NFL Fantasy Soccer Week 2 Lineup Selections: Begins, Sits, Sleepers, Busts to know for each recreation

Fantasy Soccer is all in regards to the matchups. Although you drafted your workforce with sure hopes and intentions, your weekly lineup choices should not be decided by the order you picked your gamers in. It’s good to examine who your gamers play and ensure you’ve received the suitable guys in — and the mistaken guys out.

It is too early to be completely certain on which matchups shall be simple and which of them shall be powerful, however we will take some educated guesses based mostly on wholesome personnel, defensive schemes, monitor information and key particulars of offenses. The issues we all know may also help us decrease the affect of the issues we do not know. This could result in higher choices being made.

We’ll undergo each recreation and spotlight the gamers who aren’t apparent begins and sits (since you do not must be informed to start out Justin Jefferson). It’s best to really feel extra comfy beginning or sitting gamers based mostly on the data given, and feeling comfy along with your Fantasy lineup earlier than the video games begin is the very best feeling on this planet.

You’ll discover my full notes on each participant from each recreation that may qualify as a tricky begin/sit over at SportsLine shortly. For now, you could find Heath Cummings full set of Week 2 Fantasy football projections for every position out there on SportsLine. Discover out which of my favourite performs are projected to attain greater than consensus rankings and which do not dwell as much as their hype, a minimum of in Week 2. Projected stats for all beginning positions can be found, so make sure you take a look at the total set of projections at SportsLine.

Jacob Gibbs tasks large issues for an AFC South receiver as he dives deep into the analytics. You will discover that and much more in his Week 2 Fantasy Football Lineup Advice column at SportsLine. 

All traces from Caesars Sportsbook.

LAST WEEK: Regardless of an damage, labored practically completely as an out of doors receiver and turned 5 targets right into a 4-26-2 stat line regardless of operating simply 20 of 30 doable routes. A 25% goal per route run price is at all times wonderful, by the best way. 

INSIDE THE 10: Jordan Love threw three passes in short-yardage vary. Doubs caught two of them for scores. 

FILM: For a dude with a supposed dangerous hamstring, Doubs did a superb job of hustling to search out house. He was locked up by Bears high cornerback Jaylon Johnson however when he noticed different competitors he did properly, together with each of his short-area touchdowns. His route-running was good and his timing with Love was wonderful. 

FALCONS: Performed zone protection on 73.6% of their snaps final week in opposition to a younger cell quarterback, and odds are they’re going to be round that vary in Week 2. Additionally they stored high quality cowl nook A.J. Terrell on the left facet of the formation for all of final week, seemingly a personnel-related determination.

LAST WEEK: Led the Packers in routes run (24) and lined up all around the formation. Caught 3 of 4 targets however actually ought to have had 4 of 4 with an extra 62 yards and two touchdowns. Love overthrew him when he was large open because of busted protection, then Musgrave slipped six yards shy of the tip zone on one other busted protection play. 

FILM: Musgrave moved properly for an enormous man with velocity to get open in opposition to linebackers. The Packers hardly ever used him as something greater than a check-down/short-area choice for Love; he ran 4 routes of eleven-plus yards downfield. 

FALCONS: Performed zone protection on 73.6% of their snaps final week in opposition to a younger cell quarterback, and odds are they’re going to be round that vary in Week 2. Hayden Hurst led the Panthers in targets, catches and yards with a landing primarily as a result of he was a simple brief goal. Musgrave may comply with swimsuit in opposition to linebackers he ought to be capable of separate from. 

LAST WEEK: A variety of cardio. The stats say he ran 20 routes however he was a blocker on two of them. When he did get a goal, he dropped it on a brief hitch. London was not a frequent first learn for Desmond Ridder, who solely wanted to try 18 passes. London can also be the explanation why Pitts had simply 44 yards receiving as an alternative of 70 as a result of he drew an unlawful shift penalty on the play Pitts caught a 26-yard go on. 

