Fantasy Football Week 2: Matt Camp's Week 2 Preview

It was real, and it was spectacular.

Well, maybe Week 1 wasn't spectacular for everyone, but it was real football, and actual fantasy points were scored. That's good enough for me.

Whether you're 1-0 or 0-1, the waiver wire is important. Some of you may be scrambling to replace Keenan Allen, but others could be looking to stash away a potential stud who flashed in Week 1. There are plenty of options at WR who should be available in the majority of leagues.

I've provided some streaming quarterbacks and defenses based on favorable matchups, which will be regular features of my weekly previews, although at times I'll include options at those positions with extended value.

It's a thin week if you're looking for a running back, at least in terms of quantity, but there's serious quality in the form of Tevin Coleman.

With a better idea about the state of defenses, I have a better feel about the matchup bumps and concerns for Week 2. I'll cover those in greater detail in Wednesday's Big Board article.

Quarterbacks

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Flacco draws a favorable matchup against the Browns in Week 2.

Waiver Wire

Joe Flacco, BAL

Percent Owned: ESPN—14.9, Yahoo—18

As I suspected, the Ravens don't have much clarity when it comes to their top running backs and wide receivers. Flacco completed passes to 10 different players in the team's Week 1 victory over the Bills, including a 66-yard touchdown to Mike Wallace. In his first regular-season game since tearing his ACL last November, Flacco completed 23 of 34 passes for 258 yards and the aforementioned TD.

He should have a great chance to build on that when the Ravens take on the Browns in an AFC North showdown. The Browns surrendered 278 yards and a pair of TDs to rookie Carson Wentz in Philadelphia, so things are looking up for Flacco in Week 2. Baltimore may have another week of heavy RB and WR rotation, but Flacco shouldn't have much trouble finding the open man in such a good matchup.

Week 2 Projection: 270-275 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns

Carson Wentz, PHI

Percent Owned: ESPN—11, Yahoo—7

I'm probably asking a lot of Wentz considering how he overachieved in a favorable matchup with the Browns in his NFL debut, but if you're reaching deep in a bigger league or a two-QB format, he showed enough in Week 1 to consider using against the Bears on Monday night. Wentz went 22-of-37 passing for 278 yards and two touchdowns against Cleveland.

The Bears did enough to hang with the Texans in Week 1 but ultimately allowed Brock Osweiler to complete 22 of his 35 attempts for 231 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Chicago is trying to bring its defense to a respectable level, but it isn't there yet, so Wentz has a chance to be a fantasy contributor in his second game.

Part of the reason I'm willing to give him a shot is the performance of this wide receiving corps in the opener, as both Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor had big days following disappointing 2015 seasons.

Week 2 Projection: 245-250 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 15 rushing yards

The Matchup Men

As a sneak preview of my weekly rankings, these are the players who are helped or hurt by their matchups. I'll provide additional analysis and projections in Wednesday's Big Board.

Matchup Bumps

Drew Brees, NO (at NYG)

Eli Manning, NYG (vs. NO)

Matthew Stafford, DET (vs. TEN)

Carson Palmer, ARI (vs. TB)

Derek Carr, OAK (vs. ATL)

Marcus Mariota, TEN (at DET)

Dak Prescott, DAL (at WAS)

Matchup Concerns

Andrew Luck, IND (at DEN)

Alex Smith, KC (at HOU)

Running Backs

Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Get used to seeing a lot of Tevin Coleman this year.

Waiver Wire 

Tevin Coleman, ATL

Percent Owned: ESPN—51.8, Yahoo—42

I expressed concern about Devonta Freeman's high draft status throughout the preseason due to the presence of Coleman as both a potential runner and receiver to take touches away from Freeman. After one week, I'm wondering if I didn't hammer that home enough.

Even though both Freeman and Coleman failed to rush for even 25 yards, Coleman came through in a big way as a receiver with five receptions for 95 yards on six targets in a loss to the Buccaneers. By comparison, Freeman caught all four of his targets for 20 yards. Still, Coleman proved he could contribute just as much as Freeman—and in this case more—as a receiver. Freeman outsnapped Coleman 36-32, according to Pro Football Focus.

The split in targets and carries may not be the same every week, but the days when Freeman dominated the touches in Atlanta's backfield could be a thing of the past. Coleman isn't just a handcuff and should be treated as an equal to Freeman, which raises Coleman's fantasy value but knocks down Freeman's.

