Week 2 did not bring the same fantasy fireworks as the opening week, but there were still plenty of players who gave their teams and fantasy managers something to talk about. From Jaxon Smith-Njigba putting up a career-best fantasy performance to Ja’Marr Chase bouncing back after a quiet opener, several names stood out.

Here are ESPN’s top five fantasy winners from Week 2, based on the analysis of Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft.

5. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Ja’Marr Chase did not have the start he wanted in Week 1, but he quickly put that game behind him. The Bengals receiver came alive against Houston, putting together one of his better performances of the young season and helping Cincinnati get another win.

“This is another reminder to trust your top picks after a tough ballgame. Talent wins,” analyst Matt Bowen wrote on ESPN on September 21.

Chase finished with seven catches on nine targets for 75 yards and two touchdowns. He scored 26.5 fantasy points, a huge jump from the 3.2 points he managed in Week 1.

One of his touchdowns came on a difficult catch that showed off his hands, body control, and concentration, making his response to the slow opening week even more notable.

4. Tyler Shough and Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints

The Saints have seen their quarterback-receiver connection click early in the season. Tyler Shough and Chris Olave both came through again in Week 2 as New Orleans picked up a win over Baltimore.

“The Shough-Olave combination produced high-end numbers again in the Week 2 win over the Ravens,” Bowen wrote.

Shough threw for 252 yards and one touchdown while adding 23 rushing yards and another score on nine carries.

He finished with 22.38 fantasy points, giving him at least 22 points in each of his first two games. Olave caught eight of his 10 targets for 86 yards and a touchdown, finishing with 22.6 points.

He had already scored 28.2 points in Week 1. The Saints face Las Vegas next, with Bowen viewing Olave as a midtier WR1 and Shough as a fringe QB1 for Week 3.

3. DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

DeVonta Smith had a big night in Week 2 and may have given Eagles fans a glimpse of what could be ahead for him this season. With Philadelphia moving forward without A.J. Brown, Smith has more room to become a bigger part of the passing game.

“If he's destined for a breakout, fantasy WR1-caliber year, this might well be the starting-point game his managers refer to,” analyst Tristan H. Cockcroft wrote.

Smith scored 27.7 fantasy points, which is the sixth-highest total of his career through 82 games. He also accounted for 38% of Philadelphia's targets in the game.

That kind of involvement helped him put together one of his strongest performances so far. The Eagles now head into a Week 3 matchup against Chicago, giving Smith another chance to build on the performance.

2. Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys had more than one player make an impact in Week 2. Dak Prescott led the way at quarterback, while CeeDee Lamb turned in a huge receiving game and Jake Ferguson made the most of his chances near the goal line.

“Because of his red zone usage, Ferguson will stay in the lower-tier TE1 mix for the Week 3 matchup versus Baltimore,” analyst Matt Bowen wrote.

Prescott finished with 279 passing yards, four touchdowns and 26 rushing yards, giving him 29.76 fantasy points.

Lamb was even more productive, catching eight of nine targets for 153 yards and two touchdowns for 35.3 points. Ferguson caught all four of his targets for 43 yards and scored twice, finishing with 20.3 points. The Cowboys now have Baltimore waiting in Week 3.

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Jaxon Smith-Njigba put together the biggest fantasy performance among ESPN’s Week 2 winners. After already having a breakout 2025 season, the Seahawks receiver raised the bar again, setting a new career high in fantasy points while working with Drew Lock at quarterback.

“This was vintage JSN, and we should see something similar in a great Week 3 matchup against the Washington Commanders,” analyst Tristan H. Cockcroft wrote.

Smith-Njigba finished with 42.5 fantasy points, his best total yet. He showed a strong connection with Lock and made plays all over the field. His 2025 season had already seen him finish second among wide receivers in fantasy points, but this Week 2 performance gave him another career milestone.

Seattle now faces Washington in Week 3, where Smith-Njigba will get another opportunity to keep the momentum going.

Week 2 had plenty of standout performances, with several familiar names bouncing back and others making a strong early-season statement. With Week 3 ahead, these players will look to carry that momentum into their next games.

Written by

Debanjali Rakshit