Deep Sleepers from Preseason Week 2
Week 2 of the 2021 preseason is now in the books and it provided a little better look at who is looking at a bigger workload. I’ve added a few new players to my list of guys to keep an eye on for fantasy football purposes. Below them you’ll see the players I mentioned in my week 1 article and an * next to the guys that are their primary competition:
Newcomers to the list:
RB Kenny Gainwell (Philadelphia) - 5 carries, 21 yards, 3 catches, 23 yards, 0 TDs
I’m pretty sure in one of my articles earlier in the year I mentioned Gainwell as a threat to take the starting job away from Sanders. Well, I’m standing by that thought. He won’t steal it to start the year, so he remains more of a late-round bench stash, but you should keep an eye on him. He offers very good athleticism and dual-threat capabilities. The Eagles have already demonstrated their willingness to use him in the pass game this preseason.
*Miles Sanders: 2 carries, 13 yards, 0 TDs
*Jordan Howard: 3 carries, 8 yards, 0 TDs
RB Larry Rountree (LA Chargers) - 8 carries, 12 yards, 4 catches, 15 yards, 0 TDs
Austin Ekeler is not a bell-cow back. He excels when the workload isn’t all on him, so the Chargers will need someone else to carry it with him. Justin Jackson is the incumbent, but he’s dealt with his own injury woes since entering the league, which leaves the door open for some competition. Kelley (4th round pick last year) and Rountree (6th round pick this year) are the two primary candidates to steal the role away from Jackson. His performance this week isn’t anything to write home about, but last week he put up 63 yards on 8 touches, compared to Kelley’s 16 yards on 9 touches and Jackson’s 22 yards on 6 touches.
*Joshua Kelley: 7 carries, 9 yards, 2 catches, 12 yards, 0 TDs
*Justin Jackson: No Stats
WR Trent Sherfield - 2 catches, 50 yards, 0 TDs
This has preseason hype monster written all over it, so I’m definitely urging caution. You should only be adding him to your watch lists. Through two preseason games he has 3 catches, 130 yards and a score. Trey Lance has a big arm and Sherfield has the speed to allow him the chance to show it off. The Niners are in need of Receiver help with Samuel’s nagging injuries the last two years and no real depth behind him and Aiyuk. Sherfield is showing he can compete with the guys listed below to try and steal some in season playing time.
*Mohamed Sanu: 1 catch, 5 yards, 1 TD
*Travis Benjamin: 2 catches, 24 yards, 1 TD
*Richie James: 2 catches 16 yards, 0 TDs
WR Tylan Wallace - 2 catches, 36 yards, 0 TDs
Zig while everyone else is zagging. Bateman is hurt and expected to miss a few weeks to start out the season. Sammy Watkins is usually good for one big game and then minimal output to finish the season. Which means the Ravens need someone else to step up and play alongside Marquise Brown. The five guys listed below are all competing for a spot on the team, but Wallace is more talented than all of them. Had it not been for the knee injury two years ago he would have gone in the second round in this last draft. He’s the other guy the Ravens need to step up and help their pass game improve. I believe he will.
*Devin Duvernay: 1 catch, 5 yards, 0 TDs
*James Proche: 2 catches, 6 yards, 0 TDs
*Jaylon Moore: 3 catches, 15 yards, 0 TDs
*Devin Gray: 2 catches, 19 yards, 0 TDs
*Binjimen Victor: 1 catch, 9 yards, 0 TDs
TE Tyler Kroft - 2 catches, 36 yards, 2 TDs
A week ago I mentioned that a bonus for Denzel Mims is that the Jets don’t have a good Tight End. Then Zach Wilson goes out and throws two touchdown passes to Tyler Kroft. The fact of the matter is Kroft isn’t going to strike fear into opponents. However, the Jets need someone to start at the position who can be Wilson’s security blanket. Kroft looks like the top guy for the job, and being a security blanket to a young passer can be very lucrative. Just something to keep in mind.
*Chris Herndon: 1 catch, 5 yards
*Kenny Yeboah: 1 catch, 6 yards
*Trevon Wesco: 1 catch, 17 yards
Week 1’s Players and their week 2 stats:
QB David Blough (Detroit) - 12/17, 143 yards, 1 TDs, 0 Ints
*Tim Boyle: 7/15, 44 yards, 0 TDs, 0 Ints
*Jared Goff: No Stats
QB Sam Ehlinger (Indianapolis) - 8/13, 70 yards, 0 TDs, 2 Int, 2 carries, 11 yards
*Jacob Eason: 16/27, 132 yards, 0 TDs, 0 Ints, 1 carry, 3 yards
RB Rhamondre Stevenson (New England) - 15 carries, 66 yards, 2 TDs, 1 catch, 8 yards
*Damien Harris: 6 carries, 14 yards, 1 TDs
*Sony Michel: 7 carries, 34 yards, 0 TDs, 4 catches, 37 yards
*James White: 2 catches, 13 yards, 0 TDs
*J.J. Taylor: 12 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD, 3 catches, 18 yards
RB Eno Benjamin (Arizona) - 3 carries, 18 yards, 2 catches, 16 yards, 0 TD
*Chase Edmonds: 1 carry, 3 yards, 0 TDs
*Jonathan Ward: 3 carries, 17 yards, 2 catches, 14 yards, 0 TDs
*Tavien Feaster: No Stats
RB DeeJay Dallas (Seattle) - 3 catches, 27 yards, 0 TDs
*Alex Collins: 7 carries, 20 yards, 2 catches, 17 yards, 0 TDs
*Josh Johnson: 9 carries, 30 yards, 1 catch, 7 yards, 0 TDs
*Rashaad Penny: 5 carries, 8 yards, 1 catch, 6 yards, 0 TDs
WR Lynn Bowden (Miami) - No Stats
*Mack Hollins: 4 catches, 49 yards, 0 TDs
*Isaiah Ford: No Stats
*Malcolm Perry: 1 catch, 29 yards, 0 TDs
*Jakeem Grant: 2 catches, 16 yards, 0 TDs
*Robert Foster 2 catches, 16 yards, 1 TD
WR K.J. Hamler (Denver) - 1 catch, 2 yards, 1 TD
*Jerry Jeudy: 2 catches, 40 yards, 0 TDs
*(Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick are the other two primary competitors for starting targets)*
WR Denzel Mims (NY Jets) - No Stats
*Corey Davis: 4 catches, 70 yards, 0 TDs
*Keelan Cole: 1 catch, 4 yards, 0 TDs
*Jamison Crowder: No Stats
Others I considered mentioning: QB Teddy Bridgewater (Denver), RB Jarrett Patterson (Washington), RB Jerrick McKinnon (Kansas City), and TE Pat Freiermuth (Pittsburgh)
