Fantasy Football Week 2 Stock Watch: Carlos Hyde Soars Into Spotlight
Week 1 of fantasy football season is in the books, and that only can mean one thing: Time to overreact!
The league’s opening weekend featured plenty of pleasant surprises, from Marcus Mariota looking like Peyton Manning versus Jameis Winston’s Ryan Leaf to Carlos Hyde doing his best Frank Gore impression in San Francisco. There were a number of disappointments, too, with the likes of C.J. Anderson and Sammy Watkins pulling virtual disappearing acts.
So what to make of all this? The correct answer should be “not too much,” but we can’t help it. Here are five players whose stock rose in their first games, five players whose stock dropped and what it all means for your fantasy team.
STOCK UP
Carlos Hyde, Running Back, San Francisco 49ers: Yeah, it was the Minnesota Vikings, but Hyde looks like the real deal. The Niners’ new workhorse converted 26 carries into 168 rushing yards and two scores and figures to be the focal point of this offense going forward.
Carson Palmer, Quarterback, Arizona Cardinals: When he’s healthy, Palmer is a pretty decent fantasy quarterback, and his 307-yard, 3-touchdown Week 1 performance is a testament to that. With Andre Ellington on the shelf for a few weeks, Palmer should get plenty more opportunities to throw the rock.
James Jones, Wide Receiver, Green Bay Packers: It was just like old times this weekend, as Aaron Rodgers found Jones for two touchdowns against the Chicago Bears. You can’t expect that output every week, but Jones definitely should be on fantasy rosters as a trusted target in the Packers’ high-powered offense.
Keenan Allen, Wide Receiver, San Diego Chargers: It looks like Allen’s sophomore slump is in his rearview mirror. He paced NFL wideouts with 15 catches for 166 yards in Week 1 and was Philip Rivers’ clear favorite target. You shouldn’t have reservations about starting him anymore.
Tyler Eifert, Tight End, Cincinnati Bengals: Eifert has loads of potential, and he backed up the hype with a 104-yard, two-touchdown effort Sunday. He won’t play the Oakland Raiders every weekend, but Eifert is looking like a legitimate fantasy starter.
STOCK DOWN
Peyton Manning, Quarterback, Denver Broncos: We won’t write Manning’s eulogy just yet, but he showed clear signs of continued decline against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Things won’t get any easier in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night.
C.J. Anderson, Running Back, Broncos: Anderson also struggled against the Ravens, getting bottled up for just 48 total yards. Anderson still has the talent to have a great season, but Ronnie Hillman is right on his heels, so he’ll have to bounce back quickly.
Sammy Watkins, Wide Receiver, Buffalo Bills: Watkins didn’t catch a single pass Sunday, a troubling sign that his wild inconsistency hasn’t gone away. With limited opportunities in Buffalo’s passing game, it’s looking like another boom-or-bust season for the second-year wideout.
Frank Gore, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts: Gore received just eight carries for 31 yards in Sunday’s loss to the Bills. That’s one of the toughest matchups he’ll have all season, but the veteran’s light Week 1 workload nonetheless is cause for mild concern.
Larry Donnell, Tight End, New York Giants: Last season’s fantasy darling is looking more like a flash in the pan. He caught just three passes for 21 yards and split time with Daniel Fells, who out-gained him to the tune of 33 yards. It’s time to look elsewhere for fantasy production.
Have a fantasy football question for Darren? Send it to him via Twitter at @darren_hartwell
Thumbnail photo via Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports Images