Week 2 Projections: 11 carries, 41 yards, 4 receptions, 32 yards

James White, NE

Percent Owned: ESPN—38.9, Yahoo—47

White may not be everything Dion Lewis was to the Patriots, but that's OK. He won't get many chances to run it (one carry, four yards in Week 1), so you'll have to get fantasy production through the air, and that's what happened against the Cardinals. White tied for the team lead with seven targets and caught five of them for 40 yards. He played 25 of 61 snaps, which trailed LeGarrette Blount's 43 snaps.

White won't be a player who dominates the carries—or the snaps, for that matter—unless the Patriots are playing from behind. That wasn't the case in Week 1 and likely won't be the case when the Patriots host the Dolphins in Week 2. In points-per-reception (PPR) formats, White should be a solid flex option in most weeks, including the upcoming game against Miami.

Week 2 Projection: 2 carries, 8 rushing yards, 5 receptions, 38 receiving yards

The Matchup Men

Matchup Bumps

C.J. Anderson, DEN (vs. IND)

Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (at WAS)

Lamar Miller, HOU (vs. KC)

T.J. Yeldon, JAC (at SD)

Matchup Concerns

LeSean McCoy, BUF (vs. NYJ)

Matt Forte, NYJ (at BUF)

Wide Receivers

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Mohamed Sanu made his presence known in his Falcons debut.

Waiver Wire 

Tajae Sharpe, TEN

Percent Owned: ESPN—41.8, Yahoo—46

I included Sharpe in my Week 1 Weekly Preview along with Will Fuller as the top WRs to add off the waiver wire, and both came through in their respective NFL debuts. Sharpe led the Titans in targets (11), receptions (7), yards (76) and WR snaps (64 of 67) by a wide margin in the loss to the Vikings.

Tennessee wants to be a run-first offense, and it should be with DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry in the backfield. However, when the Titans throw it, Sharpe is the top option in a fairly old receiving corps. He has a clear connection with quarterback Marcus Mariota, which is important to develop for a young QB and young WR. He should be a consistent WR3 at the least this season.

Week 2 Projection: 7 receptions, 78 yards

Will Fuller, HOU

Percent Owned: ESPN—58.1, Yahoo—45

A starting role as a rookie was enough reason to add Fuller to your fantasy rosters before the season got underway, and for those who did, Week 1 was glorious. Fuller ended up as the top fantasy WR in Houston (yes, better than DeAndre Hopkins) with five receptions for 107 yards and an 18-yard touchdown on 11 targets.

Hopkins will more than likely see opponents' top cornerback in every game, which leaves a talented player like Fuller in some possible mismatches. Fuller's still improving his hands, so he'll have a drop from time to time, but he should do more than enough to make up for any mistakes with his positive contributions. If you're looking for the WR with the highest upside on the waiver wire, it's Fuller.

Week 2 Projection: 6 receptions, 84 yards

Eli Rogers, PIT

Percent Owned: ESPN—12.3, Yahoo—8

With Markus Wheaton (shoulder) inactive for the opener against the Redskins, Rogers saw increased snaps and targets and took advantage of both. Rogers caught six of his seven targets for 59 yards and hauled in a three-yard TD that deflected off teammate Sammie Coates. Rogers was second to Antonio Brown in every receiving category and played 47 of 68 snaps (Coates played 44 snaps).

If Rogers can stay in the mix of one of the best offenses in the league, he'll have consistent fantasy value even if he's sharing the field with Brown. In fact, other than Brown, no Steelers WR has a strong grasp on any spot in the lineup, so if Rogers can build on his Week 1 performance, he would have a good chance of turning into the No. 2 option in the passing game.

Week 2 Projection: 5 receptions, 58 yards

Mohamed Sanu, ATL

Percent Owned: ESPN—52, Yahoo—45

Sanu joined the Falcons with little fantasy fanfare following an up-and-down tenure in Cincinnati. He made his presence felt in his first game with Atlanta by making a great catch on a five-yard TD as part of a five-reception, 80-yard performance on eight targets, which tied for a team high with Julio Jones.

Considered more of a gadget player in Cincinnati, if Sanu can give the Falcons a legit second option at WR behind Jones, it fills a big gap left by the departure of Roddy White. Because Atlanta's defense is still bad, quarterback Matt Ryan might have to throw it a lot, which should only help Sanu's volume.

