Week 1 of the NFL and fantasy season is complete, and now it’s time to shift focus to Week 2. One week of data is not enough of a sample size, but it is larger than zero weeks of data. This is the perfect time to take advantage of fantasy managers overreacting to Week 1 performances and make good deals before Week 2. Here are the players to buy and sell before Week 2 starts.
Players to Buy and Sell Ahead of Week 2
Buy Mark Andrews:
Mark Andrews had a disappointing Week 1, managing just two targets, both of which he caught for 14 yards. In contrast, fellow tight end Isaiah Likely had a monster game with nine receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown—nearly adding a second, just missing with a toe out of bounds. The Chiefs plan was to make sure that Andrews did not beat them, and they were very successful at that. Andrews was double-teamed most of the night and could not get open. While some may worry that Likely is taking over as the Ravens TE1, Andrews remains the top option in Baltimore. He will have much better weeks against weaker defenses, and Week 2 is the time to buy him when his value is low.
Re-watched every snap that Mark Andrews was on the field last night. I was the lowest on our show on Andrews coming into the year so I could take a pretend victory lap, but instead, I have a message after watching the film. DO NOT PANIC…here's why:
I added up every… pic.twitter.com/8lOUmbnBf2
— Andy Holloway (@andyholloway) September 6, 2024
Buy Chris Olave:
There were high expectations for Chris Olave entering his third year in the league, and he started Week 1 off with a dud. He was only targeted twice and had two receptions for 11 receiving yards. However, Derek Carr only had to throw the ball 23 times as the Saints beat up on the Panthers 47-10. The Saints aren’t likely to dominate games this way often. Carr will have to throw closer to 40 times per game. Olave will have much better games ahead. Fantasy managers who drafted him in the second round will be disappointed with his performance, so now is the time to buy him from them.
Sell Xavier Worthy:
Rookie Xavier Worthy had an exciting debut for the Chiefs in the opener, recording two receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown, along with one rush for 21 yards and another touchdown. He finished with 20.8 fantasy points. However, he only had four opportunities: three targets and one rush attempt. The 21-yard rushing touchdown and the 35-yard passing touchdown accounted for 18.6 fantasy points. 90% of his fantasy points came on just two plays. With Marquise “Hollywood” Brown inactive, Worthy’s target competition will only increase as Brown returns, pushing him to the fourth option behind Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce, and Brown. Worthy will not get enough opportunities to be a consistent fantasy player. He will be a boom-or-bust guy every week, reliant on touchdowns. He’s an excellent fit for Best Ball formats, but in standard leagues, now is the ideal time to trade him away.
Sell Baker Mayfield, Chris Godwin, and Rachaad White:
The Buccaneers put on an offensive show, beating the Commanders 37-20 in Week 1. Baker Mayfield was impressive, completing 24 of 30 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns. He added 21 rushing yards on three carries. He finished with 29.66 fantasy points. Chris Godwin caught all eight of his targets for 83 yards and a touchdown, totaling 22.3 fantasy points. The Commanders have one of the worst secondaries and defenses in the league, allowing Mayfield and Godwin to put up big numbers. This could very easily be Mayfield’s and Godwin’s best performances of the year, making it a good time to sell them. On the other hand, Evans is the player to hold onto as the primary scoring threat for the Buccaneers.
Rachaad White had a strong day as a receiver, catching all six of his targets for 75 yards, resulting in 13.5 fantasy points from receiving alone. However, he struggled mightily on the ground, managing just 31 rushing yards on 15 carries for a poor 2.1 yards per carry. He was not efficient last year either. The biggest concern for White is the impressive performance by rookie running back Bucky Irving. Irving rushed nine times for 62 yards, more than doubling White’s output on six fewer carries. He will play his way into bigger situations and take carries away from White. He also contributed two catches, further threatening White’s workload. With White’s inefficiency and unsustainable receiving production, now is the time to trade him away, while Irving becomes a priority waiver add this week.
Summary
Fantasy managers shouldn’t overreact on just one week, but Week 2 is a great time to buy low on underperforming players like Andrews and Olave while selling high on players with big performances in limited roles.
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