Week 2's NFL all-stars

By Rhys Knott

There might have been some pretty uninspiring games across week 2, but there were still some All-Stars. Here are Week 2’s NFL All-Stars.

NFL's Week 2 All-Star Quarterback - Baker Mayfield

Image Credit: Reuters

C.J Stroud actually threw for the most yards in Week 2 and only two rookies in the history of the NFL have thrown more completions after two starts. Kirk Cousins threw more touchdowns in Week 2 than Mayfield too. But Kirk is throwing to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J Hockenson. Mayfield is the quarterback on a team that could only manage eight wins last season and they had Tom Brady at quarterback, remember? 

Mayfield completed 76.5% of his passes in Week 2, rattling up 317 yards in the process. He had a passer rating of 114.5 against the Bears, his highest since Boxing Day when he lit up the Rams, with a bit of help from Sean McVay.

The most astonishing part of Mayfield’s Week 2 and his start to the 2023 season is the Browns gave him the boot to sign Deshaun Watson. Since December when Sean McVay worked his magic on Mayfield, he’s been better in every category. And the Browns are paying Watson $222 million more than Mayfield is making. Which just adds the exclamation point on his being in Week 2’s NFL All-Stars.

nfl's week 2 running back - d'andre swift

Swift returned to his hometown in Week 2 and celebrated in style. He picked up 175 yards on the ground against a Vikings defense who gave their offense almost no help.

Swift also picked up a touchdown on the ground and caught all three of his targets as the Eagles clunky offense ground out a 34-28 win.  

Swift’s 175 yards was 51 yards more than his nearest competitor, Bijan Robinson, although Swift had nine more carries than Robinson. 

But Robinson has a potential sponsorship that Swift doesn’t…

NFL's Week 2 All-Star WR1 - Mike Evans

He was Baker Mayfield’s partner in crime this week so it is only natural that he joins his QB in the Week 2 all-stars.

Evans caught six of his eight targets for 171 yards and a touchdown. 

The Buccaneers’ refusal to offer 30-year-old Evans a contract extension seems to have spurred him on. If he’s as eager to display his talent for the rest of the season and carries on at the same rate as he has through the first two weeks, he’ll catch 102 passes.

The former Texas A&M receiver has never caught more than 96 in a regular season. Of course, it’s more likely the Bucs will trade him if he continues to average over 19 yards per reception. But if Evans and Mayfield can keep them in the battle for a playoff spot there’s a tough decision to be made.  

nfl's week 2 all-star wr2 - justin jefferson

He is the brightest light in a very dull Vikings chandelier. Reigning offensive player of the year Jefferson is averaging 154.5 yards per game this season (small sample size be damned). Although hasn’t caught a touchdown yet.  

In Week 2 he caught 84.6% of his targets and there were 13 of them. He torched the Eagles defense for 159 yards. However, did lose a fumble – he must have been exhausted from carrying that Vikings offense.

If he continues his pace Jefferson will end the season with 2,626 yards! But if they can’t figure out how to get him in the endzone he’ll be a terribly angry man. They also won’t win many games.  

NFL's Week 2 all-star slot receiver - puka nacua

Someone else who’s on pace for more than 2,000 receiving yards this season is the Rams’ rookie. The Rams have thrown 58 passes in 2023 and Nacua has caught 43.1% of them! He’s also got 41.5% of their 641 receiving yards.

That is a lot.  

Nacua accounted for 48% of the Rams receiving yards in Week 2 as he caught 44% of Stafford’s total throws. If he can play all 17 games (and durability has been an issue) he’s set to finish the season with 2,261 yards!

An easy choice for Week 2’s NFL All-Stars.

nfl's week 2 all-star tight end - Darren waller

Surprisingly, with both Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews back in action this week there wasn’t really a dominant tight end performance to speak of. Kelce did catch a touchdown but with the Chiefs still weary of his knee injury he only caught four passes. Andrews also hauled in a touchdown, but his five catches only went for 45 yards.  

Moving away from pass catchers who have been consistently successful, it’s time to take a look at what Darren Waller did in Week 2. In his first game for the Giants Waller only caught three passes and ended the game with 36 yards. In Week 2 he finished with more than double that total. His 76 receiving yards against the Cardinals was second to Jaylin Hyatt. And his six catches lead the Giants alongside Saquon Barkley.  

nfl's week 2 all-star defense - steelers

There were defenses who didn’t give up many points in Week 2 and there were defenses who created opportunities for their offenses. The Steelers got so fed up with watching their clueless offense that they decided to help them out and score two touchdowns themselves.  

They also sacked Deshaun Watson six times. Which lead him to just grab the facemask of any defender who came anywhere near him. It’s odd to pick a defense who gave up 22 points as the All-Stars of the week, but here we are. 

Feature Image Credit: Sports Illustrated

RHYS KNOTT

NFL/FANTASY FOOTBALL ANALYST

Rhys has been watching the NFL for 30 something years and still hasn’t managed to pick a team to support. When he’s not fixatED on pass rushers you can find him blithering on about most sports on Twitter @wrhys_writes

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