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Hayden's unexpected fantasy football performances, waiver wire sleepers, and trade targets for Week 3 (2024). Can these NFL players sustain Week 2's success?
The second NFL Sunday of the 2024 regular season is now complete. It delivered surprising blowouts, exciting endings, and thrilling breakouts. Importantly, with Week 1 jitters no longer part of the equation, fantasy managers were able to glean some valuable insights about players across the league.
This week produced a lot of very strong fantasy performances. Kyler Murray, Alvin Kamara, and James Cook were among the many standouts. These players were all expected to provide fantasy managers were high-quality production, though. Many others put up strong statlines despite having lower projections.
Let's take a look at five of this week's unexpected boom performances, starting with a receiver in his second game with a new team.
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Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans
Calvin Ridley finished Week 1 as Tennessee's most-targeted receiver, catching three passes on seven targets for 50 yards. He faced a tough New York Jets secondary this week, however, and the Titans struggled through the air in their opener. This led many to have doubts about Ridley as a starting fantasy option this week.
Ridley rewarded his believers with a great showing. He caught four of six targets for 77 yards and a touchdown, and he also tacked on a 10-yard rushing touchdown. Ridley led the Titans in receiving yards for the second consecutive week. His output earned him 22.7 half-PPR points, making him the week's WR5 ahead of Monday Night Football.
Tennessee's longest play in the 24-17 loss was a wild 40-yard touchdown pass from Will Levis to Ridley. It was difficult to understand how the pass made it to Ridley through cornerback Sauce Gardner and safety Chuck Clark. Ridley's grab and roll into the endzone gave the Titans a crucial boost in the third quarter.
CALVIN RIDLEY. Elite 40-yard TD grab to tie the game!
📺: #NYJvsTEN on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/oqgFd24Dqi— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
After some uncertainty in the offseason, Ridley has been Tennessee's clear top wideout through two weeks. Fantasy managers should begin firing him up in their lineups with confidence due to his role. Ridley and the Titans will seek their first win of the season next week against the Green Bay Packers.
Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
After being taken 21st overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, receiver Quentin Johnston muddled through an extremely forgettable rookie campaign. Despite the Chargers experiencing major upheaval in their receiving room this offseason, many fantasy managers gave up on the former TCU Horned Frog.
Johnston followed up a three-catch performance in Week 1 with great fantasy numbers in Week 2. He caught five passes on six targets for 51 yards, and he scored two touchdowns. His six targets came despite quarterback Justin Herbert throwing just 20 passes in a lopsided 26-3 victory over Carolina.
Quentin Johnston TOUCHDOWN
📺: #LACvsCAR on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/OzD8IfKRTC— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
Johnston's 19.6 half-PPR points placed him ninth among wide receivers this week through Sunday. They also marked the best fantasy showing of his young career so far, surpassing his previous best of 11.4 half-PPR points in Week 10 last season. The breakout bodes well for Johnston's rest-of-season outlook.
Johnston, Josh Palmer, and rookie Ladd McConkey are vying to be Herbert's top wideout. Johnston led the team in targets this week, but McConkey did in Week 1. While the situation is far from settled, Johnston has done enough to warrant a spot on fantasy rosters. He should be considered a waiver wire target ahead of Week 3.
Braelon Allen, New York Jets
Sitting behind star running back Breece Hall on the depth chart limited rookie RB Braelon Allen's opportunities in Week 1. Allen played just 18 percent of New York's offensive snaps in the team's opener, and he totaled just 17 yards on two touches. Fantasy-wise, he was viewed as little more than injury insurance for Hall.
Interestingly, Allen put forth a quality showing in Week 2 versus Tennessee despite Hall playing well throughout the contest. Allen toted the ball seven times for 33 yards and added two catches for 23 yards through the air. The rookie also found paydirt twice, including a go-ahead score late in the 24-17 victory.
Braelon Allen gives the Jets the lead!
📺: #NYJvsTEN on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/3qrxxqql9G— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
Hall and Allen formed a great backfield duo. Hall scored 20.9 half-PPR points, making him the week's RB4 through Sunday. Allen was not far behind as the RB7 with 18.6 half-PPR points. While Hall is in no danger of losing his role atop the backfield, Allen looks to be a larger component than expected.
Allen will be one of the top running back options on waiver wires this week. He remains a backup, but he appears to have some standalone value moving forward. Fantasy managers who need running backs should take a long look at Allen ahead of New York's game with New England in Week 3.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
Wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a promising rookie season a year ago, catching 63 passes for 628 yards and four touchdowns. The JSN hype train for 2024 slowed down a bit after Week 1, though. Smith-Njigba saw only two targets in Seattle's opener versus Denver, and he finished with just 2.9 half-PPR points.
Week 2 was a very different story. Smith-Njigba set new career highs with 12 receptions, 16 targets, and 117 receiving yards in Seattle's overtime victory over New England. He and teammate DK Metcalf accounted for 30 targets combined. By contrast, veteran receiver Tyler Lockett lagged behind both with just two grabs on two targets for 15 yards.
With 17.7 half-PPR points, Smith-Njigba currently ranks as the week's WR12. Per PFF, this also marked the second consecutive week in which JSN has run more routes and played more snaps than Lockett. His breakout performance was far from a fluke, and fantasy managers should take notice.
Feels like we will look back at Week 2, 2024 as the week Jaxon Smith-Njigba arrived
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) September 15, 2024
Smith-Njigba will likely provide inconsistent fantasy production for fantasy managers this season. With that said, he is seeing more usage in his sophomore season as he surpasses Lockett. Expect more great showings from JSN in the future, although Metcalf remains the top WR in this offense.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Tight end Hunter Henry was a minor factor in New England's Week 1 win over Cincinnati. That week, he caught two passes on just three targets for 18 yards. Henry was also outperformed by teammate and fellow TE Austin Hooper, though the former did play more snaps. Henry was largely an afterthought in fantasy entering Week 2.
This past Sunday went a lot differently. Henry saw a team-leading 12 targets, of which he caught eight. He picked up 109 yards on those receptions, bringing him to a total of 14.9 half-PPR points for the week. This outing earned him the TE3 spot for Week 2 so far with Monday's results pending.
Hunt is feeling it today 🔥@Hunter_Henry84 | #NEPats
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/x1bN1KLq3R
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 15, 2024
Henry made the most of his large role in Week 2. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett looked his way early and often, and the two showed a strong connection. However, the Patriots do not have a particularly potent offense, limiting Henry's ceiling. His elite target share will also not be seen frequently as other weapons get up to speed.
Still, Henry should be the top TE target on waivers this week. In a season with few standout performances from tight ends so far, it would be foolish to ignore an option capable of this volume. Any fantasy manager looking for a new tight end should make an effort to add Henry before Week 3 rolls around.
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