Could Nabers lead the NFL in targets? 🤔

A quick look at this week’s fantasy leaderboard, headlined by Alvin Kamara’s 4 TD performance against the Cowboys, James Cook’s Thursday night domination, and Marvin Harrison Jr.’s explosive bounce-back performance!

• Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco suffers apparent ankle injury in Week 2 vs. Bengals, spotted after game on crutches with walking boot

  • Never a good look for any player to leave the stadium on crutches and in a walking boot, and it seems like fantasy managers could be staring down the barrel of a multi-week absence moving forward. Prior to exiting the game Sunday, Pacheco had played and produced quite admirably – his 111 yards from scrimmage and 16 PPR points were more than enough to get fantasy managers through their matchups. However, that momentum towards bell-cow usage that he was chasing to begin the season could be out of reach if he would miss any time moving forward. Should Pacheco miss any time, RB/FB Carson Steele would be in line to assume the vacated targets made available by the absence of Isiah Pacheco. Steele carried the ball seven times yesterday, which isn’t nothing, but any additional work on the ground or through the air would work wonders for his value moving forward. Consider also that Samaje Perine is in this backfield, too, though, and the workload distribution could easily be spread between the two running backs instead of being dominated by one over the other.

• Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell says that WR Justin Jefferson is ‘day-to-day’ with quad injury sustained in Week 2

  • Fortunately for fantasy managers, the injury happened late in the contest against the 49ers so as to allow Jefferson to come through in fantasy matchups before leaving the game. His 97-yard touchdown from QB Sam Darnold stole the day’s spotlight, but he’ll now be in the media spotlight for at least this week after picking up a new ding. It’s a quad injury for Jefferson, who joins Jordan Addison (ankle) and TE T.J. Hockenson (ACL) as the Vikings’ top three pass catchers being forced onto the sideline due to injury. In their absence, Jalen Nailor profiles as the most trustworthy replacement receiver for as long as they’re out – however, Jefferson sounded confident that he would be ready to go in Week 3 after failing to finish Week 2. Whether or not that timetable is possible is certainly up for debate, but it sounds like the early indications are that it’s a short-term injury for Jefferson. Even if he would miss a game or two, fantasy managers should be encouraged by what they saw today and not look to sell him at any point just yet.

• Rams WR Cooper Kupp exits Sunday’s game vs Cardinals with ankle injury, doesn’t return to action

  • After being absolutely decimated by injuries across the board in Week 1, the Rams could now face life potentially without either of their two star wideouts after Cooper Kupp left the game yesterday with an ankle injury. Prior to exiting the game, his production had largely been disappointing as a result of the blowout nature of the game – however, the negative game script was unable to spur on a larger performance that was ultimately cut short. Specifics and a potential timetable are not available as of the writing of this newsletter, but fantasy managers will want to closely follow the situation for any updates ahead of Week 3. With Puka Nacua already sidelined for at least three more games, the entire Rams offense would get a further downgrade should Kupp miss any time. Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson would presumably be next in line to assume the displaced target share from Stafford –however, Robinson and Johnson profile more as desperate WR3/flex play on a depleted Rams offense.

• JK Dobbins continuing to perform

  • Dobbins is averaging 9.9 yards/carry over the last two games, and is the RB4 through the first two weeks of the season. Gus Edwards is splitting early down work evenly with him, but Dobbins also has the edge over Edwards on the goal line and on passing downs. Tougher test in Pittsburgh next week, but Dobbins is tough to sit right now.

• Packers lean on Josh Jacobs without Jordan Love

  • Have to give credit to Matt LaFleur for being able to sustain some offensive production despite going from Jordan Love to Malik Willis. Josh Jacobs handled 32 carries that went for 151 yards, but there was hardly any dependable receiving production on the Packers with only 17 pass plays run. Will be tough to start any of the Packers pass catchers In Tennessee next week.

• Slow start for Garrett Wilson through two games

  • Wilson hasn’t been terrible with his two double digit fantasy weeks, but the ceiling hasn’t been there. The good news is that he’s seen 29% target share and 45% air yards through two weeks, while running a route on every Aaron Rodgers dropback. The big games will come, and that can start next week against a Patriots defense that just allowed 246 receiving yards to Metcalf and JSN.

• Monitor Tyjae Spears’ ankle injury

  • The split between Pollard and Spears was a lot closer in Week 2 than it was in Week 1 until Spears left the game with an ankle injury. If he’s out or limited next week, Pollard will be tough to sit against the Packers next week given his usage. He’s averaging 98 yards from scrimmage on 21.5 opportunities per game.

• Malik Nabers can lead league in targets

  • After an 18-target day and 15 more negative game scripts on the horizon, we could see Nabers be the focal point for Daniel Jones and whoever he gets benched for eventually. Damn near 40% target share through two games is absurd for a rookie WR.