Week 2 is in the books and we are back with the Concern-O-Meter. With several players returning from last week, what are our thoughts heading into week 3.
What is the Concern-O-Meter?
It’s a traffic light system where we highlight five players at each position who underperformed as we identify if you should be concerned or not ahead of the forthcoming week’s schedule.
No Concern at all
Slight Concern
Very Concerned
Concern-O-Meter Week 2 QB - 12 points or less
Russell Wilson (SEA) 12.06Fpts
Another week where Wilson underwhelmed. I was expecting huge things from him this season with a much improved support cast. A matchup against the 49ers this week isn’t the ideal bounce back game.
Jameis Winston (NO) 10.64Fpts
It was always going to be a difficult game against that Buccaneers defense. In a strange game which didn’t get going until the final quarter, Winston was suddenly left chasing the game after two quick scores from the Buccaneers. A matchup against the Panthers should be a much welcomed game to put up some good fantasy points again.
Justin Fields (CHI) 9.80Fpts
Fun fact: Fields had more completed rushes than he had pass completions. Fields has two talented receivers in Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet but in the first two games the chemistry isn’t there. We all love a dual threat quarterback but to have one with just 11 pass attempts is not going to be viable from a fantasy standpoint. A nice matchup against the Texans is the only reason I didn’t lock and load Fields on red alert. Don’t be surprised if he’s back here next week.
Tom Brady (TB) 9.40Fpts
Brady is on the Concern-O-Meter for a continuous week. Am I concerned? Not particularly. This week he had Godwin and Jones out as well as Evans ejected in the game against the Saints for a renewed square up with Marshon Lattimore. This week the offense didn’t get going, I’d expect a better outing this week in a high scoring back and forth against the Packers.
Matt Ryan (IND) 4.80Fpts
After the first two games it’s safe to say that Matt Ryan and the Colts have disappointed in a big way. Next up, the in-form Chiefs. A game where the script will likely see the Colts chasing. After the horror show against the Jags I have put Ryan on red alert.
Concern-O-Meter Week 2 RB - 9 points or less
Saquon Barkley (NYG) 8.8Fpts
This time last week many experts had announced the return of Saquon, I wasn’t one of them as I’m still not there yet. Don’t get me wrong he’s seeing the volume as he had 21 carries this week but never looked like hitting the dizzy heights of week 1. Up next is the Cowboys, a defense that just restricted Joe Mixon to just 57 yards from his 19 rush attempts.
Joe Mixon (CIN) 8.3Fpts
Speaking of Joe Mixon, he’s next on the Concern-O-Meter. Similar to Barkley, volume isn’t an issue but just like Barkley he struggled to convert that into worthwhile production. A nice matchup this week for the Bengals as they face the Jets, a team who allowed Browns running back Nick Chubb to be this weeks RB1 with 29.3 points. Bounce back week loading for Mixon
Leonard Fournette (TB) 7.4Fpts
Lenny took to social media as he promised us that the touchdowns are coming. A matchup against the Green Bay Packers is an exciting one for Fournette owners, the Packers have let NFC North running backs dine out on them throughout the first two weeks. Big week incoming.
Jonathan Taylor (IND) 6.3Fpts
This is a player I never thought would join us. The shutout loss to the Jaguars was a strange one, it was as though Matt Ryan forgot he had JT at his disposal – 9 carries and a mere one reception target is all Taylor had to work with but he converted those scraps into a solid 63 all purpose yards. Even with the Chiefs up next, it’s Jonathan Taylor. No need to worry here.
Ezekeil Elliott (DAL) 4.9Fpts
Zeke returns for a consecutive week after an equally consistent 4.9 Fantasy points and is now downgraded to a serious concern. Tony Pollard is becoming a real threat to Elliott’s long term Fantasy relevance. Against the Bengals, Pollard had double the amount of all purpose yards than what Elliott contributed. It’s early in the season but Zeke’s start is a big concern.
Concern-O-Meter Week 2 WR - 8 points or less
Diontae Johnson (PIT) 7.9Fpts
One thing that is evident, Diontae Johnson is the alpha target for the Steelers. This week he had 10 targets as he hauled in 6 of them for 57 yards. Yes, Johnson may be a returnee to our Concern-O-Meter but an upcoming matchup against the Browns is appetising. The Browns have just allowed two top 15 wide receivers this week – from the New York Jets!
