Thursday Night Football is both a blessing and a curse. A curse because, more often than not, the games are not that good. A blessing because how players perform on Thursday, should your matchup contain any such players, informs your decision for your fantasy football lineup for the rest of the week.
After Thursday, typically there is one question to ask: “Do I need upside, or do I need to play things safe this week?” That is where we come in and offer advice to those who may be in a predicament for the rest of the week for one reason or another and are looking for high-upside plays for fantasy football.
The Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions both offered up a lot of players with massive fantasy games in the historic first game at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, New York. Conversely, just about the only guy who did not do well was DJ Moore, who injured his shoulder early (probably expect him to show up on the weekly injury article next week). Regardless of which end of the spectrum you find yourself on this week, you are here for a reason; so let us get into the fantasy football high-upside plays of the week (for PPR scoring leagues, adjust accordingly if you have different scoring).
High-upside plays at quarterback
1. Baker Mayfield
Last week, the Cleveland Browns bled fantasy points to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who has been on a tear since the end of last season. This week, that same Browns defense is going up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by Baker Mayfield. Now, Mayfield struggled heavily against a rebuilt Cincinnati Bengals defense last week.
However, this is a new week, and Mayfield has a chance at redemption against a defense that could not stop a nosebleed until the end of the game last weekend. With what is expected to be a fully healthy wide receiver room this week, Mayfield should have a wide array of options available to him. The Browns could struggle keeping up with so many different receivers with such a different skill set from everyone else, meaning that Mayfield could capitalize and put up a great game this week.
2. Carson Wentz
The Minnesota Vikings are likely going into Sunday without starting quarterback Kyler Murray, who sustained a concussion early in the game last week. That said, Carson Wentz filled in beautifully for the rest of that game, throwing for three touchdowns. This week, the Vikings go up against the Chicago Bears, who allowed Bryce Young to throw all over the field last week, making Wentz a high-upside play this week at quarterback.
High upside plays at running back
1. Chase Brown
Last week, Cincinnati Bengals running back, Chase Brown, had a good game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brown ran for 56 yards and a touchdown, in addition to catching 5 passes for 22 yards. This week looks to be slightly different for the Cincinnati running back.
Earlier this week, quarterback Joe Burrow popped up on the injury report with a back injury, unfortunately meaning that he is hampered for another year. However, that could be brilliant for Brown, who faces a Houston Texans defense that allowed James Cook to run for 57 yards and catch three passes in Week 1. With Burrow coming into the game dealing with a back injury against what is still believed to be one of the best defenses in the entire league, one could expect a lot of check-down passes to the running back position, which will allow Brown to rack up plenty of PPR points this week.
2. Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Based on last week, Jacory Croskey-Merritt looks like the lead running back for the Washington Commanders’ offense. He went for 63 rushing yards and a touchdown against a stout Philadelphia Eagles defense. This week, the sophomore running back goes up against a Dallas Cowboys defense that could not stop the run to save its life last week, only giving the offense two possessions in the second half.
There is a formula for how to beat the Cowboys this season, and Croskey-Merritt looks to build upon what Cam Skattebo did last week. If he is able to, that could entail a huge game for the Washington running back, as the team hopes to play keep away with the Cowboys for a second consecutive week. In order to do that, Croskey-Merritt will likely have an increase on the 16 carries that he had last week, and could run across the entire city of Dallas before the game ends on Sunday.
High-upside plays at wide receiver
1. Jordan Addison
Well, these are some high expectations for a guy who ran a lot of cardio without putting up any stats on a team that is assumed to start its backup quarterback this week, aren’t they? Yes, all of that is true when it comes to Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison last week. However, this is a new week, and his team, regardless of whether Carson Wentz starts or not, is going up against a Chicago Bears defense that struggled heavily against the passing attack of the Carolina Panthers last weekend.
The star for the Panthers in the receiving game last week was not even its young star, Tet McMillan. It was the secondary option, Jalen Coker, who popped off for eight catches, 138 yards and a pair of receiving touchdowns, which bodes well for whomever the second option for the Vikings is. It just so happens to be Addison, who, despite not putting up fantasy points last week, has a fantastic matchup this week, and should bounce back with a good outing against Chicago this Sunday.
2. Makai Lemon
To be crystal clear, this is a vibes pick, and there are other options who could be discussed in this spot for high-upside fantasy plays this week. With that said, Makai Lemon, the Philadelphia Eagles’ first-round pick from this most recent draft, has something to prove to the league this week. No, it is not the fact that he can go for positive yardage, as he finished last week with negative five receiving yards.
He wants to prove that he should have been the top wide receiver drafted, and who better to do that against than the team that first took a player at that position in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans? The Titans selected Carnell Tate with the fourth overall pick, who should have a good career, but cannot, in good conscience, be a high-upside play until Cam Ward turns things around. With a lot to prove this week, Lemon could have his rookie breakout just two games into his career, making him a high-upside fantasy football play at wide receiver this week.
High-upside plays at tight end
1. Dalton Schultz
Was Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz not a high-upside tight end play in Week 1? He absolutely was, and as a matter of fact, the veteran tight end did his job perfectly, going for four receptions and 35 yards against the Buffalo Bills last weekend. At this position, anything over seven fantasy points is a good showing.
This week is a bit different for Schultz and the entire Texans offense, for that matter. Star wide receiver Nico Collins is dealing with a hamstring injury and could end up missing the game on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, leaving his 10 targets from last week open for anyone to take this weekend. Aside from Collins, Schultz was the most targeted player for the Texans offense last week with eight, meaning he could be in for an increased role on Sunday, especially considering that last week provided minimal context as to who the second wide receiver option in Houston is, making Schultz a high-upside fantasy football play again in Week 2
2. Mark Andrews
Old reliable for the Baltimore Ravens might have to put on the cape and carry the workload for the team one more time. Mark Andrews, while getting older, is still a very good tight end, and could be in for a high-upside performance this week. The Ravens are dealing with a pair of injuries in the wide receiver room; while Ja’Kobi Lane was placed on injured reserve, the jury is still out on the availability of Zay Flowers on Sunday.
That said, Andrews could be in for a load-carrying game for the passing offense this weekend against the New Orleans Saints. The Saints gave up five catches for 48 yards to Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions in Week 1, and could give up an even bigger game this weekend to the tight end position with all of the injuries to Baltimore. As this is the case, Andrews could be old reliable once more for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens and can be considered a high-upside play for fantasy football this week.
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