Moneyball came out 15 years ago, nearly to the day. In the years since, analytics have gone from the fringes of sports to part of the mainstream conversation. In baseball, it was Billy Beane’s obsession with OBP (on-base percentage). In soccer, it’s xG (expected goals). In football, it’s DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average). No matter what metrics you follow, the takeaway is clear: sometimes you have to zig while others zag.
NFL Week 2 saw a number of stars get sidelined by injuries, wrecking the hopes and dreams of fans—and fantasy managers. But instead of waiting for the prognosis from team doctors, many of the remaining players on the field balled out.
For the second straight week, we watched every game so you don’t have to, and here are the players we’re eyeing heading into Week 3.
The Injuries:
Bears star QB Caleb Williams got carted off with a hamstring injury late in the game against the division rival Minnesota Vikings. What was initially feared to be season-ending (read: The Madden Curse) appears to be a week-to-week hamstring. Good thing Chicago paid up to keep backup Tyson Bagent.
Meanwhile, fellow signal-caller Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow for the second straight season. Ouch. The medical verdict has yet to arrive as of writing, but it could be a long season for the Washington Commanders if Daniels needs surgery. DMV sports fans can’t get off the rollercoaster.
Then, on Monday Night Football, yet another young quarterback went down injured. Jaxson Dart, who had an impressive Week 1—much like Williams—left in the first quarter of the game against the LA Rams with a knee injury. Big Blue was riding high off their Week 1 win against the Dallas Cowboys, but the rest of the season looks murky if Jameis Winston is under center…although there are worse rides to be on than a 5,000-yard, 30-pick season from the former Heisman Trophy winner.
So you’re down a man (or two) and need a fantasy replacement? Don’t worry, we’ve got you.
The Quarterbacks the Market’s Sleeping On:
- Bryce Young: The 5’10” Panthers QB has had an up-and-down career since winning the Heisman with Alabama in 2021, but he showed progress last season, and has started 2026 off with a bang. Last week, Young dropped three touchdowns and 287 yards in a win over Atlanta, and is tied for the league lead in passing scores—and just 14 yards off the lead for most passing yards—through two weeks. With a 1/1 Dragon Scale Black Prizm RC that’s got a fair market value of more than $8,000 hidden in a Football Mythic Pack, stacking cards from the Panthers’ QB seems like a smart move these days.
- Jared Goff: Ryan Reynolds is once again airing it out for the Lions. Sure, the Honolulu Blue and Silver lost to the Buffalo Bills last Thursday night, and Goff is hardly a sleeper pick after years of success, but don’t let that distract you from the fact that Goff threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns (without an interception). Goff has been hot for years now, but his top sale on the Courtyard marketplace is “only” $1,458 for a 2019 Donruss Downtown! (PSA 10). If the NFC North remains as wide open as it is now, you’ve got to imagine that collector feels pretty happy about the prospects of the Lions getting it together and making a deep playoff run.
- Cam Ward: The first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft had a tough rookie year, but that came as little surprise given the talent around him. With a new head coach and a bolstered supporting cast, the Titans passer is starting to put it together, including a solid performance in last week’s loss to the Eagles (what a finish…) that included two touchdowns on the ground. With Ward, it feels like there’s still some room to get in early, and the 2025 Topps Chrome Kaiju (PSA 10) stashed within the Football Mythic Pack carries a fair market value of $5,584 that might be a steal depending on how the rest of this season—and the next few—plays out.
Don’t Forget the Skills:
- Omarion Hampton: The Los Angeles Chargers haven’t had the lightning-quick start to the season many predicted—and their season isn’t getting any easier thanks to a ridiculous stretch of upcoming games against top teams. But even though the Chargers have yet to win a game, running back Omarion Hampton is starting to pick up steam, with 94 yards and a touchdown on the ground, plus another 21 yards in the air. Sure, fantasy managers that spent loads of draft capital on the former first-round pick might be expecting this every week, but it’s fun to see him put the pieces together at the pro level.
- Tre Tucker: Most football fans wrote off the Las Vegas Raiders long before the season kicked off, but here they are sitting pretty at 2-0. Tucker, a third-round draft pick in 2023, put up solid numbers last year, even with instability at the QB position, but Sunday's 5-119-1 lit up fantasy scoreboards. Man, do I want the Panini Mosaic Rookie Scripts No Huddle Gold (PSA 10) that’s currently available on Courtyard’s marketplace. What a gem!
The Headlines:
The injuries—and winners—might’ve stolen the show on Sunday (and Monday), but there were plenty of positives to be had on the gridiron throughout Week 2. Whether you’re looking to zero in on a rising star or see what Courtyard’s Football Packs have in store for you, there’s lots of opportunity to be had for NFL fans and players alike ahead of Week 3.