Week 2 Projection: 5 receptions, 65 yards

Chris Hogan, NE

Percent Owned: ESPN—40, Yahoo—31

Other than a few random games with the Bills, Hogan has never had much fantasy value, but his stock shot up when he signed with the Patriots. It also fell when Tom Brady accepted his four-game suspension to start the season, meaning Jimmy Garoppolo would start in his place. Those who drafted Hogan likely didn't play him in the opener unless they were forced to, in which case they were rewarded.

Hogan got the scoring going against the Cardinals with a 37-yard TD. He'd catch two more of his four targets to tally three receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown while playing 56 of 71 snaps. Garoppolo was better than expected, and Hogan's role likely meant more with Rob Gronkowski (hamstring) out of the lineup. Don't be surprised if Hogan's value fluctuates a bit until Brady comes back, but for now he's definitely worth rostering.

Week 2 Projection: 3 receptions, 45 yards

Mike Wallace, BAL

Percent Owned: ESPN—40.6, Yahoo—35

As the Ravens attempt to figure out their best option(s) at their skill positions, any signs of a connection with QB Joe Flacco will help. Wallace and Flacco seemed to be on the same page in their short time together during the preseason, and that carried over to Week 1 when they hooked up for a 66-yard touchdown.

In his first game as a Raven, Wallace totaled three receptions on six targets for 91 yards and a score. His 44 snaps were second only to Steve Smith's 45 snaps, but Wallace was easily the team's best fantasy option. Wallace has been hit-or-miss for much of his career, so I'll never expect consistent performances, but I'm a believer in Flacco, so for now Wallace looks like the WR to grab in Baltimore.

Week 2 Projection: 5 receptions, 82 yards

The Matchup Men

Matchup Bumps

Julio Jones/Mohamed Sanu, ATL (at OAK)

Odell Beckham Jr./Sterling Shepard, NYG (vs. NO)

Dez Bryant, DAL (at WAS)

Jarvis Landry, MIA (at NE)

Tajae Sharpe, TEN (at DET)

Matchup Concerns

T.Y. Hilton, IND (at DEN)

Tight Ends

Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Ebron took his first step toward a breakout season against the Colts.

Waiver Wire

Eric Ebron, DET

Percent Owned: ESPN—46.2, Yahoo—59

An ankle injury limited Ebron for much of the preseason, and that's not the first time he's been bitten by the injury bug over his short career. Because of that missed time, Ebron's fantasy value took a hit and he didn't feel like a safe start in Week 1, especially with all the talent Detroit has at WR and RB.

In a bit of a surprise, Ebron had a great game against the Colts. He caught all five of his targets for 46 yards, including a six-yard touchdown. The Lions offense looks great, and Ebron finds himself right in the middle of it all. Because I have a lot of confidence in quarterback Matthew Stafford, the trickle-down effect means I've warmed up to Ebron. This could be the year he's a consistent fantasy performer.

Week 2 Projection: 5 receptions, 52 yards, 1 touchdown

Clive Walford, OAK

Percent Owned: ESPN—43.4, Yahoo—19

I liked Walford as a sleeper against the Saints in Week 1, and if you strictly go by the numbers, he didn't produce. He hauled in three of his five targets for 25 yards in the thrilling victory in New Orleans. However, he was targeted in the end zone and nearly scored, so it wasn't like he was a fantasy ghost.

With WRs Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree ahead of Walford in the pecking order, I understand if you don't want anything to do with Walford until he proves himself. If you have the room on your roster, he should be on it because the potential in this high-powered offense is definitely there.

Week 2 Projection: 4 receptions, 48 yards

Virgil Green, DEN

Percent Owned: ESPN—10.3, Yahoo—26

Much like Walford, Green was touted as a sleeper for Week 1, but the numbers just weren't good enough to call him a successful pick. Green received five targets and caught four of them for 28 yards, but he should have had a sixth target and a fifth catch that would have resulted in a touchdown if QB Trevor Siemian didn't overlook the fact that Green was wide-open.

You might not want to hear about hypothetical fantasy production, but when it comes down to the QB and not the player making the mistake, at least you know Green is in the right position to succeed. I'm not much of a Siemian fan and totally get if attaching one of your fantasy players to him seems like a bad idea. You should give Green another shot knowing he has a beatable matchup at home against the Colts this weekend.

