Ten Things We Learned in Week 2 (Fantasy Football)
We try to caution ourselves as a fantasy community not to overreact to the first week of the NFL season. Things are going to change quickly and frequently this early in the season. Snap counts will fluctuate, game plans are still being implemented, and rookies are still gathering their footing.
For the most part, the same can be said for Week 2. There will be unexpected changes and players who flash potential but then go MIA. Players who come out of nowhere to be weekly fantasy contributors. So while we don’t want to jump to any conclusions this early in the year, we can start to make out patterns over the course of two games.
Here is what we learned in Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season:
Jump on the Javonte Train
Scoring two TDs in the season opener, especially against the Philadelphia Eagles, was definitely an eye-opener for those who doubted Javonte Williams coming into this year. But getting 24 touches and racking up 130 total yards and a TD in Week 2 against another stout defensive line, that kind of production moves fantasy mountains. Williams has seen 79% of the backfield carries in the first two weeks, and you have to love the eight total receptions. The coaching staff trusts him to handle the bulk of the work, and rightfully so, because he’s played well. He seems to have found remnants of his pre-injury self. The fantasy community doesn’t seem to take Williams seriously, but it’s time we should. Whether you want to trade him off his overall RB2 status through the first two weeks or ride the wave, Williams may be a league-winning player.
TreVeyon Will Take Time
After an electric preseason and training camp buzz so loud it sounded like Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee,” TreVeyon Henderson shot up draft boards as high as the third round. While it has only been two weeks, the rookie hasn’t paid off on his fantasy draft capital. But as the fellas have said on the show and as I’ll remind you now, Henderson will improve as the season progresses. I don’t know if he will truly take over the backfield this season — Mike Vrabel has always maintained that Rhamondre Stevenson would be heavily involved. But, I do think we’ll see a closer split down the road than what we have seen to start the season.
Skattebo Soars While Tracy Tumbles
Another rookie RB who is eyeing the backfield to himself is Cam Skattebo, who might get there faster than Henderson if things play out like they did in Week 2. This one hurts personally because Tyrone Tracy Jr. was my “My Guy,” and while it crossed my mind that Skattebo could take over eventually, I didn’t think it would happen in the second game of the season! First of all, Devin Singletary got the start, which was confusing. And Tracy got just one touch in the fourth quarter and none in overtime. It’s not like he was playing poorly, either. Tracy had just five carries but caught four passes for 36 yards. Nonetheless, it was Skattebo who got the bulk of the work (65% of RB carries) and the rushing TD after seeing just seven snaps last week. Both players should remain on benches for now, but Skattebo could make his way to a top-24 play sooner rather than later.
Browns Backfield Belongs to Judkins
Closing out the rookie RB round-up, it seems that Quinshon Judkins has already established himself as the lead back in Cleveland. In his first game and with just a week of practice under his belt, Judkins saw nearly 50% of the backfield snaps and averaged 6.1 yards per rush. Jerome Ford saw more targets, and Dylan Sampson scored a receiving TD, but Judkins quickly demonstrated why he was the 36th overall pick with his abilities on the field. The Browns have a brutal schedule over the next month, but then it lightens up, so stay patient with Judkins.
Jones Enters the Streaming Conversation
I have to remind myself to pump the brakes. That we’re only through two weeks. That it was the Miami Dolphins defense in Week 1. But aside from Lamar Jackson, Daniel Jones has been the best fantasy QB so far this season. He has thrown for 588 passing yards, two TDs, no INTs, and is tied atop the league with three rushing TDs. He was able to dominate against Miami, but looked just as sharp against a top-tier Denver defense. Jones has flashed fantasy potential in the best, especially with his running ability, but he’s never been consistent. It’s a minuscule sample size, but two games in, he looks like a different player. If you drafted Joe Burrow or Justin Fields and need a QB, or maybe want to capitalize on matchups, Jones might be worth the gamble.
TE Waiver Pickups Produce Mixed Results
After solid Week 1 performances, a handful of unrostered TEs jumped onto the fantasy radar. Namely, Juwan Johnson, Harold Fannin Jr., Brenton Strange, and Kyle Pitts. In the game of TE roulette, there’s a good chance all four of these players were picked up off waivers and played this week. Managers who picked up Johnson ended up pleased, and those who grabbed Fannin may have yearned for more in Week 2, but have to be happy with what feels like a bright future. But managers who picked up Strange and Pitts have to be disappointed as both players halved their fantasy numbers this week. As it goes every year, a TE or two added off waivers (Johnson and Fannin perhaps this year) become weekly starters, and the rest will continue to through the weekly add/drop routine we’ve gotten to know so well.
Ayomanor Living up to Epic Name
Andy dropped breadcrumbs about Elic “Epic” Ayomanor all offseason, leading up to fantasy drafts, forecasting a significant role for the fourth-round WR. Through two weeks, Ayomanor trails Calvin Ridley by just a single target and has entrenched himself as the WR2. He had an incredible one-handed over-the-shoulder catch that set up his TD grab later in the drive. Ayomanor should be rostered in 12-team leagues, and if he keeps up this pace, he could be a flex-worthy option.
ELIC AYOMANOR WITH ONE HAND OH MY GOD 😱 😱 😱
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/ihWZfTB3CI— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 14, 2025
Reminder: St. Brown can Ball
Is it just me, or did it feel like Amon-Ra St. Brown was not mentioned enough when discussing elite WRs leading up to fantasy drafts? After the Big 3, there was talk about Puka Nacua, Malik Nabers, and Nico Collins, but it felt as if St. Brown was left to the wayside. After a middling Week 1 statline, St. Brown decided to remind people who he is to the tune of nine catches for 115 yards and three TDs. The Lions offense looked much better as a whole and put to bed any thought that the offense would falter without Ben Johnson. St. Brown was the WR3 the last two seasons, lest we not forget.
Etienne Earning Back Trust
We knew even before the Week 2 slate of games that Travis Etienne was going to be Jacksonville’s lead back with Tank Bigsby being traded to Philadelphia, but it was still comforting to see it play out that way on the field for the second straight week (we Etienne managers still feel a little jaded from last year). I think it’s safe to let our guard down again and believe. Yes, Bhayshul Tuten got some more work, but that was to be expected with Bigsby gone. Etienne was still the main ball-carrier and looked good, averaging over five yards per carry. He also caught a TD pass. If you’ve been hesitant to play Etienne the first two weeks, I don’t blame you, but I think next week against the Texans, you can insert him into the starting lineup and don’t look back.
No Purdy, No Problem
The questions surrounding San Francisco’s pass-catchers are headache-inducing enough, so Brock Purdy getting hurt just made matters worse. However, Mac Jones proved that backup QBs can still be fantasy-relevant. In fact, he proved that last year when he force-fed Brian Thomas Jr. the ball in Jacksonville. While Jones himself put up a top-10 QB performance this week (not accounting for the two Monday night games), his ability to get the ball to his playmakers is the key. Christian McCaffrey saw seven targets, Ricky Pearsall got six, and Jauan Jennings received 10 targets. I’d shy away from starting Jones himself, but I’m not keeping 49ers out of my lineup because Purdy is out. CMC never leaves lineups, but both Pearsall and Jennings can be started the next two weeks in favorable matchups regardless of whether it’s Jones starting or Purdy returning.