NEW ORLEANS, LA - SEPTEMBER 16: Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates his touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 16, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Fantasy Football 2018: Nitty-Gritty NFC Numbers

Two exhilarating Fantasy Football weeks are in the rear view mirror. The usual suspects have lived up to, and even exceeded expectations in some cases. Quarterbacks like Pat Mahomes and Ryan Fitzpatrick have played lights out. Michael Thomas and Christian McCaffrey are on pace 224 and 160 catches respectively. Deshaun Jackson looks like he’s 25 again. Matt Breida and Phillip Lindsay sandwich Joe Mixon as the RB1 and RB3, which I’m sure is exactly what you expected 3 weeks ago. Khalil Mack has provided a spark for the Bears defense that harkens back to the days when the team was built around defense. Speaking of defense, no one can score on the Rams. Fantasy-wise it’s been fun.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there’s the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, and Buffalo Bills among others who haven’t provided much for a fan-to-see.

Without further ado let’s geek out on some NFC team and player numbers that shed light on this young season.

Follow me on Twitter @DynastyJaco so you don’t miss future articles like AFC’s Nitty-Gritty Numbers & Fantasy Football Debates.

Arizona Cardinals:

The Cards have run the lowest amount of total rushing plays — 30 for the season.

Through 2 games Arizona’s pass to run ratio is 2:1– 61 passes / 30 runs.

This is obviously not what David Johnson

Larry Fitzgerald Christian Kirk

Sam Bradford

Atlanta Falcons:

Tevin Coleman

Julio Jones

Like fellow rookie DJ Moore, WR Calvin Ridley

WR Ridley is 3rd on the team in targets (7), just 1 behind Mohamed Sanu (8).

In Devonta Freeman Ito Smith

Smith ran 9 times for 46 yards in his 1st game — a very respectable 5.1 yards per carry.

Carolina Panthers:

Christian McCaffrey leads all RB’s in targets (24) and receptions (20).

leads all RB’s in targets (24) and receptions (20). Despite leading in both categories CMC has less receiving yards (147) than Alvin Kamara Chris Thompson

Cam Newton

Newton and McCaffrey are tied for the team lead in rushing attempts with 18.

Rookie DJ Moore

Other than offensive linemen and Cam Newton, Devin Funchess

Funchess is 2nd on the team in targets (14) and catches (10).

Chicago Bears:

Khalil Mack has supercharged the entire Defense. The Bears are the only team with double-digit sacks (10).

has supercharged the entire Defense. The Bears are the only team with double-digit sacks (10). Chicago’s also the only team with more than 1 defensive score (2).

Jordan Howard Tarik Cohen

Mitchell Trubisky has the 2nd lowest yards passing (371) out of all QB’s with at least 60 attempts.

has the 2nd lowest yards passing (371) out of all QB’s with at least 60 attempts. Allen Robinson

Dallas Cowboys:

Ezekiel Elliot and Geoff Swaim

and Cole Beasley

Beasley saw the most disproportionate snap count drop-off among Cowboy WR’s from week 1 to week 2.

All Cowboy WR’s saw their snap count decrease proportionately due to game flow in week 2 except Michael Gallup Deonte Thompson who out-snapped Gallup week 1.

Deonte Thompson who out-snapped Gallup week 1. Ezekiel Elliot has 32 of the 33 (97%), Cowboy RB rushing attempts in 2018. No other back in the league has a carry share that high.

Detroit Lions:

The Lion’s have passed on 76% of their offensive plays — they are the only team in the league running the ball on less than 30% of their offensive plays.

70 — the amount of game’s since Detroit’s last 100 yard rusher.

Despite passing a tremendously disproportionate amount of the time the Lions offensive line ranks #2 overall in pass protection according to Football Outsiders.

Matthew Stafford

Golden Tate Kenny Golladay

Fantasy Football 2018: Nitty-Gritty NFC Numbers

Green Bay Packers:

RB’s Ty Montgomery Jamaal Williams

After being drafted as the TE4, Jimmy Graham

Graham is tied for 6th among TE’s in targets (12) and catches (8) — he has zero TD’s.

Davante Adams

WR’s Davante Adams (WR10), Randall Cobb Geronimo Allison

The group has combined for 37 receptions, 457 yards & 4 TD’s.

Randall Cobb has the same amount of catches as Davante Adams — Cobb has 20 more receiving yards, Adams has 1 more TD.

Los Angeles Rams:

PFF.com ranks the Rams’ offensive line #3 overall and #1 against the pass.

Cooper Kupp Brandin Cooks

Robert Woods

Despite lining up in 3 receiver sets more than any other team, L.A. is 5th in the league in run play percentage with 46.5% of their offensive plays staying on the ground.

Todd Gurley led the team in receptions last year with 87. He’s 4th on the team in 2018 with 8 — Cooks (12), Kupp (11) & Woods (9).

the team in receptions last year with 87. He’s 4th on the team in 2018 with 8 — Cooks (12), Kupp (11) & Woods (9). The Rams defense has given up the least amount of points per game (6.5). They rank 3rd in the league in total yards allowed (266).