FILM: London did get open a superb quantity, nevertheless it was virtually completely on a food regimen of brief routes; simply 4 routes went eleven-plus yards downfield. This is not a expertise factor — he has fast ft and nice change-of-direction for an even bigger receiver. He is simply not seemingly a constant a part of the offense now that he is competing with Pitts, Bijan Robinson and Mack Hollins for targets.

ARTHUR SMITH: Misplaced within the soundbite of Smith hating on Fantasy Soccer (thanks for the shout-out, coach!) was his lamenting of the workforce being higher of their spacing. Looks as if an attention-grabbing time to convey that up when requested about London. Maybe there have been issues London was doing mistaken that wound up costing him alternatives — the Pitts penalty chief amongst them. 

PACKERS: The primary concern is that stud cornerback Jaire Alexander will cowl London and basically erase him like he erased D.J. Moore final week. Of Moore’s 32 routes when Alexander was on the sphere, the elite cowl man was on his facet 75% of the time. 

SLOT: Alexander virtually by no means follows anybody into the slot. However London lined up within the slot on 15% of his snaps final yr and simply 2.3% in Week 1. It might be a big change in how the Falcons use London to place him inside to get him away from Alexander (Packers slot nook Keisean Nixon isn’t any slouch both). 

LAST WEEK: Performed 60% of the snaps in a aggressive recreation in opposition to a extremely good protection, which is why he totaled solely 63 whole yards with 4 receptions. 

INSIDE THE 10: The Payments used Damien Harris on two snaps in short-yardage final week, not Cook dinner. That is not a shock — Cook dinner performed simply 14 snaps inside the ten all of final yr. I count on that to proceed. 

RAIDERS: Have been surprisingly more practical stopping the Broncos operating backs by the air than on the bottom, a minimum of statistically. Denver’s RBs had 10 catches for a grand whole of 38 yards because the Raiders linebackers and nickelback Nate Hobbs had been excellent at sniffing out screens, however there have been a number of performs the place Samaje Perine roasted Vegas for some good catch-and-runs. 

DEBUT: Was electrical in his first style of NFL motion, main the Ravens in lots of fundamental stats because of his 9-78-0 stat line on 10 targets. His receiving common (8.7 yards) and yards per goal (7.8) had been third among the many Ravens’ high WR trio as a result of all however two of his targets had been two yards downfield or nearer (together with 5 passes behind the road of scrimmage). 

FLOWERS: Performed 45.8% of his snaps from the slot, a a lot higher-than-expected (and welcomed) quantity. The Ravens appear dedicated to utilizing Flowers, Bateman and even just a little little bit of Nelson Agholor within the slot this season. 

BENGALS: Cross protection was excellent final week in opposition to the Browns, holding large receivers to a 36.8% catch price and a lowly 1.14 Yards After Catch per Reception (YAC/rec). Cleveland WRs mixed to see seven targets inside 10 yards of the road of scrimmage (12 targets went 11 or extra Air Yards), so the Ravens ought to supply a change of tempo. Nonetheless, the Bengals missed one deal with on a receiver all recreation. 

LOU ANARUMO: Since taking on Cincy’s protection in 2019, Lamar Jackson has performed the Bengals six instances. He is accomplished over 60% of his passes twice — each in 2019 — and thrown a number of touchdowns thrice — as soon as in 2019, twice in 2020. This can be a new Ravens offense for certain, however the level is Cincinnati has progressively gotten higher and higher at stopping Jackson as a passer. 

RAVENS: Will play with out two beginning offensive linemen — good ones: Left deal with Ronnie Stanley and middle Tyler Linderbaum. Their backups aren’t really dangerous in any respect — Patrick Mekari and Sam Mustipher — however they’re going to get examined. It may negatively affect Jackson’s throws. 

