What a first week of football. Each week this column will analyze a player at each position rostered in 50 percent of Yahoo leagues or less. For reference, the threshold used for Wins and Losses in this article will be if the quarterbacks can score at least 17 points, if the tight ends can score at least eight PPR points, and if the rest can score at least 10 PPR points. Here are the Week 2 streamers.
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Fantasy Football Week 2 Streamers: Kenneth Gainwell, Puka Nacua, More
Week 1 Recap
Quarterback
- Sam Howell (WAS) v ARI – 16.18 points – L
- Bryce Young (CAR) @ ATL – 9.54 points – L
- Derek Carr (NO) v TEN – 18.60 points – W
- Totals – Week: 1-2 / Year: 1-2
Running Back
- Jaylen Warren (PIT) v SF – 6.8 points – L
- Deon Jackson (IND) v JAX – 3.8 points – L
- Evan Hull (IND) v JAX – 1.7 points – L
- Totals – Week: 0-3 / Year: 0-3
Wide Receiver
- Nico Collins (HOU) @ BAL – 14.0 points – W
- Van Jefferson (LAR) @ SEA – 6.4 points – L
- Jayden Reed (GB) @ CHI – 6.6 points – L
- Totals – Week: 1-2 / Year: 1-2
Tight End
- Luke Musgrave (GB) @ CHI – 8.0 points – W
- Greg Dulcich (DEN) v LV – 4.2 points – L
- Isaiah Likely (BAL) v HOU – 1.4 points – L
- Totals – Week: 1-2 / Year: 1-2
- Grand Totals – Week: 3-9 / Year: 3-9
Week 2 Streamers
Quarterback – Ryan Tannehill (TEN – 7%) v LAC
I know Ryan Tannehill is coming off an absolutely brutal 2023 debut in which he scored 5.42 fantasy points. He only passed for 198 yards and had zero touchdowns and three interceptions. That being said, it was his first game with DeAndre Hopkins and against a tough New Orleans Saints defense. On top of that, Treylon Burks may not have been completely healthy yet.
Another week should help a lot of those things and so should a date with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers couldn’t slow anything down through the air in Week 1 and hopefully, for Tannehill and fantasy managers’ sake, they won’t be able to once again this week. As it sits now, the Tennessee Titans are 3.5-point underdogs in a game with a solid 45.5-point combined total. Add it all up and it makes Tannehill one of the better Week 2 streamers.
Honorable Mentions – Sam Howell (WAS – 22%) @ DEN, Derek Carr (NO – 38%) @ CAR
Running Back – Kenneth Gainwell (PHI – 46%) v MIN
After fantasy managers spent most of the summer analyzing whether D’Andre Swift or Rashaad Penny was a better value at ADP, it turned out the answer was neither. Kenneth Gainwell gained some steam late in the preseason but it mostly seemed as if he was going to be just part of a three-headed committee. Instead, Gainwell looked like a true bellcow in the opening game. He had 14 carries for 54 yards and perhaps most encouraging was that he caught all four of his targets for another 20 yards.
If he can continue seeing double-digit carries along with plenty of usage in the passing game, that will be massive for his fantasy viability moving forward. This week he gets to take on the Minnesota Vikings in a matchup with a 48.5-point combined total, which is the second-highest of the weekend. The Philadelphia Eagles are currently 7.5-point favorites with a 28-point implied team total. This is a beautiful game environment for Gainwell to continue the nice production. All of these things combined make him an awesome Week 2 streamers choice.
Kenneth Gainwell = Eagles Bellcow#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/ZlmWPPa2hm
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) September 11, 2023
Honorable Mentions – Gus Edwards (BAL – 20%) @ CIN, Zack Moss (IND – 7%) @ HOU
Wide Receiver – Puka Nacua (LAR – 7%) v SF
What. A. Debut. Puka Nacua caught 10 of 15 targets for 119 yards on his way to 24.9 fantasy points in his first game as a pro. The rookie got a bit of buzz in the preseason after the Los Angeles Rams selected him in the 5th round of this year’s NFL Draft. That buzz only grew after Cooper Kupp aggravated a hamstring injury and then was placed on the IR because of it. That paved the way for a bigger opportunity for Nacua and he certainly capitalized. He looks like the Rams wide receiver to roster while Kupp is out.
This week isn’t the greatest matchup against the San Francisco 49ers who just dominated in Week 1 but the game script should be right for more pass attempts as the Rams are 8.5-point underdogs. Expect Nacua to be a hot name off the waiver wire in most leagues and he makes for a great wide receiver choice for the Week 2 streamers.
Puka Nacua with 10/119 on 15 targets 👀👀
— ✴️Rob Norton✴️ (@norton0723) September 10, 2023
Honorable Mentions – Zay Jones (JAX – 30%) v KC, Darnell Mooney (CHI – 39%) @ TB
Tight End – Hayden Hurst (CAR – 11%) v NO
Heading into Monday Night Football, Hayden Hurst is the TE2 for Week 1 and one of only two tight ends to score more than 15 PPR fantasy points. He did so by catching five of seven targets for 41 yards and a score. Only two tight ends had more receptions and only three tight ends had more targets on the week.
Hurst is in a nice position this season as he has a very real chance to be top-two on the Carolina Panthers in targets and possibly even lead the team. That could continue into Week 2 against the Saints. New Orleans looks like a solid defense but the volume game script should be in Hurst’s favor as the Panthers are 3.5-point underdogs. That combined with the target volume should be what makes him a great Week 2 streamers candidate.
Honorable Mentions – Hunter Henry (NE – 16%) v MIA, Luke Musgrave (GB – 19%) @ ATL
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Main Photo: Eric Canha – USA Today Sports
