The Herd with Colin Cowherd — FantasyPros: The Primer – Must-Start Players for Week 2 (Ep. 1702)

Date: September 13, 2025
Host: Seth Woolcock
Guest: Derrick Brown (“DBro”)
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts & The Volume

Episode Overview

This episode, led by Seth Woolcock and fantasy expert Derrick Brown (“DBro”), offers a high-energy, in-depth breakdown of must-start fantasy football players for NFL Week 2. The hosts analyze key Week 1 storylines, stress the importance of measured reactions to early results, and dive into nuanced recommendations at every position—quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end. They balance data-driven insights with real talk about player usage, game flow, and the all-important art of adjusting fantasy expectations quickly.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Don’t Overreact—But Don’t Ignore the Signs! (00:34–02:25)

• Opening sentiment: Week 1 is often misleading, but usage trends matter:
  • “You don't want to overreact to what you see in Week 1, but you also can't underreact to some of the usage you do see. It's a great balance, it's a great line we try to walk…” — Seth (02:25)
• Derrick predicts a Week 2 course correction for players who underperformed but had promising usage metrics:
  • “Week two is going to be a reckoning. We're going to see some things go back to the center…Get that lag time. We might get that in week two.” — Dbro (01:59)

Must-Start Players by Position

Quarterback: Dak Prescott (03:36–06:01)

• Reasoning:
  • Dak is QB12 in ECR (Expert Consensus Rankings), just outside the top 10—fits “borderline” criteria.
  • Led the NFL in yards lost to drops in Week 1 (61 yards) and several near touchdowns fell through.
  • Stats: 6th in catchable target rate, 3rd in “hero throw” rate in Week 1.
• Matchup:
  • Facing a Giants defense that “gave up the 11th highest yards per attempt” and produced a low pressure rate.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “Dak Prescott has to be the poster guy for this…He was so close to a monster game and I'm going right back to the well.” — Dbro (04:10)
  • “If Dak Prescott has the time and CeeDee Lamb can make some catches…Should have a big game.” — Seth (05:09)
• Timestamps: Quarterback segment starts at 03:36.

Running Backs: JK Dobbins (Denver Broncos) & Isaiah Pacheco (Chiefs) (06:13–13:49)

JK Dobbins (Denver Broncos) — 06:13–10:11

• Why Start:
  • 53% snap share, ALL of Denver’s red zone carries in Week 1, 18 touches.
  • Analysts adjusting expectations: veteran getting “money”—red zone—work.
  • 19% missed tackles forced rate, 2.63 yards after contact per attempt.
  • Faces an Indy run defense that allowed the highest YAC per attempt and 6th-highest success rate in Week 1.
• Quotes:
  • “People need to wake up…He's still being ranked as an RB3. That's wrong…If he's getting the red zone carries, then you're looking at 15–17 [touches] with touchdown equity. That's an RB2, dude.”—DBro (09:13)
• Concerns:
  • Tyler Batty or other third-wheel backs may still siphon touches, but Dobbins’ role is safest now.

Isaiah Pacheco (Chiefs) — 10:24–13:49

• Why Start:
  • RB32 in ECR but offers RB2/top-15 upside.
  • Risk: limited touch count (7 in Week 1), but shined on a per-carry basis—20% missed tackle rate, 3.2 YAC/att.
  • Eagles are vulnerable to the run (low stuff rate, high YAC allowed).
• Game Script Matters:
  • KC’s tendency to abandon the run despite early success is the risk.
  • "If KC does what I think they should do and leans on their ground game…He’s going to walk away with a really strong day." — Dbro (12:46)
• Notable banter: Chiefs’ questionable pass-heavy game script is critiqued:
  • “You lose Worthy and…think the idea is to win this game by feeding 16 targets to Hollywood Brown? I can't square that.” — Dbro (11:13)

Wide Receivers: Keenan Allen (Chargers), Kayshon Boutte (Patriots) (14:51–22:17)

