Minnesota Vikings veteran Jordan Mason was placed on injured reserve due to a fractured thumb, removing him from fantasy lineups for at least four weeks. Mason’s injury leaves Aaron Jones Sr. in position to serve as Minnesota’s primary running back while DeeJay Dallas provides additional depth. Mason underwent surgery on his fractured right thumb after rushing for 59 yards and a touchdown in Minnesota’s season opener.
Several running backs are being avoided for Week 2 due to poor starts, tough matchups, or unclear roles in their teams’ offensive plans, according to UPI. Omarion Hampton of the Los Angeles Chargers is one such player, despite scoring a touchdown in Week 1, as he struggled with just 43 rushing yards on 12 carries. Hampton also failed to receive any receiving targets in Week 1 and is expected to face a difficult matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. UPI noted that the Raiders held De’Von Achane to just 36 rushing yards in Week 1 when explaining why Hampton was placed outside its top 20. Hampton sits at No. 21 in UPI’s Week 2 rankings and should only be considered as a low-end RB2 or flex option in deeper leagues.
Another player being avoided is Jadarian Price of the Seattle Seahawks, who had a modest debut with just 52 rushing yards and two catches. UPI expects Price to remain in a timeshare for at least several more weeks and does not expect his breakout game to come in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals held the Chargers to just 81 rushing yards in Week 1, which UPI cited as another reason to lower expectations for Price. Price ranks No. 24 in UPI’s Week 2 running back rankings. Price carried the ball 10 times for 52 yards and caught two passes for 6 yards in Seattle’s 13-10 victory over New England.
MarShawn Lloyd of the Green Bay Packers was not given a clear role in Week 1, with Chris Brooks starting over him despite Lloyd’s better rushing numbers. Lloyd received more carries and total yardage than Brooks in Week 1, but the team chose to start Brooks instead. The Jets’ defense held Tennessee Titans running backs to just 47 rushing yards, making Lloyd a risky pick for Week 2. Lloyd ranks as the No. 30 option in UPI’s Week 2 rankings and should be avoided until he shows signs of increased playing time or better performance. Lloyd carried 13 times for 37 yards while Brooks had seven carries for 29 yards. Brooks also played more offensive snaps.
On the other hand, several running backs are being recommended as top picks for Week 2 based on their matchups and performance. Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons is ranked as the No. 1 running back for Week 2, followed by Jahmyr Gibbs, Kenneth Walker, Derrick Henry, and Saquon Barkley. James Cook, Christian McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor, Kyren Williams, and Ashton Jeanty are also considered among the top 10 running backs for Week 2. The rankings reflect a mix of players who have shown promise and those with favorable matchups. These rankings come from UPI and can differ from other fantasy rankings. For example, other current rankings have Gibbs or Robinson at No. 1 depending on the scoring format and analyst.
In addition to running backs, tight end analysis is also important for fantasy managers looking to optimize their lineups, according to a report from touchdownwire.usatoday.com. Colston Loveland of the Chicago Bears had a zero in Week 1 but remains a top-five tight end option for Week 2 due to his talent and route versatility. Despite a rough start, Loveland is expected to perform better in the Bears’ improved offensive environment. Loveland failed to catch either of his two Week 1 targets. Sports Illustrated also ranks him fifth among tight ends for Week 2.
A.J. Brown of the New England Patriots is also out for at least four weeks due to an ankle injury, which affects fantasy lineup decisions. Brown suffered a high ankle sprain in the Patriots’ opener and was placed on injured reserve. NFL Network reported that he could miss about six weeks.
Fantasy managers are advised to consider both the current trends and upcoming matchups when building their lineups for Week 2.
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