LAST WEEK: Performed method too cautiously, throwing for eleven-plus Air Yards simply 4 instances all recreation. There have been seven performs by my rely the place he opted for a brief simple throw when he had a person open additional downfield (often that man was D.J. Moore). Unusually, the one man he appeared to attach with on lengthy throws was Darnell Mooney, who he hit for features of 23 and 20 yards with a landing. 

O-LINE: The Bears allowed a 54.2% go rush stress price to Inexperienced Bay. Additionally they received stress on precisely 50% of their rushes with simply 4 go rushers! Granted, the Packers have some actually gifted dudes coming after the quarterback, however this quantity is de facto dangerous. No marvel why Fields wished to get the ball out. 

TAMPA BAY: Struggled mightily with the Vikings offense within the first half final week, letting up 273 yards by the air with 138 to an unstoppable Justin Jefferson. Within the second half they introduced extra warmth with a 47.1% go rush stress price and Cousins did not even have 100 yards on 17 drop backs. They determine to use the identical rules for 4 quarters this week in opposition to Chicago. 

FIELDS: Was depressing when pressured final week (8 of 15 passing for 83 yards, however his landing was a blitz-beating gem). He was additionally terrible when pressured in 2022 (42% completion price, 7.0 yards per try, six touchdowns and 6 interceptions). 

LAST WEEK: Did very properly final week with 55 yards from scrimmage and a landing, though 28 of the yards and the rating got here within the last 5 minutes of the sport. Nonetheless, it is encouraging. 

OF NOTE: Johnson did probably the most go blocking of any Bears operating again final week, and it was all earlier than the ultimate 5 minutes of the sport. It was solely twice (I am not together with chip-blocks on his method right into a route) however he was the man within the backfield on a 10-yard scramble by Fields and on Fields’ landing to Mooney when he beat the blitz. Johnson additionally laid a block on D’Onta Foreman’s game-high 11-yard rush. Professional Soccer Focus gave him a superb go blocking grade with excellent effectivity. ‘

WHAT’S THE POINT? If Johnson can go shield in a recreation the place Fields wants blocking assist, he’ll play extra. He’ll eat into Khalil Herbert and Foreman’s enjoying time and finally rack up some numbers past rubbish time.

TAMPA BAY: Held Minnesota to 2.4 yards per rush over 14 carries, which sounds good however solely ranked about league-average in defensive rush Anticipated Factors Added, which implies they might not have been as dominant as 2.4 yards per carry sounds. Additionally, the Vikings do not run the ball a lot within the first place. I am undecided how good this run protection is. 

THE GOOD: Richardson was as polished a passer as I’ve ever seen him, making good reads and attacking the center of the sphere with some consistency. Of his 26 go makes an attempt of 9 Air Yards or shorter, he accomplished 20 (76.9%) for 164 yards together with an outrageous 127 yards after the catch. 

THE BAD: Richardson was nonetheless off-target when throwing 10 or extra Air Yards, finishing 4 of 11 throws (36%) for 59 yards with an interception. He additionally tried to play hero ball on a number of events, placing the soccer in jeopardy when he was pressured. 

THE SURPRISING: Richardson ran simply 10 instances all recreation — six by design. It is lower than what was anticipated. 

THE TEXANS: Allowed a excessive catch price to the Ravens (77.3%), virtually completely on brief throws (4.95 ADOT allowed). Indy’s offense is not as explosive as Baltimore’s, so they may enable a bunch of catches however not a ton of yardage on high of it. They will additionally play a whole lot of zone protection to maintain Richardson from operating all over, however I guess they’re going to get stress on Richardson a bunch too.

LAST WEEK: Got here alive within the second half with an 8-97-1 stat line on 10 targets. Earlier than that? One goal, no catches. Indy could not run the ball within the first half and type of gave up on it within the second half, too. In whole, Pittman had a 6.64-yard Common Depth of Goal (ADOT) with a 6.00 YAC/rec common juiced up by his 39-yard landing on a display screen go. It was his second-ever catch-and-run landing for longer than 15 yards, and but these are the sorts of performs he’ll must make with a view to be nice for Fantasy.  

