Fantasy Football: Whose Slow Starts Should Worry Managers After Week 2?

Running backs De'Von Achane and Travis Etienne Jr. and receivers Rashee Rice and Terry McLaurin are among the players drawing concern two weeks into the NFL season.

Two weeks into the NFL season, several fantasy football staples are off to concerning starts. Yahoo Sports' weekly panic meter flagged Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane, Houston Texans back David Montgomery, New Orleans Saints runner Travis Etienne Jr., and wide receivers Rashee Rice of the Kansas City Chiefs and Terry McLaurin of the Washington Commanders as the names causing the most worry.

Achane earned a 3/5 panic rating. He is handling roughly 19 touches per game but producing only 9.7 half-PPR fantasy points per contest, and his efficiency metrics have cratered, with 1.02 yards per route run after posting 1.56 last season. The Dolphins' offense has managed just two touchdowns and a league-low 46.5 plays per game, worsening his situation.

Montgomery and Etienne each drew a 2/5 rating. Montgomery managed only 24 total yards on eight touches with Nico Collins sidelined, though he retains all of Houston's carries inside the 5-yard line. Etienne, despite a $28 million guaranteed contract, was out-targeted by Alvin Kamara in Week 2 and ranks near the bottom of the league in rushing success rate among backs with at least 15 carries.

Rice's rating also came in at 3/5. His first-read target share has plunged from 31.9% in 2025 to 13.7% following Kansas City's signing of running back Kenneth Walker III, and he is averaging just 3.5 targets per game. McLaurin, meanwhile, has only four catches for 64 yards on 13 targets while new teammate Stefon Diggs has outproduced him early.

On the positive side, Yahoo's breakout meter rated receivers Jalen Coker and Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid at 4/5, suggesting both are considered legitimate going forward. Concerns carried over from Week 1 about Colston Loveland, Drake London and Marvin Harrison Jr. persist, though London is set to get quarterback Michael Penix Jr. back in Week 3.