Minnesota Vikings:

WR Adam Thielen Antonio Brown & J uJu Smith-Schuster .

& J . WR Stefon Diggs AJ Green leads the league with 4.

leads the league with 4. Diggs is the fantasy’s WR5, Theilen is the WR8.

The duo has combined for 30 catches, 404 yards and 4 TD’s.

Dalvin Cook

Free agent acquisition Kirk Cousins is the QB5. He’s thrown for the 5th most yards (669) and is tied for 3rd in TD passes (6).

New Orleans Saints:

New Orleans is the only team in the NFC giving up 30+ points per game (32.7)

According to PFF.com the Saints have the league’s #1 overall offensive line.

Despite having the league’s highest-rated o-line, the Saints are dead last in rushing yards (52.5 yards per game).

Alvin Kamara (15) and Michael Thomas (28) have 43 combined receptions that account for 66% of all Saints receptions — the highest % in the league by a teammate combination.

(15) and (28) have 43 combined receptions that account for 66% of all Saints receptions — the highest % in the league by a teammate combination. Michael Thomas ‘ 28 receptions are 10 higher than the next closest WR’s (Thielen, Brown, & Smith-Schuster — 18) and 8 higher than McCaffrey (20).

New York Giants:

Rookie RB Saquon Barkley is the RB5 — thanks for the most part to his 16 catches off 22 targets.

is the RB5 — thanks for the most part to his 16 catches off 22 targets. Barkley is averaging 22.5 touches per game (14.5 rushes & 8 receptions)

The Giants’ offensive line continues to grade out among the worst in the league.

Lone brightspot, C Jon Halipio will miss the rest of the season with a broken ankle.

will miss the rest of the season with a broken ankle. Eli Manning is the QB28 — Manning is 1 of 4 QB’s with 2 starts to not have thrown at least 2 TD passes.

is the QB28 — Manning is 1 of 4 QB’s with 2 starts to not have thrown at least 2 TD passes. Like Manning, Odell Beckham JR. is ranked 28th at his position . OBJ has caught just 63% of balls thrown his direction (15 receptions/ 24 targets).

is ranked 28th at his position OBJ has caught just 63% of balls thrown his direction (15 receptions/ 24 targets). Evan Engram , like Jimmy Graham, has 8 receptions off 12 targets. Unlike Graham, Engram has 1 TD — Eli’s lone TD pass.

, like Jimmy Graham, has 8 receptions off 12 targets. Unlike Graham, Engram has 1 TD — Eli’s lone TD pass. 71% of Manning’s throws have been to Barkley, Beckham JR or Engram. The trio has caught 70% of those passes.

Philadelphia Eagles:

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Nick Foles

Despite the extra time, Foles ranks 3rd last in the league in yards per pass thrown according to teamrankings.com.

Nelson Agholor Kamar Aiken

TE Zach Ertz

Ertz’s 23 targets are the most among TE’s, the next closest, Jared Cook

The Eagles’ RB touches (carries + catches) break down like this:

Fantasy Football 2018: Nitty-Gritty NFC Numbers

San Francisco 49ers:

Seattle Seahawks:

Russell Wilson Tyrod Taylor led the league through 2 games with 13.

Tyrod Taylor led the league through 2 games with 13. Wilson is currently the QB23 — he’s completing less than 60% of his passes — he’s also yet to rush for a TD.

Rookie 1st round pick, Rashaad Penny

Despite less carries (13) and catches (3), preseaon darling Chris Carson

Will Dissly

The Seahawk defense is a shell of it’s former self ranking 21st in yards given up per game — giving up 371 per contest.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Deshaun Jackson has a 3:1 catch to touchdown ratio to start 2018. 9 grabs/ 3 scores.

has a 3:1 catch to touchdown ratio to start 2018. 9 grabs/ 3 scores. D-Jac’s 75 yard touchdown week 2 was his 23rd career receiving TD of 60+ yards, tieing him with Jerry Rice for most all-time.

for most all-time. Peyton Barber is one of 6 RB’s In the NFL with 35+ carries.

is one of 6 RB’s In the NFL with 35+ carries. Despite the 6th most carries in the league, Barber (91 yards) is 26th overall in rushing — QB’s Tyrod Taylor (103) & Cam Newton (100) have more through 2 weeks.

(103) & (100) have more through 2 weeks. Tampa’s offensive line has the highest percentage of runs stuffed (no gain) in the NFL — 34% of the Buc’s runs either lose yards or go no where.

Ryan Fitzpatrick ’s start (82.5 points) is the greatest fantasy football start for a QB in the modern era.

Washington Redskins:

The Redskins’ defense has allowed the fewest yards per game on average in the league (247)

RB Chris Thompson ‘s 19 receptions rank 2nd among RB’s and 3rd overall in the league.

‘s 19 receptions rank 2nd among RB’s and 3rd overall in the league. Jordan Reed

Paul Richardson Josh Doctson Jamison Crowder

Alex Smith

Smith is just 4 of 12 for 79 yards on passes that travel in the air more than 10 but less than 20 yards.

Adrian Peterson

Thanks for reading. Be on the lookout the Nitty-Gritty AFC Numbers coming soon.