Two weeks into the season, player values are already shifting quickly. Early breakouts are creating new weekly starters, while others are losing roles faster than expected. This week's edition of fantasy football risers and fallers highlights players you need to monitor closely, whether you're managing a contending roster or trying to get ahead on waivers. For a deeper look at how opportunities line up across teams, check out the RotoWire NFL depth charts.
Fantasy Football Risers
Quinshon Judkins 
Judkins wasted no time showing why the Browns drafted him in the second round. Against a tough Ravens defense, he logged 10 carries for 61 yards and added three catches for 10 yards. His workload came as a surprise after limited practice buildup, but his talent was undeniable. With volume on his side, he looks like an RB2 floor play moving forward.
Rome Odunze 
Odunze followed up a solid opener with a dominant 11-target, 128-yard, two-touchdown performance against Detroit. Even though Chicago was playing from behind, he has now averaged double-digit targets through two games. His route tree fits Caleb Williams' aggressive arm strength, giving him consistent upside. If usage continues, Odunze could settle in as a top-20 fantasy receiver.
Tucker Kraft 
Kraft erupted on Thursday night with 124 yards and a touchdown on six catches. Matt LaFleur continues to scheme him open, giving him chances to run after the catch. While Green Bay's offense isn't always pass-heavy, Kraft's role is clearly expanding. If his target volume climbs toward the
Two weeks into the season, player values are already shifting quickly. Early breakouts are creating new weekly starters, while others are losing roles faster than expected. This week's edition of fantasy football risers and fallers highlights players you need to monitor closely, whether you're managing a contending roster or trying to get ahead on waivers. For a deeper look at how opportunities line up across teams, check out the RotoWire NFL depth charts.
Fantasy Football Risers
Quinshon Judkins
Judkins wasted no time showing why the Browns drafted him in the second round. Against a tough Ravens defense, he logged 10 carries for 61 yards and added three catches for 10 yards. His workload came as a surprise after limited practice buildup, but his talent was undeniable. With volume on his side, he looks like an RB2 floor play moving forward.
Rome Odunze
Odunze followed up a solid opener with a dominant 11-target, 128-yard, two-touchdown performance against Detroit. Even though Chicago was playing from behind, he has now averaged double-digit targets through two games. His route tree fits Caleb Williams' aggressive arm strength, giving him consistent upside. If usage continues, Odunze could settle in as a top-20 fantasy receiver.
Tucker Kraft
Kraft erupted on Thursday night with 124 yards and a touchdown on six catches. Matt LaFleur continues to scheme him open, giving him chances to run after the catch. While Green Bay's offense isn't always pass-heavy, Kraft's role is clearly expanding. If his target volume climbs toward the seven he saw last week, he could sneak into top-tier tight end territory.
Deebo Samuel 
Many doubted Samuel's move to Washington, but he's proving durable and effective. He's caught seven passes in each of the first two games, finding the end zone both weeks. His yardage dipped from 96 to 44 in Week 2, but the volume stayed steady. With Jayden Daniels attacking downfield, Samuel's short-area usage keeps him in the top-30 PPR conversation.
Rhamondre Stevenson 
Draft-day skeptics have been silenced by Stevenson's strong early season usage. He's logging about half the snaps, while rookie TreVeyon Henderson plays just 32 percent. Stevenson's 142 scrimmage yards on 16 touches last week showed his big-game potential. He remains boom-bust, but as a flex option, he's outperforming expectations.
Fantasy Football Fallers
A.J. Brown 
Brown's talent isn't in question, but Jalen Hurts' passing approach is limiting him. After one target in Week 1, Brown managed just 27 yards on eight looks in Week 2. Philadelphia appears content leaning on its run game and defense instead of forcing passes. He'll still have big weeks, but managers must brace for volatility.
RJ Harvey 
Harvey is stuck in a limited role behind J.K. Dobbins, with Tyler Badie eating into passing-down snaps. He salvaged Week 1 with a long run, but Week 2 brought just 24 total yards. With only 31 percent of snaps, he's essentially splitting a backup role. For now, Harvey is a stash-only player who can't be trusted in lineups.
Isiah Pacheco 
Optimism around Pacheco's recovery has faded quickly. Instead of pulling away, he's splitting carries with Kareem Hunt and lacking explosiveness. His 10 carries for 22 yards last week were discouraging, and he's added just 10 receiving yards all season. Unless he separates soon, Pacheco's workload makes him a liability in fantasy lineups.
Matthew Golden
Golden's training camp hype hasn't translated to regular-season production. He's caught just two passes for 16 yards through two games, and Jordan Love is usually a low-volume passer. The rookie's downfield role clashes with Love's inefficiency in that area. With Jayden Reed sidelined, Golden may see more targets, but he remains a risky weekly start.
Justin Fields 
Fields' Week 1 explosion raised expectations, but he followed it with a disastrous outing before leaving with a concussion. He completed only three passes while fumbling twice (losing one) against Buffalo. Although his rushing production offers a floor, his inconsistency remains a major issue. Until he proves capable of stringing together strong games, fantasy managers should remain cautious.
Conclusion
Week 2 brought clarity on several situations, separating early season mirages from genuine risers. Players like Judkins and Odunze are proving reliable, while Pacheco and Harvey may already be difficult to trust. Staying on top of these fantasy football risers and fallers trends is key to maximizing value throughout the year. For updated stat projections and weekly rankings, visit the RotoWire weekly projections page.
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