NFL Target & Percentage Ownership Report: Week 2

Running Backs (Week 2)

David Johnson – After General Manager Steve Keim called David Johnson the best receiving back he's ever seen in the offseason, Johnson started his season averaging 5.6 yards per carry (YPC) and catching 4-6 passes against a stout Patriots defense. The matchup gets easier in Week 2 against a Buccaneers that rated about neutral against opposing running backs (RBs) last year in terms of fantasy points allowed. In Week 1, Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman combined for nine catches and 115 receiving yards against this defense so one can only imagine how arguably the best receiving back in the league will fare. The targets create a safe floor and his burst solidifies arguably the highest ceiling of any back this week. There should be no hesitation to rostering him in any format.

C.J. Anderson – Only DeAngelo Williams and Spencer Ware scored more fantasy points than C.J. Anderson in the opening week of the 2016 season. Now, Anderson will square off against a rushing defense that looked awfully susceptible to the RB position in Week 1 as both Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick managed 5.3-plus YPC against the Colts. Without Peyton Manning, it sure looked like the team was trying to feature Anderson, as he finished with 20 rushing attempts (ATTs), 92 rushing yards, one TD, five targets, three receptions (RECs), 47 receiving yards and a receiving TD. The Broncos have a solid defense and the Colts defense is questionable at best so no wonder Denver is listed as a six point favorite at home. If the team goes up, they'll focus on pounding the ball and not risk Trevor Siemian making mistakes. Since the Vegas line seems to suggest a favorable game script, and Anderson is really all the team has at RB regardless of how the game goes, he is just about as safe as they come. Most will either choose to spend up on David Johnson or spend down on value backs so he's right in the tier of backs who should go under-owned. To me, Anderson projects like a true RB1 once again.

Jeremy Langford – If needing salary relief, what's not to like about Jeremy Langford's matchup? He receives the lion's share of touches and contributes in both the running and receiving game. Basically, he's a poor man's Matt Forte in this offense because he's playing the same role with half the talent. Against the Eagles, it shouldn't matter this week because both Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson Jr. managed 5.0-plus YPC in Week 1. Unlike the Browns, there will be no workload split, and Langford will get all the carries in-between the 20s, all the goal line work and all the catches (unless he needs a breather). The pure volume alone against a defense that allowed the fifth most fantasy points to the RB position last year warrants this mid-tier price tag. With the Bears listed as three point favorites, there's a lot to like about Langford at exactly $3,000 cheaper than the aforementioned David Johnson.

Theo Riddick – On the surface, this situation looks like a typical case of a workhorse back and change-of-pace back playing their roles in a single backfield. In the opener, Ameer Abdullah played 40 snaps while Theo Riddick played just 24. However, most will forget Riddick sat nearly an entire quarter while he was going through the head injury protocol. Essentially, he actually would have played nearly the same amount of snaps of Abdullah had he not gotten hurt. Not only did he average more YPC than Abdullah (6.4-5.3) but he also averaged more yards per catch (12.-11.4) on an identical number of receptions. Hell, he even scored two TDs to Abdullah's one. Quietly, Riddick caught 80 passes last year which was the identical total to both Eric Decker and Allen Robinson. Basically, Abdullah and Riddick are more of an option 1A and 1B type backfield, and Riddick is priced like a backup RB. He is explosive, involved in both the running and passing game and should be a safe bet for double-digit touches. To me, he is a poor man's David Johnson for almost half the price and facing a Titans defense that is stout against the run. This means the Lions will have to focus more on the short passing game. All signs point to another nice outing from Riddick.

LeGarrette Blount – Predicting Patriots backs is generally a losing strategy but this has all the makings of a LeGarrette Blount game. Listed as -6.5 point favorites, Blount and company will face a Dolphins squad that allowed the most fantasy points to the RB position in 2015. In Week 1, Christine Michael ran hard (4.4 YPC) against this Dolphins defense behind one of the worst offensive lines in football. Jimmy Garoppolo at least looked serviceable and the Dolphins offensive line is horrendous as well. Therefore, the Dolphins offense and Ryan Tannehill should struggle, and the Patriots will just need to control the game. After Blount carried the ball 22 times last week, expect a similar workload this week in a game that fits his skill set. At just $4,000 on DraftKings (DK) and $7,800 on FantasyDraft (FDr), Blount is a low-floor, high-ceiling option for tournaments.

Wide Receivers (Week 2)

Antonio Brown – If Josh Norman isn't going to stop him then no one is. Okay so Norman didn't actually shadow him last week and Antonio Brown saw very little of him but still. Brown has proven time and time again that he is matchup proof and the corners who slowed down Brandon Marshall last week shouldn't have much of an effect on the best receiver in the game. On any given week, Brown is a threat for 200-plus yards and multiple TDs. Julio Jones is priced similarly, scored last week and in a favorable matchup once again but Brown is just so damn consistent with Ben Roethlisberger healthy that he cannot be overlooked.

Odell Beckham Jr. – Chalk play alert. Literally the only scary player on the Saints defense was Delvin Breaux if starting players against them and he broke his leg halfway through Week 1. Obviously, he will miss this week and beyond, leaving a bunch of corners who graded outside the top 45 to try and handle Odell Beckham Jr. Many will remember the shootout these two teams had last year although that game was played in the Superdome. Still, this has all the makings of a football slugfest, and the Saints simply have no one to cover Beckham. After a reasonably quiet 2016 debut, Beckham is primed to bust out in a big way against the defense that allowed the most passing yards last season...other than the Giants. While he'll be heavily owned, I wouldn't feel right setting a cash game lineup that didn't include the Giants' top receiver.

