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Justin Watson WR | HOU
Chiefs' Justin Watson: Tallies pair of grabs in Week 2
Watson hauled in both of his targets for 22 yards during Sunday's 26-25 win over the Bengals.
Watson made the most of his limited opportunities and has reeled in each of the three passes thrown his way through two games. That said, he played less than half the offensive snaps (45 percent) in Sunday's contest and has just three targets through two games. As has been the case for Watson in recent seasons, the wideout seems slated to play a regular role that doesn't figure to amount to fantasy relevance in most league formats.
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Brandin Cooks WR | SF
Cowboys' Brandin Cooks: Quiet in Week 2 loss
Cooks caught both his targets for 19 yards and lost three yards on one carry in Sunday's 44-19 loss to the Saints.
The Cowboys were down 35-16 heading into halftime, but Cooks still didn't see much volume as the team tried desperately to catch up in the second half. Instead, it was Jalen Tolbert who stepped up with a 6-82-0 line on nine targets. Cooks did score a TD in Dallas' opener, but otherwise he hasn't been able to make much of an impact, and if Tolbert continues to impress, he could pass the veteran on the depth chart. Cooks will try to break out Week 3 against a Ravens secondary that ranks in the bottom 10 in catches allowed to wideouts so far.
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Troy Franklin WR | DEN
Broncos' Troy Franklin: Held catchless in debut
Frankin failed to secure his lone target in Sunday's 13-6 loss to the Steelers.
After being a healthy scratch in Week 1, Franklin was a complete nonfactor against the Steelers in Week 2. The rookie wideout saw the field for 12 of the Broncos' 61 offensive snaps, and he was unable to connect with his former college quarterback Bo Nix on the one target thrown his direction. Buried on the depth chart in a struggling passing attack, Franklin should remain far off the fantasy radar heading into a Week 3 matchup with the Buccaneers.
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Marvin Mims WR | DEN
Broncos' Marvin Mims: One grab in loss
Mims secured one of his two targets for 10 yards in Sunday's 13-6 loss to the Steelers.
Mims had another quiet game in Week 2, playing just nine of the Broncos' 61 offensive snaps against the Steelers. It appears the second-year wideout's involvement in the Denver's offense is not a priority for head coach Sean Payton, even though the Broncos are desperate for offensive playmaking. Mims is a speedster who can stretch the field, but rookie quarterback Bo Nix struggled to push the ball down the field in his first two regular season starts. The 22-year-old will continue to be difficult to trust for fantasy purposes when the Broncos visit the Buccaneers in Week 3.
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Brandon Aiyuk WR | SF
49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Set for No. 1 role sans Samuel
Aiyuk is expected to serve as the 49ers' No. 1 receiver for at least Sunday's game against the Rams after San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Deebo Samuel (calf) is likely to miss "a couple weeks," Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
After holding out for all of training camp and the preseason before finalizing a contract extension with the 49ers in late August, Aiyuk has had a muted role in the San Francisco passing attack though the first two weeks of the season. Though he was back to handling a normal snap share in Week 2 (88 percent), Aiyuk still finished with a modest 4-43-0 receiving line on five targets in this past Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Vikings. Samuel ended up missing just one snap due to the calf strain he suffered with 2:18 remaining in the fourth quarter and was the busier of the two receivers on the day with an 8-110-0 line on 10 targets, but his expected absence for Week 3 and likely Week 4 should free up more opportunities for Aiyuk. Wideout Jauan Jennings and tight end George Kittle could also see upticks in targets, but coming off a 1,342-yard season and with a new four-year, $120 million contract in tow, Aiyuk projects to be the primary option in the passing game for quarterback Brock Purdy.
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Jahan Dotson WR | ATL
Eagles' Jahan Dotson: Just one catch Monday
Dotson had one reception for six yards on one target in Monday's 22-21 loss to Atlanta.
Dotson was expected to see an increased role with star wideout A.J. Brown (hamstring) missing Monday's contest due to injury. The opposite scenario unfolded in a contest where the Eagles ran for more yards than the offense passed for against Atlanta's defense. Brown's injury is already expected to cost the No. 1 receiver multiple weeks of action, opening the door for auxiliary options like Dotson to see increased roles (despite Monday's one-catch dud). Dotson should remain in play for deep-league managers against the Saints on Sunday.
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DeVonta Smith WR | PHI
Eagles' DeVonta Smith: Hits pay dirt on MNF
Smith recorded seven catches (on 10 targets) for 76 yards and a touchdown in Monday's 22-21 loss to the Falcons.
Smith finished as the Eagles' leading receiver after fellow starter A.J. Brown (hamstring) was ruled out prior to Monday's narrow defeat. The latter is expected to miss multiple weeks with a hamstring injury suffered in Friday's practice, opening up a prime window for Smith to shine as the No. 1 option in Philadelphia. Smith's next opportunity will come in a road matchup against the Saints on Sunday.
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Greg Dortch WR | BUF
Cardinals' Greg Dortch: Catches both targets Sunday
Dortch gathered in both targets for 11 yards during Sunday's 41-10 victory against the Rams.
After pacing the Cardinals in catches (six) and receiving yards (47) in the season-opening loss at Buffalo, Dortch was usurped by rookie fourth overall pick Marvin Harrison, who broke out with four catches (on eight targets) for 130 yards and two touchdowns Sunday. Dortch remained No. 3 in the WR pecking order behind Harrison and Michael Wilson, but his snap share fell from 61 percent Week 1 to 39 percent this past weekend. Dortch's next chance to produce arrives Sunday versus the Lions.
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Darnell Mooney WR | NYG
Falcons' Darnell Mooney: Shows off big-play flair Monday
Mooney brought in three of seven targets for 88 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons' 22-21 win over the Eagles on Monday night.
Mooney shared the team lead in targets with Drake London while setting the pace in receiving yards. The speedster got there with three chunk plays through the air, beginning with a 41-yard touchdown grab late in the third quarter. Mooney tacked on catches of 21 and 26 yards on back-to-back plays in Atlanta's game-winning fourth-quarter drive, helping set up an eventual decisive touchdown reception by Drake London. Mooney appears to have plenty of room to grow within Zac Robinson's scheme and clearly is developing some chemistry with Kirk Cousins, affording the fifth-year pro plenty of momentum heading into a Week 3 home showdown against the Chiefs on Sunday night.
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Drake London WR | ATL
Falcons' Drake London: Scores game-winning TD Monday
London brought in six of seven targets for 54 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons' 22-21 win over the Eagles on Monday night.
London began the Falcons' game-winning drive with an unremarkable 4-42-0 receiving line. However, the third-year wideout made his last two catches count, recording a five-yard reception that brought Atlanta down to the Eagles' seven-yard line before hauling in the game-winning touchdown two plays later. The chemistry between London and Kirk Cousins still is clearly a work in progress, but Monday's numbers were a nice bump up from his 2-15-0 line Week 1. London should have plenty of opportunities in a Week 3 home showdown against the Chiefs that likely will require the Falcons to remain aggressive through the air.