Xavier Worthy's value increased for Week 2 based on two things that happened this week. He's worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver as a sleeper in all leagues against the Bengals.
First, Cincinnati defensive back Cam Taylor-Britt gave Worthy and the Chiefs some bulletin board material with some unflattering comments about the Kansas City rookie. Said Taylor Britt about Worthy, "He can run straight. Run jet sweeps and just run straight. He can't do too much else, so that's about it."
Taylor-Britt continued by saying, "He's only a hundred-some pounds, so if you put hands on him, you're gonna stop his speed. So basically, get your hands on him."
Along with those comments, the Chiefs placed receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder) on injured reserve Friday, which means Worthy is locked into a starring role for the foreseeable future. And since he knows that -- as does Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid -- we could see Worthy featured quite a bit in Week 2.
In Week 1 against Baltimore, Worthy only had three total touches, but he turned them into two touchdowns. He had a 21-yard rushing touchdown and caught two of three targets for 47 yards and a touchdown.
He should only improve as he gets more playing time, and Mahomes will likely try to show that Worthy can do more than "run straight." I'm excited to start Worthy in three-receiver leagues against the Bengals, and he's one of my favorite sleepers for Week 2.
Fantasy Football Today Newsletter
Know What Your Friends Don't
Get tips, advice and news to win your league - all from the FFT podcast team.
By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge Paramount's Privacy Policy.
Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe.
Thanks for signing up!
Keep an eye on your inbox.
Sorry!
There was an error processing your subscription.
Week 2 Sleepers
Week 2 Preview
Sleepers
Sleeper QBs
Stafford only scored 16.7 Fantasy points in Week 1 at Detroit, but he passed for 317 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He did that with his offensive line falling apart, and Puka Nacua (knee) left the game as well. Nacua is out for Week 2, and the offensive line is still an issue, but Stafford is still worth using as a low-end No. 1 quarterback in all leagues. This is a great matchup against the Cardinals, who allowed Josh Allen to pass for 232 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 (he also added 39 rushing yards and two touchdowns). And last year at Arizona in Week 12, Stafford passed for 229 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception for 31.4 Fantasy points.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Fields is expected to start in Week 2 with Russell Wilson (calf) still banged up, and hopefully, Fields can do enough to solidify himself as the starter for the rest of the season. In Week 1 at Atlanta, Fields didn't have to do much, with 156 passing yards and 57 rushing yards for 11.9 Fantasy points. The last time he faced the Broncos in Week 4 last year with the Bears, Fields had 335 passing yards, four touchdowns, and one interception, and he ran for 25 yards as he scored 35.9 Fantasy points. It would be great if he could do that again in Denver this week.
| ||||||||||||||||||
I didn't expect Purdy to have a big game against the Jets in Week 1, and he scored 10.3 Fantasy points because he failed to throw or run for a touchdown. He should improve this week against the Vikings, even though Purdy struggled at Minnesota in Week 7 last year when he only scored 14.8 Fantasy points. The Vikings played an inept offense last week against the Giants, but this is a big step up in competition against the 49ers, who have an implied total of 26 points this week. I like Purdy as a low-end starter in all leagues.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Sleeper RBs
Moss only had 11 total touches in Week 1 against New England, but he played the majority of the snaps ahead of Chase Brown. Moss played 65 percent of the snaps compared to 33 percent for Brown, and Moss finished with nine carries for 44 yards and a touchdown and two catches for 17 yards on four targets. We'll see if the Bengals give Moss more work in Week 2, and I would use him as a flex at Kansas City. Last week, the Chiefs allowed Derrick Henry and Justice Hill to each score at least 10.6 PPR points.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Hopefully, the Giants will be more competitive in Week 2 at Washington than they were in Week 1 when Minnesota beat New York 28-6. Singletary had 10 carries for 37 yards and four catches for 15 yards on five targets in the loss, but he could get 20 total touches this week if the Giants hang around or play with the lead. Last week, the Commanders allowed Rachaad White to go over 100 total yards and score 16.6 PPR points, and Bucky Irving had nine carries for 62 yards and scored 9.6 PPR points.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Charbonnet will either start for an injured Kenneth Walker III (abdomen) this week or take on a bigger role with Walker at less than 100 percent. That makes Charbonnet at least a flex at New England. If he starts for Walker, then Charbonnet has top-20 upside in all leagues. Last week, Charbonnet had eight carries for 12 yards and caught two of three targets for 29 yards and a touchdown against Denver in the game where Walker was injured. Charbonnet would have the potential for 20 total touches if Walker can't play, so keep an eye on what happens heading into Sunday.
