playLiz LozaSep 16, 2026, 08:26 AM ETCloseLiz Loza is a writer for fantasy football and betting at ESPN and host of the “Facts vs. Feelings” podcast. Liz also appears on “Fantasy Football Now” and contributes to the “Fantasy Focus Football” podcast.Multiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsEver laced up new Jordans only to regret how much they hurt? Or scored a table at a trendy restaurant, just to leave craving a juicy burger and some super-salty fries?
Maybe you’ve started streaming music through high-tech earbuds, but find yourself irritated by the obvious acoustic compromises?Sometimes we get tricked into thinking “new” means “better.” It’s actually a well-studied phenomenon called newness bias. According to behavioral scientists, seeing something marketed as new causes our brains to temporarily suspend our critical thinking.Marketers relentlessly employ this tactic to fleece us of our money. Whether it’s a “new 24-hour formula” cold medicine or a “next generation” smartphone, we are regularly sold the idea of constant updating and optimizing. But for what gain?
To truly improve ourselves? Or to seem in the know?As much as we crave the excitement of novelty, we secretly rely on the familiarity of old. That’s why my stepdad refuses to toss his sole-worn New Balance sneakers (even if my mom makes him keep them in the garage). It’s why the local greasy spoon has been in business since your parents were kids.
And how come you immediately appreciate the bass when slipping on a pair of old school Beats by Dre.So, try not to be shocked the next time a trio of veteran backs — D’Andre Swift, David Montgomery, and Derrick Henry — each manage a hat trick on the same Sunday. Or when a consistent chain mover like D.J. Moore locks in as a much-needed downfield threat for the best QB in football. Maybe resist the urge to reach for toolsy young receiver like Luther Burden III in favor of leaning into the value provided by a proven red zone threat like Mike Evans.This is a week-to-week game.
Evolution is a process. The upside of draft capital and fresh legs might take a minute to pay off. In the meantime, manage the balance. And remember to embrace the floor of players who continually — and comfortably — deliver.
Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ersMr. Irrelevant? More like Mr. Reliable.
Purdy has delivered 18 or more fantasy points in 26 of his past 41 games, a rock-solid baseline paired with an elite ceiling. He has three or more passing touchdowns in four of his past five regular-season outings. But No. 13 isn’t just getting it done through the air. Purdy has also cleared 20 rushing yards in four of his past five games (including the playoffs).
Fresh off a dominant 21-fantasy-point performance in the opener, expect him to keep it rolling into Week 2.The 49ers returned to the states flying high after a 20-point blowout over the Rams, and oddsmakers expect the beatdown to continue. San Francisco opened as a massive 13.5-point favorite over the Dolphins. That bodes well for Purdy, who has averaged 19 fantasy points per game as a favorite since his first season as full-time starter in 2023. It’s a smash spot against a transitioning Miami defense.
Last week, Jeff Hafley’s unit made a Brock Bowers-less Raiders offense look entirely competent. If Kirk Cousins can carve up the Dolphins for three tuddies, then Purdy should keep his multi-TD streak alive with ease. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas RaidersAnkle injury? What ankle injury?
Jeanty looked 100% healthy, shredding the Dolphins defense with three runs of 10 or more yards, which was good for the fifth most in Week 1 and the second-best mark of his young career. The sophomore back also dazzled through the air, reeling in two grabs over 10 yards that both went for touchdowns. It’s only the third time in his career he has pulled off multiple chunk receptions like that in a game.With Bowers (knee) sidelined, Klint Kubiak funneled the offense through his star running back. Jeanty racked up 147 scrimmage yards, accounting for over half of the Raiders’ 290 total yards.
Remarkably, Jeanty led the team in receiving yards despite the fact that the Raiders never trailed. He also dominated the backfield volume, out-carrying Mike Washington Jr. 23 to 7. Given the question marks surrounding Bowers’ Week 2 availability, Jeanty should eat again at the Chargers. While a tougher matchup might keep him under 30 fantasy points, his monopoly on volume makes him a must-start, top-six fantasy RB.
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Arizona CardinalsLove nabbed his first NFL score in the Cardinals’ shocking upset over the Chargers last Sunday. While the six points were welcome, the rookie’s debut remained otherwise tepid. Working his way back from a high-ankle sprain suffered in August, Love shared much of the backfield work with Tyler Allgeier. Not only did the vet earn more overall snaps (41) than Love (32), he also played 64% of the team’s third-down snaps.
That’s pretty surprising given that Allgeier managed just 29% of third-down snaps in Atlanta last year. Suffice to say, it appears as though the coaching staff doesn’t yet trust Love in an every-down capacity.On the bright side, Love and Allgeier shared the red zone touches almost evenly. Allgeier, a notorious goal-line vulture, ultimately edged out Love, but by a narrow 4-3 margin. Love was, thankfully, utilized more frequently in the passing game, drawing two more looks than Allgeier, though both backs posted identical stat lines (2-9-0).
Hopefully, that number increases in Week 2, as the Cardinals are 4.5 underdogs versus the Seahawks. Still, with Arizona facing off against a formidable Seattle defense that surrendered the fewest fantasy points to RBs last season, investors’ expectations need to be managed. Love is the ESPN consensus RB21 heading into the weekend. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington CommandersCroskey-Merritt may not have lit up fantasy rosters (12.6 FPTS) in Week 1, but he did finish as fantasy’s RB22, ahead of brand names such as De’Von Achane (10.6), James Cook III (9.9) and Saquon Barkley (9.0).
More importantly, he emerged as Washington’s primary ball carrier, out-snapping and out-touching Rachaad White by a considerable margin. Most surprising was JCM’s deployment in the passing game. While his single grab for negative yardage doesn’t inspire confidence, it is worth noting that he ran the same number of routes as White (13). That’s a sizable number for a player believed to have zero value as a receiver.With control of the backfield and in a more favorable matchup, JCM should deliver low-end RB2 numbers on Sunday.
Philadelphia allowed only two running backs to post 21 fantasy points over the entirety of 2025. Dallas, on the other hand, let six RBs clear the same mark while also surrendering three games of 30 or more fantasy points to the position. While the Cowboys spent the offseason revamping its run defense, the unit has not yet appeared to jell, yielding 111 rushing yards to Giants RBs in Week 1. Furthermore, “Bill” himself has smoked the ‘Boys, posting 22.5 fantasy points — without drawing a single target — in W17 of last year.
Garrett Wilson, WR, New York JetsWilson’s 14 fantasy points might not have moved the needle for most managers, but his domination over the corps definitely assuaged apprehension. Recording a target share of 30.4% (WR8), New York’s alpha registered twice as many looks (seven) and converted double the number of balls (six) of his fellow pass catchers. He was supported by an effective Geno Smith, who closed out Week 1 in the top five in completion percentage (79.2%) and QBR (84.7).Obviously, the Jets won’t get the Titans every week. That might work to Wilson’s advantage, though.
With his team likely an underdog for much of the season, Smith figures to throw more than 24 times per game. And with an opportunity share above 25%, Wilson figures to regularly draw double-digit targets.That sort of volume in a Week 2 matchup against the Packers shou
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