Welcome to Fantasy Football Trends from Week 2!
After two weeks of actual football, we can slowly start to piece together some of the data points that will shape fantasy football over the coming weeks and months. Here are five trends to watch.
1) Jalen Hurts’ 23 passes per game
Two of the biggest disappointments in fantasy this season have been AJ Brown and Devonta Smith. In full PPR scoring, neither has hit double-digit PPR points in either of the first two weeks. Brown has amassed just 35 receiving yards in total from six catches. The issue has been the passing rate.
Hurts has thrown the ball just 45 times in the last two games. If this pace were to hold, it would be even lower than his 2024 figures, when he averaged 24 passes per game. In comparison, the averages for his first three seasons as a starter were 28.8, 30.7, and 31.6 passes per game. If Brown and Smith are going to hit the heights we expected before the start of the season, the passing numbers need to increase.
2) Ashton Jeanty’s 87% running back rush share
Rookie running backs have had an underwhelming start to the season. Jeanty has amassed just 84 yards from scrimmage over his first two games, a far cry from what we hoped, given his consensus first-round draft cost. The positive, however, is his usage.
Across the first two weeks, Jeanty has seen 30 of the 35 rushing attempts by running backs, equating to an 87% share. Zamir White is the only other back to have had a rushing attempt this season, achieving just six yards from his five attempts. As I mentioned last week, it’s essential to have patience with rookies as they acclimate to the league. With this usage, it’s only a matter of time before Jeanty’s talent, which he demonstrated so often in college, is seen in the NFL.
3) Jaylen Warren’s 64% running back rush share
Jaylen Warren has gained more rushing yards than expected on 56% of his carries – best in the NFL amongst RB’s.
— David J. Gautieri (@GuruFantasyWrld) September 18, 2025
He also leads all RB’s in YPRR (4.32). pic.twitter.com/KUvVXflgut
Another rookie running back having a slow start is Kaleb Johnson, who has seen just two rushing attempts over the first two weeks. In his place, Jaylen Warren has stepped up, finishing inside the top-20 running backs in PPR scoring in back-to-back weeks. Warren has led the backfield with 25 rushing attempts, resulting in 85 yards, with a further 108 yards on six receptions. This represents a 64% running back rush share, with Gainwell rushing 12 times.
Importantly, Warren has also seen seven rushes in the redzone, compared to just one for Gainwell. After Johnson’s special teams mishap last week, the rookie will likely see limited touches again, and I’d expect another workhorse role for Warren this week. Together with his continued work through the air, he’s proving to be a reliable fantasy asset so far this year
4) Trey Benson’s 3.73 yards after contact per attempt
just a reminder we have Trey Benson on our team@trey_uno1 | @FSUFootball pic.twitter.com/BFbNxmRaZI
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 8, 2025
Trey Benson’s rookie season was rather forgettable. The former third-round pick rushed just 63 times for 291 yards and one touchdown, adding a further 59 yards on six receptions last year as veteran James Conner continued to dominate touches. It’s way too early to say the tide is turning, but Benson’s efficiency should be noted. Benson’s yards after contact per attempt stands at 3.73, compared to Conner’s 2.35. For context, this would represent Conner’s lowest mark since his breakout season in 2018, and his 3.2 yards per carry would be the lowest of his career. It’s early days, but Benson’s usage will be a trend to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.
5) Jauan Jennings’ 26.3% target share
Jauan Jennings back from injury
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) September 16, 2025
5 catches, 89 yards + a TD
and a couple more off his fingertips. We're back to a fun 49ers WR duo. pic.twitter.com/75Q6NZTYJ5
After a slightly tumultuous offseason blighted by injury concerns and contract disputes, as well as a quiet first week, Jauan Jennings provided a top-12 performance in week 2. After seeing his snap share jump from 66% to 87%, the veteran was targeted a team-high ten times, representing a 26.3% target share. This resulted in five receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Last week’s performance is reflective of what we saw for a significant chunk of the 2024 season. After the 49ers’ week 9 bye, Jennings had at least eight targets in all but three games, hitting at least 50 receiving yards in all but two. While I remain optimistic over Ricky Pearsall’s potential, it’s worth noting Jennings’ continued production – despite the change of quarterback. If he can stay healthy, Jennings possesses huge fantasy upside.