Keenan Allen (Chargers) — 14:51–17:33

• Why Start:
  • Wildly under-ranked at WR38 ECR despite being WR10 in Week 1.
  • 26.5% target share, 2.1 yards/route run, 10th in route win rate, 23rd in separation.
  • Faces Raiders’ secondary that gave up top-10 fantasy points/yards to WRs in Week 1.
• Quotes:
  • “What did you see out of the Chargers offense…to rank Keenan Allen as a WR4? ... Fire up Keenan Allen as a WR2 with confidence this week. All in, dude.” — Dbro (15:07 & 15:11)
  • “Throw all the priors into the trash…People are not putting enough respect on his name.” — Dbro (16:53)
• Banter: Debate over the “Greg Roman offense” myth and Keenan’s true value versus Ladd McConkey preseason hype.

Kayshon Boutte (Patriots) — 18:11–22:17

• Why Start:
  • Entering Week 2 at WR53 ECR, but sharp usage signals: 17.4% Week 1 target share, 23.3% first read share.
  • Four-game sample (end '24 + '25 Wk1): 21.3% target share, 2.79 yards per route, 25.8% first read share.
  • No Dolphins cornerback scares Dbro ("what corner from Miami is, should anybody be worried about?" (19:54)).
• Redemption narrative:
  • “Maybe this isn't smoke and mirrors. Maybe this is real and I'm more on the real side.” — Dbro (19:11)
  • “He obviously has a connection with Drake May. And I think that was an oversight…not giving him enough credence.” — Seth (21:03)

Tight End: Hunter Henry (Patriots) (22:27–25:17)

• Why Start:
  • TE12 in ECR but should be a “top 10 option, honestly, honestly.”
  • Week 1: 17.4% target share, 1.83 yards per route run, 21% first read share, 66 yards (would be top-5 TE with a TD).
  • Miami allows 12th most points/yards to TEs.
• Quotes:
  • “People out there like ‘am I going to play Brain Strange or Harold Fannin?...’ No, [Hunter Henry] should be a tight end one this week. He has top five to six upside if he gets in the end zone.” — Dbro (22:27)
  • “I've always compared him [Hunter Henry] a bit to a toxic ex you keep going back to…But we’re seeing the usage, right? 93%.” — Seth (24:23)
• Additional note: New England passed at a top-5 rate in Week 1; volume supports starting multiple pass-catchers.

Notable Quotes & Fun Moments

• On overreacting to Week 1:
  • “You don't want to overreact…but you also can't underreact to some of the usage.” — Seth (02:25)
• On New England’s surprising passing volume:
  • "I thought they were going to be middle of the road…Josh McDaniels said, 'Oh, no baby, we're going to chuck it around the yard.'” — Dbro (25:17)
• On the challenges of projecting Chiefs RBs:
  • "If Andy Reid wants to Andy Reid as hard as he can Andy Reid..." — Dbro (11:18)

Segment Timestamps (MM:SS)

• Week 1 Recap/Balanced Reactions: 00:34–02:25
• QB – Dak Prescott: 03:36–06:01
• RB – JK Dobbins: 06:13–10:11
• RB – Isaiah Pacheco: 10:24–13:49
• WR – Keenan Allen: 14:51–17:33
• WR – Kayshon Boutte: 18:11–22:17
• TE – Hunter Henry: 22:27–25:17

Final Thoughts & Outro (25:17–26:38)

• Seth closes by encouraging listeners to comment, subscribe, and stay tuned for more actionable fantasy content.
• Both hosts stress the importance of actionable, data-driven roster adjustments—outdated narratives be damned.
• The show’s tone is fast-paced, irreverent, and rooted in both humor and expertise.

Summary Takeaway:
If you want to win Week 2, buy in on talented veterans with proven usage (Dak, Keenan Allen, Dobbins, Henry) and don’t sleep on ascending young players (Boutte) breaking through past the noise. Adjust quickly, ignore old narratives, and trust early data—but not blindly. And if you start two Patriots in your fantasy lineup this week, you’re not alone!