NFL Week 2 Dynasty Detour

Week 2 is in the books here, and there is certainly some guys that need discussion. John will walk us through the big news, I’ll talk about some of the most surprising WR performances and how much they mean to me, and Jesse will bring us home with a Jaguars deep dive… Let’s hit the Detour.

-- Dynasty Detour Ryan

📝 Traffic Report

Week 2 is all about patterns. It is where teams can rewrite the script from Week 1, carry over momentum, or completely reverse course. Let’s look at a couple teams and players that have taken the headlines this week.

🖼️ “It Belongs in a Museum”

Indiana Jones has been reborn. And he is not played by Harrison Ford. Instead, he is wearing number 17 for the Indianapolis Colts.

After a “fierce” QB competition, Daniel Jones has not only played two of the best games of his career, but he’s completely transformed the Indianapolis offense and heightened the value of many of its playmakers. They have now gone two weeks without punting, and while pushing the ball down the field against a much tougher defense this week, he continued to protect the ball. Add in his value on the ground with 3 touchdowns already, and we are looking at a potential top 5 finish for the QB this season. With this elevation, what does this mean for the surrounding pieces in the fully-realized Steichen offense:

• We already touched on Tyler Warren’s historic start last week, and he continues to impress, getting the ball in multiple looks (including a devious Sail route out of the backfield), finishing with 4 receptions for 79 yards on 7 targets.

• Former rushing champ Jonathan Taylor has completely returned to form with 236 yards on the ground, and 77 in the air through 2 weeks. With no real comp for touches, if this offense keeps rolling, he has a real chance to finish as RB1.

• Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce have all been solid through 2 weeks and split the target share evenly. Downs had the target share this week, reeling in 6 rec on 8 targets (including 2 in the red zone). Downs’ stock definitely was on the rise in preseason, but if this momentum continues, he could set a number of career highs with Jones under center.

🚑️ Injury Report

Unsurprisingly we saw some injuries this week. Here’s what we know and what to do about it:

• Joe Burrow - When you provide your star QB with no o-line protection for the 5th season in a row, you cannot be surprised when he gets hurt. We will have to keep an eye on whether the Bengals go with Browning or trade for another vet (please let it be Jameis 🙏 ), but that decision will decide what kind of season we can expect from Chase, Higgins, and the rest of the Bengals playmakers.

• Justin Fields - Just when we thought he was turning a corner, we got a setback. Even before the departure, Fields looked really rough against Buffalo, especially through the air. Hopefully he can clear concussion protocol and get back on track.

• Austin Ekeler - It is Bill’s time. The sun was already setting on Ekeler as the lead back and the unfortunate injury completely opened the path. Tough to see him bouncing back from this.

• Jayden Daniels & JJ McCarthy - Both young QB’s got dinged up this week and are threatening to miss next week. I would not put too much stock into either of these (although a good Carson Wentz game would certainly excite JJettas’ owners). Both these teams are committed to these QB’s, and one week will not change that or their production.

• Aaron Jones - Jordan Mason will get his moment again. After breaking on to the scene last year behind CMC, if Aaron Jones is forced to miss time, Mason will get lead back duties again. I thought he looked like the more explosive of the two these first two weeks, so do not be too surprised if he takes this opportunity and runs with it.

-- Dynasty Detour John

🚦 Scouting Stoplight

I’m looking at the most shocking performances of Week 2 and discussing how I’m feeling about the guys going forward. Are they future phenoms or flukes?

We had some real explosive weeks from receivers around the league, but which ones should you be excited about, and which are flashes in the pan?

🟢 Rome Odunze, WR CHI - 7/11 rec, 128 yards, 2 TD for 31.8 PPR FPTS

The former first round talent had himself a day in Detroit, and I’ve gotta say, I think it’s for real. Here’s why ⬇️ 

• Volume - 11 targets ties a career high for Odunze, and he was clearly the hot route on a lot of them. I love the trust, and unlike last year, I think this involvement level is here to stay.

