Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws a pass during a preseason opening game between the New York Giants and
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws a pass during a preseason opening game between the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 15, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Fantasy football managers dropped players in bulk entering NFL Week 2, and the most-dropped list mixes injured starters, quiet rookies and streaming kickers and defenses, but several of those players still belong on rosters.
San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro led all players in drops, while 49ers rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling topped all non-kickers after ankle surgery that head coach Kyle Shanahan said will keep him out about 10 weeks.
It’s important to remember that these most-dropped lists (compiled from Yahoo, ESPN and Sleeper) include every funky league type there is. Some couple is out there playing in a two-team league with 50 players on each roster. Facebook mom groups are running an eight-teamer just for funsies. Not every fantasy football manager decision is made equal. But by looking at larger trends, we get a sense of the larger zeitgeist.
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Quarterbacks
Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins
NFL: Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Cut. Malik Willis completed 15 of 27 passes for 220 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in a 27-13 loss at Las Vegas. He also took five sacks, and only a 14-yard touchdown run saved his fantasy day. Next up is a road game against the 49ers on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET. I don’t know which team is worst in the NFL right now, but the Dolphins are locked in on that conversation.
Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings
Hold. Kyler Murray suffered a concussion on a late hit in the first quarter of the 39-22 win over the Packers, and backup Carson Wentz will start Sunday at Chicago. Head coach Kevin O’Connell expects Murray to clear the protocol early next week, which lines him up to start against the Buccaneers in Week 3.
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Hold. Bo Nix threw for 131 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 31-10 Monday night loss at Kansas City. Still, he finished seventh among fantasy quarterbacks in each of his first two seasons and ran for at least 350 yards both years. The Broncos host the Jaguars on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET. The Chiefs had the Broncos’ number in Week 1, so I’m holding out lots of optimism that we’ll see a marked improvement in Week 2.
Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Hold. Sam Darnold hurt his glute on the first drive of the 13-10 win over the Patriots, and Drew Lock will start Sunday at Arizona. The Seahawks don’t plan to put Darnold on injured reserve, so a Week 3 return at Washington is possible. From 2024 to 2025, the Super Bowl winner ranked top five in the NFL in passing yards (8,367) and touchdown passes (60). Darnold at his best is a reliable fantasy backup. So if you drafted him to be that, he is likely worth keeping in that role.
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Running backs
Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings
Fantasy football's most dropped players entering Week 2: De'Zhaun Stribling, Jordan Mason, Kyler Murray, Chig Okonkwo
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Cut. Jordan Mason had surgery on a fractured thumb and landed on injured reserve, so he’ll miss at least four games. Minnesota’s Week 6 bye pushes his earliest return to Week 7. He also didn’t draw a target in the opener even while leading the team with 15 carries, and Aaron Jones Sr. now takes the lead role.
Mike Washington Jr., Las Vegas Raiders
Cut. Rookie Mike Washington Jr. turned seven carries into 41 yards in the 27-13 win over Miami. But Ashton Jeanty played 73% of the snaps to his 19% and handled 23 carries and six catches. The Arkansas product is a handcuff with no standalone role while Jeanty stays healthy.
Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
Cut. Chris Rodriguez Jr. ran six times for 23 yards in the 34-10 win over Cleveland, while Bhayshul Tuten led the whole offense with 16 touches. Rodriguez handled the team’s only goal-line snap, but that short-yardage job can’t hold a fantasy roster spot. The Jaguars came out hot in Week 1, yet CRJ still didn’t do much. I’m likely moving on.
Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills
Handcuff only. Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis played five offensive snaps and carried once for 3 yards in the 36-31 win over Houston. Practice-squad call-up Frank Gore Jr. played 11 snaps. James Cook won the 2025 rushing title with 1,621 yards, and Davis no longer looks like the clear backup behind him.