INSIDE THE 10: Final week the Colts ran seven performs 10 yards or nearer to the purpose line, throwing on two, each instances by Gardner Minshew. This continues an alarming development from Shane Steichen: Over 199 performs from inside the ten with Jalen Hurts in Philly, Steichen’s offense dialed up 51 go makes an attempt in shut vary, which means a go play was made simply 25.6% of the time. 

PITTMAN: A scarcity of use within the purple zone and inside the ten has crushed Pittman’s upside his entire profession. Together with Week 1, Pittman has 40 profession red-zone targets in 47 video games with 23 catches and eight touchdowns. It is much more alarming when he is been inside the ten (21 targets, 10 catches, 5 touchdowns). 

TEXANS: Allowed a excessive catch price, however on the second-lowest ADOT of Week 1, preserving the Ravens receivers beneath wraps save for 4 completions of 14, 19, 20 and 28 Air Yards. 4 different receptions, together with three by Zay Flowers, burned them for seven-plus yards after the catch. And it was linebacker Cory Littleton who was credited for probably the most YAC allowed, not any of Houston’s top-three cornerbacks, who mixed for 28 yards after the catch allowed. 

TARGETS: Led Houston with a 25.6% goal share and a 28.9% goal per route run price, basically signaling his arrival because the Texans’ lead receiver. He caught 6 of 11 targets for 80 yards together with an exceptional 26-yard deep slant.

FILM: Appeared like the identical receiver I noticed from the preseason: Tall, rangy, fast agility to show again towards the quarterback and infrequently speedy. One subject: C.J. Stroud was off-target on three deep throws, made a foul determination throwing to Collins on one other deep throw and had poor timing with Collins on a 12-yard out route. Hopefully these get fastened over time, however they may value Collins some numbers, particularly in opposition to powerful competitors.

COLTS: Acquired steamrolled by Calvin Ridley, which was to be anticipated. Indy additionally gave up a 5-55-1 stat line on seven targets to Zay Jones, who profiles rather more like Collins (although clearly Jones’ quarterback is best). The Colts’ main outdoors cornerbacks — Dallis Flowers and Darrell Baker — allowed 8 of 11 completions for 117 yards and the Jones rating.

LAST WEEK: Led the Chiefs operating backs with 46.8% of the snaps and 12 whole touches 4 receptions was a pleasant shock). Nevertheless, he performed only one snap on third down (out of 15) and was off the sphere for all three of Kansas Metropolis’s snaps contained in the 10-yard line. 

PACHECO: Might have been rusty because it was his first respectable bodily contact since shoulder surgical procedure. However a startling development continued: He has but to play greater than 50% of the snaps in any regular-season recreation. 

LAST 13 GAMES: Notched a minimum of 80 whole yards 9 instances, together with 2 of three playoff video games. However final week he had 54 whole yards. 

JAGUARS: Did an impressive job of shutting down the Colts’ three-headed run recreation of Deon Jackson, Evan Hull and Jake Funk. Regardless of preserving them to 1.6 yards per carry, it stays to be seen in the event that they’re really adept at stopping the run. Credit score the place it is due: They held these guys to 1.56 yards after contact per rush, did not enable a operating again run of over 7 yards and missed zero tackles. 

DISASTER: Final week the Jaguars did not use Kirk as a full-time participant and he barely did something. Of notice, Kirk performed simply 5 of 31 snaps in two-receiver formations. 

JAGUARS: The hunch is that they wished to maintain Kirk away from a tricky matchup within the slot and in addition use an additional tight finish to dam the Colts’ defensive entrance. These are points that would come into play once more this yr, however a high-scoring matchup in opposition to the Chiefs is not the time to depart a playmaker like Kirk on the bench. 

SLOT: When he did play final week, Kirk lined up within the slot on 71.4% of his snaps. That is a sign suggesting his function within the offense for now. 

