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Did anything interesting happen this week? Week 2 was a bloodbath for fantasy owners. Losing Big Ben and Drew Brees certainly hurt a lot of fantasy teams, but luckily QB is deep and there are plenty of good options on the waiver wire. Some of these players are good for the short-term, while others have more long-term value. You have to make the call on what your team needs. Immediate help to start this week, or a player to stash on your bench and hope he breaks out. Let's get started.
QB
Josh Allen: He's available in 70% of ESPN leagues, and he's recorded a rushing TD in both games already. Plus, he already has 17 rushing attempts. Keep in mind he's thrown for over 250 yards in both games, so he can get you points through the air too. He gets the Bengals this week, so the matchup is good.
Matthew Stafford: You can get him in 74% of ESPN leagues, and he's a Top 5 QB in PPR leagues after the first 2 games. He has to go to Philly this week, but Matt Ryan put up big numbers against them in week 2. Ryan threw 3 picks, but also put up over 300 yards and 3 TDs. Stafford should be a pretty reliable option this week and going forward if you need him.
Jimmy Garoppolo: He's rostered in only 24% of leagues, and had a nice performance against the Bengals on Sunday with 3TDs. He faces the Steelers at home, and should have a lot of opportunities to put up points if Mason Rudolph can't keep the offense on the field.
RB
Carlos Hyde: Hyde has looked good so far this year, and he's still available in 55% of ESPN leagues. The Texans love to run the rock, and the offense should be good despite their performance against the Jags. Kerryon Johnson had 150 total yards and a TD against the Chargers, so Hyde certainly has a chance to do something against them this Sunday.
Darwin Thompson: If he ends up with a starter's role in this offense, he could be a league winner. LeSean McCoy and Damien Williams both were injured against the Raiders on Sunday, so you'll have to check the injury report this week to see if they're out. Thompson has a tough matchup against the Ravens this week, but that shouldn't matter in this offense. He's only rostered in 18% of ESPN leagues, so pick him up. McCoy reportedly has no structural damage in his ankle, but Thompson should have a role if Williams is out and McCoy returns.
Jaylen Samuels: Samuels certainly lost some value when Big Ben went down, but with James Conner dealing with a knee issue he should be a good option until Conner returns. He showed he could be productive filling in for Conner last year, so he's definitely worth a shot. He's available in 75% of ESPN leagues.
Raheem Mostert: It's hard to get too excited about Mostert since the 49ers like to use several RBs, but he got 16 touches last week, and we know Breida has trouble staying healthy. He's out there in 89% of ESPN leagues.
WR
Demarcus Robinson: Wow, that was an impressive performance against the Raiders. You can't expect him to have over 100 yards and 2 TDs every week, but Mahomes is going to air it out, and they have some injuries at RB that may lead to them throwing more. He gets the Ravens this week who are dealing with some injuries in the secondary. He's available in 99% of ESPN leagues. He's a veteran, so we'll give him the nod over Hardman.
Mecole Hardman: Hardman has speed to burn, and he got a lot of reps with Mahomes this offseason because of Tyreek Hill's suspension. Anybody with a role on the Chiefs should be added. He's rostered in 38% of ESPN leagues.
Nelson Agholor: The Eagles are dealing with injuries to their top 2 pass catchers and Carson Wentz has to throw the ball to someone besides Zach Ertz. Jackson and Jeffery will likely return sooner than later, but if you need a WR this week Agholor can help you. He's only rostered in 4% of leagues.
Marquise Goodwin and Deebo Samuel: It's hard to know which guy is the better start from week to week, but it's worth picking them up and watching how their roles evolve over the course of the year. This offense should be good, so they have value. Goodwin is available in over 95% of ESPN leagues while Samuel is only rostered in 13% of leagues.
TE
Will Dissly: It appears Dissly is the TE to have in Seattle. He came away with 2 TD grabs against the Steelers, so pick him up if you need some help at the position. You can get him in 98% of leagues.
Jason Witten: I know, he's a thousand years old and can't really run anymore, but Dak Prescott looks for him in the red zone and let's be real. Unless you have an elite TE, you're just hoping for a TD and Witten has scored two weeks in a row. He's only rostered in 18% of ESPN leagues. Also, he's playing the Dolphins this week. If there's ever a week to start him, this is it.
Jordan Reed: He'll return at some point from the concussion protocol, and he can help you out until he gets hurt again. If you're desperate, you can roster him and Vernon Davis playing Davis until Reed returns to action.
Defense
Who's playing the Dolphins this week? That's what you should be asking every week. This week the Cowboys have the honor of playing Miami, so they're a great start obviously.
If you have any questions, feel free to hit me up on Twitter or listen to my radio show MoneyLine with Jerry Bo Sundays from 10-noon on ESPN 97.5 FM. We talk all things fantasy football and NFL gambling getting you ready for kickoff every Sunday.
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The Houston Astros are finally starting to show signs of turning the corner. After a sluggish start to the season, the offense is beginning to click, the pitching staff remains dominant, and the impact of the Kyle Tucker trade is starting to look like a clear win.
One of the more encouraging developments has been the recent plate discipline from Christian Walker. Known for his power but also for chasing pitches out of the zone, Walker has now drawn multiple walks in four straight games. It's a sign that his approach is tightening up—and he's recovered from his oblique discomfort, starting every game this season.
Yainer Diaz has also provided a much-needed spark. After a quiet stretch at the plate, Diaz came alive with a grand slam against the Angels, his most impactful swing of the year and a potential sign that his bat is heating up.
But the biggest buzz in Houston may be around the players acquired in the Kyle Tucker trade. Cam Smith has looked like he belongs in the big leagues, holding his own at the plate and flashing confidence in the field. Isaac Paredes, meanwhile, has posted a higher OPS than Alex Bregman, while right-hander Hayden Wesneski turned heads by striking out 10 Angels in a dominant start. Early returns suggest the deal could pay off big for the Astros.
Statistically, the Astros offense is still a work in progress, but it's no longer at the bottom of the barrel. After sitting dead last in slugging and near the bottom in OPS last week, Houston has climbed to 23rd in team OPS—right in the mix with the Rangers and Mariners. Slugging percentage still lags behind (27th overall), but there's some movement in the right direction.
Houston has scored the 21st-most runs in the league—better than only the Rangers in the AL West. Yet thanks to strong pitching, the Astros sit at +2 in run differential, the only team in the division with a positive mark.
That pitching has been the backbone of the team so far. Houston ranks 13th in ERA at 3.69, is third in opponent batting average (.190), and leads all of Major League Baseball in strikeouts with 166. It’s a staff that keeps them in every game and has the potential to dominate when the offense catches up.
The early season numbers still reflect a team trying to find its footing, but the signs are there. If the recent progress continues—Walker’s improved discipline, Diaz’s power, and the emergence of new contributors—Houston could soon be back to the top of the AL West.
We have so much more to cover. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
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