Week 2 Recap

It's a Tuesday and I am at my desk writing about fantasy football. You all know the drill, or at least we will have this down to a drill eventually. For now week 2 is a wrap, let's talk about it.

Quick Hitters/General Notes:

Oops, this slipped out of my hands, but I guess you guys can take a look now that it is here: Spreadsheet

Injuries are still piling up fast this season. It's genuinely terrifying to see the amount of injuries that have happened to big names over the first two weeks of the season. It feels like we have seen half the first two rounds of fantasy talent decimated already or losing value due to injuries. It has been brutal. Hoping the trend stops next week, but not feeling optimistic.

This one is entirely based on *vibes* so take this as pure opinion, but it really feels like there are three teams in the league that actually play good defense. There were 10 teams that scored over 30 points this week. Plenty more that were close too. Maybe this is just one of those weeks where offenses all go ballistic, but the slow transition to the mid-2010s Big12 has been fun.

Other than that we are about a week or two away from people starting to hit the I'm now tanking/blow it all up for picks button for the year.

Non-stat stat of the week: 15 of 17 teams that have started 2-0 in our league have made the playoffs. That number is 13 of 13 in the past four seasons. We have three teams starting out 2-0 this season. One of those three is... Sam W! One of the two* people who missed playoffs after starting 2-0? Also Sam W, back in 2018. We are seeing the curse really pushed to the limits early.

*If you are wondering who the other team was: Davis, also back in 2018.

Air Raid Offense (160.1) vs. (95.40) [Pending] Most Improved

No offense to Eli with this being said, but this was a foregone conclusion.

The Jeb buzzsaw goes brrrrrrrrrrrr.

Let's see how many times I can type a sentence around the lines of: Jeb had two QB1s, two WR1s, and was a top 3 scorer this week. The easiest 160 points of his life. Nobody on his team even went insane this week, it was just a collective effort. At one point on Sunday I checked Jeb's bench and saw that he had around 70 to 80 points just sitting there, and the realization hit me that he could actually field a bench lineup that would be competitive with Kevin's starters. All we have to do is find a way to make Jeb start 3 TEs and everyone has a shot any given week, we are only 14 injuries away.

Full time tank commander and part time prospector Eli may be rich in due time with his two jobs. Anthony Richardson looks incredible. He is way ahead of schedule as a passer early this year, and the athleticism is obvious when he is in the open field. He is basically the "What if Justin Fields could read a defense?" or "What if LeBron played QB his whole life?" question answered. He scored 18 points on 32% of the snaps, 15 of those points came in a 2 minute span. If I had to take an educated guess he was pacing for a pretty decent game before that concussion. He is going to be a total slam dunk, cheat code as long as he is on the field.

Post-getting shot season BRob looks like he may be an RB1. He is the RB3 on the year so far. Turns out a 4 week turn around from a bullet hole in your leg may hurt your ability to play football. I'm not accusing anyone of anything here, pure speculation on deflating trade value last year, but does anyone know where Eli was the morning when BRob got shot last year? People are asking.

That leaves us with Eli's receivers who have been abysmal. I wish I had more than that in me, but um this isn't ideal to say the least!

MVP: Jeb's whole team, again.

Double Agent: Trevor Lawrence

Positive Regression is coming: Trevor Lawrence, he isn't dropping a stinker again next week.

Negative Regression is coming: Deebo, the usage was great this week but SF seem like they are going to be a hit or miss proposition at WR.

Baker's Boys (175.15) vs. (122.70) Jaxroulette

So far Jaxroulette seems like the most fitting name possible, with Christian Kirk and Ridley rotating on who gets to score points through two weeks. Dan picked black this week, and it was a red week. Unfortunately the problems extend further than that. The Bengals offense looks like they are starting training camp this week, Burrow is hurt and Sam W. may have dragged him down to cursed status after trading for Ja'Marr Chase. Misery loves company.

In a depressing lose-lose situation Derek Carr is showing the world why he got benched, and Kenny Pickett is showing the world what he learned from Mitchell Trubisky last year. Both are excellent options for Henry's team of unwatchables if you are looking for a trade partner.

Dan's running backs are actually all good! Except Jamaal Williams, who unfortunately got hurt mid-game, the only problem is that Jamaal Williams is the one who was starting over the rest of the bunch this week.

It is weird to see Dan start 0-2 with this roster, but not really hitting the panic button yet. He has played two of the best teams in the league so far.

It's time for a detour down memory lane. It's the Saturday afternoon before the draft. Standing in the corner of a full train heading back from the White Sox game, I'm chatting with Devaney about guys in this draft class. We talked about both liking Stroud a lot, Quentin Johnston and JSN a lot, and then a ton of late round guys. Some random ass receiver with a weird name from BYU got thrown out in this list of names we talked about as a total flier to take a shot on. I passed on Nacua in the late 3rd that night. Thinking the guy was a long shot to make the team, and especially to hit the field for this Rams roster with a bad offense and hurt aging QB, OOPS!