CHIEFS: Allowed 13.8 yards per catch and 4.23 YAC/rec to the Lions’ receivers in Week 1, each rating within the bottom-10 within the league. Amon-Ra St. Brown did not run all of his routes from the slot, however he stored his ADOT low like a slot receiver (6.67 in opposition to the Chiefs), and he spanked them for 71 yards and a landing on six grabs. Slot cornerback Trent McDuffie has been a shiny spot for this protection, however he was tagged with an 80% catch price allowed in Week 1.

LAST WEEK: Williams left to get checked for a concussion however got here again as soon as he cleared. He solely received one goal from the beginning of the third quarter till the center of the fourth. However within the last seven minutes when the Chargers wanted to throw, Williams noticed three targets and caught two for 41 yards. 

SLOT: We knew Williams would get extra slot work this yr, however he wound up in there on 43.1% of his snaps! It is the second-highest of any recreation he is performed in as a professional and his highest since 30.2% in 2020. And this is the factor: He barely did something in Week 1, so there’s quite a bit the Chargers have not proven that they’ve deliberate for him. 

TITANS: Have been roughed up by the air in Week 1 by Chris Olave (112 yards), Rashid Shaheed (89 yards) and Michael Thomas (61 yards). Mixed they caught 18 of 24 targets in opposition to a Titans unit that performed zone 71.9% of the time. Security Amani Hooker is not anticipated to play and out of doors cornerback Kristian Fulton is nursing a hamstring damage. Their depth is not superb. 

LAST YEAR: Williams had a down recreation in opposition to the Titans (4-67-0 on eight targets), made worse by the Titans being banged up of their secondary then. To be honest, the Chargers offensive line was a large number by this level and Justin Herbert was beneath fixed stress. 

LAST WEEK: Goff performed properly at Kansas Metropolis, even managing to have higher numbers when pressured (66.7%, 8.0 yards per try, 9 makes an attempt) versus not pressured (61.5%, 7.0 yards per try, 26 makes an attempt), a welcome change. The Lions simply had three red-zone drives final week — one ended with an Amon-Ra St. Brown landing catch, one other ended with a David Montgomery landing run, and a 3rd ended with a fumble. Their final drive of the sport ended with kneel-downs simply outdoors of the purple zone. 

SEAHAWKS: Acquired annihilated by Matthew Stafford and the Rams — with out Cooper Kupp, with out a good run recreation and with out a banner offensive line. Pete Carroll’s crew predictably performed zone protection at a excessive price (84.6%) and predictably could not land a lot stress on Stafford (23.1% go rush stress price). 

LIONS: Allowed a stress on 28.6% of their go snaps final week, beneath league-average. They’ve a significantly better O-line than the Rams do and will give Goff loads of time. 

LAST YEAR: The Seahawks could not contact Goff a lot as they pressured him simply 25% of the time with one sack. Additionally they received bizarre and performed heavy man protection within the second half which was completely out of character for them. Goff, who wasn’t pressured, scored thrice within the fourth quarter. 

THIS YEAR: Seattle could attempt to manufacture extra stress with blitzes, however they’re more likely to keep on with zone protection. Getting rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon on the sphere for his debut could drive Seattle to maintain issues easy. 

VERSUS ZONE: In his previous 18 video games Goff has a touch greater completion price and extra yards per try versus zone protection. He isn’t as aggressive, which is regular in opposition to zone protection, and his TD price is considerably decrease (9.9% versus man, 1.2% versus zone). 

LAST WEEK: Had a low-key begin to his profession however did reel in all 5 of his targets from Jared Goff for 39 yards. He did not play each go snap both, so the 19.2% goal per route run price is not so dangerous for his first NFL recreation. Hopefully he performs extra shifting ahead. 

SEAHAWKS: Allowed two completions of 20-plus yards to Rams tight ends final week (one to Higbee, one to Brycen Hopkins). General Seattle stored up their skid of being dangerous in opposition to the place by permitting 17.5 yards per catch (fifth-worst) on a 9.6 ADOT (ninth-highest) in opposition to a Rams offense that solely threw to their tight ends 5 instances. 

