Fantasy Footnotes: Takeaways from Sunday's action

Every gameday during the regular season, theScore's Justin Boone will provide his fantasy observations from around the league.​

Running Back Down

Fantasy owners escaped Week 1 relatively unscathed when it came to star players getting hurt, but we know it's only a matter of time before a bolt of injuries strike and that was the case Sunday.

Adrian Peterson, Arian Foster, Jonathan Stewart, Danny Woodhead, Ameer Abdullah, Doug Martin, and Thomas Rawls were all forced from their games with a variety of ailments ranging from potentially severe to a minor leg contusion.

You can read up on each injury below in our Injury Ward section, but let this be a reminder to stock your bench with backup runners whenever you have the chance. Whether it's obvious handcuffs like Alfred Morris or Jerick McKinnon, or deeper options like Kenjon Barner or Mike Gillislee, it only takes one injury before these backups are thrust into the starting lineup.

Pat on the Back

The Patriots' offense has been absolutely humming even with Tom Brady serving a suspension.

Martellus Bennett rebounded from a quiet opener to post 114 yards and a touchdown, filling in for Rob Gronkowski. LeGarrette Blount rumbled for 123 yards and a score on the ground. And Julian Edelman continues to produce regardless of who's throwing the ball, with seven catches for 76 yards on Sunday.

However, all good things must end and Jimmy Garoppolo's three-touchdown first half came to an abrupt halt on Sunday when he suffered a sprained AC joint. Garoppolo apparently avoided serious injury, but his days as the Patriots' starter are likely over with Brady returning in three weeks.

Fantasy owners who have a share of New England's offense should be shaking with excitement over what will happen once Brady and Gronk rejoin this offense.

Instant Impressions

• The Panthers' offense started slow on Sunday, but eventually reached full power, decimating the 49ers. Cam Newton tossed four touchdowns, Greg Olsen racked up 122 yards, including a 78-yard score, and Kelvin Benjamin reminded us he's a low-end WR1 with seven receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns. It's likely too late to get in on this passing attack, but be happy if you're already in the party.
• As expected, Jameis Winston had a much harder go of it in Week 2 against the stout Cardinals defense. After throwing four touchdowns in the opener, Winston threw four interceptions this week, and fumbled once. The second-year passer has some tough matchups over the next few games, which will represent a buy-low opportunity for him. Winston gets to play the Saints twice during the fantasy playoffs.
• Dak Prescott earned his first NFL win and learned the importance of getting his star receiver involved in the game, targeting Dez Bryant 12 times, resulting in seven receptions for 102 yards. Hopefully you were able to acquire him after his off performance last week.
• It's time for your weekly Falcons backfield update. Devonta Freeman shouldn't be written off just yet after he saw 17 carries which he turned into 93 yards, while Tevin Coleman managed 71 total yards and a touchdown in a victory over the Raiders. The best advice might be to sell high and free yourself of a weekly headache owning either of these backs.
• Josh McCown energized the Browns offense, at least for a quarter as Cleveland went up 20-0 on the Ravens. With McCown under center, Corey Coleman hauled in five passes for 104 yards and two scores. The rookie is a star and after this week, the fantasy community is going to take notice. Isaiah Crowell also had a monster 133-yard outing, thanks to an 85-yard touchdown run. The best sign for Crowell is that he out-touched Duke Johnson 19-7. It's actually fun to own Browns players in fantasy this year and there's only two weeks left until Josh Gordon returns.
• With the Dolphins in comeback mode the entire game, Jarvis Landry and DeVante Parker finished with 137 and 106 yards, respectively. The totals may have been inflated by the game script, but Miami isn't going to lead many games, meaning Ryan Tannehill will need to sling it most weeks.
• Star WRs with disappointing days: Antonio Brown (four receptions, 39 yards), A.J. Green (two receptions, 38 yards), Golden Tate (two receptions, 13 yards), and DeSean Jackson (three receptions, 40 yards).

Notable Performances

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Steelers
32 carries, 94 yards; 4 receptions, 38 yards, TD
One more week to enjoy Williams' talents before Le'Veon Bell returns and sends him to both real life and fantasy benches.

Stefon Diggs, WR, Vikings
9 receptions, 182 yards, TD
Ladies and gentlemen, a fantasy star is born. Even with a brand new quarterback, Diggs made play after play against the Packers' secondary. Two weeks into the season, he looks like one of the steals of the draft.

Delanie Walker, TE, Titans
6 receptions, 83 yards, TD
Walker rebounded after a slow Week 1. Everything is fine with the veteran tight end, who remains Marcus Mariota's favorite target.

Giovani Bernard, RB, Bengals
5 carries, 17 yards; 9 receptions, 100 yards, TD
The Bengals struggled to move the ball against the Steelers, but Bernard was able to slice through the defense turning short passes into big gains.

Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers
17-of-24, 220 yards, 4 TDs; 1 carry, 10 yards
Missing his top receiver and best pass-catching back, Rivers decided it didn't matter and threw for four touchdowns anyway. It was an impressive performance, in which Travis Benjamin emerged as the new No. 1 option, catching six balls for 115 yards and two scores.

Carlos Hyde, RB, 49ers
14 carries, 34 yards; 3 receptions, 18 yards
Much like last season, we might look back at Week 1 and remember how it was Hyde's best game of the year.

Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants
8 receptions, 117 yards
Not only did the rookie break out on Sunday, but Victor Cruz also got in on the action with four catches for 91 yards. Both players eclipsed Odell Beckham, who had eight catches for 86 yards. Eli Manning shockingly didn't throw a touchdown against the usually generous Saints defense, but he moved the ball consistently through the air.

DeMarco Murray, RB, Titans
12 carries, 89 yards; 7 receptions, 56 yards
Most of Murray's rushing stats came on a 67-yard dash, but he's firmly entrenched as the team's No. 1 running back. If the Titans can ever get a lead, Murray would be even more valuable to fantasy owners.

Marvin Jones, WR, Lions
8 receptions, 118 yards
Are there any questions remaining about who the Lions' top receiver is? Jones has quietly emerged as an early-season fantasy star. Now he just needs to start getting into the end zone.

Mark Ingram, RB, Saints
9 carries, 30 yards; 4 receptions, 17 yards
Ingram's usage is concerning, but the real takeaway here is that the Giants' defense might be a tough group to run on. They held Ezekiel Elliott in check during Week 1 as well.

Mike Wallace, WR, Ravens
4 receptions, 41 yards, 2 TDs
Joe Flacco likes his new toy. Wallace is a big part of this Ravens offense, but the development of Breshad Perriman will be something to watch to see if he begins to move into Wallace's lane.

T.J. Yeldon, RB, Jaguars
7 carries, 28 yards; 8 receptions, 10 yards
With Chris Ivory sidelined and a weak run defense on tap, Yeldon wasn't able to capitalize. The game script was a problem, as the Jags fell behind early, but Yeldon failed to make plays and will resume his half of a timeshare once Ivory returns. Yeldon can go back to your fantasy bench until further notice.

Sammie Coates, WR, Steelers
2 receptions, 97 yards
Coates benefited from Markus Wheaton being out for the second straight week. Unfortunately for Coates, Wheaton will be back to steal snaps soon.

Eric Ebron, TE, Lions
4 receptions, 53 yards
If he's still available in your league, Ebron has put together back-to-back 50-yard weeks. He also had a touchdown called back in this one, on a ridiculous offensive pass interference penalty. Despite what one beat writer said recently, a breakout season is definitely possible here.

Will Fuller, WR, Texans
4 receptions, 104 yards
DeAndre Hopkins had 113 yards and a touchdown, but we expect that from one of the game's best. What we didn't expect is Fuller to start his career with back-to-back 100-yard games. He's a legit high-end WR3, with WR2 upside each week.

Jesse James, TE, Steelers
3 receptions, 29 yards
The Outlaw didn't have a huge day, but he found the end zone for the first time and looks like he'll be a solid low-end fantasy starter. The Steelers basically cloned a younger version of Heath Miller.

Injury Ward

Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings
Peterson had to be helped to the locker room and wasn't putting any weight on his right leg. Head coach Mike Zimmer downplayed the injury after the game, but an MRI on his knee Monday should tell us all we need to know.

Arian Foster, RB, Dolphins
It was only a matter of time before a soft tissue injury sidelined the veteran. With Foster dealing with a groin issue, Jay Ajayi entered the game and struggled in relief, including one lost fumble.

Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers
Stewart has ankle and hamstring injuries that he will need to overcome if he's going to play next week. Head coach Ron Rivera didn't seem optimistic after the game.

Danny Woodhead, RB, Chargers
Woodhead was extremely upset as he was carted to the locker room. That's never a good sign. If there is a positive to glean from a terrible situation it's that Melvin Gordon topped 100 yards with Woodhead sidelined and scored his third touchdown of the season.

Doug Baldwin, WR, Seahawks
Baldwin will undergo an MRI on his knee Monday. He was also dealing with back spasms in the Seahawks' Week 2 loss to the Rams.

Ameer Abdullah, RB, Lions
Double "A" was in a walking boot and moving with what was described as a "noticeable limp" after Sunday's game. Please tell me you sold after his Week 1 eruption.

Doug Martin, RB, Buccaneers
Martin said he suffered a slight tweak to his hamstring, but it was enough to keep him out of the rest of the game.

Thomas Rawls, RB Seahawks
Rawls had seven carries for minus-7 yards and three receptions for 15 yards before leaving the contest with a leg contusion. Christine Michael totaled 86 yards on 13 touches in his absence, but lost a key fumble late in the game.

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Patriots
The sprained AC joint is expected to sideline him for at least a week or two, at which point Tom Brady will be back.

Waiver Wire Targets

Jerick McKinnon, RB, Vikings
If Adrian Peterson is sidelined for any amount of time, McKinnon is the player who will take advantage. Matt Asiata will vulture touches, especially near the goal line, but McKinnon has true star potential.

Fozzy Whittaker, RB, Panthers
Whittaker was exceptional in relief of Jonathan Stewart on Sunday with 16 carries for 100 yards and three receptions for 31 yards. Whittaker will be the player to target, not Cameron Artis-Payne.

Josh Doctson, WR, Redskins
The rookie caught one pass on Sunday, but it was a 57-yard gain. It's a sign of his talent and what could happen if an injury were to occur to DeSean Jackson or Pierre Garcon. Doctson should be stashed on benches in all leagues.

Cole Beasley, WR, Cowboys
Beasley remains one of Prescott's favorite weapons, with the pair connecting five times for 75 yards.

Dennis Pitta, TE, Ravens
9 receptions, 102 yards
Pitta is one of the best stories in the NFL this season. He returned from a potentially career-ending injury and re-emerged as a playmaker for the Ravens.