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With Week 1 in the books, fantasy football managers finally have some semblance of what their teams may look like going forward.
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That running back you begrudgingly took in the third round either proved your draft hesitation right by underperforming or proved you wrong by putting up double digit points.
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But all fantasy managers know, perhaps the most important position on your team is the Flex position. The first four or five rounds of your draft were probably chalk, but finding diamonds in the rough in the later rounds is what wins fantasy championships.
Related: Four Fantasy Football Flex Players You Must Start Week 1
David Montgomery was that for me this week. He was the third running back I took (and Yahoo gave me a C- for drafting him when I did), but his 3 total touchdowns helped power me to a comfortable Week 1 win from the Flex position.
Montgomery would have been the MVP for a lot more teams, but only 86% of team’s started him in Week 1, according to CBS.
The question on every fantasy owners mind is ‘who will be Week 2’s David Montgomery?’ Here are some breakout candidates for Week 2 that could give you a much needed win.
Colston Loveland Was Forgotten Week 1, Won’t Be In Week 2
Ben Johnson said before the season that his goal for this season was for the Chicago Bears to be the most prolific offense in NFL history. After putting up nearly 60 points in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers, it looks like Johnson wasn’t kidding.
But despite the high scoring game, most of the Bears damage came on the ground. And none of the damage came from tight end Colston Loveland. Loveland had an ADP of 46 for standard leagues and 39 for PPR, meaning he was a top four pick in most leagues.
After putting up 58 receptions, 713 yards and 6 touchdowns last year, Loveland earned his TE3 designation.
Still, he put up donuts on Sunday and the Bears did not really need him.
That won’t be the case in Week 2 when the Bears face the Vikings vaunted defense.
Minnesota blitzed on more than 80% of their plays in their win against the Packers. While they aren’t guaranteed to repeat that gameplay against the Packers, Loveland will most likely be a key release valve for Caleb Williams when he inevitably faces pressure this week.
Terry McLaurin has chance to fulfill coach’s promise
Terry McLaurin had an ADP between 49 and 53, meaning he was probably either your second or third wide out taken. That type of draft position comes with high expectations, and after Week 1 McLaurin left his fantasy owners wanting more.
McLaurin was a no show against the Eagles, grabbing only two receptions for 14 yards on 4 targets. Both catches came in the final 5 minutes of the game. It was the opposite of the promise his new OC, David Blough, made in the offseason.
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Blough made it clear how much he loved Terry’s game and he promised to get the Commanders’ top receiver at least 10 targets per game. McLaurin fell six short of that internal goal.
Luckily for Terry, he’s going up against a Dallas Cowboys defense in Week 2 that is ripe for the picking.
The Cowboys gave up 230 passing yards and 3 passing touchdowns to Jaxson Dart and the New York Giants last week, with Malik Nabers leading Giants wide receivers with 6 receptions on 9 targets for 69 yards.
Between McLaurin, Stefon Diggs and rookie sensation Antonio Williams, the Commanders have better offensive personnel than the Giants do. McLaurin should feast against Dallas next week.
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Chris Godwin uses aggression to get YAC
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Chris Godwin was a mid-to-late 8th round pick in most leagues, according to Fantasy Pros, and the 40 yards on four receptions he put up Sunday against Cincinnati wasn’t very impressive on paper.
But the tape tells a different story.
Godwin was extremely aggressive after the catch on Sunday, just as he has been throughout his whole career. The tape of his 40 yards shows a player who looks like he’s healthy again and ready to do some damage.
DAMN: THIS STIFF ARM BY CHRIS GODWIN WAS LETHAL.
A text book stiff arm 💀 pic.twitter.com/B41SeNGXaE
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) September 13, 2026
Godwin went back to the stiff arm to gain more yards after the catch later in the game.
Chris Godwiin finds some space in the middle and fends off everyone with the stiff-arm 🤚pic.twitter.com/K0Q4mdXB2U
— Buccaneers Nation (@BucsNationCP) September 13, 2026
But what makes Godwin such an enticing play this week is his opponent.
The Bucs are home in Week 2 to play the Cleveland Browns, a team that gave up 245 yards and 4 passing touchdowns to Trevor Lawrence last week. Lawrence had a near perfect QB rating of 150.6 after going 18/23 during the game.
A defense that porous is going to give Godwin plenty of opportunities to get into space and do some damage. Week 1 was just an appetizer, the Browns will be a full meal for the veteran come Week 2.
Chuba Hubbard usage should increase in Week 2
It’s tough to run the ball when you’re in a shootout, and Chuba Hubbard’s value suffered mightily, especially in the second half, as the Carolina Panthers couldn’t stop the Bears from scoring 59 points on Sunday.
Bryce Young was forced to throw the ball 37 times, which is not ideal. He threw for 361 yards, but he did that because he had to.
Hubbard was a big part of keeping the Panthers in the game early, and unlike the other players on this list, he actually had a good day in fantasy. His 49 yards on the ground were capped by a touchdown and his three receptions on three targets added another 38 yards and another score.
Not a bad day at the office.
Perhaps most importantly, however, Hubbard also led the team in carries with 10. Coming into the season, fantasy owners were worried about the Panthers’ three-back committee featuring Hubbard, AJ Dillion and Jonathan Brooks. But Hubbard out carried Dillon and Brooks combined.
Again, it was a small sample size because the Panthers had to keep throwing the ball, but it looks like Hubbard is the unquestioned top dog in that stacked room.
The Panthers have a divisional matchup against the Atlanta Falcons on the road in Week 2, a team against which he has had some success in the past.
The Panthers should keep feeding him, and he should have another good game in fantasy in Week 2.
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This story was originally published September 16, 2026 at 5:07 AM.