After a strong Chiefs debut last week, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster mustered just 3 catches for 10 yards in Thursday night's win over the Chargers. His 3 targets tied for 5th on the team and were just 9% of the team total. He ran a route on 79% of pass plays after posting an 80% route rate in Week 1, so this was just a matter of not drawing targets. Smith-Schuster remains a fantasy starter going forward, but he figures to be inconsistent on a Chiefs offense that is intent on spreading the ball around.
After underwhelming usage and production in the opener, Chargers RB Austin Ekeler turned in a more promising Week 2. He carried 14 times for just 39 yards but added 9 catches on 10 targets for 55 yards. Ekeler's snap rate climbed from 49% in Week 1 to 63% in Week 2; his route rate from 37% to 60%. If he can stick around that level of usage, Ekeler will be an easy PPR RB1.
Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire was again the leader of a 3-man backfield in the Week 2 win over the Chargers. He turned 8 carries into 74 yards, highlighted by a career-long 52-yarder in the 4th quarter. CEH added 4 catches on 4 targets for 44 yards. RBs Jerick McKinnon and Isiah Pacheco combined for just 6 carries and 2 targets. It's worth noting, though, that McKinnon out-snapped Edwards-Helaire 27 to 25 and matched him with 14 pass routes. (Pacheco played just 5 snaps and ran 2 routes.) CEH has looked good and been efficient through 2 games, averaging 7.7 yards per carry, 10.9 yards per catch and scoring 2 TDs. But he's totaled just 15 carries and 7 targets. He still looks like a low-end RB2 or high-end RB3 going forward.
Chargers WR Mike Williams hauled in 8 balls on 10 targets for 113 yards and a score in Thursday night's 3-point loss to the Chiefs. He made a contested 39-yard grab to set up Los Angeles' 1st TD and a spectacular 1-handed snare for a 15-yard TD in the 3rd quarter. This, of course, followed a 2-catch, 10-yard dud in the opener. So it's been a very typical Mike Williams start to the season. But we'd bet on plenty more big games the rest of the way -- as long as QB Justin Herbert's injury isn't serious.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert suffered a chest injury in the 4th quarter of Thursday night's loss to the Chiefs. He missed just 1 play but was in obvious pain the rest of the way. The Amazon broadcast reported that Herbert went for x-rays after the game. We'll update his status when we know more. Herbert has 10 days to get ready for a Week 3 meeting with the Jaguars.
Update: HC Brandon Staley said in his post-game press conference that Herbert is “OK” and doesn’t expect his injury to be an issue going forward. He added, however, that they should learn more Friday.
Broncos WR K.J. Hamler (knee, hip) has missed the first 2 practices of the week. He played 40 snaps in last week's opener but might have suffered a setback after last year's torn ACL and dislocated hip. We'll see how Hamler is listed on Friday's final injury report.
Cardinals WR Rondale Moore (hamstring) remained sidelined on Thursday. He's unlikely to play vs. the Raiders this weekend, leaving Greg Dortch as Arizona's slot receiver.
Cardinals TE Zach Ertz (calf) was a full participant in Thursday's practice. It was his 1st full practice of the season and suggests he's getting close to 100%. If Ertz is not listed on the final Week 2 injury report tomorrow, he'll be a solid TE1 option vs. the Raiders.
49ers TE George Kittle (groin) remained sidelined on Thursday. He's looking like a long shot to play vs. the Seahawks this weekend. That's bad news for QB Trey Lance but good news for Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk's volume.
Falcons RB Damien Williams (rib) missed practice again on Thursday. He's in danger of missing this weekend's game vs. the Rams. Ashtun Edmonds of the team's official website confirms that RB Tyler Allgeier would "step into the running back rotation" if Williams can't play on Sunday.
Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins (knee) put in his 2nd straight full practice on Thursday. He remains on track to make his 2022 debut vs. the Dolphins this weekend.
Packers WR Allen Lazard (ankle) remained limited in Thursday's practice. We'll see what he does tomorrow and how he's listed on the final injury report ahead of Sunday night's game vs. the Bears.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins missed Thursday's practice for personal reasons. That's unlikely to keep him from playing vs. the Cowboys this weekend, but he still has work to do to clear the concussion protocol. We'll update Higgins' progress tomorrow.
Giants WR Kadarius Toney was added to Thursday's injury report as limited with a hamstring. That usually means the player was hurt in practice. We'll get another update on Toney's status tomorrow, but he shouldn't be in your Week 2 fantasy plans after playing just 7 snaps in the opener.
Saints RB Alvin Kamara (rib) went from a limited practice on Wednesday to no practice on Thursday. It's unclear if he suffered a setback or just got the day off. Friday's final injury report will give us a better idea of Kamara's status for this weekend's game vs. the Bucs.
Bucs WR Julio Jones (knee) missed his 2nd straight practice on Thursday. His availability for this weekend's game vs. the Saints is now in question. Check back Friday afternoon for another update on Jones' status.
Bucs WR Russell Gage (hamstring) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. That seemingly puts him on track to play vs. the Saints this weekend, but it's tough to believe that Gage is at 100%.
Bucs RB Leonard Fournette (hamstring) remained limited in Thursday's practice. We're expecting him to be fine for this weekend's game vs. the Saints, but we'll see how he's listed on the final injury report tomorrow.
Bucs WR Mike Evans (calf) did not practice on Thursday. He was limited on Wednesday with what was reported as a minor calf injury, but this downgrade has his Week 2 availability in question. We'll get another update on his status tomorrow.
Colts WR Alec Pierce (concussion) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. It gives him a shot to be cleared in time for Sunday's game vs. the Jaguars. Pierce's status has taken on increased importance with WR Michael Pittman dealing with a quad injury.
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