Devaney traded up in the 4th just to take the random guy named Puka Nacua, and that is far and away the best move of the offseason. Props for that. That random ass kid seems pretty fucking good after shattering a few early season records for rookie wide receivers.

Okay back to this week. The bad luck streak didn't extend past week 1 for Sam. Puka Nacua already has his golden jacket fitted, and looks any bit as good as Cooper Kupp did two years ago. Garrett Wilson is QB proof and can succeed through Zach Wilson, even with a Nate Hackett offense. Tee Higgins reminded the Bengals why letting him walk would be stupid this offseason. Mark Andrews is back and that is an instant edge at TE over anyone not named Cole in our league.

Not even mentioning both Hollywood and Pickens on the bench.

Ironically Devaney has the polar opposite problem to Dan, all of his QBs look amazing and all of them are fun to watch so far this year. Stroud and Mac are cut from the same cloth and would rather fall down in the pocket from pressure than scramble on any given play, but man they throw a nice ball. Yes, and even Baker is somehow fun. We'll see how long we have until we are voting on a mascot slot again.

So yeah this team is loaded. Be afraid.

MVP: Puka Nacua

Double Agent: Derek Carr

Positive Regression is coming: Calvin Ridley, we're going to see better days out of Ridley no doubt. He is great against zone teams, and Kirk is great against teams that play man.

Negative Regression is coming: Tee Higgins, yes he is insanely good, but no he is not catching two TDs a week.

Team MWilson18 (117.60) vs. (159.25) Dameon Pierce the Veil

You know who didn't have their bad luck streak end this week? Mike. Amari Cooper is dealing with something, not that that is a surprising or new situation to be in considering the man has been playing through something since his days at Alabama is what is seems like. It forced Deon (DooDoo) Jackson into the lineup, for a big ole donut.

If the Bears had any care about winning this year I'd be afraid they'd consider benching Fields, because he can't read a defense or pass the ball well in any capacity. They aren't even designing runs for him right now which basically makes his fantasy value, let me do a number crunch, worthless. That promised year 3 leap is looking more like a trust fall off the side of a mile high cliff. I want to speculate that it isn't all his fault, but I don't think I can reasonably defend what we've seen. If the Bears do give up hope someone else will take a chance on him, but for now things are looking grim and this season is looking as lost as Justin Fields is seeing a safety drop into coverage.

Etienne was the 2nd best brother from that family to play in Florida this week. Najee is just bad. Legitimately bad, if you google "plodding running back" and go to the images there is a headshot of Najee within the first 10 pictures. 43 yards last night all felt like a herculean effort. Jaylen Warren is going to take this job soon here, because Najee is basically unplayable in real life unless the Steelers are ahead.

Things just are not great across the board right now for the home of all the 2021 QB busts. This feels like the Titanic right before it splits and everyone sinks, it is just suspended in the air right now waiting for JT or Kupp. One more injury or issue with the roster and this ship is underwater.

Davis stayed winning from Thursday night on. His $1,200 parlay cashed out, watched Danny Dimes lead a comeback, and a win in the league. The league win being the biggest moment of the week for sure. Who's got it better than that?

His receivers, still sick. His running backs? Still very sus.

If Kevin O'Conell is trying to keep his job past this year I think that giving Jordan Addison more routes than KJ Osborn, who drops everything thrown his way, may be smart.

If the Texans had a defense Dameon Pierce may actually get to touch the ball, but for now time to sit in game script jail.

If Sam keeps starting AJ Brown, Devonta Smith is about to go Heisman campaign mode here soon.

Things are looking up for Davis. When you play him the potential to get a ton of WR points dumped on you going forward is high.

Oh yeah almost forgot, your weekly reminder that AJ Dillon sucks.

MVP: Danny Dimes

Double Agent: Deon Jackson

Positive Regression is coming: Etienne, if he maintains the usage he is going to be good on volume alone.

Negative Regression is coming: DJ Moore, unless he can produce YAC at an unheard of rate for the Bears this is going to be a rare type of outing.

Charlotte Lions (170.60) vs. (128.40) Chiraq Drillinois

Cole has now faced the 2nd highest scorer in back to back weeks, defending the crown looks like a tall task right now. Chubb suffered the season ending injury last night, Ekeler is out for an undisclosed amount of time, Jeudy may or may not suck it is year 4 and we still have no idea, and Derrick Henry is losing snaps to Tyjae.

It isn't all negative, Mike Evans is having a vintage year so far and I am slowly coming to the conclusion he can make any QB look competent and may actually be the best receiver in the league. Johnny Manziel owes him half of that 1st round signing bonus for getting him drafted. Hockenson and Kelce are the twin towers of tight end fuckery.

That all being said, teetering on the edge of a potential 0-3 start is a massive hole to climb out of. I refuse to write Cole's team off until it is all said and done, but things are shaky off the jump.

