Week 1 of the fantasy football season was an absolute rollercoaster, but nothing hits harder than seeing the numbers for our guy Sam Darnold. Bryce Young, yeah, *that* Bryce Young, just put up more fantasy points in Week 1 than Darnold, Drake Maye, Baker Mayfield, Matthew Stafford, and Kyler Murray **combined**. Let that sink in for a second, combined. That’s a tough pill for Emerald City fans to swallow after all the pre-season hopes, especially when you factor in how wild the rest of the league looked.
Week 1 Was a Fantasy Chaos Engine
Seriously, Week 1 reminded everyone why we’re all hooked on fantasy football. It was pure madness out there. Beyond Darnold’s struggles, two Bears running backs somehow finished inside the top ten, which, honestly, who saw that coming? And get this, a rookie running back out-carried Christian McCaffrey. The legendary CMC! Then you had Jalen Coker, the current WR1, scoring more fantasy points than Puka Nacua, DeVonta Smith, Drake London, George Pickens, and Ja’Marr Chase all put together. It’s like the universe decided to flip the script on everyone’s draft boards. And the tight end list for TE1s right now? It includes names like Mike Gesicki, Pat Freiermuth, T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant, Cole Kmet, and Kenyon Sadiq. Talk about unpredictable.
Early Week 2 Bets: Who’s Blowing Up and Who’s a Stealth Play?
With all that Week 1 chaos behind us, it’s time to zero in on Week 2, and there are some names already popping off the page. At quarterback, Saints QB Tyler Shough, owned in only 41% of leagues, is on a tear. He’s stacked up more than 17 fantasy points in seven straight games, with over 22 points in four of his last six. If you’re streaming QBs, this guy should be a top priority. Then there’s Panthers QB Bryce Young, owned in a mere 14% of leagues, who’s been averaging 19.7 fantasy points over his last eight games, hitting 15+ six times and finishing inside the top five three times. With games against the Falcons, Browns, and Lions coming up, he’s got legit upside for deep leagues.
For running backs, 49ers rookie Kaelon Black, owned in 27% of leagues, is screaming for attention. In their opener, he played 43% of snaps and out-carried Christian McCaffrey 14 to 10. That’s huge! It might be about keeping CMC fresh, but either way, Black needs to be on your roster. He’s one of the most valuable handcuffs out there. Texans RB Woody Marks, 49% owned, also needs a look. He actually led David Montgomery in snaps, 40 to 39, and routes run, 20 to 14. While Montgomery struggled with just 3.0 yards per carry on 20 totes, Marks was ripping off 4.7 yards per attempt. He’s a low-end flex and a high-end handcuff. And hey, Green Bay’s Chris Brooks is only 2% owned, but their ground game averaged a rough 3.1 yards per carry on 21 touches, with a brutal matchup and even worse offensive line play.
So, as we look to Week 2, these are the guys making waves early. It’s time to hit the waiver wire and make those roster moves. These rankings will definitely shift by Sunday, so keep an eye out for updates. The early season is all about finding those hidden gems, and these players could seriously swing your fantasy fortunes.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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