This article is part of our NFL Barometer series.
Week 2 provided a bit more clarity on several fronts, validating some Week 1 performances from both ends of the spectrum. Let's look at who's heading in what direction as we approach Week 3.
RISING
Quarterback
Carson Wentz, Eagles: Wentz has completed 60.0 percent of his 85 attempts and gone over 300 yards in his first two contests, while also boosting his YPA from last season's 6.2 to 7.5. He's already compiled seven throws of over 20 yards, including two over 40 -- putting him on pace to comfortable exceed his respective 2016 totals of 39 and six -- and he started clicking with No. 1 wideout Alshon Jeffery in Week 2.
Trevor Siemian, Broncos: Siemian has been efficient in victories over the Chargers and Cowboys while notching a 65.0 percent completion rate and firing six touchdowns. His YPA has seen a bump from 7.0 to 7.5 as well, and as was the case in Week 2, Siemian will benefit from a shutdown defense that's unlikely to place him in many unfavorable come-from-behind scenarios.
Running Back
Chris Carson, Seahawks: Carson may be poised to take a lead-back role if Week 2 is any indication. The rookie churned out 93 yards on 20 carries against a surprisingly game 49ers defensive front, delivering on the promise he'd shown this summer when he upped his rushing yards in each of the first three exhibitions. Head coach Pete Carroll isn't going to exactly put Thomas Rawls out to
Week 2 provided a bit more clarity on several fronts, validating some Week 1 performances from both ends of the spectrum. Let's look at who's heading in what direction as we approach Week 3.
RISING
Quarterback
Carson Wentz, Eagles: Wentz has completed 60.0 percent of his 85 attempts and gone over 300 yards in his first two contests, while also boosting his YPA from last season's 6.2 to 7.5. He's already compiled seven throws of over 20 yards, including two over 40 -- putting him on pace to comfortable exceed his respective 2016 totals of 39 and six -- and he started clicking with No. 1 wideout Alshon Jeffery in Week 2.
Trevor Siemian, Broncos: Siemian has been efficient in victories over the Chargers and Cowboys while notching a 65.0 percent completion rate and firing six touchdowns. His YPA has seen a bump from 7.0 to 7.5 as well, and as was the case in Week 2, Siemian will benefit from a shutdown defense that's unlikely to place him in many unfavorable come-from-behind scenarios.
Running Back
Chris Carson, Seahawks: Carson may be poised to take a lead-back role if Week 2 is any indication. The rookie churned out 93 yards on 20 carries against a surprisingly game 49ers defensive front, delivering on the promise he'd shown this summer when he upped his rushing yards in each of the first three exhibitions. Head coach Pete Carroll isn't going to exactly put Thomas Rawls out to pasture, but Carson earned more touches with his Week 2 performance.
Todd Gurley, Rams: Gurley is delivering on preseason speculation that he'd serve as a three-down back, averaging 13.0 yards per catch on his eight receptions through two games. He also ran much more decisively against the Redskins while producing 5.5 yards per tote on his 16 rushing touches, after averaging just 2.1 in the opener versus the Colts. Backup Malcolm Brown has only seven carries thus far, further confirming that Gurley is in line for a ton of volume.
Wide Receiver
Demaryius Thomas, Broncos: As mentioned earlier, Broncos QB Trevor Siemian appears to be playing with a lot more confidence, bumping up the prospects for his top wideouts in the process. Thomas has 16 targets through the first two contests, corralling 11 of them while serving as Siemian's favorite pass catcher.
Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos: Sanders is right behind Thomas with 14 looks through the first two weeks, and he managed to get into the end zone twice against the Cowboys in Week 2. He also doubled up his reception total from Week 1, and although he's only averaging 9.8 yards per grab thus far, his extensive body of work indicates that won't be the case for long.
Rashard Higgins, Browns: Called up from the practice squad earlier in the week, Higgins played on 76 percent of the Browns' offensive snaps in Week 2, logging seven receptions (on 11 targets) for 95 yards. As encouraging as that volume was, it should only rise with Corey Coleman (hand) on injured reserve and Higgins listed as a starter heading into Week 3.
Alshon Jeffery, Eagles: After a lackluster opener, Jeffery bounced back with a seven-catch, 92-yard, one-touchdown effort in Week 2 that was much more befitting of his role as a No. 1 receiver. That tally bodes well for his prospects, especially on an Eagles squad that's thrown the ball nearly 70 percent of the time in the first two contests.
J.J. Nelson, Cardinals: John Brown's absence due to a quadriceps injury undeniably bumped up Nelson's Week 2 opportunities, but he also saw six targets and scored a touchdown in Week 1 with the former in the lineup. With speed to burn and a potential multi-week absence ahead for Brown, Nelson is on an upward trajectory.
