The 2023 NFL season is still finding its footing. It’s tough to tell what’s real and what’s a fluke at this point in the year. Still, all that we can do it analyze the games that have occurred. Here’s a list of the most notable fantasy performances, both the good and the bad.
All stats are courtesy of ESPN.com
The Good
Puka Nacua (WR) – 30.1 PPR points
Are we sure Puka Nacua isn’t just Cooper Kupp in disguise? Oh wait, that can’t be, because Cooper Kupp has never had 15 catches in a game before. Nacua did just that in Week 2. He is breaking reception and target records left and right. Puka excels at finding the soft spot in zone defenses and has slid right into Kupp’s vacated role. Matt Stafford has been peppering him with targets. Start Nacua with great confidence until Kupp gets back, and possibly even after his return.
Keenan Allen (WR) – 31.1 PPR points
Keenan Allen might be the most underrated wide receiver in fantasy football. In Week 2, he forced his way into headlines, finishing as the WR1 in a two touchdown performance. Allen was the best wide receiver in fantasy football this week, and deserves his props.
Brian Robinson Jr. (RB) – 28.9 PPR points
The Commanders running back finished as the overall RB1 in Week 2! He snagged two touchdowns, proving himself to be a solid asset moving forward. Fellow back Antonio Gibson doesn’t have as large of a role as previously thought, being out-touched 20-5 by Robinson this week. He’s a solid addition to lineups in Week 3.
Nico Collins (WR) – 27.6 PPR points
Texans wide receiver Nico Collins is off to a hot start in 2023. He followed up his 14 point performance in Week 1 with an explosive 27.6 point game in Week 2. Through these two weeks, Collins has already racked up 20 targets. Apart of an offense that will probably be trailing frequently, his raw volume makes him an interesting player for the rest of the season. Rookie WR Tank Dell actually out-targeted Collins this past week, so the WR1 spot is still up for grabs. However, with the amount of passes Houston is attempting, this may not matter. Nonetheless, Collins is a viable flex option in Week 3.
Kyren Williams (RB) – 28.0 PPR points
Sean McVay hates Cam Akers. I don’t know why, but it’s the truth. While bad for Akers and those who drafted him this year, this means good things for Rams running back Kyren Williams. With Akers a healthy scratch on Sunday, Williams is the clear RB1 in the Rams backfield. He was given 14 carries in Week 2’s game, and caught 6 passes. All of a sudden, he is a very valuable asset for anyone’s fantasy team. He’s still available in just under 40% of ESPN leagues, so grab him if you can.
The Bad
Ja’Marr Chase (WR) – 8.1 PPR points
A consensus top-3 pick this season, Chase has underwhelmed though two weeks. The Browns offense, as a whole, hasn’t look good. They played in bad conditions in Week 1, and had a tough matchup in Week 2. Quarterback Joe Burrow is also nursing a calf injury sustained this preseason and didn’t play any preseason games as a result of it. Chase has started off slow, but he’ll get back up to speed soon. He is a buy-low trade candidate. This is the perfect time to acquire him at his cheapest.
Breece Hall (RB) – 0.9 PPR points
After Week 1, I considered that Hall may just be just a fast healer, and maybe he would be startable right away. Alas, it seems that we still may need to give him a few weeks. He flashed his ability in Week 1, but didn’t get much work in Week 2. Keep him stashed on your bench. He’ll be a shaky flex candidate for the next several weeks (I wouldn’t recommend starting him next week), but once healthy, Hall will be one of the most valuable assets in fantasy football.
Kyle Pitts (TE) – 3.5 PPR points
The Kyle Pitts situation is unfortunate. He is very talented, but the Falcons just don’t give him the ball. They are content relying on their fantastic running back duo, and you can’t blame them. WR Drake London and Pitts will fight for targets every week. London flashed this week (18.7 points), but neither were productive in Week 1. Pitts will have his games, but he is far from being a reliable fantasy tight end week in, week out.