Hey everyone! I'm Adam Koffler and I'm thrilled to bring you a new weekly series called the Fantasy Football Panic and Breakout Meter. In each article, I'll highlight duds and studs from the previous week. For the duds, I'll provide a score (0-5) on the panic meter. A score of zero means no panic whatsoever, while five means alarm bells are going off.
For the studs, I'll do something similar, providing a score of 0-5 for players that "broke out" the previous week. A score of zero means I'm not buying the breakout, while five means this player has arrived and is here to stay.
The goal of this article isn't to highlight mid-level players with suboptimal usage that aren't performing well, nor is it to highlight obvious studs like Kenneth Walker or Chris
Olave. The goal is to help you navigate the noise and help you make decisions that set your fantasy teams up for success.
Week 2 Panic Meter
Omarion Hampton - RB, Los Angeles Chargers
After an injury-riddled rookie campaign, Hampton entered the 2026 season as the Chargers presumed RB1. New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel spent the offseason hyping up his lead back, at one point comparing him to Hall of Fame RB Terrell Davis. On paper, the Chargers had a favorable matchup at home in Week 1 vs. a Cardinals defense that allowed the eighth-most rushing yards per game last season (126.9). Hampton salvaged his day with a touchdown, but the underlying usage is a bit concerning.
Per Yahoo's Hayden Winks, Chargers RBs ranked dead last in expected fantasy points based on usage in Week 1 (11.2). Hampton, who was expected to play a big part in the passing game − much like De'Von Achane did in Miami under McDaniel − had zero targets on just a 28.6% route participation rate. He ceded meaningful third-down and two-minute-drill snaps to Keaton Mitchell and even came off the field at the goal line in favor of Kimani Vidal. To make matters worse, Hampton ranked fourth worst in yards over expected per attempt (-0.72) in Week 1, per NFL Next Gen Stats.
It's just a one-game sample size, so the panic meter isn't tipping the scales just yet, but it's normal to react in some capacity after a letdown at home vs. an Arizona Cardinals team that was projected to win just 3-4 games this season. The Chargers do, however, have a brutal upcoming schedule through Week 10, so keep an eye on Hampton's usage.
Panic Meter: 2/5
Colston Loveland - TE, Chicago Bears
Loveland finished his rookie season on an extremely high note, averaging seven catches for 94.5 yards on 12 targets per game with two touchdowns in his final four games. As a result, he was the consensus TE3 behind Brock Bowers and Trey McBride heading into his sophomore season. But in Week 1, Loveland went catch-less on just two targets in a game the Bears scored 59 points.
He was outproduced by Kalif Raymond, Luther Burden, Cole Kmet, and Rome Odunze. The good news, however, is that he led the team in route participation (84.2%). Nobody else had a route participation rate over 68.4% (Burden). The bad news is that he had just an 11.1% first-read target share, per Fantasy Points Data.
The Bears are destined to score a lot of points this season and based on what he did as a 21-year-old rookie last season, Loveland is primed to be a big part of that. While he might not yet be in the same tier as Bowers or McBride, better days are ahead for the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Panic Meter: 0/5
Drake London - WR, Atlanta Falcons
With Tua Tagovailoa suffering an oblique injury just before the opener and Michael Penix Jr. still not cleared to return from an ACL tear last season, third string quarterback Cooper Rush got the nod for the Falcons in Week 1. That turned out to be disastrous for London, as Rush struggled mightily to push the ball downfield. That led to just two catches for 29 yards on four targets for the Falcons' WR1.
It's highly unlikely the 25-year-old London turned into a pumpkin after multiple years of elite production. Last season, before suffering a PCL sprain in Week 11, London ranked third among wide receivers in yards per route run (2.90) and fantasy points per game (19.8), and fourth in target share (30.3%). That production came mostly with Penix at QB, which is good news for London considering Atlanta's real QB1 could make his 2026 debut as early as Week 3 against the Packers.
Panic Meter: 1/5
Marvin Harrison Jr. - WR, Arizona Cardinals
Whether fair or unfair, the fourth overall pick in 2024 came into the NFL with sky-high expectations because of his father, Marvin Harrison Sr. Through two years, Harrison Jr. has mostly failed to live up to those expectations. That continued in Week 1 of his third NFL campaign.
Harrison Jr. was fourth in the target pecking order behind McBride, Michael Wilson, and even 10-year veteran Kendrick Bourne. Per Fantasy Points Data, he earned just three targets on 33 routes run and had a first-read target share of just 7.4%. While new head coach Mike LaFleur downplayed MHJ's involvement in Week 1, it's clear the passing attack runs through McBride and Wilson. Through 30 career NFL games, Harrison Jr. has caught fewer than five passes and produced fewer than 50 yards 16 times.
