The potential of an NFL player in fantasy football can change in a hurry. With Week 1, there was some early evidence on whom you can trust more to produce and those you might need to fade from starting lineups.
Here's looking at five risers and five fallers when considering their fantasy football value going into Week 2.
FANTASY WEEK 2 RANKINGS: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | PK
Fantasy football Stock Watch Week 2
⬆️ UP: Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
The only question about Herbert after a hot end to his first season under Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman is whether the Chargers would open up their offense and give him the passing volume needed to put up big numbers. He came out and played at his career-best in a tough spot against the Chiefs, finishing as QB5 for the week.
Herbert was locked into wide receivers Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen, and Quentin Johnston, with his big arm and athleticism on full display. Look for the Chargers to remain aggressive with him as he surges toward an every-week play.
Justin Herbert fantasy stock to the moon 🚀 (via Yahoo Fantasy Forecast)@MattHarmon_BYB | @RayGQue pic.twitter.com/Jof9K2UPJq
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) September 10, 2025
⬇️ DOWN: Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
Hill was WR53 on the board in Week 1, catching 4 of 6 targets for only 40 yards. Bad, but still good enough for best on the team. Hill and Tua Tagovailoa are off in their connection, and Tagovailoa's terrible play is dragging down all remaining explosiveness for a 31-year-old receiver. Miami's awfulness can keep hurting the wideouts more than last season.
FANTASY LINEUP TIPS: Week 2 Start-Sit | Week 2 Sleepers | Week 2 Busts
⬆️ UP: Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Etienne cleared up any questions about the Jacksonville backfield in a hurry. Not only did Etienne finish as RB5 with 143 rushing yards on 14 carries against the Panthers, including a 71-yard burst, he also saw his former main competition for touches, Tank Bigsby get traded. He's the clear healthy back of choice for Liam Coen's new offense.
⬇️ DOWN: Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks
What was that? The run-heavier Seahawks under new coordinator Klint Kubiak were calculated in letting Sam Darnold loose in Week 1 and the result weren't pretty. Walker had only 10 carries for 20 yards against the 49ers. The team hinted at a larger role for Zach Charbonet, who does all the little things right as Walker's expanding complement. It's difficult to play Walker in Pittsburgh.
MORE: RB handcuff rankings & depth charts
⬆️ UP: Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets
Braeleon Allen truthers did get a touchdown fo him, but that was well behind Hall, who posted 145 yards from scrimmage on his 20 touches against the Bills. He showed some of the same explosiveness before his knee injury and also seemed to mesh well with Justin Fields' running behind an improved offensive line.
⬇️ DOWN: Asthon Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Jeanty scored in his debut in New England but otherwise he had 19 rushes for an anemic 38 yards. He also had only two catches for two yards. The Raiders supposed run-heavy game plan vs. the Patriots was 61 percent Geno Smith dropping back to pass. Jeanty will need to show more pop in a tougher matchup vs. the Chargers at home to feel like he can reach RB1 status (top 12) anytime soon.
MORE TIPS: Fantasy trade targets analyzer for Week 2
⬆️ UP: Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Flowers led the team in Buffalo with 7 catches for 143 yards and a TD on a team-high 9 targets. He was the best go-to guy with Lamar Jackson, getting more looks than Mark Andrews, Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins combined in a run-dominant game plan. Flowers looks like he's involving toto more a reliable big playmaker than an intermittent one.
⬇️ DOWN: Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
Collins' issues are by-products of C.J. Stroud's strugglers with tougher defense (see the Rams). The Texans' offensive line isn't giving Stroud much time to throw and the running game didn't relieve that pressure much. Collins saw only 5 targets, catching 3 for 25 yards.
As a well-paid alphia, he needs to deliver much more than that. Houston has problems up front, but Collins should be getting fed the ball alot more. You should keep him if you have him and try to trade for him if you don't.
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⬆️ UP: Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts
Warren crushed it along with Michael Pittman Jr. as intermedate targets for QB upgrade Daniel Jones. Warren is joining Brock Bowers, Tre McBride and Sam LaPorta in the new athletic wave of leading tight ends. Warren has jumped with Jones and his floor and upside both are high. He can easily end up in the top four or top five right behind those three other TEs.
⬇️ DOWN: David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns
Njoku and Joe Flacco was supposed to be money in the bank with their chemsitry dating back to the end of the 2023 season. But Flacco didn't force feed his tight end the ball, instead unlocking a bevy of receivers, including young wide receiver Cedric Tillman and rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr.
Fannin is used as a wideout hybrid in Kevin Stefanski's frequent 12 personnel sets and Njoku was much less dynamic than the rookie. Fannin isn't playable on the regular yet, but his presence definitely cut into the key target usage of Njoku, making him a much-less inspiring top-10 option at the position.
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