NFL Reactions: Week 2

• Saquon Barkley is believed to have suffered a torn ACL against the Bears on Sunday, bringing a bitter end to a season that never got off the ground for the elite running back. Unless the Giants sign a free agent back, they will presumably turn to an uninspiring committee of Dion Lewis and Wayne Gallman at running back.

• Jared Goff (20-of-27 for 267 yards and three touchdowns) made it look easy against the Eagles on Sunday, thanks in large part to a three-touchdown performance by Tyler Higbee. Cam Akers left the game with a rib injury after taking three carries for 13 yards, which cleared the runway for Darrell Henderson. Henderson had what is easily his best game as a pro to this point, taking 12 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown while snagging two of three targets for 40 yards.

• Miles Sanders lost a fumble in his 2020 debut – a slight concern given his fumbling history in college – but 20 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown make that pill go down easier for his fantasy investors. Sanders also saw seven targets, though only catching three for 36 yards. 

• In a game where Atlanta started 20-0, Dak Prescott somehow scored four touchdowns – three rushing – to lead Dallas to a 40-39 victory. The Falcons certainly did their part in letting the Cowboys come back, but Prescott gets full credit for his own work in the win. He struggled to complete passes to his receivers early in the game, though, so hopefully the health of the Dallas offensive line improves and sets Prescott up for more consistent production soon.

• Matt Ryan was icy again despite the Falcons falling to 0-2, completing 24-of-36 passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns. Calvin Ridley (seven catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns on 10 targets) and Julio Jones (two catches for 24 yards on four targets) look like the 2020 version of what Chris Godwin and Mike Evans were for Tampa Bay in 2019. Russell Gage wasn't very efficient (six catches for 46 yards and one touchdown on nine targets), but he came through again for his fantasy investors even as Hayden Hurst (five catches for 72 yards and one touchdown on eight targets) broke out at tight end.

• The two interceptions were a bit costly, but Gardner Minshew was great for his fantasy investors against the Titans on Sunday, completing 30-of-45 passes for 339 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. DJ Chark was somewhat discouragingly lightly targeted again, catching all four of his targets for 84 yards, perhaps in some part due to the emergence of Keelan Cole (six catches for 58 yards and one touchdown on seven targets) at slot receiver. Undrafted rookie runner James Robinson was impressive, catching three of his four targets for 18 yards while bolting for 102 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

• Even with the Colts down a starting corner, Kirk Cousins was remarkably ineffective against Indianapolis on Sunday, completing 11-of-26 passes for 113 yards and three interceptions. The Vikings offense is busted.

• Jonathan Taylor was decent enough as the workhorse against the Vikings, taking 26 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown against a tough opponent. Philip Rivers' ongoing struggles could make things tough on Taylor, but the quality of Indianapolis' offensive line should shield him somewhat. Parris Campbell suffered a concerning knee injury early in the game, marking the continuation of his improbably poor injury luck. The impact of Campbell's injury was perhaps softened a bit by the emergence of Mo Alie-Cox at tight end, where he caught five of six targets for 111 yards.

• When James Conner is healthy he plays far ahead of the other Steelers running backs, Benny Snell included. Conner ran for 106 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries against Denver, while Snell took three carries for five yards and a lost fumble.

• Josh Allen was highly effective against Miami on Sunday, completing 24-of-35 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns. It no doubt helped that top Miami corner Byron Jones left the game early, leaving in the overmatched Nik Needham instead, but Allen deserves credit for completing a high percentage of his passes at a high per-attempt yardage.

• The 49ers beat the Jets on Sunday, but at a high injury cost. The 2020 49ers must be cursed – even with Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Richard Sherman already out they saw Nick Bosa suffer a torn ACL in this game while Jimmy Garoppolo (high ankle sprain) and Raheem Mostert (knee) both left after fast starts in the first half. Nick Mullens will likely need to start at least one game if the high ankle sprain diagnosis is correct.

• Leonard Fournette may have overtaken Ronald Jones as the lead Tampa Bay runner, as Fournette took 12 carries for 103 yards and two touchdowns against the Panthers while Jones totaled only 23 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. LeSean McCoy vultured most of the pass-catching utility in the backfield otherwise, catching five of seven targets. After a fast start to the contest, Tom Brady stumbled in the second half and finished 23-of-35 for 217 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Brady continues to struggle, as does Rob Gronkowski, who didn't catch his only target.

• Christian McCaffrey scored twice Sunday but also suffered an ankle injury, one the Panthers will put through an MRI to hopefully rule out anything serious. Teddy Bridgewater struggled against a tough Tampa defense, throwing for 367 yards but with two interceptions and no touchdowns. Robby Anderson (nine catches for 109 yards on 10 targets) had another big game, while D.J. Moore (eight catches for 120 yards on 13 targets) posted his first big game of the year.

• Coach Anthony Lynn said Tyrod Taylor (chest) is still the Chargers' starter, but we can assume this is his last year as Chargers coach if he actually implements that policy. Justin Herbert (22-of-33 for 311 yards, one touchdown and one interception) was far better against the Chiefs than Taylor was against the Bengals in Week 1, or how Taylor played at any point in 2018. Joshua Kelley didn't post explosive rushing numbers (23 carries for 64 yards), but his tape was better than his box score. Kelley hits his above-average top speed quickly, and he's a well-rounded running back otherwise. As much as Austin Ekeler is clearly the man, Kelley should absolutely be taken seriously.

• Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran less (10 carries for 38 yards) but caught more (six catches for 32 yards on eight targets) in Week 2, looking functional but much less impressive than his Week 1 showing against what in hindsight was a poor Houston run defense. Darrel Williams left with an ankle injury, raising Darwin Thompson to the RB2 role. If Williams misses time, the Chiefs might need to sign another runner.

• Kyler Murray tore up a Washington defense that looked intimidating in Week 1, withstanding three sacks while running for 67 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. He and DeAndre Hopkins (eight catches for 68 yards and one touchdown on nine targets) appear a spectacular pair.

• Detroit's expensive three-man running back rotation has yet to bear much fruit, as Adrian Peterson (seven carries for 41 yards), Kerryon Johnson (eight carries for 32 yards and one touchdown) and D'Andre Swift (five carries for 12 yards) split a small piece of pie against the Packers. Peterson's production was mostly propelled by a 25-yard carry where the defense vanished, and Peterson looked painfully slow in the open field. Swift and Johnson both would have scored on that play had they been in Peterson's position, but Peterson went down at the nine. Swift was effective as a pass catcher at least (five catches for 60 yards on five targets), as were prospects T.J. Hockenson (four catches for 62 yards on four targets) and Quintez Cephus (three catches for 54 yards on three targets).

• Marquez Valdes-Scantling will probably always be drops-prone, but he nonetheless appears to have turned a corner in his third season. He led Packers receivers with three catches for 64 yards on seven targets, giving the Packers a crucial downfield threat on a day where Davante Adams incurred a hamstring issue and Allen Lazard (three catches for 45 yards on five targets) was contained. Aaron Jones was the star of the show of course, running for 168 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries (9.3 YPC) while catching four of eight targets for 68 yards and a third score.