Riddle on the other hand had an explosion week and showed why his team is terrifying even if most of them qualify for AARP. Ben Johnson would rather be murdered in cold blood than play Gibbs for more than a few snaps. David Montgomery got hurt and someone named Craig Reynolds (not sure if this is actually a real person or not yet) was taking rushing attempts over him. Josh Jacobs finished with negative rushing yards on the day. Amon Ra is playing through an injury. Still 170 points.

Riddle also gets to play roulette with the Titans receivers, it is like JaxRoulette but way less fun and way less fantasy viable.

Only other thing to say about this matchup is not sure what Cole did to Tyler Lockett, but this man hates Cole with all of his heart and does his best to always score a ton of TDs against him.

Riddle's team is Jeb levels of good. Barring a total collapse from injuries, he should be the front runner for one of the byes. Oh yeah and he is going to have the 1.01 this year.

MVP: Keenan Allen

Double Agent: Joshua Kelley

Positive Regression is coming: Josh Jacobs, similar idea to Etienne above. The usage is too good to fail.

Negative Regression is coming: Mike Evans, as stellar as he has been he is exceeding expectations by a ton a ton. This will come back down to the mean eventually.

The Unwatchables (119.95) vs. (141.70) New year, new me

Texting Sam throughout the week you can just see the hope fade in an instant, and the scars of 5 years stacked up. Not even halfway through the Thursday night game, Sam was ready to call it quits on the week from Canton Kirk letting it loose. Coming into the MNF games, he is legitimately convinced Calvin Austin is going to off against him and ruin his week last minute. So much so he throws triple the buy in for this league on Calvin Austin props as an emotional hedge. A permanent mentality of this can't actually be real has to be appreciated.

Even with AJ Brown and Chase both looking cursed it. It looks real. It feels real. I think we can say it is starting be real that he may break the curse this year. His team still hasn't managed to have a complete week, but he is 2-0 and hasn't had any catastrophic bad luck to this point.

He may not even trade Bryce for looking like shit with zero supporting cast in Carolina this year!

The two fun players on Henry's team got banged up this week. Neither injury stopped them from finishing the game, but an injury or two and the race to the 1.01 may start. Henry has the worst running backs in the league bar none, especially on his bench. If you go look at his bench you may want to puke.

Once Christian Watson comes back I'll have more positive things to say outside of the QBs and starting two WRs, but until then he is still up there for most desolate and hopeless flex plays of the week.

MVP: Bijan

Double Agent: Alexander Mattison

Positive Regression is coming: Ja'Marr Chase, the targets were down but the explosion game is coming. A matter of when, not if.

Negative Regression is coming: James Conner, they play Dallas next week. That should say all that you need to know.

Low PA Prayers (149.55) vs. (117) PROCESSING...

Coming into this week the karma bat felt like it was about to smack me in the face after this offseason. D'andre Swift put that to rest for two days, then I watched Nico Collins have a career day and was pretty confident I was about to get humbled.

I won by the end of the afternoon slate, on the Russ hail mary with 3 players left to go. I do not say this lightly. Kevin's team is horrendous, this may be a ceiling outcome for his team and it was under 120 points.

I need to take a second to vent about Kyle Pitts because oh my god this shit sucks. Owning the 4th overall pick and most athletic TE maybe ever sounds fun right? Talent wins out or something like that. Well let me tell you what, that was big time wrong. You can't fucking bench the guy because he may go off any week, but you are stuck with 4 or 5 points every week instead watching him in a 50/50 split with Jonnu Smith. Arthur Smith enjoys causing suffering. The Kyle Pitts experience gets a 0/10 so far.

Even with the fact Kevin's team is horrendous, there is actual hope for this roster somehow after this summer. Kyren Williams is going to be an RB1 all year, Jaylen Warren may actually take Najee's job, Minshew may have a start or two in him if the concussion to Richardson is bad. Nico Collins is realizing his potential. I don't know if this is luck, or if Kevin managed to bribe Jeb for a page or two of the script. People make jokes about league mates being a "Taco", but Kevin is the closest thing I've actually ever seen. If he won a title in a year after drafting 3 all-pros in the 2nd round I wouldn't blink an eye.

I'm so sure that Cam Akers is about to get traded to Kansas City or somewhere he will take an insane amount of snaps and pop off.

This team has talented players who are going to score a ton of points somehow someway, through all the bad trades. It is too bad that his superflex is a point or two max for this year.

Kevin and Eli are in a full boat race to 1.01. Only time will tell who comes out on top.

MVP: D'andre Swift

Double Agent: Michael Gallup

Positive Regression is coming: Elijah Moore, the targets have been there. A few almost catches away from a big night. I still think he will be a factor.

Negative Regression is coming: D'andre Swift, this backfield is not his for now. He will need to keep putting together good weeks to even have a shot at handling this workload again.

Cool cool.

See you boys next week.