Fantasy Football Week 2: Weekly Fantasy Trends Report
Week 1 of the fantasy football season is always a fun one.
Outside of football being back, the transactional trends are always interesting to see. In years past, the biggest pickup that comes to mind is Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Kevin Ogletree after Week 1 of the 2012 NFL season. Ogletree caught eight passes for over 100 yards and two touchdowns in a breakout performance, and the hype around him was insane in regards to his role with the team. Of course, he ended up being just another Week 1 wonder.
There wasn't a performance like that from the current players on the fantasy waiver wire, but there were still showings that resulted in some strange pickups.
In this slideshow, we'll examine all of these trends and provide analysis as to what to make of them. Because believe it or not, it's not always the best idea to follow the crowd.
Let's start with the wide receiver situation in San Diego.
Chargers WR Tyrell Williams Being Heavily Added
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Following the season-ending injury to San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen, everyone wanted to know who's the next man up.
According to the add rates on Yahoo!, most believe it's fellow wide receiver Tyrell Williams.
I'd have to agree.
Standing 6'4", Williams is a matchup nightmare for opposing defensive backs, and quarterback Philip Rivers will love to capitalize on that.
And if Williams emerges, it won't just help his fantasy value—it'll boost Rivers' as well.
While Allen was healthy from Weeks 1-8 last year, Rivers was the No. 2 fantasy quarterback. After Allen suffered his lacerated spleen, Rivers was No. 22 from Weeks 9-17.
Looking at Williams' advanced metrics, it's clear he is a freakish athlete.
Keep adding him—he has the best shot as the "next man up."
Pick Up Texans WR Will Fuller
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Owned in 49 percent of Yahoo! leagues prior to Week 1, Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller has seen a 23 percent increase in adds, bringing his ownership to 72 percent.
This is a smart move.
Although it was against a pedestrian Chicago Bears secondary in Week 1, Fuller caught five of his team-leading 11 targets for 107 yards and a score.
Fuller had a chance at a much bigger day, but at one point the rookie dropped what would have been a deep touchdown (drops were a concern with Fuller coming out of Notre Dame).
Anytime you can have a competent receiver opposite All-Pro wideout DeAndre Hopkins, that player will have fantasy value. Fuller's add rate shows that people are seeing that.
Fuller may be tough to come by. However, if he is available, go out and get him.
Give Ravens WR Mike Wallace a Shot
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Once thought to be a silly addition, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace still has some juice left in the tank.
Targeted five times in Week 1, Wallace hauled in a long touchdown strike from Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, pushing his final line to three catches for 91 yards and a touchdown.
Beyond the numbers, it's encouraging that Wallace started the game opposite veteran wide receiver Steve Smith Sr.
At 30 years old, Wallace is still a burner. The Ravens haven't had that kind of threat since San Francisco 49ers wideout Torrey Smith was on their roster.
Wallace saw a 17 percent boost in ownership after Week 1, but considering Wallace's speed coupled with Flacco's big arm, he should be added more. Keep in mind, though, there could be some boom-or-bust games given the type of game Wallace brings to the table.
Stop Dropping Bills QB Tyrod Taylor
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Look, I wholeheartedly understand the "Overreaction Monday" stuff, but this should not apply to Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who has been dropped in 10 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
I'm not going to beat around the bush—Taylor was dreadful Week 1.
In his opener against the Ravens—his former team—Taylor only mustered 15 passes for 111 yards and no rushing touchdowns.
It's going to get better, just relax.
Week 1 is always a strange one. Players have yet to play a full 60 minutes of football, so there's some rust on the field.
Outside of Taylor's struggles, the other Week 1 oddities included the Seattle Seahawks narrowly beating the Miami Dolphins and the Los Angeles Rams getting shut out by the 49ers.
Moving forward, Taylor will be better and produce more on the ground. Week 2 presents a relatively difficult task for the Bills as they host the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football, but don't abandon Taylor yet.
Believe me—I'll let you know when you should. If I cut bait, it's time. But for now, I'm a huge believer in Taylor.
