Dak Prescott, Baker Mayfield and 4 More NFL Stars Who Will Bounce Back in Week 2

Sports admin September 20, 2026 0 Comments

Dak Prescott, Baker Mayfield and 4 More NFL Stars Who Will Bounce Back in Week 2

The first full week of NFL action gave us a ton of impressive performances from the league’s biggest names, but not every star lit up the stat sheet in their regular-season opener.

From disappointing outings from some of the league’s most recognizable quarterbacks, to a handful of stud pass-catchers who failed to move the needle, Week 1 wasn’t kind to some marquee players who left fantasy football managers scratching their heads.

Here are six of them who are primed to bounce back in a big way in Week 2:

QB Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers

At first glance, Baker Mayfield’s box score from last week’s 33-27 road loss to the Cincinnati Bengals doesn’t look too shabby (23-for-28, 216 yards passing, 30 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, no interceptions). But the Bucs were scuttled by four lost fumbles, three of them from their newly paid franchise quarterback.

Baker Mayfield faces Cleveland for the second time since leaving in 2022, still looking for his first win against his former team.

Mayfield won 29 games as the Browns’ QB. Cleveland has won just 26 since he left 😳 pic.twitter.com/BYrsEH59YJ

— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) September 18, 2026

Thankfully for Bucs fans (and anyone depending on Mayfield in their fantasy leagues), Week 2 brings the Cleveland Browns to Raymond James Stadium for Tampa Bay’s home opener. Not only will Mayfield be highly motivated to put last week’s turnover struggles behind him, he should be in vintage form against the team that gave up on him a few years back. Don’t be surprised if Mayfield lights up the Browns’ secondary with some big numbers in front of the home crowd this week.

WR Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals

One of the most surprising stat lines of Week 1, Chase managed just two catches for 12 yards against the Bucs, despite the Bengals putting up 33 points in a victory. Tampa Bay’s four turnovers meant short fields and even a defensive score for Cincy, and when they did have sustained drives on offense, Todd Bowles’ defense did a fantastic job of keeping arguably the league’s best receiver in check all game long.

Ja’Marr Chase in the last matchup between the Bengals and Texans:

🤠 5 receptions

🤠 124 yards

🤠 1 TD#WhoDeypic.twitter.com/vDe5rBdjLT

— SleeperBengals (@SleeperBengals) September 16, 2026

Things won’t get any easier for Chase in Week 2, as he’s slated to go up against one of the league’s best corners in Derek Stingley Jr. and a fantastic Houston Texans defense. But Chase typically rises to the occasion in these best-on-best matchups, and last week’s shootout loss to the Buffalo Bills proved that Houston’s defense is capable of giving up plenty of yards and points against talented offenses with top-end quarterback play.

QB Dak Prescott, Cowboys

Heading into Week 1, Prescott was a sneaky MVP pick who was expected to flirt with a 5,000-yard passing season in 2026. But in a disappointing road loss to the New York Giants, Prescott managed just 175 yards through the air, with a pair of touchdown passes and an interception, while star wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens combined for just 72 yards on eight receptions.

Dak Prescott in 15 career games vs. Washington:

🏈 21.6 FPTS per game

🏈 3,716 Pass Yds

🏈 32 TD – 5 INT

How many fantasy points is he dropping in Week 2?pic.twitter.com/16WqsoWkyR

Read more Cubs come through in late innings, top Reds

— FantasyPros (@FantasyPros) September 18, 2026

Prescott draws a fantastic matchup in Week 2 if he wants to get back on track, as the Cowboys open up their home slate Sunday against a Washington Commanders team with a weak secondary that’s capable of giving up a ton of yards and points through the air. After struggling to live up to the preseason expectations last week, expect Prescott and the Dallas passing game to carve up Washington all day long.

WR Terry McLaurin, Commanders

Speaking of the Commanders, they didn’t see much from their top pass-catcher in Week 1, as McLaurin was largely erased from the game in a 24-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. McLaurin didn’t catch a single pass until the fourth quarter, finishing the game with just 14 yards on two receptions, while rookie third-round pick Antonio Williams led the team with four receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown.

In case you forgot what happens when Terry McLaurin plays the Cowboys pic.twitter.com/BNfabiG57A

— 𝒆𝒍𝒊… (@CMNDERS) September 19, 2026

If he wants to bounce back in Week 2, McLaurin is drawing the perfect opponent in Dallas, a team he has a long history of carving up with big numbers. Considering what should happen on the other side of the ball, this matchup should force Jayden Daniels to throw the ball early and often, giving McLaurin plenty more targets than he saw against Philly last week. Past experience tells us McLaurin will rise to the occasion against the Cowboys.

QB Justin Herbert, Chargers

Easily the most shocking result of the entire Week 1 slate, the Chargers got embarrassed at home by the Arizona Cardinals in a 26-14 defeat. Like most of the team, Herbert was less than impressive despite plenty of preseason hype, passing for just 209 yards and a touchdown while throwing an egregious interception in the second half with the game still within reach.

Justin Herbert in 11 career games vs. the Raiders:

🏈 19.5 FPTS per game

🏈 2,909 Pass Yds

🏈 22 TD – 3 INT

Do the Chargers have a bounce back game in Week 2?pic.twitter.com/YHxQEa18BE

— FantasyPros (@FantasyPros) September 19, 2026

The Chargers get to stay home for a favorable Week 2 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, and Herbert will obviously be motivated to bounce back from last week’s lackluster performance against what should have been an inferior opponent. He could be without one of his top pass-catchers in Ladd McConkey (listed as questionable with a rib injury), but I still expect Herbert to air it out against Vegas and put up much better numbers this time around.

WR Jaylen Waddle, Broncos

One of the biggest offseason acquisitions in the league this year, the Broncos gave a first-round pick and more to add Waddle to their passing game, with hopes of giving Bo Nix an explosive downfield weapon to pair with Courtland Sutton to raise the ceiling for the entire offense. That didn’t happen in his Denver debut, as the former Miami Dolphins star caught just one pass for two yards in a blowout loss on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Sean Payton on Jaylen Waddle: “He’s going to get his touches.”

— MikeKlis9NEWS (@mikeklis9news) September 18, 2026

Denver gets another tough matchup this week in the Jacksonville Jaguars, but with a high-powered offense on the other sideline, the Broncos might be forced to air it out in Week 2 if they want to keep pace with Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence. After delivering a dud last week, don’t be surprised if the Broncos make a concerted effort to get Waddle more involved in the gameplan in Week 2.

This story was originally published September 20, 2026 at 3:34 AM.