Jonah Coleman, Denver Broncos
Hold. Jonah Coleman played three offensive snaps and didn’t get a carry in the loss at Kansas City. RJ Harvey was limited in practice Thursday with a hamstring injury, and Denver’s run game managed just 11 carries for 54 yards in Week 1. The fourth-round pick from Washington could gain touches if that ground game stays stuck. I think the Broncos were off their game in Week 1. I need to see another week before passing judgment.
Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
Hold. Josh Jacobs missed the Week 1 loss at Minnesota while on the Commissioner’s Exempt List after pleading no contest to misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property charges. One NFL insider pegged a possible suspension at four to six games, and Green Bay ran for just 66 yards without him. Jacobs still projects as the lead back whenever he returns, so he’s worth a bench spot while the league finishes its review.
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Wide receivers
De’Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco 49ers
Fantasy football's most dropped players entering Week 2: De'Zhaun Stribling, Jordan Mason, Kyler Murray, Chig Okonkwo
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Cut. Stribling went down in the second quarter of the Week 1 win over the Rams in Melbourne without a catch, and he chose surgery on his left ankle. A 10-week recovery would keep the Ole Miss product out until late November. Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel Sr. and Demarcus Robinson take his snaps in the meantime.
Makai Lemon, Philadelphia Eagles
Hold. Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon caught three of four targets for minus-5 yards in the 24-22 win over Washington, working as the third receiver behind DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks. The 20th overall pick missed much of camp with a hamstring injury. He won the 2025 Biletnikoff Award after catching 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns at USC.
Wan’Dale Robinson, Tennessee Titans
Hold. Tennessee Titans wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson caught five of six targets for 38 yards in the 23-10 home loss to the Jets, and he led the team in catches. He also led the Titans in targets during training camp after posting 92 catches for 1,014 yards with the Giants in 2025. That volume matters most in leagues that award points per reception. I like Robinson this year, but the Titans don’t know what they’re doing on offense. I was very discouraged by what I saw in Week 1 across the board.
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
Cut. Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed played about 57% of the snaps in the 39-22 loss at Minnesota. He drew an 18% target share, behind both Christian Watson and Matthew Golden. Reed is in the final year of his contract and stuck in a part-time role, which makes him hard to trust in any lineup.
KC Concepcion Jr., Cleveland Browns
Hold. Cleveland Browns rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion Jr. led the team with four catches and five targets in the 34-10 loss at Jacksonville, though he lost a fumble on the second drive. He ran just 20 routes on 30 Deshaun Watson dropbacks, so more snaps would lift his numbers. The 24th overall pick also returns punts, and the Browns visit Tampa Bay on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars
Cut. Jaguars two-way player Travis Hunter played 29 snaps at cornerback and just four on offense in the win over Cleveland. Jacksonville’s receiver group already has a set top three, so Hunter offers almost no fantasy value at wide receiver.
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Tight ends
Chig Okonkwo, Washington Commanders
Fantasy football's most dropped players entering Week 2: De'Zhaun Stribling, Jordan Mason, Kyler Murray, Chig Okonkwo
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Cut. Washington Commanders tight end Chig Okonkwo hurt his hamstring in the Week 1 loss to Philadelphia and is out Sunday at Dallas after missing practice all week. He caught two passes for 16 yards before the injury. John Bates and Ben Sinnott will split his snaps while he’s out.
Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders
Hold. Raiders tight end Michael Mayer led Las Vegas with seven targets in the Week 1 win, but he turned them into six catches for 32 yards. Brock Bowers had a meniscus trim before the opener and could return any week. Mayer loses his starting role the moment Bowers is back.
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Hold. New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson caught three of seven targets for 54 yards and a touchdown in the overtime loss to Detroit. He posted 77 catches for 889 yards in 2025. With rookie Jordyn Tyson on injured reserve, Johnson stays a top target for Tyler Shough at Baltimore on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
Hold. Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson drew two targets and gained 6 yards in the Week 1 loss to the Giants. He caught 82 passes for 600 yards and eight touchdowns last season and finished seventh among fantasy tight ends in half-point scoring. The Cowboys host Washington on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
Hold. Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts didn’t catch his only target in the 20-13 loss at Pittsburgh, with third-string quarterback Cooper Rush starting. Pitts caught 88 passes for 928 yards and five touchdowns in 2025. Atlanta hosts a Carolina defense that gave up 59 points and 552 yards to Chicago in Week 1.
Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles Rams
Cut. Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson didn’t catch his lone target in the 27-7 loss to San Francisco in Melbourne. He played more than he did as a rookie, but he still shares the position with Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen and rookie Max Klare. The Rams host the Giants on Monday at 8:15 p.m. ET. It’s tough to get a read on the Rams until we see them play on this side of the globe.
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Kickers
Eddy Pineiro, San Francisco 49ers
Fantasy football's most dropped players entering Week 2: De'Zhaun Stribling, Jordan Mason, Kyler Murray, Chig Okonkwo
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Hold. Pineiro made two of three field goals and all three extra points in the 27-7 win over the Rams. The 49ers host Miami on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET, and the Dolphins defense let Las Vegas hold the ball for nearly 35 minutes in Week 1. That setup could give Pineiro plenty of scoring chances. He’s questionable entering Week 2, so cut him loose for a streaming matchup if needed.
Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings
Cut. Vikings kicker Will Reichard made his only field goal and four extra points in the win over Green Bay, and he finished as a top-eight fantasy kicker in both of his NFL seasons. But Minnesota plays outdoors at Soldier Field on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET with Wentz starting. Chicago’s kicker is the better Week 2 option off the wire.
Cairo Santos, Chicago Bears
Add. Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos made his only field goal and all eight extra points in the 59-37 win at Carolina. The Bears offense piled up 552 yards in that game. Santos gets a home game against Minnesota on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
MORE: NFC power rankings: Why Rams’ struggles are overblown entering NFL Week 2
Defense and special teams
Jacksonville Jaguars
Fantasy football's most dropped players entering Week 2: De'Zhaun Stribling, Jordan Mason, Kyler Murray, Chig Okonkwo
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Stream. Jacksonville held Cleveland to 272 yards and 10 points, and the Browns’ only touchdown came in the final two minutes. The Jaguars also picked off Watson and recovered a fumble. They face a Denver offense that scored 10 points at Kansas City, making them a decent Week 2 play.
Minnesota Vikings
Stream. Minnesota’s special teams sparked the 39-22 comeback over Green Bay with Myles Price’s 68-yard kickoff return, but the defense still allowed 22 points. Keep the Vikings as a matchup play, just not this week against a Chicago offense that ran for 291 yards against Carolina.
Los Angeles Chargers
Add. The Chargers lost 26-14 to Arizona in Week 1, but they host the Raiders on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET. Bowers missed practice Wednesday and Thursday while he recovers from knee surgery. He caught 64 passes for 680 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025, so his absence would weaken the Las Vegas passing game.
Tennessee Titans
Cut. Tennessee allowed 23 points in its home loss to the Jets. Next up is a Philadelphia team that beat Washington 24-22, and the Eagles visit Nashville on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Stream. Pittsburgh intercepted Rush twice and sacked him four times in the 20-13 win over Atlanta, and T.J. Watt returned one of those picks for a touchdown. The Steelers visit New England on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, and the Patriots scored just 10 points at Seattle in Week 1.
New England Patriots
Hold. New England held the Seahawks to 13 points on the road in Week 1, and Seattle needed a 45-yard touchdown on fourth down to get there. The Patriots host Pittsburgh on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The Steelers scored 13 points in Week 1 outside of Watt’s interception return.
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Matt De Lima
Matt De Lima brings 15+ years of elite sports media experience to the table. From covering the gridiron to the hardwood, this Virginia Tech graduate has established himself as a versatile editor and writer for heavy hitters like Sports Illustrated and DraftKings. A twice-nominated FSWA finalist, Matt combines a digital-first philosophy with an eagle eye for breaking news, consistently delivering the engaging coverage today’s audience demands across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and beyond.
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