Nine targets for Josh Downs after Pierce departure

The Giants’ game plan was thrown for a loop when quarterback Jaxson Dart was forced from the game on the team’s first possession and were largely unable to get anything going with Jameis Winston under center. The result was a haphazard scheme thrown together to minimize Winston’s exposure to a relentless Rams defensive front, which drowned the fantasy production of all parties, to include Skattebo. More startling to Skattebo’s fantasy managers was the involvement of Najee Harris in the red zone, who was unable to cash in on two carries from the six on consecutive plays in the second quarter. Skattebo gets a plus matchup against the Titans in Week 3, where he returns to a viable RB2 in fantasy circles.

Winston came on in relief of the injured Dart after the team’s first possession but never really got the wheels turning in the defeat. He made numerous errant throws and poor decision, as evidenced by the poor completion rate, while averaging only 4.1 yards per pass attempt. Most egregious was a red zone interception with the team down 14-0 in the second quarter, which occurred on a badly under-thrown ball directed toward alpha receiver Malik Nabers. Safety Javon Holland did his part to almost single-handedly keep the team in the game, picking off Matthew Stafford and then both forcing and recovering a fumble on consecutive possessions following Winston’s interception, acts that would ultimately prove futile considering the offense’s inability to move the football. Winston could be headed for a start in Week 3, pending the status of Dart, and gets a much more forgiving matchup against the Titans. Fantasy managers in a pinch could do worse than starting the veteran W-eater.

Ferguson entered the fourth quarter with a rather modest receiving line, with two of the incompletions directed towards him resultant of passes that hit him in the hands, with the third a poorly thrown pass from Stafford. He heated up in the final frame, highlighted by a five-yard touchdown reception on a crosser from the slot for his first touchdown of his sophomore campaign. Ferguson’s nine targets were one off the 10 of Davante Adams for the team lead in a game played without top aerial option Puka Nacua. Ferguson appears likely to have more spiked weeks like this in the future, although they could be more difficult to diagnose once Nacua returns and the offense doesn’t play quite as much from 12- and 13-personnel. Ferguson can safely be started as a viable tight end option in Week 3 against the Broncos, particularly considering the multitude of injuries at the position throughout the league.

Adams seamlessly stepped into the alpha role in the offense in the absence of Puka Nacua, routinely making absurd catches on the perimeter while also showcasing his adept route-running abilities in the open field. His first touchdown came on a deep post route following a double move, during which he strode beyond three defenders. He would cash in again from 11 yards out on a fade to the corner of the end zone. Adams remains a top-tier WR2 with WR1 upside when the Rams take on the Broncos in Week 3.

Corum was kept out of the end zone for the second straight game to open the 2026 season but continues to display elite per-touch efficiency. The scoring woes could persist considering the robust red zone role of cohort Kyren Williams, the latter of whom found pay dirt for the second consecutive game to open the season. Corum continues to be a difficult weekly start outside of deeper leagues for as long as he is taken off the field where it matters most to fantasy production, and will remain a borderline FLEX start when the Rams face the Broncos in Week 3.

Williams has opened the season with touchdowns in consecutive games after hitting pay dirt 15 times or more the previous two seasons. The difference this season is that he’s doing it while Blake Corum has been much more involved in the weekly game plan. Williams continues forward with an elevated weekly floor due to his robust red zone role, albeit with a shakier ceiling than in recent years due to the presence of Corum. He remains a back-end RB2 when the Rams travel to Colorado to face the Bronco in Week 3.

It was an inspiring effort from the 38-year-old quarterback while playing without his top option through the air in Puka Nacua. Stafford locked onto Davante Adams, the latter of whom turned 10 targets into eight receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns, on his way to a 22nd career game with four touchdown passes. He also moved into sixth on the all-time passing touchdown leaderboard, overtaking Philip Rivers with the four-touchdown performance. The Rams shook off their travel woes in convincing fashion to move to 1-1 ahead of road meeting with the Broncos in Week 3, where Stafford will remain a locked-in QB1 in fantasy circles.

Nabers left at the end of the first quarter with an apparent shoulder injury but returned to the game half way through the second quarter. Nabers has had a right shoulder issue dating back to his college days, something that could help to explain how he was injured on what looked to be a routine play. Fantasy managers can breathe a quick sigh of relief, at least for the time being.

Nabers appeared to injure his shoulder late in the first quarter on what looked to be a routine play. He went up to attempt a contested catch and came down holding his shoulder. He immediately walked off the field and was seen in visible pain while be attended to by trainers. The team deemed him questionable to return shortly thereafter. Nabers caught 1-of-2 targets for one yard prior to departing.

The seven-year veteran was released by the Giants prior to the start of the regular season, now landing on his feet in Indianapolis to presumably fill in for the injured Alec Pierce. Pierce recently re-injured the heel he had offseason surgery on and will miss an undetermined number of games. Slayton brings a similar, field-stretching archetype to a Colts team in desperate need of someone to elongate the middle of the field. It remains most likely that Josh Downs steps into the featured role through the air.