Palmer, Benson, and Masses emerge as AFC's Week 2 hidden gems
Josh Palmer helped revive the Buffalo Bills' deep passing game with a 43-yard touchdown, while undrafted rookie tackle Kahlil Benson silenced opposing pass-rushers for the Chiefs. Fifth-round Raiders rookie Hezekiah Masses intercepted Justin Herbert twice. These three are the AFC's most underrated performers from Week 2.
Josh Palmer's emergence stems from a strategic shift in Buffalo's offense. After a 2025 season where Josh Allen struggled on deep throws, completing just 25 of 66 attempts of 20-plus air yards, new head coach Joe Brady has deployed Palmer as the primary target in the Dagger concept. Palmer signed a three-year, $30 million deal before last season and has already matched his 2025 deep-catch production through two games this year.
The other two standouts arrived via unconventional paths. Kahlil Benson went undrafted before landing with Kansas City, where he has neutralized opposing pass-rushers at tackle. Hezekiah Masses, a fifth-round pick for Las Vegas, intercepted Justin Herbert twice in Week 2, proving that late-round and undrafted players can still deliver game-changing performances.
These performances could reshape fantasy football roster decisions and waiver-wire strategies for millions of players. When unheralded players like Palmer, Benson, and Masses deliver statistically significant weeks, they may create unexpected value opportunities in leagues where managers rely on draft rankings rather than in-season scouting. This pattern could encourage more aggressive waiver-wire activity and deeper roster management, potentially widening the gap between casual and dedicated fantasy players.