Several of the top wide receivers chosen in the 2016 NFL draft were selected by teams that already employed someone in the top fantasy tier at the position. As a result, it was hardly an indictment of skills making fantasy relevance for the Houston Texans’ Will Fuller and New York Giants’ Sterling Shepard a challenge to see. However, through two weeks these fellows are important pieces in their respective offenses. In addition, the first wide receiver chosen in the NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns’ Corey Coleman, had his breakout game Sunday. Indeed, the kids are all right.
Fuller topped 100 receiving yards for the second consecutive week as Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler continues to locate him without difficulty. In Week 1, Fuller averaged more than 21 yards per reception and scored on an 18-yard play. On Sunday, a 53-yarder contributed to 104 receiving yards, and another double-digit fantasy effort for standard formats. The Texans boast a top-five receiver in DeAndre Hopkins and potential top-five running back in Lamar Miller but it’s not like those guys are suffering statistically. Hopkins had the superior fantasy game to Fuller in Sunday’s win over Kansas City, but that’s to be expected. Can Fuller become a reliable WR2? He’s not there yet, and not likely to be coveted this coming Thursday night at New England, but when the matchups later are favorable, it’s a reasonable expectation.
Shepard is in a similar situation. While it was quite shocking how the Giants weren’t able to pile on the points at home against the Saints and somehow failed to score an offensive touchdown, Shepard produced 117 receiving yards on eight catches and again, it’s not like Odell Beckham Jr. owners can complain too much about his numbers. Yes, Beckham was expected to at least double Sunday’s eight-point fantasy game, but he caught eight passes for 86 yards. Ask Antonio Brown and A.J. Green owners if they would have taken that line. Beckham owners shouldn’t panic or view him as less than a top-tier wide receiver, while Shepard, for the better matchups, should also warrant WR2 consideration. He’s that good.
As for Coleman, his Browns managed to blow a large lead to the Ravens on Sunday, but he hauled in 31- and 11-yard touchdown passes in the first quarter from capable Josh McCown and later converted a 47-yarder. Coleman was quieter in the Week 1 loss at Philadelphia with Robert Griffin III slingin’ it, but it was good to see the Browns mount an offensive attack. Of course, now there’s concern McCown injured his shoulder to the point he might miss games as well. It’s a shame, because it is easy to view Coleman, Gary Barnidge and potential WR1 Josh Gordon more favorably with the pocket passer. Cleveland might need to turn to Cody Kessler. Still, with road tilts the next fortnight at Miami and Washington Coleman should warrant WR3/flex status.
The theme of exciting rookie wide receivers doesn’t stop there. Washington’s Josh Doctson, like Fuller and Coleman a real-life, first-round selection, caught a 57-yarder in Sunday’s loss to Dallas but doesn’t appear to be, at this point, a must-own in fantasy. The Saints’ Michael Thomas hasn’t passed Willie Snead on the depth chart yet, but it’s coming, and Tennessee’s Tajae Sharpe, while quiet statistically in the upset win at Minnesota, already looks like a WR3 with upside as Marcus Mariota matures. This class of first-year receivers could warrant that of 2014, when Beckham, Mike Evans, Sammy Watkins, Brandin Cooks and Kelvin Benjamin, among others, became stars.
Second down: Sometimes it really is all about the Benjamins. Carolina’s Kelvin Benjamin is off to a rocking start after missing 2015 having shredded a knee, with three touchdowns in two contests, while San Diego Chargers veteran Travis Benjamin leads all wide receivers in Week 2 standard fantasy scoring heading into the Monday night game. For Kelvin Benjamin, any concerns fantasy owners had of decreased snaps and targets -- as the team alluded to several weeks ago -- have been assuaged by his excellent start. Cam Newton’s favorite wide receiver target -- he also likes tight end Greg Olsen quite a bit -- toyed with San Francisco on Sunday, topping 100 receiving yards and scoring twice. As a rookie in ’14 Benjamin topped 100 receiving yards three times and scored multiple touchdowns in one game, but he didn’t get off to this great a September start. Devin Funchess also scored Sunday but it’s clear Benjamin isn’t being threatened for touches and is a safe WR2 emerging into a potential top-10 option.
