Week 2 winners and losers: Tyler Shough, DeVonta Smith shine; Bijan Robinson struggles

Week 2 of the 2026 fantasy football season wasn't the high-scoring bonanza of Week 1, but DeVonta Smith, Ja'Marr Chase and Tyler Shough all came up big. On the flip side, fantasy stars Bijan Robinson, Justin Jefferson and Drake London all had disappointing games.

Who were the big winners and losers around the league during the opening week of the fantasy football season?

Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft offer their analysis.

Jump to a topic:
Ranking winners | Ranking losers
Biggest injuries and what's next

Ranking fantasy winners of Week 2

1. DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

If he's destined for a breakout, fantasy WR1-caliber year, this might well be the starting-point game his managers refer to. Smith scored 27.7 fantasy points, his sixth most in 82 career games, and he had a 38% target share. He's in prime position to shine, with A.J. Brown now in New England, and he'll get a fantastic Week 3 matchup in which to potentially repeat the effort versus the Chicago Bears. -- Cockcroft

2. Tyler Shough, QB, and Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

The Shough-Olave combination produced high-end numbers again in the Week 2 win over the Ravens. Shough (22.38 points) threw for 252 yards and a touchdown, while he rushed for 23 yards and another score on nine carries. That's two straight games for Shough with at least 22 points. Olave caught 8 of a team-high 10 targets for 86 yards and a touchdown, which was good for 22.6 points -- after dropping 28.2 points on the Lions in Week 1. Olave will remain a midtier WR1 for me in the ranks for the Week 3 matchup versus the Raiders, while Shough should be viewed as a fringe QB1. -- Bowen

3. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Chase, who had a slow Week 1 start (3.2 points), bounced back in Sunday's win over the Texans, dropping 26.5 points on one of the league's best defenses. Chase caught 7 of 9 targets for 75 yards and added two touchdowns, one on a ridiculous snag that highlighted his hands, body control and focus. This is another reminder to trust your top picks after a tough ballgame. Talent wins. -- Bowen

4. Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans

With Texans No. 1 wide receiver Nico Collins out with a hamstring injury, Schultz was the priority target for quarterback C.J. Stroud in Sunday's loss to the Bengals. Schultz totaled career highs in receptions (12), targets (14) and receiving yards (140). Schultz, who finished with 26.0 points (second most in his career), will be in the TE1 mix for the Week 3 game at Indianapolis if Collins is down again. Can't ignore that receiving usage. -- Bowen

5. Bryce Young, QB, and Darren Waller, TE, Carolina Panthers

This is the first time in Young's four-year NFL career that he has scored at least 20 fantasy points in back-to-back games, and his 31.44 points in Week 1 and 24.08 on Sunday are his third- and fifth-best outputs. Young is making great use of his deeper set of receivers, including Waller, who caught both of his end zone targets for scores and finished with 18.3 fantasy points. We're used to Young showing signs late in the year, but his hot start now elevates him into the solid-streamer tier for fantasy. -- Cockcroft

6. Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Bateman saw a bump in volume Sunday in the loss to the Saints with Zay Flowers (hamstring) down for the game. Bateman caught 7 of a team-high 9 targets, finishing with 88 yards and a touchdown (21.8 points). And the touchdown grab went as designed by new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. Reduced split. One-on-one route -- with the void in the middle of the field. If Flowers is out again for next week's matchup at Dallas, Bateman can be started as a WR2/Flex option. -- Bowen

7. Denzel Boston, WR, Cleveland Browns

Boston is an emerging target -- with big play juice -- who should be a priority waiver pickup this week. Rostered in only 26.4% of ESPN leagues, Boston scored 20.5 points in Sunday's win over the Bucs, catching five of seven targets for 95 yards and a touchdown. Boston has now posted a touchdown reception, and at least 13 points, in back-to-back games to start his pro career. -- Bowen

Ranking fantasy losers of Week 2

1. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons' offensive struggles with both Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) on the sideline continued, but what changed this week was Robinson's inability to replicate Week 1's solid receiving production (23 of his 31.13 fantasy points). The star running back managed only 11.1 points this time, despite facing a Panthers defense that surrendered 52.8 points combined to D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai in Week 1. In fairness, Robinson was lifted early in what was a 34-3 blowout, so the only thing to sweat for fantasy is whether Penix (more likely to play) or Tagovailoa is ready to play on "Thursday Night Football" for Week 3. Even then, Robinson remains a must-start, and in a closer game, probably would've given you a better score. -- Cockcroft

2. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears offense

The Bears lacked answers -- in both the run and pass game -- versus the Vikings and coordinator Brian Flores' pressure-heavy system. Williams, who left the game late with a hamstring injury (more on that below), had only 7.72 points (after posting 37.26 points in Week 1), both D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai failed to top the 50-yard rushing mark, and Colston Loveland was absent for the second straight game (one reception, 3 yards). It was an ugly game for Ben Johnson's unit, featuring empty red zone trips, turnovers and penalties. And this offense will have limitations if Williams is out for an extended period of time. -- Bowen

3. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

I really liked the matchup for Jefferson versus the Bears' secondary, especially after he scored 31.2 points in Week 1 versus the Packers. However, Jefferson caught just 3 of 6 targets for 55 yards (8.5 points). Concern here? I don't see it. Bad weather game in Chicago. Jefferson also had an opportunity on an end zone throw from Carson Wentz that could have changed the narrative here. Jefferson will look to rebound in Week 3 at Tampa, and we could see Kyler Murray back under center. -- Bowen

4. Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots

After another interception Sunday, he's already halfway (4) to his entire 2025 interception total (8). Repeating last year's stellar accuracy metrics -- he was the youngest player since the merger to lead the league in completion percentage (72%) -- was an unrealistic ask, but this much regression raises red flags. The Patriots face one of the league's toughest schedules, especially after their Week 11 bye. This isn't to say Maye is a cut in fantasy, but you need a start-worthy partner quarterback if you have him. -- Cockcroft

5. Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons

He now has 10 targets, two rushing attempts and only 14.4 fantasy points across two weeks working with fill-in quarterbacks Cooper Rush and Jack Strand. The Falcons' passing game has struggled mightily with the aforementioned Tagovailoa and Penix absent, but there's realistic hope that one or both will be ready to play Thursday. London's fantasy managers are certainly hoping so, as it's the difference between his approaching a top-10 positional ranking and being a ho-hum WR2/3. -- Cockcroft

6. Travis Etienne Jr., RB, New Orleans Saints

He might struggle to approach last year's 296 touches or 253.9 fantasy points, at least based on his usage these first two weeks. After losing goal-line carries to Kendre Miller in Week 1, Etienne was out-carried and out-touched by Alvin Kamara, though he did play a larger percentage of offensive snaps (53%-30%). Tyler Shough also handled the winning touchdown sneak, further signaling that Kellen Moore's offense is more role reliant than centered on a single running back. Etienne might be locked into low-end RB2 status. -- Cockcroft

7. DK Metcalf, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Aaron Rodgers continued to heavily target Metcalf -- he led the team for the second straight week -- but the eighth-year wide receiver again posted a sub-10-point fantasy score (6.7 this time). The matchup contributed, as star New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez covered Metcalf on 85% of his routes. Metcalf badly needs a big game in Week 3, against a much softer matchup in the Cincinnati Bengals, if he's to remain a weekly consideration in the WR2/flex class. -- Cockcroft

8. David Montgomery, RB, Houston Texans

Montgomery saw just eight touches in the Week 2 loss to the Bengals, rushing for 10 yards on six carries, while he caught two passes for 14 yards (4.4 points). As we saw in Week 1, when Montgomery had 28.9 points versus the Bills, he is a touchdown-dependent back who needs positive game flow and red zone touches. Didn't happen in this one. With the Colts up next, Montgomery fits as a Flex option. -- Bowen

Injury impact

Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears

What we know: Williams went down with a hamstring injury late in the fourth quarter on a scramble attempt. Williams was quickly ruled out, and he left on a cart.

What's next: With Williams expected to miss time, backup Tyson Bagent will take over as the No. 1 in Ben Johnson's offense. Bagent is a capable No. 2 who will have some value in deeper, 2QB Superflex formats. However, I would expect a run-heavy game plan for the Week 3 matchup versus the Eagles, which will reduce the value of Luther Burden II, Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland in this Bears passing attack. -- Bowen

Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

What we know: He suffered a stinger on his first carry of the day, and while he did return for a portion of the second half, he managed only four rushing attempts and two targets in that time before ultimately being shut down for the day. Barkley is scheduled for an MRI, and his status for Week 3 is unclear.

What's next: Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley shared carries after Barkley's departure, though Bigsby got the bulk of the work initially as well as the important red zone opportunities, a signal that he's the Barkley insurance policy to have. Prioritize Bigsby among your Week 3 pickups. -- Cockcroft

Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia Eagles

What we know: He suffered a right knee injury on a run-blocking play during the second quarter and was unable to return. Goedert's day finished with him seeing two targets and scoring 1.4 fantasy points.

What's next: Goedert's injury history raises questions about his ability to recover in time for Week 3. If he can't play, Johnny Mundt, who ran 19 routes and had two catches for 8 yards, would be next up on the depth chart. -- Cockcroft