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Good morning. Last night’s 32-19 Scorigami and 49ers win taught me two things: Running backs in SF are apparently interchangeable (Jordan Mason thrived in Christian McCaffrey’s stead), and the Jets are not yet a contender, but Aaron Rodgers looks healthy. Full takeaways here.
As for today’s newsletter:
- Fantasy fallout: Week 2 prep
- The Jets’ latest glaring absence
- Thoughts vs. reality: Mark Andrews
- Latest Deshaun Watson accusation
Fantasy Reset: Waivers, concerns and big debuts
Remind me to never trust a Panthers player again after Diontae “featured receiver” Johnson had two catches for 19 yards. It’s also hard to trust Kyle Shanahan, who might have lied about McCaffrey’s availability. Other fantasy football takeaways before Week 2:
Waiver wire adds: J.K. Dobbins is my top add, if available — but if you’re reading this newsletter, you already have him. The best of the rest:
- No. 1: Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving. He led all rookie backs with 62 rushing yards (6.8 yards per carry), while incumbent Rachaad White averaged a pedestrian 2.1 yards per rush. Irving could be the starter before long.
- No. 2: Ravens TE Isaiah Likely. He and Mark Andrews ran a nearly identical number of routes, but Likely finished with a 29 percent share of the targets (12 total). Andrews won’t be double-teamed every game, but the talented Likely is still a priority. More on this later.
- No. 3: 49ers RB Jordan Mason. There’s a chance the team holds out McCaffrey another week, in which case you’re guaranteed a starter in Mason, who averaged 5.2 yards per carry last season and saw 29 touches (for 152 yards) last night.
- No. 4: Broncos RB Jaleel McLaughlin. The Sean Payton favorite saw a team-high 15 touches and led Denver with 19 early-down snaps, per PFF. He wasn’t great, but it’s a volume game.
Concerning debut:
- Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. For the past two seasons, Kyler Murray ranked last in the league in points per game on passes 11-plus yards downfield. On Sunday, Murray was 0-7 on deep passes and never saw a wide-open Harrison, who finished with one catch for four yards. As K.C. Joyner explains, it’s already time to worry.
Best debut:
- Texans RB Joe Mixon. Mixon gashed the Colts defense — who hadn’t allowed 150 yards to a runner in over three years — to the tune of 159 rushing yards, three catches and a touchdown. Houston’s 28-year-old workhorse is a perfect fit for OC Bobby Slowik’s scheme. Usually being drafted after 15 other RBs this offseason, Mixon looks like a league-winner.
For more:
- Honorable mentions. Click each to study up: Anthony Richardson, Jayden Daniels and Jameson Williams.
- Jake Ciely’s Week 2 Waiver Wire adds, a list that includes Tank Bigsby (who led the Jaguars in rushing yards).
- Dynasty league risers and fallers, featuring rookie WR Jalen McMillan.
- Michael Salfino’s Week 1 takeaways, which have Rhamondre Stevenson as a top-10 RB
What Dianna’s Hearing: Last night, Jets’ missing piece was glaring
Jets coach Robert Saleh admitted after their loss to the 49ers that the team struggled to pressure Brock Purdy, highlighting the problem hanging over New York all summer: Can they get Haason Reddick back on the field?
There is still no resolution to the holdout. I was told by a league source that Reddick is operating with the “mindset that he will die on this hill.” He will forfeit his $791,666 game check for this (and every other game) he skips. His contract won’t be guaranteed, since he wasn’t on the roster in Week 1. The Jets do not gain additional cap space for those game-checks, though — he currently counts $0 on their cap because he’s on the reserve/did not report list. If/when Reddick returns, his prorated salary will count against their cap immediately, and the Jets won’t get a cap credit for the games he skips because they never appeared on the cap.
So basically, the only financial consideration is that Reddick is losing a lot of money. And the Jets lack a much-needed piece of their defense.
Thoughts vs. reality: Andrews or Likely?
It’s easy — but often wrong — to take things at face value. After Week 1 last year, Jimmy Garoppolo looked like the guy in Vegas, while then-rookie C.J. Stroud took five sacks in a blowout loss. Things change quickly.
A new format for every Tuesday:
Thought: I should be worried about Mark Andrews. Reality: Don’t. The Chiefs did what they always do, blanketing Baltimore’s tight end with multiple defenders (while leaving Likely open). Defenses will adjust after Likely’s 111-yard performance. Meanwhile, Andrews played more snaps and ran more routes than Likely, also recording the game’s highest separation score. Andrews should return to fantasy relevance soon, as he and Likely can co-exist.
Thought: Stefon Diggs is set for a big season. Reality: I’d sell high. Competing with Houston’s Nico Collins and Tank Dell for looks, Diggs saw just six targets after averaging 9.4 as the No. 1 option in Buffalo. His 33 receiving yards are my biggest concern, but were overshadowed by his two touchdowns and three red zone targets.
Thought: Adonai Mitchell underwhelmed. Reality: The Colts rookie would have had two long touchdowns (and nearly 20 fantasy points) if Anthony Richardson had been more accurate. Mitchell kept getting open downfield and is a strong stash.
Thought: Running back committees look decided. Reality: Let’s give it time. In Cincinnati, Zack Moss had 75 percent of the rushing attempts and ran more routes than backup Chase Brown. Meanwhile, Titans HC Brian Callahan said he wants their backfield to be “a little more even” between Tony Pollard (19 touches) and Tyjae Spears (8 touches).
In Los Angeles, J.K. Dobbins (10) had one fewer carry than Gus Edwards (11) but ran for 111 more yards. The hot hand should see more work going forward. In Vegas, it looks like a near-even split (between Zamir White and Alexander Mattison), same with Dallas (Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle) and Washington (Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler).
Around the NFL
Deshaun Watson was sued by a woman in Texas who is accusing him of sexual assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. This new case raises issues beyond what Watson had previously settled, also raising the potential for another suspension by the NFL.
The Dolphins called Tyreek Hill’s arrest “overly aggressive and violent” after the public release of body-camera footage revealing Miami-Dade Police officers’ conduct.
Gardner Minshew moved up seven spots to QB25 in The Athletic’s QB stock report, while Will Levis fell to QB31.
The Bills jumped from No. 8 to No. 3 in Josh Kendall’s Week 2 Power Rankings, while the Buccaneers paced the league by moving up 12 spots to No. 10 after Baker Mayfield’s four-touchdown performance.
Packers backup Malik Willis will start if Jordan Love is not cleared from his sprained MCL before Sunday’s game against the Colts, per HC Matt LaFleur. But, as Matt Schneidman notes, this is likely just gamesmanship; expect Willis to start.
Puka Nacua has a sprained PCL and will miss at least four games. Rams injury woes continue.
Yesterday’s most-clicked: Tom Brady’s uninspiring broadcast debut.
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