There is so much new information to process after each week of the NFL season that it can be overwhelming to sort out what is actually important when it comes to making decisions for your fantasy teams. This is amplified even more early in the season when it is easy to overreact to small sample sizes. To assist you with that, I'll be here every Monday with this recap article to help you sort through all of the fluff and get down to the most important fantasy nuggets from each game and how to apply them to your leagues. Before we get to the 2023 Fantasy Football Week 2 Recap, I want to take a second to express how much I appreciate the game of football.
Life comes at you quickly and can be quite unpredictable on a day-to-day basis. Some days everything seems to fall into place perfectly, other days it feels like you can't do anything right. But for at least 17 Sundays per year, I know I'll be able to escape all of life's ups and downs and focus my mind on the game I love.
I'm a firm believer in enjoying the small things and celebrating the small victories because you never know what tomorrow holds. In a world where the only thing constant is change, I appreciate the consistency that football brings to my life during the fall and winter months.
With all that said. let's get to the 2023 Fantasy Football Week 2 Recap.
2023 Fantasy Football Week 2 Recap
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Eagles 34 - Vikings 28
D’Andre Swift (28-175-1, 3-6) was an absolute workhorse in the Eagles’ short-week victory over the Vikings. Swift was highly productive, turning 31 touches into 181 total yards and a score while anchoring the Philly offensive attack.
It will be interesting to see how this backfield plays out next week when Kenny Gainwell is healthy and back in the mix.
Kirk Cousins (31/44-364-4) had another monster fantasy performance against a tough Eagles defense, going off for 364 yards and four touchdowns. If the Vikings rushing attack continues to struggle like it has through two weeks, Cousins could routinely find himself in situations like today where he is leaned on heavily to carry the offense.
Ravens 27 - Bengals 24
Lamar Jackson (24/33-237-2, 12-54) bounced back from his week one dud in a solid showing against their division-rival Bengals. His rushing floor we drafted him for was in effect today, as he supplemented a decent day passing with an extra 54 rushing yards to boost his fantasy numbers.
Speaking of shaking off a week one dud, Tee Higgins (8-89-2) led Bengals WRs with eight catches on 12 targets for 89 yards and two touchdowns. This type of production for Higgins is especially encouraging, considering Tyler Boyd (6-52) and Ja’Marr Chase (5-31) both drew 8 targets and were each heavily involved in the gameplan.
Titans 27 - Chargers 24
Derrick Henry (25-79-1, 3-15) racked up 25 carries as he made multiple big plays down the stretch of the Titans' overtime victory over the Chargers. He will continue to put up RB1 numbers even while rookie Tyjae Spears (8-49, 2-6) continues to carve out a bigger role in the offense.
Derrick Henry scores the 1000th TD in #Titans franchise history 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AzH60PD90J
— Wes on Broadway (@TitansStats) September 17, 2023
Waiver wire darling Joshua Kelley (13-39) let fantasy GMs that started him down as the Chargers offensive attack ran through Keenan Allen (8-111-2). Dynasty GMs that were hoping they could slot rookie Quentin Johnston (1-7) into their starting lineups in year one may have to make alternate plans until further notice.
Falcons 25 - Packers 24
The Falcons rode their run-heavy attack to victory as Bijan Robinson (19-124, 4-48) did a little bit of everything except find the end zone as his dual-threat ability was on full display. Tyler Allgeier (16-48) was heavily involved again but after two weeks it's clear Bijan deserves to have his role grow as the season goes on.
The Packers offense played better than I expected considering Aaron Jones and David Bakhtiari both missed this one. They continue to find unique ways to get rookie Jayden Reed (4-37-2) the ball in space and I think he will maintain flex value even when Christian Watson returns.
Bills 38 - Raiders 10
Josh Allen (31/37-274-3, 3-7) looked more like the perennial fantasy MVP candidate we have grown to love over the last few seasons. James Cook (17-123, 4-36) appears poised for a full-on breakout season, racking up 159 total yards while hauling in all four of his targets in the passing game.
This Raiders team feels like it’s one or two more bad breaks away from this season imploding early. Josh Jacobs (9-(-2), 5-51) couldn’t get anything going on the ground again. Davonte Adams (6-84-1) was productive but will join teammate Jakobi Meyers in concussion protocol as his status next week is now up in the air.
Seahawks 37 - Lions 31
Anyone who was worried about Kenneth Walker III (17-43-2, 1-11) losing too much fantasy value with the addition of Zach Charbonnet (4-16, 2-14) can breathe easy as he is the clear RB1 in the Seahawks attack. He wasn’t super efficient with his carries today, but his elite talent and heavy workload means better days are coming.
I know I talked about him in this column last week, but rookie TE Sam LaPorta (5-63) is firmly a top-12 TE moving forward. He hauled in five of his six targets and was a focal point for the second week in a row. In our Sunday Social start/sit segment Sunday Morning I said that I was starting LaPorta over Kyle Pitts (2-15) this week in a few leagues, and that proved to be the correct call.
Buccaneers 27 - Bears 17
Mike Evans (6-171-1) had a monster performance and is a must-start WR2/3 moving forward. Rachaad White (17-73-1, 5-30) broke the century mark in total yards while finding the end zone in a tough Bucs’ win. While I’d prefer to lean on him more as a flex moving forward, you can do a lot worse than White as your RB2.
