Week 2 WR Rankings & Projections (PPR): Calvin Ridley To Continue Hot Start

It was a wild Week 1 for wide receivers, and it was our first glimpse at some new names or wide receivers on new teams. Some things remained unchanged as Davante Adams, and DeAndre Hopkins dominated in targets. Jamison Crowder had a random monster week, and then the Falcons passing offense lit it up. There were some surprises as Michael Thomas dropped a dud, but it now sounds like an injury played into it. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin struggled to start off on the right foot with Tom Brady under center. Check out Week 2 Projections, and let’s see how the Week 2 WR rankings set up.

Week 2 WR Rankings & Projections

Week 2 Studs

Atlanta and Dallas square off this week, and these two teams are just loaded with fantasy options. While the Cowboys were somewhat passive in their playcalling through the air, I am not putting a ton of stock into it. The Atlanta defense got off to a sloppy start against Seattle and will face another loaded receiving core. Amari Cooper sits in the top ten for this week, but Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb climb up as well. On the flip side of this one, Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones put on a show as Atlanta was trailing early and needed to pepper these guys with targets. That should be the case again here. Atlanta is capable of having two top-ten wide receivers this week.

Davante Adams doesn’t need too much backing getting 15+ targets a game. He gets a below-average secondary in Detroit and should torch them. Staying in the NFC North, Allen Robinson was somewhat quiet in Week 1, but he gets the Giants secondary that ranked 30th against the pass last season. Tampa did not look good in Week 1, but Chris Godwin is in a great spot against the Panthers secondary that was expected to struggle in 2020. They looked the part in Week 1, so this is a good rebound week here for the Bucs offense.

There are a couple of teams not represented in the top ten but are in good spots this week. Cincinnati and Cleveland both have below average secondaries, although Cleveland’s is more injury-related right now. Both receivers get a slight tick up as Joe Burrow’s Week 1 performance was against a damn good secondary. Cleveland’s set of wideouts might be on thin ice with fantasy managers and I don’t blame them. If they can’t succeed this week there are going to be some harsh reactions. I do expect a bounce back week for Tyler Boyd who led the Bengals in snaps for wide receivers but failed to make much noise.

Week 2 Duds

While we will have to see if Courtland Sutton suits up, as he is dealing with an AC sprain. However both him and Jerry Jeudy have a brutal Week 2 matchup against the Steelers secondary. With a young quarterback and a nicked up offensive line, the Broncos are in a world of trouble heading into Pittsburgh. Both Sutton and Jeudy take a drop on the rankings this week. The Giants get another tough matchup after facing the Steelers as they face the Bears secondary.

Seattle is going to be interesting because it will be a test against the New England secondary. On the flip side of this one the Patriots secondary will be tested as Miami isn’t a real threat to see if they will be missing some of the opt-outs from this side over the offseason. Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf just get a slight tick down, but I am not overly concerned. These guys were drafted to be every-week starters and that is what they are.

The Kansas City Chiefs were able to limit the Houston passing attack and they will take on the Chargers in Week 2. The Chargers passing attack was not pretty against a lesser Bengals secondary. Tyrod Taylor completed 16 of 30 passes and had just 208 yards. Keenan Allen had four catches on eight targets, and no receiver had over five catches and Mike Williams led the team with 69 yards. The Chargers will not be able to grind out a win like they did last week as they will need to air it out and score some points. I am not buying into the Chargers being an offense to put up stellar passing numbers but garbage time might help.

Week 2 Injury Corner

Some big news dropped on Monday morning with Michael Thomas dealing with a high ankle sprain. This is usually an injury that requires time off the field, but Thomas has stated he will try to play through it. The question is how effective he will be if he does play? I moved Thomas down in the rankings but didn’t wholly drop him from the top ten until we know more info later this week. Emmanuel Sanders and Alvin Kamara would get a bump in usage, and Tre’Quan Smith could take the chance to get a few more looks if Thomas was to miss any time.

#Saints star WR Michael Thomas suffered a high-ankle injury in Sunday’s win over the #Bucs, but it’s something he believes he can play through, sources tell me and @RapSheet. With an extra day before next Monday’s game vs. #Raiders, nobody ruling Thomas out.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 14, 2020

Kenny Golladay had injured his hamstring just a few days before the Chicago Bears game, and it left him with a doubtful tag, which then he ended up being inactive. Detroit sounded hopeful that he would miss just the one game, but hamstring injuries are tricky. They will need him in this matchup as Detroit should be trailing compared to blowing a second-half lead. If Golladay sits out, tick up the targets for TJ Hockenson, Danny Amendola, and Marvin Jones.

There are a few names we will have to monitor over the week as DeVante Parker pulled up with a hamstring injury in Week 1. It’s not a matchup in Week 2 that is appealing anyway with Buffalo’s secondary looming. Courtland Sutton is dealing with the AC sprain and was a longshot to play Week 1 anyway.