Giants WR Sterling Shepard Only Starting in 29 Percent of Leagues Week 2
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You do realize that the New York Giants are playing the New Orleans Saints this week, right? At home?
If so, then why is rookie wide receiver Sterling Shepard being started in less than 30 percent of Yahoo! leagues?
In Week 1, Shepard was one of two Giants wide receivers to score touchdowns (and the other was not Odell Beckham Jr).
The Saints just gave up 35 points to the Oakland Raiders, while two receivers on the Raiders caught six or more passes for at least 87 yards.
Though Raiders quarterback Derek Carr only had one touchdown pass, the Saints will now be without top cornerback Delvin Breaux after he suffered a broken leg, according to Josh Katzenstein of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
In 2015, the Giants played the Saints in New Orleans. In that game, Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw for 350 yards and six touchdowns.
Six!
Shepard should have a great game in Week 2.
Start him.
Cowboys WR Dez Bryant Involved in Most Trades on Yahoo!
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After only managing one catch for eight yards in Week 1 against the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant has been traded 255 times, the highest total on Yahoo!
This is to be expected. Bryant is not an asset to be dropped—you want to trade him if possible.
But the context of these trades would be nice to know. Is Bryant being dealt for fair value, or perhaps 70 cents on the dollar?
Personally, I'd buy low on Bryant. However, we need to accept that his value with rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has dropped him to a WR2.
Over the next few weeks, the Cowboys have a couple of easy matchups in the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears. But in Week 2, the team will do battle with the Washington Redskins and All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman.
Of course, the Cowboys could just line Bryant up on the other side of the field and work him against Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland, as the Pittsburgh Steelers did with wide receiver Antonio Brown. However, the Redskins may reconsider their scheme and have Norman shadow the top weapon this time around.
Until Prescott shows us otherwise, Bryant is a WR2. If you can buy low on him, do it. However, don't deal him away for half the value—he's still more valuable than that.
Stop Adding Raiders RB Jalen Richard
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Breaking news: Football player lights up New Orleans Saints defense.
Wow, who would have seen that coming?
In Week 1, Oakland Raiders running back Jalen Richard did just that. His five-touch, 95-yard and one touchdown rate is not going to continue.
If not for his 75-yard touchdown run, Richard would have finished with 20 total yards on four touches—and he probably wouldn't have been added at all.
No, Richard hasn't been a huge pickup, only jumping from one percent owned to nine percent owned in Yahoo! leagues. Regardless, he's not worth a roster spot unless you're in an incredibly deep league.
The idea that Richard could be the handcuff for fellow running back Latavius Murray is not something I'm ready to jump on board with—for now, that job still belongs to DeAndre Washington.
Don't use a roster spot on Richard.
Colts TE Jack Doyle Being Added After Two-Touchdown Game
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The annual Week 1 anomalies continued when Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle caught four passes good for two touchdowns.
As a result, Doyle has seen an eight percentage increase in adds in Yahoo! leagues.
Like Oakland Raiders running back Jalen Richard in the previous slide, don't add Doyle.
To put this in perspective, Doyle had three total receiving touchdowns from 2013 until Week 1 of the 2016 NFL season.
I'm not sure what else to say. Don't add him.
Giants WR Victor Cruz Sees 13 Percent Ownership Increase
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After playing in his first game in 700 days, New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz's ownership is now in the 30 percent range in Yahoo! leagues due to a performance that ended with a touchdown in Week 1.
Cruz played in the third-most snaps among the Giants wide receivers behind Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard.
But other than a bench spot, Cruz is not worth starting unless you're in a pinch during a bye week.
While he did score a touchdown, Cruz's time as "the guy" for the Giants has come to an end. This season, he's probably the third or fourth option for quarterback Eli Manning.
I'd give Cruz an add in deeper leagues as a depth piece, but don't be surprised if you find yourself dropping him in a few weeks after some mediocre performances.
Stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus and Player Profiler. All ownership percentages courtesy of Yahoo!
Follow me on Twitter @RichardJanvrin.
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