EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAfter two weeks of the NFL season, we're starting to get a sense of player usage and offensive game plans. That matters in fantasy football. And there are players who are starting to ascend at a quick rate, carving out roles and finding their way into weekly fantasy lineups.However, we're also seeing a group of players failing to meet those high preseason expectations, which can put managers in a tough spot this early in the season. It doesn't matter where you drafted them because the best managers are willing to make hard decisions to win.That's what we are doing here today with seven players who are off to rocky starts. For some, you can ride it out: Move them down to the flex spot, roll the dice on big-play ability, etc. But for the others? It's time to sit them or cut them loose.Let's get into it.Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles ChargersWith a new offensive system under coordinator Mike McDaniel, I expected a lot more from Herbert to start this season given the home matchups in Weeks 1 and 2 (Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders, respectively).However, Herbert is scoring just 10.3 fantasy PPG, while averaging 200.5 passing yards -- with two touchdown throws on the season -- and the rushing totals are down, too (eight carries, 31 yards). Plus, this L.A. passing game has been much more vertical than I expected, as Herbert's 10.3 air yards per target is the second highest in the league.Now, the Chargers can (and will) make game-plan changes going forward, which could include more play-action throws (Herbert ranks 25th in play-action attempts) and moving the pocket to compensate for a struggling interior offensive line.But if we do see growth in this Chargers offense, Herbert's upcoming schedule presents a tough stretch of matchups. Will we get a shootout-type game versus the Buffalo Bills in Week 3? Potentially. But I'm not willing to take that risk. With games in Weeks 4 and 5 against the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos defenses, Herbert should be viewed as QB2 for now.Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago BearsLoveland has been absent from the Bears passing attack through two games, catching just one of five targets for three yards (1.3 fantasy points).Despite the low volume, Loveland has 30.5 routes run per game (up from 23.8 in 2025), and his route tree has a lot of branches. Loveland is being deployed at all three levels of the field: verticals (27.5%), short out routes (19.6%), short in-breakers (15.7%), crossers (13.7%) and more. He's just not seeing the ball -- yet.The Bears' uncertainty at quarterback for Week 3 versus the Philadelphia Eagles creates some concern. With Caleb Williams (hamstring) most likely out, I would still play Loveland as a TE1 if backup Tyson Bagent (concussion) is cleared. But if it gets to No. 3 Case Keenum? I might pivot to a streamer for this one game, and that's OK.When the Bears do have stability under center, Loveland will be firmly back in the TE1 mix. I think he can be a star in this league, and we saw him post 21 or more fantasy points in three of his final four games last season (including the playoffs). Have patience here.Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay BuccaneersI had Egbuka down as one of my top targets this summer due to his receiving traits -- which I see as upper tier -- and the aggressive throwing mentality of Bucs QB Baker Mayfield.Through two weeks, however, Egbuka is scoring 10.3 fantasy PPG and he ranked third in targets (five) on the team behind TE Cade Otton (six) and rookie WR Ted Hurst III (seven) in the Week 2 loss to the Browns.Now, if Mayfield's last throw of the game is on target to Egbuka in the end zone (he had separation on the post), the narrative would change some. But with the Bucs spreading the ball around, Egbuka has seen only 11 targets through his first two games. Not the numbers I anticipated, and Brian Flores' pressure-heavy Minnesota Vikings defense looms in Week 3. That's a tough matchup, so I'll move Egbuka down to the flex spot. But he's staying up on a weekly basis because I still see breakout potential.Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona CardinalsHarrison is running 29.5 routes per game, but his overall usage is down (again). Harrison saw one target in the Week 2 loss to the Seahawks -- a hitch route that couldn't be completed because of pressure -- and he caught one of three targets for 33 yards in the Week 1 win over the Chargers. Low numbers compared to TE Trey McBride's 23 targets and WR Michael Wilson's 14.What are we seeing on tape? The juice isn't there, as I don't see Harrison separating consistently. That's an issue. Plus, Harrison is being deployed as the vertical clearout at a high rate, running off safeties to create underneath voids for McBride and Wilson. The data matches here, too, as Harrison has a vertical route percentage of 56.1 on the season, which doesn't mesh with the throwing traits/mentality of QB Jacoby Brissett, who is averaging 6.1 air yards per attempt (25th lowest in the league).Given what we see on tape and in the numbers, Harrison can't be put in the lineup for a tough Week 3 matchup versus the 49ers defense -- or beyond. He's a cut candidate at this point.Travis Etienne Jr., RB, New Orleans SaintsThe Saints signed Etienne to a four-year contract this offseason, but he hasn't assumed the No. 1 role in Kellen Moore's backfield as I anticipated. Instead, we are looking at a true committee approach in New Orleans to start the 2026 season.In Week 1, Etienne surprisingly spilt carries with Kendre Miller (nine each), and it was Miller who saw the ball on a low red zone carry for a touchdown. In Week 2, Alvin Kamara saw his first action of the season, with 14 to 10 more touches than Etienne despite producing only 22 total yards. Miller didn't dress for the game.Etienne is scoring 10.9 fantasy PPG, but he isn't being utilized as a high-volume dual-threat option in this offense due to the Saints' two-back approach, which really limits his fantasy value. Etienne should be viewed as a midtier flex for the Week 3 home matchup against the Raiders, and I expect that to be his ceiling in this current offensive setup.DK Metcalf, WR, Pittsburgh SteelersMetcalf is seeing consistent volume, with at least nine targets in both games this season, but he's scoring only 7.3 fantasy PPG, and the deep balls aren't hitting in Pittsburgh. Metcalf has had five targets from Aaron Rodgers on throws of 20 or more air yards (tied for second most in the league), yet he's failed to cash in on those opportunities. And you need those explosive plays to complement the slants, speed outs and screens in Metcalf's route tree.Yes, the Steelers pass game hasn't clicked yet under new coach Mike McCarthy (175 yards per game). Rodgers' mobility is limited, too, and there have been lapses in protection (six sacks in two games).But I still see fantasy value with Metcalf, even when fellow WR Michael Pittman Jr. returns from a foot injury. Why? It's the big-play opportunities. Metcalf gives you that because of his route deployment: verticals and the catch-and-run targets underneath. There is some risk here, but Metcalf fits the profile of a boom/bust WR3 in the lineup.Jadarian Price, RB, Seattle SeahawksPrice (questionable this week due to a shoulder injury) has all the traits to play the No. 1 role, but Seattle's split backfield approach reduces his upside in shallower leagues. Price had 10 carries to George Holani's eight in Week 1. And this past Sunday, Price finished with 13 carries before exiting with the injury, while Emanuel Wilson closed the win for the Seahawks, rushing 21 times for 92 yards.Price is scoring just 6.4 fantasy PPG, and his extremely limited receiving usage (three catches on four targets for 14 yards) lowers his ceiling even more. At this stage, Price is a bench stash in 10-team leagues, while he can be played in deeper formats as a touchdown-dependent RB2/flex.
