Week 2 Fantasy Underachievers

Here’s a look at some of the players who most missed their projected fantasy points in week 2 of the 2026 season. The projections are from Fantasypros.com and all the scores are based on PPR scoring.

The Injury Effect

_Typically, a number of the people on the underperforming list will be because of injury. I’m not going to give these players the same attention I give the others because their inclusion on this list doesn’t tell us much other than they have bad luck. _

Jaxson Dart (-17.6) Saquon Barkley (-13.3) DJ Moore (-13.1) Caleb Williams (-10.9)

The Ricochet _These are some players who, while they weren’t injured themselves, saw a dip in numbers because someone else on their team (likely their quarterback) got injured. _

Malik Nabers scoring 1.1 vs 13.9 projected (-12.8) - There’s a world in which Jaxson Dart going down early in the game doesn’t affect Nabers’ production too badly because, for all his faults, Jameis Winston can sling the football far. Sure, it often lands in the hands of the opposing defense, but it just as often lands in the hands of his star receiver. Unfortunately that world is not this world and Winston looked awful on that Monday night game.

‘Tis But A Flesh Wound

Trevor Lawrence scoring 6.2 vs 16.9 projected (-10.7) - Trevor Lawrence has been a new man under Liam Coen but he’s still not immune to having a bad week and this was a bad week. Hats off to Denver’s defense who, now that Houston has seemingly taken a step back, might be the best in the AFC. They sure looked like it in week two, limiting Lawrence to 189 yards an interception and no touchdowns. I’m not worried about Lawrence though.

David Montgomery scoring 4.4 vs 14.7 projected (-10.3) - A lot of us had high hopes for Montgomery coming to the Texans, not just for fantasy but because the Texans had long seemed like they were just a running back away from being a truly functional offense. And in week 1 it seemed like those hopes were answered, as Montgomery had three whole touchdowns. But this week he had 10 rushing yards and two catches for 14 receiving yards. Not great. I still like Montgomery but the problem is: the Texans aren’t a running back away, their a running game away. Until that offensive line is better, Montgomery is going to get some weeks like week 1 and some like week 2.

Justin Herbert scoring 7.9 vs 18.5 projected (-10.6) and Drake Maye scoring 8.0 vs 18.5 projected (-10.7) - Do you hear that? That’s the sound of hundreds of souls at the Ringer offices crying out in anguish. Look how we massacred their two beautiful boys. I’m putting these two together because they are of a piece: I personally drafted both of them in fantasy thinking they would have great seasons… and they’re ruining my life. I truly thought the acquisition of Mike McDaniel would kick the Chargers offense into overdrive, just as I figured Josh McDaniels (no relation) would keep things rolling in New England, particularly with the acquisition of A.J. Brown. But… Brown got injured immediately and Drake Maye looks… terrible? I don’t really have answers for his regression. Herbert, of course, comes with an array of excuses for his failures every season. It’s never actually his fault… It's the offensive line’s fault. Again. Either way, both these guys’ performances over the first two weeks have been very concerning. I don’t think either is droppable but… woof

Bijan Robinson scoring 6.2 vs 16.9 projected (-10.7) - Bijan Robinson might be the best running back in the league but of course he only had 51 yards on 11 carries against the stalwart Carolina Panthers who, in week 1 [checks notes] GAVE UP 59 POINTS TO THE BEARS? THREE OF THOSE TOUCHDOWNS WERE BY SWIFT? Hoo boy… there were factors at play here of course, like the Panthers being less afraid of Cooper Rush than Caleb Williams. No one is benching Robinson. He’ll be fine. Cooper Rush on the other hand…

Old Yeller This Guy (Metaphorically, of course)

Cooper Rush scoring -0.6 vs 12.3 projected (-12.9) - I mean, does anyone even have this guy rostered? He’s a placeholder for the placeholder until Penix can come back, which seems like will be next week so…

Dallas Goedert scoring 6.2 vs 16.9 projected (-10.7) - Maybe I’m jumping the gun putting Goedert in this category. He did have 4 receptions for 77 yards and two touchdowns in week 1, but this week he had one catch for four yards. Sure, his actual production for the rest of the season will likely be somewhere in the middle, I’m just wary of this Eagles offense as a whole. They’re just so…plodding. They remind me of that episode of the Simpsons where Homer takes up boxing… his entire strategy is let his opponent hit him so much that he gets exhausted, then Homer just tips them over. It’s a great strategy that makes Moe a lot of money… until he faces Drederick Tatum, who never gets tired. One of these days, the Eagles are going to run into their own Drederick Tatum.