense. This year, Patterson is in a new role. That role is a Joker position where he will be used all over the field. We have NO idea how Arthur Smith will utilize Patterson, but it would be Smith-esque to have Patterson be in a featured role out of nowhere. Stash him and see what his role is.
Chuba Hubbard | Carolina (17%)
Hubbard had a productive Week 1. He rushed for 60 yards and caught two passes in the Panthers loss to Atlanta. They now head home to play another divisional opponent in New Orleans. Could Carolina lean on their RBs even more? Miles Sanders had an impressive debut and is the Panthers lead back, but Hubbard should continue to see ten or more touches a game.
Wide Receivers
Tutu Atwell | Los Angeles Rams (19%)
Puka Nacua was not the only Rams WR to have a strong debut. Atwell, the Rams second round draft pick in 2021, was featured throughout the game. He finished with six catches on eight targets, compiling a career-high 119 receiving yards. The Rams put him in motion and did their best to utilize his speed. The Rams need a speedy WR, and Atwell is small but can fly. San Francisco is a tough matchup, but Atwell will have a chance to continue his strong start.
Jayden Reed | Green Bay (10%)
Reed led Green Bay’s WRs with 48 yards receiving in his NFL debut. Christian Watson may or may not return from injury this week, but Reed looks to have a growing role in this offense. He should see advantageous matchups from the slot week in and week out. He also has the added role of punt returner. Reed may have some added usage with a challenging road game in Atlanta on tap. He is a great stash.
Tank Dell | Houston (4%)
Dell only caught three passes in Houston’s loss to Baltimore but will look to take on an added role with Noah Brown headed to the IR. Dell was a preseason standout and a favorite of QB C.J. Stroud. He could have solid fantasy performances if he becomes an every-down type WR. The Houston coaching staff seem to really like Dell- always a plus for a rookie.
Allen Robinson | Pittsburgh (11%)
Calvin Austin | Pittsburgh (2%)
Robinson was heavily utilized last week, taking on a prominent role when Diontae Johnson was lost with an injury. This week, we could see more of the same, as Johnson is out with a hamstring injury. Robinson’s five catches and eight targets were more than he had in any game in 2022. Robinson was a fantasy bust in 2022 for many fantasy managers that bet on him smashing with a fourth-round price tag. Maybe these same managers can stream him this week.
If you do not believe in Robinson, then consider Austin. Austin had six catches last week and should see an increased role every game Johnson misses. Austin, a fourth-round pick in 2022, missed all last season with injuries. He has big-time speed and is a sneaky speculative addition.
Tight Ends
Adam Trautman | Denver (4%)
Greg Dulcich will miss multiple weeks with a hamstring injury, making Trautman a sneaky bet to finish as a TE1 this week. Last week, Trautman caught all five of his targets and finished with 34 receiving yards. Look for him to build on both of those numbers. Sean Payton acquired Trautman this offseason in a trade with New Orleans. This is his guy.
Durham Smythe | Miami (1%)
Smythe was dismissed by drafters despite his hold on the Miami TE position. We do not want to go nuts here, but Smythe had the Week 1 usage that could lead to fantasy relevance. Smythe led all Miami pass catchers (even that Tyreek Hill guy, heard of him?) in snaps. He was second behind Hill in targets with seven. He ended the day with three catches for 44 yards. There were a number of factors in Smythe’s favor- Jaylen Waddle was only targeted five times, Devon Achane was inactive, and Miami did not utilize their RBs in the passing game. Stash Smythe and see where this goes.
