Fantasy Football Takeaways from Week 2 Monday Night Games: Rachaad White, Keenan Allen and More

Week 2 of the NFL regular season wrapped up with a pair of Monday night games. Let's go over fantasy football takeaways from the contests.

Also be sure to check out takeaway stories from Thursday and Sunday, along with the Sunday IDP wrapup.

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Baker Leads Bucs to Win

Baker Mayfield didn't have his best showing, but he led a last-minute drive and helped the Bucs take down the Texans.

He was 25-of-38 passing for 215 yards, two touchdowns and no picks. He added 33 rushing yards on three attempts and was sacked four times.

This was a tougher matchup for him, but Mayfield delivered again. All this showing does is solidify Mayfield as a weekly starter, regardless of the matchup he has.

Herbert Emerging as Top-End Fantasy QB?

Justin Herbert followed up a big week 1 showing with another good game in week 2 to help the Chargers past the Raiders.

Herbert threw for 242 yards and two scores on 19-of-27 passing. He added 31 rushing yards on nine attempts. Herbert was sacked twice, and lost a fumble.

It's been two straight weeks that the LA offense has been led by the passing game. That's helped Herbert emerge as a really good fantasy QB. He is QB5 through two weeks, which not many people expected.

The Chargers will likely get their running game going eventually, but until further notice, Herbert looks like a weekly fantasy starter in all formats.

Bucs' Running Game

Bucky Irving is the No. 1 back for Tampa Bay, but Rachaad White was also pretty good on Monday.

Irving rushed for 71 yards on 17 carries and also caught all six of his targets for 50 yards. White caught both of his targets for a yard and rushed for 65 yards and a score on 10 attempts.

White scored the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds, which turned his solid day into a really good one. Irving was still great, even without a score.

If the two backs continue to be utilized this much, White might be capable of earning fantasy starts in all formats. Irving might take an ever so slight hit from not being a workhorse, but he'll still remain a great starting option every week. White could be worth a flex start in the right matchups.

It's worth looking into White as a waiver wire pickup, and see if you could maybe buy a bit lower on Irving.

Chargers' Wideout Production

This week, it was Keenan Allen who served as the Chargers' top fantasy wideout. He caught five of his seven targets for 61 yards and a score.

Ladd McConkey finished with 48 yards on his five catches and targets. Quentin Johnston caught Herbert's other touchdown pass, and went for 71 yards on three grabs and seven targets - Johnston rushed once, but went backward two yards.

McConkey was a bit underwhelming for a second straight week, while Johnston and Allen were decent fantasy assets as secondary wideouts.

McConkey's value is a bit down going into week 3, so it's worth looking into him as a buy-low target. Johnston and Allen will continue to rise as fantasy assets, and both be good waiver wire options again going into week 3.

Johnston and Allen are both decent flex options right now, at least until the Chargers figure out their running games.

No Standout for Bucs' Pass Catchers

Mike Evans was the most-targeted Tampa Bay pass catcher, but he only hauled in five of his 11 targets for 56 yards. It was another underwhelming day for the consistent veteran.

Emeka Egbuka caught another touchdown, but only had 29 yards on four grabs and seven targets.

Ryan Miller caught the other touchdown - the 20-yard catch was his lone target. Sterling Shepard went for 34 yards on four grabs and targets, while tight end Cade Otton tallied 25 yards on three receptions and four targets.

It was a tougher matchup, but for a second straight week, nobody really starred for the Bucs as pass catchers. Egbuka has been the best fantasy asset in back-to-back weeks, but touchdown grabs are really boosting his overall marks.

Things might only get more complicated when Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan come back, so I wonder if selling Evans and Egbuka high is the way to go. I'd try to keep rostering them for another week before looking into selling them though.

Chargers' Backfield

As I mentioned before, the Chargers' backfield really struggled for a second straight week. Herbert ended up leading the team in rushing yards.

Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton each got eight rushing attempts, with Harris gaining 28 yards and Hampton 24. Harris caught both of his targets for an additional 20 yards, while Hampton made a one-yard catch across two targets.