Panic Meter: 4/5
Jaylen Waddle - WR, Denver Broncos
In an effort to improve the passing attack, Denver acquired Waddle this offseason. But in Week 1, he looked like an afterthought. Per Fantasy Points Data, Waddle led the team in routes but earned just three targets on a 14.3% first-read target share. Second-year man Pat Bryant and veteran TE Evan Engram both had a higher first-read target share and air yards share vs. the Chiefs. Both Bryant and Engram were reportedly fantastic at training camp, and the usage carried over into Week 1. Add them to the mix with Courtland Sutton and Waddle and you've got a very deep group of legitimate target earners.
Last season, no Broncos pass-catcher had a target share of at least 20% or averaged more than 0.22 targets per route run. Waddle's historically been a solid target earner, but he's never been a part of such a deep group of pass-catchers. It's still early, and Waddle is still a great player, but he might be better for the Broncos in real life than he is for fantasy managers in 2026.
Panic Meter: 3/5
Week 2 Breakout Meter
Jalen Coker - WR, Carolina Panthers
The undrafted Coker has now outscored 2025 eighth overall pick Tetairoa McMillan in fantasy points in six of their last seven games. In terms of usage, these guys were neck and neck in Week 1. Per Fantasy Points Data, both Coker and McMillan had a 27.3% first-read target share and an air yards share north of 34%. No other Panthers pass-catcher was in double figures in either of those two metrics.
Bryce Young won't throw for 361 yards every week, but we do know this target tree is extremely condensed between Coker and McMillan. We also know that, over a large enough sample size, the former UDFA is more than capable of outproducing his first-round teammate.
Breakout Meter: 4/5
Isaiah Likely - TE, New York Giants
At least to start the 2026 season, Likely looked like the No. 2 pass-catcher in New York behind Malik Nabers. Per Fantasy Points Data, he earned a 31.8% first-read target share and was a trusted chain mover for Jaxson Dart vs. the Cowboys. Likely recorded six first downs, twice as many as Nabers.
But here's why I'm skeptical this continues. Nabers wasn't at full strength in this one coming off a long year of rehab after a debilitating knee injury. Cam Skattebo, who was used heavily in the passing game last season, didn't see a single target. Rookie Malachi Fields looked the part in Week 1, earning four targets on 19 routes run. He'll only become more involved as the season progresses. And Likely played just 50% of the snaps on Sunday night.
Breakout Meter: 3/5
Matthew Golden - WR, Green Bay Packers
Dating back to his college days, Golden's never been an elite target earner. But Green Bay consolidated its wide receiver room in 2026 and Golden stepped into a full-time role in Week 1. All of a sudden, he looked like a former first-round pick, earning a team-high 11 targets on a team-high 40 routes run.
Per Fantasy Points Data, Golden also had three red zone targets and ranked sixth in expected fantasy points (20.4) in Week 1. Christian Watson caught the long touchdown in this one, but it appears as if Golden will be a big part of the Packers' game plan in 2026. Any concerns about Jayden Reed playing ahead of him in two-receiver sets were put to bed after Golden's Week 1 performance.
Watson, Reed, and Tucker Kraft have all proven capable of earning targets, but this was a legitimate step in the right direction for Golden to start the year.
Breakout Meter: 3/5
Dalton Kincaid - TE, Buffalo Bills
Last season, Kincaid led all tight ends in targets per route run (0.27), yards per route run (3.19), and first downs per route run (0.151), per Fantasy Points Data. The talent has never been in question. The knock on Kincaid has always been playing time. In 2025, he never had a snap share over 55% nor a route participation rate over 68%. In Week 1 of the 2026 season, he played 72% of the snaps and registered a 69% route participation.
Kincaid was also used down the field a bunch in Week 1, which led to five catches for 130 yards on six targets. As long as Buffalo isn't blowing out its opponent, Kincaid appears primed for some big games with the increased usage. On tap in Week 2 is a contest with the Lions featuring a slate-high 53.5-point over/under.
Breakout Meter: 4/5
Devaughn Vele - WR, New Orleans Saints
The box score looked fantastic for Vele in Week 1. Seven catches for 69 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. But if you dive a bit deeper, you'll uncover a couple of things that scream "sell high." First, Tyler Shough threw the ball 56 times with the Saints playing catch-up in the second half.
Second, Vele's per-route metrics and target earning ability left a lot to be desired. Per Fantasy Points Data, his 1.25 yards per route run in Week 1 ranked 42nd among wide receivers with at least 20 routes, while his 16.1% target share ranked 43rd. Without the high route volume, Vele likely wouldn't have emerged as everyone's favorite waiver wire target for Week 2.
Additionally, first-round rookie Jordyn Tyson will return at some point in the middle of the season, further squashing Vele's breakout potential.
Breakout Meter: 1/5
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Week 2 panic meter and breakout meter