OF NOTE: LaPorta had a weak ADOT of 4.0 yards, however he ran seven several types of routes together with 5 crossers which he caught three passes on for 20 yards. Hopkins received his large catch on a crosser final week versus the Seahawks’ zone protection. Hopefully the variability in LaPorta’s routes helps him out. 

OUT WIDE: In his first recreation, LaPorta lined up large on 24.6% of snaps, sixth-most of any TE who ran a minimum of 10 routes in Week 1. There’s potential to be a matchup drawback. 

FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: T.J. Hockenson scored twice within the Lions’ matchup versus the Seahawks final yr. He additionally has 179 yards on eight catches (12 targets). Seahawks may need to plan just a little tougher to comprise the Lions’ tight finish this time round, however it could not matter.  

LAST WEEK: Led the Rams in snaps, high-value touches and the whole lot in between. That included a dashing common, which was only a lean 3.5 yards per carry. Williams seemingly performed as a lot as he did as a result of he is a superb go protector and receiver out of the backfield, each points that assist Matthew Stafford. 

WILLIAMS: Did not present any explosive traits in his Week 1 runs, nor did he have a lot imaginative and prescient as he ran completely between the tackles. He did comply with his blockers, who aren’t precisely a who’s who of offensive linemen stars. Out of 33 operating backs with a minimum of 10 carries in Week 1, Williams ranked within the bottom-seven in detrimental run price (26.7%) and prevented deal with price (6.7%) with zero explosive runs. 

49ERS: Stay a dominant run protection. Stifled the Steelers run recreation shortly in Week 1. Allowed seven touchdowns to operating backs over their previous 18 video games. D-tackle Javon Hargrave made a huge impact final week and will once more this week. 

LAST YEAR: In two video games, Rams operating backs totaled 128 yards from scrimmage with zero touchdowns. Their longest run was 7 yards. Their longest catch went 7 yards. No participant averaged greater than 4.0 yards per carry over the 2 video games. They had been a catastrophe. 

LAST WEEK: Jones was beneath fixed stress from the Cowboys’ excellent go rush (66.7% stress price on him was insanely excessive!) and he could not do something proper. The lone spotlight was 30 dashing yards by halftime. 

O-LINE: The highlight’s been on them since Sunday night time, and there are accidents to go together with it. Left deal with Andrew Thomas did not follow earlier within the week however is “making progress” based on coach Brian Daboll. Left guard Matt Peart practiced on a restricted foundation. The center and proper facet of the road received shellacked by Dallas and want a bounce-back recreation in a serious method. 

ARIZONA: Pressured Sam Howell 33.3% of the time final week, which is definitely about league common however the Giants will assume that is a stroll within the park. Behind a suspect offensive line of his personal, Howell totaled two touchdowns with 202 yards passing and a choose. The Cardinals sacked him six instances. 

LAST WEEK: With Zach Wilson beneath middle, Wilson caught all 5 of his targets for 34 yards (6.8 yards per catch) and adjusted flawlessly to an off-target fade throw ultimately zone for a landing. The outcome was 14.4 PPR factors.

LAST YEAR: With Zach Wilson beneath middle, the receiver averaged 8.6 PPR factors per recreation over 9 matchups. He was over 14 PPR factors in two of the 9. 

COWBOYS: In the event that they weren’t in an expert sports activities league they’d have been collectively charged with assaulting Daniel Jones final week. They pressured him on two-thirds of his snaps! They sacked him seven instances! They picked him off twice! They held everybody on the Giants to beneath 40 receiving yards! 

ZACH WILSON: Was sacked thrice, picked off as soon as and pressured 50% of the time by the Payments on Monday. This week’s matchup is on a brief week, on the street and more durable. 

