Fantasy Football Panic Meter After Week 2: Justin Jefferson, Ashton Jeanty and More

Let's continue our wrapup of the second week of the fantasy football season by getting into the panic meter.

We'll offer up a panic meter ranking from 1-10 to let you know how worried you should be about certain guys - 10 is the highest level of concern.

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Wide Receivers

Justin Jefferson and Nico Collins are the two fantasy football wideouts I want to discuss after week 2.

Jefferson went for 81 yards in week 2, but only got six targets, catching three of them. He was held to 44 yards and a score on four grabs and seven targets in week 1.

There was an injury issue with Jefferson coming into the season, but he's played nearly every offensive snap in the early going, so that's not the issue. J.J. McCarthy has been underwhelming as the team's quarterback, and now is expected to miss a few weeks.

Not having McCarthy might actually end up working in Jefferson's favor, but going to a backup is never what you want to see for one of the game's best fantasy wideouts.

Carson Wentz is the team's backup, so it's not like the backup is coming in with no NFL experience. We are talking about Jefferson, so let's get back to him.

I'm definitely a little worried about him, but would only put his panic meter at a 3. Another slow week could get him to a 5, or worse, though.

Now is a time to buy low on Jefferson, but if you own him and are worried about Jefferson being a top-end wideout this season, then selling him now could make some sense too.

Collins scored a touchdown, but only had 52 yards on three catches and nine targets in week 2. He had 25 yards on three grabs and five targets in week 1.

Houston's offense doesn't look great, and even though there's no other super proven pass catchers around, Collins has struggled through two weeks.

Some might see his fantasy score last week and think Collins is a guy to go after. I'd take advantage of that and sell him high.

Sure, I expect better games from him moving forward, but I thought he was overrated before the season, and think these down performances aren't finished. I'd sell him before his value dropped any more.

I'd put his panic meter at a 4. He could erase some doubts with a big showing in week 3, but I'd rather rid myself of Collins and try someone else at wideout - his big name should help you get a good return.

Running Backs

Ashton Jeanty and Chase Brown are the two running backs we'll discuss after week 2.

Jeanty was another highly-drafted fantasy asset this season, but he's struggled through two weeks. He had 43 rushing yards on 11 carries on Monday night, along with a yard on three catches and four targets.

Jeanty had 38 rushing yards and a score on 19 attempts in week 1. He caught both of his targets for two yards.

He's been the workhorse back for Las Vegas, and played 70% of the offensive snaps so far. It hasn't mattered, and he's really underwhelmed.

Jeanty was another back who was a bit overrated coming into the season. Playing on a bad offense was always going to be a crutch for him, and now his fantasy owners have to be panicking after two weeks.

I'd put his panic meter at a 4, although it could rise quickly if he struggles again in week 3. I'm not as down on Jeanty as I could be, and that's because he's the clear workhorse for his team.

It'd still be nice to see him deliver a good fantasy showing here soon, otherwise it might get hard to start him in all formats.

Brown has 90 rushing yards through two weeks, so he's underwhelmed after also being an early fantasy pick. He rushed for 47 yards on 16 attempts in week 2, and had 43 yards on 21 attempts in week 1 - he also scored in week 1.

Brown had two catches and three targets in each of the first two games. He went for 18 yards on Sunday and had just eight yards in the opener.

He's played 73% of the team's offensive snaps and is another workhorse for his team. Now he will be even more relied upon with Joe Burrow out with an injury.

I'd put Brown's panic meter at just a 3 for now. Things might be tougher as defenses stack the box to stop him, so his fantasy outlook until Burrow is back could be dependent on how well the new starting quarterback plays.

Things could gradually get worse for Brown, but on volume alone, he has a chance to keep delivering at least average fantasy scores, so don't bail on him yet. I like buying low on him for sure.

Quarterbacks

Jalen Hurts and Bo Nix (again) are the quarterbacks we will discuss.

The Eagles are 2-0, but Hurts hasn't been that great, especially as a fantasy asset.

He had just 101 passing yards in week 2, and 152 passing yards in week 1. Hurts hasn't thrown a pick yet, but he also hasn't thrown a touchdown. He's added 77 rushing yards and three scores on 23 attempts to deliver some fantasy points.

Hurts' rushing ability (and the tush push specifically) is really the only thing stopping him from being a low-end fantasy asset. That dual-threat ability has him as a good weekly option, but he'll drop down people's lists moving forward, especially in tougher matchups.

I'd put his panic meter at a 4. He was drafted as a top-end QB, and he looks more average right now. He needs to get going soon.

I like buying low on Hurts, or adding a second quarterback if he was your lone drafted QB. I expect him to turn things around, but if he doesn't you need a backup plan.

Nix was in last week's panic story, and I gave him a mark of 3. 

He was statistically better, but still didn't play super well, so he's on my list again. This time, I'd bump his panic meter mark to a 4.

He had 206 yards and three scores in week 2, but threw a pick and only rushed for 20 yards on three attempts. Nix had 176 yards and a TD in week 1, along with two picks - he rushed for 18 yards on eight attempts and also lost a fumble.

Four turnovers through two games is definitely a concern for an offense that was supposed to take a step forward this season. So far, the offense has regressed.

Nix is outside the top-20 fantasy QB so far, and that's why he's in my panic meter story again. He needs to get rolling soon, otherwise he'll start being dropped.

I still believe in Nix and this offense in 2025, so I'm for buying low on Nix. If I rostered him, I'd heavily consider my backup starting over him for week 3.

Tight Ends

T.J. Hockenson (again) and Mark Andrews are the tight ends we will discuss here.

Hockenson was in last week's story as well, with a panic meter mark of 5. He struggled again this week, so I'm bumping that to an 8.

He had a 12-yard catch across three targets in week 2. Hockenson only went for 15 yards on three grabs and four targets in week 1.

He's played 77% of the offensive snaps, and isn't dealing with Jordan Addison yet, so things might actually get worse for the Vikings' tight end.

Hockenson has had big fantasy seasons in the past, but so far, he and the Vikings' offense just doesn't look good. Hockenson will be dropped in some leagues this week, although I'd prefer to bench him or trade him away, even though his value is lower than where you drafted him.

He won't be a very confident starting option for week 3, or until he shows us something.

Andrews could have made last week's story, but he definitely needed to be mentioned today.

He has caught one pass in each of the first two weeks. Andrews had a two-yard grab across three targets in week 2, while having a five-yard catch on his lone target in week 1.

He's played 78% of the snaps for an offense that has scored a ton of points over the first two weeks. It's extremely concerning that Andrews hasn't done anything yet.

Adding in that Isaiah Likely will probably be back soon too, I'm putting Andrews' panic meter at a 7. He was due to regress from 2024, but this is completely falling off the map.

We'll see if he can turn his season around starting in week 3.