Golden Tate – In this new-look Lions offense, Marvin Jones is arguably the WR1 because Golden Tate works better as a complement. Regardless of Tate's role, the matchup against the Titans is juicy. Stefon Diggs burned the Titans for 100-plus yards in the opener and the Titans allowed the 10^th most fantasy points to opposing receivers last year. Tate caught all seven targets last week yet he wasn't targeted inside the 20 after being targeted 12 times inside the 10 yard line alone last year. There is no reason to panic with another high scoring game on the horizon (47.0 point over/under). Facing a stout run defense, expect the team to replace a lot of runs with the short passing game that worked so well last week. This means more action for Tate on a day where Stafford should attempt 40-plus passes. Expect Tate to be kept busy at a pretty reasonable price (especially on FanDuel (FD)).

Demaryius Thomas – Honestly Trevor Siemian impressed me last week and looked more competent than I expected. He completed 18-26 passes (69.2-percent completion) for 178 yards and a TD. While the team is once again going to focus on featuring C.J. Anderson, the Colts are now incredibly susceptible to WRs as well due to an injury to Vontae Davis. The combination of Peyton Manning's noodle arm and Brock Osweiler still managed to propel Demaryius Thomas over 1,300 receiving last year. Siemian can't really be much worse than the worst QB in the league last year (Manning) so eventually Thomas is going to bust out for a nice week. Against this pathetic defense, now is the perfect time to take a shot because the public still perceives this offense as hopeless.

Steve Smith – On DK and FDr, Steve Smith's price is intriguing. Smith under-the-radar was targeted nine times last week but only converted five of them into catches for 19 yards…against a Bills team that deploys two excellent corners. On the other hand, the Browns do not possess any upper-echelon corners and may simply be the worst defensive team in the NFL. Period. In a division game, on a team without a true number one back, expect the team to come out throwing against a porous secondary. It's a bit of a shot in the dark but racking up targets against this Cleveland team simply leads to production. Smith still possesses some nice speed and has the potential to take the top off a defense. He isn't going to stop until he reaches 1,000 career RECs and he isn't there yet. Look for him to get five-to-seven steps closer in one of the best matchups he could ask for.

Tight Ends (Week 2)

Jordan Reed – After failing to score against the Steelers, Jordan Reed is priced as TE1 yet again in Week 2. Kirk Cousins targeted him four times on the first drive and then sort of forgot about him. Once the team reviews the tape, they'll find one of their biggest mistakes was failing to continue to feed the beast the ball. With Rob Gronkowski listed as week-to-week, Reed is the safest bet amongst all tight ends (TEs). Seven RECs for 64 yards is considered a subpar performance for Reed because he's set the bar so high. Dallas allowed a Larry Donnell TD in Week 1 so there's no reason Reed can't find paydirt this week either. Yet again, he has the highest floor and ceiling of any player at the position, but he costs substantially more than anyone as well.

Gary Barnidge – The injury to Robert Griffin III isn't going to affect anymore more than Gary Barnidge who developed undeniable chemistry with Josh McCown last year. Now the two will be reunited once again so Barnidge's unproductive Week 1 can be safely overlooked. Don't forget Barnidge finished as fantasy's TE3 in 2015 behind only Rob Gronkowski and Jordan Reed. He has that much upside with his new compadre under center.

Coby Fleener – Leaving a situation with his college buddy Andrew Luck could never really be construed as an upgrade but many viewed his situation change as such. Following a quiet Week 1, the vibes aren't nearly as positive surrounding Coby Fleener. Over the entirety of his career, he has struggled with drops and under-producing despite seeming like one of the most talented players at the position. At only $5,600 on FD, Fleener is worthy of at least one more chance against a Giants team that allowed the second most fantasy points to TEs in 2015. Again, Brees versus Manning anywhere could end up mimicking last week's Saints game and/or last year's Giants/Saints game where both QBs threw for six-plus TDs. Coach Sean Payton is a scheme master and it's doubtful he'll overlook the hole in the defense. If Fleener flops this week, it's time to officially start worrying about him.

Eric Ebron – Sans Calvin Johnson, Eric Ebron's role immediately increased (as expected) in the Lions offense. Of all non-RBs on the roster, Ebron received the only official red zone target which led to a six-yard TD. The team drafted him in the first round for a reason and now he is needed way more than ever because their beastly, 6'5" receiver is no longer part of the picture. None of their backs are overly imposing in the red zone so targeting their big boys down close may be their best chance to score. Against a defense who allowed 11 TE TDs last year, Ebron has an excellent chance to grab a TD once again in Week 2.

Zach Miller – Sure Philadelphia completely shut down Gary Barnidge in the opener but he graded as the worst TE in Week 1 other than Antonio Gates, per Pro Football Focus. Barnidge was miserable and Zach Miller is a formidable pass catcher as long as he stays on the field (long history of health concerns). The Bears are favored and the Eagles linebackers are not a particularly imposing bunch. Martellus Bennet was a huge focus of the Bears offense for years and Jay Cutler is more effective when he is able to mix the big fella in the middle into the game plan. If looking to roster multiple top tier WRs, the best way to fit them is to save at the TE position. Miller is listed at $3,000 on DK and $6,000 on FDr so one big play and he can compete for the top fantasy-point-per-dollar producer at the position. With no other real threat at the position, all the production should come through him in terms of Bears TEs. It's a bit of a shot but most punt plays are.