LAST WEEK: Appeared largely positive operating routes, flashing extra velocity within the second half than the primary in opposition to Arizona however noticed simply 4 targets for a 2-31-0 stat line.

SNAPS: McLaurin led Commanders pass-catchers in snaps performed and was second behind Jahan Dotson in routes run. As anticipated, he stayed to the skin on 89.7% of his snaps, however in an sudden flip of occasions, was locked up in man protection by Arizona cornerback Kei’Trel Carter on three totally different third-down performs.

SURTAIN: Top-of-the-line cowl cornerbacks within the league, Surtain primarily performs outdoors and figures to comply with McLaurin when he traces up large on each down. In cases when McLaurin traces up within the slot and the Broncos play man protection, Surtain ought to be there too. Surtain gave Davante Adams that very same therapy final week. Over 1,241 profession snaps in protection, Surtain has allowed a 57.9% catch price and 7 touchdowns.

LAST WEEK: In what was presupposed to be a cake stroll matchup versus Arizona, Robinson averaged 3.1 yards per carry and had zero explosive runs. Do not even take a look at his halftime numbers. If there’s something to be inspired about it is that he had 20 touches regardless of enjoying simply 58% of the snaps. 

THIRD DOWNS: Robinson performed simply 3 of 13 third downs in Week 1, persevering with a development that noticed him depart that function for Antonio Gibson. Washington did not convert any of the third downs Robinson performed on. 

RUSHING AVERAGE: Robinson has exceeded 4.0 yards per carry in simply three of his 13 NFL video games — two in opposition to the Giants final yr. 

BRONCOS: Have been excellent defending the run in opposition to Josh Jacobs final week. Possibly a few of it needed to do with Jacobs nonetheless working his method into recreation form after his lengthy holdout, however Jacobs averaged 2.5 yards per carry and solely caught a pair of passes for 23 yards. Most spectacular of all, the Raiders had six carries contained in the 10-yard line and did not get into the tip zone on any of them.

LONG-TERM VALUE: I coated Robinson’s long-term worth and whether or not he is a purchase or promote in commerce talks in my weekly Projected Strength of Schedule Rankings update over at SportsLine.

LAST WEEK: Performed 28 snaps to Samaje Perine’s 26, however when it got here to 3rd/fourth downs and snaps inside the ten, Perine performed extra (8 of 11 snaps on third/4th down, 4 of 6 inside the ten). Perine additionally had extra whole yards and extra explosive performs.

FILM: I do know Williams deserves a go as a result of he is getting back from a foul knee damage, however he did not flash a lot burst or acceleration out of his cuts. There have been a number of performs the place his O-line didn’t assist him out. On the plus facet, he was stable as a downhill runner, nice at ending his runs with energy and excellent in go safety. By comparability, Perine was simply as bodily however smoother in his operating. Perine had one snap in go safety and was positive.

FILM: As a receiver, Williams noticed six targets however 5 had been dump-offs by Russell Wilson (4 when Wilson was pressured) and just one gave the impression to be a designed play. Williams performed one snap within the 2:00 offense (Perine performed six and racked up three receptions) and had an excellent view of Courtland Sutton’s landing catch.

COMMANDERS: Flew to the soccer final week in opposition to the Cardinals, lacking a complete of 4 tackles on Conner (one on a reception) and holding him to 62 yards on 14 carries and eight yards on 5 catches. Conner had two touches good for greater than eight yards.

SEAN PAYTON: Made point out this week of how acquainted the Commanders protection appears based mostly on the monitor report of each Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio. Maybe he’ll scheme in opposition to these tendencies with misdirection. Payton additionally particularly talked about Jaleel McLaughlin as somebody they’re going to attempt to give extra touches to.

LAST WEEK: Henry had an excellent Week 1, scoring and catching 5 of 6 targets for 56 yards. It was simply his third recreation for the reason that begin of 2022 with greater than 10 PPR factors. 

