Big Board: Saquon Barkley, Malik Nabers among the risers in the Top 100 rest-of-season rankings

1

CeeDee Lamb

For his entire career, Lamb has fizzled in September (15.2 PPR PPG) and sizzled thereafter – 17.2 in October, and 19.1 in both November and December.

DAL

WR

2

Saquon Barkley

As the mantra goes, ”Location, location, location!” – the move to Philly has produced the best two-game season start of his fantasy career.

PHI

RB

3

Breece Hall

20+ PPR points in five straight games dating back to last season – One of three RBs (Alvin Kamara, De’Von Achane) averaging 20+ touches and 1.00+ PPR points/touch.

NYJ

RB

4

Justin Jefferson

For his career, Jefferson has averaged 2.04 PPR points per target from Kirk Cousins and a 2.05 mark from all other QBs, so it’s no surprise he’s off and running with Sam Darnold.

MIN

WR

5

Bijan Robinson

Seventh at RB in scrimmage yards (233) and getting the workload we were counting on (20.5 touch/game), but ATL offense has afforded few red zone opportunities (just 3 RZ touches, 0 TDs).

ATL

RB

6

Tyreek Hill

Likely to take a value hit with Tua on IR, but if 2022 is any indication, Hill is still likely to produce as top-10 WR – he dropped six points per game in four games sans Tua in 2022, but still delivered a healthy 15.7 PPR PPG in that span.

MIA

WR

7

Alvin Kamara

After a massive Week 2 effort (180 yards, 4 TDs), he sits behind only CMC and Kyren Williams for the most PPR PPG at RB from 2023 to present.

NO

RB

8

De’Von Achane

He produced 20+ PPR points in seven of his first 13 NFL regular-season games – since 1970, only five RBs have bested that number through their first 13 games (Barkley is first with 11).

MIA

RB

9

Jahmyr Gibbs

After a top-10 RB finish on an average of 15.6 touches as a rookie, it’s encouraging to see his volume up (17.5) while still delivering an elite 1.00 PPR points/touch.

DET

RB

10

Amon-Ra St. Brown

He has the second most targets (25) but with just a 58.3 Catch% mark. St. Brown is still working to get on same page as QB Jared Goff – ARSB’s mark each of past three seasons has been above 74%.

DET

WR

11

Ja’Marr Chase

Slow start, but he he actually scored fewer points in his first two games of 2023 and still finished WR11 despite QB Joe Burrow missing seven games – keep the faith that the rebound is coming.

CIN

WR

12

Jonathan Taylor

Going back to 2023, he has a run of 11 straight games with 10+ PPR points – his four runs of 15+ yards ties him with Josh Jacobs and J.K. Dobbins for NFL lead.

IND

RB

13

Josh Jacobs

In our ”volume is king” world, he’s the duke of the dance as only Barkley and Rhamondre Stevenson average more than his 25 touches/game.

GB

RB

14

Nico Collins

PFF’s second-highest graded WR (behind Chris Godwin) through two weeks – is Top 4 in yards per route run (3.71) and is tied with Godwin at WR for the lead with 12 first downs.

HOU

WR

15

James Cook

Among RBs averaging 12+ touches, he ranks third in PPR points/touch (1.23) – He’s averaging 19.5 touches, 99.5 total yards in the past 11 games (inc. postseason) with Joe Brady as OC.

BUF

RB

16

Malik Nabers

In the past 50 seasons, Puka Nacua and Anquan Boldin are the only others to combine for 15+ catches and 190+ receiving yards in the first two games of a career.

NYG

WR

17

Davante Adams

With Gardner Minshew at QB, it has been business as usual for Adams: Top 8 among WRs in targets (18), receptions (14) and receiving yards (169).

LV

WR

18

James Conner

Has delivered RB1-level results with the Cards – Joe Mixon is the only other RB to average 15+ PPR PPG each season from 2021 to present (min. 10 games per season) – just needs to avoid the annual 2-4 DNPs (more than 13 games played just once in career).

ARI

RB

19

Mike Evans

He’s at 15.2 PPR PPG through Week 2, which is par for the course – he’s finished above the 15-point mark in 9 of his 10 previous seasons (13.4 in 2017).

TB

WR

20

Joe Mixon

Ankle injury slowed his roll in Week 2, but Mixon is in a clear bell cow role (30 carries in Week 1) in one of the most well-rounded offenses in the NFL. He should pay ample dividends when healthy.

HOU

RB

21

Derrick Henry

Still waiting for his true Baltimore breakout game, but we expected the scoring upside to be immense behind Lamar Jackson, and he has a TD in each of his first two games.

BAL

RB

22

Kyren Williams

Getting the expected volume (18.5 touches/game) and has a TD in each game, but facing serious situational headwind with injuries to LAR receivers and the O-line.

LAR

RB

23

A.J. Brown

Opened the season with his accustomed Top 5 WR-level production (5/129/1) but a hammy issue forced a DNP in Week 2, with Weeks 3-4 in question – the worst-case scenario seems to be holding him out through the Week 5 bye.

PHI

WR

24

Garrett Wilson

Has yet to find the end zone, but 11.1 PPR PPG and a healthy 17 targets in the first two games as QB Aaron Rodgers gets his sea legs back is begrudgingly acceptable.

NYJ

WR

25

Marvin Harrison Jr.

The only rookie WR in NFL history to score under 2.0 PPR points (1.4) in his Week 1 debut and then 29+ PPR points in Week 2 – James Lofton (1978) was closest with exactly 2.0 points in his debut (one catch, 10 yards).

