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Field YatesESPN Insider
We are likely to hyperbole in the analysis, as it is not difficult to exaggerate in a day and age when everyone is a 280-character away from traveling on the subject.
Still, it doesn’t seem like a hyperbole to suggest that the Sunday of Week 2 was the most consequential day of the injuries we’ve seen in years. Maybe decades. It was a massacre on Sunday, led by devastating news, according to Adam Dum Shafter and Jordan Ranan, due to the ACL rupture, Schwartz Barclays will miss the rest of the 2020 season.
With so many injuries, this week’s apology is longer than usual. Here it goes.
Note: All players in this column are available in at least 50% of the league on ESPN.com.
Mike Davis, RB, Carolina Panthers (8.0%): Davis won a backup job with Christian McFarry with a strong training camp and McFarry left Week 2 due to a foot injury he then took to action. Davis had eight catches while the Panthers are the strength of his overall game. If McCaffrey misses time – he has never lost a game in his NFL career – Davis will be asked to become a workhorse. Add another to all leagues.
Dion Lewis / Wayne Galman, RB, New York Giants (0.8% / 0.4%): Who is behind the injured Barclays on the depth chart of the New York Giants? It is unlikely that Lewis will make himself a backfield in New York, as Gellman (another apology-wire ad) will also be busy for G-Man. I urge you to know where the Giants are running back, allowing Lewis, his passing game skills (he’s a Nifty pass-catcher) and the fact that he was the one to take care of Barclays post-injury in Week 2. Gellman was a healthy scratch). Both players should be added for now.
Darrell Henderson Jr., RB, Los Angeles Rams (45.7%): After injuries to Cam Ackers and Mal Kalm Brown (finger, who was late in the game), Henderson’s role in Rams’ backfield stalled in Week 2, for now, the condition of Kers Kers (ribs) and Brown is unknown, which could result. Continuing role for Henderson – third round selection in 2019 – moving forward. He ran 18 times for y1 yards and touchdowns, adding two catches and y0 yards in Week 3. Talented player to join all leagues.
Devonta Freeman, RB, Free Agent (7.5%): For the first time in my handful of years writing this column, I am advocating for a player who doesn’t even have a team. Why Well, Freeman just seems bound to find work right away, seeing spots of back injuries around the NFL – he’s already been working for the Eagles earlier this week, with whom he also plans to visit the Giants. In the right place, it can become an immediate imaginary contributor. There can be no better place now than G-Man.
Marquis Valdez-Scantling / Alan Lazard, WR, Green Bay Packers (16.8% / 33.7%): After Davant Adams left the Packers game due to a hamstring injury, these two youth widths were counted to take further action. Both MVS and Lazard made great efforts for Week 1 and posted three catches on Sunday. I’ll give MVS an edge, as my favorites will be added because the preferred indulgence is slightly higher, but the reality is that if Adams had to pay the time, both of these players would be involved a bit.
Corey Davis, WR, Tennessee Titans (27.2%): Davis had three catches in Week 2, including one touchdown. He has worked closely with back-to-back double-digit fantasy point performances, and there’s still no denying how much natural talent he has. In addition to dealing with AJ Brown’s knee injury, Davis supports red-hot quarterback dealing with Tennessee offense.
Jericho McKinnon RB, San Francisco 49ers (18.9%): Start by checking to see if fellow Tevin Coleman is available (he was about 47% in the league at the time of the last check), as Coleman took over as the primary ball carrier after Rahim Mustart was injured 2 weeks ago Carrying can lead to better confidence in leading the team, as the team must be smart when managing its workload. But McKinnon showed a lot of explosions in Week 2 and he’s such a useful pass-catcher that he deserves a speculative addition.
Russell Gage, WR, Atlanta Falcons (20.0%): Rare is an offense that could support three giant receivers a week in fictional football, but the Falcons would fit the bill. Gage followed up with nine catches in Week 1, with another six in Week 2, good enough for 46 yards and a touchdown. Get this: Gage also added six more points as a thrower, as he placed a dime on the designed pass that Julio Jones should catch for a nearly 50-yard touchdown. An ernda league ad that continues to find its way.
Miles Gaskin, RB, Miami Dolphins (12.4%): Last week I was going to throw a flag at myself for not having Gaskin in the column – colleague Mike Clay was clever enough to urge me to consider this – as I wondered if it would really be a lead role for the Dolphins. It would seem certain this is the case, as Gaskin carries seven, but more importantly six catches in Week 2. I’m not sure it’s going to be a top 25 play for me consistently, but running back-to-back depth is so thin in the imagination. Footballers should be roasted in all leagues.
Joshua Kelly, RB, Los Angeles Chargers (26.4%): The Chargers have two talented backs and it’s impossible to miss Kelly’s workload: he handled 23 carries in Week 2 and ran for 64 yards. While Stin Eckler is a clear-cut top back in this backfield for fantasy purposes, there’s already a lot to choose from about Kelly’s game and role. Add to all the leagues as well.
McCall Hardman, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (43.0%): Sammy Watkins left the game in Week 2 after taking a heavy hit and surviving a head injury. Hardman gets a lot more involved if Watkins is unable to play in 3 weeks, and many already know this: Hardman is looking forward to a big play. He’ll be the best third for most of the week’s goals, but he’s definitely good enough when you catch him passing through Patrick Mahoms.
Mike Gasky, TE, Miami Dolphins (48.1%): I’m not sure if Mike Gasciki’s fan club exists in a formal capacity, but if that happens I’ll be a card-carrying member soon. Gaskin has just one absurd catch radius and is tremendous in the red zone, as evidenced again in Week 2 with his 130-yard performance. It’s very hard to find a reliable player at the tight end, but Gasciki is a player to consider strongly if you’re struggling to find him as soon as possible. Gaskini has some sincere weekly has latu.
Jonnu Smith, TE, Tennessee Titans (38.4%): Another quality tight end on the apology wire, because Smith is such a terrific athlete and is pretty good after a catch. He made two touchdowns in Week 2, giving him three for the season. Tennessee’s offense is looking sharp once again, so don’t be surprised if Smith’s rush continues.
Jordan Reed, TE, San Francisco 49ers (5.6%); Dalton Schultz, TE, Dallas Cowboys (.9%); Mo Alley-Cox, TE, Indianapolis Colts (.5%): Yes, I list three players at once for this ambiguity, as each has a wonderful Week 2, but with two tight ends, over which I feel better, I don’t overdo it here. George Kettle may return to San Francisco soon – the same is true for Jack Doyle in Indianapolis – and Schultz is an athletic and emerging player, but Dallas has three excellent wideouts that anyone will find.
Monitor quarterbacks: It’s hard for me to suggest a quarterback walk given how good the expected stars have been so far. No consensus top-10 quarterbacks have caused me much controversy so far, so the following names are worth monitoring if you are looking forward to bye weeks or depth.
Ryan Tennhill, QB, Tennessee Titans (34.4%): If there are naysayers left, the pool is declining. Tenhill is close to 22.5 points per game at the start of this season.
Gardner Minshave II, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (19.3%): This could be my favorite player in the NFL, there are enough reasons to add him. Oh, by the way, he has back-to-back games with 20-plus points.
J Bur Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengal (45.2%): It wasn’t a very efficient night of Week 2, but we did get a glimpse of what makes it special in this league.
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