Two weeks down, plenty more to go. After two weeks of fantasy football fun, opinions are being made, good or bad, about some of the league’s top players. Some of these players have exceeded expectations while others have hurt fantasy teams so far. With that, let’s dive in and discuss some metrics that highlight fantasy football’s 2nd week.
Metrics That Matter Fantasy Football Week 2
Marvin Harrison Jr. Responds In A Big Bay Against The Los Angeles Rams
Marvin Harrison Jr. entered the NFL with high expectations, and rightfully so. He had an impressive college career, making a strong case for becoming the next great receiver. When fantasy football season began, Harrison Jr. was drafted earlier than expected, causing controversy in many leagues. After a disappointing performance in week one, fantasy owners were concerned about drafting him so early.
However, in week two, Harrison Jr. and the Arizona Cardinals silenced doubters by dominating the Los Angeles Rams 41-10. Quarterback Kyler Murray had an outstanding game, and Harrison Jr. reaped the benefits. He caught 4 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half. Notably, Harrison Jr. could have scored two more touchdowns if not for some missed targets in the second half. His impressive average of 32.5 yards per catch stood out the most. This performance made him the leader in this category among all wide receivers in the first two games of the season.
Alvin Kamara Runs Over the Cowboys On His Way To Three Touchdowns
Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints has consistently been one of the top players in fantasy football over the years. Throughout his career, Kamara has delivered numerous outstanding performances each season. In a recent game against the Dallas Cowboys, he showcased his exceptional skills by scoring four touchdowns. Kamara proved that he is still one of the league’s premier running backs. With 198 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, along with a receiving touchdown, Kamara has been instrumental in the Saints’ 2-0 start to the season.
One notable improvement for Kamara this year is the increase in big plays compared to the previous season. While his longest run in 2023 was 17 yards and his longest reception was 25 yards, he has already produced several significant plays in the first two games of 2024, including a 57-yard touchdown catch during the recent win against the Cowboys. His remarkable speed allowed him to evade the Dallas defense and score a touchdown with ease. Kamara’s performance this season has positioned him as the top non-quarterback in fantasy football scoring, and it appears that he will continue to excel at this pace.
Chris Godwin Continues To Thrive Lining Up From The Slot
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin was expected to have his best season yet, thanks to his new offensive coordinator, Liam Coen. Coen has a track record of improving offenses in both the NFL and NCAA and now Tampa Bay is experiencing the positive impact of having him on board. Coen’s last NFL coaching position was with the Los Angeles Rams in the 2021-2022 season, during which Cooper Kupp set multiple NFL records. Kupp excelled as a slot receiver that season, and now in Tampa Bay, Godwin has the potential to have a similar impact. Both Kupp and Godwin share similar skill sets, and based on his performance in the first two weeks, Godwin is on track for an exceptional season, impressing both the NFL and fantasy football managers.
Godwin has 15 receptions, 200 yards, and 2 touchdowns this season. His receptions and yards are both tied for 2nd in the NFL. Notably, most of his production comes from running out of the slot. 70% of Godwin’s snaps have been in the slot position, where he averaged 9.3 yards per target in 2024 and 7.2 yards per target in 2023. Shifting to playing primarily out of the slot position seems to be working well for him and the offense. Godwin is the only receiver with 20-plus fantasy points in both weeks. The next month’s games could bring even more success for him. Tampa Bay’s next four games include three against pass defenses ranked in the bottom 10 in passing yards allowed. Godwin’s slot performance will continue to benefit the Buccaneers offense and fantasy managers worldwide.
Amari Cooper Does Not Capitalize On Heavy Target Share
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper, much like Kamara, has been relatively consistent in fantasy football throughout his career. Where Cooper and Kamara differ is their 2024 performance thus far. Cooper has been one of the lowest-return-value wide receivers in the league after two weeks. According to FantasyPros, Cooper’s average draft position was 54, which falls in the mid-5th to 6th round. This year, names such as Malik Nabers, Rashee Rice, and Zay Flowers were drafted in the same area and are each in the top 20 in fantasy scoring among wide receivers. Cooper, on the other hand, has 5 catches for a total of 27 yards in two weeks.
Targets are not the issue here and they never have been when it comes to Cooper. He has finished in the top 20 among targets in the league for the last three seasons and is usually a focal point for every offense he is on. In 2024, the opportunity and role is still there, but the production is not. Cooper called for 8 targets in each of the first two games which are almost a third of Deshaun Watson’s pass attempts in two weeks. The Watson-Cooper connection was expected to take a big leap in 2024, but it is off to a horrific start. Watson’s struggles could be to blame for everything wrong with a Browns team that usually produces quality fantasy production. Going forward, it is hard to trust Cooper to produce every week, regardless of how many chances he gets.
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