| ||||||||||||||||||
One of the bigger surprises in Week 1 was Mattison playing more snaps than Zamir White against the Chargers, and Mattison was also used as a pass catcher out of the backfield. It worked, as he caught four of six targets for 43 yards and a touchdown with five carries for 19 yards. He played 60 percent of the snaps compared to 38 percent for White, and we'll see what happens in Week 2 at Baltimore. Given the likely game script of the Raiders playing from behind, Mattison can be considered a flex option in PPR.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Sleeper WRs
With Puka Nacua (knee) out, Cooper Kupp should dominate targets from Matthew Stafford, but Robinson and Tyler Johnson should also benefit. I'm going with Robinson over Johnson for now since Robinson was with the Rams last season and should have a better rapport with Stafford. Last year, Robinson scored at least 13.2 PPR points in each of his final five games. And in Week 1 against the Lions, Robinson had four catches for 42 yards on seven targets. Johnson also did well with five catches for 79 yards on seven targets, and his role will expand with Nacua out. Consider Robinson a potential flex option in PPR in Week 2.
| ||||||||||||||||||
It was great to see Flowers get 10 targets in Week 1 at Kansas City, and he had six catches for 37 yards. I'm hoping for a similar amount of targets in Week 2 against the Raiders but with a better stat line, especially the yards. In his past five home games going back to last year, including the playoffs, Flowers has scored at least 18 PPR points in three of them, so hopefully, he stays hot at home in Week 2. I like Flowers as a high-end No. 3 receiver in all leagues.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Dell was the odd man out in Week 1 at Houston since Nico Collins (17.7 PPR points) and Stefon Diggs (21.1 PPR points) both had big games. Dell only scored seven PPR points against the Colts, but he should rebound this week. Dell was second on the team in targets (seven) behind Collins (eight), and Dell finished with three catches for 40 yards. I expect C.J. Stroud to lean on Dell more this week, and I like his matchup against the Bears. He's worth starting as a high-end No. 3 receiver in all leagues.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Kirk had a rough game in Week 1 at Miami, with only one catch for 30 yards on four targets. The CBS broadcast kept referencing the calf injury he dealt with in training camp, so hopefully, he'll be closer to 100 percent in Week 2 against Cleveland. I would start rookie Brian Thomas Jr. ahead of Kirk this week, but I still like Kirk as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver. Last year, he had a bad Week 1 at the Colts with 1.9 PPR points, but he rebounded with 21.9 PPR points in Week 2 against Kansas City. Hopefully, something similar happens this week.
| ||||||||||||||||||
We'll see if Jake Ferguson (knee) can play in Week 2 against the Saints, but if he's out, then that increases the value for Cooks even more against the team that drafted him in 2014. Cooks has faced the Saints three times in his career, and he's scored at least 16.4 PPR points in two of those outings with two touchdowns. He's coming off a quality Fantasy performance in Week 1 at Cleveland with four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown on seven targets, and Cooks has now scored a touchdown in eight of his past 13 games going back to last season. He's worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Sleeper TEs
Johnson will benefit with Foster Moreau (head) likely out for this game at Dallas, and I like Johnson as a low-end starter in all leagues. In Week 1 against Carolina, Johnson had two catches for 26 yards and a touchdown on three targets, and Moreau also scored against the Panthers. Johnson is a good streaming option, and hopefully, he continues to earn targets from Derek Carr in Week 2 and for the entire season.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Freiermuth only had four catches for 27 yards on four targets in Week 1 at Atlanta, but Justin Fields only attempted 23 passes. Freiermuth was second on the Steelers in targets behind George Pickens (seven), and Pickens could be in trouble in Week 2 at Denver thanks to Patrick Surtain Jr. That could make Freiermuth a popular option for Fields, and Freiermuth should be considered a low-end starter in all leagues.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Parkinson, not Demarcus Robinson or Tyler Johnson, might benefit the most with Puka Nacua (knee) out, and Parkinson just had four catches for 47 yards on five targets in Week 1 at Detroit. I like him as a low-end starter in Week 2 at Arizona, and hopefully, he sees a spike in targets and production since Matthew Stafford needs help with his pass catchers now that Nacua will miss time.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Defense/Special Teams
Colts (at GB)
Seahawks (at NE)
Titans (vs. NYJ)
Kickers
Blake Grupe (at DAL)
Nick Folk (vs. NYJ)
Matt Prater (vs. LAR)