ARI

WR

26

Rashee Rice

Ranks Top 5 among WRs (min. 10 targets) in YAC/reception (9.8), yards per route run (3.49) and separation yards at point of catch (4.0).

KC

WR

27

Chris Godwin

Top WR in PPR through two weeks, which is not that improbable as has was Top 15 WR in PPR PPG (min. 10 games) each season from 2019-22 – last year’s No. 36 finish masked his WR1 upside.

TB

WR

28

Travis Etienne Jr.

Despite sluggish start for JAC offense (15 PPG), he has a TD in each game and fumbled away a sure third TD in Week 1 – expect JAC to get him more involved in the passing game going forward (just five catches thus far).

JAC

RB

29

Jalen Hurts

Only Josh Allen has more fantasy points from 2021 to present – Hurts has 47 rushing TDs in his past 59 games (inc. postseason).

PHI

QB

30

DK Metcalf

It’s early, but he’s on pace to tie Randy Moss’s record of six straight seasons of 900+ receiving yards and 6+ receiving TDs to start his NFL career.

SEA

WR

31

DeVonta Smith

Past 12 games (inc. 2023 postseason game): 71 catches, 991 yards, 6 TDs, 16.2 PPR PPG.

PHI

WR

32

Zay Flowers

Fourth in the NFL with 21 targets – he leads all WRs (min. 10 targets) in yards of separation at the point of catch (4.4).

BAL

WR

33

Josh Allen

He has averaged 250+ passing yards in each of past four seasons, but has been under 240 in eight of the past nine games with OC Joe Brady, and he’s averaging just 185.5 this season (sans Stefon Diggs).

BUF

QB

34

Lamar Jackson

His 167 rushing yards ranks Top 10 in the NFL through two weeks, two yards more than Bijan Robinson – also sits Top 5 in pass attempts (75) and passing yards (520).

BAL

QB

35

Kenneth Walker III

Looked great in Week 1 (20/103/1 rushing) but an abdominal injury knocked him out for Week 2 (and he could miss another game or two).

SEA

RB

36

Rhamondre Stevenson

Second in touches/game (25.5) – currently has PFF’s fifth-highest rushing grade among RBs (min. 12 carries).

NE

RB

37

Chris Olave

His combined 15.9 PPR points in the first two games is the second-lowest two-game total of his career (10.6 in Weeks 4-5 of 2023) – a tough pill to swallow with the Saints leading the NFL at 45.5 points per game.

NO

WR

38

Brock Bowers

Leads TEs with three catches of 20+ yards (George Kittle, Zach Ertz, Brenton Strange are the only other TEs with more than one) – his 15 catches are more than twice as many than all but six TEs.

LV

TE

39

David Montgomery

Not as ”sexy” as his backfield mate Jahmyr Gibbs, but his rushing line in 19 career games with DET (inc. postseason) should get you hot and bothered: 286/1324/17.

DET

RB

40

J.K. Dobbins

Given his injury history, he’s the feel-good star of 2024, thus far: tied for most runs of 10+ yards (7), second in YAC/attempt (4.8), second in PPR points/touch (1.39).

LAC

RB

41

Deebo Samuel Sr.

Back-to-back games with 18+ PPR points to open season but Samuel picked up a calf strain in Week 2 – he lands here based on reports he’ll be out just a ”couple weeks”.

SF

WR

42

Brandon Aiyuk

Aiyuk sputtered out of the starting gate after his preseason contract impasse but he will likely be leaned on heavily for at least the next 2-3 weeks while Samuel nurses that calf strain.

SF

WR

43

Brian Robinson Jr.

His 5.07 yards after contact/attempt is tops among RBs (min 20 carries) – he has been delivering RB2-level numbers since midway through the 2022 season.

WAS

RB

44

Aaron Jones

Dinged up in Week 2, but he still managed 10+ PPR points (thanks to 5/36 receiving) for the eighth straight game dating back to 2023 – given his durability concerns, his 15 touches/game with MIN is a wheelhouse volume for Jones.

MIN

RB

45

Patrick Mahomes II

Still a back-end QB1 despite the slow start – with RB Isiah Pacheco out, there’s a good chance KC leans more on Mahomes’ arm, perhaps getting TE Travis Kelce and rookie WR Xavier Worthy more involved in the process.

KC

QB

46

George Kittle

Breakaway king of the TEs – his 20 catches of 20+ yards from 2023 to present easily lead position in that span (Travis Kelce, David Njoku, T.J. Hockenson tied for second at 13).

SF

TE

47

Jordan Mason

He’s averaging a lofty 25 touches and 5.1 YPC, but he’s tough to rank given the unknown of CMC’s return – some of the more dire reports say it could be Week 10 or later.

SF

RB

48

Drake London

A game-winning TD drive in Week 2 at Philly, in which London scored the winning TD, offers hope that QB Kirk Cousins is starting to feel like his old self and will carry London with him. That was always the bet.

ATL

WR

49

Tony Pollard

If you bet on Tyjae Spears in the TEN backfield (I’m looking at the man in the mirror), you made the wrong choice – Pollard has out-touched Spears 41-16, and is fourth among RBs (min. 20 carries) in YAC/attempt (3.85).

TEN

RB

50

DJ Moore

We know he’s one of the most talented WRs in the NFL, and he’s overcome tough QB situations before, but the growing pains for rookie QB Caleb Williams look like they might be more painful for Moore than expected – at least the volume is there (18 targets, seventh among WRs).

CHI

WR

51