FILM: All however two of Henry’s targets had been on intermediate in-breaking routes in the midst of the sphere, the sort of performs to beat zone protection with. His landing catch was a tight-window contested seize that appeared extra like one thing Gronk would do. That was cool. He additionally ran 12 go routes, lots of which had been designed to open up shorter throws for Mac Jones. He did not run previous anybody on the Eagles. 

DOLPHINS: Did not play fairly as a lot zone protection as anticipated final week (67.1%), leaving open the likelihood that they will proceed trending away from it this week in opposition to the Patriots. That may not be the very best thought — Philadelphia went to heavy man protection within the second quarter final week and received buried for 2 touchdowns and 128 yards from Jones, together with the rating to Henry. 

LAST WEEK: Miami allowed an 83.3% catch price and eight.4 yards per catch to Chargers tight ends together with a landing with a pair of missed tackles and 5.8 YAC/reception. Ugly numbers. 

WILLIAMS: Was terrible final week in opposition to a superb Titans run protection. However he performed 77% of the snaps for the Saints, an enormous quantity. He additionally performed 2 of three snaps inside the ten, the precise sort of space we’re relying on Williams to come back by. 

PANTHERS: Acquired run over by Tyler Allgeier in final week’s recreation in opposition to the Falcons. That was after getting run over by Bijan Robinson within the first three quarters! All informed, the Falcons racked up three whole touchdowns and over 175 whole yards. They missed six tackles. 

WEEK 1: After a summer season of hype resulting in lofty expectations, Pickens noticed a 15.6% goal share in a blowout loss to the 49ers. He caught 5 of seven passes however for simply 36 yards. Even worse, Pickens noticed simply an 11.5% goal share within the second half after Diontae Johnson left with a hamstring damage. 

USAGE: Pickens was successfully used the identical method as he was in 2022, operating 14 go routes and 14 hitch routes, the highest two routes he ran in 2022. Extra unpredictability was anticipated. 

TO BE FAIR: Pickens and the Steelers performed a 49ers protection that received on the scoreboard early and hammered quarterback Kenny Pickett within the pocket. Pickett felt stress on 50% of his dropbacks, inflicting him to be rather more errant along with his throws than he was within the preseason. 

BAD NEWS: The Browns have an equally powerful go rush for the Steelers to take care of and a secondary practically nearly as good. They simply shut down Joe Burrow in Week 1. 

LAST WEEK: We received actually fortunate beginning Addison in opposition to the Bucs. He performed simply 55.6% of the snaps in a detailed loss and had the very same goal share as Ok.J. Osborn (13.6%). Happily, he throttled the Bucs secondary on a 39-yard bomb for his first catch and first NFL landing. 

LAST WEEK: At no level did he draw double protection final week in opposition to Tampa Bay, who performed zone protection 85.7% of the time.

EAGLES: Opened the yr enjoying a whole lot of zone protection in opposition to the Patriots, one thing they did a whole lot of final yr as properly. Towards the Vikings in Week 2, they performed zone protection on 73% of their performs. 

ADDISON: All of his Week 2 numbers got here in opposition to zone protection. At USC he had a excessive catch price final yr no matter protection however managed higher effectivity in opposition to zone protection (16.0 yards per catch and seven.4 Yards After Catch per Reception) than man protection (13.1-yard receiving common, 6.6 YAC/reception). 

EAGLES: Might be with out veteran cornerback James Bradberry, who suffered a concussion final Sunday. It ought to imply second-year cornerback Josh Jobe (previously with Alabama) will see a whole lot of Addison in protection when Addison is out large since Darius Slay will seemingly have a date with Justin Jefferson. Jobe has good velocity however lacks expertise — simply 19 snaps within the NFL (which implies Addison is, technically, extra skilled). 

VIKINGS: Threw on the second-highest price in Week 1, selecting up the place they left off final yr after they had been top-three in go price.

COUSINS: Has thrown a minimum of 37 passes in 4 of his previous 5 video games in opposition to the Eagles (two of three as a member of the Vikings).