Travis Benjamin was one of the top wide receiver pickups of the week in lieu of the season-ending knee injury to Keenan Allen, and he didn’t disappoint as the top Philip Rivers option, catching each of his six targets for 106 yards and two scores. This Benjamin has never been fortunate enough to catch passes from an established passer like Rivers, but the way San Diego piled up the points in dominating Jacksonville there should be numbers for all. Unfortunately the Chargers might have lost pass-catching running back Danny Woodhead to a serious knee injury, but Melvin Gordon topped 100 rushing yards for the first time in his young career and scored another touchdown, and deserves RB2 status. Travis Benjamin probably deserves WR2 status as well and those who were concerned about Rivers need not be. Tyrell Williams also scored a touchdown and should again be a popular pickup this week.
Third down: Injuries were unfortunately a major story for fantasy owners yet again, in particular to a large crew of running backs. In addition to Woodhead, who was carted off the field early in his game, the following players at fantasy’s most troubling position await further word on their health status:
• Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (knee, one standard point): Well, this one is going to hurt him and us. No, Peterson didn’t run well in Weeks 1 or 2 and Week 3 is at Carolina, so perhaps you won’t be using any Vikings there, but it might be Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata for that game. I still don’t think Peterson is too old to thrive, but if this is a serious knee injury, it might not matter for this season. McKinnon becomes arguably the top pickup of the week but remember 2014 when the larger, bowling-ball like Asiata took all his touchdowns. It’s likely to be an annoying timeshare.
• Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (hamstring, two standard points): Not the first time he has been hurt, and Charles Sims would likely warrant RB2 status if Martin misses games because he’s so proficient catching the football. As with Peterson, Martin was selected as a RB1 in ESPN ADP and his loss will be felt, but why his owners should have considered handcuffing Sims to him anyway.
• Arian Foster, Miami Dolphins (groin, zero points): Speaking of not durable, he left after three uneventful carries, and Jay Ajayi certainly wasn’t much better. It’s premature to drop Foster, but he might be done as a fantasy helper. Ajayi hardly looks special, so I’d add rookie Kenyan Drake this week in case it’s his turn.
• Thomas Rawls, Seattle Seahawks (leg, one point): Had rushed seven times for minus-7 yards so yeah, he didn’t exactly seize the starting role bestowed on him. Christine Michael averaged six yards per carry and probably starts in Week 3. By the way, this team has issues on offense larger than the running backs.
• Ameer Abdullah, Detroit Lions (foot, three points): Was off to a decent start with 38 rushing yards before he left the game. Theo Riddick catches the passes but if Abdullah’s injury is serious, rookie Dwayne Washington will be a hot pickup. He broke a 28-yard run and could matter in the coming weeks.
• Rashad Jennings, New York Giants (wrist/thumb, three points): Last year was the first time he played in all 16 games. Jennings might not miss time, but Shane Vereen, thanks to the pass-catching ability, could soon become arguably as valuable in standard formats.
• Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers (hamstring, zero points): Rushed five times for nine yards. Yawn. Fozzy Whitaker rushed 16 times for 100 yards. Can’t say Whitaker has much upside, but any starting running back is worth a look, and Cameron Artis-Payne isn’t even dressing for games. Whitaker could be a starting flex option since he catches passes.
Fourth down: Let’s finish on a positive, as the Atlanta Falcons did precisely that in winning at Oakland. Matt Ryan threw for 396 yards and three scores, and enters Monday tops in quarterback scoring through two games with 51 points, and second to Cam Newton in quarterback scoring for Week 2. Those concerned about awesome wide receiver Julio Jones and his ankle injury enjoyed his 106 yards and a touchdown. Ryan will continue to be a fantasy backup and useful in the right matchups while nobody should ever doubt Jones as a starter, regardless of foe. Running back was the position to watch here, as last year’s top scorer at the position, Devonta Freeman, saw his stock precipitously fall after Week 1 as he annoyingly shared touches with Tevin Coleman. Things were a bit different Sunday because each player performed better, though again the touches were split. Coleman scored a rushing touchdown and caught each of his two targets, while Freeman was the main ground gainer, accumulating 93 rushing yards though with nary a receiving target. With a friendly Week 3 game at New Orleans pending -- despite how little the Giants scored, the Saints remain a defense to definitely target -- it’s going to be reasonable to start each Atlanta running back. Freeman remains with RB2 status and Coleman appears worthy of flex consideration. Sure, that’s not what Freeman owners wanted when they made him an early second-round choice in ADP, but it hardly means he’s devoid of value and by the way, at least he’s not hurt. It could be worse.