Under-The-Radar Booms and Busts - Week 2

Craig Rondinone looks at some under-the-radar fantasy football booms and busts for Week 3 lineups in 2020. These NFL players could be high-upside flex plays or options to avoid.

The opening week of fantasy football gave us surprises like O.J. Howard being the top Tampa Bay tight end instead of Rob Gronkowski, and it gave us things we expected such as DeAndre Hopkins catching every pass in sight and Philip Rivers and Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing multiple interceptions.

Now that fantasy managers have a week under their belts, will Week 2 in the NFL be any easier to predict? Let’s find out together!

Without further ado, here are my under-the-radar booms and busts for Week 2.

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Week 2 Lineup Booms

Odell Beckham Jr., (CLE, WR) vs. CIN (Thursday)

Beckham’s start to the season looks ominous for fantasy managers on paper --- three receptions for 22 yards. But look deeper. He was targeted 10 times. He drew multiple penalties. Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw passes over his head when he was wide open. Beckham could have easily had a 100-yard game. Now he is facing a Cincinnati secondary that is short on experience at the cornerback position thanks to Trae Waynes being on injured reserve. Beckham loves shining in national games like a Thursday night contest. I will be shocked if he does not post monster numbers for his fantasy managers this week.

T.Y. Hilton (IND, WR) vs. MIN

In a Week 1 outing where the aforementioned Rivers completed 36 passes to an underwhelming Indianapolis pass-catching corps, you would have assumed Hilton would have managed more than four receptions. The loss of top tailback Marlon Mack might cause the Colts to throw more this week, along with the fact they are facing a Minnesota defense that allowed Aaron Rodgers to throw for 364 yards and four scores in their opening contest. Look for Hilton to get open early and often in his first home game of the season and for him to double his fantasy output from the opening week.

David Montgomery (CHI, RB) vs. NYG

Montgomery did not look worse for wear in Week 1 despite suffering a groin injury in training camp that caused concern. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry before losing playing time in the second half as Chicago mounted a winning comeback via its passing attack. The Giants made Pittsburgh backup Benny Snell look like Franco Harris this past Monday night (19-113) even though their defensive line is built to be better against the run than the pass. Montgomery has no threat to his early-down work and this should be a game where the Bears are more balanced in the second half with their play-calling. Montgomery should be in line for 100 yards and a TD or two with this ideal matchup.

Rob Gronkowski (TB, TE) vs. CAR

Gronk was a ghost in his first game as a Buccaneer, catching just two passes for 11 yards while tight end teammate O.J. Howard had four receptions for 36 yards and a TD. You cannot blame the snap count because Gronkowski was on the field for 17 more snaps than Howard was. You can blame Gronk for needing more time to adjust to a new team, offense and coaching staff.

Another week in the system should make Gronkowski more comfortable, along with quarterback Tom Brady. You have to think head coach and offensive mastermind Bruce Arians will find ways to integrate Gronkowski into the game plan this week against a Carolina defense that allowed Derek Carr and the Raiders to do whatever they wished in Week 1. Do not be shocked to see Gronk celebrating in the end zone in the second week of the season, especially if WR Chris Godwin is unable to play since he was placed in concussion protocol.

Week 2 Lineup Busts

Jimmy Garoppolo (SF, QB) at NYJ

Garoppolo had a weird Week 1, as did his 49ers. He threw for 259 yards and a touchdown, but most of it came early on a 76-yard touchdown pass where he threw the ball five yards to speed demon Raheem Mostert and the greyhound raced down the field untouched. The Jets allowed Buffalo’s Josh Allen to rip their secondary to shreds in Week 1, but they will hardly have anybody to cover if the 49ers are without Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and possibly tight end George Kittle if the latter’s knee sprain keeps him out. San Francisco signing Mohamed Sanu will be no help to Garoppolo this week. The 49ers might grind out a win, but do not expect Jimmy G. to have a banner day.

Adrian Peterson (DET, RB) at GB

You have to hand it to Peterson. The future Hall of Famer is 100 years old and was unceremoniously released by Washington on the eve of the season, yet he trots into Detroit and steals the spotlight and stats from Kerryon Johnson and D’Andre Swift. Peterson’s 93 rushing yards in Week 1 will not be duplicated or topped in Week 2, though. While Peterson has an illustrious track record of giving Green Bay fits, there is no telling if he gets 14 carries or four carries this Sunday. Three-headed backfields are about as fun to navigate for fantasy players as choppy waters are fun to navigate for sea captains. Johnson or Swift could easily be the top tailback for the Lions in Week 2. Peterson is a feast or famine fantasy option, and the odds are against him having two straight weeks as a feast.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling (GB, WR) vs. DET

Valdes-Scantling has a couple of things going against him right off the bat. First off, how many fantasy superstars have hyphenated last names? Not many, right? Secondly, how many wide receivers can fantasy managers trust when they disappear for weeks on end? Valdes-Scantling has always had talent, but he has also had a penchant for vanishing like the appetite of a vegetarian who walks into White Castle.

MVS may have had four grabs for 96 yards and a TD in Week 1, but he cannot be counted on when he has been so inconsistent in the past and has recorded just seven catches for 110 yards over his last three games against Detroit. Valdes-Scantling has to prove he can string a couple of good games together before he becomes a boom candidate instead of a bust candidate. I would take teammate Allen Lazard over him.

Dwayne Haskins Jr., (WAS, QB) at ARI

Don’t look now, but the Washington Football Team is a Super Bowl contender! Haskins will not make your fantasy team a contender, though. His accuracy (54.8% in Week 1, 58.6% in 2019) is abominable and must make Washington fans long for Heath Shuler at times. Arizona locked down the 49ers passing game for the most part last week and has nobody to fear other than No. 1 wideout Terry McLaurin this week, who Patrick Peterson should be able to keep in check. Byron Murphy can cover whoever is trotted out as San Fran’s No. 2 WR. Washington does not have a lot of weapons and Haskins has a hard time hitting the broad side of a barn, so he not trustworthy for fantasy players this weekend, even with a bargain-basement price tag in DFS leagues.