We’re only two weeks into the season and there are already a couple teams that fantasy managers should want nothing to do with – the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos. Just two games in, many of us have seen enough.
When critical injuries mount as the season goes on, more teams will likely be added to this poisonous list of teams you want to avoid having any of their players in your fantasy lineups.
Fantasy football risers
Los Angeles Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins – He was likely an RB4 in most leagues because, while nobody can deny his explosiveness, Dobbins’ injury history made fantasy managers nervous. In two games, he has just 27 carries but also rushed for 266 yards and two touchdowns. He almost certainly won’t make it through 17 games. But until he goes down, someone drafted higher in the fantasy RB room needs to get benched.
New Orleans Saints WR Rashid Shaheed – Shaheed is a home run hitter for fantasy football. He will strike out his share, but when he hits, it’s a moon shot. Through two games this year, he has only been targeted nine times, but that leads the Saints. Shaheed caught seven of those passes for 169 yards and TDs of 59 and 70 yards. He belongs on all rosters.
Las Vegas Raiders TE Brock Bowers – Bowers was drafted as a fringe TE1. Given the struggles of so many top-rated tight ends, Bowers has been a gift. He hasn’t scored a touchdown, but he is a peer of Davante Adams in terms of usage. He has been targeted 17 times and has caught 15 passes for 156 yards – posting weekly fantasy numbers of 11.8 and 18.8. Those are starter numbers.
Detroit Lions WR Jameson Williams – In his first two seasons, Williams missed 16 of 34 games. In the 18 he played, he caught 25 passes for 395 yards and three TDs. He was never targeted more than seven times in any of them. In two games this season, Williams has been targeted 20 times, catching 10 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown. As a back-of-the-roster dice roll on draft day, those who aren’t playing him have a good problem that becomes pronounced if he strings more games together.
Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold – The ideal QB2 is someone who shows consistency. He’s a QB2 for a reason, but the one or two times you need to dial him up, he answers. Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff were that guy last year. You didn’t lose a week because of him. A month from now, Darnold should have Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson at his disposal – as well as a strong supporting cast. His waiver wire value grows.
Fantasy football fallers
Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce – A trivia answer that is impressive: In his 12th NFL season, when is the last time over a two-game span, Kelce had seven targets, four catches for 39 yards and no touchdowns? The answer would be never and it’s not even close. Those who drafted Kelce did so at a premium. He starts regardless. Kelce clearly has a lucrative NFL exit strategy, but you can never bench him. Shake it off (and hope for the best).
New York Jets WR Garrett Wilson – Wilson garnered WR1 status last year when Aaron Rodgers came to NYC. Despite Rodgers being gone after four plays, Wilson still managed solid numbers with substandard QB play. Through two games, he has been targeted a team-high 17 times but has produced 12.0 and 10.2 PPR points. Those are flex numbers, not that of a WR1. A third time will get Wilson owners twitchy.
Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase – Chase was a first-round pick in every league. He has caught all but one pass thrown his way. Unfortunately, he has had only 11 passes thrown at him, resulting in just 97 yards and no touchdowns. We get that Cincinnati stinks early on a regular basis, but those with Chase are more likely than not to be 0-2 given the investment.
Baltimore Ravens TE Mark Andrews – When the draft run on tight ends began – whether it was Kelce or Sam LaPorta who started it – Andrews was close behind. Through two games, he has just seven targets, six catches, 65 yards and no touchdowns. Andrews was a quick twitch when tight ends started going, and he’s not even the current TE1 fantasy tight end on his own team. That will leave a mark.
Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson – Watson has the weapons around him but isn’t a weapon in his own right. Through two games, he has more picks (2) than TDs (1), a passer rating of 63.0, and has lessened the value of those around him. At the moment, is there a Browns player you want in your lineup? Odds are not, and that rests on Watson’s shoulders.