Hampton has not taken off like many fantasy owners hoped he would, and now it looks like a split backfield, which gives Harris some value. Hampton still led the way with 36 snaps (62% of team's total), while Harris was on the field for just 20 (34%).

If the backs continue to split the work, this could be a fantasy nightmare. As is, neither are good standard league options, and honestly, neither are great deep-league assets either.

We'll see if the backfield duo can get rolling in week 3.

Texans' Fantasy Leaders

Quarterback C.J. Stroud was pretty good on Monday, throwing for 207 yards and a score on 13 completions and 24 attempts. He added 27 rushing yards on four attempts.

It was a better showing than in week 1, but still not great. Still, Stroud became a better fantasy asset moving forward after this showing.

The Texans' ground game was stifled until a late touchdown run from Nick Chubb. That's concerning after the Bucs' defense was dismantled by running backs in week 1.

Chubb had 43 yards and the score on 12 carries, and he caught both of his targets for 29 yards. Woody Marks caught a 37-yard pass on his lone target, while rushing three times for 14 yards.

Neither are very good fantasy options right now, and they'll be hard to start going forward, as matchups won't often be better than the one they had on Monday.

Nico Collins led the pass catchers with 52 yards and a score on three grabs and nine targets. He was targeted plenty, but the touchdown bailed out an otherwise underwhelming fantasy showing again.

Collins' value is down going into week 3. He's a buy-low candidate if you think he'll eventually get rolling.

Nobody else had over 30 receiving yards, so it's Collins or nobody for the top fantasy starters in Houston.

Raiders' Fantasy Leaders

Quarterback Geno Smith threw for 180 yards on 24-of-43 passing. He didn't throw a touchdown, and was picked off three times. Smith added 20 rushing yards on five attempts.

It was a big step back for Smith, who looked pretty good in week 1. I thought the matchup was right for him to deliver again, but he really struggled. He's just a deep-league starting option going forward.

Ashton Jeanty dominated the backfield, but ended with just 44 total yards on 14 touches (11 carries and three catches on four targets). Better days are ahead, so now is a buy-low time on the talented rookie.

Jakobi Meyers was the top pass catcher - he went for 68 yards on six receptions and 12 targets. He remains a pretty good fantasy starting option.

Tight end Brock Bowers was the only other pass catcher over 20 yards. He had just 38 yards on five grabs and eight targets.

He was battling a knee injury coming into the week, and maybe that affected his play in this one. Bowers' fantasy value is a bit down, so if there were ever a time to trade for him, it's now.

IDP Leaders and Kicker Stats

Houston's Henry To'oTo'o had 11 combined tackles, with one going for a loss. Azeez Al-Shaair had 10 tackles and a pass defensed.

Danielle Hunter had two sacks among his five tackles, and also forced a fumble for the Texans. Will Anderson had a sack among his four tackles, while Sheldon Rankins had a sack among his two tackles.

Tampa Bay's Tykee Smith led his team with six tackles, including a sack. Greg Gaines had a sack for his lone tackle, while Lavonte David (two tackles) and Elijah Roberts (one tackle) shared a sack.

Tampa Bay kicker Chase McLaughlin missed his only field goal attempt and knocked in both his extra points. Houston's Ka'imi Fairbairn made all three of his kicks (an extra point and two field goals).

LA's Daiyan Henley had 10 tackles, a sack, two passes defensed and an interception to post a monster IDP score.

Tony Jefferson had five tackles, two passes defensed and a pick, while Donte Jackson had a tackle, two passes defensed and the final pick.

Jamaree Caldwell (two tackles) and Khalil Mack (one tackle) had a sack each for Los Angeles. Tarheeb Still had nine tackles and two passes defensed, while Derwin James had two passes defensed and seven tackles.

Devin White led the Raiders' defense with eight tackles. Germaine Pratt had two passes defensed and seven tackles.

Vegas' Jonah Laulu had two sacks among his four tackles. Adam Butler had three tackles and a fumble recovery.

LA kicker Cameron Dicker made two extra points and two field goals, while Vegas' Daniel Carlson made three field goals.