Tight End
Jason Witten, Cowboys: Witten is averaging 9.5 receptions over his first two games and has already gotten into the end zone twice. He's seen 22 targets as well, and as one of Dak Prescott's most trusted targets, there's no reason to believe his volume will experience many notable dips.
Martellus Bennett, Packers: Bennett has clicked nicely with Aaron Rodgers thus far, notching eight receptions on 17 targets in the first two games. He's seen well over 60 snaps in both contests and could garner even more attention in the short term due to Jody Nelson's ailing quadriceps.
Seth DeValve / David Njoku, Browns: DeValve was labeled as a player to monitor last week and he proceeded to turn in a two-catch, 61-yard effort in Week 2, while 2017 first rounder Njoku got into the end zone on one of his three catches. Both players can get downfield, have been virtually even in snaps and are poised to see added volume due to Corey Coleman's (hand) extended absence.
Jack Doyle, Colts: Doyle was Jacoby Brissett's favorite target in Week 2, and that could well be the case for as long as he's behind center. Doyle is about as reliable a security blanket as there is, setting him up for a ton of opportunity even when Andrew Luck (shoulder) eventually returns.
FALLING
Quarterback
Andy Dalton, Bengals: The Bengals are still looking for their first touchdown of the season, and while Dalton was able to improve on a four-interception opener with a more respectable line in Week 2, he's been one of the biggest fantasy disappointments early. Both his sub-60 percent completion rate in each of the first two contests and his 6.0 YPA are cause for concern. Neither number is expected to endure – Dalton hasn't completed less than 60 percent of his passes since his rookie 2011 season and hasn't tallied a sub-7.0 YPA since 2012 – but he's a fantasy liability until he emerges from his funk.
Mike Glennon, QB, Bears: A final stat line that included 31 completions and 301 yards belied Glennon's struggles in Week 2 against the Bucs, as he turned the ball over on the first three possessions, one of those a pick-six. He's also averaging just 6.0 yards per attempt, while a pedestrian receiving corps and banged-up Jordan Howard (shoulder) don't inspire hope for a turnaround.
Brian Hoyer, QB, 49ers: Hoyer didn't exactly enter the season with high expectations, but his performance over the first two games has been particularly underwhelming. A 4.7 YPA and 0:2 TD:INT help sum up the extent of his struggles, with no light at the end of the tunnel in sight.
Eli Manning, QB, Giants: Much like Dalton, Manning's body of work over the first two weeks has sounded alarms among fantasy owners. An eventual return to full health on Odell Beckham's part will undoubtedly help, but his inability to connect consistently with No. 2 option Brandon Marshall (two completions on nine targets) remains a concern, as does his one touchdown pass through two games.
Running Back
Thomas Rawls, Seahawks: Rawls logged just five rushes in his Week 2 debut, but the double whammy was rookie Chris Carson generating a 20-carry, 93-yard effort. As mentioned earlier, the Seahawks backfield has been a tough puzzle to solve in recent seasons, but head coach Pete Carroll is likely to ride the hot hand with Carson at this point.
Jeremy Hill, Bengals: Rookie Joe Mixon has outpaced Hill in touches in each of the first two weeks, as the latter has logged just 12 total carries while also battling an ankle injury. The Bengals appear ready to give Mixon plenty of run, downgrading Hill overall.
Isaiah Crowell, Browns: Crowell has averaged 2.6 yards on 27 attempts through the first two weeks while tallying two catches on three targets. Both numbers represent stark departures from preseason expectations, and life won't get easier unless rookie DeShone Kizer and a makeshift receiving corps can force defenses out of eight-man fronts.
Charcandrick West, Chiefs: West didn't touch the ball in Week 2 after logging just one carry (which resulted in a touchdown) in Week 1. Kareem Hunt is the unquestioned lead dog in the backfield after two weeks, with no change in the hierarchy on the horizon.
Wide Receiver
Brandon Marshall, Giants: Marshall has only connected twice on nine opportunities with new quarterback Eli Manning through two games, and will have to compete with Odell Beckham for targets moving forward. Rookie TE Evan Engram has also proven to be a legitimate rival for Manning's attention through the first two games.
Robby Anderson, Jets: Preseason conventional wisdom dictated that Anderson would thrive fantasy-wise due to the Jets' lack of wideout options. A pre-Week 1 trade for Jermaine Kearse put a slight dent in that theory, and Anderson's six catches for 50 yards through two games further confirm he's far from a sure thing.
Tight End
Jimmy Graham, Seahawks: Besides the fact that he's now hobbled by an ankle injury, Graham's four catches on nine targets for only nine yards on the season before getting hurt were far from a ringing fantasy endorsement. The current state of the Seahawks' offensive line is such that it also downgrades the Seattle passing game as a whole.
