Wide receiver non-PPR rankings for Week 2 fantasy football

UPDATE 9/19: NFL teams released their final injury reports for Week 2. Here are final statuses for names of note.

Mike Evans: Removed from final injury report and will play
Chris Godwin: Doubtful, could be upgraded to questionable if he gets through concussion protocol on Saturday
A.J. Brown: Out
Kenny Golladay: Out
Courtland Sutton: Questionable
Amari Cooper: Removed from final injury report and will play
Julian Edelman/N’Keal Harry: Questionable
Michael Thomas: TBD, awaiting Saturday final report — but, he seems unlikely to play on Monday

UPDATE 9/18: We’ve had some big names hurting at wide receiver to start this season. Their status will move the rankings around quite a bit this week.

Michael Thomas’ likely absence is huge for the Saints and pushes Emmanuel Sanders and Tre’Quan Smith up the rankings.

Mike Evans looks like he’ll be able to go against the Panthers, but it looks like Chris Godwin will have trouble being cleared of his concussion in time. He still might be, so I’m going to wait before taking him out of the rankings, but if he does, Evans becomes a Top-5 play as long as he’s good to go.

A.J. Brown hasn’t practiced yet this week and looks like he won’t be able to play with a bone bruise. Corey Davis is also hurting, but was able to get a limited practice in. He could end up being a strong start this week.

Kenny Golladay hasn’t practiced in a while now and the odds of him being ready are very slim at this point. Quinten Cephus and Marvin Jones get a rankings boost.

Courtland Sutton is getting closer to being ready this week and if he is, Jerry Jeudy will see his target share and ranking decrease.

Amari Cooper got a limited designation on Thursday, which is worrisome as it appears to be a new injury to his foot/ankle. For now we’ll wait on more news before moving Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb up.

49ers rookie Brandon Aiyuk is practicing this week and should be able to get in the action against the Jets. Unfortunately it will be tough to project his workload coming off the injury. Despite the good matchup, 49ers receivers might be a dart throw in Week 2.

Your Top-3 wide receiver non-PPR leaders for Week 1 are players you undoubtedly started, with Davante Adams, Calvin Ridley, and Adam Thielen all balling out for your fantasy teams. Next up we have Darius Slayton and new Panthers wide receiver Robby Anderson. Both names that likely weren’t high in your Week 1 rankings, but both players who you could have started this week.

JuJu Smith-Schuster probably saw the biggest bump between PPR and non-PPR, as he had six receptions for 69 yards and two touchdowns. But in the end, there aren’t a whole lot of receivers we can consider strictly non-PPR plays in the league. Yes, strictly deep threats are more valuable in standard versus PPR, but touchdowns are usually needed to elevate a player from fringe startability into must-start status no matter the scoring.

Injury News

This week we hope to have Kenny Golladay and Courtland Sutton back, as both are needed for your fantasy teams. Devante parker looks like he will miss another game, likely helping Preston Williams and Mike Gesicki, but in a tough matchup with the Bills elite secondary.

The biggest injury news is Michael Thomas likely missing multiple weeks with a high-ankle sprain. We’ll watch to see if he goes on IR for three weeks, but either way he’s most likely out this week, which will be a boost to Emmanuel Sanders, Jared Cook and Tre’Quan Smith, but a downgrade for Drew Brees.

The 49ers hope to get rookie Brandon Aiyuk back this week and also added Mohamed Sanu, who should be able to play sooner than later due to his familiarity with Kyle Shanahan’s system. But Sanu remains a non-starter for the time being.

Defensive Back Injury News

The Lions lost cornerback Justin Coleman for at least three weeks with a hamstring injury, but luckily Desmond Trufant’s hamstring injury doesn’t look to be too bad, but he and Jeffrey Okudah both are dealing with hamstring issues as they try to get ready for the improved Aaron Rodgers and company.

The Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye separated his shoulder in Week 1 and is very iffy for the Steelers game. His absence would be an upgrade for Ben Roethlisberger and friends.

Streaming WRs

CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys

Lamb saw the second-most targets on the team in Week 1 and looked like he more than belonged and deserved those targets and more. This week they get a Falcons team that was smoked by Russell Wilson, D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and compatriots. Even if his target share isn’t huge, I expect his receptions to be more impactful against the Falcons weak secondary.

Mike Williams, Chargers

Williams is a player who if he were on a different team and hadn’t dealt with a shoulder injury in camp, would be touted for a huge breakout, but alas, the cards didn’t fall exactly right. But, the good news is that QB Tyrod Taylor gave Williams the fifth most air yards in Week 1 on nine targets. He only caught four for 69 yards, but is a breakout receiver waiting to happen and the Chargers will probably need to air it out against the Chiefs in Week 2.