• Standing - Odunze currently has over 30% of the targets in this offense through two weeks. Between the mouths to feed, I don’t see this going up, but does it need to? Not at all. Depth chart number 1 D.J. Moore has looked fine and been involved, and Olamide Zaccheaus refuses to let second round pick Luther Burden III in the starting lineup with solid performances of his own, but Odunze has been the feature WR for Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams.

• Situation - Odunze is the current favorite in a skill position group that is highly likely to look very similar to what it does right now for years to come. Should Burden factor in more, I don’t trust him to ever be much of a high volume anyway, an opinion I’ve held since before he was even drafted.

Caleb Williams could look better but is still early in his development, and this offense is still in it’s infancy with Ben Johnson. With so many weapons around Odunze might not have the safest floor in the league, but I trust most of what we’re seeing will continue. I’m buying.

🟡 Troy Franklin, WR DEN - 8/9 rec, 89 yards, 11 rushing yards, 1 TD

Nix’s favorite target while at Oregon, Franklin was everywhere in the Broncos’ back and forth with the Colts on Sunday, and it might continue, but I’m not too sure ⬇️ 

• Volume - Franklin’s 9 targets made up almost half of those that went the WR room’s way (10 to the rest). After 6 targets last week, Franklin certainly looks to be part of Sean Payton’s plan for this offense. I foresee a decent floor for the second year WR going forward, but I’m not sure we’ll see many more week with quite this much, or that they’ll be as fortuitous.

• Situation - Sutton is locked up long term and still definitely the WR1, and I think between him, Engram, and Payton’s love of using the RBs in the red zone, I think a ceiling exists for Franklin that won’t be going away any time soon.

Franklin and Nix were close to connecting on a few big plays last year, and the potential is there for him to become a flex play with some upside. It would also come as no shock to me if we see quite a few single digit finishes in between a few big weeks. If you like what you see, you can go for it now, but I’m willing to cough up a bit more down the line and wait for him to show me more first.

🔴 Hunter Renfrow, WR CAR - 7/9 rec, 48 yards, 2 TDs

Renfrow has had some big games before, this being his first in Carolina, but I’m not convinced ⬇️ 

• Volume - Renfrow certainly got his touches in this one, but was absolutely the beneficiary of some prevent defense towards the end (1 rec, 5 yds before down 27-3 with 2 mins in the 3rd, 3 rec, 17 yds, 1 TD under 3 mins and CAR down 2 TDs). Could there be some more situations like this as the Panthers continue to struggle? Sure. Do you want to count on them? No.

• Situation - Tet McMillain has very quickly become the obvious focal point of this passing attack, and JaTavion Sanders has become real involved as well. Xavier Legette has been struggling big time, and perhaps opens the door for Renfrow’s roll to increase, but even moving into the 3rd option here isn’t great.

The 29 year old is here on a one year deal with 2nd year slot guy Jalen Coker returning shortly and looking to build off of a hot finish to last year. I don’t think he’s long for this offense, for better or worse. I’m just fine staying away.

🟡 Devontez Walker, WR BAL - 2/2 rec, 26 yards, 2 TDs

Those out there like me that have stashed Tez Walker on their taxi squads loved to see this one, but I’m not expecting a whole lot more ⬇️ 

• Volume - Very little, which makes sense in an offense that already loved to spread the ball before adding DeAndre Hopkins and starting to show much more attention to Zay Flowers. I wouldn’t expect Walker to see much more than what he got, and unfortunately they’re not all going to be TDs.

• Situation - Firmly behind Flowers and Bateman at least 2 more years, with Hopkins and Tylan Wallace, both of whom also caught touchdowns, out-snapping him currently. Don’t get excited.

Walker certainly bought himself a few more weeks on my rosters, and if he was a cherry-on-top throw in to make me take a trade, so be it, but odds are that without an injury we won’t be hearing much from him going forward.

-- Dynasty Detour Ryan

🚘 A Look Under The Hood

The Jaguars may have come up short on the scoreboard, but for dynasty managers this was the kind of performance that demands attention.

Jacksonville went toe-to-toe with Cincinnati but fell 31–27 after a second-half surge led by Bengals backup QB Jake Browning. The Jags may have lost, but this offense is quietly shaping up to be one of the most fantasy-relevant units in the league.