WANT MIKE EVANS. GOT MIKE EVANS.
📺: #CHIvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/sqy9R6TYRw
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 17, 2023
DJ Moore (6-104) had a solid fantasy performance on a day where the Bears offensive attack struggled to get a lot going. He is a solid flex or WR2 in deeper leagues. Justin Fields (16/29-211-1-2, 4-3-1) saved his fantasy day with a rushing TD but left a lot to be desired as a passer for the second week in a row.
Chiefs 17 - Jaguars 9
Patrick Mahomes (29/41-305-2-1, 7-30) shook off an early interception to break the 300-yard mark passing in a low-scoring affair that saw the Chiefs defense keep the Jaguars out of the end zone all game. Isiah Pacheco (12-70) is currently the only startable RB in the backfield.
Christian Kirk (11-110) was another player I predicted having a big game today on our Sunday Social Morning show. (Don’t worry I know I had my misses too). An important note for dynasty GMs is that Tank Bigsby failed to earn a touch and is nothing more than a Travis Etienne (12-40, 2-2) handcuff until further notice.
Colts 31 - Texans 20
The Colts won but the biggest story of the day was rookie QB Anthony Richardson (6/10-56, 3-35-2) leaving the game with a concussion after starting the first half off with a bang. The offense still moved the ball with Gardner Minshew (19/23-171-1) under center so you can still confidently start Michael Pittman Jr. (8-56) next week even if Richardson is forced to miss any time.
CJ Stroud (30/47-384-2) had a better day through the air in his second start, finding Nico Collins (7-146-1) and Tank Dell (7-72-1) for his first career TD passes. Dameon Pierce (15-31, 2-4) failed to get anything going yet again, and I’m avoiding starting him if at all possible until he shows some signs of life.
49ers 30 - Rams 23
This was a stereotypical game of what comes to mind when you picture a 49ers offensive attack. Christian McCaffrey (20-116-1, 3-19) was the focal point they built around, while Brock Purdy (17/25) spread it around through the air with five different pass catchers drawing at least three targets.
The Puka Nacua (15-147) hype train rolls on for another week as he hauled in 15 of his 20 targets and was the clear-cut number-one option in the Rams passing attack. Cam Akers was a healthy scratch and it appears Karen Williams (14-52-1, 6-48-1) is a fairly safe RB2 unless more competition is added in the backfield.
Giants 31 - Cardinals 28
While it’s hard to go lower than getting beat by 40, needing a last-second field goal to beat the Joshua Dobbs (21/31-228-1, 3-41-1) led Cardinals is a close second.
Saquon Barkley (17-63-1, 6-29-1) left this game with an injury and if he is forced to miss time it will change the entire outlook of this Giants offense.
3rd & Goal from the 9 down 14
Great play from Daniel Jones using his legs to extend & Saquon to keep outside leverage & reach out for the TD. pic.twitter.com/LQIpN0QsfY
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) September 18, 2023
Rookie WR Michael Wilson (3-56) tied for the team league in receiving yards and appears to be locked in as the WR2 for the Cardinals behind Marquise Brown.
I’m looking to go out and acquire him in dynasty leagues now in hopes of a strong second half when Kyler Murray returns.
Cowboys 30 - Jets 10
CeeDee Lamb (11-143) showcased exactly why he is my dynasty WR3 in a dominant double-digit catch performance in the Cowboys blowout victory over the Jets. An interesting note for deeper and dynasty leagues is that Jalen Tolbert (3-18) operated as the WR2 and drew four targets with Brandin Cooks out, not Michael Gallup (1-3).
It’s hard to find a lot of positives to take away from a fantasy perspective on the Jets side. Zach Wilson (12/27-170-1-3, 5-36) struggled mightily as he was picked-off three times.
The run game was non-existent, and it appears starting any RB against this Cowboys defense is a risky decision with how locked in that unit is right now.
Commanders 35 - Broncos 33
Not only is Brian Robinson (18-87-2, 2-42) the clear-cut RB1 in the Commanders backfield, but he’s a must-start flex-option or RB2 in deeper leagues. Through two weeks this is one of the situations I misread the most, as Antonio Gibson (2-9, 3-44) has been close to non-existent in the Washington attack through 2 weeks.
Russell Wilson’s (18/32-3-1, 6-55) final fantasy numbers are propped up slightly by a last-minute Hail Mary TD, but he appears to have found a legit deep-threat in their explosive rookie wideout Marvin Mims Jr (2-113-1).
He’s better suited for Best Ball leagues, but he is a viable flex option in deeper leagues.
Dolphins 24 - Patriots 17
Raheem Mostert (18-121-2) anchored the Dolphins’ attack going over the century mark rushing with two scores He broke off a 43-yard TD that made it a two-score game with 8:45 left to play. Dynasty GMs that are salivating over the idea of De’Von Achane (1-5, 1-4) carving out a larger role in this Dolphins offense will have to wait a little longer as it’s clear it’s Mostert’s backfield for now.
Raheem Mostert with the 43 yard touchdown!!
— Troy King (@TKingMode) September 18, 2023
It looks like Hunter Henry (6-52-1) has a solid chance of returning TE1 value as he was heavily involved again. In deeper TE-Premium leagues he is a decent fill-in flex option, especially in the coming weeks when byes start to impact your lineup.
MNF Predictions
Saints 24 - Panthers 21
Browns 28 - Steelers 24
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