Week 2 Projection: 4 receptions, 51 yards, 1 touchdown

The Matchup Men

Matchup Bumps

Delanie Walker, TEN (at DET)

Clive Walford, OAK (vs. ATL)

Virgil Green, DEN (vs. IND)

Julius Thomas, JAC (at SD)

Coby Fleener, NO (at NYG)

Matchup Concerns

None of note

Defenses/Kickers

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Jump on the Ravens defense this week.

Waiver Wire

Defenses

This will typically focus on the best streaming options widely available in both ESPN and Yahoo leagues based on the matchups.

Baltimore Ravens

Percent Owned: ESPN—9.5, Yahoo—7

The Ravens defense was once a dominant one in the fantasy world, but they've gone through and remain in a bit of a rebuilding process. Week 1 was a good step forward, as they held the Bills to just seven points in a victory. Even though they sacked quarterback Tyrod Taylor just two times, they harassed him all day and limited him to 111 passing yards and 11 rushing yards.

This week, the Ravens head to Cleveland to face a Browns team that just lost Robert Griffin III to a shoulder injury, meaning veteran Josh McCown will get the start. That takes a little of the attraction off this matchup for the Ravens, but the Browns are still a fairly young team in transition, and McCown is far from a great QB.

Week 2 Projection: 3 sacks, 1 interception, 17-20 points allowed

Philadelphia Eagles

Percent Owned: ESPN—30.5, Yahoo—48

When a team draws RG3 in the opener, it is a lock for a strong fantasy performance. The Eagles did just that with three sacks, one interception, a safety and 10 points allowed in a dominant victory.

The Eagles may end up being more than a just a matchup play for fantasy, although their Week 2 matchup against the Bears will be the last time you use them for at least a few weeks with the Steelers coming up in Week 3 before their bye in Week 4. Forcing Jay Cutler to make mistakes has never been hard, and Philadelphia has the pass rush to bring Cutler down and create turnovers.

Week 2 Projection: 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, 17-20 points allowed

Kickers

During the season, kickers on the rise or those entering favorable matchups with a lot of points forecast will be featured in this section.

Wil Lutz, NO

Percent Owned: ESPN—0.2, Yahoo—1

Last week, I adjusted this article to include Lutz instead of Kai Forbath when the Saints decided to make multiple kicker moves in the span of a few days. This suggestion was a matter of the where (New Orleans) and not the who (Lutz/Forbath), meaning I knew the Saints kicker would get plenty of chances in favorable conditions. Lutz ended up with four extra points and two field goals.

It should be another active week for Lutz as the Saints travel to New Jersey to take on the Giants. Neither team has a strong defense, so it could be another high-scoring affair. Weather conditions are also favorable at this time of year at MetLife Stadium.

Josh Lambo, SD

Percent Owned: ESPN—2.3, Yahoo—4

The Chargers lost top wide receiver Keenan Allen to a torn ACL, leaving them woefully short at the position. However, they still have a versatile backfield with Danny Woodhead and Melvin Gordon, as well as capable receivers in Antonio Gates and Travis Benjamin. That's not ideal for Philip Rivers, but it's still enough to work with in an OK matchup with the Jaguars.

Lambo had three extra points and a pair of field goals in the Week 1 loss to the Chiefs and could end up with more field-goal attempts if the Chargers offense sputters without Allen.

Camp's Corner

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Jack Doyle scored two more touchdowns than the entire Vikings offense in Week 1.

Based on my Twitter interactions, overreaction isn't running rampant after Week 1. That's in part due to a fantasy-friendly start to the season.

Ten quarterbacks threw for at least 300 yards, 11 running backs had 100 total yards and 22 wide receivers finished with 80 yards or more.

On the other hand, I've received many questions about tight ends. Only eight TEs scored in Week 1, and both the Buccaneers and Colts got touchdowns from two of their TEs. Just 10 TEs had at least 50 yards. It's a position of concern, but as the weakest spot for fantasy, that's not much of a surprise.

One week should not be a cause for massive panic or jubilation. Some teams had favorable matchups. Some teams had tough matchups. Keep a level head for a couple of weeks and then reassess your team.

Stats provided by FantasyPros and NFL.com. Snap counts provided by Pro Football Focus. ESPN and Yahoo ownership percentages are accurate as of Tuesday morning.

Do you have a fantasy football question? Follow @TheMattCamp