5 key takeaways from week 2

Including a 'discount Baker Mayfield'

September 15, 2025

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📣 Quick announcement: We are moving our weekly rankings update to Wednesdays. After looking at the data from week 1, there was still quite a bit of movement that happened late Monday and into Tuesday. So this change should give you the most accurate consensus dynasty rankings moving forward.

That means our Risers & Fallers newsletter will be pushed to Wednesdays instead of Tuesdays.

Eventually, our consensus dynasty rankings will be updated daily, and we’ll add versions for weekly rankings and other formats, too. We’ll keep building and can’t wait to share those updates with you in the future!

Now, let’s get to some of the top insights from week 2.

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QB - Jake Browning (CIN)

  • Jake Browning is positioned as a viable replacement for Burrow, having previously ranked as a top 10 fantasy quarterback when he replaced Burrow for the final third of the 2023 season. His playing style is characterized as aggressive and even reckless, with a willingness to run despite not being an elite athlete.

  • Browning's fantasy value is expected to be boosted by the Bengals' defensive struggles, which will likely force him to maintain an aggressive playing style similar to what he showed against the Jaguars to keep Cincinnati competitive in games. The article compares him to a 'discount Baker Mayfield.'

  • As Burrow's immediate replacement, Browning is notably available in every league and shouldn't face much competition on the waiver wire since most teams are currently satisfied with their quarterback production. However, the article suggests potentially adding a second quarterback this week due to a challenging matchup against the Vikings.

QB - J.J. McCarthy (MIN)

  • McCarthy's NFL career has gotten off to a concerning start, with seven out of his eight quarters played being described as poor performances. While he managed a fourth-quarter comeback in Week 1 against the Bears, this masked significant offensive struggles that became more apparent in Week 2 against the Falcons.

  • In the Week 2 loss to the Falcons, McCarthy struggled significantly, completing just 11 of 21 passes for 158 yards while turning the ball over three times (two interceptions and one fumble). He particularly struggled in the first half, taking five sacks against a historically weak pass rush and failed to convert a crucial fourth-and-inches situation due to a bobbled snap.

  • McCarthy's performance showed serious growing pains as a rookie quarterback, with the Vikings failing to score a touchdown in the 22-6 loss. His discomfort was evident throughout the game, whether due to pressure from the Falcons or difficulty finding open receivers, finishing with only nine completions and contributing to just 164 total yards of offense by late in the fourth quarter.

RB - Rhamondre Stevenson (NE)

  • Stevenson dominated the Patriots' backfield touches in Week 2, receiving 16 touches compared to rookie Henderson's five, demonstrating the coaching staff's trust in the veteran back. His performance included multiple explosive plays, including a 55-yard catch and a 21-yard rush.

  • Despite not finding the end zone, Stevenson impressed with 142 total yards, resulting in 18.7 fantasy points, placing him among the top RBs for Week 2. This performance suggests he was potentially overlooked in fantasy drafts.

  • The article indicates that Stevenson has reasserted his control over the backfield, though Henderson will still have opportunities. His strong showing against Miami, even with the presence of Antonio Gibson and Henderson, suggests he remains the clear lead back in New England.

WR - Rome Odunze (CHI)

  • Rome Odunze lit up Week 2 with 11 targets, 7 grabs, 128 yards and 2 touchdowns, totaling 31.8 fantasy points — vaulting him into WR4 overall on the season.

  • Film analysts had long insisted Odunze was just as good as Marvin Harrison Jr. or Malik Nabers, and now dynasty players are debating trading away AJ Brown straight up — or even with added picks — to secure Odunze’s youth and upside.

  • Hosts hammered home a bold dynasty theory: 'what looks like an overpay today is an underpay tomorrow,' urging managers to prioritize Odunze as a cornerstone alpha WR even if it costs a first plus AJ Brown.

WR - Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX)

📈 📉 2 FOR 1 SPECIAL:

The BTJ start might have some managers concerned (and rightfully so). Below are two takes from two different sources — one optimistic and one not. A great example of why it’s so important to consult a variety of opinions in this game.

  • Brian Thomas Jr. showed promising volume in Week 2, securing a 35.7% target share after Jarrian Jones left the game. He accumulated 12 targets, two end-zone targets, and 258 air yards, demonstrating significant involvement in the offense despite underwhelming results.

  • Thomas's Week 2 performance, while not reflected in the final stats, showed improvement from Week 1. In the first week, Trevor Lawrence only delivered three catchable targets, whereas Week 2 saw more opportunities that just fell short in crucial moments.

  • Despite early struggles, the article suggests Thomas's situation has potential for improvement. The talent is evident, and the Jaguars are still adapting to a new offense, indicating that Week 2's performance, though not statistically impressive, was a step in the right direction for his development.

  • Brian Thomas Jr. has now strung together two straight disappointing games, including inconsistency with Trevor Lawrence after a rocky 2024 season.

  • He was criticized for a play that resulted in an interception, with coaches questioning effort, fueling worries he may be trending toward 'bust' territory.

  • Despite the promise, his struggles with usage and chemistry make him a risky start, especially with tough defenses like Houston, San Francisco, and Kansas City on deck.

Friday’s poll results:

No real surprises here. The first two weeks have been pretty chalky with no major upsets in survivor/suicide pools… yet.

🥇 Best subscriber comment: “I picked angry BAL, but that was a gimme. Give me Goff and DET at home in the revenge game!”

Today’s poll:

How do you view BTJ moving forward in dynasty?

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That’s all for today!

See ya pizza,

Joe