Davante Adams (LV) 7.6Fpts
This time last week Adams had just put up more yards than his former team, the Packers, whole wide receiver room. Not quite the same heavy heights this week as Adams only hauled in 2 of his 7 targets for 12 yards but he did get another score. No concern for Adams who is a target hog for a QB that he has chemistry with from their college years at Fresno. The Carr Adams connection will continue to blossom as they roll back the years.
DK Metcalf (SEA) 7.5Fpts
I am not disputing the talent of Metcalf but throughout the off-season I did struggle to find any value in his ADP, the early signs are that it’s a heavy price to pay. Metcalf saw just 6 targets in a game the Seahawks were chasing, as they will be for the majority of the year. The only reason I am not on red alert for this week is the matchup against the Falcons as it should be a little more evenly contested. Last week Lockett proved me wrong here, let’s see if his teammate Metcalf can do the same.
Juju Smith-Schuster (PIT) 4.0Fpts
Speaking of being proved wrong, here we go again as Smith-Schuster returns for a consecutive week. I had him as a good to go green last week which was way out. Trust me, the JuJu lift off game is coming as he once again was second in targets behind Kelce. A matchup against the struggling Indianapolis Colts is the game that will see JuJu take off.
Darnell Mooney (CHI) 0.6Fpts
The Packers stifled the passing game as Justin Fields completed a mere 7 passes. Mooney hauled in 2 targets as he contributed an abysmal minus 4 yards (a long of 0 yards) if this isn’t concerning then I don’t know what is. An upcoming game against the Texans offers optimism but after two games to have 5 targets, 3 receptions for 8 yards I’m out.
Concern-O-Meter Week 2 TE - 6 points or less
David Njoku (CLE) 6.2Fpts
After getting paid in the off-season I was expecting to see Njoku see much more of the game script. There was an increase in volume compared to week 1 and whilst his production increased it was against the Jets, a game where I expected much more. Next up is the Pittsburgh Steelers who have just shut out both of the Patriots tight ends.
T.J. Hockenson (DET) 5.6Fpts
I don’t know what happened this weekend as Hockenson made a lot of uncharacteristic drops. Targets aren’t an issue as he had 7 attempts for a consecutive week however he only hauled in 3 of them for 26 yards. A divisional matchup against the Vikings may be a stern test but as long as he is getting the volume then he has a chance to put up good numbers.
Kyle Pitts (ATL) 3.9Fpts
Pitts is the leading topic of conversation as Fantasy owners appear to be concerned. Disclaimer: I have no shares of Pitts whatsoever, his draft capital was way too high of a price to pay for my liking. Another returnee as Pitts is back and I am still slightly concerned. The only thing that stopped me going into panic mode was that breakout receiver Drake London had 12 targets this week, that’s simply not sustainable and I’d expect to see some of these targets head Pitts’ way. A nice matchup against the Seahawks is another factor, if he can’t do it in game week 3 then it’s officially time to panic.
Noah Fant (SEA) 3.1Fpts
Another week and another below average Fantasy performance for Fant. The silver lining is that Fant caught both of his targets but only chalked up 11 yards. In week 1 Fant caught 3 of 4 targets. The issue is that for a team who will be on the field more as a defensive unit it will cap certain players’ fantasy production, I can’t help but feel that Fant will be that guy with Metcalf and Lockett to feed. I was concerned prior to a snap been played and what I’ve seen so far confirms this.
Cameron Brate (TB) 1.9Fpts
In the preseason it felt like Brate could be the steal of the draft once Gronkowski announced his second retirement, it’s not quite gone to plan as of yet. A sluggish Buccaneers offense that looked out of sorts this weekend had seen Brate targeted twice as he caught one for 9 yards, hardly Gronkowski numbers. After a similar outing week one for Brate I am concerned as the volume clearly isn’t there, even with key pieces missing against the Saints Brady looked to the likes of Breshad Perriman and Scotty Miller instead.
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Image Credit: Raj Mehta – USA TODAY Sports