We need to be careful not to overreact. This Bengals defense isn’t supposed to be good. Yes, they held Cleveland to just 16 points in Week 1, but in 2024 they allowed the fifth-most fantasy points. Even so, Jacksonville’s usage trends are worth watching. Let’s pop the hood.

1️⃣ Trevor Lawrence — 19.2 FPTS

Lawrence bounced back with a three-TD day, though turnovers ultimately tilted the game.

• Passing: 24/42, 271 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
  

• Rushing: 2 carries for 4 yards

Value Check: KeepTradeCut prices Lawrence as a mid/late ‘27 1st in Superflex.

Dynasty Take: Lawrence is getting plenty of criticism, some of it fair. His accuracy was inconsistent. For fantasy purposes, this is still what you want: multi-TD upside. In dynasty, you don’t sell low over two interceptions. Contenders should hold him as a stable back-end QB1. Rebuilders can wait for a better performance to cash out. Jacksonville did commit to him with a five-year extension last summer, so the long-term security is there even if he still has questions to answer.

2️⃣ Running Backs — Travis Etienne & Bhayshul Tuten

 Travis Etienne — 16.9 PPR FPTS

• Rushing: 14 carries, 71 yards

• Receiving: 2 rec, 18 yards, 1 TD
  

Bhayshul Tuten — 15.4 PPR FPTS

• Rushing: 8 carries, 42 yards

• Receiving: 2 rec, 32 yards, 1 TD
  

Value Check: Etienne has skyrocketed to around a 2028 1st in dynasty value. Tuten is closer to a mid/late 2026 2nd rounder.

Dynasty Take: Etienne is still the clear lead back with 47 snaps compared to Tuten’s 18. If you’re contending, enjoy the ride and hold. If you’re rebuilding, this is a good time to explore selling high (Etienne is already 26). Tuten is not just a handcuff. He already has flex appeal in this offense. Managers who drafted him should be thrilled.

3️⃣ Wide Receivers — Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter, Dyami Brown, Parker Washington

• Brian Thomas Jr.: 4 rec, 49 yards (12 targets) — 8.9 FPTS

• Dyami Brown: 5 rec, 57 yards, 1 TD — 17.6 FPTS

• Parker Washington: 5 rec, 76 yards — 12.6 FPTS

• Travis Hunter: 3 rec, 22 yards — 5.2 FPTS
  

Before I get into this… check out this stat:

Let’s not overreact, but this offense has many options. 

Value Check: BTJ is valued around a 1st and a 2nd; Hunter sits in late-1st/early-2nd range. Dyami and Washington are roster depth you can probably find on waivers

Dynasty Take: The stat that jumps off the page? BTJ’s 12 targets. He didn’t convert efficiently, but the Jaguars are treating him like the WR1 (as they should). Do not panic sell if you are an owner based on the slow fantasy start. Meanwhile, Dyami and Washington made noise, with Brown finding the end zone and Washington showing explosiveness (you should really add one of them if you can via waivers). 

Meanwhile Travis Hunter did not show out. I would not fully panic, but I don’t think people realized the legitimate target competition Hunter would face (Strange, Washington, and Brown are not scrubs). If he’s as talented as we believe he is, he should easily ascend to the 2nd in target share. However, his route participation rate was down in Week 2 (60% vs 82% in Week 1). Something to keep an eye on, but DO NOT panic.

✅ Driving it Home

Even in a loss, Jacksonville’s offense showed why it should be on every dynasty manager’s radar. Lawrence is still delivering fantasy points even when imperfect, Etienne has workhorse stability, Tuten is carving out a real role, and BTJ, while struggling, is still the franchise centerpiece (Travis Hunter has a ways to go). This unit might be volatile week to week, but Liam Coen’s offensive system has the Jaguar fantasy arrow is firmly pointing up.

-- Dynasty Detour Jesse

A lot to digest, but we’re happy to chew it up for you. Stay tuned for another Preseason Pulse newsletter this Thursday, and definitely make sure you’re keeping an eye out for our regular season programming. Follow us @dynastydetour on Instagram and X/Twitter to get our reactions and opinions in between write-ups, as well as email us with any questions at [email protected]. See you out on the road 🚘️.